Hippolas polyglota © Luis Barrón
BIRDS IN SCRUB HABITATS
BIRDS IN SCRUB HABITATS The Dartford Warbler and the Southern Grey Shrike are highlighted as the most endangered species of this environment.
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In Spain, the patches of scrubland habitat vary in their structure depending on their altitude. Above the treeline, there are both areas of thorny bushes (leguminous plants like gorse) and other non-thorny scrub (broom, heather, etc.). The sub-montane zone is usually formed by tall and mediumsized bushes (e.g. broom and rock rose), which create a very
distinctive type of habitat. At mid and low altitudes there are also large expanses of scrub with highly varied vegetation depending on the substrate, humidity, etc. Formations of juniper, gorse, kermes oak, broom and rock rose, are all important, extending in many cases down to sea level.
28 CONSERVATION STATUS OF BIRD IN SPAIN IN 2010
© Raul Fernández
© Virgina Scandell
This kind of habitat is frequent across the whole of the Peninsula and the Balearic and Canary Islands, and, although it is better represented in the major mountain systems, it is also a significant part of the Mediterranean scrub in flatter areas.
