Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Nature Park

Natural Park · Spain

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Photo © Eliza Saroma-Stepniewska — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where limestone peaks thrust skyward between the Costa del Sol and the Axarquia plain, dramatic gorges and cascading waterfalls carve through one of Andalusia's most biodiverse mountain ranges. The Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama rises to 2,065 metres, creating a mosaic of Mediterranean scrubland, Aleppo pine forests, and alpine meadows that shift with elevation. Winter snows feed permanent streams here, nurturing riparian corridors where subtropical and temperate species overlap in extraordinary ecological tension. The terrain's extreme relief—plunging from summit to sea-level valleys within kilometres—generates microclimates that support species found nowhere else in Spain.

This is essential territory for serious birders and mountain photographers. Lammergeiers quarter these thermals alongside golden eagles, while the elusive Spanish ibex navigates near-vertical rock faces with balletic precision. Autumn migration transforms the ridges into a raptor corridor of international significance. Spring light paints the limestone in shades of cream and amber, while the dramatic chiaroscuro of the gorges rewards patient telephoto work. Access remains refreshingly straightforward via Nerja and the white villages of the interior, yet crowds never materialize here—a genuine wildness in Europe's most developed corner.

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Common Blackbird

Passer domesticus

Gorrión común

Common Wood Pigeon

Columba palumbus

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Jilguero Europeo

Anas platyrhynchos

Serinus serinus

Serín verdecillo

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Lavandera Blanca

Falco tinnunculus

Cernícalo vulgar

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Curruca Capirotada

European Greenfinch

Chloris chloris

Verderón común

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus michahellis

Gaviota Patiamarilla

European Stonechat

Saxicola rubicola

Tarabilla Europea

Erithacus rubecula

Petirrojo Europeo

Motacilla cinerea

Lavandera cascadeña

Myiopsitta monachus

Cotorra Argentina

Carbonero común

Eurasian Magpie

Gallinula chloropus

Gallineta común

Spotless Starling

Sturnus unicolor

Estornino Negro

Eurasian Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Zampullín común

Western Swamphen

Porphyrio porphyrio

Calamón común

Estrilda astrild

Estrilda común

Abubilla común

Hieraaetus pennatus

Águila calzada

Egretta garzetta

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Western Cattle Egret

Garcilla bueyera occidental

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Aguilucho lagunero occidental

Western Jackdaw

Coloeus monedula

Grajilla Occidental

Galerida theklae

Cogujada Montesina

Long-tailed Tit

Aegithalos caudatus

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Flamenco común

Loxia curvirostra

Piquituerto común

Common Kingfisher

Martín pescador común

Northern Gannet

Alcatraz atlántico

Plegadis falcinellus

Red-legged Partridge

busardo ratonero

Eurasian Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

Herrerillo común

Eurasian Crag Martin

Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Galerida cristata

Cogujada común

Red-billed Chough

Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Chova Piquirroja

Cairina moschata

Mochuelo Europeo

Linaria cannabina

Pardillo común

Cyanopica cooki

Rabilargo ibérico

Mediterranean Gull

Ichthyaetus melanocephalus

Gaviota Cabecinegra

Little Ringed Plover

Thinornis dubius

Chorlitejo Chico

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Gaviota Reidora

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Cistícola buitrón

Carbonero Garrapinos

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Cigüeñuela común

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus

Gorrión molinero

Cetti's Warbler

Cetia ruiseñor

Short-toed Treecreeper

Certhia brachydactyla

Agateador Europeo

Common Firecrest

Regulus ignicapilla

Reyezuelo Listado

Eurasian Nuthatch

Iberian Grey Shrike

Lanius meridionalis

Emberiza cirlus

Escribano soteño

Aquila chrysaetos

Griffon Vulture

White-throated Dipper

Cinclus cinclus

Mirlo acuático europeo

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Gavilán común

Lophophanes cristatus

Herrerillo Capuchino

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

somormujo lavanco

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Cormorán grande

European Turtle Dove

Streptopelia turtur

Tórtola europea

Garrulus glandarius

Arrendajo euroasiático

Pavo real común

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Phoenicurus ochruros

Colirrojo tizón

Sardinian Warbler

Curruca melanocephala

Curruca Cabecinegra

Oenanthe leucura

European Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis rufula

Golondrina Dáurica Occidental

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Carricero común

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Martinete común

Ciconia ciconia

Cigüeña blanca

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Charrán patinegro

Dartford Warbler

Curruca Rabilarga

Luscinia svecica

Ruiseñor pechiazul

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Papamoscas Gris

Hirundo rustica

Golondrina común

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Avión común occidental

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Abejaruco Europeo

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Oropéndola europea

Blue Rock Thrush

Monticola solitarius

Roquero Solitario

Vencejo pálido

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis daurica

Golondrina dáurica

Porrón europeo

Correlimos tridáctilo

Gallinago gallinago

Agachadiza común

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Mosquitero común

Mareca strepera

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Gaviota sombría

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Andarríos chico

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

culebrera europea

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Lavandera Boyera

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Ruiseñor común

Western Black-eared Wheatear

Oenanthe hispanica

Collalba rubia occidental

Emberiza calandra

Escribano Triguero

Woodchat Shrike

Alcaudón común

Ichthyaetus audouinii

Gaviota de Audouin

Anthus pratensis

Bisbita Pratense

Escribano Montesino

European Pied Flycatcher

Ficedula hypoleuca

Papamoscas Cerrojillo

Phylloscopus trochilus

Mosquitero Musical

Ferruginous Duck

Eurasian Siskin

Jilguero lúgano

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Críalo europeo

Botaurus minutus

Avetorillo común

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Aix galericulata

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Andarríos grande

Capra pyrenaica

Eurasian Red Squirrel

Sciurus vulgaris

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Eurasian Wild Pig

Jabalí europeo

West European Hedgehog

Erinaceus europaeus

European Badger

Nutria paleártica

Genetta genetta

Mustela nivalis

Egyptian Mongoose

Herpestes ichneumon

Rattus norvegicus

Greater White-toothed Shrew

Crocidura russula

Greater Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

Murciélago grande de herradura

Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus hipposideros

Murciélago pequeño de herradura

Southwestern Water Vole

Arvicola sapidus

Gray Long-eared Bat

Plecotus austriacus

Murciélago orejudo gris u orejudo meridional

European Garden Dormouse

Eliomys quercinus

Long-tailed Field Mouse

Apodemus sylvaticus

Ratón de campo

Savi's Pipistrelle

Murciélago montañero

Lepus granatensis

Liebre ibérica

Talpa occidentalis

Western Mediterranean Mouse

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