The Artajona Food Forest is part of the European FOOD FOREST project, an initiative focused on the creation of sustainable agroforestry systems that combine food production, ecological restoration, and biodiversity enhancement. In this context, bird monitoring provides valuable information about the health of the ecosystem. The following species were recorded visually and/or by sound in the study area, reflecting the diversity of habitats present: open areas, hedgerows, scrubland, crops, and regenerating zones.
As an identification tool, Merlin Bird ID was used, and as a source of information on species distribution, ecology, and conservation status, SEO/BirdLife was consulted, which is also the source of the images used.
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
Family: Meropidae | Size: 44 – 49 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Afternoon
Distribution: Present across much of the Iberian Peninsula, especially in Mediterranean regions.
Habitat: Open landscapes with scattered trees and sandy banks where it excavates nesting tunnels.
Diet: Hunts flying insects, mainly bees, wasps (including the Asian hornet), hoverflies, and dragonflies.
Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Family: Alaudidae | Size: 30 – 36 cm | Conservation: VU (Vulnerable) | Detected: Morning
Distribution: Mainly found in northern Iberia, scarcer in the south; absent from the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.
Habitat: Open, treeless landscapes such as farmland, grasslands, moorland, and sparse scrub, from sea level to high mountains.
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects in summer and seeds and plant material in the rest of the year.
Woodlark (Lullula arborea)
Family : Alaudidae | Size: 27 – 30 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Afternoon
Distribution: Widespread in the Iberian Peninsula, though scarce in very arid areas and the Cantabrian north; absent from the Balearic and Canary Islands.
Habitat: Open and forest-edge landscapes with mosaics of grassland, scrub, and scattered trees, as well as open woodland.
Diet: Insectivorous in summer (spiders and insects), mainly granivorous during the rest of the year.
Western House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
Family: Hirundinidae | Size: 28 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning
Distribution: Breeds across the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla; only occurs on passage in the Canary Islands.
Habitat: Found in almost all environments but dependent on human structures for nesting, such as villages, bridges and cities, up to mid-mountain areas.
Diet: Feeds almost exclusively on small flying insects such as flies, mosquitoes, and aphids caught in flight.
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
Family: Cisticolidae | Size: 12 – 15 cm | Conservation: NT (Near Threatened) | Detected: Morning and afternoon
Distribution: Found in lowland and warm regions of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands, especially coastal areas and large river valleys.
Habitat: Occupies grass-dominated plains such as reedbeds, rushes, grasslands, and irrigated or cereal farmland.
Diet: Mainly feeds on insects captured within low vegetation.
Great Tit (Parus major)
Family: Paridae | Size: 22,5 – 25,5 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning
Distribution: Present throughout mainland Iberia, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla; absent from the Canary Islands and heavily deforested areas.
Habitat: All types of wooded environments, from forests and dehesas to orchards, parks, and riverbanks.
Diet: Mainly insects and larvae, with fruit consumption in autumn.
Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti)
Family: Cettiidae | Size: 15 – 19 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning and afternoon
Distribution: Widespread across Iberia and the Balearic Islands; absent from the Canary Islands and less common in highlands and some southern and north-western areas.
Habitat: Wetlands, riverbanks and dense vegetation near water, including reedbeds, riparian woodland, irrigated land and damp hedgerows.
Diet: Mainly invertebrates, especially insects associated with aquatic environments.
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Family: Alaudidae | Size: 15 – 19 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning and afternoon
Distribution: Mediterranean regions of Iberia; absent from most northern areas and from the Balearic and Canary Islands.
Habitat: Open, warm landscapes such as cereal fields, steppe, olive groves, dehesas, and human-modified environments.
Diet: Invertebrates, seeds, leaves and shoots, with a plant-based diet dominating in winter.
Western Orphean Warbler (Curruca hortensis)
Family: Sylviidae | Size: 20 – 25 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning
Distribution: Patchily distributed across Mediterranean Iberia; absent as a breeder from the Balearic and Canary Islands and Melilla.
Habitat: Open, lightly wooded habitats such as holm oak woodland, pine forests, juniper stands, and tree crops.
Diet: Invertebrates, supplemented with fruit and berries.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Family: Hirundinidae | Size: 33 cm | Conservation: VU (Vulnerable) | Detected: Afternoon
Distribution: Breeds across Iberia, the Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla; also present in the Canary Islands during migration and recently as a breeder.
Habitat: Nests in rural and urban buildings; forages over grasslands, farmland, wetlands, and water edges.
Diet: Flying insects, mainly flies and mosquitoes, caught at low altitude.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Family: Passeridae | Size: 21 – 25,5 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning and afternoon
Distribution: Widespread across Iberia, Balearics, Ceuta and Melilla; recently colonised Gran Canaria.
Habitat: Strongly associated with human settlements and agricultural areas; avoids dense forest and high mountains.
Diet: Omnivorous, mainly granivorous, also consuming fruit, insects and urban food waste.
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
Family: Fringillidae | Size: 21 – 25,5 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning and afternoon
Distribution: Throughout Iberia, Balearics, Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla; also joined by migratory individuals in autumn.
Habitat: Open landscapes with scattered trees, dehesas, farmland, river valleys and herb-rich areas.
Diet: Mainly seeds, especially thistles and other composites, plus flower buds.
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Family: Turdidae | Size: 34 – 39 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning and afternoon
Distribution: Common throughout Iberia, the Balearic and Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.
Habitat: Woodlands, scrub, farmland, orchards and urban parks.
Diet: Insects and earthworms, supplemented with fruit in autumn and winter.
Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
Family: Phasianidae | Size: 47 – 50 cm | Conservation: VU (Vulnerable) | Detected: Morning
Distribution: Widespread in Iberia and the Balearic Islands, most abundant in central and southern regions.
Habitat: Open landscapes such as farmland, grasslands, scrub and dehesas.
Diet: Seeds and vegetation, with insects especially important for juveniles.
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Family: Fringillidae | Size: 24,5 – 28,5 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning
Distribution: Widespread across Iberia, the Balearics, Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands.
Habitat: Woodlands, dehesas, parks and farmland with trees.
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on insects, buds, fruit and seeds.
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
Family: Muscicapidae | Size: 23 – 26 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning and afternoon
Distribution: Present in spring across most of Iberia, the Balearics and Ceuta.
Habitat: Scrub, riparian woodland and dense thickets.
Diet: Insects and fruit during migration.
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
Family: Picidae | Size: 25 – 27 cm | Conservation: VU (Vulnerable) | Detected: Morning
Distribution: Widespread across Iberia and the Balearic Islands; absent from the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.
Habitat: Open wooded areas such as orchards, dehesas, groves and parks.
Diet: Mainly ants and other invertebrates.
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Family: Columbidae | Size: 47 – 55 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning and afternoon
Distribution: Widespread across Iberia and the islands, with ongoing expansion.
Habitat: Urban, peri-urban and agricultural landscapes.
Diet: Seeds, grains and plant material.
Common Swift (Apus apus)
Family: Apodidae | Size: 45 cm | Conservation: VU (Vulnerable) | Detected: Morning
Distribution: Widespread across Iberia and islands.
Habitat: Highly aerial species, nesting in buildings and structures.
Diet: Flying insects.
European Serin (Serinus serinus)
Family: Fringillidae | Size: 20 – 23 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning and afternoon
Distribution: Widespread across Iberia and the Balearic Islands.
Habitat: Warm areas with scattered trees such as orchards, citrus groves, parks and open woodland.
Diet: Seeds, insects and occasional fruit.
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
Family: Fringillidae | Size: 24,5 – 27,5 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning and afternoon
Distribution: Widespread across Iberia and islands.
Habitat: Open woodland, gardens and farmland with scattered trees.
Diet: Seeds, fruit and occasional insects.
Zarcero políglota (Hippolais polyglotta)
Family: Acrocephalidae | Size: 20 – 24 cm | Conservation: LC (Least Concern) | Detected: Morning
Distribution: Widespread across Iberia; present in Ceuta and Melilla.
Habitat: Semi-open areas with shrubs, woodland edges and riparian thickets.
Diet: Invertebrates and fruit before migration.
