Mountains and inland of Croatia - habitats and birds

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Mountains and inland of Croatia - habitats and birds are presented here by ornithologically significant areas, arranged according to their geographical position.

Coastal region 

distinctive feature: mountains of Croatian coastal region rise directly from the sea

Velebit area 

Area description: this is the widest Croatian mountain range, and a nature park, the largest in Croatia. All types of forest, open, rocky and mixed habitats are present here.  However, the majority of the species which make this area important inhabit the forests; in particular, mixed fir and beech forests in the north (in the Northern Velebit National Park) and beech forests in the south. The spruce forests, as well as black pine and hop hornbeam forests, are of the same importance. Rocky habitats with exposed cliffs are prevailing in Velika and Mala Paklenica (Paklenica National Park). 
Types of habitats are forests (alpine, birch and mixed fir and birch), sub Mediterranean thermophilic forests and pubescent oakshrub, Mediterranean dry grasslands, mesophile grasslands and highland grasslands, rocky and mosaic habitats of arable and abandoned fields

position of the Velebit Mountain range Velebit Mountain view Rock Partridge - Alectoris graeca Orphean Warbler - Sylvia Hortensis

Birds:

One of the most important breeding areas for Capercaillie, Pygmy and Tengmalm’s Owl, White backed Woodpecker and Ortolan Bunting in Croatia. Other interesting species here are Rock Partridge, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Orphean Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Alpine Accentor, Lesser Grey Shrike, Woidchat Shrike, Black-headed Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Short-toed Eagle, Scops Owl, Eagle Owl, Alpine Swift, House Martin, Water Pipit, Tawny Pipit, Black-eared Wheatear, Rock Bunting.

Ravni kotari area  

Area description: Probably the largest Croatian population of Montagu´s Harrier dwells in this broad open habitat, while in the new pubescent oak forests which encroach on meadows, dwells the second biggest Croatian population of Olive-tree Warbler.
Types of habitats are salt meadows, mediterranean dry grasslands, sub Mediterranean thermophilic forests and pubescent oak shrub, intensively cultivated arable land and mosaic habitats of arable fields and olive tree groves

position of Ravni Kotari Ravni Kotari Short-toed Lark - Calandrela brachydactyla Eagle Owl - Bubo bubo

Birds:

Besides the aforementioned populations of Montagu's Harrier and Olive-tree Warbler, here you may see Short-toed Eagle, Rock Partridge, Merlin, Common Crane, Eagle Owl, Nightjar, Roller, Calandra Lark, Short-toed Lark, Woodlark, Tawny Pipit, Red-backed Shrike.

Mosor, Kozjak and hills surrounding Trogir

Area description: A xeric rocky area, with cliffs suitable for breeding of birds of prey. This is the only area for nesting Lanners in Croatia in recent years. Open habitats and mosaics are a very important nesting area of Olive-tree Warbler in Croatia. Forest habitats are represented by young sub Mediterranean forests and shrubs.
Types of habitats are Mediterranean dry grasslands, Mediterranean thermphilic forests and pubescent oak shrub, Mediterranean shrub, holm oak macchia and forests, mosaic arable and rocky areas position of the Trogir area Trogir area Tawny Pipit - Anthus campestris Golden eagle - Aquila chrisaetos

Birds:

Besides the Olive-tree Warbler, here are to be found also: Short-toed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Lanner, Hen Harrier, Eagle Owl, Nightjar, Woodlark, Tawny Pipit, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Ortolan and Great Spotted Cuckoo.

Area of Dinara Mountain

Area description: Dinara is the highest mountain in Croatia with the largest mountain pastures in the country. Here dwells the only nesting population of Shore Lark in Croatia. This area has wide rocky habitats and cliffs, while the forest habitats are represented by new sub Mediterranean woods and hop-hornbeam shrub on the hills. Dwarf pine shrub is intensively encroaching on pastures on the higher altitudes of the mountain.

Types of habitats here ara pubescent oak shrub and forest, other kinds of forests, Mediterranean meadows and mosaic arable fields position of Dinara Mountain in Croatia A view to the Dinara Mountain Nightjar - Caprimulgus Europaeus Peregrine Falcon - Falco Peregrinus 

Birds:

Short-toed Eagle, Rock Partridge, Peregrine Falcon, Eagle Owl, Woodlark, Nightjar, Tawny Pipit, Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Ortolan.

Biokovo Mountain 

Area description: Biokovo is a high mountain, prevailingly a rocky habitat with cliffs, especially on its coastal side. The prevailing forest types here are sub Mediterranean white oak forests and aleppo pine groves. Most of the open habitats are rocky with dry grasslands. This is a nature park.
Types of habitats are sub Mediterranean thermophilic forests and pubescent oak shrub, Mediterranean dry grasslands, rocky and mosaic habitats of arable and abandoned fields

position of Biokovo Biokovo Mountain Rock Thrush - Monticola saxatilis Black-eared Wheatear - Oenanthe hispanica melanoleuca

Birds:

It is the second most important breeding area of Ortolan Bunting. Other important species on this area are: Short-toed Eagle, Rock Partridge, Scops Owl, Eagle Owl, Pallid Swift, Alpine Swift, Alpine Accentor, Water Pipit, Black-eared Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Orphean Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sombre Tit, Lesser Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Rock Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Alpine Chough.

Source of data: State Institute for Nature Protection, photos by Ivica Lolic, Dare Sere, Val Tours

Other regions coming soon...

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