Page 45 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

LOWLAND HEATH AND MEDITERRANEAN SCRUB

ADAPTATIONS
Enormous pupils allow the Stone-curlew to feed WHERE TO WATCH
at dawn and dusk; its large eyes are ideal for maximum
light gathering.They shrink to pinpoints by day.
The long, slender tail of the Sardinian Warbler
helps it to balance as it tips up to dive head first into
a bush; the tail is also used to warn others
of potential danger.
Big eyes and very
short, wide bills
fringed with bristles
characterize the Red-
necked Nightjar and Nightjar. HEATH AND WOODLAND IN THE NEW FOREST
Both these adaptations allow 1 NEW FOREST,UK 4 MAJORCA
them to feed after dark, This is a large, rolling tract of This has many areas of heathland
catching flying moths in heath and forest. The grass is worth exploring to see local
their mouths in mid-air. SARDINIAN WARBLER kept close-cropped by ponies, Marmora’s and Spectacled
The hooked bills which makes the area ideal for Warblers as well as Subalpine
and Sardinian Warblers. It is
Woodlarks. The gorse and
of Shrikes allows the heather areas also good for Thekla Larks and
birds to tear at their attract Dartford Short-toed Larks. Some areas
prey, but their feet are Warblers. Snipe also attract Stone-curlews, Rock
Sparrows, Woodchat Shrikes,
and Curlews
not especially strong. nest in damp and Rock Thrushes.
Instead, they impale patches, while
large prey such as Hobbies feed 5 ALGARVE,
lizards, small birds, and over open heath. PORTUGAL
beetles on thorns, so DARTFORD This part of Iberia has a mixture
WARBLER of sand dunes, open woodland,
that they can tear at wetland, and rich Mediterranean
them easily. scrub. Birds to be found here
NIGHTJAR 2 BRECKLAND,UK include Short-toed, Crested,
Woodlarks and Nightjars breed in and Thekla Larks, Great Spotted
BOOTED EAGLE felled conifer plantations on the Cuckoo, and Sardinian, Subalpine,
A small eagle, this species hunts dry, sandy soil in this area, while and Spectacled Warblers.
other birds and small mammals Stone-curlews nest on the grassy
that are plentiful on bushy heaths and nearby fields. The
grassland also attracts Wheatears,
slopes and heaths.
Stonechats, and Curlews.
3 LA CRAU,FRANCE
An area of very dry, stony plains,
with Little Bustards, Pin-tailed
Sandgrouse, Rollers, Stone- SUBALPINE WARBLER
curlews, and various larks.
Heath and scrub areas

1 2

BIRD-RICH SCRUB
This bushy habitat is full of flowers and 3
5
insects, so offers up an abundance of
4
food for birds that eat seeds or large
and small insects. The undergrowth also
provides plenty of secure nesting places.

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