Page 87 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

INTRODUCING NOR THERN SP AIN  85

Distribution of Broad-Leaved Forests 0 kilometres 100
0 miles 100

Key Above 1,000 mm
Below 1,000 mm
Oak
Beech
Chestnut
Dense broad-leaved forests tend
Average annual rainfall to grow in areas of Northern Spain
that have high precipitation.
Chestnut Forest Oak Forest
Chestnut trees grow on well- Three main species of oak tree –
drained acidic soils. They have pedunculate, Pyrenean and the
slender yellow flowers and in evergreen holm oak – dominate
summer produce their fruit, which the ancient wood lands of the
is eaten by wild boar, dormice, north. Over 300 species of animal,
Leaf and squirrels and mice. The wood is Oak leaf and acorn such as wild boar, squirrels and
chestnut hard and durable but splits easily. nut hatches, feed off oaks.
Large leaves
have sharp, Few massive, Grey twigs ending in
serrated spreading branches numerous buds
edges.

Deep spiral ridges
on trunk

The pipistrelle bat is a nocturnal species The jay, a member of
common in woodlands. It catches and the crow family, is a
eats small insects in flight. Larger common but some what
insects are taken to a perch. shy woodland bird with a
The bat hibernates in distinctively raucous cry. It can
winter in a hollow be identified in flight by its white
tree or cave. rump, black tail and above all by
its bright-blue wing patch.

Blue tits feed mainly Red squirrels bury large numbers
in the tree canopy of of acorns during autumn to last
broad-leaved woods and through winter, since these diurnal
rarely come down to the ground. creatures do not
The male and female have similar, hibernate. Many
distinctive plumage. They may of the acorns are
raise the back feathers of the left to sprout
crown if alarmed. into seedlings.

084-085_EW_Spain.indd 85 26/09/17 11:53 am