Ornithological routes
Hoces del Jalón – Palo del Moro y Llanos de Calatorao – Alfamen
Hoces del Jalón – Palo del Moro y Llanos de Calatorao – Alfamen
ITINERARY
Hoces del Jalón en Ricla and Llanos de Calatorao-Alfamen
SPECIES
RESIDENT: Bonelli’s Eagle, Golden Eagle, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Eagle Owl, Long-eared Owl, Little Owl, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Kingfisher, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Red-billed Chough, Common Raven, Crag Martin, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Calandra Lark, Penduline Tit, Sardinian Warbler, Blackcap, Dartford Warbler, Rock Sparrow, Rock Bunting.
SUMMER: Egyptian Vulture, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Black Kite, Lesser Kestrel, Scops Owl, Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, European Bee-Eater, Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Sand Martin, Melodious Warbler, Short-toed Lark, Meadow Pipit, Black-eared Wheatear, Orphean Warbler.
OVERWINTERING: Hen Harrier, Merlin, Woodcock, Brambling, Siskin, Hawfinch, Wallcreeper, Reed Bunting.
MIGRANT: European Bee-Eater, Black Stork, Common Crane.
DESCRIPTION
RECOMMENDED TIME OF YEAR: Winter and spring.
HABITATS: Hoces del Jalón – Palo del Moro:- Mediterranean shrub, gallery forests and cliffs. Llanos de Calatorao – Alfamen: Unirrigated cereal fields, almond groves, steppes and isolated mediterranean shrub.
Black Kite. Photo: Miguel Ángel García
Egyptian Vulture. Photo: Miguel Ángel García
BIRDS
Eurasian Siskin
Carduelis spinus ES: Jilguero lúgano Description L: 12cm; W:20-23cm; Bird that presents a marked sexual dimorphism. Male with yellowish-green back, striped black; yellowish underparts and striated flanks; yellow rump; black crown and...
Brambling
Fringilla Montifringilla ES: pinzón real Description L: 14cm; W:24-26cm; This bird presents a marked sexual dimorphism, more striking in winter. Male breeding plumage with black head, bill, and back; in winter with a black-tipped yellowish...
Rock Bunting
Emberiza companyES: Escribano montesino Description L: 15-16.5cm; W:21.5-27cm; Brown-backed bird with black stripes; ocher underparts; grey head streaked with black on crown and cheeks. Both sexes of similar pattern and colour, but more...
Rock Sparrow
Petronia petronia ES: Gorrión chillón Description L: 15-17cm; W:28-32cm; Bird with a brown back with brown streaks and a white underpart with brown-grey streaks; Thick bill with grey upperparts; head with light supercilium, brown tail, with...
Northern Raven
Corvus corax ES: Cuervo grande Description L: 54-67cm; W:115-140cm; The largest bird within the passerines. Black plumage, with bluish and greenish reflections; "wedge" tail; stout bill and black legs. Both sexes are similar in plumage....
Red-billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax ES: chova piquirroja Description L: 37-41cm; W:68-80cm; Corvid with uniform shiny black plumage; long curved bill; red beak and legs. Both sexes do not present differences in terms of plumage. Juveniles with fresh...
Common Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclus ES: Escribano palustre Description L: 15-16.5cm; W:21-28cm; Wintering bird that shows sexual dimorphism in the breeding season. In autumn-winter, both sexes are similar with a reddish-brown head, ocher eyebrow and...
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustes ES: Picogordo común Description L: 18cm; W:29-33cm. Striking bird for its colour and size. Both sexes have a similar appearance; if anything, the female with paler plumage than the male. Brown back with ocher...
Eurasian Penduline Tit
Remiz pendulinus ES: Pájaro-moscón europeo Description L: 11cm; W:16-17cm; Very small bird, with conical and pointed beak and short wings; with an intense chestnut-scented upperpart and paler underparts, grey head (brown in winter), dark...
Wallcreeper
Tichodroma muraria ES: Treparriscos Description L: 15.5-17cm; W:27-32cm; Very beautiful bird of grey colour in the upper part; red coverts feathers in flight and grey underparts, or black when the male is in the breeding phase; Thin and...
Western Orphean Warbler
Sylvia hortensis ES: Curruca mirlona Description L: 15cm; W:20-25 cm; The largest of the Iberian warblers. The male has a black mask, forehead and crown, and a white throat; highlights the whitish iris; back grey-brown, smooth; wings and...
Sardinian Warbler
Sylvia melanocephala ES: Curruca cabecinegra Description L:13-14cm; W:15-18cm; Bird that presents a pronounced sexual dimorphism. The adult male has a black crown that reaches below the eyes with a striking red orbital ring; dark grey back...
Dartford Warbler
Sylvia undataES: Curruca rabilarga Description L: 12-13cm; W:13-19cm; Species with elusive habits, with similar plumage in both sexes. It has a dark grey back and vinous underparts; vinaceous throat with white flecks; long tail; with...
Melodious Warbler
Hippolais polyglotta ES: Zarcero políglota Description L: 13-14cm; W:20-24cm; Bird of inconspicuous plumage, with olive-green back and yellowish underparts; slightly marked yellow eyebrow; robust bill and brown legs; yellowish axillae; with...
Blue Rock Thrush
Monticola solitarius ES: roquero solitario Description L: 21-23cm; W: 33-37cm; The male in breeding plumage is bluish-grey; dark wings and tail; in winter with brown rims on the blue feathers. Female has grey-brown upperparts, bluish tinge...
Black Wheatear
Oenanthe leucura ES: collalba negra Description L: 18cm; W:26-29cm; Uniformly black body (male) or dark brown (female); white rump and undertail coverts; white tail with a central and terminal black band. Both sexes are similar, the male is...
Black-eared Wheatear
Oenanthe hispanicaES: collalba rubia Description L: 14cm; W:25-27cm; Male in breeding plumage with reddish ocher back; rump and upper coverts creamy white; black wings with white trim on the feathers; throat and sides of head black or black...
Tawny Pipit
Anthus campestris ES: Bisbita campestre Description L: 17cm; W:27cm; Summer species spread throughout the Aragon region in consistently low densities, in areas with sparsely covered vegetation. Observation difficulty: Medium Status:...
Eurasian Crag Martin
Ptyonoprogne rupestris ES: Avión roquero Description L:14cm W:33cm. Strong greyish-brown upperparts. Dirty white underparts and short, square tail. Up close, finely ridged throat. With white markings near the end of the rectrices. Both...
Sand Martin
Riparian riparian ES: Avión zapador Description L: 12cm. W:28cm. Bird with brown upperparts and white underparts, the chest has a brown band; with a short, slightly forked tail. Both sexes are similar. It nests near water and excavates its...
Thekla Lark
Galerida theklae ES: Cogujada montesina Description L: 17cm W: 28-32cm. Bird with brown plumage very similar to the Crested lark; it has a crest and an eyebrow on its head; outer tail feathers ochre; and a clearly striated chest; ocher...
Crested Lark
Cristata gallery ES: Cogujada común Description L: 17cm W: 29-38cm. Brown plumage similar to the Thekla lark, although with a larger wingspan; it has a crest and eyebrow on its head; ochre outer tail feathers; and diffusely striated chest;...
Greater Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachydactyla ES: Terrera común Description L: 13-14cm W: 25-30cm. Elongated beak and a straight lower mandible; It has a brownish upper part streaked with dark and white underparts, an unspeckled chest and two black spots on...
Calandra Lark
Melanocorypha calandra ES: Calandria común Description L: 18-19cm W: 34-42cm. Crestless head without crown and marked eyebrow, thick and strong beak. Brown upper part, with light edges, chest with fine stripes and two dark lateral spots...
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos minor ES: Pico menor Description L: 14-16 cm W: 24 -29 cm. Observation difficulty: Hard Status: Resident. Optimal Season: Dec-Jan Conservation Status: Protected species Habitat: Riverbanks Best places to see in Aragón ...
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major ES: Pico picapinos Description L: 23-26 cm. W: 38 – 44 cm. Back black, with two white spots on shoulders: white throat and chest; red underparts; white cheek and forehead; dark with white mottling wings; black tail with...
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridis ES: Pito real Description L: 16-17cm W: 25-27cm.This insectivorous bird has cryptic plumage with a grey-brown back; grey underparts with ocher chest and throat; transversely streaked grey and brown tail; brown beak and legs....
Eurasian Wryneck
Jynx torquillaES: Torcecuello euroasiático Description L: 16-17cm W: 25-27cm. This insectivorous bird has cryptic plumage with a grey-brown back; grey underparts with ocher chest and throat; transversely streaked grey and brown tail; brown...
Hoopoe
Upupa epops ES: Abubilla Description L 25-28cm. W: 44-48 cm. Brown back, with black and white transverse stripes; pinkish-wine chest, with white underparts; fawn-coloured head with a pinkish crest tipped with black and white; black wings...
European Bee-eater
Merops apiaster ES: Abejaruco europeo Description L: 27-29cm W: 44-49cm. Colourful insectivorous bird, with reddish-brown crown and anterior part of the back; golden yellow back; tail and underparts green; yellow throat and eyes covered by...
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis ES: Martín pescador comúnr Description L: 15-17cm W: 24-26cm. Bluish above, brownish-orange below, white throat, with a white spot on both sides of the neck. Sexual dimorphism is not very evident and is limited to the colour...
Long-eared Owl
Asio otus ES: Búho chico Description L: 31-37cm; W: 86-98 cm; Nocturnal raptor with striking facial design. It has a gray-brown to reddish-brown back, speckled with brown; ocher underparts; reddish-brown flight feathers; tail rufous with...
Little Owl
Athene nocturne ES: Mochuelo común Description L: 21-23cm; W: 51-54cm; With more diurnal habits than other owls, this owl has a brown back with rounded white spots; chest diffusely fringed brown and white; brown flight feathers, speckled...
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Bubo bubo ES: Búho real Description L: 57-75cm; W:140-188cm; Large nocturnal bird of prey with an ocher general color, speckled with dark; brown wings with transverse ocher stripes; white throat; bill dark; feet covered in buff feathers;...
Eurasian Scops Owl
Otus scops ES: Autillo europeo Description L: 19-21cm; W: 47-54cm; The smallest of the owls of the Iberian Peninsula. It has a gray-brown to reddish-brown back, with a fine pattern of stripes; paler abdomen, also vermiculated; flight...
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Pterocles alchata ES: Ganga ibérica Description L: 31-39cm; W: 55cm; Steppe smaller in size than the white-bellied sandgrouse. In breeding plumage, the male has a yellow-speckled back; black and yellow barred rump and long tail; Deep ocher...
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Pterocles orientalis ES: Ganga ortega Description L: 34-36cm; W: 65-70cm; Steppe bird with camouflage colors, compact and voluminous body, long wings and black belly. Male with gray back mottled with yellow; gray head, neck and breast;...
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticola ES: Chocha perdiz Description L: 33-38cm; W: 55-65cm; Wader of forest and solitary habits. Both sexes are similar, their cryptic plumage stands out, with gray upperparts with black and ocher stripes; gray underparts,...
Eurasian Stone-curlew
Burhinus oedicnemus ES: Alcaraván común Description L: 40-44cm; W: 77-85 cm; MediuMar-Sepized bird with sandy-toned plumage, with a large, bright yellow eye framed by two white lines; yellow bill with black tip and yellow legs; wings brown,...
Little Bustard
Tetrax tetrax ES: Sisón común Description In breeding plumage, the male has an ocher hood with black striations and the rest of the head is gray; black neck with white stripes, followed by a white and a black collar. In non-breeding...
Common Crane
Grus Grus ES: Grulla común Description L: 96-119cm; W: 180-222cm; Adult slate gray; throat, nape and sides of face black; sides of head and neck white; crown red; black primaries; long secondaries giving the appearance of being part of the...
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus ES: Halcón peregrino Description L: 38-51cm; W: 89-113cm; The largest of the falcons of the Iberian Peninsula. Adults with bluish gray back; pale underparts, finely barred with dark; dark head with broad mustache; tail...
Merlin
Falco columbariusES: Esmerejón Description L: 26-33cm; W: 55-69cm; The smallest of the European falcons. Adult male with slate gray back, finely striated; reddish underparts, streaked with brown; dark gray tail, with thin bands smaller than...
Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus ES: Cernícalo vulgar Description L: 31-37cm; W: 68-78cm; Raptor with pointed wings and long tail, with a black band near the end; dark nails; back brown, mottled in both sexes; light ocher underparts, mottled on body and...
Lesser Kestrel
Falco naumanni ES: Cernícalo primilla Description L:26-31cm; W: 66-72cm; Raptor with pointed wings and long tail, with a black band near the end; light nails; back brown, mottled only in female; light ocher underparts, speckled with dark;...
Bonelli’s Eagle
Aquila fasciata ES: Águila perdicera Description L: 60-70cm; W: 150-170cm; Adults with dark upperparts; underparts white, streaked with dark; tail grey-brown, with several dark bars; wings dark above and lighter and shaded dark below;...
Booted Eagle
Aquila pennata ES: Águila calzada Description L: 42-51cm; W:110-135cm; With feathers on the tarsi, covering even the fingers. It has two types of plumagW: a light phase with white underparts; neck and breast often with a tawny band; ocher...
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos ES: Águila real Description L: 76-96cm; W: 180-230cm; One of the best known birds of prey. The adult has dark brown plumage; head and nape golden; tail with diffuse transverse bands. In adult birds, the male has a darker...
Northern Harrier
Circus cyaneusES: Aguilucho pálido Description L: 44-55cm; W: 97 - 118cm; Adult male with gray head and back; gray underparts on chest and white on rest; wing tips black; gray tail; white rump. Adult female with dark brown back; light brown...
Short-toed Snake Eagle
Circaetus gallicusES: Culebrera europea Description L: 62-69cm; W: 160-175cm; Raptor with brown back and large head; tail with four transverse dark bands, the terminal one wider; dark throat and chest; white underparts streaked with brown;...
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus ES: Buitre leonador Description L: 95-110cm; W: 230-265cm; The most common of the Iberian vultures. Naked head and neck, with whitish down; light feather ruff; tawny plumage, with darker wings and tail; gray beak and claws...
Egyptian Vulture
Neophron perchnopterus ES: Alimoche común Description L: 55-65cm; W: 148-171cm; Adults white except wing feathers; head and throat without feathers, yellow. Both sexes are of similar size and plumage, the male being a little smaller than...
Black Kite
Milvus migransES: Milano negro Descripción L: 55-60cm; W: 130-155cm. Brown-backed bird; striped reddish brown underparts; clear crown streaked with black; Wings dark brown, with a diffuse dark spot at the base of the primaries; barred...
European Honey Buzzard
Pernis apivorus ES: Abejero europeo Description L:52-59cm, W:115-135cm. Bird with a brown back and some pale fringes; light underside with dark mottling; wings brown and light on the underside; with a general appearance very similar to the...
Black Stork
Ciconia nigra ES: Cigüeña negra Description L: 95-100 cm; W: 145-155 cm; Similar in size and shape to the white or common stork, from which it differs in its shiny black plumage and distinctive white underparts. Red beak and legs....
