Species of interest
• The main groups presents are the greater raptors diurnal and nocturnal, picidaes and passerines, highlighting among the relevant species to the ornithological tourism short-toed eagle, green woodpecker, and the yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella).

• The community as a whole stands out for its diversity and be present of birds that take advantage of all the ecological niches: insectivorous that feed on soil and trees (with specialists climber nuthatch and the green woodpecker), frugivores (crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), thrushes) and predators that hunt inside the forest (goshawk, (Accipiter gentilis) and sparrowhawk (A. nisus)) and in open spaces (short-toed eagle), both day and night, and a superpredador (eagle owl, although nesting in rocks) between them.

• In the riverside forests will find many of the earlier species, which can be added in the areas most degraded others that have more predilection for bush, as the grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), wren, nightingale and Cetti’s warble (Cettia cetti).

Time of the year
• The forest species are essentially sedentary (26 of the 44 species), species richness is similar in reproductive season and in winter (32 species), with 6 species in migratory path. During the breeding period can be observed some species unique to summer Mediterranean areas, such as short-toed eagle and the scoops owl, this species will not be present during the winter.
Observation sites
• The wooded area is mainly distributed in the region by the mountains of southern Sierras Alpujata, Blanca and Mijas, although there are minor forest enclaves across it.

• In principle, all forests are suitable for observing these birds, but as a rule, the more diverse is the specific composition of its arboreal layer and more dense undergrowth, the greater abundance of different birds, and should therefore be avoided recent and less naturalized ones and are more appropriate holm oak and cork oak and pine mixed with scrub. Some of the birds cited show a certain preference for the pines, for example, the goshawk and sparrowhawk, the golden oriole, Jay and crested tit, other birds, however, are located preferably in the woods of quercinus this is the case of Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) and hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), or in the forest riverbank, as the nightingale and Cetti’s warbler.

Rocky cliff avifauna

© Photograph: Cinema Sur

Species of interest
• Emphasize the raptors like vultures, golden eagle, Bonelli’s eagle and the peregrine falcon, alpine and common swift,  Crag (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and house Martin, and jackdaw and chough.

• In El Chorro is the breeding colony of vultures is the largest in the province of Malaga, with 30 pairs and an increasing trend (national census of 1999). Also the presence of several breeding pairs of Bonelli’s eagle, golden eagle and peregrine falcon.

Time of the year
• All year is appropriate for bird watching rocky cliff species because the species present in the region are sedentary except for the common Egyptian vulture, swifts and house martin, the latter should be observed between March and August.

• By contrast, the actual increase in the number of species wintering populations with the rest of the continent, is the case with the peregrine falcon.

Observation sites
• These birds can be observed in addition to the cut and rocks, in the forest and scrubland environments that used to feed themselves. The best places are in the gorge of Gaitánes, there are also interesting populations in other Sierras, and the Tajo del Rayo, Alaminos river.

• Given their abundance and their habits wander and gregarious, the griffon vultures can be seen easily from anywhere in the north of Álora and Abdalajís valley during the hottest hours of the day, when formed thermal upstream flows, exploited by this species to planning, forming larger groups, or perched on any wall of the Gaitanes gorge.

• The 4 pairs of Bonelli’s eagle that can be seen, breed in the Sierra Blanca (Coin), Sierra Gorda (Coin), Sierra del Hacho (Slate), and the last in the Gaitánes gorge, outside the region, In the contiguous Municipality of Antequera.

Acuatic avifauna

Species of interest
• The birds wintering and resting during migration are the group most interesting. Among the species that make use of the mouth of the Guadalhorce are the anatidaes as common teal (Anas crecca), the pochard (Aythya ferina) or the white-headed duck, ardeidaes such as cattle egret or purple heron, the stone curlew , the lapwingThe European avefría (Vanellus vanellus), many gulls including the mediterranean gull, the cormorant, little bittern and several species of sandpiper.

• Although the greatest importance lies in the winter, there are also groups of nesting species like  golden plover (Pluvialis squatarola) and little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius), Kentish (Charadrius alexandrinus) and ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula), coot, moorhen and black-winged stilt.

Time of the year
• The greatest diversity of species and concentration of individuals takes place in winter, but only during the summer you can observe birds that have southernmost distribution as the black-winged stilt.

Observation sites
• The main point for observation of waterfowl in wetland is of the mouth of the Guadalhorce river, outside this region, but in physiographic continuity with it. Secondary can also be found some of these birds in other well-preserved stretches of the Guadalhorce River, upstream from the mouth.