Of the many reasons that Iberia has such a diverse array of bird life, the combination of landscapes and climate contribute highly. There are a little over 450 individual species of birds that can be found in Iberia.

Being at the western most point of Europe and given the proximity to Africa at the southern tip, many of these birds are passing through on their migrations. A good selection of these birds remains specifically for the summer breeding season. Alternatively, another collection of birds arrive in Iberia to spend the winter season in warmer climes from the north and east. Therefore there is a regular change of the temporary birds which accompany those which we call resident.

There are birds that come only from Iberia and do not leave, such as the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) and the Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla teydea). Both of these have been declining in numbers and are on the endangered list to receive highest protection. There are other species such as the Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) that suffered such losses across Europe that reintroduction programs in Spain are in place to ensure their continuation here.

The Blue Chaffinch is endemic to the Canary Islands. The already low numbers of this bird have been put at greater risk due to the fires destroying large parts of forest where they live and feed during the summer of 2007.

The mammals of Iberia vary from the better known Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) to the last remaining numbers of the endangered Wolf (Canis lupus signatus) and Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) and further to the little known semi aquatic Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus).

There are well over 100 species of mammals in Iberia from the tiny shrews to enormous whales. There are species that live in high mountain zones such as Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica), Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) and Mouflon a type of wild sheep (Ovis musimon) and at the opposite end of the scale, marine mammals such as Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melaena), Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba).

There is also a large bat population with 27 species of bats currently known to live in Iberia. The Greater Noctule Bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus) has recently been the subject of studies as it is thought to be preying on small migrating birds that fly through the area of Doñana National park at night.

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The Viperine snake (Natrix maura) spans the whole of Iberia, whilst other reptiles are restricted to a minute part such as the Spanish Algyroides (Algyroides marchi) of the Sierra Cazorla. The greatest numbers of endemic lizards are those isolated on the Canary Islands.

Including the Balearic and Canary islands, there are around 90 species of reptiles and amphibians in Iberia. Thirteen of these are snakes with only 3 of those being vipers. Snakes can be difficult to observe as generally they disappear at the first sounds of approach.

During the summer months, night active lizards (Geckos) will delight people with their wall clinging abilities whilst hunting for moths attracted to lights. During the daytime look quietly at emerged rocks and logs along river sides to see sunbathing Mediterranean Pond Terrapins (Mauremys leprosa). They are sensitive to the slightest movement and will quickly dive if they feel threatened.

The Chameleon is fast losing its coastal habitat in the south due to the unlimited building boom. It is a fascinating reptile sadly unable to live inland away from the expanding concrete and curious domestic cats. This coastal growth also has a destructive effect on breeding grounds of sea turtles and tortoise.

In order to avoid even more categories to click into, the list of articles below is alphabetically orderdered by the use of a letter before the species that affectively groups animals together by type...

(A) = Snakes, (B) = Lizards, (C) = Skinks, (D) = sSow worm and Worm lizard, (E) = Salamanders and Newts, (F) = Frogs, (G) = Toads. As we write more articles we'll add more letters to the front of other species such as terrapins.