The nature of Mt Gramos

The birds of Mt Gramos

A total of 145 bird species have been recorded on Mt Gramos and the western part of Mt Voio, more than 100 of which breed in the area.

As the mountain with the largest alpine meadows, endowed with vast forests, full of flocks of small livestock and subject to very little disturbance from human activities and settlement, Mt Grammos supported the entire mountain bird fauna of the Balkans until the middle of the 20th century.

The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) reigned over the peaks and ridges, while alpine Red-billed Choughs (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) grazed — quite literally — in the meadows. Furthermore, older records mention the presence of the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), and the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) — birds associated not with high altitudes per se, but with the traditional pastoralism of alpine grasslands. Today, no vulture species is recorded in the area.

Apart from the loss of the aforementioned three vulture species and the absence of the large forest birds — Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) and Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) — recorded in the area in the past and now having an extremely limited presence in the Balkans, Mt Grammos retains most of the bird diversity characteristic of a large mountain environment.

The abrupt changes that occurred during and after the Civil War — specifically, the initialy intense (albeit unproductive) human presence followed by the depopulation of the mountainous arc — led directly to the disappearance of numerous species that had existed in a state of ecological interdependence with the traditional economy.

Today, the alpine zone hosts only a few species typical of high-altitude mountain ecosystems. Among birds of prey, the Golden Eagle and two or three smaller eagle species remain, while the Griffon Vulture still makes sporadic appearances.

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) and the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) still inhabit the forests of Mt Grammos, alongside eight other woodpecker species.

Several species with a broader altitudinal range are also observed, including Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca), Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana), Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), Common Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) and Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris).

It should be noted, however, that Mt Grammos lacks the habitats of the lower altitudinal zones and specifically the most characteristic types of Mediterranean vegetation, such as phrygana and shrublands: these vegetation types not only foster greater biodiversity but, more importantly, provide opportunities for seasonal complementarity between foraging and refuge zones. Here, the habitats are predominantly mountainous; their richness stems largely from a mosaic jointly shaped by the terrain, soil and climatic conditions, and human activity. The area’s status as a border region also played a decisive role, granting it moments of tranquility amidst the ebb and flow of human history.

Passerines are more conspicuous, including species adapted to the weather conditions and resources of high altitudes, such as the White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis), the Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris), and the Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris).

Because birds have fairly clear preferences regarding habitat type and other characteristics such as elevation and land-use history, their diversity and adaptations are explored further in the dedicated chapters focusing on the mountain’s major landscapes.

Finally, surveys in the wider area have also recorded certain species that leave Lake Kastoria to roam local rivers and ponds in search of food—such as the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), and Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius). These occasional sightings are not included in the table below.

Birds of prey

Among the most sensitive taxonomic groups of birds, the raptors, the area supports a significant number of both diurnal and nocturnal species.

Among the large eagles we find the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) and Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus). The latter is a summer visitor, arriving in early March, nesting in tall trees in the pine forest and departing in September.

Of the large forest hawks (Accipitridae), all three Greek species occur here: Northern Goshawk (Astur gentilis), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) and Levant Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza brevipes). Among the smaller falcons (genus Falco), the species expected across the area’s range of habitats are present: Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), while Red-footed Falcons (Falco vespertinus) pass through the agricultural margins and Eleonora’s Falcons (Falco eleonorae) spread into the subalpine landscapes in early autumn.

In early summer, of particular interest is the presence of young Montagu’s Harriers (Circus pygargus), which arrive here from the lakeside areas of Kastoria and Florina.

English name	Latin name
Griffon vulture	Gyps fulvus
Golden eagle	Aquila chrysaetos
Short-toed snake eagle	Circaetus gallicus
Booted eagle	Aquila pennata
Bonelli's eagle	Aquila fasciata
Common buzzard	Buteo buteo
Long-legged buzzard	Buteo rufinus
European honey buzzard	Pernis apivorus
Levant sparrowhawk	Tachyspiza brevipes
Eurasian goshawk	Astur gentilis
Eurasian sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus
Peregrine falcon	Falco peregrinus
Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
Eleonora's falcon	Falco eleonorae
Eurasian hobby	Falco subbuteo
Red-footed falcon	Falco vespertinus
Eurasian hobby	Falco subbuteo
Montagu's harrier	Circus pygargus

Owls

Among nocturnal raptors, the most notable presences are the Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) and the Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo).

English name	Latin name
Eagle owl	Bubo bubo
Boreal owl	Aegolius funereus
Little Owl	Athene noctua
Tawny Owl	Strix aluco
Scops Owl	Otus scops

Corvids

Small flocks of Red-billed Choughs — an agile corvid of alpine landscapes with a highly fragmented distribution in Greece and a very small overall population — fly about the peaks.

English name	Latin name
Raven	Corvus corax
Red-billed chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Alpine chough	Pyrrhocorax graculus
Carrion crow	Corvus cornix
Eurasian jay	Garrulus glandarius
Eurasian magpie	Pica pica
Common starling	Sturnus vulgaris

Woodpeckers

Thanks to the great variety of forest environments — mature beech and conifer forests, open stands, meadows with standing dead trees, logged zones and untouched areas — woodpeckers, large insectivorous birds that depend on the presence of diseased and dead trees, are represented here by 9 of the 10 Greek species (only Picoides tridactylus has not been recorded; in Greece it is recorded sporadically only in the Rhodope mountain range).

This remarkable diversity is further enhanced by the presence of noteworthy species such as the Black Woodpecker and the White-backed Woodpecker.

The various woodpecker species share the area and food sources with minimal overlap: The Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) inhabits the heart of the mountain forest — in both pure coniferous stands and mixed beech forests with clusters of black pine — and specializes in extracting wood-boring insects from the decaying trunks of dead trees.

The Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) feeds primarily on ants, which it gathers from the ground. Consequently, it frequents deciduous forests interspersed with ravines and meadows, as well as agroforestry areas. However, it also requires old trees for nesting.

The Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus) has a mixed diet consisting of both ground-dwelling and bark-dwelling insects. It inhabits coniferous and broad-leaved forests—such as plane tree groves with poplars—featuring clearings and meadows, across a wide altitudinal range. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor) inhabits similar landscapes—such as the areas surrounding old, now-abandoned mountain settlements. Its beak lacks the striking power of its larger relatives, so it searches for insects and their larvae beneath the bark of dead trees.

The White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) prefers mixed forests of mature conifers (Abies and Pinus) and deciduous trees (specifically beech), ranging from mid-altitudes up to the tree line. It occurs very sparsely across a wide distribution range, and being extremely wary, it is one of the most difficult species to spot (and photograph).

The Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) inhabits mainly open oak and other deciduous forests in the Grammos region; its diet varies seasonally, ranging from ants and beetles to seeds and fruits.

The Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) also frequents this type of forest, as well as riparian forests (featuring ash and willow trees) at lower altitudes.

The Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) forages on the bark of diseased or old trees in semi-mountainous forests and in patches of deciduous trees interspersed with old orchards. It alternates between insects and fruits, depending on the season.

Finally, the smallest of them all, the Wryneck (Jynx torquilla), arrives in the summer and settles in lowland and mid-elevation oak forests. It primarily collects ants, foraging for them either in rotting logs or on the ground.

English name	Latin name
Black woodpecker	Dryocopus martius
European green woodpecker	Picus viridis
Grey-headed woodpecker	Picus canus
White-backed woodpecker	Dendrocopos leucotos
Great spotted woodpecker	Dendrocopos major
Middle spotted woodpecker	Dendrocoptes medius
Syrian woodpecker	Dendrocopos syriacus
Lesser spotted woodpecker	Dryobates minor
Eurasian wryneck	Jynx torquilla

Coraciiformes

English name	Latin name
European bee-eater	Merops apiaster
Eurasian hoopoe	Upupa epops

Storks

Ο κοινός Λευκοπελαργός φωλιάζει σε πολλές θέσεις στην περίμετρο του βουνού, ενώ μέσα στα όρια της περιοχής φωλιάζει ο Μαυροπελαργός.

English name	Latin name
White stork	Ciconia ciconia
Black stork	Ciconia nigra

Columbiformes

English name	Latin name
European turtle dove	Streptopelia turtur
Stock dove	Columba oenas
Common wood pigeon	Columba palumbus

Swallows, Martins & Swifts

English name	Latin name
Western house martin	Delichon urbicum
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica
Red-rumped swallow	Cecropis daurica
Sand martin	Riparia riparia
Eurasian crag martin	Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Alpine swift	Tachymarptis melba
Common swift	Apus apus
Pallid swift	Apus pallidus

Galliformes

English name	Latin name
Rock partridge	Alectoris graeca
Eurasian woodcock	Scolopax rusticola
Common quail	Coturnix coturnix

Cuckoos

English name	Latin name
Common cuckoo	Cuculus canorus

Finches

English name	Latin name
European goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis
Eurasian chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs
Brambling	Fringilla montifringilla
White-winged snowfinch	Montifringilla nivalis
Red crossbill	Loxia curvirostra
Common linnet	Linaria cannabina
European serin	Serinus serinus
European greenfinch	Chloris chloris
Eurasian siskin	Spinus spinus
Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Eurasian bullfinch	Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Thrushes

English name	Latin name
Mistle thrush	Turdus viscivorus
Song thrush	Turdus philomelos
Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris
Redwing	Turdus iliacus
Common blackbird	Turdus merula
Blue rock thrush	Monticola solitarius
Ring ouzel	Turdus torquatus
Common rock thrush	Monticola saxatilis

Buntings

English name	Latin name
Corn bunting	Miliaria calandra
Black-headed bunting	Emberiza melanocephala
Ortolan bunting	Emberiza hortulana
Rock bunting	Emberiza cia
Cirl bunting	Emberiza cirlus
Yellowhammer	Emberiza citrinella
Cretzschmar's bunting	Emberiza caesia

Sparrows

English name	Latin name
House sparrow	Passer domesticus
Eurasian tree sparrow	Passer montanus

Shrikes

English name	Latin name
Red backed shrike	Lanius collurio
Woodchat shrike	Lanius senator

Wagtails & Pipits

English name	Latin name
White Wagtail	Motacilla alba
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea
Western Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava
Tawny pipit	Anthus campestris
Water pipit	Anthus spinoletta
Tree pipit	Anthus trivialis

Larks

English name	Latin name
Crested lark	Galerida cristata
Eurasian skylark	Alauda arvensis
Woodlark	Lullula arborea
Greater short-toed lark	Calandrella brachydactyla
Horned lark	Eremophila alpestris

Ποταμίδες & Στριτσίδες

English name	Latin name
Icterine warbler	Hippolais icterina

Παπαδίτσες, τσομπανάκοι και συγγενή

In the forests of Mt Gramos — a mosaic of black pine, fir, and beech stands — lives a wide variety of woodland bird species.

The beech forest offers the richest opportunities for nesting and foraging. The heavy rustling of its dense foliage is barely interrupted by the faint calls of treecreepers, tits, warblers, and goldcrests.

English name	Latin name
Great tit	Parus major
Coal tit	Periparus ater
Long-tailed tit	Aegithalos caudatus
Eurasian blue tit	Cyanistes caeruleus
Crested tit	Lophophanes cristatus
Willow tit	Poecile montanus
Marsh tit	Poecile palustris
Wallcreeper	Tichodroma muraria
Sombre tit	Poecile lugubris
Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes
Short-toed treecreeper	Certhia brachydactyla
Eurasian treecreeper	Certhia familiaris
Western rock nuthatch	Sitta neumayer
Eurasian nuthatch	Sitta europaea

Forest warblers and kinglets

English name	Latin name
Eurasian blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla
Barred warbler	Curruca nisoria
Eastern subalpine warbler	Curruca cantillans
Common whitethroat	Curruca communis
Lesser Whitethroat	Curruca curruca
Common firecrest	Regulus ignicapilla
Goldcrest	Regulus regulus

Accentors

English name	Latin name
Alpine accentor	Prunella collaris
Dunnock	Prunella modularis

Leaf warblers

English name	Latin name
Willow warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus
Wood warbler	Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Common chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita
Eastern Bonelli's warbler	Phylloscopus orientalis

Nightjars

English name	Latin name
European nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus

Flycatchers

English name	Latin name
Spotted flycatcher	Muscicapa striata
Collared flycatcher	Ficedula albicollis
Semicollared flycatcher	Ficedula semitorquata
European pied flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca
Red-breasted flycatcher	Ficedula parva
Black redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros
Common redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Northern wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe
Western black-eared wheatear	Oenanthe melanoleuca
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra
European stonechat	Saxicola rubicola
European robin	Erithacus rubecula
Common nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica

Dippers

English name	Latin name
White-throated dipper	Cinclus cinclus

Sandpipers

English name	Latin name
Green sandpiper	Tringa ochropus

Orioles

English name	Latin name
Eurasian Golden Oriole	Oriolus oriolus

Research, text and photos: T. Adamakopoulos