Herdade da Contenda and bird diversity

With a high bird diversity, Herdade da Contenda is an excellent place to discover

Herdade da Contenda is located in the municipality of Moura with an area of more than 5,250 hectares belonging to the Municipality of Moura since 1893. It is located at the western end of the Serra Morena, bordering Spain and the municipality of Barrancos.

As we walk along the paths we can see the radical change in the landscape that contrasts between the pine forests and more rugged terrain to the south with the holm oak forests to the north, with a strip of Mediterranean scrub dividing it. This landscape diversity of high ecological value earned it the National Landscape Award in 2020.

With a high natural wealth, the territory of Contenda is home to one of the most important colonies of cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) in Portugal, which currently has around 15 breeding pairs.

This territory is included in the Natura 2000 Network, integrated into the Mourão/Moura/Barrancos Special Protection Area and also in the Moura/Barrancos Special Area of Conservation. The biodiversity of this area is notable, with more than 440 species of plants, 133 species of birds, 18 species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles, 10 species of amphibians, 3 species of fish and 10 natural habitats of community interest being inventoried to date.

In terms of birdlife in the region and in addition to the nesting of the cinereous vulture, it is also a place where occurs the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), the short-toed eagle and the red kite (Milvus milvus) and black kite (Milvus migrans). The diversity of existing habitats, such as scrublands, water courses, forest areas and holm oak forests, also favor the presence of several species of passerines, such as the blue rock trush (Monticola solitarius), the IIberian green woodpecker (Picus sharpei), the mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) and the Iberian magpie (Cyanopica cooki).

We will soon organize bird watching tours

Taking into account the great potential for bird watching and nature in general, we are designing tours to visit Herdade da Contenda. The tours will last one day or more and can be combined with other destinations according to the interests of the participants. More details will soon be released about the tours that will be developed in partnership with Herdade da Contenda.

If you don't want to miss the opportunity to get to know Herdade da Contenda and participate in future bird watching tours, pre-book now.

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