European forests
Forests cover almost half of Europe’s land surface and the extent of this coverage is expanding. The complicated structures of forests provide an ideal habitat for a wide range of species. In forest ecosystems dead wood is just as important as living trees, with many species depending on it for shelter or as a food source.
European forest species
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Alpine shrew (Sorex alpinus)
A small, secretive, mouse-like species, the alpine shrew (Sorex alpinus) is slender-bodied and…
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Azores bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina)
The Azores bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina) has an exceedingly small range, being confined to the island…
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Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus)
This species’ alternative names, the Barbary ape or rock ape are misleading; for though it lacks a…
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Bearded tooth (Hericium erinaceum)
The bearded tooth fungus is also known as the tree hedgehog fungus. It belongs to the family of…
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Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii)
The rare tree-dwelling Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii) has long, broad ears with a long lancet…
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Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
The beech is a magnificent large tree with a broad crown, and very smooth greyish bark. There are…
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Black grouse (Tetrao tetrix)
The black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), also known as 'blackgame' is one of Britain's most striking…
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Black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
The largest woodpecker in most of its range, the black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) is…
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Blue tit (Parus caeruleus)
The rather diminutive blue tit (Parus caeruleus) has yellow underparts, with a narrow, dark central…
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Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
The bluebell, popularly thought of as Britain's national flower , is a bulbous spring flowering…
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Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
The brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) is a medium-sized finch with attractive orange plumage on…
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Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
One of the largest carnivores on Earth , the brown bear (Ursus arctos) is perhaps the most…
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Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
The male capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) is a game bird, and the largest member of the grouse family…
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Carbonell's wall lizard (Podarcis carbonelli)
Described as recently as 2002, Carbonell’s wall lizard (Podarcis carbonelli) is a relatively small…
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Corsican nuthatch (Sitta whiteheadi)
One of only a few endemic island birds in Europe, the Corsican nuthatch (Sitta whiteheadi) is…
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Corsican painted frog (Discoglossus montalentii)
The Corsican painted frog (Discoglossus montalentii) has a slender body with an acutely rounded…
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Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
A well-known harbinger of spring, the arrival of the cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) in Britain is eagerly…
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Dark-tailed laurel pigeon (Columba bollii)
The dark-tailed laurel pigeon (Columba bollii) is a fairly small and relatively slim member of the…
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Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo)
Considered to be one of the largest owls in the world, the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is an…
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Eurasian elk (Alces alces)
The Eurasian elk (Alces alces), together with its close relative the moose (Alces americanus), is…
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Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)
The largest of the lynxes, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) has powerful legs, with slightly longer…
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European bison (Bison bonasus)
The European bison (Bison bonasus), or 'wisent', is similar in appearance to its North American…
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European polecat (Mustela putorius)
The largest member of the genus Mustela in Britain , the European polecat (Mustela putorius)…
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Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)
The fly agaric is an attractive, vibrantly coloured toadstool, which is familiar and instantly…
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Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Although the majestic golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is not Britains largest raptor (the…
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Grey wolf (Canis lupus)
The world’s largest wild canid, the iconic grey wolf (Canis lupus) has been a source of both fear…
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Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni)
A European tortoise, Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) has a distinctly coloured, yellow-orange…
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Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the world's most threatened species of cat , and is currently…
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King Alfred's cakes (Daldinia concentrica)
King Alfred's cakes, also known as 'cramp balls' is a hard, inedible ball-shaped fungus . The…
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Madeira pipistrelle (Pipistrellus maderensis)
A small bat with short, broad ears , the Madeira pipistrelle (Pipistrellus maderensis) belongs to…
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Noble chafer (Gnorimus nobilis)
This chafer is a very attractive insect. It has a metallic-green body which is speckled with white…
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Oak polypore (Piptoporus quercinus)
This fungus causes a brown rot of the heartwood of mature or dead oak trees. The stemless…
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Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)
The pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), the 'king of trees', has a special place in culture and…
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Peloponnese slow worm (Anguis cephalonnica)
Like other species of its kind, the Peloponnese slow worm (Anguis cephalonnica) is sometimes…
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Pine marten (Martes martes)
The elusive, generally nocturnal pine marten (Martes martes) has chestnut-brown to dark brown fur…
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Red kite (Milvus milvus)
The red kite has been described as 'the most beautiful bird of prey in Britain'. The plumage is a…
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Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
This attractive mammal has a chestnut upper body, with buff to cream underside, noticeable ear tufts…
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Red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
The red-breasted flycatcher is, at first glance, similar to a European robin in appearance; however…
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Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
As its common name suggests, the red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) can be instantly…
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Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)
Known as caribou in North America, the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) is a charismatic and hardy…
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Sanguinho (Frangula azorica)
A small tree with simple leaves arranged alternately, the sanguinho (Frangula azorica) lacks the…
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Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is one of only three native conifers found in the UK and our only true…
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Sicilian fir (Abies nebrodensis)
This tall evergreen tree is known only from a single location. It has the characteristic fir tree…
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Silver birch (Betula pendula)
One of the most familiar trees in the British countryside, the graceful silver birch is a genuine…
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Southern marbled newt (Triturus pygmaeus)
The southern marbled newt (Triturus pygmaeus) is a very distinctive amphibian with a fine network of…
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Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti)
This large eagle has a pale cream head and neck, but dark brown feathers elsewhere. There is a…
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Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus)
The stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) is arguably the most spectacular looking beetle in Britain; the…
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Tawny owl (Strix aluco)
The tawny owl (Strix aluco) is the most common and widespread British owl . It is most often heard…
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Wild boar (Sus scrofa)
Information on the wild boar is currently being researched and written is currently being researched…
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Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
The elusive wolverine (Gulo gulo) has a fearsome reputation - it is the largest member of the weasel…