Blogs posted from this ecoregion:
- Out of Africa in Morocco (January 2026)
This ecoregion, the purplish strip below, is exclusive to the high-altitude Atlas Mountains of Morocco (2700 m to 4167 m).
The adjacent ecoregion which encloses more of the ecoregion is the Mediterranean Woodlands and Forests (PA1214); parts of the ecoregion to the northwest are bordered by the green Mediterranean Conifer and Mixed Forests (PA0513).
Description of the Ecoregion
Adapted from the ecoregion’s Wikipedia page, the ecoregion is an area of montane grasslands and shrublands. Characteristic plant communities are open woodlands of Juniper (Juniperus thurifera) and Evergreen Holm Oak (Quercus rotundifolia). About 3200 m, open grasslands and bare rock extend from the treeline to the summits of the Atlas range.
At lower elevations, the juniper and oak woodlands transition to evergreen broadleaf forests, which extend up to 2800 meters elevation on humid north-facing slopes, and xeric conifer forests extend from 1500 meters elevation up to 3100 meters on drier south-facing slopes.
Birds of the Ecoregion
Wikipedia notes that: “native birds include the Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis). Toubkal National Park is home to a breeding population of White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer), as well as African Crimson-winged Finch (Rhodopechys alienus) and a local subspecies of the Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris atlas).
Resources for the Ecoregion Birder
No particular resources have yet been identified.
DJG: 0 spp. (April 2025)