Fauna

The name Nebrodi derives from the Greek nebros, meaning yearling. In fact, in the past there were a lot of yearlings (fallow deer, bears, and roe deer) and still the Nebrodi are the richest part of Sicily in fauna, despite the progressive environmental impoverishment. The last wolves were killed at the end of the 1920s and the bearded vultures, which flew above Rocche del Crasto, disappeared at the beginning of the 60s because of the poisoned bites scattered over the territory to kill foxes.
Thanks to its great environmental variety, Nebrodi Park houses rich and complex wildlife communities: there are several small mammals, such as the Porcupine the Wildcat and the Marten, reptiles and amphibians, many species of nesting and migratory birds, a huge number of invertebrates. In the Nebrodi, about 150 species of birds have been classified; among them there are some very interesting endemic species, like the Sicilian Marsh tit (Parus palustris siculus) and the Sicilian Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus siculus). The open areas at the edge of the woods are populated by many birds of prey, like the Buzzard (Buteo buteo), the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), the Lanner (Falco biarmicus), the Red kite (Milvus milvus), and the Peregrine (Falco peregrinus), while the harsh rocky areas rich in fissures of Rocche del Crasto are the kingdom of the Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). The Little grebe (Podiceps ruficollis), the Coot (Fulica atra), the Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), the Dipper (Cinclus cinclus), and the Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) prefer the wetlands, while in the pasture zones it is not difficult to sight the rare Sicilian Rock partridge (Alectoris graeca whitakeri), the unmistakable erectile tuft of the Hoopoe (Upupa epops), and the powerful flight of the Raven (Corvus corax. Moreover, within the territory of the Park there are many specimens of Sanfratellano horses; native to these mountains, they are a precious breed for their characteristic features and their limited number.