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Almost all vertebrate groups can be found on Medvednica:

Fish
Amphibian
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals




Fish


Brown Trout

Medvednica's streams are typical rapid mountain streams where commonly come little fish species. Recorded are: Chub ( Leuciscus cephalus), and endangered fish species - Brown Trout Salmo trutta m. fario, Schneider ( Alburnoides bipunctatus) and Southern Barbell (Barbus meridionalis) .




Amphibian

Amphibians, although land animals, are still during the large part of their life connected to water where they feed and breed. Here two groups can be found:
frogs and toads (Anura), and newts and salamanders (Caudata)


European Common Frog's eggs




Reptiles

Although, compared to coastal region and Dalmatia , continental region of Croatia has fewer Reptile species (unlike reverse proportion when speaking of Amphibians), on Medvednica we can still find few representatives, which can be divided into two groups: snakes and lizards. European Pond Terrapin (Emys orbicularis) has not been recorded in Nature Park Medvednica. In habitats closest to the Park it has been reported in Mirogoj's pond which was filled in around 1960.




Birds



JayBullfinch

About 70 nestling birds are recorded on Medvednica. Birds on Medvednica are distributed and connected to certain forest biotopes: ornitofauna changes with elevation.

In lower regions (where sessile oak, common hornbeam and sweet chestnut dominate) most often we can find Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Blue Tit ( Parus caeruleus ), Long-tailed Tit ( Aegithalos caudatuss ), and Spotted Flycatcher ( Muscicapa striata ). In oak forests we can find Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos minor ), Golden Oriole ( Oriolus oriolus ); Golden Oriole was recorded even on elevation of 800 m in Gorščica region. Hawfinch ( Coccothraustes coccothraustes ) likes hornbeam, maple and wild cherry forests, and feeds on its fruits. Greenfinch ( Carduelis chloris ) is a common species in forests close to settlements, fields, and meadows, as well as Common Canary ( Serinus canaria ), and Goldfinch ( Carduelis carduelis) . Near streams we can hear Nightingale ( Luscinia megarhynchos). Marsh Tit ( Parus palustris ) lives in moist forests with low layer of shrubs. In oak forests we can see Tree Pipit ( Anthus trivialis ), Common Treecreeper ( Certhia familiaris ), and Great Spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos major ) – which is dispersed from foothills to the peak of Medvednica.

European Nuthatch

In lower parts, in pure beech forest region, which follow oak forests, we find the least nestling birds. In beech forests on sunny expositions with shrub layer, and in stream valleys we can see Chaffinch ( Fringilla coelebs ) – the most common nestling bird on Medvednica, Robin (Erithacus rubecula) , and Tree Pipit. In stream valleys important are Red-breasted Flycatcher ( Ficedula parva ) and Wood Warbler ( Phylloscopus sibilatrix ). Near streams comes Blackcap ( Sylvia atricapilla ) – the most common bird on Medvednica, and Winter Wren ( Troglodytes troglodytes ).


ChaffinchRobin

Populations of Dipper ( Cinclus cinclus) and Wagtails – Grey Wagtail ( Motacilla cinerea ) and Pied or White Wagtail ( Motacilla alba ) depend on the quantity of food in streams, that is preservation of natural state and lack of pollution in streams, because they feed, nest and spend most of the day next to them. This especially applies to Dipper and its immediate habitat, since they almost never leave the stream (Kraljevec stream, Bistra stream, Vidak stream, Bliznec stream).

Dipper

In beech and fir biotope we encounter mountain ornitofauna, represented with the following species Hazel grouse ( Tetrastes bonasia ) – distributed on entire Medvednica, next to streams with plenty shrubs, Common Raven ( Corvus corax ) which is also one of the most rare birds on Medvednica. Common Buzzard ( Buteo buteo ) lives on the highest parts of Medvednica (Oštrica, Rauch's forestry, Goršćica). The most characteristic birds of evergreen part of Medvednica (fir forests on Oštrica) are Coal Tit ( Parus ater ), Crested Tit ( Parus cristatus ), Willow Tit ( Parus montanus ) and Gold crest ( Regulus regulus ).

Very important species that indicate the quality of a habitat or on which other birds that live in holes depend are Woodpeckers.

Steep rocks and cliffs, as well as trees with holes, are important for nesting of vultures. Those are already mentioned Common Buzzard , Northern Goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis ), Sparrow hawk ( Accipiter nisus ), Hobby ( Falco subbuteo ) and Common Kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ). From nocturnal vultures here comes Little Owl ( Athene noctua ), Long-eared Owl ( Asio otus ) and Tawny Owl ( Strix aluco ). Besides mentioned, it is possible that other species of diurnal and nocturnal vultures live on Medvednica, but until now no research was conducted that would systematical analyze all vultures.


Sparrow HawkLong-eared Owl



Boreal Owl

It would be too much to count out all bird species that habit in «Nature Park Medvednica», so in the end we shall mention just one more, which if you see don't think it is some tropical species that escaped from a pet shop. It is Hoopoe ( Upupa epops ) which nests in old trees, forest edges, near meadows, vineyards, orchards, and cultivated fields.

Hoopoe




Mammals

On Medvednica live a few groups of mammals. They are divided into insectivores (feed almost exclusively on insects), bats , rodents , beasts , and other mammals where deer, wild boar and rabbit belong.