This species is distributed across the entire southern Palaearctic, with populations extending into Asia (BirdLife International, 2024). In Europe, its distribution is linked to the Mediterranean arc, with its northern limit in the Alps and the Carpathians (Keller et al., 2020). In Spain, its distribution is closely associated with the main mountain systems of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands, although breeding populations also occur in lowland areas on cliffs along river courses, escarpments, rocky areas, as well as quarries and human infrastructures in rural and urban environments (Prieta in SEO/BirdLife, 2022).

In the Community of Madrid, it mainly breeds in the mountainous areas of the Sierra, where it reaches high altitudes. There are also isolated populations in lowland areas associated with river cliffs (Díaz et al., 1994).

Within the national park, it uses the rocky area of La Pedriza as a preferred breeding site in the surrounding environment of the protected area. There is also another breeding nucleus at the Navacerrada Pass, where an important population is associated with local infrastructure and buildings.