Data Zone
Country/territory: Canada
IBA criteria met: -
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1,200 ha
Site description (baseline)
Barachois de Malbaie is a lagoon near the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, 11 km northwest of Percé, Québec. The site encompasses an area between a long, narrow sandbar and Highway 132 to the west. A variety of aquatic and upland habitats, such as marsh, forest and raised bog are found behind the sandbar. Bog habitat is quite rare in the region and the site contains plant species of alpine and arctic affinity that are considered rare in Québec. A high diversity of zooplankton and other benthic fauna reflect the high productivity of the water. Sixteen species of mammals have been seen here.
Key biodiversity
Barachois de Malbaie is an important stopover area for migrating waterfowl, especially geese and dabbling ducks. In spring, large numbers of Brant (eastern subspecies hrota) congregate to feed at this site. A high count of 2,000, in 1979, represents about 1.6 % of the eastern subspecies’ population.
The Malbaie sandbar checklist (1978) has 189 species: this avian diversity is impressive considering the site’s small size. Of the 189 species on the checklist, 102 breed on-site, 65 are migrants, and the remaining birds are classified as occasional vagrants. The number of species frequenting the site is 155 during spring and fall migration, 124 in summer and 20 in winter. The site is favourable to migrating dabblers like American Black Duck (685 birds in fall migration, 1976), Green-winged and Blue-winged teal, Mallard, and Wood Duck. Canada Geese can be seen in the spring in large numbers. For instance, 6,000 birds were recorded in 1982. Large flocks of gulls, terns, herons, cormorants and shorebirds are also commonly seen. Offshore, especially in fall, groups of divers and pelagic birds like Northern Gannet and Black-legged Kittiwake can be found.
This sandbar is one of five sites in the region offering favourable habitat for breeding Yellow Rail; the marsh can support up to five potential breeding males. It is one of only two sites in the province where nests of this secretive species have been discovered.
Two species that are classified as nationally at risk, Harlequin Duck (eastern population) and Short-eared Owl, frequent the site in low numbers during migration. Other species that breed very locally in Québec, can be observed at the site. These species include Horned Grebe, Caspian Tern and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barachois de Malbaie. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/11416 on 31/05/2023.
