ES139
Mountains of Barcelona


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2011 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Stock Dove Columba oenas LC resident 1996 500-700 breeding pairs B3
Common Woodpigeon Columba palumbus LC resident 1996 10,000-40,000 breeding pairs B3
European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur VU breeding 1996 6,000-8,000 breeding pairs B2
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus LC breeding 1996 4,000-6,000 breeding pairs B2, C2
Common Barn-owl Tyto alba LC resident 1996 500 breeding pairs B2
Little Owl Athene noctua LC resident 1996 600-800 breeding pairs B2
Tawny Owl Strix aluco LC resident 1996 700-1,500 breeding pairs B3
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo LC resident 2009 13-24 breeding pairs B2, C6
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus LC breeding 2009 6-16 breeding pairs C6
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata LC resident 2009 min 3 breeding pairs C2, C6
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster LC breeding 1996 800-1,000 breeding pairs B2
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus LC resident 2008 min 23 breeding pairs C6
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica LC breeding 1996 4,000-10,000 breeding pairs B2
Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius LC resident 1996 300-400 breeding pairs B2

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2011).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2007 not assessed high low
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no unset poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Pollution excess energy - thermal pollution happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Residential and commercial development commercial and industrial development happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Residential and commercial development housing and urban areas happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Transportation and service corridors flight paths happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Transportation and service corridors roads and railroads likely in short term (within 4 years) some of area/population (10-49%) very rapid to severe deterioration high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) Not assessed Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity low
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Serra de Collcardús Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 568 protected area contained by site 0
Sauva Negra, la Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 111 protected area contained by site 0
Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 16,085 protected area contained by site 16,083
Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 16,085 protected area contained by site 0
Sant Llorenç del Munt i l`Obac Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 16,084 protected area contained by site 0
Sant Lloren del Munt I L'obac Nature Park 9,638 protected area contained by site 9,638
Roques Blanques Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 571 protected area overlaps with site 0
Riu Llobregat Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 262 protected area overlaps with site 0
Riu Congost Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 356 protected area overlaps with site 0
Riu Congost Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 357 protected area overlaps with site 175
Muntanya de Montserrat Parque Natural 3,494 protected area contained by site 0
Muntanya de Montserrat Reserva Natural Parcial 1,761 protected area contained by site 0
Montserrat-Roques Blanques-riu Llobregat Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 7,263 protected area overlaps with site 7,270
Montserrat-Roques Blanques-riu Llobregat Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 7,263 protected area overlaps with site 0
Montserrat Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 5,862 protected area contained by site 0
Montserrat Nature Park 3,992 protected area contained by site 3,630
Massís del Montseny Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 28,960 protected area is adjacent to site 0
Massís del Montseny Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 29,034 protected area is adjacent to site 0
Massís de Sant Llorenç del Munt i Serra de l`Obac Parque Natural 9,409 protected area contained by site 0
Gallifa-Cingles de Bertí Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 7,206 protected area contained by site 0
Gallifa-Cingles de Bertí Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 7,206 protected area contained by site 7,211
Gallifa Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 2,995 protected area contained by site 0
Gallecs Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 698 protected area contained by site 0
El Moianes i la Riera de Muntanyola Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 10,629 protected area overlaps with site 0
Cingles de Bertí Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) 4,211 protected area contained by site 0

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland, Native coniferous woodland, Mixed woodland, Broadleaved evergreen woodland -
Shrubland Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis -
Grassland Steppes and dry calcareous grassland -
Caves and Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic) Caves -
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable land, Perennial crops, orchards and groves, Other urban and industrial areas, Ruderal land -
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) Scree & boulders, Inland cliffs -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
forestry -
hunting -
urban/industrial/transport -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mountains of Barcelona. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mountains-of-barcelona-iba-spain on 24/09/2023.