Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2000 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | LC | winter (1997) | 529–805 individuals | A4i, B1i, C2 |
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | LC | passage (1997) | 500–1,500 individuals | A4i, B1i, C2 |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | breeding (1997) | 50–60 breeding pairs | C6 |
| Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | LC | breeding (1997) | 100–180 breeding pairs | B2 |
| Slender-billed Gull Larus genei | LC | breeding (1997) | 50–100 breeding pairs | C2 |
| Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis | LC | winter (1997) | 5,615–8,700 individuals | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis | LC | breeding (1997) | 4,000 breeding pairs | A4i, B1i, C3 |
| Little Tern Sternula albifrons | LC | breeding (1997) | 50–100 breeding pairs | C6 |
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | LC | breeding (1997) | 10–15 breeding pairs | C6 |
| Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla | LC | breeding (1997) | 50–250 breeding pairs | C6 |
| Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon | LC | breeding (1997) | 50–250 breeding pairs | C2, C6 |
| A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes | n/a | passage (1991) | min 20,000 individuals | A4iv, B1iv, C5 |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Salses-Leucate | Hunting Reserve (-) | 1 |
| - | La Rigole | Hunting Reserve (-) | <1 |
| 1982 | LE BOURDIGOU | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 1983 | PLA DE LAS FORQUES | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 1984 | Mas Larrieu | Réserve naturelle nationale (IV) | <1 |
| 1987 | DOMAINE DE FRESCATI | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 1994 | PLATEAU DE LA FRANQUI | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 1994 | LA CARAMOUN | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 1996 | Moulin d'Ensourd | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 1997 | LES COUSSOULES | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 2000 | ETANG DE LA PALME | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 2000 | RIVES DE FITOU | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 2003 | La Narbonnaise en Méditerranée | Parc naturel régional (V) | 2 |
| 2003 | LE MOURET | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 2006 | ETANG DE SALSES | Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral (IV) | <1 |
| 2011 | Golfe du Lion | Parc naturel marin (V) | 69 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | minor (<10) | Highly improved re-seeded landscapes; Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Urban parks and gardens; Ruderal land |
| Forest | minor (<10) | Native coniferous woodland; Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved evergreen woodland |
| Grassland | minor (<10) | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland |
| Marine Neritic | minor (<10) | |
| Shrubland | minor (<10) | Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| hunting | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Etangs de Leucate et Lapalme (France). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/etangs-de-leucate-et-lapalme-iba-france on 25/01/2025.