ES139
Mountains of Barcelona


IBA Justification

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

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List1 Season (year[s] of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Stock Dove Columba oenas LC resident (1996) 500–700 pairs B3
Common Woodpigeon Columba palumbus LC resident (1996) 10,000–40,000 pairs B3
European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur VU breeding (1996) 6,000–8,000 pairs B2
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus LC breeding (1996) 4,000–6,000 pairs B2, C2
Common Barn-owl Tyto alba LC resident (1996) 500 pairs B2
Little Owl Athene noctua LC resident (1996) 600–800 pairs B2
Tawny Owl Strix aluco LC resident (1996) 700–1,500 pairs B3
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo LC resident (2009) 13–24 pairs B2, C6
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus LC breeding (2009) 6–16 pairs C6
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata LC resident (2009) min 3 pairs C2, C6
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster LC breeding (1996) 800–1,000 pairs B2
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus LC resident (2008) min 23 pairs C6
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica LC breeding (1996) 4,000–10,000 pairs B2
Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius LC resident (1996) 300–400 pairs B2

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2011) may differ.


IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2011. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2007 not assessed high low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no unset poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Transportation and service corridors happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Pollution happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Most of area (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

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (IUCN Category) % coverage of IBA
1982 Sant Lloren del Munt I L'obac Nature Park (V) 9
1987 Massís de Sant Llorenç del Munt i Serra de l`Obac Parque Natural (V) 8
1987 Muntanya de Montserrat Reserva Natural Parcial (IV) 2
1987 Muntanya de Montserrat Parque Natural (V) 2
1987 Montserrat Nature Park (V) 3
1992 Sant Llorenç del Munt i l`Obac Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (V) 14
1992 Montserrat Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (V) 5
1992 Cingles de Bertí Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (V) 4
1992 El Moianes i la Riera de Muntanyola Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (VI) 3
1992 Gallifa Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (V) 3
1992 Serra de Collcardús Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (V) 1
1992 Roques Blanques Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (V) <1
1992 Sauva Negra, la Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (V) <1
1992 Riu Llobregat Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (V) <1
2009 Gallecs Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (V) 1
2014 Riu Congost Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (V) <1

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial 26 Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Other urban and industrial areas; Ruderal land
Forest 26 Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Native coniferous woodland; Mixed woodland; Broadleaved evergreen woodland
Shrubland 26 Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis
Caves and Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic) - Caves
Grassland - Steppes and dry calcareous grassland
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) - Scree & boulders; Inland cliffs

Land use

Land use % of IBA
forestry 50
agriculture 30
hunting -
urban/industrial/transport -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mountains of Barcelona (Spain). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mountains-of-barcelona-iba-spain on 03/12/2024.