Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A rugged limestone karst landscape, with expanses of rocks, cliffs, two deep gorges and two small mountain lakes. Grasslands predominate, but in the lower areas there are extensive deciduous woods. Human activities include tourism, livestock-farming and game hunting.
Breeding birds include four of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted to the Eurasian high-montane biome (when breeding).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
A funicular railway is being built in the core area of the National Park and other infrastructure is being developed for tourism. Grassland burning, illegal hunting and the unsustainable exploitation of game species are also threats.
National Partial
International Partial64,660 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Picos de Europa, 64,660 ha). 7,630 ha of IBA covered by National Game Reserve (Picos de Europa, 7,630 ha). 20,088 ha of IBA covered by Regional Park (Picos de Europa, 120,760 ha). 16,925 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Montaña de Covadonga, 16,925 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Picos de Europa mountain range (Spain). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/picos-de-europa-mountain-range-iba-spain on 23/12/2024.
