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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2004 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
Rufous-throated Partridge Arborophila rufogularis	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Bar-backed Partridge Arborophila brunneopectus	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Blyth's Kingfisher Alcedo hercules	NT	resident (2002)	present	A3
Necklaced Barbet Psilopogon auricularis	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Red-vented Barbet Psilopogon lagrandieri	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineatus	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Moustached Barbet Psilopogon incognitus	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
White-winged Magpie Urocissa xanthomelana	NT	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Yellow-cheeked Tit Machlolophus spilonotus	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Grey-cheeked Warbler Phylloscopus poliogenys	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Grey-bellied Tesia Tesia cyaniventer	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Grey-crowned Tit Aegithalos annamensis	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Streaked Wren-babbler Gypsophila brevicaudata	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Mountain Fulvetta Alcippe peracensis	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush Garrulax castanotis	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Red-tailed Laughingthrush Trochalopteron milnei	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Yellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta solangiae	NT	resident (2002)	present	A2, A3
White-gorgeted Flycatcher Anthipes monileger	LC	breeding (2002)	present	A3
Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus	LC	breeding (2002)	uncommon	A3

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2004. The most recent assessment (2008) is shown below.

State (condition of the key species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	no deteri­oration (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Transportation and service corridors	likely in short term (within 4 years)	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	low
Natural system modifications	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	No manage­ment planning has taken place	Very little or no conservation action taking place	low

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	major (>10)
Grassland	minor (<10)

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Xe Sap (Laos). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/xe-sap-iba-laos on 21/01/2025.