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ES020
Picos de Europa mountain range
Location Spain, Asturias,Cantabria,Castilla y León
Central coordinates 4o 50.00' West  43o 10.00' North
IBA criteria A3, B1iii, B2, B3, C2, C6
Area 132,000 ha
Altitude 350 - 2,617m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information Breeding birds include four of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted to the Eurasian high-montane biome (when breeding).

Site description 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.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus resident  1995  5 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix resident  1996  60 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus resident  1996  100 breeding pairs  good  B1iii, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos resident  1996  7 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius resident  1996  15-20 breeding pairs  good  B3, C6  Least Concern 
Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius resident  1987  5 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus resident  1996  abundant [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria resident  1996  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis resident  1996  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris resident  1996  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Desfiladero de la Hermida - ES0000248 Birds Directive 6,350 protected area contained by site 6,350  
FUENTES CARRIONAS Y FUENTE COBRE-MONTAÑA PALENTINA - ES4140011 Birds Directive 78,179 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Liébana - ES0000198 Birds Directive 29,071 protected area contained by site 29,071  
Liebana - ES1300001 Habitats Directive 42,546 protected area contained by site 42,546  
Picos de Europa National Game Reserve 7,630 protected area contained by site 7,630  
Picos de Europa National Park 64,660 protected area contained by site 64,660  
Picos de Europa Nature Park 123,641 protected area overlaps with site 20,088  
Picos de Europa (Asturias) - ES1200001 Birds Directive 25,086 protected area contained by site 25,086  
PICOS DE EUROPA - ES0000003 Birds Directive 23,783 protected area contained by site 23,783  
PICOS DE EUROPA EN CASTILLA Y LEÓN - ES4130003 Birds Directive 101,337 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Ponga- Amieva - ES0000316 Birds Directive 28,102 protected area overlaps with site 3,728  
Ponga-Amieva - ES1200009 Birds Directive 28,100 protected area overlaps with site 3,708  
Rio Deva - ES1300008 Habitats Directive 398 protected area overlaps with site 326  
Ro Cares-Deva - ES1200035 Habitats Directive 269 protected area overlaps with site 128  
Sierra de Peña Sagra - ES0000249 Birds Directive 5,020 protected area overlaps with site 2,133  
Sierra del Cordel y cabeceras del Nansa y del Saja - ES0000251 Birds Directive 16,244 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Valles altos del Nansa y Saja y Alto Campoo - ES1300021 Habitats Directive 51,099 protected area overlaps with site 2,869  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland  30%
Shrubland Heathland; Scrub  20%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland; Humid grasslands  10%
Rocky areas Inland cliffs; Scree & boulders  25%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Highly improved re-seeded landscapes  10%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
forestry 5%
agriculture 45%
nature conservation and research 50%
tourism/recreation 10%
hunting 20%

Management considerations 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.

Protection status 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).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Picos de Europa mountain range. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife