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ES071
El Pardo-Viñuelas
Location Spain, Comunidad de Madrid
Central coordinates 3o 45.00' West  40o 35.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A3, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C6
Area 34,000 ha
Altitude 500 - 746m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information Breeding birds include six of the 20 species in Europe that are restricted to the Mediterranean biome (when breeding).

Site description The site covers the foothills of the Sistema Central, immediately to the north of Madrid. It is an area of dehesa and grassland.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Black Stork Ciconia nigra passage  1996  10-20 individuals  good  B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus resident  1996  3 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Near Threatened 
Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti resident  1996  9-10 breeding pairs  medium  A1, B2, C1, C6  Vulnerable 
Common Crane Grus grus passage  1995  500-1,000 individuals  medium  B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo breeding  1996  15-20 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis breeding  1996  50 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans breeding  1996  25 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata breeding  1996  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor resident  1996  200 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura breeding  1995  3 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica breeding  1996  10 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park 46,323 protected area overlaps with site 15,000  
Cuenca Alta del Río Manzanares UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 101,300 protected area overlaps with site 15,000  
Cuenca del ro Manzanares - ES3110004 Habitats Directive 63,305 protected area overlaps with site 31,172  
Monte de El Pardo - ES0000011 Birds Directive 15,289 protected area contained by site 15,289  
Soto de Viñuelas - ES0000012 Birds Directive 2,977 protected area contained by site 2,977  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved evergreen woodland  60%
Shrubland Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis  15%
Grassland Dry siliceous grassland  20%
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams  10%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Forestry plantations; Ruderal land  35%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
military 5%
tourism/recreation 5%
urban/industrial/transport 5%
water management 10%

Management considerations The main threat is the expansion of nearby conurbations and associated infrastructure such as the construction of new roads. The river is threatened by industrial pollution. Introduced mink Mustela vison may also be a threat.

Protection status National Partial International Partial15,000 ha of IBA covered by Natural Park (Cuenca Alta del Rio Manzanares, 46,323 ha). 15,000 ha of IBA covered by Biosphere Reserve (Cuenca Alta del Rio Manzanares, 101,300 ha). 14,774 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Monte de El Pardo, 14,774 ha). 4,532 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Soto de Viñuelas, 4,532 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: El Pardo-Viñuelas. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

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