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PT008
Malcata mountains
Location Portugal, Centro
Central coordinates 7o 2.00' West  40o 15.00' North
IBA criteria A3, C6
Area 16,361 ha
Altitude 425 - 1,078m
Year of IBA assessment 2002

Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves



Ornithological information An important area for breeding raptors, being one of only two breeding sites known for Aegypius monachus in Portugal in recent years.

Site description A medium-sized mountain range with rolling hills covered with scrub and conifer plantations. There is a sharp difference in vegetation-types between the northern and southern slopes, with the former having a colder and more continental microclimate, while the latter is more Mediterranean in character.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus resident  1998  1 breeding pairs  good  C6  Near Threatened 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  1998  2-4 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus breeding  1998  4-5 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus breeding  1998  3-4 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo resident  1998  1-2 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis breeding  1998  rare [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
European Roller Coracias garrulus breeding  1998  1-2 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Near Threatened 
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala resident  1998  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans breeding  1998  abundant [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata breeding  1998  uncommon [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor resident  1998  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica breeding  1998  uncommon [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Malcata - PTCON0004 Habitats Directive 79,079 protected area contains site 16,361  
Serra da Malcata Biogenetic Reserves 21,759 unknown 0  
Serra da Malcata Nature Reserve 16,159 protected area overlaps with site 15,523  
Serra da Malcata - PTZPE0007 Birds Directive 16,348 is identical to site 15,849  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Broadleaved evergreen woodland  -
Shrubland Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis  -
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  -
Rocky areas Inland cliffs  -
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land; Forestry plantations; Perennial crops, orchards and groves  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
forestry -
hunting -
nature conservation and research -
fisheries/aquaculture -
tourism/recreation -
water management -

Management considerations there is not a managament plan to nature conservation for natural reserve/ SIC.Habitat loss due to afforestation with non-native trees, namely Pseudotsuga and some Pinus species, is causing problems. Birds are disturbed by hunting.

Protection status National 15,523 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Serra da Malcata, 16,348 ha). 16,361 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Serra da Malcata, 16,361 ha).International: Special Protection Area Serra da Malcata,Biogenetic Reserve (Council of Europe)

Related state of the world's birds case studies

References Silva (1998)

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Malcata mountains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

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