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FI037
Litokaira
Location Finland, Oulun lääni
Central coordinates 26o 17.00' East  65o 45.00' North
IBA criteria A3, A4i, B1i, B2, B3, C2, C3, C6
Area 30,405 ha
Altitude 135 m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

BirdLife SUOMI-FINLAND



Ornithological information An important area for boreal avifauna. Breeding birds include 12 out of the 15 species in Europe that are restricted to the boreal biome (when breeding).

Site description A large wilderness area lying between the Simo and Siuruanjoki rivers with extensive northern aapa mires. The mires are divided by several rivers, lakes and forested `islands', the latter typically holding very old coniferous trees and large quantities of dead wood. The importance of the site as an old-growth forest reserve is notable, especially as it is surrounded by intensively managed commercial forests.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix resident  1996  101-500 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Smew Mergellus albellus breeding  1996  6-10 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata breeding  1996  11-50 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus breeding  1996  11-50 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Common Crane Grus grus breeding  1996  51-100 breeding pairs  poor  B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus breeding  1996  101-500 breeding pairs  poor  A3, A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus breeding  1996  101-500 breeding pairs  poor  B3  Least Concern 
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia breeding  1996  51-100 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola breeding  1996  501-1,000 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus breeding  1996  101-500 breeding pairs  poor  A4i, B1i, B2, C3  Least Concern 
Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa breeding  1996  6-10 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula breeding  1996  11-50 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus breeding  1996  11-50 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus resident  1996  101-500 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus resident  1996  51-100 breeding pairs  poor  A3, B2  Least Concern 
Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus breeding  1996  11-50 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Siberian Tit Parus cinctus resident  1996  51-100 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus breeding  1996  1,001-5,000 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata breeding  1996  1,001-5,000 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis breeding  1996  1,001-5,000 breeding pairs  poor  B3  Least Concern 
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla breeding  1996  1,001-5,000 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus breeding  1996  11-50 breeding pairs  poor  A3, B3  Least Concern 
White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera breeding  1996  101-500 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica breeding  1996  1,001-5,000 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Lapiosuon-Ison Äijönsuon soidensuojelualue Protected Mire 26,432 protected area contained by site 25,695  
Litokaira - FI1103827 Birds Directive 30,382 is identical to site 29,685  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland  30%
Wetlands (inland) Raised bogs; Standing freshwater  70%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
unknown -

Management considerations The area is a candidate SAC.

Protection status National Partial International High25,695 ha of IBA covered by Peatland Reserve (Lapiosuo-Iso äijönsuo, 25,695 ha). 30,405 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Litokaira).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Litokaira. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013

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