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YU023
Prokletije
Location Serbia, Kosovo and Metohia-Metohia
Central coordinates 20o 10.00' East  42o 43.00' North
IBA criteria A3, B2, B3
Area 100,000 ha
Altitude 460 - 2,656m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia (Affiliate)



Ornithological information The site is important for a variety of breeding raptors and other upland species, including four of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Eurasian high-montane (alpine) biome. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (breeding).

Site description Mainly a limestone massif comprising a number of peaks over 2,000 m, surrounded by the towns of Djakovica, Pec and Kosovska Mitrovica. Alpine vegetation occurs at high altitude; coniferous, mixed and broadleaved forests (spruce Picea, pine Pinus, maple Acer, beech Fagus, oak Quercus and chestnut Castanea) are present at lower levels.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca resident  1997  150-200 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Near Threatened 
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus resident  1997  6-7 breeding pairs  good  B2  Least Concern 
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  1997  10-12 breeding pairs  medium  B3  Least Concern 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  1997  4-6 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos resident  1997  6-7 breeding pairs  good  B2  Least Concern 
Common Scops-owl Otus scops breeding  1997  50-80 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo resident  1997  15-20 breeding pairs  good  B2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus breeding  1997  100-150 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio breeding  1997  1,000-1,500 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus resident  1997  100-130 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Wood Lark Lullula arborea resident  1997  200-300 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria resident  1997  10-12 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus resident  1997  500-700 breeding pairs  medium  B3  Least Concern 
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush Monticola saxatilis breeding  1997  30-40 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis resident  1997  10-15 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris resident  1997  60-70 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus resident  1997  1,000-2,000 breeding pairs  medium  B3  Least Concern 
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia resident  1997  100-150 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
[Prokletije] Unknown 0 protected area overlaps with site 0  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland; Treeline ecotone  50%
Shrubland Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis; Scrub  10%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland; Dry siliceous grassland; Humid grasslands; Mesophile grasslands; Steppes and dry calcareous grassland  25%
Wetlands (inland) Fens, transition mires and springs; Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater  5%
Rocky areas Inland cliffs; Scree & boulders  15%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Forestry plantations; Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Ruderal land  5%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 70%
forestry 60%
hunting 80%
nature conservation and research 5%
not utilised 20%

Management considerations Threats include disturbance, hunting, deforestation, burning and nomadic cattle-grazing. Proposed as a National Park (Prokletije, 100,000 ha).

Protection status National Low International NoneIBA overlaps with a few small protected areas (unknown type).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Prokletije. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013

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