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IS005
Látrabjarg
Location Iceland, Vestur-Bar-astrandasýsla
Central coordinates 24o 30.00' West  65o 28.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4ii, A4iii, B1i, B1ii, B2, B3
Area 2,000 ha
Altitude 0 - 440m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Fuglavernd - BirdLife Iceland (Partner Designate)



Ornithological information The site supports huge numbers of breeding seabirds, including the largest colony of Alca torda in the world, and one of the largest colonies of Fratercula arctica in Iceland.

Site description A sea cliff in the westernmost part of Iceland. Half of the cliff is a sheer precipice, practically without vegetation, but the upper and more eastern parts are less steep and are covered with lush herbaceous vegetation. Rock-falls have formed screes in several places. Eggs are collected traditionally from the auks at certain places on the cliff every spring (`Other' land-use).

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis breeding  1985  120,000 breeding pairs  -  A4ii, B1ii  Least Concern 
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla breeding  1985  46,600 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Common Guillemot Uria aalge breeding  1985  209,000-402,000 breeding pairs  medium  A4ii, B1ii  Least Concern 
Thick-billed Guillemot Uria lomvia breeding  1985  80,000-164,000 breeding pairs  good  A4ii, B1ii  Least Concern 
Razorbill Alca torda breeding  -  152,000-329,000 breeding pairs  good  A4ii, B1ii, B3  Least Concern 
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica breeding  -  abundant [units unknown]  -  B2  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - seabirds breeding  1985  -  unknown  A4iii   
A4iii Species group - waterbirds breeding  1985  -  unknown  A4iii   

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Coastline Sea cliffs and rocky shores  100%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
other -
tourism/recreation -

Management considerations Tourism may pose threats.

Protection status National None International None

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Látrabjarg. 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