Horn Head cliffs (549)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Horn Head cliffs
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.2167, Longitude: -7.9667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 170
Area of KBA (km2): 1.90468
Protected area coverage (%): 99.96
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: High, rocky quartzite cliffs on a well-defined peninsula to the north of Dunfanaghy, on the County Donegal coast.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: This site contains an internationally important colony of breeding seabirds. Other species breeding in numbers of national importance include Fulmarus glacialis (1,000 pairs), Rissa tridactyla (4,500 pairs), Uria aalge (5,000 birds) and Cepphus grylle (25 birds).
Habitats
Land use: not utilised (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Disturbance to breeding seabirds is limited by the inaccessibility of the cliffs. However, an increase in tourist activity could pose a threat. Offshore fishing may deplete the prey stock of seabirds, with implications for their breeding success. The site lies within a proposed candidate Special Area for Conservation (Horn Head and Ringclevan; area not known).