Data Zone
Country/territory: Iceland
IBA Criteria met: A1, A4i, A4ii, A4iii, B1i, B1ii, B2, B3 (2015)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 13,898 ha
Site description
The site comprises all of the islands (and surrounding waters) in this offshore archipelago. Traditional harvesting of seabirds takes place (`Other' land-use): the eggs of Fulmarus glacialis and auks; the young, mainly of Sula bassana; and adults of Fratercula arctica.
Key biodiversity
More than one million pairs of seabirds breed here, including the largest congregation of breeding Oceanodroma leucorhoa in Europe, more than 90% of breeding Hydrobates pelagicus in Iceland, and 100% of breeding Puffinus puffinus in Iceland.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Vestmannaeyjar. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 20/03/2023.
