Data Zone
Country/territory: Canada
IBA criteria met: A4iii (2008)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 11,000 ha
Site description (baseline)
Cape Parry is located at the northern end of the Parry Peninsula, Northwest Territories, which extends into Amundsen Gulf. The closest community is Paulatuk, approximately 100 kilometres to the south. The cape has three limestone outcrops that form coastal cliffs rising 20 metres above sea level. Beaches of sand and gravel form the coastline and many bays and small inlets exist. The peninsula is dotted with ponds and small lakes with sparse vegetation in between. The site also includes the waters off the cape. A rich marine environment is created by upwelling currents around the cape. A polynya produces open water in the ice near the cape and islands; it was more regular before 1970 but is still persistent enough to create open water in June. Bearded and Ringed Seals, Polar Bears, and White and Bowhead whales are found in offshore areas, particularly the open water maintained by the polynya north of the cape. Grizzly Bears can sometimes be seen on the mainland.
Key biodiversity
The only Thick-billed Murre colonies in the western Canadian Arctic are found at this site, utilizing the limestone cliffs. In 1979, the main colony consisted of 800 birds, with secondary colonies found at two other locations. Although not numerically significant, these colonies are noteworthy since the nearest colonies are at least 1,300 kilometres away to the west in Alaska or to the east on Prince Leopold Island. Cape Parry is the only location in Canada with a breeding colony of this Uria lomvia arra subspecies.
During spring migration, up to 20,000 King Eiders, Common Eiders and Oldsquaw can occasionally be found staging in offshore open water this number is globally significant for waterfowl.
Another species of alcid suspected of breeding on the cliffs of Cape Parry is the Black Guillemot. This is of note since the only other nesting site in the western Arctic for Black Guillemots is Herschel Island, Yukon Territory. Common Eiders also breed on the peninsula, while Glaucous Gulls are abundant and Yellow-billed Loons are common in spring.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cape Parry. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/11253 on 10/06/2023.
