Data Zone
Country/territory: Antarctica
IBA criteria met: A4ii (2015)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 500 ha
Site description (2015 baseline)
The Luitpold Coast extends from the Filchner Ice Shelf in the west to the Brunt Ice Shelf in the east along northwestern Coats Land. An Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) colony breeds on fast ice that forms on the Luitpold Coast near an area ~50 km northeast of the Filchner Ice Shelf where icebergs regularly calve from the continental margin.
The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Emperor Penguin colony present and is entirely marine.
The nearest permanent station is Belgrano II (ARG), ~70 km to the southwest in Vahsel Bay.
Key biodiversity
Analysis of a satellite image acquired 12 Nov 2009 (Fretwell et al. 2012) indicated 6498 Emperor Penguins were present at the colony located near the Luitpold Coast. No other birds are known to breed in the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Luitpold Coast (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/luitpold-coast-iba-antarctica on 27/11/2024.