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Site description (2012 baseline):
Site location and context
Dominated by the 1,951m Chionistra peak with its distinctive Black Pine (Pinus nigra) Forest, this is the highest elevation IBA in Cyprus, with a rich community of forest birds. Calabrian Pine (Pinus brutia) dominates on the lower slopes of the Endemic Bird Area site important for Cyprus Wheatear (Oenanthe cypriaca), Cyprus Warbler (Sylvia melanothorax), Cyprus Coal Tit (Parus ater cypriotes), Cyprus Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla dorothea), Woodlark (Lullula arborea) and Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus). Non-qualifying breeders worth noting are Cyprus Scops Owl (Otus scops cyprius), Cyprus Jay (Garrulus glandarius glaszneri), Cretzschmar’s Bunting (Emberiza caesia), European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata), Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Blackbird (Turdus merula). ‘Troodos Forest’ IBA is also the only breeding site for the Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) on the island.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Akrotiri Peninsula - Episkopi Cliffs (Cyprus). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/akrotiri-peninsula--episkopi-cliffs-iba-cyprus on 22/11/2024.
