Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2016 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor Goose Anser canagicus | LC | winter (2004) | present | A4i |
| Common Eider Somateria mollissima | NT | winter (1992–1993) | min 1,500 individuals | A4i |
| Common Eider Somateria mollissima | NT | breeding (1986–1994) | min 1,000 individuals | A1 |
| Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri | VU | winter (2013) | min 2,956 individuals | A1, A4i |
| Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus | LC | breeding (1986–1994) | min 9,000 individuals | A4i |
| Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus | LC | winter (1992–1993) | 18,000–19,000 individuals | A4i |
| Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis | NT | non-breeding (2004) | 200–1,000 individuals | A1 |
| Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus | VU | non-breeding (2004) | 20–100 individuals | A1 |
| Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis | LC | breeding (1992–1994) | min 386,200 individuals | A4ii |
| Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris | LC | non-breeding (2004) | min 1,000,000 individuals | A4ii |
| Pelagic Cormorant Urile pelagicus | LC | breeding (1993–1994) | min 6,200 individuals | A4i |
| Red-faced Cormorant Urile urile | LC | breeding (1993–1994) | min 1,668 individuals | A4i |
| Red-legged Kittiwake Rissa brevirostris | VU | breeding (1993–1994) | min 32,338 individuals | A1, A4i |
| Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens | LC | breeding (1993–1994) | min 10,240 individuals | A4i |
| Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata | LC | breeding (1988–1994) | min 127,000 individuals | A4ii |
| Whiskered Auklet Aethia pygmaea | LC | resident (2004) | 20,000–100,000 individuals | A4ii |
| Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba | LC | breeding (1993–1994) | min 3,260 individuals | A4ii |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | n/a | breeding (1992–1994) | 500,000 breeding pairs | A4iii |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (1992–1994) | 45,000 individuals | A4iii |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Komandorsky / Commander Islands | Zapovednik (Ia) | 100 |
| 2002 | Commander Islands | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 95 | |
| Grassland | minor (<10) | Tundra |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Commander Islands (Russia (Asian)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/commander-islands-iba-russia-(asian) on 14/01/2025.