Data Zone
Country/territory: North Macedonia
IBA criteria met: A1, A3, B2 (2011)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 10,513 ha
Site description (2000 baseline)
The site includes the Vardar gorge, Celevecka river and Krastavec ridge with cliffs and rocky hillsides, scrub, and woodland; there are also small areas of marsh, damp woodland, and some steppe habitat in the Vardar valley. Mainly inaccessible, some of the area is used as agricultural land, while hunting and cattle-grazing take place.
Key biodiversity
Breeding species include Ciconia nigra (1-2 pairs), Pernis apivorus (1-2 pairs), Milvus migrans (2-3 pairs), Circaetus gallicus (2 pairs), Accipiter brevipes (1 pair), Buteo rufinus (1 pair), Aquila chrysaetos (2 pairs), Hieraaetus pennatus (1 pair), Falco biarmicus (1-2 pairs), F. peregrinus (1 pair), Alectoris graeca, Bubo bubo (1-2 pairs), Coracias garrulus (3-4 pairs) and Cercotrichas galactotes. Gypaetus barbatus, Aegypius monachus and Falco cherrug also occur.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Demir Kapija Gorge (North Macedonia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/demir-kapija-gorge-iba-north-macedonia on 22/11/2024.