Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
High, rocky quartzite cliffs on a well-defined peninsula to the north of Dunfanaghy, on the County Donegal coast.
This site contains an internationally important colony of breeding seabirds. Other species breeding in numbers of national importance include
Fulmarus glacialis (1,000 pairs),
Rissa tridactyla (4,500 pairs),
Uria aalge (5,000 birds) and
Cepphus grylle (25 birds).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Disturbance to breeding seabirds is limited by the inaccessibility of the cliffs. However, an increase in tourist activity could pose a threat. Offshore fishing may deplete the prey stock of seabirds, with implications for their breeding success. The site lies within a proposed candidate Special Area for Conservation (Horn Head and Ringclevan; area not known).
National High
International High176 ha of IBA covered by Refuge for Fauna (Horn Head; area not known). 176 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Horn Head cliffs, 176 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Horn Head cliffs (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/horn-head-cliffs-iba-ireland on 23/11/2024.
