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The site was identified as important in 2023 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula	LC	passage	2016-2019	1,818-3,000 individuals	B3a, C3
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	passage	2016-2019	10,000 individuals	A1, B1b, B3a, C1, C3
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	passage	2016-2019	1,035 individuals	B1a, B1b, B3a, C1, C2, C6
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus	LC	resident	2016-2019	12,561 individuals	A4, B3a, C2, C6
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis	LC	resident	2016-2019	5,000 individuals	B3a, C3
European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur	VU	breeding	2016-2019	164-329 breeding pairs	A1, C1
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra	LC	resident	2016-2019	60,856-160,000 individuals	A4, B1b, B3a, C2, C3
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	breeding	2016-2019	60-80 breeding pairs	C6
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	resident	2016-2019	25-40 breeding pairs	C6
Common Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus	LC	breeding	2016-2019	40-80 breeding pairs	C6
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax	LC	breeding	2016-2019	15-20 breeding pairs	C6
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	breeding	2016	80-120 breeding pairs	B1b, C6
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea	LC	breeding	2016-2019	5-10 breeding pairs	C6
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	resident	2016-2019	363-600 individuals	C6
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	resident	2016-2019	80-120 breeding pairs	C6
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	resident	2016-2019	150-241 individuals	A4, B1a, B1b, B3a, C1, C2, C6
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	passage	2016-2019	11,800 individuals	A4, B2a, B3a, C2, C6
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo	LC	resident	2016-2019	10,000-20,000 individuals	B3a, C3
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus	NT	winter	2016-2019	271-1,000 individuals	B1a, C1
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	passage	2016-2019	90 individuals	C6
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	resident	2016-2019	1,200-1,500 breeding pairs	B3a, C2, C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding	2016-2019	50-100 breeding pairs	C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	LC	resident	2016-2019	20-30 breeding pairs	C6
Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes	LC	breeding	2016-2019	15-20 breeding pairs	B1b, C6
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis	LC	breeding	2016-2019	30-50 breeding pairs	C6
Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus	LC	breeding	2016-2019	50-100 breeding pairs	C6
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus	VU	passage	2016-2019	20 individuals	C6
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor	LC	breeding	2016-2019	20-25 breeding pairs	C6
Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla	LC	breeding	2016-2019	1-10 breeding pairs	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2016-2019	116,722-226,195 individuals	B3b, C4

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2023) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2023. The most recent assessment (2019) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	-	good (> 90%)	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Human intrusions and disturbance	likely in short term (within 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Pollution	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Transportation and service corridors	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1983	Skadarsko jezero	Nacionalni park	100
1995	Skadarsko Jezero	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	50

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Rivers and streams, Water fringe vegetation	67
Artificial/Terrestrial	Other urban and industrial areas, Arable land	15
Forest	Broadleaved evergreen woodland, Mixed woodland	13
Grassland	Humid grasslands	4

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
urban/industrial/transport	-
hunting	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-
water management	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Skadar Lake (Montenegro). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/skadar-lake-iba-montenegro on 25/11/2024.