• Summary
• Text
• Details
• Map
• Resources

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2019 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
European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur	VU	breeding (2016–2019)	1,000–1,700 breeding pairs	A1, B1b
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus	LC	breeding (2013–2019)	100–200 breeding pairs	B2a, C6
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo	LC	resident (2016–2019)	11–17 breeding pairs	B1b, C6
Eurasian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis	LC	resident (2012–2019)	150–200 breeding pairs	B2a
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Leiopicus medius	LC	resident (2010–2019)	500–850 breeding pairs	B2a, C6
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio	LC	breeding (2010–2019)	5,000–8,000 breeding pairs	B1b, C6
Sombre Tit Poecile lugubris	LC	resident (2010–2019)	250–500 breeding pairs	B2a
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris	LC	resident (2010–2019)	2,100–3,500 breeding pairs	B2a
Woodlark Lullula arborea	LC	breeding (2010–2019)	1,000–1,500 breeding pairs	B2a, C6
Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla	LC	breeding (2010–2019)	70,000–90,000 breeding pairs	B2a
Barred Warbler Curruca nisoria	LC	breeding (2010–2019)	700–1,000 breeding pairs	B2a, C6
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos	LC	breeding (2010–2019)	7,000–10,000 breeding pairs	B2a
Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula	LC	breeding (2010–2019)	14,000–19,000 breeding pairs	B2a
European Robin Erithacus rubecula	LC	resident (2016–2019)	25,000–30,000 breeding pairs	B2a
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos	LC	breeding (2010–2019)	8,000–13,000 breeding pairs	B2a
Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata	LC	breeding (2016)	20–40 breeding pairs	B1b, C6
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes	LC	breeding (2013–2019)	3,000–4,500 breeding pairs	B2a
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana	LC	breeding (2010–2019)	4,000–6,000 breeding pairs	B1b, C6

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Stara planina	Regional Nature Park (-)	94
1997	Stara planina	Park prirode (V)	72

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Grassland	50	Steppes and dry calcareous grassland; Dry siliceous grassland; Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland; Humid grasslands; Mesophile grasslands
Forest	30	Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Native coniferous woodland; Mixed woodland
Artificial/Terrestrial	15	Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Forestry plantations; Ruderal land
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	8
Shrubland	-
Wetlands (inland)	-	Rivers and streams; Raised bogs

Land use	% of IBA
hunting	60
forestry	40
not utilised	40
agriculture	10
nature conservation and research	10
tourism/recreation	5

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Stara mountains (Serbia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/stara-mountains-iba-serbia on 20/01/2025.