IQ076
West Hammar


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2014 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris NT resident 2007-2010 700 breeding pairs A1, A4i
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris NT winter 2005-2010 1,800-4,400 individuals A1, A4i
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus LC resident 2005-2010 40 breeding pairs A3
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius LC breeding 2005-2010 300 breeding pairs A3
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus LC winter 2005-2010 3,200 individuals A4i
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus LC breeding 2005-2010 1,500 breeding pairs A4i
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus LC resident 2005-2010 1,000 breeding pairs A3
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei LC breeding 2005-2010 3,600 breeding pairs A4i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida LC resident 2005-2010 1,800 breeding pairs A4i
Pallid Scops-owl Otus brucei LC resident 2005-2010 20 breeding pairs A3
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes LC resident 2005-2010 10 breeding pairs A3
Basra Reed-warbler Acrocephalus griseldis EN breeding 2005-2010 1,000 breeding pairs A1, A2, A3
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis LC resident 2005-2010 200 breeding pairs A3
Iraq Babbler Argya altirostris LC resident 2005-2010 2,000 breeding pairs A2, A3
Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus LC breeding 2005-2010 500 breeding pairs A3
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus LC resident 2005-2010 1,300 breeding pairs A3, A4ii
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter 2005-2010 50,000-99,999 individuals A4iii

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2014).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2014 not assessed very high negligible
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - unintentional effects (species is not the target) happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Little/none of site covered (<10%) Not assessed Not assessed negligible
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) 211,544 protected area overlaps with site 0
Hammar Marsh Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 180,000 protected area overlaps with site 0

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens & peatlands -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
energy production and mining -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: West Hammar. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/west-hammar-iba-iraq on 03/12/2023.