• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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	winter	2005-2010	1,800-12,000 individuals	A1, A4i
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	resident	2005-2010	100-150 breeding pairs	A1, A4i
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus	LC	resident	2005-2010	10 breeding pairs	A3
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius	LC	breeding	2005-2010	10 breeding pairs	A3
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus	LC	resident	2005-2010	50 breeding pairs	A3
Basra Reed-warbler Acrocephalus griseldis	EN	breeding	2005-2010	2,000 breeding pairs	A1, A2, A3
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis	LC	resident	2005-2010	10 breeding pairs	A3
Iraq Babbler Argya altirostris	LC	resident	2005-2010	1,000 breeding pairs	A2, A3
Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus	LC	breeding	2006-2007	20 breeding pairs	A3
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus	LC	resident	2005-2010	2,000 breeding pairs	A3, A4ii
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2005-2010	max 74,000 individuals	A4iii

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - large dams	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%)	No management planning has taken place	Not assessed	negligible

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

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
Central Marshes	National Park	141,615	protected area overlaps with site	95,000
Central Marshes	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	219,700	protected area overlaps with site	0

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland)		-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
rangeland/pastureland	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
hunting	-

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Central Marshes. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/central-marshes-iba-iraq on 04/10/2023.