This EBA covers the island of Cyprus which lies in the north-east of the Mediterranean basin, c.100 km south of Turkey and c.170 km west of Syria. The island is occupied by two mountain ranges-the Troodos in the south and west, and the Kyrenia along the north coast-which were once largely forested, mainly with pine Pinus and oak Quercus. Lowlands and hills were covered with xerophytic shrubs forming a low maquis (a plant assemblage typical of the Mediterranean region), while high maquis occurred mainly in the east or on coastal promontories.

The two restricted-range species occur in a wide variety of habitats, with Sylvia melanothorax being absent when breeding from the drier central plain, favouring Cistus scrub mainly in the Troodos mountains. Both species are migrants: Oenanthe cypriaca (only recently recognized as a distinct species) to southern Sudan and Ethiopia, and S. melanothorax partially to Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and northern Sudan. A further five endemic subspecies have been recognized (more by some authorities), emphasizing the distinct nature of this island's avifauna (see Flint 1995).

Clearance over many centuries (c.50% of the island is classed as farmland) and unrestricted grazing by goats have destroyed much of Cyprus's original vegetation. There is no evidence that any woodland species have been lost as a result of deforestation, but in view of the greatly reduced habitat, the loss of species does seem very probable. It also seems likely that the distribution of some woodland species which are now confined to the forests of the Troodos range (the Paphos forest in particular) was more general in the past (Flint and Stewart 1983). Today the greatest threat to the habitat comes from increased tourism, with the construction of associated facilities, and the risk of fire during the dry summer months (WWF/IUCN 1994). The two restricted-range species, however, remain common (3,000-7,000 pairs for Oenanthe cypriaca, more than 4,000 pairs for Sylvia melanothorax) and widespread throughout the island, and are not considered to be globally threatened, although both are treated by Tucker and Heath (1994) as Species of European Conservation Concern with an unfavourable conservation status.

Hunting is a particularly serious conservation problem on Cyprus, and it is likely that shooting has contributed to the extinction of at least two species of breeding bird: Dipper Cinclus cinclus (the endemic race olympicus) and the threatened Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni, as well as causing a decline in numbers of many other resident species, especially raptors such as the threatened Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca (Vulnerable; only 2-4 pairs now remaining).

Cyprus's geographical location relative to the western Palearctic and Africa results in some 200 species occurring as regular passage migrants, and many of these are subject to shooting, liming and netting. Although the island's hunting regulations are fairly comprehensive, the enforcement of the laws is inadequate and thousands of birds of many species are illegally killed each year. Threatened species which occur on migration include Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala and F. naumanni (all classified as Vulnerable).

Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii, classified as Conservation Dependent, is a seabird which has a small breeding population of 10-20 pairs.

Grimmett and Jones (1989) recognized a total of 17 Important Bird Areas on Cyprus. These include several sites which harbour the two restricted-range species, as well as sites for breeding birds of prey, and wetlands which are important for passage and wintering birds.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Endemic Bird Area factsheet: Cyprus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/eba/factsheet/88 on 22/11/2024.