Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A1 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 54,261 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | negligible |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2014 baseline)
Arid hills (including a portion of the Himreen Hills) and steppe as well as some sandy areas are the main features of this site. Agricultural fields bordering the sites to the southwest contain many hectares of irrigated fields of corn, wheat and barley
Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys, 56 bird species were seen. In addition to Egyptian Vulture, Macqueen’s Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii (Vulnerable) was recorded but did not meet the A1 criterion. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus and European Roller Coracias garrulus (both Near Threatened) were observed on passage. Six Sahara-Sindian Desert biome-restricted species were breeding but did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3. The endemic race of the Hooded Crow Corvus cornix capellanus also occurred.
Other Important Fauna: Important species seen during the surveys include Goitered Gazelle Gazella subgutturosa (Vulnerable), which were reported grazing on the grassy steppe near Al-Sder, but not in numbers that would meet Vulnerability criteria. Also a Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena (Near Threatened) killed by locals was examined by the team during the survey.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ajeel Himreen Hills (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ajeel-himreen-hills-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.