IR016
Anzali Mordab complex


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1994 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala EN passage (1977) 25 birds A1
Mute Swan Cygnus olor LC winter (1977–1992) 2,200–2,530 birds A4i, B1i
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus LC winter (1977–1992) 711–849 birds A4i, B1i
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus LC winter (1977–1992) 16–51 birds A4i, B1i
Greylag Goose Anser anser LC winter (1977) 1,500 birds B1i
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons LC winter (1970–1977) 500 birds A4i, B1i
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus VU winter (1977) 32 birds A1
Smew Mergellus albellus LC winter (1970–1977) 382 birds A4i, B1i
Common Pochard Aythya ferina VU winter (1970–1977) 65,000 birds A4i, B1i
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca NT passage (1977) 130 birds A1, B1i, B2
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca NT winter (1970–1977) 51 birds B1i
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula LC winter (1970–1977) 34,500 birds A4i, B1i
Garganey Spatula querquedula LC passage (1977) 3,850 birds A4i, B1i
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata LC winter (1970–1977) 24,300 birds A4i, B1i
Gadwall Mareca strepera LC winter (1977–1992) 7,850–14,900 birds A4i, B1i
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope LC winter (1970–1977) 30,000 birds A4i, B1i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos LC winter (1970–1977) 67,800 birds A4i, B1i
Northern Pintail Anas acuta LC winter (1970–1977) 55,000 birds A4i, B1i
Common Teal Anas crecca LC winter (1970–1977) 540,000 birds A4i, B1i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus LC winter (1970–1977) 260 birds A4i, B1i
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis LC winter (1970–1977) 300 birds A4i, B1i
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra LC winter (1970–1977) 106,400 birds A4i, B1i
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax LC winter (1970–1977) 250 birds B1i
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides LC breeding (1977) 150 pairs B1i
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides LC passage (1977) 900 birds B1i
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis LC passage (1977) 620 birds B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC breeding (1977) 150 pairs B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC passage (1977) 585 birds A4i, B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC winter (1970–1977) 300 birds B1i
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus LC winter (1977–1992) 410–650 birds A1, B1i, B2
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo LC passage (1977) 4,200 birds A4i, B1i
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus NT winter (1977–1992) 2,710–5,630 birds A4i, B1i
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius CR passage (1968–1969) 1–8 birds A1, A4i
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus LC passage (1977) 112 birds B1i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT winter (1970–1977) 1,380 birds A4i, B1i
Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC winter (1977) 700 birds B1i
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus LC winter (1970–1977) 1,750 birds A4i, B1i
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus LC winter (1977–1992) 1,000–2,510 birds A4i, B1i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida LC breeding (1977) 2,000–4,000 pairs A4i, B1i
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga VU winter (1977) 24 birds A1, B2
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca VU winter (1977) 6 birds B2
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla LC winter (1977) 20 birds A1, B2
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter (1970–1977) 500,000-999,999 birds A4iii

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1994. The most recent assessment (1994) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
1994 not assessed very high not assessed
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Biological resource use happe­ning now whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) very high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1975 Selkeh Wildlife Refuge (IV) 2
1982 Siahkeshim Protected Area (V) 30
2002 Sorkhanhol Wildlife Refuge (IV) 8

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland) major (>10) Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens & peatlands; Permanent freshwater marshes & pools; Permanent rivers, streams & creeks; Permanent saline, brackish & alkaline lakes; Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes & pools
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine minor (<10)
Artificial/Terrestrial minor (<10)
Grassland minor (<10)
Introduced vegetation minor (<10)
Shrubland minor (<10)

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research 100
hunting major (>10)
fisheries/aquaculture major (>10)


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Anzali Mordab complex (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/anzali-mordab-complex-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 23/12/2024.