IR016
Anzali Mordab complex


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important 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 List1 Season Year(s) Size IBA criteria
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala EN passage 1977 25 individuals A1
Mute Swan Cygnus olor LC winter 1977-1992 2,200-2,530 individuals A4i, B1i
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus LC winter 1977-1992 711-849 individuals A4i, B1i
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus LC winter 1977-1992 16-51 individuals A4i, B1i
Greylag Goose Anser anser LC winter 1977 1,500 individuals B1i
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons LC winter 1970-1977 500 individuals A4i, B1i
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus VU winter 1977 32 individuals A1
Smew Mergellus albellus LC winter 1970-1977 382 individuals A4i, B1i
Common Pochard Aythya ferina VU winter 1970-1977 65,000 individuals A4i, B1i
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca NT passage 1977 130 individuals A1, B1i, B2
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca NT winter 1970-1977 51 individuals B1i
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula LC winter 1970-1977 34,500 individuals A4i, B1i
Garganey Spatula querquedula LC passage 1977 3,850 individuals A4i, B1i
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata LC winter 1970-1977 24,300 individuals A4i, B1i
Gadwall Mareca strepera LC winter 1977-1992 7,850-14,900 individuals A4i, B1i
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope LC winter 1970-1977 30,000 individuals A4i, B1i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos LC winter 1970-1977 67,800 individuals A4i, B1i
Northern Pintail Anas acuta LC winter 1970-1977 55,000 individuals A4i, B1i
Common Teal Anas crecca LC winter 1970-1977 540,000 individuals A4i, B1i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus LC winter 1970-1977 260 individuals A4i, B1i
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis LC winter 1970-1977 300 individuals A4i, B1i
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra LC winter 1970-1977 106,400 individuals A4i, B1i
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax LC winter 1970-1977 250 individuals B1i
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides LC breeding 1977 150 breeding pairs B1i
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides LC passage 1977 900 individuals B1i
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis LC passage 1977 620 individuals B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC breeding 1977 150 breeding pairs B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC passage 1977 585 individuals A4i, B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC winter 1970-1977 300 individuals B1i
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus LC winter 1977-1992 410-650 individuals A1, B1i, B2
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo LC passage 1977 4,200 individuals A4i, B1i
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus NT winter 1977-1992 2,710-5,630 individuals A4i, B1i
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius CR passage 1968-1969 1-8 individuals A1, A4i
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus LC passage 1977 112 individuals B1i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT winter 1970-1977 1,380 individuals A4i, B1i
Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC winter 1977 700 individuals B1i
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus LC winter 1970-1977 1,750 individuals A4i, B1i
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus LC winter 1977-1992 1,000-2,510 individuals A4i, B1i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida LC breeding 1977 2,000-4,000 breeding pairs A4i, B1i
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga VU winter 1977 24 individuals A1, B2
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca VU winter 1977 6 individuals B2
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla LC winter 1977 20 individuals A1, B2
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter 1970-1977 500,000-999,999 individuals A4iii

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (1994) may differ.


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 area/population (>90%) moderate to rapid deterioration very high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1975 Anzali Mordab (Talab) complex Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 100
1975 Selkeh Wildlife Refuge 2
1982 Siahkeshim Protected Area 30
2002 Sorkhanhol Wildlife Refuge 8

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens & peatlands, Permanent freshwater marshes & pools, Permanent rivers, streams & creeks, Permanent saline, brackish & alkaline lakes, Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes & pools major (>10)
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine minor (<10)
Artificial/Terrestrial minor (<10)
Grassland minor (<10)
Introduced vegetation minor (<10)
Shrubland minor (<10)
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

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 22/11/2024.