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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2013 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Persian Shearwater Puffinus persicus	LC	non-breeding (1993)	250–1,000 individuals	B1ii, B2
Crab-plover Dromas ardeola	LC	non-breeding (1993)	150 individuals	B3
White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus	LC	non-breeding (1993)	min 45 individuals	A1, B2
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus	EN	passage (2013)	1,167 individuals	A1, A4ii
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus	LC	passage (1985–1987)	1,202 individuals	A4ii
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	passage (1985–1987)	20 individuals	A1
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis	EN	passage (1985–1987)	76,586–104,000 individuals	A4ii, B2
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca	VU	passage (1985–1987)	70 individuals	A1, A4ii
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus	LC	passage (2013)	1,773 individuals	A4ii
Eurasian Buzzard Buteo buteo	LC	passage (1985–1987)	98,339–128,000 individuals	A4ii
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug	EN	passage (1995–2011)	rare	A1
A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes	n/a	passage (1987)	min 246,000 individuals	A4iv, B1iv

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2013. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	likely in short term (within 4 years)	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Little/none of site covered (<10%)	No manage­ment planning has taken place	Not assessed	very low

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Grassland	major (>10)
Shrubland	major (>10)
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	minor (<10)
Marine Intertidal	minor (<10)
Marine Neritic	minor (<10)

Land use	% of IBA
military	major (>10)
rangeland/pastureland	minor (<10)
fisheries/aquaculture	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bab al-Mandab - Mawza (Yemen). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bab-al-mandab--mawza-iba-yemen on 18/01/2025.