• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2014 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
Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus	LC	breeding (2008–2009)	10 pairs	A3
Sombre Tit Poecile lugubris	LC	resident (2008–2009)	50 pairs	A3
Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer	LC	resident (2008)	20 pairs	A3
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica	LC	breeding (2008–2009)	25 pairs	A3
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala	LC	breeding (2008)	40 pairs	A3

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2014. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high

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

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Grassland	major (>10)
Shrubland	major (>10)
Forest	minor (<10)

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

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Benavi and Sararu (Iraq). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/benavi-and-sararu-iba-iraq on 24/12/2024.