Data Zone
Country/territory: Iran, Islamic Republic of
IBA criteria met: B1i, B3 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 27,000 ha
Site description (1994 baseline)
Extensive intertidal mudflats, sand spits and low muddy and sandy islets on the Persian Gulf coast, extending from the town of Bushire on a rocky peninsula in the south to the southern limits of the Hilleh Rud Delta 20 km to the north-west. The largest island, near the south end of the bay, is mainly bare mudflats with low dunes at the north and south ends, and a small fishing village at the north end. Inland are bare mudflats and sparsely vegetated desertic plains.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. An important wintering area for shorebirds and gulls, especially Dromas ardeola, Larus ichthyaetus and Larus cachinnans/L. argentatus. Small numbers of terns, including Sterna nilotica, breed on islets in the bay. Pterocles alchata breeds commonly on the adjacent sandy flats.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Dr D. A. Scott, reviewed by Dept of Environment.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bushire Bay (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bushire-bay-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 23/11/2024.