Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A4ii (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 4,179 hectares (41.79 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2014 baseline)
This site consists of foothills and lowlands including a narrow riparian strip along the Tigris and Fishkhaboor (Khabour) Rivers. A pontoon bridge and a newly constructed bridge cross the river approximately 6.3 km downstream of the point where the Tigris River enters Iraq, which allows access to the Syrian border. This is the only KBA site that falls within the Iraqi portion of the Eastern Mediterranean Ecoregion (PA1207) as defined by the World Wildlife Fund, however Fishkhaboor does not clearly show the key features associated with this ecoregion
Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the survey a total of 36 species were recorded. The site held breeding populations of one Mediterranean, two Irano-Turanian and one Sahara-Sindian biome-restricted species but these did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3.
Other Important Fauna: Mammal data were collected in summer 2010. According to local interviews, significant mammals seen at the site include Grey Wolf Canis lupus, and Golden Jackal Canis aureus. Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra (Near Threatened) tracks were found along the river.
Fish: Alburnus mossulensis, Cyprinion kais, C. macrostomum, Garra rufa, and Liza abu were recorded in 2008.
Additional Plant & Habitat Information: Two species, Centaurea pseudosinaica and Brassica kaber, were recorded in Iraq for the first time at this site.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Fishkhaboor (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/fishkhaboor-iba-iraq on 22/12/2024.