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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1994 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
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter (1987–1992)	256 individuals	A4i, B1i
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter (1977–1992)	453–3,200 individuals	A4i, B1i
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus	VU	winter (1977)	1,773 individuals	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	LC	winter (1987–1992)	204 individuals	A4i, B1i
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	winter (1987–1992)	17,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter (1987–1992)	12,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	winter (1987–1992)	13,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter (1987–1992)	16,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	LC	winter (1987–1992)	40,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter (1987–1992)	14,200 individuals	A4i, B1i
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter (1987–1992)	30,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus	LC	winter (1987–1992)	400–800 individuals	A4i, B1i
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	winter (1987–1992)	55,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra	LC	winter (1987–1992)	65,200 individuals	A4i, B1i
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea	LC	winter (1987–1992)	1,120 individuals	A4i, B1i
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	winter (1987–1992)	1,120 individuals	A4i, B1i
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	winter (1987–1992)	167–334 individuals	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo	LC	winter (1987–1992)	2,330 individuals	A4i, B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	resident (1977)	250 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	winter (1987–1992)	1,700 individuals	A4i, B1i
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus	NT	winter (1970–1977)	5,000 individuals	A4i, B1i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (1987–1992)	400 individuals	B1i
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	winter (1987–1992)	1,500 individuals	B1i
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	LC	breeding (1977)	200–300 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	breeding (1977)	100 breeding pairs	B1i
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni	LC	breeding (1977)	20 breeding pairs	A1, B2
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (1987–1992)	100,000-499,999 individuals	A4iii

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Gomishan Marshes	No Hunting Area (-)	-

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	major (>10)
Wetlands (inland)	major (>10)	Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens & peatlands; Permanent freshwater marshes & pools; Permanent saline, brackish & alkaline lakes; Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes & pools
Grassland	minor (<10)

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	major (>10)
hunting	major (>10)
rangeland/pastureland	major (>10)
nature conservation and research	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gomishan marshes and Turkoman steppes (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gomishan-marshes-and-turkoman-steppes-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 12/01/2025.