Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2006 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| See-see Partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis | LC | resident (1983–2006) | 80–100 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Saker Falcon Falco cherrug | EN | resident (1983–2006) | 1 breeding pairs | A1 |
| Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti | LC | resident (1983–2006) | 15–20 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Sykes's Warbler Iduna rama | LC | breeding (1983–2006) | 25–30 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Streaked Scrub-warbler Scotocerca inquieta | LC | resident (1983–2006) | 20–25 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Eastern Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronota | LC | resident (1983–2006) | 80–100 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Variable Wheatear Oenanthe picata | LC | breeding (1983–2006) | 55–60 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Finsch's Wheatear Oenanthe finschii | LC | breeding (1983–2006) | 25–30 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta | LC | breeding (1983–2006) | 15–20 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps | LC | breeding (1983–2006) | 120–200 breeding pairs | A3 |
| Grey-necked Bunting Emberiza buchanani | LC | breeding (1983–2006) | 10–15 breeding pairs | A3 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2006. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2018 | favourable | not assessed | not assessed |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| no | population | medium | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| See-see Partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis | 100 / 100 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Yellow-eyed Pigeon Columba eversmanni | 1 / 1 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga | 1 / 1 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | 1 / 1 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Saker Falcon Falco cherrug | 1 / 1 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti | 20 / 20 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Sykes's Warbler Iduna rama | 30 / 30 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Streaked Scrub-warbler Scotocerca inquieta | 25 / 25 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Eastern Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronota | 100 / 100 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Variable Wheatear Oenanthe picata | 60 / 60 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Finsch's Wheatear Oenanthe finschii | 30 / 30 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta | 20 / 20 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps | 200 / 200 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Grey-necked Bunting Emberiza buchanani | 15 / 15 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Not assessed | Not assessed | Not assessed | not assessed |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Guryhowdan | Nature Sanctuary or Partial Reserve (IV) | 79 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 38 | |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 28 | |
| Shrubland | 11 | |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Wetlands (inland) | 5 | |
| Forest | 3 |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 52 |
| nature conservation and research | 30 |
| hunting | 12 |
| military | 3 |
| urban/industrial/transport | 3 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gurykhovudan (Turkmenistan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gurykhovudan-iba-turkmenistan on 24/01/2025.