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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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter (1977–1992)	2,200–2,600 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	winter (1970–1977)	1,600 birds	A4i, B1i
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea	LC	winter (1977–1992)	45–666 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	winter (1970–1977)	4,110 birds	A4i, B1i
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	breeding (1977)	5–10 pairs	B1i, B2
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter (1970–1977)	10,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	winter (1970–1977)	13,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter (1970–1977)	5,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	LC	winter (1970–1977)	36,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter (1970–1977)	300,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter (1970–1977)	222,500 birds	A4i, B1i
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus	LC	resident (1977)	34 pairs	A3
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius	LC	breeding (1977)	present	A3
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	breeding (1977)	120 pairs	B1i
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	breeding (1973)	20–30 pairs	B1i, B2
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	winter (1970–1977)	2,150 birds	A4i, B1i
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	winter (1977–1992)	75–88 birds	A1, A4i, B1i
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus	LC	winter (1970–1977)	1,300 birds	A4i, B1i
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	winter (1977)	100 birds	B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	breeding (1977)	100 pairs	B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	passage (1977)	790 birds	A4i, B1i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	non-breeding (1977)	550 birds	B1i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (1970–1977)	300 birds	B1i
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus	LC	winter (1970–1977)	2,860 birds	A4i, B1i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	breeding (1977)	300–400 pairs	A4i, B1i
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus	NT	resident (1977)	5 pairs	A1, B2
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	winter (1977)	5 birds	B2
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	winter (1977)	13 birds	A1, B2
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes	LC	resident (1977)	common	A3
Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura	LC	resident (1977)	abundant	A3
Sykes's Warbler Iduna rama	LC	breeding (1977)	abundant	A3
Pale Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta	LC	breeding (1977)	frequent	A3
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis	LC	resident (1977)	common	A3
Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca	LC	passage (1977)	25 birds	B3
Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus	LC	breeding (1977)	frequent	A3
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus	LC	resident (1977)	uncommon	A3, B3
Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps	LC	breeding (1977)	uncommon	A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (1970–1977)	500,000-999,999 birds	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1994. The most recent assessment (1994) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Transportation and service corridors	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Natural system modifications	likely in long term (>4 years)	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger 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
1968	Hamoun	Protected Area (V)	100

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland)	67
Artificial/Terrestrial	major (>10)
Desert	major (>10)

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	83
rangeland/pastureland	major (>10)
other	major (>10)
fisheries/aquaculture	major (>10)
agriculture	major (>10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hamoun-i Sabari and Hamoun-i Hirmand (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hamoun-i-sabari-and-hamoun-i-hirmand-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 23/12/2024.