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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
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	breeding (1971)	300 pairs	A1, A4i
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	winter (1976)	10 birds	A1, A4i
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter (1976)	3,150 birds	A4i
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus	VU	winter (1965)	present	A1
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	breeding (1971)	200 pairs	A1, A4i
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	winter (1971)	63 birds	A1, A4i
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina	LC	winter (1976)	2,500 birds	A4i
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	winter (1976)	50,000 birds	A4i
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	winter (1976)	100 birds	A4i
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula	LC	winter (1976)	2,500 birds	A4i
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter (1976)	10,100 birds	A4i
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	winter (1976)	12,050 birds	A4i
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter (1976)	11,050 birds	A4i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	LC	winter (1976)	21,326 birds	A4i
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter (1976)	15,600 birds	A4i
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter (1976)	27,220 birds	A4i
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius	LC	breeding (1949)	present	A3
Sykes's Nightjar Caprimulgus mahrattensis	LC	resident (1904–1905)	common	A3
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra	LC	winter (1971)	175,000 birds	A4i
Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii	VU	resident (1975)	present	A1, A3
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea	LC	winter (1971)	425 birds	A4i
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	winter (1971)	1,826 birds	A4i
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	winter (1976)	350 birds	A1, A4i
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus	LC	winter (1975)	1,260 birds	A4i
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	winter (1975)	232 birds	A4i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (1971)	895 birds	A4i
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca	VU	winter (1975)	7 birds	A1
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	winter (1975)	11 birds	A1
Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus	LC	breeding (1975)	present	A3
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus	LC	resident (1975)	uncommon	A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (1976)	357,000–3,570,000 birds	A4iii

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1973	Hamun-i-Puzak	Waterfowl Sanctuary (IV)	100

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Desert	major (>10)	Desert & semi-desert - clay; Desert & semi-desert - salty
Wetlands (inland)	major (>10)	Rivers & streams; Standing brackish & salt water; Standing fresh water; Temporary water bodies; Water-fringe vegetation
Artificial/Terrestrial	minor (<10)	Arable land
Shrubland	minor (<10)	Low bushes; Scrub

Land use	% of IBA
rangeland/pastureland	major (>10)
other	major (>10)
agriculture	minor (<10)
hunting	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hamun-i-Puzak (Afghanistan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hamun-i-puzak-iba-afghanistan on 23/12/2024.