Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A1 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 80,275 hectares (802.75 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2014 baseline)
Himreen Lake is an important lake in Iraq, located near the Himreen hills and known for its diverse bird life. The Himreen Dam (built in the late 1970s) formed the lake on the Diyala River that flows from the Iranian mountains and Iraqi Kurdistan. The lake is roughly rectangular in shape, with the dam on the southwestern edge
Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys, 48 bird species were seen. The following Vulnerable species were observed at the site in winter, though at levels that did not meet IBA criteria: Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga and Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca. The site also held one breeding Sahara-Sindian Desert biome-restricted species and the endemic race of Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis iraquensis.
Other Important Fauna: Iraqi Mastigure Saara loricata were also seen at the site. Unfortunately, though this site has obvious importance for fish biodiversity, no surveys were conducted here.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Himreen Lake (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/himreen-lake-iba-iraq on 25/12/2024.