YE034
Hiswat al-Hugayma


Country/territory: Yemen

IBA criteria met: A1 (2013)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 25,000 ha

IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2013 not assessed medium negligible
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (1994 baseline)
Extensive area of gravel plain to the east of Bab al-Mandab, stretching from the coast to foothills, and at least from al-Hajaf to beyond Bir Ras al-Ara.

Key biodiversity
See table for key species. Breeding species in good numbers include Pterocles lichtensteinii, P. exustus, Alaemon alaudipes, and especially Lanius excubitor which occurs here probably at a higher density than anywhere else in the country. The site's good cover of vegetation and closeness to the Bab al-Mandab make it a very important stop-over point for migrants.

Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: unidentified Gazella (rare) are reported to occur in the area. Reptiles: Pristurus ornithocephalus (endemic), P. crucifer (endemic), P. flavipunctatus (endemic), Varanus griseus (rare).

Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Chris Bradshaw and R. F. Porter.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hiswat al-Hugayma (Yemen). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hiswat-al-hugayma-iba-yemen on 23/11/2024.