The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2013 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Species |
Red List |
Season (year/s of estimate) |
Size |
IBA criteria |
Philby's Partridge Alectoris philbyi |
LC |
resident (1993) |
uncommon |
A2, A3, B3 |
Arabian Partridge Alectoris melanocephala |
LC |
resident (1993) |
frequent |
A3, B3 |
Dusky Turtle-dove Streptopelia lugens |
LC |
resident (1993) |
present |
A3 |
Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus |
NT |
resident (1993) |
2 pairs |
B2 |
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus |
EN |
passage (1995–2011) |
present |
A1 |
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus |
LC |
resident (1979–1985) |
5–10 pairs |
B2 |
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga |
VU |
passage (1992) |
1 birds |
A1 |
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis |
EN |
winter (1995–2011) |
present |
B2 |
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca |
VU |
passage (1993) |
3 birds |
A1 |
Arabian Woodpecker Dendropicos dorae |
NT |
resident (1993) |
uncommon |
A1, A3, B2 |
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni |
LC |
passage (1993) |
50–900 birds |
B2 |
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus |
LC |
non-breeding (1993) |
uncommon |
B2 |
Brown Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens |
LC |
resident (1993) |
present |
A3 |
Yemen Warbler Curruca buryi |
NT |
resident (1993) |
uncommon |
A1, A2, A3 |
Tristram's Starling Onychognathus tristramii |
LC |
resident (1993) |
common |
A3 |
Yemen Thrush Turdus menachensis |
NT |
resident (1993) |
uncommon |
A1, A2, A3, B2 |
Gambaga Flycatcher Muscicapa gambagae |
LC |
breeding (1993) |
present |
A3 |
Little Rock-thrush Monticola rufocinereus |
LC |
resident (1993) |
present |
A3 |
Arabian Wheatear Oenanthe lugentoides |
LC |
resident (1993) |
common |
A3 |
Radde's Accentor Prunella ocularis |
LC |
resident (1993) |
frequent |
A1, A2, A3, B2 |
Arabian Waxbill Estrilda rufibarba |
LC |
resident (1993) |
uncommon |
A2, A3 |
Arabian Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus percivali |
NT |
resident (1995–2011) |
frequent |
A1, A3 |
Arabian Serin Crithagra rothschildi |
LC |
resident (1993) |
frequent |
A3 |
Yemen Serin Crithagra menachensis |
LC |
resident (1993) |
frequent |
A2, A3, B3 |
Yemen Linnet Linaria yemenensis |
LC |
resident (1993) |
common |
A2, A3, B3 |
Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea |
NT |
winter (1993) |
3 birds |
A1, B2 |