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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2005 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
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Swamp Francolin Ortygornis gularis	NT	resident (2002)	frequent	A1, A3
Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri	CR	winter (2002)	uncommon	A1
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	winter (2002)	frequent	A1, A4i
Yellow-footed Green-pigeon Treron phoenicopterus	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus	LC	breeding (1989)	present	A3
Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultii	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis	CR	resident (2002)	rare	A1, A3
Lesser Florican Sypheotides indicus	CR	non-breeding (2002)	rare	A1
Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius	NT	non-breeding (2002)	rare	A1
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus	NT	resident (2002)	frequent	A1
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala	LC	breeding (2002)	uncommon	A1, A4i
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus	NT	resident (2002)	frequent	A1, A4i
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus	LC	resident (2002)	frequent	A1, A4i
Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis	NT	non-breeding (2002)	uncommon	A1, A4i
Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster	LC	resident (2002)	uncommon	A1, A4i
Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Indian Courser Cursorius coromandelicus	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis	EN	breeding (2002)	rare	A1
Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda	EN	resident (2004)	present	A1, A4i
Dusky Eagle-owl Bubo coromandus	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus	CR	non-breeding (2004)	rare	A1
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis	CR	resident (2002)	rare	A1, A3
Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris	CR	resident (2002)	rare	A1, A3
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus	NT	winter (2002)	rare	A1
Indian Spotted Eagle Clanga hastata	VU	non-breeding (2004)	rare	A1
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	winter (2002)	rare	A1
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca	VU	winter (2002)	rare	A1
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus	NT	winter (2002)	rare	A1
Pallas's Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus	EN	winter (2002)	rare	A1
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	winter (2002)	rare	A1
Grey-headed Fish-eagle Icthyophaga ichthyaetus	NT	resident (2002)	rare	A1
White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineatus	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni	LC	winter (2002)	uncommon	A1
Laggar Falcon Falco jugger	NT	non-breeding (2002)	rare	A1
Red-headed Falcon Falco chicquera	NT	resident (1989)	present	A3
Blossom-headed Parakeet Himalayapsitta roseata	NT	resident (2002)	present	A3
Plum-headed Parakeet Himalayapsitta cyanocephala	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Black-headed Cuckooshrike Lalage melanoptera	LC	breeding (1989)	present	A3
Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix griseus	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Bengal Bushlark Mirafra assamica	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Sand Lark Alaudala raytal	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Grey-crowned Prinia Prinia cinereocapilla	VU	resident (2002)	rare	A1
Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Bristled Grassbird Schoenicola striatus	VU	breeding (2002)	frequent	A1, A3
Striated Babbler Argya earlei	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Jungle Babbler Argya striata	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum	LC	breeding (1989)	present	A3
Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra	VU	passage (2002)	rare	A1
Jerdon's Bushchat Saxicola jerdoni	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
White-throated Bushchat Saxicola insignis	VU	winter (2002)	rare	A1
White-tailed Stonechat Saxicola leucurus	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Brown Rockchat Oenanthe fusca	LC	resident (2002)	present	A3
Black-breasted Weaver Ploceus benghalensis	LC	resident (1989)	present	A3
Finn's Weaver Ploceus megarhynchus	EN	non-breeding (2004)	rare	A1
Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola	CR	passage (2004)	frequent	A1
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	unknown (2002)	20,000 birds	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2005. The most recent assessment (2011) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Swamp Francolin Ortygornis gularis	46 / 90 (pairs)	52	poor
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis	42 / 61 (nests)	69	poor

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	moderate (70–90%)	poor (40–69%)	very poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1976	Koshi Tappu	वन्यजन्तु आरक्ष (IV)	83
2004	Koshi Tappu - Buffer Zone	मध्यवर्ती क्षेत्र (VI)	47

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	-
Wetlands (inland)	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Koshi Barrage (Nepal). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/koshi-tappu-wildlife-reserve-and-koshi-barrage-iba-nepal on 22/12/2024.