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The site was identified as important 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	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 individuals	A4iii

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2005) may differ.

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	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Swamp Francolin Ortygornis gularis	90	46	breeding pairs	52	unfavourable
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis	61	42	nests	69	unfavourable

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Biological resource use	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Most of site (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	% overlap with IBA
1976	Koshi Tappu	वन्यजन्तु आरक्ष	83
1987	Koshi Tappu	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	83
2004	Koshi Tappu - Buffer Zone	मध्यवर्ती क्षेत्र	47

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Artificial/Terrestrial		-
Wetlands (inland)		-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

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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 22/11/2024.