Data Zone
Country/territory: Saudi Arabia
IBA criteria met: A4i, B1i, B2 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 8 hectares (0.08 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | low | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
An island lying 5 km off the coast of south-west Saudi Arabia, midway between Shuqaiq and al-Birk. It is dominated by a mound of volcanic clinker rising to 100 m; a few trees (up to 3 m high) grow on its slopes, and there is a good growth of salt-tolerant bushes along its base on the south and south-east side abutting a flat and sandy area. Offshore are rich coral reefs. There is a small 7-m-high rock outcrop 200 m to the south.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. An important breeding area for Platalea leucorodia (of the Red Sea subspecies P. l. archeri); however the site has only once been surveyed in the breeding season, in 1982. Other breeding species included Egretta gularis (9 pairs), Butorides striatus (2 pairs) and Pandion haliaetus (1 pair). Small numbers of wintering waterfowl include Pelecanus rufescens (9), Sula leucogaster (30), gulls Larus (200) and terns Sterna (200).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by A. Stagg.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kutambil island (Saudi Arabia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kutambil-island-iba-saudi-arabia on 25/12/2024.