Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
Subnational region(s): Salah Ad-Din
IBA Justification: A2 (2014)
Area: 2,145 hectares (21.45 km2)
BirdLife Partner(s): Nature Iraq
| Conservation status of the Important Bird Area (IBA) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | very low |
Site description (2014 baseline)
Evans (1994) listed Mahzam and Tharthar as an important bird area (IBA007), but the recent surveys have split this into two independent sites due to their location and logistics. The site consists of homogeneous riparian habitats on bothbanks of the Tigris River as well as desert shrublands. There are also dense fruit and date palm orchards scattered amongst bush and thickets. The geology of the area is alluvial sediments
Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: In total,120 bird species were seen. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus and European Roller Coracias garrulus (both Near Threatened) were observed on passage. The site also held seven breeding Sahara-Sindian Desert biome-restricted species but did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3.
Other Important Fauna: Indian Gray Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii was observed and considerd the first record for Iraq (Al-Sheikhly and Mallon 2013). Also photographed at the site was the Indian Crested Porcupine Hystrix indica, which face heavy hunting pressure as they are a preferred food for locals in Salah-ad-Din. No fishsurvey was conducted.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mahzam and Al-Alam Area (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mahzam-and-al-alam-area-iba-iraq on 19/01/2025.