Data Zone
Country/territory: Sudan
IBA criteria met: A1, A3, A4i (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 12,000 ha
Site description (2001 baseline)
Mukawwar, Mayetib and the Taila islets form a small archipelago lying offshore of the fishing town of Mohammed Qol, on the Red Sea coast north, of Port Sudan. A little to the north lies Dunganab bay, a body of shallow water partially enclosed by a long, narrow spit. There is a small area of mangrove within the bay which is backed by sparsely vegetated coastal dunes. The IBA includes a narrow coastal strip and the mangroves of the bay as well as the archipelago and the shallow coastal waters in between.
Key biodiversity
See Box and Table 2 for key species. In addition, the islands are used as a breeding site by Sterna bengalensis, S. repressa, S. anaethetus and Larus hemprichii. Some 800 pairs of Sterna bengalensis breed on Mukawwar Island and 450 pairs on each of the two Taila islets.
Non-bird biodiversity: The islands are important for breeding turtles. Equus africanus (CR) and Dugong dugon (VU) have been recorded from the area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mukawwar island and Dunganab bay (Sudan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mukawwar-island-and-dunganab-bay-iba-sudan on 23/11/2024.