Data Zone
Country/territory: Egypt
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4ii (1999)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 300 hectares (3.00 km2)
Site description (2001 baseline)
A small archipelago composed of four small coralline islands: Siyul, Showarit, Um Ladid and Mahabis, mentioned in ascending order of size. The islands are flat and sandy, usually with an elevated rocky northern shoreline, and a sloping southern shore. Showarit island has a small mangrove stand. A fringe of living coral reef surrounds all the islands.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. Eight bird species have been found breeding on the islands: Phaethon aethereus, Butorides striatus, Egretta gularis, Platalea leucorodia, Falco concolor, Larus hemprichii, Larus leucophthalmus and Sterna caspia.
Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles: Caretta caretta (CR) has been reported nesting on three of the islands.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Qulân islands (Egypt). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/qulân-islands-iba-egypt on 26/12/2024.