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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2014 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 List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	breeding (2005–2010)	100 pairs	A1, A4i
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	winter (2008–2010)	2,000–4,350 birds	A1, A4i
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina	LC	winter (2008–2010)	1,000–2,800 birds	A4i
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	winter (2008–2010)	1,500–3,500 birds	A4i
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus	LC	resident (2005–2010)	200 pairs	A3
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius	LC	breeding (2005–2010)	100 pairs	A3
Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii	VU	breeding (2005–2010)	rare	A3
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	winter (2008–2010)	700–1,800 birds	A4i
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	breeding (2005–2010)	400 pairs	A4i
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus	LC	resident (2005–2010)	500 pairs	A3, A4i
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor	LC	breeding (2005–2010)	100 pairs	A3
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei	LC	breeding (2005–2010)	600–1,800 pairs	A4i
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei	LC	winter (2008–2010)	2,300–4,500 birds	A4i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	winter (2005–2010)	500–1,500 birds	A4i
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	winter (2005–2010)	35 birds	A1
Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis	LC	resident (2005–2010)	30 pairs	A3
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes	LC	resident (2005–2010)	200 pairs	A3
Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura	LC	resident (2005–2010)	50 pairs	A3
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti	LC	resident (2005–2010)	present	A3
Temminck's Lark Eremophila bilopha	LC	resident (2005–2010)	50 pairs	A3
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis	LC	resident (2005–2010)	200 pairs	A3
Iraq Babbler Argya altirostris	LC	resident (2005–2010)	90–300 pairs	A2, A3
Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus	LC	breeding (2005–2010)	300 pairs	A3
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus	LC	resident (2005–2010)	present	A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2005–2010)	min 28,000 birds	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2014. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	-	poor (40–69%)	very poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Little/none of area covered (<10%)	No management planning has taken place	Not assessed	very low

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	major (>10)
Wetlands (inland)	major (>10)

Land use	% of IBA
water management	100
hunting	major (>10)
military	-
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Razzaza Lake (Iraq). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/razzaza-lake-iba-iraq on 23/12/2024.