• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2005 baseline)
A bay in the Caspian Sea with sandy beaches and some small wetlands stretch along the sea coast, many of which are becoming overgrown with reeds and typical coastal vegetation. Part of the bay is rented by the Society of Hunters and Fishers. The semi-desert area is range on the west and include some arid hills - Bozdaglary. All this area has very dry climate.

Key biodiversity
The site is notable mostly for migration and wintering waterbirds. 177 species of birds were note at the place in different seasons. Most of birds are migratory visitors. Numbers of winter birds can reach 25,000 individuals. At least 20,000 diving ducks and 30,000 Fulica atra stage here every autumn. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Pelecanus crispus (very rare migrant), Branta ruficollis (extremely rare, not seen every year), Circus macrourus, Aquila clanga, A. heliaca (all raptors are rare migration visitors), Falco naumanni (1-2 pairs breed), Tetrax tetrax. Other passage visitors include Podiceps cristatus, Phalacrocorax carbo, Anser anser, Himantopus himantopus (200+), Chlidonias leucopterus, Sterna caspia and many others.

Non-bird biodiversity: The typical desert ephemeral plants are present at the site. There are some overgrows of reed along the sea coast. Some mammals like Lepus europeus, Canis lupus, Canis aureus, Vulpes vulpes occur at the site.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sangachal Bay (Azerbaijan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sangachal-bay-iba-azerbaijan on 23/12/2024.