Data Zone
Country/territory: Azerbaijan
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3 (2005)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1,000 ha
Site description (2005 baseline)
The site is the tip of the Absheron peninsula near Baku, formerly with sandy beaches, about a third of which was flooded as the level of the Caspian Sea rose during the 1980s. As a result of water level raising the tip of the spit got detached and form a long island named Suiti. The flooded area is now being colonized by reeds. All land-uses are prohibited.
Key biodiversity
The IBA is notable for passage and wintering Pelecaniformes and Ciconiiformes. At least 20,000 ducks and 40,000 Fulica atra migrate through the area. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (non-breeding: 2-4 winter in some years), Circus macrourus (3-4 winter).
Non-bird biodiversity: One of most important place for the Caspian Seal Phoca caspica in Azerbaijan. It is possible to find 100-200 individuals of them in any season of the year.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Shahdidi spit (Azerbaijan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/shahdidi-spit-iba-azerbaijan on 22/11/2024.