Data Zone
Country/territory: Greece
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C4, C6 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 34,000 ha
Site description (2000 baseline)
The site contains the estuary of the Sperchios river, an area of extensive saltmarshes and reedbeds (Phragmites). Along the river is a mosaic of riverine forest, wet grassland and freshwater marsh.
Key biodiversity
This is an important area for species characteristic of riverine forest, reedbed and open water. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (passage, wintering), Aquila clanga (wintering), Falco naumanni (breeding). The site regularly holds 20,000 or more waterbirds in winter (including Anas crecca 4,250; Recurvirostra avosetta 1,310).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Spercheios valley and delta and Maliakos gulf (Greece). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/spercheios-valley-and-delta-and-maliakos-gulf-iba-greece on 22/11/2024.