Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
---|---|---|
- | A3c | A3c |
Year | Category | Criteria |
---|---|---|
2022 | Endangered | A3c |
2016 | Endangered | A3c |
2012 | Endangered | A2c+3c+4c |
2008 | Endangered | A2c; A3c; A4c |
2006 | Endangered | |
2004 | Endangered | |
2000 | Lower Risk/Near Threatened | |
1994 | Lower Risk/Near Threatened | |
1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | does not normally occur in forest |
Land-mass type |
continent |
Average mass | - |
Estimate | Data quality | |
---|---|---|
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) | 682,000 km2 | medium |
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) | 2,040,000 km2 | medium |
Number of locations | 11-100 | - |
Severely fragmented? | no | - |
Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Population size | 1500-7000 mature individuals | poor | suspected | 2022 |
Population trend | stable | medium | suspected | - |
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 50-79% | - | - | - |
Generation length | 2.92 years | - | - | - |
Number of subpopulations | 1 | - | - | - |
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation | 100% | - | - | - |
Population justification: A crude estimate of the breeding population in Iraq between 2006 and 2011 was 4,500 pairs (Nature Iraq 2017). The authors of this estimate stress that caution should be taken with this estimate, and so the population is placed in the range of 2,500-9,999 individuals. This is equivalent to 1,667-6,666 mature individuals, rounded here to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification: In the past, a very rapid and ongoing population decline was suspected from declines in ringing records of migrating birds, as well as the loss of the species' marshland breeding habitat. At Ngulia ringing station (Kenya), the average decadal ringing total for this species has been declining over the last three decades relative to the average decadal total for all Palearctic passerine migrants (by c.20% per decade) (D. Pearson in litt. 2003), with fewer than 5 ringed in 2014 (Ngulia Ringing Group in litt. 2014). This suggests that a decline of up to 70-80% may have taken place since the 1970s (D. Scott in litt. 2003, M. Evans in litt. 2003). However, the ringing methodology has changed somewhat during this period (D. Pearson verbally 2000, in litt. 2003) and even fewer birds might be expected in Kenya given the very high rate of destruction of the Mesopotamian marshes (D. Pearson in litt. 2003).
Following the regeneration of habitat in southern Iraq, surveys from 2006 to 2011 show a population of c. 4,500 pairs (Nature Iraq 2017), and a total of 180 birds ringed at Ngulia in November-December 2005 was the second highest annual total at the site (R. Porter in litt. 2006), and it is clear that the species has undergone a genuine recovery (Nature Iraq 2017; M. Salim, S. A. Abed and R. Porter in litt. 2020). The population is suspected to have been roughly stable since 2006-2011 estimates (M. Salim and L. A. Al-Obeidi in litt. to R. Porter 2016), and it is clear that the species has undergone a genuine recovery (Nature Iraq 2017; M. Salim, S. A. Abed and R. Porter in litt. 2020), whilst there is also evidence of birds moving to alternative, marginal habitats (M. Salim and S. A. Abed in litt. 2020).
However, since 2010 there have been droughts of various severity, some of which have coincided with the species' breeding season (M. Salim and S. A. Abed in litt. 2020). This, in combination with uncertainty over future water management (M. Salim and L. A. Al-Obeidi to R. Porter in litt. 2016), including building of dams in Turkey that restrict the flow of feed-water to the marshes from the Tigris and Euphrates, as well as the effects of global warming, is thought to reduce available breeding habitat in the future (N. Fazaa and R. Porter in litt. 2020). Therefore, although the current population trend is considered to be stable, it is suspected that the potentially significant impact from future threats could cause very rapid declines in the next ten years.
Country/Territory | Presence | Origin | Resident | Breeding visitor | Non-breeding visitor | Passage migrant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Botswana | extant | vagrant | yes | |||
Egypt | extant | vagrant | yes | |||
Ethiopia | extant | native | yes | yes | ||
Iran, Islamic Republic of | extant | native | yes | |||
Iraq | extant | native | yes | |||
Israel | extant | native | yes | |||
Kenya | extant | native | yes | yes | ||
Kuwait | extant | native | yes | |||
Malawi | extant | native | yes | |||
Mozambique | extant | native | yes | |||
Saudi Arabia | extant | native | yes | |||
Somalia | extant | native | yes | yes | ||
South Sudan | extant | native | yes | |||
Sudan | extant | native | yes | yes | ||
Syria | extant | vagrant | yes | |||
Tanzania | extant | native | yes | yes | ||
Uganda | extant | native | yes |
Country/Territory | IBA Name |
---|---|
Ethiopia | Gambella National Park |
Ethiopia | Koka dam and Lake Gelila |
Ethiopia | Lake Abe wetland system |
Iraq | Auda Marsh |
Iraq | Central Marshes |
Iraq | Dalmaj Marsh |
Iraq | East Hammar |
Iraq | Fao |
Iraq | Gharraf River |
Iraq | Hawizeh |
Iraq | Hindiya Barrage |
Iraq | Ibn Najm |
Iraq | North Ibn Najm |
Iraq | West Hammar |
Kenya | Lake Naivasha |
Kenya | Lower Tana River Forests |
Kenya | Tana River Delta |
Kenya | Tsavo East National Park |
Kenya | Tsavo West National Park |
Somalia | Laag Badaana |
Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
---|---|---|---|
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | Artificial/Aquatic - Canals and Drainage Channels, Ditches | suitable | breeding |
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | Artificial/Aquatic - Wastewater Treatment Areas | suitable | passage |
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine | Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over 8ha) | suitable | passage |
Savanna | Dry | suitable | non-breeding |
Shrubland | Subtropical/Tropical Moist | major | non-breeding |
Wetlands (inland) | Freshwater Springs and Oases | suitable | passage |
Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | major | breeding |
Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) | suitable | breeding |
Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Inland Deltas | major | breeding |
Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) | suitable | breeding |
Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools | suitable | breeding |
Altitude | 0 - 1000 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Causing/Could cause fluctuations | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Negligible declines | Low Impact: 4 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants - Unintentional effects (species is not the target) | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Causing/Could cause fluctuations | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Whole (>90%) | Rapid Declines | High Impact: 8 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Rapid Declines | Medium Impact: 7 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Past, Likely to Return | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Past Impact | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use - Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Rapid Declines | Medium Impact: 7 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use - Abstraction of surface water (domestic use) | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Rapid Declines | Medium Impact: 7 | ||||||
|
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Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water - Sewage | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Negligible declines | Low Impact: 4 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Basra Reed-warbler Acrocephalus griseldis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/basra-reed-warbler-acrocephalus-griseldis on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.