International Journal of Biodiversity
Volume 2017 (2017), Article ID 4198690, 28 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/4198690

Research Article

Distributions and Community Composition of Birds in Iraq’s Central Marsh

Nadheer A. Fazaa,1,2 Jonathon C. Dunn,¹ and Mark J. Whittingham¹

¹School of Biology, Newcastle University, Ridley Building 2, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
²Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

Correspondence should be addressed to Nadheer A. Fazaa; nadheerabood@gmail.com

Received 30 July 2016; Revised 22 December 2016; Accepted 19 January 2017; Published 8 March 2017

Academic Editor: Curtis C. Daehler

Copyright © 2017 Nadheer A. Fazaa et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

The Central Marsh (CM) in southern Iraq is known to provide important habitats for both resident and migrant birds. The CM has been used extensively by humans, in part due to its high levels of productivity and biodiversity. It was drained in the 1990s by the government and reflooded and restored in 2003. Recent brief surveys of the CM from 2005 to 2010 recorded 94 bird species. Our study combined transects and point counts in detailed monthly surveys from October 2013 to June 2014 in the CM. We found a total of 125 bird species in the CM across all surveys, with 31 species recorded for the first time in the CM and 11 species categorised as red listed by the IUCN. Fourteen species were confirmed breeding in the CM. Cluster analysis using NMDS ordination showed that the study area can be divided into three main clusters of bird assemblages which are presented here. We provide management recommendations based on our findings.

1. Introduction

The Iraqi Central Marsh (CM) is a globally important open water and freshwater marsh [1] located between three provinces (Missan: 31°10′N, 47°05E; Thi-Qar: 30°50′N to 31°30′N; and Basra: 46°45′E to 46°25′E) in the south of Iraq [2]. The CM is almost 300,000 ha in area and is part of a larger marshland complex [3]. The CM has always been used extensively by humans, in part due to its high levels of productivity and biodiversity [4]. The CM has long been known to provide important permanent habitat for large number of birds and is part of a flyway for thousands more migrating between Siberia and Africa [5, 6]. Eighty bird species were found in the CM in the last complete census in the 1970s [6] and the area was identified as one of 42 Iraqi Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) [3]. Despite its importance for both people and wildlife, the CM was totally drained in the 1990s by the government, which caused huge levels of biodiversity loss and the disappearance of nearly all bird species from the area [7]. The motivation for this drainage is not clear, with some sources stating political motivation [1] and others agricultural expansion, which had already begun in the 1970s [8].

Parts of the CM were reflooded and restored in 2003 using the River Euphrates water to feed the CM directly, resulting in a huge reverse migration of both local people and bird species [9, 10]. Concomitantly, there was a change in governmental attitudes and NGOs toward wildlife and the value of birds, especially regarding the maintenance of healthy ecosystem functioning [11]. Reflecting this change, 141,615 ha (47%) of the CM was declared as the country’s first national park (NP) in 2013 (Mesopotamian National Park or MNP) [12, 13] and the CM was identified as one of 82 Iraqi Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), based largely on bird data collected between 2005 and 2008 [2]. While the difficult political situation in Iraq made it impossible to conduct bird surveys between 1980 and 2003 [1], the KBA assessment showed that bird species in the CM have begun to recover to predrainage levels (94 species recorded [4]). However, many of these surveys were rapid (visiting the area for one day in the season) (seasonal surveys were conducted between 2005 and 2010 by Nature Iraq (NI) and the Iraqi Ministry of Environment) and therefore need updating to better understand the conservation statuses of CM birds. Furthermore, the KBA assessment did not explicitly examine the distributions or habitat associations of birds within the CM, treating the whole area as one conservation unit [4, 10]. Treating the whole of the CM in this way could hinder attempts to restore the CM’s bird populations, as many of the significant threats that face birds in the CM are not distributed equally in space [7]. Here we present data from surveys across a nine-month period in 2013-2014.

Our study had three objectives: (i) to provide an inventory of bird species occurring in the CM; (ii) to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of bird abundance and diversity across the CM; (iii) to describe bird assemblages within different areas of the CM. We use our findings to suggest management actions in the CM to benefit birds.

2. Methods

2.1. Study Site and Sampling Protocol

Three longitudinal water transects (each 30 km in length) were chosen inside the CM to identify and count birds in the marsh from both sides of transects [14]. These three transects ran approximately north-south and followed existing water courses, thus causing only minor disturbance to habitats whilst surveying (Figure 1). The area has historically been supplied with water from the north by the Tigress River. The Euphrates River crosses Chibayish City from the West to the East towards Modina City in Basra province [11]. The Euphrates River has been closed using soil embankments between Chibayish City and Modina City due to the scarcity of water in the river. Therefore, all water coming from the West of Iraq in the Euphrates River now goes directly to the CM.

Figure 1: Area of study in the CM showing locations of transect surveys (T1: transect 1, T2: transect 2, and T3: transect 3) and the location of the CM within the Middle East within the overview map (as shown in orange).

To aid management, we subdivided the study area into three zones. We did this based on the dominant type of vegetation and similarities in the type of human activity that occurred in each zone (e.g., fishing, reed cutting, and the intensity of water buffalo used for distributing water buffalo milk). This classification was made by visual inspection of the CM and was descriptive only (based on qualitative impressions made during the survey work). Zone one started from the south in the Euphrates River and crossed Chibayish City, with zones two and three extending north inside the national park (Figure 1). Zone one had the most human activity, grazing by water buffalo, and dominance of the plant species Typha domingensis. Zone two had intermediary levels of human activity and water buffalo grazing with Typha domingensis and Phragmites australis the dominant plant species, and zone three had the least amount of human activity and grazing with Phragmites australis the dominant plant species.

Nine surveys were carried out in the CM from October 2013 to June 2014 (for exact dates see Appendix). A motor canoe was for transport, with surveys starting from the riverside in the south of the national park and finishing in the north. Three days were spent in the area for each survey (one day/transect), and six–eight hours per day were spent moving along each transect. All field observations were conducted by the same observer and were started from the river in zone one in the morning and finished in the afternoon at the end of zone three (05:30–12:30/13:30 in the summer, and 07:00–14:00/15:00 in the winter). The stop points (point counts) are shown in Figure 1; time spent at each stop was 30–40 minutes (the survey included water and sediment sampling; therefore, almost 15–20 minutes were spent for bird records in each point). Our chosen survey time for bird counts was designed to maximise our chances of detecting as many cryptic species as possible, while minimising our chances of double-counting. Additionally, our sampling design was constrained by safety considerations and logistical difficulties, which, although making it impossible to conduct sampling in zone three in the morning, reduced our risk of double-counting further. A Canon 7D camera with Sigma lens 135 × 400 and Canon lens 100 × 400 and 8 × 42 binoculars were used to observe and count birds in the CM. No observations and counts were undertaken on the way back, apart from new species that were not recorded in the main survey. A Garmin GPS device was used to map the three transects digitally. We used official data from the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, Chibayish Branch, to record the monthly water level in the Euphrates River during the survey period.

2.2. Analysis of Species Richness and Abundance and Community Composition

To investigate the role of management zone, month (coded as Julian day), and transect in species richness and abundance, we used general linear models with a Gaussian error structure as our models with a Poisson, quasi-Poisson, and negative binomial error structure were severely overdispersed. To produce acceptable model residual plots, species abundance was square-root transformed but species richness was left untransformed. For each dependent variable, we constructed a full model and used a multimodel inference approach to define the relative importance of each independent variable, as recommended by Burnham and Anderson (2002) [15] and Grueber et al. (2011) [16]. We used the package “MuMIn” [17] to produce all possible candidate models, which were ranked by AICc. We then used model averaging across the full set of candidate models to produce parameter estimates and measures of the relative importance of each parameter [15].

Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) ordination was conducted using the FactoMine R package [15] in R to identify whether there were differences in community composition between different management zones. To do this, nine different sites were identified based on the point where each of the three transects intersected each of the three management zones (see Figure 1). The rationale behind splitting up the zones further for this analysis was in response to preliminary analysis of our field observations, which suggested that there were distinct bird communities at finer scales than the three management zones that we originally identified. Then, a Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix and dendrogram were created to identify clusters of sites in the CM that were most similar in their bird species’ communities (based on both species’ identities and abundance). These clusters were then overlaid on the results of the ordination to help identify parts of the CM with similar bird communities. We chose to use both a dendrogram and NMDS ordination to identify clusters to ensure that our results were robust. All data manipulation and statistical analysis were undertaken in R version 3.1.3 (R Development Core Team 2015).

3. Results

3.1. Which Bird Species Occur and Breed in the CM and Which Species Are of Conservation Concern?

3.1.1. Site Importance

A total of 125 bird species were recorded in the CM across all the surveys: 29 were resident species (recorded across all seasons of the survey); 87 were winter visitors and passage migrants; 9 species were noted as summering (Table 4). A total of 31 species were recorded for the first time in the CM. Notable records included (i) White Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), which was recorded in the December survey in transect two, zone two; this species has not been recorded in the CM for more than 40 years; (ii) Fourteen species which were confirmed breeding in the CM according to the BTO breeding evidence criteria (Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides, Red-Wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus, White-Tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto, Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis, Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis, Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis, Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris, Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio, and House Sparrow Passer domesticus; see Table 1 for detailed information about breeding status and more details in the Appendix).

Table 1: Bird breeding statuses in the CM for April–June 2014. Key: T = transect and Z = zone.

Month
Species
Description

April
Red-Wattled Lapwing
One nest with two chicks and one egg in T2, Z2 (GPS coordinates: 0706280, 3436379)

Purple Swamphen
One empty nest T2, Z2

Graceful Prinia
We did not count the numbers of nests

Warbler
One empty nest in T2, Z3

House Sparrow
We did not count the numbers of nests

Iraq Babbler
One nest in T1, Z2

May
Warbler spp.
(i) Two empty nests of Warbler spp. in T1, Z3 (coordinates: 0683694, 3441836)
(ii) Two nests (with two chicks and one egg in each nest) of Basra Reed Warbler in T2, Z3 (coordinates: 0706003, 3441503 and 0705922, 3441499)

Collared Dove
Nest (with two eggs) of Collared Dove in T2, Z1

Whiskered Tern
Chicks and large numbers of Whiskered Terns (two colonies; each colony had over 50 nests) located in T2, Z3. Each nest was floating on water and all contained three eggs [coordinates: 0705878, 344280 and 0706394, 3437954].

Little Bittern
Nest of Little Bittern with 4 eggs in transect two [coordinates: 0702287, 3430598].

White-Tailed Lapwing
Two nests of White-Tailed Lapwing (one nest with four eggs and second with two eggs) [coordinates: 0684287, 3434033].

Graceful Prinia
Nest of Graceful Prinia in T3

House Sparrow
One nest and chicks of House Sparrow in T3

June
Warbler
(i) Three nests of Basra Reed Warbler with two chicks and one egg in T1, Z2 [coordinates: 0693162, 3436719 and 0684284, 3434030]
(ii) Three nests of Basra Reed Warbler in T2, Z3 [coordinates: 0705880, 3441550 and 0705874, 3441525]
(iii) All recorded nests of Basra Reed Warbler in our survey were built on reed stems only
(iv) Basra Reed Warbler shares its preferred reed bed habitat with the similar Great Reed Warbler
(v) Our survey highlighted dominancy of Great Reed Warbler in April (the number of individuals recorded of Basra Reed Warbler in the area of study was 14, 42, and 66 and for Great Reed Warbler was 38, 57, and 42 in April, May, and June 2014, resp.)

Little Bittern
Nest with four eggs and chick of Little Bittern in T2, Z1 [coordinates: 0693170, 3436726]

White Tailed Lapwing
Nest with four eggs of White-Tailed Lapwing in T2, Z1

Collared Dove
Nest with two eggs of Collared Dove in T2, Z1

Whiskered Tern
20 chicks of Whiskered Tern in T2, Z3

Pied Kingfisher
One chick and 10 eggs of Pied Kingfisher in T1, Z2

Little Grebe
Observation , 20 juveniles of Little Grebe subspecies Tachybaptus ruficollis iraquensis in T2, Z3

3.1.2. Important Bird Species for Conservation

The survey found 11 species that are important conservation priorities in the CM and are red listed by the IUCN (Table 2), and two endemic species (Basra Reed Warbler and Iraq Babbler), and three near endemic species (Black Francolin, Little Grebe, and Mesopotamian Crow) according to [18]. In addition, there are two species that are regionally threatened (Pygmy Cormorant and Sacred Ibis) and four species that are regionally near threatened (Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Western Marsh Harrier, and Common Kingfisher) in the Arabian Peninsula [19].

Table 2: Threatened bird species recorded in the CM by this study (details of numbers recorded are presented in the Appendix).

English name
Latin name
Conservation status

Marbled Duck
Marmaronetta angustirostris
Vulnerable (IUCN)

Basra Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus griseldis
Endangered (IUCN)

Greater Spotted Eagle
Aquila clanga
Vulnerable (IUCN)

Eastern Imperial Eagle
Aquila heliacal
Vulnerable (IUCN)

Ferruginous Duck
Aythya nyroca
Near threatened (IUCN)

Cinereous Vulture
Aegypius monachus
Near threatened (IUCN)

Pallid Harrier
Circus cyaneus
Near threatened (IUCN)

Little Grebe (subspecies)
Tachybaptus ruficollis iraquensis
Near threatened [4]

Iraq Babbler

Turdoides altirostris
Least concern (restricted-range) [4]

White-Tailed Lapwing

Vanellus leucurus
Least concern (Biome-restricted) [4]

Dead Sea Sparrow

Passer moabiticus
Least concern (Biome-restricted) [4]

3.2. Spatial Distribution of Bird Abundance and Diversity across the CM

According to the raw data from the study survey, the greatest bird species abundance was in winter (December, January, and February). The areas of the CM with the greatest abundance of birds was along transect two and in zone two. The highest species richness was in January and April along transect one, and in zone two (Figures 2, 3, and 4; see Tables 4, 5, and 7 for further details). We produced a candidate set of eight models based on our full, global model for each response variable. Across all eight species abundance models, zone had relative importance (RI) of 0.92, Julian day had RI of 0.71, and transect had an RI of 0.09. The model averaged parameter estimates highlighted how zone two had the highest overall species abundance (, SE = 1.87); however, species abundance did not appear to significantly decline from January to December (, SE = 0.01). Across all eight species richness models, zone had relative importance (RI) of 1.00, Julian day had RI of 0.74, and transect had RI of 0.18. The model averaged parameter estimates highlighted how zone two had the highest overall species richness (, SE = 1.62); however, species abundance did not appear to significantly decline from January to December (, SE = 0.01).

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 2: Bird species abundance (all species observations summed) in the Iraqi CM (monthly surveys from October 2013 to June 2014). (a) shows abundance for the whole CM, (b) shows abundance by transect, and (c) shows abundance by zone.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 3: Bird species richness in the Iraqi CM (monthly surveys from October 2013 to June 2014). (a) shows species richness for the whole CM, (b) shows species richness by transect, and (c) shows species richness by zone.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 4: Bird species richness in the Iraqi CM (monthly surveys from October 2013 to June 2014). (a) and (b) show species abundance for the three transects and the three zones in the CM, and (c) and (d) show species richness by the three transects and the three zones.

3.3. What Bird Assemblages Exist within Different Zones in the CM?

The dendrogram based on the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix showed that there were at least two main clusters of bird species, with potentially a third cluster in site nine. These results were aligned with the site cluster analysis undertaken using NMDS ordination (the linear fit from a stress plot was ), which shows that the study area can be categorised into three main clusters of bird species (cluster one = T1-Z1, T1-Z2, T2-Z1, and T3-Z1; cluster 2 = T1-Z3, T2-Z2, T2-Z3, T3-Z2, and T3-Z3; Figures 5 and 6). Some of the bird species found in cluster one include Eurasian Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Little Tern (Sternula albifrons), Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), and Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus). We found Common Babbler (Turdoides caudata), Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Armenian Gull (Larus armenicus), Crested Lark (Galerida cristata), Dead Sea Sparrow (Passer moabiticus), and Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) among others within cluster two. Finally, cluster three contained Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus), Greylag Goose (Anser anser), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), and Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus).

(a)

(b)

Figure 5: NMDS cluster analysis for birds in the CM. (a) shows a dendrogram based on a Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix. This dendrogram was then cut to give three groupings based on similarities in bird community composition as shown both by the dendrogram and by the NMDS ordination plot. (b) shows the results of the NMDS ordination, with each zone/transect complement (e.g., zone one transect one is site one and zone one transect two is site two) coloured according to grouping and surrounded by a convex hull. The ordination shows three different groupings of sites (note: the inclusion of site three within cluster one does not represent a failing with our method but a consequence of the way NMDS plots are visualized).

Figure 6: NMDS cluster analysis for birds in the CM, surveys from October 2013 to June 2014 showing the spatial locations of the three different bird communities identified by the NMDS analysis.

4. Discussion

We recorded 125 bird species in the CM over nine months of survey work, which increased the species list for the area by 24% and we confirmed the breeding of 14 species and coded 20 species as species observed in breeding season in suitable nesting habitat (H according to British Trust for Ornithology breeding status codes). Earlier work over a five-year period recorded 94 species using less intensive survey efforts [4]. Fifty-one breeding bird species were reported by Salim et al. [20] and 77 species were recorded by Salim and Porter [21] in the Iraqi southern marshland complex where the CM is found. In comparison to the wider region at large, 357 bird species were recorded in wetland conservation areas found in the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, covering an area of 3,000,000 km² [22].

Our survey recorded 31 more bird species versus the most recent, rapid assessment which is potentially due to the nature of the previous surveys, which were rapid assessments of bird species undertaken across the entirety of the Mesopotamian marshlands (Hawiza Marsh to the east of the Tigris River, Hammar Marsh to the south of the Euphrates River, and the Central Marsh between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) [4]. By focusing on one of the marshes, we were able to conduct more intensive surveys, which detected more bird species. For this reason, there is a clear need to undertake further, intensive surveys in the other two Mesopotamian marshes to provide accurate, up-to-date information. Recent national water and biodiversity strategies have indicated that it is no longer appropriate to consider all three marshes as one conservation unit, as the connections between the water bodies have severely declined due to extreme water scarcity [10]. As such, there is an urgent need to develop management plans for each of the three Mesopotamian marshes.

The greatest bird species abundance in the CM was in winter (December, January, and February). The area of the CM with the greatest abundance of birds was along transect two and in zone two. The highest species richness was in January and April along transect one and in zone two. However, there is potential of seasonal and observer bias. In winter, larger birds often form flocks in open areas and are therefore easy to detect. In summer many breeding birds may be less easy to detect (i.e., hidden from view in the reeds). Similarly in spring and autumn there will be huge numbers of migrant passerines using the marshes as a “stop-over” site to rest and feed. Our analysis is useful for comparing abundance and richness between areas within the same season but is perhaps less useful for comparing between seasons.

There has been recent interest in the potential population size of one of the most threatened species we recorded, the globally endangered Basra Reed Warbler, with major discrepancies of opinion regarding breeding population size (e.g., between [18, 19] and [23]). We recorded 11 nests in our study area (10 of them were independent nests; one in April, four in May, and five in June 2014). All recorded nests of Basra Reed Warbler in our surveys were built on reed stems only. Basra Reed Warbler shares its preferred reed bed habitat with the similar Great Reed Warbler. Our survey highlighted the dominance of Great Reed Warbler in April (the number of individuals recorded of Basra Reed Warbler in the area of study was 14, 42, and 66 and for Great Reed Warbler 38, 57, and 42 in April, May, and June 2014, resp.). It is unsafe to extrapolate from the numbers of nesting Basra Reed Warblers that we detected in our survey to the whole site, but clearly the Iraqi Marshlands holds a substantial population of this globally endangered species.

Although the CM is the first national park to be designated in Iraq [11] there is still a lack of detailed information on bird distribution across the site or in current management plans [4]. The CM area was considered as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and an Important Birds Areas site and was divided into two main areas: core and buffer zones [4, 7, 13]. Our study provides more detailed information about bird abundance, richness, and assemblages. Three bird clusters were suggested for the first time in the area with zone two identified as containing large numbers of breeding birds. In contrast zone one had fewer species and a lower overall abundance; due to the proximity of human settlements zone one is also likely to receive more human disturbance (fishing, reed cutting, and buffalo grazing) than the other zones. More analysis is needed for the data to highlight differences between the 3 clusters.

Water levels in the Euphrates River, the main source of the CM’s water, varied between autumn, winter, and summer (1.29 m, 1.79 m, and 1.66 m in October 2013 and January and June 2014, resp.; see Table 3), which is the main source of control of water levels and water quality inside the CM [11]. Rising water levels in the winter expand the flooded area away from Chibayish City and provide more suitable habitats for water birds in zone three. In addition, rising water levels in the Euphrates enable easier access for local people in zone one. Thus, keeping the minimum water level at 1.29 m in summer and winter could help and support wildlife in the CM, especially in zone two and zone three.

Table 3: Maximum and minimum monthly water levels in the Euphrates River (Chibayish City station) from October 2013 to June 2014 (official data of the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources- Chibayish Branch).

October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June

2013
2013
2013
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014

Min cm
129
147
158
154
176
165
167
165
165

Max cm
148
172
172
179
169
170
172
167
166

During the survey
147
157
160
170
170
165
168
167
166

Table 4: Species observations and counts (October, 2013–June, 2014) in the Iraqi Central Marsh. Scientific names are provided in Appendix Table 7.

Species English name
Species observations & counts (Oct, 2013–Jun, 2014)

Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun

(1)
Black Francolin
0
2
4
6
1
0
4
2
2

(2)
Greylag Goose
7
0
77
10
0
0
0
0
0

(3)
Mallard
0
0
47
55
0
2
0
0
0

(4)
Northern Shoveler

0
0
46
0
0
0
0
0
0

(5)
Northern Pintail
0
0
400
175
15
0
0
0
0

(6)
Garganey
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
0

(7)
Eurasian Teal
0
0
66
168
45
47
0
0
0

(8)
Marbled Duck
0
0
35
5
10
0
22
0
0

(9)
Ferruginous Duck
0
8
21
0
10
0
0
0
0

(10)
Little Grebe
58
42
70
95
81
40
14
30
72

(11)
Great Crested Grebe
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0

(12)
White Stork
0
0
380
200
40
0
0
0
0

(13)
African Sacred Ibis
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0

(14)
Glossy Ibis
0
0
25
9
2
230
10
0
11

(15)
Eurasian Bittern
0
1
0
2
2
2
2
0
1

(16)
Little Bittern
0
1
0
0
0
0
111
203
143

(17)
Black-Crowned Night Heron
0
0
2
1
0
1
11
21
56

(18)
Squacco Heron
41
132
181
85
116
970
100
39
90

(19)
Cattle Egret
55
83
0
18
6
0
0
0
0

(20)
Grey Heron
3
13
1
0
51
23
11
0
0

(21)
Purple Heron
8
9
19
11
6
10
33
12
8

(22)
Great White Egret
0
0
0
0
10
12
0
0
0

(23)
Little Egret
74
68
1046
750
665
380
33
12
505

(24)
Great White pelican
0
0
533
500
150
0
0
0
0

(25)
Pygmy Cormorant
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
21
23

(26)
Great Cormorant
2
1
0
5
0
0
0
0
0

(27)
Black-Winged Kite
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0

(28)
White-Tailed Sea Eagle
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0

(29)
Cinereous Vulture
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0

(30)
Short-Toed Snake-Eagle
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0

(31)
Western Marsh Harrier
12
13
28
23
18
15
1
1
0

(32)
Pallid Harrier
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0

(33)
Montagu’s Harrier
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0

(34)
Eurasian Sparrow hawk
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
0
0

(35)
Long-Legged Buzzard
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0

(36)
Greater Spotted Eagle
0
0
0
1
0
2
1
0
0

(37)
Steppe Eagle
1
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
0

(38)
Common Kestrel
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0

(39)
Eurasian Hobby
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

(40)
Water Rail
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

(41)
Little Crake
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0

(42)
Spotted Crake
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

(43)
Purple Swamphen
0
8
0
3
0
7
18
0
2

(44)
Common Moorhen
15
17
10
22
13
2
3
2
11

(45)
Common Coot
0
4
87
245
125
14
0
0
0

(46)
Black-Winged Stilt
28
14
25
236
44
17
136
42
75

(47)
Spur-Winged Lapwing
1
0
0
0
0
2
19
9
7

(48)
Red-Wattled Lapwing
12
9
5
9
1
3
4
7
6

(49)
White-Tailed Lapwing
21
12
24
154
90
40
57
45
48

(50)
Common Ringed Plover
9
6
4
10
3
0
0
0
0

(51)
Little Ringed Plover
0
2
0
0
0
0
3
2
0

(52)
Kentish Plover
4
10
43
23
13
0
0
0
2

(53)
Common Snipe
1
0
0
1
0
2
21
0
0

(54)
Common Redshank
0
0
0
0
1
11
8
0
0

(55)
Marsh Sandpiper
0
6
0
19
8
28
0
0
0

(56)
Common Greenshank
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0

(57)
Green Sandpiper
3
1
0
1
4
2
0
0
0

(58)
Wood Sandpiper
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0

(59)
Terek Sandpiper
3
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0

(60)
Common Sandpiper
3
6
8
4
5
4
8
7
0

(61)
Sanderling
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0

(62)
Little Stint
0
1
0
5
1
0
6
3
0

(63)
Curlew Sandpiper
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
2
0

(64)
Ruff
0
0
0
0
0
1
85
6
0

(65)
Collared Pratincole
0
0
0
0
0
0
15
9
4

(66)
Slender-Billed Gull
17
165
480
487
891
163
164
78
90

(67)
Black-Headed Gull
0
35
130
246
685
232
149
17
0

(68)
Armenian Gull
0
2
2
5
6
21
5
0
0

(69)
Gull-Billed Tern
2
10
0
0
0
0
0
9
0

(70)
Little Tern
11
3
0
0
0
0
20
9
16

(71)
Common Tern
0
6
0
0
0
53
43
9
18

(72)
Whiskered Tern
53
81
639
741
279
113
61
125
63

(73)
White-Winged Tern
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
21
0

(74)
Pin-Tailed Sandgrouse
0
0
0
0
0
23
16
0
0

(75)
European Turtle Dove
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0

(76)
Eurasian Collared Dove
16
21
36
26
35
23
17
14
6

(77)
Laughing Dove
0
1
2
13
3
5
7
2
0

(78)
Common Barn-Owl
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0

(79)
Egyptian Nightjar
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0

(80)
White-Breasted Kingfisher
9
17
25
38
30
25
10
4
7

(81)
Common Kingfisher
10
12
29
18
25
17
5
1
3

(82)
Pied Kingfisher
236
318
542
500
461
293
269
245
147

(83)
Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater
10
9
0
0
0
0
28
0
0

(84)
European Bee-Eater
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
0

(85)
Eurasian Hoopoe
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

(86)
Red-Backed Shrike
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
52
0

(87)
Isabelline Shrike
6
8
12
25
5
2
0
0
0

(88)
Turkestan Isabelline Shrike
2
0
0
1
2
0
1
0
0

(89)
Lesser Grey Shrike
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
31
0

(90)
Eurasian Golden Oriole
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0

(91)
Hooded Crow
0
0
2
0
5
2
0
0
0

(92)
Mesopotamian Crow
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0

(93)
Crested Lark
32
3
10
4
6
4
9
19
24

(94)
White-Eared Bulbul
0
1
1
2
4
0
0
0
0

(95)
Sand Martin
0
2
0
0
0
27
54
5
2

(96)
Barn Swallow
5
0
0
0
11
29
38
35
12

(97)
Willow Warbler
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0

(98)
Common Chiffchaff
7
20
38
48
34
8
18
0
0

(99)
Basra Reed Warbler
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
42
66

(100)
Great Reed Warbler
1
2
0
0
0
0
38
57
42

(101)
Sedge Warbler
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
2
0

(102)
Eurasian Reed-Warbler
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
0

(103)
Graceful Prinia
13
9
11
23
73
41
78
104
61

(104)
Iraq Babbler
5
7
11
25
27
9
58
17
11

(105)
Afghan (Common) Babbler
0
0
0
16
6
18
0
4
0

(106)
Common Starling
0
42
105
252
549
47
2
1
0

(107)
Song Thrush
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0

(108)
European Robin
0
2
5
1
0
0
0
0
0

(109)
Bluethroat
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0

(110)
Rufous-Tailed Scrub-Robin
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

(111)
Common Redstart
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0

(112)
Whinchat
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
4
0

(113)
Common Stonechat
0
0
3
3
0
0
0
0
0

(114)
Northern Wheatear
0
0
0
0
0
6
8
0
0

(115)
Black-Eared Wheatear
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0

(116)
House Sparrow
221
142
158
102
158
75
140
70
58

(117)
Spanish Sparrow
0
0
0
0
0
6
8
0
0

(118)
Dead Sea Sparrow
50
450
54
0
30
10
15
4
0

(119)
Yellow Wagtail
0
2
0
0
0
43
86
1
0

(120)
Citrine Wagtail
1
0
0
1
1
4
4
0
0

(121)
White Wagtail
51
25
134
80
61
74
9
0
0

(122)
Water Pipit
5
26
22
20
16
2
1
0
0

(123)
Corn Bunting
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0

(124)
Ortolan Bunting
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0

(125)
Reed Bunting
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0

Table 5: Field notes and breeding evidence of birds from Oct, 2013, to Jun, 2014, in the Iraqi Central Marsh.

Survey
Important notes

Oct, 2013
(i) Wide distribution of Pied Kingfisher, Cattle Egret (especially on the back of the water buffalos), Crested Lark, House Sparrow
(ii) Recording Greylag Goose as first arrival in this month to the CM
(iii) Recording Red-Backed Shrike (we just recorded this species in Oct and May)
(iv) Recording Water Rail just in this month

Nov, 2013
(i) Wide distribution of Pied Kingfisher, Cattle Egret (especially on the back of the water buffalos), Crested Lark, House Sparrow
(ii) Recording Starling, Coot, Yellow Wagtail, Robin, Arminian Gull, Ferruginous Duck, Bluethroat as first arrival in this month to the CM
(iii) Large number of Dead Sea Sparrow, Winchat comparing with the observations of same species in the 9 surveys
(iv) Recording Little and Spotted Crake

Dec, 2013
(i) Reduction of Cattle Egret observations
(ii) Dominance of Little Egret
(iii) Appearance/presence of Eagles and Vultures in the area of study (e.g., White-Tailed Eagle and Black Vulture)
(iv) First arrivals of huge number of water birds and ducks to the area of study (e.g., Teal, Northern Pintail, Mallard, Shoveler).
(v) Increasing of Common Kingfisher, White-Breasted Kingfisher, White Wagtail, Marsh Harrier, Kentish Plover, Starling, Slender Bill and Black-Headed Gulls, Coot, Chiffchaff
(vi) First arrival of White Stork and Pelican White
(vii) First observation of Spanish Sparrow, Marbled Teal, Common Kestrel, Glossy Ibis of the 9 surveys
(viii) Increasing of birds hunting

Jan, 2014
(i) Dominance of Whiskered Tern and Little Egret
(ii) Wide distribution of Black-Winged Stilt
(iii) Increasing of White-Tailed Lapwing, Coot, Chiffchaff, Isabelline Shrike, Gulls
(iv) First observation of Great Crested Grebe, Sacred Ibis, Song Thrush
(v) Overhunting

Feb, 2014
(i) Fishing is forbidden in this month. Therefore, locals overhunt birds in the CM
(ii) First observation of Grey Heron
(iii) Dominance of Slender Billed and Black-Headed Gulls
(iv) Decrease in numbers of Mallard and ducks
(v) First observation of Barn Swallow, Terek Sandpiper, Common Red Shank, Reed Bunting, Wood Sandpiper, Montagne’s Harrier, European Reed Warbler, Great White Egret, Short-Toed Snake Eagle

Mar, 2014
(i) Dominant and wide distribution of Squacco Heron in all transects and zones
(ii) Decrease in the numbers of Little Egret
(iii) Decrease of hunting
(iv) Decrease in numbers of Starling, Water Pipit, Coot, ducks
(v) Disappearing of Kentish Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Cattle Egret, White Stork, Pelican White, White-Cheeked Bulbul, Bluthroat
(vi) Highest observations/numbers of Marsh Sand Piper, Yellow Wagtail, Common Tern, Glossy Ibis, Common Red Shank
(vii) First observation of Spur-Winged Lapwing, San Marten, Pin-Tailed Sandgrouse, Northern Wheatear, Hoopoe, Ruff

Apr, 2014
(i) Start of nesting of Iraq Babbler and House Sparrow
(ii) Arrival of Warblers (Great Reed Warbler being higher in numbers than Basra Reed Warbler)
(iii) Disappearing of Marsh Harrier
(iv) Dominance of Little Bittern and Great Reed Warbler
(v) Marbled Duck can be seen easily compared to other months
(vi) Decrease in numbers of Squacco Heron, Common Kingfisher, White-Breasted Kingfisher, Starling, Glossy Ibis, Little Egret
(vii) Increasing numbers of Glassful Prinia, Purple Swamphen, Northern Wheatear, Ruff, Spur-Winged Lapwing, Purple Heron compared to other months
(viii) Night Heron can be seen easily
(ix) Observation of Blue-Cheeked Beater just in this month
(x) Disappearing of Great White Egret, Common Babbler, Coot, Teal, Marsh Sandpiper
(xi) First observation of Pygmy Cormorant, Willow Warbler, Collared Pratincole, European Bee-Eater, Garganey, Curlew Sandpiper
(xii) Recording Greater-Spotted Eagle
(xiii) Breeding evidences
(a) Nest with chicks of Red-Wattled Lapwing (GPS coordinates 0706280, 3436379)
(b) Empty nest of Purple Swamphen
(c) Nests of Graceful Prinia
(d) Empty nest of Warbler in transect 2
(e) Nest of House Sparrow
(f) Nest of Iraq Babbler

May, 2014
(i) Increase in numbers of Graceful Prinia, Basra Reed Warbler, Pygmy Cormorant
(ii) Decrease in numbers of Gulls and Whiskered Tern
(iii) Arrival of Red-Backed Shrike
(iv) Recording Winchat, Golden Oriole, White-Winged Black Tern, European Reed Warbler
(v) First observation of Lesser Grey Shrike, European Nightjar, Turtle Dove
(vi) Disappearing of Grey Heron, Chiffchaff, Citrine Wagtail, Red Shank, Northern Wheatear, White Wagtail
(vii) Breeding evidences
(a) Empty 2 nests of Warbles in transect 1, zone 3 (coordinates: 0683694, 3441836)
(b) Two nests (with 2 chicks and one egg in each nest) of Basra Reed Warbler in Transect 2, zone 3 (coordinates: 0706003, 3441503 and 0705922, 3441499)
(c) Nest (with 2 eggs) of Collared Dove in transect 2, zone 1
(d) Chicks and huge numbers (2 colonies; each colony has more than 50 nest) of Whickered Tern nests in transect 2, zone 3 (each nest is floating on the water with 3 eggs) coordinates: 0705878, 344280 and 0706394, 3437954
(e) Nest of Little Bittern with 4 eggs in transect 2 (coordinates: 0702287, 3430598)
(f) Two nests of White-Tailed Lapwing (one nest with 4 eggs and the second with 2 eggs), coordinates: 0684287, 3434033
(g) Nest of Graceful Prinia in transect 3
(h) Nest and chicks of House Sparrow in transect 3

Jun, 2014
(i) Increasing in numbers of Night Heron and Pygmy Cormorant (especially in transect 3), Little Grebe, Moorhen, Crested Lark
(ii) Assemblage of Little Egret in one huge group in transect 3
(iii) Disappearing of Marsh Harrier, Starling, Black-Headed Gull, Red-Backed Shrike, Yellow Wagtail, Arminian Gull, European Reed Warbler, Ruff, Lesser Grey Shrike
(iv) Breeding evidences
(a) Three nests of Basra Reed Warbler with 2 chicks and one egg in transect 1, zone 2 (coordinates: 0693162, 3436719 and 0684284, 3434030)
(b) Three nests of Basra Reed Warbler in transect 2, zone 3 (coordinates: 0705880, 3441550 and 0705874, 3441525)
(c) Nest with 4 eggs and chick of Little Bittern in transect 2, zone 1 (coordinates: 0693170, 3436726)
(d) Nest with 4 eggs of White-Tailed Lapwing in transect 2, zone 1
(e) Nest with 2 eggs of Collared Dove in transect 2, zone 1
(f) Chicks of Whiskered Tern in transect 2, zone 3
(g) Chick and eggs of Pied Kingfisher
(h) Observation, juveniles of Little Grebe subspecies Tachybaptus ruficollis iraquensis in transect 2, zone 3

Our results clearly show that the CM provides habitat for many bird species and that more intensive survey methods are needed for other two marshes found within the Mesopotamian marshland complex. Owing to national water scarcity, there is a real danger that the Mesopotamian marshlands will shrink in size, reducing the effective area of suitable habitat for many wetland species. We provide detailed information on the bird species found within the CM, which could help form the basis of a management plan for their conservation.

We make the following recommendations for management and future work relating to bird conservation in the CM:(1)Limit local human activities in zone one and support the designation of zone one as a buffer for zones 2 and 3.(2)Future bird monitoring studies should repeat our methods, although if possible, the direction of survey (north-south versus south-north) should be randomized.(3)Ensure that water levels in the Euphrates River are maintained because this is the main source for CM’s water during summer and winter and is needed for bird populations.(4)Following the establishment of a soil embankment between Chibayish City in Nasiriyah Province and Modina City in Basra Province, we recommend detailed analysis of water quality and sediments to evaluate the concentration of pesticides and heavy metals and their effects on bird species and other fauna in the CM.(5)Evaluate local threats (e.g., hunting) and global potential threats (e.g., climate change) on the CM as a site and bird species in the area.(6)Extend our findings on key species, for example, Basra Reed Warbler, to provide more precise estimates of population sizes within the CM.

Appendix

See Tables 4–7.

Table 6: List of survey dates in the Central Marsh.

Month
Oct,
Nov,
Dec,
Jan,
Feb,
Mar,
Apr,
May,
Jun,

2013
2013
2013
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014

Day of the survey
28
9
16
17
17
19
16
17
9

29
10
17
19
18
20
17
18
10

11
18
20
19
21
18
19
11

Table 7: The status of birds in the Central Marshes, southern Iraq. Survey from Oct, 2013–Jun, 2014; key: IUCN Red List category (ver. 3.1.); status in Iraq (Salim et al. 2012); months recorded; highest count; status in the CM based on the study survey; breeding status in CM with BTO breeding code.

Number
Family
English name
Scientific name
IUCN Red List category

Status in Iraq
(Salim et al. 2012)

Status in the CM
based on the survey by Nadheer Fazaa

Month of observation
Highest count
Breeding status in CM
with BTO breeding code

(1)
Phasianidae
Black Francolin
Francolinus francolinus
Least concern
Breeding resident, mainly in the north and northeast and along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Resident
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Apr, May, Jun

Almost same number,
2–6
H

(2)
Anatidae
Greylag Goose
Anser anser
Least concern
Local breeding resident in small numbers in the southern marshes; widespread winter visitor to wetlands and agricultural land
Winter visitor
Oct, Dec, Jan
Dec, 77
Not seen in the breeding season

(3)
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor, some remain in summer
Winter visitor
Dec, Jan, Mar
Jan, 55
Not seen in the breeding season

(4)
Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor, especially frequent in southern marshes, some remain in Summer
Winter visitor
Dec
Dec, 46
Not seen in the breeding season

(5)
Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor, especially frequent in southern marshes
Winter visitor
Dec, Jan, Feb
Dec, 400
Not seen in the breeding season

(6)
Garganey
Spatula querquedula
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant, rare in winter, may breed
Passage migrant
Apr
Apr, 8
M, H

(7)
Eurasian Teal
Anas crecca
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor, especially frequent in southern marshes
Winter visitor
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Jan, 168
Not seen in the breeding season

(8)
Marbled Duck
Marmaronetta angustirostris
Vulnerable
Local breeding resident in wetlands in central Iraq, more widespread in southern marshes, where wintering population is probably largest in the world
Winter visitor and possible breeds
Dec, Jan, Feb, Apr
Dec, 35
H

(9)
Ferruginous Duck
Aythya nyroca
Near threatened
Local breeding resident in Southern and Central Iraq; uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor
Winter visitor
Nov, Dec, Feb
Dec, 21
Not seen in the breeding season

(10)
Podicipitidae
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident in the southern Marshes and Central wetlands; widespread winter visitor. Resident birds are of the endemic race iraquensis
Resident
Oct to Jun
Jan, Feb, Jun
Jan, 95
H, FL juveniles were seen, especially for endemic iraquensis

(11)
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
Least concern
Very local breeding resident in marshes and lakes of Southern Iraq; widespread winter visitor
Winter visitor
Jan
Jan, 5
Not seen in the breeding season

(12)
Ciconiidae
White Stork
Ciconia ciconia
Least concern
Breeding summer visitor to northern and eastern Iraq; passage migrant, occasional in winter
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Dec, Jan, Feb
Dec, 380
Nonbreeding
(not seen in the breeding season )

(13)
Threskiornithidae
African Sacred Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
Least concern
Very local breeding resident in dense reedbeds in the southern marshes. The southern marshes hold the only regular breeding colony in the Middle East, though there is feral colony in the United Arab Emirates
Winter visitor
Jan
Jan, 2
Not seen in the breeding season

(14)
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Least concern
Resident, breeding very locally in dense reed vegetation in the southern marshes; also a passage migrant and winter visitor
Winter visitor
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Mar, 230
Nonbreeding
(not seen in the breeding season)

(15)
Ardeidae
Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellaris
Least concern
Passage migrant and winter visitor to the southern and central marshes, also occasionally in north Iraq; may breed in southern marshes
Resident
Nov, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jun

Same number of individuals in each month,
2
U, H

(16)
Little Bittern
Ixobrychus minutus
Least concern
Breeding, summer visitor to many wetlands throughout Iraq, but rather local outside the southern marshes; also passage migrant, with a few wintering
Breeding and summer visitor
Apr, May, Jun
May, 203
NE, NY, FF, ON, FL, UN

(17)
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Least concern
Breeding summer visitor or resident in southern and central wetlands; local breeding summer visitor in north; passage migrant and winter visitor
Resident
Dec, Jan, Mar, Apr, May, Jun
Jun, 56
U, H

(18)
Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloides
Least concern
Breeding, summer visitor to southern marshes, more local in central and north Iraq; widespread passage migrant, occasional in winter
Resident
Oct to Jun

Mar, 970
FL

(19)
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Least concern
Local breeding resident in central and southern wetlands, widespread passage migrant, occasional in winter
Winter visitor

Oct, Nov, Jan, Feb
Oct and Nov, 83
Nonbreeding
(not seen in breeding season)

(20)
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor to southern marshes
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct to Apr

Feb, 51
M

(21)
Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea
Least concern
Breeding, summer visitor to southern marshes and probable breeder, very locally, in central and northern wetlands; passage migrant, a few in winter
Resident
Oct to Jun

Apr, 33
H, U

(22)
Great White Egret
Ardea alba
Least concern
Passage migrant and winter visitor, most common in southern marshes, where some remain in summer
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Fab and Mar
Fab and Mar,
10–12
Non breeding
(not seen in breeding season)

(23)
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Least concern
Resident or breeding summer visitor to the dense reedbeds of the southern marshes, also to one site in northern Iraq; widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Resident
Oct to Jun

Dec and Jan,
1046
U, H

(24)
Pelecanidae
Great White Pelican
Pelecanus onocrotalus
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant also winter visitor to southern and central wetlands
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Dec, Jan, Feb

Dec and Jan,
500–533
Not seen in the breeding season

(25)
Phalacrocoracidae
Pygmy Cormorant
Microcarbo pygmaeus
Least concern
Breeding resident in dense reed vegetation in southern marshes; fairly widespread winter visitor
Resident
Apr, May, Jun
May and June,
21–23
U, H

(26)
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Winter visitor
Oct, Nov, Jan
Jan, 5
Not seen in the breeding season

(27)
Accipitridae
Black-Winged Kite
Elanus caeruleus
Least concern
Uncommon and local breeding resident in central and south Iraq; number increasing and recently recorded in northern Iraq. Breeds near cultivated fields nesting especially in Eucalyptus and date palm
Passage
Jan
Jan, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(28)

White-Tailed Sea Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Least concern
Former winter visitor in small numbers, not recorded since 1940s
Passage migrant
Dec
Dec, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(29)
Accipitridae
Cinereous Vulture
Aegypius monachus
Near threatened
Rare winter visitor to southern and central Iraq with one in summer in northeast
Passage migrant
Dec
Dec, 2
Not seen in the breeding season

(30)
Accipitridae
Short-Toed Snake-Eagle
Circaetus gallicus
Least concern
Breeding summer visitor to the mountains of north Iraq; also a passage migrant
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Feb
Feb, 2
Not seen in the breeding season

(31)
Western Marsh Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
Least concern
Local breeding resident in southern marshes and possibly central wetlands; also a passage migrant and winter visitor
Resident
Oct to May
Dec and Jan
Dec, 28
M

(32)
Pallid Harrier
Circus macrourus
Near threatened
Passage migrant and winter visitor, fairly widespread
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Nov, Jan, Mar

Same number, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(33)

Montagu’s Harrier
Circus pygargus
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant; some in winter
Passage migrant
Feb
Feb, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(34)

Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Least concern
Widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Nov, Feb, Mar

Feb, 2
Not seen in the breeding season

(35)

Long-Legged Buzzard
Buteo rufinus
Least concern
Breeding resident in the mountains and hills of northern Iraq; widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Jan
Jan, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(36)

Greater
Spotted Eagle
Clanga clanga
Vulnerable
Rather uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor, widespread but most frequent in the southern marshes
Passage migrant
Jan, Mar, Apr
Mar, 2
M

(37)

Steppe Eagle
Aquila nipalensis
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct, Nov, Mar
Mar, 2
Not seen in the breeding season

(38)
Falconidae
Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident; also winter visitor
Passage migrant
Dec
Dec, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(39)
Eurasian Hobby
Falco subbuteo
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant; there is no evidence of breeding, though this is likely as birds have been observed during the Summer in northern Iraq, and the species breeds fairly commonly in southeast Turkey
Passage migrant
Nov
Nov, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(40)
Rallidae
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticus
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct
Oct, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(41)

Little Crake
Zapornia parva
Least concern
Passage migrant and winter visitor, one breeding record from central Iraq
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Nov and Apr
One individual recorded in each month
Nov and Apr
One individual recorded in each month
M

(42)

Spotted Crake
Porzana porzana
Least concern
Passage migrant, but rarely observed
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Nov
Nov, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(43)

Purple Swamphen
Porphyrio porphyrio
Least concern
Breeding resident in dense reedbeds and dense aquatic vegetation along rivers in southern and central Iraq, very locally in wetlands in the north
Resident
Nov, Jan, Mar, Apr, Jun
Apr, 18
H, UN

(44)

Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident in wetlands in southern and central Iraq, locally in north; also a passage migrant and winter visitor
Resident
Oct to Jun
Jan
Jan, 22
H

(45)

Common Coot
Fulica atra
Least concern
Breeding resident in very small numbers mainly in the south; widespread passage migrant and winter visitor, especially in the southern marshes
Winter visitor
Nov to Mar
Jan and Feb
Jan, 245
Not seen in the breeding season

(46)
Recurvirostridae
Black-Winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident in southern, central, western wetlands, passage migrant, winter visitor
Resident
Oct to Jun,
Jan
Jan, 236
U, H

(47)
Charadriidae
Spur-Winged Lapwing
Vanellus spinosus
Least concern
Breeding resident in central and southern Iraq; passage migrant
Summer visitor and possible breeding
Oct, Mar, Apr, May, Jun
Apr, 19
H, S, T, U

(48)

Red-Wattled Lapwing
Vanellus indicus
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident in south, central, western, northeast Iraq in wetlands and farmlands; may breed in north while present in Summer
Resident
Oct to Jun
Oct
Oct, 12
NY, NE, FF, ON, FL, UN

(49)

White-Tailed Lapwing
Vanellus leucurus
Least concern
Local breeding resident in the wetlands of southern, central and western Iraq; more widespread passage migrant, including northern Iraq, also found in summer and may breed
Resident
Oct to Jun
Jan and Feb
Jan, 154
NY, NE, FF, ON, FL, UN

(50)

Common Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
Least concern
Widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage and winter visitor
Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Jan, 10
Nonbreeding

(51)

Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubius
Least concern
Widespread breeding summer visitor mostly to northern and central Iraq, may breed in the south, passage migrant, with some remaining in winter
Passage migrant
Nov,
Apr, May, Jun

Almost same number in each month,
2-3
U

(52)

Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus
Least concern
Breeding resident in central and southern Iraq; passage migrant and winter visitor
Resident, but not seen in Mar, Apr, May
Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Jun
Dec, 43
H

(53)
Scolopacidae
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
Least concern
Widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct, Jan, Mar, Apr
Apr, 21
M

(54)
Common Redshank
Tringa totanus
Least concern
Widespread passage migrant and winter visitor, some remain in summer
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Feb, Mar, Apr
Mar, 11
M

(55)
Marsh Sandpiper
Tringa stagnatilis
Least concern
Passage migrant and winter visitor mainly in south and east
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Nov, Jan, Feb, Mar
Mar, 28
M

(56)
Common Greenshank
Tringa nebularia
Least concern
Widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct and Apr

Almost same number,
1-2
M

(57)
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropus
Least concern
Widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct, Nov, Jan, Feb, Mar
Feb, 4
Non breeding (not seen in the breeding season)

(58)

Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola
Least concern
Passage migrant and winter visitor in small numbers mainly to the south
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Feb
Feb, 1
Not seen in breeding season

(59)

Terek Sandpiper
Xenus cinereus
Least concern
Passage migrant and winter visitor mainly in southern Iraq
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct and Feb

Oct, 3
Not seen in the breeding season

(60)

Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor, a few remaining in summer, may breed in the mountains of northern Iraq
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct to May

Almost same numbers,
6–8
U

(61)

Sanderling
Calidris alba
Least concern
Passage migrant mainly in the southern tidal areas, some remaining in winter
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Jan
Jan, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(62)

Little Stint
Calidris minuta
Least concern
Passage migrant and winter visitor to southern and central Iraq
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Nov, Jan, Feb, Apr, May
Jan and Apr,
5-6
M

(63)

Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea
Least concern
Passage migrant and winter visitor mainly to central and southern Iraq
Passage migrant
Apr and May
April, 5
M

(64)

Ruff
Calidris pugnax
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Mar, Apr, May
Apr, 85
M

(65)
Glareolidae
Collared Pratincole
Glareola pratincola
Least concern
Widespread breeding summer visitor to dry grassland areas near wetlands; passage migrant
Summering site and possible breeding site
Apr, May, Jun
Apr, 15
U, H, S

(66)
Laridae
Slender-Billed Gull
Larus genei
Least concern
Breeding resident in central and southern Iraq; breeding resident or summer visitor to the north; passage migrant and winter visitor
Resident
Oct to Jun

Feb, 891
M, H

(67)

Black-Headed
Gull
Larus ridibundus
Least concern
Local breeding resident or summer visitor in northern Iraq; widespread winter visitor
Winter visitor
Nov to May

Feb, 685
M

(68)

Armenian Gull
Larus armenicus
Least concern
Wide spread winter visitor and passage migrant
Winter visitor
Nov to Apr

Mar, 21
M

(69)

Gull-Billed Tern
Gelochelidon nilotica
Least concern
Local breeding summer visitor in the extreme south; passage migrant, a few in winter
Passage migrant
Oct, Nov, May

Almost same number,
9-10
U

(70)

Little Tern
Sternula albifrons
Least concern
Fairly widespread breeding summer visitor and passage migrant
Summer visitor
Oct, Nov, Apr, May Jun
Apr, 20
U, H

(71)

Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Least concern
Local breeding summer visitor to inland wetlands; passage migrant with a few remaining in winter
Summering site and possible breeding site
Nov, Mar, Apr, May, Jun
Mar, 53
H, M

(72)

Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida
Least concern
Resident and breeding summer visitor to wetlands in Southern Iraq; fairly widespread passage migrant; winter visitor, but not in the north
Resident and breeding
Oct to Jun

Jan, 741
NY, NE, FF, ON, FL, UN
Colonising and large number of nesting

(73)

White-Winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterus
Least concern
Local breeding summer visitor to wetlands in southern Iraq, fairly widespread passage migrant
Summer visitor
May
May, 21
U, H

(74)
Pteroclidae
Pin-Tailed Sandgrouse
Pterocles alchata
Least concern
Widespread but local breeding resident in dry grasslands
Passage
Mar and Apr

Same number,
16–23
F

(75)
Columbidae
European Turtle-Dove
Streptopelia turtur
Least concern
Local breeding summer visitor to woodlands, orchards, date palms; winter visitor
Summer visitor and possible breeds
May
May, 5
H

(76)
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident
Resident and breeds
Oct to Jun
Almost same number,
20–36
NY, NE, FF, ON, UN

(77)
Laughing Dove
Spilopelia senegalensis
Least concern
Fairly widespread breeding resident. Until at least 1969s it was a rare winter visitor
Resident and possible breeds
Nov to may

Jan, 13
H

(78)
Tytonidae
Common Barn-Owl
Tyto alba
Least concern
Local, but fairly widespread breeding resident
Passage
Jan
Jan, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(79)
Caprimulgidae
Egyptian Nightjar
Caprimulgus aegyptius
Least concern
Breeding summer visitor to semideserts and arid areas of southern and central Iraq, and possibly northeast; passage migrant in south and central Iraq
Passage migrant
May
May, 1
H

(this bird is on its breeding territory)

(80)
Halcyonidae
White-Breasted Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Least concern
Breeding resident on rivers and in wetlands of southern, central, northeast Iraq, very local elsewhere
Resident
Oct to Jun

Jan and Feb,
30–38
H, S

(81)
Alcedinidae

Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Least concern
Uncommon breeding resident in the southern and central Iraq; possibly in the northern Iraq.
Winter visitor and passage migrant
Resident
Oct to Jun

Dec, 29
H, U

(82)
Cerylidae
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
Least concern
Widespread
breeding resident in wetland and water courses
Resident
Oct to Jun
(Dec and Jan)
Dec and Jan,
500–542
UN, ON, FF, NY

(83)
Meropidae
Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater
Merops persicus
Least concern
Breeding, summer visitor to northern and eastern Iraq, widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
Oct, Nov, Apr
Apr, 28
M

(84)
European Bee-Eater
Merops apiaster
Least concern
Breeding summer visitor to northern and eastern Iraq; widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
Apr
Apr, 8
M

(85)
Alaudidae
Eurasian Hoopoe
Alaemon alaudipes
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident in the western, central, southern deserts
Passage migrant
Mar
Mar, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(86)
Laniidae
Red-Backed Shrike
Lanius collurio
Least concern
Widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
Oct and May
May, 52
M

(87)
Isabelline Shrike
Lanius isabellinus
Least concern
Passage migrant and winter visitor, more frequent in south and central Iraq
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct to Mar

Jan, 25
Not seen in the breeding season

(88)
Turkestan Isabelline Shrike
Lanius phoenicuroides
—
Uncommon passage migrant
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct, Jan, Feb, Apr

Almost same number,
1-2
M

(89)
Lesser Grey Shrike
Lanius minor
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
May
May, 31
M

(90)
Oriolidae
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolus
Least concern
Breeding summer visitor to woodlands of northern Iraq; widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
May
May, 1
M

(91)
Corvidae
Hooded Crow
Corvus cornix
—
Uncommon breeding resident in northern Iraq
Winter visitor
Dec, Feb, Mar
Feb, 5
Not seen in the breeding season

(92)

Mesopotamian Crow
Corvus capellanus
—
Breeding resident of the plains and date orchards of southern and central Iraq; also found in stable and floating reedbeds of the southern marshes
Winter visitor
Dec and Mar

Almost same number,
1-2
Not seen in the breeding season

(93)
Alaudidae
Crested Lark
Galerida cristata
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident
Resident
Oct to Jun
Oct, 32
T, H, A

(94)
Pycnonotidae
White-Eared Bulbul
Pycnonotus leucotis
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident in woodland groves, especially palm, in central, western, southern, northeast Iraq; appears
to be spreading north as now found in northern areas while absent in 1940s
Resident
Nov to Feb

Almost same number,
2–4
Not seen in the breeding season

(95)
Hirundinidae
Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
Least concern
Breeding summer visitor, mainly along major river courses; passage migrant
Summer visitor and possible breeds
Mar to Jun

Apr, 54
H, U

(96)
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Least concern
Fairly widespread breeding summer visitor; widespread passage migrant; very few in winter in southern Iraq
Passage migrant and breeding summer visitor
Feb to Jun

Apr and May,
35–38
ON, B, T, H

(97)
Sylviidae
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus
Least concern
Widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
Apr
Apr, 1
M

(98)
Phylloscopidae
Common Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita
Least concern
Widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Nov to Apr

Jan, 48
Not seen in the breeding season

(99)
Acrocephalidae
Basra Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus griseldis
Endangered
Breeding summer visitor to the extensive reedbeds of the Southern Marshes and recently discovered further north in the marshes of central Iraq and at one site in Western Iraq. Endemic species.
Summer visitor and breeds
Apr, May, Jun
Jun, 66
NY, NE, FF, ON, UN

(100)

Great Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Least concern
Rather local breeding summer visitor to wetlands and water course with reedbeds throughout Iraq; also a widespread passage migrant; birds recorded in the southern marshes in early February may be overwintering or early migrants
Passage migrant and breeding summer visitor
Oct, Nov, Apr, May, Jun

May, 57
NE, ON, UN

(101)
Sylviidae
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Least concern
Passage migrant; found at one riverine site in breeding season in northern Iraq
Passage migrant
Nov, Apr, May

Almost same number,
1-2
M

(102)

Eurasian Reed-Warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Least concern
Passage migrant with one proven record of breeding in the southern marshes. The status of this species has been complicated by the earlier confusion with Basra Reed Warbler. Many early references to Reed Warbler probably referred to Basra Reed Warbler
Passage migrant
Feb and May
Feb and May,
1-2
M, H

(103)
Cisticolidae
Graceful Prinia
Prinia gracilis
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident in central and southern Iraq, very local in north and northeast Iraq
Resident and breeds
Oct to Jun

May, 104
ON, UN, P,T, B

(104)
Leiothrichidae
Iraq Babbler
Turdoides altirostris
Least concern
Breeding resident in reedbeds, mainly along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and extending its range northwards along the later. Endemic, thought now recorded along the Euphrates in Syria and South Turkey
Resident and breeds
Oct to Jun

Apr, 58
ON, B, H

(105)

Afghan (Common) Babbler
Turdoides caudata
Least concern
Breeding resident in southern, western, central Iraq, mainly in arid areas with scrub
Resident
Jan, Feb, Mar, May

Almost same numbers,
16–18
U, H

(106)
Sturnidae
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Least concern
Very local breeding resident in open woodland in the north of Iraq, widespread winter visitor
Winter visitor
Nov to Mar

Feb, 549
Not seen in the breeding season

(107)
Turdidae
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
Least concern
Irregular winter visitor
Winter visitor
Jan
Jan, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(108)

European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
Least concern
Fairly widespread winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Nov, Dec, Jan
Dec, 5
Not seen in the breeding season

(109)
Muscicapidae
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecica
Least concern
Fairly wide spread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Nov to Feb

Same number,
1
Not seen in the breeding season

(110)
Muscicapidae
Rufous-Tailed Scrub-Robin
Erythropygia galactotes
Least concern
Fairly widespread breeding summer visitor, but absent from western Iraq; passage migrant
Passage migrant
Nov
Nov, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(111)
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Least concern
Local breeding summer visitor to woodlands in north Iraq with both Phoenicurusand samamisicus
recorded; otherwise a widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
Apr
Apr, 1
M

(112)
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetra
Least concern
Passage migrant, references to past winter records have not been confirmed in recent surveys
Passage migrant
Nov and May

Same number,
4-5
M

(113)
Common Stonechat
Saxicola torquatus
Least concern
Fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Dec and Jan

Same number,
3
Not seen in the breeding season

(114)
Muscicapidae
Northern Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
Least concern
Very local breeding summer visitor to mountain slopes and foothills in northeast; widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
Mar and Apr

Same number,
6–8
M

(115)
Passeridae
Black-Eared Wheatear
Oenanthe hispanica
Least concern
Breeding summer visitor to northern hilly country; widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
Apr
Apr, 1
M

(116)
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Least concern
Widespread breeding resident
Resident
Oct to Jun

Oct, 221
NY, NE, FF, ON, UN

(117)
Spanish Sparrow
Passer hispaniolensis
Least concern
Local breeding resident in north and central Iraq; widespread winter visitor
Winter visitor
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Dec, 30
M

(118)
Dead Sea Sparrow
Passer moabiticus
Least concern
Local breeding resident found especially, along major water course, widespread in winter
Resident
Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb Mar, Apr, May
Nov, 450
U, H, B

(119)
Motacillidae
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
Least concern
Widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
Mar, Apr, May
Apr, 86
M

(120)

Citrine Wagtail
Motacilla citreola
Least concern
Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Mar and Apr,
4
M

(121)

White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
Least concern
Local breeding resident in northern Iraq; widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct to Apr
Dec and Jan
Dec, 134
M

(122)

Water Pipit
Anthus spinoletta
Least concern
Probably breeds as found in suitable breeding habitat at mountain site in northeast Iraq in Jun, 2011; fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Passage migrant and winter visitor
Oct to Apr

Nov, 26
M

(123)
Emberizidae
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandra
Least concern
Breeding resident in northern farmland and open woodland; fairly widespread passage migrant and winter visitor
Winter visitor
Jan
Jan, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

(124)

Ortolan Bunting
Emberiza hortulana
Least concern
Breeding summer visitor to the hills of northern Iraq widespread passage migrant
Passage migrant
Apr
Apr, 1
M

(125)

Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclus
Least concern
Uncommon winter visitor
Winter visitor
Feb
Feb, 1
Not seen in the breeding season

Disclosure

This work is part of a Ph.D. programme supported by the College of Sciences for Women, University of Baghdad, Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, under Scholarship no. 33258.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, Nature Iraq, and Iraqi Green Climate Organization for supporting the field work. This work could not be done without technical support that was provided by Mudhafar Salim and Richard Porter. The authors thank Richard Porter and Mike Evans from Birdlife International for reviewing the data. The authors thank Laith Ali for participating in two of nine field surveys and Omar Al Sheikhly for help in identifying some bird species.

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