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TN045
Sidi Toui
Location Tunisia, Medenine
Central coordinates 11o 22.00' East  32o 44.00' North
IBA criteria A3
Area 6,315 ha
Altitude 30 - 178m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Association "Les Amis des Oiseaux"



Ornithological information See Box and Table 2 for key species. Chlamydotis undulata is known to breed in the area. Large numbers of migratory raptors and passerines move through this area on spring passage; Circus macrourus is regularly observed during this period.

Site description Sidi Toui National Park is situated in the south-east of the country, 54 km south of the town of Ben Gardane. The site includes a low hill, Djebel Sidi Toui (172 m), surrounded by an extensive plain composed of small dunes, sebkhas and dry sandy wadis. The area as a whole is representative of the eastern Sahara region of Tunisia. In the north the vegetation is dominated by Rhanterium suavolens and Stipa lagascae. Around Djebel Sidi Toui, the vegetation is more shrubby, with Periploca laevigata, Rhus tripartitum and, in sandy areas, Retema raetam.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius breeding  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Temminck's Lark Eremophila bilopha resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala winter  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans passage  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Fulvous Chatterer Turdoides fulva resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Moussier's Redstart Phoenicurus moussieri resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe moesta resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica breeding  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Hamada-Sidi Toui Reserve 12,000 protected area contains site 6,315  

Local conservation groups The local conservation group below is working to support conservation at this IBA.

Name Year formed
AAO/ Gabes regional Branch 2000

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Desert Desert dunes  major

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -

Other biodiversity The ungulate Gazella dorcas (VU) has been recorded.

Management considerations Although the site has been declared a National Park, the legislation has not yet been enacted. Poaching of gazelles Gazella and Chlamydotis undulata in particular, though limited, is the main threat to the area.

References Chibani (1980), GTZ (1994), Ozenda (1991).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Sidi Toui. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife