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IQ012
Gasr Muhaiwir, Wadi Hauran
Location Iraq, Al-Anbar
Central coordinates 41o 14.00' East  33o 33.00' North
IBA criteria A3
Area 10,000 ha
Altitude 550 - 650m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Nature Iraq (Affiliate)



Ornithological information The site's main interest lies in the attraction it holds for spring and autumn migrants crossing a huge area of desert, and large numbers of a wide variety of passerines and other species occur. The desert avifauna includes Cursorius cursor, Ammomanes deserti, Alaemon alaudipes, and Pterocles senegalensis and Eremophila bilopha may also breed.

Site description Gasr Muhaiwir lies c.80 km east-north-east of Rutbah in Wadi Hauran, the main wadi crossing the western desert of Iraq to the Euphrates. The stony desert carries only a sparse herb growth, and only in the wadi where there are temporary pools and springs is there more abundant vegetation. Summers are extremely hot, while winter temperatures can fall below freezing. There is archaeological evidence in the area of its use by man since Neolithic times.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor breeding  1979  5 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus resident  1979  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes resident  1979  10 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti resident  1979  10 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Temminck's Lark Eremophila bilopha resident  1979  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Habitats

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

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
rangeland/pastureland major

Other biodiversity No information available to BirdLife International.

Management considerations No conservation measures are known to have been taken. No threats are apparent. No conservation measures are known to have been proposed.

References Ctyroký (1988, in press).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gasr Muhaiwir, Wadi Hauran. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

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