A Review of The Current Status of Migratory Wild Birds in Iraq and Syria

Iraq and Syria, critical stopover points for migratory birds along the East Asia-East Africa migration route, have seen a significant decline in both species diversity and population numbers over the past two decades. A survey conducted nearly twenty years ago identified at least 400 species, predominantly from the Accipitres (Accipitridae) and passerines (Passeriformes), with notable endemics such as the Iraq Babbler and Basra rocking reed in Iraq's marshes, and the endangered Namaqua Dove in Syria. However, overhunting, demographic shifts, and war conditions have drastically reduced bird populations, particularly for threatened species like the Ferruginous duck and Eurasian teal. Non-traditional hunting practices, such as artificial waterbodies, and lack of legal oversight have exacerbated these declines, altering migration patterns and posing severe threats to wildlife in the region.

salih, m., Mardenli, O., Salah Fathi Almrsomi, T., & Rasoul Mahdi Jasim, M. (2022). A Review of The Current Status of Migratory Wild Birds in Iraq and Syria. Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Agriculture Sciences, 12(1), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.33794/qjas.2022.133702.1041