Two additional raptors to the Iraqi avifauna: The first observation of lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos negevensis) and Amur falcon (Falco amurensis)

Abstract

The Iraqi Organization for Conservation of Nature (IOCN) continuously conducts field surveys targeting key biodiversity areas within Iraq to discover the environmental conditions with more focus on the threatened species and their habitats. Two new bird species for Iraq were recorded during two of the ongoing field surveys conducted by IOCN, namely in the Khour Az-Zubair tidal mudflats in September 2022 and the Al-Najaf Desert in February 2023. Among the considerable list of the birds (and other fauna species) that have been observed, two bird species have been considered quite important: Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) and lappet-faced (or Arabian) vulture, Torgos tracheliotos negevensis]. Both of these observations have been carefully described and documented. Referring to the literature on the avifauna of Iraq, none of these bird species have already been considered Iraqi species and, subsequently, have been added to the list of avifauna of Iraq.

Keywords

• birds of prey
• species range
• field observation
• non-breeding birds
• al-najaf
• basra
• desert of southern iraq
• khour az-zubair