General Information About Birds in the Reserve

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve has recorded 290 species of wild birds, representing more than 58% of the total bird species in the Kingdom, which amounts to 499 species.

The Reserve is located on major bird migration routes, with migratory birds making up 88% of the total bird species recorded in the Reserve, while resident birds make up 12%.

Among the bird species recorded in the Reserve, 26 species (resident and migratory) are globally endangered according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

These data were collected through a rapid survey study (2019) and a baseline bird survey study in the Reserve (2022–2023).

Important Global Areas for Birds (IBAs)

The main goal of the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) program is to ensure the long-term conservation of sites that are of significant importance for birds and biodiversity.

Important Bird Areas cover about 7% of the land area and 2% of the global marine area. These areas are selected according to internationally agreed-upon criteria that include both global and regional standards.

The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve contains sites of global significance for migratory and resident birds.

The reserve includes five areas designated as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) according to the global standards set by BirdLife International: Al-Harra Al-Harra – Al-Tabeq – Qurayyat-Al-Turaif – Tabarjal -Hail

The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve is one of the largest global reserves containing areas classified as globally important for birds, due to its strategic location along key migratory bird routes.

Main Biodiversity Areas (KBA)

Main Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are some of the most important sites worldwide for the conservation of species and their habitats, identified using globally standardized criteria.

The KBA site in the reserve was assessed based on global criteria related to birds, meeting three global standards through four main bird species, including the critically endangered social lapwing, the endangered steppe eagle, the endangered Bonelli’s eagle, and the harrier falcon.

The Main Biodiversity Area (KBA) declared in the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve is the first site to be declared and assessed according to global standards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.