Priority bird species in the Republic 
of Yemen - a provisional assessment 
Richard Porter 
In a previous OSME Bulletin (Porter 1991), I prepared a provisional list 
of Priority Bird Species in Turkey, with the intention of inviting comment. 
This paper attempts the same objective, but for the Republic of Yemen (in 
1990 the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and Peoples Democratic 
Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) combined to form one country). The 
paper excludes Socotra and its neighbouring islands. 
The reason for preparing priority species lists is to direct conservation 
action at those species (and their habitats) which are at most risk or for 
which the country has a regional or international responsibility. 
Nine criteria were established to determine species for inclusion in the 
priority list (Table 1) and these are listed below. The principle is similar 
to that used for preparing the Turkish list and also Red Data Birds in 
Britain. For full discussion see Porter (1991) and Batten et al (1990). 
Endemic (End) 
Entire world population confined to Yemen (and in some cases adjacent 
highlands of SW Saudi Arabia). 
Internationally significant breeder (IB) 
More than 20% of the world population, or 20% of the world range is in Yemen. 
Internationally significant wintering/non-breeding (IW) 
Same criteria as above but for wintering and migrant populations. 
Regionally significant breeder (RB) 
More than 20% of the regional (Arabian) population or range is in Yemen. Arabia 
is defined as the whole Arabian peninsula, north to the Mediterranean and 
including Syria and Iraq. 
Regionally significant wintering/non-breeding (RW) 
As above but for wintering and migrant populations. 
Rare breeder (Rare) 
Less than 300 known breeding pairs in Yemen. As there have been no systematic 
surveys of Yemen's breeding birds, in most cases this is a best guess. 
Localised breeder (8L) 
Occurs in a small number of areas or specialised habitats. Generally 50% of the 
population occurs in less than 10 sites. 
Localised wintering (WL) 
As above, but for wintering populations. 
Declining breeding population 
Species for which there has been a marked decline in population or contraction 
of range. 
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