Queens of the Night, the Owls of Iraq and Syria - Species, Current Distribution, and Conservation Status

Abstract

The owls in the Arabian culture are a symbol of a bad omen and the embodiment of evil spirits that are roaming in deserts and abandoned places at night to impersonate the wandering nomads. In other stories, for centuries, the Bedouins in the deserts of Iraq and Syria are considered owls as the flying spirits of dead warriors who seek revenge when they hoot or as a sign of destruction. For decades, owls with their fierce and protruding eyes resembled satanic birds; therefore, they are persecuted to be used in sorcery whenever and wherever possible. The old beliefs and traditional knowledge of the Iraqi-Syrian local communities are still an “unsolved” critical issue that interferes with owls’ conservation efforts in the Middle East. There are 10 owl species occurring in Iraq and Syria; yet, their updated status and zoogeographical extent are still not fully explored. In this chapter, an annotated checklist of owls in Iraq and Syria, their historical and current distribution, and conservation status are provided.

1. Introduction

1.1 Iraq

Iraq is situated between latitudes 29° to 38° N and longitudes 39° to 49°, a small area lies west of 39°, and spans over 437,072 km². It borders Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Jordan to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and southwest, and a narrow coastline with Kuwait to the south. Iraq is sharing a vast transboundary monotonic habitat, including desert, arid steppes, and plateau (Al-Badiyah), with Syria in the west and northwest.

In Iraq, the first attempt to study the owl fauna of the country was conducted by British ornithologists who visited Iraq as members of the British military campaign in the 1920s. They provided detailed information on taxonomic groups, morphological remarks on species/subspecies occurrence, and migration patterns. However, the status of many owl species in Iraq was not fully discovered due to a lack of subsequent in situ ornithological surveys with a significant lack of observations between the 1980s–1990s due to conflicts in the region. In the 1920s, avifaunal observations were compiled in 1922 by Ticehurst et al. [1] who reported seven owl species from Mesopotamia (territory of Iraq and Southwestern Iran) with additional observations added in 1926 by Ticehurst et al. [2]. In the 1950s, an ornithological survey was conducted by Moore and Boswell [3], who reported a total of five owl species in the country. Later on, scattered owl observations were made by several European ornithologists in Iraq, for example, Sage [4, 5], Marchant [6, 7], and Scott and Carp [8] during the subsequent years (see list of species—Iraq). Nevertheless, in the major avifauna monograph of Iraq, which was made in 1960–1962 by Allouse [9], a total of nine owl species were reported from Iraq.

In regard to the Scops owls in Iraq, Allouse [9] mentioned that Otus spp., including records of both Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops and Pallid Scops Owl O. brucei, further indicating those observations from Iraq were grouped under Otus group taxa but with doubts. An attempt to study the avifauna of the steppes and arid regions of Central Iraq was made 38 years later by Al-Dabbagh [10], who reported the occurrence of three owl species, the Western Barn Owl Tyto alba, Eurasian Scops Owl, and Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo.

In recent ornithological studies, that is, Porter et al. [11] listed nine owl species from Iraq excluding the Pharaoh Eagle Owl Bubo ascalaphus; although, the occurrence of this arid land-dowelling species was confirmed in 1960 in the desert of Western Iraq by Vaurie [12] and the updated geographical distribution and breeding status in Iraq was confirmed later on by Al-Sheikhly [13] and Al-Sheikhly et al. [14]. Furthermore, the last paper [14] comprehensively discussed the geographical distribution and taxonomic status of the Eurasian Eagle Owl B. bubo ssp. complex in Iraq in comparison with morphological traits of the recently discovered Pharaoh Eagle Owl in Southwestern Iran, indicating that more research is required to determine the Eurasian Eagle Owl subspecies existing in Iraq and Iran.

In regard to the Asio spp., both Northern Long-eared Owl (thereafter only Long-eared Owl) Asio otus and Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus are reported in Iraq by Ticehurst et al. [1]. They questioned the validity of the occurrence of the pale eastern race A. f. leucopsis; as a specimen obtained from Qalet Saleh, which was a pale bird, while the rest were all as dark as West European races. Seasonal morphological variations in Short-eared Owl may also occur in Iraq. Ticehurst et al. [1] mentioned that there are seven specimens in the British Museum obtained from Fao in Southern Iraq, three were light birds (October and March) and four are dark birds (one October and the rest bear no date). Therefore, further research is needed to reveal the taxonomic status of this genus in Iraq.

Salim et al. [15] listed 11 owl species from Iraq considering the Lilith Owlet Athene (noctua) lilith as a distinct species. Regarding the Little vs. Lilith owls’ contention in literature, Ticehurst et al. [1] mentioned that Little owls from Iraq are somewhat varied in the color of the upperparts even within the same locality; they are too dark, not pale sandy enough above for those A. n. lilith (from Palestine), and certainly are not like the North African Little Owl A. n. glaux (from Egypt). Iraqi Little owls pretty much resembled Hutton’s Little Owl A. n. baetriana from Kandahar (Afghanistan). Moreover, they gave morphological remarks between A. n. lilith vs. A. n. baetriana, as the feathering on the toes varies; on the whole, Lilith is less feathered than bactriana and more so than Lilith but some are as fully feathered as the former usually is, while skins from Kandahar in winter, the toes have little more than bristles on them. Apart from individual variation in color, the season also makes a difference, bactriana in spring is noticeably paler than in autumn. On the underside, these Mesopotamian birds have the strikes not so yellowish-red as in lilith. The North African Little Owl A. n. glaux had been recorded from the Iranian Karun district and both glaux and bactriana are residents in the Zagros Mountains [1]. Reports also revealed that glaux commonly found in Babylon (Central Iraq) while records from Mosul (Northern Iraq) indicated that adult bactriana birds look quite like glaux. A mummified specimen obtained in winter at Urfa in Southern Turkey was regarded as glaux, while the type of lilith reported from the upper Euphrates at Der-ez-Zor (between Deir and Aleppo), which is also recorded from Southwestern Persia. Speculations on the taxonomy of these ssp. in Iraq were raised as little owls from Shustar in the south of Samarra in Northern Iraq were of the race bactriana, while no specimens were certainly identified as glaux obtained from Iraq (see [1]). Despite its enigmatic status in Iraq; however, this taxon is considered as a subspecies of Little Owl in the taxonomic revision by OSME [16].

1.2 Syria

Syria (the Syrian Arab Republic) is located on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea between latitudes 32° 19′ and 37° 30’ N and longitudes 35° 45′ and 42° 25′ E and spans over 185,180 km². The country borders Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and shares a short coastline with Lebanon and borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west. This wide range of transboundary terrestrial habitats awards both Syria and Iraq with a significant diversity of fauna and flora, the owl fauna being not an exception.

In Syria, the owl fauna has not been fully discovered; however, several kinds of research related to systematics, distribution, or species diversity of small mammal prey taken by owls, or to determine their role as biological control agents on rodent pests were conducted during the last three decades (Shehab and Johnson [17]; also see Literature records—Syria).

Among the owl species in Syria, the Western Barn Owl was comprehensively studied as it seems to be the ideal species to investigate the remains of mammalian prey in owl pellets [18, 19]. It is the most widespread common owl species in Syria and its distribution and ecology were intensively discussed in [17, 20].

Due to their secretive behavior and enigmatic status in Syria, other owl species, such as Pallid Scops Owl, Eurasian Scops Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, and Pharaoh Eagle Owl were of great interest to European and local ornithologists. The Pallid Scops Owl is considered among rarities in Syria, with only three records reported [17]. Breeding evidence was reported in 1924 from Aleppo in Northern Syria by Clarke [21], a single sighting was reported from Tall Shekh Hamad at the Khabur by Baumgart et al. [22], and from Sabkhat al-Jabbul in Halab and Euphrates valley by Evans [23]. The status of the Eurasian Scops Owl is enigmatic, unverified records were made form Ras Al-Baseet, Qatana [22]. The only documented record came from a frozen hunted specimen at the local animal market in Damascus in 2005 [17].

The status of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in Syria is not been fully explored; however, the species occurrence in the country was reported by Obuch [24], Shehab [25], Shehab and Mamkhair [26], Murdoch et al. [27], Benda et al. [28], Serra et al. [29], Shehab and Johnson [17], and Bowler [30]. The Pharaoh Eagle Owl was confirmed breeding in the wadies of Eastern Syria [29, 31].

Despite its broad range, additional few studies related to the Little Owl A. noctua as a specialist to take arthropods’ prey were conducted by Obuch and Kristín [32] and Shehab et al. [33].

Shehab and Johnson [17] mentioned that there are seven owl species in Syria, indicating that further survey may determine whether an eighth species, such as Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis, should be excluded or not. This owl is now considered an extremely rare species in the country [34]. Anyhow, recent photos have been published on local social media, indicating that this species may still be present in extreme Northern Syria (Ahmad Aidek to Omar Al-Sheikhly pers. comm. 2022). This is interesting, especially when there is a resident Brown Fish Owl population in Southern Turkey adjacent to Syrian borders [35].

Nevertheless, Baumgart et al. [22] reported a total of 10 owl species in Syria, including the first confirmed occurrence of the Eurasian Scops Owl in the country. However, they did not provide further details supporting the presence of the Short-eared Owl, Hume’s Owl Strix butleri, and Long-eared Owl [22]. The occurrence of two owl species, the Long-eared Owl and Tawny Owl Strix aluco, in Syria was reported by Obuch [24] and Benda et al. [28]. The breeding of the Long-eared Owl was confirmed in Northwestern Syria by Manners and Diekmann [36]. However, Shehab and Johnson [17] indicated that the Long-eared Owl is very rare in Syria, with only four records reported. They also reviewed the juvenile Long-eared Owl record from Dana village near Bab Al-Hawa, 40 km west of Halap made by Manners and Diekmann [36] and reidentified that juvenile owl as a Eurasian Eagle Owl later on. In addition, Murdoch and Betton [34] had reported 10 owl species in Syria, indicating that Hume’s Owl has not been reported yet in the country but could well occur near the Jordanian borders; therefore, further investigation is required.

There are 10 confirmed owl species occurring in Iraq and Syria; yet, their updated status and zoogeographical extent are still not completely known. In this chapter, an annotated checklist of owls in Iraq and Syria, their historical and current distribution, and conservation status along with their challenging conservation issues, are provided. Owl species are listed according to the OSME Region List of Bird Taxa [16]. The species’ conservation status is listed according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The status of each species is based on Salim et al. [15] for Iraq and Murdoch and Betton [34] for Syria. In addition, the literature species status, breeding status, and distribution maps of owl species were updated based on recent records/observations made by the authors combined with other observations made by several field ornithologists (see acknowledgments) throughout Iraq and Syria during 2007–2022. Literature and recent owl records were placed on an updated distribution topographical map for Iraq and Syria, where black dotes represent previous literature records and white dotes the recent records.

2. Owls in Arabian tradition of Iraq and Syria

The symbolics of animal species have some contradictory representations in the literature of different ethnic groups and cultures. These symbols could represent peace, desire, and friendship, while others could be a sign of hostility in some people’s beliefs [37]. One of the animals with the greatest contradictions is the owl. An animal that, despite its many denunciations in some cultures, has its own position, albeit a negative one. Owls have been known by the Arabian culture as those wild birds with two horns on top of the large head, broad face, great fierce piercing eyes, curved beaks, and powerful legs equipped with sharp talons. Owls mostly inhabit ruins and caves in deserts and wadies, taking their prey at night with secretive behavior, noticed when heard with their heart-taking hoots rather than being visually seen.

In Islamic belief, the owl came from the birds of prey characterized by their hooked beaks, rounded heads, and very short necks. The eyes are immobile and large surrounded by feathers attached to them. They fly slowly and have an accurate hearing sense [37, 38].

The Arabian zoologist, Ibn Musa Al-Damiri (1370–1405) mentioned in his Life of Animals (Ḥayāt al-ḥayawān al-kubrā) book that owls at night have more power, dominant and hostile on other creatures; they are nocturnal, attacking other birds’ nests’ prey on their eggs and nestlings. They are also known for their secretive loneliness and their hostility toward crows as intrinsic behavior. Based on different Arabian tribal distribution, owls are known by several Arabic names, for example, Boom, Umm al-Sharab, Umm al-Sabian, Umm al-Saeed, Abu Al-Manhal, Abu Malik, and others. Allouse [9] also mentioned several Arabian common names for many owl species recorded in Iraq, for example, “Buha” for Eagle Owl, “Khibil” for Tawny Owl, “Hama” for Western Barn Owl, and “Thabaj” for Scops owls and likewise.

Moreover, owls in the Arabian culture are symbols of bad omen and embodiment of evil spirits that are roaming in deserts and abandoned places at night to impersonate the wandering people. In their traditional knowledge, the Bedouins of the Iraqi and Syrian deserts are considering owls as flying spirits of dead warriors, who are seeking revenge when they hoot. In other stories, owls are considered as a sign of misfortune, which is horrified and feared by Arabs. They believed that owls bring death when perched on a person’s house. Even more, “follow the owl which leads you to the ruin”, an old Arabian proverb describing owls as a sign of destruction. For decades, owls with their fierce and protruding eyes resembled satanic birds; therefore, they are persecuted to be used in sorcery whenever and wherever possible (Al-Sheikhly [39]). Nowadays, superstitions related to owls as being a sign of misfortune and death were refuted and acquitted by the Islamic religion, which highlighted their ecological importance in controlling rodents and the outbreak of zoonotic diseases. However, many communities around the Arabian region are still deemed in the beliefs of the pre-Islamic period, unfortunately (see Conservation issues).

3. Conservation issues

Among several wild bird species, owls are presented by local communities of Iraq and Syria for several reasons. In Iraq, the illegal trapping of owls and other birds of prey is commonly and regularly practiced by local communities throughout Iraq [40, 41, 42]. Each year, thousands of captured owls of different species are trapped by local hunters and exhibited in the local animal markets in major Iraqi cities. As these birds are forbidden to be hunted in the Islamic religion, the psychological motivation of why these birds are trapped by local hunters has been investigated [39]. The major motives that drive locals to trap birds of prey are the weak implementation of hunting laws and the absence of religious inducement, which drives local communities to pose a further impact on biodiversity through species persecution. Al-Sheikhly [39] analyzed the causes of why local trappers were conducting illegal acts despite their full knowledge that such practices are banned by Islamic religion and Iraqi law. He found that increased levels of poverty are enforcing local communities to apply further pressure on the native biodiversity to compensate for their shortage of livelihood income. Moreover, the local trappers expressed secretive behavior and hesitated to reveal any information on their exact hunting/trapping vicinities and techniques they used, which complicate the validity of the investigation. Despite of what is mentioned above, hunting of wild species with unjustified needs is prohibited in the Islamic faith; however, the psychological insistence of local trappers/hunters to perform such unethical/illegal practices are still far to be known.

Each year, besides other birds of prey, such as Aquila eagles, vultures, harriers, and falcons, different owl species are exhibited in the local animal markets of Iraq and Syria to be sold as cage birds or to be used for traditional medicine or sorcery. On one occasion at the local animal market in Baghdad, six owl species along with other different species of migrant raptors were trapped for one day in the arid plateau of Southwestern Iraq. A total of 65 Western Barn (Figure 1), 61 Pallid Scops; 72 Short-eared (Figure 2), 22 Long-eared (Figure 3), 2 Eurasian Eagle, and 3 Pharaoh Eagle owls were observed. They were sold for prices ranging from 10 to 50 US$, depending on their age and state of health. Birds are often presented in poor health with injuries usually caused by aggressive trapping and/or careless handling and many die, unfortunately [14, 39, 40]. As ideologically close communities of Iraq and Syria, it is possible that trappers’ behaviors and practices are similar in both countries. However, due to current political unrest, information on birds of prey, including owls trapping in Syria, is extremely scarce and requires dedicated research. In Iraq, the trappers used several large mist nets and Dho-Gazza traps set near desert oases to trap thirsty and exhausted migrant owls and other birds of prey. On a few occasions, trappers used the less effective Bal-chatri traps to trap small-bodied owls like Scops owls.

Figure 1.

A large group of migrant Western barn owl Tyto alba cuffed by tape and stacked in a local animal market in Baghdad, Iraq. Photo© Omar Al-Sheikhly.

Figure 2.

Another group of migrant Short-eared owl Asio flammeus caged in a local animal market in Baghdad, Iraq. Photo© Omar Al-Sheikhly.

Figure 3.

A group of migrant Long-eared owl Asio otus aggressively caged and presented in a local animal market in Baghdad, Iraq. Photo© Omar Al-Sheikhly.

As elsewhere in Arabia, owls are a symbol of ominous and traditionally are not preferable to be raised inside houses [14]. Nowadays, this belief has dramatically changed in Iraq; young people are looking for adult owls and owlets to be raised as pets. The “attractive look and secretive behavior” of owls are attracting young buyers who showed interest to buy these unique birds. That admire drives local trappers to persist in their illegal quest by trapping more and more owl species on a regular basis. Moreover, owls and their body parts are used as a talismanic recipe in black sorcery, which is commonly practiced by some local communities; a desire implies further pressure on owl populations in Iraq and Syria. The view of majority of people’s attitude toward owls has not changed since ancient times, as they are a symbol of pessimism and bring bad luck, and are seen by some local residents as the embodiment of the souls of the oppressed dead, and the embodiment of the souls of the old fighters who came for revenge, and many parts of the owl have not stopped so far in the work of magic and sorcery. But recently, some people’s view of these birds has changed, and they have turned into ornamental birds that are bred in farms and homes, especially the Western Barn Owl, Eagle Owl, and Tawny Owl, and this is due to the calmness of these birds in general, and they seem to be accustomed to socializing with humans rapidly. Owls have become popular trade. This has led locals to take owl chicks from their nests (without even knowing their species) or catch adults to be offered for sale in local markets or through social sites (Figure 4). This act has spread in recent years, especially in light of weak enforcement of hunting laws and trafficking of live animals. According to local wildlife traders’ interviewees, some of the large owl species are also smuggled to neighboring countries to be sold as pets, especially in Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan. Moreover, another factor that indirectly has notably contributed to owls’ mortality is due to the use of agricultural pesticides. Large numbers of dead owls were observed in the agricultural lands and cultivated fields, where pesticides were largely used throughout Syria (Ahmad Aidek to Omar Al-Sheikhly pers. comm. 2022).

Figure 4.

A juvenile of Pharaoh eagle owl Bubo ascalaphus in the local animal market in Syria. Photo © Ahmad Aidek.

The weak implementation of strict hunting and wildlife protection laws in Syria has led to the dramatic decline of many wildlife species, including owls. Owls are not only in urgent need of protection, they are part of the Syrian wildlife natural heritage, their ecological necessity in maintaining ecological stability, and key players in the biological control of pests, which warrants conservation. The continuance of such practices combined with other anthropogenic threats (e.g., poisoning, habitat destruction, disturbance…etc.) could result in a significant decline in the population of resident and migrant owl species in Iraq and Syria. The serious conservation actions to address such illegal practices through raising awareness among local communities and enforcing new hunting restrictions are urgently needed to stop such practices, otherwise, such tragedy will continue.

4. List of species

4.1 Western barn owl Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) (IUCN red list: LC)

The following are explained in Figure 5.

Figure 5.

Distribution of Western barn owl Tyto alba in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq

Status: Local, but fairly widespread breeding resident, probably regular winter visitor and passage migrant evident by large number of trapped birds during the autumn season (Figure 1).

Literature records: Samarra, Mosul, Babylon, between Museyib and Baghdad, Basra, and Fao; nesting between Museyib and Baghdad and Fao [1, 43]; Baghdad [3]; Khanaqin [4, 5, 9], and arid plains of Central Iraq [10].

Recent records: Zurbatiya, Mandli, Mahmmodiya, Desert of Al-Najaf, Kalar, Dalmaj, Falluja, and Haditha.

Syria

Status: Resident breeding. Widespread in all regions except for the dry areas of Al-Badia. But especially along the Euphrates Valley and coastal forests. It inhabits almost all types of habitats, including farms, trees, deserted buildings, mountain slopes, granaries, caves entrances, and other suitable habitats.

Literature records: Qal’at Al-Hosson [44], Qal’at er-Rahba, Zalabiyyeh, Qal’at Sheizar, Palmyra [45], Qal’at Al-Hosson [46], Dura Europus, Busra, Sabkhat al-Jabbul, Kharabow, Jubb Ramlah, Maskana, Deir Al-Hajar [22], el-Ukersheh, Halabiyyeh, Tell Al-Buderi [47], Tell Mardiekh [48], Yabroud, Qal’at Al-Hosson, Qal’at Salah ad-Din [24], Halabiyyeh, Tell Al-Buderi [49], es-Salihiyyeh, Qal’at er-Rahba, Halabiyyeh, Qal’at Al-Madiq, Tell Al-Buderi, Qal’at Al-Hosson, el-Ukersheh [33], Lake Assad, Dura Europus, Tell Brak [27], Mzeirib, Khrab Al-Shaham, Kharabow [50], Aleppo [51], Yahmool [20], Jub Al-Ghar [52], Busra, es-Salihiyyeh, Qal’at er-Rahba, Zalabiyyeh, Al-Bas’ah, Mari, Al-Marashdeh, Deir Mama, Qal’at Sheizar, Al-Hasaka [28], Ain Jum’aa, Al-Misrab, Qal’at er-Rahba, Qal’at Najim, ez-Zawe [53], Mzeirib, Ain Thakar, Busra, Daraa Dam, Khrab Al-Shaham, es-Salihiyyeh, Ain Jum’aa, Al-Misrab, Qal’at er-Rahba, Zalabiyyeh, Karahta, Kharabow, Sbieneh, Jarablus, Qal’at Najim, Qasr Sallum, Tell Al-Amarneh, Tell Hadia, Yahmool, Al-Sqeilbiyeh, Qal’at Al-Madiq, Qasr Ibn Wardan, Shah Ranaz, Heymu, Tell Beydar, Atheria, Qal’at Al-Hosson, Ebla Ruins, Kafr Daryian, Tell Sandal, Qal’at Salah ad-Din, Jub Al-Ghar, Maseel (Nab’a) Al-Fawar, ar-Raqqa 10 km S of Euphrates, Beer Al-Hashem, el-Ukersheh, Qater Maghara, Qal’at Al-Marqab [17], and Abu Qubays [30].

Recent records: Abu Hardoub, Abu Qubays, Al-Bahlouliyah, Al-Furunlok, Al-Kadmous, Al-Mashqoq, Al-Qallou’, Al-Shardoub Forest, at-Tanaf, at-Tebni, Daraa, Deir ez-Zor, Haweijt Saqur, Jaramana, Jnainat Raslan, Khan Sheikhoun, Muhasan, Palmyra, Salamiyah, Sanouber, Saraqeb, Se′lu, Slenfeh, Sreijes, Tartous, and Tell Al-Shaham.

4.2 Little owl Athene noctua (Scopoli, 1769) (IUCN red list: LC)

The following are explained in Figure 6.

Figure 6.

Distribution of Little owl Athene noctua in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq

Status: Fairly widespread breeding resident in North and Central Iraq, uncommon in the south; possibly a passage migrant. Records verified by Salim et al. [15] indicated that all Little Owl observations from Iraq were from Hutton’s Owl subspecies A. n. bactriana (also see [9]), from Southeastern Azerbaijan, Eastern Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan east through Central Asia to the Balkhash Lake. However, this range is overlapping with the Lilith Owlet ssp. A. n. lilith in Eastern Iraq, which is regarded as having uncertain status; an observation from Southeastern Iraqi arid plains showed features of A. n. lilith where it may breed.

Literature records: Samarra-Tekrit area, Amara, Shaiba, Adhaim, Suleimanla [1], Khanaqin [4, 5], Agarguf, Al-Yosifiyah, Baghdad-Habaniyah area, Jabal Himrin, Sir Amadia, Rawandoz [3], and specimen shot in Samarra [9].

Recent records: Haditha-Rutba, Khan Al-Baghdadi, Ramadi, Zurbatiyah, and Teeb (probably of the race A. n. lilith).

Syria

Status: Resident breeding. Widespread in all regions. This species can be observed everywhere except for cities and residential areas. It is more common than the Western Barn Owl.

Literature records: Qal’at Sukkara [49], Qal’at Al-Madiq, Shah Ranaz, Qal’at Sukkara, el-Ukersheh, Hirquleh [33], as-Suwar, es-Salihiyyeh, Halabiyyeh, Zalabiyyeh, Mari, Qal’at er-Rahba, Tell Sheikh Hamad, Maalula, Qasr Al-Hayr Al-Sharqi, ar-Rasafah, 10 km E of ar-Rasheidah [32], Qasr Ibn Wardan [28], Mzeirib, Ain Thakar, Jelleen, Khrab Al-Shaham, Ain Jum’aa, Mari, Qal’at er-Rahba, Tell Sheikh Hamad, Arnah, Hele, Kharabow, Sbieneh, Babennes, Jarablus, Qal’at Najim, Qal’at Samaan, Qasr Sallum, Yahmool, Qal’at Al-Madiq, Qasr Ibn Wardan, as-Salha, Heymu, Tell Beydar, Atheria, as-Sa’an, at-Tanaf, Al-Qaryatein, Mhassa, Qal’at Al-Hosson, Qal’at Fakhr ad-Din al-Maani, Qasr Al-Hayr Al-Gharbi, Qasr Al-Hayr Al-Sharqi, Tell Senan, Ebla Ruins, Khrab Sultan, Booqa, Fekhaykha, Qal’at Ja’abar, Tell Abiad, Tell Abu Hurera, Ain Arab, Qal’at Al-Marqab [17], ad-Dukhoul [54], and Halabiyyeh [55].

Recent records: Abu ash-shamat, Abu Kamal, ach-Chola, Abu Khashab, ad-Dukhoul, Al- Bolaiyah, Al-Basiri, Al-Bseireh, Al-Furuklus, Al-Ghazili, Al-Hjeifat steppe, Al-Kasra, Al-Nabk, Al-Qaryatein, Al-Qsupy, Al-Thlithawat, Arak, ar-Rasafah, ar-Rawda steppe, ash-Shaddady, as-Sab’ Biar, as-Sarayim, as-Sukhnah, as-Suwar, Ayyash, az-Zelif, Beer Al-Hashem, Buhayrat Al-Khatuniyah, Burqan, Feidhat Ibn Muwyin’e, Gleighim, Hasia, Jabal Abd Al-Aziz, Jabal Al-Bilaas, Kabajep, Khadhra Almay, Khanaser, Maadan, Mabroukah, Mari, Marqada, Mueayzilah W of Khabour River, Mueayzilah S of Deir ez-Zor, Mueileh, Qudsayya, Ras Al-Ayn N of Al Hasaka, Sahnaya, Salamiyah, Slouq, Talkalakh, and Twal Al-Aba (Figures 7–10).

Figure 7.

An adult little owl Athene noctua (ad-Dukhoul) in Syria (race A. n. bactriana). Photo © Ahmad Aidek.

Figure 8.

An adult little owl Athene noctua near Haditha-Rutba road in extreme Western Iraq (race A. n. bactriana). Photo © Omar Al-Sheikhly.

Figure 9.

An adult little owl Athene noctua in Najaf Desert of southwestern Iraq (probably of the race A. n. bactriana). Photo © Ali N. Al-Barazangi.

Figure 10.

An adult little owl Athene noctua in the hills of Teeb in southeastern Iraq (race A. n. lilith). Photo © Omar Al-Sheikhly.

4.3 Eurasian scops owl Otus scops (Linnaeus, 1758) (IUCN red list: LC)

The following are explained in Figure 11.

Figure 11.

Distribution of Eurasian scops owl Otus scops in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq

Status: Fairly widespread breeding summer visitors and passage migrants.

Literature records: Basra, Nasirijeh, Museyib, Hilla, Amara, and Fao [1, 43], Habbaniya [56], Khanaqin [4, 5], Barzan and Chowarta [3], and near Mosul [9].

Recent records: Baghdad and Baquba.

Syria

Status: Summer visitor breeding and passage migrant. Spread in all regions except dry areas of Al-Badia. It occurs in small numbers roosting on the trees.

Literature records: Ras Al-Baseet, Qatana [22], Bloudan [57], Talila Reserve [29, 58], Damascus [17], Jabal Abd Al-Aziz [30], and Deir ez-Zor [55].

Recent records: Al-Ghariyeh, Al-Qlatiyeh, aj-Jankeil, Drekeish, Homs, Sreijes (Figure 12).

Figure 12.

An adult Eurasian scops owl Otus scops in Baghdad, Iraq. Photo © Ali N. Al-Barazangi.

4.4 Pallid scops owl Otus brucei (Hume, 1873) (IUCN red list: LC)

The following are explained in Figure 13.

Figure 13.

Distribution of Pallid scops owl Otus brucei in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq

Status: Local resident and/or breeding summer visitor.

Literature records: Kazimain of Baghdad, Hilla and Museyib [1, 9], and University Campus of Baghdad [8].

Recent records: University of Baghdad, Rashidiyah, and Deleasha.

Syria

Status: Rare summer visitor and passage migrant. Spread in all regions except Al-Badia and dry areas.

Literature records: Aleppo [21], Sabkhat al-Jabbul [23], Tell Sheikh Hamad [22], Deir ez-Zor [59], and Serghaya, as-Salha (Figure 14) [17].

Figure 14.

An adult Pallid scops owl Otus brucei in Deleasha in northern Iraq. Photo © Korsh Ararat.

4.5 Long-eared owl Asio otus (Linnaeus, 1758) (IUCN red list: LC)

The following are explained in Figure 15.

Figure 15.

Distribution of Long-eared owl Asio otus in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq

Status: Rare breeding residents and winter visitors in northern, numbers of trapped birds observed in autumn suggested heavy passage migrant and probably wintering in low numbers in Central and Southern Iraq (Figure 3).

Literature records: Amara, Nasarijeh, Baghdad, and Legait [1], near Great Zab River area [3], Mousl [9], and from Northern Iraq [60].

Recent records: Large numbers of owls trapped somewhere in the southwestern desert of Iraq (see Figure 3). University of Baghdad.

Syria

Status: Winter visitor, breeding in Euphrates valley and coast region. Spread in all regions. Mainly found usually in the forested area among pine, cedar, or eucalyptus trees.

Literature records: Skabro [61], Palmyra [24, 62], Gharaneij [27], Al-Hasaka, Palmyra [28], Damascus, at-Tanaf [17], Bloudan [30], Al-Hseiniyeh [54], and Deir ez-Zor [55],

Recent records: Kherbat Al-Hamam, Jubb Ramlah, Sokas,Al-Koum, Salamiyah, Sheen, Yabroud, az-Zabadani, and Tabqah (Figures 16 and 17).

Figure 16.

A migrant adult Long-eared owl Asio otus at the University of Baghdad, Iraq. Photo © Omar Al-Sheikhly.

Figure 17.

Adult Long-eared owl Asio otus at Al-Hseiniyeh. Photo © Ahmad Aidek.

4.6 Short-eared owl Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan, 1763) (IUCN red list: LC)

The following are explained in Figure 18.

Figure 18.

Distribution of Short-eared owl Asio flammeus in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq

Status: Uncommon but widespread winter visitors and probably heavy on passage based on large numbers of trapped birds in autumn (Figure 2).

Literature records: Fao [43], Amara, Kut, Qalet Saleh, Suleimania [1], Baghdad and Aziziyah [3], and Mosul [9].

Recent records: Only one bird flashed at sunset in the Central Marshes in Southern Iraq.

Syria

Status: Very rare winter visitor. It was recorded only at two sites in the middle of Al-Badia in Central Syria.

Literature records: Palmyra [22] and Talila Reserve [62].

4.7 Eurasian eagle owl Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758) (IUCN red list: LC)

The following are explained in Figure 19.

Figure 19.

Distribution of Eurasian eagle owl Bubo bubo in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq

Status: Breeding residents mainly in the wooded mountains and rocky hills of northern, found in the elevated grounds of Central, Eastern, and Southern Iraq. Careful identification is required for birds in the rocky hills of Southeastern Iraq as an overlap with Pharaoh Eagle Owl may exist.

Literature records: Jebel Hamrin, Tekrit, ruins of Babylon, Shahroban, Sulemania, Mosul [1], near Khazr River and Aski Kalak [3], Kurkuk, Samarra, and Baghdad [9], and arid steppes of wadi Al-Tharthar in Central Iraq [10].

Recent records: Zraran, Peramagroon Mountain, and QaraDagh Mountain.

Syria

Status: Breeding resident. It occurs in small numbers and is considered rare. It is found in open arid and semi-arid areas devoid of dense trees and often roosts on large rocks or caves. Careful identification is required for birds in the Al-Badia of Central Syria as an overlap with Pharaoh Eagle Owl may exist.

Literature records: 15 km SE of Al-Qaryatein [25], Hamama [26], Dura Europus [27], Palmyra [28, 29], 3 km SW Jelleen, es-Salihiyyeh, Qatana, Qal’at Najim, Mesiaf, Tell Mardiekh (Shehab and Johnson 2009), and Jabal Abd Al-Aziz [30].

Recent records: Jabal Al-Bishri, Halbon, Feidhat Ibn Muwyin’e, and 5 km S ar-Rasafah (Figure 20).

Figure 20.

An adult Eurasian eagle owl Bubo bubo in QaraDagh Mountain in northern Iraq. Photo © Korsh Ararat.

4.8 Pharaoh eagle owl Bubo ascalaphus Savigny, 1809 (IUCN red list: LC)

The following are explained in Figure 21.

Figure 21.

Distribution of Pharaoh eagle owl Bubo ascalaphus in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq

Status: A rare breeding resident in the deserts of Western, Southern, and Southeastern Iraq.

Literature records: Haditha [12, 63], Wadi Al Ubayiadh and Al-Raoudha in Western Iraq [13], Wadi Al-Ga’ara, north of Rutba, ruins of the old city of Ur, Jabal Sanam, Al-Shirhani in Al-Teeb, and Zurbatiyah foothills [14].

Recent records: Desert of Najaf in Southwestern Iraq.

Syria

Status: Rare resident breeding. It was recorded in Al-Badia only.

Literature records: Only one record at Talila Reserve [29].

Recent records: Abu Hbilat (Figures 22–24).

Figure 22.

A breeding adult Pharaoh eagle owl Bubo ascalaphus in extreme Western Iraq. Photo © Omar Al-Sheikhly.

Figure 23.

An adult Pharaoh eagle owl Bubo ascalaphus in southwestern desert of Iraq. Photo © Ali N. Al-Barazangi.

Figure 24.

An adult Pharaoh eagle owl Bubo ascalaphus in Talila reserve. Photo © Ahmad Abdullah.

4.9 Brown fish owl Ketupa zeylonensis (Gmelin, 1788) (IUCN red list: LC)

The following are explained in Figure 25.

Figure 25.

Distribution of Brown fish owl Ketupa zeylonensis in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq

Status: Uncertain; probably a very rare resident, not recorded since the 1920s but could still occur near wetlands of Southeastern Iraq.

Literature records: Hills of Eastern Ali Al-Gharbi [2].

Syria

Status: Uncertain, possibly still occurs in Northern Syria.

Literature records: The last record was in the Golan in 1976 [22]. Reports from Northern Syria; further research is needed.

4.10 Tawny owl Strix aluco Linnaeus, 1758 (IUCN red list: LC)

The following are explained in Figure 26.

Figure 26.

Distribution of Tawny owl Strix aluco in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq

Status: Status uncertain; possibly a rare breeding resident in northern wooded hills as birds heard hooting in February–April; an owl heard in Central Iraq possibly on passage; also, a rare winter visitor.

Literature records: Duhok [2], Habbaniya [56], and Mousl [3, 9].

Recent records: Sir Amadiya and QaraDagh Mountain.

Syria

Status: Breeding resident. Restricted to wooded forests, spread in all regions except in the dry areas of Al-Badia.

Literature records: Jubb Al-Ghar [17], Kasab, Ras Al-Baseet, Slenfeh [22], Palmyra [29], ar-Rawda near Rabi’ah, Qal’at Salah ad-Din [30], and Deir ez-Zor, Palmyra [64].

Recent records: Drekeish, Homs, Sreijes, Al-Qlatiyeh, and aj-Jankeil (Figure 27).

Figure 27.

An adult Tawny owl Strix aluco in QaraDagh Mountain in northern Iraq. Photo© Korsh Ararat.

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to Miss. Yesra Shkaky (General Organization of Remote Sensing, Department of Environmental Researches and Regional Planning, Syria) for her kind technical support in the preparation of the species distribution maps. We are grateful to Dr. Mukhtar K. Haba, Dr. Nadheer A. Fazaa (University of Baghdad-Iraq), Korsh Ararat (University of Sulaymani-Iraq), and Dr. Zuhair S. Amr (Jordan) for their valuable comments on owls of Iraq and Syria along with their valuable remarks on the initial draft of this chapter. Our thanks extend once more time to Korsh Ararat and Ali N. Al-Barazangi (Iraqi Ministry of Environment-Iraq) and to Ahmad Abdullah (Conservationist-Syria) for providing owls’ photographs featured in this chapter. In appreciation of the impressive work that had been contributed to add knowledge to the owl avifauna of Syria by the late Dr. Adwan Shehab, we dedicate this chapter to him, wishing mercy and forgiveness for his soul.

Annex I. Site gazetteer in Iraq

Site Name	Coordinates
Zurbatiya (Zurbatiyah)	33°17′30.00”N 46° 6′5.66″E
Mandli	33°49′55.23”N 45°32′40.78″E
Mahmmodiya	33° 1′28.99”N 44°23′22.69″E
Desert of Al-Najaf	30°58′55.48”N 43°59′53.13″E
Kalar	34°36′13.69”N 45°23′45.33″E
Dalmaj	32°14′54.81”N 45°33′6.72″E
Falluja	33°16′33.70”N 43°47′59.89″E
Haditha	34° 1′39.98”N 42°21′21.61″E
Haditha-Rutba	33°29′13.24”N 41° 5′48.18″E
Khan Al-Baghdadi	33°52′54.24”N 42°33′12.98″E
Ramadi	33°28′16.41”N 43°15′58.71″E
Teeb	32°21′5.64”N 47°23′58.03″E
Baghdad	33°28′16.96”N 44°18′26.56″E
Baquba	33°46′33.09”N 44°38′54.73″E
University of Baghdad	33°16′32.57”N 44°22′41.12″E
Rashidiyah	33°30′42.86”N 44°19′46.65″E
Deleasha	35°49′11.88”N 45°27′15.74″E
Central Marshes	31° 3′47.57”N 47° 5′52.92″E
Zraran	37° 6′17.60”N 44° 0′44.09″E
Peramagroon Mountain	35°45′31.65”N 45°13′41.49″E
QaraDagh Mountain	35°14′20.25”N 45°22′21.87″E
Sir Amadiya	37° 4′53.60”N 43°29′51.48″E

Annex II. Site gazetteer in Syria

10 km S of Euphrates	35°50′43.0”N 38°54′50.0″E
15 km SE of Al-Qaryatein	34°05′53.0”N 37°17′02.0″E
3 km SW Jelleen	32°44′17.0”N 35°57′01.0″E
5 km S ar-Rasafah	35°33′53.8”N 38°46′26.0″E
Abu ash-shamat	33°40′02.1”N 36°53′40.5″E
Abu Hardoub	34°51′10.6”N 40°37′14.3″E
Abu Hbilat	35°01′51.7”N 37°18′50.5″E
Abu Kamal	34°27′18.1”N 40°55′45.5″E
Abu Khashab	35°56′46.9”N 40°00′47.1″E
Abu Qubays	35°14′43.1”N 36°18′36.5″E
Ach-Chola	35°11′05.2”N 39°48′16.5″E
Ad-Dukhoul	35°02′54.0”N 39°54′29.6″E
Ain Jum’aa	35°26′04.0”N 40°02′41.2″E
Ain Thakar	32°51′34.1”N 35°54′13.8″E
Aj-Jankeil	35°35′44.0”N 36°01′56.8″E
Al- Bolaiyah	35°22′59.9”N 39°20′59.6″E
Al-Bahlouliyah	35°38′15.0”N 35°57′23.7″E
Al-Bas’ah	35°40′19.6”N 39°49′38.2″E
Al-Basiri	34°09′18.1”N 37°36′35.0″E
Al-Bseireh	35°09′20.9”N 40°25′53.8″E
Aleppo	36°12′15.4”N 37°10′44.9″E
Al-Furuklus	34°36′10.3”N 37°05′07.7″E
Al-Furunlok	35°49′50.3”N 35°59′36.6″E
Al-Ghariyeh	32°23′43.1”N 36°38′59.4″E
Al-Ghazili	36°18′00.1”N 39°00′28.5″E
Al-Hasaka	36°30′34.2”N 40°45′57.7″E
Al-Hjeifat steppe	35°34′29.6”N 40°13′32.0″E
Al-Hseiniyeh	35°21′27.1”N 40°08′50.0″E
Al-Kadmous	35°06′13.1”N 36°09′40.7″E
Al-Kasra	35°33′56.1”N 39°55′00.9″E
Al-Koum	33°12′22.6”N 35°57′33.5″E
Al-Marashdeh	34°30′25.4”N 40°55′21.1″E
Al-Mashqoq	32°25′32.9”N 36°43′39.6″E
Al-Misrab	35°32′45.5”N 39°51′21.3″E
Al-Nabk	34°01′13.2”N36°43′45.2″E
Al-Qallou’	35°15′07.9”N 35°57′04.9″E
Al-Qaryatein	34°13′45.9”N 37°14′23.0″E
Al-Qlatiyeh	34°47′50.5”N 36°19′02.0″E
Al-Qsupy	35°44′14.7”N 39°45′55.1″E
Al-Shardoub Forest	35°36′01.3”N 36°03′35.1″E
Al-Sqeilbiyeh	35°22′12.0”N 36°23′58.0″E
Al-Thlithawat	35°21′19.8”N 39°14′57.4″E
Arak	34°40′09.6”N 38°35′46.8″E
ar-Rasafah	35°37′16.3”N 38°46′08.9″E
ar-Rawda near Rabi’ah	35°48′54.2”N 36°01′47.6″E
ar-Rawda steppe	35°14′19.8”N 41°01′07.8″E
ash-Shaddady	36°03′34.8”N 40°44′06.0″E
as-Sab’ Biar	33°46′00.1”N 37°40′28.5″E
as-Salha	37°09′44.0”N 42°04′19.0″E
as-Sarayim	34°38′00.1”N 39°30′28.5″E
as-Sukhnah	34°53′01.6”N 38°53′05.8″E
as-Suwar	35°30′37.7”N 40°39′50.5″E
Atheria	35°22′09.9”N 37°46′36.1″E
at-Tanaf	33°29′24.1”N 38°39′52.6″E
at-Tebni	35°36′14.5”N 39°49′28.1″E
Ayyash	35°25′19.3”N 40°03′35.7″E
az-Zabadani	33°43′26.0”N 36°06′05.2″E
az-Zelif	32°55′30.1”N 37°20′15.4″E
Beer Al-Hashem	36°10′33.0”N 39°01′36.6″E
Bloudan	33°43′29.2”N 36°07′37.8″E
Buhayrat Al-Khatuniyah	36°24′38.2”N 41°13′41.8″E
Burqan	35°02′46.7”N 37°07′50.9″E
Busra	32°31′07.7”N 36°28′54.7″E
Damascus	33°30′47.8”N 36°16′52.3″E
Daraa	33°19′32.0”N 36°14′36.5″E
Daraa Dam	32°36′04.0”N 36°06′56.9″E
Deir Al-Hajar	33°21′06.1”N 36°26′59.0″E
Deir ez-Zor	35°20′21.0”N 40°08′31.3″E
Deir Mama	35°08′30.0”N 36°19′53.5″E
Drekeish	34°53′44.9”N 36°08′07.2″E
Ebla Ruins	35°47′54.0”N 36°47′52.0″E
el-Ukersheh	35°51′39.5”N 39°07′12.5″E
es-Salihiyyeh (Dura Europus)	34°44′55.5”N 40°43′47.7″E
ez-Zawe	35°04′55.0”N 36°18′11.0″E
Feidhat Ibn Muwyin’e	34°41′33.8”N 39°59′02.7″E
Gharaneij	34°47′04.6”N 40°43′07.9″E
Gleighim	33°13′31.0”N 37°28′33.1″E
Golan Heights	33°00′04.7”N 35°44′19.5″E
Halabiyyeh	35°39′57.3”N 39°49′49.1″E
Halbon	33°39′51.8”N 36°14′57.2″E
Hamama	35°55′26.7”N 36°21′24.0″E
Hasia	34°24′36.8”N 36°45′43.9″E
Haweijt Saqur	35°18′57.7”N 40°10′31.6″E
Heymu	37°02′31.0”N 41°09′45.0″E
Homs	34°43′40.1”N 36°43′10.0″E
Jabal Abd Al-Aziz	36°25′13.7”N 40°19′15.4″E
Jabal Al-Bilaas	34°53′46.9”N 37°36′57.7″E
Jabal Al-Bishri	35°20′00.1”N 39°20′31.5″E
Jarablus	36°49′09.4”N 38°00′54.5″E
Jaramana	33°29′18.0”N 36°20′41.1″E
Jnainat Raslan	34°55′51.5”N 36°07′19.3″E
Jub Al-Ghar	35°38′15.9”N 36°13′29.7″E
Jubb Ramlah	35°12′29.4”N 36°25′56.8″E
Kabajep	35°04′43.4”N 39°39′44.2″E
Kafr Daryian	36°10′26.3”N 36°39′57.9″E
Karahta	33°24′33.1”N 36°25′36.6″E
Kasab	35°55′35.3”N 35°59′17.0″E
Khadhra Almay	34°52′02.4”N 39°43′00.4″E
Khan Sheikhoun	35°26′32.4”N 36°39′09.0″E
Khanaser	35°46′58.9”N 37°29′33.1″E
Kharabow	33°30′19.8”N 36°27′55.0″E
Kherbat Al-Hamam	34°41′47.0”N 36°28′58.9″E
Khrab Al-Shaham	32°39′38.0”N 36°01′45.0″E
Lake Assad	35°56′26.7”N 38°11′13.6″E
Maadan	35°45′09.8”N 39°35′28.7″E
Mabroukah	36°39′16.5”N 39°45′39.5″E
Mari	34°33′01.6”N 40°53′22.8″E
Marqada	35°45′25.5”N 40°46′07.8″E
Maseel (Nab’a) Al-Fawar	33°13′40.0”N 35°56′51.0″E
Maskana	35°57′55.1”N 38°02′39.8″E
Mesiaf	35°03′55.7”N 36°20′57.5″E
Mueayzilah	34°37′14.6”N 40°26′44.5″E
Mueileh	35°37′15.0”N 40°44′30.5″E
Muhasan	35°13′15.1”N 40°20′14.3″E
Mzeirib	32°42′11.4”N 36°01′49.3″E
Palmyra	34°34′30.1”N 38°17′45.3″E
Qal’at Al-Hosson	34°45′25.4”N 36°17′42.3″E
Qal’at Al-Madiq	35°25′10.6”N 36°23′31.2″E
Qal’at Al-Marqab	35°09′03.0”N 35°56′55.0″E
Qal’at er-Rahba	35°00′17.8”N 40°25′24.2″E
Qal’at Najim	36°33′18.8”N 38°15′43.2″E
Qal’at Salah ad-Din	35°35′43.7”N 36°03′22.2″E
Qal’at Sheizar	35°15′57.3”N 36°33′53.4″E
Qasr Ibn Wardan	35°22′23.0”N 37°15′14.6″E
Qasr Sallum	36°10′01.3”N 37°55′17.3″E
Qatana	33°26′15.4”N 36°06′01.4″E
Qater Maghara	35°53′06.5”N 39°01′27.2″E
Qudsayya	33°31′42.8”N 36°10′56.7″E
Ras Al-Ayn	36°50′42.5”N 40°04′50.5″E
Ras Al-Baseet	35°50′45.8”N 35°50′25.0″E
Sabkhat al-Jabbul	36°02′40.4”N 37°31′01.2″E
Sahnaya	33°25′34.1”N 36°13′10.4″E
Salamiyah	35°00′33.9”N 37°03′44.4″E
Sanouber	35°28′48.3”N 35°53′23.5″E
Saraqeb	35°51′43.8”N 36°48′15.8″E
Sbieneh	33°26′01.0”N 36°17′03.0″E
Se′lu	35°09′09.5”N 40°22′53.0″E
Serghaya	33°48′43.7”N 36°09′31.5″E
Shah Ranaz	35°30′58.3”N 36°24′15.0″E
Sheen	34°46′53.1”N 36°25′17.4″E
Skabro	36°25′08.7”N 39°04′04.5″E
Slenfeh	35°35′54.8”N 36°11′00.3″E
Slouq	36°35′46.6”N 39°07′20.8″E
Sokas	35°18′21.2”N 35°55′53.2″E
Sreijes	35°05′04.0”N 36°00′41.7″E
Tabqah	35°49′53.9”N 38°33′07.2″E
Talila Reserve	34°31′34.2”N 38°31′41.5″E
Talkalakh	34°40′10.6”N 36°15′30.7″E
Tartous	34°53′20.9”N 35°53′50.5″E
Tell Abiad	36°41′32.7”N 38°56′55.7″E
Tell Abu Hurera	35°50′34.7”N 38°23′06.4″E
Tell Al-Amarneh	36°37′01.0”N 38°11′01.0″E
Tell Al-Buderi	36°23′15.2”N 40°48′49.8″E
Tell Al-Shaham	33°14′57.0”N 35°59′42.3″E
Tell Beydar	36°44′11.0”N 40°35′01.9″E
Tell Brak	36°40′35.8”N 41°01′51.9″E
Tell Hadia	35°59′25.7”N 36°56′20.3″E
Tell Mardiekh	35°48′35.6”N 36°47′10.5″E
Tell Sandal	36°03′54.0”N 36°44′48.0″E
Tell Senan	35°03′19.0”N 37°04′33.0″E
Tell Sheikh Hamad	35°38′31.0”N 40°44′23.7″E
Twal Al-Aba	36°20′25.1”N 39°21′35.2″E
Yabroud	33°58′23.4”N 36°40′04.4″E
Yahmool	36°34′54.1”N37°07′51.6″E
Zalabiyyeh	35°39′07.6”N 39°51′02.5″E