Armenia
Armenia is a mountainous country of the South Caucasus, dominated by high plateaus, volcanic ranges and deeply cut river valleys. Much of the country lies above 1,000 metres, with Mount Aragats reaching over 4,000 metres. Landscapes range from dry steppe and semi-desert in lower valleys to montane forest, alpine meadows and rocky highlands. Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in Eurasia, is a major geographical feature. The climate is strongly continental, with hot, dry summers in the lowlands and cold, snowy winters at higher elevations.
Overview
Armenia packs an impressive variety of Caucasian, Middle Eastern and high-mountain birds into a relatively small area. Mount Aragats is a key site for Caspian Snowcock, Radde's Accentor, White-winged Snowfinch and Crimson-winged Finch, while the arid Vedi region is known for Grey-necked Bunting, Finsch's Wheatear and Eastern Rock Nuthatch. Armash fishponds are exceptionally productive for waterbirds and can hold pelicans, herons, ibises and large numbers of migrants. Lake Sevan and surrounding wetlands provide further important habitat. Armenia has a growing birding-tourism scene and its main sites can be combined efficiently by road, although mountain conditions make some high-altitude areas strongly seasonal. Areas close to the Azerbaijan border can be subject to security restrictions and should be checked before travel.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hooded Crow Corvus cornix | 52.4% | 52.3% | 61.7% | 65.7% | 57.0% | 44.1% | 44.4% | 40.1% | 37.0% | 39.6% | 53.2% | 69.3% | 64.6% |
| Eurasian Magpie Pica pica | 51.3% | 56.0% | 53.6% | 50.6% | 51.1% | 43.1% | 46.1% | 44.4% | 36.5% | 43.2% | 57.1% | 69.0% | 64.7% |
| Great Tit Parus major | 49.3% | 74.9% | 73.9% | 70.0% | 49.3% | 28.0% | 29.2% | 25.4% | 27.5% | 32.9% | 43.7% | 68.7% | 67.6% |
| Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula | 39.6% | 57.5% | 62.4% | 58.1% | 42.9% | 29.0% | 38.0% | 34.5% | 18.9% | 18.4% | 26.0% | 46.4% | 43.3% |
| House Sparrow Passer domesticus | 35.4% | 34.4% | 36.1% | 40.6% | 37.8% | 28.6% | 37.8% | 45.7% | 35.5% | 24.1% | 26.4% | 37.2% | 40.7% |
| Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs | 33.9% | 56.2% | 58.1% | 50.2% | 24.8% | 11.1% | 17.1% | 20.9% | 16.0% | 10.7% | 30.4% | 59.6% | 52.2% |
| White Wagtail Motacilla alba | 26.3% | 5.0% | 8.9% | 34.5% | 38.8% | 31.3% | 34.8% | 33.7% | 32.5% | 35.4% | 43.6% | 11.8% | 5.5% |
| Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius | 24.0% | 38.4% | 30.2% | 29.1% | 21.9% | 11.8% | 15.0% | 12.1% | 14.2% | 19.5% | 29.1% | 38.8% | 27.6% |
| Rock Pigeon Columba livia | 23.4% | 18.3% | 20.6% | 28.5% | 22.4% | 13.6% | 17.5% | 25.6% | 23.4% | 24.3% | 29.5% | 27.7% | 29.7% |
| European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis | 20.6% | 9.5% | 10.2% | 18.8% | 27.7% | 19.8% | 24.7% | 30.6% | 22.9% | 19.0% | 23.9% | 31.6% | 8.1% |