Russia
Russia spans Eastern Europe and northern Asia, making it the world's largest country and one of the most geographically diverse. Landscapes extend from Arctic tundra and the immense Siberian taiga to steppe, wetlands, mountain systems and the Pacific coast. Major features include the Ural Mountains, Lake Baikal, Caucasus and Kamchatka Peninsula, while enormous river systems such as the Volga, Ob, Yenisei and Lena drain vast areas. Climate ranges from relatively mild conditions near the Black Sea to extreme continental cold across Siberia and polar conditions in the Arctic. Much of northern and eastern Russia remains very sparsely populated, with wilderness areas on a scale rarely encountered elsewhere.
Overview
Russia's immense size brings together European, Siberian, Central Asian and Pacific bird communities. The Far East is particularly distinctive, with specialties such as Siberian Crane, Blakiston's Fish Owl and Steller's Sea Eagle, while Arctic coasts and tundra support vast numbers of breeding geese, waders and seabirds. Kamchatka combines spectacular seabird colonies with raptors and northern forest species, and the Lake Baikal region provides access to Siberian taiga and steppe birds. The Caucasus adds mountain specialties, while southern steppes support cranes, bustards and raptors. Birding can involve enormous distances and remote locations even under normal circumstances. Current international travel to Russia also requires substantially more planning than to most European destinations, with changing entry, transport and security considerations making up-to-date travel advice essential. For specialist birders, Russia remains notable for its vast wilderness and access to species difficult to see elsewhere.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Tit Parus major | 58.6% | 70.6% | 72.5% | 71.3% | 60.9% | 45.2% | 34.5% | 32.6% | 37.2% | 55.2% | 75.0% | 75.8% | 72.9% |
| Hooded Crow Corvus cornix | 55.6% | 62.8% | 63.2% | 66.8% | 61.8% | 49.5% | 38.8% | 37.8% | 39.5% | 52.6% | 66.5% | 66.0% | 62.6% |
| Rock Pigeon Columba livia | 40.2% | 46.0% | 45.9% | 45.6% | 42.5% | 34.9% | 32.9% | 31.9% | 33.8% | 39.4% | 41.5% | 43.9% | 43.6% |
| Mallard Anas platyrhynchos | 34.5% | 25.9% | 22.5% | 28.8% | 48.3% | 41.4% | 28.7% | 28.9% | 37.0% | 41.0% | 44.4% | 39.9% | 27.3% |
| Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus | 33.4% | 44.2% | 44.2% | 45.4% | 38.4% | 22.8% | 13.8% | 16.0% | 19.8% | 33.9% | 40.2% | 42.0% | 40.5% |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus | 30.6% | 33.3% | 33.8% | 34.8% | 31.2% | 27.9% | 27.0% | 27.9% | 25.0% | 27.7% | 32.5% | 32.5% | 33.8% |
| Eurasian Magpie Pica pica | 28.5% | 28.4% | 27.3% | 29.2% | 32.4% | 24.8% | 20.3% | 21.2% | 22.8% | 31.7% | 39.3% | 35.7% | 28.8% |
| Fieldfare Turdus pilaris | 26.4% | 21.8% | 18.8% | 21.5% | 46.2% | 39.4% | 31.0% | 21.9% | 16.4% | 26.0% | 31.1% | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| White Wagtail Motacilla alba | 24.0% | 0.9% | 0.7% | 4.0% | 45.9% | 47.2% | 46.3% | 44.3% | 43.0% | 42.6% | 9.4% | 2.4% | 1.2% |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major | 23.4% | 29.4% | 29.4% | 29.0% | 26.2% | 19.2% | 17.3% | 15.4% | 18.1% | 18.8% | 25.5% | 25.9% | 26.2% |