Birds Species in Iran
In various parts of Iran from a climatologic point of view (pal artic, oriental and Ethiopian) there are 490 species of birds, 458 of them are main species and 32 of them are seen accidentally and 22 of them have been seen once or twice.
The main species are divided in 3 groups by ecologic condition:
A: Natives
The native species, which are belonged specially to Iran such as Podoces Pleskii “Ground Jay” that lives in desert areas.
B: Residents
They are not originally from Iran but are living here such as COLUMBIDAE which live all around the country.
C: Migratory
Their number and species is seasonal and are divided into 3 main kinds:
1. Winter migratory: Like ANATIDE
2. Breeding migratory: Like ORIOLUS
3. Passage migratory: Like SCOLOPACIDE
In spring and summer 350 species will breed like flamingo in Uromieh lake 5000 Pairs
In fall and spring 140 species are passage migratory like Tringa SP
In some places, some particular species are living such as Indian pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) in mangrove forests on Persian Gulf coasts and Acridotheres in south east of Iran and Pycnonotus Leucotis in Khoozestan and Bandar-e- Abbas provinces and Hypocolius ampelinus in Khoozestan.
Some kinds at rare species are in Iran:
- Grus leucogranus
- Brannta ruficollis
- Anser erythropus
Birdwatchers in Iran can see some species (more than 40) from European moderate forest; 30 species from Mediterranean region, some species from Himalayan region and 2 species from Africa can bee seen, besides, variety of species of Fish eating is considerable like pelecanus crispus and Phalacrocorax carbo are the most interesting.
12 species of birds which are specially belong to the middle east regions can be seen in Iran, such as prunella ocularis (Raddes Accentor) or Iranian guttaralis (white throated Robin).
You can see all species of birds in Iran during the year but the itinerary is mainly as following:
1. In spring and summer, breeding birds are mainly in Iran, and in 10 days in northwest you can see Ghoorigol marsh, urmieh lake and marshes around Urmieh like:
1 day in Ghoorigol: Podicipedidiae, Rallidae, Anatidae
4 days in Islans on Urmieh lake: Laridae, Pelecanidaae, Ardeidae, Tadorna Tadorna.
1 day in marshes around Urmieh lake like Qareh Qeshlagh marsh: Sterna sp, Waders
3 days in Arasbaran protected area:Accipteridae and Passeriformes
1 day in Neor lake in Ardebil: Anatidae, Waders
2- In northern provinces (Gillan and Mazandaran) a 10 days itinerary is suitable for seeing:
Estil-e-Abbas Abad: Phalacroracidae
Anzali marsh for breeding Areidae and Sterna sp
Miankaleh marsh: Rellidae
Amir Kelayeh marsh: Sterna sp
And 5 days in Golestan National Park
3- In southern provinces of Iran like fast, in a 10 days program in Parishan, Bakhtegan, Arjan and Haftbarm marshes you can see:
Pelecanus crispus, Ardeidae, Sylvidae, some species of Waders Phasianidae family like Alecktoris chokar, Francolinus Fancolinus and etc.
Also 3 days in Bamoo National Park you can see Capra aegagurs, Ovis amon and in Miankotal you can see Dama mesopotamiea.
4. In spring and summer in island of Persian Gulf such as Qeshm, Lavan and Shidvar you can see breedings like Ardeidae and Laridae these program lasts 10 days in Booshehr and Bandar-e-Abbas two coastal provinces, also Ardeola grayii lives in mangrove forests in those regions.
5. In fall and winter you can see passage migratories in Anzali marsh, Miankaleh, Amir Kelayeh, Caspian sea coasts, in north of Iran, Bakhtegan and Arjan in Fars; Mond, Holleh and Bayband in Booshehr and Hamoon marsh in Sistan , but precise itinerary depends on climate conditions, so it can be declared in fall season.
