Azerbaijan: The Enchanting East

Azerbaijan is one of the Western Palearctic’s best kept secrets, and one of the most productive, and exciting winter birding areas in the region. Situated in the Caucasus region, which joins Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan is a country where literally anything could (and frequently does) turn up from across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. We are delighted to offer this small group tour (maximum of eight people) to this remarkable country and we are sure you will enjoy our offering.

The Vulnerable (BirdLife International) Eastern Imperial Eagle has been the subject of extensive conservation efforts in Azerbaijan and neighboring Georgia.

Despite its small size, Azerbaijan has recorded 423 species (following International Ornithological Congress (IOC) taxonomy v13.1 as of July 2023). Many of these species are hugely sought after due to their being highly range-restricted in the Western Palearctic, or due to the difficulty of accessing them in other parts of their range. During our birding in Azerbaijan, we will visit a number of BirdLife International’s Important Bird Areas (IBAs), including Absheron archipelago (north) and Pirallahi Bay IBA, Gobustan area IBA, Shorgel lakes and Shirvan Reserve IBA, Kura Delta IBA, Gizilagach State Reserve IBA, Lake Mahmudchala IBA, and Aggyol IBA.

While numerous familiar and widespread European species are possible on this tour, it is the Western Palearctic range-restricted species that we will be really targeting, including species like Grey-headed Swamphen, White-tailed Lapwing, Pallas’s Gull, Black Francolin, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Red-fronted Serin, Marsh Sandpiper, Moustached Warbler, Syrian Woodpecker, and White-winged Lark. We also have a chance of surprise species like Black Lark and (Asian) Buff-bellied Pipit (japonicus subspecies). Additionally, we should keep our eyes out for globally threatened species like Dalmatian Pelican, Pallid Harrier, Red-breasted Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Marbled Duck, Ferruginous Duck, White-headed Duck, Armenian Gull, and vast flocks of Little Bustard.

Azerbaijan is one of the most important overwintering locations in the world for Little Bustard with huge and impressive flocks congregating in the country (photo Alexander Rukhaia).

Wallcreeper and Bearded Reedling (Tit), both monotypic families are also possible on this tour. These interesting and rare species are the real attraction of birding in Azerbaijan in winter. However, we will also come across a wide range of more common wildfowl, shorebirds (waders), birds of prey, and passerines that spend the winter in this fascinating part of the world. We will also look for a range of mammals with Goitered Gazelle, Red Fox, (European) Grey Wolf, Small Five-toed Jerboa, and Jungle Cat all being possible.

The huge and colorful Grey-headed Swamphen is another range-restricted species in the Western Palearctic, since being split from Western Swamphen, which we see in Spain.