Birding Factoids

460 species
in 52 families

One endemic species
23 speciality species
13 endangered species

Afghanistan
Hotspots

Afghanistan Specialities

....Birding Afghanistan - from Birdlife International. Considering that

Afghanistan is landlocked and mostly quite arid, its avifauna is remarkably rich. Of the 460 species recorded in the country some 235 breed or are assumed to breed; this diversity is due to the Himalayan and Indian-subcontinent species composition of the avifauna over the eastern part of the country, and to the predominantly Central Asian aspect over the northern plains and the Hindu Kush.

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....Wildlife News - Afghanistan's wetlands and birdlife bear brunt of war

and drought. The internationally significant Sistan wetlands - shared between Afghanistan and Iran - are almost completely dry, according to a new report presented to environmental leaders in Nairobi. See also Birds also victims in Afghanistan war.

....

....Trip Report: Afghanistan, 2002, by Anssi Kullberg. Since there are

very few birdwatchers visiting Afghanistan for obvious reasons, I try to sum up some of my observations there during four separate journeys to Afghanistan in 2002. Trips to Kabul were made in June, July, August, and September 2002. In July, I visited also Herat in Western Afghanistan, and drove around the Herat province, and later around the Shomali plains and Bagram in the vicinity of Kabul.

Factoids taken from Where to watch birds in Asia - by Nigel Wheatley

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Eco-Lodges

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Endemics and Specialities

in Afghanistan

Information on endemics and specialities is derived from Sibley & Monroe checklists and bird distribution lists in Thayer's Birder's Diary - Version 2.5, supplemented by material found in Where to watch birds in Asia - by Nigel Wheatley. Information on endangered birds is derived from the IUCN Red List, Birdlife International. The endemic, endangered and speciality birds may be uncommon, extremely rare vagrants, may be extirpated in the country now or may only be present in migration. However, documented sightings of each species noted below have been made in Afghanistan.

Endemics in Afghanistan
___ Afghan Snowfinch

Endangered Birds in Afghanistan (endemics are printed in *bold italic*)
Breeding Birds		Non-Breeding Birds
__ Corn Crake __ Ferruginous Pochard __ Lesser Kestrel __ Marbled Teal	__ Pale-backed Pigeon __ White-browed Bush-chat __ White-headed Duck	__ Dalmatian Pelican __ Imperial Eagle __ Pallas's Fish-Eagle __ Greater Spotted Eagle __ Baikal Teal __ Siberian Crane

Other Speciality and Spectacular Birds in Afghanistan (adapted from Where to watch birds in Asia - by Nigel Wheatley.)
___ Black-and-Yellow Grosbeak ___ Black-crested Tit ___ Black-headed Jay ___ Brown-fronted Woodpecker ___ Dead Sea Sparrow ___ Himalayan Woodpecker ___ Kashmir Nuthatch ___ Rufous-backed Redstart	___ Rufous-breasted Accentor ___ Rusty-tailed Flycatcher ___ Siberian Crane ___ Sind Woodpecker ___ Streak-throated Swallow ___ Syke's Nightjar ___ Tibetan Sandgrouse ___ Turkestan Tit	___ Tytler's Leaf-Warbler ___ Western Crowned Warbler ___ White-browed Bush-chat ___ White-cheeked Nuthatch ___ White-cheeked Tit ___ White-winged Woodpecker ___ Yellow-breasted Tit