There are about 300 species of birds in the Altyn-Emel National Park, 40 of them are rare (marked with an asterisk). 33 rare species are included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, 19 - in the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In 2002, Kazakhstan launched the "Main Bird Areas of Kazakhstan" program, and the Altyn-Emel National Park became one of such areas.

There are some bird species here that meet the criteria of this program. First of all, these are globally endangered species (Red List of IUCN).

1. Dalmatian Pelican*Pelecanus crispus

2. Ferruginous Duck* - Aythya nyroca

3. Pallas' Sea Eagle* - Haliaeetus leucoryphus

4. Pale Harrier*Cyrcus macrourus

5. Lesser Kestrel*Falco naumanni

6. Bustard*Otis tarda

7. Black-tailed Godwit*Limosa limosa

8. Stifftail*Oxyura leucocephala

9. Red-footed Falcon*Falco vespertinus

10. Sociable Lapwing*Chettusia gregaria

11. Eastern Stock Dove*Columba eversmanni

12. Imperial Eagle* - Aquila heliaca

13. Houbara Bustard* - Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii

14. Little Bustard* - Otis tetrax

15. Roller*Coracias garrulus

16. Corn Crake*Crex crex

17. Egyptian vulture* - Neophron percnopterus

18. Black Vulture* - Aegypius monachus

19. Saker Falcon*Falco cherrug

The said ornithological program also includes the species belonging to the biome "Eurasian deserts and semi-deserts" (houbara bustard, greater sand plover, Pallas's sandgrouse, eastern stock dove, white-winged woodpecker, Syke's warbler, desert warbler, Turkestan tit, saxaul sparrow, desert finch, red-headed bunting) and the biome "Iran-Turanian Mountains" (large rock nuthatch, Stewart's bunting and gray-necked bunting). All these species are found in Altyn-Emel.

Two thirds of all bird species in the national park are nesting. Such a large number is caused by the landscape diversity - from wetlands, deserts and steppes to foothills and alpine meadows. That makes Altyn-Emel an attractive place for ornithologists and birdwatchers.

Abbreviations:

RBK - Red Book of Kazakhstan

IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature

The richest species composition of the avifauna is in the delta of the Ili River. For half a century after the filling of the Kapchagai reservoir, a complex of wetlands was formed here, ideal for nesting of many species of birds.

Egretta Alba

Great White Egret - Egretta alba. A common bird in the floodplain of the Ili River. Nests in reed areas.

Pelecanus Crispus

Dalmatian Pelican* - Pelecanus crispus. Included in the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Like Great White Pelican* (Pelecanus onocrotalus), appears regularly in the delta of the Ili River in summer. Both species are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan.

Aythya Nyroca

Ferruginous Duck* - Aythya nyroca. A rare nesting species of lakes in the Ili River delta. In recent decades, the number has been low.

Motacilla Citreola

Yellow-headed Wagtail - Motacilla citreola. It is observed in large numbers during the spring migration from March to May. Nests in small numbers in the meadows of the Ili River delta. The subspecies of birds are not entirely clear. Both Motacilla citreola citreola and Motacilla citreola werae are observed during migration. During nesting, there are birds with a transitional color between Motacilla citreola citreola and Motacilla citreola quassatrix.

Larus Cachinnans

Caspian GullLarus cachinnans. A common species of the Kapchagai reservoir coast, where it can be encountered all year round, since some of the birds remain for wintering. In the delta, it nests on sandy islands.

Botaurus Stellaris

Eurasian Bittern - Botaurus stellaris. Nests in the reed floodplain meadows of the Ili River delta; in some years it winters.

1

Little Dabchick - Tachybaptus ruficollis capensis

Migrant

 

2

Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollis

Nesting is rare

 

3

Great-crested GrebePodiceps cristatus

Nesting

 

4

Great White Pelican* - Pelecanus onocrotalus

Migrant

RBK

5

Dalmatian Pelican*Pelecanus crispus

Migrant

RBK, IUCN

6

Southern CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo sinensis

Nesting

 

7

Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris

Nesting

 

8

Little BitternIxobrychus minutus

Nesting

 

9

Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax

Migrant

 

10

Great White Egret - Egretta alba

Nesting

 

11

Grey HeronArdea cinerea

Nesting

 

12

Greylag GooseAnser anser

Nesting is probable

 

13

Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna

Migrant

 

14

Mallard DuckAnas platyrhynchos

Nesting

 

15

Shoveler - Anas clypeata

Nesting

 

16

Rufous-crested Duck - Netta rufina

Nesting

 

17

Ferruginous Duck* - Aythya nyroca

Nesting

RBK, IUCN

18

Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus

Nesting

 

19

Gray Crane*Grus grus

Nesting

RBK

20

Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus

Nesting

 

21

Little Crake - Porzana parva

Nesting is probable

 

22

Marsh Crake - Porzana pusilla

Nesting is probable

 

23

GallinuleGallinula chloropus

Nesting is probable

 

24

CootFulica atra

Nesting, casual

 

25

Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus

Migrant

 

26

CourserHimantopus himantopus

Nesting

 

27

Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta

Migrant

 

28

Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus

Migrant

 

29

Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus

Migrant

 

30

RedshankTringa totanus

Nesting

 

31

Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus

Migrant

 

32

Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratinсola

Migrant

 

33

Black-headed GullLarus ridibundus

Nesting

 

34

Caspian GullLarus cachinnans

Nesting

 

35

Black TernChlidonias niger

Nesting

 

36

Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica

Nesting

 

37

Little Tern - Sterna albifrons

Migrant

 

38

Common TernSterna hirundo

Nesting

 

39

Common CuckooCuculus canorus

Nesting

 

40

Black-headed WagtailMotacilla feldegg

Nesting

 

41

Yellow-headed WagtailMotacilla citreola

Nesting

 

42

Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti

Nesting

 

43

Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioides

Nesting is probable

 

44

Paddyfield WarblerAcrocephalus agricola

Nesting

 

45

Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Migrant

 

46

Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus

Nesting

 

47

Blue-throated WarblerLuscinia svecica

Nesting is probable

 

48

Bearded Tit - Panurus biarmicus

Nesting is probable

 

49

Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus

Nesting

 

50

Great Black-headed Gull - Larus ichthyaetus

Migrant

 

51

Terek Sandpiper - Xenus cinereus

Migrant

 

52

Marsh Sandpiper - Tringa stagnatilis

Migrant

 

53

Pallas' Sea Eagle* - Haliaeetus leucoryphus

Migrant

RBK, IUCN

54

Booted Eagle* - Hieraaetus pennatus

Nesting is probable

RBK

55

GadwallAnas strepera

Nesting

 

56

Garganey Teal - Anas querquedula

Nesting

 

57

Common Pochard - Aythya ferina

Nesting is probable

 

58

Osprey*Pandion haliaetus

Nesting, before

RBK

59

Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus

Nesting is probable

 
Arba Travel

Your Guide to Altyn-Emel National Park