THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA

To date, more than 434 species of birds have been recorded in Mongolia.

Of them, more than 250 species are migratory, traveling to and from Mongolia for its excellent breeding and feeding grounds from as far afield as India, Africa, Japan, Australia, and the Mediterranean. Among both migratory and non- migratory birds found in the country, dozens are classified as rare or exotic. In short, Mongolia is a birders paradise.

Species endemic to Mongolia and the wider Central Asian region include the Altai Snowcock, and a number of world and regionally endangered species such as White naped Crane, Siberian Crane, Hooded Crane, Pied Harrier, Great Bustard, Eurasian Black or Cinereous Vulture, Dalmation Pelican, Black Stork, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian Spoonbill, Relict Gull, Swan Goose, and Bearded Vulture or Lammergeyer.

To protect its rich avian diversity, Mongolia has prioritized the protection of bird habitats, particularly wetland and riparian zones. Gun Galuut Nature Reserve outside Ulaanbaatar is home to nine species listed in IUCN’s “World Red List” of rare and endangered birds and one of the easiest places to see the rare White naped Crane of which there are only 5000 left in the world.

The largest raptor in Mongolia, the Black Vulture, whose wing-span can reach up to 3 meters, is also found here, as are two out of four of Mongolia’s endangered eagle species, the Steppe Eagle and the Golden Eagle. But visitors need not travel to specially –designated areas to spot birds of all sizes and colors. Any trip to the open steppe will reveal Mongolia’s wealth of winged wildlife, which is easily observed in the vast, open landscapes.