Country/territory: Azerbaijan
IBA Criteria met: B2 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 4,500 ha
Site description
Ancient broadleaved forests, mainly situated on the Ulyasy ridge, part of the Talysh mountains, but one small area (81 ha only) is in the lowlands. There is also a reservoir (400 ha).
Key biodiversity
Breeding birds include Ciconia nigra (probably still 1 pair), Hieraaetus pennatus (1+ pair), Otus scops and four woodpeckers, Dendrocopos syriacus and D. medius being common. Milvus milvus: status uncertain, mainly a very rare winter visitor. The site holds a good representation of restricted-range subspecies (chiefly passerines).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Girkan forest. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 03/02/2023.