Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
The wildest part of Nakhichevan: high mountains of the Zangezur ridge (including the highest peak, Mount Kapydjik, at 3,904 m) with rocky slopes, cliffs, ravines, alpine meadows. There are also low, semi-arid mountains and some areas of semi-desert. Land-uses include grazing (intensive), some agriculture and mining.
The alpine and subalpine zones support at least two of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Eurasian high-montane biome. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Aegypius monachus,
Aquila heliaca (probably breeds),
Falco naumanni. Raptors also breeding at this site include
Gypaetus barbatus,
Neophron percnopterus and
Gyps fulvus. Among breeding passerines are
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax,
Irania gutturalis and
Bucanetes githagineus (
B. mongolicus was also locally numerous in 1969-1970).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Threats include some poaching, overgrazing and potential damage from the war with Armenia (`Other' threat). The Game Reserve, where only hunting is prohibited, was established primarily for the conservation of
Tetraogallus caspius and certain mammals.
Virtually unexplored by ornithologists.
National High
International None40,000 ha of IBA covered by Game Reserve.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ordubad area (Azerbaijan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ordubad-area-iba-azerbaijan on 23/11/2024.
