Birds of Armenia

The book contains 61 original illustrations by 12 renowned bird artists. On the facing page of each is concise text describing each bird.

EURASIAN WRYNECK Jynx torquilla L: 16-17 cm; W: 25-27 cm Map 195
J. t. torquilla BREEDING BIRD. RARE. Slender relative of woodpeckers with long tail and intricately patterned gray, brown, and black-flecked plumage. Iris is red-brown in adults, gray-brown in juveniles. Behavior Feeds mostly on ground. Flight fast and gently undulating. Shows sinuous head and neck movements and jerky gait. Habitat Open forests, orchards, river valleys. Food Invertebrates (primarily ants). Nest Unlined tree cavity. Eggs 21 mm, 7-10, white.

COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis L: 16-17 cm, W: 24-26 cm Map 190
A. a. atthis YEAR-ROUND RESIDENT. UNCOMMON. Compact bird with long straight bill and very short tail. Adult Bright blue-green above with iridescent blue on back, rump, and uppertail coverts; orange below. Cheeks orange and white, chin white. Male has black bill; female has red on lower mandible. Juvenile Similar to adult but duller. Greenish-blue above, lacks iridescence. Behavior Plunges from perch or hovers and then dives. Gives piercing whistled call. Habitat Fish ponds, lakes, rivers bordered by willows, reedbeds. Food Aquatic invertebrates, small fish. Nest Burrow in sand or clay bank. Eggs 23 mm, 6-7, white.

EUROPEAN BEE-EATER Merops apiaster L: 27-29 cm, W: 44-49 Map 191
BREEDING BIRD. COMMON. Bright multicolored bird with decurved bill and short central tail projections. Adult Yellow throat and brown-red and yellow pattern on upperparts. In non-breeding plumage, blue feathers have green tips. Juvenile Green mantle, scapulars, and upperwing; lacks tail projections. Similar Species Differs from Blue-cheeked Bee-Eater by contrasting color pattern above, brown-red crown, and yellow throat. Behavior Gregarious. Agile flight with sudden dives, twists, and turns. Short purring call often heard, but birds can be very difficult to see when flying high. Habitat Semidesert, mountain steppe; widespread on migration. Food Insects, primarily bees and wasps. Nest Burrow in sand or clay bank. Eggs 26 mm, 6-7, white.

BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER Merops persicus L: 27-31 cm, W: 46-49 cm Map 192
M. p. persicus BREEDING BIRD. RARE. Predominantly green bird with long central tail projections. Adult Green overall with blue, black and white face, yellow chin, and reddish throat and underwing coverts; blue tint on rump. Juvenile Duller, with pale tips to feathers; lacks tail projections. Similar Species Differs from European Bee-Eater by green upperparts, and red throat and underwing coverts. Behavior Agile, buoyant flight; call like European Bee-Eater but more rolling and higher-pitched. Habitat. Semidesert with clay banks, near water. Food Airborne insects. Nest Burrow in sand or clay bank. Eggs 26 mm, 5-7, white.

EUROPEAN ROLLER Coracias garrulus L: 30-32 cm, W: 66-73 cm Map 193
C. g. garrulus BREEDING BIRD. COMMON. Adult Bright blue with red-brown back and black flight feathers. Upper forewings dark blue. Underwing coverts vivid greenish-blue. Juvenile Paler and duller with brownish back, cheeks, nape, and breast. Behavior Flight direct with deep wing beats, resembling crow. Often perches prominently on posts, wires, and trees. Habitat Semidesert, mountain steppe. Food Insects. Nest Grassy cup in cavity of tree or wall; burrow in sand or clay bank. Eggs 35 mm, 3-6, white.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING Bombycilla garrulus L: 18 cm; W: 32-35.5 cm Map 229
B. g. garrulus CASUAL. Pink-brown and gray with distinct crest, black chin and eyestripe, red-brown undertail coverts, small red tips on secondaries, and yellow tail tip. Adult Primaries tipped with bright yellow and white. Female has narrower yellow tail tip. Juvenile Duller; streaked below and pale streak on outer primary tips only. Behavior In winter, feeds in flocks. Habitat Scrub areas with berry bushes, city parks. Food Berries, invertebrates.

EURASIAN HOOPOE Upupa epops L: 26-28 cm, W: 42-46 cm Map 194
U. e. epops BREEDING BIRD. COMMON. Long decurved bill and large crest. Adult Boldly-banded black and white flight feathers and tail. Pink-orange head and mantle, slightly paler on throat and breast. Crest tipped with black. Juvenile Duller; off-white bands on wings and tail, and lacks pink below. Behavior Often walks on ground with crest fanned. Flight is slow and bounding with deep wing beats. Habitat Widespread from semidesert to mountain steppe. Food Invertebrates (especially beetle larvae), small vertebrates. Nest Cup of stems, feathers, and wool in cavity of tree, wall, or stone pile; burrow in sand or clay bank. Eggs 26 mm, 5-9, olive-green.

[A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia] [BOA-HOME]

© 1997, 2008 BOA Project