Kazakhstan is the eighth largest country in the world, situated on the edge of the Western Palearctic. It stretches almost 3,000 km from the Volga Delta in the west to the western border of Mongolia in the east. Of the landscape, plains cover 60%, hummocks 30% and mountains and foothills up to 10%. Central and northern Kazakhstan holds the majority of the 34,500 lakes.
Kazakhstan has a great diversity of landscapes: different types of steppes and northern desert, foliaceous and coniferous forests, large lakes, and river valleys, huge mountains with magnificent gorges and white-capped peaks. The northernmost region is represented by the forest-steppe ecosystems of the Western-Siberian lowland. Further south, these ecosystems change to steppe followed by extensive desert covering over 44% of the total area of the country. The mountain belts include different types of forests, alpine meadows, tundra, permanent snow belts and glaciers.
There are over 500 bird species recorded (and 449 extra more subspecies), including 386 breeding species. The target species for most birdwatchers in Kazakhstan are Sociable Lapwing, Relict Gull, Yellow-eyed Stock Dove, White-throated Bushchat, Dalmatian Pelican, Pallid Harrier, Black-winged Pratincole, Panders Ground Jay, Saxaul Sparrow, Black Lark, White-winged Lark, Ibisbill and Demoiselle Crane. (Text by Justin Jansen)
Sociable Lapwing © Quentin Dupriez
Showing the 28 Most Recent Trip Reports Posted
Kazakhstan - May 2007, author Birdseekers (added September 9, 2007) Central Asia - May 2010, author M Valkenburg (added September 19, 2010) Kazakhstan, July 2000, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 12, 2004) Kazakhstan, May 25th - June 6th 2003, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 12, 2004) Kazakhstan, May 29th - June 24th 2003, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 12, 2004) Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, 24th May - 10th June 2003, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 12, 2004) Kazakhstan, September 2003, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 12, 2004) Kazakhstan, 22nd May - 7th June 2004, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 12, 2004) Southern Kazakhstan - September 2011 , author Greg Roberts (added October 3, 2011) Kazakhstan May 2015, author John van der Woude (link created October 10, 2016) Kazakhstan - September - October 2008, author Arend Wassink (link created November 5, 2008) Kazakhstan - May - June 2009, author Machiel Valkenburg (added July 28, 2009) Kazakhstan - May 11 - July 11 2008, author Sander Bot (added July 23, 2008) Voyage ornitho: L’alouette nègre à Korgalzhyn, Kazakhstan, author Manuel Heitz (link created January 9, 2016) South-eastern Kakakhstan - 19th - 28th May 2016, author Mike Powell (link created January 12, 2017) Kazakhastan - 5th - 13th May 2012, author Graham Talbot (link created December 4, 2012) Oriental Plover, Franklin’s Gull, Syrian Woodpecker and Masked Shrike new to Kazakhstan, author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Occurrence of Western Black Redstart in Kazakhstan, author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Kazakhstan - August - September 2009, author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Status of East Siberian Wagtail [Motacilla (alba) ocularis] in Kazakhstan, author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Kazakhstan - May 2009, author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Kazakhstan - August - September 2010, author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Kazakhstan - May 2010, author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Kazakhstan - March - April 2011, author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Kazakhstan - April - May 2012, author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Birds of Kazakhstan: new and interesting data , author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Birds of Kazakhstan: new and interesting data, part 2 , author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012) Birds of Kazakhstan: new and interesting data, part 3, author Arend Wassink (link created August 3, 2012)
(Almaty, Tien Shan Mountains.)
(Sogety, Taukum, Big Almaty Lake, Korhalzhyn NP, Black Lark, White-winged Lark, Sociable Lapwing, Pallas's Sandgrouse, White's Thrush, White-tailed Rubythroat, Ibisbill, Pallid Harrier, Greater Spotted Eagle, Saker Falcon, Terek Sandpiper, Black-headed Pen)
(Almanty, Kanshengel, Turenga, Tien Shen)
(Dzhabagly in the foothills of the Talasskiy Alatau mountains)
(Almaty, Sogety Valley, Taukum Desert, Big Almaty Lake, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Persian Nuthatch, Black-headed Penduline Tit, Güldenstädt's Redstart)
(Rufous-naped Tit, Yellow-breasted Tit, Black-headed Penduline Tit)
(alouette nègre, Birdwatching, Kazakhstan, Korgalzhyn, Voyage ornitho)
(In my quest to see all the birds in the Collins Guide somewhere in the world a visit to Central Asia was required with the most accessible country being Kazakhstan.)
(in relation to its recent eastwards expansion in Russia (originally published in Sangrouse, 2011))
(Originally published in Sandgrouse, 2010)
((Originally published by Dutch Birding, 2008))