Red kite: Red Data Book of Armenia

Hawks and eagles — Accipitridae

Status. An endangered species. Listed in the Red Data Book of the former USSR. Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threated Species (ver. 3.1) as Near Threatened NT. According to IUCN criteria categorized as Endangered EN B1a; D.

Distribution. Western Europe, Turkey, Iran, North Africa, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Caucasus (except Georgia).

Distribution in Armenia. No reliable records of red kite nesting in Armenia are known. Possibly, it nestles in Northeastern Armenia, in remnant forests of the Karabakh Highland. One individual was captured during migration on 11 May, 1949 in Yerevan.

Habitats. Mostly, broadleaf deciduous or mixed forests alternated with vast open spaces, usually at 900–1500 m above sea level.

Biological traits. There is no strict rule on using the same aerie for several years, but sometimes this can happen. Aeries are usually placed upon the trees. The breeding season is late April to late July.

Population size and its trends. The total population size in Armenia is unknown.

Major threats. Has always been rare.

Conservation measures. Listed in Appendix II of the CITES. It is essential to identify and stringently protect the nesting sites in Armenia.