See-see partridge: Red Data Book of Armenia

Pheasants - Phasianidae

Status. Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 3.1) as Least Concern. According to IUCN criteria categorized as Vulnerable VU D1.

Distribution. The range extends from Mesopotamia to Iran, Indus and Punjab, in the north reaching Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.

Distribution in Armenia. Recorded in the extreme south of the country, in the Meghri district nearby the Iranian state border.

Habitats. Low–elevation foothills of the southern slopes of the Meghri Ridge covered with sparse arid vegetation.

Biological traits. Non–migratory. Nestles on the ground. Lays eggs once a year, from mid–April to July. The clutch consists of 8–12 eggs. The brooding period is more than 21 days.

Population size and its trends. An irregularly nesting species of extremely low numbers.

Major threats. Small population size. Habitat loss induced by human activities. Poaching.

Conservation measures. Some part of the range falls within Arevik National Park. The species demands for urgent conservation. It is essential to set stringent control over poaching.