Common pheasant: Red Data Book of Armenia

Pheasants - Phasianidae

Status. A vulnerable species of low numbers, poorly studied in Armenia. Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 3.1) as Least Concern. According to IUCN criteria categorized as Data Deficient DD.

Distribution. The range spreads from the Caucasus to the Far East.

Distribution in Armenia. Occurs only in the south–eastern and southern parts of the Syunik Province, on the borderline territory.

Habitats. Lives in lowland foothills, dense shrublands and reedbeds. Leads cryptic life, when at risk runs away or suddenly takes wing along the scrubs.

Biological traits. There is no reliable information about the existence of nesting sites in Armenia, despite the indirect evidence such as the occurrence of females with broods in mid– to late June.

Population size and its trends. Available information is insufficient to judge about the population size. The population density is 0.05 individuals/ha in the Kapan district and twice as high in the Meghri district’s Arax riverside. In 2008, one male was kept in captivity.

Major threats. Disturbance by wild plant and fruit gatherers, and poaching.

Conservation measures. Habitats located within the Arax riverside are partly protected due to the border patrolling regime. It is essential to study the species ecology and imminent threats faced by the population, reconsider the approaches of border patrolling, prohibit burning of dense shrublands, establish temporary safety zones and to raise awareness of border patrolling personnel.