Recent ornithological observations in Iran

October 1997 and March 2000

We report ornithological observations we made during two travels in Iran in October 1997 and March 2000. Most observations concern the Touran Protected Area and the Barham-e-Goor Reserve, in the north-eastern part and in the central part of the country respectively. We observed 33 species and added five new species for the Touran Protected Area to the previous list of Harrington and his colleagues (Harrington 1977): Streptopelia senegalensis, Streptopelia decaocto, Phoenicurus ochrorus phoenicorides, Sitta neumayer and Lanius excubitor pallidirostris. Teals (Anas crecca) were said abundant during spring migration in 1999 on a river in the eastern border of the Touran protected area. Other observations were made in Tehran and during journeys between protected areas. During our visits, we checked a total of 61 species, four of them being of a national and international concern: Aegypius monachus, Circus macrourus, Aquila clanga, Chlamydotis undulata (BirdLife International 2000).

AREAS VISITED

We had the opportunity to visit Iran from 18 October to 11 November 1997 and from 29 February to 12 March 2000 to conduct surveys on the Onager, Equus hemionus onager. Since Iranian ornithological literature is scarce, we thought to report briefly here some ornithological observations made during our successive journeys, even this was not the aim of our studies. Most observations were made in the Touran Protected Area (Semnan Province) and the Bahram-e-Goor Reserve (Fars Province). However, in 1997, some observations were made on the road between Shiraz and Bahram-e-Goor Reserve (Yazd Province) and between Shiraz and Esfahan. In 2000, we could observe some birds between Tehran and Esfahan in the Zagros mountains. Both years, we did observations on the road on the Alborz mountains southern slopes between Tehran and the Touran Protected Area.

The Touran Protected Area
Located in the province of Semnan and adjacent to the Khorasan province, the Touran area (36°30′-34°45′ N, 55°00′-57°00′ E) was classified as a Protected Area in 1975. One of the underlying objectives of the creation of this Protected Area was the protection of the Onager population and its habitat (Harrington 1977).

Three high mountains arise in the region, the Shotor Kuh (2,281m), the Kuh-e-Molhadu (2,411m) and the Kuh-e-Peighambar (2,265m), and several isolated hills are dispersed in the whole area. The plain is located at an altitude of about 1,000m. The annual rainfall ranges from 100 mm in the low altitudes, to 250 mm in the higher mountains (Freitag 1994). Temperatures vary from about 0-5°C in January to 35°C in July and August. The Kal-e-Shur river runs from north to south through the area but during rainy years, other rivers may present as indicate the presence of dry river beds. The permanent Rajjaj River runs in the eastern border of the Protected Area in the sandy area near the Ahmadabad village.

The Touran area is characterised by a semi-desert vegetation with an average of plant cover comprised between 5 and 40% in spring (Freitag 1994). Three types of vegetation can be distinguished in the plain: semi-desert shrublands of Zygophyllum sp. on sandy to gravely alluvium and Haloxylon sp. on salty and slightly saline basin deposits, and dwarf-shrubland communities of Salsola sp. or Amygdalus sp. (Freitag 1994 and Zehzad pers. obs.). The vegetation of the limestone hills and mountains consists in Artemisia-Atraphaxis community in the lower altitudes and Astragalus sp. or Onobrychis sp. communities above 1,800m or on north-facing exposed slopes above 1,400m (Freitag 1994). Compositae and Chenopodiaceae are the two most important families of the Touran Protected Area with respectively 56 and 46 genus (Rechinger 1977). The Touran Protected Area is bordered in its southern part by the Dasht-e-Kavir Desert with shrubby salt marsh communities (Haloxylon sp., Salsola sp.) and in its eastern part by the mobile sand dunes area of Ahmadabad with Stipagrostris sp.-Calliligonum communities. During our field trip, one day was spent in the hills of Mehrânu, two days in the Sangâb hills and one day consisted in a trip Delbar-Ahmadabad-Kavir plain-Mohajerat-Delbar.

The Bahram-e-Goor Reserve
Protected Area since 1972, Bahram-e-Goor is located in the south-eastern part of Iran (29°43′-29°00′ N – 54°20′-55°20′ E) about 300 km south-east from Shiraz (Fars Province). This area comprises a total of 385,000 ha, of which 60,000 ha are included in a zone under complete protection from hunting, agricultural use and grazing. In the remaining 325,000 ha, hunting is forbidden but pastoralism is tolerated. The shrub vegetation of the desert steppe plain (alt. 1400 m) is dominated by Artemisia alba, Astragalus sp. and Zygophylum sp. (IUCN 1977). Pistachio, Pistacea sp., is present in the mountainous parts (alt. 2,800 m). We stood five days in the area in October 1997.

SPECIES OBSERVED IN PROTECTED AREAS

Generally, observations were made by telescopes (15×60) and binoculars (10X40). For doubtful observations, species determination was based on Hüe and Etchécopar (1970), Harrington (1977), Jonsson (1995) and Porter et al. (1996).

We observed 33 species in the Touran Protected Area (Table 1) in 1997 and 2000 and 14 in the Bahram-e-Goor Reserve in 1997 (Table 2). We found noticeable to add to our observations, the occurrence of “hundreds” of Teals, Anas crecca, observed by wardens in the Rajjaj River bed in the sandy area of Ahmadabad in Touran during the spring migration in 1999. “Pied” Wheatears relatively common in the Bahram-e-Goor Reserve were identified as Hume’s Wheatears Oenanthe alboniger. However, for some individuals we can not exclude a risk of confusion with the Eastern Pied Wheatear Oenanthe picata picata which may winter in the region (Richardson 1999). The evaluation of the proportion of picata relative to alboniger present in the area in winter requires further expeditions.

Compared to the previous list of Harrington and his colleagues (Harrington 1977), we found 80% less species in the protected area of Touran (Table 3). However, Harrington and his colleagues made ornithological surveys during 3 years (1974-1976) and covered all seasons. The Touran Protected Area is strictly protected and not free of access; authorized visitors are accompanied by wardens. Due to bad weather conditions and the busy schedule of the wardens, we stationed in the area only one day (12/11) in 1997 and we could stay 4 days (from 2/03 to 5/03) in 2000. Prolonged periods would have enhanced the number of observations. Moreover, since spring migration begins in late March, the period of observations was not an optimal one. Finally, the purpose of our expeditions was a survey of onagers and all our attention was concentrated on this endangered species. Nevertheless, we added 5 species to the previous list of Harrington (1977), these were: Streptopelia senegalensis, Streptopelia decaocto, Phoenicurus ochrorus phoenicorides, Sitta neumayer and Lanius excubitor pallidirostris. We could also observe the world near-threatened species (sensu BirdLife International 2000): Chlamydotis undulata. The Touran Protected Area might also be a zone of overlap between the Western Rock-Nuthatch, that we observed in the hills of Sangâb and the Eastern Rock Nuthatch, that we observed in the Ogholetchemali mountains in the southern part of the area. This assumption needs to be confirmed in the future.

SPECIES OBSERVED OUSTIDE PROTECTED AREAS

Thirty-three species were checked outside the protected areas and are listed below:

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
One individual in the Zayandeh river bed in Esfahan on the 9/03/00.

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Five individuals in the fields of the Aradan village on the 6/03/00.

Great Egret (Egretta alba)
One individual in small wetlands on the road from Shiraz to Persepolis, on the 30/10/97.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Two individuals in fields on the road from Shiraz to Persepolis, on the 30/10/97.

Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
Four individuals soaring on the Alborz mountains slopes between Tehran and Semnan on the 1/03/00 (40 km from Tehran) and one individual near the village of Deh-Mola the same day between Semnan and Shahrud. On the 9/03/00, one was observed over a desert steppe, 100 km south from Tehran, and one near the town of Vazvan, on the road to Esfahan.

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
An individual male Circus very pale that we identified as macrourus was observed on the 1/03/00, on a stone pile at the edge of cultivated fields, 80 km far east from Tehran on lowlands of Alborz mountains.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
One individual near the village of Deh-Mola on the 1/03/00 between Semnan and Shahrud. Two individuals on the 2/03/00, 60 km away from Shahrud on the road to Biarjomand.
On the 6/03/00, one individual in the village of Shahrud and one near Deh-Namack.

Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
Two individuals on the 2/03/00, near the village of Biarjomand, both on trees in a cultivated area. One in the vicinity of Semnan and one near the Garmsar village on the 6/03/00.

Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
One individual on the Persepolis site on the 31/10/97.

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
One on the 1/03/00 perched on a tree near a village about 200 km far east from Tehran and one on a steppe area on the 2/3/00 between Shahrud and Touran.

Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga)
On the 31/10/97, we observed an adult on the archaeological site of Persepolis.

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
One individual in the suburbs of Shahrud on the 2/03/00 and two individuals the same day near the village of Biarjomand on trees in a cultivated area. One individual near the salt lake of Daryacheh-e-Namak on the 9/03/00.

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
About 100 individuals in the Zayandeh river bed in Esfahan town on the 9/03/00.

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Two individuals in Tehran on the 7/03/00.

Red Turtle Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)
Two individuals in a public garden of Tehran on the 8/03/00.

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
Two in Tehran on the 7/03/00.

Rock Dove (Columba livia)
Five individuals in a rocky area 30 km away from Shahrud on the road to Meyamey.

Common Swift (Apus apus)
One individual seen in Esfahan on the 9/03/00.

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Widespread along the roads.

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
One individual in Persepolis, on the 30/10/97.

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba personata)
Common in gardens, abandoned lands and river banks of town and villages. Observed in a garden near the Carpet Museum in Tehran (29/2/00), one in the village of Khane-Khodi on the 2/3/00, one near the village of Garmsar on the 6/03/00, about 10 in the river bed of Esfahan on the 9/03/00.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
One first winter within a group of White Wagtails in the Zayandeh river bed of Esfahan on the 9/03/00.

White-cheeked Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
Three individuals on a pine tree in a private garden in Tehran on the 7/03/00.

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
One individual on the northern border of the Touran Protected area on the 2/03/00.

Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe alboniger)
One individual identified on the Persepolis site on the 31/10/97.

Willow Warbler (Phyloscopus trochilus)
Two individuals in the Zayandeh river shore in Esfahan on the 9/03/00.

Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
One individual near the village of Deh-Mola on the 1/03/00 between Semnan and Shahrud.

Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
Two individuals on a pass about 50 km eastern from Tehran, in the Alborz mountains slopes, on a mountain pass before the village of Garmsar on the 1/03/00 and about 10 individuals in the same place on the 6/03/00.

Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
One individual on the 1/03/00, 40 km eastern from Tehran, on the road side to Semnan. A group of 10-15 in a field in the eastern suburbs of Tehran on the 6/03/00. One important colony on poplar trees (about 50 nests) in the southern suburb of Tehran near the airport on the 9/03/00.

Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix)
Common in towns and villages visited. Daily observed in garden and buildings of Tehran, one individual in the village of Shahrud on the 6/03/00.

Raven (Corvus corax)
Relatively common on the Alborz mountains slopes region. One individual on the 1/03/00, 40 km eastern from Tehran, on the road side to Semnan. Two individuals on the 2/03/00, 60 km away from Shahrud on the road to Biarjomand. One individual near the village of Aradan on the 6/03/00. One near the village of Vazvan on the 9/03/00.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
About 20-30 individuals on a sheepfold building near the salt lake of Daryacheh-e-Namak on the 9/03/00.

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis paropanisi)
A group of about 10 individuals in the village of Khane-Khodi on the 2/03/00.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Very common in every towns and villages we visited in 1997 and 2000.

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Relatively widespread, but less than House, in Tehran and Semnan and villages (Shahrud, Biarjomand) where nests on trees are common.

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
Six individuals within a goldfinchs flock in the village of Khane-Khodi on the 2/03/00.

To the species listed above, we might add the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus), which is said by Esfahan citizens to be regular in winter-spring on the Zayandeh river in the vicinity of Esfahan. However, we could not have more details on the numbers involved.
The number of species observed outside protected area seems ridiculous compare to the potential of the country (see Hüe and Etchécopar 1970, Porter et al. 1996, D.A Scott pers. com.). Due to means of transport (line bus or official car) and a time schedule to respect, some observations outside the protected areas were made when driving with few possibilities to stop for further identifications. We reported here only species without problems of identification.

Table 1. Birds species observed in the Touran Protected Area during 1997 and 2000 surveys
M: male, F: female Ad.: adult, Juv.: juvenile; (number)+: number observed but seems more common in the area according to wardens; * in April 1999 according to wardens.

Common Name	Species	Habitat observed	November 1997	March 2000
Teal	Anas crecca	Rajjaj River		>100*
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	Mountain slopes		2 (probably a pair)
Steppe Eagle	Aquila nipalensis	Semi-desert and mountains		1 Ad. + 1 Juv.
Common Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	River bed in desert steppe		1F
Chukar	Alectoris chukar	Semi-desert / mountains slopes		6+
See-see Partridge	Ammoperdrix griseogularis	Barren hill-sides		2+
Houbara Bustard	Chlamydotis undulata	Semi-deserts / desert steppes		7 (incl. 3 pairs)
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	Mountains spring		1
Black-bellied Sandgrouse	Pterocles orientalis	Semi-deserts / desert steppes		13+
Laughing Dove	Streptopelia senegalensis	Ahmadabad village	Common
Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	Ahmadabad village		2+
Little Owl	Athene noctua	River bed in desert steppe		1+
Eagle Owl	Bubo bubo ascaphalus	River bed in desert steppe		pellets
Crested Lark	Galerida cristata	Widespread (sand dunes, semi-deserts, mountains slopes, springs)		Common
Greater Hoopoe Lark	Alaemon alaudipes	Mountains spring	3	1+
Desert Lark	Ammomanes deserti	Desert steppe / springs		2+
Bar-tailed Desert Lark	Ammomanes cincturus	Sand dunes / mountains spring		5+
Eurasian Hoopoe	Upupa epops	Mountains spring		1
Rock Trush	Monticola saxatilis	Mountains		1F
Common Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus samamiscus	Mountains spring		1M
Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochrorus phoenicorides	Mountains spring		2M
Common Stonechat	Saxicola torquata	Mountains spring		3 (incl. 1M)
Desert Wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	Desert steppes / semi-deserts		3+
Isabelline Wheatear	Oenanthe isabellinus	Mountains springs		2+
Scrub Warbler	Scotocerca inquieta	Widespread (mountains, deserts, steppes, springs)		4+
Warbler	Phylloscopus sp.	Mountain wooded spring		1
Western Rock-Nuthatch	Sitta neumayer	Mountains		1
Eastern Rock-Nuthatch	Sitta tephronota	Mountain sping		2 (one pair)
Great Grey Shrike	Lanius excubitor pallidirostris	Semi-desert / desert steppe		1
Pleske Ground-Jay	Podoces pleskei	Semi-desert / desert steppe	1 Ad	1 Ad
Starling	Strunus vulgaris	Ahmadabad village		10+
Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis paropanisi	Mountains slopes, wooded spring near habitations (Delbar)		15+
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Ahmadabad village		Common
Reed Bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus	Mountain spring with reedbeds		1F

Table 2. Birds observed in Bahram-e-Goor (October 1997)

Common Name	Species	Habitat observed	Number
Long-legged Buzzard	Buteo rufinus	Steppes	Common
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	Semi-deserts and mountains	1 Ad.
Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Semi-deserts and mountains	2
Chukar	Alectoris chukar	Semi-deserts	Common
See-see Partridge	Ammoperdrix griseogularis	Barren hill-sides	Common
Little Owl	Athene noctua	Semi deserts	2
Eagle Owl	Bubo bubo ascaphalus	Steppes and mountains	pellets
Isabelline Wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	Steppes	< 5
Black-eared Wheatear	Oenanthe hispanica	Semi deserts	< 5
Finsch’s Wheatear	Oenanthe finschii	Semi-deserts	< 5
Hume’s Wheatear	Oenanthe alboniger	Semi deserts / mountain slopes	Common
Scrub Warbler	Scotocerca inquieta	Semi-deserts	Common
Great Grey Shrike	Lanius excubitor	Open areas with trees	1
Red-fronted Serin	Serinus pusillus	Mountains	groups from 20 to 30

Table 3. Bird species observed in the Touran Protected Area from 1974
S: summer resident, W: winter resident, P: occurs in passage
O: observed in October 1997, M: observed in March 2000, A: April 1999

Common Name	Species	Scott, Cornwallis and Harrington (1974-1976)	This study 1997-2000
Little Bittern	Ixobrychus minutus	P
Great White Egret	Egretta alba	P
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea	P
Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	P
Ruddy Shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	P
Shelduck	Tadorna tadorna	P
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	P
Teal	Anas crecca	P	A
Shoveler	Anas clypeata	P
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	P
Egyptian Vulture	Nephron percnopterus	S,P
Black Vulture	Aegypius monachus	S,W
Griffon Vulture	Gyps fulvus	S,W
Pallid Harrier	Circus macrourus	P
Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	P
Sparrohawk	Accipiter nisus	W
Shikra	Accipiter badius	P
Long-legged Buzzard	Buteo rufinus	W,P
Buzzard	Buteo buteo	P
Booted Eagle	Hierratus pennatus	P
Steppe Eagle	Aquila nipalensis	P	M
Tawny Eagle	Aquila rapax	P
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	S,W	M
Lesser Krestrel	Falco naumannii	P
Common Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	S,W	M
Saker Falcon	Falco cherrug	S,W
Hobby	Falco subbuteo	P
Chukar	Alectoris chukar	S,W	M
See-see Partridge	Ammoperdrix griseogularis	S,W	M
Houbara Bustard	Chlamydotis undulata	S,W,P	M
Spotted Crake	Porzana porzana	P
Common Crane	Grus grus	P
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	P
Stone Curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus	S
Cream-coloured Courser	Cursonius cursor	S,P
Collared Pratincole	Glareola pratincola	P
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius	P
Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	S,P
White-tailed Plover	Chettusia leucura	P
Little Stint	Calidris minuta	P
Ruff	Philomachus pugnax	P
Green Sandpiper	Tringa nebularia	P
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola	P
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	P	M
Snipe	Galinago galinago	P
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	P
Slender-billed Gull	Larus genei	P
Little Tern	Sterna albifrons	P
Crowned Sandgrouse	Pterocles coronatus	S,W
Black-bellied Sandgrouse	Pterocles orientalis	S,W	M
Rock Dove	Columbia livia	S,W
Turtle Dove	Streptopelia turtur	P
Laughing Dove	Streptopelia senegalensis		O
Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto		M
Common Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	P
Little Owl	Athene noctua	S,W	M
Eagle Owl	Bubo bubo ascaphalus	S,W	M
Common Swift	Apus apus	P
Alpine Swift	Apus melba	P
Blue-checked Bee-eater	Merops persicus	P
European Bee-eater	Merops apiaster	P
European Roller	Coracias garrulus	P
Eurasian Hoopoe	Upupa epops	P	M
Wryneck	Jynx torquilla	P
Crested Lark	Galerida cristata	S,W	M
Greater Hoopoe Lark	Alaemon alaudipes	S,W	O,M
Desert Lark	Ammomanes deserti	S,W	M
Bar-tailed Desert Lark	Ammomanes cincturus	S	M
Short-toed Lark	Calandrella brachydactyla	S,P
Lesser Short-toed Lark	Calandrella rufescens	S,W
Bimaculated Lark	Melanocorypha bimaculata	S,W
Shore Lark	Eremophila alpestris	W
Skylark	Alauda arvensis	W
Small Skylark	Alauda gulgula	P
Sand Martin	Riparia riparia	P
Crag Martin	Ptyonoprogne rupestris	P
Pale Crag Martin	Ptyonoprogne fuligula	S,P
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	P
House Martin	Delichon urbica	P
Richard’s Pipit	Anthus richardii	P
Tawny Pipit	Anthus campestris	P
Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis	P
Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis	W,P
Red-throated Pipit	Anthus cervinus	P
Water Pipit	Anthus spinoletta	W,P
Citrine Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	P
Grey wagtail	Motacilla alba alba	W,P
Pied Wagtail	Motacilla alba yarrelli	S,W,P
Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	W
Radde’s Accentor	Prunella occularis	W
Rufous Bush Robin	Cercotrichas galactores	S
Nightingale	Luscinia meagrhynchos	P
Trush Nightingale	Luscinia luscinia	P
Bluethroat	Luscinia servica	P
White-throated Robin	Irania guttularis	S
Common Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus (samamiscus)	P	M
Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochrorus phoenicorides		M
Common Stonechat	Saxicola torquata		M
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra	P
Desert Wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	S,P	M
Isabelline Wheatear	Oenanthe isabellinus	S,P	M
Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	P
Eastern Pied Wheatear	Oenanthe picata	S
Red-tailed Wheatear	Oenanthe xanthoprymna	S
Hume’s Wheater	Oenanthe alboniger	S,W
Finsch’s Wheater	Oenanthe finschii	W,P
Rock Trush	Monticola saxatilis	P	M
Song Trush	Turdus philomelos	P
Redwing	Turdus iliacus	P
Scrub Warbler	Scotocerca inquieta inquieta	P	M
Grasshopper Warbler	Locustella naevia	P
Blyth’s Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus dumetorum	P
European Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus	P
Upcher’s Warbler	Hippolais languida	S,P
Booted Warbler	Hypollais caligata	P
Orphean Warbler	Sylvia hortensis	S,P
Garden warbler	Sylvia borin	P
Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla	P
Whitethroat	Sylvia communis	P
Lesser Whitethroat	Sylvia curruca	S
Desert Warbler	Sylvia nana	S
Ménétries Warbler	Sylvia mystacea	P
Willow Warbler	Phylloscopus trochillus	P
Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	P
Yellow-browed Warbler	Phylloscopus inornatus	P
Green Warbler	Phylloscopus nitidus	S,W
Red-breasted Flycatcher	Ficedula parva	P
WESTERN ROCK-NUTHATCH	Sitta neumayer		M
Eastern Rock-Nuthatch	Sitta tephronota	S,W	M
Golden Oriole	Oriolus oriolus	P
Great Grey Shrike	Lanius excubitor		M
Red-backed Shrike	Lanius collurio	P
Isabeline Shrike	Lanius isabellinus	P
Masked Shrike	Lanius nubicus	P
Lesser Grey Shrike	Lanius minor	P
Great Grey Shrike	Lanius exubitor	S,W,P
Pleske Ground-Jay	Podoces pleskei	S,W	O,M
Chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax	S,W
Hooded Crow	Corvus corone cornix	S,W
Brown-necked Raven	Corvus ruficolis	S,W
Raven	Corvus corax	S,W
Starling	Strunus vulgaris	W,P	M
Rose-coloured Starling	Sturnus roseus	P
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	S,W	M
Spanish Sparrow	Passer hispaniolensis	P
Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus	S,W
Pale Rock Sparrow	Petronia brachydactyla	S
Rock Sparrow	Petronia petronia	S,W
Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs	W,P
Brambling	Fringilla montifringilla	W,P
Red-fronted Serin	Serinus pusillus	W,P
Siskin	Carduelis spinus	W,P
Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis (paropanisi)	W,P	M
Twite	Carduellis flavirostris	W
Linnet	Carduelis cannabina	W,P
Trumpeter Finch	Bucanetes githagineus	S,W
Mongolian Trumpeter Finch	Bucanetes mongolicus	S,W
Desert Finch	Rhodospiza obsoleta	S,W
Common Rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus	P
Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes	W,P
Corn Bunting	Milaria calandra	S,W
Yellowhammer	Emberiza citrinella	W
Rock Bunting	Emberiza cia	S,W
Grey-necked Bunting	Emberiza buchanani	S
Ortolan Bunting	Emberiza hortulana	P
Black-headed Bunting	Emberiza melanocephala	P
Red-headed Bunting	Emberiza bruniceps	P
Reed Bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus	W,P	M
Total		163	33

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to Mr. Najmedin and Mr. Nasir-Sadeghi from the DOE Office in Tehran, and Mr. Mehrjoo, DOE’s director of the Semnan province, who provided us all the facilities to study in the Touran and Bahram-e-Goor Protected Areas. The observations were done with the help of the DOE’s wardens of Semnan : they are working hard to control the reserve and deserve to be encouraged. We thank Prof. B.H.Z Kiabi, University of Shahid Beheshti, Mr. Razi, Natural History Museum of Tehran, Dr. C. Feh, IUCN-Equids Specialist Group, E. Carp and Dr. D. A. Scott, for their constructive comments and interesting discussions. The expedition was possible with the technical and financial support of the Fondation Sansouïre-Station Biologique de la Tour du Valat. We are very grateful to its director, J.P. Taris.

REFERENCES
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Christophe Tourenq, Bijan Darreh-Shoori, Laurent Tatin, David Tatin, Bahram Zehzad, and Bijan Azmayesh