First Western Palearctic Himalayan Vulture photographed in Armenia

A Himalayan Vulture was photographed in Armenia in April, representing the first time that the species has been recorded in the Western Palearctic.

Found by Ani Sarkisyan and Artem Muradkhanyan at Mount Yerablur, in Syunik province in the far south-east of the Caucasian nation, the bird, presumably an adult, will become the latest addition to the regional list should it be accepted as wild.

Writing on Facebook, Armenian birder Vasil Ananian said: "A fantastic record from Armenia … many thanks to Andrea Corso for sharing his opinion on the bird's identity, and to Dick Forsman for further comments and conclusive identification! Given the quality of photos, that was a tricky case, and expert knowledge and experience were required.

"The species is frequently kept in zoos/private collections and a captive escape cannot be completely eliminated. However, this is true also for many other recorded today around the world."

Photos of the Himalayan Vulture in Armenia (Ani Sarkisyan and Artem Muradkhanyan via Facebook).

Regional first

Unlike other species of Asian vulture, Himalayan Vulture has not suffered a dramatic decline caused by diclofenac. The species is native to the Himalaya and adjoining Tibetan Plateau, typically found 1,200 m above sea level, and is sedentary, bar limited altitudinal movements. 

That said, vagrant individuals have been recorded as far west as Iran (at least six records), western Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (October 2012). Therefore, it seems unlikely that the Armenian bird will be an escape.

Vagrant vultures

Dispersal of individuals beyond their normal range may be caused by lack of food, navigational errors or exploration of new territories. The adult seen in Armenia in April 2024 may have followed Griffon Vultures during movements of this species between the mountains of Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Given the low levels of birding coverage in the Caucasus, it seems possible that Himalayan Vultures may go undetected in the region – and will perhaps occur again in future years.