Spring Birding in Azerbaijan

Tour Code: AZE01

An 11-day birding tour of Azerbaijan in search of the passage visitor, summer migrant and resident birds of this exciting destination.

11 days from
£4,695 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£3,795
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

Straddling the border between East and West, Azerbaijan remains a little-known location for international birdwatchers, making it a very exciting destination for the keen naturalist! The short distances between wide-ranging habitats including dry steppes, lakes, subtropical forests, and picturesque mountains – notably the ‘Candy Cane Mountains’, uniquely coloured by oxidised trapped iron – ensure its popularity in years to come.

Azerbaijan really comes alive in the spring. The countryside is in bloom, the temperature is pleasant, and returning breeders – adorned in their summer best – join the residents in their droves, with all species at their most conspicuous as they sing and display, driven by the insatiable urge to reproduce. What is more, huge numbers of northbound migrants move through on their way to higher latitudes, where they will soon fill the vast expanses of steppe, taiga and tundra across Siberia.

On an itinerary crafted by expert local ornithologists, we'll explore Azerbaijan for its stunning landscapes and the region's most exciting species including Caucasian Snowcock, Caucasian Black Grouse, Black Francolin, Shikra, White-tailed Lapwing, Terek Sandpiper, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Great Spotted Woodpecker (ssp. poelzami), Bimaculated Lark, Western and Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, Rosy Starling, Güldenstädt's Redstart, Raddes’ Accentor, Red-fronted Serin, Caucasian Twite, Great Rosefinch, Crimson-winged, Trumpeter, Desert and Mongolian Finch, Grey-necked Bunting and more!

  • Superb Western Palearctic birding; Caspian Tit, Finsch’s Wheatear, Shikra, Black Francolin, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Pallas’s Gull, Chukar and more
  • The alpine birdlife includes such species as Asian Crimson-winged Finch, Caucasian Snowcock, Güldenstädt's Redstart, Great Rosefinch, Mountain Chiffchaff, Caucasian Grouse, Steppe Eagle
  • Search for the birdlife of a range of habitats, breathtaking landscapes and varied climate zones within a short distance of one another
  • Participation in this tour supports scientific research, young ornithologist capacity building, and bird conservation.
  • Led by an expert local ornithologist

Grading

Slow-paced day walks but in this mountainous country some of the walking will inevitably be on paths of varying steepness at over 3000m. Some remote areas are only accessible by 4x4 (Ladas) and therefore this tour is not suitable for any person who has underlying health conditions that may be agitated by travelling using this method away from tarmacked roads.

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Outbound flight
Day 2
Arrive Baku, Shirvan National Park
Day 3
Qizlagach National Park
Day 4
Talysh Mountains
Day 5
Besh Barmag
Day 6
Gizilgaya Plateau
Day 7
Laza
Day 8
Absheron National Park
Day 9
Qobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape
Day 10
Candy Cane Mountains
Day 11
Inbound flight
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Sat 3rd May – Tue 13th May SPACES £4,695
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,795
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£495

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
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