It is a large, grayish off-white hunting bird. While flying, its white wing feathers, dark brown tail and red tip of the tail are evident. The female is smaller and dull colored. Its top and throat are lighter brown. It is a very timid bird that is difficult to approach and usually runs away. Its sound is mostly heard at sunrise. Its song resembles a strong whistle, and while singing, it stretches its neck and points its beak towards the sky. It makes a 'chak-chak-chak' warning sound both when on the ground and when flying. It is found on steep rocky slopes in the mountains, at the forest border above 1,800 meters, and in meadows and shrubs above. It very rarely goes down to the forest border
A medium-sized elegant wheatear with long wings and long legs. Strong sexual dimorphism: male is black and white with a bright white hood and back, while female is gray-brown with gray upperparts and an increasing amount of dark feathering on throat as they mature. In all plumages note the narrow, evenly-broad black terminal tail band. Breeds on high, barren, rocky mountain slopes. In winter, often descends to plains, steppes, and even semi-desert. Song is a mix of harsh scratches and musical whistles; often given from a prominent perch.
Fairly small bunting. Males are striking with a green-gray head and yellow mustache, eyering, and throat contrasting with a chestnut belly and intricately marked upperparts. Rump is earth brown and streaked. Females and juveniles are similar but spotted below, head pattern duller, and body less chestnut. Breeds mainly in open and semiopen agricultural areas, slopes, and in mountains with scattered bushes and trees. Non-breeding habitat similar, but includes sparse, highland grasslands and fields. Song is a buzzy “dweedwee-dzeedzeedzzeedzee-dee”, while calls include a mellow, tinkling “deu” and a higher-pitched “deek.”
Its long, broad, white eyebrows, blackish crown and ear coverts, whitish throat, dark mottled jowl line, and peach-toned unstriped chest (but the flanks are usually dark striped) are distinctive. The juvenile is similar to the adult, but its top is brownish, its stripes are darker, the side of its throat, sides of its chest and flanks have thicker stripes, and its underside is lighter yellowish-white. Its song and voice are similar to the warbler, but its song is weaker, slower and consists of fewer notes, with a vibrating or chirping quality as its pitch rises and falls, for example 'di-diii-diii-diii-diii' or 'slii-vit-çur- chur-tui'. Dwarf bushes live on large rocks in the mountains between 2,500-3,500 meters, and go down to 1,000 meters in winter.
A lively and brightly colored little finch with a black head and a fiery orange spot on its forehead. The sexes are similar, but females have smaller forehead spots than males. Juveniles are warm brown with black markings on the back and wings; Be careful not to be confused with rose finches and green finches, which do not have yellow tails; green finches have striped undersides. It lives in open forests, shrubs and meadows in mountainous areas. It usually enters towns and villages. Calls include muted flute notes and chirps; The song is a mixture of trills interspersed with random call notes.
Medium-sized thrush-like bird, often seen on mountainsides, sea cliffs, quarries, ruins, and even towns. Males usually unmistakable: western birds are dark blue all over, but may appear all dark at a distance; eastern birds are blue with orange underparts. Females dark brown above, finely barred below. Long bill, wings, and tail make for a distinctive and very different shape than Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush. Song is melodic and blackbird-like.
Distinctive long-tailed and long-winged inhabitant of high alpine zones; can be found slightly lower down in winter and around human habitation (towns, monasteries, ski resorts), where it can be quite approachable. Black-and-white wings striking in flight. In the breeding season, the bill is dark and the chin is black (bill yellowish and chin patch absent in nonbreeding season). The head is paler grey in winter. Feeds on seeds and insects. Song consists of buzzy warbles and chirps. Gives nasal “reep” calls and dry chatters.
Unmistakable, but difficult to spot on rock faces. Spectacular in flight, with broad black, red, and white-spotted wings resembling a giant butterfly. Usually found on rock faces in high mountainous regions, but also breeds in steep gorges lower down and can even be found on tall buildings in winter. Breeding male has a black throat; winter males and all females have white throats. Rarely-heard song is a steadily rising whistle.
Typical-looking nuthatch with gray upperparts, dingy white underparts, and a black mask. Favors mountainous rocky areas, and is often seen actively feeding on boulders and cliffs, not normally on trees. Builds a unique, huge mud nest that it sticks to cliffs and rocks and uses year-round. Song and call are a loud and bubbling series of descending whistles “Piu-piu-piu-piu…” or “Pi pi pi pu-pu-pu-pu…” Somewhat similar to Eurasian Nuthatch, but larger, longer- and stronger-billed, and uses different habitats. Eastern Rock Nuthatch is also similar, but larger and heavier than the present species, with an even larger bill and thicker black eye stripe.
Conspicuous, social, and noisy inhabitant of high mountains. Feeds mostly on insects in summer and berries, seeds, and food waste in winter, scavenging around ski resorts, towns, and monasteries, where it can be very tame. Told from juvenile Red-billed Chough by its shorter, bright yellow bill and shorter wing fingers. Wings do not extend to the tail tip when perched. Gives a strange, squeaky trill very unlike calls of crows and ravens, as well as a high-pitched descending squeak.
Large, long-billed robin that spends much of its time on the ground with tail cocked. The male has bluish upperparts, a dark face, a white supercilium, a broad black tail, and bright orange underparts. The female has gray underparts, a faintly mottled breast, a whitish throat, and orange sides. Breeds on high-altitude mountain slopes covered with dense scrub. On migration shows up in a variety of scrubby habitats. Calls similar to nightingales, including clear whistles and a low croak.
