Birdwatchers around the world have a rare opportunity to observe the sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius), a species slightly larger than a pigeon that nests exclusively in Kazakhstan and parts of southern Russia.
The bird has a light gray-brown plumage, with a distinctive black stripe along the top of its head and prominent white «eyebrows.» Males are marked by a striking black cap, as well as black coloring on the chest and abdomen. The species overwinters in northeastern Africa and southwestern Asia.
A 2022 study by the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) documented a record-breaking flight by a sociable lapwing, which traveled about 7,200 kilometers (4,475 miles) from Kazakhstan to Saudi Arabia. In the spring of 2022, researchers from the ACBK tagged 18 sociable lapwings with satellite transmitters. By September, 17 of the birds had safely begun their migration. Three of them followed the African-Eurasian flyway, each taking a different route: two wintered in Saudi Arabia, while one reached Sudan.
According to the Redbook.kz portal, the northern range of the lapwing’s habitat in Kazakhstan extends along the country’s border with Russia. To the south, its distribution runs as far as the Kamysh-Samar Lakes, Lake Inder, the mouth of the Temir River, the northern shore of the Aral Sea, Lake Meldekol, the Karsakpai region and the upper reaches of the Atasu River. The species formerly nested in small numbers in the Alakol Depression, the Ili River basin, the Chilikty Valley in the Tarbagatai Mountains and the foothills of the Dzungarian and Trans-Ili Alatau, as well as the Zaisan Hollow. During migration, lapwings are observed across nearly all of Kazakhstan.
Previous reporting by Kursiv.media highlighted Kazakhstan as an emerging birdwatching destination, showcasing the species that attract international birdwatchers and offering guidance on how enthusiasts can join birdwatching tours in the country.
