Order: Falconiformes — Family: Accipitridae
HALIAEETUS LEUCORYPHUS

Status: Category II (EN) – Endangered species.

Importance for gene pool conservation: A representative of a polytypic genus. Its protection is crucial for the genetic diversity of both the country and the species' overall range.

Distribution: Mainly along the Caspian Sea coast and river valleys. Outside Turkmenistan, the breeding area extends to Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and southward to the Himalayan foothills. Winters in southern Central and Western Asia, Pakistan, and northern India.

Habitat: Coastal landscapes, large water bodies (lakes, reservoirs), river valleys, and cultivated oases.

Population and trends: The population has always been low. From 2004–2006, only 1–2 individuals were recorded during migration and wintering in the Amudarya valley. From 1972 to 2019, single birds were regularly observed on the Caspian coast in autumn and winter. In the Hazar Reserve: 10 individuals in February 1972, 6 on the Karadag ridge in 1998, and 7 on the Gubadag ridge in 2010. The national population is fewer than 50 individuals.

Major threats: Disturbance and accidental shooting.

Biological characteristics: A migratory and wintering bird. Occasionally seen in summer. Wintering individuals leave in late February; autumn migration begins in late September–October. Diet includes fish, waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion.

Reproduction: Not studied.

Conservation actions: Listed in the IUCN Red List (EN, C2a(ii)) and the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan since 1985. Protected in Hazar, Gaplangyr, Amudarya, and Badkhyz reserves, and Kelif and Mane-Chaache sanctuaries. Included in CITES Appendix II and CMS Appendices I and II.

Proposed conservation actions: Strengthen protection and public awareness.

Research recommendations: Conduct regular bird counts on the Caspian Sea and inland water bodies.

Compiled by: E.A. Rustamov, A.A. Shcherbina