Review of rare birds in Iran, 1860s 1960s

Based on original literature reports covering the period 1860–1969, details of362 records of 102 bird species considered rare in Iran are presented. This fills a gap inknowledge of Iran’s birds from a period between research by Gmelin and Hablizl in the1770s (reviewed by Mlikovsky 2008) and an overview of the observations of rare birds inIran in the 1960s and 1970s (presented by Scott 2008). Attention is drawn to two newspecies for Iran (Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus and Blue Whistling ThrushMyophonus caeruleus). Published details validate the records of Light-bellied Brent GooseBranta hrota, Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius, Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, andOriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus, formerly considered as of dubious occurrence in Iran.Information on six species (Yellow-breasted Tit Cyanistes cyanus flavipectus, FalcatedDuck Anas falcata, Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus, Güldenstädt’s RedstartPhoenicurus erythrogaster, Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus and Eurasian NutcrackerNucifraga caryocatactes) was considered insufficient or unreliable and the occurrence ofthese species in Iran has been rejected. We recommend that these species be omitted from the last revised checklist of the birds of Iran (Scott & Adhami 2006). Accordingly, theupdated checklist of the birds of Iran reaches 522 species (including five recently addedspecies, namely Sooty Shearwater Puffinus gravis, Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis, Rednecked Stint Calidris ruficollis, Namaqua Dove Oena capensis and Red-vented BulbulPycnonotus cafer).