List of Animals of Armenia

Armenia’s varied landscapes — from high mountains and alpine meadows to river valleys and semi-desert slopes — support a surprising range of wildlife. Local traditions, protected areas and seasonal migrations all shape which species you’ll encounter and where to look for them.

There are 52 Animals of Armenia, ranging from the Apollo butterfly to the Wild boar. For each species you’ll find below Scientific name, Habitat & range (Armenia), Conservation status, so you can quickly see where a species lives and how threatened it is — you’ll find those details below.

How can I use this list to spot wildlife in Armenia?

Look up a species’ Habitat & range (Armenia) first to target the right ecosystem and season (many birds and butterflies are migratory). Visit protected areas and ask rangers about recent sightings; early morning and late afternoon are often best. Bring binoculars, stay quiet, and respect distance to avoid disturbing animals.

Which species on the list need the most conservation attention?

Check the Conservation status column for species listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered; those are priorities. Many at-risk animals depend on shrinking habitats or face poaching and require habitat protection, monitoring, and local conservation programs to improve their outlook.

Animals of Armenia

Images and Descriptions

Brown bear

Large omnivore of Armenian highlands; shy, mostly nocturnal. Look in remote forested slopes and alpine valleys in spring–autumn. Regionally important for ecosystem health; populations scattered and locally monitored.

Eurasian lynx

Solitary, secretive forest cat with tufted ears and long legs; hunts deer and hares. Best chance to detect signs (tracks, droppings) in remote mountain forests rather than visual encounters.

Grey wolf

Social, adaptable predator forming packs in remote areas. Wolves use mountain and lowland corridors; dawn and dusk are most active. Occasional livestock conflicts make them a conservation and management focus.

Golden jackal

Small flexible canid common across lowlands and agricultural landscapes. Often seen at dusk and dawn near villages and wetlands; scavenger and opportunistic hunter.

Red fox

Adaptable omnivore with reddish coat and bushy tail. Frequently seen near farms and towns, active at twilight. Clever and resilient, it thrives across Armenia’s varied habitats.

Bezoar ibex

Stocky wild goat with backward-curving horns; superb climber of steep cliffs. Best viewed in southern Zangezur and Vayots Dzor. Important quarry species historically, now conservation-managed.

Caucasian mouflon

Compact wild sheep with curled horns and reddish-brown coat. Occurs on rugged slopes and dry hills; watch for groups at dawn. Populations reduced historically, locally protected.

Caucasian chamois

Agile mountain ungulate with short hooked horns, favors steep rocky terrain. Seen in high summer and autumn grazing areas; expert climber visible from mountain tracks.

Wild boar

Omnivorous and nocturnal, wild boar root in forest floors and wetlands. Signs like wallows and tracks common; populations can increase rapidly where hunting pressure is low.

Roe deer

Small, elegant deer often glimpsed at dawn or dusk. Prefers mixed woodlands and hedgerows; quiet observation near forest edges can yield sightings, especially in spring.

Red deer

Impressive antlered deer present in larger, remote forests. Rut in autumn offers best chance to hear calls; habitat fragmentation restricts some local populations.

Eurasian otter

Semi-aquatic, sleek predator often seen at dusk or dawn. Tracks, slides and fish remains indicate presence; healthy streams and wetlands are essential to their survival.

Brown hare

Fast, long-eared lagomorph common in lowland farmland and steppe. Most active at dusk and dawn; look for them in open agricultural areas and steppe margins.

European mole

Burrowing insectivore that leaves characteristic molehills in soft soils. Mostly subterranean and rarely seen; presence indicated by surface mounds in gardens and meadows.

Common pipistrelle

Small, agile insectivorous bat roosting in buildings and tree holes. Active at dusk; excellent for insect control. Watch for feeding flights over water or streetlights.

Caucasian squirrel

Tree-dwelling squirrel with a bushy tail and reddish-brown coat. Agile and noisy, found in mature oak and beech forests; easiest to spot in daylight when feeding on seeds and fruits.

Armenian gull

Medium-sized gull common at Sevan and lowland reservoirs. Pale head in winter and distinctive call. Best observed along beaches and shallow bays during migration and breeding.

Dalmatian pelican

Huge white pelican with expansive wingspan and throat pouch; feeds in shallow waters. Seasonal visitor and occasional breeder; visible at Lake Sevan in migration and winter.

Great cormorant

Dark, fish-eating waterbird often perched to dry wings. Common on Sevan and river systems; easy to spot fishing from shallow water and rocky shores.

Great crested grebe

Elegant diving bird with ornate head plumage in breeding season. Seen on open water; displays and nest-assemblies occur on sheltered bays of Sevan and larger lakes.

Ferruginous duck

Small diving duck with dark chestnut body and a white undertail. Prefers reed-fringed lakes and marshes; seasonal visitor and breeding species in suitable wetlands.

White-tailed eagle

Powerful fish-eating raptor with broad wings and pale tail. Scans large water bodies for fish and carrion; most visible in colder months when fish are scarce.

Golden eagle

Large, solitary raptor that hunts mammals and birds in open highlands. Look from ridgelines or passes; often soars on thermal currents above alpine meadows.

Bearded vulture (lammergeier)

Striking cliff-dwelling scavenger that drops bones to access marrow. Best seen circling high gorges and peaks; a conservation flagship species in Armenia’s highlands.

Griffon vulture

Large, social scavenger often in groups over valleys and sheep pastures. Feeds on carcasses and uses cliff ledges for nesting; seasonal movements follow food availability.

Egyptian vulture

Small, white vulture with wedge-shaped tail known for tool use. Scattered breeder and migrant; declines make it a high-priority conservation species in Armenia.

Peregrine falcon

World’s fastest bird in a stoop, preying on other birds. Nests on cliffs and tall structures; best sightings at open valleys and coastal-like reservoirs where prey concentrates.

Common buzzard

Widespread, medium-sized raptor often seen perched or soaring. Flexible diet and habitat tolerance make it a frequent sight throughout Armenia year-round.

Caucasian black grouse

Ground-dwelling gamebird of high meadows; males display in spring leks. Elusive but audible at dawn; populations sensitive to habitat change and grazing pressure.

Eurasian hoopoe

Distinctive long‑crested bird with black-and-white wings and curved bill. Feeds on insects in open ground; often seen in orchards and village outskirts during summer.

Common raven

Large, intelligent corvid that thrives across Armenia. Frequently encountered around cliffs, settlements, and highlands; vocal and opportunistic feeder.

White stork

Tall migratory wader often nesting on poles and chimneys. Breeds in lowland wetlands and agricultural areas; impressive flocks during migration periods.

Common crane

Elegant long‑legged migrant using wetlands as stopover and wintering sites. Large, noisy flocks visible in migration; best seen at wetland roosts during spring and autumn.

Common kingfisher

Small, dazzling blue-and-orange bird that dives for fish from perches. Secretive but visible along clear water courses; best spotted early morning and late afternoon.

Eurasian jay

Colorful corvid with pinkish body and blue wing patches. Vocal and active in forests; often seen caching acorns and calling loudly in spring.

Chukar partridge

Stocky gamebird with barred flanks and a loud call. Prefers dry, rocky terrain and terraces; commonly seen flushed from bushes at dawn.

Spur-thighed tortoise

Terrestrial tortoise common in warm lowlands and foothills. Diurnal herbivore often seen basking on rocks; threatened locally by habitat loss and collection.

European pond turtle

Freshwater turtle often basking at water edges. Prefers vegetated shallows and reedbeds; local populations sensitive to wetland drainage and pollution.

Caspian whipsnake

Large, fast-moving nonvenomous snake frequenting sunny slopes and stone walls. Often seen hunting rodents in open terrain; shy and avoids humans.

Grass snake

Nonvenomous, water-associated snake with characteristic collar. Active near water hunting amphibians; often observed basking on shores and low vegetation.

Radde’s viper

Relatively small, venomous viper confined to rocky mountain habitats. Cryptic and camouflaged; hikers should be cautious in sun-warmed scree and talus areas during warmer months.

Caucasian agama

Robust lizard often seen basking on rocks and walls. Tolerant of dry, open habitats; easy to observe in sunlit mountain foothills and terraces.

Common toad

Large, warty amphibian active at night and during breeding migrations to ponds. Widespread and familiar; listen for breeding choruses in spring wetlands and ponds.

European green toad

Stocky toad with green blotches; tolerant of arid habitats and human-altered landscapes. Breeds in temporary pools after rains—best heard and seen during spring rains.

Marsh frog

Large greenish frog common in reeds and shallow water. Vocal choruses in spring make them easy to detect; important component of wetland food webs.

Sevan trout

A unique trout species endemic to Lake Sevan, historically vital for local fisheries. Now critically endangered due to habitat change, overfishing and introduced competitors; conservation and reintroduction efforts ongoing.

Northern pike

Ambush predator with elongated body and toothy jaws. Common in cooler freshwater habitats, hides among submerged vegetation and hunts fish—visible in clear shallow bays.

Common nase

Silvery, streamlined cyprinid found in flowing rivers. Prefers gravelly substrates and used as an indicator of river health; observed in main river channels.

Old World swallowtail

Large, colorful butterfly with distinctive tail-like wing extensions. Flies in flower-rich habitats from lowlands to high mountain meadows; popular with butterfly watchers in summer.

Praying mantis

Striking predatory insect with raptorial forelegs and triangular head. Ambushes insects on flowers and shrubs; visible in warm months and appreciated by gardeners.

Apollo butterfly

Elegant white butterfly with black and red eye spots, inhabiting high mountain meadows. Localized and sensitive to grazing and habitat loss; a prized sight for mountain naturalists.

European honeybee

Familiar pollinator present as managed hives and feral colonies. Vital for crop pollination and wild flora. Observed throughout Armenia in spring and summer among flowering plants.

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