Below you can find a complete list of Azerbaijani animals. We currently track 219 animals in Azerbaijan and are adding more every day!
Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan is a small Caucasian country that became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. The country shares a land border with Russia to the north, Iran to the south, and Armenia, Turkey, and Georgia to the west, while the entire eastern part of the country is surrounded by the Caspian Sea.
Azerbaijan is divided between extreme mountains and lowlands. The Greater Caucasus Mountains cut across the northern part of the country, carving out beautiful gorges and streams in the landscape. It contains the country’s highest peak, Mount Bazardyuzyu, at 14,652 feet. The Lesser Caucasus mountain range, which reaches a summit of almost 13,000 feet, runs parallel to the Greater Caucasus about 100 to 200 miles in the south, while the Talish Mountains also grace the southeast border with Iran. The rest of the country is comprised of lowland forests, plains, and wetlands.
The Official National (State) Animal of Azerbaijan
The Karabakh horse is the major national symbol of Azerbaijan. Historically it has been an important racing and riding horse of the Eurasian mountain-steppe areas.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Azerbaijan
Since its independence, Azerbaijan has established around nine different national parks, 15 state reserves, and many more game reserves to protect its wildlife.
- The Absheron National Park is the smallest of the parks, but it’s also the easiest wildlife area for tourists to reach, situated as it is to the immediate east of the capital, Baku. Amid the twisting dunes and semi-desert coastlines, visitors can find foxes, tortoises, jackals, ducks, sandpipers, and even the endangered Caspian seal in the summer.
- The Shirvan National Park, located in the southeast Salyan Rayon District, features red foxes, gazelles, jungle cats, badgers, jackals, eagles, falcons, tree frogs, and marsh frogs, Caspian turtles, snakes, and even the elusive wolf.
- The Ag-Gel National Park, which encompasses Lake Aggol in the Kur-Araz Lowland toward the west, has been deemed an important bird area. It is home to more than 140 unique species of birds, including the partridge, swan, spoonbill, teal, and pelican. It’s also an excellent source of freshwater fish and small mammals.
- The Gizilaghaj Nature Reserve, located in the Lankaran District along the southeast Caspian coast, is the largest protected area in the entire country. Encompassing more than 300 square miles, it is home to some 270 species of birds, including swans, pelicans, ducks, herons, ibises, spoonbills, geese, and flamingos. It also contains some reptiles and mammals.
The Most Dangerous Animals in Azerbaijan Today
Azerbaijan is home to several species of venomous snakes and large carnivores, but only a few of them are highly dangerous.
- Horned Viper – Also known as the long-nosed viper, nose-horned viper, or sand viper, it’s easily identified by the unique horn on the snout. As one of the more dangerous snakes in all of Europe, this species can cause pain, swelling, and discoloration. Fortunately, these reptiles are only found in a very small part of western Azerbaijan.
- Caucasian Pit Viper – This subspecies of the Central Asian pit viper lives in the southeastern part of the country. When it strikes, the snake opens its mouth almost 180 degrees and uses specialized muscles to inject the venom, the amount of which it can control. Victims will likely experience pain, swelling, and an irregular heartbeat. In rare cases, paralysis may develop later.
- Brown Bear – Bears are not as aggressive as their reputation suggests. Attacks only occur in less than a percent of on-foot encounters, usually when the bear feels surprised or threatened. In fact, most attacks occur when a mother is protecting her young.
Endangered Animals in Azerbaijan
- Caspian Seal – Native to the rocky shorelines and islands of the Caspian Sea, this small earless seal has become endangered from disease, pollution, habitat degradation, and overhunting. While about 100,000 still remain in the wild, numbers have declined from a peak of 1.5 million in the early 20th century. They continue to decline by a few percent per year.
- Persian Leopard – Once common throughout the Caucasus and Western Asia, the Persian leopard is in danger of becoming extinct. About 1,000 of them remain in the wild, only a few of which actually reside in Azerbaijan. Protected by law, they can be found in the country’s wildlife refuges.
- Persian Gazelle – This is an endangered subspecies of the goitered gazelle, which derives its name from the male’s enlarged neck and throat pouch in the breeding season. A million goitered gazelles once roamed the deserts and semi-deserts of the Middle East and Central Asia, but now only about 100,000 to 150,000 of them remain.
- Persian Sturgeon – Among the largest fishes in the world, the Persian sturgeon is endemic to the Caspian Sea and some surrounding freshwater rivers. Since they mature so slowly, most sturgeons suffer greatly from overfishing. Both their flesh and their eggs are highly prized. As a result, they are now in danger of becoming extinct.
The Flag of Azerbaijan
The flag of Azerbaijan consists of blue, red and green horizontal bands with a white crescent and eight-pointed star at its center. The color blue signifies the Azerbaijan people and their Turkish origin, the red represents progress and the green symbolizes the Islamic religion. The octagonal star has eight points which stand for eight letters in the word Azerbaijan, written in Arabic. Overall, Azerbaijan’s flag symbolizes the country’s pride, heritage, independence, and identity.
Azerbaijani Animals
Admiral Butterfly
Stunningly beautiful wings
Angora Goat
Each adult Angora goat produces about 12 inches of mohair annually while kids have about 8 inches.
Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Armyworm
They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food
Aurochs
Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!
Avocet
Has a curved, upturned beak!
Badger
Can reach speeds of 30 km/h!
Barn Owl
Found everywhere around the world!
Barn Swallow
Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.
Bat
Detects prey using echolocation!
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.
Bee
Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years
Beetle
There are more than 350,000 different species
Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!
Biscuit Beetle
The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast
Black Widow Spider
They typically prey on insects!
Brazilian Treehopper
“Mild-Mannered Minimonsters”
Brown Bear
A dominant predator in it's environment!
Brown Dog Tick
Can live its entire life indoors
Bumblebee
The most common species of bee!
Butterfly
There are thought to be up 17,500 species!
Camel Cricket
The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.
Carpenter Ant
Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!
Cat
May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.
Caterpillar
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
Caucasian Mountain Dog (Shepherd)
The Caucasian mountain dog may look intimidating, but they are actually gentle, affectionate, and loyal family companions
Caucasian Shepherd
These former bear-hunting dogs are used today as prison guard dogs in Russia.
Centipede
There are about 3,000 documented species!
Chamois
Natively found in the European mountains!
Chicken
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
Cinereous Vulture
This vulture can fly at great heights. At least one was found a few thousand feet from the top of Mount Everest.
Cockroach
Dated to be around 300 million years old!
Codling Moth
Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.
Common Buzzard
The most common raptor in the UK!
Common Frog
Found throughout the European continent!
Common Furniture Beetle
The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood
Common House Spider
House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.
Common Loon
Also known as the Great Northern Diver
Common Raven
A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy.
Common Toad
Most active in wet weather!
Cormorant
They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.
Cow
There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!
Crab
There are 93 different crab groups
Crab Spider
Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings
Crane
Many are critically endangered species!
Cricket
Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together
Crow
A group of these birds is called a Murder.
Deer
There are around 40 different species!
Dog
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Dog Tick
Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals
Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Dragonfly
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Duck
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!
Dung Beetle
The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight
Eagle
Has exceptional eyesight!
Earthworm
They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs
Earwig
There are nearly 2,000 different species!
Edible Frog
Are known to guard the muddy banks!
Eel
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!
Egyptian Vulture
They steal large ostrich eggs and use rocks and pebbles to crack the shells.
Eurasian Bullfinch
The shy eurasian bullfinch prefers to forage very close to cover.
Eurasian Eagle-owl
The Eurasian Eagle-owl is the second largest owl in the world with a wingspan up to six feet!
Eurasian Jay
The Eurasian jay has the ability to mimic other sounds
European Bee-Eater
They can eat up to 250 bees per day!
European Goldfinch
They are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, especially those containing niger seeds.
European Robin
Male robins are so aggressive and territorial that they will attack their own reflections.
Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!
False Widow Spider
False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders
Ferret
Ferrets can be trained to do tricks like dogs!
Fire-Bellied Toad
Found across mainland Europe and Asia!
Firefly
The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world
Flea
Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air
Fly
There are more than 240,000 different species!
Flying Squirrel
Can glide up to 90 meters!
Fox
Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"
Frog
There are around 7,000 different species!
Fruit Fly
Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world
German Cockroach
The most common type of urban roach
Glass Lizard
Can grow up to 4ft long!
Glowworm
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!
Gnat
Males form large mating swarms at dusk
Goat
Most closely related to the Sheep!
Goldcrest
The goldcrest never starts moving and needs to consume for most of the day to survive. Therefore, in the colder months, it's best that eat 90% a day.
Golden Eagle
Their calls sound like high-pitched screams, but they are quiet most of the time.
Golden Oriole
Migrates between Europe and Asia!
Goose
There are 29 different species!
Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!
Gypsy Moth
One of the most invasive species in the world
Hamster
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Hare
Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!
Hawk Moth Caterpillar
Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.
Hedgehog
Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!
Heron
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
Highland Cattle
Natively found in the Scottish Highlands!
Honey Bee
There are only 8 recognized species!
Honey Buzzard
Honey buzzards are medium-sized raptors that earned their names by raiding the nests of bees and wasps.
Hoopoe
Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!
Horse
Has evolved over 50 million years!
Horsefly
Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.
Housefly
The fly has no teeth
Human
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!
Huntsman Spider
Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.
Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Jackdaw
The jackdaw tends to mate for life with a single partner
Jumping Spider
Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies
Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
Ladybug
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!
Leech
Has 10 pairs of eyes!
Lemming
Does not hibernate during the bitter Arctic winter!
Linnet
While linnets are monogamous during mating season, they do not mate for life. While breeding pairs are together, the males are highly territorial and will defend the nesting site and the surrounding area.
Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!
Locust
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.
Long-Eared Owl
Ear tufts make it look bigger!
Long-Tailed Tit
Often hangs upside down while feeding!
Magpie
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!
Marsh Frog
Has bright green skin!
Mayfly
There are 2,500 known species worldwide!
Mealybug
They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.
Millipede
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Mongrel
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
Moorhen
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!
Mosquito
Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood
Moth
There are 250,000 different species!
Mouse
Found on every continent on Earth!
Mule
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!
Neanderthal
Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!
Nematode
Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long
Newt
Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!
Nightingale
Named more than 1,000 years ago!
No See Ums
There are more than 5,000 species.
Orb Weaver
Females are about four times the size of males
Osprey
They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!
Otter
There are 13 different species worldwide
Owl
The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees
Peppered Moth
Teachers in schools often use the evolution of the peppered moth as a good example of Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth
Pheasant
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!
Pig
Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!
Pigeon
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.
Pika
Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas
Pond Skater
There are 500 different species!
Pool Frog
The rarest amphibian in the UK!
Porcupine
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Purple Emperor Butterfly
Inhabits deciduous forests!
Puss Moth
Caterpillars squirt formic acid!
Quail
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!
Rabbit
There are more than 300 different species!
Raccoon
Known to wash their food before eating it!
Raccoon Dog
The only hibernating canine!
Rat
Omnivores that eat anything!
Rat Snakes
Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.
Red Deer
A male red deer shows his age in his antlers, which become longer and more branched every year.
Redstart
They build their nests off the ground in tree holes, cavities, stone walls, and roofs
River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
Robin
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
Rodents
The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.
Roe Deer
The roe is one of the most popular game animals in Europe
Rooster
Will mate with the entire flock!
Rough-Legged Hawk (Rough-Legged Buzzard)
Its scientific name, lagopus, is Ancient Greek for “hare” and “foot,” referring to its feathered feet and toes.
Sable Ferret
Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.
Salamander
There are more than 700 different species!
Sand Crab
The sand crab burrows beneath the sand with its tail
Sand Lizard
Males turn green in spring!
Scorpion
There are around 2,000 known species!
Sea Eagle
The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner
Seahorse
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Sheep
Around 35 million in the English countryside!
Short-Eared Owl
The short-eared owl is one of the most widespread owl species in the world, covering five continents.
Shrew
The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.
Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Skink Lizard
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.
Slow Worm
Found widely throughout British gardens!
Slug
They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce
Smokybrown Cockroach
Has up to 45 eggs per egg case
Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
Snake
There are around 4,000 known species worldwide
Snowy Owl
One of the largest owl species in the world!
Song Thrush
A male song thrush can have over 100 phrases in his repertoire of songs and can imitate pet birds, telephones and other man-made objects.
Spadefoot Toad
They spend most of their time underground!
Sparrow
There are 140 different species!
Spider Wasp
They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.
Squirrel
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
Stick Insect
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Stoat
Average adults weigh about 200 grams!
Stork
They can’t sing like other birds.
Striped Hyena
The striped hyenas usually mark their territories with the help of the scent gland secretions from their anal pouch.
Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Tawny Owl
The most widespread owl in Europe!
Termite
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
Thrush
The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.
Tick
They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite
Tiger Beetle
The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world
Tiger Moth
The bright colors of this moth are a signal to predators that it has a terrible taste.
Tortoise
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!
Tree Frog
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
Turtles
Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.
Viper
Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most
Vulture
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Wasp
There are around 75,000 recognised species!
Water Buffalo
Has been domesticated for thousands of years!
Water Vole
The largest Vole species in the UK!
Weasel
The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!
White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
There are two different types of white ferrets!
Wild Boar
Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!
Winter Moth
Only the males fly and the females walk.
Wolf
Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!
Wolf Spider
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
Woodlouse
This animal can roll up into a ball
Woodlouse Spider
Unlike most spiders, woodlouse spiders don’t build a web.
Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!
Worm
Doesn’t have eyes.
Wryneck
They feign death by making their bodies limp and closing their eyes.
Yellowhammer
It interbreeds with the pine bunting
Azerbaijani Animals List
- Admiral Butterfly
- Angora Goat
- Ant
- Armyworm
- Aurochs
- Avocet
- Badger
- Barn Owl
- Barn Swallow
- Bat
- Bed Bugs
- Bee
- Beetle
- Beluga Sturgeon
- Bird
- Biscuit Beetle
- Black Widow Spider
- Brazilian Treehopper
- Brown Bear
- Brown Dog Tick
- Bumblebee
- Butterfly
- Camel Cricket
- Carpenter Ant
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Caucasian Mountain Dog (Shepherd)
- Caucasian Shepherd
- Centipede
- Chamois
- Chicken
- Cinereous Vulture
- Cockroach
- Codling Moth
- Common Buzzard
- Common Frog
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common House Spider
- Common Loon
- Common Raven
- Common Toad
- Cormorant
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab Spider
- Crane
- Cricket
- Crow
- Cuckoo
- Deer
- Dog
- Dog Tick
- Donkey
- Dormouse
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Dung Beetle
- Eagle
- Earthworm
- Earwig
- Edible Frog
- Eel
- Egyptian Vulture
- Eurasian Bullfinch
- Eurasian Eagle-owl
- Eurasian Jay
- European Bee-Eater
- European Goldfinch
- European Robin
- Falcon
- False Widow Spider
- Ferret
- Fire-Bellied Toad
- Firefly
- Flea
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Fox
- Frog
- Fruit Fly
- German Cockroach
- Glass Lizard
- Glowworm
- Gnat
- Goat
- Goldcrest
- Golden Eagle
- Golden Oriole
- Goose
- Grasshopper
- Gypsy Moth
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hawk Moth Caterpillar
- Hedgehog
- Heron
- Highland Cattle
- Honey Bee
- Honey Buzzard
- Hoopoe
- Horse
- Horsefly
- Housefly
- Human
- Huntsman Spider
- Insects
- Jackdaw
- Jumping Spider
- Kingfisher
- Ladybug
- Leech
- Lemming
- Linnet
- Lizard
- Locust
- Long-Eared Owl
- Long-Tailed Tit
- Magpie
- Marsh Frog
- Mayfly
- Mealybug
- Millipede
- Mole
- Mongrel
- Moorhen
- Mosquito
- Moth
- Mouse
- Mule
- Neanderthal
- Nematode
- Newt
- Nightingale
- No See Ums
- Orb Weaver
- Osprey
- Otter
- Owl
- Peppered Moth
- Peregrine Falcon
- Pheasant
- Pig
- Pigeon
- Pika
- Pond Skater
- Pool Frog
- Porcupine
- Purple Emperor Butterfly
- Puss Moth
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Raccoon
- Raccoon Dog
- Rat
- Rat Snakes
- Red Deer
- Redstart
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rodents
- Roe Deer
- Rooster
- Rough-Legged Hawk (Rough-Legged Buzzard)
- Sable Ferret
- Salamander
- Sand Crab
- Sand Lizard
- Scorpion
- Sea Eagle
- Seahorse
- Sheep
- Short-Eared Owl
- Shrew
- Shrimp
- Skink Lizard
- Slow Worm
- Slug
- Smokybrown Cockroach
- Snail
- Snake
- Snowy Owl
- Song Thrush
- Spadefoot Toad
- Sparrow
- Spider Wasp
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Stoat
- Stork
- Striped Hyena
- Swallowtail Butterfly
- Swan
- Tawny Owl
- Termite
- Thrush
- Tick
- Tiger Beetle
- Tiger Moth
- Tortoise
- Tree Frog
- Turtles
- Viper
- Vulture
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- Water Vole
- Weasel
- White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
- Wild Boar
- Winter Moth
- Wolf
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Woodlouse Spider
- Woodpecker
- Worm
- Wryneck
- Yellowhammer
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What animals live in Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan contains more than 100 species of mammals, the most common of which are rodents, bats, and carnivores (like raccoons and foxes). There are an additional 360 or so species of birds, many of which migrate or just pass through the country. Both the freshwater rivers and the Caspian Sea are home to almost 100 species of fish and 15,000 species of invertebrates, including salmon and sturgeon. There are also about 70 species of reptiles and amphibians.
Are there tigers in Azerbaijan?
The Caspian tiger subspecies did once roam the southern half of Azerbaijan, but the last known population went extinct in 2003.
Are there bears in Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan is home to both the Eurasian brown bear (one of the most common subspecies of brown bears) and the unique Syrian brown bear (a smaller and lighter variant).
Are there lions in Azerbaijan?
The Asiatic lion subspecies was once found as far north as the Caucasus, but it probably disappeared from the region by the 10th century.
