Scientific publications

In furtherance of the previously developed groupings of the Palaearctic avifauna [Штегман, 1931, 1938; Бобринский, 1951; Брунов, 1978, 1980; Белик, 2000, 2006; Сазонов, 2003, 2004] we suggest a new classification of the types of fauna and faunal groups of birds designed for western parts of Eurasian taiga. Ten types of the fauna are distinguished: Actic, Hypoarctic, Boreal, types of the forest Palaearctic fauna, azonal types of the Palaearctic fauna, of European broadleaved forests, of the Far East coniferous?deciduous forests (Manchurian), Mediterranean, steppe?desert, of south Palaearctic highlands. Around 25 faunal groups and subgroups of birds are comprised within the types of the fauna. Of these, the following typological subdivisions are new in the classification: North Atlantic, of circumoceanic boreal formations, of the forest Palaearctic fauna, azonal groups of the Palaearctic fauna – species pertinent to large bodies of water and vast open spaces (including cosmopolitan species). Birds of circumoceanic boreal formations are included as a separate subgroup into the boreal complex. The subgroup of North Atlantic species is classed into the Arctic fauna. We provide complete species lists and state an estimated scope (number of species) of each type of fauna in the west of Eurasian taiga.