The First Record of the Macqueen’s Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii (J.E. Gray, 1832) from Southeastern Part of Türkiye

Abstract The Macqueen’s Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii) firstly recorded from the south-eastern part of Türkiye, Diyarbakır province. The species have been observed by local villager near Ergani district (38°16′27′′ N, 39°51′16′′ E) where is located north of Diyarbakır city centre, on January 6, 2026. The recent record and available other records of species from the country were evaluated for the occurrence of species in Türkiye. A total of seven records of Macqueen’s Bustard has been documented in Türkiye over more than a century, together with the most recent record from the Ergani district of Diyarbakır, which represents the first recorded occurrence in this region. The recent assessment based on available data indicates that the species remains as a vagrant in Türkiye, with no indication of a resident population. However, at least six individuals have been recorded over the past 10–15 years, but these records are not readily explained by range expansion or altered migratory dynamics. These individuals are highly likely to represent juveniles originating from populations east of the Caspian Sea, particularly those associated with Kazakhstan, that deviated from their typical migratory routes and dispersed westward. As a result, the species is now recorded only sporadically and at extremely low numbers in Türkiye. Moreover, considering the species’ global vulnerable status, a long-term monitoring programme is recommended to assess national population size and to support effective conservation.