Iran from the ornithological viewpoint is situated within the Palearctic region, one of the major zoogeographical areas of the world which includes the whole of Europe, Africa north of the Sahara and Asia north of the Himalayas. Broadly speaking, therefore, the avifauna of Iran is similar to that of Europe and a large number of the species found in the latter area also occur in Iran. In addition a number of birds from Siberia reach Iran, as do a few representatives of the Ethiopian and Oriental regions in the south-west and south-east respectively.

Within Iran there are found approximately 450 species of birds which can be broadly divided into the four main categories of (a) residents, (b) summer visitors, (c) winter visitors and (d) passage migrants. The exact status of some of these birds is still not entirely clear since, with the exception of the Caspian area, Iran has not been closely studied by modern ornithologists.

Before considering the avifauna of Iran in detail, it is of interest to trace the history of its general ornithology and consider what literature is available on the subject. Unfortunately, particularly in the case of the older authors, it is often extremely difficult to come by copies of their books and papers outside the great Natural History libraries in the various capitals and universities of the world. In addition, much of the small amount of published material is in German, Russian or French. There is little or no material available in Persian.

W. T. Blanford's Eastern Persia Volume II published in 1876, described 384 species of birds, drawing not only on the author's own observations and experience, but making use of all material previously published.