Bird Monitoring and Protection T

Bird Monitoring and Protection Team (BMAPT)

At the Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS)

ANNUAL REPORT 2001

CONTENTS

Membership and Contacts Page 2

The Year 2001 Page 4

The Need for Bird Monitoring and Protection in Kuwait Page 5

The Kuwait Bird List Page 7

The Commoner Species of Birds Page 9

The Vagrant Species of Birds Page 22

The Species of Birds Requiring Confirmation Page 23

The Species of Birds of Captive Origin Page 25

Notes on Selected Bird Species in the Year 2001 Page 26

Recent Bibliography Page 47

MEMBERSHIP AND CONTACTS

Board of Directors

Chairman:			Khalid Al-Nasrallah
Deputy Chairman and Bird Recorder:			Mahmoud Shihab
Secretary:			George Gregory
Liason Officer:			Abdalla Al-Fadhel


Kuwait-Based Members

Shaikha Amthal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Abdalla Al-Fadhel			abdallaaa@hotmail.com
Mish'al Al-Jeriwi			mishal@kuwaitbirds.com
Fahad Al-Mansori			info@kuwaitbirds.com
Khalid Al-Nasrallah			khalid@kuwaitbirds.com
Abdul-Muhsen Al-Suraye’a
Andrew Bailey			Andrew.Bailey@kw.britishcouncil.org
Mark Chichester			MChichester@chevrontexaco.com
Guillaume Dallemagne			guidal@qualitynet.net
George Gregory			ggoldie51@hotmail.com
Eisa Ramadan			ramedan57@yahoo.com
Peter Robertson			probertson1945@hotmail.com
Mahmoud Shihab			mahmoud@kuwaitbirds.com

Overseas-Based Members

Jeremy Gaskell			impennis44@hotmail.com
Stan Howe			SHoweMBOU@aol.com
John Middleton			johnmiddleton@bmarket.freeserve.co.uk
Gunhild Ostero			gun@udlst.dk
Mike Reed
Gavin Rowlands			growlands@stavangeroilfield.slb.com
Ole and Solveig Schroder			Soes.schroeder@get2net.dk
Graeme Wright			graeme.wright@parkhr.com

Bird Records Committee

Bird Recorder:			Mahmoud Shihab
Secretary:			George Gregory
Other Members:			Mish’al Al-Jeriwi
			Khalid Al-Nasrallah
			Abdul-Muhsen Al-Suraye’a
			Andrew Bailey
			Eisa Ramadan

Communications With The Team

All communications with the team, including records of the occurrence and breeding of the commoner and vagrant species of birds,, descriptions of the vagrant species of birds, and notice of intended visits to Kuwait should be addressed to:

Khalid Al-Nasrallah, Chairman, BMAPT

post: P.O.Box 1896, Safat 13019, KUWAIT

tel: (965) 484 8256

pager: 960 6799

fax: (965) 483 7856

and/or George Gregory, Secretary, BMAPT

post: KES, PO Box 8640, Salmiya 22057, KUWAIT

tel: (965) 565 5216 (leave message)

fax: (965) 562 9356 (clearly address to Mr. G. Gregory)

email: ggoldie51@hotmail.com

THE YEAR 2001

The year 2001 saw further developments in the fields of bird monitoring and protection in Kuwait.

During the year:

BMAPT transferred its base to the headquarters of KEPS in Shuwaikh;

BMAPT published the Second, then the Third Editions of the Kuwait Bird List, on its website;

BMAPT sent all available omithological data to the OSME Library;

BMAPT and other bodies were involved in environmental clean-up operations at a number of coastal and inland sites;

Several bird species were proved to breed in Kuwait for the first time, namely Little Crake, White-breasted Kingfisher, Bank Mynah, Short-toed Lark and Lesser Short-toed Lark;

Other important breeding records were of Greater Sand Plover, White-winged Black Tern, Grey Heron, Western Reef Heron, Yellow-throated Sparrow and Spanish Sparrow;

Improvements in the management of the National Park led to important changes in bird life there; fencing of more oil fields resulted in further protection of birds there from shooting and disturbance.

Greater coverage of previously known areas, and visits to new areas, resulted in an increase in bird records during the year.

This annual report, the second for Kuwait, demonstrates the increasing influence and effectiveness of BMAPT in the fields of bird monitoring and protection.

THE NEED FOR BIRD MONITORING AND PROTECTION IN KUWAIT

Bird populations are being monitored in Kuwait to find out if human activities or environmental changes are affecting them.

The most common breeding birds in Kuwait are House Sparrow, Laughing Dove, White-cheeked Bulbul, Common Mynah and Feral Pigeon. These species have increased in numbers because the greening of Kuwait has provided food and habitat for them.

Many species pass through Kuwait on spring and autumn migration because it is at a crossroads of migration routes between breeding grounds in Asia and winter quarters in southern Arabia, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The most common migrant landbirds are the Swift, Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked bee-eater, short-toed Lark, sand Martin, Wheatear, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Mud-flats around the coast are important resting and feeding areas for migrant herons, egrets, waders, gulls and terns. A number of reedbeds, freshwater pools, sewage outfalls and flooded sabkha areas are used by migrant waterside birds.

Birds arriving in Kuwait for the winter include White Wagtail, Robin, Bluethroat, Song Thrush and Desert Warbler.

Some birds, such as the Greater Flamingo, Barn Owl and Ring-necked Parakeet, can be found in Kuwait in various seasons without necessarily breeding.

Kuwait’s small islands are important because they support breeding colonies of seabirds such as Swift Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, White-cheeked Tern and Bridled Tern.

Bird populations in Kuwait have completely recovered from the environmental damage at the end of the Iraqi occupation, and some have increased. The main threat to birds in Kuwait now, are overgrazing, shooting, disturbance, building and oil lakes.

Overgrazing reduces both plants and animal food for birds, and removes shelter for nests and roosting birds.

Shooting is mainly for sport, although some birds, such as Turtle Dove and Barred Warbler, are eaten as delicacies. The species most commonly shot in Kuwait are Turtle Dove, Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater and Swallow. Significant numbers of locally uncommon species, such as Grey Hypocolius, Yellow-throated Sparrow, Lesser Kestrel and White-breasted Kingfisher, are also shot, as well as large numbers of other species.

Disturbance by camping and other activities is now prevented by the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources and the Environmental Public Authority in the National Park and at the Nature Reserves at Jahra Pool and at Doha.

The security fencing and various oil fields by the Kuwait Oil Company has stopped grazing, shooting and most disturbance there, and has effectively created very large nature reserves where vegetation is regenerating naturally.

Building sometimes creates habitats for birds to nest or roost on, but chalet-building along the coastline prevents the breeding of Kentish Plover and possibly of other species.

The Kuwait Oil Company has recently announced that almost all of the oil lakes in Burgan oil field will be covered over. However, others remain, for example at Bahra, where many birds die by being trapped in oil.

The establishment of more nature reserves, control of shooting, education and publicity to increase public awareness are the best ways of safeguarding Kuwait’s birds.

THE KUWAIT BIRD LIST
(Third Edition)

The Kuwait Bird List has been divided, for present convenience, into:

The Commoner Species of Birds, the Vagrant Species of Birds, the Species of Birds Requiring Confirmation and the Species of Birds of Captive Origin.

Both of these are analyses of the records of Ahmadi Nat. Hist. and Field Studies Group,
S. Al-Ahmadi, M. Al-Jeriwi, F. Al-Mansori, K. Al-Nasrallah,
Shaikha A. Al-Sabah, A. Al-Suraye’a, A. Bailey, W. Bindl, R. P. Blacker, G. Bundy,
H-M. Busch, A. Caldwell,R.E. Cheeseman, M. O. Chichester, D. A. Clayton, N. Cleere,
P. Cowan, P. Z. Cox, A. J. Crease, A. Cross, G. Dallemagne, H.R.P. Dickson,
V. Dickson, M. Evans, P. Fraser, J. Gaskell, G. Gregory, P.R. Haynes, S. Holliday,
P. A. D. Hollom, S. Howe, A. Lange, F. Lange, R. Meinertzhagen, J. Middleton,
N. Montfort, Nat. Hist. Mus. Tring, M. Newhouse, D. L. Newman, G. Ostero,
C. W. T. Pilcher, E. Ramadan, P. H. Rathbone, J. Rathgeber-Knan,
M. Reed, P. Robertson, A. Ross, G. Rowlands, L. Sager, V. A. D. Sales,
O. and S. Schroder, R. Seargent, J. Shaw, M. Shihab, S. T. Spencer, W. A. Stuart,
B. Thomas, C. B. Ticehurst, A. Tye, G. Walker, F. E. Warr, J. Webb, R. Williams,
G. Wright, and Anon, published in a wide variety of sources.

Particular thanks must go to the OSME librarian, Ray Daniel, the ABBA Co-ordinator, Michael Jennings, the former Kuwait Bird Recorder, Effie Warr and the former Chairman of the Ahmadi Natural History and Field Studies Group, Stanley Howe for their help in making records accessible. Thanks must also go to the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development in Riyadh, whose sponsorship of ABBA enables such work to continue.

The work of Gavin Rowlands, David Hellam and Zainab Khalil in formatting versions of this list is gratefully acknowledged.

The Kuwait Bird List has not been easy to compile, due to loss, destruction and inaccessibility of records, nor is it immutable, and BMAPT would welcome any comments, suggested changes or constructive criticism concerning the list so that it can be kept up to date and accurate. The list, of course, is constantly changing, as every year brings new data and new discoveries about Kuwait's birds.

THE COMMONER SPECIES OF BIRDS

The Commoner Species of Birds are those species which are judged to have occurred at least 10 times in total.

Seasonal Status

The seasonal status of each species is judged to be one of the following categories:

Abundant: occurs annually in very large numbers (10,000+)

Very Common occurs annually in large numbers (1,000 – 9,999)

Common: occurs annually in moderate numbers (100 – 999)

Uncommon: occurs annually in small numbers (10 – 99)

Scarce: occurs annually in very small numbers (1-9)

Rare: does not occur annually

Common Name	*Scientific Name*	Status
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	Scarce winter visitor. Scarce passage migrant. Rare summer visitor. Has bred.
Great Crested Grebe	Podiceps cristatus	Scarce winter visitor. Scarce passage migrant.
Black-necked Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	Very common winter visitor. Very common passage migrant.
Socotra Cormorant	Phalacrocorax nigrogularis	Uncommon disperser in spring, summer and autumn. Has bred.
White Pelican	Pelecanus onocrotalus	Rare disperser in all seasons. Has bred.
Dalmatian Pelican	Pelecanus crispus	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Bittern	Botaurus stellaris	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Little Bittern	Ixobrychus minutus	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare summer visitor. Rare winter visitor. Has bred.
Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare summer visitor. Rare winter visitor. Has bred.
Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides	Common passage migrant. Rare summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	Uncommon disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Western Reef Heron	Egretta gularis	Very common winter visitor. Common resident. Has bred.
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Great White Egret	Egretta alba	Uncommon passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea	Very common winter visitor. Common passage migrant. Uncommon resident. Has bred.
Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare summer visitor.
White Stork	Ciconia ciconia	Scarce passage migrant.
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	Uncommon passage migrant.
Spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor. Rare summer visitor. Has bred.
Greater Flamingo	Phoenicopterus ruber	Very common winter visitor. Common passage migrant. Common resident. Has bred.
White-fronted Goose	Anser albifrons	Rare winter visitor.
Greylag Goose	Anser anser	Rare winter visitor.
Ruddy Shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	Rare passage migrant and winter visitor.
Shelduck	Tadorna tadorna	Uncommon winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Wigeon	Anas penelope	Uncommon winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Gadwall	Anas strepera	Uncommon winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Teal	Anas crecca	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Pintail	Anas acuta	Uncommon passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Garganey	Anas querquedula	Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Shoveler	Anas clypeata	Uncommon winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Marbled Teal	Marmaronetta angustirostris	Rare disperser in all seasons.
Pochard	Aythya ferina	Uncommon winter visitor. Rare passage migrant.
Ferruginous Duck	Aythya nyroca	Rare passage migrant and winter visitor.
Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula	Uncommon winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Honey Buzzard	Pernis apivorus	Uncommon passage migrant.
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Egyptian Vulture	Neophron percnopterus	Uncommon passage migrant.
Griffon Vulture	Gyps fulvus	Scarce disperser in spring, autumn and winter.
Black Vulture	Aegypius monachus	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Short-toed Eagle	Circaetus gallicus	Uncommon passage migrant.
Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Hen Harrier	Circus cyaneus	Rare passage migrant and winter visitor.
Pallid Harrier	Circus macrourus	Common passage migrant.
Montagu’s Harrier	Circus pygargus	Uncommon passage migrant.
Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	Rare passage migrant and winter visitor.
Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Shikra	Accipiter badius	Rare passage migrant and winter visitor.
Levant Sparrowhawk	Accipiter brevipes	Scarce passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Buzzard	Buteo buteo	Very common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Long-legged Buzzard	Buteo rufinus	Common passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Lesser Spotted Eagle	Aquila pomarina	Rare passage migrant.
Spotted Eagle	Aquila clanga	Common passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Steppe Eagle	Aquila nipalensis	Very common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Eastern Imperial Eagle	Aquila heliaca	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Booted Eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Bonelli’s Eagle	Hieraaetus fasciatus	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Lesser Kestrel	Falco naumanni	Very common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Common passage migrant. Common winter visitor. Uncommon resident. Has bred.
Merlin	Falco columbarius	Rare winter visitor. Rare passage migrant.
Hobby	Falco subbuteo	Common passage migrant.
Lanner	Falco biarmicus	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Saker	Falco cherrug	Rare passage migrant and winter visitor.
Peregrine	Falco peregrinus	Rare disperser in all seasons. Rare resident.
Barbary Falcon	Falco pelegrinoides	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Quail	Coturnix coturnix	Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Water Rail	Rallus aquaticus	Uncommon winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Spotted Crake	Porzana porzana	Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Little Crake	Porzana parva	Uncommon passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Has bred.
Baillon’s Crake	Porzana pusilla	Scarce passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Corncrake	Crex crex	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Common resident. Uncommon winter visitor. Breeds.
Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio porphyrio	Rare resident and disperser in all seasons. Has bred.
Coot	Fulica atra	Uncommon passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Rare resident. Has bred.
Common Crane	Grus grus	Rare winter visitor and passage migrant.
Demoiselle Crane	Anthropoides virgo	Rare passage migrant.
Houbara Bustard	Chlamydotis undulata	Rare passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor. Has bred.
Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor. Has bred.
Houbara Bustard	Chlamydotis undulata
Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus
Black-winged Stilt	Himanoptus himanoptus
Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	Uncommon winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant. Rare summer visitor.
Crab Plover	Dromas ardeola	Common winter visitor. Uncommon resident. Has bred.
Stone Curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Cream-coloured Courser	Cursorius cursor	Common passage migrant. Uncommon resident. Breeds.
Collared Pratincole	Glareola pratincola	Common passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor.
Black-winged Pratincole	Glareola nordmanni	Uncommon passage migrant.
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula	Common passage migrant. Common winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	Very common resident. Breeds.
Lesser Sand Plover	Charadrius mongolus	Very common passage migrant. Common winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor.
Greater Sand Plover	Charadrius leschenaultii	Very common passage migrant. Very common winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor. Has bred.
Caspian Plover	Charadrius asiaticus	Common passage migrant.
Dotterel	Charadrius morinellus	Rare passage migrant and winter visitor.
Pacific Golden Plover	Pluvialis fulva	Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor.
Grey Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	Common winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor.
Red-wattled Plover	Hoplopterus indicus	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Sociable Plover	Chettusia gregaria	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
White-tailed Plover	Chettusia leucura	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant.
Sanderling	Calidris alba	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Little Stint	Calidris minuta	Very common passage migrant. Common winter visitor.
Temminck’s Stint	Calidris temminckii	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea	Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	Very common passage migrant. Common winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Broad-billed Sandpiper	Limicola falcipennis	Uncommon passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.

Ruff	Philomachus pugnax	Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Jack Snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus	Scarce passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Snipe	Gallinago gallinago	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Great Snipe	Gallinago media	Rare passage migrant.
Black-tailed Godwit	Limosa limosa	Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Curlew	Numenius arquata	Very common winter visitor. Common passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor.
Spotted Redshank	Tringa erythropus	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Redshank	Tringa totanus	Very common passage migrant. Very common winter visitor.
Marsh Sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Greenshank	Tringa nebularia	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	Uncommon passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola	Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Terek Sandpiper	Xenus cinereus	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Pomarine Skua	Stercorarius pomarinus	Common passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.
Arctic Skua	Stercorarius parasiticus	Common passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Little Gull	Larus minutus	Rare winter visitor and passage migrant.
Great Black-headed Gull	Larus ichthyaetus	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Black-headed Gull	Larus ridibundus	Abundant passage migrant. Abundant winter visitor.
Slender-billed Gull	Larus genei	Abundant passage migrant. Common winter visitor. Uncommon summer visitor. Has bred.
Common Gull	Larus canus	Scarce winter visitor.
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus	Very common passage migrant. Common winter visitor.
Siberian Gull	Larus heuglini	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Yellow-legged Gull	Larus cachinnans	Very common passage migrant. Very common winter visitor. Uncommon summer visitor.
Gull-billed Tern	Gelochelidon nilotica	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Uncommon resident.
Caspian Tern	Sterna caspia	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Scarce resident. Has bred.
Swift Tern	Sterna bergii	Uncommon summer visitor. Scarce resident. Breeds.
Lesser Crested Tern	Sterna bengalensis	Common summer visitor. Scarce resident. Breeds.
Sandwich Tern	Sterna sandvicensis	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Scarce resident.
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor.
White-cheeked Tern	Sterna repressa	Very common summer visitor. Rare resident. Breeds.
Bridled Tern	Sterna anaethetus	Very common summer visitor. Scarce resident. Breeds.
Little Tern	Sterna albifrons	Common passage migrant. Rare summer visitor.
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybridus	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
White-winged Black Tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Breeds.
Spotted Sandgrouse	Pterocles senegallus	Irregular (has been common) summer visitor. Uncommon disperser in autumn, winter and spring. Has bred.
Black-bellied Sandgrouse	Pterocles orientalis	Uncommon winter visitor. Rare passage migrant.
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse	Pterocles alchata	Irregular (has been common) summer visitor. Uncommon passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Has bred.
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Abundant resident (Feral Pigeons, Tumbling Pigeons, etc). Breeds.
Woodpigeon	Columba palumbus	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	Very common resident. Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Breeds.
Turtle Dove	Streptopelia turtur	Very common passage migrant. Rare summer visitor. Rare winter visitor. Has bred.
Laughing Dove	Streptopelia senegalensis	Abundant resident. Breeds.
Namaqua Dove	Oena capensis	Uncommon resident. Scarce disperser in spring and autumn.
Ring-necked Parakeet	Psittacula krameri	Very common winter visitor. Uncommon resident.
Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	Uncommon passage migrant.
Barn Owl	Tyto alba	Scarce disperser in spring and autumn.
Scops Owl	Otus scops	Common passage migrant.
Eagle Owl	Bubo bubo	Scarce resident. Breeds.
Little Owl	Athene noctua	Uncommon resident. Breeds.
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus	Scarce passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus	Common passage migrant. Rare summer visitor.
Egyptian Nightjar	Caprimulgus aegyptius	Common passage migrant. Rare summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.
Swift	Apus apus	Abundant passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Pallid Swift	Apus pallidus	Very common passage migrant. Common summer visitor. Common winter visitor. Breeds.
Alpine Swift	Apus melba	Scarce passage migrant.
White-breasted Kingfisher	Halcyon smyrnensis	Uncommon winter visitor. Scarce resident. Breeds.
Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	Scarce winter visitor. Scarce passage migrant.
Pied Kingfisher	Ceryle rudis	Scarce disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater	Merops superciliosus	Abundant passage migrant. Rare summer visitor. Has bred.
Bee-eater	Merops apiaster	Abundant passage migrant.
Roller	Coracias garrulus	Common passage migrant.
Indian Roller	Coracias bengalensis	Scarce disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Hoopoe	Upupa epops	Common passage migrant.
Wryneck	Jynx torquilla	Uncommon passage migrant.
Dunn’s Lark	Eremelauda dunni	Scarce disperser in spring, summer and autumn. Rare disperser in winter.
Bar-tailed Desert Lark	Ammomanes cincturus	Uncommon resident. Breeds.
Desert Lark	Ammomanes deserti	Uncommon resident. Breeds.
Hoopoe Lark	Alaemon alaudipes	Common resident. Uncommon disperser in spring and autumn. Breeds.
Thick-billed Lark	Ramphocoris clotbey	Rare winter visitor.
Bimaculated Lark	Melanocorypha bimaculata	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor. Has bred.
Short-toed Lark	Calandrella brachydactyla	Abundant passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Scarce winter visitor. Has bred.
Lesser Short-toed Lark	Calandrella rufescens	Very common passage migrant. Very common winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor. Has bred.
Crested Lark	Galerida cristata	Very common resident. Breeds.
Wood Lark	Lullula arborea	Rare winter visitor and passage migrant.
Small Skylark	Alauda gulgula	Scarce disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Skylark	Alauda arvensis	Uncommon winter visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Temminck’s Horned Lark	Eremophila bilophus	Scarce disperser in autumn, winter and spring. Rare resident. Has bred.
Sand Martin	Riparia riparia	Abundant passage migrant. Uncommon summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.
Crag Martin	Ptyonoprogne rupestris	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Swallow	Hirundo rustica	Abundant passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor.
Red-rumped Swallow	Hirundo daurica	Common passage migrant.
House Martin	Delichon urbica	Abundant passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Tawny Pipit	Anthus campestris	Very common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Olive-backed Pipit	Anthus hodgsoni	Rare winter visitor.
Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis	Very common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis	Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor.
Red-throated Pipit	Anthus cervinus	Very common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Water Pipit	Anthus spinoletta	Common winter visitor. Common passage migrant.
Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava	Very common passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.
Citrine Wagtail	Motacilla citreola	Rare passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
White Wagtail	Motacilla alba	Abundant winter visitor. Abundant passage migrant.
White-cheeked Bulbul	Pycnonotus leucogenys	Very common resident. Breeds.
Red-vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer	Common resident. Breeds.
Grey Hypocolius	Hypocolius ampelinus	Common passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Dunnock	Prunella modularis	Rare winter visitor.
Rufous Bush Robin	Cercotrichas galactotes	Common passage migrant. Uncommon summer visitor. Breeds.
Robin	Erithacus rubecula	Common winter visitor.
Thrush Nightingale	Luscinia luscinia	Uncommon passage migrant.
Nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos	Uncommon passage migrant.
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica	Common winter visitor. Common passage migrant.
White-throated Robin	Irania gutturalis	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Eversmann's Redstart	Phoenicurus erythronotus	Rare winter visitor.
Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros	Common passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	Very common passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Stonechat	Saxicola torquata	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Isabelline Wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	Abundant passage migrant. Common winter visitor.
Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	Abundant passage migrant.
Pied Wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka	Abundant passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Black-eared Wheatear	Oenanthe hispanica	Uncommon passage migrant.
Desert Wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	Abundant passage migrant. Common winter visitor.
Finsch’s Wheatear	Oenanthe finschii	Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant.
Red-tailed Wheatear	Oenanthe xanthoprymna	Scarce passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Mourning Wheatear	Oenanthe lugens	Scarce disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Hooded Wheatear	Oenanthe monacha	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
White-crowned Black Wheater	Oenanthe leucopyga	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Rock Thrush	Monticola saxatilis	Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Blue Rock Thrush	Monticola solitarius	Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Blackbird	Turdus merula	Scarce winter visitor.
Dark-throated Thrush	Turdus ruficollis	Rare winter visitor.
Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris	Rare winter visitor and passage migrant.
Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos	Common winter visitor. Common passage migrant.
Redwing	Turdus iliacus	Rare winter visitor and passage migrant.
Cetti’s Warbler	Cettia cetti	Uncommon disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Fan-tailed Warbler	Cisticola juncidis	Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Graceful Warbler	Prinia gracilis	Common resident. Breeds.
Grasshopper Warbler	Locustella naevia	Scarce passage migrant.
River Warbler	Locustella fluviatilis	Uncommon passage migrant.
Savi’s Warbler	Locustella luscinioides	Uncommon passage migrant.
Moustached Warbler	Acrocephalus melanopogon	Common winter visitor. Common passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor.
Sedge Warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	Common passage migrant.
Marsh Warbler	Acrocephalus palustris	Common passage migrant.
Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus	Very common passage migrant. Uncommon summer visitor. Rare winter visitor. Breeds.
Clamorous Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus stentoreus	Common passage migrant. Scarce resident.
Great Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus arundinaceus	Very common passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Has bred.
Basra Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus griseldis	Common passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor.
Olivaceous Warbler	Hippolais pallida	Very common passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.
Syke's Warbler	Hippolais rama	Uncommon passage migrant.
Upcher’s Warbler	Hippolais languida	Very common passage migrant.
Icterine Warbler	Hippolais icterina	Scarce passage migrant.
Ménétries’s Warbler	Sylvia mystacea	Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Desert Warbler	Sylvia nana	Common passage migrant. Common winter visitor.
Orphean Warbler	Sylvia hortensis	Uncommon passage migrant.
Barred Warbler	Sylvia nisoria	Uncommon passage migrant.<