List of birds of Kuwait

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Kuwait. The avifauna of Kuwait include a total of 416 species, of which 8 have been introduced by humans. One species listed is extirpated in Kuwait.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Kuwait.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.

  • (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Kuwait
  • (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Kuwait as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
  • (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Kuwait although populations exist elsewhere
  • (X) Extinct - a species or subspecies that no longer exists


Ostriches

Order: Struthioniformes   Family: Struthionidae

The ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa. It is the largest living species of bird. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.

Common nameVernacular nameTrinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusNotesImage
Arabian ostrichالنعامة
Al-Na3ama
Struthio camelus ssp syriacusXExtinctFormerly widespread in the Arabian peninsula

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Graylag gooseAnser anserNLeast concern Winter visitor
Greater white-fronted gooseAnser albifronsALeast concern?Vagrant
Mute swanCygnus olorALeast concern Single vagrant record from 1997
Ruddy shelduckTadorna ferrugineaALeast concern?Vagrant
Common shelduckTadorna tadornaNLeast concern Scarce winter visitor
GarganeySpatula querquedulaNLeast concern Passage migrant and winter visitor
Northern shovelerSpatula clypeataNLeast concern Winter visitor
GadwallMareca streperaNLeast concern Scarce winter visitor
Eurasian wigeonMareca penelopeNLeast concern Winter visitor
MallardAnas platyrhynchosNLeast concern Common winter visitor
Northern pintailAnas acutaNLeast concern Winter visitor
Green-winged tealAnas creccaNLeast concern?Winter visitor
Marbled tealMarmaronetta angustirostrisAVulnerable Vagrant
Red-crested pochardNetta rufinaALeast concern?Vagrant
Common pochardAythya ferinaRVulnerable Scarce migrant
Ferruginous duckAythya nyrocaNNear threatened Formerly a vagrant, now a rare established breeder
Tufted duckAythya fuligulaNLeast concern Rare winter visitor
Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisRVulnerable Vagrant
Red-breasted merganserMergus serratorALeast concern Single vagrant record from 1997

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
See-see partridgeAmmoperdix griseogularisILeast concern Introduced
Common quailCoturnix coturnixNLeast concern Passage migrant
ChukarAlectoris chukarILeast concern Introduced
Black francolinFrancolinus francolinusALeast concern Vagrant

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Greater flamingoPhoenicopterus roseusNLeast concern Common overwintering species; scarce breeder
Lesser flamingoPhoeniconaias minorANear threatened Vagrant occasionally recorded, often alongside its more common relative

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Little grebeTachybaptus ruficollisNLeast concern Resident
Horned grebePodiceps auritusAVulnerable Vagrant with 2 records
Red-necked grebePodiceps grisegenaALeast concern Vagrant
Great crested grebePodiceps cristatusRLeast concern?Rare passage migrant
Eared grebePodiceps nigricolisNLeast concern?Winter visitor

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Rock dove (and domestic variants)Columba liviaNLeast concern Domestic variants common everywhere, wild rock doves may be found near the coast
Stock doveColumba oenasALeast concern Vagrant
Common wood-pigeonColumba palumbusNLeast concern Overwintering species
Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturRVulnerable Rare breeder
Oriental doveStreptopelia orientalisRLeast concern Scarce disperser, very prone to vagrancy and often found outside its defined migratory range
Eurasian collared-doveStreptopelia decoctoNLeast concern Common
African collared-doveStreptopelia roseogriseaILeast concern?Introduced; similar to the Eurasian relative; however, the tail has a different underside pattern
Laughing doveStreptopelia senegalensisNLeast concern Common
Namaqua doveOena capensisNLeast concern Resident and scarce disperser

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage
Pin-tailed sandgrousePterocles alchataNLeast concern Increasingly rare overwintering species
Chestnut-bellied sandgrousePterocles exustusALeast concern Vagrant
Spotted sandgrousePterocles senegallusNLeast concern Scarce passage migrant
Black-bellied sandgrousePterocles orientalisNLeast concern Rare overwintering species

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
MacQueen's bustardChlamydotis macqueeniiRVulnerable Formerly a resident breeder, now an irregular winter visitor

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Great spotted cuckooClamator glandariusRLeast concern Scarce disperser
Asian koelEudynamys scolopaceusALeast concern Vagrant, single record
Common cuckooCuculus canorusNLeast concern Passage migrant

Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage
Eurasian nightjarCaprimulgus europaeusNLeast concern Passage migrant
Egyptian nightjarCaprimulgus aegyptiusRLeast concern Rare passage migrant

Swifts

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Alpine swiftTachymarptis melbaRLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Common swiftApus apusNLeast concern Uncommon winter visitor
Pallid swiftApus pallidusNLeast concern Winter visitor
Little swiftApus affinisALeast concern Vagrant

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Water railRallus aquaticusRLeast concern Winter visitor
CorncrakeCrex crexRLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Spotted crakePorzana porzanaNLeast concern Uncommon passage migrant
Eurasian moorhenGallinula chloropusNLeast concern Common
Eurasian cootFulica atraNLeast concern Resident and winter visitor
Grey-headed swamphenPorphyrio poliocephalusNNot recognised by the IUCN?Resident breeder
White-breasted waterhenAmaurornis phoenicurusALeast concern?Vagrant
Little crakePorzana parvaNLeast concern Uncommon migrant
Baillon's crakeZapornia pusillaNLeast concern?Uncommon migrant

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Common craneGrus grusALeast concern Vagrant
Demoiselle craneGrus virgoALeast concern Vagrant

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Eurasian thick-kneeBurhinus oedicnemusNLeast concern Passage migrant and overwintering

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Black-winged stiltHimantopus himantopusNLeast concern Migrant and breeder
Pied avocetRecurvirostra avosettaNLeast concern?Common winter visitor

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage
Eurasian oystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNNear threatened Passage migrant

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendFrequencyImage
Black-bellied ploverPluvialis squatarolaNLeast concern Common, found on coasts and shores
European golden-ploverPluvialis apricariaRLeast concern Few annual records
Pacific golden-ploverPluvialis fulvaNLeast concern Winter visitor and passage migrant
Northern lapwingVanellus vanellusNNear threatened Winter visitor
Spur-winged lapwingVanellus spinosus?Least concern Uncertain
Red-wattled lapwingVanellus indicusNLeast concern?Migrant and breeding resident
Sociable lapwingVanellus gregariusRCritically endangered Considered a vagrant, though it seems to frequent some farms and reserves
White-tailed lapwingVanellus leucurusRLeast concern?Winter visitor
Lesser sand ploverCharadrius mongolusNLeast concern?Common year-round
Greater sand ploverCharadrius leschenaultiiNLeast concern Common year-round
Caspian ploverCharadrius asiaticusNLeast concern Scarce passage migrant
Kentish ploverCharadrius alexandrinusNLeast concern Resident breeder
Common ringed ploverCharadrius hiaticulaNLeast concern Common year-round
Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubiusNLeast concern?Breeding, leaves the country in winter
Eurasian dotterelCharadrius morinellusNLeast concern Scarce and elusive winter visitor

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendFrequencyImage
Eurasian curlewNumenius arquataNNear threatened Winter visitor
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusNLeast concern Passage migrant
Little curlewNumenius minutusALeast concern Single vagrant record in 2007
Slender-billed curlewNumenius tenuirostrisXCritically endangered Few records of this species have been obtained in recent times, and it is feared extinct
Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNNear threatened Passage migrant and winter visitor
Black-tailed godwitLimosa limosaNNear threatened Passage migrant and winter visitor
Ruddy turnstoneArenaria interpresNLeast concern Passage migrant and winter visitor
Great knotCalidris tenuirostrisREndangered Rare migrant
Red knotCalidris canutusANear threatened Vagrant with 9 records
RuffCalidris pugnaxNLeast concern Common
Broad-billed sandpiperCalidris falcinellusNLeast concern Passage migrant
Curlew sandpiperCalidris ferrugineaNNear threatened Passage migrant and visitor in late winter
Temminck's stintCalidris temminckiiNLeast concern?Passage migrant and winter visitor; common on shores and rocky coasts
SanderlingCalidris albaNLeast concern?Passage migrant and winter visitor
DunlinCalidris alpinaNLeast concern Winter visitor
Purple sandpiperCalidris maritimaALeast concern Vagrant
Little stintCalidris minutaNLeast concern Winter visitor
Pectoral sandpiperCalidris melatonosALeast concern Single vagrant record in 2011
Jack snipeLymnocryptes minimusNLeast concern Scarce and elusive winter visitor
Eurasian woodcockScolopax rusticolaALeast concern Rare winter visitor
Common snipeGallinago gallinagoNLeast concern Passage migrant and winter visitor
Great snipeGallinago mediaRNear threatened Rare passage migrant
Pin-tailed snipeGallinago stenuraALeast concern?Vagrant
Terek sandpiperXenus cinereusNLeast concern Resident
Red-necked phalaropePhalaropus lobatusNLeast concern Scarce passage migrant
Red phalaropePhalaropus fulicariusALeast concern Rare winter visitor
Common sandpiperActitis hypoleucosNLeast concern Very common throughout winter and late summer
Green sandpiperTringa ochropusNLeast concern Relatively common throughout winter and spring
Spotted redshankTringa erythropusNLeast concern Common winter visitor and passage migrant
Common greenshankTringa nebulariaNLeast concern Common winter visitor and passage migrant
Marsh sandpiperTringa stagnatilisNLeast concern Somewhat common winter visitor and passage migrant
Wood sandpiperTringa glareolaNLeast concern Common winter visitor and passage migrant
Common redshankTringa totanusNLeast concern?Winter visitor and passage migrant

Crab plover

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Dromadidae

The crab plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage
Crab-ploverDromas ardeolaNLeast concern Migrant and breeder

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Cream-coloured courserCursorius cursorNLeast concern Scarce resident and common migrant
Collared pratincoleGlareola pratincolaNLeast concern Passage migrant
Oriental pratincoleGlareola maldivarumALeast concern Single vagrant record in 2008
Black-winged pratincoleGlareola nordmanniNNear threatened Passage migrant

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Pomarine skuaStercorarius pomarinusNLeast concern Summer visitor
Arctic skuaStercorarius parasiticusNLeast concern Summer visitor
Long-tailed jaegerStercorarius longicaudusALeast concern Vagrant with 3 records

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns and kittiwakes. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaAVulnerable Vagrant
Sabine's gullXema sabiniALeast concern Vagrant recorded in 2016
Slender-billed gullChroicocephalus geneiNLeast concern?Abundant winter visitor
Black-headed gullChroicocephalus ridibundusNLeast concern?Common winter visitor
Brown-headed gullChroicocephalus brunnicephaluaALeast concern Vagrant
Little gullHydrocoloeus minutusALeast concern Vagrant
Franklin's gullLeucophaeus pipixanALeast concern Vagrant
Mediterranean gullLarus melanocephalusALeast concern Vagrant often recorded during passage migration seasons
White-eyed gullLarus leucophthalmusALeast concern Vagrant recorded once in 2018
Pallas's gullLarus ichthyaetusNLeast concern Overwintering species
Mew gullLarus canusRLeast concern?Rare winter visitor
Caspian gullLarus cachinnansNLeast concern Overwintering species
Armenian gullLarus armenicusRLeast concern Rare visitor during winter months
Lesser black-backed gullLarus fuscusNLeast concern Overwintering species
Bridled ternOnychoprion anaethetusNLeast concern?Breeder and passage migrant
Little ternSternula albifronsNLeast concern Passage migrant
Saunders's ternSternula saundersiNLeast concern Migrant and breeder
Gull-billed ternGelocheilodon niloticaNLeast concern Overwintering species
TschegravaHydroprogne caspiaNLeast concern Resident breeder
White-winged ternChlidonias nigerALeast concern Passage migrant
Black ternChlidonias leucopterusNLeast concern Vagrant with several records
Whiskered ternChlidonias hybridaNLeast concern Common
Common ternSterna hirundoNLeast concern?Uncommon passage migrant
Arctic ternSterna paradisaeaALeast concern Vagrant recorded occasionally at Al Jahra bay
White-cheeked ternSterna repressaNLeast concern Common
Great crested ternThalasseus bergiiNLeast concern Passage migrant
Sandwich ternThalasseus sandvicensisNLeast concern Winter visitor
Lesser crested-ternThalasseus bengalensisNLeast concern Common

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Red-billed tropicbirdPhaethon aethereusALeast concern Vagrant, last seen almost 50 years ago

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Arctic loonGavia arcticaALeast concern Vagrant

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Jouanin's petrelBulweria fallaxANear threatened Vagrant with one record
Sooty shearwaterArdenna griseaANear threatened Vagrant with 4 records
Short-tailed shearwaterArdenna tenuirostrisALeast concern Vagrant
Tropical shearwaterPuffinus bailloniALeast concern Vagrant
Persian shearwaterPuffinus persicusALeast concern One record of about 25 birds in 1957, may be more abundant as the offshore waters of the nation are not frequented by birdwatchers

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
White storkCiconia ciconiaNLeast concern Uncommon passage migrant
Black storkCiconia nigraALeast concern?Rare visitor in late spring

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Great cormorantPhalacrocorax carboNLeast concern Common throughout winter
Socotra cormorantPhalacrocorax nigrogularisEVulnerable Endemic to the region

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Lesser frigatebirdFregata arielALeast concern Recorded once in 2008

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Masked boobySula dactylatraALeast concern Vagrant with 2 records
Brown boobySula leucogasterALeast concern Vagrant

Anhingas

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas or darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
African darterAnhinga rufaALeast concern Vagrant, a single record of a pair in 2009

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Great white pelicanPelecanus onocrotalusRLeast concern?Scarce disperser, recorded occasionally around Jahra bay
Dalmatian pelicanPelecanus crispusRNear threatened Vagrant to the mainland, though it breeds on Bubyan Island

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Great bitternBotaurus stellarisRLeast concern Rare winter visitor
Little bitternIxobrychus minutusNLeast concern Passage migrant
Grey heronArdea cinereaNLeast concern?Resident and migrant
Purple heronArdea purpureaNLeast concern Resident and migrant
Great egretEgretta albaNLeast concern?Overwintering
Little egretEgretta garzettaNLeast concern Winter visitor
Western reef-heronEgretta gularisNLeast concern Uncommon resident, abundant winter visitor
Cattle egretBubulcus ibisNLeast concern Passage migrant and winter visitor
Squacco heronArdeola ralloidesNLeast concern?Passage migrant
Indian pond-heronArdeola grayiiALeast concern?Vagrant
Striated heronButroides striataALeast concern Vagrant
Black-crowned night heronNycticorax nycticoraxNLeast concern Winter visitor

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and, despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Glossy ibisPlegadis falcinellusNLeast concern Overwintering species
African sacred ibisThreskiornis aethiopicusALeast concern Vagrant with 2 records
Eurasian spoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaRLeast concern?Rare migrant

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendFrequencyImage
OspreyPandion haliaetusNLeast concern Resident

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Black-winged kiteElanus caeruleusRLeast concern Scarce disperser
Egyptian vultureNeophron percnopterusREndangered Rare passage migrant
European honey-buzzardPernis apivorusRLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Crested honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusNLeast concern Winter visitor
Eurasian griffonGyps fulvusNLeast concern Scarce winter migrant
Cinereous vultureAegypius monachusRNear threatened Scarce winter visitor
Lappet-faced vultureTorgos tracheliotosAEndangered Single vagrant recorded in 2008
Short-toed snake eagleCircaetus gallicusNLeast concern Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor
Great spotted eagleClanga clangaNVulnerable Overwintering species. White spots are more prominent in juveniles, though they tend to fade into adulthood.
Lesser spotted eagleClanga pomarinaRLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatusNLeast concern Scarce passage migrant
Golden eagleAquila chrysaetosALeast concern Vagrant
Steppe eagleAquila nipalensisNEndangered Passage migrant
Eastern imperial eagleAquila heliacaRVulnerable Rare overwintering species
Bonelli's eagleAquila fasciataALeast concern Rare autumn disperser
Western marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusNLeast concern Winter visitor
Hen harrierCircus cyaneusRLeast concern Scarce winter visitor
Pallid harrierCircus macrourusNNear threatened Winter visitor
Montagu's harrierCircus pygargusNLeast concern Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor
ShikraAccipiter badiusNLeast concern Uncommon winter visitor
Levant sparrowhawkAccipiter brevipesALeast concern Vagrant
Eurasian sparrowhawkAccipiter nisusRLeast concern Scarce winter visitor
Northern goshawkAccipiter gentilisALeast concern?Vagrant
Black kiteMilvus migransNLeast concern Very common overwintering species
White-tailed sea eagleHaliaeetus albicillaALeast concern Rare winter visitor
Common buzzardButeo buteoNLeast concern Common passage migrant
Long-legged buzzardButeo rufinusALeast concern Frequent winter visitor

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Barn owlTyto albaNLeast concern Scarce disperser

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Eurasian scops-owlOtus scopsNLeast concern Uncommon passage migrant. Recognised by its large ear tufts, it is rarely seen at day. The plumage may vary.
Pallid scops-owlOtus bruceiALeast concern Vagrant
Pharaoh eagle owlBubo ascalaphusNLeast concern Uncommon resident
Lilith owletAthene noctuaNLeast concern Resident
Long-eared owlAsio otusALeast concern Vagrant
Short-eared owlAsio flammeusRLeast concern Rare winter visitor

Hoopoes

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their heads.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Eurasian hoopoeUpupa epopsNLeast concern Autumn and spring migrant

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Common kingfisherAlcedo atthisNLeast concern?Uncommon wintering species
White-breasted kingfisherHalcyon smyrnensisNLeast concern Uncommon resident
Pied kingfisherCeryle rudisNLeast concern?Uncommon winter visitor

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
European bee-eaterMerops apiasterNLeast concern Common passage migrant
Arabian bee-eaterMerops cyanophrysALeast concern Vagrant
Blue-cheeked bee-eaterMerops persicusNLeast concern Common passage migrant

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
European rollerCoracias garrulusNLeast concern Passage migrant
Indian rollerCoracias benghalensisNLeast concern Scarce disperser

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Eurasian wryneckJynx torquillaNLeast concern Passage migrant

Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Lesser kestrelFalco naumanniNLeast concern Passage migrant
Common kestrelFalco tinnuculusNLeast concern Common winter visitor
Red-footed falconFalco vespertinusAVulnerable Vagrant
Amur falconFalco amurensisALeast concern Vagrant
Eleonora's falconFalco eleonoraeALeast concern Vagrant recorded once in 2018
Sooty falconFalco concolorRVulnerable Rare summer visitor
MerlinFalco columbariusRLeast concern Rare winter visitor
Eurasian hobbyFalco subbuteoNLeast concern Winter visitor
Lanner falconFalco biarmicusRLeast concern Scarce disperser in autumn and spring
Saker falconFalco cherrugREndangered Rare winter migrant
Peregrine falconFalco peregrinusRLeast concern Scarce disperser

Old World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Rose-ringed parakeetAlexandrinus krameriILeast concern Introduced

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Eurasian golden orioleOriolus oriolusNLeast concern Late spring visitor

Drongos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Black drongoDicurus macrocercusALeast concern?Vagrant recorded once
Ashy drongoDicurus leucophaeusALeast concern?Vagrant recorded thrice

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Red-backed shrikeLanius collurioNLeast concern Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor
Turkestan shrikeLanius phoenicuroidesNLeast concern Common winter migrant
Isabelline shrikeLanius isabellinusNLeast concern Common winter migrant
Brown shrikeLanius cristatusALeast concern Vagrant with one record
Bay-backed shrikeLanius vitattusALeast concern Vagrant
Long-tailed shrikeLanius schachALeast concern?Vagrant
Great grey shrikeLanius excubitor
Lanius excubitor ssp. aucheri (Arabian grey shrike)
Lanius excubitor ssp. pallidirostris (Steppe grey shrike)
NLeast concern Overwintering species
Lesser grey shrikeLanius minorNLeast concern Uncommon passage migrant
Masked shrikeLanius nubicusNLeast concern Passage migrant and winter visitor
Woodchat shrikeLanius senatorNNear threatened Passage migrant

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
House crowCorvus splendensILeast concern Introduced
RookCorvus frugilegusALeast concern Vagrant with 3 records
Brown-necked ravenCorvus rufficolisRLeast concern Scarce disperser
Hooded crowCorvus cornixANot recognised by the IUCN Vagrant with one record in 2012
Western jackdawColoeus monedulaALeast concern Recorded in 2023

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Sombre titPoecile lugubrisALeast concern Vagrant with a single record in 2009
Great titParus majorALeast concern Vagrant with a single record in 2006

Penduline-tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Eurasian penduline-titRemiz pendulinusNLeast concern Uncommon winter visitor

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Greater hoopoe-larkAlaemon alaudipesNLeast concern Resident
Bar-tailed larkAmmomanes cincturusNLeast concern Resident breeder
Desert larkAmmomanes desertiNLeast concern Resident
Black-crowned sparrow larkEremopterix nigricepsNLeast concern Resident
Temminck's larkEremophila bilophaNLeast concern Uncommon disperser
Greater short-toed larkCalandrella brachydactylaNLeast concern?Winter visitor
Bimaculated larkMelanocorypha bimaculataRLeast concern Rare winter visitor
Calandra larkMelanocorypha calandraALeast concern Vagrant
Arabian larkEremalauda eremoditesALeast concern Vagrant
Turkestan short-toed larkEremalauda eremoditesNNot recognised by the IUCN Uncommon in the country, this species is more likely to be encountered in open deserts. A new derivative, this species was considered conspecific with the lesser short-toed lark until 2020.
WoodlarkLullula arboreaALeast concern Vagrant
Eurasian skylarkAlauda arvensisRLeast concern scarce winter visitor
Oriental skylarkAlauda gulgulaRLeast concern Scarce winter visitor
Crested larkGalerdia cristataNLeast concern Breeding resident

Cisticolas and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendFrequencyImage
Graceful priniaPrinia gracilisNLeast concern Winter visitor
Delicate priniaPrinia lepidaANot recognised by the IUCN?Taxonomy disputed; it is considered part of the graceful prinia species complex by several authorities
Zitting cisticolaCisticola juncidisALeast concern Vagrant with 5 records

Laughingthrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendFrequencyImage
Afghan babblerArgya huttoniNNot recognised by the IUCN?Scarce resident
Arabian babblerArgya squamicepsALeast concern Vagrant

Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Booted warblerIduna caligataALeast concern Vagrant
Syke's warblerIduna ramaALeast concern Vagrant
Eastern olivaceous warblerIduna pallidaNLeast concern Scarce passage migrant
Upcher's warblerHippolais languidaNLeast concern Winter visitor
Olive-tree warblerHippolais olivetorunALeast concern Vagrant recorded once in 1972
Icterine warblerHippolais icterinaNLeast concern Vagrant
Moustached warblerAcrocephalus melanopogonALeast concern Vagrant
Sedge warblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusNLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Paddyfield warblerAcrocephalus agricolaALeast concern Vagrant
Blyth's reed warblerAcrocephalus dumetorumALeast concern Vagrant with 3 records
Marsh warblerAcrocephalus palustrisRLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Eurasian reed warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusNLeast concern Uncommon
Basra reed warblerEremalauda eremoditesEEndangered Endemic breeding species
Great reed warblerAcrocephalus arundinaceusNLeast concern Uncommon winter visitor
Oriental reed warblerAcrocephalus orientalisALeast concern Vagrant
Clamorous reed warblerAcrocephalus stentoreusNLeast concern Winter visitor

Grassbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage
River warblerLocustella fluviatilisALeast concern Vagrant
Savi's warblerLocustella luscinioidesNLeast concern Winter visitor
Common grasshopper-warblerLocustella naeviaNLeast concern Winter visitor

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Bank swallowRiparia ripariaNLeast concern Common in both late summer and winter
Brown-throated martinRiparia paludicolaALeast concern Vagrant
Grey-throated martinRiparia chinensisALeast concern Vagrant
Pale sand martinRiparia dilutaALeast concern?Vagrant
Eurasian crag-martinPtyonoprogne rupestrisRLeast concern Rare winter visitor
Pale crag-martinPtyonoprogne fuligulaALeast concern Vagrant, 8 records
Barn swallowHirundo rusticaNLeast concern Frequent and abundant passage migrant
Red-rumped swallowCecropis dauricaNLeast concern Passage migrant
Streak-throated swallowPterocheliodon fluvicolaALeast concern Vagrant
Common house-martinDelichon urbicumNLeast concern Uncommon

Bulbuls

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Red-vented bulbulPycnonotus caferILeast concern Introduced resident
White-eared bulbulPycnonotus leucotisNLeast concern Common

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Wood warblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixALeast concern Vagrant
Yellow-browed warblerPhylloscopus inornatusALeast concern Vagrant
Eastern Bonelli's WarblerPhylloscopus orientalisALeast concern Vagrant
Hume's warblerPhylloscopus humeiALeast concern Vagrant
Radde's WarblerPhylloscopus schwarziALeast concern Vagrant
Plain leaf warblerPhylloscopus neglectusALeast concern Vagrant
Mountain chiffchaffPhylloscopus sindianusALeast concern Vagrant
Willow warblerPhylloscopus trochilusNLeast concern Common in spring and autumn
Common chiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaNLeast concern Like the willow warbler, but more common in the winter
Green warblerPhylloscopus nitidusALeast concern Vagrant
Greenish warblerPhylloscopus trochiloidesALeast concern Vagrant

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Eurasian blackcapSylvia atricapillaNLeast concern Passage migrant
Garden warblerSylvia borinALeast concern Vagrant
Asian desert warblerCurruca nanaNLeast concern Common winter visitor
Barred warblerCurruca nisoriaNLeast concern Uncommon passage migrant
Lesser whitethroatC. currucaNLeast concern Common during spring migration and winter
Eastern Orphean warblerCurruca crassirostrisNLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Menetries's warblerCurruca mystaceaNLeast concern Passage migrant
Greater whitethroatCurruca communisNLeast concern Common migrant

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
GoldcrestRegulus regulusALeast concern Single vagrant recorded in 2013

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Eurasian wrenTroglodytes troglodytesALeast concern Vagrant recorded twice

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Common starlingSturnus vulgarisNLeast concern Migratory; winter visitor
Rosy starlingPastor roseusNLeast concern?Scarce migrant
Common mynaAcridotheres tristisILeast concern Introduced and established; extremely common throughout the country
Bank mynaAcridotheres ginginianusILeast concern Scarce resident

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Song thrushTurdus philomelosNLeast concern Overwintering
RedwingTurdus iliacusNNear threatened Rare winter visitor
Eurasian blackbirdTurdus merulaNLeast concern Scarce winter visitor
FieldfareTurdus pilarisNLeast concern Rare winter visitor
Ring ouzelTurdus torquatusALeast concern Vagrant
Black-throated thrushTurdus atrogularisALeast concern?Vagrant
Red-throated thrushTurdus ruficollisALeast concern?Vagrant
Dusky thrushTurdus eunomusALeast concern?Vagrant
Naumann's thrushTurdus naumaniiNLeast concern?Vagrant

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage
Black scrub-robinCercotrichas podobeRLeast concern Rare winter visitor
Spotted flycatcherMuscicapa striataNLeast concern Common passage migrant in spring and winter
Rufous-tailed scrub-robinCercotrichas galactotesNLeast concern Overwintering
European robinErithacus rubeculaNLeast concern Winter migrant
White-throated robinIrania gutturalisNLeast concern Spring visitor
Thrush nightingaleLuscinia lusciniaRLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Common nightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosNLeast concern Winter visitor
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaNLeast concern Common in winter
Taiga flycatcherFicedula albicillaALeast concern Vagrant
Red-breasted flycatcherFicedula parvaNLeast concern Uncommon; mostly seen in autumn
Semi-collared flycatcherFicedula semitorquataRLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Collared flycatcherFicedula albicollisALeast concern Vagrant
Rufous-backed redstartPhoenicurus erythronotusRLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Common redstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusNLeast concern Spring visitor
Black redstartPhoenicurus ochrurosNLeast concern Passage migrant

Blue rock thrushMonticola solitarusNLeast concern Common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor
Common rock thrushMonticola saxtalisNLeast concern Common passage migrant
WhinchatSaxicola rubertaNLeast concern Occasional passage migrant
European stonechatSaxicola rubicolaNRecognised as a subspecies of the common stonechat by the IUCN. Thus, no status exists for this species. Passage migrant
Siberian stonechatSaxicola maurusNRecognised as a subspecies of the common stonechat by the IUCN. Thus, no status exists for this species. The Siberian stonechat is practically identical to the European stonechat, and is in fact still considered conspecific by several taxonomic authorities. The only noticeable differences are its white colouration, which is more prevalent, as well as the colour of its underparts being reduced.
Pied bushchatSaxicola caprataALeast concern Vagrant
Northern wheatearOenanthe oenantheNLeast concern Common passage migrant
Isabelline wheatearOenanthe isabellinaNLeast concern Very common throughout winter and spring
Hooded wheatearOenanthe monachaRLeast concern Rare winter visitor
Desert wheatearOenanthe desertiNLeast concern Winter visitor
Pied wheatearOenanthe pleschankaNLeast concern Common winter visitor
Pied wheatearOenanthe pleschankaNLeast concern Common visitor
Variable wheatearOenanthe picataALeast concern Vagrant

Hume's wheatearOenanthe albonigraALeast concern Vagrant
White-crowned wheatearOenanthe albonigraALeast concern Vagrant
Finsch's wheatearOenanthe finschiiRLeast concern Rare winter visitor
Mourning wheatearOenanthe lugensNLeast concern Winter visitor
Kurdish wheatearOenanthe xanthoprymnaNLeast concern Scarce passage migrant
Persian wheatearOenanthe chrysopygiaNLeast concern Common winter visitor

Hypocolius

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hypocoliidae

The hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird with the shape and soft plumage of a waxwing. They are mainly a uniform grey colour, except the males have a black triangular mask around their eyes.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
HypocoliusHypocolius ampelinusNLeast concern?Uncommon winter visitor

Sunbirds and spiderhunters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Palestine sunbirdCinnyris oseaALeast concern Vagrant
Purple sunbirdCinnyris asiaticusALeast concern Vagrant

Weavers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black; some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Streaked weaverPloceus manyarILeast concern Introduced
Black-breasted weaverPloceus benghalensisILeast concern Introduced

Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Red avadavatAmandava amandavaILeast concern?Introduced
Indian silverbillEudoice malabaricaILeast concern Introduced

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Radde's accentorPrunella ocularisALeast concern Vagrant with three records in 2012
Black-throated accentorPrunella atrogularisALeast concern Single vagrant ringed in 1995
DunnockPrunella modularisALeast concern Vagrant with 4 records

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
House sparrowPasser domesticusNLeast concern Common
Spanish sparrowPasser hispaniolensisNLeast concern Resident breeder
Dead Sea sparrowPasser moabiticusALeast concern Vagrant recorded occasionally
Yellow-throated sparrowGymnoris xanthocollisALeast concern Vagrant
Pale rockfinchCarpispiza brachydactylaNLeast concern Passage migrant

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Forest wagtailDendronanthus indicusALeast concern Winter visitor
Gray wagtailMotacilla cinereaNLeast concern Winter visitor
Yellow wagtailMotacilla flavaNLeast concern Common passage migrant
Citrine wagtailMotacilla citreolaALeast concern Uncommon
White wagtailMotacilla albaNLeast concern Very common migrant
Richard's pipitAnthus richardiALeast concern Vagrant
Blyth's pipitAnthus godlewskiiALeast concern Vagrant
Long-billed pipitAnthus similisNLeast concern Winter visitor
Tawny pipitAnthus campestrisNLeast concern Common winter visitor
Meadow pipitAnthus pratensisNNear threatened Uncommon winter visitor
Tree pipitAnthus trivialisNLeast concern Scarce
Red-throated pipitAnthus cervinusNLeast concern Winter visitor
Olive-backed pipitAnthus hodgsoniiALeast concern Vagrant
Water pipitAnthus spinolettaNLeast concern Common in winter, this large pipit is easy to identify as it has black legs. It frequents wetlands, as suggested by its name.
American pipitAnthus rubescensALeast concern Vagrant

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Common chaffinchFringilla coelebsALeast concern Vagrant
BramblingFringilla montifringillaALeast concern Vagrant
HawfinchC. coccothraustesALeast concern Vagrant
Common rosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusRLeast concern Rare passage migrant
Trumpeter finchBucanetes githagineusNLeast concern Scarce resident
Mongolian finchBucanetes mongolicusALeast concern Vagrant
Desert finchRhodospiza obsoletaALeast concern Vagrant
European greenfinchChloris chlorisALeast concern Vagrant
Eurasian linnetLinaria cannabinaALeast concern Vagrant
Eurasian siskinSpinus spinusALeast concern Vagrant

Old World buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage
Black-headed buntingEmberiza melanocephalaRLeast concern?Rare passage migrant
Corn buntingEmberiza calandraNLeast concern Winter visitor and uncommon breeder
Red-headed buntingEmberiza brunnicepsALeast concern Vagrant
Cinereous buntingEmberiza cineraceaRNear threatened Rare passage migrant
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaALeast concern Vagrant with 2 records
Grey-necked buntingEmberiza buchananiALeast concern Vagrant
Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulanaNLeast concern Overwintering species
Striolated buntingEmberiza caesiaRLeast concern 2 vagrant records in 2013
Reed buntingEmberiza schoeniclusALeast concern Vagrant
Little buntingEmberiza pusillaALeast concern Vagrant with 15 records
Rustic buntingEmberiza rusticaAVulnerable Vagrant

See also

References

  • Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Kuwait". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  • Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: A Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.