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 name Vernacular name Trinomial name Status in the country Global status Notes Image
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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Graylag gooseAnser anserNLeast concernIncreaseWinter visitor
Greater white-fronted gooseAnser albifronsALeast concern?Vagrant
Mute swanCygnus olorALeast concernIncreaseSingle vagrant record from 1997
Ruddy shelduckTadorna ferrugineaALeast concern?Vagrant
Common shelduckTadorna tadornaNLeast concernIncreaseScarce winter visitor
GarganeySpatula querquedulaNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant and winter visitor
Northern shovelerSpatula clypeataNLeast concernDecreaseWinter visitor
GadwallMareca streperaNLeast concernIncreaseScarce winter visitor
Eurasian wigeonMareca penelopeNLeast concernDecreaseWinter visitor
MallardAnas platyrhynchosNLeast concernIncreaseCommon winter visitor
Northern pintailAnas acutaNLeast concernDecreaseWinter visitor
Green-winged tealAnas creccaNLeast concern?Winter visitor
Marbled tealMarmaronetta angustirostrisAVulnerableDecreaseVagrant
Red-crested pochardNetta rufinaALeast concern?Vagrant
Common pochardAythya ferinaRVulnerableDecreaseScarce migrant
Ferruginous duckAythya nyrocaNNear threatenedDecreaseFormerly a vagrant, now a rare established breeder
Tufted duckAythya fuligulaNLeast concernSteadyRare winter visitor
Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisRVulnerableDecreaseVagrant
Red-breasted merganserMergus serratorALeast concernSteadySingle 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
See-see partridgeAmmoperdix griseogularisILeast concernSteadyIntroduced
Common quailCoturnix coturnixNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant
ChukarAlectoris chukarILeast concernSteadyIntroduced
Black francolinFrancolinus francolinusALeast concernSteadyVagrant

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Greater flamingoPhoenicopterus roseusNLeast concernIncreaseCommon overwintering species; scarce breeder
Lesser flamingoPhoeniconaias minorANear threatenedDecreaseVagrant 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Little grebeTachybaptus ruficollisNLeast concernDecreaseResident
Horned grebePodiceps auritusAVulnerableDecreaseVagrant with 2 records
Red-necked grebePodiceps grisegenaALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Rock dove (and domestic variants)Columba liviaNLeast concernDecreaseDomestic variants common everywhere, wild rock doves may be found near the coast
Stock doveColumba oenasALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Common wood-pigeonColumba palumbusNLeast concernIncreaseOverwintering species
Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturRVulnerableDecreaseRare breeder
Oriental doveStreptopelia orientalisRLeast concernSteadyScarce disperser, very prone to vagrancy and often found outside its defined migratory range
Eurasian collared-doveStreptopelia decoctoNLeast concernIncreaseCommon
African collared-doveStreptopelia roseogriseaILeast concern ?Introduced; similar to the Eurasian relative; however, the tail has a different underside pattern
Laughing doveStreptopelia senegalensisNLeast concernSteadyCommon
Namaqua doveOena capensisNLeast concernIncreaseResident 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global Status Trend Notes Image
Pin-tailed sandgrousePterocles alchataNLeast concernSteadyIncreasingly rare overwintering species
Chestnut-bellied sandgrousePterocles exustusALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Spotted sandgrousePterocles senegallusNLeast concernSteadyScarce passage migrant
Black-bellied sandgrousePterocles orientalisNLeast concernDecreaseRare 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Macqueen's bustardChlamydotis macqueeniiRVulnerableDecreaseFormerly 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Great spotted cuckooClamator glandariusRLeast concernSteadyScarce disperser
Asian koelEudynamys scolopaceusALeast concernSteadyVagrant, single record
Common cuckooCuculus canorusNLeast concernDecreasePassage 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global Status Trend Notes Image
Eurasian nightjarCaprimulgus europaeusNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant
Egyptian nightjarCaprimulgus aegyptiusRLeast concernDecreaseRare 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Alpine swiftTachymarptis melbaRLeast concernSteadyRare passage migrant
Common swiftApus apusNLeast concernSteadyUncommon winter visitor
Pallid swiftApus pallidusNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Little swiftApus affinisALeast concernIncreaseVagrant

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Water railRallus aquaticusRLeast concernDecreaseWinter visitor
CorncrakeCrex crexRLeast concernSteadyRare passage migrant
Spotted crakePorzana porzanaNLeast concernSteadyUncommon passage migrant
Eurasian moorhenGallinula chloropusNLeast concernSteadyCommon
Eurasian cootFulica atraNLeast concernIncreaseResident and winter visitor
Grey-headed swamphenPorphyrio poliocephalusNNot recognised by the IUCN?Resident breeder
White-breasted waterhenAmaurornis phoenicurusALeast concern?Vagrant
Little crakePorzana parvaNLeast concernSteadyUncommon 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Common craneGrus grusALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Demoiselle craneGrus virgoALeast concernIncreaseVagrant

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Eurasian thick-kneeBurhinus oedicnemusNLeast concernDecreasePassage 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Black-winged stiltHimantopus himantopusNLeast concernIncreaseMigrant 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global Status Trend Notes Image
Eurasian oystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNNear threatenedDecreasePassage 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Frequency Image
Black-bellied ploverPluvialis squatarolaNLeast concernDecreaseCommon, found on coasts and shores
European golden-ploverPluvialis apricariaRLeast concernIncreaseFew annual records
Pacific golden-ploverPluvialis fulvaNLeast concernDecreaseWinter visitor and passage migrant
Northern lapwingVanellus vanellusNNear threatenedDecreaseWinter visitor
Spur-winged lapwingVanellus spinosus?Least concernIncreaseUncertain
Red-wattled lapwingVanellus indicusNLeast concern?Migrant and breeding resident
Sociable lapwingVanellus gregariusRCritically endangeredDecreaseConsidered 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 concernDecreaseCommon year-round
Caspian ploverCharadrius asiaticusNLeast concernDecreaseScarce passage migrant
Kentish ploverCharadrius alexandrinusNLeast concernDecreaseResident breeder
Common ringed ploverCharadrius hiaticulaNLeast concernDecreaseCommon year-round
Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubiusNLeast concern ?Breeding, leaves the country in winter
Eurasian dotterelCharadrius morinellusNLeast concernDecreaseScarce 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Frequency Image
Eurasian curlewNumenius arquataNNear threatenedDecreaseWinter visitor
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant
Little curlewNumenius minutusALeast concernSteadySingle vagrant record in 2007
Slender-billed curlewNumenius tenuirostrisXCritically endangeredDecreaseFew records of this species have been obtained in recent times, and it is feared extinct
Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNNear threatenedDecreasePassage migrant and winter visitor
Black-tailed godwitLimosa limosaNNear threatenedDecreasePassage migrant and winter visitor
Ruddy turnstoneArenaria interpresNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant and winter visitor
Great knotCalidris tenuirostrisREndangeredDecreaseRare migrant
Red knotCalidris canutusANear threatenedDecreaseVagrant with 9 records
RuffCalidris pugnaxNLeast concernDecreaseCommon
Broad-billed sandpiperCalidris falcinellusNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant
Curlew sandpiperCalidris ferrugineaNNear threatenedDecreasePassage 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 concernDecreaseWinter visitor
Purple sandpiperCalidris maritimaALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Little stintCalidris minutaNLeast concernIncreaseWinter visitor
Pectoral sandpiperCalidris melatonosALeast concernSteadySingle vagrant record in 2011
Jack snipeLymnocryptes minimusNLeast concernSteadyScarce and elusive winter visitor
Eurasian woodcockScolopax rusticolaALeast concernSteadyRare winter visitor
Common snipeGallinago gallinagoNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant and winter visitor
Great snipeGallinago mediaRNear threatenedDecreaseRare passage migrant
Pin-tailed snipeGallinago stenuraALeast concern?Vagrant
Terek sandpiperXenus cinereusNLeast concernDecreaseResident
Red-necked phalaropePhalaropus lobatusNLeast concernDecreaseScarce passage migrant
Red phalaropePhalaropus fulicariusALeast concernDecreaseRare winter visitor
Common sandpiperActitis hypoleucosNLeast concernDecreaseVery common throughout winter and late summer
Green sandpiperTringa ochropusNLeast concernIncreaseRelatively common throughout winter and spring
Spotted redshankTringa erythropusNLeast concernSteadyCommon winter visitor and passage migrant
Common greenshankTringa nebulariaNLeast concernSteadyCommon winter visitor and passage migrant
Marsh sandpiperTringa stagnatilisNLeast concernDecreaseSomewhat common winter visitor and passage migrant
Wood sandpiperTringa glareolaNLeast concernSteadyCommon 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global Status Trend Notes Image
Crab-ploverDromas ardeolaNLeast concernSteadyMigrant 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Cream-coloured courserCursorius cursorNLeast concernDecreaseScarce resident and common migrant
Collared pratincoleGlareola pratincolaNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant
Oriental pratincoleGlareola maldivarumALeast concernDecreaseSingle vagrant record in 2008
Black-winged pratincoleGlareola nordmanniNNear threatenedDecreasePassage 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Pomarine skuaStercorarius pomarinusNLeast concernSteadySummer visitor
Arctic skuaStercorarius parasiticusNLeast concernSteadySummer visitor
Long-tailed jaegerStercorarius longicaudusALeast concernSteadyVagrant 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaAVulnerableDecreaseVagrant
Sabine's gullXema sabiniALeast concernSteadyVagrant recorded in 2016
Slender-billed gullChroicocephalus geneiNLeast concern?Abundant winter visitor
Black-headed gullChroicocephalus ridibundusNLeast concern?Common winter visitor
Brown-headed gullChroicocephalus brunnicephaluaALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Little gullHydrocoloeus minutusALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Franklin's gullLeucophaeus pipixanALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Mediterranean gullLarus melanocephalusALeast concernDecreaseVagrant often recorded during passage migration seasons
White-eyed gullLarus leucophthalmusALeast concernSteadyVagrant recorded once in 2018
Pallas's gullLarus ichthyaetusNLeast concernIncreaseOverwintering species
Mew gullLarus canusRLeast concern?Rare winter visitor
Caspian gullLarus cachinnansNLeast concernIncreaseOverwintering species
Armenian gullLarus armenicusRLeast concernIncreaseRare visitor during winter months
Lesser black-backed gullLarus fuscusNLeast concernIncreaseOverwintering species
Bridled ternOnychoprion anaethetusNLeast concern?Breeder and passage migrant
Little ternSternula albifronsNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant
Saunders's ternSternula saundersiNLeast concernDecreaseMigrant and breeder
Gull-billed ternGelocheilodon niloticaNLeast concernDecreaseOverwintering species
TschegravaHydroprogne caspiaNLeast concernIncreaseResident breeder
White-winged ternChlidonias nigerALeast concernSteadyPassage migrant
Black ternChlidonias leucopterusNLeast concernDecreaseVagrant with several records
Whiskered ternChlidonias hybridaNLeast concernSteadyCommon
Common ternSterna hirundoNLeast concern?Uncommon passage migrant
Arctic ternSterna paradisaeaALeast concernDecreaseVagrant recorded occasionally at Al Jahra bay
White-cheeked ternSterna repressaNLeast concernDecreaseCommon
Great crested ternThalasseus bergiiNLeast concernSteadyPassage migrant
Sandwich ternThalasseus sandvicensisNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Lesser crested-ternThalasseus bengalensisNLeast concernSteadyCommon

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Red-billed tropicbirdPhaethon aethereusALeast concernDecreaseVagrant, 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Arctic loonGavia arcticaALeast concernDecreaseVagrant

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Jouanin's petrelBulweria fallaxANear threatenedDecreaseVagrant with one record
Sooty shearwaterArdenna griseaANear threatenedDecreaseVagrant with 4 records
Short-tailed shearwaterArdenna tenuirostrisALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Tropical shearwaterPuffinus bailloniALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Persian shearwaterPuffinus persicusALeast concernSteadyOne 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
White storkCiconia ciconiaNLeast concernIncreaseUncommon 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Great cormorantPhalacrocorax carboNLeast concernIncreaseCommon throughout winter
Socotra cormorantPhalacrocorax nigrogularisEVulnerableDecreaseEndemic 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Lesser frigatebirdFregata arielALeast concernDecreaseRecorded 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Masked boobySula dactylatraALeast concernDecreaseVagrant with 2 records
Brown boobySula leucogasterALeast concernDecreaseVagrant

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
African darterAnhinga rufaALeast concernDecreaseVagrant, 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Great white pelicanPelecanus onocrotalusRLeast concern?Scarce disperser, recorded occasionally around Jahra bay
Dalmatian pelicanPelecanus crispusRNear threatenedDecreaseVagrant 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Great bitternBotaurus stellarisRLeast concernDecreaseRare winter visitor
Little bitternIxobrychus minutusNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant
Grey heronArdea cinereaNLeast concern?Resident and migrant
Purple heronArdea purpureaNLeast concernDecreaseResident and migrant
Great egretEgretta albaNLeast concern?Overwintering
Little egretEgretta garzettaNLeast concernIncreaseWinter visitor
Western reef-heronEgretta gularisNLeast concernSteadyUncommon resident, abundant winter visitor
Cattle egretBubulcus ibisNLeast concernIncreasePassage migrant and winter visitor
Squacco heronArdeola ralloidesNLeast concern?Passage migrant
Indian pond-heronArdeola grayiiALeast concern?Vagrant
Striated heronButroides striataALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Black-crowned night heronNycticorax nycticoraxNLeast concernDecreaseWinter 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Glossy ibisPlegadis falcinellusNLeast concernDecreaseOverwintering species
African sacred ibisThreskiornis aethiopicusALeast concernSteadyVagrant 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Frequency Image
OspreyPandion haliaetusNLeast concernIncreaseResident

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Black-winged kiteElanus caeruleusRLeast concernSteadyScarce disperser
Egyptian vultureNeophron percnopterusREndangeredDecreaseRare passage migrant
European honey-buzzardPernis apivorusRLeast concernSteadyRare passage migrant
Crested honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusNLeast concernDecreaseWinter visitor
Eurasian griffonGyps fulvusNLeast concernIncreaseScarce winter migrant
Cinereous vultureAegypius monachusRNear threatenedDecreaseScarce winter visitor
Lappet-faced vultureTorgos tracheliotosAEndangeredDecreaseSingle vagrant recorded in 2008
Short-toed snake eagleCircaetus gallicusNLeast concernSteadyScarce passage migrant and winter visitor
Great spotted eagleClanga clangaNVulnerableDecreaseOverwintering species. White spots are more prominent in juveniles, though they tend to fade into adulthood.
Lesser spotted eagleClanga pomarinaRLeast concernSteadyRare passage migrant
Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatusNLeast concernSteadyScarce passage migrant
Golden eagleAquila chrysaetosALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Steppe eagleAquila nipalensisNEndangeredDecreasePassage migrant
Eastern imperial eagleAquila heliacaRVulnerableDecreaseRare overwintering species
Bonelli's eagleAquila fasciataALeast concernDecreaseRare autumn disperser
Western marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Hen harrierCircus cyaneusRLeast concernDecreaseScarce winter visitor
Pallid harrierCircus macrourusNNear threatenedDecreaseWinter visitor
Montagu's harrierCircus pygargusNLeast concernDecreaseScarce passage migrant and winter visitor
ShikraAccipiter badiusNLeast concernSteadyUncommon winter visitor
Levant sparrowhawkAccipiter brevipesALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Eurasian sparrowhawkAccipiter nisusRLeast concernSteadyScarce winter visitor
Northern goshawkAccipiter gentilisALeast concern?Vagrant
Black kiteMilvus migransNLeast concernSteadyVery common overwintering species
White-tailed sea eagleHaliaeetus albicillaALeast concernIncreaseRare winter visitor
Common buzzardButeo buteoNLeast concernIncreaseCommon passage migrant
Long-legged buzzardButeo rufinusALeast concernSteadyFrequent 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Barn owlTyto albaNLeast concernSteadyScarce 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Eurasian scops-owlOtus scopsNLeast concernDecreaseUncommon passage migrant. Recognised by its large ear tufts, it is rarely seen at day. The plumage may vary.
Pallid scops-owlOtus bruceiALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Pharaoh eagle owlBubo ascalaphusNLeast concernSteadyUncommon resident
Lilith owletAthene noctuaNLeast concernSteadyResident
Long-eared owlAsio otusALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Short-eared owlAsio flammeusRLeast concernDecreaseRare winter visitor

Hoopoes

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

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

Common name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Eurasian hoopoeUpupa epopsNLeast concernDecreaseAutumn 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Common kingfisherAlcedo atthisNLeast concern?Uncommon wintering species
White-breasted kingfisherHalcyon smyrnensisNLeast concernIncreaseUncommon 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
European bee-eaterMerops apiasterNLeast concernSteadyCommon passage migrant
Arabian bee-eaterMerops cyanophrysALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Blue-cheeked bee-eaterMerops persicusNLeast concernSteadyCommon 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
European rollerCoracias garrulusNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant
Indian rollerCoracias benghalensisNLeast concernIncreaseScarce 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Eurasian wryneckJynx torquillaNLeast concernSteadyPassage 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Lesser kestrelFalco naumanniNLeast concernSteadyPassage migrant
Common kestrelFalco tinnuculusNLeast concernDecreaseCommon winter visitor
Red-footed falconFalco vespertinusAVulnerableDecreaseVagrant
Amur falconFalco amurensisALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Eleonora's falconFalco eleonoraeALeast concernIncreaseVagrant recorded once in 2018
Sooty falconFalco concolorRVulnerableDecreaseRare summer visitor
MerlinFalco columbariusRLeast concernDecreaseRare winter visitor
Eurasian hobbyFalco subbuteoNLeast concernDecreaseWinter visitor
Lanner falconFalco biarmicusRLeast concernDecreaseScarce disperser in autumn and spring
Saker falconFalco cherrugREndangeredDecreaseRare winter migrant
Peregrine falconFalco peregrinusRLeast concernIncreaseScarce 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Rose-ringed parakeetAlexandrinus krameriILeast concernIncreaseIntroduced

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Eurasian golden orioleOriolus oriolusNLeast concernSteadyLate 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Red-backed shrikeLanius collurioNLeast concernDecreaseUncommon passage migrant and winter visitor
Turkestan shrikeLanius phoenicuroidesNLeast concernSteadyCommon winter migrant
Isabelline shrikeLanius isabellinusNLeast concernSteadyCommon winter migrant
Brown shrikeLanius cristatusALeast concernDecreaseVagrant with one record
Bay-backed shrikeLanius vitattusALeast concernSteadyVagrant
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 concernDecreaseOverwintering species
Lesser grey shrikeLanius minorNLeast concernDecreaseUncommon passage migrantLanîûs mînor
Masked shrikeLanius nubicusNLeast concernDecreasePassage migrant and winter visitor
Woodchat shrikeLanius senatorNNear threatenedDecreasePassage 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
House crowCorvus splendensILeast concernSteadyIntroduced
RookCorvus frugilegusALeast concernDecreaseVagrant with 3 records
Brown-necked ravenCorvus rufficolisRLeast concernIncreaseScarce disperser
Hooded crowCorvus cornixANot recognised by the IUCNSteadyVagrant with one record in 2012

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Sombre titPoecile lugubrisALeast concernSteadyVagrant with a single record in 2009
Great titParus majorALeast concernIncreaseVagrant 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Eurasian penduline-titRemiz pendulinusNLeast concernIncreaseUncommon 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Greater hoopoe-larkAlaemon alaudipesNLeast concernDecreaseResident
Bar-tailed larkAmmomanes cincturusNLeast concernDecreaseResident breeder
Desert larkAmmomanes desertiNLeast concernIncreaseResident
Black-crowned sparrow larkEremopterix nigricepsNLeast concernIncreaseResident
Temminck's larkEremophila bilophaNLeast concernDecreaseUncommon disperser
Greater short-toed larkCalandrella brachydactylaNLeast concern?Winter visitor
Bimaculated larkMelanocorypha bimaculataRLeast concernSteadyRare winter visitor
Calandra larkMelanocorypha calandraALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Arabian larkEremalauda eremoditesALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Turkestan short-toed larkEremalauda eremoditesNNot recognised by the IUCNDecreaseUncommon 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 concernIncreaseVagrant
Eurasian skylarkAlauda arvensisRLeast concernDecreasescarce winter visitor
Oriental skylarkAlauda gulgulaRLeast concernDecreaseScarce winter visitor
Crested larkGalerdia cristataNLeast concernDecreaseBreeding 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Frequency Image
Graceful priniaPrinia gracilisNLeast concernSteadyWinter 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 concernSteadyVagrant 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Frequency Image
Afghan babblerArgya huttoniNNot recognised by the IUCN?Scarce resident
Arabian babblerArgya squamicepsALeast concernSteadyVagrant

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Booted warblerIduna caligataALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Syke's warblerIduna ramaALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Eastern olivaceous warblerIduna pallidaNLeast concernSteadyScarce passage migrant
Upcher's warblerHippolais languidaNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Olive-tree warblerHippolais olivetorunALeast concernSteadyVagrant recorded once in 1972
Icterine warblerHippolais icterinaNLeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Moustached warblerAcrocephalus melanopogonALeast concernSteadyVagrantMoustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon by Dr. Raju Kasambe (2)
Sedge warblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusNLeast concernSteadyRare passage migrant
Paddyfield warblerAcrocephalus agricolaALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Blyth's reed warblerAcrocephalus dumetorumALeast concernIncreaseVagrant with 3 records
Marsh warblerAcrocephalus palustrisRLeast concernSteadyRare passage migrant
Eurasian reed warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusNLeast concernSteadyUncommon
Basra reed warblerEremalauda eremoditesEEndangeredSteadyEndemic breeding species
Great reed warblerAcrocephalus arundinaceusNLeast concernDecreaseUncommon winter visitor
Oriental reed warblerAcrocephalus orientalisALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Clamorous reed warblerAcrocephalus stentoreusNLeast concernSteadyWinter 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global Status Trend Notes Image
River warblerLocustella fluviatilisALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Savi's warblerLocustella luscinioidesNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Common grasshopper-warblerLocustella naeviaNLeast concernSteadyWinter 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Bank swallowRiparia ripariaNLeast concernSteadyCommon in both late summer and winter
Brown-throated martinRiparia paludicolaALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Grey-throated martinRiparia chinensisALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Pale sand martinRiparia dilutaALeast concern?Vagrant
Eurasian crag-martinPtyonoprogne rupestrisRLeast concernSteadyRare winter visitor
Pale crag-martinPtyonoprogne fuligulaALeast concernSteadyVagrant, 8 records
Barn swallowHirundo rusticaNLeast concernDecreaseFrequent and abundant passage migrant
Red-rumped swallowCecropis dauricaNLeast concernSteadyPassage migrant
Streak-throated swallowPterocheliodon fluvicolaALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Common house-martinDelichon urbicumNLeast concernDecreaseUncommon

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Red-vented bulbulPycnonotus caferILeast concernIncreaseIntroduced resident
White-eared bulbulPycnonotus leucotisNLeast concernDecreaseCommon

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Wood warblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Yellow-browed warblerPhylloscopus inornatusALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Eastern Bonelli's WarblerPhylloscopus orientalisALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Hume's warblerPhylloscopus humeiALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Radde's WarblerPhylloscopus schwarziALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Plain leaf warblerPhylloscopus neglectusALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Mountain chiffchaffPhylloscopus sindianusALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Willow warblerPhylloscopus trochilusNLeast concernDecreaseCommon in spring and autumn
Common chiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaNLeast concernIncreaseLike the willow warbler, but more common in the winter
Green warblerPhylloscopus nitidusALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Greenish warblerPhylloscopus trochiloidesALeast concernIncreaseVagrant

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Eurasian blackcapSylvia atricapillaNLeast concernIncreasePassage migrant
Garden warblerSylvia borinALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Asian desert warblerCurruca nanaNLeast concernSteadyCommon winter visitor
Barred warblerCurruca nisoriaNLeast concernSteadyUncommon passage migrant
Lesser whitethroatC. currucaNLeast concernSteadyCommon during spring migration and winter
Eastern Orphean warblerCurruca crassirostrisNLeast concernIncreaseRare passage migrant
Menetries's warblerCurruca mystaceaNLeast concernSteadyPassage migrant
Greater whitethroatCurruca communisNLeast concernIncreaseCommon 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
GoldcrestRegulus regulusALeast concernDecreaseSingle 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Eurasian wrenTroglodytes troglodytesALeast concernIncreaseVagrant 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Common starlingSturnus vulgarisNLeast concernDecreaseMigratory; winter visitor
Rosy starlingPastor roseusNLeast concern?Scarce migrant
Common mynaAcridotheres tristisILeast concernIncreaseIntroduced and established; extremely common throughout the country
Bank mynaAcridotheres ginginianusILeast concernIncreaseScarce 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Song thrushTurdus philomelosNLeast concernIncreaseOverwintering
RedwingTurdus iliacusNNear threatenedDecreaseRare winter visitor
Eurasian blackbirdTurdus merulaNLeast concernIncreaseScarce winter visitor
FieldfareTurdus pilarisNLeast concernDecreaseRare winter visitor
Ring ouzelTurdus torquatusALeast concernSteadyVagrant
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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global Status Trend Notes Image
Black scrub-robinCercotrichas podobeRLeast concernSteadyRare winter visitor
Spotted flycatcherMuscicapa striataNLeast concernDecreaseCommon passage migrant in spring and winter
Rufous-tailed scrub-robinCercotrichas galactotesNLeast concernSteadyOverwintering
European robinErithacus rubeculaNLeast concernIncreaseWinter migrant
White-throated robinIrania gutturalisNLeast concernSteadySpring visitor
Thrush nightingaleLuscinia lusciniaRLeast concernSteadyRare passage migrant
Common nightingaleLuscinia megarhynchosNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaNLeast concernSteadyCommon in winter
Taiga flycatcherFicedula albicillaALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Red-breasted flycatcherFicedula parvaNLeast concernIncreaseUncommon; mostly seen in autumn
Semi-collared flycatcherFicedula semitorquataRLeast concernDecreaseRare passage migrant
Collared flycatcherFicedula albicollisALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Rufous-backed redstartPhoenicurus erythronotusRLeast concernSteadyRare passage migrant
Common redstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusNLeast concernIncreaseSpring visitor
Black redstartPhoenicurus ochrurosNLeast concernIncreasePassage migrant

Blue rock thrushMonticola solitarusNLeast concernSteadyCommon passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor
Common rock thrushMonticola saxtalisNLeast concernDecreaseCommon passage migrant
WhinchatSaxicola rubertaNLeast concernDecreaseOccasional passage migrant
European stonechatSaxicola rubicolaNRecognised as a subspecies of the common stonechat by the IUCN. Thus, no status exists for this species.SteadyPassage migrant
Siberian stonechatSaxicola maurusNRecognised as a subspecies of the common stonechat by the IUCN. Thus, no status exists for this species.SteadyThe 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 concernSteadyVagrant
Northern wheatearOenanthe oenantheNLeast concernDecreaseCommon passage migrant
Isabelline wheatearOenanthe isabellinaNLeast concernSteadyVery common throughout winter and spring
Hooded wheatearOenanthe monachaRLeast concernSteadyRare winter visitor
Desert wheatearOenanthe desertiNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Pied wheatearOenanthe pleschankaNLeast concernSteadyCommon winter visitor
Pied wheatearOenanthe pleschankaNLeast concernSteadyCommon visitor
Variable wheatearOenanthe picataALeast concernSteadyVagrant

Hume's wheatearOenanthe albonigraALeast concernSteadyVagrant
White-crowned wheatearOenanthe albonigraALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Finsch's wheatearOenanthe finschiiRLeast concernSteadyRare winter visitor
Mourning wheatearOenanthe lugensNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Kurdish wheatearOenanthe xanthoprymnaNLeast concernSteadyScarce passage migrant
Persian wheatearOenanthe chrysopygiaNLeast concernSteadyCommon 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Palestine sunbirdCinnyris oseaALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Purple sunbirdCinnyris asiaticusALeast concernSteadyVagrant

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Streaked weaverPloceus manyarILeast concernSteadyIntroduced
Black-breasted weaverPloceus benghalensisILeast concernSteadyIntroduced

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Red avadavatAmandava amandavaILeast concern?Introduced
Indian silverbillEudoice malabaricaILeast concernSteadyIntroduced

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Radde's accentorPrunella ocularisALeast concernSteadyVagrant with three records in 2012
Black-throated accentorPrunella atrogularisALeast concernSteadySingle vagrant ringed in 1995
DunnockPrunella modularisALeast concernDecreaseVagrant 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
House sparrowPasser domesticusNLeast concernDecreaseCommon
Spanish sparrowPasser hispaniolensisNLeast concernDecreaseResident breeder
Dead Sea sparrowPasser moabiticusALeast concernDecreaseVagrant recorded occasionally
Yellow-throated sparrowGymnoris xanthocollisALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Pale rockfinchCarpispiza brachydactylaNLeast concernSteadyPassage 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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Forest wagtailDendronanthus indicusALeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Gray wagtailMotacilla cinereaNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Yellow wagtailMotacilla flavaNLeast concernDecreaseCommon passage migrant
Citrine wagtailMotacilla citreolaALeast concernIncreaseUncommon
White wagtailMotacilla albaNLeast concernSteadyVery common migrant
Richard's pipitAnthus richardiALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Blyth's pipitAnthus godlewskiiALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Long-billed pipitAnthus similisNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Tawny pipitAnthus campestrisNLeast concernSteadyCommon winter visitor
Meadow pipitAnthus pratensisNNear threatenedDecreaseUncommon winter visitor
Tree pipitAnthus trivialisNLeast concernDecreaseScarce
Red-throated pipitAnthus cervinusNLeast concernSteadyWinter visitor
Olive-backed pipitAnthus hodgsoniiALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Water pipitAnthus spinolettaNLeast concernSteadyCommon 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 concernDecreaseVagrant

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Common chaffinchFringilla coelebsALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
BramblingFringilla montifringillaALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
HawfinchC. coccothraustesALeast concernIncreaseVagrant
Common rosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusRLeast concernDecreaseRare passage migrant
Trumpeter finchBucanetes githagineusNLeast concernSteadyScarce resident
Mongolian finchBucanetes mongolicusALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Desert finchRhodospiza obsoletaALeast concernSteadyVagrant
European greenfinchChloris chlorisALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Eurasian linnetLinaria cannabinaALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Eurasian siskinSpinus spinusALeast concernDecreaseVagrant

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 name Binomial name Status in the country Global status Trend Notes Image
Black-headed buntingEmberiza melanocephalaRLeast concern?Rare passage migrant
Corn buntingEmberiza calandraNLeast concernDecreaseWinter visitor and uncommon breeder
Red-headed buntingEmberiza brunnicepsALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Cinereous buntingEmberiza cineraceaRNear threatenedDecreaseRare passage migrant
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaALeast concernDecreaseVagrant with 2 records
Grey-necked buntingEmberiza buchananiALeast concernSteadyVagrant
Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulanaNLeast concernDecreaseOverwintering species
Striolated buntingEmberiza caesiaRLeast concernIncrease2 vagrant records in 2013
Reed buntingEmberiza schoeniclusALeast concernDecreaseVagrant
Little buntingEmberiza pusillaALeast concernSteadyVagrant with 15 records
Rustic buntingEmberiza rusticaAVulnerableDecreaseVagrant

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.
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