Birds of Saudi Arabia

321 species recorded at 4 public birding hotspots.

Most recorded in November

Western Cattle EgretArdea ibis

Grey HeronArdea cinerea

Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis

Little EgretEgretta garzetta

House SparrowPasser domesticus

Common MynaAcridotheres tristis

White WagtailMotacilla alba

Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus

Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis

Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus

Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides

White-spectacled BulbulPycnonotus xanthopygos

Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos

Spur-winged LapwingVanellus spinosus

Most recorded

Rock DoveColumba livia

Black Scrub RobinCercotrichas podobe

Arabian Green Bee-eaterMerops cyanophrys

Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus

Crested LarkGalerida cristata

Rüppell's WeaverPloceus galbula

Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica

Barn SwallowHirundo rustica

Purple HeronArdea purpurea

Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax

Western Reef HeronEgretta gularis

Common GreenshankTringa nebularia

Namaqua DoveOena capensis

Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto

Hotspots with the most records

KAUST – Safaa Golf ClubMecca Province186 species
Al Sadd LakeJazan Province205 species
South CornicheMecca Province195 species

View hotspots on the map

All species recorded · 321

Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica
Greylag Goose Anser anser
Swan Goose Anser cygnoides
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus
Garganey Spatula querquedula
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata
Gadwall Mareca strepera
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
Harlequin Quail Coturnix delegorguei
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius
Nubian Nightjar Caprimulgus nubicus
Plain Nightjar Caprimulgus inornatus
African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
Common Swift Apus apus
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
Little Swift Apus affinis
White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus
Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii
Rock Dove Columba livia
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
Bruce's Green Pigeon Treron waalia
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Corn Crake Crex crex
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata
African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis
Little Crake Zapornia parva
Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Little Ringed Plover Thinornis dubius
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus
Caspian Plover Anarhynchus asiaticus
Kentish Plover Anarhynchus alexandrinus
Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus
Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Ruff Calidris pugnax
Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii
Sanderling Calidris alba
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Little Stint Calidris minuta
Crab-plover Dromas ardeola
Cream-colored Courser Cursorius cursor
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus
Little Tern Sternula albifrons
Saunders's Tern Sternula saundersi
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis
Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Pallas's Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Sooty Gull Ichthyaetus hemprichii
White-eyed Gull Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus
African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus
Abdim's Stork Ciconia abdimii
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Little Bittern Botaurus minutus
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis
Striated Heron Butorides striata
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Great Egret Ardea alba
Yellow-billed Egret Ardea brachyrhyncha
Western Cattle Egret Ardea ibis
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates
Shikra Tachyspiza badia
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Pharaoh Eagle-Owl Bubo ascalaphus
Arabian Eagle-Owl Bubo milesi
Common Hoopoe Upupa epops
African Grey Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus
Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus
European Roller Coracias garrulus
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis
Arabian Green Bee-eater Merops cyanophrys
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor
Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
Red-tailed Shrike Lanius phoenicuroides
House Crow Corvus splendens
Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis
Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus
Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus
Greater Hoopoe-Lark Alaemon alaudipes
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix nigriceps
Singing Bush Lark Mirafra javanica
Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Temminck's Lark Eremophila bilopha
Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis
White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Pale Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
Western House Martin Delichon urbicum
European Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis rufula
Streaked Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Common Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida
Upcher's Warbler Hippolais languida
Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum
Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis
Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
Barred Warbler Curruca nisoria
Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca
Arabian Warbler Curruca leucomelaena
Eastern Orphean Warbler Curruca crassirostris
Asian Desert Warbler Curruca nana
Menetries's Warbler Curruca mystacea
Common Whitethroat Curruca communis
Arabian Babbler Argya squamiceps
Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Rosy Starling Pastor roseus
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Tristram's Starling Onychognathus tristramii
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
Yemen Thrush Turdus menachensis
Black Scrub Robin Cercotrichas podobe
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis
Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva
Semicollared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Common Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus
European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Buff-breasted Wheatear Oenanthe bottae
Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina
Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha
Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti
Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe melanoleuca
Blackstart Oenanthe melanura
Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens
Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe chrysopygia
White-crowned Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga
Nile Valley Sunbird Hedydipna metallica
Palestine Sunbird Cinnyris osea
Abyssinian Sunbird Cinnyris habessinicus
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Arabian Golden Sparrow Passer euchlorus
Rüppell's Weaver Ploceus galbula
Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar
African Silverbill Euodice cantans
Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica
Tricolored Munia Lonchura malacca
Arabian Waxbill Estrilda rufibarba
Red Avadavat Amandava amandava
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus
Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta
Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia
Striolated Bunting Emberiza striolata
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala