This is a list of the bird species recorded in Qatar. The avifauna of Qatar include a total of 352 species, of which 3 have been introduced by humans.
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 Qatar. Native species are marked with an "N". The global conservation status are displayed per the IUCN for each species alongside the population trend. The Qatar birds list, which has catalogued all verified species recorded in the country serves as the primary source for the list.[1]
Additionally, the book Common birds of Qatar[2] covering 215 of the total 352 species in the country has been used to depict the species' frequency in the country, as well as habitat.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
Order: StruthioniformesFamily: 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 | Trinomial name | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabian ostrich | Struthio camelus ssp. syriacus | X | align=center style="background: #000000" | N/A | Formerly widespread in the Arabian peninsula | ||
| Red-necked ostrich | Struthio camelus ssp. camelus | I | align=center style="background:#cb3331" | Found in Ras Abrouq, west coast | |||
Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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 goose | Anser anser | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare winter visitor | |||
| Greater white-fronted goose | Anser albifrons | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Rare winter visitor | ||
| Whooper swan | Cygnus cygnus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
| Egyptian goose | Alopochen aegyptiaca | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Introduced | |||
| Ruddy shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Scarce winter visitor | ||
| Common shelduck | Tadorna tadorna | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce winter visitor | |||
| Cotton pygmy-goose | Nettapus coromandelianus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | vagrant | |||
| Garganey | Spatula querquedula | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant and winter visitor | |||
| Northern shoveler | Spatula clypeata | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | winter visitor | |||
| Gadwall | Mareca strepera | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce winter visitor | |||
| Eurasian wigeon | Mareca penelope | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | winter visitor | |||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common winter visitor | |||
| Northern pintail | Anas acuta | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Green-winged teal | Anas crecca | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Winter visitor | ||
| Marbled teal | Marmaronetta angustirostris | R | align=center style="background: #cbcc02" | Vagrant recorded in 1985 | |||
| Red-crested pochard | Netta rufina | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
| Common pochard | Aythya ferina | R | align=center style="background: #cbcc02" | Overwintering | |||
| Ferruginous duck | Aythya nyroca | N | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Scarce resident | |||
| Tufted duck | Aythya fuligula | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common winter visitor in greywater and lagoons | |||
| Long-tailed duck | Clangula hyemalis | R | align=center style="background: #cbcc02" | Vagrant. | |||
Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds which resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage.
Order: GalliformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray francolin | Francolinus pondicerianus | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Introduced and established; resident | |||
| Common quail | Coturnix coturnix | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3to 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident breeder | - | Lesser flamingo | Phoenicopterus minor | A | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Vagrant recorded in 2013 | ||||||
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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 grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident | |||
| Great crested grebe | Podiceps cristatus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Resident | ||
| Eared grebe | Podiceps nigricolis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Winter visitor | ||
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
| Common name | Binomial name | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock dove (and domestic variants) | Columba livia | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Domestic variants common everywhere, wild rock doves may be found near the coast | |||
| Stock dove | Columba oenas | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant recorded in 2019 | |||
| European turtle-dove | Streptopelia turtur | R | align=center style="background: #cbcc02" | Passage migrant | |||
| Oriental turtle dove | Streptopelia decocto | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant recorded in 2022 | |||
| Eurasian collared-dove | Streptopelia decocto | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common | |||
| African collared-dove | Streptopelia roseogrisea | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
| Laughing dove | Streptopelia senegalensis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common | |||
| Namaqua dove | Oena capensis | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Naturally established resident due to its nomadic nature | |||
| Zebra dove | Geopelia striata | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Introduced in the northeast; small breeding population | |||
Order: PterocliformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global Status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin-tailed sandgrouse | Pterocles alchata | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Localised breeder | |||
| Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse | Pterocles exustus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare | |||
| Crowned sandgrouse | Pterocles coronatus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: OtidiformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacQueen's bustard | Chlamydotis macqueenii | Ex | align=center style="background: #cbcc02" | May have been extirpated from the country due to overhunting, records nowadays generally considered captive or escaped | |||
Order: CuculiformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great spotted cuckoo | Clamator glandarius | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare | |||
| Pied cuckoo | Clamator jacobinus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Asian koel | Eudynamys scolopaceus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Common cuckoo | Cuculus canorus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global Status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian nightjar | Caprimulgus europaeus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
| Egyptian nightjar | Caprimulgus aegyptius | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare passage migrant | |||
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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 swift | Tachymarptis melba | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | vagrant with 4 records | |||
| Common swift | Apus apus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Uncommon winter visitor | |||
| Pallid swift | Apus pallidus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Little swift | Apus affinis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: GruiformesFamily: 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 rail | Rallus aquaticus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor. | |||
| Corncrake | Crex crex | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare passage migrant | |||
| Spotted crake | Porzana porzana | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | uncommon passage migrant | |||
| Eurasian moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common | |||
| Eurasian coot | Fulica atra | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident and winter visitor | |||
| African swamphen | Porphyrio madagascarensis | I | align=center style="background: #AAA" | Introduced. | |||
| Grey-headed swamphen | Porphyrio poliocephalus | N | align=center style="background: #AAA" | ? | Resident | ||
| White-breasted waterhen | Amaurornis phoenicurus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
| Little crake | Porzana parva | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Baillon's crake | Zapornia pusilla | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
Order: GruiformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common crane | Grus grus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian thick-knee | Burhinus oedicnemus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 stilt | Himantopus himantopus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common | |||
| Pied avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Common in winter | ||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
| Common name | Binomial name | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global Status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus | N | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Passage migrant | |||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.water.
| Common name | Binomial name | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Frequency | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-bellied plover | Pluvialis squatarola | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common, found on coasts and shores | |||
| European golden-plover | Pluvialis apricaria | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant with 5 records | |||
| Pacific golden-plover | Pluvialis fulva | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce passage migrant | |||
| Northern lapwing | Vanellus vanellus | N | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Winter visitor | |||
| Spur-winged lapwing | Vanellus spinosus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare passage migrant; breeding in 2023 | |||
| Red-wattled lapwing | Vanellus indicus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Scarce breeding resident | ||
| Sociable lapwing | Vanellus gregarius | R | align=center style="background: #cb3331" | Rare localised winter visitor | |||
| White-tailed lapwing | Vanellus leucurus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Winter visitor | ||
| Tibetan sand plover | Eupoda atrifrons | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Common year-round | ||
| Greater sand plover | Eupoda leschenaultii | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common year-round | |||
| Caspian plover | Eupoda asiatica | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | scarce passage migrant | |||
| Kentish plover | Ochthodromus alexandrinus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident breeder | |||
| Kittlitz's plover | Ochthodromus pecuarius | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant recorded in 2023 | ||
| Greater ringed plover | Charadrius hiaticula | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common winter visitor | |||
| Little ringed plover | Thinornis dubius | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Breeding, leaves the country in winter | ||
| Eurasian dotterel | Eudromias morinellus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
| Common name | Binomial name | data-sort-type="number" width="15%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater painted-snipe | Rostratula benghalensis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
| Common name | Binomial name | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Frequency | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pheasant-tailed jacana | Hydrophasianus chirurgus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 curlew | Numenius arquata | N | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Winter visitor | |||
| Whimby | Numenius phaeopus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
| Bar-tailed godwit | Limosa lapponica | N | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Winter visitor | |||
| Black-tailed godwit | Limosa limosa | N | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Passage migrant | |||
| Ruddy turnstone | Arenaria interpres | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | winter visitor | |||
| Great knot | Calidris tenuirostris | R | align=center style="background: #cc6402" | vagrant | |||
| Ruff | Calidris pugnax | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Broad-billed sandpiper | Calidris falcinellus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
| Curlew sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | N | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Passage migrant | |||
| Temminck's stint | Calidris temminckii | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | winter visitor, he is common on shores and rocky coasts | ||
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | winter visitor | ||
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | winter visitor | |||
| Little stint | Calidris minuta | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Jack snipe | Lymnocryptes minimus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce passage migrant | |||
| Eurasian woodcock | Scolopax rusticola | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | unverified vagrant records | |||
| Common snipe | Gallinago gallinago | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | winter visitor | |||
| Pin-tailed snipe | Gallinago stenura | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | vagrant | ||
| Terek sandpiper | Xenus cinereus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident | |||
| Red-necked phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce passage migrant | |||
| Common sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Very common throughout winter and late summer. | |||
| Green sandpiper | Tringa ochropus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Relatively common throughout winter and spring | |||
| Spotted redshank | Tringa erythropus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common winter visitor | |||
| Common greenshank | Tringa nebularia | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common winter visitor | |||
| Marsh sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Somewhat common winter visitor | |||
| Wood sandpiper | Tringa glareola | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common winter visitor | |||
| Common redshank | Tringa totanus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Winter visitor | ||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global Status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crab-plover | Dromas ardeola | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | passage migrant and winter visitor | |||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 courser | Cursorius cursor | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce resident and common migrant | |||
| Collared pratincole | Glareola pratincola | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
| Black-winged pratincole | Glareola nordmanni | R | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Vagrant | |||
| Small pratincole | Glareola lactea | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant. | ||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 skua | Stercorarius pomarinus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare winter visitor | |||
| Arctic skua | Stercorarius parasiticus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare winter visitor | |||
| Long-tailed jaeger | Stercorarius longicaudus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slender-billed gull | Chroicocephalus genei | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Abundant winter visitor | 175px | |
| Black-headed gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Common winter visitor | 175px | |
| Little gull | Hydrocoloeus minutus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Sooty gull | Ichthyaetus hemprichii | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce winter visitor | |||
| Pallas's gull | Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor. Being the largest member of its order in the entire country, it is truly the beast of nations. | |||
| Caspian gull | Larus cachinnans | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Very common winter visitor. Several cryptic species and can be nightmarishly difficult do distinguish from other gulls such as L. fuscus and L. armenicus. Range overlapping with other similar gulls makes identification practically impossible | |||
| Armenian gull | Larus armenicus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Lesser black-backed gull | Larus fuscus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Bridled tern | Onychoprion anaethetus | N | align=center style= "background: #006666" | ? | Breeder and passage migrant | 175px | |
| Little tern | Sternula albifrons | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | 175px | ||
| Saunders's tern | Sternula saundersi | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Migrant breeder; this small tern is a frequenter of the coasts, especially in the East | |||
| Gull-billed tern | Gelocheilodon nilotica | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor. It is noted for resembling a seagull, as well as having a short black beak. It frequents the northwest | |||
| Caspian tern | Hydroprogne caspia | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Uncommon resident. This cosmopolitan bird possesses a black cap and very bright orange beak, a feature that can be recognised from a distance | |||
| White-winged tern | Chlidonias leucopterus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Paddage migrant; this bird is most common in the northern regions. It has distinct plumage, with a repressed grey in autumn and a jet-black body in spring, with the wings clearly divided with their bright white colour | |||
| Whiskered tern | Chlidonias hybrida | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common | |||
| Common tern | Sterna hirundo | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Uncommon passage migrant | ||
| White-cheeked tern | Sterna repressa | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common | |||
| Great crested tern | Thalasseus bergii | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
| Sandwich tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Lesser crested-tern | Thalasseus bengalensis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common | |||
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black stork | Ciconia nigra | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant. | ||
| White stork | Ciconia ciconia | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Yellow-billed stork | Mycteria ibis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant, 1999 | |||
Order: SuliformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="15%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common throughout winter | |||
| Socotra cormorant | Phalacrocorax nigrogularis | E | align=center style="background: #cbcc02 | Endemic to the gulf and offshore Yemen. Breeds on islands like Hawar and Socotra; globally threatened | |||
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great white pelican | Pelecanus onocrotalus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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 bittern | Botaurus stellaris | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare winter visitor | |||
| Little bittern | Ixobrychus minutus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | passage migrant | |||
| Grey heron | Ardea cinerea | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Where there is water, and where there is fish, there will be a grey heron. Indeed, it is the most common bird in the country, being found year-round in any aquatic habitat there is. Grey and tall, it is the largest heron in the country. It is easy to see this bird as it stands in the water, looking downwards for a fish or frog to pass by. | ||
| Purple heron | Ardea purpurea | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident and migrant | |||
| Great egret | Egretta alba | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Overwintering | ||
| Intermediate egret | Egretta intermedia | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Little egret | Egretta garzetta | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | winter visitor | |||
| Western reef-heron | Egretta gularis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Uncommon resident, abundant winter visitor | 175px | ||
| Cattle egret | Bubulcus ibis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant and winter visitor | |||
| Squacco heron | Ardeola ralloides | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | passage migrant, this bird also leaves behind a small non-breeding population in summer | 175px | |
| Indian pond-heron | Ardeola grayii | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant. | ||
| Striated heron | Butroides striata | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | This bird is an uncommon resident | |||
| Black-crowned night heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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 ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | A common bird in winter and spring, this bird frequents the grey water at several familiar locations. It is a unique bird, covered in black feathers that reflect blue, green, and purple when approached close. The bill of this bird is curved downwards. | |||
| African sacred ibis | Threskiornis aethiopicus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Eurasian spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | rare migrant | ||
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Frequency | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident | |||
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-winged kite | Elanus caeruleus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare | 175px | ||
| Eurasian griffon vulture | Gyps fulvus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | 175px | ||
| Egyptian vulture | Neophron percnopterus | R | align=center style="background: #cc6402" | Vagrant | |||
| European honey-buzzard | Pernis apivorus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare passage migrant | |||
| Oriental honey-buzzard | Pernis ptilorhynchus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce winter visitor | |||
| Short-toed snake eagle | Circaetus gallicus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor | |||
| Booted eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Steppe eagle | Aquila nipalensis | R | align=center style="background: #cc6402" | Winter visitor. Differs from other eagles as it has thick "trousers" and is recognisable from a distance due to its mighty wingspan, which can exceed the height of a man | |||
| Eastern imperial eagle | Aquila heliaca | R | align=center style="background: #cbcc02" | Rare passage migrant. A migrating individual in Qatar was killed by poachers in late 2022 | |||
| Bonelli's eagle | Aquila fasciata | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Greater spotted-eagle | Clanga clanga | N | align=center style="background: #cbcc02" | Scarce localised winter visitor; heavily persecuted in the country | |||
| White-tailed sea eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant recorded once in March 2022 | |||
| Western marsh-harrier | Circus aeruginosus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Pallid harrier | Circus macrourus | N | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Winter visitor | |||
| Montagu's harrier | Circus pygargus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor | |||
| Shikra | Accipiter badius | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Levant sparrowhawk | Accipiter brevipes | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Eurasian sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce winter visitor | |||
| Northern goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
| Black kite | Milvus migrans | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce winter visitor. Uniform brown colour, may be mistaken for harriers however its soars with the wings outstretched as opposed to being held in a "v" shape | |||
| Common buzzard | Buteo buteo | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Long-legged buzzard | Buteo rufinus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | frequent winter visitor | |||
Order: StrigiformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barn owl | Tyto alba | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | This bird is a scarce resident in the country | |||
Order: StrigiformesFamily: 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-owl | Otus scops | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Uncommon passage migrant. Recognised by its large ear tufts, it is rarely seen at day. The plumage mayvary | |||
| Pallid scops-owl | Otus brucei | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Pharaoh eagle owl | Bubo ascalaphus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | An uncommon resident, this is the nation's largest. It may be found in the south, roosting in thick bushes or on arid ground | |||
| Lilith owlet | Athene noctua | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident. | |||
| Long-eared owl | Asio otus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant. | |||
| Short-eared owl | Asio flammeus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare winter visitor | |||
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.
| Common name | Binomial name | data-sort-type="number" width="15%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian hoopoe | Upupa epops | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Some migration in winter, most abundant in spring, especially April. This bird is unique and unmatched in appearance, and has an almost "legendary" status in the Middle East, often being seen as a symbol of birds in the region | |||
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
| Common name | Binomial name | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Uncommon migrant | ||
| White-throated kingfisher | Halcyon smyrnensis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Pied kingfisher | Ceryle rudis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | uncommon winter visitor | ||
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="15%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabian green bee-eater | Merops cyanophrys | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Blue-cheeked bee-eater | Merops persicus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Much like its European friend, it is observed mostly in spring and to a lesser extent autumn. | |||
| European bee-eater | Merops apiaster | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | The most common and beautiful bee-eater, it is observed in Qatar during spring and to a lesser extent autumn | |||
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="15%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European roller | Coracias garrulus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
| Indian roller | Coracias benghalensis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: PiciformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian wryneck | Jynx torquilla | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: FalconiformesFamily: 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 kestrel | Falco naumanni | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Found in autumn and more plentifully in spring, the lesser kestrel is a fascinating bird. The females are reddish brown with dark blotches decorating its upper side. Males have slate-blue heads and wingtips, with a rusty mantle and pale, spotted underside | |||
| Eurasian kestrel | Falco tinnuculus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common winter visitor | |||
| Amur falcon | Falco amurensis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Sooty falcon | Falco concolor | R | align=center style="background: #cbcc02" | rare summer visitor | |||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare winter visitor | |||
| Eurasian hobby | Falco subbuteo | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | 175px 175px | ||
| Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | 175px | ||
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittaculidae
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 81NaN1 to 11NaN1 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandrine parakeet | Psittacula eupatoria | I | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | An introduced species, this bird can be found on the eastern side of the country. It is the largest member of its family, and its pink-black "collar" is a key feature of males. Can be distinguished from the rose-ring by its larger size and red "epaulette" mark | |||
| Rose-ringed parakeet | Psittacula krameri | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | This introduced species is found in most urban environments, the capital Doha and Dukhan. Only males possess the characteristic "rose ring". Sightings of this bird are often preceded by a very loud screaming – in flight they are recognised by their cries and tail, which may be as long as the bird itself. | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.
| Common name | Binomial name | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian golden oriole | Oriolus oriolus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Late spring visitor | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-backed shrike | Lanius collurio | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. Recognised for its rusty upper wings. Females lack the "mask" | |||
| Red-tailed shrike | Lanius phoenicuroides | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant and winter visitor. Very similar to the formerly conspecific isabelline shrike, albeit darker in colour | |||
| Isabelline shrike | Lanius isabellinus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant and winter visitor, recognised for its soft ruddy shade | |||
| Bay-backed shrike | Lanius vitattus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant; possibly from the nearby UAE | |||
| Long-tailed shrike | Lanius schach | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
| Great gray shrike | Lanius excubitor • Lanius excubitor ssp. aucheri (Arabian grey shrike) • Lanius excubitor ssp. pallidirostris (Steppe grey shrike) | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | The largest and most powerful shrike, the great grey shrike has 2 common subspecies in Qatar. The Arabian grey shrike may be observed year-round, while the steppe grey shrike is less common, being a passage migrant from Asia. The nominate subspecies has been recorded as a vagrant in the country. | |||
| Lesser gray shrike | Lanius minor | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Uncommon passage migrant and autumn visitor. Has a larger "mask" than the similarly coloured great grey shrike. | |||
| Masked shrike | Lanius nubicus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant and winter visitor | |||
| Woodchat shrike | Lanius senator | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant and winter visitor | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 crow | Corvus splendens | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Coloniser | |||
| Brown-necked raven | Corvus rufficolis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae
The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.
| Common name | Binomial name | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian penduline-tit | Remiz pendulinus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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-lark | Alaemon alaudipes | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident | 175px | ||
| Bar-tailed lark | Ammomanes cincturus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | resident breeder | |||
| Desert lark | Ammomanes deserti | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident | |||
| Black-crowned sparrow lark | Eremopterix nigriceps | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident | |||
| Horned lark | Eremophila alpestris | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant. | |||
| Greater short-toed lark | Calandrella brachydactyla | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Winter visitor | 175px | |
| Lesser short-toed lark | Alaudala rufescens | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | A defunct taxon, historically included in recent lists. It has been divided into two taxa, the Mediterranean and Turkestan larks. It is believed the latter inhabits Qatar. | 175px | ||
| Bimaculated lark | Melanocorypha bimaculata | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare winter visitor | 175px | ||
| Calandra lark | Melanocorypha calandra | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | 175px | ||
| Arabian lark | Eremalauda eremodites | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | 175px | ||
| Turkestan short-toed lark | Eremalauda eremodites | N | align=center style="background: #AAA" | 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. | 175px | ||
| Woodlark | Lullula arborea | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | 175px | ||
| Eurasian skylark | Alauda arvensis | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | scarce winter visitor | 175px | ||
| Crested lark | Galerdia cristata | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Breeding resident | 175px | ||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="15%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Frequency | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graceful prinia | Prinia gracilis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Delicate prinia | Prinia lepida | A | align=center style="background: #AAA" | ? | Taxonomy disputed; it is considered part of the graceful prinia species complex by several authorities | ||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syke's warbler | Iduna rama | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | 175px | ||
| Eastern olivaceous warbler | Iduna pallida | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | scarce passage migrant | |||
| Upcher's warbler | Hippolais languida | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Icterine warbler | Hippolais icterina | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Moustached warbler | Acrocephalus melanopogon | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant. | |||
| Sedge warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare passage migrant | 175px | ||
| Paddyfield warbler | Acrocephalus agricola | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant. | 175px | ||
| Marsh warbler | Acrocephalus palustris | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare passage migrant | 175px | ||
| Eurasian reed warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Uncommon | 175px | ||
| Basra reed warbler | Eremalauda eremodites | R | align=center style="background: #cc6402" | Vagrant recorded in the country in 2017. | 175px | ||
| Great reed warbler | Acrocephalus arundinaceus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Uncommon winter visitor | 175px | ||
| Clamorous reed warbler | Acrocephalus stentoreus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | 175px | ||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global Status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savi's warbler | Locustella luscinioides | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant. | |||
| Common grasshopper-warbler | Locustella naevia | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare passage migrant. | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 swallow | R. riparia | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common in both late summer and winter | 175px | ||
| Eurasian crag-martin | Ptyonoprogne rupestris | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare winter visitor | |||
| Pale crag-martin | Ptyonoprogne fuligula | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare winter visitor | |||
| Barn swallow | Hirundo rustica | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | A frequent and abundant passage migrant | |||
| Wire-tailed swallow | Hirundo smithii | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant recorded in 2023 | |||
| Red-rumped swallow | Cecropis daurica | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
| Common house-martin | Delichon urbicum | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | uncommon | 175px | ||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="15%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-vented bulbul | Pycnonotus cafer | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident in parks and specific urban areas. | |||
| White-eared bulbul | Pycnonotus leucotis | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Found nationwide | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 warbler | Phylloscopus sibilatrix | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | 175px | ||
| Yellow-browed warbler | Phylloscopus inornatus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Hume's warbler | Phylloscopus humei | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Plain leaf warbler | Phylloscopus neglectus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Williw warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common in spring and autumn | |||
| Common chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Alike the willow warbler, but more common in the winter. | 175px | ||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | 175px | ||
| Garden warbler | Sylvia borin | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare passage migrant | |||
| Asian desert warbler | Curruca nana | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | A common winter visitor, this small round bird is recognised by its grey body, ruddy tail and yellow eyes. This bird has a special relationship with the desert wheatear, and follows it if alerted by a predator. | |||
| Barred warbler | Curruca nisoria | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Uncommon passage migrant | |||
| Lesser whitethroat | C. curruca | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common during spring migration and winter | |||
| Eastern Orphean warbler | Curruca crassirostris | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare passage migrant | 175px 175px | ||
| Menetries's warbler | Curruca mystacea | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | passage migrant | |||
| Greater whitethroat | Curruca communis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | common migrant | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="15%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European starling | Sturnus vulgaris | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Migratory; winter visitor | |||
| Rosy starling | Pastor roseus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
| Common myna | Acridotheres tristis | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Introduced and established; extremely common throughout the country | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 thrush | Turdus philomelos | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Overwintering | 175px | ||
| Redwing | Turdus iliacus | A | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | First record in late 2023 | |||
| Eurasian blackbird | Turdus merula | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant. | |||
| Ring ouzel | Turdus torquatus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Black-throated thrush | Turdus atrogularis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
| Red-throated thrush | Turdus ruficollis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | 175px | |
| Dusky thrush | Turdus eunomus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
| White's thrush | Zoothera aurea | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant recorded in 2022 | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global Status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black scrub-robin | Cercotrichas podobe | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare winter visitor | |||
| Spotted flycatcher | Muscicapa striata | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common passage migrant in spring and winter. | |||
| Rufous-tailed scrub-robin | Cercotrichas galactotes | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Overwintering | |||
| European robin | Erithacus rubecula | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| White-throated robin | Irania gutturalis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Spring visitor | |||
| Thrush nightingale | Luscinia luscinia | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare passage migrant | |||
| Common nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Bluethroat | Luscinia svecica | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common in winter | |||
| Red-breasted flycatcher | Ficedula parva | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | This uncommon bird is mostly seen in autumn | |||
| Semi-collared flycatcher | Ficedula semitorquata | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare passage migrant | |||
| Rufous-backed redstart | Phoenicurus erythronotus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare passage migrant | |||
| Common redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Spring visitor | |||
| Black redstart | Phoenicurus ochruros | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | passage migrant | |||
| Blue rock thrush | Monticola solitarus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor | |||
| Common rock thrush | Monticola saxtalis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common passage migrant | |||
| Whinchat | Saxicola ruberta | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | occasional passage migrant. | |||
| European stonechat | Saxicola rubicola | N | align=center style="background: #AAA" | This bird visits in winter and is a passage migrant. Sexual dimorphism is present as the male has a bright red breast. The bird's habit of perching high on posts make it easily spotted | |||
| Siberian stonechat | Saxicola maurus | N | align=center style="background: #AAA" | 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 to an observer is its white colouration which is more prevalent as well as the colour of its underparts being reduced | |||
| Pied bushchat | Saxicola caprata | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Northern wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common passage migrant | |||
| Isabelline wheatear | Oenanthe isabellina | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Very Common throughout winter and spring | |||
| Hooded wheatear | Oenanthe monacha | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare winter visitor | |||
| Desert wheatear | Oenanthe deserti | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | winter visitor | |||
| Pied wheatear | Oenanthe pleschanka | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common winter visitor | |||
| Pied wheatear | Oenanthe pleschanka | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common visitor | |||
| Variable wheatear | Oenanthe picata | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Hume's wheatear | Oenanthe albonigra | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| White-crowned wheatear | Oenanthe albonigra | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Finsch's wheatear | Oenanthe finschii | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Rare winter visitor. | |||
| Mourning wheatear | Oenanthe lugens | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Kurdish wheatear | Oenanthe xanthoprymna | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant. | |||
| Persian wheatear | Oenanthe chrysopygia | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | common winter visitor | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypocolius | Hypocolius ampelinus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Uncommon Winter visitor | ||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 weaver | Ploceus manyar | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Introduced | 175px 175px | ||
| Black-breasted weaver | Ploceus benghalensis | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Introduced | 175px 175px | ||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red avadavat | Amandava amandava | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | Vagrant | ||
| Indian silverbill | Eudoice malabarica | I | align=center style="background: #006666" | Introduced | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House sparrow | Passer domesticus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common | |||
| Spanish sparrow | Passer hispaniolensis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Resident breeder | |||
| Yellow-throated sparrow | Gymnoris xanthocollis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Pale rockfinch | Carpispiza brachydactyla | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Passage migrant | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 | data-sort-type="number" width="1%" | Status in the country | Global status | Trend | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray wagtail | Motacilla cinerea | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Yellow wagtail | Motacilla flava | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common passage migrant | |||
| Citrine wagtail | Motacilla citreola | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Uncommon | |||
| White wagtail | Motacilla alba | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Very common migrant | |||
| Richard's pipit | Anthus richardi | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Long-billed pipit | Anthus similis | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Tawny pipit | Anthus campestris | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common winter visitor | |||
| Meadow pipit | Anthus pratensis | N | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Uncommon winter visitor | |||
| Tree pipit | Anthus trivialis | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Scarce | |||
| Red-throated pipit | Anthus cervinus | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor | |||
| Water pipit | Anthus spinoletta | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Common in winter, this large pipit is easy to identify as it has black legs. It frequents wetlands, as suggested by its name. | |||
| American pipit | Anthus rubescens | A | =center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant. | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | 175px | ||
| Brambling | Fringilla montifringilla | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Hawfinch | C. coccothraustes | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant. | |||
| Common rosefinch | Carpodacus erythrinus | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | rare passage migrant | |||
| Trumpeter finch | Bucanetes githagineus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Desert finch | Rhodospiza obsoleta | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | 175px | ||
| Eurasian linnet | Linaria cannabina | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Eurasian siskin | S. spinus | A | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 bunting | Emberiza melanocephala | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | ? | rare passage migrant | ||
| Corn bunting | Emberiza calandra | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Winter visitor and uncommon breeder | |||
| Cinereous bunting | Emberiza cineracea | R | align=center style="background: #0097a0" | Rare passage migrant | |||
| Ortolan bunting | Emberiza hortulana | N | align=center style="background: #006666" | Pulling up to the table at early winter and early spring, this cheerful bird can be found among other birds in meadows. Its brown patterns may make it look indistinct but the yellow markings on this bird's face will confirm its identification | |||
| Cretzschmar's bunting | Emberiza caesia | R | align=center style="background: #006666" | Vagrant | |||
| Rustic bunting | Emberiza rustica | A | align=center style="background: #cbcc02" | Vagrant | |||