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AFGHAN ARABIA WILD

Saudi Arabian Birds

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    Depending on the source consulted there are 200 to 500 species of birds found on the Arabian Peninsula.  One of the best sources I've found is Avibase - the world bird data base.  The link will take you to their Saudi Arabia bird checklist page.  It is surprisingly extensive for an arid land, but when viewed in the context of Saudi's location - a link between Africa, India, and Europe - it becomes more understandable.  Keep in mind too, that birds more than any other animal are migratory masters.  Just because you see them in a certain location does not mean they breed there; many are just passing through.  The visitor from America will find several familiar species here:  swallows, martins, sparrows, doves, ospreys, falcons, even pelicans.  The kingdom, of course has its surprises.  Hoopoes and colorful bee eaters abound. 

Bee Eaters provide flashes of stunning color against the normally drab desert beige.  They small birds with a distinctive rolling trill that immediately tells you they're in the vicinity.  They have very defined territories and I normally find them in a place I call Bea Eater Alley.

This little owl measured about eight inches from tail to beak.  Cute little bugger.  He held still and let me take some photos, but I did not have the camera set for the highest resolution.  When I returned a few weeks later he was still in just about this same spot, but apparently decided that I had had my opportunity at filming him and promptly flew away.

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Numerous birds of prey inhabit the Saudi desert. This fellow on the right display wing spans approaching three feet.  Without a telephoto lens I'm hard pressed to get really good pictures of these raptors so I included this picture of a gyr falcon from the Idaho Raptor Center.  Falconry, by the way, is an exceptionally popular sport and the king maintains a large aviary.

My favorite - a Ring Necked Parakeet Psitcula krameri.  About the size of a dove, the striking fellow on the left showed up one afternoon just outside of my window feasting on sunflower seeds.  I took several photos though the window, but he took flight when I went outside for a better shot.  He returned a couple of days later, though, and brought friend with him.  The two above are males.  These guys are native to Africa and India, but are now widespread in the Middle East.  Thanks to the pet trade they are even established in southern England.

Collared Doves love to nest in the base of palm fronds; a perfect housing solution.  Look close and you'll see one hidden in the fronds.  The birds on the right have been identified by Cindy Smith who lives in Dharan as Common Minah Birds.  Thanks Cindy!  The bird on the far right of the photo is the male judging by his color and ardent posturing to the bird in front of him.

Another unidentified species on the left.  Equal in size to the bird on the left is the most widespread and hardy bird I know - the sparrow.  Oddly enough they appear to be just a tad larger here than the ones in the US.

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Saudi Arabian Wildlife Home  Saudi Birds  Saudi Mammals  Saudi Reptiles  Saudi Invertebrates  Saudi Fossils

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