Appendix1
A NOTE ON THE STATUS, DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION
OF
BREEDING BIRDS OF PREY AND OWLS IN ARABIA
by M C Jennings
February 2006
This paper has been prepared to aid discussion of these taxa at the
Conservation Workshop for the Fauna of Arabia to be held at Breeding
Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife, Sharjah, 19-22 February 2006.
It does not include information and population estimates in the ‘Eagles
and Vultures’ report of the Conservation Workshop for the Fauna of
Arabia, Sharjah 20-23 February 2005.
The document is compiled from the paragraph on status and distribution
contained in drafts species accounts of the forthcoming Atlas of the
breeding birds of Arabia (ABBA), Jennings, in prep. The notes on Osprey
Pandion haliaetus and Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei
are taken from drafts provided by Paul Fisher and Simon Aspinall
respectively. This review does not include species restricted solely to
Socotra (these are Socotra Buzzard Buteo socotrae and Socotra Scops Owl Otus socotranus) but the status and distribution comments, population estimates and maps do include reference to Socotra.
On the distribution maps (Appendix A)
, large dots are ‘confirmed breeding’, medium sized dots are ‘probable
breeding’ and small dots ‘other records of occurrence’. Red dots
represent records prior to 1984 and blue dots are records from 1984 or
later. The maps are compiled from records reported by observers to the
ABBA Project, extracted from the literature and unpublished sources,
museum specimen records and observations during ABBA Surveys to Arabia.
Those species highlighted are the primary species for consideration at
the workshop.
A summary of possible species populations appears as a table at Appendix B.
Unfortunately it has not been possible to reference all the sources of
species information in this work but readers may, if they wish see more
detailed information on individual species by consulting sources
included in A Rough Draft Bibliography of Arabian Ornithology (Jennings
2005). The series of numbers shown after each species statement below
are the reference numbers to papers relevant to each species included
in that bibliography. (A soft copy of the bibliography, which will make
searching easier, is available on request).
Comments on status and population estimates should be regarded as
provisional. Generally species are not identified to subspecies in this
paper except where more than one subspecies is represented in Arabia.
Taxonomic and nomenclature issues are covered in other parts of the
Atlas.
The Author would very much value any comments concerning the
information shown here and to hear of records extending or
complimenting the range etc of species shown on the maps.
(0235) Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus (Click here to view map)
The status of the Black-shouldered Kite in southwest Arabia is unclear,
in that it appears to be a scarce resident on the Tihama and foothills.
However it may only be an erratic breeding visitor from Africa. It has
occurred in all months, as far north as Jeddah and in the south to just
east of Aden. Most records come from the region east of Hodeidah,
especially Wadi Surdud and also between Lahej and Aden in the south of
Yemen, where it has bred. However occurrence is not stable and it
cannot always be found and may be absent some years. Occurrence
suggests irregular movements and temporary residence which seems to
characterise the species in some parts of Africa and India and this
might be expected in Arabia which is at the edge of its range. In
Africa it is regarded as nomadic to areas where there is plenty of
prey, such as local rodent plagues. In eastern Arabia the species has
been increasingly recorded since the early 1980 s. In the UAE, where at
the beginning of the 21st Century it occurred almost annually, records
are mainly from November to March with one in September. In northern
Oman occurrence is more erratic with records in January, July, August
and November. In Dhofar it has been recorded twice in November and
February. The two Dhofar records are probably representatives of the
nominate subspecies from the southwest, extending further east than
usual. However the records from UAE and northern Oman seem more likely
to be individuals from the Indian region wandering in winter. The two
Kuwait records, in February and June, are not easily explained but were
no doubt wanderers and could equally have originated from the Nile
Delta population or the Indian region. Although there is one record of
a bird coming on board a ship in the Gulf of Aden (in July) there are
no other reports of movements. For example it is not recorded from the
well watched islands of Das in the Arabian Gulf, or Masirah1. It is not
known from Socotra, northern, central and eastern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain
or Qatar. The map shows all records. The paucity of records of this
species make it difficult to suggest whether there has been any change
in the ‘resident’ population of the southwest in the last 50 years.
Probably not. In view of its erratic status the likely breeding
population can only be guessed at, it may be that 10 - 20 pairs breed
each year, but it is likely that in some years none breed at all. Most
breeding birds are likely to be in Yemen.
003003, 033005, 033012, 033111, 043033, 043039, 053047, 053121,
053122, 883086, 923002, 923009, 923017, 923023, 933001, 933027, 963075,
973326, 973327, 983012, 983022
(0238) Black Kite Milvus migrans (Click here to view map)
The subspecies aegyptius is resident on the Tihama and highlands of the
south-west from about the latitude of Jeddah to Aden. There are a few
scattered breeding records through eastern Yemen to Salalah. It is a
rare migrant on Socotra. The resident population is commensal relying
on human rubbish for scavenged food. Consequently the Black Kite is
often common around towns and villages but it can be quite scarce or
even absent altogether in adjacent deserts and uninhabited areas. The
sub species migrans is a migrant throughout Arabia, occurring in all
states, often as singletons or in small numbers with more in the
south-west. One count of 1500 at a Jeddah rubbish dump in February is
indicative of migration concentration but unfortunately many
observations like this have not identified the subspecies. The number s
migrating through Arabia and the periods and routes are still poorly
known. Incomplete migration counts in the Hejaz, Yemen and autumn
counts in Djibouti of birds coming across the Bab al Mandab, have
recorded only a few hundred birds. Which may be only a small part of
the actual numbers moving. The what extent to which birds winter in the
south-west is also poorly understood because of the confusion with the
local resident population. Certainly larger numbers occur on the Tihama
in winter suggesting an influx and a few winter in outlying urban areas
such as the vicinity of Tabuk, Hail and the Eastern Province. Anecdotal
evidence suggests that the breeding population is falling in parts of
its range, probably as a result of improved sanitation but there are
likely to be many other local factors. The Black Kite is still a common
urban bird in Yemen. In Saudi Arabia by 2000 it seemed to have become
scarce in some towns compared with the situation in 1970 s and 1980 s
but the towns are also much larger than before. So it is quite possible
that the kite population has increased with
1 It should be mentioned here that Green (1949) described this species
as a breeding resident on Masirah island and gave details of its
breeding and ecology there. However it was later shown that the author
has clearly misidentified the local Egyptian Vultures Neophron
percnopterus! a less concentrated population spread over a much larger
urban area. The map shows probable and confirmed breeding only. There
are no indications that the absolute range has either contracted or
expanded in recent years. The overall breeding population is difficult
to estimate as there are no good studies of the species and there is
the confusion with migrants and visitors. There may well be 500 pairs
resident in each suitable ABBA square on the Tihama and in the
southwest highlands. This would give a total of about 30,000 breeding
pairs, with probably two thirds in Yemen. The breeding population east
of Aden and in Dhofar may only be a few dozen pairs. In the southern
part of Yemen between Lahej and Aden the breeding population appears to
have been much affected by continual harrying by large numbers of House
Crows Corvus splendens. The House Crow is a direct competitor for
scavenged food and Black Kites being outnumbered are driven from food
by the crows. The crows also disturb nests and incubating birds and
attack Black Kites in the air at every opportunity. In the 1950 s the
Black Kite population in Aden was regarded as many thousands, but by
2005 it had become scarce in the area. There are also reports of House
Crows possibly being responsible for a decrease in Black Kite breeding
population at Hodeidah and Jeddah. However at these latter sites the
House Crow population is not large.
013001, 013016, 023001, 023045, 023056, 033061, 033110, 043059,
053004, 053015, 053047, 053060, 883015, 883022, 883032, 883078, 883093,
883114, 883128, 883133, 923002, 923003, 923006, 923009, 923010, 923012,
923013, 923014, 923017, 923020, 923023, 923037, 933000, 933001, 933002,
933011, 933021, 933035, 933052, 963067, 963072, 973001, 973062, 973065,
973085, 973086, 973088, 973089, 973093, 973094, 973095, 973096, 973098,
973108, 973317, 983012, 983041, 983043, 993025, 993029
(0246) Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus (Click here to view map)
The Bearded Vulture occurs in small numbers in the western highlands,
from the sandstones near the Jordan border to the mountains of southern
Yemen, east to Mukayras. It is probably resident where it occurs. There
is poor observer coverage over the northern regions where it is known,
which are mainly sandstone areas and that population is very hardly
known. The northern breeding range may be populated by just a few
scattered breeding pairs. Possibly some records from there are of
wandering individuals, especially those seen on the eastern flanks, but
there is no firm evidence of any local or seasonal movements anywhere
in Arabia. There is also no evidence of birds wintering in Arabia from
further north although this might be expected. In the southwest it
occurs from 850 m in the western ramparts of Yemen to the tops of the
highest mountains (3,000 m). The species is clearly decreasing in Saudi
Arabia. For example in the mid 1970 s the Bearded Vulture could be seen
each day at the escarpment near Taif and at Jebal Sawdah, near Abha but
there have been only one or two records at these particular sites since
1990. The Yemen population still appears to be flourishing. but it is
not known from the Tihama or Socotra. It is also unknown from the
Arabian Gulf and Oman. The map shows all records. The Arabian
population at the beginning of the 21st Century must be small, probably
much less than 100 pairs, with possibly 50 pairs in Yemen and only 10
to 20 pairs in Saudi Arabia.
023001, 023049, 023056, 023057, 033062, 033067, 053015, 053100, 053109,
053116, 883015, 883022, 883032, 883055, 883082, 923034, 923035, 923037,
923051, 933001, 933002, 933027, 973062, 973085, 973089, 973093, 973096,
993019, 993029
(0247) Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (Click here to view map)
The Egyptian Vulture is a widespread resident as well as a migrant and
winter visitor. It occurs as a breeding bird in the northern UAE and
Oman, possibly southern Oman, eastern Yemen, the western highlands, and
much of central Arabia, with a few pairs in the Eastern Province. It is
absent from the Empty Quarter and Great Nafud sand seas, the Arabian
Gulf littoral area from Kuwait to Dubai and most of northern Arabia.
Numbers appear to be reducing everywhere but still relatively dense
populations occur on the islands of Masirah, Socotra (one report
suggested there may be 500 pairs on that island) and Farasan.
Trans-Arabian migration would be expected to involve birds moving south
in autumn across a wide front in northern Arabia. There perhaps ought
to be a concentrations around the head of the Arabian Gulf and across
the Straits of Hormuz but it is scarce in Kuwait and there are only
small movements noted across the southern Gulf. A study of raptors
entering Africa at Djibouti across the Bab al Mandab between 3 October
and 9 November 1987 recorded 554 Egyptian Vultures. Other movements
recorded in the southwest and Oman fit a picture of late autumn
migration in October and November. The movement north in Spring seems
from the little information available to more concentrated, with more
than 700 recorded in two three/four day periods crossing the Bab al
Mandab. Numbers increase locally in winter in central Arabia, Yemen and
Oman at which times it congregates at rubbish tips, for example 250 at
Ghayyan in northern Oman in December, 100 Jebal Hafit UAE in winter,
170 at Sunub near Muscat in October and 26 in February in southern
Oman. There is high proportion of brown immatures noted in some winter
groups suggesting the adults may return north earlier or winter
elsewhere2. All old accounts suggest that earlier in the 20th Century
the Egyptian Vulture was much more numerous than it is at the beginning
of the 21st Century, both as a resident and a wintering bird. During
the ABBA period it has been noticed as becoming more scarce in a number
of regions and by the early 21st Century is was sometimes difficult to
find in areas where it could at one time be counted on being seen every
day. In Aden where it occurs mostly in Autumn, Winter and Spring a
count on 24 October 1960 found some 1343 at five sites near he city.
This compares very unfavourably with observations during the period
23-27 October 1989 when only a single bird was seen in the Aden area.
By 1989 the numbers around Aden had been much reduced by the activities
of the very numerous and aggressive House Crow Corvus splendens. Even
so the two records paint a picture of very significant decline. Most
old records point to it being a common scavenger around towns and
villages and large numbers were reported 50 years or more ago from
Jeddah, Riyadh, Abqaiq, Sanaa, and Dubai/Sharjah, where by 2006 it had
become scarce or not recorded at all. Overall by this time the mainland
breeding population was possibly only one tenth of what it was 50 years
previously. Agricultural pesticides have been implicated for its
decline in other parts of its range. Although the effect of
agricultural pesticides is unknown in Arabia the decline was noted long
before the farming revolution started in Arabia. A study into the
reasons for the decline of this and other species of vultures in Arabia
is much needed not least to try and stabilise the breeding population.
By 2006 there were small numbers spread over a huge range and the
population might be of the order of a few more than 3000 pairs. Of the
total possibly up to 10% are in the UAE and Oman and the rest are
spread equally between Yemen (including Socotra) and Saudi Arabia. The
map shows all records.
013032, 013034, 023012, 023013, 023019, 023045, 023083, 033009, 033031,
033039, 033052, 033061, 033062, 033077, 033106, 033108, 043032, 043033,
043039, 043045, 053004, 053005, 053018, 053040, 053047, 053056, 053060,
053095, 053118, 053124, 883009, 883022, 883049, 883055, 883078, 883082,
883104, 883124, 883128, 883133, 883134, 883141, 923002, 923006, 923008,
923010, 923012, 923017, 923020, 923023, 923035, 923036, 923043, 923044,
933000, 933001, 933002, 933004, 933006, 933008, 933011, 933020, 933032,
933035, 933037, 933038, 963002, 963052, 963069, 963075, 963206, 963210,
973001, 973002, 973007, 973048, 973051, 973056, 973062, 973065, 973085,
973101, 973110, 973111, 973112, 973312, 973320, 973321, 983014, 983031,
983039, 983041, 983043, 993016, 993019, 993021, 993029, 993046
(0251) Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus (Click here to view map)
The Griffon Vulture is resident in western and central Arabia and a
migrant and winter visitor to most regions. As a breeding bird it is
widespread in the southwest highlands of Yemen and Saudi Arabia and
north central Saudi Arabia. It has disappeared from a small colony near
Riyadh between the 1970 s and the early 1990 s. In the Eastern Province
it is very scarce, September to February. Small numbers have been
recorded in Kuwait in most recent years September to March. It is also
rather scarce in eastern Yemen, southern and northern Oman and the
northern Emirates where it is generally regarded as a winter visitor.
There are two records from the Farasan islands (November and April)
which are surprising as birds would presumably find difficulty in
flying across to the islands from the mainland and those islands would
not be regarded as on a migratory route for soaring species to or from
Africa. Not confirmed from Bahrain and there are no records from Qatar
or Socotra. The map shows all records. One migrating bird was satellite
tracked from northeast Israel to between Jeddah and Medinah in August
and six were once
2 Satellite tracking of individual immature birds hatched in France has
shown that some stay within a home range in the Sahel region of Africa
for up to 3 years (Meyburg et al 2004), before returning north to
breed. A similar habit in Arabia may account for the high number of
immatures sometimes recorded. seen on migration south through the Hejaz
during a 14 day period of observations in October. A study of raptor
migration in Djibouti from the beginning of October to early November
in 1985 and 1987 noted only three Griffons moving to Africa from
Arabia. The authors of the study concluded that it is unlikely that the
species is a regular or numerous migrant across the Bab al Mandab.
There is very little information on the numbers and distribution of
this species in previous decades but it seems likely that numbers have
generally decreased in recent years in Arabia, both as a winter visitor
and as a breeding bird3. The breeding locality which was vacated near
Riyadh may have been due to human disturbance which was probably also
the cause of desertion from a small colony near the village of Habala
in the Asir which disappeared some time in the 1980 s when the area had
become a local tourist attraction. The breeding population in Yemen may
be of the order of 2000 pairs, with a similar number in the highlands
of southwest Saudi Arabia and possible a further thousand pairs
throughout central Arabia. The wintering population may be as great as
the breeding population but the geographical origin of wintering birds
is unknown.
003009, 013013, 023045, 023046, 023052, 023121, 033039, 033061, 033062,
033065, 033067, 033093, 043033, 043040, 043045, 053007, 883009, 883022,
883032, 883055, 883082, 883101, 883114, 883134, 923002, 923008, 923010,
923012, 923035, 923036, 923037, 933001, 933002, 933011, 933035, 933038,
963069, 973062, 973085, 973088, 973089, 973093, 973095, 973096, 973098,
973300, 973312, 973320, 983024, 983041, 983043, 993029, 993046
(0254) Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos (Click here to view map)
There was previously much confusion regarding the status and
distribution of large vultures in Arabia. This was because the
Lappet-faced Vulture was not generally recognised as widely occurring
in Arabia until the 1980 s. Up until that time it was often believed
that tree nesting vultures were Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus, when in
fact they were probably all Lappet-faced. Many old records of Griffons
and Black Vultures Aegypius monachus also probably referred to Lappet-faced. The possible previous occurrence of Rüppell’s Griffon Gyps rueppellii
has also confused the picture. This latter species may never have
occurred in Arabia despite several records mentioned in Meinertzhagen
(1954) and the existence of some dubious specimen records. There are
several old photos and some specimen records from the 1940-50 s of
Lappet-faced Vultures which were not correctly identified or went
unnoticed at the time. The first confirmed recorded was one collected
between Medina and Hail in 1944, it was identified at the time as
Lappet-faced but appears not to have come to wide notice as the
collection was published and the specimen deposited in Cairo. (The
specimen could not found in Cairo in 1985). Then one was collected
about 100 km north of Riyadh in 1945 but was incorrectly identified at
the British Museum (Natural History) as Gyps fulvus. Eggs and specimens
were also collected in central Arabia in 1947 and Sharjah 1952 and were
all incorrectly identified as Gyps. Even after the species was known to
occur in Arabia it has often been referred to as a winter visitor.
Whereas the species actually starts to breed in midwinter. Perhaps more
than any other species the ABBA project has identified the true
distribution of this species. It is in 2006 known to be locally common
and widely distributed on the central plains of Arabia, from Jebal
Tubaiq at about 30N, southwards to eastern Yemen and probably Dhofar.
In eastern Yemen breeding is only confirmed from reports of four of the
distinctive nests of this species. There is an isolated breeding
population in northern Oman and UAE. The species is probably resident
wherever it occurs but wandering birds are known from as far north as
the Harrat al Harrah, the Tihama of southwest Saudi Arabia, Aden, and
Jibla on the eastern edge of the western highlands of Yemen. Much work
has been done on the biology of the species at the Mahazat as Sayd
reserve, and one marked immature bird there moved 400 km north and then
returned to the Mahazat. In Africa juveniles are known to disperse
Until the 1980 s there was much confusion between this species and the
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos. It is only since the 1970 s
that the latter species has been shown to be a numerous and widespread
breeding species in Arabia. Until the 1980 s, there had been various
reports of tree-nesting Griffons which were widely accepted. It is
clear from the perspective of 2006 that all these records referred to
the Lappet-faced Vulture. The Griffon Vulture does nest in trees in
Europe but has never been recorded to do so in Arabia.at least 700 km
from the breeding area. Movements like this suggests that birds could
easily transfer between the north Oman population and the rest of
Arabia. There are no records from Kuwait, Bahrain or Qatar. Counts of
migrating raptors at the Bab al Mandab did not report this species and
there are no confirmed records from the Farasans, Socotra or other
islands to indicate it migrates to Africa. The map shows all records.
This species ranges widely in search of food. In Africa adults may
travel 200 km from the nest when foraging. The several reports of 20 or
more birds at one carcase or feeding site in Arabia may therefore
represent birds from several different atlas squares, thereby giving a
false impression that local populations may be larger than they
actually are. A gatherings of 45 at one site has been recorded in Oman,
35 have been counted in one square where active breeding was occurring
in west central Arabia, up to 17 pairs attempted to breed each year in
the Mahazat reserve during a four year study in the early 1990 s. At
the same place autumn roosts have involved up to 162 birds. At least 13
pairs are known to have bred annually at the Bani Maarid reserve area
on the western edge of the Rub al Khali. Breeding is confirmed in at
least 60 squares. In central Saudi Arabia, a region which is still
poorly covered by observers, there are 50 squares with confirmed
breeding. Some records of confirmed breeding only refer to ‘used nests’
but such records at least indicate that there are active pairs in the
vicinity. In two squares GB27 and IB25 in western Saudi Arabia, 7 and 8
nests respectively were seen from a helicopter to contain single eggs
early spring 1983. That helicopter was engaged in geological survey
work and did not systematically cover the whole square in each case and
suggests that locally many pairs may nest in a relatively confined
area. If in Saudi Arabia there were on average 10 pairs for every
square where the species has been confirmed to breed there would be
some 500 pairs. Probably not many squares away from the reserves
mentioned would have this level of population but on the other hand
this vulture is likely to breed in many additional squares where
breeding is not yet recorded. Much of eastern Yemen is eminently
suitable for this species but coverage there has been very poor. There
are records from eight squares there and it is likely that at least 50
pairs inhabit that region and probably neighbouring Dhofar. There must
be at least 50 pairs in northern Oman with perhaps the odd pair
breeding in UAE. Making an Arabian total of about 600 breeding pairs.
Unlike other Arabian vultures, such as the Bearded Vulture Gypaetus
barbatus, Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus and the Griffon, which
are all clearly in decline, the Lappet-faced Vulture shows indications
of having increased in number in recent decades. In northern Oman there
appear to be more records and larger counts by 2006 than previously. In
both the Mahazat and Bani Maarid reserves there has been a marked
increase in breeding pairs since protection was established. It is
likely that some of this increase is that the protected nature of the
reserve encourages birds to move in from outlying regions but it at
least indicates that there are very healthy populations locally which
can multiply easily when the opportunity is provided.
003009, 003034, 013032, 023004, 023012, 023013, 023019, 023049,
023112, 033031, 033039, 033047, 033062, 033064, 033077, 033093, 033108,
033111, 033113, 043039, 043040, 053005, 053012, 053041, 053117, 053121,
883054, 883055, 933001, 933004, 933005, 933007, 933035, 963002, 963051,
963066, 963205, 963210, 963211, 963212, 963214, 963216, 963217, 973007,
973033, 973323, 973324, 973331, 983012, 983018, 983021, 993004, 993042,
993046
(0256) Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus (Click here to view map)
A scarce to frequent passage migrant and winter visitor to Arabia.
Widespread in small numbers in the summer months but only a handful of
breeding records. As a migrant and winter visitor it is absent or very
scarce in the northwest, much of central Arabia, the Eastern Province
and western UAE. It is scarce in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. It is also
uncommon in the northern UAE from Autumn to Spring but it may breed .
In northern Oman it is fairly common and has bred. In southern Oman and
Masirah island it has been recorded almost every month. It has been
recorded September to March with a peak of records in October in Yemen
but it is not known from Socotra island. Similarly it is most
noticeable as a Spring and Autumn migrant in the southwest of Saudi
Arabia with substantial numbers in October when it passes with other
raptors. There are a few present in the Asir in the summer months. The
best evidence of the number that migrate through Arabia has come from a
study in Djibouti where 203 birds were recorded arriving in Africa from
Arabia in October 1985 (102 on 17 October) and 1202 counted at the same
place in October/November 1987, with 126 on 15 October. Those authors
suggested an eastern origin for the birds crossing the Bab al Mandab.
Another count of the Bab al Mandab movement from the Arabian side
recorded 48 on 15 October 1997. The scattering of migrant and winter
visitor records in Arabia suggests that birds move across central
Arabia diagonally from the head of he Arabian Gulf. Theoretically a
significant number of migrants could also enter Arabia at the Straits
of Hormuz but any evidence for this is lacking. The small breeding
population is probably resident and separate fro the migrant
population. Breeding is known from south central Arabia (two records),
southwest Saudi Arabia and northern Oman/UAE (two records). With so few
confirmed breeding records and no confirmation yet if populations are
resident or transitory it is difficult to assess how large the breeding
population is in Arabia. On the basis that the species inhabits broken
and hilly country which is difficult to survey there could be 200 pairs
in central and southwest Saudi Arabia, 50 pairs in Yemen (although
there is no confirmed breeding from that country yet) and another 20
pairs in northern Oman/UAE. This species is very poorly recorded as a
breeding bird and there is nothing to suggest that the breeding
population is either changing in number or distribution. The map shows
only probable and confirmed breeding records and some potential
breeding records
.
003009, 013001, 013016, 023012, 023013, 023045, 033024, 033061, 043039,
053005, 053066, 883032, 933001, 933002, 933004, 963069, 963205, 963214,
973111, 983031, 983041, 983043
(0257) Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus (Click here to view map)
The Bateleur is a bird of the African savanna which finds a toehold in
southwest Arabia. Status in Arabia is probably ‘scarce breeding
resident’. Most records are September to April. Of 60 dated records
there is only one between late April and early July. However there is
no evidence to suggest there is any migration between Africa and Arabia
or within Arabia so the apparent summer absence may be an observer bias
within a relatively small number of records. Elsewhere in the Middle
East it is accidental to Iraq (October), and Israel (December March to
May). It is found in the extreme southwest of Saudi Arabia and western
Yemen, most records are no further north than 18 N or east of Aden.
It wanders rarely as far north as Jeddah and as far east as Mukalla. It
has not been recorded in the Mahra area of eastern Yemen and southern
Oman or on Socotra. It is also unknown from the Arabian Gulf States.
This species has not yet been confirmed to breed in Arabia but there is
evidence that it does breed. The population must be thinly spread and
pairs appear to have large territories, in Africa territories may be up
to 200 km2. On this basis there could be little more than five pairs in
a square even in the most suitable habitat which would suggest that the
total Arabian breeding population, if it does indeed breed, is less
than 100 pairs. Yemen probably has at least two thirds of the
population. There is no evidence that the population or range has
changed in recent decades. The map shows all records on the database.
023049, 023056, 023063, 033052, 053050, 883022, 883055, 923005, 923010,
923035, 933001, 933025, 933027, 963075, 973001, 973328, 983013
(0265) Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates (Click here to view map)
The Dark Chanting Goshawk is resident in southwest Arabia. It is found
sparingly from a little north of Taif, becoming quite numerous on the
Tihama in the extreme southwest of Saudi Arabia, south through Yemen to
Aden. There are only three or four records from eastern Yemen but none
form Dhofar. In southwest Saudi Arabia birds are recorded as wandering
northwards in the winter months. This would account for some of the
isolated occurrences which have been from near Riyadh in January and
from the UAE in February and April. The species has also been recorded
Israel in April. There are no records from the other Arabian Gulf
states ad it s unknown from Socotra. There is no evidence of regular
movements within Arabia. On the basis that there may be 30-40 breeding
pairs in each atlas square where there is suitable habitat, the
population may be of the order of 1000 pairs, with perhaps more (60%)
in Yemen. There is no information to suggest the breeding population or
distribution has changed in recent years. The map shows all records.
013034, 023124, 053015, 053050, 053110, 883015, 883022, 883032,
883055, 883093, 923000, 923002, 923003, 923009, 923010, 923017, 923023,
923034, 923035, 933001, 933002, 933025, 933027, 933030, 963061, 963074,
973001, 973062, 973067, 973085, 973088, 973096, 973303, 973326, 983013,
983017, 983033
(0266) Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar (Click here to view map)
Resident on the Tihama and in the foothills from southwest Saudi Arabia
(19 N is the northernmost record), to Yemen. There are a few records
in southern Yemen away from the Tihama and north and east of Aden. The
only information on dispersal or migration comes from two isolated
records, probably non breeding wanderers, from near Mukalla in
September and at almost 25 N in the Hejaz in March. It is not
recorded on Socotra or from the other states. Although the species is
likely to be overlooked in thick bush country it appears to be much
scarcer than the Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates.
The population may be as few as only 200 pairs with probably three
quarters in Yemen. There is no information to suggest that numbers or
range have changed in recent years. The maps shows all records.
013001, 023021, 023026, 053015, 053054, 053063, 883022, 883032, 883055,
883114, 923009, 923026, 933002, 963069, 963075, 973326, 973327, 973329
(0272) Shikra Accipiter badius (Click here to view map)
The Shikra (subspecies sphenurus) is a scarce resident of the
southwest, occurring in the foothills and highlands of the western
escarpment of Yemen and adjacent parts of southwest Saudi Arabia. It
has been recorded every month and there is no evidence of any movement
or dispersal of this population, either within Arabia or between Africa
and Arabia. Since 1996 breeding has been recorded near Dubai and an
accipiter, possibly this species, has been seen displaying in Ras al
Khaimah UAE. The status of the species in the UAE is unclear, perhaps
in the early 21st Century only a single pair or very few pairs bred..
It could be a summer visitors from Iran or further east and there has
been suggestion of a captive origin or some of the original birds.
Since 1991 there have been a number of records from Oman from the
Batinah coast (March), Masirah island (where three separate birds were
present at different times between late June and early November),
Salalah area and interior southern Oman (March and October, November).
Since 1988 there hae been a number of records from Kuwait in each month
from September to April and by 2006 was sufficiently well known there
to be recorded as a scarce migrant and winter visitor. This is an old
specimen record (October 1938) from Riyadh. There are no records from
Bahrain, Qatar or the Eastern Province. The Dubai birds have been
tentatively identified as belonging to the Asian subspecies cenchroides
and representatives of this race are likely to occur elsewhere in
eastern Arabia The species has been poorly recorded in the southwest in
previous years and because of this there is no indication that it has
either changed its distribution or numbers there in recent years. In
the southwest probably about 30 squares have suitable habitat for this
species and if there were 20 pairs in each the population would be of
the order of 600 pairs, with possibly three quarters occurring in
Yemen. The map shows the location of all records including migrants and
winter visitors.
003003, 003035, 013001, 013033, 023017, 033031, 033039, 033058, 043022,
043031, 043039, 043041, 053119, 883015, 883022, 933002, 963069, 963071,
973300, 973307, 983006, 983008, 983012, 983017
(0288) Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (Click here to view map)
The Long-legged Buzzard is a widespread but scarce breeding resident.
It also occurs widely in winter and on migration. As a resident it is
scattered throughout eastern, north, central and southwestern parts of
Saudi Arabia. A few pairs breed in UAE, and central and southern Oman
but it appears to be rather more scarce as a breeding species in Yemen.
It is not known from Socotra. Has bred at several places on the edge of
the Empty Quarter and may well breed throughout that sand sea. It is
known as a winter visitor in small numbers in Kuwait (occasional summer
records), Bahrain and Qatar, from late September to April. Migration
reports have come form the Eastern Province, at Tabuk, Yanbu, in the
highlands of southwest Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The only counts
indicating the size of the migration through Arabia are from a report
of the study of migrants made in Djibouti where 131 were observed
arriving in Africa across the Bab al Mandab from Yemen between 10
October to 9 November 1987. The majority crossed the Bab al Mandab in
early November with the maximum daily count of 36 on 8 November. The
authors of that report considered it likely that November is the main
passage period and suggested that good numbers may move into Africa in
mid to late November. The breeding population in the UAE is obscured by
winter visitors and migrants but in the UAE up to 5 pairs have been
estimated to breed. There may be 100 breeding pairs each in Oman, Yemen
and the highlands of southwest Saudi Arabia and possibly a further 500
pairs spread over central and eastern Saudi Arabia. Making a total of
the order of 800 pairs. There is no evidence to indicate whether the
breeding population is stable or whether agricultural developments in
recent years have assisted it or been to its detriment. The map shows
all records except the more obvious migrants and visitors.
013001, 013016, 023045, 023097, 033024, 033061, 053041, 053119, 053133,
883009, 883032, 883052, 883055, 883104, 883114, 883134, 883913, 923010,
923035, 933001, 933004, 933052, 963050, 963066, 963068, 963075, 963208,
963211, 963214, 963217, 973312, 973320, 973331, 983014, 983035, 983040,
983041, 983043, 993029
(0294) Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax (Click here to view map)
The nominate subspecies of the Tawny Eagle, is an uncommon resident of
southwest Saudi Arabia and western Yemen. The population there is
thought to be sedentary as there are no observations suggesting
migration within Arabia, or to or from Africa. Non breeding birds
appear to wander a few squares northwards, to 20 N and southwards to
Aden. This eagle is not known from the Farasan islands or Socotra.
Records of this species from northern Oman (November to March) may have
been wandering birds of the Indian race A. r. vindhiana.
One seen at Taqah in Dhofar in November could have been of either race.
There are no records from the other states4. The Arabia breeding
population is small, probably of the order of only 250 pairs. This
estimate is based on suitable habitat covering the area of 25 squares
with 10 pairs in each square. Probably 30% of the breeding population
is in Saudi Arabia and rest in Yemen. There is no information on
whether numbers or distribution are changing in any way. The map shows
all observations in the southwest and Dhofar.
033061, 053063, 883022, 883045, 883055, 883082, 883114, 923008,
923010, 923013, 923034, 933001, 933002, 933052, 963071, 973062, 973111,
973328, 983013
(0296) Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos (Click here to view map)
The Golden Eagle is a widespread but local and uncommon resident. There
are two main population centres, in northwest and north central Saudi
Arabia and in the eastern part of the Empty Quarter and central Oman.
Elsewhere it is very scarce. There is a small breeding population in
the UAE part of the Empty Quarter and thee are probably also a few
pairs breeding in eastern Yemen. There may also be breeding birds in
the Yemen highlands where there have been a number of observations,
including display. The species is not known from Qatar or Bahrain and
it is a vagrant (four records) to Kuwait. There are a few records from
around Riyadh and in the Eastern Province, without confirmed breeding.
The Eurasian population of the Golden Eagle is not noted for strong
migration tendencies and regular migration within and through Arabia is
probably negligible. This is borne out by raptor migration studies in
the Hejaz, the Yemen foothills and at the Bab al Mandab, which have
recorded only a single Golden Eagle. This was in the Hejaz and even
that bird could have been a local resident. Further evidence to support
little or no migration is that it is unknown from islands of Farasan,
Socotra, Masirah and Das. After breeding, birds sometimes congregate
during summer at places where there is fresh water, such as Montassar
in southern Oman (where up to 9 have been seen together in June) and
also near Al Jawf northern Saudi Arabia in May and August. The
population is small and as there is very little information on which to
judge numbers thus any estimate is almost a guess. The few breeding
records from Saudi Arabia are probably indicative of a thin population
over a very large area. There may be 250 pairs Eggs collected in the
middle of the Empty quarter by B Thomas (883002) were identified by
Kinnear (883045) as most likely to belong to this eagle. However the
record is some 1000 km from the nearest other reports of the species
and the habitat was wrong. That nest most likely belonged to the Golden
Eagle A chrysaetos which by
the year 2000 was known to be a widespread breeding bird in the Empty
Quarter. Also further measurement, analysis and opinion of the eggs
also suggest the later species.altogether in Arabia, with the majority
in Saudi Arabia, possibly 20 pairs in, mainly eastern, Yemen and 30
pairs in the eastern part of the Empty Quarter including central Oman
and southern UAE. There is no information to suggest the population is
changing in any way but the increased number of stock animals and the
wider provision of water on the plains will be advantageous to this
species. The maps shows all records as an indication of overall range.
003002, 003006, 003009, 003019, 023012, 023083, 023096, 033045,
043039, 043041, 053060, 883002, 883022, 883045, 883049, 883052, 883114,
883119, 883133, 923002, 923010, 933001, 933027, 983014, 983024, 983043
(0297) Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii (Click here to view map)
This species was first recorded in Arabia in 1878 by Sir Richard Burton
in ‘Midian’ (northwest Saudi Arabia), there was another record in
southern Yemen in 1948, it since the 1970 s it has been found to be
quite widespread. The increase in observations probably reflects better
observer coverage in the highland areas where it occurs, than any real
population change. Verreaux’s Eagle is a scarce resident breeding
sporadically in the highlands and foothills of western Arabia, from
Jebal al Lawz near the Gulf of Aqaba to just north of Aden and through
eastern Yemen to Dhofar. There are no records from the other states5
and there is no evidence to suggest there is any migration to Africa
for the winter and, apart from the dispersal of juveniles from the
nesting area, there are probably no local movements within Arabia. In
Arabia pairs are predictable at nesting sites all year round. Probably
more widespread than records suggest but occurring at a very low level
of density. There are collections of records near Jebal Rawdah near
Yanbu and in the southern Hejaz. It is probably most numerous in
western Yemen, both in the Tihama foothills and the highlands. Some
10-11 sites were known in Yemen in 1987. It is more spread out and
scarce in eastern Yemen with records from near Habban, Tarim and Wadi
Meseila. There is another cluster of records in Dhofar where breeding
is recorded in at least 4 squares. The species range in Arabia, as in
Africa, is closely linked to the distribution of Hyrax Procavia capensis,
of which it is a specialist predator. The only locality where Hyrax
occurs where this eagle has not been confirmed is the Tuwaiq Escarpment
in central Arabia. The Arabian population is perhaps in the region of
60 pairs, if it is assumed that there are two pairs breeding in each
the squares in southwest Saudi Arabia and western Yemen where the
species is known and one in each of the occupied square in the other
localities. The map shows all records.
003009, 003029, 013001, 023049, 023063, 033052, 033061, 033063, 053012,
883022, 883032, 883055, 883114, 883133, 933001, 933002, 933027, 963069,
963075, 973307, 973326, 973327, 983022, 993012
(0299) Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus (Click here to view map)
Bonelli’s Eagle is an uncommon but widespread resident of rocky and
mountainous regions. It is probably the most numerous breeding eagle in
Arabia. It occurs throughout the mountains of west and southern Arabia
to Dhofar and then again in northern Oman and the Emirates. There are
isolated breeding records from near Riyadh, where it may be thinly
distributed as a breeding bird along the Tuwaiq escarpment, and from
Masirah island. It is absent as a breeding bird from the plains of
northern Arabia and the coastal area of the Arabian Gulf but it has
been recorded in those places rarely as a migrant and winter visitor.
There is probably an insignificant migration through Arabia as small
numbers have been noted on migration across the Bab al Mandab from
Arabia to Africa and it has been seen on Das Island in the Arabian
Gulf. Its secondary status, as a winter visitor and passage migrant
needs further clarification. A few records from Kuwait, the Eastern
Province and the UAE suggest that there is a small population that
comes to Arabia across the Arabian Gulf and around the head of the Gulf
for the winter. The species is not known from Bahrain, Qatar or
Socotra. It has been described as the commonest breeding eagle in Yemen
and the population in the UAE has been estimated to be of the In 1999 a
UAE military transport aircraft landed at Ras al Khaimah airport having
suffered a birdstrike. The remains of the bird still in the wing
appeared to be the complete leg of a Verreaux’s Eagle. The birdstrike
was apparently suffered near to Ras al Khaimah but enquiries could not
establish where the aircraft had come from and so a birdstrike on
takeoff at another location could not be ruled out.order of 10 - 50
pairs in the small area of UAE highlands. If the midpoint of the UAE
population estimate were to be repeated in other mountainous areas of
Arabia, which are for the most part much less studied than the UAE
maintains, then the total Arabian population might be of the order of
700 pairs. Of the total there may be 300 pairs each in Saudi Arabia and
Yemen and 70 in Oman. The UAE population is thought by some to be
declining but no population change or obvious range expansion has been
noted elsewhere. The map shows all records.
003009, 023017, 023019, 023045, 023112, 033039, 033061, 033064, 043023,
043041, 053001, 053005, 053066, 053133, 883015, 883022, 883032, 883045,
883055, 933004, 933030, 933038, 963066, 963069, 963202, 963203, 963205,
963207, 963211, 963212, 963216, 963217, 963220, 973007, 973085, 973096,
973326, 973331, 983013, 983014, 983041, 993020, 993047
(0301) Osprey Pandion haliaetus (Click here to view map)
The Osprey is a common breeding resident species in the Red Sea, the
Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It is less numerous in the Gulf of
Aden and the Arabian Sea. The highest concentrations in the Red Sea are
on the Tiran, Al Wejh and Farasan archipelagos, and islands off
Al-Hudaydah. In the Arabian Gulf important breeding populations are
found on the Hawar Islands, Bahrain, the western islands of the UAE and
Musandam islands (Oman). Only in Kuwait is it not known as a breeding
species. In the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden small
numbers of Osprey breed on the Damaniyat, Halaaniyah archipelago Oman
and the outlying islands of the Socotra Archipelago. The large majority
of nests are on islands with nests on the mainland being rare, possibly
less than 1%. There is no evidence to support movement between the
populations of the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea but within
each population there may be considerable movement of individuals for
example limited ringing studies have shown that a female ringed as a
nestling on Tiran Island was seen in a subsequent year nesting with two
yung some 70 km east near Al Muwaylih and a male nestling ringed on
Farasan was later photographed breeding on the other side of the Red
Sea at Green Island, near Massawa, Eritrea some 250 km away. The
breeding population estimate for Arabia is of the order 850 pairs of
which up to 70% are found in the Red Sea. Ospreys also migrate through
Arabia, certainly overland and presumably along the coasts and small
numbers probably over-winter. Eurasian migrants are larger than Arabian
Ospreys, and typically with darker plumage and more prominent black
upper breast band (particularly in females). Fenno -Scandinavian ringed
birds have been recovered near Riyadh, Taif and Perim Island. Limited
evidence from the satellite tracking of individuals has shown that at
least some individuals from temperate areas pass over the Arabian
Peninsula and parts of the Arabian Gulf during September and October to
winter in tropical Africa (Kjelléllen et al., 1997). The map
shows all potential breeding records.
003009, 003018, 003025, 013014, 013032, 013033, 023003, 023026,
023072, 023103, 023110, 023138, 023142, 033013, 033029, 033030, 033031,
033039, 033068, 033072, 033082, 033110, 043015, 043017, 043032, 043039,
043041, 053025, 053040, 053044, 053080, 053094, 053124, 053132, 883007,
883011, 883022, 883032, 883055, 883092, 883100, 883104, 883112, 883124,
923002, 923005, 923006, 923010, 923012, 923020, 923037, 923043, 933000,
933001, 933002, 933004, 933008, 933013, 933014, 933017, 933026, 933031,
933034, 933038, 943006, 943009, 963205, 963210, 963211, 963214, 963216,
963220, 973001, 973003, 973004, 973006, 973007, 973008, 973009, 973011,
973013, 973036, 973038, 973041, 973042, 973043, 973064, 973075, 973080,
973081, 973085, 973089, 973101, 973110, 973114, 973302, 973311, 973313,
973325, 983012, 983020, 983026, 983038, 983039, 983041, 993009, 993026,
993031, 993034
(0304) Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (Click here to view map)
The Kestrel is the most widespread, numerous and familiar bird of prey
in Arabia. It can be seen in city centres as well as open desert
habitats, including the Empty Quarter. It is scarce or absent as a
breeding bird from the plains of central and northern Arabia where
there are no trees or rocky outcrops. The most significant area where
breeding is not indicated is eastern Yemen but this may be due to poor
observer coverage there. It is a widespread breeding resident in all
states and the larger islands such as the Farasans, Socotra and
Masirah. There is also a significant wintering population in all
states. To ensure that the distribution map shows only resident birds
records of migrants and winter visitors are ignored and only probably
and confirmed breeding records are plotted. No information is available
on the movement of marked birds including post breeding dispersal and
thus the origins of the wintering population is unclear, but most
likely birds arrive from further north in the Middle East and possibly
from eastern Europe and western Asia. The breeding population is
probably of the order of about 10-11000 prs, on the basis that there
may be 300 squares of most suitable habitat holding at least between 30
- 40 pairs each and 150 more squares of secondary habitat holding 5
pairs each. This population is possibly outnumbered two to one by
visitors during winter and spring. The breeding population has almost
certainly increased in recent years with the advent of large scale
agricultural programmes. Anecdotal evidence suggests that in large
areas of irrigated wheat fields in central and northern Arabia the
breeding population in each square might be as high as 2-300 pairs.
003003, 013016, 013033, 013034, 023013, 023019, 023045, 023151, 033017,
033031, 033061, 043004, 043039, 043067, 053005, 053015, 053041, 053076,
053081, 053104, 053124, 883007, 883009, 883015, 883022, 883055, 883093,
883104, 883124, 883134, 923002, 923003, 923005, 923008, 923010, 923013,
923017, 923020, 923023, 923037, 923043, 923044, 933001, 933002, 933004,
933006, 933020, 933025, 933038, 963053, 963067, 963068, 963069, 963203,
963204, 963206, 963207, 963210, 963211, 963212, 963214, 973002, 973012,
973013, 973041, 973051, 973065, 973085, 973086, 973089, 973094, 973095,
973096, 973098, 973312, 973320, 973321, 983040, 983041, 983043, 993029,
993041, 993045
(0312) Sooty Falcon Falco concolor (Click here to view map)
The Sooty Falcon is a breeding summer visitor to the Red Sea, Arabian
Gulf and Gulf of Oman. In Arabia it almost exclusively inhabits
islands. Breeding concentrations occur in the Arabian Gulf at the Hawar
islands, Bahrain, the Abu Dhabi islands in the UAE and islands of
Musandam and the Daimaniyat group in the Gulf of Oman. It breeds
throughout the Red Sea from Tiran to the Bab al Mandab, with
particularly concentrations found near the Wedj bank and al Lith. There
are no breeding records from the Gulf of Aden, the Socotra Archipelago
or the Arabian Sea. It occasionally nests on mainland sea cliffs in
northern Oman, for example between Banda Jissa to Ras Khabba. The few
breeding reports inland are restricted to the northwest of the
peninsula and fit in well with a distribution of inland breeding from
North Africa to Jordan. Other inland records could indicate an overland
passage to the Arabian Gulf from and to the wintering grounds. The
several records from near Abqaiq may have been breeding birds from the
Gulf of Salwa. It arrives on its breeding grounds generally in April or
May but odd birds are present from late March. There are two old
records from Oman in January but both could be erroneous as they have
not been repeated in recent years. There is no other evidence to
suggest any are present during winter. The map shows the location of
all observations. Although birds have been recorded on the coasts of
the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden in April, October, and November (and
therefore probably migrants) its absence from that coast and its
islands as a breeding bird is not yet explained. It may be that the
summer monsoon, which coincides with the Sooty Falcon breeding season,
creates climatic conditions unsuitable for hunting or, more likely,
reduces the number of prey species migrating down the coast. Studies in
the Red Sea show that breeding numbers are less on islands where there
is a less concentrated flow of migrants in Autumn. For example the
Farasan islands were less favoured than the islands off Al Lith where
the narrow coastal lowlands means a greater concentration of migrants
moving along the coast. The volume of migrant flow on a broad front
over the Arabian desert is probably not as concentrated as, for example
in the area between northeast Egypt and Jordan and so perhaps mainland
breeding birds would not be expected in the centre of the peninsula or
the eastern part of Arabia. This falcon winters in Madagascar and less
frequently on the African mainland at Mozambique and even eastern South
Africa. The Arabian breeding population is probably no more than about
450 pairs. This is comprised of a population in the Arabian Gulf and
Gulf and Oman of probably no more than 100 pairs (maxima of about 20
pairs on Hawar, 25 pairs on UAE islands, and 60 pairs in Oman) and
about 350 pairs in the Red Sea. The latter are comprised of about 300
pairs in Saudi Arabia, with perhaps slightly more in the northern
sector between the Wedj Bank and Tiran group than in the south from Al
Lith to the Farasans and about 50 pairs on the Yemen islands.
Considering that the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf/Gulf of Oman are
regarded as major population centres for this species it is very
difficult to balance the above population estimate with the
extrapolated wintering population in Madagascar of 40,000 pairs given
in del Hoyo et. al. 1994. With an estimated population of 300 pairs in
Egypt, 100 in Israel and 170 pairs in the Dahlak archipelago, Sudan,
and a few in Libya and Jordan, the world population might be as low as
1000 pairs. One explanation for this disparity could be that it is a
more widespread breeder in the inland deserts of North Africa than is
known. Another is that there are significant undiscovered breeding
areas. Both alternative explanations seem unlikely and perhaps the
world population should be revised down by a factor of 40! There is no
information on population changes in recent years from Arabia. This
species, having a fondness to breed on islands, must be regarded as
extremely vulnerable due to the increasing disturbance many islands
receive in the early 21st Century. It does not breed on the main Hawar
island due to the presence of feral cats and no longer breeds on Zirka,
Dalma, and Sir Bani Yas islands in the Gulf due to a combination of the
oil industry and sizeable human populations having been established
there in recent years. The promotion of tourism to the Gulf and Red
Sea, especially water sports, must inevitably have a negative effect on
this rare bird.
003003, 003009, 003018, 013032, 023012, 023049, 023138, 023143,
023151, 033002, 033007, 033008, 033009, 033012, 033067, 033068, 033108,
043001, 043025, 043039, 043050, 043051, 053027, 053040, 053046, 053080,
053081, 053119, 883008, 883011, 883032, 883082, 883089, 883100, 883112,
933000, 933008, 933013, 933014, 933016, 933026, 933030, 933038, 963051,
963209, 963211, 963214, 963220, 973003, 973010, 973012, 973013, 973036,
973043, 973069, 973325, 983009, 983014, 983015, 983017, 983022, 983031,
993007, 993009, 993031, 993036
(0314) Lanner Falco biarmicus (Click here to view map)
A century ago the Lanner was recorded by one observer in south Arabia
as ‘Not uncommon’, but by the year 2006 few observers have seen and the
species had become a very rare bird in Arabia, although still
apparently widespread at a very low population density. In the last 30
years breeding has been confirmed from the Eastern Province, central
Arabia, the southwest highlands of Saudi Arabia and Yemen but the last
report of confirmed breeding was in 1989. It has been recorded in
almost every month in Oman but with no indication of breeding.
Immatures have been seen in the UAE but there is no good evidence of
breeding there either. In the 19th Century two pairs were recorded on
Socotra but there have been no subsequent records from that island.
There are no breeding records from northern Arabia or from the Empty
Quarter. The map shows al records. In Arabia the Lanner is thought to
be resident where it breeds, however there is likely to be a small
wintering or migrant population because there are a number of records
of single non-breeding birds. In recent years the number and status of
the species has been obscured by the presence of escaped falconers
birds (some have been reported with jesses on) as well as escaped
hybrids which by the end of the 20th Century had become a regular
bi-product of the falconry industry. There is no information available
on movements of marked individuals. The small number of records
obtained during the ABBA period (only 2 confirmed breeding and six
probable breeding) outlines the range known by the 21st Century but
provides very little on which to draw conclusions about the population
size. Bearing in mind the vast areas of potential habitat there may
still be as many as 20 pairs in central and eastern Arabia and a
similar number each in the Saudi Arabian and Yemeni parts of the
southwest highlands and a few in eastern Yemen. The total population
for the whole peninsula must be considerably less than 100 pairs. There
may be a few in Oman. The Lanner is a traditional hunting falcon of the
Arabian bedouins. Whilst it has been able to withstand for many
centuries an annual ‘take’ by nomads for their own needs it has not
been able to sustain the level of pressure in the early 21st Century,
generated by the commercial demand. This the species is likely to
become extinct as a breeding species in Arabia in the near future.
Taking young falcons from the nest is a further blight on the prospects
of the genus in Arabia and in the case of the Lanner F. bemocks a major contributor to its almost complete extinction.
003009, 013032, 023012, 023045, 033005, 033039, 033061, 053063,
883022, 883032, 883049, 883055, 883114, 883124, 883134, 923000, 923004,
923009, 923013, 923017, 923043, 933001, 933002, 933035, 963050, 963214,
963220, 973085, 973307, 983005, 983014, 983040, 983041, 993004, 993025
(0320) Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus (Click here to view map)
The Peregrine Falcon is primarily a widespread, uncommon migrant and
winter visitor to coastal regions of Arabia. It occurs in all states.
It appears to be more common in the Arabian Gulf and southern Arabia in
winter than it is in the Red Sea region, but more marked as a migrant
along the Red Sea coast into Africa than elsewhere. Rather scarce in
the interior. Evidence of migration has been obtained from southwest
Arabia. In October 1985 16 were seen arriving over 16 days in Djibouti
across the Bab al Mandab from Arabia (023045) and in 1987 seven arrived
at the same place over a 38 day period from early October (983041).
Seven were also noted moving through the Hejaz during 16 days in
October (983043). Migrants and winter visitors, especially chalets,
travel enormous distances to Arabia and beyond. One ringed as a
nestling in August 1997 in the Tambar peninsula in Siberia was captured
in November the same year on Qarnain island in the UAE, a distance of
at least 6000 km.(033051). The Peregrine is poorly known as a breeding
bird in Arabia and there is doubt as to its true breeding status. This
is because there is probably some confusion of records with the
smaller, but more widespread Barbary Falcon F. pelegrinoides, escaped
or released falconers birds and captive reared birds, including
hybrids. (Escaped falconers birds wearing jesses have been reported
from all over Arabia and are possibly more common than naturally
occurring birds away from the coasts). It is a scarce resident on
Socotra island. There are two or three other breeding records from
northern and central Oman including once of an apparent mixed pair with
Barbary Falcon. In the Asir mountains of southwest Saudi Arabia a bird
was once reported attending a nest site over several days in May 1988.
This would normally be confirmed breeding but it was known that there
had been escapes, including hybrids, in the area from a nearby falconry
centre and the record is therefore only shown as a possible breeding.
There are no breeding records from other states. The Arabian breeding
population is probably no more than 50 pairs with possibly 30 on
Socotra and 20 on the mainland. The map only shows those records where
breeding is indicated. The traditional local trapping industry of
migrating falcons still flourishes, especially along the mainland Red
Sea coast and in the Gulf. This inevitably takes many migrants, a
commerce supported by the high prices that falconers are still prepared
to pay for wild caught birds. A further insidious threat to the wild
population of Peregrines is the large number of hybrids that have been
bred in captive conditions. Hybrids will have no idea of the species or
region to which they belong when they escape and are likely to cause
problems with any wild birds they encounter. Even an escaped wild
caught falconers bird has the capability to produce racial hybrids if
it breeds with one of the Arabian population because it could have
originated from anywhere between northwest Africa and Siberia. With an
increase in the number of captive bred falcons being released and
escaping from falconers there may well be more incidents of casual
breeding on the Arabian mainland.
013011, 013032, 023045, 033047, 033051, 053041, 053104, 883022,
923002, 923033, 923037, 923043, 923044, 973008, 973302, 983022, 983033,
983041, 983043
(0321) Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides (Click here to view map)
The Barbary Falcon is a widespread but scarce breeding resident. It has
not been reported from Bahrain or Qatar, is rare in eastern Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait and is not known from the Empty Quarter. Reports from
Socotra are likely to refer to the small race of Peregrine that is
resident there. Although migration along the Red Sea coast at Yanbu has
been suggested there is little evidence for this or any other
significant movements within Arabia. Individual birds may turn up for
short periods at non-breeding locations but are likely to be dispersing
after breeding. The map shows all records. The population of this
species is difficult to assess as in some places it is relatively
common and at other sporadic. For example one observer found four pairs
in the Jebal Sawdah summit area and another reported three pairs
located within 10 km along the Tuwaiq Escarpment. On this basis there
may well be at least 100 pairs along the length of the Tuwaiq
escarpment, another 300 pairs in the mountains of both Yemen and south
West Saudi Arabia and a further 300 pairs spread over all the other
rocky/mountainous areas of Arabia. Making a total population of just
about 1000 pairs. There is no information about whether the population
has changed in recent years. However it might be speculated that, like
the Kestrel, it has probably benefited indirectly from agricultural and
dairy farm developments in recent decades which have created favourable
conditions for its main prey species, the Rock Pigeon Columbia livia and doves Streptopelia spp,
to expand and flourish. Although it is a robust vigorous falcon that
can be trained to hunt the Barbary Falcon is traditionally not used
much for falconry in view of its small size (and therefore status)
compared to the Lanner, Peregrine or Saker F. cherrug.
In view of this it is not directly targeted by falcon trappers. However
it is likely to be caught as a by-catch by trappers after the larger
falcons at the main trapping sites along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf
coasts. The Barbary Falcon appears to require no particular
conservation efforts on its behalf but, like all birds of prey, it
could easily become vulnerable through pesticide use or to exploitation
if falconry fashions change.
003003, 013001, 023012, 023013, 023019, 023083, 023102, 023103, 033010,
033031, 033034, 033039, 033061, 043033, 053005, 053106, 883022, 883032,
883055, 883124, 883134, 923002, 923004, 923009, 923010, 923014, 923015,
923017, 923037, 933001, 933030, 933031, 963061, 963067, 963211, 963214,
963216, 963220, 973001, 973002, 973007, 973062, 983012
(0735) Barn Owl Tyto alba (Click here to view map)
The Barn Owl is a widespread but uncommon resident which occurs in
every state. There appears to be no particular pattern of occurrence
and it is probably thinly spread throughout Arabia especially near
human habitation. There are rather more records from the Arabian Gulf
region and eastern Arabia than from other parts. Not thought to make
regular movements but clearly a few disperse considerable distances and
a number have occurred on the Das island in the middle of the Arabian
Gulf. May even be a winter visitor to Arabia as numbers are thought to
increase on Bahrain in late summer and Autumn. Also irregularly on
Masirah island but not recorded Socotra. Apparently absent from the
sand seas such as the Empty Quarter and the northern plains. In those
places the lack of nesting and roosting sites is possibly the main
obstacle to its presence. In the UAE where it is scarce the population
has been estimated at up to 10 pairs, and there are probably similar
numbers in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. On the basis of the number of
records available and poor recording rate Oman, Yemen and Saudi Arabia
may have up to 300 pairs each. However this total of less than 1000
pairs could be only a small part of the actual population bearing in
mind its secretive nocturnal habits. The Barn Owl is likely to be on
the increase in the new farming areas but there is no firm evidence for
this. It has the potential to breed wherever it occurs and therefore
the map shows all records, including non breeding birds.
003002, 003003, 003009, 003025, 013016, 013033, 023001, 023013, 023015,
023017, 023083, 023102, 033039, 033067, 033108, 043029, 043041, 053041,
053071, 053075, 053119, 883007, 883009, 883030, 883104, 883134, 923002,
923013, 923017, 923020, 923023, 923027, 933004, 933011, 933017, 933025,
963067, 963075, 963202, 963220, 973002, 973007, 973010, 973011, 973012,
973013, 973017, 973050, 973060, 973065, 973103, 973110, 973320, 973326,
973329, 983005, 983012, 983013, 983014, 983015, 983024, 983036, 993004
(0735.1) African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis (Click here to view map)
In Arabia the African Scops is resident in the southwest, occurring
from about 20N in the western highlands of Saudi Arabia, throughout
Yemen, including eastern districts to about 54E in Dhofar. It is
unknown on Socotra. There is no information to suggest even local
movements and it probably breeds wherever it occurs. The map shows all
records. This nocturnal species is under recorded and virtually nothing
is known of its habits and breeding within Arabia. It is very vocal at
night and many distributional records are based on its distinctive
calls. Some records indicate it is locally common, once 15 calling
males at one site in southern Oman and several reports of 2-5 birds
calling from a single spot. Where it occurs it is probably the most
common owl in Arabia and considering the range of altitude and habitat
where it is found, if there were only, on average, one pair in each 10
km2 within its range of potentially about 80 squares, then the Arabian
population could be of the order of 24000 pairs (80 squares, 1 sq =
3000 km2, i. e. 300 pairs per square). There are probably about equal
numbers resident in Saudi Arabia and Yemen and proportionately less in
Oman. There is nothing to suggest that numbers or range have changed in
recent years. There are no records from the other states. Sympatric
with Striated Scops Owl in parts of South West Arabia.
003011, 013001, 023012, 033047, 883055, 933002, 933033, 933036, 963071, 963083, 993029
(0738) Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei (Click here to view map)
A locally common resident in the UAE and northern Oman but elsewhere in
Arabia its status is unclear. There is little information on its
occurrence in southwest Saudi Arabia (it is not known from Yemen) and
clarification of its status in that region is needed. The accompanying
map which shows all records is only an incomplete representation of
range because it includes some records which are almost certainly
migrants. There is also the possibility that this species winters more
widely in the Arabian peninsula than is realised. Very little is known
of migratory or other movements. The wing structure (short primaries)
is clearly not pre-adapted for long-distance movements, but the
northern populations outside of Arabia are undoubtedly migratory. The
nominate sub-species occurs in southern Kazakhstan and in certain areas
of Tadjikistan and Kyrghyzia, where birds are migratory and some
individuals probably reach Arabia. A single bird which was trapped in
southern Oman in October 1978 was described as ‘presumably on
migration’. However records of migrants are few and seldom away from
known breeding areas. Significantly there are no documented records
from Arabian Gulf islands such as the well watched Das island or from
Masirah island in the Arabian Sea, which suggests only small numbers
come to Arabia on migration or as winter visitors. Conversely there are
plenty of reports for the highly migratory Scops Owl from those places.
There are a few records of Striated Scops Owl from Bahrain in October
and November, including one specimen of the sub-species exiguus.
Occurrence in Qatar and Kuwait needs to be confirmed. Identification
difficulties prevail with the genus Scops and field determinations may
in places have been based on what has ‘gone before’, undoubtedly some
confusion of status of both species has been caused by misidentified
individuals. Winter records from areas of UAE away from known breeding
areas, and in the Eastern Province coastal districts, are considered
most likely to involve migrant south-west Asian birds rather than the
local Arabian population. Immediate post-breeding dispersal of birds
breeding in eastern Arabia may only be into local areas or just beyond
To those familiar with the species, the Striated Scops Owl is easily
detected on account of its distinctive, if rather soft call, which is
given for long periods usually after dark. The call is likened to a
distant water-well pump. Nonetheless, it is doubtless much
under-recorded, largely one suspects through a lack of survey effort.
One study in April based on calling birds found that in the Ghubbrah
Bowl, Jebal Akhdar, northern Oman, there were an estimated 140-280
breeding pairs, or at least one pair in each square kilometre, over an
area of about 140 km2. This was an region of wadies, hillsides and
plains well scattered with acacia and Zizyphus at an altitude of
500-800 m. In the same study the population higher up on the Saiq
Plateau and Jebal Shems (>1800 m) was estimated at a maximum of one
pair in each 5 km2, or less than 50 pairs spread over both of the sites
with an area of about 250 km2 each. However there could have been a
bias in the latter observations as birds probably breed later in the
highlands and would perhaps not be so vocal in April as lower down.
Similar densities have been noted elsewhere. At one site in the east
coast area of the UAE three family groups with young were found within
a distance of 500 m. The habitat was a gravel plain with scattered
acacias, with smaller trees and bushes. As many as 10 individuals have
been recorded in Mushrif Park, Dubai in February. Such records shows
that it can be locally very numerous. Given the similarity of the
habitat found in the Ghubbrah site and all over northern UAE and Oman,
the population for the area must be at least 3000 pairs, probably 80%
in Oman. There is no information on historical changes in numbers or
range.
003002, 003009, 013032, 033031, 033059, 033067, 043039, 053005, 933004,
933038, 963082, 963083, 963086, 963217, 963220, 973007, 983012, 983015,
993004, 993029
(0744) Eagle Owl Bubo bubo (Click here to view map)
The Eagle Owl is a widespread resident in the northern half of Arabia,
especially Saudi Arabia and eastern Arabia (UAE and northern Oman), it
is scarce in Kuwait. There are a small number of records from the rocky
hills of eastern Yemen in Spring and it may be more common in that
large under recorded region. However some records from that country
have been confused with the Spotted Eagle Owl. There are no records
from western Yemen or Socotra. It is also scarce but probably breeding
in southern Oman. Records suggest it is a short distance migrant
occurring widely in non breeding areas in winter mainly November to
January. There are a number of records, including sometimes darker
birds, from Saudi Arabian, Bahrain and UAE islands but it is not known
from the well watched Masirah island. Not confirmed Qatar. The map
shows all records. This owl is locally common in the Arabian Gulf
coastal area of the Eastern Province, at one sites two nests with eggs
were found only 3 km apart. There may be 250 pairs in the Saudi Arabia
Gulf coastal region and probably at least 1000 pairs elsewhere in
central and northern Saudi Arabia. Up to 50 pairs have been estimated
for the UAE and there are probably similar numbers in northern Oman,
southern Oman and eastern Yemen Making a total Arabian population of
the order of 1500 pairs. Although recognised in 2006 as a widespread
and relatively common bird there is no information to conclude the
species is increasing or decreasing. However an increase might be
expected in suitable habitats adjacent to newly irrigated areas where
more prey species must be available.
003002, 003009, 013001, 013033, 023015, 023019, 023130, 033031,
033039, 033061, 033092, 033093, 043039, 053041, 053074, 053133, 883009,
883104, 883133, 883134, 933004, 943005, 963050, 963068, 963202, 963203,
963206, 963208, 963210, 963211, 963214, 963216, 963217, 963220, 973007,
973048, 973320, 983009, 983012, 983014, 983037, 983040, 993002, 993004
(0745) Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus (Click here to view map)
In Arabia it is resident in the southwest from about the latitude of
Jeddah southwards in western Yemen and then east at least 48E. There
is probably a gap in distribution in the eastern half of Yemen before
the isolated population in the Mahra region. There is a further tiny
population which is evidently resident near Muscat and possibly Dibba
in northern Oman. There are no records from any of the other states and
it is not known from Socotra. The map shows all records. The Arabian
subspecies B. a. milesi was first described from a specimen taken from
near Muscat in the 1880 s, however as a measure of its rarity in those
parts it was not recorded there again for another century. It is not
generally found in the same locality as the Desert Eagle Owl Bubo b.
ascalaphus. In the few places that the two species have occurred at the
same sites there is some evidence that the larger Desert Eagle Owl is
dominant. For example in 1986-89 the Spotted Eagle Owl was present in a
number of wadis near the NWRC reserve at Taif but by the end of 1991 it
had been replaced at all sites by Desert Eagle Owl. Despite the above
observation and the fact that the Spotted Eagle Owl has been recorded
in recent years in many new localities, there is no evidence to suggest
that its population or range has changed significantly in recent years.
It appears to be relatively numerous where conditions are suitable. If
there were, on average, 100 pairs in each square where the species has
been recorded there would be of the order of 4000 pairs in Arabia with,
maybe, 1600 in Saudi Arabia, 1800 in Yemen and 600 in Oman, including
probably no more than 50 pairs in the Muscat enclave.
003009, 023012, 023026, 023063, 023107, 033047, 033052, 033063, 033066,
053046, 053050, 883022, 883055, 923010, 923013, 923014, 923017, 933021,
933025, 933030, 933035, 963067, 963069, 963074, 963075, 973062, 973085,
973303, 973326, 973327, 983006, 983022, 993002, 993012, 993015, 993028,
993041, 993050
(0757) Little Owl Athene noctua (Click here to view map)
The Little Owl is a widespread, locally common, resident in the deserts
of Arabia. It is generally thought of as sedentary, occurring in all
states (except Bahrain). However there are a very few records which
suggest limited seasonal or local movements e.g. occurrence on Das
Island in the middle of the Arabian Gulf. There are a number of records
from the periphery of the Empty Quarter but it appears to be absent
from the core area. Its absence from this region and most of the plains
of northern Arabia is likely to be due to lack of suitable
roosting/nesting sites rather than a lack of prey or the species being
unable to tolerant hyper arid environments. It is scarce in the
highland areas of the southwest, except the drier eastern fringes.
Resident Farasan island but generally scarce other coastal sites and
not known from Socotra. Also present (resident) in very small numbers
on Masirah island. It is a common bird in the UAE where one report give
three nests spaced at 500 m intervals. At one pivot irrigation farm in
central Arabia which was rich in rodents but poor in Little Owl
roosting and nesting sites no less that 12 adults were seen at dusk
sitting on a line of rock heaps over a distance of about a kilometre.
In Kuwait one study showed occupied nests were not less than 1000 m
apart. In the UAE the population has been estimated at 300 - 1000
pairs, which is probably higher than the likely breeding density in
other states. This UAE population includes an estimated 50 pairs at
Jebal Hafit on the UAE/Oman border. The total Arabian population may in
of the order of 5-6000 pairs. This would be comprised of up to 100
pairs each in Kuwait and Qatar, 500 in the UAE, 1000 each in Oman and
Yemen and 3000 in Saudi Arabia. There is no evidence to suggest
populations are changing in any way but the huge expansion in
agriculture in central and northern Arabia in recent decades must have
had the effect of allowing many more to breed than did previously. The
map shows all records.
003009, 003025, 013032, 013034, 023012, 023015, 023019, 023063,
033023, 033039, 033066, 033067, 043039, 053005, 053041, 053050, 883009,
883022, 883032, 883055, 883104, 883134, 923037, 933004, 933011, 933020,
933021, 933030, 933037, 963067, 963068, 963072, 963206, 963207, 963210,
963213, 963214, 963216, 963220, 973007, 973065, 973320, 973327, 973331,
983013, 983014, 993004, 993048
(0762) Hume’s Owl Strix butleri (Click here to view map)
Hume’s Owl was, until the 1970's, widely thought of as very rare, with
just a handful of records from diverse parts of its world range. There
was only one record from Arabia, a bird collected in 1950 from the
goldmines at Madh Dhahab in the Hejaz. In 1975 one was caught near
Riyadh and in the next few years a number of records were gathered from
several places in central and western Saudi Arabia. It was also heard
at about that time in Dhofar, Oman but the species was not formally
acknowledged as occurring in Oman until the 1990's. During the ABBA
period this owl has been shown to be widespread and in places common in
Arabia. It occurs from the Harrat al Harrah in the north, Hail and
throughout the northern part of the Tuwaiq escarpment, probably the
whole of the western highlands from Jebal Al Lawz southwards to Taiz,
Yemen, eastern Yemen and at several sites in Dhofar. The first Yemen
record was in 1985. It is also known from two sites in the Eastern
Province. In 1898 an owl which sounded like S. aluco was heard at two
places on Socotra and another was heard there in 1999. There are no
records from the other Arabian states. It is resident wherever it
occurs. Like all owls in Arabia it is probably under recorded. It is
likely that it occurs in many more squares than where it has been
recorded, probably at least twice as many. On this basis and assuming
about 20 pairs for each atlas square where it occur (that gives each
pair over 100 km2), there are probably at least 2000 pairs in Arabia;
with over 1000 pairs in Saudi Arabia, 600 in Yemen and 300 in Oman.
Although in 2006 it is known to be widespread and relatively common it
is probably no more or less numerous than 50 years ago, the change of
status from very rare to widespread and common being the result of much
more intense fieldwork and greater awareness of its presence. The map
shows all records.
003009, 003022, 003046, 013001, 023010, 023012, 023118, 023119, 033010,
033022, 033028, 033033, 033039, 033052, 033063, 883055, 883124, 963074,
963082, 973089, 973093, 973307, 983014, 983015, 993029
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEL HOYO, J., A. ELLIOTT & J SARGATAL eds., 1994. Handbook of the
Birds of the World, Vol 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx
Ediciones, Barcelona.
GREEN, C. 1949. The Black-shouldered Kite in Masira (Oman). Ibis 91: 459-464.
KINNEAR, N. B. 1931. On some birds from central South Arabia. Ibis (Series 13) 1: 698-701.
KJELLÉN, N., HAKE, M. and ALERSTAM, T., 1997. Strategies of two
Ospreys Pandion haliaetus migrating between Sweden and tropical Africa
as revealed by satellite tracking. Journal of Avian Biology, 28: 15-23.
JENNINGS, M C (in prep). Atlas of the breeding birds of Arabia, Fauna of Arabia
JENNINGS, M C, 2005. A Rough Draft Bibliography of Arabian Ornithology (Privately published).
MEYBURG, B-U, M GALLARDO, C MEYBURG and E DIMITROVA, 2004. Migrations
and sojourn in Africa of Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus)
tracked by satellite; J Ornithol 145: 273-280.)
MEINERTZHAGEN, R., 1954. Birds of Arabia. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh & London.
THOMAS, B. 1932. Arabia Felix: across the Empty Quarter of Arabia. Jonathan Cape, London & New York, Toronto.
Michael C Jennings Coordinator, Atlas of the Breeding Birds of
Arabia project and Editor The Phoenix (ISSN 0268-487X) Warners Farm
House, Warners Drove, Somersham, Cambridgeshire, PE28 3WD, UK. Email: ArabianBirds@dsl.pipex.com Website: http//dspace.dial.pipex.com/arabian.birds
Appendix A DISTRIBUTION MAPS OF RAPTORS AND OWLS BREEDING IN ARABIA
These maps are prepared from the records held on the Atlas of the
Breeding Birds of Arabia database. All records for all species are
shown unless otherwise indicated in the species accounts.
Appendix B ESTIMATED POPULATIONS OF BREEDING RAPTORS AND OWLS IN ARABIA
