List of birds of the United Arab Emirates

This is a list of the bird species recorded in the United Arab Emirates. The avifauna of the United Arab Emirates include a total of 478 species, of which 17 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 the United Arab Emirates.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.


 * (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in the United Arab Emirates
 * (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the United Arab Emirates as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
 * (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in the UAE although populations exist elsewhere
 * (X) Extinct -a species or subspecies that no longer exists

Ostriches
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 ostrich, Struthio camelus (Ex)
 * Arabian ostrich, Struthio camelus syriacus (X)
 * Somali ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes (I)

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
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.


 * Graylag goose, Anser anser
 * Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (A)
 * Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (A)
 * Mute swan, Cygnus olor (A)
 * Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (A)
 * Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A)
 * Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus (I)
 * Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
 * Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
 * Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus (A)
 * Garganey, Spatula querquedula
 * Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
 * Gadwall, Mareca strepera
 * Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
 * Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
 * Northern pintail, Anas acuta
 * Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
 * Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris (A)
 * Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina (A)
 * Common pochard, Aythya ferina
 * Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca
 * Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
 * Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A)
 * Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A)

Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.


 * Sand partridge, Ammoperdix heyi
 * Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
 * Chukar, Alectoris chukar
 * Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara (I)
 * Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus (I)
 * Gray francolin, Ortygornis pondicerianus (I)
 * Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (I)

Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 ft 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.


 * Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
 * Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor (A)

Grebes
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.


 * Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
 * Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus (A)
 * Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.


 * Rock pigeon, Columba livia
 * Stock dove, Columba oenas (A)
 * Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus (A)
 * European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
 * Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis (A)
 * Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto
 * Red collared-dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica
 * Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis
 * Namaqua dove, Oena capensis (A)

Sandgrouse
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.


 * Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata (I)
 * Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus
 * Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus (A)
 * Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinii

Bustards
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.


 * MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii
 * Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (A)

Cuckoos
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.


 * Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius (A)
 * Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
 * Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopacea (A)
 * Gray-bellied cuckoo, Cacomantis passerinus (A)
 * Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Nightjars and allies
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.


 * Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
 * Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius
 * Sykes's nightjar, Caprimulgus mahrattensis (A)

Swifts
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.


 * Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba (A)
 * Common swift, Apus apus
 * Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
 * Pacific swift, Apus pacificus (A)
 * Little swift, Apus affinis (A)

Rails, gallinules and coots
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.


 * Water rail, Rallus aquaticus (A)
 * Corn crake, Crex crex (A)
 * Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
 * Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
 * Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
 * Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata (A)
 * Gray-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus (A)
 * Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea (A)
 * White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus (A)
 * Little crake, Zapornia parva (A)
 * Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (A)

Cranes
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".


 * Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (A)
 * Common crane, Grus grus (A)
 * Grey crowned crane, Balearica regulorum (I)

Thick-knees
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.


 * Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus (A)
 * Great thick-knee, Esacus recurvirostris (A)

Stilts and avocets
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.


 * Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
 * Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.


 * Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

Plovers and lapwings
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.


 * Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
 * European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (A)
 * Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
 * Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
 * Spur-winged plover, Vanellus spinosus (A)
 * Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus
 * Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius (A)
 * White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus
 * Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus
 * Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
 * Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus
 * Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius (A)
 * Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
 * Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
 * Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
 * Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A)

Painted-snipes
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.


 * Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis (A)

Jacanas
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of waders 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.


 * Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus (A)

Sandpipers and allies
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.


 * Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
 * Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
 * Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
 * Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
 * Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
 * Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris
 * Red knot, Calidris canutus (A)
 * Ruff, Calidris pugnax
 * Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus
 * Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
 * Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
 * Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta (A)
 * Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (A)
 * Sanderling, Calidris alba
 * Dunlin, Calidris alpina
 * Little stint, Calidris minuta
 * White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (A)
 * Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A)
 * Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A)
 * Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A)
 * Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
 * Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola (A)
 * Great snipe, Gallinago media (A)
 * Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
 * Pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura
 * Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
 * Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A)
 * Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
 * Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A)
 * Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
 * Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
 * Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
 * Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
 * Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (A)
 * Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
 * Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
 * Common redshank, Tringa totanus

Crab-plover
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.


 * Crab-plover, Dromas ardeola

Pratincoles and coursers
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.


 * Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor
 * Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
 * Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (A)
 * Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (A)
 * Small pratincole, Glareola lactea (A)

Skuas and jaegers
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.


 * Brown skua, Stercorarius antarcticus (A)
 * Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
 * Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
 * Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. 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.


 * Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (A)
 * Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (A)
 * Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei
 * Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
 * Brown-headed gull, Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus (A)
 * Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus (A)
 * Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (A)
 * Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus (A)
 * White-eyed gull, Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus (A)
 * Sooty gull, Ichthyaetus hemprichii
 * Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
 * Common gull, Larus canus (A)
 * Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
 * Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
 * Brown noddy, Anous stolidus (A)
 * Lesser noddy, Anous tenuirostris (A)
 * Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus (A)
 * Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus
 * Little tern, Sternula albifrons
 * Saunders's tern, Sternula saundersi
 * Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
 * Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
 * Black tern, Chlidonias niger (A)
 * White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
 * Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
 * Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii (A)
 * Common tern, Sterna hirundo
 * Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (A)
 * White-cheeked tern, Sterna repressa
 * Great crested tern, Thalasseus bergii
 * Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
 * Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis

Tropicbirds
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.


 * Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus

Southern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae

The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.


 * Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus

Northern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae

Storm-petrels are small birds which spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to breed. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering or pattering across the water. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.


 * Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A)
 * Swinhoe's storm-petrel, Hydrobates monorhis (A)

Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.


 * Jouanin's petrel, Bulweria fallax (A)
 * Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea (A)
 * Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes (A)
 * Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacificus (A)
 * Sooty shearwater, Puffinus griseus (A)
 * Tropical shearwater, Puffinus bailloni
 * Persian shearwater, Puffinus persicus

Storks
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.


 * African openbill, Anastomus lamelligerus (A)
 * Black stork, Ciconia nigra (A)
 * White stork, Ciconia ciconia

Boobies and gannets
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.


 * Masked booby, Sula dactylatra (A)
 * Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A)
 * Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)

Cormorants and shags
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.


 * Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
 * Socotra cormorant, Phalacrocorax nigrogularis

Pelicans
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.


 * Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus (A)
 * Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus (A)

Herons, egrets, and bitterns
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.


 * Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris (A)
 * Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
 * Cinnamon bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus (A)
 * Gray heron, Ardea cinerea
 * Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
 * Great egret, Ardea alba
 * Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia (A)
 * Little egret, Egretta garzetta
 * Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis
 * Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
 * Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
 * Indian pond-heron, Ardeola grayii
 * Striated heron, Butorides striata
 * Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Ibises and spoonbills
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.


 * Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
 * Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Osprey
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.


 * Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites
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.


 * Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus (A)
 * Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
 * European honey-buzzard, Pernis apivorus
 * Oriental honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
 * Cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus (A)
 * Lappet-faced vulture, Torgos tracheliotos
 * Himalayan griffon, Gyps himalayensis (A)
 * Eurasian griffon, Gyps fulvus (A)
 * Short-toed snake-eagle, Circaetus gallicus
 * Lesser spotted eagle, Clanga pomarina (A)
 * Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga
 * Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
 * Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
 * Imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca
 * Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
 * Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata
 * Eurasian marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus
 * Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus
 * Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
 * Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
 * Shikra, Accipiter badius (I)
 * Levant sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipes (A)
 * Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
 * Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis (A)
 * Black kite, Milvus migrans
 * Pallas's fish-eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphus (A)
 * Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
 * Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus

Barn-owls
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.


 * Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls
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.


 * Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
 * Pallid scops-owl, Otus brucei
 * Pharaoh eagle-owl, Bubo ascalaphus
 * Arabian eagle-owl, Bubo milesi (A)
 * Little owl, Athene noctua
 * Omani owl, Strix butleri (A)
 * Long-eared owl, Asio otus (A)
 * Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (A)

Hoopoes
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae

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


 * Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.


 * Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
 * White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis (A)
 * Gray-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala (A)
 * Collared kingfisher, Todirhamphus chloris
 * Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis (A)

Bee-eaters
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.


 * White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis (A)
 * Arabian green bee-eater, Merops cyanophrys
 * Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
 * European bee-eater, Merops apiaster

Rollers
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.


 * European roller, Coracias garrulus
 * Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis

Woodpeckers
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.


 * Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla

Falcons and caracaras
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.


 * Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
 * Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
 * Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (A)
 * Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (A)
 * Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae (A)
 * Sooty falcon, Falco concolor
 * Merlin, Falco columbarius
 * Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
 * Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
 * Saker falcon, Falco cherrug
 * Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Old World parrots
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 coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm to 1 m in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.


 * Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria (I)
 * Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (I)

Old World orioles
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.


 * Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus
 * Black-naped oriole, Oriolus chinensis (A)

Drongos
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.


 * Black drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus (A)
 * Ashy drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus (A)

Monarch flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by gleaning, hovering or flycatching.


 * Indian paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone paradisi (A)

Shrikes
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.


 * Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
 * Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides
 * Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus
 * Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (A)
 * Bay-backed shrike, Lanius vittatus
 * Long-tailed shrike, Lanius schach (A)
 * Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
 * Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
 * Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus
 * Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

Crows, jays, and magpies
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.


 * House crow, Corvus splendens
 * Hooded crow, Corvus cornix (A)
 * Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis
 * Fan-tailed raven, Corvus rhipidurus (A)

Larks
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.


 * Greater hoopoe-lark, Alaemon alaudipes
 * Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cincturus
 * Desert lark, Ammomanes deserti
 * Black-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix nigriceps
 * Temminck's lark, Eremophila bilopha (A)
 * Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
 * Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata
 * Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra (A)
 * Arabian lark, Eremalauda eremodites (A)
 * Turkestan short-toed lark, Alaudala heinei
 * Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
 * Oriental skylark, Alauda gulgula
 * Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Cisticolas and allies
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.


 * Delicate prinia, Prinia lepida

Reed warblers and allies
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.


 * Booted warbler, Iduna caligata (A)
 * Sykes's warbler, Iduna rama
 * Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
 * Upcher's warbler, Hippolais languida
 * Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina (A)
 * Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon (A)
 * Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
 * Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola (A)
 * Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum
 * Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
 * Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
 * Basra reed warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis (A)
 * Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus
 * Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus

Grassbirds and allies
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.


 * Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata (A)
 * River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis (A)
 * Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
 * Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia

Swallows
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.


 * Gray-throated martin, Riparia chinensis (A)
 * Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
 * Pale sand martin, Riparia diluta
 * Banded martin, Neophedina cincta (A)
 * Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
 * Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula
 * Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
 * Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii (A)
 * Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
 * Streak-throated swallow, Petrochelidon fluvicola (A)
 * Common house-martin, Delichon urbica
 * Asian house-martin, Delichon dasypus (A)

Bulbuls
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.


 * Red-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer (I)
 * Red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus (I)
 * White-spectacled bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos
 * White-eared bulbul, Pycnonotus leucotis (I)

Leaf warblers
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.


 * Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
 * Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (A)
 * Hume's warbler, Phylloscopus humei
 * Radde's warbler, Phylloscopus schwarzi (A)
 * Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (A)
 * Plain leaf warbler, Phylloscopus neglectus
 * Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
 * Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
 * Green warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus (A)
 * Large-billed leaf warbler, Phylloscopus magnirostris (A)

Bush warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.


 * Scrub warbler, Scotocerca inquieta
 * Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti (A)

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies
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.


 * Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
 * Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
 * Asian desert warbler, Curruca nana
 * Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria
 * Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
 * Eastern Orphean warbler, Curruca crassirostris
 * Menetries's warbler, Curruca mystacea
 * Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis

Laughingthrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Leiothrichidae

The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast


 * Arabian babbler, Argya squamiceps

Starlings
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.


 * European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
 * Wattled starling, Creatophora cinerea (A)
 * Rosy starling, Pastor roseus
 * Indian pied starling, Gracupica contra (I)
 * Brahminy starling, Sturnia pagodarum (I)
 * Common myna, Acridotheres tristis (I)
 * Bank myna, Acridotheres ginginianus (I)
 * Violet-backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster (A)

Thrushes and allies
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.


 * Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus (A)
 * Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
 * Redwing, Turdus iliacus (A)
 * Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula
 * Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus (A)
 * Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris (A)
 * Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus (A)
 * Black-throated thrush, Turdus atrogularis
 * Dusky thrush, Turdus eunomus (A)

Old World flycatchers
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.


 * Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica (A)
 * Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
 * Black scrub-robin, Cercotrichas podobe (A)
 * Rufous-tailed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas galactotes
 * Blue-and-white flycatcher, Cyanoptila cyanomelana (A)
 * European robin, Erithacus rubecula (A)
 * White-throated robin, Irania gutturalis
 * Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia
 * Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos
 * Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
 * Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus (A)
 * Taiga flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla (A)
 * Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva
 * Semicollared flycatcher, Ficedula semitorquata
 * European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca (A)
 * Collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis (A)
 * Rufous-backed redstart, Phoenicurus erythronotus (A)
 * Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
 * Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
 * Rufous-tailed rock-thrush, Monticola saxatilis
 * Blue rock-thrush, Monticola solitarius
 * Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
 * European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
 * Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus
 * Amur stonechat, Saxicola stejnegeri (A)
 * Pied bushchat, Saxicola caprata (A)
 * Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
 * Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
 * Hooded wheatear, Oenanthe monacha
 * Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti
 * Pied wheatear, Oenanthe pleschanka
 * Eastern black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe melanoleuca
 * Blackstart, Oenanthe melanura (A)
 * Variable wheatear, Oenanthe picata
 * Hume's wheatear, Oenanthe alboniger
 * White-crowned wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga (A)
 * Mourning wheatear, Oenanthe lugens
 * Kurdish wheatear, Oenanthe xanthoprymna
 * Persian wheatear, Oenanthe chrysopygia

Hypocolius
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.


 * Hypocolius, Hypocolius ampelinus

Sunbirds and spiderhunters
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.


 * Purple sunbird, Cinnyris asiaticus

Weavers and allies
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.


 * Golden-backed weaver, Ploceus jacksoni (I)
 * Streaked weaver, Ploceus manyar (I)

Waxbills and allies
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.


 * Red avadavat, Amandava amandava (Ex)
 * Indian silverbill, Euodice malabarica
 * Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata (I)

Accentors
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Prunellidae

The accentors are the only bird family which is endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.


 * Radde's accentor, Prunella ocularis (A)

Old World sparrows
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.


 * House sparrow, Passer domesticus
 * Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
 * Dead Sea sparrow, Passer moabiticus (A)
 * Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (A)
 * Yellow-throated sparrow, Gymnoris xanthocollis
 * Pale rockfinch, Carpospiza brachydactyla

Wagtails and pipits
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.


 * Forest wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus (A)
 * Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
 * Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
 * Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis (A)
 * Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola
 * White wagtail, Motacilla alba
 * Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi
 * Paddyfield pipit, Anthus rufulus (A)
 * Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis
 * Blyth's pipit, Anthus godlewskii
 * Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
 * Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis
 * Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
 * Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni (A)
 * Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
 * Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta
 * American pipit, Anthus rubescens (A)

Finches, euphonias, and allies
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 chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs (A)
 * Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla (A)
 * Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus
 * Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githaginea
 * Eurasian linnet, Linaria cannabina (A)
 * European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis (A)
 * Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus (A)

Old World buntings
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.


 * Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
 * Red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps (A)
 * Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra (A)
 * White-capped bunting, Emberiza stewarti (A)
 * Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella (A)
 * Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos (A)
 * Cinereous bunting, Emberiza cineracea
 * Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
 * Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia (A)
 * Striolated bunting, Emberiza striolata
 * Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus (A)
 * Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (A)
 * Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (A)
 * Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (A)