List of birds of Kuwait

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Kuwait. The avifauna of Kuwait include a total of 416 species, of which 8 have been introduced by humans. One species listed is extirpated in Kuwait.

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 Kuwait.

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 Kuwait
(I) Introduced - a species introduced to Kuwait as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
(Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Kuwait although populations exist elsewhere
(X) Extinct - a species or subspecies that no longer exists

Ostriches

Order: Struthioniformes Family: Struthionidae

The ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa. It is the largest living species of bird. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.

Common name	Vernacular name	Trinomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes	Image
Arabian ostrich	النعامة Al-Na3ama	Struthio camelus ssp syriacus	X	Extinct	Formerly widespread in the Arabian peninsula

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Graylag goose	Anser anser	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Greater white-fronted goose	Anser albifrons	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Mute swan	Cygnus olor	A	Least concern		Single vagrant record from 1997
Ruddy shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Common shelduck	Tadorna tadorna	N	Least concern		Scarce winter visitor
Garganey	Spatula querquedula	N	Least concern		Passage migrant and winter visitor
Northern shoveler	Spatula clypeata	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Gadwall	Mareca strepera	N	Least concern		Scarce winter visitor
Eurasian wigeon	Mareca penelope	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	N	Least concern		Common winter visitor
Northern pintail	Anas acuta	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Green-winged teal	Anas crecca	N	Least concern	?	Winter visitor
Marbled teal	Marmaronetta angustirostris	A	Vulnerable		Vagrant
Red-crested pochard	Netta rufina	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Common pochard	Aythya ferina	R	Vulnerable		Scarce migrant
Ferruginous duck	Aythya nyroca	N	Near threatened		Formerly a vagrant, now a rare established breeder
Tufted duck	Aythya fuligula	N	Least concern		Rare winter visitor
Long-tailed duck	Clangula hyemalis	R	Vulnerable		Vagrant
Red-breasted merganser	Mergus serrator	A	Least concern		Single vagrant record from 1997

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
See-see partridge	Ammoperdix griseogularis	I	Least concern	Introduced
Common quail	Coturnix coturnix	N	Least concern	Passage migrant
Chukar	Alectoris chukar	I	Least concern	Introduced
Black francolin	Francolinus francolinus	A	Least concern	Vagrant

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Greater flamingo	Phoenicopterus roseus	N	Least concern		Common overwintering species; scarce breeder
Lesser flamingo	Phoeniconaias minor	A	Near threatened		Vagrant occasionally recorded, often alongside its more common relative

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Little grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	N	Least concern		Resident
Horned grebe	Podiceps auritus	A	Vulnerable		Vagrant with 2 records
Red-necked grebe	Podiceps grisegena	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Great crested grebe	Podiceps cristatus	R	Least concern	?	Rare passage migrant
Eared grebe	Podiceps nigricolis	N	Least concern	?	Winter visitor

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

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

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Rock dove (and domestic variants)	Columba livia	N	Least concern		Domestic variants common everywhere, wild rock doves may be found near the coast
Stock dove	Columba oenas	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Common wood-pigeon	Columba palumbus	N	Least concern		Overwintering species
Turtle-dove	Streptopelia turtur	R	Vulnerable		Rare breeder
Oriental dove	Streptopelia orientalis	R	Least concern		Scarce disperser, very prone to vagrancy and often found outside its defined migratory range
Eurasian collared-dove	Streptopelia decocto	N	Least concern		Common
African collared-dove	Streptopelia roseogrisea	I	Least concern	?	Introduced; similar to the Eurasian relative; however, the tail has a different underside pattern
Laughing dove	Streptopelia senegalensis	N	Least concern		Common
Namaqua dove	Oena capensis	N	Least concern		Resident and scarce disperser

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes Family: Pteroclidae

Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global Status	Notes
Pin-tailed sandgrouse	Pterocles alchata	N	Least concern	Increasingly rare overwintering species
Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse	Pterocles exustus	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Spotted sandgrouse	Pterocles senegallus	N	Least concern	Scarce passage migrant
Black-bellied sandgrouse	Pterocles orientalis	N	Least concern	Rare overwintering species

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes Family: Otididae

Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
MacQueen's bustard	Chlamydotis macqueenii	R	Vulnerable		Formerly a resident breeder, now an irregular winter visitor

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Great spotted cuckoo	Clamator glandarius	R	Least concern	Scarce disperser
Asian koel	Eudynamys scolopaceus	A	Least concern	Vagrant, single record
Common cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	N	Least concern	Passage migrant

Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global Status	Trend	Notes	Image
Eurasian nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus	N	Least concern		Passage migrant
Egyptian nightjar	Caprimulgus aegyptius	R	Least concern		Rare passage migrant

Swifts

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Alpine swift	Tachymarptis melba	R	Least concern	Rare passage migrant
Common swift	Apus apus	N	Least concern	Uncommon winter visitor
Pallid swift	Apus pallidus	N	Least concern	Winter visitor
Little swift	Apus affinis	A	Least concern	Vagrant

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Water rail	Rallus aquaticus	R	Least concern		Winter visitor
Corncrake	Crex crex	R	Least concern		Rare passage migrant
Spotted crake	Porzana porzana	N	Least concern		Uncommon passage migrant
Eurasian moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	N	Least concern		Common
Eurasian coot	Fulica atra	N	Least concern		Resident and winter visitor
Grey-headed swamphen	Porphyrio poliocephalus	N	Not recognised by the IUCN	?	Resident breeder
White-breasted waterhen	Amaurornis phoenicurus	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Little crake	Porzana parva	N	Least concern		Uncommon migrant
Baillon's crake	Zapornia pusilla	N	Least concern	?	Uncommon migrant

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Common crane	Grus grus	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Demoiselle crane	Grus virgo	A	Least concern		Vagrant

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Eurasian thick-knee	Burhinus oedicnemus	N	Least concern		Passage migrant and overwintering

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Black-winged stilt	Himantopus himantopus	N	Least concern		Migrant and breeder
Pied avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	N	Least concern	?	Common winter visitor

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae

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

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global Status	Trend	Notes	Image
Eurasian oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	N	Near threatened		Passage migrant

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes Family: 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.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Frequency
Black-bellied plover	Pluvialis squatarola	N	Least concern		Common, found on coasts and shores
European golden-plover	Pluvialis apricaria	R	Least concern		Few annual records
Pacific golden-plover	Pluvialis fulva	N	Least concern		Winter visitor and passage migrant
Northern lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	N	Near threatened		Winter visitor
Spur-winged lapwing	Vanellus spinosus	?	Least concern		Uncertain
Red-wattled lapwing	Vanellus indicus	N	Least concern	?	Migrant and breeding resident
Sociable lapwing	Vanellus gregarius	R	Critically endangered		Considered a vagrant, though it seems to frequent some farms and reserves
White-tailed lapwing	Vanellus leucurus	R	Least concern	?	Winter visitor
Lesser sand plover	Charadrius mongolus	N	Least concern	?	Common year-round
Greater sand plover	Charadrius leschenaultii	N	Least concern		Common year-round
Caspian plover	Charadrius asiaticus	N	Least concern		Scarce passage migrant
Kentish plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	N	Least concern		Resident breeder
Common ringed plover	Charadrius hiaticula	N	Least concern		Common year-round
Little ringed plover	Charadrius dubius	N	Least concern	?	Breeding, leaves the country in winter
Eurasian dotterel	Charadrius morinellus	N	Least concern		Scarce and elusive winter visitor

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Frequency
Eurasian curlew	Numenius arquata	N	Near threatened		Winter visitor
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	N	Least concern		Passage migrant
Little curlew	Numenius minutus	A	Least concern		Single vagrant record in 2007
Slender-billed curlew	Numenius tenuirostris	X	Critically endangered		Few records of this species have been obtained in recent times, and it is feared extinct
Bar-tailed godwit	Limosa lapponica	N	Near threatened		Passage migrant and winter visitor
Black-tailed godwit	Limosa limosa	N	Near threatened		Passage migrant and winter visitor
Ruddy turnstone	Arenaria interpres	N	Least concern		Passage migrant and winter visitor
Great knot	Calidris tenuirostris	R	Endangered		Rare migrant
Red knot	Calidris canutus	A	Near threatened		Vagrant with 9 records
Ruff	Calidris pugnax	N	Least concern		Common
Broad-billed sandpiper	Calidris falcinellus	N	Least concern		Passage migrant
Curlew sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea	N	Near threatened		Passage migrant and visitor in late winter
Temminck's stint	Calidris temminckii	N	Least concern	?	Passage migrant and winter visitor; common on shores and rocky coasts
Sanderling	Calidris alba	N	Least concern	?	Passage migrant and winter visitor
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Purple sandpiper	Calidris maritima	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Little stint	Calidris minuta	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Pectoral sandpiper	Calidris melatonos	A	Least concern		Single vagrant record in 2011
Jack snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus	N	Least concern		Scarce and elusive winter visitor
Eurasian woodcock	Scolopax rusticola	A	Least concern		Rare winter visitor
Common snipe	Gallinago gallinago	N	Least concern		Passage migrant and winter visitor
Great snipe	Gallinago media	R	Near threatened		Rare passage migrant
Pin-tailed snipe	Gallinago stenura	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Terek sandpiper	Xenus cinereus	N	Least concern		Resident
Red-necked phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	N	Least concern		Scarce passage migrant
Red phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius	A	Least concern		Rare winter visitor
Common sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	N	Least concern		Very common throughout winter and late summer
Green sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	N	Least concern		Relatively common throughout winter and spring
Spotted redshank	Tringa erythropus	N	Least concern		Common winter visitor and passage migrant
Common greenshank	Tringa nebularia	N	Least concern		Common winter visitor and passage migrant
Marsh sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis	N	Least concern		Somewhat common winter visitor and passage migrant
Wood sandpiper	Tringa glareola	N	Least concern		Common winter visitor and passage migrant
Common redshank	Tringa totanus	N	Least concern	?	Winter visitor and passage migrant

Crab plover

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Dromadidae

The crab plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global Status	Trend	Notes	Image
Crab-plover	Dromas ardeola	N	Least concern		Migrant and breeder

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Cream-coloured courser	Cursorius cursor	N	Least concern	Scarce resident and common migrant
Collared pratincole	Glareola pratincola	N	Least concern	Passage migrant
Oriental pratincole	Glareola maldivarum	A	Least concern	Single vagrant record in 2008
Black-winged pratincole	Glareola nordmanni	N	Near threatened	Passage migrant

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Pomarine skua	Stercorarius pomarinus	N	Least concern	Summer visitor
Arctic skua	Stercorarius parasiticus	N	Least concern	Summer visitor
Long-tailed jaeger	Stercorarius longicaudus	A	Least concern	Vagrant with 3 records

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns and kittiwakes. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Black-legged kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	A	Vulnerable		Vagrant
Sabine's gull	Xema sabini	A	Least concern		Vagrant recorded in 2016
Slender-billed gull	Chroicocephalus genei	N	Least concern	?	Abundant winter visitor
Black-headed gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus	N	Least concern	?	Common winter visitor
Brown-headed gull	Chroicocephalus brunnicephalua	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Little gull	Hydrocoloeus minutus	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Franklin's gull	Leucophaeus pipixan	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Mediterranean gull	Larus melanocephalus	A	Least concern		Vagrant often recorded during passage migration seasons
White-eyed gull	Larus leucophthalmus	A	Least concern		Vagrant recorded once in 2018
Pallas's gull	Larus ichthyaetus	N	Least concern		Overwintering species
Mew gull	Larus canus	R	Least concern	?	Rare winter visitor
Caspian gull	Larus cachinnans	N	Least concern		Overwintering species
Armenian gull	Larus armenicus	R	Least concern		Rare visitor during winter months
Lesser black-backed gull	Larus fuscus	N	Least concern		Overwintering species
Bridled tern	Onychoprion anaethetus	N	Least concern	?	Breeder and passage migrant
Little tern	Sternula albifrons	N	Least concern		Passage migrant
Saunders's tern	Sternula saundersi	N	Least concern		Migrant and breeder
Gull-billed tern	Gelocheilodon nilotica	N	Least concern		Overwintering species
Tschegrava	Hydroprogne caspia	N	Least concern		Resident breeder
White-winged tern	Chlidonias niger	A	Least concern		Passage migrant
Black tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	N	Least concern		Vagrant with several records
Whiskered tern	Chlidonias hybrida	N	Least concern		Common
Common tern	Sterna hirundo	N	Least concern	?	Uncommon passage migrant
Arctic tern	Sterna paradisaea	A	Least concern		Vagrant recorded occasionally at Al Jahra bay
White-cheeked tern	Sterna repressa	N	Least concern		Common
Great crested tern	Thalasseus bergii	N	Least concern		Passage migrant
Sandwich tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Lesser crested-tern	Thalasseus bengalensis	N	Least concern		Common

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Red-billed tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus	A	Least concern		Vagrant, last seen almost 50 years ago

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Arctic loon	Gavia arctica	A	Least concern		Vagrant

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: 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.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Jouanin's petrel	Bulweria fallax	A	Near threatened	Vagrant with one record
Sooty shearwater	Ardenna grisea	A	Near threatened	Vagrant with 4 records
Short-tailed shearwater	Ardenna tenuirostris	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Tropical shearwater	Puffinus bailloni	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Persian shearwater	Puffinus persicus	A	Least concern	One record of about 25 birds in 1957, may be more abundant as the offshore waters of the nation are not frequented by birdwatchers

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
White stork	Ciconia ciconia	N	Least concern		Uncommon passage migrant
Black stork	Ciconia nigra	A	Least concern	?	Rare visitor in late spring

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Great cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	N	Least concern		Common throughout winter
Socotra cormorant	Phalacrocorax nigrogularis	E	Vulnerable		Endemic to the region

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Lesser frigatebird	Fregata ariel	A	Least concern		Recorded once in 2008

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae

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

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Masked booby	Sula dactylatra	A	Least concern		Vagrant with 2 records
Brown booby	Sula leucogaster	A	Least concern		Vagrant

Anhingas

Order: Suliformes Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas or darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
African darter	Anhinga rufa	A	Least concern		Vagrant, a single record of a pair in 2009

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Great white pelican	Pelecanus onocrotalus	R	Least concern	?	Scarce disperser, recorded occasionally around Jahra bay
Dalmatian pelican	Pelecanus crispus	R	Near threatened		Vagrant to the mainland, though it breeds on Bubyan Island

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Great bittern	Botaurus stellaris	R	Least concern		Rare winter visitor
Little bittern	Ixobrychus minutus	N	Least concern		Passage migrant
Grey heron	Ardea cinerea	N	Least concern	?	Resident and migrant
Purple heron	Ardea purpurea	N	Least concern		Resident and migrant
Great egret	Egretta alba	N	Least concern	?	Overwintering
Little egret	Egretta garzetta	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Western reef-heron	Egretta gularis	N	Least concern		Uncommon resident, abundant winter visitor
Cattle egret	Bubulcus ibis	N	Least concern		Passage migrant and winter visitor
Squacco heron	Ardeola ralloides	N	Least concern	?	Passage migrant
Indian pond-heron	Ardeola grayii	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Striated heron	Butroides striata	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Black-crowned night heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	N	Least concern		Winter visitor

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and, despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Glossy ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	N	Least concern		Overwintering species
African sacred ibis	Threskiornis aethiopicus	A	Least concern		Vagrant with 2 records
Eurasian spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	R	Least concern	?	Rare migrant

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Frequency	Image
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	N	Least concern		Resident

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Black-winged kite	Elanus caeruleus	R	Least concern		Scarce disperser
Egyptian vulture	Neophron percnopterus	R	Endangered		Rare passage migrant
European honey-buzzard	Pernis apivorus	R	Least concern		Rare passage migrant
Crested honey-buzzard	Pernis ptilorhynchus	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Eurasian griffon	Gyps fulvus	N	Least concern		Scarce winter migrant
Cinereous vulture	Aegypius monachus	R	Near threatened		Scarce winter visitor
Lappet-faced vulture	Torgos tracheliotos	A	Endangered		Single vagrant recorded in 2008
Short-toed snake eagle	Circaetus gallicus	N	Least concern		Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor
Great spotted eagle	Clanga clanga	N	Vulnerable		Overwintering species. White spots are more prominent in juveniles, though they tend to fade into adulthood.
Lesser spotted eagle	Clanga pomarina	R	Least concern		Rare passage migrant
Booted eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus	N	Least concern		Scarce passage migrant
Golden eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Steppe eagle	Aquila nipalensis	N	Endangered		Passage migrant
Eastern imperial eagle	Aquila heliaca	R	Vulnerable		Rare overwintering species
Bonelli's eagle	Aquila fasciata	A	Least concern		Rare autumn disperser
Western marsh-harrier	Circus aeruginosus	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Hen harrier	Circus cyaneus	R	Least concern		Scarce winter visitor
Pallid harrier	Circus macrourus	N	Near threatened		Winter visitor
Montagu's harrier	Circus pygargus	N	Least concern		Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor
Shikra	Accipiter badius	N	Least concern		Uncommon winter visitor
Levant sparrowhawk	Accipiter brevipes	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Eurasian sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	R	Least concern		Scarce winter visitor
Northern goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Black kite	Milvus migrans	N	Least concern		Very common overwintering species
White-tailed sea eagle	Haliaeetus albicilla	A	Least concern		Rare winter visitor
Common buzzard	Buteo buteo	N	Least concern		Common passage migrant
Long-legged buzzard	Buteo rufinus	A	Least concern		Frequent winter visitor

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Barn owl	Tyto alba	N	Least concern		Scarce disperser

Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Eurasian scops-owl	Otus scops	N	Least concern	Uncommon passage migrant. Recognised by its large ear tufts, it is rarely seen at day. The plumage may vary.
Pallid scops-owl	Otus brucei	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Pharaoh eagle owl	Bubo ascalaphus	N	Least concern	Uncommon resident
Lilith owlet	Athene noctua	N	Least concern	Resident
Long-eared owl	Asio otus	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Short-eared owl	Asio flammeus	R	Least concern	Rare winter visitor

Hoopoes

Order: Bucerotiformes Family: Upupidae

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

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Eurasian hoopoe	Upupa epops	N	Least concern		Autumn and spring migrant

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

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

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Common kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	N	Least concern	?	Uncommon wintering species
White-breasted kingfisher	Halcyon smyrnensis	N	Least concern		Uncommon resident
Pied kingfisher	Ceryle rudis	N	Least concern	?	Uncommon winter visitor

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
European bee-eater	Merops apiaster	N	Least concern	Common passage migrant
Arabian bee-eater	Merops cyanophrys	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Blue-cheeked bee-eater	Merops persicus	N	Least concern	Common passage migrant

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
European roller	Coracias garrulus	N	Least concern		Passage migrant
Indian roller	Coracias benghalensis	N	Least concern		Scarce disperser

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Eurasian wryneck	Jynx torquilla	N	Least concern		Passage migrant

Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Lesser kestrel	Falco naumanni	N	Least concern	Passage migrant
Common kestrel	Falco tinnuculus	N	Least concern	Common winter visitor
Red-footed falcon	Falco vespertinus	A	Vulnerable	Vagrant
Amur falcon	Falco amurensis	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Eleonora's falcon	Falco eleonorae	A	Least concern	Vagrant recorded once in 2018
Sooty falcon	Falco concolor	R	Vulnerable	Rare summer visitor
Merlin	Falco columbarius	R	Least concern	Rare winter visitor
Eurasian hobby	Falco subbuteo	N	Least concern	Winter visitor
Lanner falcon	Falco biarmicus	R	Least concern	Scarce disperser in autumn and spring
Saker falcon	Falco cherrug	R	Endangered	Rare winter migrant
Peregrine falcon	Falco peregrinus	R	Least concern	Scarce disperser

Old World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Rose-ringed parakeet	Alexandrinus krameri	I	Least concern		Introduced

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes Family: Oriolidae

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

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Eurasian golden oriole	Oriolus oriolus	N	Least concern		Late spring visitor

Drongos

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Black drongo	Dicurus macrocercus	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant recorded once
Ashy drongo	Dicurus leucophaeus	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant recorded thrice

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Red-backed shrike	Lanius collurio	N	Least concern		Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor
Turkestan shrike	Lanius phoenicuroides	N	Least concern		Common winter migrant
Isabelline shrike	Lanius isabellinus	N	Least concern		Common winter migrant
Brown shrike	Lanius cristatus	A	Least concern		Vagrant with one record
Bay-backed shrike	Lanius vitattus	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Long-tailed shrike	Lanius schach	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Great grey shrike	Lanius excubitor • Lanius excubitor ssp. aucheri (Arabian grey shrike) • Lanius excubitor ssp. pallidirostris (Steppe grey shrike)	N	Least concern		Overwintering species
Lesser grey shrike	Lanius minor	N	Least concern		Uncommon passage migrant
Masked shrike	Lanius nubicus	N	Least concern		Passage migrant and winter visitor
Woodchat shrike	Lanius senator	N	Near threatened		Passage migrant

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
House crow	Corvus splendens	I	Least concern	Introduced
Rook	Corvus frugilegus	A	Least concern	Vagrant with 3 records
Brown-necked raven	Corvus rufficolis	R	Least concern	Scarce disperser
Hooded crow	Corvus cornix	A	Not recognised by the IUCN	Vagrant with one record in 2012
Western jackdaw	Coloeus monedula	A	Least concern	Recorded in 2023

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Sombre tit	Poecile lugubris	A	Least concern		Vagrant with a single record in 2009
Great tit	Parus major	A	Least concern		Vagrant with a single record in 2006

Penduline-tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Remizidae

The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Eurasian penduline-tit	Remiz pendulinus	N	Least concern		Uncommon winter visitor

Larks

Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Greater hoopoe-lark	Alaemon alaudipes	N	Least concern		Resident
Bar-tailed lark	Ammomanes cincturus	N	Least concern		Resident breeder
Desert lark	Ammomanes deserti	N	Least concern		Resident
Black-crowned sparrow lark	Eremopterix nigriceps	N	Least concern		Resident
Temminck's lark	Eremophila bilopha	N	Least concern		Uncommon disperser
Greater short-toed lark	Calandrella brachydactyla	N	Least concern	?	Winter visitor
Bimaculated lark	Melanocorypha bimaculata	R	Least concern		Rare winter visitor
Calandra lark	Melanocorypha calandra	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Arabian lark	Eremalauda eremodites	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Turkestan short-toed lark	Eremalauda eremodites	N	Not recognised by the IUCN		Uncommon in the country, this species is more likely to be encountered in open deserts. A new derivative, this species was considered conspecific with the lesser short-toed lark until 2020.
Woodlark	Lullula arborea	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Eurasian skylark	Alauda arvensis	R	Least concern		scarce winter visitor
Oriental skylark	Alauda gulgula	R	Least concern		Scarce winter visitor
Crested lark	Galerdia cristata	N	Least concern		Breeding resident

Cisticolas and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Frequency
Graceful prinia	Prinia gracilis	N	Least concern		Winter visitor
Delicate prinia	Prinia lepida	A	Not recognised by the IUCN	?	Taxonomy disputed; it is considered part of the graceful prinia species complex by several authorities
Zitting cisticola	Cisticola juncidis	A	Least concern		Vagrant with 5 records

Laughingthrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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 Asia.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Frequency	Image
Afghan babbler	Argya huttoni	N	Not recognised by the IUCN	?	Scarce resident
Arabian babbler	Argya squamiceps	A	Least concern		Vagrant

Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Booted warbler	Iduna caligata	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Syke's warbler	Iduna rama	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Eastern olivaceous warbler	Iduna pallida	N	Least concern	Scarce passage migrant
Upcher's warbler	Hippolais languida	N	Least concern	Winter visitor
Olive-tree warbler	Hippolais olivetorun	A	Least concern	Vagrant recorded once in 1972
Icterine warbler	Hippolais icterina	N	Least concern	Vagrant
Moustached warbler	Acrocephalus melanopogon	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Sedge warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	N	Least concern	Rare passage migrant
Paddyfield warbler	Acrocephalus agricola	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Blyth's reed warbler	Acrocephalus dumetorum	A	Least concern	Vagrant with 3 records
Marsh warbler	Acrocephalus palustris	R	Least concern	Rare passage migrant
Eurasian reed warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus	N	Least concern	Uncommon
Basra reed warbler	Eremalauda eremodites	E	Endangered	Endemic breeding species
Great reed warbler	Acrocephalus arundinaceus	N	Least concern	Uncommon winter visitor
Oriental reed warbler	Acrocephalus orientalis	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Clamorous reed warbler	Acrocephalus stentoreus	N	Least concern	Winter visitor

Grassbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global Status	Notes
River warbler	Locustella fluviatilis	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Savi's warbler	Locustella luscinioides	N	Least concern	Winter visitor
Common grasshopper-warbler	Locustella naevia	N	Least concern	Winter visitor

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Bank swallow	Riparia riparia	N	Least concern		Common in both late summer and winter
Brown-throated martin	Riparia paludicola	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Grey-throated martin	Riparia chinensis	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Pale sand martin	Riparia diluta	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Eurasian crag-martin	Ptyonoprogne rupestris	R	Least concern		Rare winter visitor
Pale crag-martin	Ptyonoprogne fuligula	A	Least concern		Vagrant, 8 records
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica	N	Least concern		Frequent and abundant passage migrant
Red-rumped swallow	Cecropis daurica	N	Least concern		Passage migrant
Streak-throated swallow	Pterocheliodon fluvicola	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Common house-martin	Delichon urbicum	N	Least concern		Uncommon

Bulbuls

Order: Passeriformes Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Red-vented bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer	I	Least concern		Introduced resident
White-eared bulbul	Pycnonotus leucotis	N	Least concern		Common

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Wood warbler	Phylloscopus sibilatrix	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Yellow-browed warbler	Phylloscopus inornatus	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler	Phylloscopus orientalis	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Hume's warbler	Phylloscopus humei	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Radde's Warbler	Phylloscopus schwarzi	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Plain leaf warbler	Phylloscopus neglectus	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Mountain chiffchaff	Phylloscopus sindianus	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Willow warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus	N	Least concern	Common in spring and autumn
Common chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	N	Least concern	Like the willow warbler, but more common in the winter
Green warbler	Phylloscopus nitidus	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Greenish warbler	Phylloscopus trochiloides	A	Least concern	Vagrant

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Eurasian blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla	N	Least concern	Passage migrant
Garden warbler	Sylvia borin	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Asian desert warbler	Curruca nana	N	Least concern	Common winter visitor
Barred warbler	Curruca nisoria	N	Least concern	Uncommon passage migrant
Lesser whitethroat	C. curruca	N	Least concern	Common during spring migration and winter
Eastern Orphean warbler	Curruca crassirostris	N	Least concern	Rare passage migrant
Menetries's warbler	Curruca mystacea	N	Least concern	Passage migrant
Greater whitethroat	Curruca communis	N	Least concern	Common migrant

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Goldcrest	Regulus regulus	A	Least concern		Single vagrant recorded in 2013

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Eurasian wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	A	Least concern		Vagrant recorded twice

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Common starling	Sturnus vulgaris	N	Least concern		Migratory; winter visitor
Rosy starling	Pastor roseus	N	Least concern	?	Scarce migrant
Common myna	Acridotheres tristis	I	Least concern		Introduced and established; extremely common throughout the country
Bank myna	Acridotheres ginginianus	I	Least concern		Scarce resident

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Song thrush	Turdus philomelos	N	Least concern		Overwintering
Redwing	Turdus iliacus	N	Near threatened		Rare winter visitor
Eurasian blackbird	Turdus merula	N	Least concern		Scarce winter visitor
Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris	N	Least concern		Rare winter visitor
Ring ouzel	Turdus torquatus	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Black-throated thrush	Turdus atrogularis	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Red-throated thrush	Turdus ruficollis	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Dusky thrush	Turdus eunomus	A	Least concern	?	Vagrant
Naumann's thrush	Turdus naumanii	N	Least concern	?	Vagrant

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global Status	Notes
Black scrub-robin	Cercotrichas podobe	R	Least concern	Rare winter visitor
Spotted flycatcher	Muscicapa striata	N	Least concern	Common passage migrant in spring and winter
Rufous-tailed scrub-robin	Cercotrichas galactotes	N	Least concern	Overwintering
European robin	Erithacus rubecula	N	Least concern	Winter migrant
White-throated robin	Irania gutturalis	N	Least concern	Spring visitor
Thrush nightingale	Luscinia luscinia	R	Least concern	Rare passage migrant
Common nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos	N	Least concern	Winter visitor
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica	N	Least concern	Common in winter
Taiga flycatcher	Ficedula albicilla	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Red-breasted flycatcher	Ficedula parva	N	Least concern	Uncommon; mostly seen in autumn
Semi-collared flycatcher	Ficedula semitorquata	R	Least concern	Rare passage migrant
Collared flycatcher	Ficedula albicollis	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Rufous-backed redstart	Phoenicurus erythronotus	R	Least concern	Rare passage migrant
Common redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	N	Least concern	Spring visitor
Black redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros	N	Least concern	Passage migrant
Blue rock thrush	Monticola solitarus	N	Least concern	Common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor
Common rock thrush	Monticola saxtalis	N	Least concern	Common passage migrant
Whinchat	Saxicola ruberta	N	Least concern	Occasional passage migrant
European stonechat	Saxicola rubicola	N	Recognised as a subspecies of the common stonechat by the IUCN. Thus, no status exists for this species.	Passage migrant
Siberian stonechat	Saxicola maurus	N	Recognised as a subspecies of the common stonechat by the IUCN. Thus, no status exists for this species.	The Siberian stonechat is practically identical to the European stonechat, and is in fact still considered conspecific by several taxonomic authorities. The only noticeable differences are its white colouration, which is more prevalent, as well as the colour of its underparts being reduced.
Pied bushchat	Saxicola caprata	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Northern wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	N	Least concern	Common passage migrant
Isabelline wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	N	Least concern	Very common throughout winter and spring
Hooded wheatear	Oenanthe monacha	R	Least concern	Rare winter visitor
Desert wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	N	Least concern	Winter visitor
Pied wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka	N	Least concern	Common winter visitor
Pied wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka	N	Least concern	Common visitor
Variable wheatear	Oenanthe picata	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Hume's wheatear	Oenanthe albonigra	A	Least concern	Vagrant
White-crowned wheatear	Oenanthe albonigra	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Finsch's wheatear	Oenanthe finschii	R	Least concern	Rare winter visitor
Mourning wheatear	Oenanthe lugens	N	Least concern	Winter visitor
Kurdish wheatear	Oenanthe xanthoprymna	N	Least concern	Scarce passage migrant
Persian wheatear	Oenanthe chrysopygia	N	Least concern	Common winter visitor

Hypocolius

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hypocoliidae

The hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird with the shape and soft plumage of a waxwing. They are mainly a uniform grey colour, except the males have a black triangular mask around their eyes.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Hypocolius	Hypocolius ampelinus	N	Least concern	?	Uncommon winter visitor

Sunbirds and spiderhunters

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Palestine sunbird	Cinnyris osea	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Purple sunbird	Cinnyris asiaticus	A	Least concern		Vagrant

Weavers and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black; some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Streaked weaver	Ploceus manyar	I	Least concern		Introduced
Black-breasted weaver	Ploceus benghalensis	I	Least concern		Introduced

Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes	Image
Red avadavat	Amandava amandava	I	Least concern	?	Introduced
Indian silverbill	Eudoice malabarica	I	Least concern		Introduced

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes Family: Prunellidae

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

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Radde's accentor	Prunella ocularis	A	Least concern	Vagrant with three records in 2012
Black-throated accentor	Prunella atrogularis	A	Least concern	Single vagrant ringed in 1995
Dunnock	Prunella modularis	A	Least concern	Vagrant with 4 records

Radde's accentor, Prunella ocularis (A)
Black-throated accentor, Prunella atrogularis (A)
Dunnock, Prunella modularis (A)

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
House sparrow	Passer domesticus	N	Least concern	Common
Spanish sparrow	Passer hispaniolensis	N	Least concern	Resident breeder
Dead Sea sparrow	Passer moabiticus	A	Least concern	Vagrant recorded occasionally
Yellow-throated sparrow	Gymnoris xanthocollis	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Pale rockfinch	Carpispiza brachydactyla	N	Least concern	Passage migrant

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Forest wagtail	Dendronanthus indicus	A	Least concern	Winter visitor
Gray wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	N	Least concern	Winter visitor
Yellow wagtail	Motacilla flava	N	Least concern	Common passage migrant
Citrine wagtail	Motacilla citreola	A	Least concern	Uncommon
White wagtail	Motacilla alba	N	Least concern	Very common migrant
Richard's pipit	Anthus richardi	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Blyth's pipit	Anthus godlewskii	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Long-billed pipit	Anthus similis	N	Least concern	Winter visitor
Tawny pipit	Anthus campestris	N	Least concern	Common winter visitor
Meadow pipit	Anthus pratensis	N	Near threatened	Uncommon winter visitor
Tree pipit	Anthus trivialis	N	Least concern	Scarce
Red-throated pipit	Anthus cervinus	N	Least concern	Winter visitor
Olive-backed pipit	Anthus hodgsonii	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Water pipit	Anthus spinoletta	N	Least concern	Common in winter, this large pipit is easy to identify as it has black legs. It frequents wetlands, as suggested by its name.
American pipit	Anthus rubescens	A	Least concern	Vagrant

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Notes
Common chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Brambling	Fringilla montifringilla	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Hawfinch	C. coccothraustes	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Common rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus	R	Least concern	Rare passage migrant
Trumpeter finch	Bucanetes githagineus	N	Least concern	Scarce resident
Mongolian finch	Bucanetes mongolicus	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Desert finch	Rhodospiza obsoleta	A	Least concern	Vagrant
European greenfinch	Chloris chloris	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Eurasian linnet	Linaria cannabina	A	Least concern	Vagrant
Eurasian siskin	Spinus spinus	A	Least concern	Vagrant

Old World buntings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Common name	Binomial name	Status in the country	Global status	Trend	Notes
Black-headed bunting	Emberiza melanocephala	R	Least concern	?	Rare passage migrant
Corn bunting	Emberiza calandra	N	Least concern		Winter visitor and uncommon breeder
Red-headed bunting	Emberiza brunniceps	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Cinereous bunting	Emberiza cineracea	R	Near threatened		Rare passage migrant
Yellowhammer	Emberiza citrinella	A	Least concern		Vagrant with 2 records
Grey-necked bunting	Emberiza buchanani	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Ortolan bunting	Emberiza hortulana	N	Least concern		Overwintering species
Striolated bunting	Emberiza caesia	R	Least concern		2 vagrant records in 2013
Reed bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus	A	Least concern		Vagrant
Little bunting	Emberiza pusilla	A	Least concern		Vagrant with 15 records
Rustic bunting	Emberiza rustica	A	Vulnerable		Vagrant

References

Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Kuwait". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: A Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.