Key species

There are a few species most visitors are particularly interested in locating in the United Arab Emirates.

Below are a few key species with a bit of information. Feel free to join our Forum if you want more information.

You can also view a species list here, complete with map info.

Socotra Cormorants, adult and immature photographed by Mike Barth

PERSIAN SHEARWATER
May be seen from any East Coast watch point throughout the year, though scarce from December to February. Fujairah Port Beach is one of the most reliable locations, also try from one of the headlands at Ra's Dibba.
A telescope is needed; if you locate an offshore feeding group of terns, look for Persian Shearwaters swimming and flying around the group.

SOCOTRA CORMORANT
A common near endemic, particularly numerous on the west coast. The Dubai Creek normally holds a few birds between the sea and Dubai Creek Park. The best stretch of coast to see large numbers offshore is bewteen Umm al-Qaiwain Breakwater and Al Jazirah Khor.
Offshore Abu Dhabi is also good.
On the East Coast a few can normally be seen between Dibb'a and Fujairah Port Beach, but be aware of Continental Cormorants which are also seen here all year. Look for them on the large buoys off Fujairah Port Beach.

INDIAN POND HERON
A common, but localized winter visitor to Khor Kalba mangroves from late August to May, where it is easy to see at low tide. Look for them walking openly on the mudflats looking for food. This species is a lot less secretive than it's cousin the Squacco Heron, who has never been recorded at Khor Kalba.
This species can also turn up away from Khor Kalba; most often recorded at Wamm Farms inside the Dairy Farm; at Safa Park (often within the enclosed duck pond); at Al Warsan Lakes (where Squacco Herons are common).

CRESTED HONEY BUZZARD
Uncommon passage migrant & winter visitor. Best sites are on Abu Dhabi Island where several birds are wintering every year, particularly Mushrif Palace Gardens and surrounding gardens.
Another reliable site is in Dubai during winter; Mushrif National Park. Watch for raptors at the large car-park located at 25.214628N , 55.450181E.
Has also proven to be semi-regular at Hamraniyah Fields in the far north and in the greater Dubai area, particularly around the closed-for-visitors Zabeel Ponds.

EASTERN IMPERIAL EAGLE
A scarce but regular winter visitor. Usually first-winter birds are seen. The single best location is Ra's al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary in Dubai from November until March; watch from outside one of the two hides: Mangrove Hide and Flamingo Hide.
Another good site is the Al Ain Water Treatment Plant area and Zabeel Ponds.

SOOTY FALCON
Uncommon to rare breeder in the far west of Abu Dhabi Emirate. Best sites are on offshore islands from May until September. Delma Island is currently the most accessible location for visiting birders, with regular ferry service.
Sooty Falcons can possibly be seen from the tip of Sila'a Peninsula from June/July to September, but as few birders ever visit this far west in the hot summer months it has not been confirmed.

BARBARY FALCON
An increasingly rare breeding bird of the Hajar Mountains. One of the more consistent sites is the Green Mubazzarah around the base of Jebel Hafeet, especially at the beginning of the side-wadi to the right as you enter the center of Green Mubazzarah (thes wadi is called Wadi Nayhan).

CRAB PLOVER
Found throughout the year (though scarce from May to July). Regular on Abu Dhabi Island in small numbers, but probably not guaranteed a sighting here. Also seen regularly in Al Jazirah Khor (search with a scope from the large sign above the roundabout at 25.719312N , 55.860869E). Occasionally seen along the east coast, particularly flying offshore along the Fujairah/Kalba coastline.
The single best site is/was Khor al-Beida, but with access problems and development it is now a difficult site to visit, but not impossible. If you have a 4WD vehicle you can drive off the main coastal motorway at 25.512756N , 55.601779E and continue past the two new villa estates to the khor itself. If you are in a conventional vehicle, park at the last villa estate and walk down.

CREAM-COLOURED COURSER
Found throughout the year. The best site is the Ghantoot Polo Club, where they can be seen from outside the fence on the grass. Another good spot is the Al Rafa'a shoreline, especially in the inlet at 25.612732N-55.679091E..
May also found on other grassy areas, such as the Emirates Golf Club & in the desert interior, but is never guaranteed.

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
An uncommon passage migrant, and regular breeder at favoured sites. The single best site is the Dubai Pivot Fields, where present throughout the year. Also regularly seen at nearby Al Warsan Lakes where it also breeds.
Normally present at Al Wathba Lake, but access here difficult.

GREAT KNOT
An uncommon passage migrant & winter visitor. The largest concentration of these birds is in the Marawah Marine Protected Area on Marawah Island, but this area is off limits to casual birders.
The single best site is/was Khor al-Beida, but with access problems and development it is now a difficult site to visit. See under Crab Plover for access details.
Look for this species amongst flocks of Bar-tailed Godwits, directly opposite the bewly built villas.

PINTAIL SNIPE
A fairly common passage migrant & winter visitor in small numbers. May be found in any fodder field or marshy area. Best sites are the Dubai Pivot Fields as well as Wamm Farms inside the Dairy Farm. Possibly still also at the Emirates Golf Club.

SOOTY GULL
A common bird along the East Coast beaches for much of the year but can be tricky to find in October.
May also be found on the west coast, especially the port area in Abu Dhabi and in the mouth of Dubai Creek.

GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL
An uncommon but regular winter visitor from early December until March. May be found along both coastlines. Fairly easy to find along the Abu Dhabi Corniche and Umm al-Quwain Breakwater, less so along the the Ra's Dibba to Khor Kalba beaches.

WHITE-CHEEKED TERN
A common summer breeding species along the west coast. May be found along any patch of coastline, but is rare here after the breeding season.
Common along the East Coast beaches where a few birds over-winter.
Immature and non-breeding plumage can be very similar to Common Tern; look out for the diagnostic dark rump.

BRIDLED TERN
A common breeding summer visitor to the west coast, where it breeds on offshore islands from April until August. Scarce and hard to find outside this period.
A common bird along the East Coast, often occurring in huge numbers fishing offshore. Largely absent from November to March, with few confirmed winter records.

SAUNDERS'S TERN
A common breeding species, mainly on offshore islands along the west coast from late March to August. After this period it becomes scarce, with only a few birds wintering.
A common passage migrant along the East Coast, both in spring and autumn. A few birds over winter. The single best site is the Fujairah - Khor Kalba coastline.
Great care must be taken in separating it from near-identical dark-rumped Little Terns, commonly recorded in the UAE. Little Terns normally have white rumps, but dark-rumped birds with two black primaries are often recorded.

LICHTENSTEIN’S SANDGROUSE
May be found just after dark, drinking in any small waterhole in the mountains.
A common, but elusive breeding species in the Hajar Mountains. The easiest place to see this species is the grounds of the Hatta Fort Hotel at dusk, when shadows can be seen flying overhead, calling, as they fly to drinking sites.
Another reliable site is along the main road to the Wamm Farms, flocks fly over between the Goat farm and Dairy Farm at dusk.
A small lake formed just outside the small farm in Wadi Bih during autumn 2010; this site is sure to have birds come in to drink after dark.

CHESTNUT-BELLIED SANDGROUSE
A declining species, as its desert habitat become increasingly developed. Easiest time to see this species is in the mornings (08.00 – 09.30 hrs) as they come to drink. Al Wathba Camel Racetrack; Dubai Pivot Fields and the Wamm Farms are all excellent locations.
Khor Kalba dunes and Khor al-Beida dunes in the late afternoons is another reliable site where the birds are often sitting down.

STRIATED SCOPS OWL
A common, but localized breeding species of the northern and eastern emirates. The best single location is Mushrif Park in Dubai, around the mosque after dark. Also possible around Ra's al-Khaimah.

DESERT EAGLE OWL
An uncommon & localized breeding resident of both the mountain foothills and the open sandy deserts. Probably, about 50 + pairs in the country. Most well known site is Qarn Nazwa, but widespread in the Abu Dhabi deserts, where it breeds in the roots of isolated trees.
At Qarn Nazwa, look for the birds coming out just after sunset to sit on the tops of the two low mountains, often heard calling.

EGYPTIAN NIGTHJAR
An uncommon passage migrant & winter visitor. It is particularly fond of fodder fields, where it comes to feed on insects at night. Best wintering sites are the Al Wathba Camel Racetrack & the gravel plains at Wamm Farms, but can be absent from both sites during cold winters with little insect-activity at night.
During migration can be common at favoured sites like Ajban and Lulu Island.

COLLARED KINGFISHER
The only known site in the UAE are the mangroves at Khor Kalba, where it is easy to see at low tide when it comes out on to the mudflats to feed, often alongside Indian Pond Herons. This endemic subspecies is often called Kalba Collared Kingfisher.

MASKED SHRIKE
An uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. More regular on Abu Dhabi island than anywhere else. Khalidiyah / Emirates Palace and Mushrif Palace Gardens are both good locations. In Dubai, look for it in Safa Park near the duck pond, and anywhere in Al Mamzar Park.

BLACK-CROWNED SPARROW LARK
A widespread breeding species of the open desert. Nomadic after the breeding season. A good location is around the Bab al-Shams desert in Dubai, and the Khor al-Beida dunes in spring when males are displaying. Also try the open area at Khor Kalba before the bridge, at position 25.020882N , 56.360373E.

BAR-TAILED LARK
An uncommon and highly localized breeding bird. Inhabitating rocky areas in the sandy desert, just inland from the coast, as in the Bab al-Shams Desert.
Also found on headlands in the extreme west of Abu Dhabi Emirate, along the Saudi Arabian border. The Sila'a Peninsula between the last farm and the peninsula tip is a very reliable location, but the birds are hard to find even here.

GREATER HOOPOE LARK
A common but elusive resident of the open deserts. May be found anywhere where the habitat has not been too disturbed. The Bab al-Shams desert is a good location, particularly at dawn, when it can be located by call. Roadside along the roads to the Liwa Oasis can also be good, as can the open scrubby plains along the shore between Khor al-Beida and Al Rafa'a.

BIMACULATED LARK
An uncommon & localized winter visitor to fodder fields. The most consistent location is Al Wathba Camel Racetrack in Abu Dhabi, where it may be encountered on the racetrack itself near the main grandstand from November until March.

ORIENTAL SKYLARK
An uncommon but regular winter visitor to fodder fields. Best sites are the main field at Dubai Pivot Fields and the Wamm Farms inside the Dairy Farm.

PALE CRAG MARTIN
A common resident breeder of the Hajar Mountains and increasingly on tall buildings in Dubai & Abu Dhabi. Very easy to see at Green Mubazzarah and Jebel Hafit.

RED-WHISKERED BULBUL
The only known location for this declining introduced species is the Mushrif Palace Gardens in Abu Dhabi.

HYPOCOLIUS
An erratic, and nomadic, winter visitor in variable numbers. Can be found in any plantation in the country, with the best site still might be Ghantoot.
Since 2008 one farm on Sila'a Peninsula has proved a reliable wintering site (position 24.070195N , 51.774336E) as well as singles on the rarely-visited Dalma Island. The difficult to access Lulu Island off Abu Dhabi has also proved a very reliable wintering site, but you will need your own boat to reach there.

RED-TAILED WHEATEAR
A common passage migrant and winter visitor to the Hajar Mountains, from the end of September to April. The Green Mubazzarah in Al Ain is a very reliable location, as is Qarn Nazwa and Wamm Farms.

VARIABLE WHEATEAR
An uncommon winter visitor to gravel acacia plains.
Qarn Nazwa plain at position 24.991528N , 55.662992E and the Wamm Farms around the Goat farm at 25.593889N , 56.238554E are reliable locations.

HOODED WHEATEAR
An uncommon & highly localized resident breeding species in the Hajar Mountains. This species is secretive, and can be difficult to find. Best locations are both in Al Ain: in the grounds of the Mecure Hotel at the top of Jebel Hafeet and in the Green Mubazzarah around the chalets at 24.098898N , 55.750753E.
It has also been recorded around Hatta Dams where it probably breeds.
 

HUME’S WHEATEAR
A common and easy to find resident of the Hajar Mountains. Breeds inside the grounds of the Hatta Fort Hotel, as well as on Jebel Hafit and in the Green Mubazzarah. Also easy to find in Wadi Bih and along the road from Masafi Wadi to Wamm Farms.

SCRUB WARBLER
An uncommon and often hard to find resident of the Hajar Mountains. Masafi Wadi is a good location where this species is resident year-round, especially early in the morning.

CLAMOROUS REED WARBLER
A common breeding resident of any mangrove area. Is particularly numerous at Khor Kalba. Also often present in the central reeds of Dubai Pivot Fields and nearby Al Warsan Lakes.
A common passage migrant in parks and gardens during spring and autumn migration.

SYKES’S WARBLER
The only known location are the mangroves at Khor Kalba, where it is secretive, and often hard to find. Best located along the western edge of the mangroves around position 25.008422N , 56.359123E.

PLAIN LEAF WARBLER
A common winter visitor to the Hajar Mountains. Masafi Wadi is a good location, as is the side-wadi in Green Mubazzarah and inside Wadi Tarabat.

ARABIAN BABBLER
A common breeding resident, particularly in the northern emirates around Ra's al-Khaimah airport and Hamraniyah Fields, as well as Al Jazirah Khor. Near Dubai you can try Mushrif National Park around the position 25.216278N , 55.458323E, and outside Ain al-Fayda park in Al Ain around position 24.090142N , 55.706988E.

BROWN-NECKED RAVEN
An declining resident of both the sandy deserts and the Hajar Mountain, more common in the northern emirates. Can be viewed from the roadside along the Emirates Road E311 from Dubai to Ra's al-Khaimah and around Hamraniyah Fields.
Another good site is the desert around Al Ain Water Treatment Plant.

PALE ROCKFINCH
An uncommon passage migrant and probable occasional breeder in the mountains. Erratic and most of the time absent or very hard to find. Best locations are the Dubai Pivot Fields and the Wamm Farms, but absent for most of the year, even absent for years on end. When present this species can be seen almost everywhere, from the coastal dunes of Khor al-Beida to the desert of Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and the mountain wadis around Jebel Hafit.

YELLOW-THROATED SPARROW
A common summer breeding species to acacia dominated plains. Best locations are the coastal plains south and west of Khor Kalba, where it breeds in substantial numbers from April until August. Another good area is along the Huwaylat Road during summer, but be aware of the border police patrolling the road along the Oman border fence.

TRUMPETER FINCH
A scarce resident breeder in the Hajar Mountains. Best location is Wadi Bih, also recorded with some regularity at Sifini Dam and at the waterhole along Huwaylat Road (be aware of the border police patrolling the road along the Oman border fence where this waterhole is).

BLYTH’S PIPIT
A common, but localized passage migrant and winter visitor to fodder fields. Best sites are the Dubai Pivot Fields and Wamm Farms inside the Dairy Farm.

LONG BILLED PIPIT
An uncommon breeder in the Hajar Mountains. The easiest place to see them in this habitat is the Masafi Wadi.
Also an uncommon winter visitor to fodder field with the best locations is Wamm Farms inside the Dairy Farm..

MASKED WAGTAIL
This well marked form is normally easy to see (late September to March) in the cattle pens at the Fujairah National Dairy Farm at Wamm Farms. Check the main Site info for access.

STRIOLATED BUNTING
A common breeding species in the Hajar Mountains. Wadi Bih in the north and Green Mubazzarah/Wadi Tarabat in Al Ain are good locations, and during winter at Wamm Farms. Another good area is along the Huwaylat Road, but be aware of the border police patrolling the road along the Oman border fence.