Key species

There are a few species most visitors are particularly interested in locating in the United Arab Emirates.
With the help of Google Earth and this page you can locate where these species are most frequently seen and plan your trip accordingly.

You must have the free Google Earth installed on your computer (works on both Mac & Windows).
Download the *.kml file corresponding to the species you want to locate from the list below. Then open the file by double-clicking it.

If you would want to see additional species listed, please send me an email.

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. A telescope is needed; if you locate an offshore feeding group of terns, look for Persian Shearwaters swimming and flying around the group.Persian Shearwater

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.
Socotra Cormorant

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 Fujairah National Dairy Farm), Safa Park (within the enclosed duck pond), and Al Warsan Lakes (where Squacco Herons are common).
For an ID article on this species, click hereIndian Pond Heron.

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. Has proven to be semi-regular at Hamraniyah Fields and in the greater Dubai area, particularly Mushrif National Park and 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.

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 (note: the author has never visited Delma, and I have no info on service, timing or hotel).
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 (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 and occasionally along the east coast, particularly 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.
Crab Plover

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.
May also found on other grassy areas, such as the Emirates Golf Club & in the desert interior, but never guaranteed.

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
An uncommon passage migrant, and occasional breeder. The single best site is the Dubai Pivot Fields, where present throughout the year. May also be present Al Wathba Lake.

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 largely 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.

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 Wamm Farms and the Dubai Pivot Fields, possibly still also Emirates Golf Club.

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

GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL
An uncommon winter visitor from early December until March. May be found along both coastlines. Easy to find along the Abu Dhabi Corniche, Umm Al Quwain breakwater and the Fujairah – 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 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 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 - Kalba coastline.
Care must be taken in separating it from dark-rumped Little Terns, commonly recorded in the UAE.

LICHTENSTEIN’S SANDGROUSE
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 go to drink.
Another reliable site is the main road to the Wamm Farms, flocks fly over between the goatfarm and dairy farm at dusk.
May be found just after dark, drinking in any small waterhole in the mountains.

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.

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.

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.

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 sites are the Al Wathba Camel Racetrack & the Wamm Farms, but can be absent from both sites during cold winters with little insect-activity at night.

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.

BLACK-CROWNED FINCH LARK
A widespread breeding species of the open desert. Nomadic after the breeding season. The best single location is around the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort in Dubai, where it is easy to find.

BAR-TAILED LARK
An uncommon and highly localized breeding bird. Inhabitating rocky areas in the sandy desert, just inland from the coast. Also found on headlands in the extreme west of Abu Dhabi Emirate, along the Saudi Arabian border. The Ras Gumais Peninsula is a very reliable location.

GREATER HOOPOE LARK
A common but elusive resident of the open deserts. May be found anywhere where the habitat has not been too disturbed, or destroyed. The Bab Al Shams Desert Resort is a good location, particularly at dawn, when it can be located by call.

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 from November until March.

ORIENTAL SKYLARK
An uncommon winter visitor to fodder fields. Best sites ate the Dubai Pivot Fields and the Fujairah National Dairy Farm.

PALE CRAG MARTIN
A common resident breeder of the Hajar Mountains and increasingly, on the tall buildings in Dubai & Abu Dhabi.

BLYTH’S PIPIT
A common, but localized, passage migrant and winter visitor to fodder fields. Best sites are the Dubai Pivot Fields & the Fujairah National 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 fields. Best locations are Dubai Pivot Fields & the Fujairah National Dairy Farm.

MASKED WAGTAIL
This well marked form is normally easy to see (late September – March), in the cattle pens at the Fujairah National Dairy Farm at Dibba.

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

GREY HYPOCOLIUS
An erratic, and nomadic, winter visitor in variable numbers. Can be found in any plantation in the country, but the best site is Ghantoot.

RED TAILED WHEATEAR
A common passage migrant, & winter visitor to the Hajar Mountains, from the end of September to April. The Green Mubazzarah in Al Ain is a very reliable location.

VARIABLE WHEATEAR
An uncommon winter visitor to the wadis in the mountains, and the associated acacia plains.
Qarn Nazwa and the Fujairah National Dairy Farm at Dibba are regular locations, as is the coastal plain south of Kalba.

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.
 

HUME’S WHEATEAR
A common resident of the Hajar Mountains. Breeds inside the grounds of the Hatta Fort Hotel.

SCRUB WARBLER
An uncommon, and hard to find, resident of the Hajar Mountains. Masafi Wadi is a good location.

CLAMOROUS REED WARBLER
A common breeding resident of any mangrove area. Is particularly numerous at Kalba.

Also a common passage migrant in parks and gardens during spring and autumn migration.

SYKE’S WARBLER
The only known location are the mangroves at Khor Kalba, where it is secretive, and hard to find.

PLAIN LEAF WARBLER
A common winter visitor to the Hajar Mountains. Masafi Wadi is a good location.

ARABIAN BABBLER
A common breeding resident, particularly in the northern emirates. Mushrif Park in Dubai is a good location.

MASKED SHRIKE
An uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. More regular on Abu Dhabi island than anywhere else. Khalidiyah and Mushrif Palace Gardens are both good locations.

BROWN-NECKED RAVEN
An uncommon resident of both the sandy deserts and the Hajar Mountains. Is particularly common in the northern emirates. Can be viewed from the roadside.

PALE ROCKFINCH
An uncommon passage migrant and probable occasional breeder in the mountains. Erratic, and hard to find. Best locations are the Dubai Pivot Fields and the Fujairah National Dairy Farm.

YELLOW-THROATED SPARROW
A common summer breeding species to acacia dominated plains. Best locations are the coastal plains south of Kalba, where it breeds in substantial numbers from April until August.

TRUMPETER FINCH
A scarce resident breeder in the Hajar Mountains. Best location is Huwaylat road, Sifini Dam & Wadi Bi.

STRIOLATED BUNTING
A common breeding species in the Hajar Mountains.