Birds of the United Arab Emirates - an annotated checklist

compiled by Tommy Pedersen

441 category A & C species are recorded in the UAE as of March 9^th 2008.

Species with a - B after the name is confirmed to breed or have bred in the past.

Species with a - b after the name is possibly or probably breeding.

This follows Aspinall (1996) as well as recent observations.

Species with a - * behind is considered rare in the UAE and requires a Rare Bird Report to be submitted.

A species not recorded annually is classified as “rare”.

A species recorded annually is classified either as “uncommon”, “fairly common”, “common” or “very common”, depending on the probability of seeing the species on any given trip to the right habitat during the right season.

Birds seen on less than 10% of the visits are considered “uncommon”, 10-50% as “fairly common”, 51-90% as “common”, and more than 90 % as “very common”.

Relevant subspecies are included here in order to increase awareness of this issue among birders.

This follows Richardson (1990), Aspinall (1996), Richardson and Aspinall (1998) and Emirates Bird Report No. 20 ( 2003), where subspecies identifiable in the field or certain to occur were mentioned.

When one or more subspecies have been reliably identified, this is stated as “occurs”.

A breeding subspecies that has been identified in Aspinall (1996) is likewise identified here and stated as “occurs”.

A non-breeding subspecies being the only one likely to occur, but not yet reliably identified, is described as "most likely to occur".

Multiple subspecies are listed when either two or more have been identified, or when more than one subspecies is possible but none positively identified.

A list of the most likely sites one can expect to see the species in question is included. It only lists the sites that are generally open to visitors, and not restricted islands or other restricted-access areas.

A continously updated list of sites mentioned, complete with coordinates, can be downloaded online at: http://www.tommypedersen.com/UAE-Sites.xls

Records of rare birds not yet submitted by the observer, or not yet validated by the Emirates Bird Records Committee - EBRC, are included here for information only and prefixed with an asterix *.

If you can not find your sighting in this checklist, a Rare Bird Report might be required. It can be found online at: http://www.tommypedersen.com/Rarity report.doc

This annotated checklist was prepared from the UAE national records database maintained by the Emirates Bird Records Committee, EBRC, and draws upon additional input from all current members of the EBRC; Simon Aspinall, Steve James, Peter Hellyer, Nick Moran and Andrew Twyman, as well as the compiler (and UAE Bird Recorder/EBRC member), Tommy Pedersen.

The contributions made by past EBRC members are also gratefully acknowledged, especially from the previous UAE Bird Recorder Colin Richardson.

A website for birders planning a visit to the UAE is found here: http://www.tommypedersen.com/UAE.htm

Please send an e-mail to the UAE Bird Recorder 777sandman@gmail.com if you have additional records or comments.

Category A - species occurring in an apparent wild state

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis - B

No subspecies positively identified in the UAE, although the breeding birds show the wing pattern of capensis.

T. r. capensis from Caucasus to ne Arabian Peninsula, sw and central Asia and Africa s of the Sahara is thought to be the colonising subspecies.

T. r. iraquensis from Iraq and sw Iran might occur on migration, but no evidence of occurrence.

T. r. ruficollis from Europe to Caucasus might occur on migration, but no evidence of occurrence.

Local opportunist breeder all year and locally common winter visitor from mid September to March.

Likely sites: Al Warsan Lakes, Emirates Hills Golf Club, Sharjah Tip, Qurrayah Pools, Al Maqam Equestrian Centre and Golf Club, Al Wathba Lake.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus - *

P. c. cristatus most likely to occur.

Rare winter visitor, ranging from November 13^th to March 20^th.

- One Dubai Creek 20.12.1949 (K.M.Guichard).

- One Abu Dhabi Island 1981 - exact date unknown (J.N.B.Brown).

- One Khor Fakkan 30.12.1983 (C.Richardson).

- One Abu Dhabi Island 13.11.1984 (J.N.B.Brown, J.M.Hollingworth).

- One Al Jazeerah Khor 25.11.1988 (J.A.D.Chapman).

- One Ain al-Faydah reedbeds 30.11.1993 - 11.01.1994 (R.Read).

- One Al Wasit Nature Reserve (Ramtha Lagoons) 31.01. - 05.03.1994 (C.Richardson).

- One Abu Dhabi Corniche mid January 1995 - exact date unknown (J.Norton).

- One Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary 28.11.1996 (S.L.James).

- One Emirates Golf Course 20.03.1997 (C.Richardson).

- One Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary 15.01. - 12.02.2000 (C.Richardson et al).

- One found dead near Maqta bridge, Abu Dhabi 04.12.2004.

- One Abu Dhabi Eastern Lagoon 26.01.2008 (A&I Cunningham) *

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis - B

P. n. nigricollis most likely to occur.

Fairly common but local winter visitor from September to March, some remain until June. Breeding observed Al Wathba Lake in 2000.

Likely sites: Al Warsan Lakes, Springs Villas, Qurrayah Pools, Al Wathba Lake.

Jouanin’s Petrel Bulweria fallax - *

One record.

- One Al Ghurfa Breakwater 18.10.2004 (S.J.Aspinall, S.L.James).

Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes - *

One record.

- One Fujairah Hilton Hotel 08.10.2004 (S.L.James).

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus - * (report required from the Arabian Gulf as well as East Coast sightings from June to February)

Rare to very uncommon spring visitor, ranging from March 4^th to May 29^th with one October record. A single sighting from the Arabian Gulf. Might be regular in spring.

- One off Kalba Corniche 30.04.1995 (S.J.Aspinall et al).

- One off Ra’s Dibba 01.05.1995 (WIWO/T.M. van der Have).

- One off Fujairah Hilton Hotel 11.05.1995 (S.L.James).

- Three birds 15.05.1997; one off Fujairah Port Beach, one off Fujairah Corniche and one off Kalba Corniche (S.J.Aspinall).

- One Umm Shaif offshore oilfield 16.04.2001 is the only record from the Arabian Gulf (S.J.Aspinall).

- Two Ra’s Dibba 05.10.2002 (D.A.Diskin).

- One a few meters offshore Fujairah Corniche 04.03.2003 (D.A.Diskin).

- Six birds off Al Ghurfa Breakwater 22.04.2006 (I.Boustead).

- One off Al Ghurfa Breakwater 03.05.2006 (N.Moran).

- One swimming off Al Ghurfa Breakwater 11.05.2006 (T.Pedersen et al).

- One off Fujairah Port Beach 08.04.2007 (S.J.Aspinall) *

- Two off Fujairah Hilton Hotel 16.04.2007 (S.L.James).

- Two off Fujairah Hilton Hotel 27.04.2007 (I.Boustead, A.Twyman, A.Wasse) *

- One off Ra’s Dibba 29.04.2007 (S.L.James).

- 13 birds off Fujairah Hilton Hotel 29.04.2007 (S.L.James).

- One off Fujairah Hilton Hotel 04.05.2007 (N.Tovey).

- Two off Fujairah Hilton Hotel 11.05.2007 (S.L.James, S.J.Aspinall et al).

- One off Ra’s Dibba 25.05.2007 (S.L.James et al).

- One off Fujairah Hilton Hotel 25.05.2007 (S.L.James et al).

- One off Fujairah Hilton Hotel 29.05.2007 (N.Moran) *

(One bird reported off Kalba Corniche 12.04.2002 - unknown observer; Rare Bird Report required) *

Persian Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri persicus

Fairly common to common off the East Coast all year, but less so from May to July. Rare to uncommon in the Straits of Hormuz.

Max count 1129 birds heading north off Al Ghurfa Breakwater 18.08.2004 and ca 1500 off Al Ghurfa Breakwater 02.12.2004.

Likely sites: off Ra’s Dibba and Fujairah beaches and breakwaters.

Wilson’s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus

No subspecies positively identified in the UAE.

O. o. oceanicus and O. o. exasperatus are both likely to occur.

Rare but possibly overlooked summer visitor off the East Coast, records ranging from May 26^th to August 6^th. Also recorded off the Ra’s al-Khaimah coast.

Recent records;

- Four off Al Aqqah 30.06. - 01.07.1994 (C.Richardson, S.J.Aspinall).

- Two off Al Aqqah 26.05.1995 (C.Richardson).

- One off Al Aqqah 13.06.1996(C.Richardson).

- One Al Ghurfa Breakwater 18.07.2004 (S.J.Aspinall, S.L.James).

- Three Al Ghurfa Breakwater 06.08.2004 (S.J.Aspinall).

- At least two off Al Ghurfa Breakwater 15.07.2006 (I.Boustead).

- Two off Khor Fakkan 21.07.2006 (N.Tovey et al).

- One off Al Ghurfa Breakwater 29.07.2006 (I.Boustead).

Leach’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa - *

O. l. leucorhoa most likely to occur.

One record

- A bird found dying at the old Sharjah airfield, 08.06.1969, preserved in BM Natural History, Tring. (R.G.Griffiths, J.M.Lapthorne).

Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus - B

P. a. indicus most likely to occur.

Mainland sightings uncommon, nests on restricted-access islands west of Abu Dhabi like Qarnein, Arzanah, Das and Zirku islands, as well as off the

Musandam Peninsula in north Oman.

Recent mainland sightings:

- Two Ra’s Dibba 07.12.2003 (S.J.Aspinall).

- One 10 km north of Khor Fakkan 21.07.2006, heading inland (N.Tovey, T.Pedersen et al).

- One Fujairah Hilton Hotel 07.05.2007, flying north (S.J.Aspinall).

- One immature off Fujairah Hilton Hotel 11.05.2007 (S.L.James, S.J.Aspinall).

- One Ra’s Dibba 23.11.2007 (S.L.James).

Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus - *

Rare visitor, ranging from October 6^th to May 8^th.

- Three off Sadiyat Island 30.11.1970 (J.Stewart-Smith).

- Five flying north off Khor Fakkan 08.05.1973 (M.D.Gallagher).

- One dead Abu Dhabi Island 06.04.1980 (Ramadan-Jaradi).

- Four Jumeirah shoreline, Dubai 10.03.1981 (Ramadan-Jaradi).

- One Das Island 26.12.1994 (L. Reaney).

- One Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary 06.-09.11.1999 (D.Hale, C.Saunders).

- One Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque 06.10.2003 (C.Clark).

Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus - *

Two records.

- One Bateen Village, Abu Dhabi 16.12.1970 (J.Stewart-Smith).

- One immature caught at Zakum oil platform off Abu Dhabi 19.01.1980 (J.N.B.Brown).

Masked Booby Sula dactylatra - *

S. d. melanops most likely to occur.

Rare visitor with 9 records, ranging from November 16^th to May 19^th..

- One off Al Sha’am 02.05.1973 (D.A.Scott).

- One reported off East Coast winter 1987/88 (W.R.P.Bourne per F.E.Warr).

- One juvenile off Abu Dhabi Island 19.05.1988 (J.A.D.Chapman).

- Six birds 12 nm off Khor Fakkan 01.12.1995 (C.Richardson).

- One sub-adult fishing offshore at Ra’s Dibba 19.12.2003 (D.A.Diskin, M.Chalmers).

- Two (adult and sub-adult) Al Ghurfa Breakwater 28.02.2006 (T.Pedersen, P.Hellyer et al).

- One subadult Al Ghurfa Breakwater 03., 04. and 11.05.2006 (N.Moran, S.J.Aspinall et al).

- One off Fujairah Hilton 29.04.2007 (S.L.James) *

- One adult off Kalba Corniche 16. and 22.11.2007 (K.Reenes, R.Huisman) *

One adult (probably same bird) off Ra’s Dibba 30.11.2007 (D.Wilby).

One adult (probably same bird) off Fujairah Hilton 01.12.2007 (N.Moran et al).

Red-footed Booby Sula sula - *

S. s. rubripes most likely to occur.

One record.

- One bird found on a northbound ship off the East Coast 27.08.1979 (P.W.G.Chilman).

(One bird reported Das Island 17.02.1999, no details; Rare Bird Report required) *

Brown Booby Sula leucogaster - *

S. l. plotus most likely to occur.

Uncommon to rare visitor, ranging from October 8^th to May 6^th. Records off both coasts; more regular off the East Coast.

- One adult on oil platform northeast of Fateh Field 26.10.1986 (M.Harvey).

- One off Al Sha’am 16.01.1987 (J.A.D.Chapman).

- One sub-adult off Fujairah 12.04.1997 (J.M.Allen, M.Dryden).

- One immature Ra’s Dibba 09.02.1998 (S.L.James, M.Stansfield).

- One Kalba 18.04.2000 (C.Richardson/Naturetrek).

- One Fujairah 26.04.2001 (P.Hellyer).

- One Jumeirah shoreline, Dubai 27.04.2001 (P.Bourdin).

- One adult Fujairah Port Beach 12.04.2002 (D.A.Diskin).

- One Ra’s Dibba 31.10.2003 (C.Richardson).

- One Dibba Harbour 02.01.2004 (D.A.Diskin).

- One immature Al Ghurfa Breakwater 08.10.2004 and 01.12.2004 (S.L.James, P.Devilliers) *

- One adult Fujairah Port Beach 19.01.2005 (P.Bourdin), probably same adult same place 09.02.2005 (S.L.James) and 07.03.2005 (T.Pedersen, O.B.Hansen).

- One adult Ra’s Dibba 06.05.2005 (S.J.Aspinall et al).

- One immature Ra’s Dibba 03.11. - 05.12.2005 (N.Tovey et al).

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

P. c. sinensis - Continental Cormorant - occurs.

Locally common visitor from November to March, immatures occasionally summer.

Likely sites: Abu Dhabi Eastern Lagoon, Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Al Jazeerah Khor, Khor Kalba.

Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis - B

Common resident, breeds on Arabian Gulf islands from September to April.

Large movements often observed off Arabian Gulf coast from September to December. Post-breeding dispersal occurs, when also present on the East Coast.

Likely sites: Off Abu Dhabi Island, Umm al-Qaiwain Breakwater, Al Jazeerah Khor, Ra’s Dibba, Fujeirah Port Beach.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea - b
A. c. cinerea most likely to occur.

Common to very common winter visitor with some immatures oversummering. A potential nesting species.

Likely sites: Safa Park, Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Qurrayah Pools.

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
A. p. purpurea most likely to occur.

Fairly common visitor in small numbers from August to October, less common in other months with some immatures oversummering.

Likely sites: Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Al Warsan Lakes, Emirates Golf Course, Fujairah National Dairy Farm at Dibba, Khor Kalba.

Great Egret Egretta alba

E. a. alba from Europe to temperate central Asia and Iran occurs.
E. a. modesta from s Asia to Indonesia occurs.

Locally common winter visitor in small numbers from late August to May, a few oversummer.

Likely sites: Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Khor al-Beida, Al Jazeerah Khor.

Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia - *

E. i. intermedia from India to Japan and the Greater Sundas have been identified.

Three records.

- One Ramtha Tip 23.12.1994 - 13.01.1995 (S.J.Aspinall, E.Hirschfeld et al).

- One Dubai Pivot Fields 25.-26.06.2001 and 30.07.2001 (D.A.Diskin, S.L.James et al).

- One Abu Dhabi Golf and Equestrian Club 23.10. - 10.11.2007 (N.Moran, O.Campbell et al).

Little Egret Egretta garzetta
E. g. garzetta occurs.

Common visitor from September to March, some regularly oversummer.

Likely sites: Al Warsan Lakes, Fujairah National Dairy Farm at Dibba, Khor Kalba.

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis - B
E. g. schistacea occurs (was before named asha).

Very common breeding resident on both coasts, often wandering to lakes and ponds inland.

Likely sites: Abu Dhabi Island shores, Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Khor al-Beida, Dreamland Beach, Al Jazeerah Khor, Khor Kalba.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis - B
B. i. ibis most likely to occur.

Increasingly common visitor from October to April, some staying all year. Nesting confirmed near Dubai 2006.

Likely sites: Abu Dhabi Eastern Lagoon, Dubai Pivot Fields, Fujairah National Dairy Farm at Dibba, Al Maqam Equestrian Centre and Golf Club.

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides

Fairly common migrant to freshwater reedbeds in March and April and from August to October, uncommon to rare other months.

Squacco Herons between October and March needs to be checked carefully for Indian Pond Herons.

Likely sites: Ruwais, Al Warsan Lakes, Emirates Golf Course, Qurrayah Pools, Fujairah National Dairy Farm at Dibba.

Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii

Fairly common to common winter visitor to the Khor Kalba mangroves on the East Coast from mid August to May, rare other months and other sites.

Likely sites: Khor Kalba mangroves, also regular Fujairah National Dairy Farm at Dibba and Safa Park in Dubai.

Striated Heron Butorides striatus - B
The subspecies found in the UAE is not known.

B. s. brevipes from the Red Sea to north Somalia and/or B. s. chloriceps from the Indian subcontinent are both possibly involved.

Locally common breeding resident with some local movements in autumn, especially of juveniles.

Likely sites: Abu Dhabi Eastern Lagoon, Khor al-Beida, Khor Kalba.

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax - B
N. n. nycticorax occurs.

Fairly common winter visitor from September to April, a few oversummer locally. Has nested at Zabeel fish ponds 1992 and 1994.

Likely sites: Safa Park, Dubai Pivot Fields.

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus - B

I. m. minutus most likely to occur.

Uncommon to fairly common migrant from March to June and August to November, occasionally other months.

Nested in the Ruwais reedbeds in August/September 1995.

Likely sites: Ruwais, Al Warsan Lakes, Emirates Golf Course, Dubai Pivot Fields.

Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus - *

One record.

- One adult male Arzanah Island 20.11.2000 (S.J.Aspinall).

Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris

B. s. stellaris most likely to occur.

Rare visitor, ranging from September 12^th to December 30^th with two records from January and a single record from February.

- One sick bird Bada (Bu?) Hasa September 1971 (D.J.G.Williams).

- One Abu Dhabi Island 07.10.1978 (Ramadan-Jaradi).

- One Abu Dhabi Island 13.09.1979 (Emirates Natural History Group -ENHG Bulletin 9:32).

- One Al Sha’am 19.11.1979 (Ramadan-Jaradi).

- Two Khor Kalba 07.01.1981 (Ramadan-Jaradi).

- Three together Safa Park 12.09.1982 (C.Richardson).

- Two unknown location mid-September 1983 (per C.Richardson).

- Two Safa Park 05.11.1983 (J.A.D.Chapman).

- One Safa Park 04.10.1985 (M.West, C.Richardson).

- Tree Safa Park 16.10.1987 (C.Richardson, M.West, S.Turner).

- Two Safa Park 21.10.1988 (J.Footitt, E.List).

- One Zabeel fish ponds 23.02.1990 (J.A.D.Chapman, D.Robinson).

- One Al Wathba Camel Racetrack 04.-08.11.1993 (S.J.Aspinall, S.L.James et al).

- One Emirates Golf Course 14.09.1994 (A.Owen, M.Fryer).

- One Khor al-Beida 04.12.1994 attacked by a falcon and brought to Dubai Zoo (per M.A.R.Khan).

- One Zabeel fish ponds 29.11.-30.12.1999 (T.Loseby, C.Richardson).

- One Al Warsan Lakes 07.11.2002 (K.A.Hansen, P.Bourdin).

- One Umm al-Qaiwain Breakwater 27.01.2003 (A.Jordi, Liberty Bird).

- One Fujairah National Dairy Farm at Dibba 18.11.2004 (T.Pedersen, O.B.Hansen).

- One Sharjah Tip 22.12.2006 (N.Tovey, O.B.Hansen, T.Pedersen)

Black Stork Ciconia nigra