Overview
The State of Kuwait, lying at the head of the Arabian Gulf, is in the extreme south-eastern corner of the Western Palearctic avifaunal region and in the north-eastern corner of the Arabian peninsula. It is also on a crossroads of two main migration routes: central Asia - Africa and western Asia - Indian sub-continent. Many bird species and subspecies that are difficult to encounter elsewhere in the Western Palearctic are relatively easily seen in the state. For these reasons, and because it is now easy for tourists to visit, Kuwait has become a Western Palearctic birding hotspot. Trips to the state in winter and spring have become essential for Western Palearctic listers.
Birds
Notable Species
In the urban and suburban areas White-eared Bulbul and Common Myna are widespread and common residents, while Red-vented Bulbul and Bank Myna are more localised. Indian Silverbill has bred. African Collared Dove is a potential colonist.
Basra Reed Warbler probably breeds in various reed-beds, and is otherwise a regular passage migrant. Red-wattled Plover and Common Babbler breed at Abdali Farms. Chestnut-shouldered Sparrow breeds at various sites. Egyptian Nightjar occurs in all months and probably breeds.
Larks that breed or have bred include Black-crowned Sparrow-lark, Dunn’s Lark and Thick-billed Lark. In the restricted border area with Iraq, Pharaoh Eagle Owl probably breeds annually.
On the islands Crab Plover, Lesser Crested Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Bridled Tern and White-cheeked Tern breed annually. Socotra Cormorant and Saunders's Tern occur offshore from spring to autumn.
Annually-occurring passage and wintering species include Shikra, Pacific Golden Plover, Caspian Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Indian Roller, Grey Hypocolius, Red-tailed Wheatear, Kurdish Wheatear, Sykes's Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, Isabelline Shrike and pallidirostris Southern Grey Shrike. Great Knot is, no doubt, regular in winter on Bubiyan Island, but at sites difficult to access.
Rarities
Two new Western Palearctic species, Forest Wagtail and Purple Sunbird, have been seen in Kuwait recently. Other Western Palearctic rarities in the last few years have been Little Curlew, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Eversmann’s Redstart and Oriental Reed Warbler. In addition rare or difficult to see Western Palearctic species have included Lesser Flamingo, Sacred Ibis (wild, not feral), Oriental Turtle Dove, Dark-throated Thrush, Hume’s Wheatear and Radde’s Accentor.
Check-list
Main List (Wild Species and Established Species of Captive Origin): Mute Swan (vagrant), Greater White-fronted Goose (vagrant), Greylag Goose (rare), Ruddy Shelduck (rare), Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Marbled Duck (vagrant), Common Pochard (rare), Ferruginous Duck (vagrant), Tufted Duck, Red-breasted Merganser (vagrant), Common Quail, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Horned Grebe (vagrant), Black-necked Grebe, Audubon’s Shearwater (vagrant), Red-billed Tropicbird (vagrant), Great Cormorant, Socotra Cormorant, Pygmy Cormorant (vagrant), Great White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican (vagrant), Great Bittern, Little Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Western Reef Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black Stork (vagrant), White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Sacred Ibis (vagrant), Eurasian Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo (vagrant), Eurasian Honey Buzzard, Crested Honey Buzzard (rare), Black-shouldered Kite , Black Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Eurasian Griffon Vulture, Eurasian Black Vulture (rare), Short-toed Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier (rare), Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Northern Goshawk (rare), Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Shikra, Levant Sparrowhawk (rare), Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle (rare), Greater Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle (vagrant), Booted Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle (rare), Osprey, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon (vagrant), Merlin, Eurasian Hobby, Sooty Falcon (rare), Lanner (rare), Saker (rare), Peregrine, Barbary Falcon (vagrant), Water Rail, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Baillon’s Crake, Corn Crake, Common Moorhen, Purple Swamp-Hen, Eurasian Coot, Common Crane (vagrant), Demoiselle Crane (vagrant), Macqueen’s Bustard, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Crab Plover, Stone-Curlew, Cream-colored Courser, Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Pratincole, Little Ringed Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Caspian Plover, Eurasian Dotterel (rare), Pacific Golden Plover, European Golden Plover (vagrant), Grey Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing (vagrant), Red-wattled Lapwing, Sociable Lapwing (vagrant), White-tailed Lapwing, Northern Lapwing, Great Knot, Red Knot (vagrant), Sanderling, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dulin, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Ruff, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Great Snipe (rare), Eurasian Woodcock (rare), Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Curlew (vagrant), Whimbrel, Slender-billed Curlew (vagrant), Eurasian Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope (vagrant), Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Long-tailed Skua (vagrant), Pallas’s Gull, Mediterranean Gull (vagrant), Little Gull (vagrant), Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Mew Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Caspian Gull, Armenian Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake (vagrant), Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern (vagrant), White-cheeked Tern, Bridled Tern, Little Tern, Saunders’s Tern, Black Tern (vagrant), Whiskered Tern, White-winged Tern, Spotted Sandgrouse, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (vagrant), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (rare), Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Rock Dove (ferals only), Stock Dove (vagrant), Common Woodpigeon, African Collared Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Turtle Dove, Oriental Turtle Dove (rare), Laughing Dove, Namaqua Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Great Spotted Cuckoo (rare), Common Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Pallid Scops Owl (vagrant), European Scops Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Little Owl, Long-eared Owl (vagrant), Short-eared Owl (rare), European Nightjar, Egyptian Nightjar, Alpine Swift, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Little Swift (rare), White-throated Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Indian Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Black-crowned Sparrow-lark, Dunn’s Lark, Bar-tailed Lark, Desert Lark, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Thick-billed Lark (rare), Calandra Lark (vagrant), Bimaculated Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Wood Lark (rare), Eurasian Skylark, Oriental Skylark, Temminck’s Lark, Sand Martin, Rock Martin (vagrant), Eurasian Crag Martin , Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Richard’s Pipit (rare), Blyth’s Pipit (vagrant), Tawny Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit (rare), Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Water Pipit, Buff-bellied Pipit (vagrant), Forest Wagtail (vagrant), Yellow Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, White-eared Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Grey Hypocolius, Winter Wren (vagrant), Dunnock (vagrant), Black-throated Accentor (vagrant), Radde’s Acentor (vagrant), Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Black Scrub Robin (vagrant), European Robin, Thrush Nightingale, Common Nightingale, Bluethroat, White-throated Robin, Eversmann’s Redstart (vagrant), Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Pied Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Finsch’s Wheatear, Mourning Wheatear, Kurdish Wheatear, Red-tailed Wheatear, Hooded Wheatear (vagrant), Hume’s Wheatear (vagrant), White-crowned Wheatear (rare), Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Ring Ouzel (vagrant), Common Blackbird, Dusky Thrush (vagrant), Dark-throated Thrush (rare), Fieldfare (rare), Song Thrush, Redwing (rare), Mistle Thrush (rare), Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola (vagrant), Graceful Prinia, Common Grasshopper Warbler, River Warbler, Savi’s Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Sedge Warbler, European Reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler (vagrant), Basra Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler (vagrant), Clamorous Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Booted Warbler (vagrant), Sykes’s Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler (vagrant), Icterine Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Barred Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Asian Desert Warbler, Ménétries’s Warbler, Greenish Warbler (rare), Yellow-browed Warbler (rare), Hume’s Leaf Warbler (vagrant), Wood Warbler, Mountain Chiffchaff (rare), Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Common Babbler, Great Tit (vagrant), Eurasian Penduline Tit, Purple Sunbird (vagrant), Eurasian Golden Oriole, Isabelline Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike (vagrant), Lesser Grey Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, House Crow, Rook (vagrant), Brown-necked Raven, Common Starling, Rosy Starling, Common Myna, Bank Myna, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Dead Sea Sparrow (vagrant), Pale Rockfinch, Chestnut-shouldered Sparrow, Indian Silverbill, Common Chaffinch (rare), Brambling (rare), European Goldfinch (rare), European Siskin (rare), Common Linnet (rare), Desert Finch (vagrant), Trumpeter Finch, Common Rosefinch, Yellowhammer (vagrant), Rock Bunting (vagrant), Cinereous Bunting, Grey-necked Bunting (vagrant), Ortolan Bunting, Rustic Bunting (vagrant), Little Bunting (rare), Common Reed Bunting (rare), Red-headed Bunting (rare), Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting.
Captive Origin List (Non-Established Species): Chuckar, See-see Partridge, Black Francolin, Grey Crowned Crane, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Alexandrine Parakeet, Monk Parakeet, Budgerigar, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Bearded Reedling, Black Drongo, Common Magpie, Brahminy Myna, White-vented Myna, Crested Myna, Glossy Starling, Streaked Weaver, Red Avadavat, Zebra Waxbill.
Other Wildlife
Mammals: Long-eared Hedgehog, Naked-bellied Tomb Bat, Arabian Red Fox, Ratel (Honey Badger), Lesser Jerboa, Cheesman’s Gerbil, Libyan Jird, Sundevall’s Jird.
Reptiles: various geckos, agamids, lacertid lizards, Sea Snake, Sand Boa, Desert Horned Viper, Rat Snake, Arabian Rear-fanged Snake, Arabian Worm Lizard, Sand Skink.
Amphibians: Green Toad.
Fish: numerous marine species, including occasional Whale Shark.
Invertebrates: various scorpions, spiders (including Camel Spiders, Wolf Spiders and Black Widow), Domino Beetle, Flower Mantis, dragonflies, butterflies, moths; the coral reefs are apparently the most northerly in the world.
Flowering Plants: numerous species, including annuals, perennials and ephemerals, many of which are xerophytic or halophytic; several species of broomrapes parasitise various shrubs; mangroves are being re-introduced.
Fungi: desert truffles are a much sought after local delicacy.
For more details it is best to refer to AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan’s website: [1]
Site Information
History and Use
Local inhabitants have been familiar with many bird species for many centuries, and there are many unique Kuwaiti names for birds. The avifauna of Kuwait has been studied in more detail for over one hundred and twenty years. Pioneer expatriate ornithologists were Colonel E.A.Butler, W.D.Cumming, V.S.LaPersonne, Major-General Sir Percy Cox, Major R.E.Cheesman, C.B.Ticehurst and P.A.Buxton. Later workers included Colonel H.R.P.Dickson, Violet Dickson and Colonel R.Meinertzhagen. The modern era of ornithology really started with ornithologists Victor Sales, P.A.D.Hollom and R.D.Etchecopar, and the Ahmadi Natural History and Field Studies Group. Later, a series of scientifically trained and widely experienced expatriate birders were resident in, or visited, Kuwait, and seriously developed the Kuwait bird list. Many Kuwaiti birders have become extremely active in recent years, producing numerous important records. These have included Mahmoud Shehab Al-Ahmed, Khalid Al-Nasrallah, Abdalla Al-Fadhel, Essa Ramadan, Fahad Al-Mansori, Mish’al Al-Jraiwi, Hussain Al-Qallaf, AbdulMuhsen Al-Suraye’a, Musaad Al-Saleh, Khalid Al-Ghanem, AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan, Sara Al-Dosary, Matra Al-Mutairy, Jamal Dashti and Rashed Al-Hajji. More and more Kuwaitis are developing interests in wildlife, often through their hobby of photography.
The environmental damage caused by the Gulf wars seems to have been overcome more or less completely. However, there are problems of over-grazing, shooting and disturbance in the state. To some extent these have been overcome by creation of nature reserves, fencing of oilfields and public education. Shaikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has led efforts to conserve wildlife through the Voluntary Work Centre. Other environmental bodies in Kuwait include the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, The Environment Public Authority and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research.
For more details it is best to refer to 'The Birds of the State Of Kuwait' by George Gregory, Privately published, Skegness.
Areas of Interest
(1) Abdali Farms
A group of farms on the border with Iraq, east of the Basra Road. Some birds can be seen from the roads, including Red-wattled Plover, but entry to individual farms requires permission. At the Mohammed Al-Ajmi Farm Shikra is annual, Namaqua Dove has bred, and Dark-throated Thrush and Common Babbler have been seen. The Yacoub Boodai Farm and the annexe to it have both Common Babbler and Red-wattled Plover, while Shikra, Black-crowned Sparrow-lark, Oriental Skylark, and Grey Hypocolius have been recorded.
(2) Al-Abraq Al-Khabari
An isolated farm in the western desert. Entry requires permission. Migrants are plentiful in season. Shikra and Sykes's Warbler are annual. Grey Hypocolius and African Collared Dove have been recorded several times. A long list of rarities has included Forest Wagtail, Radde's Accentor, Eversmann's Redstart and Dusky Thrush. In the surrounding desert Dunn's Lark is often seen, and Crested Honey Buzzard has been found.
(3) Bahra
An area of mostly open land south of the Subiya Road. One isolated farm, called Sabriya Farm, requires permission to be entered. Macqueen's Bustard, Shikra and Eversmann's Redstarts have been recorded.
(4) Bubiyan and Warba Islands
Large islands in the north-east of Kuwait, next to Iraq. Access requires a permit from Military Intelligence for the main part of Bubiyan Island, and permission from the Kuwait Coastguard for the islets and Warba Island. Breeders include Crab Plover and Greater Crested Tern. Saunders's Tern has been recorded. Great Knot has been regular in winter, mostly on the east side of Bubiyan Island.
(5) Doha Peninsula
An area of harbours, mudflats and sabkha (seasonally-flooded saltmarsh) to the west of Kuwait City. It includes North Doha Nature Reserve, access to which requires a permit. Numerous waders include Crab Plover, Lesser Sand Plover and Greater Sand Plover.
(6) Fahaheel Park and Shore
Access is open to these areas south of Fahaheel town. Migrants and shorebirds are often present. Lesser Crested Tern, White-cheeked Tern and Bridled Tern are sometimes seen. Avoid use of optical equipment near the harbour and oil refineries nearby - the guards are often nervous about this.
(7) Failaka Island
A medium sized island, north-east of Kuwait City. Public access is by ferry, from which Socotra Cormorant, Lesser Crested Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Bridled Tern and White-cheeked Tern have been observed. Eversmann's Redstart and Dark-throated Thrush have been recorded on the island.
(8) Green Island
An artificial island (actually a peninsula) off eastern Kuwait City. Pedestrian access is by ticket. White-eared Bulbul and Red-vented Bulbul are resident breeders. Grey Hypocolius is often recorded.
(9) Hujaijah
An avenue of trees, used as a shooting site by Kuwaiti hunters, north of Subiya, to the east of the Umm Qasr Road. Access is open. Migrant and wintering birds are fairly common in season, and have included Crested Honey Buzzard, Shikra, Oriental Skylark and Grey Hypocolius.
(10) Jahra Bay (part of Kuwait Bay)
A shallow bay with mudflats extending from Doha Port to Khadma. Various viewpoints are accessible via dirt roads off the Jahra Expressway. Crab Plover is commonly seen from autumn to spring, while Pacific Golden Plover and Caspian Plover are annual.
(11) Jahra East Outfall
A sewage and storm-water outfall near Judailiyat, with reedbeds and marshy areas. Access is open via dirt roads off the Jahra Expressway. Migrant and wintering birds, of many species, are plentiful. Basra Reed Warbler and other reedbed warblers probably breed annually. White-tailed Lapwing and Caspian Plover are fairly regular. Blyth's Pipit and Red-wattled Lapwing have been recorded.
(12) Jahra Farms
A group of traditional farms in the centre of Jahra town. Access to some is open but to others requires permission. Bank Myna breeds annually. Other breeding species have included White-breasted Kingfisher, Red-vented Bulbul and Chestnut-shouldered Sparrow. Migrant and wintering species are usually fairly plentiful. Shikra, Namaqua Dove, Olive-backed Pipit, Citrine Wagtail, Grey Hypocolius, Dark-throated Thrush and Sykes's Warbler have been recorded at least several times each, and Hume's Leaf Warbler once.
(13) Jahra Pool Reserve
A fenced nature reserve, consisting of a storm-water outfall with reed-beds and a pool surrounded by sabkha. Access requires a permit from the Environment Public Authority. Basra Reed Warbler and other reed-bed warblers probably breed annually. Red-wattled Plover has been seen several times. A long list of rare species has included Macqueen's Bustard, Pacific Golden Plover, Citrine Wagtail, Common Babbler, Dead Sea Sparrow and Black-throated Accentor.
(14) Jal Az-Zor (Zor Hills)
An escarpment extending from Al-Atraf to near Subiya. Open access points are via a tarmac road to Mutla Repeater Station and via dirt roads to the east of Bahra. Thousands of raptors and other species pass over on migration, and have included Crested Honey Buzzard. Kurdish and Red-tailed Wheatears have often been recorded wintering in the wadis. Avoid going too far to the west along the escarpment, since it is close to military areas - a group of visiting birders was famously arrested several years ago.
(15) Kabd (Sulaibiya Agricultural Research Station)
A large, fenced, ungrazed area south of Sulaibiya off the Kabd Road. Access is by permit from the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Black-crowned Sparrow-lark and Dunn's Lark breed annually. Egyptian Nightjar is present in all months and probably breeds. Namaqua Dove has been recorded. Migrants can be numerous.
To be completed.
Access and Facilities
Numerous airlines fly to Kuwait International Airport. For citizens of virtually all western, and some other, countries, three-month visitor visas are available on arrival at the airport for a few dinars. Many car hire firms operate at the airport, but pre-booking is best. Four-wheel drive vehicles are best for birding, but high-clearance two-wheel drive vehicles can be used with care. Maps can usually be bought at the airport.
The Kuwait dinar (KD) is fully convertible, and is divided into 1000 fils. At present 1 KD is worth approximately 2 pounds sterling (see exchange rates). Petrol is very inexpensive. Food is reasonably priced. Restaurants vary from fast-food to traditional. Corner food shops are widespread. Many shops and facilities are ultra-modern.
Most groups of visiting birders have stayed at the very reasonably priced Hussa House Hotel (book via internet). Many other, usually much more expensive, hotels are available.
A few birding sites in Kuwait are of public access, but most require permission from the owners to be entered. It is necessary that contact is made beforehand with the resident birders in Kuwait to make the arrangements. There is a long tradition in Kuwait of providing full assistance to visiting birders entirely free of charge.
When travelling around Kuwait between birding sites it is strongly advised to carry a map, sufficient petrol, plenty of water/drinks, a spare tyre and jack, and a mobile phone with local contact numbers. Also, it is necessary to avoid using optical equipment near military areas and oil facilities.
Contact Details
Brian Foster, UK expatriate in Kuwait, Chairman of Kuwait Ornithological Rarities Committee (KORC) (until June 2008): [email protected]
Mike Pope, South African expatriate in Kuwait, Chairman of KORC (from June 2008): [email protected]
AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan, Kuwait citizen, Secretary of KORC: [email protected]
Pekka Fagel, Finnish expatriate in Kuwait, Member of KORC: [email protected]
George Gregory, UK resident, Member of KORC: [email protected]
For those birders intending to visit Kuwait, please contact at least one of the above.
External Links
AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan's site, covering all nature in Kuwait, with links to annual bird reports and to bird trip reports (in Arabic and English): [2]
Mike Pope's Kuwait bird photo-blog, with links to annual bird reports and to bird trip reports (in English): [3]
AbdulMuhsen Al-Suraye'a's Kuwait bird site (in Arabic): [4]
An internal link, to 'WP Rarities in Kuwait' (in English): [5]
