Useful Links

white-throated robin perched on a stick

Qatar Natural History Group

The Qatar Natural History Group (QNHG) brings together people with an interest in the natural history of Qatar and the Gulf. Its interests cover birds and all aspects of natural history and also the culture, history and archaeology of the country. Details of the activities of the QNHG can be found on their website.

Field Identification Guides

There are two essential field guides to the birds of the Middle East

Birds of the Middle East, Second Edition. Richard Porter & Simon Aspinall. Helm Field Guide 2010, available in English and Arabic language versions and also as a free smartphone (Android, IOS) app.

Collins Bird Guide, Third Edition. Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney, Dan Zetterström. HarperCollins, 2022.

Other Resources

The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia by Mike Jennings documents the distribution and status of breeding birds in the Arabian Peninsula surveyed between 1984-2009.

EBird provides a useful account of birds seen in Qatar, which includes a month-by-month bar chart of species occurrences. Registered users (membership is free) can upload their own observations and receive bespoke alerts of birds reported.

Xeno-Canto is a global database of searchable and downloadable bird sounds.

Ornithological Societies

The Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME) encourages an interest in birds and the conservation of them and their habitats. The OSME Regional List (ORL) is the definitive list of bird species occurring in the region. OSME publishes the Sandgrouse journal bi-annually. Birdwatchers with an interest in the birds of Qatar and the Middle East are strongly encouraged to take up membership of OSME.

BirdLife International is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives works towards the sustainable use of natural resources, global biodiversity and the conservation of birds and their environment. The Birdlife International DataZone provides details of key threatened bird species occurring in Qatar, as well as a listing of Important Bird Areas.

Country Websites

Bahrain

Fat Birder – Bahrain

Kuwait

www.birdsofkuwait.com/blog/

kuwaitbirding.blogspot.com

Oman

www.birdsoman.com

Saudi Arabia

www.birdsofsaudiarabia.com

https://www.saudibirding.com

United Arab Emirates

www.uaebirding.com