COMMON BIRDS FOUND IN QATAR

Common Birds in Qatar

Let's take a closer look at the birds you can find in Qatar! From busy cities to peaceful coastal areas, these common birds bring life and color to the country. Discover their habits and where they live as we explore the fascinating world of Qatar's feathered friends. Join us on this journey to celebrate the diverse and wonderful birds that call Qatar their home!

Falcon

Falconiformes

Falcons are found worldwide except Antarctica and showcase remarkable flying prowess with thin, tapered wings for high-speed and agile maneuvers. Adult falcons exhibit exceptional vision, with some species having visual acuity 2.6 times that of humans. The largest genus in the Falconidae family, falcons use their beaks equipped with a tomial "tooth" for hunting, distinguishing them from Accipitridae birds that use their feet. Gyrfalcons, the largest, reach up to 65 cm, while the pygmy falcon, the smallest, measures just 20 cm. Some small falcons are known as "hobbies," while hovering hunters are termed "kestrels." These adept hunters are vital contributors to the avian world, showcasing a diverse range of sizes, behaviors, and unparalleled speed.

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia Senegalensis

The Laughing Dove features a pinkish bottom, lilac head, and neck, with black eyes and gray bills. Sporting rufous dots on a mostly dark brown chest, it gives the impression of wearing a decorative necklace. These small, long-tailed doves are often found in dry areas, savannahs, and acacia thickets. They are territorial, forming lifelong bonds with their partner. Nesting in piles of sticks and reusing other bird’s nests, their distinct sounds make them easily distinguishable. The adaptable Laughing Dove is expanding its range to urban areas.

Crested Lark

Galerida Cristata

Crested Larks in Qatar are approximately 17 cm tall with a 29–38 cm wingspan. They have a pale tan color with dark brown streaks on the head, back, and wings, and are distinguished by a crest on the head. With 33 subspecies, they have diverse names based on their locations. These larks mainly feed on plant material but occasionally consume beetles and insects and are known to steal grains. They prefer dry, open areas like cereal fields and roadsides, but are also found near human structures and industrial sites. Their songs range from gargling trills to mimicking other birds.

White-Eared Bulbul

Pycnonotus Leucotis

White-eared Bulbuls in Qatar measure 17.5–19 cm with gray bodies, blackheads, eyes, and beaks, featuring a white patch on each side of the head. Their black tails have white tips, and a distinct yellow patch is under the tail. Despite their rotund appearance, their energy storage adaptation allows them to thrive in colder regions without migrating. While personable in captivity, the pet trade poses risks, leading to sickness or premature death. In the wild, they engage in playful activities like tossing objects with their mate and having a friendly twittering call. Unfortunately, escaped individuals form feral populations in Qatar, causing damage to date orchards and earning a pest species reputation.

Eurasian Kestrel

Falco Tinnunculus

The Eurasian Kestrel in Qatar, a member of the falcon family, measures 32–39 cm with a wingspan of 65–82 cm. Featuring ruddy brown and black coloring with a checkerboard pattern on the back and wings, males have a slate-blue head and white chin. They exhibit bright yellow legs and eye-rings, along with large black eyes. This bird of prey employs three hunting techniques: hovering, ridge flight utilizing updrafts, and perching on a limb before executing a steep dive. Their diet primarily consists of voles, mice, and shrews. Emitting a distinctive "chit-chit-chit" sound, Eurasian Kestrels are vocal in flight.

Little Egret

Egretta Garzetta

Little Egrets are 55–65 cm long with an 88–106 cm wingspan. They are white with black bills and legs, yellow eyes, and distinctive "S"-curved necks with a tuft of long feathers on the head. These aquatic birds are commonly found near water, along coastlines, lakes, and rivers, where they catch fish, crustaceans, and insects. The Little Egret has faced two historical threats of overhunting, first during the Middle Ages for food and later in the late 1800s for their feathers.

Barn Swallow

Hirundo Rustica

Barn Swallows are small birds with flat heads, thin bills, pointed wings, thick necks, and fork-like tails. They sport striking royal blue backs, rusty brown underparts, and rufous-colored foreheads and throats, with white spots visible on their tails during flight. Found in open fields, meadows, pond marshes, or coastal areas, they feed on larger insects close to water or the ground, occasionally consuming eggshells or oyster shells for digestion. Interestingly, unmated males may disrupt parenting pairs by killing young birds in nests to form new pairs. Both males and females produce warbling songs with mechanical sounds.

 

Common Hoopoe

Upupa Epops

The Common Hoopoe, measuring 25–32 cm with a wingspan of 44–48 cm, features cinnamon-brown coloring on the head and body, black and white barred wings, and a crest of brown feathers tipped in black. Found in various habitats like rural gardens, cities, and grasslands, they often dwell near decaying vegetation where insects thrive. Known for their distinctive crest, Hoopoes use it for communication and intimidation. In confrontations, they employ strong head and neck muscles, using their pointed beaks to gouge opponents' eyes. Additionally, they produce a foul-smelling substance resembling rotting meat to deter predators, covering themselves and their eggs with it for protection. Nestlings possess scent glands that make them unappetizing to predators.

House Sparrow

Passer Domesticus

Male house sparrows in Qatar have gray crowns, black bibs, white cheeks, and chestnuts on the sides of their faces and necks, with predominantly brown backs featuring black streaks. Females are dull brown with black streaks on their backs and light brown underparts, distinguished by a tan line behind their eyes. Originally native to the Middle-East, house sparrows are now one of the world's most abundant and widespread birds. Thriving in urban and suburban areas, they owe their success to their adaptability and ability to live near humans. Unlike many birds, house sparrows are particularly fond of grains and are commonly seen consuming bread and popcorn at places like amusement parks and sporting events. They also enjoy cracked corn, millet, and milo at bird feeders.

Rock Pigeon

Columba Livia

Rock Pigeons, characterized by a plump build, a small head, short legs, and a thin bill, typically have a gray back, a blue-grey head, and two black wing bars, although their plumage varies widely. Common in urban areas of Qatar, they are commonly known as "pigeons" and often gather in large flocks in city parks, seeking birdseed or leftover food. These birds have a long association with humans, possibly dating back over 5,000 years based on Egyptian hieroglyphics, making their original range uncertain. Easily identified by their soft, throaty coos, Rock Pigeons are familiar companions in urban environments.

White Wagtail

Motacilla Alba

White Wagtails, measuring 16.5–19 cm, display a black, white, and dull gray coloring with a distinctive white face and black throat. Notable features include long legs, a puffed chest, and a rounded head. Although common across Eurasia, this species occasionally nests in western Alaska. White Wagtails face challenges from the Common Cuckoo, a brood parasite, as they are unable to destroy cuckoo eggs due to their small size, leading them to abandon invaded nests. The name "White Wagtail" comes from their foraging behavior along the water's edge, where they wag their tails while searching for insects. While primarily hunting on land, they may pursue prey in the air or wade in shallows, targeting crane flies, midges, mayflies, and aquatic larvae.

Common Myna

Acridotheres Tristis

The Common Myna is characterized by thick yellow legs, a yellow-tipped bill, and a yellow patch of skin beneath its eyes. Its plumage is glossy black on the head, with a brown body and a lighter undercarriage, while the undersides of its wings are pure white. Remarkably, the Common Myna is one of only three birds globally listed as one of the "100 Most Invasive Species." Recognized by the IUCN Species Survival Commission, it threatens biodiversity, agriculture, and human interests due to its indiscriminate eating habits, consuming chicks, eggs, and a wide variety of other prey. While considered a pest in some regions, in India, it is known as a farmer's friend for controlling crop-damaging insects like grasshoppers and locusts. Beyond its feeding habits, the Common Myna is known for its noisy day, showcasing an extreme vocal range that includes growls, croaks, chirps, squawks, whistles, clicks, and even the ability to mimic human speech.