9
INTRODUCTION
This field guide to the birds of Oman is an updated abridgement of the second edition of Birds of the Middle
East (Porter & Aspinall 2010). Full coverage is given for all species, some 528 in total, known to have occurred
in the wild in Oman up to June 2017. This total includes a number of naturalised species, with an additional
selection of regularly observed free-flying escapes also being illustrated and described. Every year additional
species find their way onto Oman’s national checklist, the Oman Bird List, some being long expected, others
coming as complete surprises. Indeed, many new species for the Middle East result from sightings made in
Oman alone.
About 120 species of birds breed annually in Oman, the breeding avifauna being a unique blend of
Western Palearctic, Oriental and Afrotropical components, the latter especially in the south of the country.
Of the 528 species on the national checklist, more than 400 occur solely as migrant visitors, with more than
140 of these being especially rare, so-called ‘vagrants’. This exceptional diversity is the result of the country
lying on a migratory crossroads, with western and eastern flyways coming into contact with each other
and having no clear divide. Unsurprisingly, Oman is a popular destination for visiting birdwatchers, joining
a small but growing number of nationals and resident expatriates also pursuing this most absorbing hobby.
Hopefully this field guide will both enable and encourage many more people to enjoy identifying those birds
that they encounter, whether in city, park or garden, on the coast, or in the desert or mountains. Additional
recommended reading dealing with Oman and its birds, and also with Middle Eastern birds in general, is
provided under ‘References and Further Reading’ (pages 248–250).
A guide to the best birding sites is beyond the scope of this book and birdwatchers are recommended
to consult the Birdwatching Guide to Oman: Second edition (Sargeant & Eriksen 2008) which covers all the
best sites, and provides maps for every locality and much practical advice. More detailed information of
Crowned Sandgrouse, Mudday, southern Oman (Hanne & Jens Eriksen)