Bird Migration Paths Across Saudi Arabia
Bird Migration Paths Across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are the paths birds take on their seasonal migration across the coasts, deserts, valleys, and mountains of Saudi Arabia, in search of a suitable environment. Saudi Arabia is a transit and safe habitat for several migratory bird species, due to its strategic geographic location and vast area exceeding two million m.
Number of bird species recorded in Saudi Arabia
There are approximately 499 existing and recorded bird species in Saudi Arabia. These bird populations belong to three origins: Ethiopian, Asian, and ancient polar.
Migratory birds are classified, according to the period or time of their arrival in Saudi Arabia, into: transient migratory birds, resident birds, summer visitors, winter visitors, and nesting birds.
Bird migration path across the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia
About 1.5 million migratory soaring birds cross the Red Sea path along the western coast of Saudi Arabia. This is one of the largest bird migration paths in the world, connecting nesting sites in Europe with wintering areas in Africa. 'Wintering' refers to the period during which birds spend the winter. A number of migratory birds also cross the coasts of Saudi Arabia throughout the year, as it is an environment with diverse natural terrain, including sandy, rocky, and muddy terrain.
Bird migration path in northern Saudi Arabia
Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, northeastern Saudi Arabia, forms a path for birds during their two-stage migration, one in the fall and the other in the spring. Birds that pass through this path include falcons (Falco columbarius), peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), lapwings (subfamily Vanellinae), and houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata).
Bird migration path across the Arabian Gulf in Saudi Arabia
The Arabian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia is a bird migration path, frequented by many birds, especially waders (Eucharadrii), while others choose to settle there, considering it a safe habitat and a suitable environment for their survival.
Migratory Birds passing through Saudi Arabia
Several species of birds stop along the coasts of Saudi Arabia during their seasonal migration from north to south or vice versa, seeking rest and food. One such bird is the Demoiselle Crane (Grus virgo), which has spread and been recorded in Jeddah, east of Al-Haramain Road connecting Jeddah and al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. It is a large bird with a small head and a short tail, and it has a tuft of white feathers on its head. When it flies, the black color appears on the front part of its wing, and it makes a sound during its flight for which it is known.
The number of Demoiselle Cranes that pass through the region in regular flocks annually reaches about seven hundred birds during the spring and fall, feeding on grains, insects, and plants.
Summer visiting birds in Saudi Arabia
Some seasonal migratory birds that pass through Saudi Arabia are classified as 'summer visitors'. They come from Africa to the Saudi islands to nest in the spring and summer. After the end of their migration season, they head south with their young outside Saudi territorial waters. A number of them wander along the local coasts and choose to remain within Saudi territorial waters.
The Bruce's Green-Pigeon (Treron waalia) is a summer visitor to the southwest of Saudi Arabia, in the mountains of Fayfa and Aseer. It feeds directly on tree fruits and is known to be the only pigeon species that does not descend to the ground to gather food. It is characterized by its medium size, gray-green head, neck, and wings, and yellow belly.
Migratory birds nesting in Saudi Arabia
Some migratory birds arrive in Saudi Arabia from Africa for nesting and breeding purposes. They breed in the Arabian Gulf, beginning in late April and continuing through May. Birds that breed in the Red Sea arrive in June and continue through July.
Saudi Arabia's environment and migratory birds
The biodiverse local environment hosts many birds, including the ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea), which lives on the Red Sea coast and breeds on rocky islands and sandy beaches; the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), also known as the 'screech-hawk'; and the night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), which lives in watersheds and around dams. Other birds include the flamingo (Phoenicopterus), the American goldfinch (Spinus tristis), and the sea swallow (Petrochelidon perdita).
Protecting migratory birds passing through Saudi Arabia
Migratory birds are exposed to some dangers during their migration, including electrocution, which occurs when they fly and collide with power lines, poaching, pollution and poisoning, and the deterioration of vegetation cover. In addition, light pollution, which is an increase in artificial lights that causes birds to lose their paths and exposes them to collisions with buildings.
The National Center for Wildlife in Saudi Arabia has established laws to limit the illegal hunting of migratory birds. Saudi Arabia permits the hunting of certain migratory birds after obtaining a license, such as the "Eurasian blackcap" (Sylvia atricapilla), during its hunting season from August 20 to October 20. It is a transient bird that spends its winter in Saudi Arabia.