Algeria
Algeria is Africa's largest country, stretching from the Mediterranean coast deep into the Sahara. The northern Tell Atlas contains forested mountains, fertile valleys and Mediterranean landscapes, separated from the Saharan interior by the High Plateaus and Saharan Atlas. Farther south, enormous sand seas and rocky desert are interrupted by spectacular mountain massifs such as the Hoggar and Tassili n'Ajjer, with volcanic peaks, canyons and prehistoric rock art. The north has a Mediterranean climate, while the vast interior is extremely arid.
Overview
Algeria is especially important for North African endemics and Saharan specialties. Its outstanding bird is the critically endangered Algerian Nuthatch, found only in a small area of mountain forest in northeastern Algeria, notably Djebel Babor and surrounding forests. Northern woodland also supports Levaillant's Woodpecker and Atlas Flycatcher, while steppe and desert regions hold Cream-coloured Courser, Desert Sparrow, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, sandgrouse and numerous wheatears. Remote Saharan oases can be productive migrant stopovers. Algeria receives relatively few international birding visitors, and the huge distances make comprehensive trips logistically demanding. Some southern desert and border regions have security restrictions or require organized local arrangements, while the main northern birding areas are considerably more accessible.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Pigeon Columba livia | 38.5% | 44.1% | 45.6% | 48.9% | 40.4% | 38.8% | 37.6% | 34.8% | 30.2% | 39.6% | 28.9% | 43.1% | 30.4% |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto | 26.8% | 29.9% | 33.6% | 33.6% | 32.3% | 28.9% | 32.2% | 22.9% | 23.4% | 26.6% | 15.7% | 21.9% | 20.5% |
| Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula | 23.3% | 22.3% | 30.2% | 37.0% | 29.6% | 34.5% | 25.6% | 21.6% | 15.1% | 16.6% | 16.2% | 18.8% | 11.7% |
| Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus | 20.2% | 20.9% | 19.7% | 27.2% | 24.3% | 25.1% | 28.3% | 18.8% | 18.5% | 16.5% | 16.1% | 15.9% | 10.9% |
| Common Raven Corvus corax | 20.1% | 20.0% | 21.8% | 25.5% | 21.7% | 30.4% | 27.3% | 17.8% | 18.1% | 17.6% | 16.8% | 14.5% | 9.1% |
| African Blue Tit Cyanistes teneriffae | 18.4% | 21.3% | 27.0% | 26.1% | 19.1% | 20.7% | 20.0% | 17.0% | 15.5% | 12.6% | 17.4% | 15.2% | 8.6% |
| Western Cattle-Egret Ardea ibis | 16.4% | 17.5% | 16.9% | 14.9% | 13.7% | 17.5% | 21.8% | 17.2% | 17.1% | 19.4% | 15.6% | 14.4% | 10.7% |
| Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus | 14.6% | 12.4% | 10.4% | 19.6% | 14.6% | 21.6% | 23.8% | 22.8% | 14.8% | 13.9% | 8.6% | 8.2% | 4.2% |
| Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis | 14.4% | 27.0% | 18.5% | 14.6% | 14.7% | 16.3% | 12.4% | 14.4% | 6.9% | 11.2% | 9.4% | 15.8% | 11.8% |
| House Sparrow Passer domesticus | 14.3% | 21.7% | 16.0% | 17.9% | 12.6% | 16.4% | 18.5% | 15.2% | 11.5% | 12.8% | 8.0% | 10.6% | 10.2% |