Mauritania
Mauritania is dominated by the Sahara, with immense dune fields, rocky plateaus and sparsely vegetated plains covering most of the country. Conditions become more Sahelian toward the Senegal River in the south. Along the Atlantic, the desert meets a highly productive coastline of shallow bays, mudflats, sandbanks and islands, most spectacularly in the Banc d’Arguin.
Overview
Mauritania is globally important for migratory shorebirds and coastal waterbirds. Banc d’Arguin National Park is one of the world’s great coastal wetlands, supporting enormous concentrations of wintering waders, terns, gulls, flamingos and pelicans, as well as major breeding colonies. Inland desert and Sahel habitats hold bustards, sandgrouse, larks and desert specialists, while the Senegal River adds productive wetland birding. Banc d’Arguin is the country’s principal birding attraction, but reaching its more remote areas typically requires 4WD transport, boats and local guides. Tourism infrastructure outside major centres is limited, and long distances, harsh desert conditions and security considerations make independent travel considerably more demanding than in established African birding destinations.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis | 44.8% | 38.4% | 35.6% | 34.7% | 48.3% | 44.4% | 34.5% | 10.1% | 92.9% | 61.1% | 60.2% | 32.9% | 44.4% |
| House Sparrow Passer domesticus | 37.3% | 28.4% | 34.4% | 42.7% | 29.9% | 45.8% | 75.0% | 5.0% | 9.8% | 50.4% | 50.9% | 47.3% | 27.3% |
| Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula | 31.5% | 31.3% | 37.2% | 19.8% | 19.6% | 32.5% | 39.9% | 25.0% | 43.8% | 29.2% | 30.4% | 47.8% | 21.7% |
| Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica | 30.6% | 18.2% | 22.3% | 33.7% | 39.9% | 45.3% | 63.1% | 0.0% | 70.1% | 25.4% | 22.7% | 15.7% | 11.3% |
| Namaqua Dove Oena capensis | 27.6% | 14.5% | 14.9% | 13.6% | 33.5% | 24.7% | 7.1% | 10.0% | 80.8% | 47.3% | 44.2% | 19.1% | 21.8% |
| Sudan Golden Sparrow Passer luteus | 27.3% | 21.8% | 21.0% | 28.5% | 41.9% | 31.1% | 35.1% | 5.0% | 36.6% | 30.3% | 18.7% | 17.0% | 40.4% |
| Crested Lark Galerida cristata | 25.9% | 17.3% | 17.4% | 12.9% | 16.8% | 23.3% | 19.0% | 10.0% | 80.4% | 25.7% | 38.3% | 26.4% | 23.4% |
| Little Stint Calidris minuta | 23.6% | 29.2% | 22.7% | 13.5% | 19.1% | 17.2% | 15.5% | 25.0% | 49.1% | 22.9% | 22.1% | 30.6% | 16.6% |
| Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus | 23.3% | 4.4% | 2.2% | 3.3% | 0.5% | 1.7% | 0.0% | 30.0% | 95.1% | 54.2% | 42.7% | 31.4% | 14.5% |
| Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus | 23.1% | 26.6% | 16.8% | 8.0% | 16.1% | 25.3% | 22.6% | 10.0% | 64.3% | 30.5% | 12.5% | 19.3% | 24.8% |