Qatar
Qatar is a small, low-lying peninsula extending into the Persian Gulf, dominated by flat limestone and gravel desert. Its coastline is more varied, with shallow bays, tidal mudflats, saltmarshes, mangroves and offshore islands. The Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea) in the southeast is a particularly distinctive landscape where large sand dunes meet tidal waters. Qatar has an extremely arid climate, with very hot summers, mild winters and little annual rainfall.
Overview
Qatar is most interesting for migratory waterbirds, shorebirds and desert species. The country's tidal flats and shallow coastal waters are important feeding areas for flamingos, herons, gulls, terns and large numbers of waders, including Crab-plover. Al Thakhira and its mangroves are among the better-known coastal birding areas, while farms, sewage wetlands and landscaped areas can attract concentrations of migrant passerines during spring and autumn. Inland desert supports larks, wheatears, coursers and sandgrouse. Qatar's compact size and good road network make birding relatively straightforward, although some remote coastal and desert areas are best reached with a 4WD. Winter and the migration seasons offer the best combination of bird activity and comfortable temperatures.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis | 64.7% | 69.7% | 66.2% | 63.1% | 69.6% | 66.2% | 65.4% | 61.2% | 67.1% | 59.6% | 61.8% | 65.4% | 61.8% |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto | 60.7% | 66.4% | 62.0% | 61.6% | 68.2% | 66.0% | 62.0% | 55.1% | 62.4% | 55.9% | 56.5% | 60.0% | 51.9% |
| House Sparrow Passer domesticus | 55.4% | 56.2% | 57.2% | 56.7% | 64.5% | 60.4% | 55.9% | 48.6% | 47.9% | 51.0% | 56.1% | 59.6% | 50.7% |
| White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis | 52.8% | 58.7% | 54.9% | 58.0% | 60.8% | 59.1% | 49.2% | 35.6% | 47.5% | 45.2% | 53.9% | 56.0% | 55.0% |
| Common Myna Acridotheres tristis | 49.2% | 52.5% | 49.3% | 47.0% | 56.3% | 54.0% | 50.9% | 49.2% | 48.6% | 45.2% | 41.4% | 51.1% | 45.2% |
| Rock Pigeon Columba livia | 46.4% | 48.8% | 45.4% | 48.1% | 52.5% | 49.1% | 44.1% | 44.7% | 44.6% | 41.1% | 44.7% | 52.0% | 41.2% |
| Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica | 31.5% | 38.8% | 29.7% | 34.4% | 39.0% | 34.5% | 23.4% | 14.0% | 24.3% | 35.8% | 34.0% | 36.3% | 33.2% |
| Crested Lark Galerida cristata | 28.0% | 30.3% | 25.9% | 30.1% | 25.3% | 26.8% | 27.4% | 27.7% | 29.3% | 27.8% | 29.3% | 27.3% | 28.5% |
| Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus | 15.7% | 11.9% | 11.4% | 12.0% | 9.2% | 16.2% | 19.6% | 25.0% | 24.4% | 17.7% | 13.1% | 13.7% | 14.0% |
| Great Gray Shrike Lanius excubitor | 15.3% | 14.4% | 12.0% | 18.4% | 10.4% | 12.5% | 15.4% | 18.4% | 17.1% | 19.8% | 15.3% | 15.9% | 14.5% |