Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula and is dominated by vast deserts, including the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter), one of the world's largest continuous sand deserts. Along the Red Sea, the land rises sharply into the Hejaz and Asir Mountains, where elevations above 3,000 metres create cooler, wetter conditions and surprisingly green highlands. The interior consists largely of rocky plateaus, gravel plains and dune systems, while the Red Sea and Persian Gulf coasts include mudflats, mangroves, coral reefs and offshore islands. Most of the country is extremely arid, but the southwest receives seasonal monsoon rainfall.
Overview
Saudi Arabia is especially notable for the Arabian Peninsula's endemic and near-endemic birds, concentrated in the southwestern Asir Mountains. Key species include Asir Magpie, Arabian Woodpecker, Yemen Thrush, Arabian Waxbill and Arabian Serin. The escarpments also support Arabian Partridge, Philby's Partridge and Verreaux's Eagle. Red Sea wetlands and islands are important for Crab-plover, White-eyed Gull, Sooty Falcon, seabirds and migratory shorebirds, while interior deserts hold larks, wheatears and sandgrouse. The country remains relatively underexplored ornithologically, but expanding tourism and improved infrastructure are making birding increasingly accessible. Long distances, extreme summer heat and remote desert sites require careful planning, and some border regions—particularly near Yemen—may have security or access restrictions.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House Sparrow Passer domesticus | 56.1% | 53.2% | 54.9% | 58.0% | 61.8% | 62.1% | 63.8% | 62.8% | 56.0% | 49.3% | 45.0% | 55.4% | 50.7% |
| Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis | 42.6% | 37.1% | 42.1% | 46.0% | 50.2% | 47.2% | 48.4% | 43.3% | 48.1% | 39.7% | 33.5% | 39.3% | 36.0% |
| Crested Lark Galerida cristata | 34.0% | 29.5% | 31.6% | 30.4% | 34.5% | 41.3% | 38.9% | 40.5% | 33.2% | 34.8% | 30.2% | 33.8% | 29.2% |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto | 32.2% | 33.0% | 27.4% | 30.8% | 34.5% | 32.5% | 32.5% | 36.6% | 29.9% | 32.6% | 29.4% | 36.7% | 30.6% |
| Rock Pigeon Columba livia | 30.3% | 30.2% | 31.7% | 31.0% | 34.9% | 30.2% | 30.2% | 31.9% | 32.1% | 23.5% | 26.9% | 31.5% | 29.8% |
| White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos | 29.3% | 21.9% | 32.2% | 31.0% | 31.4% | 31.6% | 39.2% | 33.4% | 32.3% | 23.3% | 23.2% | 26.4% | 26.3% |
| White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis | 24.7% | 28.7% | 20.9% | 23.6% | 22.5% | 24.7% | 24.7% | 31.2% | 21.5% | 23.2% | 22.5% | 30.4% | 22.6% |
| Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica | 23.7% | 9.0% | 16.9% | 26.2% | 36.9% | 27.0% | 15.2% | 23.2% | 31.4% | 42.7% | 36.8% | 13.6% | 5.5% |
| Kentish Plover Anarhynchus alexandrinus | 22.0% | 21.0% | 14.4% | 16.9% | 19.9% | 25.6% | 31.5% | 30.1% | 24.0% | 23.2% | 23.5% | 16.7% | 17.5% |
| Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus | 20.6% | 18.5% | 16.4% | 15.7% | 15.2% | 17.6% | 23.1% | 30.2% | 24.6% | 23.9% | 20.4% | 21.8% | 19.4% |