List of birds of Western Sahara

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Western Sahara. The avifauna of Western Sahara include a total of 357 species.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2021 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Accidental species are included in the total species count for Western Sahara.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.

• (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Western Sahara

Ostriches[]

Order: Struthioniformes   Family: Struthionidae

The ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa. It is the largest living species of bird. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.

• Common ostrich, Struthio camelus

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl[]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

Pheasants, grouse, and allies[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

• Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
• Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara

Flamingos[]

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down. There are 6 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Western Sahara.

• Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
• Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor (A)

Grebes[]

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

• Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
• Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
• Eared grebe, Tachybaptus nigricollis

Pigeons and doves[]

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Western Sahara.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia
• Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus
• European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto
• Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis
• Namaqua dove, Oena capensis (A)

Sandgrouse[]

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Their legs are feathered down to the toes. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Travelling as far as fifty miles daily to get to water and bathe. The adult male will carry water back to its young in its thickly feathered breast. At the nest, the young take the water from the parent's feathers with their beaks.

• Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata
• Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus
• Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis
• Crowned sandgrouse, Pterocles coronatus

Bustards[]

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.

• Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs (A)
• Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata

Cuckoos[]

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

• Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius
• Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Nightjars and allies[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

• Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis
• Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
• Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius (A)
• Golden nightjar, Caprimulgus eximius (A)

Swifts[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

• Common swift, Apus apus
• Plain swift, Apus unicolor (A)
• Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
• Little swift, Apus affinis

Rails, gallinules, and coots[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

• Water rail, Rallus aquaticus
• Corn crake, Crex crex
• African crake, Crex egregia (A)
• Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
• Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
• Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
• Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata (A)
• Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A)
• Little crake, Zapornia parva
• Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla

Cranes[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

• Common crane, Grus grus (A)

Thick-knees[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

• Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus

Stilts and avocets[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

• Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
• Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Oystercatchers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

• Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

Plovers and lapwings[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria
• Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
• Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
• Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
• Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
• Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A)

Sandpipers and allies[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Pratincoles and coursers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

• Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor
• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola

Skuas and jaegers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

• Great skua, Stercorarius skua
• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

Auks, murres, and puffins[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits, however they are not related to the penguins and differ in being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.

• Common murre, Uria aalge (A)
• Razorbill, Alca torda (A)
• Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica (A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Tropicbirds[]

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

• Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus (A)

Loons[]

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.

• Common loon, Gavia immer (A)

Southern storm-petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

• Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
• White-faced storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina (A)

Northern storm-petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The northern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

• European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous
• Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (A)

Shearwaters and petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

• Zino's petrel, Pterodroma madeira
• Fea's petrel, Pterodroma feae
• Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii
• Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
• Cape Verde shearwater, Calonectris edwardsii
• Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis
• Sooty shearwater, Ardenna grisea
• Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (A)
• Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus
• Barolo shearwater, Puffinus baroli
• Persian shearwater, Puffinus persicus

Storks[]

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

• Black stork, Ciconia nigra
• White stork, Ciconia ciconia
• Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis

Boobies and gannets[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

• Masked booby, Sula dactylatra (A)
• Northern gannet, Morus bassanus

Cormorants and shags[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

• Long-tailed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus (A)
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
• European shag, Gulosus aristotelis

Pelicans[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

• Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus (A)

Bitterns, herons, and egrets[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

• Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris (A)
• Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
• Gray heron, Ardea cinerea
• Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
• Great egret, Ardea alba (A)
• Little egret, Egretta garzetta
• Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis (A)
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
• Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Ibises and spoonbills[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita
• Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Osprey[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Barn-owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
• Pharaoh eagle-owl, Bubo ascalaphus
• Little owl, Athene noctua
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus (A)
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus

Hoopoes[]

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Kingfishers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

• Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

Bee-eaters[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

• White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis (A)
• Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus (A)
• European bee-eater, Merops apiaster

Rollers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

• European roller, Coracias garrulus

Woodpeckers[]

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

• Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla

Falcons and caracaras[]

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

• Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
• Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
• Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (A)
• Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
• Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
• Saker falcon, Falco cherrug (A)
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Old World orioles[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

• Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus

Bushshrikes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Malaconotidae

Bushshrikes are similar in habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush. Although similar in build to the shrikes, these tend to be either colourful species or largely black; some species are quite secretive.

• Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegalus

Shrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

• Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
• Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

Crows, jays, and magpies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Maghreb magpie, Pica mauritanica
• Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
• Pied crow, Corvus albus (A)
• Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis
• Common raven, Corvus corax

Tits, chickadees, and titmice[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

• African blue tit, Cyanistes teneriffae
• Great tit, Parus major

Larks[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Greater hoopoe-lark, Alaemon alaudipes
• Thick-billed lark, Ramphocoris clotbey
• Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cincturus
• Desert lark, Ammomanes deserti
• Black-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix nigriceps
• Temminck's lark, Eremophila bilopha
• Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
• Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
• Dunn's lark, Eremalauda dunni
• Mediterranean short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens
• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
• Thekla's lark, Galerida theklae
• Crested lark, Galerida cristata
• Maghreb lark, Galerida macrorhyncha (A)

Cisticolas and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

• Cricket longtail, Spiloptila clamans
• Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis

Reed warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

• Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
• Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca
• Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
• Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina (A)
• Aquatic warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola
• Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon (A)
• Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
• Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
• African reed warbler, Acrocephalus baeticatus
• Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Grassbirds and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

• Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
• Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia

Swallows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
• Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
• Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
• Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum

Bulbuls[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

• Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus

Leaf warblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.

• Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
• Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
• Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (A)
• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
• Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
• Iberian chiffchaff, Phylloscopus ibericus

Bush warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.^[1]

• Scrub warbler, Scotocerca inquieta
• Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

• Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
• Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
• Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca (A)
• Western Orphean warbler, Curruca hortensis
• African desert warbler, Curruca deserti
• Tristram's warbler, Curruca deserticola
• Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala
• Moltoni's warbler, Curruca subalpina
• Western subalpine warbler, Curruca iberiae
• Eastern subalpine warbler, Curruca cantillans
• Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis
• Spectacled warbler, Curruca conspicillata
• Dartford warbler, Curruca undata (A)

Laughingthrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.

• Fulvous chatterer, Argya fulva

Kinglets[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

• Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus

Starlings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris

Thrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

• Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
• Redwing, Turdus iliacus
• Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula
• Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris (A)
• Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus (A)

Old World flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Old World sparrows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus
• Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
• Desert sparrow, Passer simplex
• Sudan golden sparrow, Passer luteus (A)

Wagtails and pipits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

• Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
• Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
• Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (A)
• White wagtail, Motacilla alba
• Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi (A)
• Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
• Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis
• Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
• Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni (A)
• Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
• Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta (A)
• Rock pipit, Anthus petrosus (A)

Finches, euphonias, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

• Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
• Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githaginea
• European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
• Eurasian linnet, Linaria cannabina
• European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
• European serin, Serinus serinus
• Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus

Old World buntings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

• Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra
• Rock bunting, Emberiza cia (A)
• Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus
• Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
• House bunting, Emberiza sahari

See also[]

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

References[]

• Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of birds of Western Sahara". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
• Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: a Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.

External links[]

• Birds of Western Sahara - World Institute for Conservation and Environment