This is a list of the bird species recorded in Qatar. The avifauna of Qatar include a total of 352 species, of which 3 have been introduced by humans.
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, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Qatar. Native species are marked with an "N". The global conservation status are displayed per the IUCN for each species alongside the population trend. The Qatar birds list, which has catalogued all verified species recorded in the country serves as the primary source for the list.
Additionally, the book Common birds of Qatar covering 215 of the total 352 species in the country has been used to depict the species' frequency in the country, as well as habitat.
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 accidentally occurs in Qatar, and is not a regular migrant nor a resident. (R) Rare – a species that is a regular visitor or inhabitant of the country, but in very small or sparse populations. Most species marked as such are threatened. (I) Introduced – a species introduced to Qatar as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions. Due to Qatar's harsh and generally resistant environment, none of the introduced species listed are considered invasive in the country. (Ex) Extirpated – a species that no longer occurs in Qatar although populations exist elsewhere (X) Extinct – a species or subspecies that no longer exists
Ostriches Order: StruthioniformesFamily: 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 nameTrinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Arabian ostrich Struthio camelus ssp. syriacus X N/A Formerly widespread in the Arabian peninsula Red-necked ostrich Struthio camelus ssp. camelus I Found in Ras Abrouq, west coast
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Graylag goose Anser anser N Rare winter visitor Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons A ?Rare winter visitor Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus A ?Vagrant Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiaca I Introduced Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea A ?Scarce winter visitor Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna N Scarce winter visitor Cotton pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus A vagrant Garganey Spatula querquedula N Passage migrant and winter visitor Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata N winter visitor Gadwall Mareca strepera A Scarce winter visitor Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope N winter visitor Mallard Anas platyrhynchos N Common winter visitor Northern pintail Anas acuta N Winter visitor Green-winged teal Anas crecca N ?Winter visitor Marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris R Vagrant recorded in 1985 Red-crested pochard Netta rufina A ?Vagrant Common pochard Aythya ferina R Overwintering Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca N Scarce resident Tufted duck Aythya fuligula N Common winter visitor in greywater and lagoons Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis R Vagrant.
Guineafowl Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds which resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Vulturine guineafowl Acryllium vulturinum A Vagrant
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: 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 nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Gray francolin Francolinus pondicerianus I Introduced and established; resident Common quail Coturnix coturnix N Passage migrant
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 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. Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus N Resident breeder Lesser flamingo Phoenicopterus minor A Vagrant recorded in 2013
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis N Resident Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus N ?Resident Eared grebe Podiceps nigricolis N ?Winter visitor
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Rock dove (and domestic variants) Columba livia N Domestic variants common everywhere, wild rock doves may be found near the coast Stock dove Columba oenas A Vagrant recorded in 2019 European turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur R Passage migrant Oriental turtle dove Streptopelia decocto A Vagrant recorded in 2022 Eurasian collared-dove Streptopelia decocto N Common African collared-dove Streptopelia roseogrisea A ? Vagrant Laughing dove Streptopelia senegalensis N Common Namaqua dove Oena capensis I Naturally established resident due to its nomadic nature Zebra dove Geopelia striata I Introduced in the northeast; small breeding population
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: 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. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage Pin-tailed sandgrouse Pterocles alchata A Localised breeder Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse Pterocles exustus A Rare Crowned sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus A Vagrant
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage MacQueen's bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii Ex May have been extirpated from the country due to overhunting, records nowadays generally considered captive or escaped
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius A Rare Pied cuckoo Clamator jacobinus A Vagrant Asian koel Eudynamys scolopaceus A Vagrant Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus N Passage migrant
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal StatusTrendNotesImage Eurasian nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus N Passage migrant Egyptian nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius R Rare passage migrant
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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 nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Alpine swift Tachymarptis melba R vagrant with 4 records Common swift Apus apus N Uncommon winter visitor Pallid swift Apus pallidus N Winter visitor Little swift Apus affinis A Vagrant
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Water rail Rallus aquaticus R Winter visitor. Corncrake Crex crex R rare passage migrant Spotted crake Porzana porzana N uncommon passage migrant Eurasian moorhen Gallinula chloropus N Common Eurasian coot Fulica atra N Resident and winter visitor African swamphen Porphyrio madagascarensis I Introduced. Grey-headed swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus N ?Resident White-breasted waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus A ?Vagrant Little crake Porzana parva A Vagrant Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla A ?Vagrant
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: 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 nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Common crane Grus grus A Vagrant
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Eurasian thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus N Passage migrant
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Common nameBinomial nameStatus in the countryGlobal statusTrendNotesImage Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus N Common Pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta N ?Common in winter
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae