United Arab Emirates bird checklist

664 bird species in 86 families have been recorded in the United Arab Emirates, according to eBird; about 326 of them are seen regularly, and the rest are rarities, vagrants and escaped or introduced birds. Download the full list as a PDF, or tick birds off on your phone, with counts and notes, even without signal.

Species data: eBird.org, updated 13 Oct 2026 · How these lists are made

The most common birds in the United Arab Emirates right now

The top 20, and how they are ranked

United Arab Emirates bird checklist

664 species · loading the checklist tools…

Ostriches

Common Ostrich

Cassowaries and Emu

Magpie Goose

Magpie Goose

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

White-faced Whistling-Duck
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
West Indian Whistling-Duck
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Lesser Whistling-Duck
Bar-headed Goose
Emperor Goose
Snow Goose
Graylag Goose
Swan Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Lesser White-fronted Goose
Barnacle Goose
Canada Goose
Hawaiian Goose
Red-breasted Goose
Cape Barren Goose
Mute Swan
Black Swan
Black-necked Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Whooper Swan
Upland Goose
Radjah Shelduck
Egyptian Goose
Ruddy Shelduck
South African Shelduck
Common Shelduck
Spur-winged Goose
Crested Duck
Muscovy Duck
Cotton Pygmy-Goose
Ringed Teal
Wood Duck
Mandarin Duck
Maned Duck
Baikal Teal
Garganey
Blue-billed Teal
Silver Teal
Australasian Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Falcated Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
Chiloe Wigeon
Mallard
White-cheeked Pintail
Red-billed Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Chestnut Teal
Marbled Duck
Red-crested Pochard
Southern Pochard
Rosy-billed Pochard
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Tufted Duck
Greater Scaup
Red-breasted Merganser

Guineafowl

Helmeted Guineafowl
Vulturine Guineafowl

New World Quail

California Quail

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Wild Turkey
Gray Partridge
Ring-necked Pheasant
Green Pheasant
Indian Peafowl
Green Peafowl
Red Junglefowl
Gray Francolin
Black Francolin
See-see Partridge
Sand Partridge
Common Quail
Barbary Partridge
Arabian Partridge
Chukar
Yellow-necked Spurfowl
Red-necked Spurfowl

Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeon
Speckled Pigeon
Stock Dove
Common Wood-Pigeon
European Turtle-Dove
Oriental Turtle-Dove
Eurasian Collared-Dove
African Collared-Dove
Red Collared-Dove
Spotted Dove
Laughing Dove
Namaqua Dove
Asian Emerald Dove
Common Bronzewing
Crested Pigeon
Diamond Dove
Zebra Dove
Orange-breasted Green-Pigeon
Bruce's Green-Pigeon

Sandgrouse

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
Spotted Sandgrouse
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Crowned Sandgrouse
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse

Bustards

Arabian Bustard
Kori Bustard
Asian Houbara
Nubian Bustard
White-bellied Bustard
Little Bustard

Turacos

Western Plantain-eater
Eastern Plantain-eater

Cuckoos

Great Spotted Cuckoo
Pied Cuckoo
Asian Koel
Gray-bellied Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo

Nightjars and Allies

Eurasian Nightjar
Egyptian Nightjar
Sykes's Nightjar

Swifts

Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Pacific Swift
Little Swift

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Water Rail
Corn Crake
Spotted Crake
Eurasian Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Red-knobbed Coot
Gray-headed Swamphen
Watercock
White-breasted Waterhen
Little Crake
Baillon's Crake

Cranes

Gray Crowned-Crane
Black Crowned-Crane
Siberian Crane
White-naped Crane
Demoiselle Crane
Red-crowned Crane
Common Crane

Thick-knees

Great Thick-knee
Spotted Thick-knee
Eurasian Thick-knee

Stilts and Avocets

Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet

Oystercatchers

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Plovers and Lapwings

Black-bellied Plover
European Golden-Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
Eurasian Dotterel
Common Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Northern Lapwing
Blacksmith Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Crowned Lapwing
Wattled Lapwing
Red-wattled Lapwing
Sociable Lapwing
White-tailed Lapwing
Caspian Plover
Tibetan Sand-Plover
Greater Sand-Plover
Kittlitz's Plover
Kentish Plover

Painted-Snipes

Greater Painted-Snipe

Jacanas

Pheasant-tailed Jacana
African Jacana

Sandpipers and Allies

Eurasian Whimbrel
Little Curlew
Eurasian Curlew
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
Long-billed Dowitcher
Jack Snipe
Eurasian Woodcock
Great Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe
Common Snipe
Wilson's Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Terek Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Redshank
Lesser Yellowlegs
Spotted Redshank
Common Greenshank
Ruddy Turnstone
Great Knot
Red Knot
Ruff
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Temminck's Stint
Long-toed Stint
Red-necked Stint
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Little Stint
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper

Crab-Plover

Crab-Plover

Pratincoles and Coursers

Cream-colored Courser
Small Pratincole
Collared Pratincole
Black-winged Pratincole
Oriental Pratincole

Skuas and Jaegers

Long-tailed Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Pomarine Jaeger

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Little Gull
Black-legged Kittiwake
Sabine's Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Brown-headed Gull
Franklin's Gull
Pallas's Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Sooty Gull
White-eyed Gull
Common Gull
Caspian Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Brown Noddy
Lesser Noddy
Sooty Tern
Bridled Tern
Little Tern
Saunders's Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Whiskered Tern
Black Tern
White-winged Tern
Arctic Tern
Common Tern
White-cheeked Tern
Roseate Tern
Sandwich Tern
Lesser Crested Tern
Great Crested Tern

Flamingos

Greater Flamingo
Lesser Flamingo

Grebes

Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Eared Grebe

Tropicbirds

Red-billed Tropicbird

Southern Storm-Petrels

Wilson's Storm-Petrel

Northern Storm-Petrels

Leach's Storm-Petrel
Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel

Shearwaters and Petrels

Jouanin's Petrel
Cory's Shearwater
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
Persian Shearwater

Storks

African Openbill
Black Stork
White Stork
Marabou Stork
Yellow-billed Stork
Painted Stork

Boobies and Gannets

Red-footed Booby
Brown Booby
Masked Booby

Cormorants and Shags

Great Cormorant
Socotra Cormorant

Ibises and Spoonbills

Scarlet Ibis
Glossy Ibis
African Sacred Ibis
Hadada Ibis
Eurasian Spoonbill
African Spoonbill

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Eurasian Bittern
Cinnamon Bittern
Little Bittern
Black-crowned Night Heron
Little Egret
Western Reef-Heron
Little Heron
Squacco Heron
Indian Pond-Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Eastern Cattle-Egret
Great Egret
Medium Egret
Gray Heron
Purple Heron
Goliath Heron

Pelicans

Great White Pelican
Pink-backed Pelican
Dalmatian Pelican

Osprey

Osprey

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Black-winged Kite
Egyptian Vulture
European Honey-buzzard
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Cinereous Vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
Himalayan Griffon
Eurasian Griffon
Short-toed Snake-Eagle
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Greater Spotted Eagle
Booted Eagle
Steppe Eagle
Imperial Eagle
Golden Eagle
Bonelli's Eagle
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
Shikra
Levant Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Goshawk
Western Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Black Kite
Brahminy Kite
Pallas's Fish-Eagle
White-eyed Buzzard
Harris's Hawk
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard

Barn-Owls

Western Barn Owl

Owls

Eurasian Scops-Owl
Pallid Scops-Owl
Southern White-faced Owl
Arabian Eagle-Owl
Pharaoh Eagle-Owl
Little Owl
Omani Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl

Mousebirds

Speckled Mousebird

Hoopoes

Common Hoopoe

Hornbills

Southern Ground-Hornbill
Damara Red-billed Hornbill
Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Bee-eaters

White-throated Bee-eater
Arabian Green Bee-eater
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
European Bee-eater

Kingfishers

Common Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Collared Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher

Rollers

European Roller
Indian Roller
Blue-bellied Roller

Woodpeckers

Eurasian Wryneck

Falcons and Caracaras

Lesser Kestrel
Eurasian Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Amur Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon
Sooty Falcon
Merlin
Eurasian Hobby
Lanner Falcon
Saker Falcon
Peregrine Falcon

Cockatoos

Cockatiel
Galah
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Old World Parrots

Superb Parrot
Australian King-Parrot
Alexandrine Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Plum-headed Parakeet
Blossom-headed Parakeet
Eastern Rosella
Budgerigar
Red Lory
Rainbow Lorikeet
Rosy-faced Lovebird
Fischer's Lovebird
Lilian's Lovebird

New World and African Parrots

Gray Parrot
Senegal Parrot
Monk Parakeet
Yellow-crowned Amazon
Orange-winged Amazon
Nanday Parakeet
Red-and-green Macaw

Tyrant Flycatchers

Great Kiskadee

Honeyeaters

Blue-faced Honeyeater

Old World Orioles

Eurasian Golden Oriole
Black-naped Oriole

Bushshrikes and Allies

Yellow-crowned Gonolek

Drongos

Black Drongo
Ashy Drongo

Monarch Flycatchers

Indian Paradise-Flycatcher

Shrikes

Red-backed Shrike
Red-tailed Shrike
Isabelline Shrike
Brown Shrike
Bay-backed Shrike
Long-tailed Shrike
Great Gray Shrike
Lesser Gray Shrike
Masked Shrike
Woodchat Shrike

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Red-billed Blue-Magpie
Rufous Treepie
Eurasian Magpie
House Crow
Hooded Crow
Large-billed Crow
Pied Crow
Brown-necked Raven
Fan-tailed Raven

Larks

Greater Hoopoe-Lark
Bar-tailed Lark
Desert Lark
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Oriental Skylark
Crested Lark
Temminck's Lark
Greater Short-toed Lark
Bimaculated Lark
Calandra Lark
Arabian Lark
Turkestan Short-toed Lark

Cisticolas and Allies

Delicate Prinia

Reed Warblers and Allies

Booted Warbler
Sykes's Warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Upcher's Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Moustached Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Paddyfield Warbler
Blyth's Reed Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Common Reed Warbler
Basra Reed Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler

Grassbirds and Allies

River Warbler
Savi's Warbler
Common Grasshopper Warbler

Swallows

Bank Swallow
Pale Martin
Eurasian Crag-Martin
Pale Crag-Martin
Barn Swallow
Wire-tailed Swallow
Western House-Martin
European Red-rumped Swallow
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow
Streak-throated Swallow

Bulbuls

Red-whiskered Bulbul
Red-vented Bulbul
White-eared Bulbul
Himalayan Bulbul
White-spectacled Bulbul

Leaf Warblers

Wood Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Hume's Warbler
Radde's Warbler
Dusky Warbler
Plain Leaf Warbler
Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Green Warbler
Large-billed Leaf Warbler

Bush Warblers and Allies

Scrub Warbler
Cetti's Warbler

Sylviid Warblers and Allies

Eurasian Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Barred Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Eastern Orphean Warbler
Asian Desert Warbler
Menetries's Warbler
Greater Whitethroat

Laughingthrushes and Allies

Arabian Babbler
White-crested Laughingthrush

Starlings

Asian Glossy Starling
Common Hill Myna
European Starling
Wattled Starling
Rosy Starling
Indian Pied Starling
Bali Myna
Brahminy Starling
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Common Myna
Bank Myna
Jungle Myna
Javan Myna
Crested Myna
Violet-backed Starling
Long-tailed Glossy Starling
Splendid Starling
Golden-breasted Starling
Superb Starling
Lesser Blue-eared Starling
Greater Blue-eared Starling

Thrushes and Allies

Mistle Thrush
Song Thrush
Redwing
Eurasian Blackbird
Eyebrowed Thrush
Fieldfare
Ring Ouzel
Black-throated Thrush
Dusky Thrush

Old World Flycatchers

Asian Brown Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher
Black Scrub-Robin
Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin
Blue-and-white Flycatcher
European Robin
White-throated Robin
Thrush Nightingale
Common Nightingale
Bluethroat
Red-flanked Bluetail
Taiga Flycatcher
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Semicollared Flycatcher
European Pied Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher
Rufous-backed Redstart
Common Redstart
Black Redstart
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush
Blue Rock-Thrush
Whinchat
European Stonechat
Siberian Stonechat
Amur Stonechat
Pied Bushchat
Northern Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Hooded Wheatear
Desert Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Pied Wheatear
Blackstart
Variable Wheatear
Hume's Wheatear
White-crowned Wheatear
Mourning Wheatear
Kurdish Wheatear
Persian Wheatear

Hypocolius

Hypocolius

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters

Purple Sunbird

Weavers and Allies

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
Taveta Golden-Weaver
Lesser Masked-Weaver
Southern Masked-Weaver
Vitelline Masked-Weaver
Rüppell's Weaver
Chestnut-and-black Weaver
Village Weaver
Black-headed Weaver
Golden-backed Weaver
Chestnut Weaver
Streaked Weaver
Baya Weaver
Black-breasted Weaver
Red-headed Quelea
Red-billed Quelea
Red Fody
Northern Red Bishop
Southern Red Bishop
Zanzibar Red Bishop
Black-winged Bishop
Yellow-crowned Bishop
White-winged Widowbird
Red-collared Widowbird
Jackson's Widowbird

Waxbills and Allies

Zebra Finch
Indian Silverbill
Java Sparrow
Scaly-breasted Munia
White-rumped Munia
Tricolored Munia
Chestnut Munia
White-headed Munia
Lavender Waxbill
Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Common Waxbill
Black-rumped Waxbill
Crimson-rumped Waxbill
Cut-throat
Green Avadavat
Zebra Waxbill
Red Avadavat
Blue-capped Cordonbleu

Whydahs and Indigobirds

Pin-tailed Whydah
Straw-tailed Whydah

Accentors

Radde's Accentor

Old World Sparrows

House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
Dead Sea Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Sudan Golden Sparrow
Yellow-throated Sparrow
Pale Rockfinch

Wagtails and Pipits

Forest Wagtail
Gray Wagtail
Western Yellow Wagtail
Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail
White Wagtail
Richard's Pipit
Paddyfield Pipit
Long-billed Pipit
Blyth's Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Tree Pipit
Olive-backed Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit
Siberian Pipit

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Common Chaffinch
Brambling
Common Rosefinch
Trumpeter Finch
Eurasian Linnet
European Goldfinch
Black-headed Canary
Eurasian Siskin

Old World Buntings

Black-headed Bunting
Red-headed Bunting
Corn Bunting
White-capped Bunting
Yellowhammer
Gray-necked Bunting
Cinereous Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Striolated Bunting
Reed Bunting
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Little Bunting
Rustic Bunting

Tanagers and Allies

Red-crested Cardinal

Most common birds in United Arab Emirates

Ranked by how recently and how widely each was reported to eBird in the 30 days to 2026-10-13, and whether it is one of United Arab Emirates’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.

Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Eurasian MoorhenGallinula chloropus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Gray HeronArdea cinerea
Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata
Eurasian KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Rock PigeonColumba livia
Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
White WagtailMotacilla alba
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
Western Cattle-EgretArdea ibis
Ferruginous DuckAythya nyroca
Clamorous Reed WarblerAcrocephalus stentoreus

Largest bird families in United Arab Emirates

Among its regular birds.

Sandpipers and Allies27
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl27
Old World Flycatchers26
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers20
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites17
Plovers and Lapwings14
Wagtails and Pipits13
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns11

Reported in the last 30 days

235 species reported to eBird in United Arab Emirates in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:

Eurasian Moorhen, Little Grebe, Eurasian Kestrel, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Curlew, Spotted Flycatcher, Gray Heron, Clamorous Reed Warbler, White-winged Tern, Southern Red Bishop, Red-vented Bulbul, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Pin-tailed Snipe, Purple Sunbird, Red-wattled Lapwing, Egyptian Goose, Wood Sandpiper, Ferruginous Duck, House Crow, Black-winged Stilt, House Sparrow, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Indian Roller, Alexandrine Parakeet, White Wagtail, Delicate Prinia, Eurasian Whimbrel, White-eared Bulbul, Laughing Dove, Rock Pigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Western Cattle-Egret, Common Myna, Gray Wagtail, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Indian Pied Starling, …