Kingdom : Beetles, Insects, Ladybirds

Insect follows Coccinellidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is between 1.7-2.2 mm, and wings are between yellowish to reddish brown with a middle vertical black stripe. It is a predator to several kinds of insects including Aphids and Scale Insects.

Kingdom : Flora, Sedge

Growth form: Sedge. Flowering. Mar–Jun. Status: Native. Rare. Also recorded: E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Batanouny only recorded it in a permanently wet area at Ras Ushirij, at the edge of a patch of Typha domingensis.

Kingdom : Bee-eater, Birds

Easily distinguished by combination of chestnut crown, bright yellow throat contrasting with turquoise-blue underparts and, in adult, by chestnut back and upperwing-coverts. In flight, shows paler, grey underwings. Juvenile has more greenish upperparts, but still shows chestnut crown and yellow throat; central tail-feathers very short or lacking. Migrates in flocks, often passing high overhead, revealed […]

Kingdom : Birds, Bittern

More often heard than seen. Smaller than the Grey Heron, with stocky neck and entirely dark brown and golden buff streaked plumage which provides excellent camouflage. Juvenile Little Bittern is similar in plumage but is very much smaller. Juvenile Night Heron is smaller and shows white spots on wings. Juvenile Purple Heron lacks streaks on […]

Kingdom : Birds, Bittern

Smallest type of heron. Identified by tiny size and, at all ages, conspicuous pale covert-panels contrasting with black flight feathers and dark back. Female resembles male but duller with more rufous tinge and buff streaks on underparts. Juvenile more boldly streaked buff and brown with duller, streaked covert panels. Most often seen in flight, when […]

Kingdom : Birds, Robin

Size and shape resembles Robin but slimmer, longer legged and generally more skulking. Pale, broad supercilium distinctive, and diagnostic rust-red tail-base obvious in flight or when perched with cocked tail. Striking features in breeding male are blue chin and throat framed below by black and rusty; depending on race the throat spot is red, white […]

Kingdom : Beetles, Darkling beetles, Insects

Insect follows Tenebrionidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is 2.5 mm, and has brown colour.

Kingdom : Flora, Herb

Growth form: Perennial herb. Flowering. Feb–Mar. Status: Native. Common. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE.Habitat & distribution: Occasional to frequent in S and C Qatar, in sandy depressions and runnels. Uses: The bulb is reputed to be edible, although Mandaville says it is bitter, whilst Jongbloed et al. state that the capsule is […]

Kingdom : Birds, Bunting

Heavy bodied, stout billed bunting without white in tail. Male diagnostic with black head, yellow underparts and unstreaked chestnut upperparts. Black of head subdued by pale fringes in Autumn. Females and 1st year birds lack black, bright yellow and chestnut colouring.

Kingdom : Birds, Bunting

Bulky grey-brown bunting with fairly large head, large conical bill and no white in tail. Underparts heavily streaked, some have irregular black spot on breast, often with pale submoustachial stripe and variable ill-defined malar streak. Heavy fluttering flight, legs often dangling, lacks white on trailing edge of wings of Skylark with which it can be […]

Kingdom : Birds, Bunting

Resembles a bright version of Ortolan Bunting. Male has bright blue-grey head and breast band framing rusty orange throat, rufous rump, a rufous-buff vent and undertail coverts. Belly orange-chestnut, blackish brown tertials with clear-cut rufous-chestnut notched fringe. Female duller, often with traces of ash-grey on head, some grey on streaked breast. Compare with Ortolan Bunting.

Kingdom : Birds, Bunting

Medium sized bunting with blue-grey bill, narrow yellow eye-ring and white in outer tail feathers. Male has yellowish green crown, sides of face and throat, with otherwise greyish plumage, including unstreaked grey rump. In autumn upper breast is streaked darker. Female is olive grey-brown, streaked like autumn male. Throat has buffish or yellowish tinge, streaked […]

Kingdom : Birds, Bunting

Medium sized bunting with yellow eye-ring, pink bill, boldly streaked mantle and blackish brown tertials with clear-cut light chestnut brown edges. Male has olive greyish head and breast band which frames a pale yellowish throat. Female is duller, less olive, more brown tinged and more streaked. Throat pale yellow-buff. Compare with similar Cretzschmar’s Bunting.

Kingdom : Birds, Bunting

Medium -small bunting with longish bill and much rufous in plumage. Male unmistakable with black head broken by bold white supercilium and nape spot, bright red nape merging on sides of neck with rusty breast band. Flanks with extensive rusty streaks, rump rusty red. Female has less blackish head with paler median crown-streak and ear […]

Kingdom : Birds, Bunting

Small rufous coloured bunting with orange-yellow lower mandible, and rufous edged outer tail feathers, and thin streaks on upperparts and wing coverts. Male has a dark ash-grey and white striped head, throat and upper breast with steel-grey and black speckles. Upperparts, wing coverts, lower breast and belly are bright rufous. Female duller with much more […]

Kingdom : Birds, Buzzards and Falcons

Similar to Steppe Buzzard but tail longer and narrower with rounded corners. Head and neck narrower, protruding in cuckoo-like manner. Wing beats moe flexible.Soars on flatish, and glides on slightly lowered wings. Male has greyish head and upperparts, female browner. Below, colour varies between birds from blackish brown to almost white. Most are barred with […]

Kingdom : Birds, Buzzards and Falcons

Size of Black Kite with long wings and tail, kinked wing position when gliding and flexible wing-beats; soars on highly raised wings. Wide plumage variation: creamy white, rufous-brown and blackish forms on account of colour on body and underwing-coverts. The blackish form can show coarse dark bars on flight- and tail-feathers. Many Long-legged (except dark […]

Kingdom : Birds, Buzzards and Falcons

The main race that occurs in the region is the highly migratory Steppe Buzzard, B. b. vulpinus, which is slightly smaller with narrower, more pointed wings and longer tail compared with Western European birds of the race B. b. buteo, which are rare.Three types occur: fox-red, grey-brown and blackish (scarce); intermediates are frequent. Fox-red and […]

Kingdom : Flora, Tree

Growth form: Tree. Flowering. Not known. Status: Introduced. Common. Not in other Gulf Areas. Habitat & distribution: Mainly gardens and roadsides in towns and cities. Uses: Widely planted for ornament and shade. Notes: Several species are planted in the Gulf (Miller & Cope); C. equisetifolia L. probably being the more common and widespread. C. cunninghamiana […]

Kingdom : Flora, Herb

Growth form: Perennial herb. Flowering. May–Aug. Status: Native. Local. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Recorded from a small number of sites by Batanouny. It grows at Abu Nakhla wastewater ponds south of Doha (MAS) and is likely to be more frequent now, due to the increase in permanently wet […]

Kingdom : Beetles, Darkling beetles, Insects

Insect follows Tenebrionidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is between 4-6 mm, and has blackish brown colour.

Kingdom : Birds, Finches and Sparrows

A medium-sized finch. Male is easily identified by blue-grey head, chestnut back, pinkish breast and 2 white wing-bars. Female is more nondescript but can be told by white wing-bars, white outer tail feathers and brownish to olive brown upperparts. Undulating flight with wings closed every few beats. Feeds mainly on ground where it moves rather […]

Kingdom : Bugs, Cicadas, Insects

Insect follows Cicadidae family, and Hemiptera order. Size is between 20-24 mm, and is grey and brown in colour. Larvas feed on tree roots, causing great harm to trees. Adults are distinguished with a unique squeaking noise during daylight when mating.

Kingdom : Insects, Leaf miners, Moths and Butterflies

Insect follows Geometridae family, and Lepidoptera order. It is light brown, wing is 5mm long. Larva are dangerous pests for citrus and some other plants. Larva dig tutas in leaves, causing dryness and leaf fall.

Kingdom : Beetles, Darkling beetles, Insects

Insect follows Tenebrionidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is 4 mm, and has yellowish brown colour.

Kingdom : Flora, Tree

Growth form: Tree. Flowering. Not known. Status: Introduced. Also recorded: E Saudi Arabia. Habitat & distribution: Planted at Mesaieed Industrial City (John Norton), but may be more widespread. Uses: A saline-tolerant tree producing dense foliage, making it suitable for use as shade and screening.

Kingdom : Beetles, Darkling beetles, Insects

Insect follows Tenebrionidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is 8 mm, and has brown colour.

Kingdom : Birds, Cormorant

Slightly smaller than the Great Cormorant, it has a slimmer head and neck. Adult has sooty black plumage with bronze green wings and back, and without white face and chin patch of Great Cormorant. Bill is much slimmer than that of Great Cormorant and appears paler against dark head. In breeding plumage, more glossy and […]

Kingdom : Birds, Crake

Skulking land rail, larger than Quail, but similar to crakes in shape and general character. Rarely seen out of cover unless flushed. Flight, which is seldom seen, can suggest a young gamebird, but note chestnut wing-coverts and often dangling legs. Otherwise only noticeable by characteristic breeding call.

Kingdom : Birds, Coursers and Whimbrels

Adapted to desert habitat, well camouflaged; runs quickly with plover-like behaviour and sudden stops, prefers running away rather than flying. Mainly sandy buff with distinctive black and white head markings joining in ‘V’ on nape, bill short and down-curved. When standing has an erect posture with long pale legs. Flight rapid with long, slightly rounded […]

Kingdom : Birds, Crake

Smaller than Spotted Crake and separated by uniform grey underparts (adult male) and heavily barred undertail-coverts. Female has brown-buff underparts, white chin and throat and some grey on cheeks and supercilium. Juvenile lacks grey head pattern and has stronger flank-barring than adult. Hard to see, but often walks on floating vegetation.

Kingdom : Birds, Crake

A small-headed, round-bodied crake, much shorter and a little smaller than Water Rail, and slightly bigger than Little Crake. Otherwise similar to Little, but heavily white-spotted plumage. Short, red-based, yellow bill; flanks and vent strongly barred black and white, but has buff undertail-coverts (barred in Little), latter visible, when walking with tail cocked. Juvenile lacks […]

Kingdom : Birds, Coursers and Whimbrels

Large, brown-mottled, buffish grey wader with long, decurved bill. Plumage warmer, more ochre (less greyish), in fresh plumage (including juvenile). Male smaller than female, with shorter bill, which in young male overlaps with Whimbrel’s, but is more evenly decurved. Flight with rather slow, gull-like wing-beats (obviously slower than Whimbrel), showing barred tail and white wedge […]

Kingdom : Flora, Tree

Growth form: Tree. Flowering. Apr–May. Status: Introduced. Very common. Also recorded: Bahrain, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Planted all over Qatar. Naturalised on the coast at Umm Bab. Uses: Cultivated in plantations and gardens, especially for the edible fruit (Debbie Allante); also along roadsides to provide greenery and shade. Various authors describe cultural […]

Kingdom : Hawk moths, Sphinx moths, and Hornworms, Insects, Moths and Butterflies

Insect follows Sphingidae family, and Lepidoptera order. Frontal wing color is brown, with yellow waves. Back wing is yellow with brown waves. Wing is about 90-130 mm long. Female lays eggs individually on lower surface of Solanales especially sesame and potato. Moreover, it attacks other plants.

Kingdom : Flora, Herb

Growth form: Parasitic herb. Flowering. Mar–Apr. Status: Native. Common. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Mainly in coastal areas, including coastal sands along beaches, where occasionally forming small clumps. Host plants include Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Cornulaca spp, Limonium axillare, and Tetraena qatarensis. Uses: ‘Said to be poisonous’ (El Amin). Rizk & […]

Kingdom : Flora, Herb

Growth form: Parasitic perennial herb. Flowering. Mar. Status: Native. Local. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: On damp, saline sand, including beaches. Frequent at Dukhan water treatment works, growing on Tetraena qatarensis and nearby on the west coast (John Norton); also occurs at Ras Laffan (Renee Richer), Mesaieed and Khor […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Rather dark, brownish plover recalling non-breeding European Golden in general outline, but smaller; additionally white or buffish supercilia, meeting in a ‘V’ on nape, and narrow white or pale upper breast band are distinctive features in all plumages. Adult breeding female (male duller) has striking white supercilium and throat contrasting with blackish cap and greyish […]

Kingdom : Birds, Dove

Medium-small, sandy brown dove with narrow black half-collar on hindneck (absent in juvenile). Told from Turtle by unspotted sandy brown forewing (rufous, spotted blackish in Turtle), black neck-collar, whitish underwing (dark in Turtle), plainer uppertail (bolder patterned in Turtle), absence of well defined whitish belly-patch (present Turtle) and by less rapid flight with less jerky […]

Kingdom : Birds, Dove

Small, fast-flying dove with shorter tail and more pointed wings than Collared; easily told from it also by dark underwings, well defined whitish belly patch, rufous, black-spotted upperparts with blue-grey, well defined outerwing-panel and contrasting pattern of uppertail being darker with more clear-cut white corners, particularly when tail spread upon landing: black and white-streaked patch […]

Kingdom : Birds, Dove

Small, dark red-brown dove, recalling Collared in proportions but plumage closer to Turtle; smaller than both. Black-spotted patch on fore-neck and upper breast, unspotted red-brown upperparts with large, dull blue-grey area in outer-coverts distinguish it. Uppertail less contrasting than in Turtle. Juvenile lacks patch on fore-neck and is less richly coloured. Flight closer to Collared’s […]

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Slightly smaller than Tufted Duck, shape of head close to that of Pochard. No crest but higher crown than Tufted Duck. It has a flatter sloping forehead and longer dark grey bill with black nail when compared with Tufted Duck. Male is rich chestnut brown with white eye, sharply defined pure white undertail coverts and […]

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

In flight it resembles a small female Pintail, having a fairly long neck, wings and tail. On water it is identified by pale plumage, dappled dark and cream with dark oval patch around the eye in otherwise pale head with long black bill. Head appears large and rounded with steep forehead and, in adult, a […]

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Small diving duck with roundish head but fairly steep forehead. Crest at nape, long and drooping in male, minute in female. Bill blue-grey. Male is black and white with black upperparts and purple green head. Female and eclipse male have brownish sides to body, female sometimes with whitish band around base of bill. In rapid […]

Kingdom : Birds, Sandpiper

Often one of the commonest shorebirds, larger than the Stints, but slightly smaller than Curlew Sandpiper. Longer bill than Stints is slightly down-curved. In summer plumage easily told by black belly-patch. In winter, this patch is lost as are rufous tones to upperparts, then has grey upperparts with narrow pale fringes to coverts and scapulars, […]

Kingdom : Birds, Eagle

Two phases. Size of Buzzard, but outline and wing-position close to Black Kite; tail square-cut. More ample deep-fingered wings than Buzzard. Pale phase identified by creamy white underparts with contrasting blackish flight-feathers, kite-like band on innerwing above, pale scapulars and upper-tail-coverts and diagnostic small white spot at base of neck, seen on front-view. Dark phase […]

Kingdom : Birds, Eagle

In adult, plumage is blackish-brown with contrasting yellow-white hindneck, pale uppertail with broad black band, white ‘shoulder-braces’ (hard to see), pale ventral region, darkish primaries above, parallel-edged wings held flattish and, often, closed narrow tail when soaring. Juvenile has dark-streaked breast forming pectoral band which contrasts with unstreaked yellow-buff rear-body, and distinct pale wedge on […]

Kingdom : Birds, Eagle

A difficult species. Adult dark brown below, flight-feathers similarly dark or a shade paler; leading underwing-coverts sometimes blackish brown on upper surface, mid to dark brown coverts sometimes contrast with darker mantle; no conspicuous pale primary-patch above. Juvenile is blackish brown below with paler flight-feathers; blackish brown upperwing has 1–3 white covert-bars, often creating pale […]

Kingdom : Birds, Eagle

Large long-winged Eagle with very pale underparts, square-cut tail with three evenly spaced dark bands and a broad head. Whitish underparts variably spotted and barred, some nearly all whitish, others with contrasting dark head and upper breast. Staring bright yellow eyes and broad head, flattened on top give it a rather owl-like appearance. Flies with […]

Kingdom : Birds, Eagle

Dark brown adult has variably coloured underwing-coverts, either similar to body or paler; underwing uniform, or with paler or darker flight-feathers with well spaced broad dark bars and clear-cut band on trailing edge (pattern sometimes diffuse); large dark carpal-patch typical, except in darkest birds. From above, coverts often palest part of wing; usually large, dark-barred, […]

Kingdom : Insects, Moths and Butterflies, Snout moths

Insect follows Pyralidae family, and Lepidoptera order. Wing is white, with brown spots. Wing is about 17-23 mm long. Larvas attack eggplants. Early hitting causes shoot tips of plant and plant decay. But in advanced stages, larvas dig tutus in eggplants that become unmerchantable.

Kingdom : Birds, Buzzards and Falcons

Largest falcon of the region with wing-span of female Buzzard. Like Lanner in outline, but larger, and heavier-chested. Separated from Lanner by combination of whitish crown (sometimes confined to nape), unbarred Kestrel-like contrast above, less distinctly barred uppertail, poorly developed moustache and less contrasting head pattern (diffuse dark eye-stripe, no dark forehead-band); whitish supercilium often […]

Kingdom : Grasshoppers, Grasshoppers, Crickets and Locusts, Insects

Insect follows Acrididae family, and Orthoptera order. It is light brown with black spots, size is about 20-25 mm. Adults and nymphs feed on herbal plants. Back legs are strong and long, help them move through jumping. Adults lay eggs in groups in soil.

Kingdom : Birds, Finches and Sparrows

Pale greyish buff finch with striking wing pattern and short black bill. Flight feathers mostly black with white edges and pink panel on coverts and base of secondaries. Male has black lores and bill base. Female drabber with less pink, black and white in wing, and lacks black face-patch. Juvenile has straw coloured, dark tipped […]

Kingdom : Birds, Finches and Sparrows

Small, rather inconspicuous, ground dwelling finch with a large head, stout bill and rather short tail. Male distinctive with grey head pinkish wash on forehead, underparts and rump, and wings. Bill an orange-red. Non-breeding female and juvenile sandy grey-buff with slightly paler rump, blackish grey wings and tail with paler feather edgings and pale yellowish […]

Kingdom : Birds, Francolin

A rather drab, stub-tailed greyish brown gamebird with fine mottling and barring on upper and underparts with chestnut forehead and cheeks; has pale throat-patch bordered below by black ‘U’. In flight, shows chestnut tail. Hard to flush, but if pressed rises with explosive whirr of wings. Normally runs off very swiftly.

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Medium sized, slightly built dabbling duck. Swims high on water with elevated rear end like Wigeon. Flies with rapid wing beats and has pointed wings like Wigeon. Males mainly dark grey with black around tail, In flight white speculum, bordered black in front, and white belly are visible. Female and juvenile resemble larger and heavier […]

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Small, Teal sized dabbling duck. Male has unmistakable broad, white stripe above eye to hindneck, black mottled breast contrasting with grey sides and white belly. In flight, striking blue-grey forewing contrasts with dark head, breast and upperparts. Female similr to female Teal, but longer bill and more contrasting dark and light head-stripes widening in front […]

Kingdom : Birds, Godwit

Resembles Black-tailed (which see) especially on ground in non-breeding plumage, bur note more compact, less erect appearance with shorter legs and neck, and slightly upturned bill. In flight, easily separated in all plumages by lack of distinct wing and tail markings typical of Black-tailed. Male in breeding plumage has deep rusty red head and entire […]

Kingdom : Birds, Godwit

Large, graceful wader with long bill and legs and diagnostic, contrasting flight pattern. On ground, most similar to Bar-tailed, but slightly larger and more erect due to longer legs and neck; bill slightly longer and straighter. In summer plumage, both sexes have varying amount of rusty red on head, neck and fore-body with diffuse, dark […]

Kingdom : Birds, Goose

Slightly larger than a Ruddy Shelduck, has black flight feathers , green speculum and striking white forewing and underwing coverts. Otherwise brownish buff, with variable brownish or greyish upperparts, pale fore-neck and face with prominent dark eye patch, dark collar and belly patch. Legs are long and pink.

Kingdom : Birds, Goose

Smaller than the Greylag Goose. It is a warm grey-brown, with a dark head and hindneck, with orange legs. Bill quite long, pink with white nail. Adult has a large white area surrounding the base of bill, and black bars on underparts. Juvenile warmer brownish, lacks white forehead and black bars on underparts, forehead and […]

Kingdom : Birds, Grebe

The Black-necked Grebe is slightly larger than the Little Grebe.It has a small bill, steeply sloping forehead,and large red eye. Mostly dark chocolate brown and golden in summer. In winter plumage the white throat and cheeks contrast with the grey neck and grey and black body. Often seen in small flocks on open water.

Kingdom : Birds, Grebe

The biggest Grebe in the region. Swims while keeping its long body low, with its graceful, long white neck held upright. During flight it keeps the neck extended and feet under the line of the body. It has a large white patch on the secondaries, white border to front of underwing and on shoulders along […]

Kingdom : Birds, Grebe

The smallest Grebe in the region. Identified by small size, blunt-ended body, short neck and bill, and absence of white in upperwing. Adult birds have dark brown throat and cheeks with a yellow gape patch. In the winter, adult and juveniles paler brown above, pale buff below, variably mixed with dull chestnut on fore-neck (adult). […]

Kingdom : Beetles, Insects, Leaf beetles

Insect follows Chrysomelidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is between 4-6 mm, red grey and has fluff. It attacks Acacia tree seeds, and may cause harm to seed stocks. In some countries, it attacks Tamarind trees.

Kingdom : Diggers, Grasshoppers, Crickets and Locusts, Insects

Insect follows Gryllotalpidae family, and Orthoptera order. It is brown, size is about 30-35 mm. Adults dig tunnels under soil, attack stems of plants, vegetables and trees; causing the death of young plants. It causes economic harms for crops especially when they are buds.

Kingdom : Birds, Harrier

Smaller, slimmer and slightly narrower-winged than Marsh, with similar flight, but male more buoyant. Male has clear-cut white uppertail-coverts, uniform pale blue-grey upperparts, head and upper breast, rest of under surface white but wing-tip black (both surfaces). 2nd autumn male can show black wedge on wing-rip like male Pallid (as result of primary-moult). Female and […]

Kingdom : Birds, Harrier

Slender build, narrower, longer more pointed wings, longer narrower tail and more buoyant flight helps separation from Hen Harrier. In adult, rear-body slimmer than in Pallid. Male has dark grey back and innerwing, silvery grey outerwing but extensive black wing-tips; one black band on secondaries above and two below; red-brown streaks below dark grey upperbreast. […]

Kingdom : Birds, Harrier

Flight and proportions almost identical to Montagu’s. Male pale grey above without clear-cut white rump; whitish head and undersurface with black wedge on wing-tip. Female separated from similar Montagu’s by pale, dark-streaked collar (like female Hen Harrier; virtually absent in Montagu’s), less spacing between dark bands on secondaries below, with pale bands becoming darker towards […]

Kingdom : Birds, Harrier

Larger, heavier and more broad-winged than other harriers; wavering low glides on raised wings when hunting; otherwise wings with bend at carpals. Male tri-coloured on upperwing (silver-grey, brown and black); uppertail silver-grey; under surface white but wing-tip black and rear-body red-brown, latter separating it from high-flying male Hen Harrier. Female dark brown, tail rusty-brown, crown, […]

Kingdom : Grass moths, Insects, Moths and Butterflies

Insect follows Crambidae family, and Lepidoptera order. It is brown, wing is 22-24 mm long. Butterfly is diurnal. Larva feed on spinach, beta vulgaris, cotton, corn, and soya beans. It feeds on lower parts of plants. Larva are large, somewhat like leaf veins. Growing up to 19 mm in length.

Kingdom : Flora, Tree

Growth form: Tree. Flowering. Sep–Feb. Status: Introduced. Also recorded: E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Planted in urban areas in the Gulf, but distribution in Qatar uncertain. Uses: Widely used in the Middle East as a dye for painting hands and feet and worldwide for colouring hair and beards. The leaves are used for […]

Kingdom : Birds, Egrets and Herons

Very large with long legs and heavy bill. Resembles Purple Heron in plumage but is twice the size. Distinctive features of adult are rich chestnut head and hindneck, bluish grey upperparts and rich chestnut underparts and underwing coverts. Told from Purple Heron by large size, stouter head and neck, lack of any black on crown, […]

Kingdom : Birds, Egrets and Herons

Slightly smaller and much darker than Grey Heron, with angular snake-like neck. Adult dark grey with black belly, chestnut on neck edged with black streak, black crown and line across cheeks. Bill a dull yellow. Juvenile has sandy brown upper-parts and hindneck with diffuse dark streaking on neck and blackish crown. In flight has a […]

Kingdom : Birds, Egrets and Herons

A small heron which in adult breeding plumage is a delicate golden buff with a purple sheen on mantle and long streaked nape-plumes. The bill has a greenish blue base. Nape-plumes lost in winter when neck becomes streaked and bill has yellowish base. Juvenile is brownish buff with streaked neck and upper breastmaking it well […]

Kingdom : Birds, Buzzards and Falcons

Has long, scythe-like, pointed wings (recalling a large swift) and relatively short tail. In adult, combination of dark slate-grey upperparts, uniform tail, contrast between prominent moustache and white cheeks/throat, densely streaked underparts with red thighs and undertail-coverts, and shape and length of wings and tail separate it from Merlin and Kestrel. Juvenile browner above with […]

Kingdom : Birds, Hoopoe

Distinctive pinkish buff with bold black and white bars on wings and tail, long black-tipped crest, usually depressed (though raised upon landing), long decurved bill and distinctive flight with flaps of broad wings. Spends much time on the ground where hard to detect; often first noticed when it flies.

Kingdom : Birds, Lark

Large, slender lark, easily identified by its long decurved bill, rather long pale legs, long tail and, in flight, bold black and white bands through wings. Upperparts unstreaked sandy grey-buff, underparts whitish, often spotted black on breast; whitish supercilium, dark eye and malar-stripe. Juvenile spotted on mantle but almost without breast-spots; bill less decurved. Speedy […]

Kingdom : Grasshoppers, Grasshoppers, Crickets and Locusts, Insects

Insect follows Acrididae family, and Orthoptera order. It is light brown with black, size is about 20 mm. Adults and nymphs feed on herbal plants. Back legs are strong and long, help them move through jumping. Adults lay eggs in groups in soil.

Kingdom : Birds, Crake

Rail-like and mostly seen walking on floating vegetation on very long toes. Adult breeding has long black down-curved tail, chocolate-brown body, striking head marks with white face and fore-neck, golden-yellow hindneck, edged black; white wings with black tips are very conspicuous in flight. In non-breeding plumage tail is short, underparts turn white, but a dark […]

Kingdom : Birds, Kestrel

Long, narrow, fairly pointed wings, long rounded or tapering tail, shallow loose wing-beats, persistent hovering and rufous upperparts, contrasting with darker flight-feathers, characteristic. Compared to Lesser, male has black spots on back and wing-coverts (absent in male Lesser), lacks blue-grey greater upper-wing-coverts, has different head-pattern and underwing. Female has dark bars on red-brown upperparts; some […]

Kingdom : Birds, Kestrel

Very similar to Kestrel and not always separable. Slightly smaller and slimmer, with slightly narrower wings, slightly shorter, more wedge-shaped tail and quicker wing-beats. Male is unmarked rufous above but greater coverts often blue-grey (hard to see). Whole head ash-grey without moustache or pale area on cheeks. From below, white underwing contrasts with dark wing-tip […]

Kingdom : Birds, Kingfisher

Large, unmistakable brightly coloured kingfisher with enormous red bill, dark brown head and belly, large white ‘bib’, brilliant turquoise-blue upperparts and black forewing. In its fast straight flight shows conspicuous white primary-patches. Rather noisy; often perches on wires (but can sit well hidden) looking for prey on ground, which is often taken in shrike-like manner.

Kingdom : Birds, Kite

Smaller than the Black Kite, but adult birds have white lines on the outer primary feathers which are noticeable in flight. Crown colour is brown while in Black Kite is greyish. Eyes are black and attractive. Habitat is similar to that of Black Kite which is mostly woodland, near water sources, and can be located […]

Kingdom : Birds, Kite

A buzzard sized bird with a characteristically shallow fork to the tail. Uniformly dark brown with a pale patch sometimes visible on the underwings in immature birds. Juvenile has dark eye-mask, pale feather tips on mantle and shoulders, boldly dark spotted breast but pale belly with no contrast to undertail. Dark band present near tip […]

Kingdom : Birds, Sandpiper

A large knot of stocky build, tapering at rear. In winter plumage (when most likely to be seen in the region) told by long, decurved bill with heavy base, large greyish spots on underparts, faint supercilium (caused by more extensive greyish lores) and obvious tail pattern. White rump/ uppertail-coverts contrasting with dark upperparts and tail; […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Unmistakable with long up-turned crest and greenish upperparts; in flight, broad rounded wings show no wing-bar. In winter upperparts have narrow pale scaling to feathers. Often in large flocks outside breeding season.

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Rather large, colourful plover; easily identified by long bright yellow legs, black head and centre of breast, white ear-coverts, side of neck and breast-side; eye-ring and wattle in front of eye is red. Flight is light with slow wing-beats and shows similar wing pattern to Spur-winged and White-tailed, but tail has black subterminal band with […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Lapwing-sized, with more upright stance, especially when alert. In breeding plumage easily told by long white supercilium, joining on nape, black crown and chestnut-black belly. In winter, loses belly-patch, becomes mottled on breast and supercilium is less distinct (but white forehead usually quite prominent). Juvenile, which is browner than adult, has buffish wash to forehead […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Elegant, long-legged plover, mainly sandy brown above, black head and underparts and contrasting white cheeks and sides of neck. In flight, tri-coloured: conspicuous white band between black flight-feathers and sandy wing-coverts; broad black tail-band; from below black belly and flight feathers contrast with white underwing-coverts. Flight action rather jerky. Juvenile similar to adult. Differs from […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Typical lapwing size, told by plain head (accentuating dark eye), long yellow legs (which protrude in flight) and, in flight, all-white tail; juvenile paler on neck and breast, dark-mottled on upperparts with dark cap and faint brown tip to tail. Slender and graceful on ground, often with neck held erect. When feeding, tips down so […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lark

Resembles Desert Lark in general appearance but smaller, with more upright stance, rounder head and with orange-yellow bill shorter and finer, also told from Desert by clear-cut black band to tip of reddish brown tail, best seen when tail spread in flight (in Desert, dark brown tail gradually merges into paler brown base) and by […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lark

A large heavy-billed lark with a short tail and longish wings. Has a contrasting head pattern with large yellowish bill, black patches on lower throat, and a white superciium. In flight has dull grey-brown underwing with no white trailing edge; has white-tipped tail while outer feathers are buff-brown.

Kingdom : Birds, Lark

Rather stocky, pot-bellied, short-tailed lark; long spiky crest always visible; bill fairly long, slightly curved. Upperparts buffish grey or rusty, rather uniform, diffusely streaked darker on hindneck/upper mantle; breast more heavily streaked. Flight with flapping wing-beats on broad wings showing rusty buff underwings and blackish brown short tail with cinnamon sides. Juvenile heavily pale-spotted above. […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lark

Dumpy, short-tailed lark with broad, rounded wings and floppy, slow, undulating flight. Colour variable, grey-brown with much variation; generally, they are unstreaked above except for vague mottling on mantle in some; underparts buffish or greyish white, unmarked in some, but diffusely streaked breast in others; rufous tinge to rump, flight-feathers and underwings in many. Longish, […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lark

Small pale lark with well streaked upperparts, buffish white generally unstreaked underparts with variable black patch at sides of throat (adult); relatively stout pale bill, long tertials almost covering wing-tip (unless worn) and boldly patterned median coverts; also prominent buffish white supercilium, pale lores, dark eye-streak and small pale area on cheeks are further features. […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lark

Resembles Greater Short-toed Lark though slightly smaller, with shorter, more stubby bill, more distinctly streaked breast, no black patches at sides of throat, shorter tertials with wing-tip clearly exposed beyond (beware of Short-toed with worn tertials) and typical flight-call different. Upperparts generally sandy grey, pale buff or rufous-brown, crown usually not tinged rufous; supercilium generally […]

Kingdom : Beetles, Insects, Longhorn beetles

Insect follows Cermbycidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is between 30-45 mm, and is reddish brown. Larvas are white, dig inside palm trees, and have long antennas. Adults appear at night.

Kingdom : Beetles, Darkling beetles, Insects

Insect follows Tenebrionidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is between 2.5-3 mm, and has brown colour. It is a dangerous pest in grain storage.

Kingdom : Grasshoppers, Grasshoppers, Crickets and Locusts, Insects

Insect follows Acrididae family, and Orthoptera order. It is light brown with black, size is about 25 mm. Adults and nymphs feed on herbal plants. Back legs are strong and long, help them move through jumping. Adults lay eggs in groups in soil.

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Large dabbling duck. Male easily told by dark greenish head, yellow bill, and brown breast and grey body. In flight see grey wings, dark blue speculum distinctly bordered by white, and white underwing coverts. Female is mottled brown like other female ducks and told mostly by size, bill shape, bill colour, and wing pattern. Differing […]

Kingdom : Birds, Martin

Broad-winged, almost square-tailed, largely brown martin. Dark brown upperparts lacking greyish tinge to rump; cheeks fairly dark usually contrasting with pale throat and underparts; fine spots on chin and throat can be hard to see; underparts buffish grey becoming darker towards tail-coverts without contrast; white spots in spread tail distinctive; underwing-coverts distinctly darker than flight-feathers […]

Kingdom : Beetles, Darkling beetles, Insects

Insect follows Tenebrionidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is between 12-15 mm, and has brown colour. Usually, larvas are used in petfoods (reptilia, fish and birds), and is useful because body contains high vitamins levels.

Kingdom : Flora, Grass

Growth form: Annual grass. Flowering. Apr. Status: Native. Local. Also recorded: Bahrain, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Occasional in sandy areas of S and W Qatar. Uses: Used for fodder (El Amin).

Kingdom : Birds, Buzzards and Falcons

Smallest falcon in the region; has short pointed wings and relatively long tail, speedy flight with fast wing-beats, interspersed with short quick glides. Male told by blue-grey upperparts with blackish primaries, broad black tail-band and ill-defined head pattern. Female and juvenile are brownish above, creamy below with dark streaks, diffuse moustache, barred primaries above and […]

Kingdom : Grasshoppers, Grasshoppers, Crickets and Locusts, Insects

Insect follows Acrididae family, and Orthoptera order. It is light brown with black, size is about 25 mm. Adults and nymphs feed on herbal plants. Back legs are strong and long, help them move through jumping. Adults lay eggs in groups in soil.

Kingdom : Birds, Starling

Plumage is deep brown, with a yellow bill and small yellow bare patch below the eye. In flight it shows a conspicuous large white patch across primary bases, on outer underwing-coverts and on tail corners. Walks on ground with an upright, strutting motion. A noisy bird.

Kingdom : Antlion lacewings, Insects, Net-Winged Insects

Insect follows Myrmeleontidae family, and Neuroptera order. It is dark brown and sides are yellow. Size is about 20-30 mm. Nymphs are small, without wings, make traps in sand to catch insects especially ants. Adults have clear membranes wings and body is thin and long.

Kingdom : Birds, Nightingale

Very similar to Thrush Nightingale but more russet-brown upper-parts, paler, rusty red tail, and often more conspicuous whiter eye-ring; underparts more ‘clean’, lacking mottled impression on breast and flanks. The central Asian race hafizi, which migrates through the eastern part of the region, shows pale fringes to the tertials and greater coverts, paler underparts and […]

Kingdom : Birds, Nightingale

Easily confused with Thrush Nightingale. But this species is paler and closer to grey brown colour with pale streaks on chest. Tail colour is rusty brown and eye ring is pale. Found in areas rich in trees and bushes, particulary lin town/city gardens and also in semi desert areas with plenty of shade cover.

Kingdom : Birds, Nightingale

Dark olivaceous grey-brown, resembling small thrush, with rusty red tail and pale underparts, whitish throat and eye-ring, Very similar to Nightingale but darker brown upperparts, duller rusty red tail and darker brownish grey breast and flanks indistinctly mottled when seen well at close range; best distinguished by rather far-carrying song. Very skulking.

Kingdom : Birds, Nightjar

The palest of the nightjars. Pale sandy grey base-colour, broad rows of inconspicuous buff tips to wing-coverts and white patch on side of neck (often very hard to see); in flight, very pale underwing, and above, dark flight-feathers which contrast with pale upperwing-coverts. Both sexes lack white patch in wing, but male shows pale creamy […]

Kingdom : Birds, Nightjar

The most patterned nightjar in the region and also the most widely encountered. The distinguishing features are the dark-streaked grey crown contrasting with rich brown cheeks and throat, and grey upperparts with broad bands of dark brown and buff on the scapulars and rows of buff bands on the coverts. Male has white spots in […]

Kingdom : Birds, Eagle

Easily told by long, narrow wings, distinctly angled when gliding, white under-surface with black carpals and band through centre of underwing, white crown and dark eye-mask. Variable dusky band across fore-neck (usually boldest in female). Juvenile has whitish scales and white line on greater coverts above. Flies with very steady shallow wing-beats, glides on smoothly […]

Kingdom : Birds, Owl

Medium-sized, strikingly pale owl, both when perched and in flight with white underparts (suffused ochreous on breast), heart-shaped face with black eyes and ochreous-buff upperparts. No other owl looks similar but note that when seen in car head-lights at night, most owls can look pale.

Kingdom : Birds, Owl

Unmistakable when perched and seen well, with long ear-tufts (though sometimes invisible when relaxed); facial disc noticeably warm buff with striking white divide and orange eyes. Flight has jerky, fairly stiff wing-beats with glides on level (sometimes slightly raised) wings. The wings are long and slightly curved with a dark carpal-patch above with orange base […]

Kingdom : Birds, Owl

Appearance very close to European Scops, but paler sandy grey above without white spots on crown or hindneck, greyer below with black streaks more sharply demarcated, being the only distinctive plumage feature (European Scops has black streaks more broken by vermiculations and paler blotches below, submerged by darker groundcolour); iris yellow. Juvenile has underparts completely […]

Kingdom : Birds, Owl

Largest of the owls. A winter visitor which can remain behind to breed. It is distinguished by the ear tufts and large orange eyes. Like other owls it is nocturnal but can be spotted also during the day hours. Feeds on small birds, rodents, insects, scorpions and has been observed feeding on large hares.

Kingdom : Birds, Owl

Resembles Long-eared, but occurs in open ground (Long-eared mostly seen among trees). Flies with slow, elegant and high wing-beats on long, slender wings raised during glides in shallow ‘V’ (shorter wings with shallower, faster wing-beats in Long-eared); often sits on ground and very short ear-tufts not always visible. Further differs from Long-eared in paler greyish […]

Kingdom : Gossamer-winged butterflies, Insects, Moths and Butterflies

Insect follows Lycaenidae family, and Lepidoptera order. It is blue and brown, wing is 24-32 mm long. Larvas feed on flowers, seeds, and cores of many Leguminous plants.

Kingdom : Beetles, Darkling beetles, Insects

Insect follows Tenebrionidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is between 4-5 mm, and has brown colour.

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Large, very slim and elegant dabbling duck. Long neck and tail obvious in flight with more pointed wings than other dabbling ducks. Male unmistakable white neck and underparts, grey upperparts contrasting with dark head and tail and dark slender bill. Female similar similar to other female dabbling ducks, but note dark bill, greyer plumage and […]

Kingdom : Birds, Pipit

Similar to Tree Pipit in general appearance but has finer, less stocky build and slightly longer tail. See Tree for further differences. Flies with short, irregular undulations. Flicks tail nervously on ground.

Kingdom : Birds, Pipit

Adult plumage has variable amount of reddish or pinkish buff on face, throat and upper breast. Plumage varies during summer and first winter regarding throat and breast colour, streaked rumps, flanks and stripes. Found in grassland, cultivated lands and marshes near water. Categorized in Qatar as passage migrant and winter visitor.

Kingdom : Birds, Pipit

Large robust pipit. Separated from sandier, smaller, adult Tawny by longer tail, legs and bill, very upright stance, prominently dark-streaked grey-brown upperparts, streaked breast and characteristic call. More undulating flight and longer tail give more wagtail-like flight than Tawny. Frequently hovers just before landing. On ground wags tail less frequently than Tawny.

Kingdom : Birds, Pipit

Medium-large pipit with relatively long tail, legs and bill and fairly upright stance which, together with adult’s poorly streaked sandy upperparts, nearly unstreaked breast, plain sandy wings with conspicuous dark-centred median coverts and bold whitish supercilium separate it from other pipits. Undulating flight slightly reminiscent of Yellow Wagtail. Runs quickly on the ground, stops suddenly […]

Kingdom : Birds, Pipit

Resembles Meadow but slightly larger and stockier and with slightly shorter tail; best told from Meadow by voice. Compared with Meadow, generally warmer grey-brown above (less grey-green), warmer yellow-buff on breast but belly whiter; breast often bolder striped but flanks usually finely streaked (often boldly in Meadow); dark malar and creamy submoustachial streak generally boldest […]

Kingdom : Birds, Pipit

Resembles slightly larger, more robust, lighter streaked version of Meadow but legs blackish brown (exceptions occur); compared with Meadow crown and mantle greyer, more indistinctly streaked and underparts whiter; in breeding season breast variably tinged rosy-pink and practically unstreaked; creamy white supercilium generally more pronounced. In winter, browner above though still greyer than Meadow; whiter […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

A slim and delicate plover mostly recalling sand plovers (which see) in size and general appearance, but separated by long attenuated body, with wings projecting well beyond tail-tip, when perched; proportionally longer legs, long neck and smaller head with rather fine tapering bill; broader white supercilium gives a ‘capped’ effect. Male breeding shows distinct blackish […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Dunlin-sized plover with orange legs and bill-base, strong black breast band and white hindneck collar; in flight, shows conspicuous white wing-bar, note also characteristic call. In adult non-breeding black is replaced by dark grey-brown, supercilium and forehead are tinged brown, and bill is nearly black. Juvenile similar to adult non-breeding, but is paler and duller, […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Has heavy, short-necked and pot-bellied appearance, comparatively short legs and bill, white underwing coverts and axillaries. Adult breeding is strikingly coloured black, white and golden; very contrasting in flight from below with white underwings and black belly; feet do not extend beyond tip of tail. Flight pattern above is rather uniform, dark brown spotted golden […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Resembles larger version of Lesser Sand (which see for further details), and isolated individuals can be almost impossible to separate. Note especially: larger size (obviously larger than Ringed); longer, more pointed bill, and larger, more angular head and big eye; sometimes reminiscent in shape of much larger Grey Plover; longer, usually yellowish green legs (especially […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Small, sandy plover with white underparts, rather long, blackish legs, conspicuous white hindneck-collar and never complete breast band, in flight, a clear, white wing-bar and broad, white sides to tail. Adult breeding male has variable, rufous cap, black frontal bar, and lateral black breast-patches. Breeding female, adult non-breeding and juvenile are much duller, lacking black […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Very similar to Greater Sand in all plumages, behaviour and general outline, and isolated individuals can be impossible to distinguish. Best separated by: size (body only slightly larger than Ringed, Greater Sand distinctly larger); shorter bill, less pointed, more swollen at tip (but overlap with Greater Sand occurs in western birds); head looks smaller, more […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Small, slim and long-winged plover; horizontal stance when perched. In breeding plumage similar to Ringed Plover, but breast band narrower and lacks white wing-bar in flight; note also yellow orbital ring, dark bill, white line behind black forecrown, and muddy coloured or pinkish legs. Adult non-breeding and juvenile have almost plain brown forehead with ill-defined […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lapwings and Plovers

Very similar to and easily confused with slightly bigger European Golden in all plumages. Best separated by generally slimmer structure, voice and underwing. Compared with European Golden, wings often (but not always) protrude 1-2 cm beyond tail-tip (most obvious in adult), bill is finer and longer, legs are clearly longer, particularly thighs, making it appear […]

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Sloping forehead leading into long bill is characteristic. No crest present. Male has chestnut head and neck, contrasting with black breast and pale grey body. Black bill has has pale grey band in centre. Eclipse male resembles female but greyer above. Female fairly nondescript with dullish brown head and breast, chin and eye-stripe paler, dark […]

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Plump, Mallard sized, diving duck, but often behaving as a surface feeder, sitting high on the water. Male diagnostic with large red head and paler erectile crest, red bill, black breast and white flanks. Eclipse male resembles female but with red bill. Female drab brown with pale grey cheeks contrasting with dark crown. Dark bill […]

Kingdom : Birds, Pratincole

Structure and behaviour as Collared (which see); difficult to distinguish between the two. Adult slightly darker above than Collared, with no contrast between flight-feathers and coverts, lacks white trailing edge to secondaries, and underwing-coverts are jet black (but reddish brown in Collared can be hard to see, often appearing dark), tail fork shallower; when perched […]

Kingdom : Birds, Pratincole

Distinctive, highly aerial wader, resembling terns in graceful fast flight, long pointed wings, deeply forked tail and short bill. Usually in loose flocks chasing winged insects. On ground, plover-like with quick tripping actions on rather short legs, often with upright stance, head held high. Adult has creamy buff throat bordered black; tail and wing-tips are […]

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

Small, plain, pale grey and buff warbler with long graduated tail, which is frequently raised. Streaked on crown, mantle and back. Round head, pale face and prominent eye. Tail dark above, pale below with black and white tips. Underparts off-white and streaked. Bill fine, black in breeding male, brown in female. Active and tame, raely […]

Kingdom : Grasshoppers, Grasshoppers, Crickets and Locusts, Insects

Insect follows Acrididae family, and Orthoptera order. It is light brown with green, size is about 20-25 mm. Adults and nymphs feed on herbal plants. Back legs are strong and long, help them move through jumping. Adults lay eggs in groups in soil.

Kingdom : Birds, Quail

Common, but highly secretive; more often heard than seen, and very hard to flush. In flight size of Starling; rather pointed narrow wings, fast shallow wing-beats, plain wings and striped back; creeps on ground and is a rather compact, very short-tailed gamebird, with noticeably pale buffish white under-body, streaked flanks, and dark- and yellow-striped upperparts. […]

Kingdom : Flora, Shrub

Growth form: Shrub. Flowering. Mar–Apr. Status: Native. Common. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Occasional or frequent in sandy or gravelly depressions, growing amongst Acacia, Ziziphus and Lycium. It can be seen by the roadside of the Al Shamal highway from north of Doha to Al Khor and from Al […]

Kingdom : Birds, Crake

Mostly heard, seldom briefly seen walking in cover along edge of reeds or other aquatic vegetation. Obviously smaller than Moorhen, but bigger than the three smaller crakes and easily told from them by long, slender bill. Adult has dark, mottled brown upperparts, uniform slate-blue sides of head and underparts with heavy black and white bars […]

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

Similar to Marsh Warbler but plumage is warmer brown with a rusty tinge to the rump. Has similar long wing-projection but with less obviously pale edges and has darker legs.

Kingdom : Flora, Herb

Growth form: Annual or biennial herb. Flowering. Mar–Apr. Status: Native. Very common. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Frequent to abundant on harder substrates; mainly C and S Qatar. Uses: Grazed by animals, especially goats and sheep (El Amin).

Kingdom : Flora, Shrub

Growth form: Shrub. Flowering. Sep–Oct. Status: Native. Local. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Abundant in parts of SW Qatar in sandy areas between Abu Sara Abdul Majidrah and Al Karaanah. Also found at Al Khor, and locally elsewhere. An area has recently been developed at the Al Sheehaniyah racecourse […]

Kingdom : Birds, Robin

Unmistakable brown chat with diagnostic orange-red face and breast; plump body, large dark eyes and short wings. Juvenile, which lacks red breast, is brown, distinctly spotted buff above and below, (attains adult plumage by end of summer). Usually hops close to ground in shadow (but often sings from high perch). Upright stance, rather tame and […]

Kingdom : Birds, Robin

Skulking behaviour similar to Nightingale but slightly smaller and slimmer, and showing rather long, fan-shaped, often cocked, tail. Upperparts grey-brown, contrasting with rufous rump and tail, the latter showing prominent black subterminal-band and white tips (broadening at sides), obvious above and below. Head distinctive with white supercilium contrasting with blackish eye-stripe. Juvenile has faintly mottled […]

Kingdom : Birds, Robin

Size and movements recall Nightingale: strikingly coloured male identified by black sides of face and head framing pure white centre of throat, rusty red underparts, blue-grey upperparts, black tail and whitish supercilium. Grey-brown female has dark brown tail, ochreous-buff sides of body, whitish throat bordered grey-buff at sides of head and breast, Generally shy and […]

Kingdom : Birds, Finches and Sparrows

Unstreaked grey-brown with a broad white streak where secondaries meet the tertials. It has a long primary projection, short dark tail with a white tip( seen in flight), strong pale bill, translucent looking brownish orange legs, sandy white underparts, 2 whitish wing-bars and a prominent dark eye in a pale face. In flight the long […]

Kingdom : Birds, Roller

Its turquoise-blue body and most wing-coverts contrasting with blackish flight-feathers, bright chestnut back and deep blue leading forewing above make this species unmistakable. The juvenile is duller and browner with lightly streaked neck and breast. In flight, has fast vigorous wing-beats, at times not unlike those of Lapwing. Medium–long tail narrow and square-cut. Often sits […]

Kingdom : Birds, Roller

Identified at all ages in flight by large, translucent pale turquoise-blue primary-patch (both surfaces) and pale turquoise-blue tail-feathers (except centrals) with clear-cut dark blue band at tip and base (seen when tail spread). Wing-tip clearly blunter than in European Roller. When perched, lightly white-streaked neck, throat and breast are vinous-cinnamon (turquoise-blue in European Roller) and […]

Kingdom : Birds, Finches and Sparrows

Finch with a fairly stout bill, stocky body and round head. Adult male easily told by red head, breast and rump contrasting with brown upperparts, Females, 1st year males and juveniles are dull olive-brown, lightly streaked above and more heavily streaked below, with 2 whitish or buffish wing-bars. Uniform head shows conspicuous dark eye. Often […]

Kingdom : Birds, Sandpiper

Resembles Redshank, but often stands more upright with longer neck, smaller head and proportionally short slightly drooping bill; often looks hump-backed and pot-bellied; female noticeably smaller than male (and smaller than Redshank). Flight lazy on rather broad wings deeply depressed on downstroke, sometimes interrupted with glides, especially before landing; flight pattern shows narrow, dull wing-bar […]

Kingdom : Flora, Sedge

Growth form: Sedge. Flowering. Apr–May. Status: Native. Local. Also recorded E Saudi Arabia. Habitat & distribution: Locally frequent in coastal saline sand, including Ras Laffan, Fuwairit and other areas in NE Qatar (Mohammed Al Safran). Notes: Not previously documented for Qatar.

Kingdom : Flora, Herb

Growth form: Annual herb. Flowering. Mar–Apr. Status: Native. Common. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Occasional to frequent in shallow or deep sand; mainly S Qatar. Uses: It is well known that the seed pods embed the in the hooves of livestock and can cause lameness. El Amin states that […]

Kingdom : Flora, Grass

Growth form: Annual or perennial grass. Flowering. Apr. Status: Native. Rare. First published record: Cope (2007). Also recorded: E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Details of the Cope record(s) not known, but a specimen of this species was collected by John Norton from a sandy depression in SW Qatar in 2007.

Kingdom : Birds, Sandpiper

Slightly larger than Dunlin with shorter, straighter bill. In winter, easily told by very pale plumage with often a dark mark at bend of wing. In summer and juvenile plumage more confusable with other small waders, particularly stints, especially if comparison is not possible. In summer plumage (often shown on spring passage), can be quite […]

Kingdom : Birds, Grouse

Elegant and dark especially in flight with diagnostic all-dark underwing continuous with dark chestnut belly, merging into paler breast and buffish yellow head in male. Female shows black-spotted breast above the black bar; male has golden wings with some dark barring, female narrowly vermiculated blackish upperparts, and yellowish buff head; both sexes show elongated tail […]

Kingdom : Birds, Sandpiper

Slightly smaller than Dunlin, from which told in all plumages by longer bill which is broad-based with downward droop near tip, shorter yellowish grey legs and double supercilium, especially noticeable in breeding plumage. In breeding plumage rather dark upperparts with white ‘V’ on mantle and white line on scapulars and white underparts with noticeable dark-spotted […]

Kingdom : Birds, Sandpiper

Short-legged wader with almost uniform brown upperparts, clean white underparts running up in a wedge between wing and breast side; rather long tail projecting far beyond wing-tips; short neck, horizontal stance, deep chest and constantly bobbing rear-body are also conspicuous features (though shared with Terek, which see). Additionally, has a unique flight action low over […]

Kingdom : Birds, Sandpiper

Told from Dunlin in all plumages by white rump, longer, more decurved bill and longer legs, giving it a more elegant appearance. Easily told in breeding plumage by chestnut-red face and underparts (often with white feather-fringes). In winter, plain grey above, white below with a light suffusion to breast sides and noticeable white supercilium; then […]

Kingdom : Beetles, Insects, Scarab beetles

Insect follows Scarabaeidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is between 7-9 mm, and has reddish brown colour. Adult females are active in spring and summer, and though nocturnal beetles, they are attracted to light. Adult females feed on leaves, buds, and flowers of several plants, but larvas feed on plant roots.

Kingdom : Bugs, Insects, Scentless plant bugs

Insect follows Rhopalidae family, and Hemiptera order. Size is 7 mm, and is brown in colour. It feeds on herbal plants.

Kingdom : Birds, Goose

A large, mainly white, goose-like duck. Black head and green gloss, broad chestnut belt around forepart of body and black belly-stripe with a prominent red bill. In flight, shows black flight feathers contrasting strongly with white upper and underwing coverts and black shoulders. Flight is goose like with slow wing beats.

Kingdom : Birds, Goose

Short necked, small billed, goose like duck with orange chestnut body and paler cinnamon-buff head. Black flight feathers with green speculum, striking white forewing and underwing coverts, and a black bill and legs. In flight told from other ducks and geese by size, striking black and white wing pattern, and orange-chestnut body.

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Medium sized, rather heavily built and short necked dabbling duck. Differs from all other ducks with huge spatulate bill. Swims with front end low and bill often dabbling in water. Shape and proportions unique. Male has unmistakable dark bill and glossy green head which contrast markedly with white breast and shoulder. Flanks and belly strikingly […]

Kingdom : Birds, Shrike

Comes to Qatar as winter visitor. Darker in colour compared to other Shrikes, with long black line extending from end of the black bill to behind the eye. Tail is long and reddish and wings in flight have distinctive white spot. Legs are slim and black. Chest and underparts white. Has the ability to dash […]

Kingdom : Birds, Finches and Sparrows

Small brown and whitish finch-type with large conical silver-grey bill, prominent eye and pointed black tail. Juvenile has pale edgings to wing feathers. Fairly tame and often in small groups, sitting close when perched, with tail waving and flicking. Light flight with small undulations.

Kingdom : Birds, Lark

Medium-sized with earth-grey upperparts streaked dark, and warm brown edges to tertials and coverts in fresh plumage; underparts buffish white heavily streaked/spotted on breast; can show a small crest (much smaller than in Crested and not spiky); rather indistinct head marks. Juvenile has upperparts spotted dark with scaly ochre markings. In flight, shows distinct whitish […]

Kingdom : Birds, Snipe

Medium-sized, dark brown wader with distinctly yellow-striped head and upperparts, dark-striped breast, barred flanks and very long bill, with which it probes in mud with vibrating movements. Often squats in low, swampy vegetation, and usually not seen until flushed at 10–15 m distance (at only about 1 m in Jack Snipe); rises explosively, immediately uttering […]

Kingdom : Birds, Snipe

Smallest snipe in region. Very hard to see on ground being superbly camouflaged and extremely difficult to flush; often rises silently at about 1 m distance, in low, slightly jerking flight, which is less powerful than Common Snipe’s and reminiscent of a small crake; settles almost immediately; short bill, blackish brown upperparts with two broad […]

Kingdom : Broad-headed bugs, Bugs, Insects

Insect follows Alydidae family, and Hemiptera order. Size is between 8-11 mm, and has bright brown colour. It feeds on cultivated and wild plant juices.

Kingdom : Birds, Finches and Sparrows

A common wide-spread sparrow. Male has a grey crown, chestnut brown sides to head, pale greyish cheeks, large black bib on chest and grey rump. Mantle and wing coverts are rufous-chestnut brown with a broad white wing bar on median coverts. Female and juvenile lack contrasting head and throat pattern, being buffish brown above, boldly […]

Kingdom : Birds, Finches and Sparrows

Resembles House Sparrow, but male has typically rufous brown crown and larger bib, extending to bold black streaks on breast and flanks. Back is boldly streaked black, marging at sides with black of breast. Cheeks are whitish, and the belly is white. It is not easy to distinguish female and juvenile from House Sparrow counterparts. […]

Kingdom : Birds, Finches and Sparrows

Plumage is olive grey brown. The long bill with strong base is black in breeding male, but rose brown in female and juvenile male. Male has a yellow spot on lower throat, surrounded by olive-grey breast band and lower cheeks, with whitish upper throat. Lesser coverts are chestnut, median coverts form broad white wing bar. […]

Kingdom : Birds, Lark

Small stocky lark with stout, deep-based, pale blue-grey bill with curved culmen. Male unmistakable with bold black and white head pattern, black underparts and underwing-coverts. Female has unstreaked pale sandy grey upperparts, faintly streaked crown, pale face and hindneck, pale buff underparts, faintly streaked across upper breast; blackish underwing-coverts always separate it from other small […]

Kingdom : Birds, Hawk

Female much larger than male, approaching male Goshawk, but wing-beats faster and lighter; rear-body thinner; wing-tips blunter; tail thinner, longer and more square-cut and head protrudes less. Series of quick wing-beats interspersed with short descending glides (stronger, straighter glides in Goshawk). Adult dark ash-grey above, barred rufous or brown below (rufous most in male); dark […]

Kingdom : Birds, Hawk

Similar to Eursian Sparrowhawk in plumage, but longer, narrower, less curved wings have more pointed tip, giving falcon-like appearance when gliding (separating also from blunt-winged Sparrowhawk). Male dull blue-grey above with blackish wing-tip and plain central tail-feathers; female browner, less contrasting and closed uppertail has dark band near tip. From below, male has white underwing […]

Kingdom : Birds, Sandpiper

Often the commonest small sandpipers on passage and in winter in the region. In summer plumage, colour on face, neck, breast and scapulars varies from dull orange to warm buff: always shows a pale ‘V’ on mantle and dark centre to crown; in this plumage confusion with Sanderling possible but note small size of Little […]

Kingdom : Birds, Sandpiper

Similar size to Little Stint but with more elongated body, shorter legs, which are yellowish grey in all plumages and white sides to tail (useful when flushed at short range). In summer, mainly grey-buff with dark centres to many scapulars, and lacking the rufous-orange tones of Little. In winter the dark scapulars are lost and […]

Kingdom : Flora, Grass

Growth form: Annual or short-lived perennial grass. Flowering. Not known. Status: Native. First published record: Cope (2007). Also recorded: E Saudi Arabia.Habitat & distribution: May occur in farm areas as an escape from cultivation.Uses: Cultivated for fodder. Notes: Derived from Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. and its wild ancestor S. arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf. (Cope).

Kingdom : Insects, Moths and Butterflies, Owlet moths

Insect follows Noctuidae family, and Lepidoptera order. It is grey-brown; wing is 36-50 mm long. Larvas feed on gramineous plant leaves in fields and farms.

Kingdom : Birds, Swallow

Easily distinguished by combination of bluish black upperparts (small white patches visible in tail when spread), long tail-streamers, chestnut forehead and throat, solid dark breast band and buffish white underparts including underwing-coverts. Juvenile lacks tail-streamers, has brownish breast band and wings and paler rusty forehead. Flight is strong and elegant with much banking and turning, […]

Kingdom : Birds, Swallow

Size, shape and bluish black upperparts much resembling Barn Swallow but easily distinguished by rufous collar and broad pale rufous rump; underparts, including underwing-coverts, buffish white, faintly streaked (hardly visible in flight); conspicuous black undertail-coverts striking when perched or in flight; lacks breast band and white in tail. Juvenile duller and browner with upperparts fringed […]

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Smallest of the common ducks found in the region. Readily takes to the wing with swift flight. At distance, male looks dark headed with greyish body, yellow patches oon side of rump and thin white horizontal stripe on side of body. Female told from Garganey female by evenly coloured head and throat, small light patch […]

Kingdom : Flora, Sedge

Growth form: Sedge. Flowering. May–Jun. Status: Native. Common. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: A plant characteristic of deeper sand, especially larger dunes, but in Qatar also locally abundant around coastal areas on beach sand and on white sand inland. Occasional to locally frequent in other habitats, such as sandy […]

Kingdom : Crickets, Grasshoppers, Crickets and Locusts, Insects

Kingdom : Dragonflies, Hawkers or Darners, Insects

Insect follows Aeshnidae family, and Odonata order. It is brown with blue spots, wings are clear membrane. Size is about 60-70 mm. Adults have strong wings, help them fly fast and chase prey. Adults are predators to flying insects especially flies and mosquitoes. Nymphs live in water, and are predators to mosquito’s larvas and micro-organisms […]

Kingdom : Birds, Thrush

Rather small thrush, with short tail and prominent bill. Male easily told by blue-grey upper parts and bib with white patch on back and dull red underparts and tail. In winter feathers of entire plumage edged dark and white producung a scalloped effect. Female and 1st winter similar to winter male but browner, resembling female […]

Kingdom : Birds, Thrush

A little thrush that has black spots (not lines) on whitish underparts, is brown above with pale yellowish brown underwing- coverts. Flight is fast and straight.

Kingdom : Beetles, Ground beetles, Insects

Beetle follows Carabidae family, and Coleoptera order. Size is between 9-12 mm, brassy brown; adults are diurnal and very fast whereas larvas live in holes. Adults and larvas are predators to smaller invertebrates, and plays important role in biological insect control.

Kingdom : Birds, Turnstone

A medium-sized, stocky, short-billed and short-legged wader; easily distinguished in breeding plumage by striking head and breast markings, chestnut shoulder-patch and wing-coverts, and bright orange legs. Flight is strong and direct and shows distinctive pied and chestnut appearance, black breast is a striking feature. In winter and juvenile plumage, head and neck are much darker, […]

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

A small sandy grey -brown warbler, with relatively long tail and legs. Rufous-brown tertials rump and closed upper tail. The tail, when spread is dark brown, with much white on sides with a rufous centre.The fine bill is mostly yellow, with yellowish iris and legs. Sometimes there is a pale area around the eye. Spends […]

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

Similar to Great Reed Warbler, but slightly smaller and slimmer with longer bill. A long more rounded tail, short wings with only 4 – 5 primary tips showing beyond tertials. Colder grey-brown plumage than Great Reed with less pronounced supercilium. Legs steely grey or or slate brown. Pale brown in Great Reed. Song is important […]

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

Small, dark skulking warbler with rounded tail when seen flushed and flying to cover, in short jerky flight. Upperparts olive-brown, heavily streaked, with faint supercilium. Underparts dirty white with streaking on rear flanks, undertail, and sometimes on darker breast.

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

A uniform grey-brown warbler, with a square-ended tail, and a short, relatively heavy bill, rounded head, greyish sides to neck and lacking any white in tail or wings. Most of the other warbler species have thinner, longer bills. Keeps well hidden in vegetation.

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

A very large warbler, which may be confused with Clamorous Reed Warbler. It looks like European Reed Warbler but is much bigger with a more prominent supercilium and heavier bill. Compared to Clamorous Reed Warbler, it has a longer primary projection ( 7 – 8 tips showing) A proportionally shorter tail and a shorter,slightly stouter […]

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

The smallest of the Acrocephalus warblers. Pale brown above, with slight olive tinge with a warmer coloured rump, Creamy buff below with buffier flanks. Shortish white supercilium and pale eye ring. A rounded tail ( like all Acrocephalus warblers) long undertail coverts and sloping forehead. Best told by pale fringed dark tertials, long primary projection, […]

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

A small short tailed warbler. Male has black forehead and ear coverts, with grey crown and brown grey mantle, wings with sandy feather-fringes and black alula. Females and juveniles are a pale sandy brown. In fresh plumage showwhite moustachial stripe, contrasting with pinkish-white throat and breast. Eye ring varies from salmon pink to red. Bill […]

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

Similar to Marsh and European Reed but slightly smaller. Short bill, more prominent supercilium, shorter wings, longer constantly flicking tail are the main differences to the other warblers. Warm wash to flanks and undertail. Bill brown with flesh coloured lower mandible. Bill can appear dark tipped.

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

The smallest warbler lacking any obvious markings. Similar to Chiffchaff, with upperparts pale brownish-grey, tinged olive. Indistinct pale to cream supercilium, narrow white eye-ring, dusky lores and and eye-stripe, and buff flecked ear-coverts. Underparts off-white, washed creamy on flanks. Legs and bill dark brown. Very active, constantly flicking wings, or seen in whirring and jerky […]

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

A large warbler. Warm brown in clour, with diffuse lines or spots on breast, long undertail coverts, sometimes pale tipped, Often seen on ground, with bobbing or raised tail, walking with jerky movements. A secretive bird.

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

A medium sized warbler. Buffish and streaked, with a buffish white supercilium. It has a pale crown, pale ear-coverts, with buffy streaked upper parts with a warm coloured rump.

Kingdom : Birds, Warbler

Similar to Booted Warbler, but subtly different, having longer bill with pale lower mandible. Tail longer, with grey pinkish legs, and pale underparts. Frequents damp scrub habitat and grazed mangroves and trees.

Kingdom : Flora, Herb

Growth form: Annual herb. Flowering. Feb–Apr. Status: Native. Local. Also recorded: Bahrain, Kuwait, E Saudi Arabia, UAE. Habitat & distribution: Only a single plant was found during a survey of western Qatar in 2007 (John Norton and S. Aspinall). Batanouny recorded it as ‘fairly common especially in sandy habitats in S Qatar’.

Kingdom : Birds, Wheatear

Resembles large female Northern Wheatear but, generally, more robust in build, with longer legs and bill, slightly shorter tail and more upright stance; best separated by isolated black alula in paler, more uniform sandy wings, contrasting less with upperparts (has broader pale feather-edges to wings than Northern Wheatear; note that some first autumn Northern can […]

Kingdom : Birds, Coursers and Whimbrels

Smaller, and slightly darker than Curlew, with faster wing-beats. Bill usually shorter and more decurved near the tip (though overlaps with young Curlew in length), dark crown with pale central stripe and dark eye-stripe give head more contrast than in other curlews; flight-pattern similar to larger Curlew and slightly smaller Bar-tailed Godwit (note bill-shape of […]

Kingdom : Hawk moths, Sphinx moths, and Hornworms, Insects, Moths and Butterflies

Insect follows Sphingidae family, and Lepidoptera order. Frontal wing colour is dark brown, with black stripes. Back wing is black with a rose stripe. Wing is about 65-90 mm long. Larvas attack grapes, Herbs, sallow apples and tomatoes.

Kingdom : Birds, Whitethroat

A middle-sized warbler resembles Lesser Whitethroat, but differs in having chestnut fringes to coverts and secondaries. Tail is slightly longer, legs are orange and eye ring is white. Females and 1st winter birds birds lack the grey wash present in males, with dark iris (not orange). Similar to Lesser Whitethroat but can always be identified […]

Kingdom : Birds, Whitethroat

Slightly smaller than Lesser Whitethroat with smaller bill, and paler washed out plumage. Upperparts grey-buff or sandy brown with pale edgings to wing feathers. Buffish grey crown and darkish ear-coverts. (paler than Lesser or Hume’s) Underparts clean sandy white with white throat. More active than other whitethroats, frequently flicking tail.

Kingdom : Birds, Whitethroat

A small to medium sized warbler. Genearally grey-brown above with browner wings, medium -grey crown and darker ear coverts, which often vary in prominence. Has a white throat with a contrasting dusky-washed breast. Differs from Common Whitethroat in abcense of rusty fringes to wing feathers. It has dark ear-coverts and dark legs. Ist year birds […]

Kingdom : Birds, Duck

Medium sized rather rufous duck with short neck, rounded, steep forehead and small grey bill, tipped black. Looks to have a high rear end when seen on water. Has a white belly patch, obvious in flight and when on land. Adult male has creamy yellow forehead and forecrown contrasting with chestnut head and neck, pinkish […]

Kingdom : Flora, Grass

Growth form: Annual grass. Flowering. Apr. Status: Native. Local. Also recorded: UAE. Habitat & distribution: Probably occasional throughout Qatar on shallow soils. Uses: Used for fodder (El Amin).

Kingdom : Birds, Wryneck

Its skulking behaviour and nightjar-like plumage often make it difficult to study in detail. Reminiscent of large long-tailed warbler or greyish female Red-backed Shrike when dropping into cover in low foliage, or slipping away in low, shallowly undulating flight. Often forages on ground close to cover. Distinctive features when seen well are pointed head/bill and […]