The Desert Finch is mainly resident in Saudi Arabia. It is now regarded as a common breeding resident but was previously thought to be a scarce visitor to the northwest of Saudi Arabia until 1975. Since then the range has expanded dramatically due to increased agriculture abd several areas have been colonized, including Riyadh, Hail, al-Jawf and Tabuk. Despite its name it is not a truly desert species and prefers cultivated areas with trees and bushes, especially orchards, as well as gardens and plantations. It also occurs in the weedy edges of pivot-irrigated fields and dry scrub adjacent to farms. We saw a flock of about fifty birds, the first ones I have come across in Saudi Arabia, along a razor wire fence near a large pool in the desert. Birds were dropping down to drink for the pool and then flying back to the fence.
