The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is important ornithologically, both for its resident birds as well as for migrants and is on important north-south and east-west migratory pathways. The area serves as an important stop for birds migrating from Asia to wintering spots in Africa and from wintering quarters in Africa to breeding ranges in Europe and western Asia. Saudi Arabia boasts ten of the eleven Arabian endemic bird species - these are:-
- Arabian Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala)
- Philby's Partridge (Alectoris philbyi)
- Arabian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos dorae)
- Yemen Thrush (Turdus menachensis)
- Yemen Serin (Serinus menachensis)
- South Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides)
- Yemen Warbler (Sylvia buryi)
- Arabian Waxbill (Estrilda rufibarba)
- Arabian Serin (Serinus rothschildi)
- Yemen Linnet (Carduelis yemenensis)
Only one fails to make it across the Yemen border into Saudi Arabia:-
- Arabian Accentor (Prunella fagani)
Of the ten Arabian endemic species that occur in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there are none that are endemic to Saudi Arabia alone. The Asir province, which is an Afro-tropical region bordering the Red Sea, is where these Arabian endemics occur in Saudi Arabia and they can be found in the Abha (capital of Asir province) area of the Asif mountains at 1525 meters. Abha is connected by air to both Jeddah and Riyadh.
Eastern Province
The Eastern Province is classified as Persian Gulf Desert and Semi-Desert and is a flat desert plain with a width of 80 km and a length of 1200km, spreading over an area of 778,500 square kilometers and making up 36% of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are many species that pass through the area as well as many more that arrive for the summer or winter seasons. Others are resident all year around and over 350 species of birds have been recorded in the region.
