The Mourning and Arabian Wheatears present one of Arabia’s most challenging ID problems. Subtle plumage differences, overlapping ranges, and shifting taxonomy mean misidentifications have been common, especially in southern Oman and southwest Saudi Arabia. This guide highlights key field marks, habitat preferences, and behavior to help birders separate the two and contribute valuable records to clarify their true status.

A male African Stonechat perched atop a juniper tree near the edge of the Raydah Escarpment in the Asir Region. A female was also...

Update (July 28, 2025):  New evidence from the Jazan region confirms the presence of Medium Egret ( Ardea intermedia ) in southwestern...

Originally posted January 4, 2022 A Taxonomic Tangle The Graceful Prinia ( Prinia gracilis ) is a small, brownish, long-tailed warbler of...

Recently a misidentified swamphen from Qatar in my eBird review queue brought my attention to the fact the small Gulf nation has both...