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.

Guest blog by Fraser Bell from Birding Ecotours on the incredible owl species to be found in the Sultanate of Oman.

According to the Birds of the Middle East (3rd ed.), the native range of White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) is from Iraq, Iran, to...

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 (August 9, 2026): A Yellow-billed Egret (Ardea brachyrhyncha) transitioning out of breeding plumage was documented and reported by Ferdinand Binuya at Al Sadd Lake in the Jazan Region on August 7, 2026. The individual still retains the bright green lores and light-colored tibias characteristic of breeding-plumaged birds. It also lacks the black tip to the bill often seen in non-breeding birds. Taken together, these features confirm this as the first unambiguous record