Madinah Authority Documents 26 Bird Species to Promote Birdwatching
Experts and researchers joined an awareness drive to encourage birdwatching and photography and pave the way for dedicated sites across the region.
The Madinah Region Development Authority, working with experts and researchers, is raising awareness of the region’s bird diversity to encourage birdwatching and photography and pave the way for investment in dedicated birdwatching sites across the region.
The authority has documented 26 common bird species and published a detailed reference guide covering Arabic and English names, diagnostic characteristics, preferred habitats and feeding patterns. The initiative is intended to help residents and visitors identify species and understand where they are commonly found across Madinah’s varied landscapes.
Among the species highlighted are the bright yellow weaver bird, noted for intricate nests woven among jujube and palm trees, the white cow heron, often seen near livestock in locations such as Al Bayda Park and Wadi Al Aqiq, and the sandgrouse, which breeds in valleys outside Madinah. Other species commonly recorded include the common myna, rose-ringed parakeet, laughing dove, eastern bee-eater, collared dove, rock pigeon, hoopoe, kingfisher and black kite.
Madinah’s environments span farms, valleys and coastal areas that support regional biodiversity. The report noted that these settings “continue to serve as vital habitats supporting the region’s biodiversity, reflecting ongoing efforts by Saudi authorities to protect wildlife and promote sustainable ecotourism.”
