The bird life in the UAE is surprisingly rich and diverse with more than 400 species recorded. The reason tor this abundance is the UAE’s location on an important migratory crossroads, where at least 320 migrants from Siberia and Central Asia have been identified. Some of these birds migrate through the country: during spring and autumn, others overwinter during the cooler months.

This, however, does not mean there’s a lack of colourful indigenous species to be seen and serious birdwatchers will always be on the look out for specials such as Chestnut- bellied Sandgrouse, White- collared Kingfisher, Hume’s Wheatear and Purple Sunbird.

Birds tend to favour certain habitats and the species you’re most likely to come across are those that thrive in the dunes, plains and mountains, with the wadis, villages and oases providing additional variety.

Few species of birds choose to live in the harsh desert with its limited food reserves. Of those that do, the most common are the larks and, of these, the Hoopoe Lark, which is well adapted to running through desert sands, is probably the most common resident. Another common smaller desert-breeding bird is the Black-crowned Finch Lark, known locally as the BCFL. Some other interesting species to watch out for include the Eagle Owl, Brown-necked Raven, Cream-coloured Courser, Stone Curlew and various species of sandgrouse.

In an interesting and unusual desert adaptation, the sandgrouse supply their young with water that they transport over large distances in their specially modified breast and belly feathers.

Among the species that prefer the rocky environment of the mountains, with their deeply-incised wadis, are the Egyptian and Griffon vultures, Kestrel, Little Owl, Desert Lark, Chukar and See-see partridges, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Arabian Babbler, Grey Wagtail, Yellow-throated Sparrow, Little Green Bee-eater, Pale Crag Martin, Blue Rock Thrush and several species of wheatear.

Newcomers to the region will benefit from a good guide to enhance their bird-watching activities and an ideal introduction to the birds of the UAE is Birds of the Southern Gulf by Dave Robinson and Adrian Chapman, published by Motivate.