Kuwait’s mix of coastline, salt flats and desert creates predictable stopovers for migrating birds and a few hardy residents, so even short trips can yield surprising sightings. Local reserves and coastal inlets concentrate species, making the country manageable for both quick visits and focused birding days.
There are 80 Birds of Kuwait, ranging from Barn Swallow to Yellow Wagtail. For each species you’ll find below the Scientific name, Status, Where seen to help with identification and trip planning — a compact, searchable format you can use in the field, and you’ll find below the full list and details.
When is the best time to see the most species in Kuwait?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) migration windows are the richest for species totals, while winter brings large numbers of waterfowl and passage raptors; aim for early mornings and check coastal wetlands and reedbeds for the best variety.
How can I use this list to plan a birding outing?
Sort entries by Where seen and Status to pick accessible sites and likely targets, note the Scientific name for clear ID, time visits by migration/winter peaks, bring binoculars and a field guide, and respect local rules and protected areas while birding.
Birds of Kuwait
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Where seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | Winter visitor, locally common | Coast, saltmarsh, wetlands |
| Ruddy Shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | Winter visitor, fairly common | Wetlands, reservoirs, coastal lagoons |
| Northern Shoveler | Spatula clypeata | Winter visitor, common | Wetlands, coastal lagoons, saltpans |
| Garganey | Spatula querquedula | Passage migrant and winter visitor, common in season | Wetlands, marsh edges, coastal lagoons |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Winter visitor and occasional resident, common | Wetlands, reservoirs, urban parks |
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | Winter visitor, common | Wetlands, saltpans, coastal lagoons |
| Common Pochard | Aythya ferina | Winter visitor, fairly common | Freshwater wetlands, reservoirs |
| Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula | Winter visitor, fairly common | Lakes, reservoirs, coastal inlets |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | Resident, common | Freshwater pools, marsh channels, urban ponds |
| Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus | Winter visitor, uncommon | Coastal inlets, larger lakes |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | Winter visitor, common | Coast, rocky jetties, lagoons |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | Resident and passage migrant, common | Coast, saltmarsh, wetlands |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | Resident, common | Urban parks, wetlands, fields |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | Resident and winter visitor, fairly common | Wetlands, coast, canals |
| Purple Heron | Ardea purpurea | Passage migrant and occasional breeder, uncommon | Reedbeds, marshes, wetlands |
| Western Reef Heron | Egretta gularis | Resident, uncommon to locally common | Coast, rocky shorelines, mangroves |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus | Resident and winter visitor, common | Saltpans, mudflats, wetlands |
| Pied Avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta | Winter visitor and passage migrant, common | Saltpans, coastal mudflats, lagoons |
| Spur-winged Lapwing | Vanellus spinosus | Resident and winter visitor, common | Wetlands, saltpans, agricultural fields |
| Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | Resident and passage migrant, common | Beaches, saltmarsh, sandflats |
| Greater Sand Plover | Charadrius leschenaultii | Passage migrant and winter visitor, very common | Sandy beaches, mudflats, saltmarsh |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | Passage migrant and winter visitor, common | Beaches, surf zones, mudflats |
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | Winter visitor, common | Mudflats, saltmarshes, coastal lagoons |
| Curlew Sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | Passage migrant, common | Mudflats, saltpans, coastal lagoons |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | Winter visitor, common | Rocky shores, jetties, coastal mudflats |
| Little Stint | Calidris minuta | Passage migrant, fairly common | Mudflats, saltpans, wet margins |
| Marsh Sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis | Passage migrant, fairly common | Shallow wetlands, marsh edges, saltpans |
| Common Redshank | Tringa totanus | Winter visitor, fairly common | Coastal mudflats, saltmarsh, lagoons |
| Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia | Passage migrant, fairly common | Mudflats, shallow coastal waters, wetlands |
| Terek Sandpiper | Xenus cinereus | Passage migrant, uncommon to fairly common | Sandy mudflats, estuary edges |
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia | Passage migrant and winter visitor, common | Coast, estuaries, lagoons |
| Gull-billed Tern | Gelochelidon nilotica | Passage migrant and summer visitor, fairly common | Coastal flats, saltpans, islands |
| Sandwich Tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | Passage migrant, common | Coastal waters, beaches, estuaries |
| Lesser Crested Tern | Thalasseus bengalensis | Passage migrant and summer visitor, common | Coast, sandy islands, mangroves |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons | Passage migrant and local breeder, uncommon | Sandy beaches, sandbars, coastal flats |
| White-cheeked Tern | Sterna repressa | Passage migrant and winter visitor, fairly common | Coastal waters, mangroves, sandbars |
| Slender-billed Gull | Chroicocephalus genei | Passage migrant and winter visitor, uncommon to fairly common | Coast, saltpans, lagoons |
| Black-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | Winter visitor, common in season | Coast, saltpans, urban ponds |
| Common Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | Resident, common | Desert, agricultural land, urban areas |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | Passage migrant and occasional winter visitor, uncommon | Coast, open desert, urban tall structures |
| Saker Falcon | Falco cherrug | Vagrant and falconry-linked, rare | Desert, open country |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Passage migrant and winter visitor, uncommon | Coast, estuaries, reservoirs |
| Steppe Eagle | Aquila nipalensis | Passage migrant and winter visitor, uncommon to occasional | Desert, open country, coastal plains |
| Western Marsh Harrier | Circus aeruginosus | Passage migrant and winter visitor, uncommon | Wetlands, reedbeds, coastal marshes |
| Pallid Harrier | Circus macrourus | Passage migrant, uncommon | Open fields, coastal plains, desert edges |
| Common Buzzard | Buteo buteo | Passage migrant and occasional winter visitor, uncommon | Open country, coastal plains |
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Resident, common (feral) | Urban, ports, buildings |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | Resident, common | Urban, gardens, scrub |
| Laughing Dove | Spilopelia senegalensis | Resident, common | Urban gardens, scrub, agricultural edges |
| European Turtle-Dove | Streptopelia turtur | Passage migrant, uncommon | Scrub, gardens, farmland |
| Hoopoe | Upupa epops | Passage migrant and occasional breeder, uncommon | Parks, gardens, scrub, desert margins |
| Crested Lark | Galerida cristata | Resident, common | Desert edges, open ground, urban wasteland |
| Desert Lark | Ammomanes deserti | Resident, common in desert | Stony desert, dunes, open arid areas |
| Greater Short-toed Lark | Calandrella brachydactyla | Passage migrant and winter visitor, fairly common | Open fields, desert margins, fallow land |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Passage migrant and summer visitor, common in season | Urban areas, wetlands, coastal plain |
| Red-rumped Swallow | Cecropis daurica | Passage migrant and summer visitor, uncommon to fairly common | Cliffs, bridges, buildings, coastal plains |
| White Wagtail | Motacilla alba | Passage migrant and winter visitor, common | Urban areas, mudflats, wetlands |
| Yellow Wagtail | Motacilla flava | Passage migrant, common in season | Wet meadows, irrigation channels, saltmarsh |
| Common Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | Passage migrant and winter visitor, fairly common | Scrub, parks, reed edges |
| Palestine Sunbird | Cinnyris oseus | Resident and passage migrant, uncommon | Gardens, thorn scrub, coastal palms |
| Plain Prinia | Prinia inornata | Resident, fairly common in suitable habitat | Reedbeds, scrub, gardens, wetlands |
| Eurasian Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | Passage migrant and summer visitor, fairly common | Reedbeds, marsh edges, wetlands |
| Isabelline Shrike | Lanius isabellinus | Passage migrant and winter visitor, fairly common | Desert edges, scrub, coastal plains |
| Common Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Passage migrant and winter visitor, common in season | Urban areas, coastal flats, agricultural land |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Resident, very common | Urban, gardens, markets |
| Common Myna | Acridotheres tristis | Resident, common in urban areas | Urban parks, gardens, ports |
| Brown-necked Raven | Corvus ruficollis | Resident, common in desert and coast | Desert, coastal plains, open country |
| House Crow | Corvus splendens | Resident and coastal, common near ports | Harbours, coastal towns, urban waterfronts |
| Northern Wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe | Passage migrant, common | Open ground, coastal plains, rocky areas |
| Isabelline Wheatear | Oenanthe isabellina | Passage migrant and winter visitor, fairly common | Desert, open scrub, coastal plains |
| Desert Wheatear | Oenanthe deserti | Resident and passage migrant, common | Stony desert, dunes, scrub |
| White-crowned Wheatear | Oenanthe leucopyga | Resident, fairly common in desert and rocky areas | Rocky desert, rough ground, scrub |
| Common Redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | Passage migrant, uncommon | Scrub, gardens, irrigated areas |
| European Bee-eater | Merops apiaster | Passage migrant and summer visitor, common in season | Open country, farms, roadside perches |
| European Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | Resident and passage migrant, fairly common | Gardens, parks, scrub, cultivation |
| Indian Silverbill | Euodice malabarica | Resident, common in suitable habitat | Desert fringes, scrub, cultivated land, gardens |
| Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | Resident and passage migrant, uncommon | Coastal mangroves, canals, reservoirs |
| Spotted Sandgrouse | Pterocles senegallus | Resident, common in desert | Open sandy desert, dunes, gravel plains |
| Crowned Sandgrouse | Pterocles coronatus | Resident, fairly common in desert | Sandy and stony deserts, open arid plains |
| Black-bellied Sandgrouse | Pterocles orientalis | Resident and winter visitor, uncommon to fairly common | Open plains, desert steppe, agricultural margins |
Images and Descriptions
Greater Flamingo
Iconic pale-pink flocks winter on Kuwait’s coastal shallows and mudflats. Long-legged, filter-feeding, often in large gatherings—easy to spot from bird hides and coastal roads between November and March.
Ruddy Shelduck
Striking orange-brown waterfowl seen in small groups on wetlands and coastal pools in winter. Tame and vocal, they stand out against dark water and are often among the first ducks migrants bring to Kuwait.
Northern Shoveler
Recognisable by its broad spatulate bill and dabbling feeding style. Arrives in larger numbers November–March, feeding in shallow wetlands and saltpans where it mixes with other wintering ducks.
Garganey
Small, elegant dabbling duck with a distinctive male white head stripe in spring. Seen on migration and in winter, especially in vegetated freshwater marshes and pools.
Mallard
Familiar green-headed males and mottled females turn up at Kuwait’s freshwater sites in winter. Adaptable and often tame in urban park ponds.
Northern Pintail
Slim, graceful duck with a long pointed tail. Large wintering flocks use shallow coastal and inland wetlands; conspicuous in flight due to long silhouette.
Common Pochard
Diving duck with reddish-brown head and rounded profile. Appears at deeper freshwater reservoirs and pools during winter months, often in modest flocks.
Tufted Duck
Black-and-white diving duck with a prominent tuft on the nape. Seen at freshwater sites and sheltered coastal inlets between November and March.
Little Grebe
Tiny, compact grebe that dives readily when disturbed. Resident breeders in small wetlands and urban ponds; surprisingly conspicuous when alarmed and flashing chestnut neck in breeding season.
Great Crested Grebe
Large grebe with ornate head plumes in breeding season; in Kuwait it is mainly a winter visitor on sheltered waters and occasionally along the coast.
Great Cormorant
Dark, long-bodied fish-eater seen drying wings on jetties and rocks. Regular winter visitor along the Gulf coast where it forages inshore.
Little Egret
Slim white heron with black legs and yellow feet. Frequent on mudflats and marsh edges year-round; active, often seen hunting in shallow water.
Cattle Egret
Compact white heron that follows livestock and urban activity. Breeds locally and is widespread in green areas and wetlands, often in small noisy flocks.
Grey Heron
Large, slow-moving heron seen standing motionless at pond edges and tidal channels. Present year-round with peaks in winter when migrants join.
Purple Heron
Long-necked, secretive heron preferring dense reed habitats. Seen mainly passing through or in small numbers at reed-fringed freshwater marshes during migration.
Western Reef Heron
Grey or dark morph coastal heron often found on rocky shores and tidal flats. Wary but regular along the Gulf; best seen at low tide hunting crustaceans and fish.
Black-winged Stilt
Long-legged, delicate wader with black wings and pink legs. Common on shallow saltpans and mudflats, where it probes for invertebrates year-round.
Pied Avocet
Stylish black-and-white wader with upcurved bill for sweeping food from shallow water. Appears in flocks on coastal flats in winter and migration.
Spur-winged Lapwing
Bold, black-and-white lapwing with a distinctive spur on the wing. Regular near inland wetlands and coastal saltpans; noisy and easy to spot.
Kentish Plover
Small, pale plover frequenting sandy beaches and tidal flats. Breeds locally and is one of the most familiar shorebirds around Kuwait’s coastlines.
Greater Sand Plover
Chunky plover of open sand and mudflats. Very common on the Gulf shore during migration and winter; often stops to feed in flocks.
Sanderling
Small, energetic sandpiper that runs with the surf on sandy beaches. Seen during migration and winter in loose flocks along exposed coastlines.
Dunlin
Small plump wader with a down-curved bill in winter. Numbers swell on mudflats in colder months, often mixed with other calidrid waders.
Curlew Sandpiper
Bright rufous in breeding plumage, slender in winter. Strong migrant through Kuwait’s coastal wetlands during spring and autumn.
Ruddy Turnstone
Stout, patterned wader that flips stones and debris in search of food. Regular along rocky coasts and man-made structures throughout winter.
Little Stint
Tiny, active wader seen on mud and shallow water edges during migration. Look for small flocks probing for invertebrates at low tide.
Marsh Sandpiper
Slender-legged wader with delicate profile. Moves through Kuwait during migrations, favoring vegetated shallow pools and saltpans.
Common Redshank
Medium-sized redshank with loud piping call. Regular on tidal flats and marsh edges in winter, often near mixed wader flocks.
Common Greenshank
Long-legged, long-billed wader that walks and probes in shallow water. Seen seasonally on migration and in winter along coastal marshes and lagoons.
Terek Sandpiper
Distinctive up-turned bill and active feeding style. Often found at the water’s edge during migration; noticeable silhouette in flight.
Caspian Tern
Large, thick-billed tern with a heavy flight. Regular over Kuwait’s Gulf waters and coastal inlets, often seen fishing offshore.
Gull-billed Tern
Chunky tern with a short bill; forages over mudflats and saltpans and sometimes breeds locally on islands and sands.
Sandwich Tern
Sleek tern with a shaggy crest and angular wings. Flies over offshore waters catching fish; seen along Kuwait’s Gulf coast in migration and winter.
Lesser Crested Tern
Warm-grey tern with orange bill common in the Arabian Gulf. Seen fishing offshore and roosting on islands; a characteristic Gulf tern species.
Little Tern
Tiny tern that nests on sandy beaches and forages close to shore. Vulnerable locally to disturbance but visible in small numbers during migration and summer.
White-cheeked Tern
Gulf specialist tern with white cheeks and slender bill. Regular over inshore waters and roosts on sheltered sandbanks.
Slender-billed Gull
Elegant pale gull with a slender bill and pale head in winter. Appears on coastal flats and sheltered lagoons during migration and winter months.
Black-headed Gull
Small gull with dark winter hood and noisy presence. Widespread on coastal mudflats and urban water bodies in winter.
Common Kestrel
Small falcon often seen hovering above roads and fields. A familiar resident predator that hunts small mammals and insects across urban and desert habitats.
Peregrine Falcon
Powerful, fast falcon that passes through Kuwait, sometimes hunting along the coast or perched on tall buildings; a spectacular sight when in flight.
Saker Falcon
Large falcon historically associated with regional falconry; wild records in Kuwait are rare but possible, and escaped/released individuals appear occasionally.
Osprey
Fish-eating raptor seen hunting over coastal waters and larger inland reservoirs during migration; distinctive hovering and plunge-diving behavior.
Steppe Eagle
Large eagle passing through in migration and sometimes wintering; seen on migration days and in open desert where it scavenges and hunts small mammals.
Western Marsh Harrier
Long-winged harrier gliding low over marshes and reedbeds. Present during migration and winter where it hunts over reed-fringed wetlands.
Pallid Harrier
Slender harrier that migrates through Kuwait in autumn and spring. Males show pale grey underparts and float low over open ground.
Common Buzzard
Broad-winged raptor seen on migration and occasionally in winter. Soaring and perched birds can be spotted over agricultural or open desert landscapes.
Rock Pigeon
Feral pigeons are ubiquitous in Kuwait’s towns and ports. Look for grey barred wings and the classic city pigeon silhouette around markets and buildings.
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Pale, long-tailed dove with a distinct black neck crescent. Common in towns and green patches across Kuwait, cooing from wires and trees.
Laughing Dove
Small, warm-brown dove often seen on the ground in parks and gardens. Resident and tame in many urban and peri-urban areas.
European Turtle-Dove
Delicate migratory dove passing through in spring and autumn. Numbers have declined regionally but migrants still appear in suitable shrubby habitat during migration.
Hoopoe
Distinctive crest and probing bill make this bird hard to miss during migration. Appears in open green areas and field margins when moving through Kuwait.
Crested Lark
Singing, streaky lark common across open, dry ground. Often perches on posts and stones; a familiar desert species throughout the year.
Desert Lark
Tough, sandy-coloured lark well-adapted to Kuwait’s bare desert. Behaves quietly on the ground but commonly encountered in remote arid habitats.
Greater Short-toed Lark
Small lark that forms loose flocks on bare ground during migration and winter. Typically sings in flight and feeds on seeds and insects.
Barn Swallow
Familiar summer migrant with forked tail, seen hawking insects in towns and over wetlands. Arrives in spring and departs in autumn.
Red-rumped Swallow
Sleek swallow with a rufous rump that nests on cliffs and structures; seen around coastal areas and reservoirs during migration and summer.
White Wagtail
Energetic, pied wagtail bobbing on shorelines, roads and urban ponds. Common during migration and winter in a variety of open wet and dry habitats.
Yellow Wagtail
Brightly coloured in breeding plumage, this wagtail passes through on migration and uses irrigated fields and shallow wetlands to feed.
Common Chiffchaff
Small, plain warbler with a distinctive “chiff-chaff” call. Moves through Kuwait in autumn and spring, wintering in suitable vegetated areas.
Palestine Sunbird
Tiny, iridescent nectar-feeding bird with a curved bill. Local resident in greener gardens and scrub; a colourful and vocal presence where present.
Plain Prinia
Small, active warbler of dense vegetation and reed margins. Common in patches of tall grass and reeds near freshwater and marshy areas.
Eurasian Reed Warbler
Brown, skulking warbler of dense reeds. Evident by song in suitable reed habitats during migration and the breeding season in better wetlands.
Isabelline Shrike
Pale brown shrike with hooked bill and habit of perching exposed while hunting large insects and small vertebrates during migration.
Common Starling
Gregarious, iridescent black starling forming flocks on fields and coastal mudflats in winter. Noisy and conspicuous in towns and farmland.
House Sparrow
Tiny, sociable sparrow ubiquitous around people. Breeds in buildings, feeds on scraps and seeds; a familiar soundtrack of urban Kuwait.
Common Myna
Bold, noisy introduced starling-like bird that thrives in towns and suburbs. Often around markets and gardens, easily recognized by yellow eye-patch and dark body.
Brown-necked Raven
Large, heavy-set raven of arid zones and coastline. Common in open desert and coastal scrub, scavenging and often seen perched on vantage points.
House Crow
Shoreline-loving crow common around docks and coastal settlements. Opportunistic and noisy, often seen scavenging near fishing areas and markets.
Northern Wheatear
Small, upright migrant with a pale belly and bold eye-stripe. Flies through during migration, stopping on open ground and rocky outcrops.
Isabelline Wheatear
Pale sandy wheatear common in arid landscapes during migration and winter. Perches on low rocks and posts and is often seen on the open desert.
Desert Wheatear
Bold desert specialist with upright stance and black face mask in males. Common on sandy and stony deserts year-round.
White-crowned Wheatear
Striking wheatear with a white crown and bold tail pattern. Prefers rocky and stony habitats where it perches visibly on stones and boulders.
Common Redstart
Colorful migrant with orange-red tail and chest in males. Seen in small numbers passing through gardens and green patches during migration.
European Bee-eater
Brilliant multi-coloured bird that hawks insects from exposed perches. Spectacular flocks pass through in spring and autumn and can be seen on migration stopovers.
European Goldfinch
Small, bright finch with red face and black-and-white head. Common in green areas and gardens where it feeds on seeds and thistles.
Indian Silverbill
Tiny, sociable seed-eater introduced/established in arid and suburban areas. Often forms loose flocks at water and in thorn scrub.
Common Kingfisher
Small, flashily coloured fish-eating bird that favours clear water and perches low above pools and canals. Seen where fish are abundant.
Spotted Sandgrouse
Grouped, pigeon-like desert bird that flies out to water at dawn and dusk. Well adapted to arid life and often seen in small flocks near desert water sources.
Crowned Sandgrouse
Elegant sandgrouse with patterned wings and strong direct flight. Visits water regularly at dawn and dusk and is a classic desert species.
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Plump sandgrouse with bold belly markings and long, pointed wings. Prefers open, dry plains and is often seen flying to watering sites at first light.
