Oman Birding Tour: Endemic Birds of the Arabian Peninsula

Oman is well-known among international birdwatchers, and for good reason. This peaceful country offers some of the best birdwatching in the Arabian Peninsula, with a high diversity of species and many specials possible in a relatively short timeframe. The tour begins in northern Oman, starting in the capital, Muscat, and then travels west into the breathtaking heights of the Al Hajar and Jebel Akhdar mountains. We finish the tour in coastal Salalah, the most southerly city in Oman, from where we venture into Oman’s true desert interior, a stark contrast to the diverse and unexpectedly lush habitats around Salalah. Throughout the journey, we will target species endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, as well as rare seabirds, and interestingly, African species near the eastern edge of their range, and many European and Asian migrants.

Some of the key targets on this varied tour include the enigmatic Omani Owl and Forbes-Watson’s Swift, along with many species endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, such as Arabian Partridge, Arabian Scops Owl, Arabian Eagle-Owl, Desert Owl, Arabian Green Bee-eater, Arabian Babbler, Tristram’s Starling, Arabian Wheatear, Arabian Sunbird, Yemen Serin, and Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak. We also seek range-restricted species like Sand Partridge, Arabian Warbler, and Palestine and Nile Valley Sunbirds, as well as wintering migrants like Plain Leaf Warbler and Eversmann’s Redstart to name just a few. During our Oman birding tour, we will explore the foothills and heights of several different mountain ranges, from the rugged Al Hajar and Jebel Akhdar mountains in the north, with their dramatic canyons and ancient terraced farms, to the Dhofar mountains in the south, where mist-covered hills and unique vegetation create a striking change in the scenery. Due to the Khareef monsoon season, the Dhofar slopes are transformed into a lush, green oasis for part of the year, creating a home for a unique bird community of Arabian, African, and Asian species.

Desert Owl is a major tour target which we hope to find in southern Oman.

Away from the mountains and hillsides, we will experience the mesmerizing beauty of Oman’s ever-changing deserts, where within oases and alongside towering sand dunes, we will search for desert species like the highly sought monotypic Grey Hypocolius, as well as Sand Partridge, Chestnut-bellied, Spotted, and Crowned Sandgrouse, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, and Hume’s, Hooded, Variable, and Persian Wheatears. Along the southern coast, we will explore rich coastal habitats teeming with shorebirds, and embark on a pelagic boat trip out of Mirbat, famous for the abundance of seabirds, where we hope to see range restricted Socotra Cormorant, Saunders’s and White-cheeked Tern, Sooty Gull, Persian Shearwater, and Jouanin’s Petrel, plus marine mammals such as Sperm Whale and Spinner Dolphin. Oman has long been a popular eco-tourism destination, which means we can enjoy comfortable accommodations and great food throughout, from charming guesthouses nestled in the mountains to luxurious resorts in the south. This will be an unforgettable birding adventure, offering a chance to experience Oman’s incredible wildlife and stunningly diverse landscapes.

Although Crab-plover, Sociable Lapwing, and Variable Wheatear are targets on our Oman birding tour, these species can be tough to find and are all much easier to see in the Dubai area. For those interested, we can arrange a two-day stopover in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to try for these three species, along with the impressive Pharaoh Eagle-Owl. Please inquire on booking.

Range restricted Palestine Sunbirds are absolutely stunning.