MaghrebOrnitho is about birds in Northwest Africa (the Maghreb). Some birding news and articles may cover adjacent areas as well (bird migration, shared populations, potential vagrants from the south…).
Blog archive:
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Bird Taxonomy
- Black-eared Wheatear split and new ‘melanoleuca’ record for Morocco
- Split of Western and Eastern Subalpine Warblers confirmed
- DNA confirms Slender-billed Curlew is a valid species
- North African Buzzard is not a Long-legged but an allospecies of Common Buzzard
- Atlas and Balearic crossbills genetic divergence
- Taxonomic status of ‘long-billed’ Crested Larks at Aousserd?
- West African Crested Tern is split from Royal Tern
- African Reed Warbler in Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula
- A new Common Chaffinch subspecies in North Africa
- Taxonomic status of the Barbary Falcon
- Horned Lark taxonomy: possible split into six species
- Subalpine Warbler split into three species
- Maghreb Wheatear should be split according to new research
- Streaked Scrub Warbler in Morocco: taxonomy, distribution and identification
- Gibraltar Buzzard: status and identification
- Maghreb endemic birds
- African Crimson-winged Finch: a new endemic species
- Barbary Falcon plumage variation in the Canary Islands
Birds in Morocco
- Rare birds in Morocco: 25th report of the MRBC
- ‘Morocco: sharing the birds’ is available for pre-order
- Black-eared Wheatear split and new ‘melanoleuca’ record for Morocco
- Split of Western and Eastern Subalpine Warblers confirmed
- European Cinereous Vultures wandering across Africa
- Abundant passage of Isabelline Wheatear in eastern Morocco
- Lanner Falcon usurping Buzzard’s nest after attacks (video)
- Recent Moroccan rarities: Laughing Gull, Olive-backed Pipits,…
- Northern Bald Ibis in Morocco since 1900: Analysis of ecological requirements
- Siberian Chiffchaff at Dar Bouazza: 3rd Moroccan record
- American waders at Dar Bouazza wetland, Morocco
- Are birding optics banned from entry in Morocco?
- Turtle Dove slaughter in Morocco by foreign hunters
- Cape Verde Shearwater in the Canary Islands and Morocco
- Finnish Pallid Harrier wintered in Morocco in a rich, yet dangerous area
- North African Ostrich eggs unearthed at Bir Anzarane, southern Morocco
- First breeding of Great Spotted Cuckoo in Morocco north of the Atlas Mountains
- Moltoni’s Warbler in Morocco, Terek Sandpiper in Tunisia and other rarities
- Yellow-browed Warbler at Merzouga, Morocco
- Presumed hybrid Collared X Pied Flycatcher at Merzouga, Morocco
- Franklin’s Gull at Merzouga Lake, Morocco
- Dunn’s Lark at Merzouga and other rare birds
- Andalusian Buttonquail in Morocco is declining
- Breeding of Golden Nightjar in Western Sahara confirmed
- First records of Eastern Subalpine Warbler for Morocco
- Presumed ‘Cinnamon Teal x Shoveler hybrid’ at Merzouga lake, Morocco
- Rare birds in Morocco: 24th report of the MRBC
- North African Buzzard is not a Long-legged but an allospecies of Common Buzzard
- First Hume’s Leaf Warbler for Morocco and Northwest Africa
- Record breeding season for Northern Bald Ibis in Morocco
- Second Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus) for Morocco
- Four Richard’s Pipits and Olive-backed Pipit in Morocco
- Northern Bald Ibis’ IUCN Red List status updated
- Atlas and Balearic crossbills genetic divergence
- Monk Parakeet invasion continues: now breeding at Rabat
- South Polar Skua off Safi, Morocco: second national record
- Marsh Owls in Morocco south of the core breeding area
- Release of Cinereous, Griffon and Rüppell’s vultures at Jbel Moussa after wing-tagging
- Breeding of Black-headed Gull at Dayet Dar Bouazza, Morocco
- Birding trips to Morocco, spring 2018
- First colour-ringing of Spoonbills in Morocco
- Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) at Oued Bou-Regreg, Morocco
- Rare birds and other interesting sightings in Morocco
- Breeding of Monk Parakeet at Casablanca, Morocco
- New Spoonbill colony discovered in Morocco
- Rare birds in Morocco: 23rd report of the MRBC
- Status of Tawny Eagle in Morocco and vagrancy from sub-Saharan Africa
- Rare falcons rescued from poachers in Morocco
- Birding trip to Dakhla-Aousserd region by The Sound Approach
- Seawatching off Agadir, Morocco, 30 October 2017
- New Northern Bald Ibis breeding sites discovered in Morocco
- Yellow-browed Warblers in Morocco in autumn 2017
- First record of Black-capped Petrel for Morocco
- White-backed Vulture at Jbel Moussa, Morocco
- Lesser Flamingo at Oualidia, Morocco
- Olive-backed Pipits (Anthus hodgsoni) at Rabat
- First record of Steppe Eagle for Morocco
- Rare birds in Morocco: 22nd report of the MRBC
- Pied Crow (Corvus albus) near Rabat, Morocco
- Breeding of Glossy Ibis at Bou Regreg, Rabat
- Lesser Scaup at Barrage El-Mansour Eddahbi, Morocco
- Kelp Gulls at Akhfenir, southern Morocco
- White-throated Bee-eater at Dakhla: 2nd WP record
- Griffon Vultures released at Jbel Moussa: first step for the reintroduction
- Taxonomy and breeding range extension of Golden Nightjar
- Pied Crow at Khnifiss Lagoon, southern Morocco
- Ibis chauve au Maroc: Zoom sur la dernière population sauvage
- Wing-tagging a Rüppell’s Vulture at Jbel Moussa, Morocco
- First record of Baird’s Sandpiper for Morocco
- Birding at Oualidia region, Atlantic coast of Morocco
- Cinnamon Teal and American Golden Plover, Oualidia region, Morocco
- Autumn breeding by Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Laughing Dove in North Africa
- Eleonora’s Falcon at Essaouira has a record breeding season
- Alarming decline of Great Bustard in Morocco
- Eleonora’s Falcon colony at Bouknadel is doing well
- Golden Nightjar song at Aousserd, southern Morocco
- Lesser Spotted Eagles at Jbel Moussa, Morocco
- Namaqua Dove breeds in Morocco for the first time
- Vulture restaurant experiment at Jbel Moussa, Morocco
- 4 Golden Nightjars at Oued Jenna, Aousserd: detailed report
- Siberian Stonechat? No, it’s a European Stonechat with some Siberian’s features
- Breeding of Glossy Ibis in an urban park at Casablanca
- The Eurasian Spoonbill at Smir: past, present and future (book article)
- Breeding expansion of Black-headed Gull in Morocco
- Pied Crow at Mhamid, Morocco (2015-2020)
- Northern Bald Ibis at Larache, northern Morocco
- Egyptian Nightjars arrive early to the breeding areas
- Allen’s Gallinule at Tachektent, Dakhla-Aousserd road
- Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) at Anza, Agadir
- Rare birds in Morocco: 21st report of the MRBC
- Desert birds breeding in late autumn and other curiosities
- Significant population of Egyptian Vulture found in Morocco
- Parrots in urban parks of Rabat
- Prey availability and pylons: a lethal mix for eagles
- Pied Crow (Corvus albus) near Mhamid, eastern Sahara
- Yellow-browed Warbler at Rabat, is it overwintering?
- Winter breeding by Cream-coloured Coursers is more common than previously reported
- Eleonora’s Falcons imprison live birds for a later meal
- White Storks sharing nests with Cattle Egrets and both breed successively
- House Bunting at Jbel Moussa – is Europe the next step?
- Golden Nightjar at Aousserd: first Western Palearctic record
- Black-necked Grebe affected by progressive greying (not leucism)
- Taxonomic status of the Barbary Falcon
- Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) at Marrakech
- Mystery wheatear (Oenanthe sp.) photographed in Morocco
- Pied Crow (Corvus albus) at Fnideq, northern Morocco
- Bearded Vulture at Jbel Toubkal, High Atlas, Morocco
- Leucistic Whimbrel becomes much whiter after moult
- Monk Parakeet breeding at Tangier, northern Morocco
- Big flock of Sudan Golden Sparrow at Bir Anzarane
- Sudan Golden Sparrow at Bir Anzarane, southern Morocco
- Probable Wilson’s Snipe at Dar Bouazza, Morocco’s Atlantic coast
- Rare birds in Morocco: 20th report of the MRBC
- Allen’s Gallinule at Oued Massa, Morocco
- Rare observations of Marsh Owl in northernmost Morocco
- First record of American Purple Gallinule for Morocco
- Leucistic birds found in Northwest Africa
- Vultures of Northwest Africa: a complete list
- Study of Eleonora’s Falcons breeding at Essaouira, Morocco
- First Long-tailed Duck for Morocco and Africa
- First White-backed Vulture for Morocco and North Africa
- Rüppell’s Vultures at Tétouan, northern Morocco
- 7 Rüppell’s Vultures in northern Morocco in 2 days
- 3 Rüppell’s Vultures at Jbel Bouhachem, northern Morocco
- First White-throated Bee-eater for the Western Palearctic
- Wild Houbara Bustard filmed at Safia reserve, southern Morocco
- First record of Upland Sandpiper for Morocco
- Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse in Morocco
- North African Ostrich returns to W. Sahara after decades of absence
- New heronry found at Dayet Erroumi, Morocco
- Laughing Dove reached north Morocco – colonising Europe is next
- Parrots in the gardens of Mohammedia
- Birding the Sahara: go after the rains
- Monk Parakeets breeding at Melilla
- House Bunting finally colonised Tétouan, northern Morocco
- Smir heronry in the breeding season 2012
- Little Grebe catching a newt (Pleurodeles waltl)
- Maghreb endemic birds
- Why Marsh Owl in Morocco is endangered and how to save it?
- Status of Bearded Vulture in Morocco
- African Dunn’s Lark at Merzouga, Morocco
- Expansion of House Bunting in Tangier, north Morocco
- Probable breeding of Western Reef Heron at Essaouira, Morocco
- Field ornithologist Rachid El Khamlichi
- Association Nature Initiative (A.N.I), Dakhla
- White Stork nests and Humans
- Report of Morocco Slender-billed Curlew survey 2011
- Breeding of Glossy Ibis at Smir heronry, northern Morocco
- Andalusian Buttonquail in Morocco and the Western Palearctic
- Status of Kelp Gull in Morocco and the Western Palearctic
- Allen’s Gallinule found dead at Tahaddart, northern Morocco
- White-headed Duck breeding again in Morocco
- Breeding of Cricket Warbler at Aousserd, southern Morocco
Birds in Algeria
- Split of Western and Eastern Subalpine Warblers confirmed
- European Cinereous Vultures wandering across Africa
- First record of Penduline Tit for Algeria
- First record of Jacobin Cuckoo for North Africa
- Algerian Nuthatch habitat threatened by a controversial project
- Black Scrub Robin at Tamanrasset, Algeria
- Spanish Marbled Ducks migrate to Africa to escape hunters’ guns
- First White-rumped Seedeater for Algeria and W. Palearctic
- New records of Moltoni’s Warbler in Algeria
- House Bunting reached Algeria’s Mediterranean coast
- Andalusian Buttonquail observed in Algeria for the first time in three decades
- Le Tarin des aulnes (Spinus spinus) dans le Nord-est du Sahara algérien
- Great Spotted Cuckoo breeds in Algeria for the first time
- First photographed Rüppell’s Warbler in Algeria
- Birding Northern and Southern Algeria (trip report)
- North African Buzzard is not a Long-legged but an allospecies of Common Buzzard
- Commensalism between a gecko and White-crowned Wheatear in Algeria
- Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) in north-west Algeria
- African Silverbills at Tamanrasset, southern Algeria
- First record of Western Reef Egret for Algeria
- Visiting the new Algerian Nuthatch breeding site
- New Algerian Nuthatch breeding site discovered in 2018
- First record of Rustic Bunting for Algeria and Northwest Africa
- Atlas and Balearic crossbills genetic divergence
- First record of Blue-naped Mousebird for Algeria
- Big flock of Sudan Golden Sparrow at Tamanrasset, Algeria
- Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) in north-east Algeria
- The Algerian Nuthatch twitch: easier than you think
- Algerian Nuthatch status and breeding biology at the Guerrouch forest
- First records of Pectoral Sandpiper for Algeria
- Expansion of Red-billed Firefinch in Algeria
- Cats killing wildlife: Collared Flycatcher and Goldfinch
- Sudan Golden Sparrow at Djanet, Algeria
- Demoiselle Crane at Oran, Algeria
- Premières observations de la ‘Bergeronnette du Maroc’ en Algérie
- Bearded Vulture in Algeria: new hopes for the species
- Leucistic birds found in Northwest Africa
- Vultures of Northwest Africa: a complete list
- Association Nationale Algérienne d’Ornithologie
- Maghreb endemic birds
- African Crimson-winged Finch: a new endemic species
Birds in Tunisia
- Split of Western and Eastern Subalpine Warblers confirmed
- European Cinereous Vultures wandering across Africa
- Nesting of more than 22,000 Flamingos at Sahline saltpans, Tunisia
- Répartition et évaluation de la vulnérabilité de la Pie du Maghreb (Pica mauritanica)
- Moltoni’s Warbler in Morocco, Terek Sandpiper in Tunisia and other rarities
- North African Buzzard is not a Long-legged but an allospecies of Common Buzzard
- First Wahlberg’s Eagle for Tunisia and 3rd for WP
- Atlas and Balearic crossbills genetic divergence
- Hooded Crows at Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia
- First record of Eastern Imperial Eagle for Tunisia and Northwest Africa
- Vultures of Northwest Africa: a complete list
- Maghreb endemic birds
Bird Migration, Dispersion and Wintering
- European Cinereous Vultures wandering across Africa
- Satellite-tagged Pallid Harrier died in southern Morocco
- Abundant passage of Isabelline Wheatear in eastern Morocco
- Migratory connectivity of Fennoscandian Dotterels
- Le Tarin des aulnes (Spinus spinus) dans le Nord-est du Sahara algérien
- Cape Verde Shearwater in the Canary Islands and Morocco
- Finnish Pallid Harrier wintered in Morocco in a rich, yet dangerous area
- Spanish Imperial Eagle in Andalusia in 2018 & the first satellite-tagged bird in Morocco
- Four Richard’s Pipits and Olive-backed Pipit in Morocco
- Autumn bird migration at the Strait of Gibraltar by Migres Foundation
- Two Egyptian Vultures released in Italy shot and poisoned during migration
- Migration of rare vultures at Jbel Moussa, spring 2018
- First record of Cinereous Vulture for The Gambia
- Geolocators reveal that Plain Swifts winter in West Africa
- New records of Cinereous Vulture for Senegal
- First record of Cinereous Vulture for Mauritania
- Important White-headed Duck wintering population in Morocco
- Spanish Imperial Eagle dispersion in North Africa in 2017
- Spring raptor migration at Jbel Moussa in 2017 (report)
- 4 Cinereous Vultures crossing the Strait of Gibraltar in one day
- Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) at Ceuta
- Spring raptor migration at Jbel Moussa in 2016 (report)
- Northern Bald Ibis crossing between Spain and Morocco
- Vulture migration at the Strait of Gibraltar, November 2016
- Lesser Spotted Eagles at Jbel Moussa, Morocco
- Spring vulture migration at Jbel Moussa, May 2016
- Satellite-tracked Bonelli’s Eagles wintering in Africa for the first time
- Spanish Imperial Eagle recovering space beyond borders
- Vulture migration at the Strait of Gibraltar, November 2015
- 3500 Griffon Vultures crossed the Strait of Gibraltar at Jbel Moussa
- Griffon Vulture ‘MA4’ died after crossing the Strait of Gibraltar
- Influx of Red-footed Falcons in Morocco
- Moroccan Osprey breeding in southern Spain
- Sat-tracked White Stork found dead in fishing lines near Tangier, Morocco
- Regular wintering of Dutch-ringed Spoonbills in northern Morocco
- English Osprey predated by Pharaoh Eagle Owl or mammal in southern Morocco
- Rüppell’s Vultures at Aousserd: are they breeding in the region?
- Spanish Short-toed Eagles summering in Northwest Africa
- Wintering of Penduline Tits (Remiz pendulinus) in Morocco
Bird Behaviour
- Lanner Falcon usurping Buzzard’s nest after attacks (video)
- Commensalism between a gecko and White-crowned Wheatear in Algeria
- Winter breeding by Common House Martin in Spain
- Autumn breeding by Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Laughing Dove in North Africa
- Desert birds breeding in late autumn and other curiosities
- Winter breeding by Cream-coloured Coursers is more common than previously reported
- Eleonora’s Falcons imprison live birds for a later meal
- White Storks sharing nests with Cattle Egrets and both breed successively
- Vultures bathing captured by camera trap at Jbel Moussa
Conservation News
- Saharan Cheetah filmed at Ahaggar, southern Algeria
- Mhorr Gazelle declared extinct in Tunisia
- Northern Bald Ibis in Morocco since 1900: Analysis of ecological requirements
- Algerian Nuthatch habitat threatened by a controversial project
- GPS tags cause corneal opacity in Northern Bald Ibis
- Andalusian Buttonquail in Morocco is declining
- Record breeding season for Northern Bald Ibis in Morocco
- Spanish Imperial Eagle in Andalusia in 2018 & the first satellite-tagged bird in Morocco
- Northern Bald Ibis’ IUCN Red List status updated
- Andalusian Buttonquail declared extinct in Spain
- New Northern Bald Ibis breeding sites discovered in Morocco
- Griffon Vultures released at Jbel Moussa: first step for the reintroduction
- Alarming decline of Great Bustard in Morocco
- Les vautours au Maghreb: une situation critique et espoirs pour l’avenir
- Significant population of Egyptian Vulture found in Morocco
- African vultures are heading towards extinction, a study warns
- Les vautours africains diminuent de façon critique, avertit une étude
- Searching the Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris)
Conservation Problems
- Spanish Marbled Ducks migrate to Africa to escape hunters’ guns
- 26 live falcons seized at Casablanca Airport, Morocco
- Turtle Dove slaughter in Morocco by foreign hunters
- Eight falcons seized by Tunisian customs near Libya
- Over 100 wild-caught Lanner Falcons held in captivity (video)
- Two Egyptian Vultures released in Italy shot and poisoned during migration
- Satellite-tracked Montagu’s Harrier shot dead in Morocco
- قنص ‘بقويقة سوداء الذيل’ هولندية في المغرب
- Rare falcons rescued from poachers in Morocco
- Raptor electrocutions at Guelmim continue
- صيادون يقتلون النسر الأسمر المحمي في شمال المغرب
- Raptor mortality by electrocution in power lines in Morocco (report)
- Identification de la mortalité des rapaces par électrocution au Maroc (rapport)
- Pharaoh Eagle-Owl exhibited for tourists at Marrakech
- Swedish Peregrine rescued from poachers at Casablanca, Morocco
- More Bonelli’s Eagles electrocuted at Guelmim
- Electrocution of Spanish Imperial, Bonelli’s and Golden eagles at Guelmim
- نسور أفريقيا مهددة بالانقراض يحذر الاتحاد الدولي للحفاظ على الطبيعة
- Dutch-ringed Spoonbill shot dead in Morocco
- Wing-tagging of Griffon Vultures launched in Morocco
- Vautour fauve abattu par un chasseur au Maroc
- Commerce illégal des oiseaux sauvages sur Internet (Avito.ma)
- Rüppell’s Vulture exhibited for tourists at Jemaa el-Fna, Marrakech
- Commerce illégal des oiseaux sauvages au Maroc: photo-reportage
- أخلاقيات الصيد و المحافظة على البيئة
- La chasse des espèces protégées au Maroc continue
- صيادون يقتلون طيور محمية. ماذا يقول القانون؟
- Les vautours sont les meilleurs nettoyeurs de la nature, il faut les préserver
- النسور أحسن منظفي البيئة، يجب علينا المحافظة عليهم
Western Palearctic (WP rarities and other interesting articles)
- First record of Jacobin Cuckoo for North Africa
- Dwarf Bittern and Eurasian Siskin at Nouadhibou, Mauritania
- Black Scrub Robin at Tamanrasset, Algeria
- First White-rumped Seedeater for Algeria and W. Palearctic
- Andalusian Buttonquail observed in Algeria for the first time in three decades
- Are birding optics banned from entry in Morocco?
- Birding Northern and Southern Algeria (trip report)
- Dunn’s Lark at Merzouga and other rare birds
- Breeding of Golden Nightjar in Western Sahara confirmed
- Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) in north-west Algeria
- First Wahlberg’s Eagle for Tunisia and 3rd for WP
- African Silverbills at Tamanrasset, southern Algeria
- Horus Swift: a potential Western Palearctic vagrant
- First record of Blue-naped Mousebird for Algeria
- Big flock of Sudan Golden Sparrow at Tamanrasset, Algeria
- Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) in north-east Algeria
- The Algerian Nuthatch twitch: easier than you think
- ID of Kordofan Lark: a potential Western Palearctic vagrant
- Second Wahlberg’s Eagle for the Western Palearctic
- Status of Tawny Eagle in Morocco and vagrancy from sub-Saharan Africa
- Expansion of Red-billed Firefinch in Algeria
- White-throated Bee-eater at Dakhla: 2nd WP record
- Sudan Golden Sparrow at Djanet, Algeria
- Pied Crow at Khnifiss Lagoon, southern Morocco
- Sudan Golden Sparrow in Aousserd in 2017
- Golden Nightjar song at Aousserd, southern Morocco
- 4 Golden Nightjars at Oued Jenna, Aousserd: detailed report
- Pied Crow at Mhamid, Morocco (2015-2020)
- Allen’s Gallinule at Tachektent, Dakhla-Aousserd road
- Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) at Anza, Agadir
- Golden Nightjar at Aousserd: first Western Palearctic record
- Big flock of Sudan Golden Sparrow at Bir Anzarane
- Sudan Golden Sparrow at Bir Anzarane, southern Morocco
- First record of American Purple Gallinule for Morocco
- First White-backed Vulture for Morocco and North Africa
- Rüppell’s Vultures at Tétouan, northern Morocco
- 7 Rüppell’s Vultures in northern Morocco in 2 days
- 3 Rüppell’s Vultures at Jbel Bouhachem, northern Morocco
- First White-throated Bee-eater for the Western Palearctic
- Why Marsh Owl in Morocco is endangered and how to save it?
- African Dunn’s Lark at Merzouga, Morocco
- Andalusian Buttonquail in Morocco and the Western Palearctic
- Status of Kelp Gull in Morocco and the Western Palearctic
- Breeding of Cricket Warbler at Aousserd, southern Morocco
Mammals
- Saharan Cheetah filmed at Ahaggar, southern Algeria
- Mhorr Gazelle declared extinct in Tunisia
- Barbary macaques burnt alive by Algeria wildfires
- Sand Cats resting in bird nests built in tall Acacia trees
- Sand Cat sighted at Merzouga, Morocco
- Striped Ground Squirrel in Morocco – hidden in plain sight
- Mammal notes from the Aousserd region, southern Morocco
- Barbary macaques and vultures at Jbel Moussa, Morocco
- Serval photographed in the Middle Atlas, Morocco
- African golden wolf discovered in Morocco and Algeria