Birds of Morocco

Index of articles about “Moroccan birds”: ornithological studies and reports, rare birds sightings, general birding news,…etc. In short, everything about birds and birding in Morocco is filed under this category.

Significant population of Egyptian Vulture found in Morocco

/ Birds of Morocco, Conservation News

Recent observations of the globally endangered Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) in Morocco become so rare that some authors considered the species on the verge of local extinction as a breeding species. In this context, the observation of 4 birds in spring 2013 and a successful breeding pair near the Tazekka National Park were received with excitement among the

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Electrocution of Spanish Imperial, Bonelli’s and Golden eagles at Guelmim

/ Birds of Morocco, Conservation News
Bird 2: Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) electrocuted in the Guelmim region, 22 October 2015 (Ali Irizi)

Six young Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti) satellite-tracked from southern Spain visited Morocco this autumn. Last month, we published the news about one of these eagles that did not move from a single point located in Guelmim region. Project coordinators at Junta de Andalucía and Doñana Biological Station suspected that it may have been dead

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Prey availability and pylons: a lethal mix for eagles

/ Birds of Morocco
Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) carrying a Fat Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus), Guelmim region, Morocco, 7 Nov 2015 (Ali Irizi)

Guelmim region is one of the most frequented areas by Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti) wintering in Morocco. In this region, they share the space and the resources with another Mediterranean raptor, the Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) which is very abundant in this area outside the breeding season. The first photo shows a Bonelli’s Eagle

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Yellow-browed Warbler at Rabat, is it overwintering?

/ Birds of Morocco

Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) was seen foraging with other Phylloscopus warblers at the Botanical Garden in Rabat on 15th October 2015 by Pedro Fernandes. This is the 13th record of this Siberian species for Morocco. Pedro detailed the observation in his eBird checklist as follows: Detected by ear and later spotted with binoculars; seen at close

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Eleonora’s Falcons imprison live birds for a later meal

/ Bird Behaviour, Birds of Morocco
Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) immobilized in a small and deep rock hole, Mogador islands, Morocco, 27 Sep. 2014 (Abdeljebbar Qninba).

Eleonora’s Falcons in Morocco imprison live birds to keep them as a fresh food reserve. This behavior is unheard of before in the animal kingdom. The Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) is mainly insectivorous outside the breeding season. During the nesting period, which is very late (from July to October) as an adaptation to coincide with

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White Storks sharing nests with Cattle Egrets and both breed successively

/ Bird Behaviour, Birds of Morocco

An amazing nesting association between a White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) and Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) was observed at Auberge Amros, near Azrou in the Middle Atlas by Jacques Franchimont. On 7 June 2015, Jacques photographed several nests of Cattle Egrets (maybe 6) that were built on lateral branches of a White Stork nest (see photos).

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