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.
The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), an invasive species from South America, found breeding at Tangier for the first time. The story began when Alfonso Escajadillo O Connor, a naturalist and birder from Peru, observed 6 individuals of Monk Parakeet nest building in a Phoenix canariensis tree at Tangier on 12 February 2015. When Alfonso met
A male Sudan Golden Sparrow (Passer luteus) was photographed yesterday at a drinking site near Bir Anzarane, about 140 Km north-east of Dakhla, southern Morocco. The species was recorded during a scientific trip coordinated by the Association Nature Initiative (A.N.I). Abdeljebbar Qninba first saw and identified the species, Abdelaziz Benhoussa, Mohamed Ibn Tattou, Mohamed Laghdaf Khayya, Hicham El
Sudan Golden Sparrows at Bir Anzarane, Western Sahara Read More »
A probable Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) was found and photographed at Dar Bouazza near Casablanca on 27 December 2014 by Benoît Maire. This is would be the first Moroccan record for the species if accepted by the MRBC. The relatively recent split of the Wilson’s Snipe from the Common Snipe (G. gallinago) means that the Nearctic species is still
Probable Wilson’s Snipe at Dar Bouazza, Morocco’s Atlantic coast Read More »
The 20th report of the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee (MRBC) has just been published. In 2014, the MRBC examined 109 new records of which 92 were accepted including four species new to Morocco: Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis): seen at Oualidia in June 2014. This is also the first record for mainland Africa. Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia
A juvenile Allen’s Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni) was found yesterday at Oued Massa by my colleague Ali Irizi (coordinates: 29.9998708, -9.6443939). This is the 10th record for Morocco of this Afro-tropical species. It’s wonderful to finish a birding year with such a rarity. Importantly, the bird was found alive which is much better that the dead
Marsh Owl (Asio capensis) is represented by an endemic subspecies in Morocco (tingitanus) and it’s Critically Endangered. In the past, the species used to breed in the majority of the marshy areas in northwest Morocco. However, nowadays the northern limit of its breading range is Lower Loukkos, where some pairs still breed in the marshes.
Rare observations of Marsh Owl in northernmost Morocco Read More »
Un Vautour fauve a été abattu par un chasseur très probablement dans la région du Tangérois au nord du Maroc. Taoufik Mazouzi qui s’est indigné par l’acte de ce chasseur a partagé cette capture d’écran le 19 novembre 2014. La photo originale a été publiée par le chasseur vers la fin d’octobre, en plein période
An American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) found at Kenitra, northwest Morocco on 15 November 2014. This is the first record for Morocco and Northwest Africa. Thomas S. Lahlafi, who reported the news, commented: “The bird found very weak in the city of Kenitra three days ago by my uncle, and was collected to his garden.
First record of American Purple Gallinule for Morocco Read More »
Leucism in birds is a partial or total lack of pigments (melanin) in the feathers resulting in these becoming white. It’s genetically inherited and can vary from only some white feathers (partial leucism) to totally white individuals (total leucism). The eye colour is always normal in leucistic animals (unlike in albinos). However, “not every white
Historically, five vulture species had existed in Northwest Africa (the Maghreb), namely: Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Cinereous Vulture and Lappet-faced Vulture. Of these, only the first three species still breeding in the region, while the last two species are already extirpated (although the Cinereous Vulture is a regular wintering and migrant in Morocco).