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.
Here is a summary of three birding trips to Morocco led by Mark Beevers with Rockjumper Birding Tours this spring. It includes only interesting and sought-after species (e.g. some North African endemic species and subspecies, and localised, rare or uncommon species,…). Mark will send all national rarities to the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee (MRBC) in due […]
Birding trips to Morocco, spring 2018 Read More »
The nominate subspecies of the Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia leucorodia) is a rare breeder in Africa. Until the installation of a new colony at Oued el-Maleh Dam near Casablanca in 2017, the Smir colony located in the north of Morocco used to be the only breeding colony in Africa. (Though other subspecies breed in the
First colour-ringing of Spoonbills in Morocco Read More »
A Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) photographed by resident birder Pedro Fernandes on 8 April at a small marshy area located between Salé and Oued Bou Regreg (map at eBird). Here is Pedro’s email: This Sunday I found a female Wood Duck not far from Salé. The bird was not ringed and as far as I
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) at Oued Bou-Regreg, Morocco Read More »
Here are some rare birds and other interesting observations from the last weeks. Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) One bird present at the port of Essaouira since the end of March (M. A. Ait Baamrane). This is the 12th record for Morocco. A bird photographed at Khnifiss Lagoon on 7 February 2018 and later seen also
Rare birds and other interesting sightings in Morocco Read More »
The natural distribution area of the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is located in South America, but it has been introduced in several regions around the world. Now, established feral populations (sometimes very big ones) can be found in North America, Macaronesian islands, and in several European countries…etc (see map below). In North Africa, the first
Monk Parakeet breeds at Casablanca, Morocco Read More »
The newly discovered Eurasian Spoonbill colony near Casablanca is only the second in Morocco. Since 1994, the Smir heronry hosted the only breeding population of the nominate subspecies of the Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) in Africa (El Agbani et al. 2002; El Khamlichi & Amezian 2015). The multi-species heronry hosts also Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis),
New Spoonbill colony discovered in Morocco Read More »
Colour-marked Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) hunted in Morocco. See below. تمتد مواطن تعشيش ‘بقويقة سوداء الذيل’ على منطقة واسعة ولاكن بشكل متقطع من اسلندا إلى شرق روسيا. في المغرب و شمال إفريقيا يعد هذا النوع من الطيور المهاجرة و المشتية: أي أن البعض يعبر المنطقة في فترات الهجرة فقط، و البعض الآخر يقضي فترة الشتاء
قنص ‘بقويقة سوداء الذيل’ هولندية في المغرب Read More »
The 23rd report (for 2017) of the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee (MRBC) is published. In 2017, the MRBC examined 116 new records of which 111 were accepted. These included the first Moroccan records of the following four species and one genus: Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera), Fea’s/Desertas/Zino’s Petrel (Pterodroma feae/deserta/madeira), Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Baird’s Sandpiper
Rare birds in Morocco: 23rd report of the MRBC Read More »
Tawny Eagle in Morocco is very rare, as there have been no documented breeding pairs for over two decades. The former breeding range of Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) in Morocco was much larger, however the known breeding areas in the past few decades are/were much more restricted as the species has already disappeared from the
Tawny Eagle in Morocco: current status and vagrancy potential Read More »
About two years ago Karim Rousselon shared with us the story of how a Swedish Peregrine Falcon was rescued from poachers at Casablanca. The same story happened again last November with a Peregrine Falcon from Finland and a Saker Falcon. This account is based on the report by K. Rousselon and his co-authors published today.
Rare falcons rescued from poachers in Morocco Read More »