Sudan Golden Sparrows at Bir Anzarane, Western Sahara

/ Birding News, Birds of Morocco
Sudan Golden Sparrow (Passer luteus) and Desert Sparrow (Passer simplex), Bir Anzarane, southern Morocco, 30 Jan. 2015 (Abdeljebbar Qninba).

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 […]

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Bearded Vulture in Algeria

/ Birds of Algeria
Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco (Juan José Ramos and colleagues).

Recent sightings of Bearded Vulture in a National Park in Algeria give new hope that the species may still survive in the country. This is definitely good news for the species in Algeria and the whole of Northwest Africa. The news was released by the staff of the Theniet El Had National Park (Lahouari Djardini

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Probable Wilson’s Snipe at Dar Bouazza, Morocco’s Atlantic coast

/ Birds of Morocco
Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata - Bécassine de Wilson), Dar Bouazza, 27 December 2014 (Benoît Maire)

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

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Rare observations of Marsh Owl in northernmost Morocco

/ Birds of Morocco
Marsh Owl / Hibou du Cap (Asio capensis), Lower Loukkos marshes, December 2014 (Imad Yassine).

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.

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First record of American Purple Gallinule for Morocco

/ Birding News, Birds of Morocco
American Purple Gallinule / Talève violacée (Porphyrio martinicus), Kenitra, Morocco, 15 Nov. 2014 (Antoine Rougeron / Surfbirds).

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.

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Leucistic birds found in Northwest Africa

/ Birds of Algeria, Birds of Morocco
Leucistic Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius), Essaouira (Leander Khil).

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

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Vultures of Northwest Africa: a complete list

/ Birds of Algeria, Birds of Morocco, Birds of Tunisia
Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli), Tétouan, Morocco, May 2014 (Rachid El Khamlichi)

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).

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