Articles about the first records of different bird species for Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia (and occasionally for adjacent countries as well).
White-rumped Swift recorded in Algeria for the first time this summer. Now the quest for evidence of breeding begins. In mid-August 2026, naturalist Mourad Harzallah observed two White-rumped Swifts (Apus caffer) in eastern Algeria. This is the first known record of the species in Algeria. The observation of two individuals could be what makes this
First record of Lesser Moorhen for Morocco and Northwest Africa. Première mention de la Gallinule africaine pour le Maroc et le Maghreb. — An immature Lesser Moorhen (Paragallinula angulata) was observed at the Aoulouz bridge, Morocco, during an Oriole Birding trip. “The bird was seen on 15 March 2025 at about 11:20 for several minutes
On 22 April 2024, an adult female Wilson’s Phalarope was observed and photographed foraging in the central basin of the Thyna salt pans, Sfax, Tunisia. This is the first recorded observation of the species in Tunisia. The Wilson’s Phalarope is a long-distance migratory wader that breeds in the prairies of North America and travelling to
First record of Pygmy Sunbird (Hedydipna platura) for Algeria. La première observation du Souimanga pygmée dans l’Algérie. — During a birding trip in autumn 2023 to southern Algeria, members of Écocirta Association, in coordination with the local Tijem Association*, documented the first Pygmy Sunbird for the country. The group photographed a male and a female
First record of the African Green Bee-eater (Merops viridissimus) in Algeria. La première observation du Guêpier vert en Algérie. — During a birding trip to the Wilaya (Province) of In-Guezzam adjacent to Mali, members of the Algerian Wildlife Watching Association (AWWA) documented another new species for Algeria. On 4 November 2023, the birding party photographed two African
First breeding record of the Cricket Warbler (Spiloptila clamans) in Algeria. Premier cas de reproduction de la Prinia à front écailleux en Algérie. — A birding trip by members of the Algerian Wildlife Watching Association (AWWA) to the Wilaya (Province) of Bordj Badji Mokhtar in the south of Algeria produced the first record of Cricket
First breeding record of the House Bunting (Emberiza sahari) in Spain and Europe. By: Antonio Jesús Sepúlveda & Julio Ortega (Tumbabuey). The appearance of the House Bunting as an African vagrant in the Iberian Peninsula dates back to a decade and a half ago, with a first record in 2009 in the town of Tarifa.
House Bunting breeds in Europe for the first time Read More »
First record of the Northern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer griseus) for Algeria, plus a number of other good rarities at the border of the Western Palearctic. During a birding trip to southern Algeria (wilaya of Bordj Baji Mokhtar) last autumn, members of the Algerian Wildlife Watching Association (AWWA) documented the first Northern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer griseus)
First Northern Grey-headed Sparrow for Algeria plus other rarities Read More »
Last month, the AWWA team recorded the first Chestnut-bellied Starling in Algeria, and a year later they documented the breeding of the species. During a recent birding trip to southern Algeria, members of the Algerian Wildlife Watching Association (AWWA) observed and photographed a Chestnut-bellied Starling (Lamprotornis pulcher). The bird was found in the region of
A recent birding trip to southern Algeria produced three new bird species for the country: White-throated Bee-eater, Village Indigobird and Cut-throat Finch. [See also the results of another group’s expedition: Blue-naped Mousebirds and Black Scrub Robins in southern Algeria]. A group of amateur and professional Algerian researchers organized a birding expedition in southern Algeria in
First White-throated Bee-eater, Village Indigobird and Cut-throat Finch for Algeria Read More »