TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula C Scarce 
winter visitor. A male on a small roadside 
pool between Ad Darb and Abha 21 
December 1989, and another male in a 
brackish pool 9 km south of Al Birk 8 January 
1990. Two pairs in Al Kufferah 9 January 
1992 and more than seven in thebackwaters 
of Malaki Dam 9 February 1992. 
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE Elanus 
caeruleus U We made two sightings of this 
conspicuous and easily recognized raptor, 
one on a telegraph wire near Wadi Shahdan 
3 September 1991, and another hovering 
over a maize held near Malaki Dam 9 
February 1992. Not reportedbyStagg (1985), 
Cornwallis & Porter (1982), Phillips (1982) 
and Brooks et al. (1987). 
BLACK KITE Milvus migrans A Most 
common raptor of the Tihamah. Sometimes 
hundreds seen on rubbish dumps (e.g. Al 
Guz). Roost of 150 counted on a pylon. 
Nests commonly seen on electricity poles. 
Breeding commences from the end of 
January. 
PALLAS'S FISH EAGLE Haliaeetus 
leucoryphus R Uncommon winter visitor. 
Two sightings only, one near Malaki Dam 
25 October 1987 and another near Al Fareiq 
village, about 5 km from coast, between 
Kiyad and Amq 12 January 1992. 
EGYPTIAN VULTURE Neophron 
percnopterus A Most common vulture of 
the Tihamah. Hundreds of sightings. An 
old nest located on Jabal Asnam in Banideep 
area in December 1990. 
GRIFFON VULTURE Gyps fulvus C 
Common, but perhaps declining. Fewer 
noticed during the winter of 1991-92 than 
1989-90 in our study area near Habib 
Banideep. One found paralyzed two days 
after spraying of pesticide on 25 July 1990. 
The population trend of this species needs 
monitoring. 
(BLACK VULTURE ? Aegypius monachus 
R) A bird, possibly of this species, soaring 
with two Griffons near Al Kufferah wetland 
9 January 1992. Much larger and darker, 
with wedged-shaped tail. Jennings (1981) 
considered it to be rare winter migrant to 
North Hejaz and Central Arabia, with only 
one record from Jeddah. Not reported by 
Stagg (1985) or Brooks et al. (1987). 
SHORT-TOED EAGLE Circaetus gallicus 
C More than 50 sightings during the course 
of the winter. Stagg (1985) reported that it is 
primarily a spring and autumn migrant, 
with substantial numbers passing in 
October, but added that it is regular in some 
areas although not seen in December. We 
have seen this bird more than 20 times in 
December in our study area, some 
individuals staying in the same area for 
many weeks. In one day in January 1992 we 
counted three eagles in a 10 km drive. 
BATELEUR Terathopius ecaudatus U Four 
sightings, including a pair in Wadi Rim. 
Brooks etal. (1987) foundfive individuals at 
four sites in Yemen Tihamah. 
MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus U 
Distribution restricted due to absence of 
suitable marshland in the Tihamah. 
However, regularly seen in winter in the 
backwaters of Malaki Dam and Wadi 
Alahssahbah. One immature female in the 
sabkha on Farasan Kabir 11 February 1992. 
(HENHARRIER ? Circus cyaneus R) A 
female, possibly of this species, near Malaki 
Dam 20 March 1989. 
PALLID HARRIER Circus macrourus U 
Five sightings at four sites: one male in 
Wadi Al Lith 5 March 1989; one in Sabr Hali 
12 March 1989; one 26 January 1990, and a 
male and female 29 January in Wadi 
Hamwan; one male flying over sabkha near 
Saeedha 31 December 1991. 
DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK Melierax 
metabates C A common raptor of the 
Tihamah. Occasionally caught by local 
people in a mistakenbelief that it is a 'falcon' 
which can bring them a good price. On 30 
January 1990 one bird with a small prey 
item (bird) was chasedby two Steppe Eagles. 
It released the prey, which flew away 
apparently unharmed. Both eagles tried to 
catch the bird but it escaped in a small bush. 
