GABAR GOSHAWK Micronisus gabar R 
Only a single sighting of a juvenile in Wadi 
Juwa 25 July 1991 . According to Stagg (1985) 
it prefers thick vegetation and is therefore 
easily overlooked. Wadi Juwa is relatively 
well vegetated. 
BUZZARD Buteobuteo C? One definitely 
identified near Malaki Dam 24 October 1987. 
According to Brooks et al. (1987), North 
Yemen is an important flywa y for this species 
in autumn. Between 14 October and 3 
December 1985 they recorded 862 over or 
near the Tihamah foothills. 
LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD Buteorufinus 
C Frequently seen in the Tihamah. More 
than 30 sightings. One pair possibly nesting 
in Wadi Sablal 2 March 1989. 
SPOTTED EAGLE Aquila clanga U 
Uncommon winter visitor, possibly due to 
lack of suitable marshlands. Twice seen near 
Malaki Dam, 25 October 1 987 and 8 February 
1992. 
TAWNY AND STEPPE EAGLE Aquila 
rapax and A. nipalensis A Individuals of 
these species were not differentiated in our 
surveys. The former is a scarce breeding 
resident and the latter a common migrant 
winter visitor to all areas. They are the most 
common Aquila species in the Tihamah. Ten 
to fifteen frequently seen around garbage 
dumps where sheep/ goat carcasses are often 
left by local shepherds. 
IMPERIAL EAGLE Aquila heliaca U 
Perhaps common during autumn and spring 
migration but less than five sightings in 
winter. Two at different locations in Al 
Kufferah 2 February 1992, one scavenging 
with Brown-necked Raven and Black Kite 
on a goat carcass. This species was not 
reported by Stagg (1985) from the Tihamah 
plains. 
VERREAUX'S EAGLE Aquila verreauxii R 
A pair seen in Wadi Qarnayn 28 December 
1991. Rock Hyrax Procavia syriaca, its main 
prey (Steyn 1982), locally abundant. Perhaps 
breeds in the area although we could not 
locate the nest. Regular breeding recorded 
in Wadi Turabah (Eichacker 1990), about 
300 km north of Qarnayn. . 
OSPREY Pandion haliaetus C Common at 
the coast and seen on every trip to sea. Nest 
found on an easily approached cliff ledge 
on Farasan Kabir 12 February 1992; neither 
egg nor chick was seen. A bird that had 
been sitting on the nest called and circled 
during its inspection. 
KESTREL Falco tinnunculus C The most 
common falcon on the Tihamah. More than 
100 sightings during winter months. Seen 
every day, sometimes 3-4 in a 10 km transect 
drive. 
HOBBY Falco subbuteo U One near Malaki 
Dam after sunset with prey 25 October 
1987. Not reported by Stagg (1985), Phillips 
(1982) and Cornwallis & Porter (1982) but 
Brooks et al. (1987) reported a total of 23 
individuals in North Yemen, mostly over 
the Tihamah, between 23 and 28 October 
1985. 
SOOTY FALCON Falco concolor U Two 
records, one on Farasan Kabir 10 October 
1990 and one on the coast near Al Lith 
September 1990. Gaucher et al. (1988) found 
three active nests and two old nests on a 
small island about 0.5 km from the mainland 
near Al Lith. 
LANNER Falco biarmicus C? Perhaps the 
most common large falcon on the Tihamah, 
and possibly also breeds. Single birds were 
recorded on five occasions during winter. 
One in Al Hussaini area of Farasan Kabir 
about 500 m from sea 12 February 1992. 
SAKER Falco cherrug C? The most sought- 
after bird by falconers. Large numbers 
caught near coast during autumn migration. 
Trapping banned on the Farasan Islands 
but still practiced on the mainland. The 
birds are taken to markets in Riyadh and 
Jeddah. 
PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus U 
Uncommon winter visitor. Only two records 
from our study area: one, possibly a male, 
in Sabr Hali 22 January 1990 and an 
immature sitting on Acacia in Al Guz 17 
January 1991. One caught by falconers near 
Wadi Sirr 24 November 1988. 
