BARBARY FALCON Falco pelegrinoides C 
Generally found in wadis near water. On 15 
December 1989 one came flying just above 
the ground from about a kilometre to attack 
a party of 11 Cream-coloured Coursers. 
The coursers crouched and remained 
motionless for more than 30 minu tes, whilst 
the falcon was in the vicinity. 
ARABIAN RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE 
Alectoris melanocephala U A pair near the 
escarpment between Al Baha and Al 
Mikhwah 1 September 1991 . 
SAND PARTRIDGE Ammoperdix heyi C 
Most common partridge on the Tihamah. 
More than 50 sightings, mostly in pairs. In 
Wadi Sablal 8-10 pairs seen separately on 
rocky ledges 2 March 1989. InWadiQarnayn 
five pairs in about 1 km 26 December 1991, 
one male chasing another for 300 m. Male 
displaying in Wadi Kheyam 13 March 1 989 . 
Two pairs about 10 m from each other in 
Wadi Shesia near Sabt Al Jarah area 8 
January 1992. 
COMMON QUAIL Coturnix coturnix C 
Becomes more common once maize and 
millet grains start ripeningbymid January. 
Regularly flushed, sometimes three or four 
together, from crop fields. Presence 
elsewhere much dependent on local rainfall . 
From 28 January to 6 February 1992, after 
good rains, regularly flushed from a wadi 
in our study area. 
HELMETED GUINEAFOWL Numida 
meleagris C Locally common in Wadi Juwa, 
near Yemen border, due to protection by 
local people. Reported to be increasing since 
NCWCD prohibited egg collection in 1987. 
Expanding into nearby areas. Ten seen 
resting under bridge at 11.00 h 26 July 1991 
at the entrance of Wadi Juwa. Fifty-four 
seen in one morning on 26 July 1991 and 30 
located in 12 km drive 8 February 1992. Six 
foraging 150 m from a busy school! 
MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus U Seen in 
all reed-covered waterbodies such as 
Alahssahbah 8 March 1989 and 8 January 
1992 and Malaki Dam 9 February 1992. 
Very wary due to hunting pressure. 
COOT Fulicaatra U More widespread than 
Moorhen and also seen on temporary pools. 
Numerous in Wadi Alahssahbah 18 March 
1989 and 8 January 1992 but very wary, 
dashing into tall Typha at the slightest 
disturbance. Six on a stagnant pool in Wadi 
Dahaban 13 March 1989, and one in Al 
Kufferah from 17 to 23 December 1991. 
Three on a temporary pool, with about 30 
ducks, in Wadi Hali near Kiyad in Hali 4 
February 1992. 
COMMON CRANE Grus grus U Fairly 
regular winter visitor. One in flight over a 
stream north of Wadi Al Lith 7 March 1989. 
Hundreds of tracks of cranes (possibly this 
species) in open sandy area at Al Habira 12 
March 1989; the flock had possibly stopped 
for a rest during migration. For 10 days in 
January 1992, four cranes, including a 
juvenile, were seen foraging near a recently 
abandoned bedouin camp in Sabr Hali (c. 
10 km from Al Habira) near Wadi Hali. The 
birds were feeding on spilt barley grains 
(livestock feed). Calling was heard near 
Wadi Ilyab 26 November 1991 and 6 km 
north of Amq 31 December 1991. On two 
consecutive days 80-100 were counted in 
the backwaters of Malaki Dam February 
1992. 
DEMOISELLE CRANE Anthropoides virgo 
U According to Jennings (1981) it is a 
common migrant on the Red Sea and 
Northern Hejaz. We saw one on Makkah 
waste water river 26 September 1990. 
HOUBARA Chlamydotis undulata R Fairly 
regular winter visitor in very small numbers . 
Birds or tracks seen each winter. Requires 
complete protection in the country. Precise 
locations are not given for security reasons. 
ARABIAN BUSTARD Ardeotis arabs R 
Extremely rare; population declining every 
year (Shobrak&Rahmani 1991). Still heavily 
persecuted. Needs urgent protection on the 
whole Tihamah. Five individuals seen in 
the winter of 1989-90 in our study area near 
Hali but none in the winter of 1991-92 
(Rahmani & Shobrak 1992). We have also 
recorded bustards near Ad Darb and Al 
Lith. 
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