ALPINE SWIFT Apus melba C Rather 
erratic occurrence, sometimes seen for three 
or four days in the study area, flying over 
crop fields in loose flocks of 30-40 birds, 
then disappearing for a week or fortnight. 
WHITE-RUMPED SWIFT Apus coffer R 
One record only from our study area 22 
March 1989. First recorded from Arabia by 
Cornwallis & Porter (1982). Not seen by 
Stagg (1985), Phillips (1982) or Brooks et al 
(1987). 
LITTLE SWIFT Apus affinis C Found 
around settlements in many parts of the 
Tihamah. Stagg (1985) found to it be a 
localized breeding resident throughout the 
region but most numerous in the highlands 
of Asir. 
PALM SWIFT Cypsiurus parvus C Locally 
common e.g Wadi Rim 18 March 1989, Wadi 
Mishrif near Wadi Juwa 20 March 1989, 
Saeedha 31 December 1991 where Doum 
Palm Hyphaene tliebaica present. 
GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER Halcyon 
leucocephala U One in Wadi Juwa 27 July 
1991 and five separately in a small 
waterbody in Wadi Dehan near the Yemen 
border 27 July 1991. 
WHITE-THROATED BEE-EATER Merops 
albicollis U Common in Wadi Juwa 25-30 
July 1991, frequently following foraging 
Guineafowls to catch flushed insects. Not 
recorded during winter in Juwa. Cornwallis 
&: Porter (1982) reported breeding in Yemen 
Tihamah. Stagg (1985) found it to be locally 
common, nesting in colonies of 20-30 pairs. 
LITTLE GREEN BEE-EATER Merops 
oriental is C The most common bee-eater, 
seen in all months. Only cyanophrys 
subspecies noted. Generally found near 
wadis, but move into deserts following the 
rains. Large numbers congregate when 
migratory dragonflies are passing. Nest hole 
excavation noted 21 December 1991. 
BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER Merops 
superciliosus U Uncommon. Three sightings: 
one in Habib Banideep 10 March 1989, one 
near Jizan 20 March 1989 and one in a large 
maize held near Al Guz 8 January 1992. 
Stagg (1 985) found it to be a spring passage 
migrant, often in very large numbers, but 
our sightingssuggest overwintering. Brooks 
et al. (1987) thought that a few individuals 
of the nominate East African race may 
winter in southwest Arabia. 
ROLLER Coracias garrulus U Spring and 
autumn passage migrant in small numbers 
(Stagg 1985). Recorded 24-25 October 1987 
in the Jizan and Abu Arish areas. 
ABYSSINIAN ROLLER Coracias 
abyssinicus C Very common in cultivated 
areas of Tihamah. Between Kiyad and Hali 
(3 km) five or six seen on telegraph lines 
December - February 1992. 
HOOPOE Upupa epops C More than 50 
sightings. Display calls heard and birds 
seen chasing each other in January. Mating 
seen 7March 1989. Although resident, there 
are some local movements. Generally found 
in vegetated wadis. 
GREYHORNBILL Tockus nasutus C More 
than 50 records. Mostly seen in wooded 
wadis, sometimes within settlements. 
Twelve around fruiting Capparis decidua in 
Kiyad town 29 December 1991. A pair found 
feeding on grubs from a goat carcass near 
Habib Banideep village 1 February 1992. In 
the backwaters of Malaki Dam, three eating 
ripe Sorghum grains from semi-prostrate 
plants. 
WRYNECK Jynx torcjuilla U Only one 
record, feeding on the ground in a Prosopis 
thicket near Malaki Dam 9 February 1992. 
Not recorded by Stagg (1985) from the 
Tihamah plains, although Cornwallis & 
Porter (1982) found it in the Yemen Tihamah 
12 March. 
ARABIAN WOODPECKER Dendrocopus 
dorae U Uncommon on the plains. Only 
one confirmed record from a small wadi 
near Wadi Rim among Acacia 1 November 
1987. Small circular holes, possibly made 
by this species, seen in many dead and 
living Doum Palms in Wadi Rim 1989. 
Mainly a highland species. 
