SINGING BUSH LARK Mirafra cantillans 
U Five to ten singing near crop fields near 
Malaki Dam 9 February 1992. Stagg (1985) 
did not record this species, but Brooks et al. 
(1987) had 131 records from the eastern 
Tihamah of Yemen, generally from 
agricultural fields. Most were singing males. 
Cornwallis &c Porter (1 982) also found many 
in crop fields. 
BLACK-CROWNED FINCH LARK 
Eremopterix nigriceps A Most common 
resident lark of the Tihamah. Moves in 
large numbers with the rains. Display 
noticed from January onwards, depending 
on rainfall pattern. After winter rains and 
greening of ground cover, large flocks of up 
to 100 individuals. Chicks found in our 
study area on 18 May 1990. Seen on the 
Farasan Islands 10-11 February 1992. 
DESERT LARK Ammomanes deserti U Six 
in gravel area near Ad Darb 2 November 
1987 and one on a rocky hillock in a wadi 
near Sabt Al Jar ah 8 January 1992. 
HOOPOE LARK Alaemon alaudipes U A 
bird typical of very dry regions. On the 
Tihamah present only in extremely arid 
and desolate areas e.g. Al Lith. Fairly 
common near Ad Darb 2 November 1989. 
Active in the hottest part of the day. Present 
on the Farasan Islands, where it appears to 
be darker than inland of the Asir mountains, 
with more streaks on the breast than shown 
in HoUom et al. (1988). 
BIMACULATED LARK Melanocorypha 
bimaculata U Passage migrant. Five to ten 
seen with 100-150 Lesser Short-toed Larks 
on 5 March 1989 in Wadi Al Lith. Not 
recorded by Stagg (1985), Phillips (1982) or 
Cornwallis & Porter (1982). Brooks et al. 
(1987) reported two at Taizz sewage lagoon 
in Yemen 19 November 1985. Symens (1987) 
reported many from the Jizan area in 
October - November 1987. 
LESSER SHORT-TOED LARK Calandrella 
rufescens U? A flock of 100-150 in Al-Lith5 
March 1989 foraging on a bare area near 
bedouin camps with some spilled water 
present. Many unidentified larks on passage 
were possibly this species and /or Short- 
toed Larks C. brachydactyla. Stagg (1985) 
found a sustained passage southwards past 
Amq for two days in March. 
CRESTED LARK Galerida cristata C 
Common throughout the Tihamah 
especially in cultivated areas but rarely 
found in very dry areas. Not seen in 
Banideep area during October - November 
but they appeared with the rains and the 
start of cultivation in December, at first in 
small numbers but by the end of January 
they were common in most fields. Always 
found in Saeedha area where there are 
some permanent crop fields. 
SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia U On 
migration 13 March 1989 in Wadi Dehan. 
Not recorded by Stagg (1985). 
SWALLOW Hirundo rustica C Irregular 
sightings in winter. Six flying east 6 
February 1992 in our study area. On 11 
February 1992 on Farasan 15 flying just 
above ground near six Egyptian Vultures 
feeding on a donkey carcass. 
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW Hirundo 
daurica U Ten to 12 near Ad Darb 18 March 
1989 and 12-15 flying over open fields near 
Malaki Dam 9 February 1992. Stagg (1985) 
found them mainly in the Asir highlands 
but Brooks et al. (1987) found them both 
present on the Yemen coast and in the 
highlands. 
TAWNY PIPIT Anthus campestris A Very 
common in open sandy areas, especially 
where Dipterygium and Heliotropium were 
growing. 
LONG-BILLED PIPIT Anthus similis C 
Common, with similar habitat preference 
to the Tawny Pipit. 
YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flaw U 
Prefers edges of water so distribution 
restricted in the Tihamah but found 
wherever suitable damp areas present, e.g. 
irrigated fields. Mainly feldegg subspecies 
observed. Up to 20 in a stream in Sablal 2 
March 1989; also recorded at Al Lith and 
Alahssahbah in the same month. 
