SOUTH ARABIAN WHEATEAR 
Oenanthe lugens lugentoides U Uncommon 
resident and winter migrant on the coastal 
plains, though common in the mountains. 
One in Wadi Hali 22 March 1989, another in 
the Al Hussaini area of the Farasan Islands. 
HOODED WHEATEAR Oenanthe monacha 
S Sixrecords,allinMarch,indica ting spring 
passage. 
WHITE-CROWNED BLACK 
WHEATEAR Oenanthe leucopyga S One 
record from Wadi Hadda Al-Sham near Al 
Barzah 2 March 1989. 
BLUE ROCKTHRUSH Monticola solitarius 
C Common winter visitor. Three seen in 3 
km in Wadi Qarnayn 2 January 1992. Ten 
other records, all from hillsides with 
boulders. 
FAN-TAILED WARBLER Cisticola juncidis 
C Common in agricultural areas. Numerous 
sightings in Wadi Dehan near Yemenborder 
29 August 1991 . Four males seen displaying 
near the backwaters of Malaki Dam 8-9 
February 1992. 
GRACEFUL WARBLER Prinia gracilis C 
Fairly common in mesic wadis (e.g. 
Alahssahbah, Mishrif, Malaki Dam) and 
around cultivated fields with hedges and 
thickets. Males displaying above Typha beds 
in Wadi Alahssahbah 5 January 1992 and 
numerous singing males in crop fields in 
thebackwaters of Malaki Dam 8-9 February 
1992. One among thicket on Farasan Kabir 
10 February 1992. 
SCRUB WARBLER Scotocerca inquieta C 
Common among Tamarix thickets in Wadi 
Al Lith; many males displaying 5 March 
1989. Frequently seen in wadis with low 
vegetation. 
DESERT WARBLER Sylvia nana nana C 
Common on the Tihamah. Two seen on the 
Farasan Islands 11-12 February 1992. 
ARABIAN WARBLER Sylvia leucomelaena 
C Seven sightings, three in March, four 
between November and January, mostly in 
wooded wadis. 
LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca 
curruca U One Wadi Alahssahbah 8 March 
1989, one in our study area 5 January 1992. 
DESERT LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia 
curruca minula U One near Jandalah 3 
November 1987. 
WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis U One 
on the Farasan Islands 10 February 1992. 
CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopuscollybita U Only 
confirmed record from Wadi Juwa 26 
October 1987. 
Phylloscopus spp. Many Phylloscopus 
warblers were seen during the surveys but 
were not identified to species. 
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa 
striata U One inside a large roadside hotel 
near Al Muzalif hawking insects attracted 
to light 4 November 1987; one in Wadi 
Alahssahbah 8 March 1989. 
ARABIAN BABBLER Turdoidessquamiceps 
C Common in vegetated wadis and 
cultivated areas throughout the Tihamah. 
More than 100 sightings. Flock size varied 
from three to 12 individuals. Flocks appear 
to be larger in more mesic habitats e.g. Wadi 
Juwa and Malaki Dam area. 
NILE VALLEY SUNBIRD Anthreptes 
metallicus A Most common sunbird on the 
Tihamah. Hundreds of sightings. Display 
seen from December. Two chicks in Wadi 
Juwa 8 February 1992. 
SHINING SUNBIRD Nectariniahabessinica 
C Fairly common around flowering Capparis 
decidua and Aloe. Stagg (1985) stated that it 
is a common but localized breeder between 
600-1500 m, while Brooks et al. (1987) found 
it to be common from 100-2,200 m. We 
regularly saw it in winter on Capparis in 
Kiyad at 120 m elevation. 
ORANGE-TUFTED SUNBIRD Nedarinia 
osea U Only two records: a pair on Acacia 
flowers in Wadi Sablal 2 March 1989 and 
another near Wadi Al Lith 6 March 1989. 
Common breeding resident above 1,500 m, 
scarce at lower levels (Stagg 1985). Brooks et 
