The following list is based on the A checklist of the birds of Israel and Jordan by Hadoram Shirihai, Ian J. Andrews, Guy M. Kirwan and Peter Davidson that was published in Sandgrouse Volume 21(1) in June 1999. Recent decisions of the JBRC have also been taken into account.
Status abbreviations are explained at the end of the list.
Ostrich Struthio camelus fb
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica [v]
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis ?fb,WV
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus pm,wv
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis pm,wv
Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis [v]
Atlantic Petrel Pterodroma incerta [v]
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea pm
Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas [v]
Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes [v]
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus pm
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus [v]
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus [v]
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster wv,t
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo pm,wv
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus wv (formerly)
Darter Anhinga melanogaster wv (formerly)
White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus pm
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens v
Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel [v]
Bittern Botaurus stellaris wv
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus sb,PM,?wv
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax sb,PM
Green-backed Heron Butorides striatus v
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides sb,PM
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis r,PM
Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis t
Little Egret Egretta garzetta r,PM
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia v
Great White Egret Egretta alba pm,wv,?s
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala [v]
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea r,PM
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea sb,PM
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath v
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis [v]
Black Stork Ciconia nigra PM,wv
White Stork Ciconia ciconia PM,?wv
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus pm
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia pm
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber wv
Mute Swan Cygnus olor v
Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus [v]
White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons v
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus [v]
Greylag Goose Anser anser wv
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea v
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna ob,pm,WV
Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus v
Wigeon Anas penelope pm,WV
Falcated Duck Anas falcata v
Gadwall Anas strepera wv
Teal Anas crecca pm,WV
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos fb,WV
Pintail Anus acuta pm,WV
Garganey Anas querquedula ?fb,PM,?wv
Shoveler Anas clypeata pm,WV
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris pb,pm
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina pm,wv
Pochard Aythya ferina pm,wv
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca pm
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula PM,WV
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis [v]
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala [v]
Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus PM
Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus [v]
Black Kite Milvus migrans PM
Red Kite Milvus milvus v
Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus fb
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus ob,PM
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus r
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus fb,v
Black Vulture Aegypius monachus v
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus SB,PM
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus ?fb,PM,wv
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus pm,wv
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus PM,wv
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus PM
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis pm
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus ?sb,pm,WV
Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes PM
Buzzard Buteo buteo PM
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus R
Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus v
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina pm
Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga v
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis PM,wv
Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca pm,WV
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos R
Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii r
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus PM,?wv
Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus R
Osprey Pandion haliaetus pm
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni SB,PM
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus R,pm
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus pm
Merlin Falco columbarius WV
Hobby Falco subbuteo sb,PM
Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae v
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor SB
Lanner Falco biarmicus r
Saker Falco cherrug pm,wv
Peregrine Falco peregrinus pm,wv
Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides r
Chukar Alectoris chukar R
Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi R
Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus R
Quail Coturnix coturnix PM,?s
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus fb,pm,wv
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana pm
Little Crake Porzana parva pm
Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla sb,pm
Corncrake Crex crex pm
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus ?r,pm,wv
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio v
Coot Fulica atra r,pm,WV
Crane Grus grus pm,WV
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo [v]
Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata r
Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis v
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus pm
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus SB,PM
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta SB,PM
Crab Plover Dromas ardeola [v]
Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus sb,pm
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor SB,pm
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola SB,PM
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni v
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius sb,PM
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula PM,wv
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus SB,PM,WV
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii SB,PM,?wv
Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus pm
Dotterel Charadrius morinellus wv
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva v
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola pm
Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus R
Blackhead Plover Hoplopterus tectus v
Red-wattled Plover Vanellus indicus v
Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria v
White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura sb,pm
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus pm,WV
Knot Calidris canutus v
Sanderling Calidris alba v
Little Stint Calidris minuta PM,wv
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii PM
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea PM
Dunlin Calidris alpina PM,WV
Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus pm
Ruff Philomachus pugnax PM,wv
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus pm,wv
Snipe Gallinago gallinago PM,WV
Great Snipe Gallinago media v
Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura [v]
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola v
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa pm
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica v
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus v
Curlew Numenius arquata pm
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus pm
Redshank Tringa totanus PM,WV
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis PM
Greenshank Tringa nebularia PM,?wv
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus PM,WV,?s
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola PM
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus v
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos PM,?wv
Turnstone Arenaria interpres pm
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus pm
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus v
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus pm
Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus v
South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki [v]
Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii [v]
White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus r
Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus pm,wv
Little Gull Larus minutus v
Sabine's Gull Larus sabini [v]
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus PM,WV
Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus v
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei PM,wv
Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii v
Common Gull Larus canus wv
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus PM,wv
Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans PM,WV
Armenian Gull Larus armenicus pm,wv
Heuglin's Gull Larus heuglini v
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus v
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica sb,PM
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia t
Crested Tern Sterna bergii v
Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis v
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis pm
Common Tern Sterna hirundo PM
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea [v]
White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa pm
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus pm
Little Tern Sterna albifrons sb,PM
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus PM
Black Tern Chlidonias niger pm
White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus PM
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii [?r]
Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus ?r
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus r
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus v
Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis wv
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata r
Rock Dove Columba livia R
Stock Dove Columba oenas wv
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus v
African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea [v]
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto R
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur SB,PM
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis R
Namaqua Dove Oena capensis ?r,pm
Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri R (introduced)
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius ?sb,pm
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus ?sb,pm
Barn Owl Tyto alba r
Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei ?r
Scops Owl Otus scops SB,pm
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo r
Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis ?r (prob extinct)
Little Owl Athene noctua R
Tawny Owl Strix aluco r
Hume's Tawny Owl Strix butleri R
Long-eared Owl Asio otus pm,wv
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus pm
Nubian Nightjar Caprimulgus nubicus ?r
Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus pm
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius ob,?pm
Swift Apus apus ?sb,PM
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus SB,PM
Alpine Swift Apus melba SB,PM
Little Swift Apus affinis SB,PM
Smyrna Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis R
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis ?sb,PM,WV
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis r,wv
Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis R
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus sb,pm
Bee-eater Merops apiaster SB,PM
Roller Coracias garrulus ?sb,PM
Hoopoe Upupa epops r,PM
Wryneck Jynx torquilla PM,?wv
Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus R
Black-crowned Finch-lark Eremopterix nigriceps [v]
Dunn's Lark Eremalauda dunni r
Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus R
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti R
Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes R
Thick-billed Lark Ramphocoris clotbey r
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra r,pm,WV
Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata sb,pm
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla sb,PM
Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens SB,pm
Crested Lark Galerida cristata R
Woodlark Lullula arborea sb,WV
Skylark Alauda arvensis WV
Temminck's Horned Lark Eremophila bilopha R
Sand Martin Riparia riparia PM
Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula R
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris pm,wv
Swallow Hirundo rustica R,PM
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica sb,PM
House Martin Delichon urbica PM
Richard's Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae pm
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris sb,PM
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis R
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni [v]
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis PM
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis pm,WV
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus PM,WV
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta WV
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava sb,PM
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola pm,?sb
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea pm,wv
White Wagtail Motacilla alba PM,WV
White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys v
Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos R
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes R
Dunnock Prunella modularis wv
Radde's Accentor Prunella ocularis v
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris v
Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes SB,PM
Robin Erithacus rubecula WV
Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia PM
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos sb,PM
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica PM,WV
White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis pm
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros PM,WV
Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus PM
Blackstart Cercomela melanura R
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra PM
Stonechat Saxicola torquata PM,WV
Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina SB,pm,wv
Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe PM
Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca pm
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica SB,PM
Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti R
Finsch's Wheatear Oenanthe finschii WV
Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe moesta R
Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthoprymna v
Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens R
Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha R
White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga R
Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis PM
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius R,pm
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus v
Blackbird Turdus merula R,wv
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris wv
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos wv
Redwing Turdus iliacus v
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus wv
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti R
Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis fb,pm
Graceful Warbler Prinia gracilis R
Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta R
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia v
River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis pm
Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides fb,pm
Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon r,wv
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus PM
Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris v
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus SB,PM
Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus ?r
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus fb,pm
Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida SB,PM
Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata pm
Upcher's Warbler Hippolais languida SB,pm
Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum pm
Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina pm
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata R,wv
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans pm
Ménétries's Warbler Sylvia mystacea pm
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephalus R,wv
Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax wv
Rüppell's Warbler Sylvia rueppelli pm
Desert Warbler Sylvia nana pm,wv
Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena R
Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis SB,PM
Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria PM
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca sb,PM
Whitethroat Sylvia communis sb,PM
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin PM
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla PM,wv
Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli ob,PM
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix PM
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita PM,WV
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus PM
Goldcrest Regulus regulus v
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata SB,PM
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva pm
Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata PM
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis PM
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca PM
Brown Babbler Turdoides squamiceps R
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus R
Great Tit Parus major R
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria v
Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus pm,wv
Orange-tufted Sunbird Nectarinia osea R
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus PM
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus pm
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio PM,?wv
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor PM
Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius pallidirostris v
Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis R
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator SB,PM
Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus SB,PM
Jay Garrulus glandarius R
Jackdaw Corvus monedula r,wv
Indian House Crow Corvus splendens R
Rook Corvus frugilegus v
Hooded Crow Corvus corone R
Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis R
Raven Corvus corax r
Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus R
Tristram's Grackle Onychognathus tristramii R
Starling Sturnus vulgaris WV
Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus pm
House Sparrow Passer domesticus R
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis R,WV
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus R
Pale Rock Sparrow Petronia brachydactyla sb,pm
Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia R
Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica r (introduced)
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs WV
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla wv
Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillis v
Serin Serinus serinus r,WV
Tristram's Serin Serinus syriacus R,pm,wv
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris R,wv
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis R,wv
Siskin Carduelis spinus wv
Linnet Carduelis cannabina R,wv
Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra v
Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta R
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus R
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus v
Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus R
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes wv
Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos v
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella wv
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia wv
House Bunting Emberiza striolata R
Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea pm
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana ?sb,PM
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia SB,PM
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla v
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus wv
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala SB,PM
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra sb,WV
411 species in total
Status abbreviations
R = resident with definite breeding records
SB = breeding summer visitor
S = non-breeding summer visitor
ob = occasional breeder and regular non-breeding summer visitor
fb = former breeder
WV = winter visitor
PM = passage migrant
t = transient (present throughout the year without breeding)
v = vagrant
[v] = vagrant recorded in Jordanian territory / waters from outside the country
e = extinct
? = status uncertain during the relevant season
Lower case abbreviations e.g. wv or pm denote species which are generally
uncommon during the relevant season.