Intended to help novices identify 215 of the 280 species named on the Qatar Bird List, including all the common birds. Species are grouped together according to preferred habitat. Habitats are schematized as a) deserts and arid plains, b) lakes, lagoons and coasts and c) gardens, parks and farms. Seasonal occurrence is also colour coded as a) winter visitor, b) seen during migrtaion, c) summer visitor or d) resident. The status and size of birds is also indicated diagramatically.
The introduction provides advice on how to watch and identify birds, what equipment to use and where to find birds in Qatar. Species to be seen in parks or gardens include White-eared and Red-vented Bulbul, Laughing Dove, Alexandrine, Rose-ringed Parakeet, House Sparrow, Indian Silverbill and Common Myna.
Each full-page species account includes a colour illustration, English and Latin names, distribution map, seasonality and notes on behaviour and ecology, as well as distinguishing features.
Introduction
About this book
How to watch birds
Binoculars
How to identify birds
Where to watch birds in Qatar
Birdwatching code of conduct
Birds of gardens, parks and farms
Birds of wetlands and at the coast
Birds of the desert
Index of scientific bird names
Index of English bird names
About the authors
Hanne and Jens Eriksen have live in Oman and the UAE for the last 25 years and have travelled extensively in Arabia, the Middle East and elsewhere to study and photograph birds. They are authors or co-authors of seven books on birds, including Common Birds in Oman.
Frances Gillespie is a freelance writer who has lived in Qatar for more than 25 years. She is the author or co-author of a number of books on the country, which she has explored extensively in order to record the fauna and flora and investigate the archaeology.