With direct flights from many European and African capitals and an improving political situation, Libya may offer opportunities for the enterprising birder. The most recent formal review of the Birds of Libya listed 317 species of which 92 were known to breed. However, little ornithological work was done for some 30 years and much of Libya is still to be explored. The situation is beginning to change and new records, papers and trip reports are being published.
Nefusa is the name of the hill range inland and south of Tripoli. This site is a good place to see wheatears – Black Wheatear and Red-rumped Wheatear all-year round, Black-eared Wheatear in the summer, Magreb Wheatear in winter and Northern and Isabelline Wheatears on passage.
Along the coast near Benghazi breeding Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover and Collared Pratincole occur here in significant numbers. The site is also an important winter birding site with Little Stint and Dunlin. Greater Flamingo are also nearly always present in the winter in varying numbers. There can be dozens of Slender-billed Gull. Lesser Crested Tern have also been reported to over winter here in small numbers.
In central and Southern Libya Both Zallaf and Ghat oases contain many of the resident Sahara-Sindian biome species including Sooty Falcon, Spotted Sandgrouse, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Pale Crag Martin, White-crowned Black Wheatear and Desert Sparrow. Many migrant birds stop over at the oases to rest. A few stay all winter.
In the Zallaf area birders may also find Fulvous Babbler, Laughing Dove, Desert Grey Shrike and Spanish Sparrow - all resident - and Black-eared Wheatear – in the breeding season.
White-crowned Black Wheatear, copyright Artur Bujanowicz
No Trip Reports Have Been Posted for this Region Yet.
No Sightings Have Been Posted for this Region Yet.