Libya is a country in North Africa which boasts an impressive variety of bird species. From the majestic African Desert Eagle to the vibrant Yellow-billed Kite, Libya is home to a diverse range of birds.
These birds inhabit the country’s diverse habitats, from coastal wetlands to the desert dunes. This article will provide an overview of the birds of Libya, highlighting some of the most interesting species.
1. Eurasian Reed Warbler
The Eurasian reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) is a species of Old World Warbler native to the temperate parts of Europe and Asia.
It breeds in wetlands such as marshes, ponds and rivers with dense vegetation like reeds or tall grasses.
During its wintering season, it migrates southward to sub-Saharan Africa where there are milder conditions.
This small bird has streaked brown plumage on the upperparts and white underparts which makes it difficult for predators to spot among the foliage.
Its diet consists mainly of insects including aphids, caterpillars larvae and moths caught while flying over water or by gleaning from plants growing near water bodies.
The male sings an attractive song consisting of several phrases repeated one after another as part of their courtship display during breeding season in order attract females for mating purposes.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Acrocephalidae |
| Genus | Acrocephalus |
| Species | A. scirpaceus |
2. Stone-Curlew
Stone-curlews, also known as dikkops or thick-knees, are a family of birds that have adapted to live in tropical and temperate regions throughout the world.
They can be found in Africa, Asia and Australia with two or more species per region. Despite being classified as waders, most prefer dry arid habitats over moist wetlands.
Stone-curlews typically have long legs which help them navigate through their preferred terrain efficiently; some species even stand at an impressive height when standing on those long legs.
Additionally they feature cryptic plumage which helps them blend into their surroundings while hunting for prey such as insects and small mammals like rodents.
These unique bird’s calls are easily recognizable; it has been said that hearing one is similar to listening to someone whistling ‘Keee Weee’.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Suborder | Chionidi |
| Family | Burhinidae Mathews, 1912 |
3. Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds, consisting of four genera and 17 species. They are distinguished from other charadrii by their long bills which have a slight downward curve.
Glareolidae live around open grasslands and deserts, where they hunt for insects using the bill to probe into soil or vegetation.
Most species are found in Africa but two pratincoles inhabit parts of Europe and Asia as well.
Coursers tend to be larger than pratincoles with longer legs allowing them to run quickly across sandy dunes while feeding on small animals like lizards or spiders.
Pratincoles feed mainly on flying insects, snatching them out of midair with great agility during flight.
All glareolids share unique features such as large eyes that help it spot prey at night easily making this group one interesting bird family.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Suborder | Lari |
| Family | Glareolidae CL Brehm, 1831 |
4. Pharaoh Eagle-Owl
The Pharaoh eagle-owl is a majestic bird native to North Africa and the Middle East. It has an impressive plumage of mottles, with large orange-yellow eyes that add to its regal appearance.
Its head and upperparts are covered in dark brown feathers which contrast nicely against the paler chestnut colored underparts.
The wingspan can reach up to 80 cm wide, making it one of the larger species of owl found in this region.
In addition, they have strong talons used for catching their prey such as small mammals or reptiles while they hunt at night during twilight hours when most other birds are asleep.
Their call is deep and loud; a haunting hoot often heard echoing through deserts at dusk or dawn.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae |
| Genus | Bubo |
| Species | B. ascalaphus |
5. Kinglets
Kinglets are small birds that used to be part of the Old World Warblers family. They belong to a family called Regulidae, named after their colourful crowns that make them look like little kings or princes.
There are six species in this family which can be found both in North America and Eurasia such as the Madeira firecrest.
Kinglets typically have short wings for fast maneuvering between branches and narrow bills made for catching insects – making up most of its diet.
Their bright plumage also makes them stand out from other passerines, with olive green on top and white underneath giving it an eye-catching appearance when they flit around trees while singing sweetly.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Suborder | Passeri |
| Parvorder | Muscicapida |
| Family | Regulidae Vigors, 1825 |
6. Lanner Falcon
The Lanner falcon is a medium-sized bird of prey found throughout Africa, southeast Europe and parts of Asia. It has a wingspan up to 42 inches and is typically slate gray with chestnut accents on its upper body.
This majestic creature prefers open habitat such as grasslands or savannas providing them ample hunting opportunities for small birds, bats and even large insects.
The species was first described by Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1825 under the scientific name Falco biarmicus.
Thanks to conservation efforts this magnificent raptor remains abundant in some regions today though it does face threats from loss of habitat due to human development activities as well as illegal trapping for use within the sport hunting industry.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Falconiformes |
| Family | Falconidae |
| Genus | Falco |
| Subgenus | Hierofalco |
| Species | F. biarmicus |
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7. Spotted Sandgrouse
The spotted sandgrouse is an amazing species of ground-dwelling bird native to parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
It can usually be found in arid regions where it lives a gregarious lifestyle that involves foraging on the ground during daylight hours.
These birds have evolved to survive incredibly dry conditions by flying only once per day to nearby waterholes for hydration – something which has allowed them to thrive even in some of the most inhospitable environments imaginable.
The spotted sandgrouse is one of nature’s great success stories – a remarkable example of adaptability, resilience and survival against all odds.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pterocliformes |
| Family | Pteroclidae |
| Genus | Pterocles |
| Species | P. senegallus |
8. Yelkouan Shearwater
The Yelkouan Shearwater is a medium-sized seabird in the Procellariidae family. It was first described in 1827 by Italian naturalist Giuseppe Acerbi from specimens found near The Bosphorus, Turkey.
This species has also been known as Levantine or Mediterranean shearwater and for some time it was considered to be part of Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus).
They have brownish grey upperparts with white underparts and black legs.
Their wings measure about 35 cm long which helps them during their migrations across the Mediterranean Sea each year between April and October when they leave breeding grounds on islands off south Europe to spend winter months at sea off Africa’s coastlines.
These birds feed mainly on small fish, planktonic crustaceans or squid taken while swimming underwater close to surface but sometimes can take food items directly from water’s surface like most other shearwaters do.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Genus | Puffinus |
| Species | P. yelkouan |
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9. Desert Sparrow
The Desert Sparrow is a small bird found in the Sahara desert of northern Africa. It belongs to the sparrow family Passeridae and has similar characteristics with Zarudny’s Sparrow, which inhabits Central Asia.
Historically, it was considered as a subspecies but later recognized as separate species by BirdLife International.
This tiny bird has grayish-brown upper parts with black streaks on its crown and center back while its underparts are whitish or yellowish buff coloration.
Its short bill is pale blue-gray above and pink below, surrounded by white feathers around eyes that gives them an attractive look.
Although not much known about their behavior yet they can be heard singing during breeding season when males sing loudly for females’ attraction.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Passeridae |
| Genus | Passer |
| Species | P. simplex |
10. Egyptian Nightjar
The Egyptian nightjar is a medium-sized nocturnal bird native to Southwest Asia and North Africa.
It migrates to tropical Africa during the winter months, where it can be seen in open woodlands as well as savannas and semi-desert environments.
This species has an extensive range with no major threats, so its conservation status is rated “least concern” by the IUCN.
The adult birds have distinctive white speckles on their wings and backs which help them blend into sandy or rocky habitats while they sleep during the day.
They feed mainly on insects such as moths, beetles, crickets and grasshoppers at night time when they are most active. With a little luck you may spot one of these mysterious creatures flying around after dusk.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae |
| Genus | Caprimulgus |
| Species | C. aegyptius |
11. Temminck’s Lark
Temminck’s lark is a species of bird belonging to the Alaudidae family. It has a wide range across North Africa, northern Saudi Arabia and western Iraq.
They are mainly resident but some populations can be partially migratory, traveling south in winter for better conditions.
The name Temminck commemorates Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck who was well known for his work with zoology specimens in the 19th century.
This small passerine bird is brownish grey on its upperparts and white underneath with black stripes along its back making it easy to identify from other birds around it as it flies or rests among vegetation.
Its diet consists mostly of insects which they hunt while perched atop tall grasses or shrubs during daylight hours, although they may venture out at night too if food sources become scarce.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Alaudidae |
| Genus | Eremophila |
| Species | E. bilopha |
12. Moussier’s Redstart
Moussier’s redstart is a small passerine bird found in the Atlas Mountains of northwest Africa. It has an endemic residence there, living and breeding in open woodland with rocky areas from sea level up to 3000m altitude.
This species was once classified as part of the thrush family but now belongs to Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae).
They have a striking plumage – males are black on top with white bellies, while females are orange-brown above and paler below.
The head and tail both feature distinctive red patches for which it gets its name.
These birds feed mainly on insects but will also take berries when available. In winter they sometimes descend into lower altitudes or migrate further southwards if food supply is lowScientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Muscicapidae |
| Genus | Phoenicurus |
| Species | P. moussieri |
13. Horned Grebe
The Horned Grebe is a small aquatic bird that belongs to the family of Podicipedidae. It has two known subspecies: P. auritus, which breeds in Palearctic regions, and P. cornutus which breeds in North America.
The Eurasian subspecies inhabits most parts of northern Europe and the Palearctic from Greenland to western China while its American counterpart can be found across Canada and Alaska down through California and some areas of Mexico’s coasts too.
This species adapts easily to different wetland habitats like lakes, rivers or marshes with abundant vegetation cover for nesting purposes as well as providing protection against predators.
They are excellent divers who feed on fish eggs, insects, mollusks & crustaceans along with plant material such as seeds & grains when available seasonally throughout their range.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Podicipediformes |
| Family | Podicipedidae |
| Genus | Podiceps |
| Species | P. auritus |
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