Discover Merzouga Birding

A sandy-grey lark of rocky desert slopes and gravel plains, feeding on seeds and insects on the ground. Its plumage blends with the surrounding stones.

A pale sparrow associated with sandy desert and sparse vegetation. Around Erg Chebbi, it is sought at suitable sites rather than assumed to occur throughout every village or oasis.

A desert lark with a long, gently curved bill, usually feeding on the ground in open sandy or gravel habitats. Breeding males perform distinctive aerial song displays.

A wheatear of open arid ground with sandy plumage and a largely black tail. Adult breeding males have a black face and throat; females have a paler throat.

A small, pale warbler of sparsely vegetated desert, searching low shrubs for small invertebrates. Recorded in Erg Chebbi, it can be difficult to locate even in suitable habitat.

A small finch of rocky, arid ground, feeding mainly on seeds. Its nasal, trumpet-like call is distinctive; adult breeding males develop pinker plumage and a brighter bill.

A well-camouflaged sandgrouse of open stony and gravel desert. Birds visit drinking sites, and males carry water to their chicks in specially adapted belly feathers.

A large, sandy-coloured owl with orange eyes and ear tufts, associated with rocky desert cliffs and wadis. It is mainly nocturnal but may be seen resting during daylight.

A sandy-brown, long-tailed bird of dry scrub and desert vegetation. It is social, often moving and feeding in groups among shrubs and on the ground.

A familiar sparrow closely associated with people, buildings and settlements. Around Merzouga it can be encountered near villages and accommodation, rather than treated as a desert specialist.

A camouflaged, mainly nocturnal bird of sandy desert and dry wadis. Documented around Erg Chebbi, it may also be found resting on the ground by day; sightings are not guaranteed.

A small falcon of open country, farmland and rocky areas. It often hovers while scanning the ground for small prey, a useful identification feature when observed in flight.

A tiny warbler with a pale yellow eyebrow and wing bars. A rare vagrant in Morocco with a documented Merzouga record, it should be presented as an exceptional sighting, not a regular tour target.

A ground-feeding lark with a pointed crest, associated with open, dry ground, tracks and fields. Its crest and song are useful clues, although similar larks require careful identification.

A grey, black and white shrike that watches for insects and other small prey from exposed perches. Desert forms occur in open scrub around Erg Chebbi.

A pale, long-legged bird of open desert plains with sparse vegetation. It searches for food on the ground, often walking or running across sandy and gravel terrain.

A well-camouflaged ground bird with large yellow eyes, associated with dry open terrain. Mainly active at dusk and at night, it may be detected by its calls or found resting by day.

A dark wheatear with a contrasting white tail marked by a black terminal band. It favours rocky slopes, cliffs and ravines; it should not be confused with the White-crowned Wheatear.