Bird-list of Hula Valley

This checklist is based on information available up to and including August 1999. Taxonomy and nomenclature largely follows BWP Concise. All species currently regarded as having been reliably recorded in Hula Valley are included. Hula Valley is defined as the depression between Kiryat Shmona in the north and Ayelet HaShhar in the south and is situated between Galilee Mountain and the Golan Heights. Breeding species regarded as nationally threatened in Israel are denoted * in accordance with Nathan, R., Safriel, U. N. and Shirihai, H. (1996) Extinction and vulnerability to extinction at distribution peripheries: an analysis of the Israeli breeding avifauna. Isr. J. Zool. 42: 1–23. Information concerning the status abbreviations and references used is presented below.
 

Eng Name Latin Name Status abbr. Remarks

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis 

R,SB,PM,WV

 

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus 

ob,fb,s,pm,WV

 

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis 

fb,s,pm,WV

 

Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo  

s,pm,WV

 

Pygmy Cormorant

Phalacrocorax pygmeus

r*,pm,wv

 

Darter

Anhinga rufa   

v

(formerly)

White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus 

s,PM,WV

 

Dalmatian Pelican

Pelecanus crispus 

v

 

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

v

 

Bittern

Botaurus stellaris  

pm,wv

 

Little Bittern

Ixobrychus minutus  

sb*,PM,wv

 

Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax 

R,SB,PM,WV

 

Squacco Heron

Ardeola ralloides 

sb,PM,wv

 

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis  

R,pm,wv

 

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta  

R,SB,PM,WV

 

Great White Egret

Egretta alba  

s,pm,WV

 

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea  

fb,s,PM,WV

 

Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea  

sb*,PM,wv

 

Goliath Heron

Ardea goliath  

v

 

Yellow-billed Stork

Mycteria ibis  

v

 

Black Stork  

Ciconia nigra

s,PM,wv

 

White Stork

Ciconia ciconia  

s,sb*,PM,WV

 

Marabou

Leptoptilos crumeniferus 

v

 

Glossy Ibis

Plegadis falcinellus  

r*,S,PM,wv

 

Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia  

s,pm,WV

 

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber  

s,pm,wv

 

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor   

wv

 

Bewick's Swan

Cygnus columbianus bewickii

v

 

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus  

v

 

White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons 

wv

 

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Anser erythropus

v

 

Greylag Goose

Anser anser  

pm,wv

 

Red-breasted Goose

Branta ruficollis 

v

 

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiacus 

v

 

Ruddy Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea 

s,pm,wv

 

Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna  

s,pm,WV

 

Wigeon

Anas penelope   

s,PM,WV

 

Gadwall

Anas strepera   

s,pm,wv

 

Teal

Anas crecca   

s,PM,WV

 

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos  

r,PM,WV

 

Pintail

Anas acuta   

s,PM,WV

 

Garganey

Anas querquedula  

ob,PM,wv

 

Shoveler

Anas clypeata   

ob,PM,WV

 

Marbled Teal

Marmaronetta angustirostris

r*,pm,wv

 

Red-crested Pochard

Netta rufina 

s,pm,WV

 

Pochard

Aythya ferina   

s,PM,WV

 

Ferruginous Duck

Aythya nyroca 

sb*,pm,wv

 

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula  

s,PM,WV

 

Scaup

Aythya marila   

v

 

Velvet Scoter

Melanitta fusca  

v

 

Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula  

v

 

Smew

Mergellus albellus  

v

 

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

s,pm,wv

 

White-headed Duck

Oxyura leucocephala

fb,wv

 

Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus  

PM

 

Black Kite

Milvus migrans  

sb*,s,PM,WV

 

Red Kite

Milvus milvus   

v

 

White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla 

fb,pm,wv

 

Lammergeier

Gypaetus barbatus 

wv

 

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

sb,PM,wv

 

Griffon Vulture

Gyps fulvus  

r,pm,wv r

 

Black Vulture

Aegypius monachus 

wv

 

Short-toed Eagle

Circaetus gallicus 

SB,PM,wv

 

Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus 

fb,s,PM,WV

 

Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneus  

pm,WV

 

Pallid Harrier

Circus macrourus  

PM,wv

 

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus 

PM,wv

 

Goshawk

Accipter gentilis  

pm,wv

 

Sparrowhawk

Accipter nisus  

PM,WV

 

Levant Sparrowhawk

Accipter brevipes 

PM

 

Buzzard

Buteo buteo   

PM,WV

 

Long-legged Buzzard

Buteo rufinus 

R,pm,WV

 

Rough-legged Buzzard

Buteo lagopus 

v

 

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Aquila pomarina 

PM,wv

 

Spotted Eagle

Aquila clanga  

fb,s,pm,wv

 

Steppe Eagle

Aquila nipalensis  

PM,wv

 

Imperial Eagle

Aquila heliaca  

pm,wv

 

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos  

t

 

Booted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus 

PM,wv

 

Bonelli's Eagle

Hieraaetus fasciatus 

t,pm,wv

 

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus  

s,pm,wv

 

Lesser Kestrel

Falco naumanni  

sb,PM,wv

 

Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus  

R,PM,WV

 

Red-footed Falcon

Falco vespertinus 

PM

 

Merlin

Falco columbarius  

pm,wv

 

Hobby

Falco subbuteo   

SB,pm

 

Eleonora's Falcon

Falco eleonorae 

pm

 

Lanner

Falco biarmicus   

v

 

Saker

Falco cherrug   

pm,wv

 

Peregrine

Falco peregrinus  

pm,WV

 

Barbary Falcon

Falco pelegrinoides 

v

 

Chukar

Alectoris chukar   

R

 

Black Francolin

Francolinus francolinus 

R

 

Quai

l Coturnix coturnix   

sb*,PM,wv

 

Water Rail

Rallus aquaticus  

s,ob?,PM,WV

 

Spotted Crake 

Porzana porzana 

PM,wv

 

Little Crake

Porzana parva  

s,PM,wv

 

Baillon's Crake

Porzana pusilla  

fb,s,pm,wv

 

Corncrake

Crex crex   

pm

 

Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus  

R,SB,PM,WV

 

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio porphyrio 

v

 

Coot

Fulica atra    

ob*,PM,WV

 

Crane

Grus grus   

PM,WV

 

Demoiselle Crane

Anthropoides virgo 

v

 

Little Bustard

Tetrax tetrax  

pm,wv

 

Painted Snipe

Rostratula benghalensis 

v

 

Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus 

pm

 

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

R,SB,PM,WV

 

Avocet

Recurvirostra avosetta  

s,cb,PM,wv

 

Stone Curlew

Burhinus oedicnemus 

R,pm,WV

 

Cream-coloured Courser

Cursorius cursor

v,cb?

 

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola 

sb*,PM

 

Black-winged Pratincole

Glareola nordmanni

PM

 

Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubius 

sb*,PM,wv

 

Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula 

PM,WV

 

Kentish Plover

Charadrius alexandrinus 

r*,PM,WV

 

Greater Sand Plover

Charadrius leschenaultii

pm,wv

 

Caspian Plover

Charadrius asiaticus 

pm

 

Dotterel

Charadrius morinellus  

pm,wv

 

Pacific Golden Plover

Pluvialis fulva 

v

 

Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria  

pm,WV

 

Grey Plover

Pluvialis squatarola  

pm

 

Spur-winged Plover

Vanellus spinosus 

R,PM,WV

 

Sociable Plover

Vanellus gregarius 

pm,wv

 

White-tailed Plover

Vanellus leucurus 

pm,wv

 

Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus  

s,ob?,PM,WV

 

Sanderling

Calidris alba   

pm

 

Little Stint

Calidris minuta  

PM,WV

 

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii 

PM,wv

 

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  

pm

 

Swinhoe's Snipe

Gallinago megala 

v

 

Woodcock

Scolopax rusticola  

pm,WV

 

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosa 

PM,WV

 

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica 

v

 

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus  

pm

 

Curlew

Numenius arquata  

pm,wv

 

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus 

PM,WV

 

Redshank

Tringa totanus  

s,PM,WV

 

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis 

PM,wv

 

Greenshank

Tringa nebularia  

PM,wv

 

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus 

PM,WV

 

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareola  

PM,wv

 

Terek Sandpiper

Xenus cinereus 

pm

 

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos 

PM,WV

 

Turnstone

Arenaria interpres  

pm

 

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

pm

 

Grey Phalarope

Phalaropus fulicaria 

v

 

Great Black-headed Gull

Larus ichthyaetus

pm,WV

 

Mediterranean Gull

Larus melanocepahlus

v

 

Little Gull

Larus minutus  

s,pm,WV

 

Black-headed Gull

Larus ridibundus 

s,PM,WV

 

Slender-billed Gull

Larus genei  

pm

 

Common Gull

Larus canus  

pm,WV

 

Lesser Black-backed Gull 

Larus fuscus

s,PM,wv

 

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus cachinnans 

r*,pm,wv

 

Armenian Gull

Larus armenicus  

s,pm,WV

 

Heuglin's Gull

Larus heuglini  

pm

 

Gull-billed Tern 

Sterna niloctica

pm

 

Caspian Tern

Sterna caspia  

v

 

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo  

sb,pm

 

Little Tern

Sterna albifrons  

sb*,pm

 

Whiskered Tern

Chlidonias hybridus 

fb,s,PM,wv

 

Black Tern

Chlidonias niger  

fb,s,pm

 

White-winged Black Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus 

s,PM

 

Rock Dove

Columba livia 

r

 

Stock Dove

Columba oenas  

pm,WV

 

Woodpigeon

Columba palumbus 

pm,WV

 

Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto 

R

 

Turtle Dove

Streptopelia turtur  

SB,PM

 

Rufous Turtle Dove

Streptopelia orientalis

v

 

Laughing Dove

Streptopelia senegalensis

R

 

Namaqua Dove

Oena capensis  

v

 

Ring-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri 

R (i)

 

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

SB,pm

 

Cuckoo

Cuculus canorus  

pm

 

Barn Owl

Tyto alba   

R

 

Scops Owl

Otus scops   

SB,PM,wv

 

Eagle Owl

Bubo bubo   

r

 

Brown Fish Owl

Ketupa zeylonensis 

e

(formerly rare resident in region)

Little Owl 

Athene noctua

r

 

Tawny Owl

Strix aluco   

r

 

Long-eared Owl

Asio otus  

r,pm,wv

 

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus  

fb/ob,pm,wv

 

Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus  

s,PM

 

Egyptian Nightjar

Caprimulgus aegyptius

v

 

Alpine Swift

Tachymarptis melba 

sb,PM,wv

 

Swift

Apus apus    

SB,PM

 

Pallid Swift 

Apus pallidus

pm

 

Little Swift

Apus affinis   

R,pm,wv

 

White-breasted Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

R

 

Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis  

s,PM,wv

 

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis  

R

 

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

sb*,pm

 

Bee-eater  

Merops apiaster

SB,PM

 

Roller

Coracias garrulus   

SB,PM

 

Hoopoe

Upupa epops   

R,SB,PM,WV

 

Wryneck 

Jynx torquilla 

s,PM,wv

 

Syrian Woodpecker

Dendrocopus syriacus

R

 

Calandra Lark

Melanocorypha calandra 

r,pm,wv

 

Bimaculated Lark

Melanocorypha bimaculata

pm

 

Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactyla

sb,PM

 

Crested Lark

Galerida cristata  

R

 

Woodlark 

Lullula arborea

pm,WV

 

Skylark 

Alauda arvensis 

PM,WV

 

Small Skylark

Alauda gulgula  

pm,wv

 

Sand Martin  

Riparia riparia

s,PM,wv

 

Crag Martin

Hirundo rupestris                  

pm,WV

 

Swallow

Hirundo rustica   

r,SB,PM,wv

 

Red-rumped Swallow

Hirundo daurica 

SB,PM

 

House Martin

Delichon urbica  

sb,PM,wv

 

Richard's Pipit

Anthus richardi  

pm,wv

 

Tawny Pipit

Anthus campestris 

PM,wv

 

Long-billed Pipit

Anthus similis  

(r )

Galilee Mt. slopes and on rocks above Kiryat Shemona

Olive-backed Pipit

Anthus hodgsoni 

v

 

Tree Pipit  

Anthus trivialis

PM,wv

 

Meadow Pipit

Anthus pratensis  

pm,WV

 

Red-throated Pipit

Anthus cervinus 

PM,WV

 

Water Pipit  

Anthus spinoletta

PM,WV

 

Buff-bellied Pipit

Anthus rubescens 

pm,wv

 

Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava  

sb*,PM

 

Citrine Wagtail

Motacilla citreola  

ob?,pm,wv

 

Grey Wagtail 

Motacilla cinerea

PM,WV

 

White Wagtail

Motacilla alba  

sb*,PM,WV

 

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus xanthopygos

R

 

Wren

Troglodytes troglodytes  

r,wv

 

Dunnock s  

Prunella modulari

pm,WV

 

Rufous Bush Robin

Cercotrichas galactotes

SB,PM

 

Robin

Erithacus rubecula   

PM,WV

 

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia  

PM

 

Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos 

sb,PM

 

Bluethroat  

Luscinia svecica

PM,WV

 

White-throated Robin

Irania gutturalis 

v

 

Black Redstart

Phoenicurus ochruros 

PM,WV

 

Common Redstart

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

PM

 

Whinchat

Saxicola rubetra 

PM

 

Stonechat

Saxicola torquata  

PM,WV

 

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina 

PM,wv

 

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe 

PM

 

Pied Wheatear

Oenanthe pleschanka 

v

 

Cyprus Pied Wheatear

Oenanthe cypriaca

v

 

Black-eared Wheatear

Oenanthe hispanica

SB,PM

 

Desert Wheatear

Oenanthe deserti 

v

 

Finsch’s Wheatear

Oenanthe finschii 

pm,wv

 

Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis  

pm

 

Blue Rock Thrush

Monticola solitarius 

r,pm,wv

 

Ring Ouzel

Turdus torquatus 

pm,wv

 

Blackbird 

Turdus merula

R,pm,wv

 

Fieldfare 

Turdus pilaris 

pm,wv

 

Song Thrush

Turdus philomelos  

PM,WV

 

Redwing  

Turdus iliacus

pm,wv

 

Mistle Thrush

Turdus viscivorus  

pm,wv

 

Cetti's Warbler

Cettia cetti  

R,pm,wv

 

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis 

R,SB

 

Graceful Prinia

Prinia gracilis  

R

 

River Warbler

Locustella fluviatilis 

pm

 

Savi's Warbler

Locustella luscinioides 

sb*,PM,wv

 

Moustached Warbler

Acrocephalus melanopogon

r*,pm,WV

 

Sedge Warbler

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

PM

 

Marsh Warbler

Acrocephalus palustris 

pm

 

Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus 

SB,PM,wv

 

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus stentoreus

R

 

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus 

sb*?,PM

 

Olivaceous Warbler

Hippolais pallida 

SB,PM

 

Upcher's Warbler

Hippolais languida

sb,pm

(Galilee Mt. slopes and above Kiryat Shemona)

Olive-tree Warbler

Hippolais olivetorum 

pm

 

Icterine Warbler

Hippolais icterina 

pm

 

Spectacled Warbler

Sylvia conspicillata

r,pm,wv

 (Galilee Mt. slopes and above Kiryat Shemona)

Subalpine Warbler

Sylvia cantillans 

pm

 

Sardinian Warbler

Sylvia melanocephala

R,SB,PM,WV

 

Rüppell's Warbler

Sylvia rueppelli 

pm

 

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

 

Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatus

v

 

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler

Phylloscopus orientalis

PM

 

Wood Warbler

Phylloscopus sibilatrix 

PM

 

Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita  

PM,WV

 

Willow Warbler

Phylloscopus trochilus 

PM

 

Goldcrest 

Regulus regulus

wv

 

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

 

Bearded Tit

Panurus biarmicus  

wv

(irregular)

Great Tit

Parus major   

R

 

Rock Nuthatch

Sitta neumayer  

v

(above Kiryat Shemona)

Penduline Tit

Remiz pendulinus  

s,PM,WV

 

Palestine Sunbird

Nectarinia osea 

R

 

Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus  

sb,PM

 

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus 

pm,wv

 

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio 

PM

 

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

 

Alpine Chough

Pyrrhocorax graculus 

v

 

Jackdaw

Corvus monedula

r*,WV

 

Rook

Corvus frugilegus   

s,pm,WV

 

Hooded Crow

Corvus corone cornix 

R

 

Raven

Corvus corax   

t

 

Tristram's Grackle

Onychognathus tristramii

v

 

Starling  

Sturnus vulgaris

s,PM,WV

 

Rose-coloured Starling

Sturnus roseus

pm

(formerly bred)

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus 

R

 

Spanish Sparrow

Passer hispaniolensis 

R,SB,PM,WV

 

Dead Sea Sparrow

Passer moabiticus 

r/sb

 

Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus  

v

 

Pale Rock Sparrow

Carpospiza brachydactyla

pm

 

Rock Sparrow

Petronia petronia  

r

(above Kiryat Shemona)

Indian Silverbill

Lonchura malabarica 

r

(introduced)

Chaffinch 

Fringilla coelebs

PM,WV

 

Brambling

Fringilla montifringilla  

pm,wv

 

Red-fronted Serin

Serinus pusillus 

pm,wv

(in some years only)

Serin

Serinus serinus   

r,PM,WV

 

Syrian Serin

Serinus syriacus  

pm

 

Greenfinch

Carduelis chloris  

R,PM,WV

 

Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis 

R,PM,WV

 

Siskin  

Carduelis spinus

pm,WV

 

Linnet

Carduelis cannabina 

r,PM,WV

 

Crossbill

Loxia curvirostris  

wv

(irregular)

Desert Finch

Rhodospiza obsoleta 

v

 

Scarlet Rosefinch

Carpodacus erythrinus

pm,wv

 

Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes

pm,wv

 

Pine Bunting  

Emberiza leucocephalos

wv

(recorded in mountains above valley)

Yellowhammer

Emberiza citrinella 

wv

(recorded in mountains above valley)

Rock Bunting

Emberiza cia  

wv

 

Cinereous Bunting

Emberiza cineracea 

pm

 

Ortolan Bunting

Emberiza hortulana 

PM

 

Cretzschmar's Bunting

Emberiza caesia 

sb,PM

 

Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus 

s,pm,WV

 

Black-headed Bunting

Emberiza melanocephala

sb,PM,wv

 

Corn Bunting

Miliaria calandra  

r,SB,PM,WV