The wetlands of the United Arab Emirates provide vital habitat for resident and migratory birds in a landscape otherwise dominated by arid environments. Freshwater lakes, marshes, lagoons, reedbeds and shallow pools attract a remarkable diversity of waterbirds, from Greater Flamingos and herons to kingfishers, ducks, waders and birds of prey.
Throughout the year, and particularly during migration and winter, these habitats become important feeding and resting areas for birds travelling through the Arabian Peninsula. This collection documents wetland and freshwater birds photographed in the field across the UAE, together with selected records from Lebanon that illustrate the wider diversity of wetland birdlife across the region.
Wetland Birds of the United Arab Emirates
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) - United Arab Emirates
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) - United Arab Emirates
Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) - United Arab Emirates
Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) - United Arab Emirates
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) - Lebanon
Fulvous Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) - United Arab Emirates
African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) - United Arab Emirates
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) - United Arab Emirates
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) - United Arab Emirates
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) - Lebanon
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - United Arab Emirates
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) - Lebanon
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) - Lebanon
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) - Lebanon
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) - Lebanon
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) - Lebanon
Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - Lebanon
Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) - Lebanon
White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) - Lebanon
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) - Lebanon
Garganey (Spatula querquedula) - Lebanon
Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) - Lebanon
European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) - Lebanon
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) - Lebanon
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - Lebanon
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) - Lebanon
Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) - Lebanon
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) - Lebanon
Little Bittern (Botaurus minutus) - Lebanon
Pied Kingfisher - Lebanon
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) - Lebanon
Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) - Lebanon
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) - Lebanon
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) - Lebanon
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) - Lebanon
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) - Lebanon
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) - Lebanon
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) - Lebanon
Eurasian Penduline-Tit (Remiz pendulinus) - Lebanon
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) - Lebanon
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) - Lebanon
Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) - United Arab Emirates
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) - United Arab Emirates
Black Swan ( Cygnus atratus) - United Arab Emirates
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) - United Arab Emirates
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) - United Arab Emirates
Western Reef Heron (Egretta gularis) - United Arab Emirates
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) - United Arab Emirates
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) - United Arab Emirates
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) - United Arab Emirates
Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis) - United Arab Emirates
Great Egret (Ardea alba) - United Arab Emirates
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) - United Arab Emirates
Ruff (Calidris pugnax) - United Arab Emirates
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) - United Arab Emirates
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) - United Arab Emirates
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) - United Arab Emirates
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - United Arab Emirates
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) - United Arab Emirates
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) - United Arab Emirates
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) - United Arab Emirates
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii) - United Arab Emirates
Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) - United Arab Emirates
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) - United Arab Emirates
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) - United Arab Emirates
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) - United Arab Emirates
Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata) - United Arab Emirates
Arabian Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris kalbensis) - United Arab Emirates
Corncrake (Crex crex) - United Arab Emirates
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) - United Arab Emirates
Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) - United Arab Emirates
Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) - United Arab Emirates
Bird Watching Tours in the UAE
The wetlands of the United Arab Emirates offer outstanding opportunities to observe and photograph resident and migratory birds throughout the year. From flamingos, herons and kingfishers to ducks, waders and birds of prey, each habitat reveals a different part of the country’s remarkable birdlife. Through 360 Photography Nature, we offer guided bird-watching and wildlife photography trips based on real field knowledge, careful observation and responsible wildlife practices, helping visitors discover species in their natural habitats while gaining a deeper understanding of the UAE’s wetlands and biodiversity.
Discover other habitats
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Gravel Plains
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Desert & Semi Desert
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Mountains & Wadis
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Forest
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Coastline