22 June 2015

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin in a garden in Tabuk – Bird records by Viv Wilson

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas galactotes is an uncommon migrant and widespread breeding summer visitor with birds arriving in March and staying until October. They appear to be most common during the first week of May, with more than 10 recorded in one day. Birds of the Riyadh Region by Stagg (1994); mentions the species is a common breeding summer visitor, widespread throughout the region. Numbers have increased significantly in recent years in the wake of expanding cultivation. Arrives late March and departs mid to late September. The species has been seen in the huge desert of the Empty Quarter with one at Sabkha 40 on two days in suitable breeding habitat although this individual was more likely to have been a migrant as no song was heard. Not previously recorded in this part of the Rub al Khali. The photos below were taken in the garden of Viv Wilson in Tabuk and he has kindly given me permission to use them on my website.
Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin