Birdwatching in late autumn and winter

Although Israel received its reputation as a major spring and autumn flyway of migrating birds, it is also an important wintering ground for thousands of birds. These include the critically endangered Sociable Plover, the endangered White-headed Duck, several vulnerable species (such as, Marbled Teal and Imperial and Spotted Eagles), and the near threatened Ferruginous Duck.
Middle-east specialties, such as Radde's Accentor, Red-fronted Serin, Striated Scops Owl, and Red-tailed Wheatear, are also quite regular winter visitors to the country.

Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna)

season extends between November-February. While November still gets the rearguard of the autumn migration, and especially some scarce migrants with an eastern aroma, it also marks the arrival of mass numbers of wintering birds. Among the late autumn migrants are Richard's, Buff-bellied and Olive-backed Pipits, Siberian Stonechats, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed and Hume's Warblers (especially in the south), Isabelline Shrikes, Little and Rustic Buntings and many more. Pin-tailed Snipe has recently become an almost annual visitor during this time of year.

Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)

The Mass numbers of wintering birds especially water birds, Cranes and raptors arrive during this time. Among them are the vulnerable Spotted and Imperial Eagles and the near threatened Pallid Harrier and Cinereous Vulture. More than 30,000 Cranes are counted annually in the Hula valley; about half of them will remain for the winter.
Migration dynamics settle down during December, though almost all the wintering population of Pallas's Gull (about 1700 birds) arrives to Israel throughout this month. It is also very difficult to see Pine Buntings and Little Bustards before December and bird-wise speaking, winter is considered to start in Israel during the first half of this month. January is actually the only true full month of winter birds in Israel with winterers starting to depart as early as the second week of February. However, this is already a fine period to catch some of the vanguards of the spring migration with species like Steppe Eagle and Pallid Swift already migrating through Eilat in large numbers.

Sinai Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus)

Birding at the southern parts of Israel is quite different than elsewhere in the country. The cool winter temperatures provide ideal conditions for desert birding throughout the day. All the desert species are far more active and some of them, such as Bonelli's and Golden Eagles, may already start their breeding season. Good habitats are small and sparse and there are far fewer birds around. These conditions make specialties finding a much easier task. Indeed, the Negev Desert oases (both natural and man-made) are an excellent place to find rare passerines and local desert birds such as Sinai Rosefinch and Syrian Serin (in winter only). Some species, however, dwell in remote wadies and may prove extremely hard to find. Such are the Striated Scops Owl, Hume's Tawny Owl, Hoopoe Lark (almost extinct from Israel) and the rarest of all Western Palearctic breeders - the Nubian Nightjar.
The winter is also a favorable time to see all Sandgrouses, Houbara Bustards, Saker and Lanner Falcons, Sociable Plover, Oriental Skylark, Arabian, Cyprus and Desert Warblers, and House Bunting.

Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus)

Read more about our suggested tours for the season here

For further information, please consult our checklist and “The Birds of Israel" (Shirihai, 1996), or cotact us directly.

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