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Recordings
Scientific Name
Coracias garrulus
Arabic Name
الشقراق الأوربي
Kuwaiti name
عقعق , زريقي
Family
Width
73.0 cm
Length
32.0 cm
Similar species
Information
Uncommon passage migrant and scarce summer visitor. Evidence for breeding exists even for Kuwait, but most birds are transient visitors. During migration, small flocks can be seen. Sadly this species is heavily targeted by local shooters.
Where in Kuwait
A stunning and colourful bird that is found as far west as Al Abraq and east in the Jahra area - in fact anywhere where they may be tall mature trees for it to roost on during migration
In the world
This species has apparently undergone moderately rapid declines across its global range and it is consequently considered Near Threatened. Declines have been most pronounced in northern populations possibly due to habitat loss as a result of agricultural intensification. It breeds throughout temperate, steppe and Mediterranean zones characterized by reliable warm summer weather. C. g. garrulous’ breeding range extends from northwest Africa, southwest and south-central Europe, east through Asia Minor to northwest Iran and southwest Siberia. C. g. semenowi breeds in Iraq and Iran. C. g. garrulous’ breeding range extends from northwest Africa, southwest and south-central Europe, east through Asia Minor to northwest Iran and southwest Siberia. C. g. semenowi breeds in Iraq and Iran. This species overwinters in two distinct regions of Africa, from Senegal east to Cameroon, and from Ethiopia west to Congo and south to South Africa It spends long periods sitting on an elevated perch, such as a bare branch or a power line, watching the ground intently for potential prey
Local threats
As it is a bird of colour; persecution on migration in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries and hundreds, perhaps thousands, are shot for food in Oman every spring.