Arabian Partridge spreads north

Arabian Partridge appears to be expanding its range north, with a population recently discovered a mere 100 km from the Western Palearctic boundary.

Birds have been observed in the Harrat Uwayrid Biosphere Reserve in Saudi Arabia in recent years – some 100 km north of the nearest previously known population. It is thought that global warming could be triggering the northward expansion.

Counts carried out at Harrat Uwayrid between May and September 2022 logged a remarkable 91 partridges, and estimated the total population to be 120 individuals. This followed records in previous years, including eight in September 2020.

As a result, these birds become the most northerly known population of Arabian Partridge.

An Arabian endemic, Arabian Partridge appears to be spreading north, and closer to the Western Palearctic (Kris Webb).

Arabian endemic

Arabian Partridge nests on rocky hills dotted with vegetation up to 2,800 m above sea level in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and western Oman. There is also an introduced population in the United Arab Emirates.

However, the exact distribution and population of the species are still poorly known. It is not rare, with an estimated 400,000 pairs, but it is persecuted and suffers from habitat degradation. 

It is not currently on the Western Palearctic list, but a record seems possible before long.