First record of Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii in Lebanon, 2020

The Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse (Pterocles lichtensteinii) is a nomadic, mostly nocturnal species. Its world range includes several countries in Africa, as far south as Kenya, and Asia as far east as Pakistan, but within the Middle East, it is a resident in Egypt, Southern Israel and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman and Southern Iran. Like other members of its family, it is found in very dry habitats including wadis and stony deserts. Seeing a flock of them in Lebanon is extraordinary. They were sighted for the first time in the country. The dry hot wind in that time of the year might have brought them there. A poacher shot the flock and killed six birds during night hunting.