The Sahara can look empty at first glance, but it supports more birdlife than most visitors expect — split fairly clearly between species built for the open desert and species that cluster around its scattered oases.

Birds of the Open Desert

Out on the dunes and gravel plains, look for larks moving low over the ground, kestrels hovering on the wind, and, higher up, Golden and Steppe Eagles riding thermals in search of prey. The African Ostrich, though far rarer than it once was across the Sahara, remains the region’s most iconic bird.

Birds of the Oases

Wherever there is water — a well, a spring, a palm grove — the picture changes completely. Oases attract Garden Bulbuls, swallows, sparrows and pigeons, along with kingfishers, herons, egrets and, seasonally, Garganey ducks passing through on migration.

Two Very Different Habitats

What strikes most visitors is how sharp the line is between these two worlds — a few hundred metres can separate a silent, birdless dune from a noisy, green oasis full of activity. On our tours through M’Hamid and the Draa Valley oases, that contrast is part of what makes the landscape so interesting to move through.

Related Reading

• The Fennec: The Fox of the Sahara
• The Dromedary: The Essential Companion of Saharan Nomads
• Wild Arugula: A Hidden Treasure of the Desert

Curious to experience it yourself? Explore our guided desert treks.