Category: Published papers

Published papers, natural history of birds in Jordan, ecology of birds in Jordan, ornithologists’ papers, international research…

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Red-rumped Wheatear

A rare and endangered passerine in the Middle East, Red-rumped Wheatear (Oenanthe moesta)

Male Red-rumped Wheatear (Oenanthe moesta), photo © Dr. Fares Khoury
Male Red-rumped Wheatear (Oenanthe moesta), photo © Dr. Fares Khoury

As part of Jordan BirdWatch’s activities to collect and analyse data about avian diversity and threatened species in Jordan, JBW researchers participated in a study about one of the rarest and endangered passerines in the Middle East. 

Red-rumped Wheatear, female and chicks, photo © Dr. Fares Khoury
Red-rumped Wheatear (Oenanthe moesta), female and chicks, photo © Dr. Fares Khoury

The Middle Eastern population of the Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe moesta has a highly restricted distribution, primarily found in Jordan’s transitional arid steppe habitats at elevations between 800 and 1,600 meters above sea level. We observed breeding activity on plateaus and along flat wadis in hilly terrain characterized by sandy soil, gravel, and sparse rocky outcrops. The vegetation in these areas consists mainly of dwarf shrub steppe, typically dominated by Anabasis species and Noaea mucronata. Additionally, the presence of colonial rodents, particularly the Fat Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus), is notable in these habitats. Over the past three decades, the range of the Red-rumped Wheatear in the Middle East has contracted by more than 20%.

Juvenile Red-rumped Wheatear, photo © Dr. Fares Khoury
Juvenile Red-rumped Wheatear (Oenanthe moesta), photo © Dr. Fares Khoury

Occurrences have become increasingly rare or absent in certain parts of its range, particularly in lower-lying and more disturbed habitats. To identify priority areas for the conservation of the breeding population, a Maximum Entropy (Maxent) model was developed to delineate the (near-)current suitable breeding habitat in Jordan. This model also highlights emerging threats, such as energy projects and quarrying, and identifies key environmental factors that may have contributed to the recent contraction of suitable breeding habitats.

Khoury, F., Korner, P., Saba, M., Al-Marahleh, M., & Alshamlih, M. (2025). Restricted to the steppe-desert ecotone: distribution and status of the regionally threatened Red-rumped Wheatear, Oenanthe moesta in Jordan. Zoology in the Middle East, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2495205

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Published Papers

Published papers about natural history and ecology of birds in Jordan

  • Abu-Baker, M., Al-Hassani, I., Amr, Z. (2018). Diet of the long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus, Jordan. Sandgrouse, 40, 133-137.
  • Al-Hassani, I., Azar J., Nishimura, K., Amr, Z., Katzner, T. (2012). Distribution, diet and winter ecology of the Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca in Jordan. Vertebrate Zoology, 62, 273-280.
  • Al-Hmoud, A, Janaydeh, M., Damhuriyeh, S., Khoury, F. (2007). Inter-locality variation in the reproductive ecology of the linnet (Carduelis cannabina) in Jordan. Zoology in the Middle East, 42, 47-58.
  • Al-Melhim, W., Amr, Z., Disi, A., Katbeh-Bader, A. (1997). On the diet of the Little Owl Athene noctua, in the Safawi area, eastern Jordan. Zoology in the Middle East 15, 19-28.
  • Alomia, M. (1978). Notes on the present avifauna of Hesban. In: Boraaas R., Geraty L.: Heshbon 1976: The Fifth Campaign at Tell Hesban, A Preliminary Report. Andrews University Monographs, Studies in Religion 10, 289-303.
  • Amr, Z., Al-Melhim, W., Yousef, M. (1997). Mammal remains from pellets of the Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, from Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan. Zoology in the Middle East, 14, 5-10.
  • Al-Shamlih, M., Nassar, K., Khoury, F. (2005). Distribution and habitat use of selected bird species in Wadi Araba, Jordan. Sandgrouse, 27(1), 24-29.
  • Andrews, I. (1991a). Blue tits in Jordan. OSME Bulletin, 27, 6-7.
  • Andrews, I. (1991b). Is Azraq still an Oasis? OSME Bulletin, 27, 13-19.
  • Andrews, I. (1994). Description of the black morph Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 16, 32-35.
  • Andrews, I. (1996). Preliminary data on raptor passage in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 18, 36-45.
  • Andrews, I. (1997). Birding in Jordan. Dutch Birding, 19(2), 49-60.
  • Andrews, I., Khoury, F., Shirhai, H. (1998). Jordan Bird Report 1995-1997. Sandgrouse, 21(1), 10-35.
  • Azar, J., Hassani, I., Nishimura, K. (2007). The Demoiselle Crane, Anthropoides virgo (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves: Gruidae), new to Jordan. Zoology in the Middle East, 41, 109-110.
  • Barrientos, R., Kvist, L., Barbosa, A., Valera, F., Khoury, F., Varela, S., Moreno, E. (2014). Refugia, colonization and diversification of an arid-adapted bird: coincident patterns between genetic data and ecological niche modeling. Molecular Ecology, 23, 390-407.
  • Bashford, R. (1997). The first Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelianus in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 19(2), 142-143.
  • Boye, P., Holzapfel, C., Wittenberg, J. (1986). Biogeographische Betrachtung einer Region in Südjordanien. Natur and Meseum, 116 (12), 385-402.
  • Bruun B (1981). The Lappet-faced Vulture in the Middle East. Sandgrouse, 2, 91-95.
  • Cameron, R., Cornwallis, L. (1966). Autumn notes from Azraq, Jordan. Ibis, 108, 284-287.
  • Carruthers, D. (1910). On a collection of birds from the Dead Sea and north-western Arabia, with contributions to the ornithology of Syria and Palestine. Ibis, 4, 475-491.
  • Clarke, J. (1980). The Avifauna of Shaumari Wildlife Reserve. Sandgrouse, 1, 50-70.
  • Clarke, J. (1981). the occurrence of Strickland’s Wheatear in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 2, 98-99.
  • Clarke, J. (1983). The Houbara Bustard in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 4, 111-113.
  • Condor, P. (1981a). Birds of the Azraq Wetland Reserve, Jordan: January and February 1979. Sandgrouse 2, 22-32.
  • Conder, P. (1981b). Water extraction at Azraq. OSME Bulletin 6, 8.
  • Condor, P. (1982). Azraq Wetland Reserve. OSME Bulletin 8, 4-5.
  • Dufourny, H. (2006). First record of Long-tailed Shrike Lanius Schach for Jordan. Sandgrouse, 28(1), 73-76.
  • Erik-Hansson, E., Magnusson, A., Eriksson, P. ( 1998). The first Mute Swan Cygnus olor and Radde’s Accentor Prunella ocularis in Jordan. Sandgrouse 20(1), 46-47.
  • Ellis, P.M., Shaw, K. (2001). The first painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 23, 145.
  • Ellis, P. M., Omari, K., Halah, A. (2001). The first European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 23, 146.
  • Evans, M. (1996). the first Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 18, 65.
  • Evans, M., Al-Mashaqba, S. (1997). Did Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos formerly breed in Jordan? Sandgrouse, 18(2), 61.
  • Evans, M. I., Amr, Z. S., Al-Oran, R. (2005). The status of birds in the proposed Rum Wildlife Reserve, southern Jordan.  Turkish Journal of Zoology, 29,17-26.
  • Flaxman, E. (1982). Observations of raptor migration in Jordan. OSME Bulletin, 9, 45.
  • Förschler, M., Khoury, F., Bairlein, F., Aliabadian, M. (2010). Phylogeny of the Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens complex. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 56, 758 – 767.
  • Giowska, E., Skorack,i M., Khoury, F (2007). A new species and new records of syringophilid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) from birds in Jordan. Zootaxa, 1635, 63-68.
  • Green, M., Thomas, C. (2008). Birds of the Badia region of Jordan; Sandgrouse, 30(2), 125-133.
  • Grieve, A., Khoury, F. , Nassar, K. (2003) The first black Bush Robins in Jordan _ a prelude to colonisation? Sandgrouse, 26(2), 151-152.
  • Hamidan, N. (2003). The first Siberian white cranes Grus leucogeranus in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 25, 143.
  • Hollom, P. (1959). Birds of Near East. Notes from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Antioch. Ibis, 101,183-200.
  • Kappes, E., Kappes, W. (1981). Naturkundliche Studien in Jordaniens Wüsten-Nationalpark Azraq-26 April bis 2 Mai 1980. Sonderheft Deutscher Bund für Vogelschutz LV Hamburg, 9, 139-148.
  • Khoury, F. (1996). Observations on the Avifauna of the Azraq Wetland, Jordan, June 1995. Sandgrouse, 18(2), 52-57.
  • Khoury, F. (1997). The first Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 19(1), 68.
  • Khoury, F. (1998). The status of breeding birds on the Sharrah Highland Plateau, Jordan. Sandgrouse, 20(1), 22-29.
  • Khoury, F. (1998). Habitat associations and communities of breeding birds in the highlands of south-west Jordan. Zoology in the Middle East, 16, 35-48.
  • Khoury, F. (1998). Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in SW Jordan. Sandgrouse, 20(2), 87-93.
  • Khoury, F. (2000). The impact of drought conditions on the winter distribution and population of Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south-west Jordan. Sandgrouse 22 (1), 64-66.
  • Khoury, F. (2000). The status of Vultures in Jordan. Vulture News, 43, 30-36.
  • Khoury, F. (2001). On the breeding bird community of Wadi Al-Kharrar, Jordan Valley. Zoology in the Middle East, 22, 37-44.
  • Khoury, F. (2001). The breeding ecology of Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 23(1), 68-69.
  • Khoury, F. (2003). Feeding ecology of Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in SW Jordan. (in German). Ecology of Birds, 25, 5-35.
  • Khoury, F. (2003). Phenology of passerine migration in central Jordan. Sandgrouse, 25(2), 132-142.
  • Khoury, F. (2004). The Situation of the Griffon Vulture in Jordan. In The Eurasian Vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Europe and the Mediterranean: Status report and Action plan. Edited by Slotta-Bachmayr, L., Bogel, R. & Camina Cardenal, A. East European/Mediterranean Griffon Vulture Working Group. p. 62-65.
  • Khoury, F. (2004). Seasonal variation in body fat and weight of migratory Sylvia species in central Jordan. Vogelwarte, 42, 191-202.
  • Khoury, F. & Al-Shamlih, M. (2006). The impact of intensive agriculture on the bird communities of a sand dune desert. Journal of Arid Environments, 64, 448-459.
  • Khoury, F., Al-Omari, K., Azar, J. & Al-Hasani, I. (2006). Observations on the avifauna of the eastern Jordan Valley, during July-August 2005. Sandgrouse, 28(2), 119 – 126.
  • Khoury, F., Al-Shamlih, M., Sultan H., Abu-Ghalyun, Y. (2007). The effect of vegetation cover on bird communities in a hyperarid desert. Zoology in the Middle East. 40, 11-20.
  • Khoury, F., Azar, J., Kvist, L. (2007). On the Phylogenetics and population differentiation of the Great Tit and Blue Tit in Jordan. Journal of Ornithology, 148, 525-530.
  • Khoury, F., Förschler, M. (2008). Habitats and foraging of Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 30, 146-149.
  • Khoury, F., Al-Hmoud, A., Janaydeh, M. (2009). Nest placement and nest success in two finch species colonizing recently established plantations in an arid environment. Journal of Ornithology, 150, 29-37.
  • Khoury, F., Al-Shamlih, M. (2009). How extensive is the effect of modern farming on bird communities in a sand dune desert? Zookeys, 31, 211- 219.
  • Khoury, F., Förschler, M., Janaideh, M., Aliabadian, M., Al-Hmoud, A.-R. (2010). Distribution, habitats and differentiation of the poorly-known black morph of Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens lugens in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 32, 113-119.
  • Khoury, F., Boulad, N. (2010). Territory size of the Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens along an aridity gradient. Journal of Arid Environments, 74, 1413-1416.
  • Khoury, F., Janaydeh, M. (2011). A breeding event of Pale Rock Sparrows Carpospyza brachydactyla in northeast Jordan. Sandgrouse, 33, 58-60.
  • Khoury, F., Azzam, L., Qaneer, T., Shishani, Y. (2012). The first record of Yellow-throated Sparrow Gymnoris xanthocollis in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 34, 63-64.
  • Khoury, F., Boulad, N., Janaydeh, M. (2012). Territory size variations in wintering Finsch’s Wheatears Oenanthe finschii. Zoology in the Middle East, 57, 35-43.
  • Khoury, F., Amr, Z., Hamidan, N., Al Hassani, I., Mir, S., Eid, E., Bolad, N. (2012). Some introduced vertebrate species to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Vertebrate Zoology, 62(3), 435-451.
  • Khoury, F., Haddad, M., Al-Jbour, S., Rahahleh, F. (2013). A mixed pair of pale and black morph Mourning Wheatears Oenanathe lugens lugens in the southern highlands of Jordan. Sandgrouse, 35(2), 134-137.
  • Khoury, F. (2013). On the Status and Ecology of Breeding Birds in Wadi Rum. Conference Proceedings (Des Desertes et des Hommes: Wadi Ramm),Étude Anciennes, 52, 217-229.
  • Khoury, F., Al-Shamlih, M. (2015). First evidence of colonization by Common Myna Acridotheres tristis in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 37, 22-24.
  • Khoury, F. (2017). Spring migration of soaring birds over the highlands of southwest Jordan: flight patterns and possible implications for wind farm developments. Sandgrouse 39: 61-67.
  • Khoury, F. Massis, R., Wichmann, G. (2017). Recent records and indications of breeding of Black-shouldered Kites Elanus caeruleus in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 39, 42-44.
  • Khoury, F., Massis, R. (2017). First record of nominate Common Buzzard Buteo b. buteo for Jordan. Sandgrouse, 39, 16-17.
  • Khoury, F., Korner, P. (2018). The effects of habitat variables and land use on breeding birds in remnant wetland strips in an arid, rural landscape. Journal of Arid Environments, 153, 24-31.
  • Khoury, F. (2018). Chance and challenges in the protection of three avian wetland specialists, Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos, Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus and Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus, in the Jordan valley, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.  Sandgrouse (Suppl. 4), 105-112.
  • Khoury, F., Korner, P. (2019). Grazing in remnant wetland habitats in an arid region: direct and indirect effects on two specialist bird species. Bird Study, 56(4), 557-563.
  • Khoury, F., Makarewicz, C., Al-Hmoud, A., Mithen, S. (2020) The illegal trapping of large falcons in Jordan. Sandgrouse 42: 239-247.
  • Khoury, F., Saba, M., & Alshamlih, M. (2021). Anthropogenic not climatic correlates are the main drivers of expansion of non-native common myna Acridotheres tristis in Jordan. Management of Biological Invasions 12(3): 640 – 653.
  • Khoury, F., Alshamlih, M., Dheib, A. (2021) The first breeding record of Pallid Scops Owl Otus brucei in Jordan. Sandgrouse 43(2): 286-289.
  • Khoury, F., K. Abu-Tayeh, H. Al-Hreisha, S. Dabbas, A. Dheib, R. Massis & R. Saleem (2023) Distribution and status of owls in Jordan. Sandgrouse 45: 2-18.
  • Meinertzhagen, R. (1925.) A further contribution to the ornithology of Palestine, Transjordania and Petra. Ibis, Ser. 12(2), 305-324.
  • Mithen, S., White, J., Finlayson, B., Greet, B., & Khoury, F. (2022). Birds as indicators of early Holocene biodiversity and the seasonal nature of human activity at WF16, an early Neolithic site in Faynan, Southern Jordan. Journal of Quaternary Science. DOI:10.1002/jqs.3429
  • Minshull, B. (1996). The first pine bunting Emberiza leucocephalus in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 18, 69.
  • Nelson, J.B. (1985). Return to Azraq. Oryx, 19, 22-26.
  • Prochazkaa, P., Bellinvia, E., Fainova, D., Hajkova, P., Elhalah, A., Alomari, K. (2008). Immigration as a possible rescue of a reduced population of a long-distant migratory bird: Reed warblers in the Azraq Oasis, Jordan. Journal of Arid Environments, 72, 1184–1192.
  • Qaneer, T., Butsher, G. (2013). A Striated Heron Butorides striata at Azraq, Jordan. Sandgrouse, 35(2), 156-157.
  • Rifai, L., Al-Melhim, W., Amr, Z. (1998). on the diet of the Barn Owl Tyto alba, in northern Jordan. Zoology in the Middle East, 16, 31-34.
  • Rifai, L., Al-Melhim, W., Gharaibeh, B., Amr, Z. (2000). The diet of the Desert Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo ascalaphus, in the Eastern Desert of Jordan. Journal of Arid Environments, 44, 369-372.
  • Shirihai, H., Andrews, I., Kirwan, G., Davidson, P. (1999). A checklist of the birds of Israel and Jordan. Sandgrouse, 21, 36-44.
  • Shirihai, H., Khoury, F., Al-Jbour, S., Yosef, R. (2000). The first Pink-backed pelican in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 22 , 127-130.
  • Tebb, G., Hamidan, N. (2002). The first rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica in Jordan. Sandgrouse, 24, 53.
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  • White, J., Finlayson, B., Makarewicz, C., Khoury, F., Greet, B., & Mithen, S. (2021) The Bird Remains from Wf16, an Early Neolithic Settlement In Southern Jordan: Assemblage Composition, Chronology And Spatial Distribution. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 31: 1030-1045.
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