Materials of short-term studies of the winter bird fauna of Egypt: surveys of 2022

This study presents original data on the winter avifauna of Egypt, based on fieldwork conducted between 2 and 8 February 2022. The research covered over 800 km and included four ecoregions: the Red Sea coastal desert, North Saharan steppe and woodlands, the flooded savannas of the Nile Delta, and the Sahara Desert. Observations were made in natural, agricultural, mountainous, and urban habitats. Data were collected using 12× binoculars and a Canon telephoto camera with GPS-coordinated images via ViewRanger. The collected geodata were analysed in QGIS, and species identification was supported by field guides on North African birds. A total of 41 bird species were recorded: 29 non-passerines and 12 passerines. Notable observations included the early breeding behaviour of the brown-necked raven (Corvus ruficollis) in the Etbai Mountains and a nest of the black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus) on a date palm in the Nile Valley. Two adult lesser spotted eagles (Clanga pomarina) flying north above Hurghada indicated the onset of spring migration. The Red Sea coast hosted numerous gulls and terns, such as Larus armenicus, Chroicocephalus genei, Ichthyaetus hemprichii, Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus, and Thalasseus bengalensis. Species like the western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), white-throated kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), and spur-winged lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) were abundant in agricultural zones of the Nile Valley. Several species of European origin, including Gallinula chloropus, Ardeola ralloides, and Chroicocephalus ridibundus, were recorded wintering in this region. Synanthropic species such as Passer domesticus, Spilopelia senegalensis, and Corvus cornix were found nesting within hotel areas and urban gardens. The presence of the Sardinian warbler (Curruca melanocephala) in the coastal green zone suggests possible breeding activity in quasi-natural shrubby habitats. The study demonstrates the ecological importance of Egypt’s varied habitats for both Afrotropical residents and Eurasian migrants during winter, emphasising the country’s role in transcontinental avian ecology and contributing crucial data to underrepresented seasonal periods.