Birds in the UAE are warm-blooded vertebrates characterised by feathers, lightweight skeletons, and wings that enable many (but not all) species to fly. Also found in most ecosystems worldwide, they play essential roles in pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control. They communicate through distinct calls and displays, and many species migrate seasonally to reach better food sources or breeding conditions. A group of birds is called a flock, though specific species may have unique collective names.
Birds
Natural habitat
Bird habitats include almost every ecosystem on the planet, including deserts, mountains, forests, grasslands, wetlands, and coastal regions. Their ability to fly allows many species to travel long distances between feeding and breeding grounds, contributing to major migration routes seen across the world and within the birds in UAE.
Dietary Requirements
Bird diets vary widely, depending on their habitat. Some feed on seeds, fruits, or nectar, while others hunt insects, fish, amphibians, or small mammals. Specialist feeders, such as wading birds or fish-eaters, rely on specific habitats where their preferred food is abundant.
Threats
Many bird species face threats linked to habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and human encroachment. Changes in wetland and coastal areas, in particular, impact migratory birds that depend on seasonal feeding grounds. Conservation efforts in protected areas like bird sanctuary sites to help support vulnerable species and safeguard their natural habitats.
Conservation
With over half of the world’s 11,000 bird species in decline, one in eight of these are threatened with extinction due to habitat lost to agricultural expansion.
Did you know?Brilliant plumage, design and display, elaborate songs, dances and gift giving are all synonymous with bird courtship.
About Al Ain Zoo
About Al Ain Zoo
A Pioneering Vision
Established in 1968 by the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Al Ain Zoo has been in the forefront of preserving the region’s wildlife and delicate ecosystem, while caring for hundreds of endangered animals.
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