The classic birding tour of Oman usually start in the capital Muscat and run north to south, with a short flight back to Muscat from Salalah in the south.  Northern Oman is dominated by the coast and the Al Hajar Mountains where Jebel Shams tops out at an impressive 3,009m. The birds of the north have an Indian Sub-continent feel, with species such as Indian Roller, Indian Pond Heron, Purple Sunbird and Red-wattled Lapwing.  Birds of the Al Hajar include Hume’s Wheatear, Red-tailed Wheatear, Plain Leaf Warbler, Lappet-faced Vulture, Fulvous Babbler, Streaked Scrub Warbler and, rarely, Eversmann’s Redstart.  The most wanted bird in the north is the recently discovered Omani Owl, which inhabits remote, steep-sided, wadis in the Al Hajar and is extremely difficult to see.  However, I have successfully seen it three times, so there is always hope!

After the mountains we head south-east and take a trip over to Masirah Island which has the potential to produce some interesting migrants and vagrants. In recent years Forest Wagtail, Asian Koel and Olive-backed Pipit have been encountered, and in 2025 our Wise Birding group discovered the first Paddyfield Pipit for Oman.  Regulars on Masirah include Pin-tailed Snipe, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse and Egyptian Vulture, and the spectacle of over 500 Crab-plover is one of the highlights of the entire tour.

Back on the mainland opposite Masirah is the incredible Barr al Hikman, an intertidal mecca that is home to over a million wintering shorebirds.  The key targets are the rarely seen Collared Kingfisher of the race kalbaensis and Oriental White-eye, the tricky to locate Great Knot.  In amongst the throngs of birds we usually encounter good numbers of Crab-plover and a handful of Broad-billed Sandpipers.

The journey south to Salalah through the desert clips the southern edge of the Empty Quarter, a desert that covers almost a third of the Arabian Peninusla and covers some 650,000 square kilometres.  Along the way there are several desert oases that can be magnets for migrant birds.  Anything can and does turn up, so anticipation is always high.  Migrants and vagrants that have been encountered in the desert area have included Oriental Turtle Dove, Sykes’s Nightjar, Hume’s Warbler, Masked Shrike, and White-breasted Waterhen.  This is also the best place to come across Spotted Sandgrouse on the trip.  The desert farms north of Thumrait usually hold a small flock of the critically endangered Sociable Lapwing, and a few hours spent in this area provides very exciting birding.

Before reaching Salalah we visit the small town of Mudayy, which is famous for a small wintering population of the enigmatic Grey Hypocolius.  Other key species in this area include Nile Valley Sunbird, African Collared Dove, Hooded Wheatear, and three species of sandgrouse.

Salalah is the base for around five days of our trip, and the area abounds with fantastic landscapes and birds including those from Africa that reach the northern edge of their range.  There are too many species to list, but top targets include Yemen Serin, Arabian Scops Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle, Desert Owl and the much sought after (and difficult to see) Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak.  A handful of rarities usually show up, and have included Black Heron, Watercock, Small Pratincole and Caspian Plover.

Whilst in the south we take a pelagic trip from Mirbat, not venturing far from land, with target birds including Jouanin’s Petrel, Persian Shearwater, Flesh-footed Shearwater, and Masked Booby.  Cetaceans are also a distinct possibility and have included an incredible encounter with Sperm Whales.

All in all Oman is a fabulous birding destination, one definitely to have on the must-do list!

I currently lead tours to Oman for (and sometimes with) with my good friend Chris Townend of Wise Birding Holidays.  Trips in 2023, 2024 and 2025 all sold out.  The next trip is in November/December 2026 and you can find details of that tour here.  I can also put together bespoke tours, please get in touch if you would like to discuss.

A comprehensive report from my private 2022 trip can be found on the Cloudbirders website: https://www.cloudbirders.com/tripreport

You can view a bird list from the 2022 trip, with photographs, on eBird here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/81694

You can view a bird list from the 2023 Wise Birding trip, with photographs, on eBird here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/169139

The Wise Birding trip report for the 2023 tour is here: https://www.wisebirding.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/OMAN-NOVEMBER-2023-Astins.pdf

You can view a bird list from the 2024 Wise Birding trip, with photographs, on eBird here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/286853

You can view a full bird list from the two 2025 Wise Birding trips (which included a few days in the middle without a group), with photographs, on eBird here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/439679