First record of Namaqua Dove Oena capensis (Linnaeus, 1766) in Libya

Abstract

The Namaqua Dove Oena capensis (Linnaeus, 1766) is a widespread Afrotropical species whose distribution has expanded northwards across North Africa during recent decades, with breeding populations now established in southern Egypt and recent records from Algeria and Western Sahara. Despite this expansion, the species had not previously been recorded in Libya. We report the first documented record of O. capensis in the country, based on photographs of a single adult male observed at Al-Jaghbub Oasis in eastern Libya on 9 May 2026. The bird was identified from its distinctive plumage, including the black head and throat, grey body, elongated pointed tail, and reddish bill. Local observations indicated that a similar individual had been seen at the same locality in September 2024 and September 2025, although these earlier sightings lacked photographic documentation. The 2026 individual remained in the oasis for three days and was observed using power lines, old buildings, and open ground. Al-Jaghbub Oasis, located close to the Libyan Egyptian border, provides permanent water and cultivated habitats that likely function as ecological stepping stones across the Sahara. This record fills an important gap in the known distribution of O. capensis in North Africa and is consistent with the species' ongoing natural range expansion from Egypt westwards. The finding also highlights the importance of continued ornithological monitoring of Libyan desert oases, which remain insufficiently surveyed and may support additional previously unrecorded bird species.