First Record of White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis, Linnaeus, 1758) in Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63359/njqz5102Keywords:
Halcyon smyrnensis, first record, Cyrenaica, vagrant bird, LibyaAbstract
The White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) is a widespread resident species across South and Southeast Asia and parts of the Middle East, but it has not previously been documented in Libya. Here, we report the first confirmed record of H. smyrnensis in Libya, based on a single individual observed in the Wadi Annagha Protected Area, Derna region, northeastern Libya, in late January 2025. This observation represents a significant westward extension of the species’ known range in North Africa and contributes to the understanding of avian distribution and vagrancy patterns in the southern Mediterranean.
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