First Record for the State of Kuwait

The bird was observed and documented by birdwatchers Omar Al Shaheen, Abdulrahman Al Sarhan, and Hamoud Al Shayji.

The Sooty Gull is a species that occurs in the southern Arabian Gulf, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, southern Pakistan, and extending to East Africa. It breeds on several islands and coastal areas along the Red Sea, as well as in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, and East Africa.

This bird primarily feeds on dead fish and is considered an opportunistic species, also feeding on the eggs and chicks of terns and on young sea turtles.

This sighting represents the first recorded observation of the species in the State of Kuwait, highlighting the health of Kuwait’s marine environment and the richness of its biodiversity.