Important Note: We look forward to birding with you! To see the most recent update of our pre-tour and on-tour protocols and our requirements for travel, please visit our tour protocols page.
Israel lies at the junction of three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its unique geographic position makes it a flash point of migration for birds that breed across more than half the Palearctic and winter in Africa. For a few months every spring, salt water and vast deserts funnel an inordinate number of these birds through southern Israel as they wing their way to the breeding grounds. Much of this migration is visible, and its hallmark is the world famous raptor show, which at this time of year will feature tens of thousands of Steppe Buzzards, hundreds upon hundreds of Black Kites and Steppe Eagles, and a good diversity of other migrant raptors. Despite raptors being the standard-bearers, the diurnal migrants can also consist of swifts (4 species!), swallows, wagtails, pipits, larks, buntings, and bee-eaters.
While the visible migration by itself would be draw enough for any birder to want to visit, that's not all that Israel boasts when it comes to avifauna. We will be combing the desert for such regional goodies as Macqueen's Bustard, Crowned Sandgrouse, Temminck's Larks, Greater Hoopoe-Larks, Palestine Sunbird, Arabian Babbler, and if we're lucky some scarcer species such as Sinai Rosefinch and Thick-billed Lark. Away from the desert, the Red Sea-endemic White-eyed Gull reaches the northernmost point in its range at Eilat. We stand a good chance of seeing 5 species of sandgrouse, at least 8 each of wheatears and larks, up to 10 species of Sylvia warblers, 25 species of shorebirds, and much, much more.
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.
Client comment
"An excellent tour. Field Guides pays more attention to all the details related to the tour. Everything is well-planned and researched to avoid hiccups. The quality of the leaders is top-notch. Traveling with Field Guides makes my birding explorations easy and fun. Guides Doug Gochfeld and Eran Banker made this an exciting trip of a lifetime. They are superb birders and all-around naturalists who made sure everyone saw everything and answered my thousand questions. Your office service was excellent as always." C.M., ISRAEL MIGRATION MAGIC 2019