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Saleh Buirzayqah

  • Biodiversity Journal, 16 (1): 021-023

    Khaled Etayeb, Saleh Buirzayqah & Habeeb Alghythi
    First record of Wood duck Aix sponsa (Linnaeus, 1758) in Libya (Aves Anatidae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2025.16.1.21.23

    ABSTRACT
    Birds move from one place to another without regard to international borders during their migrations. Particularly, the Mediterranean region is considered a link in the African-Eurasian bird migration route, especially migratory water birds. Among the North African countries, Libya is located in the middle of the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it is considered a stopover and resting ground for many bird species. A Wood duck Aix sponsa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves Anatidae), species commonly found throughout North America, was recorded for the first time in Benghazi city at the eastern coastal part of Libya on 04 Jan 2025 in a Sabkha (salt marsh). It is a female characterized by the gray and brown color of the body with a white ring around the eyes. It can be confirmed that this species is not among the ornamental birds imported into Libya for trade but may have escaped from a farm in countries bordering Libya.