Riyadh, August (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 29 أغسطس 2025ء) The pectoral sandpiper is considered a rare migratory passage species in the Arabian Peninsula. It breeds in the Arctic tundra areas of Canada and Alaska, extending as far as Siberia, and winters in the southernmost parts of South America, traversing migration routes that span multiple continents. Its diet consists of small crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates, and insects.
The documentation reflects the pivotal role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, along international migratory bird flyways, serving as a key natural stopover on one of the world's most important routes between Asia and Africa.
According to a scientific paper published last week in Check List, a peer-reviewed online journal of biodiversity data, two adults of the species were observed on May 2, 2025, along the water's edge at Rawdat Umm Al-Thiyabah, a seasonal wetland rich in biodiversity, especially birds within the reserve. The study described the observation as "rare and exceptional" at the regional level.
Internationally, the U.S. newspaper Herald Leader highlighted that spotting the species in the Kingdom is regarded as an "unusual occurrence" for the region, while at the same time revealing the scientific and environmental value of Saudi reserves in tracking the global movement of migratory birds.
