List of birds of Africa
This is a list of the bird species recorded in Africa. The area covered by this list is the Africa region defined by the American Birding Association's listing rules. In addition to the continent itself, the area includes Socotra in the Arabian Sea, Zanzibar, the Canary Islands, and São Tomé, Príncipe, and Annobon in the Gulf of Guinea. It does not include Madeira, the Azores, Cape Verde, the Sinai Peninsula, Madagascar, Seychelles or the Comoro Islands.
This list is that of the African Bird Club supplemented by Bird Checklists of the World and The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World.
This list's taxonomic treatment and nomenclature are those of the Clements list. Taxonomic changes are on-going. As more research is gathered from studies of distribution, behavior, and DNA, the names, sequence, and number of families and species change every year. Furthermore, different approaches to ornithological nomenclature have led to concurrent systems of classification. Differences in common and scientific names between the Clements taxonomy and that of the ABC are frequent but are seldom noted here.
By the numbers
This list contains 2364 species. Of them, 1584 are endemic to the area covered here. Fifteen entire families containing 174 species are endemic to Africa, and all of the African members of 14 other families are as well. These families are usually noted with text. Individual endemic species found in a single country are tagged ; the rest of the endemics are tagged or noted in text. Other species, not tagged here, are found only on the continent and Madagascar. Tanzania has 30 endemic species and the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe has 25, the most of any African countries. The 17 countries which have endemics and the number in each are listed below.Countries with endemic species:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Cameroon
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
Ostriches
Order: StruthioniformesFamily: StruthionidaeThe ostriches are flightless birds native to Africa. They are the largest living species of bird and are distinctive in appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.
- Common ostrich, Struthio camelus
- Somali ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
- White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata
- Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
- White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus
- Snow goose, Anser caerulescens
- Graylag goose, Anser anser
- Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
- Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus
- Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis
- Brant, Branta bernicla
- Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
- Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis
- Blue-winged goose, Cyanochen cyanoptera
- Mute swan, Cygnus olor
- Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus
- Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus
- Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos
- Hartlaub's duck, Pteronetta hartlaubii
- Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca
- Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
- South African shelduck, Tadorna cana
- Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
- Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis
- Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus
- African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus
- Wood duck, Aix sponsa
- Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata
- Garganey, Spatula querquedula
- Hottentot teal, Spatula hottentota
- Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors
- Cape shoveler, Spatula smithii
- Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
- Gadwall, Mareca strepera
- Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
- American wigeon, Mareca americana
- African black duck, Anas sparsa
- Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata
- Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
- Cape teal, Anas capensis
- Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha
- Northern pintail, Anas acuta
- Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
- Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris
- Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina
- Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma
- Common pochard, Aythya ferina
- Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris
- Ferruginous pochard, Aythya nyroca
- Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
- Greater scaup, Aythya marila
- Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis
- Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca
- Common scoter, Melanitta nigra
- Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
- Smew, Mergellus albellus
- Common merganser, Mergus merganser
- Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
- Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
- White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala
- Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa
Guineafowl
Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage.
- Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris
- White-breasted guineafowl, Agelastes meleagrides
- Black guineafowl, Agelastes niger
- Vulturine guineafowl, Acryllium vulturinum
- Plumed guineafowl, Guttera plumifera
- Crested guineafowl, Guttera pucherani
New World quail
Despite their family's common name, the two species are native to Africa.
- Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus
- Nahan's partridge, Ptilopachus nahani
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump and have broad, relatively short wings.
- Udzungwa partridge, Xenoperdix udzungwensis
- Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus
- Congo peacock, Afropavo congensis
- Sand partridge, Ammoperdix heyi
- Blue quail, Excalfactoria adansonii
- Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
- Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei
- Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa
- Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara
- Hartlaub's francolin, Pternistis hartlaubi
- Handsome francolin, Pternistis nobilis
- Cameroon francolin, Pternistis camerunensis
- Chestnut-naped francolin, Pternistis castaneicollis
- Black-fronted francolin, Pternistis atrifrons
- Erckel's francolin, Pternistis erckelii
- Djibouti francolin, Pternistis ochropectus
- Double-spurred francolin, Pternistis bicalcaratus
- Heuglin's francolin, Pternistis icterorhynchus
- Ahanta francolin, Pternistis ahantensis
- Gray-striped francolin, Pternistis griseostriatus
- Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus
- Red-billed francolin, Pternistis adspersus
- Cape francolin, Pternistis capensis
- Natal francolin, Pternistis natalensis
- Hildebrandt's francolin, Pternistis hildebrandti
- Jackson's francolin, Pternistis jacksoni
- Swierstra's francolin, Pternistis swierstrai
- Clapperton's francolin, Pternistis clappertoni
- Harwood's francolin, Pternistis harwoodi
- Swainson's francolin, Pternistis swainsonii
- Yellow-necked francolin, Pternistis leucoscepus
- Gray-breasted francolin, Pternistis rufopictus
- Red-necked francolin, Pternistis afer
- Crested francolin, Dendroperdix sephaena
- Coqui francolin, Peliperdix coqui
- White-throated francolin, Peliperdix albogularis
- Schlegel's francolin, Peliperdix schlegelii
- Latham's francolin, Peliperdix lathami
- Red-winged francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii
- Ring-necked francolin, Scleroptila streptophora
- Finsch's francolin, Scleroptila finschi
- Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis
- Gray-winged francolin, Scleroptila afra
- Moorland francolin, Scleroptila psilolaemus
- Shelley's francolin, Scleroptila shelleyi
Flamingos
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
- Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
- Lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor
Grebes
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
- Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
- Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
- Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
- Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
- Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
- Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Pigeons and doves
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
- Rock pigeon, Columba livia
- Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea
- White-collared pigeon, Columba albitorques
- Stock dove, Columba oenas
- Somali pigeon, Columba oliviae
- Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus
- Bolle's pigeon, Columba bollii
- Afep pigeon, Columba unicincta
- Laurel pigeon, Columba junoniae
- Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix
- Cameroon pigeon, Columba sjostedti
- Maroon pigeon, Columba thomensis
- Delegorgue's pigeon, Columba delegorguei
- Bronze-naped pigeon, Columba iriditorques
- Sao Tome pigeon, Columba malherbii
- Lemon dove, Columba larvata
- White-naped pigeon, Columba albinucha
- European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
- Dusky turtle-dove, Streptopelia lugens
- Adamawa turtle-dove, Streptopelia hypopyrrha
- Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto
- African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea
- White-winged collared-dove, Streptopelia reichenowi
- Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens
- Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata
- Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola
- Vinaceous dove, Streptopelia vinacea
- Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis
- Emerald-spotted wood-dove, Turtur chalcospilos
- Black-billed wood-dove, Turtur abyssinicus
- Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer
- Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria
- Blue-headed wood-dove, Turtur brehmeri
- Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
- Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia
- Pemba green-pigeon, Treron pembaensis
- Sao Tome green-pigeon, Treron sanctithomae
- African green-pigeon, Treron calvus
Sandgrouse
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
- Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus
- Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata
- Namaqua sandgrouse, Pterocles namaqua
- Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus
- Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus
- Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis
- Yellow-throated sandgrouse, Pterocles gutturalis
- Crowned sandgrouse, Pterocles coronatus
- Black-faced sandgrouse, Pterocles decoratus
- Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinii
- Double-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles bicinctus
- Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus
- Burchell's sandgrouse, Pterocles burchelli
Bustards
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
- Great bustard, Otis tarda
- Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs
- Kori bustard, Ardeotis kori
- Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata
- Macqueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii
- Ludwig's bustard, Neotis ludwigii
- Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami
- Heuglin's bustard, Neotis heuglinii
- Nubian bustard, Neotis nuba
- White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis
- Blue bustard, Eupodotis caerulescens
- Karoo korhaan, Eupodotis vigorsii
- Rüppell's bustard, Eupodotis rueppellii
- Little brown bustard, Eupodotis humilis
- Savile's bustard, Lophotis savilei
- Buff-crested bustard, Lophotis gindiana
- Red-crested bustard, Lophotis ruficrista
- Black bustard, Afrotis afra
- White-quilled bustard, Afrotis afraoides
- Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster
- Hartlaub's bustard, Lissotis hartlaubii
- Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax
Turacos
The turacos, plantain eaters and go-away-birds make up the bird family Musophagidae. They are medium-sized arboreal birds. The turacos and plantain eaters are brightly coloured, usually in blue, green or purple. The go-away birds are mostly grey and white. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- Great blue turaco, Corythaeola cristata
- Guinea turaco, Tauraco persa
- Livingstone's turaco, Tauraco livingstonii
- Schalow's turaco, Tauraco schalowi
- Knysna turaco, Tauraco corythaix
- Black-billed turaco, Tauraco schuettii
- White-crested turaco, Tauraco leucolophus
- Fischer's turaco, Tauraco fischeri
- Yellow-billed turaco, Tauraco macrorhynchus
- Bannerman's turaco, Tauraco bannermani
- Red-crested turaco, Tauraco erythrolophus
- Hartlaub's turaco, Tauraco hartlaubi
- White-cheeked turaco, Tauraco leucotis
- Prince Ruspoli's turaco, Tauraco ruspolii
- Purple-crested turaco, Tauraco porphyreolophus
- Rwenzori turaco, Ruwenzorornis johnstoni
- Violet turaco, Musophaga violacea
- Ross's turaco, Musophaga rossae
- Bare-faced go-away-bird, Corythaixoides personatus
- Gray go-away-bird, Corythaixoides concolor
- White-bellied go-away-bird, Corythaixoides leucogaster
- Western plantain-eater, Crinifer piscator
- Eastern plantain-eater, Crinifer zonurus
Cuckoos
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
- Gabon coucal, Centropus anselli
- Black-throated coucal, Centropus leucogaster
- Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis
- Blue-headed coucal, Centropus monachus
- Coppery-tailed coucal, Centropus cupreicaudus
- White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus
- Black coucal, Centropus grillii
- Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus
- Green malkoha, Ceuthmochares australis
- Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius
- Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii
- Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
- Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus
- Thick-billed cuckoo, Pachycoccyx audeberti
- Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus
- Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius
- Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas
- Yellow-throated cuckoo, Chrysococcyx flavigularis
- African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus
- Dusky long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx mechowi
- Olive long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx olivinus
- Barred long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx montanus
- Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus
- Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius
- Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus
- African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis
- Madagascar cuckoo, Cuculus rochii
- Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
Nightjars and allies
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
- Pennant-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus vexillarius
- Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis
- Brown nightjar, Caprimulgus binotatus
- Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis
- Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
- Sombre nightjar, Caprimulgus fraenatus
- Rufous-cheeked nightjar, Caprimulgus rufigena
- Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius
- Nubian nightjar, Caprimulgus nubicus
- Golden nightjar, Caprimulgus eximius
- Donaldson-Smith's nightjar, Caprimulgus donaldsoni
- Black-shouldered nightjar, Caprimulgus nigriscapularis
- Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis
- Abyssinian nightjar, Caprimulgus poliocephalus
- Rwenzori nightjar, Caprimulgus ruwenzorii
- Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis
- Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus
- Star-spotted nightjar, Caprimulgus stellatus
- Nechisar nightjar, Caprimulgus solala
- Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma
- Itombwe nightjar, Caprimulgus prigoginei
- Bates's nightjar, Caprimulgus batesi
- Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus
- Slender-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus clarus
- Square-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii
Swifts
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
- Sao Tome spinetail, Zoonavena thomensis
- Mottled spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri
- Black spinetail, Telacanthura melanopygia
- Sabine's spinetail, Rhaphidura sabini
- Cassin's spinetail, Neafrapus cassini
- Bat-like spinetail, Neafrapus boehmi
- Scarce swift, Schoutedenapus myoptilus
- Schouteden's swift, Schoutedenapus schoutedeni
- Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
- Mottled swift, Tachymarptis aequatorialis
- Common swift, Apus apus
- Plain swift, Apus unicolor
- Nyanza swift, Apus niansae
- Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
- African swift, Apus barbatus
- Forbes-Watson's swift, Apus berliozi
- Bradfield's swift, Apus bradfieldi
- Little swift, Apus affinis
- Horus swift, Apus horus
- White-rumped swift, Apus caffer
- Bates's swift, Apus batesi
- African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus
Flufftails
The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa.
- Gray-throated rail, Canirallus oculeus
- White-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura pulchra
- Buff-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura elegans
- Red-chested flufftail, Sarothrura rufa
- Chestnut-headed flufftail, Sarothrura lugens
- Streaky-breasted flufftail, Sarothrura boehmi
- Striped flufftail, Sarothrura affinis
- White-winged flufftail, Sarothrura ayresi
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
- Water rail, Rallus aquaticus
- African rail, Rallus caerulescens
- Corn crake, Crex crex
- African crake, Crex egregia
- Rouget's rail, Rougetius rougetii
- Sora, Porzana carolina
- Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
- Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
- Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata
- Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
- Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata
- Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni
- Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica
- Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
- African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
- Nkulengu rail, Himantornis haematopus
- Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis
- Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra
- Little crake, Zapornia parva
- Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla
Finfoots
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.
- African finfoot, Podica senegalensis
Cranes
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
- Gray crowned-crane, Balearica regulorum
- Black crowned-crane, Balearica pavonina
- Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo
- Blue crane, Anthropoides paradiseus
- Wattled crane, Bugeranus carunculatus
- Common crane, Grus grus
Sheathbills
The sheathbills are scavengers of the Antarctic regions. They have white plumage and look plump and dove-like but are believed to be similar to the ancestors of the modern gulls and terns.
- Snowy sheathbill, Chionis albus
Thick-knees
The thick-knees are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes, and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
- Water thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus
- Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus
- Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis
- Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis
Egyptian plover
The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River.
- Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius
Stilts and avocets
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
- Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
- Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Oystercatchers
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
- Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
- African oystercatcher, Haematopus moquini
Plovers and lapwings
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
- Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
- European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria
- American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
- Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
- Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
- Long-toed lapwing, Vanellus crassirostris
- Blacksmith lapwing, Vanellus armatus
- Spur-winged plover, Vanellus spinosus
- Black-headed lapwing, Vanellus tectus
- White-headed lapwing, Vanellus albiceps
- Senegal lapwing, Vanellus lugubris
- Black-winged lapwing, Vanellus melanopterus
- Crowned lapwing, Vanellus coronatus
- Wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus
- Spot-breasted lapwing, Vanellus melanocephalus
- Brown-chested lapwing, Vanellus superciliosus
- Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius
- White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus
- Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus
- Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
- Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus
- Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius
- Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
- Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
- Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
- Three-banded plover, Charadrius tricollaris
- Forbes's plover, Charadrius forbesi
- White-fronted plover, Charadrius marginatus
- Chestnut-banded plover, Charadrius pallidus
- Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus
Painted-snipes
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
- Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
Jacanas
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
- Lesser jacana, Microparra capensis
- African jacana, Actophilornis africanus
- Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Sandpipers and allies
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
- Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda
- Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
- Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris
- Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
- Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
- Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
- Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica
- Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
- Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris
- Red knot, Calidris canutus
- Ruff, Calidris pugnax
- Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus
- Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
- Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
- Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta
- Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis
- Sanderling, Calidris alba
- Dunlin, Calidris alpina
- Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima
- Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii
- Little stint, Calidris minuta
- White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis
- Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis
- Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
- Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla
- Asian dowitcher, Limnodromus semipalmatus
- Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus
- Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
- Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
- Great snipe, Gallinago media
- Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
- Pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura
- African snipe, Gallinago nigripennis
- Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
- Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor
- Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
- Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius
- Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
- Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius
- Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
- Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
- Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
- Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
- Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes
- Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
- Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
- Common redshank, Tringa totanus
Buttonquail
The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.
- Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus
- Black-rumped buttonquail, Turnix nanus
- Hottentot buttonquail, Turnix hottentottus
- Quail-plover, Ortyxelos meiffrenii
Crab-plover
The crab-plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern's. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet, and a bill designed for eating crabs.
- Crab-plover, Dromas ardeola
Pratincoles and coursers
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.
- Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor
- Somali courser, Cursorius somalensis
- Burchell's courser, Cursorius rufus
- Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
- Double-banded courser, Smutsornis africanus
- Three-banded courser, Rhinoptilus cinctus
- Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
- Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
- Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni
- Madagascan pratincole, Glareola ocularis
- Rock pratincole, Glareola nuchalis
- Gray pratincole, Glareola cinerea
Skuas and jaegers
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
- Great skua, Stercorarius skua
- South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki
- Brown skua, Stercorarius antarcticus
- Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
- Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
- Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus
Auks, murres, and puffins
Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits, however they are not related to the penguins and differ in being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.
- Dovekie, Alle alle
- Common murre, Uria aalge
- Razorbill, Alca torda
- Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.
- Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
- Sabine's gull, Xema sabini
- Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei
- Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia
- Gray-headed gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
- Hartlaub's gull, Chroicocephalus hartlaubii
- Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
- Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
- Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla
- Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan
- Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
- White-eyed gull, Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus
- Sooty gull, Ichthyaetus hemprichii
- Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
- Audouin's gull, Ichthyaetus audouinii
- Mew gull, Larus canus
- Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis
- Herring gull, Larus argentatus
- Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis
- Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
- Armenian gull, Larus armenicus
- Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
- Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens
- Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus
- Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
- Kelp gull, Larus dominicanus
- Brown noddy, Anous stolidus
- Black noddy, Anous minutus
- Lesser noddy, Anous tenuirostris
- Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscata
- Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus
- Little tern, Sternula albifrons
- Saunders's tern, Sternula saundersi
- Damara tern, Sterna balaenarum
- Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
- Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
- Black tern, Chlidonias niger
- White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
- Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
- Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii
- Black-naped tern, Sterna sumatrana
- Common tern, Sterna hirundo
- Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea
- Antarctic tern, Sterna vittata
- White-cheeked tern, Sterna repressa
- Royal tern, Sterna maxima
- Great crested tern, Sterna bergii
- Sandwich tern, Sterna sandvicensis
- Elegant tern, Thalasseus elegans
- Lesser crested tern, Sterna bengalensis
- African skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris
Tropicbirds
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
- White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus
- Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus
- Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda
Loons
Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.
- Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata
- Arctic loon, Gavia arctica
- Common loon, Gavia immer
Penguins
The penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid and other forms of sealife caught while swimming underwater.
- King penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus
- Gentoo penguin, Pygoscelis papua
- African penguin, Spheniscus demersus
- Macaroni penguin, Eudyptes chrysolophus
- Southern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome
- Moseley's rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes moseleyi
Albatrosses
The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses of the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.
- Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos
- Gray-headed albatross, Thalassarche chrysostoma
- Buller's albatross, Thalassarche bulleri
- white-capped albatross, Thalassarche cauta
- Salvin's albatross, Thalassarche salvini
- Chatham albatross, Thalassarche eremita
- Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris
- Sooty albatross, Phoebetria fusca
- Light-mantled albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata
- Royal albatross, Diomedea epomophora
- Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans
- Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis
Southern storm-petrels
The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Until 2018, this family's species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.
- Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
- Gray-backed storm-petrel, Garrodia nereis
- White-faced storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina
Northern storm-petrels
Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.
- European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
- White-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta grallaria
- Black-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta tropica
- Leach's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa
- Swinhoe's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis
- Band-rumped storm-petrel, Oceanodroma castro
- Cape Verde storm-petrel, Oceanodroma jabejabe
- Matsudaira's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma matsudairae
Shearwaters and petrels
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
- Southern giant-petrel, Macronectes giganteus
- Northern giant-petrel, Macronectes halli
- Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis
- Southern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialoides
- Antarctic petrel, Thalassoica antarctica
- Cape petrel, Daption capense
- Snow petrel, Pagodroma nivea
- Kerguelen petrel, Lugensa brevirostris
- Great-winged petrel, Pterodroma macroptera
- Zino's petrel, Pterodroma madeira
- Fea's petrel, Pterodroma feae
- Soft-plumaged petrel, Pterodroma mollis
- Barau's petrel, Pterodroma baraui
- White-headed petrel, Pterodroma lessonii
- Atlantic petrel, Pterodroma incerta
- Blue petrel, Halobaena caerulea
- Fairy prion, Pachyptila turtur
- Broad-billed prion, Pachyptila vittata
- Salvin's prion, Pachyptila salvini
- Antarctic prion, Pachyptila desolata
- Slender-billed prion, Pachyptila belcheri
- Fulmar prion, Pachyptila crassirostris
- Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii
- Jouanin's petrel, Bulweria fallax
- Gray petrel, Procellaria cinerea
- White-chinned petrel, Procellaria aequinoctialis
- Spectacled petrel, Procellaria conspicillata
- Streaked shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas
- Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
- Cape Verde shearwater, Calonectris edwardsii
- Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes
- Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis
- Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacifica
- Sooty shearwater, Ardenna grisea
- Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus
- Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan
- Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus
- Subantarctic shearwater, Puffinus elegans
- Barolo shearwater, Puffinus baroli
- Boyd's shearwater, Puffinus boydi
- Tropical shearwater, Puffinus bailloni
- Persian shearwater, Puffinus persicus
Storks
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
- African openbill, Anastomus lamelligerus
- Black stork, Ciconia nigra
- Abdim's stork, Ciconia abdimii
- Woolly-necked stork, Ciconia episcopus
- White stork, Ciconia ciconia
- Saddle-billed stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
- Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer
- Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis
Frigatebirds
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white, or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
- Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel
- Ascension frigatebird, Fregata aquila
- Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens
- Great frigatebird, Fregata minor
Boobies and gannets
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
- Masked booby, Sula dactylatra
- Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
- Red-footed booby, Sula sula
- Northern gannet, Morus bassanus
- Cape gannet, Morus capensis
Anhingas
Anhingas or darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.
- African darter, Anhinga melanogaster
Cormorants and shags
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
- Long-tailed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus
- Crowned cormorant, Microcarbo coronatus
- Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmeus
- Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
- Cape cormorant, Phalacrocorax capensis
- Bank cormorant, Phalacrocorax neglectus
- Socotra cormorant, Phalacrocorax nigrogularis
- European shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Pelicans
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.
- Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
- Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens
- Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus
Shoebill
The shoebill was formerly thought to be related to storks but is in the same order as pelicans. It derives its name from its massive shoe-shaped bill.
- Shoebill, Balaeniceps rex
Hamerkop
The hammerkop is a medium-sized bird with a long shaggy crest. The shape of its head with a curved bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, hence its name. Its plumage is drab-brown all over.
- Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta
Herons, egrets, and bitterns
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
- American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
- Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris
- Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis
- Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
- Dwarf bittern, Ixobrychus sturmii
- White-crested bittern, Tigriornis leucolopha
- Gray heron, Ardea cinerea
- Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala
- Goliath heron, Ardea goliath
- Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
- Great egret, Ardea alba
- Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia
- Little egret, Egretta garzetta
- Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis
- Snowy egret, Egretta thula
- Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea
- Slaty egret, Egretta vinaceigula
- Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca
- Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
- Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
- Indian pond-heron, Ardeola grayii
- Madagascar pond-heron, Ardeola idae
- Rufous-bellied heron, Ardeola rufiventris
- Striated heron, Butorides striata
- Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
- White-backed night-heron, Gorsachius leuconotus
Ibises and spoonbills
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
- Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
- African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
- Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita
- Southern bald ibis, Geronticus calvus
- Olive ibis, Bostrychia olivacea
- Sao Tome ibis, Bostrychia bocagei
- Spot-breasted ibis, Bostrychia rara
- Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
- Wattled ibis, Bostrychia carunculata
- Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
- African spoonbill, Platalea alba
Secretarybird
The secretarybird is a bird of prey in the order Accipitriformes but is easily distinguished from other raptors by its long crane-like legs.
- Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius
Osprey
The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
- Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, eagles, and kites
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
- Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
- Scissor-tailed kite, Chelictinia riocourii
- African harrier-hawk, Polyboroides typus
- Palm-nut vulture, Gypohierax angolensis
- Bearded vulture, Gypaetus barbatus
- Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
- European honey-buzzard, Pernis apivorus
- Crested honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
- Oriental honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
- Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus
- African cuckoo-hawk, Aviceda cuculoides
- White-headed vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis
- Cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus
- Lappet-faced vulture, Torgos tracheliotos
- Hooded vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus
- White-backed vulture, Gyps africanus
- Rüppell's griffon, Gyps rueppelli
- Eurasian griffon, Gyps fulvus
- Cape griffon, Gyps coprotheres
- Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus
- Congo serpent-eagle, Dryotriorchis spectabilis
- Short-toed snake-eagle, Circaetus gallicus
- Beaudouin's snake-eagle, Circaetus beaudouini
- Black-chested snake-eagle, Circaetus pectoralis
- Brown snake-eagle, Circaetus cinereus
- Fasciated snake-eagle, Circaetus fasciolatus
- Banded snake-eagle, Circaetus cinerascens
- Bat hawk, Macheiramphus alcinus
- Crowned eagle, Stephanoaetus coronatus
- Martial eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus
- Long-crested eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis
- Lesser spotted eagle, Clanga pomarina
- Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga
- Wahlberg's eagle, Hieraaetus wahlbergi
- Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
- Ayres's hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus ayresii
- Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax
- Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
- Spanish eagle, Aquila adalberti
- Imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca
- Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
- Cassin's hawk-eagle, Aquila africana
- Verreaux's eagle, Aquila verreauxii
- Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata
- African hawk-eagle, Aquila spilogaster
- Lizard buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus
- Dark chanting-goshawk, Melierax metabates
- Eastern chanting-goshawk, Melierax poliopterus
- Pale chanting-goshawk, Melierax canorus
- Gabar goshawk, Micronisus gabar
- Grasshopper buzzard, Butastur rufipennis
- Western marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus
- African marsh-harrier, Circus ranivorus
- Black harrier, Circus maurus
- Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus
- Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
- Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
- Red-chested goshawk, Accipiter toussenelii
- African goshawk, Accipiter tachiro
- Chestnut-flanked sparrowhawk, Accipiter castanilius
- Shikra, Accipiter badius
- Levant sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipes
- Red-thighed sparrowhawk, Accipiter erythropus
- Little sparrowhawk, Accipiter minullus
- Ovambo sparrowhawk, Accipiter ovampensis
- Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
- Rufous-breasted sparrowhawk, Accipiter rufiventris
- Black goshawk, Accipiter melanoleucus
- Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
- Long-tailed hawk, Urotriorchis macrourus
- Red kite, Milvus milvus
- Black kite, Milvus migrans
- White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
- African fish-eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer
- Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus
- Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
- Mountain buzzard, Buteo oreophilus
- Forest buzzard, Buteo trizonatus
- Socotra buzzard, Buteo socotraensis
- Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus
- Red-necked buzzard, Buteo auguralis
- Augur buzzard, Buteo augur
- Archer's buzzard, Buteo archeri
- Jackal buzzard, Buteo rufofuscus
Barn-owls
Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
- African grass-owl, Tyto capensis
- Barn owl, Tyto alba
- Congo bay-owl, Phodilus prigoginei
Owls
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
- Sandy scops-owl, Otus icterorhynchus
- Sokoke scops-owl, Otus ireneae
- Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
- Pemba scops-owl, Otus pembaensis
- Sao Tome scops-owl, Otus hartlaubi
- African scops-owl, Otus senegalensis
- Pallid scops-owl, Otus brucei
- Socotra scops-owl, Otus socotranus
- Northern white-faced owl, Ptilopsis leucotis
- Southern white-faced owl, Ptilopsis granti
- Maned owl, Jubula lettii
- Eurasian eagle-owl, Bubo bubo
- Pharaoh eagle-owl, Bubo ascalaphus
- Cape eagle-owl, Bubo capensis
- Spotted eagle-owl, Bubo africanus
- Grayish eagle-owl, Bubo cinerascens
- Fraser's eagle-owl, Bubo poensis
- Usambara eagle-owl, Bubo vosseleri
- Shelley's eagle-owl, Bubo shelleyi
- Verreaux's eagle-owl, Bubo lacteus
- Akun eagle-owl, Bubo leucostictus
- Pel's fishing-owl, Scotopelia peli
- Rufous fishing-owl, Scotopelia ussheri
- Vermiculated fishing-owl, Scotopelia bouvieri
- Northern hawk owl, Surnia ulula
- Pearl-spotted owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
- Red-chested owlet, Glaucidium tephronotum
- Sjöstedt's owlet, Glaucidium sjostedti
- African barred owlet, Glaucidium capense
- Chestnut owlet, Glaucidium castaneum
- Albertine owlet, Glaucidium albertinum
- Little owl, Athene noctua
- Tawny owl, Strix aluco
- Desert owl, Strix hadorami
- African wood-owl, Strix woodfordii
- Long-eared owl, Asio otus
- Abyssinian owl, Asio abyssinicus
- Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
- Marsh owl, Asio capensis
Mousebirds
The mousebirds are slender greyish or brown birds with soft, hairlike body feathers and very long thin tails. They are arboreal and scurry through the leaves like rodents in search of berries, fruit and buds. They are acrobatic and can feed upside down. All species have strong claws and reversible outer toes. They also have crests and stubby bills.
- Speckled mousebird, Colius striatus
- White-headed mousebird, Colius leucocephalus
- Red-backed mousebird, Colius castanotus
- White-backed mousebird, Colius colius
- Blue-naped mousebird, Urocolius macrourus
- Red-faced mousebird, Urocolius indicus
Trogons
The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.
- Narina trogon, Apaloderma narina
- Bare-cheeked trogon, Apaloderma aequatoriale
- Bar-tailed trogon, Apaloderma vittatum
Hoopoes
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.
- Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops
Woodhoopoes and scimitarbills
The woodhoopoes and scimitarbills are related to the hoopoes, ground-hornbills, and hornbills. They most resemble the hoopoes with their long curved bills, used to probe for insects, and short rounded wings. However, they differ in that they have metallic plumage, often blue, green or purple, and lack an erectile crest. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- Green woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus
- Violet woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus damarensis
- Black-billed woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus somaliensis
- White-headed woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus bollei
- Forest woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus castaneiceps
- Black scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus aterrimus
- Common scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
- Abyssinian scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus minor
Ground-hornbills
The ground-hornbills are terrestrial birds which feed almost entirely on insects, other birds, snakes, and amphibians. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- Abyssinian ground-hornbill, Bucorvus abyssinicus
- Southern ground-hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri
Hornbills
Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured.
- Red-billed dwarf hornbill, Lophoceros camurus
- Crowned hornbill, Lophoceros alboterminatus
- Bradfield's hornbill, Lophoceros bradfieldi
- African pied hornbill, Lophoceros fasciatus
- Hemprich's hornbill, Lophoceros hemprichii
- African gray hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus
- Pale-billed hornbill, Lophoceros pallidirostris
- Eastern yellow-billed hornbill, Tockus flavirostris
- Southern yellow-billed hornbill, Tockus leucomelas
- Jackson's hornbill, Tockus jacksoni
- Von der Decken's hornbill, Tockus deckeni
- Monteiro's hornbill, Tockus monteiri
- Southern red-billed hornbill, Tockus rufirostris
- Damara red-billed hornbill, Tockus damarensis
- Tanzanian red-billed hornbill, Tockus ruahae
- Western red-billed hornbill, Tockus kempi
- Northern red-billed hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus
- White-crested hornbill, Horizocerus albocristatus
- Black dwarf hornbill, Horizocerus hartlaubi
- Black-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna atrata
- Yellow-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna elata
- Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Bycanistes brevis
- Black-and-white-casqued hornbill, Bycanistes subcylindrica
- Brown-cheeked hornbill, Bycanistes cylindrica
- White-thighed hornbill, Bycanistes albotibialis
- Trumpeter hornbill, Bycanistes bucinator
- Piping hornbill, Bycanistes fistulator
Kingfishers
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
- Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
- Half-collared kingfisher, Alcedo semitorquata
- Shining-blue kingfisher, Alcedo quadribrachys
- Malachite kingfisher, Alcedo cristata
- White-bellied kingfisher, Alcedo leucogaster
- African pygmy-kingfisher, Ispidina picta
- African dwarf kingfisher, Ispidina lecontei
- Chocolate-backed kingfisher, Halcyon badia
- White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
- Gray-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
- Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis
- Mangrove kingfisher, Halcyon senegaloides
- Blue-breasted kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica
- Brown-hooded kingfisher, Halcyon albiventris
- Striped kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti
- Collared kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris
- Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maximus
- Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis
Bee-eaters
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.
- Black bee-eater, Merops gularis
- Blue-moustached bee-eater, Merops mentalis
- Blue-headed bee-eater, Merops muelleri
- Red-throated bee-eater, Merops bulocki
- White-fronted bee-eater, Merops bullockoides
- Little bee-eater, Merops pusillus
- Blue-breasted bee-eater, Merops variegatus
- Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Merops oreobates
- Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Merops hirundineus
- Black-headed bee-eater, Merops breweri
- Somali bee-eater, Merops revoilii
- White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis
- Green bee-eater, Merops orientalis
- Böhm's bee-eater, Merops boehmi
- Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
- Madagascar bee-eater, Merops superciliosus
- European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
- Rosy bee-eater, Merops malimbicus
- Northern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicus
- Southern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicoides
Rollers
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.
- European roller, Coracias garrulus
- Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinicus
- Lilac-breasted roller, Coracias caudatus
- Racket-tailed roller, Coracias spatulatus
- Rufous-crowned roller, Coracias noevius
- Indian roller, Coracias benghalensis
- Blue-bellied roller, Coracias cyanogaster
- Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus
- Blue-throated roller, Eurystomus gularis
African barbets
The African barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- Yellow-billed barbet, Trachyphonus purpuratus
- Crested barbet, Trachyphonus vaillantii
- Red-and-yellow barbet, Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
- Yellow-breasted barbet, Trachyphonus margaritatus
- D'Arnaud's barbet, Trachyphonus darnaudii
- Gray-throated barbet, Gymnobucco bonapartei
- Sladen's barbet, Gymnobucco sladeni
- Bristle-nosed barbet, Gymnobucco peli
- Naked-faced barbet, Gymnobucco calvus
- White-eared barbet, Stactolaema leucotis
- Whyte's barbet, Stactolaema whytii
- Anchieta's barbet, Stactolaema anchietae
- Green barbet, Stactolaema olivacea
- Speckled tinkerbird, Pogoniulus scolopaceus
- Green tinkerbird, Pogoniulus simplex
- Moustached tinkerbird, Pogoniulus leucomystax
- Western tinkerbird, Pogoniulus coryphaea
- Red-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus atroflavus
- Yellow-throated tinkerbird, Pogoniulus subsulphureus
- Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus bilineatus
- Red-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus pusillus
- Yellow-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus
- Yellow-spotted barbet, Buccanodon duchaillui
- Hairy-breasted barbet, Tricholaema hirsuta
- Red-fronted barbet, Tricholaema diademata
- Miombo barbet, Tricholaema frontata
- Pied barbet, Tricholaema leucomelas
- Spot-flanked barbet, Tricholaema lachrymosa
- Black-throated barbet, Tricholaema melanocephala
- Banded barbet, Lybius undatus
- Vieillot's barbet, Lybius vieilloti
- White-headed barbet, Lybius leucocephalus
- Chaplin's barbet, Lybius chaplini
- Red-faced barbet, Lybius rubrifacies
- Black-billed barbet, Lybius guifsobalito
- Black-collared barbet, Lybius torquatus
- Brown-breasted barbet, Lybius melanopterus
- Black-backed barbet, Lybius minor
- Double-toothed barbet, Lybius bidentatus
- Bearded barbet, Lybius dubius
- Black-breasted barbet, Lybius rolleti
Honeyguides
Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the greater honeyguide which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- Cassin's honeyguide, Prodotiscus insignis
- Green-backed honeyguide, Prodotiscus zambesiae
- Wahlberg's honeyguide, Prodotiscus regulus
- Zenker's honeyguide, Melignomon zenkeri
- Yellow-footed honeyguide, Melignomon eisentrauti
- Dwarf honeyguide, Indicator pumilio
- Willcocks's honeyguide, Indicator willcocksi
- Pallid honeyguide, Indicator meliphilus
- Least honeyguide, Indicator exilis
- Thick-billed honeyguide, Indicator conirostris
- Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
- Spotted honeyguide, Indicator maculatus
- Scaly-throated honeyguide, Indicator variegatus
- Greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator
- Lyre-tailed honeyguide, Melichneutes robustus
Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
- Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
- Rufous-necked wryneck, Jynx ruficollis
- African piculet, Verreauxia africana
- Abyssinian woodpecker, Chloropicus abyssinicus
- Melancholy woodpecker, Chloropicus lugubris
- Gabon woodpecker, Chloropicus gabonensis
- Elliot's woodpecker, Chloropicus elliotii
- Little gray woodpecker, Chloropicus elachus
- Speckle-breasted woodpecker, Chloropicus poecilolaemus
- Cardinal woodpecker, Chloropicus fuscescens
- Bearded woodpecker, Chloropicus namaquus
- Fire-bellied woodpecker, Chloropicus pyrrhogaster
- Golden-crowned woodpecker, Chloropicus xantholophus
- Stierling's woodpecker, Chloropicus stierlingi
- Brown-backed woodpecker, Chloropicus obsoletus
- African gray woodpecker, Chloropicus goertae
- Mountain gray woodpecker, Chloropicus spodocephalus
- Olive woodpecker, Chloropicus griseocephalus
- Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
- Lesser spotted woodpecker, Dryobates minor
- Levaillant's woodpecker, Picus vaillantii
- Ground woodpecker, Geocolaptes olivaceus
- Fine-spotted woodpecker, Campethera punctuligera
- Nubian woodpecker, Campethera nubica
- Bennett's woodpecker, Campethera bennettii
- Reichenow's woodpecker, Campethera scriptoricauda
- Golden-tailed woodpecker, Campethera abingoni
- Mombasa woodpecker, Campethera mombassica
- Knysna woodpecker, Campethera notata
- Little green woodpecker, Campethera maculosa
- Green-backed woodpecker, Campethera cailliautii
- Tullberg's woodpecker, Campethera tullbergi
- Buff-spotted woodpecker, Campethera nivosa
- Brown-eared woodpecker, Campethera caroli
Falcons and caracaras
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
- Pygmy falcon, Polihierax semitorquatus
- Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
- Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
- Rock kestrel, Falco rupicolus
- Greater kestrel, Falco rupicoloides
- Fox kestrel, Falco alopex
- Gray kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
- Dickinson's kestrel, Falco dickinsoni
- Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
- Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus
- Amur falcon, Falco amurensis
- Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
- Sooty falcon, Falco concolor
- Merlin, Falco columbarius
- Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
- African hobby, Falco cuvierii
- Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
- Saker falcon, Falco cherrug
- Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
- Taita falcon, Falco fasciinucha
Old World parrots
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from to in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.
- Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri
- Black-collared lovebird, Agapornis swindernianus
- Gray-headed lovebird, Agapornis canus
- Red-headed lovebird, Agapornis pullarius
- Black-winged lovebird, Agapornis taranta
- Rosy-faced lovebird, Agapornis roseicollis
- Fischer's lovebird, Agapornis fischeri
- Yellow-collared lovebird, Agapornis personatus
- Lilian's lovebird, Agapornis lilianae
- Black-cheeked lovebird, Agapornis nigrigenis
African and New World parrots
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from to in length. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.
- Gray parrot, Psittacus erithacus
- Brown-necked parrot, Poicephalus fuscicollis
- Cape parrot, Poicephalus robustus
- Red-fronted parrot, Poicephalus gulielmi
- Meyer's parrot, Poicephalus meyeri
- Rüppell's parrot, Poicephalus rueppellii
- Brown-headed parrot, Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
- Niam-Niam parrot, Poicephalus crassus
- Red-bellied parrot, Poicephalus rufiventris
- Senegal parrot, Poicephalus senegalus
- Yellow-fronted parrot, Poicephalus flavifrons
- Monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus
African and green broadbills
The broadbills are small, brightly coloured birds, which feed on fruit and also take insects in flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests.
- African broadbill, Smithornis capensis
- Gray-headed broadbill, Smithornis sharpei
- Rufous-sided broadbill, Smithornis rufolateralis
Asian and Grauer's broadbills
The broadbills are small, brightly coloured birds, which feed on fruit and also take insects in flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests.
- Grauer's broadbill, Pseudocalyptomena graueri
Pittas
Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates.
- African pitta, Pitta angolensis
- Green-breasted pitta, Pitta reichenowi
Cuckooshrikes
The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.
- Grauer's cuckooshrike, Coracina graueri
- Gray cuckooshrike, Coracina caesia
- White-breasted cuckooshrike, Coracina pectoralis
- Ghana cuckooshrike, Campephaga lobata
- Oriole cuckooshrike, Campephaga oriolina
- Black cuckooshrike, Campephaga flava
- Petit's cuckooshrike, Campephaga petiti
- Red-shouldered cuckooshrike, Campephaga phoenicea
- Purple-throated cuckooshrike, Campephaga quiscalina
- Blue cuckooshrike, Coracina azurea
Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis
The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World and Southeast Asia.
- Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus
Old World orioles
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.
- Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus
- African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus
- Green-headed oriole, Oriolus chlorocephalus
- Sao Tome oriole, Oriolus crassirostris
- Western black-headed oriole, Oriolus brachyrhynchus
- Ethiopian black-headed oriole, Oriolus monacha
- African black-headed oriole, Oriolus larvatus
- Black-tailed oriole, Oriolus percivali
- Black-winged oriole, Oriolus nigripennis
Wattle-eyes and batises
The wattle-eyes, or puffback flycatchers, are small stout passerine birds of the African tropics. They get their name from the brightly coloured fleshy eye decorations found in most species in this group. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- White-tailed shrike, Lanioturdus torquatus
- Brown-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira cyanea
- White-fronted wattle-eye, Platysteira albifrons
- Black-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira peltata
- Banded wattle-eye, Platysteira laticincta
- Chestnut wattle-eye, Platysteira castanea
- West African wattle-eye, Platysteira hormophora
- White-spotted wattle-eye, Platysteira tonsa
- Red-cheeked wattle-eye, Platysteira blissetti
- Black-necked wattle-eye, Platysteira chalybea
- Jameson's wattle-eye, Platysteira jamesoni
- Yellow-bellied wattle-eye, Platysteira concreta
- Boulton's batis, Batis margaritae
- Short-tailed batis, Batis mixta
- Dark batis, Batis crypta
- Rwenzori batis, Batis diops
- Cape batis, Batis capensis
- Woodward's batis, Batis fratrum
- Chinspot batis, Batis molitor
- Pale batis, Batis soror
- Pririt batis, Batis pririt
- Senegal batis, Batis senegalensis
- Gray-headed batis, Batis orientalis
- Western black-headed batis, Batis erlangeri
- Eastern black-headed batis, Batis minor
- Pygmy batis, Batis perkeo
- Verreaux's batis, Batis minima
- Ituri batis, Batis ituriensis
- Bioko batis, Batis poensis
- West African batis, Batis occulta
- Angola batis, Batis minulla
Vangas, helmetshrikes, and allies
The helmetshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes, but tend to be colourful species with distinctive crests or other head ornaments, such as wattles, from which they get their name.
- White helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus
- Gray-crested helmetshrike, Prionops poliolophus
- Yellow-crested helmetshrike, Prionops alberti
- Red-billed helmetshrike, Prionops caniceps
- Rufous-bellied helmetshrike, Prionops rufiventris
- Retz's helmetshrike, Prionops retzii
- Angola helmetshrike, Prionops gabela
- Chestnut-fronted helmetshrike, Prionops scopifrons
- African shrike-flycatcher, Megabyas flammulatus
- Black-and-white shrike-flycatcher, Bias musicus
Bushshrikes and allies
Bushshrikes are similar in habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush. Although similar in build to the shrikes, these tend to be either colourful species or largely black; some species are quite secretive.
- Brubru, Nilaus afer
- Northern puffback, Dryoscopus gambensis
- Pringle's puffback, Dryoscopus pringlii
- Black-backed puffback, Dryoscopus cubla
- Red-eyed puffback, Dryoscopus senegalensis
- Pink-footed puffback, Dryoscopus angolensis
- Sabine's puffback, Dryoscopus sabini
- Marsh tchagra, Tchagra minutus
- Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegalus
- Brown-crowned tchagra, Tchagra australis
- Three-streaked tchagra, Tchagra jamesi
- Southern tchagra, Tchagra tchagra
- Red-naped bushshrike, Laniarius ruficeps
- Coastal boubou, Laniarius nigerrimus
- Lühder's bushshrike, Laniarius luehderi
- Braun's bushshrike, Laniarius brauni
- Gabela bushshrike, Laniarius amboimensis
- Turati's boubou, Laniarius turatii
- Ethiopian boubou, Laniarius aethiopicus
- Tropical boubou, Laniarius major
- Zanzibar boubou, Laniarius sublacteus
- Gabon boubou, Laniarius bicolor
- Southern boubou, Laniarius ferrugineus
- Yellow-crowned gonolek, Laniarius barbarus
- Black-headed gonolek, Laniarius erythrogaster
- Crimson-breasted gonolek, Laniarius atrococcineus
- Papyrus gonolek, Laniarius mufumbiri
- Yellow-breasted boubou, Laniarius atroflavus
- Slate-colored boubou, Laniarius funebris
- Lowland sooty boubou, Laniarius leucorhynchus
- Willard's sooty boubou, Laniarius willardi
- Western boubou, Laniarius poensis
- Albertine boubou, Laniarius holomelas
- Fülleborn's boubou, Laniarius fuelleborni
- Rosy-patched bushshrike, Rhodophoneus cruentus
- Bokmakierie, Telophorus zeylonus
- Gray-green bushshrike, Telophorus bocagei
- Sulphur-breasted bushshrike, Telophorus sulfureopectus
- Olive bushshrike, Telophorus olivaceus
- Many-colored bushshrike, Telophorus multicolor
- Black-fronted bushshrike, Telophorus nigrifrons
- Mount Kupe bushshrike, Telophorus kupeensis
- Four-colored bushshrike, Telophorus viridis
- Doherty's bushshrike, Telophorus dohertyi
- Fiery-breasted bushshrike, Malaconotus cruentus
- Lagden's bushshrike, Malaconotus lagdeni
- Green-breasted bushshrike, Malaconotus gladiator
- Gray-headed bushshrike, Malaconotus blanchoti
- Monteiro's bushshrike, Malaconotus monteiri
- Uluguru bushshrike, Malaconotus alius
Drongos
The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.
- Western square-tailed drongo, Dicrurus occidentalis
- Sharpe's drongo, Dicrurus sharpei
- Common square-tailed drongo, Dicrurus ludwigii
- Shining drongo, Dicrurus atripennis
- Fork-tailed drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis
- Glossy-backed drongo, Dicrurus divaricatus
- Fanti drongo, Dicrurus atactus
- Velvet-mantled drongo, Dicrurus modestus
Monarch flycatchers
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.
- Blue-headed crested-flycatcher, Trochocercus nitens
- African crested-flycatcher, Trochocercus cyanomelas
- Sao Tome paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone atrochalybeia
- Black-headed paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufiventer
- Bedford's paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone bedfordi
- Rufous-vented paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufocinerea
- Bates's paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone batesi
- African paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis
Shrikes
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.
- Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
- Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus
- Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus
- Emin's shrike, Lanius gubernator
- Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
- Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
- Gray-backed fiscal, Lanius excubitoroides
- Long-tailed fiscal, Lanius cabanisi
- Taita fiscal, Lanius dorsalis
- Somali fiscal, Lanius somalicus
- Mackinnon's shrike, Lanius mackinnoni
- Northern fiscal, Lanius humeralis
- Southern fiscal, Lanius collaris
- Souza's shrike, Lanius souzae
- Newton's fiscal, Lanius newtoni
- Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus
- Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator
- Yellow-billed shrike, Corvinella corvina
- Magpie shrike, Corvinella melanoleuca
- White-rumped shrike, Eurocephalus ruppelli
- White-crowned shrike, Eurocephalus anguitimens
Crows, jays, and magpies
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
- Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
- Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
- Eurasian nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes
- Stresemann's bush-crow, Zavattariornis stresemanni
- Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
- Yellow-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus
- Piapiac, Ptilostomus afer
- Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula
- House crow, Corvus splendens
- Cape crow, Corvus capensis
- Rook, Corvus frugilegus
- Carrion crow, Corvus corone
- Hooded crow, Corvus cornix
- Pied crow, Corvus albus
- Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis
- Somali crow, Corvus edithae
- Fan-tailed raven, Corvus rhipidurus
- White-necked raven, Corvus albicollis
- Thick-billed raven, Corvus crassirostris
- Common raven, Corvus corax
Rockfowl
Rockfowl are lanky birds with crow-like bills, long necks, tails and legs, and strong feet adapted to terrestrial feeding. They are similar in size and structure to the completely unrelated roadrunners, but they hop rather than walk. They also have brightly coloured unfeathered heads. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- White-necked rockfowl, Picathartes gymnocephalus
- Gray-necked rockfowl, Picathartes oreas
Rockjumpers
These two species are the only ones in their family. They are primarily insectivores, but cape rockjumpers also eat small vertebrates. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- Cape rockjumper, Chaetops frenatus
- Drakensberg rockjumper, Chaetops aurantius
Hyliotas
The members of this small family, all of genus Hyliota, are birds of the forest canopy. They tend to feed in mixed-species flocks. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- Yellow-bellied hyliota, Hyliota flavigaster
- Southern hyliota, Hyliota australis
- Usambara hyliota, Hyliota usambarae
- Violet-backed hyliota, Hyliota violacea
Fairy flycatchers
Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".
- Fairy flycatcher, Stenostira scita
- African blue flycatcher, Elminia longicauda
- White-tailed blue flycatcher, Elminia albicauda
- Dusky crested-flycatcher, Elminia nigromitrata
- White-bellied crested-flycatcher, Elminia albiventris
- White-tailed crested-flycatcher, Elminia albonotata
Tits, chickadees, and titmice
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
- Coal tit, Periparus ater
- Crested tit, Lophophanes cristatus
- African blue tit, Cyanistes teneriffae
- Great tit, Parus major
- White-shouldered black-tit, Melaniparus guineensis
- White-winged black-tit, Melaniparus leucomelas
- Rufous-bellied tit, Melaniparus rufiventris
- White-bellied tit, Melaniparus albiventris
- Southern black-tit, Melaniparus niger
- Carp's tit, Melaniparus carpi
- Dusky tit, Melaniparus funereus
- Miombo tit, Melaniparus griseiventris
- Stripe-breasted tit, Melaniparus fasciiventer
- Somali tit, Melaniparus thruppi
- Red-throated tit, Melaniparus fringillinus
- White-backed black-tit, Melaniparus leuconotus
- Ashy tit, Melaniparus cinerascens
- Gray tit, Melaniparus afer
Penduline-tits
The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.
- Eurasian penduline-tit, Remiz pendulinus
- Sennar penduline-tit, Anthoscopus punctifrons
- Mouse-colored penduline-tit, Anthoscopus musculus
- Yellow penduline-tit, Anthoscopus parvulus
- Forest penduline-tit, Anthoscopus flavifrons
- African penduline-tit, Anthoscopus caroli
- Southern penduline-tit, Anthoscopus minutus
Larks
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
- Greater hoopoe lark, Alaemon alaudipes
- Lesser hoopoe lark, Alaemon hamertoni
- Spike-heeled lark, Chersomanes albofasciata
- Beesley's lark, Chersomanes beesleyi
- Gray's lark, Ammomanopsis grayi
- Short-clawed lark, Certhilauda chuana
- Karoo long-billed lark, Certhilauda subcoronata
- Benguela lark, Certhilauda benguelensis
- Eastern long-billed lark, Certhilauda semitorquata
- Cape lark, Certhilauda curvirostris
- Agulhas lark, Certhilauda brevirostris
- Rufous-rumped lark, Pinarocorys erythropygia
- Dusky lark, Pinarocorys nigricans
- Thick-billed lark, Ramphocoris clotbey
- Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cinctura
- Desert lark, Ammomanes deserti
- Black-eared sparrow-lark, Eremopterix australis
- Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucotis
- Black-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix nigriceps
- Chestnut-headed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix signatus
- Gray-backed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix verticalis
- Fischer's sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucopareia
- Sabota lark, Calendulauda sabota
- Pink-breasted lark, Calendulauda poecilosterna
- Fawn-colored lark, Calendulauda africanoides
- Foxy lark, Calendulauda alopex
- Karoo lark, Calendulauda albescens
- Red lark, Calendulauda burra
- Barlow's lark, Calendulauda barlowi
- Dune lark, Calendulauda erythrochlamys
- Liben lark, Heteromirafra archeri
- Rudd's lark, Heteromirafra ruddi
- Cape clapper lark, Mirafra apiata
- Eastern clapper lark, Mirafra fasciolata
- Collared lark, Mirafra collaris
- Red-winged lark, Mirafra hypermetra
- Rufous-naped lark, Mirafra africana
- Ash's lark, Mirafra ashi
- Somali long-billed lark, Mirafra somalica
- Angola lark, Mirafra angolensis
- Flappet lark, Mirafra rufocinnamomea
- Kordofan lark, Mirafra cordofanica
- Williams's lark, Mirafra williamsi
- Friedmann's lark, Mirafra pulpa
- Monotonous lark, Mirafra passerina
- White-tailed lark, Mirafra albicauda
- Latakoo lark, Mirafra cheniana
- Singing bushlark, Mirafra cantillans
- Rusty lark, Mirafra rufa
- Gillett's lark, Mirafra gilletti
- Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
- Temminck's lark, Eremophila bilopha
- Blanford's lark, Calandrella blanfordi
- Red-capped lark, Calandrella cinerea
- Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
- Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata
- Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
- Dupont's lark, Chersophilus duponti
- Dunn's lark, Eremalauda dunni
- Somali short-toed lark, Alaudala somalica
- Lesser short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens
- Wood lark, Lullula arborea
- Stark's lark, Spizocorys starki
- Sclater's lark, Spizocorys sclateri
- Short-tailed lark, Spizocorys fremantlii
- Pink-billed lark, Spizocorys conirostris
- Botha's lark, Spizocorys fringillaris
- Obbia lark, Spizocorys obbiensis
- Masked lark, Spizocorys personata
- Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
- Oriental skylark, Alauda gulgula
- Sun lark, Galerida modesta
- Large-billed lark, Galerida magnirostris
- Thekla's lark, Galerida theklae
- Crested lark, Galerida cristata
- Maghreb lark, Galerida macrorhyncha
Bearded reedling
A single species formerly placed in the Old World babbler family.
- Bearded reedling, Panurus biarmicus
Nicators
The nicators are shrike-like, with hooked bills. They are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.
- Western nicator, Nicator chloris
- Eastern nicator, Nicator gularis
- Yellow-throated nicator, Nicator vireo
African warblers
African warblers are small to medium-sized insectivores which are found in a wide variety of habitats south of the Sahara.
- Green crombec, Sylvietta virens
- Lemon-bellied crombec, Sylvietta denti
- White-browed crombec, Sylvietta leucophrys
- Northern crombec, Sylvietta brachyura
- Short-billed crombec, Sylvietta philippae
- Red-capped crombec, Sylvietta ruficapilla
- Red-faced crombec, Sylvietta whytii
- Somali crombec, Sylvietta isabellina
- Cape crombec, Sylvietta rufescens
- Rockrunner, Achaetops pycnopygius
- Moustached grass-warbler, Melocichla mentalis
- Cape grassbird, Sphenoeacus afer
- Victorin's warbler, Cryptillas victorini
- Kemp's longbill, Macrosphenus kempi
- Yellow longbill, Macrosphenus flavicans
- Gray longbill, Macrosphenus concolor
- Pulitzer's longbill, Macrosphenus pulitzeri
- Kretschmer's longbill, Macrosphenus kretschmeri
- Grauer's warbler, Graueria vittata
- Green hylia, Hylia prasina
- Tit-hylia, Pholidornis rushiae
Cisticolas and allies
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
- Salvadori's eremomela, Eremomela salvadorii
- Yellow-vented eremomela, Eremomela flavicrissalis
- Yellow-bellied eremomela, Eremomela icteropygialis
- Senegal eremomela, Eremomela pusilla
- Green-backed eremomela, Eremomela canescens
- Greencap eremomela, Eremomela scotops
- Yellow-rumped eremomela, Eremomela gregalis
- Rufous-crowned eremomela, Eremomela badiceps
- Turner's eremomela, Eremomela turneri
- Black-necked eremomela, Eremomela atricollis
- Burnt-neck eremomela, Eremomela usticollis
- Red-winged gray warbler, Drymocichla incana
- Sierra Leone prinia, Schistolais leontica
- White-chinned prinia, Schistolais leucopogon
- Roberts's warbler, Oreophilais robertsi
- Namaqua warbler, Phragmacia substriata
- Green longtail, Urolais epichlorus
- Black-collared apalis, Oreolais pulchrer
- Rwenzori apalis, Oreolais ruwenzorii
- African tailorbird, Artisornis metopias
- Long-billed tailorbird, Artisornis moreaui
- White-tailed warbler, Poliolais lopezi
- Miombo wren-warbler, Calamonastes undosus
- Stierling's wren-warbler, Calamonastes stierlingi
- Gray wren-warbler, Calamonastes simplex
- Barred wren-warbler, Calamonastes fasciolatus
- Green-backed camaroptera, Camaroptera brachyura
- Hartert's camaroptera, Camaroptera harterti
- Yellow-browed camaroptera, Camaroptera superciliaris
- Olive-green camaroptera, Camaroptera chloronota
- Cricket longtail, Spiloptila clamans
- Buff-bellied warbler, Phyllolais pulchella
- Bar-throated apalis, Apalis thoracica
- Taita apalis, Apalis fuscigularis
- Yellow-throated apalis, Apalis flavigularis
- Namuli apalis, Apalis lynesi
- Black-capped apalis, Apalis nigriceps
- Black-throated apalis, Apalis jacksoni
- White-winged apalis, Apalis chariessa
- Masked apalis, Apalis binotata
- Black-faced apalis, Apalis personata
- Yellow-breasted apalis, Apalis flavida
- Rudd's apalis, Apalis ruddi
- Sharpe's apalis, Apalis sharpii
- Buff-throated apalis, Apalis rufogularis
- Kungwe apalis, Apalis argentea
- Bamenda apalis, Apalis bamendae
- Gosling's apalis, Apalis goslingi
- Kabobo apalis, Apalis kaboboensis
- Chestnut-throated apalis, Apalis porphyrolaema
- Chapin's apalis, Apalis chapini
- Black-headed apalis, Apalis melanocephala
- Chirinda apalis, Apalis chirindensis
- Gray apalis, Apalis cinerea
- Brown-headed apalis, Apalis alticola
- Karamoja apalis, Apalis karamojae
- Graceful prinia, Prinia gracilis
- Tawny-flanked prinia, Prinia subflava
- Pale prinia, Prinia somalica
- River prinia, Prinia fluviatilis
- Black-chested prinia, Prinia flavicans
- Karoo prinia, Prinia maculosa
- Drakensberg prinia, Prinia hypoxantha
- Sao Tome prinia, Prinia molleri
- Banded prinia, Prinia bairdii
- Red-winged prinia, Prinia erythroptera
- Red-fronted prinia, Prinia rufifrons
- Kopje warbler, Euryptila subcinnamomea
- Mrs. Moreau's warbler, Scepomycter winifredae
- Socotra warbler, Incana incana
- Rufous-eared warbler, Malcorus pectoralis
- Black-capped rufous-warbler, Bathmocercus cerviniventris
- Black-faced rufous-warbler, Bathmocercus rufus
- Oriole warbler, Hypergerus atriceps
- Gray-capped warbler, Eminia lepida
- Red-faced cisticola, Cisticola erythrops
- Singing cisticola, Cisticola cantans
- Whistling cisticola, Cisticola lateralis
- Chattering cisticola, Cisticola anonymus
- Trilling cisticola, Cisticola woosnami
- Bubbling cisticola, Cisticola bulliens
- Chubb's cisticola, Cisticola chubbi
- Hunter's cisticola, Cisticola hunteri
- Black-lored cisticola, Cisticola nigriloris
- Rock-loving cisticola, Cisticola aberrans
- Boran cisticola, Cisticola bodessa
- Rattling cisticola, Cisticola chiniana
- Ashy cisticola, Cisticola cinereolus
- Red-pate cisticola, Cisticola ruficeps
- Dorst's cisticola, Cisticola guinea
- Tinkling cisticola, Cisticola rufilatus
- Red-headed cisticola, Cisticola subruficapilla
- Wailing cisticola, Cisticola lais
- Tana River cisticola, Cisticola restrictus
- Churring cisticola, Cisticola njombe
- Winding cisticola, Cisticola galactotes
- Ethiopian cisticola, Cisticola lugubris
- Coastal cisticola, Cisticola haematocephalus
- Luapula cisticola, Cisticola luapula
- Rufous-winged cisticola, Cisticola galactotes
- Chirping cisticola, Cisticola pipiens
- Carruthers's cisticola, Cisticola carruthersi
- Levaillant's cisticola, Cisticola tinniens
- Stout cisticola, Cisticola robustus
- Croaking cisticola, Cisticola natalensis
- Piping cisticola, Cisticola fulvicapilla
- Aberdare cisticola, Cisticola aberdare
- Tabora cisticola, Cisticola angusticauda
- Slender-tailed cisticola, Cisticola melanurus
- Siffling cisticola, Cisticola brachypterus
- Rufous cisticola, Cisticola rufus
- Foxy cisticola, Cisticola troglodytes
- Tiny cisticola, Cisticola nanus
- Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
- Socotra cisticola, Cisticola haesitatus
- Desert cisticola, Cisticola aridulus
- Cloud cisticola, Cisticola textrix
- Black-backed cisticola, Cisticola eximius
- Cloud-scraping cisticola, Cisticola dambo
- Pectoral-patch cisticola, Cisticola brunnescens
- Pale-crowned cisticola, Cisticola cinnamomeus
- Wing-snapping cisticola, Cisticola ayresii
Reed warblers and allies
The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.
- Papyrus yellow warbler, Calamonastides gracilirostris
- Booted warbler, Iduna caligata
- Sykes's warbler, Iduna rama
- Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
- Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca
- African yellow-warbler, Iduna natalensis
- Mountain yellow-warbler, Iduna similis
- Upcher's warbler, Hippolais languida
- Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum
- Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
- Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina
- Aquatic warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola
- Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon
- Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
- Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
- African reed warbler, Acrocephalus baeticatus
- Basra reed warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis
- Lesser swamp warbler, Acrocephalus gracilirostris
- Greater swamp warbler, Acrocephalus rufescens
- Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus
- Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus
Grassbirds and allies
Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.
- Fan-tailed grassbird, Schoenicola brevirostris
- Barratt's warbler, Bradypterus barratti
- Bangwa warbler, Bradypterus bangwaensis
- Evergreen forest-warbler, Bradypterus lopezi
- Cinnamon bracken-warbler, Bradypterus cinnamomeus
- Knysna warbler, Bradypterus sylvaticus
- Grauer's swamp warbler, Bradypterus graueri
- Little rush-warbler, Bradypterus baboecala
- Dja River swamp warbler, Bradypterus grandis
- White-winged swamp warbler, Bradypterus carpalis
- Bamboo warbler, Bradypterus alfredi
- Pallas's grasshopper-warbler, Locustella certhiola
- River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis
- Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
- Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia
Swallows
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
- African river martin, Pseudochelidon eurystomina
- Plain martin, Riparia paludicola
- Congo martin, Riparia congica
- Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
- Banded martin, Riparia cincta
- Mascarene martin, Phedina borbonica
- Brazza's martin, Phedina brazzae
- Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
- Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula
- Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
- Red-chested swallow, Hirundo lucida
- Ethiopian swallow, Hirundo aethiopica
- Angola swallow, Hirundo angolensis
- White-throated blue swallow, Hirundo nigrita
- White-throated swallow, Hirundo albigularis
- Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
- Pied-winged swallow, Hirundo leucosoma
- White-tailed swallow, Hirundo megaensis
- Pearl-breasted swallow, Hirundo dimidiata
- Montane blue swallow, Hirundo atrocaerulea
- Black-and-rufous swallow, Hirundo nigrorufa
- Greater striped swallow, Cecropis cucullata
- Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
- Lesser striped swallow, Cecropis abyssinica
- Rufous-chested swallow, Cecropis semirufa
- Mosque swallow, Cecropis senegalensis
- Red-throated swallow, Petrochelidon rufigula
- Preuss's swallow, Hirundo preussi
- Red Sea swallow, Petrochelidon perdita
- South African swallow, Petrochelidon spilodera
- Forest swallow, Atronanus fuliginosus
- Common house martin, Delichon urbicum
- Square-tailed sawwing, Psalidoprocne nitens
- Mountain sawwing, Psalidoprocne fuliginosa
- White-headed sawwing, Psalidoprocne albiceps
- Black sawwing, Psalidoprocne pristoptera
- Fanti sawwing, Psalidoprocne obscura
- Gray-rumped swallow, Pseudhirundo griseopyga
Bulbuls
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.
- Sombre greenbul, Andropadus importunus
- Slender-billed greenbul, Stelgidillas gracilirostris
- Golden greenbul, Calyptocichla serinus
- Black-collared bulbul, Neolestes torquatus
- Red-tailed bristlebill, Bleda syndactylus
- Green-tailed bristlebill, Bleda eximius
- Lesser bristlebill, Bleda notatus
- Gray-headed bristlebill, Bleda canicapillus
- Cameroon mountain greenbul, Arizelocichla montana
- Shelley's greenbul, Arizelocichla masukuensis
- Western mountain greenbul, Arizelocichla tephrolaemus
- Eastern mountain greenbul, Arizelocichla nigriceps
- Uluguru mountain greenbul, Arizelocichla neumanni
- Yellow-throated mountain greenbul, Arizelocichla chlorigula
- Black-browed mountain greenbul, Arizelocichla fusciceps
- Stripe-cheeked bulbul, Arizelocichla milanjensis
- Simple greenbul, Chlorocichla simplex
- Yellow-necked greenbul, Chlorocichla falkensteini
- Yellow-bellied greenbul, Chlorocichla flaviventris
- Joyful greenbul, Chlorocichla laetissima
- Prigogine's greenbul, Chlorocichla prigoginei
- Honeyguide greenbul, Baeopogon indicator
- Sjöstedt's greenbul, Baeopogon clamans
- Yellow-throated leaflove, Atimastillas flavicollis
- Spotted greenbul, Ixonotus guttatus
- Swamp greenbul, Thescelocichla leucopleura
- Red-tailed greenbul, Criniger calurus
- Western bearded-greenbul, Criniger barbatus
- Eastern bearded-greenbul, Criniger chloronotus
- Yellow-bearded greenbul, Criniger olivaceus
- White-bearded greenbul, Criniger ndussumensis
- Gray greenbul, Eurillas gracilis
- Ansorge's greenbul, Eurillas ansorgei
- Plain greenbul, Eurillas curvirostris
- Yellow-whiskered greenbul, Eurillas latirostris
- Little greenbul, Eurillas virens
- Leaf-love, Phyllastrephus scandens
- Terrestrial brownbul, Phyllastrephus terrestris
- Northern brownbul, Phyllastrephus strepitans
- Pale-olive greenbul, Phyllastrephus fulviventris
- Gray-olive greenbul, Phyllastrephus cerviniventris
- Baumann's greenbul, Phyllastrephus baumanni
- Toro olive greenbul, Phyllastrephus hypochloris
- Fischer's greenbul, Phyllastrephus fischeri
- Cabanis's greenbul, Phyllastrephus cabanisi
- Cameroon olive-greenbul, Phyllastrephus poensis
- Icterine greenbul, Phyllastrephus icterinus
- Sassi's greenbul, Phyllastrephus lorenzi
- Xavier's greenbul, Phyllastrephus xavieri
- White-throated greenbul, Phyllastrephus albigularis
- Yellow-streaked bulbul, Phyllastrephus flavostriatus
- Gray-headed greenbul, Phyllastrephus poliocephalus
- Tiny greenbul, Phyllastrephus debilis
- Usambara greenbul, Phyllastrephus albigula
- Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus
- Black-fronted bulbul, Pycnonotus nigricans
- Cape bulbul, Pycnonotus capensis
- White-spectacled bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos
Leaf warblers
Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.
- Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
- Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
- Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis
- Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus
- Hume's warbler, Phylloscopus humei
- Pallas's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus proregulus
- Radde's warbler, Phylloscopus schwarzi
- Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus
- Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
- Canary Islands chiffchaff, Phylloscopus canariensis
- Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
- Iberian chiffchaff, Phylloscopus ibericus
- Brown woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus umbrovirens
- Yellow-throated woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus ruficapilla
- Red-faced woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus laetus
- Laura's woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus laurae
- Black-capped woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus herberti
- Uganda woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus budongoensis
Bush warblers and allies
The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place genus Erythrocerus in another family.
- Chestnut-capped flycatcher, Erythrocercus mccallii
- Yellow flycatcher, Erythrocercus holochlorus
- Livingstone's flycatcher, Erythrocercus livingstonei
- Scrub warbler, Scotocerca inquieta
- Neumann's warbler, Urosphena neumanni
- Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti
Long-tailed tits
The long-tailed tits are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insect
- Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus
Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
- Abyssinian catbird, Parophasma galinieri
- African hill babbler, Pseudoalcippe abyssinica
- Rwenzori hill babbler, Sylvia atriceps
- Bush blackcap, Sylvia nigricapillus
- Dohrn's thrush-babbler, Sylvia dohrni
- Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
- Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
- African desert warbler, Sylvia deserti
- Asian desert warbler, Sylvia nana
- Barred warbler, Sylvia nisoria
- Layard's warbler, Sylvia layardi
- Banded parisoma, Sylvia boehmi
- Chestnut-vented warbler, Sylvia subcoerulea
- Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca
- Brown parisoma, Sylvia lugens
- Arabian warbler, Sylvia leucomelaena
- Western Orphean warbler, Sylvia hortensis
- Eastern Orphean warbler, Sylvia crassirostris
- Tristram's warbler, Sylvia deserticola
- Cyprus warbler, Sylvia melanothorax
- Menetries's warbler, Sylvia mystacea
- Rüppell's warbler, Sylvia ruppeli
- Subalpine warbler, Sylvia cantillans
- Moltoni's warbler, Sylvia subalpina
- Sardinian warbler, Sylvia melanocephala
- Greater whitethroat, Sylvia communis
- Spectacled warbler, Sylvia conspicillata
- Marmora's warbler, Sylvia sarda
- Dartford warbler, Sylvia undata
White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies
The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.
- Abyssinian white-eye, Zosterops abyssinicus
- Principe white-eye, Zosterops ficedulinus
- Annobon white-eye, Zosterops griseovirescens
- Sao Tome white-eye, Zosterops feae
- Black-capped speirops, Zosterops lugubris
- Principe speirops, Zosterops leucophoeus
- Mbulu white-eye, Zosterops mbuluensis
- Pale white-eye, Zosterops flavilateralis
- Taita white-eye, Zosterops silvanus
- Orange River white-eye, Zosterops pallidus
- South Pare white-eye, Zosterops winifredae
- Cape white-eye, Zosterops virens
- Cameroon speirops, Zosterops melanocephalus
- Bioko speirops, Zosterops brunneus
- Heuglin's white-eye, Zosterops poliogastrus
- Kikuyu white-eye, Zosterops kikuyuensis
- Kilimanjaro white-eye, Zosterops eurycricotus
- African yellow white-eye, Zosterops senegalensis
- Pemba white-eye, Zosterops vaughani
Ground babblers and allies
These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.
- Brown illadopsis, Illadopsis fulvescens
- Pale-breasted illadopsis, Illadopsis rufipennis
- Mountain illadopsis, Illadopsis pyrrhoptera
- Blackcap illadopsis, Illadopsis cleaveri
- Scaly-breasted illadopsis, Illadopsis albipectus
- Rufous-winged illadopsis, Illadopsis rufescens
- Puvel's illadopsis, Illadopsis puveli
- Thrush babbler, Ptyrticus turdina
Laughingthrushes and allies
The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.
- Arabian babbler, Turdoides squamiceps
- Fulvous chatterer, Turdoides fulva
- Scaly chatterer, Turdoides aylmeri
- Rufous chatterer, Turdoides rubiginosa
- Blackcap babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii
- Dusky babbler, Turdoides tenebrosa
- Black-lored babbler, Turdoides sharpei
- Hartlaub's babbler, Turdoides hartlaubii
- Black-faced babbler, Turdoides melanops
- Scaly babbler, Turdoides squamulata
- White-rumped babbler, Turdoides leucopygia
- Southern pied-babbler, Turdoides bicolor
- Northern pied-babbler, Turdoides hypoleuca
- Hinde's pied-babbler, Turdoides hindei
- Cretzschmar's babbler, Turdoides leucocephala
- Brown babbler, Turdoides plebejus
- Arrow-marked babbler, Turdoides jardineii
- Bare-cheeked babbler, Turdoides gymnogenys
- White-throated mountain-babbler, Turdoides gilberti
- Red-collared mountain-babbler, Turdoides rufocinctus
- Chapin's mountain-babbler, Turdoides chapini
- Capuchin babbler, Turdoides atripennis
Kinglets
The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. They are very small insectivorous birds in the genus Regulus. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their name.
- Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
- Canary Islands kinglet, Regulus teneriffae
- Firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla
Wallcreeper
The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage.
- Wallcreeper, Tichodroma muraria
Nuthatches
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.
- Eurasian nuthatch, Sitta europaea
- Algerian nuthatch, Sitta ledanti
Treecreepers
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
- Short-toed treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla
- African spotted creeper, Salpornis salvadori
Wrens
The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.
- Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
Dippers
Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movemen
- White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus
Oxpeckers
As both the English and scientific names of these birds imply, they feed on ectoparasites, primarily ticks, found on large mammals. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- Red-billed oxpecker, Buphagus erythrorynchus
- Yellow-billed oxpecker, Buphagus africanus
Starlings
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
- European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
- Spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor
- Wattled starling, Creatophora cinerea
- Rosy starling, Pastor roseus
- Common myna, Acridotheres tristis
- Violet-backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
- Slender-billed starling, Onychognathus tenuirostris
- Pale-winged starling, Onychognathus nabouroup
- Neumann's starling, Onychognathus neumanni
- Red-winged starling, Onychognathus morio
- Chestnut-winged starling, Onychognathus fulgidus
- Waller's starling, Onychognathus walleri
- Tristram's starling, Onychognathus tristramii
- White-billed starling, Onychognathus albirostris
- Bristle-crowned starling, Onychognathus salvadorii
- Somali starling, Onychognathus blythii
- Socotra starling, Onychognathus frater
- Babbling starling, Neocichla gutturalis
- White-collared starling, Grafisia torquata
- Magpie starling, Speculipastor bicolor
- Sharpe's starling, Pholiaa sharpii
- Abbott's starling, Poeoptera femoralis
- Narrow-tailed starling, Poeoptera lugubris
- Stuhlmann's starling, Poeoptera stuhlmanni
- Kenrick's starling, Poeoptera kenricki
- Black-bellied starling, Notopholia corusca
- Purple-headed starling, Hylopsar purpureiceps
- Copper-tailed starling, Hylopsar cupreocauda
- Hildebrandt's starling, Lamprotornis hildebrandti
- Shelley's starling, Lamprotornis shelleyi
- Burchell's starling, Lamprotornis australis
- Rueppell's starling, Lamprotornis purpuroptera
- Long-tailed starling, Lamprotornis caudatus
- Meves's starling, Lamprotornis mevesii
- Ashy starling, Lamprotornis unicolor
- Splendid starling, Lamprotornis splendidus
- Principe starling, Lamprotornis ornatus
- Golden-breasted starling, Lamprotornis regius
- Superb starling, Lamprotornis superbus
- Chestnut-bellied starling, Lamprotornis pulcher
- African pied starling, Lamprotornis bicolor
- White-crowned starling, Lamprotornis albicapillus
- Fischer's starling, Lamprotornis fischeri
- Lesser blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chloropterus
- Sharp-tailed starling, Lamprotornis acuticaudus
- Greater blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus
- Emerald starling, Lamprotornis iris
- Purple starling, Lamprotornis purpureus
- Cape starling, Lamprotornis nitens
- Bronze-tailed starling, Lamprotornis chalcurus
Mockingbirds and thrashers
The mimids are a family of passerine birds which includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. The species tend towards dull grays and browns in their appearance.
- Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
- Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
Thrushes and allies
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
- Rufous flycatcher-thrush, Neocossyphus fraseri
- Finsch's flycatcher-thrush, Neocossyphus finschi
- Red-tailed ant-thrush, Neocossyphus rufus
- White-tailed ant-thrush, Neocossyphus poensis
- Spotted ground-thrush, Geokichla guttata
- Black-eared ground-thrush, Geokichla cameronensis
- Gray ground-thrush, Geokichla princei
- Crossley's ground-thrush, Geokichla crossleyi
- Oberländer's ground-thrush, Geokichla oberlaenderi
- Abyssinian ground-thrush, Geokichla piaggiae
- Orange ground-thrush, Geokichla gurneyi
- Groundscraper thrush, Psophocichla litsitsirupa
- Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus
- Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
- Abyssinian thrush, Turdus abyssinicus
- Taita thrush, Turdus helleri
- Usambara thrush, Turdus roehli
- Redwing, Turdus iliacus
- Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula
- Somali thrush, Turdus ludoviciae
- African bare-eyed thrush, Turdus tephronotus
- Kurrichane thrush, Turdus libonyana
- Olive thrush, Turdus olivaceus
- Karoo thrush, Turdus smithi
- Principe thrush, Turdus xanthorhynchus
- Sao Tome thrush, Turdus olivaceofuscus
- African thrush, Turdus pelios
- Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus
- Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
- Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus
- Black-throated thrush, Turdus atrogularis
Old World flycatchers
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
- African dusky flycatcher, Muscicapa adusta
- Little flycatcher, Muscicapa epulata
- Yellow-footed flycatcher, Muscicapa sethsmithi
- Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
- Gambaga flycatcher, Muscicapa gambagae
- Swamp flycatcher, Muscicapa aquatica
- Cassin's flycatcher, Muscicapa cassini
- Böhm's flycatcher, Muscicapa boehmi
- Ussher's flycatcher, Muscicapa ussheri
- Sooty flycatcher, Muscicapa infuscata
- Dusky-blue flycatcher, Muscicapa comitata
- Mariqua flycatcher, Bradornis mariquensis
- African gray flycatcher, Bradornis microrhynchus
- Pale flycatcher, Agricola pallidus
- Chat flycatcher, Agricola infuscatus
- White-browed forest-flycatcher, Fraseria cinerascens
- African forest-flycatcher, Fraseria ocreata
- Gray-throated tit-flycatcher, Fraseria griseigularis
- Gray tit-flycatcher, Fraseria plumbeus
- Olivaceous flycatcher, Fraseria olivascens
- Chapin's flycatcher, Fraseria lendu
- Tessmann's flycatcher, Fraseria tessmanni
- Ashy flycatcher, Fraseria caerulescens
- Herero chat, Melaenornis herero
- Silverbird, Melaenornis semipartitus
- Fiscal flycatcher, Melaenornis silens
- Yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Melaenornis ardesiacus
- Nimba flycatcher, Melaenornis annamarulae
- Northern black-flycatcher, Melaenornis edolioides
- Southern black-flycatcher, Melaenornis pammelaina
- White-eyed slaty-flycatcher, Melaenornis fischeri
- Angola slaty-flycatcher, Melaenornis brunneus
- Abyssinian slaty-flycatcher, Melaenornis chocolatinus
- White-tailed alethe, Alethe diademata
- Fire-crested alethe, Alethe castanea
- Karoo scrub-robin, Cercotrichas coryphaeus
- Forest scrub-robin, Cercotrichas leucosticta
- Brown scrub-robin, Cercotrichas signata
- Bearded scrub-robin, Cercotrichas quadrivirgata
- Miombo scrub-robin, Cercotrichas barbata
- Black scrub-robin, Cercotrichas podobe
- Rufous-tailed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas galactotes
- Kalahari scrub-robin, Cercotrichas paena
- Brown-backed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas hartlaubi
- Red-backed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas leucophrys
- White-bellied robin-chat, Cossyphicula roberti
- Mountain robin-chat, Cossypha isabellae
- Archer's robin-chat, Cossypha archeri
- Olive-flanked robin-chat, Cossypha anomala
- Cape robin-chat, Cossypha caffra
- White-throated robin-chat, Cossypha humeralis
- Blue-shouldered robin-chat, Cossypha cyanocampter
- Gray-winged robin-chat, Cossypha polioptera
- Rüppell's robin-chat, Cossypha semirufa
- White-browed robin-chat, Cossypha heuglini
- Red-capped robin-chat, Cossypha natalensis
- Chorister robin-chat, Cossypha dichroa
- White-headed robin-chat, Cossypha heinrichi
- Snowy-crowned robin-chat, Cossypha niveicapilla
- White-crowned robin-chat, Cossypha albicapilla
- Angola cave-chat, Xenocopsychus ansorgei
- Collared palm-thrush, Cichladusa arquata
- Rufous-tailed palm-thrush, Cichladusa ruficauda
- Spotted morning-thrush, Cichladusa guttata
- European robin, Erithacus rubecula
- White-starred robin, Pogonocichla stellata
- Swynnerton's robin, Swynnertonia swynnertoni
- Brown-chested alethe, Chamaetylas poliocephala
- Red-throated alethe, Chamaetylas poliophrys
- Cholo alethe, Chamaetylas choloensis
- White-chested alethe, Chamaetylas fuelleborni
- Forest robin, Stiphrornis erythrothorax
- Bocage's akalat, Sheppardia bocagei
- Lowland akalat, Sheppardia cyornithopsis
- Equatorial akalat, Sheppardia aequatorialis
- Sharpe's akalat, Sheppardia sharpei
- East coast akalat, Sheppardia gunningi
- Gabela akalat, Sheppardia gabela
- Usambara akalat, Sheppardia montana
- Iringa akalat, Sheppardia lowei
- Rubeho akalat, Sheppardia aurantiithorax
- White-throated robin, Irania gutturalis
- Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia
- Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos
- Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
- Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope
- Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva
- Semicollared flycatcher, Ficedula semitorquata
- European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca
- Atlas flycatcher, Ficedula speculigera
- Collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis
- Moussier's redstart, Phoenicurus moussieri
- Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
- White-winged redstart, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus
- Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
- Little rock-thrush, Monticola rufocinereus
- Short-toed rock-thrush, Monticola brevipes
- Sentinel rock-thrush, Monticola explorator
- Rufous-tailed rock-thrush, Monticola saxatilis
- Blue rock-thrush, Monticola solitarius
- Miombo rock-thrush, Monticola angolensis
- Cape rock-thrush, Monticola rupestris
- Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
- Fuerteventura stonechat, Saxicola dacotiae
- European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
- Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus
- African stonechat, Saxicola torquatus
- Pied bushchat, Saxicola caprata
- Buff-streaked chat, Campicoloides bifasciatus
- Sickle-winged chat, Emarginata sinuata
- Karoo chat, Emarginata schlegelii
- Tractrac chat, Emarginata tractrac
- Moorland chat, Pinarochroa sordida
- Mocking cliff-chat, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
- White-winged cliff-chat, Thamnolaea semirufa
- Sooty chat, Myrmecocichla nigra
- Northern anteater-chat, Myrmecocichla aethiops
- Southern anteater-chat, Myrmecocichla formicivora
- Congo moor chat, Myrmecocichla tholloni
- Mountain wheatear, Myrmecocichla monticola
- Rüppell's chat, Myrmecocichla melaena
- Arnot's chat, Myrmecocichla arnotti
- Ruaha chat, Myrmecocichla collaris
- Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
- Capped wheatear, Oenanthe pileata
- Red-breasted wheatear, Oenanthe bottae
- Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
- Heuglin's wheatear, Oenanthe heuglini
- Hooded wheatear, Oenanthe monacha
- Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti
- Pied wheatear, Oenanthe pleschanka
- Black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe hispanica
- Cyprus wheatear, Oenanthe cypriaca
- White-fronted black-chat, Oenanthe albifrons
- Somali wheatear, Oenanthe phillipsi
- Red-rumped wheatear, Oenanthe moesta
- Blackstart, Oenanthe melanura
- Familiar chat, Oenanthe familiaris
- Sombre rock chat, Oenanthe dubia
- Brown-tailed chat, Oenanthe scotocerca
- Black wheatear, Oenanthe leucura
- White-crowned wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga
- Abyssinian wheatear, Oenanthe lugubris
- Finsch's wheatear, Oenanthe finschii
- Mourning wheatear, Oenanthe lugens
- Kurdish wheatear, Oenanthe xanthoprymna
- Boulder chat, Oenanthe plumosus
Waxwings
The waxwings are a group of passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.
- Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
Hypocolius
The hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird with the shape and soft plumage of a waxwing. They are mainly a uniform grey colour except the males have a black triangular mask around their eyes.
- Hypocolius, Hypocolius ampelinus
Sugarbirds
The two species in this family are restricted to southern Africa. They have brownish plumage, a long downcurved bill, and long tail feathers.
- Gurney's sugarbird, Promerops gurneyi
- Cape sugarbird, Promerops cafer
Dapple-throat and allies
These species, all of different genera, were formerly placed in family Promeropidae, the sugarbirds, but were accorded their own family in 2017. The entire family is endemic to Africa.
- Spot-throat, Modulatrix stictigula
- Dapple-throat, Arcanator orostruthus
- Gray-chested babbler, Kakamega poliothorax
Sunbirds and spiderhunters
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.
- Fraser's sunbird, Deleornis fraseri
- Gray-headed sunbird, Deleornis axillaris
- Plain-backed sunbird, Anthreptes reichenowi
- Anchieta's sunbird, Anthreptes anchietae
- Mouse-brown sunbird, Anthreptes gabonicus
- Western violet-backed sunbird, Anthreptes longuemarei
- Eastern violet-backed sunbird, Anthreptes orientalis
- Uluguru violet-backed sunbird, Anthreptes neglectus
- Violet-tailed sunbird, Anthreptes aurantius
- Little green sunbird, Anthreptes seimundi
- Green sunbird, Anthreptes rectirostris
- Banded sunbird, Anthreptes rubritorques
- Collared sunbird, Hedydipna collaris
- Pygmy sunbird, Hedydipna platura
- Nile Valley sunbird, Hedydipna metallica
- Amani sunbird, Hedydipna pallidigaster
- Reichenbach's sunbird, Anabathmis reichenbachii
- Principe sunbird, Anabathmis hartlaubii
- Newton's sunbird, Anabathmis newtonii
- Sao Tome sunbird, Dreptes thomensis
- Orange-breasted sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea
- Green-headed sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
- Bannerman's sunbird, Cyanomitra bannermani
- Blue-throated brown sunbird, Cyanomitra cyanolaema
- Cameroon sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis
- Blue-headed sunbird, Cyanomitra alinae
- Olive sunbird, Cyanomitra olivacea
- Mouse-colored sunbird, Cyanomitra veroxii
- Buff-throated sunbird, Chalcomitra adelberti
- Carmelite sunbird, Chalcomitra fuliginosa
- Green-throated sunbird, Chalcomitra rubescens
- Amethyst sunbird, Chalcomitra amethystina
- Scarlet-chested sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis
- Hunter's sunbird, Chalcomitra hunteri
- Socotra sunbird, Chalcomitra balfouri
- Bocage's sunbird, Nectarinia bocagii
- Purple-breasted sunbird, Nectarinia purpureiventris
- Tacazze sunbird, Nectarinia tacazze
- Bronze sunbird, Nectarinia kilimensis
- Malachite sunbird, Nectarinia famosa
- Red-tufted sunbird, Nectarinia johnstoni
- Golden-winged sunbird, Drepanorhynchus reichenowi
- Olive-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris chloropygius
- Tiny sunbird, Cinnyris minullus
- Western miombo sunbird, Cinnyris gertrudis
- Eastern miombo sunbird, Cinnyris manoensis
- Southern double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris chalybeus
- Neergaard's sunbird, Cinnyris neergaardi
- Stuhlmann's sunbird, Cinnyris stuhlmanni
- Prigogine's sunbird, Cinnyris prigoginei
- Montane double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris ludovicensis
- Northern double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris reichenowi
- Greater double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris afer
- Regal sunbird, Cinnyris regius
- Rockefeller's sunbird, Cinnyris rockefelleri
- Eastern double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris mediocris
- Usambara double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris usambaricus
- Forest double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris fuelleborni
- Moreau's sunbird, Cinnyris moreaui
- Loveridge's sunbird, Cinnyris loveridgei
- Beautiful sunbird, Cinnyris pulchellus
- Mariqua sunbird, Cinnyris mariquensis
- Shelley's sunbird, Cinnyris shelleyi
- Congo sunbird, Cinnyris congensis
- Red-chested sunbird, Cinnyris erythrocercus
- Black-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris nectarinioides
- Purple-banded sunbird, Cinnyris bifasciatus
- Tsavo sunbird, Cinnyris tsavoensis
- Violet-breasted sunbird, Cinnyris chalcomelas
- Pemba sunbird, Cinnyris pembae
- Orange-tufted sunbird, Cinnyris bouvieri
- Palestine sunbird, Cinnyris osea
- Shining sunbird, Cinnyris habessinicus
- Splendid sunbird, Cinnyris coccinigastrus
- Johanna's sunbird, Cinnyris johannae
- Superb sunbird, Cinnyris superbus
- Rufous-winged sunbird, Cinnyris rufipennis
- Oustalet's sunbird, Cinnyris oustaleti
- White-breasted sunbird, Cinnyris talatala
- Variable sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
- Dusky sunbird, Cinnyris fuscus
- Ursula's sunbird, Cinnyris ursulae
- Bates's sunbird, Cinnyris batesi
- Copper sunbird, Cinnyris cupreus
Weavers and allies
The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.
- White-billed buffalo-weaver, Bubalornis albirostris
- Red-billed buffalo-weaver, Bubalornis niger
- White-headed buffalo-weaver, Dinemellia dinemelli
- Speckle-fronted weaver, Sporopipes frontalis
- Scaly weaver, Sporopipes squamifrons
- White-browed sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser mahali
- Chestnut-crowned sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser superciliosus
- Chestnut-backed sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser rufoscapulatus
- Donaldson Smith's sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser donaldsoni
- Rufous-tailed weaver, Histurgops ruficauda
- Gray-headed social-weaver, Pseudonigrita arnaudi
- Black-capped social-weaver, Pseudonigrita cabanisi
- Sociable weaver, Philetairus socius
- Red-crowned malimbe, Malimbus coronatus
- Black-throated malimbe, Malimbus cassini
- Ballmann's malimbe, Malimbus ballmanni
- Rachel's malimbe, Malimbus racheliae
- Red-vented malimbe, Malimbus scutatus
- Ibadan malimbe, Malimbus ibadanensis
- Red-bellied malimbe, Malimbus erythrogaster
- Blue-billed malimbe, Malimbus nitens
- Crested malimbe, Malimbus malimbicus
- Red-headed malimbe, Malimbus rubricollis
- Red-headed weaver, Anaplectes rubriceps
- Yellow-legged weaver, Ploceus flavipes
- Bertram's weaver, Ploceus bertrandi
- Baglafecht weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
- Black-chinned weaver, Ploceus nigrimentus
- Bannerman's weaver, Ploceus bannermani
- Bates's weaver, Ploceus batesi
- Little weaver, Ploceus luteolus
- Slender-billed weaver, Ploceus pelzelni
- Loango weaver, Ploceus subpersonatus
- Black-necked weaver, Ploceus nigricollis
- Spectacled weaver, Ploceus ocularis
- Black-billed weaver, Ploceus melanogaster
- Strange weaver, Ploceus alienus
- Cape weaver, Ploceus capensis
- Bocage's weaver, Ploceus temporalis
- African golden-weaver, Ploceus subaureus
- Holub's golden-weaver, Ploceus xanthops
- Orange weaver, Ploceus aurantius
- Golden palm weaver, Ploceus bojeri
- Taveta weaver, Ploceus castaneiceps
- Principe golden-weaver, Ploceus princeps
- Southern brown-throated weaver, Ploceus xanthopterus
- Northern brown-throated weaver, Ploceus castanops
- Kilombero weaver, Ploceus burnieri
- Northern masked-weaver, Ploceus taeniopterus
- Lesser masked-weaver, Ploceus intermedius
- Southern masked-weaver, Ploceus velatus
- Vitelline masked-weaver, Ploceus vitellinus
- Tanganyika masked-weaver, Ploceus reichardi
- Katanga masked-weaver, Ploceus katangae
- Lake Lufira masked-weaver, Ploceus ruweti
- Heuglin's masked-weaver, Ploceus heuglini
- Rüppell's weaver, Ploceus galbula
- Speke's weaver, Ploceus spekei
- Fox's weaver, Ploceus spekeoides
- Vieillot's weaver, Ploceus nigerrimus
- Village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus
- Giant weaver, Ploceus grandis
- Weyns's weaver, Ploceus weynsi
- Clarke's weaver, Ploceus golandi
- Salvadori's weaver, Ploceus dichrocephalus
- Black-headed weaver, Ploceus melanocephalus
- Golden-backed weaver, Ploceus jacksoni
- Chestnut weaver, Ploceus rubiginosus
- Cinnamon weaver, Ploceus badius
- Golden-naped weaver, Ploceus aureonucha
- Yellow-mantled weaver, Ploceus tricolor
- Maxwell's black weaver, Ploceus albinucha
- Forest weaver, Ploceus bicolor
- Brown-capped weaver, Ploceus insignis
- Yellow-capped weaver, Ploceus dorsomaculatus
- Preuss's weaver, Ploceus preussi
- Olive-headed weaver, Ploceus olivaceiceps
- Usambara weaver, Ploceus nicolli
- Bar-winged weaver, Ploceus angolensis
- Sao Tome weaver, Ploceus sanctithomae
- Compact weaver, Pachyphantes superciliosus
- Cardinal quelea, Quelea cardinalis
- Red-headed quelea, Quelea erythrops
- Red-billed quelea, Quelea quelea
- Bob-tailed weaver, Brachycope anomala
- Northern red bishop, Euplectes franciscanus
- Southern red bishop, Euplectes orix
- Zanzibar red bishop, Euplectes nigroventris
- Black-winged bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus
- Black bishop, Euplectes gierowii
- Yellow-crowned bishop, Euplectes afer
- Fire-fronted bishop, Euplectes diadematus
- Golden-backed bishop, Euplectes aureus
- Yellow bishop, Euplectes capensis
- White-winged widowbird, Euplectes albonotatus
- Yellow-mantled widowbird, Euplectes macroura
- Red-collared widowbird, Euplectes ardens
- Fan-tailed widowbird, Euplectes axillaris
- Marsh widowbird, Euplectes hartlaubi
- Buff-shouldered widowbird, Euplectes psammocromius
- Long-tailed widowbird, Euplectes progne
- Jackson's widowbird, Euplectes jacksoni
- Grosbeak weaver, Amblyospiza albifrons
Waxbills and allies
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.
- Pale-fronted nigrita, Nigrita luteifrons
- Gray-headed nigrita, Nigrita canicapillus
- Chestnut-breasted nigrita, Nigrita bicolor
- White-breasted nigrita, Nigrita fusconotus
- Woodhouse's antpecker, Parmoptila woodhousei
- Red-fronted antpecker, Parmoptila rubrifrons
- Jameson's antpecker, Parmoptila jamesoni
- Shelley's oliveback, Nesocharis shelleyi
- White-collared oliveback, Nesocharis ansorgei
- Gray-headed oliveback, Nesocharis capistrata
- Angola waxbill, Coccopygia bocagei
- Swee waxbill, Coccopygia melanotis
- Yellow-bellied waxbill, Coccopygia quartinia
- Green-backed twinspot, Mandingoa nitidula
- Shelley's crimsonwing, Cryptospiza shelleyi
- Dusky crimsonwing, Cryptospiza jacksoni
- Abyssinian crimsonwing, Cryptospiza salvadorii
- Red-faced crimsonwing, Cryptospiza reichenovii
- Lavender waxbill, Estrilda coerulescens
- Black-tailed waxbill, Estrilda perreini
- Cinderella waxbill, Estrilda thomensis
- Fawn-breasted waxbill, Estrilda paludicola
- Anambra waxbill, Estrilda poliopareia
- Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda
- Crimson-rumped waxbill, Estrilda rhodopyga
- Black-rumped waxbill, Estrilda troglodytes
- Common waxbill, Estrilda astrild
- Black-lored waxbill, Estrilda nigriloris
- Black-crowned waxbill, Estrilda nonnula
- Black-headed waxbill, Estrilda atricapilla
- Kandt's waxbill, Estrilda kandti
- Black-faced waxbill, Estrilda erythronotos
- Black-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda charmosyna
- Grant's bluebill, Spermophaga poliogenys
- Western bluebill, Spermophaga haematina
- Red-headed bluebill, Spermophaga ruficapilla
- Black-bellied seedcracker, Pyrenestes ostrinus
- Crimson seedcracker, Pyrenestes sanguineus
- Lesser seedcracker, Pyrenestes minor
- Southern cordonbleu, Uraeginthus angolensis
- Red-cheeked cordonbleu, Uraeginthus bengalus
- Blue-capped cordonbleu, Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
- Purple grenadier, Granatina ianthinogaster
- Violet-eared waxbill, Granatina granatinus
- Dybowski's twinspot, Euschistospiza dybowskii
- Dusky twinspot, Euschistospiza cinereovinacea
- Peters's twinspot, Hypargos niveoguttatus
- Pink-throated twinspot, Hypargos margaritatus
- Brown twinspot, Clytospiza monteiri
- Red-faced pytilia, Pytilia hypogrammica
- Red-winged pytilia, Pytilia phoenicoptera
- Red-billed pytilia, Pytilia lineata
- Green-winged pytilia, Pytilia melba
- Orange-winged pytilia, Pytilia afra
- Red-billed firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala
- Bar-breasted firefinch, Lagonosticta rufopicta
- Brown firefinch, Lagonosticta nitidula
- Black-faced firefinch, Lagonosticta larvata
- Black-bellied firefinch, Lagonosticta rara
- African firefinch, Lagonosticta rubricata
- Pale-billed firefinch, Lagonosticta landanae
- Jameson's firefinch, Lagonosticta rhodopareia
- Mali firefinch, Lagonosticta virata
- Rock firefinch, Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis
- Reichenow's firefinch, Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis
- Cut-throat, Amadina fasciata
- Red-headed finch, Amadina erythrocephala
- Zebra waxbill, Sporaeginthus subflavus
- Red avadavat, Amandava amandava
- Quailfinch, Lagonosticta atricollis
- Locustfinch, Paludipasser locustella
- Gray-headed silverbill, Odontospiza caniceps
- Bronze mannikin, Spermestes cucullatus
- Black-and-white mannikin, Spermestes bicolor
- Magpie mannikin, Spermestes fringilloides
- African silverbill, Euodice cantans
- Java sparrow, Lonchura oryzivora
Indigobirds
The indigobirds are finch-like species which usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage. All are brood parasites, which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches.
- Pin-tailed whydah, Vidua macroura
- Sahel paradise-whydah, Vidua orientalis
- Exclamatory paradise-whydah, Vidua interjecta
- Togo paradise-whydah, Vidua togoensis
- Broad-tailed paradise-whydah, Vidua obtusa
- Eastern paradise-whydah, Vidua paradisaea
- Steel-blue whydah, Vidua hypocherina
- Straw-tailed whydah, Vidua fischeri
- Shaft-tailed whydah, Vidua regia
- Village indigobird, Vidua chalybeata
- Wilson's indigobird, Vidua wilsoni
- Quailfinch indigobird, Vidua nigeriae
- Jos Plateau indigobird, Vidua maryae
- Jambandu indigobird, Vidua raricola
- Baka indigobird, Vidua larvaticola
- Cameroon indigobird, Vidua camerunensis
- Variable indigobird, Vidua funerea
- Purple indigobird, Vidua purpurascens
- Green indigobird, Vidua codringtoni
- Parasitic weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis
Accentors
The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.
- Alpine accentor, Prunella collaris
- Dunnock, Prunella modularis
Old World sparrows
Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
- House sparrow, Passer domesticus
- Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
- Somali sparrow, Passer castanopterus
- Dead Sea sparrow, Passer moabiticus
- Cape Verde sparrow, Passer iagoensis
- Abd al-Kuri sparrow, Passer hemileucus
- Socotra sparrow, Passer insularis
- Great rufous sparrow, Passer motitensis
- Kenya rufous sparrow, Passer rufocinctus
- Shelley's rufous sparrow, Passer shelleyi
- Kordofan rufous sparrow, Passer cordofanicus
- Cape sparrow, Passer melanurus
- Northern gray-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
- Parrot-billed sparrow, Passer gongonensis
- Swahili sparrow, Passer suahelicus
- Southern gray-headed sparrow, Passer diffusus
- Desert sparrow, Passer simplex
- Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
- Sudan golden sparrow, Passer luteus
- Arabian golden sparrow, Passer euchlorus
- Chestnut sparrow, Passer eminibey
- Yellow-spotted bush sparrow, Gymnornis pyrgita
- Yellow-throated bush sparrow, Gymnornis superciliaris
- Sahel bush sparrow, Gymnornis dentata
- Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia
- Pale rockfinch, Carpospiza brachydactyla
- White-winged snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis
Wagtails and pipits
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.
- Cape wagtail, Motacilla capensis
- Mountain wagtail, Motacilla clara
- Sao Tome short-tail, Motacilla bocagii
- Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
- Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
- Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola
- African pied wagtail, Motacilla aguimp
- White wagtail, Motacilla alba
- Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi
- African pipit, Anthus cinnamomeus
- Mountain pipit, Anthus hoeschi
- Woodland pipit, Anthus nyassae
- Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis
- Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
- Plain-backed pipit, Anthus leucophrys
- Buffy pipit, Anthus vaalensis
- Long-legged pipit, Anthus pallidiventris
- Berthelot's pipit, Anthus berthelotii
- Malindi pipit, Anthus melindae
- Striped pipit, Anthus lineiventris
- Yellow-tufted pipit, Anthus crenatus
- Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis
- Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
- Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni
- Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
- Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta
- Rock pipit, Anthus petrosus
- American pipit, Anthus rubescens
- Short-tailed pipit, Anthus brachyurus
- Bush pipit, Anthus caffer
- Sokoke pipit, Anthus sokokensis
- Golden pipit, Tmetothylacus tenellus
- Yellow-breasted pipit, Hemimacronyx chloris
- Sharpe's longclaw, Hemimacronyx sharpei
- Orange-throated longclaw, Macronyx capensis
- Yellow-throated longclaw, Macronyx croceus
- Fülleborn's longclaw, Macronyx fuelleborni
- Abyssinian longclaw, Macronyx flavicollis
- Pangani longclaw, Macronyx aurantiigula
- Rosy-throated longclaw, Macronyx ameliae
- Grimwood's longclaw, Macronyx grimwoodi
Finches, euphonias, and allies
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.
- Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
- Blue chaffinch, Fringilla teydea
- Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
- Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes
- Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus
- Sinai rosefinch, Carpodacus synoicus
- Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
- Crimson-winged finch, Rhodopechys sanguineus
- Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githagineus
- Desert finch, Rhodospiza obsoletus
- Socotra grosbeak, Rhynchostruthus socotranus
- Somali grosbeak, Rhynchostruthus louisae
- European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
- Oriole finch, Linurgus olivaceus
- White-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygia
- Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambica
- African citril, Crithagra citrinelloides
- Western citril, Crithagra frontalis
- Southern citril, Crithagra hyposticta
- Black-faced canary, Crithagra capistrata
- Papyrus canary, Crithagra koliensis
- Forest canary, Crithagra scotops
- Black-throated canary, Crithagra atrogularis
- Reichenow's seedeater, Crithagra reichenowi
- Yellow-rumped serin, Crithagra xanthopygia
- Lemon-breasted seedeater, Crithagra citrinipectus
- White-bellied canary, Crithagra dorsostriata
- Yellow-throated serin, Crithagra flavigula
- Salvadori's serin, Crithagra xantholaema
- Northern grosbeak-canary, Crithagra donaldsoni
- Southern grosbeak-canary, Crithagra buchanani
- Brimstone canary, Crithagra sulphurata
- Yellow canary, Crithagra flaviventris
- White-throated canary, Crithagra albogularis
- Streaky seedeater, Crithagra striolata
- Yellow-browed seedeater, Crithagra whytii
- Thick-billed seedeater, Crithagra burtoni
- Tanzania seedeater, Crithagra melanochroa
- Principe seedeater, Crithagra rufobrunnea
- Sao Tome grosbeak, Crithagra concolor
- Protea canary, Crithagra leucoptera
- Black-eared seedeater, Crithagra mennelli
- West African seedeater, Crithagra canicapilla
- Streaky-headed seedeater, Crithagra gularis
- Reichard's seedeater, Crithagra reichardi
- Brown-rumped seedeater, Crithagra tristriata
- Ankober serin, Crithagra ankoberensis
- Cape siskin, Crithagra totta
- Drakensberg siskin, Crithagra symonsi
- Eurasian linnet, Linaria cannabina
- Warsangli linnet, Linaria johannis
- Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea
- Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
- European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
- Citril finch, Carduelis citrinella
- European serin, Serinus serinus
- Island canary, Serinus canaria
- Fire-fronted serin, Serinus pusillus
- Yellow-fronted canary, Serinus flavivertex
- Cape canary, Serinus canicollis
- Ethiopian siskin, Serinus nigriceps
- Black-headed canary, Serinus alario
- Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus
Longspurs and snow buntings
The Calcariidae are a family of birds that had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.
- Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
- Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
Old World buntings
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.
- Brown-rumped bunting, Emberiza affinis
- Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
- Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra
- Rock bunting, Emberiza cia
- Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus
- Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
- Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos
- Cinereous bunting, Emberiza cineracea
- Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
- Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia
- Cabanis's bunting, Emberiza cabanisi
- Golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
- Somali bunting, Emberiza poliopleura
- Cape bunting, Emberiza capensis
- Vincent's bunting, Emberiza vincenti
- Lark-like bunting, Emberiza impetuani
- Socotra bunting, Emberiza socotrana
- Cinnamon-breasted bunting, Emberiza tahapisi
- Gosling's bunting, Emberiza goslingi
- House bunting, Emberiza sahari
- Striolated bunting, Emberiza striolata
- Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
- Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola
- Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla
- Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica
New World warblers
Parulidae are a group of small, often colorful birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal and insectivorous.
- Louisiana waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla
- Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata