List of birds of Cape Verde

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Cape Verde. The avifauna of Cape Verde include a total of 289 species, of which 5 are endemic, and 5 have been introduced by humans.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Cape Verde.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.


 * (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Cape Verde
 * (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Cape Verde
 * (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Cape Verde as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae

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
 * Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A)
 * Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (A)
 * Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A)
 * Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A)
 * Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A)
 * American wigeon, Mareca americana (A)
 * Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A)
 * Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
 * Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris
 * Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A)
 * Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A)
 * Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (A)
 * Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A)
 * Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A)
 * Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A)

Guineafowl
Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae

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 (I)

Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.


 * Common quail, Coturnix coturnix

Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 ft 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 (A)

Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae

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

Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.


 * Rock pigeon, Columba livia
 * Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus (A)
 * European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
 * Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
 * Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata
 * Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis (A)
 * Namaqua dove, Oena capensis (A)

Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae

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.


 * Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius (A)
 * Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae

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.


 * Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus (A)

Swifts
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae

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.


 * Alpine swift, Apus melba (A)
 * Alexander's swift, Apus alexandri (E)
 * Common swift, Apus apus
 * Plain swift, Apus unicolor (A)
 * Pallid swift, Apus pallidus (A)
 * African swift, Apus barbatus (A)
 * Little swift, Apus affinis (A)

Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae

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.


 * African crake, Crex egregia (A)
 * Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (A)
 * Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata (A)
 * Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
 * Eurasian coot, Fulica atra (A)
 * Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A)
 * Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica (A)
 * Little crake, Zapornia parva
 * Baillon's crake, Zapornia parva (A)

Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae

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
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.


 * Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae

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 (A)
 * American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
 * Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A)
 * Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (A)
 * Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus (A)
 * Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
 * Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
 * Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (A)
 * Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
 * White-fronted plover, Charadrius marginatus (A)
 * Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A)

Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae

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.


 * Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
 * Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (A)
 * Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
 * Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
 * Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
 * Red knot, Calidris canutus
 * Ruff, Calidris pugnax
 * Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (A)
 * Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
 * Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
 * Sanderling, Calidris alba
 * Dunlin, Calidris alpina
 * Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima
 * Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (A)
 * Little stint, Calidris minuta
 * Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (A)
 * White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (A)
 * Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A)
 * Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A)
 * Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (A)
 * Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (A)
 * Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
 * Great snipe, Gallinago media (A)
 * Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
 * Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (A)
 * Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (A)
 * Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius
 * Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
 * Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius
 * Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
 * Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (A)
 * Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
 * Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (A)
 * Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
 * Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes
 * Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis (A)
 * Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
 * Common redshank, Tringa totanus

Pratincoles and coursers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae

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
 * Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
 * Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (A)

Skuas and jaegers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae

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
 * Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
 * Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
 * Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

Auks, murres, and puffins
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae

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.


 * Common murre, Uria aalge

Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae

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.


 * Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
 * Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (A)
 * Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei (A)
 * Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
 * Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (A)
 * Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus (A)
 * Audouin's gull, Ichthyaetus audouinii (A)
 * Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (A)
 * Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis
 * Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
 * Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
 * Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus (A)
 * Little tern, Sternula albifrons
 * Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
 * Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
 * Black tern, Chlidonias niger (A)
 * White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus (A)
 * Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida (A)
 * Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii (A)
 * Common tern, Sterna hirundo
 * Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea
 * West African crested tern, Thalasseus albididorsalis (A)
 * Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis

Tropicbirds
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae

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 (A)
 * Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus

Southern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae

The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.


 * Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
 * White-faced storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina
 * White-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta grallaria (A)

Northern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae

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
 * Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous
 * Swinhoe's storm-petrel, Hydrobates monorhis (A)
 * Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro
 * Cape Verde storm-petrel, Hydrobates jabejabe (E)

Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.


 * Trindade petrel, Pterodroma arminjoniana (A)
 * Fea's petrel, Pterodroma feae
 * Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata (A)
 * Atlantic petrel, Pterodroma incerta (A)
 * Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii
 * Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
 * Cape Verde shearwater, Calonectris edwardsii
 * Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis
 * Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (A)
 * Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus
 * Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus
 * Boyd's shearwater, Puffinus boydi
 * Tropical shearwater, Puffinus bailloni

Storks
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae

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.


 * Black stork, Ciconia nigra (A)
 * White stork, Ciconia ciconia (A)

Frigatebirds
Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae

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 coloured 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.


 * Ascension frigatebird, Fregata aquila (A)
 * Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens

Boobies and gannets
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.


 * Masked booby, Sula dactylatra (A)
 * Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
 * Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)
 * Northern gannet, Morus bassanus (A)

Cormorants and shags
Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae

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 (A)
 * Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (A)

Pelicans
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.


 * Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus (A)

Herons, egrets, and bitterns
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae

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.


 * Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris (A)
 * Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus (A)
 * Dwarf bittern, Ixobrychus sturmii (A)
 * Great blue heron, Ardea herodias (A)
 * Gray heron, Ardea cinerea
 * Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala (A)
 * Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
 * Great egret, Ardea alba (A)
 * Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia
 * Little egret, Egretta garzetta
 * Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis
 * Snowy egret, Egretta thula (A)
 * Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca (A)
 * Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
 * Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
 * Striated heron, Butorides striata (A)
 * Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Ibises and spoonbills
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae

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
 * Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita (A)
 * Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Osprey
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae

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
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae

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.


 * Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
 * Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus (A)
 * Eurasian marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus
 * Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus (A)
 * Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus (A)
 * Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
 * Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus (A)
 * Red kite, Milvus milvus
 * Black kite, Milvus migrans
 * Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
 * Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus (A)

Barn-owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.


 * Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae

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.


 * Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus

Hoopoes
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.


 * Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops (A)

Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.


 * Gray-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
 * Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis (A)

Bee-eaters
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Meropidae

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.


 * Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus (A)
 * European bee-eater, Merops apiaster (A)

Rollers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Coraciidae

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 (A)
 * Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus (A)

Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae

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 (A)

Falcons and caracaras
Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae

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.


 * Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni (A)
 * Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
 * Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (A)
 * Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae (A)
 * Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus (A)
 * Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Old World parrots
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittaculidae

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 8 cm to 1 m 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 (A)

Old World orioles
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.


 * Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus

Shrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Laniidae

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 typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.


 * Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio (A)
 * Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor (A)
 * Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator (A)

Crows, jays, and magpies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae

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.


 * Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis

Larks
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae

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
 * Thick-billed lark, Ramphocoris clotbey (A)
 * Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cincturus
 * Black-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix nigriceps
 * Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla (A)
 * Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis (A)
 * Razo skylark, Alauda razae (E)

Reed warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Acrocephalidae

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.


 * Booted warbler, Iduna caligata
 * Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida (A)
 * Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca (A)
 * Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta (A)
 * Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina (A)
 * Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (A)
 * Cape Verde swamp warbler, Acrocephalus brevipennis (E)

Grassbirds and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Locustellidae

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.


 * Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides (A)
 * Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia (A)

Swallows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae

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.


 * Plain martin, Riparia paludicola (A)
 * Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
 * Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris (A)
 * Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula (A)
 * Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
 * Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica (A)
 * Preuss's swallow, Petrochelidon preussi (A)
 * Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum (A)

Leaf warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae

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.


 * Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli (A)
 * Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (A)
 * Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
 * Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita (A)

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sylviidae

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.


 * Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
 * Garden warbler, Sylvia borin (A)
 * Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca (A)
 * African desert warbler, Curruca deserti (A)
 * Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala (A)
 * Western subalpine warbler, Curruca iberiae (A)
 * Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis (A)
 * Spectacled warbler, Curruca conspicillata

Starlings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae

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 (A)
 * Rosy starling, Pastor roseus (A)

Thrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae

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.


 * Song thrush, Turdus philomelos (A)
 * Redwing, Turdus iliacus (A)

Old World flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae

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.


 * Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata (A)
 * European robin, Erithacus rubecula (A)
 * Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos (A)
 * Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica (A)
 * European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca (A)
 * Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus (A)
 * Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros (A)
 * Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra (A)
 * Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (A)
 * Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina (A)
 * Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti (A)
 * White-crowned wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga (A)

Waxbills and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Estrildidae

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.


 * Common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (I)
 * Red-billed firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala

Old World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae

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 (I)
 * Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
 * Cape Verde sparrow, Passer iagoensis (E)
 * Sudan golden sparrow, Passer luteus (A)

Wagtails and pipits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae

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.


 * Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea (A)
 * Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava (A)
 * Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (A)
 * White wagtail, Motacilla alba
 * Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris (A)
 * Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis (A)
 * Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
 * Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni (A)
 * Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus

Finches, euphonias, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae

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.


 * Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githaginea (A)
 * European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis (I)

Old World buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. In Europe, most species are called buntings. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.


 * Striolated bunting, Emberiza striolata (A)