List of birds of Gabon

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Gabon. The avifauna of Gabon include a total of 765 species.

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. Accidental species are included in the total species count for Gabon.

The following tag has been used to highlight accidentals. The commonly occurring native species are untagged.


 * (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Gabon

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
 * Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos
 * Hartlaub's duck, Pteronetta hartlaubii
 * Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus
 * Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis
 * African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus
 * Garganey, Spatula querquedula
 * African black duck, Anas sparsa
 * Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A)
 * Common pochard, Aythya ferina

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
 * Black guineafowl, Agelastes niger
 * Plumed guineafowl, Guttera plumifera
 * Western crested guineafowl, Guttera verreauxi

New World quail
Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.


 * Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus

Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, 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.


 * Latham's francolin, Peliperdix lathami
 * Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui
 * White-throated francolin, Campocolinus albogularis
 * Finsch's francolin, Scleroptila finschi
 * Blue quail, Synoicus adansonii
 * Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei
 * Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus
 * Red-necked francolin, Pternistis afer

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
 * Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor

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
 * Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus

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
 * Afep pigeon, Columba unicincta
 * Bronze-naped pigeon, Columba iriditorques
 * Lemon dove, Columba larvata
 * European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
 * Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata
 * Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola
 * Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis
 * Emerald-spotted wood-dove, Turtur chalcospilos
 * Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer
 * Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria
 * Blue-headed wood-dove, Turtur brehmeri
 * Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
 * African green-pigeon, Treron calva

Bustards
Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae

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.


 * Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami (A)
 * White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis
 * Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster

Turacos
Order: MusophagiformesFamily: Musophagidae

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.


 * Great blue turaco, Corythaeola cristata
 * Guinea turaco, Tauraco persa
 * Yellow-billed turaco, Tauraco macrorhynchus
 * Ross's turaco, Musophaga rossae
 * Western plantain-eater, Crinifer piscator

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.


 * Gabon coucal, Centropus anselli
 * Black-throated coucal, Centropus leucogaster
 * Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis
 * Blue-headed coucal, Centropus monachus
 * White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus
 * Black coucal, Centropus grillii
 * Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus
 * Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius (A)
 * Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii
 * Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
 * Thick-billed cuckoo, Pachycoccyx audeberti
 * 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
 * Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus
 * Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius
 * African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis
 * 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.


 * Pennant-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus vexillarius
 * Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis
 * Brown nightjar, Caprimulgus binotatus
 * Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
 * Rufous-cheeked nightjar, Caprimulgus rufigena
 * Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis
 * Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis
 * Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus (A)
 * Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma
 * Bates's nightjar, Caprimulgus batesi
 * Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus
 * Square-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii

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.


 * Mottled spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri
 * Black spinetail, Telacanthura melanopygia
 * Sabine's spinetail, Rhaphidura sabini
 * Cassin's spinetail, Neafrapus cassini
 * Alpine swift, Apus melba
 * Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis
 * Common swift, Apus apus
 * Nyanza swift, Apus niansae
 * African swift, Apus barbatus (A)
 * Little swift, Apus affinis
 * Horus swift, Apus horus
 * White-rumped swift, Apus caffer
 * Bates's swift, Apus batesi
 * African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus

Flufftails
Order: GruiformesFamily: Sarothruridae

The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa.


 * 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

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 rail, Rallus caerulescens
 * Corn crake, Crex crex (A)
 * African crake, Crex egregia
 * Gray-throated rail, Canirallus oculeus
 * Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata
 * Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
 * Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni
 * African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
 * Nkulengu rail, Himantornis haematopus
 * Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis
 * Black crake, Zapornia flavirostris
 * Little crake, Zapornia parva

Finfoots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Heliornithidae

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
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae

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".


 * Black crowned-crane, Balearica pavonina

Thick-knees
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are 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
 * Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis

Egyptian plover
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Pluvianidae

The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River.


 * Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius

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
 * Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
 * Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus (A)
 * White-headed lapwing, Vanellus albiceps
 * Senegal lapwing, Vanellus lugubris
 * Brown-chested lapwing, Vanellus superciliosus
 * Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A)
 * Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (A)
 * Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus (A)
 * 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

Painted-snipes
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae

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
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae

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.


 * African jacana, Actophilornis africanus

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.


 * Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (A)
 * Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
 * Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
 * Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
 * Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A)
 * Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
 * Red knot, Calidris canutus
 * Ruff, Calidris pugnax
 * Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus (A)
 * Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
 * Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta
 * Sanderling, Calidris alba
 * Little stint, Calidris minuta
 * Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A)
 * Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A)
 * Great snipe, Gallinago media
 * Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
 * Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (A)
 * Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A)
 * Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
 * Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
 * Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
 * Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
 * Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
 * Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
 * Common redshank, Tringa totanus

Buttonquail
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Turnicidae

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 sylvatica
 * Black-rumped buttonquail, Turnix nanus

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.


 * Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
 * Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus (A)
 * Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
 * Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (A)
 * Rock pratincole, Glareola nuchalis
 * Gray pratincole, Glareola cinerea

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.


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

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. 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.


 * Sabine's gull, Xema sabini
 * Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus (A)
 * Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus (A)
 * Audouin's gull, Ichthyaetus audouinii
 * Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
 * Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
 * Kelp gull, Larus dominicanus
 * Brown noddy, Anous stolidus (A)
 * Black noddy, Anous minutus (A)
 * Little tern, Sternula albifrons
 * Damara tern, Sternula balaenarum
 * Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica (A)
 * Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
 * Black tern, Chlidonias niger
 * White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
 * Common tern, Sterna hirundo
 * Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea
 * Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
 * Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis (A)
 * West African crested tern, Thalasseus albididorsalis
 * African skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris

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.


 * Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus (A)

Penguins
Order: SphenisciformesFamily: Spheniscidae

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.


 * African penguin, Spheniscus demersus (A)

Albatrosses
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.


 * Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos
 * Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans

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

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.


 * Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro

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.


 * Southern giant-petrel, Macronectes giganteus
 * Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (A)
 * Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus

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.


 * African openbill, Anastomus lamelligerus
 * Abdim's stork, Ciconia abdimii
 * African woolly-necked stork, Ciconia microscelis
 * White stork, Ciconia ciconia
 * Saddle-billed stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
 * Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer
 * Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis

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.


 * Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
 * Cape gannet, Morus capensis

Anhingas
Order: SuliformesFamily: Anhingidae

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

Pelicans
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae

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

Hammerkop
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Scopidae

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
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
 * Dwarf bittern, Ixobrychus sturmii (A)
 * White-crested bittern, Tigriornis leucolophus
 * 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
 * Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca (A)
 * Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
 * Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
 * Striated heron, Butorides striata
 * Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
 * White-backed night-heron, Gorsachius leuconotus

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
 * African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
 * Olive ibis, Bostrychia olivacea
 * Spot-breasted ibis, Bostrychia rara
 * Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
 * African spoonbill, Platalea alba

Secretarybird
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Sagittariidae

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
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.


 * Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
 * Scissor-tailed kite, Chelictinia riocourii
 * African harrier-hawk, Polyboroides typus
 * Palm-nut vulture, Gypohierax angolensis
 * European honey-buzzard, Pernis apivorus
 * Oriental honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus (A)
 * African cuckoo-hawk, Aviceda cuculoides
 * White-headed vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis
 * White-backed vulture, Gyps africanus
 * Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus
 * Congo serpent-eagle, Dryotriorchis spectabilis
 * Black-chested snake-eagle, Circaetus pectoralis (A)
 * Brown snake-eagle, Circaetus cinereus (A)
 * Bat hawk, Macheiramphus alcinus
 * Crowned eagle, Stephanoaetus coronatus
 * Martial eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus
 * Long-crested eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis
 * Lesser spotted eagle, Clanga pomarina
 * Wahlberg's eagle, Hieraaetus wahlbergi (A)
 * Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus (A)
 * Ayres's hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus ayresii
 * Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax
 * Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
 * Cassin's hawk-eagle, Aquila africana
 * African hawk-eagle, Aquila spilogaster
 * Lizard buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus
 * Dark chanting-goshawk, Melierax metabates (A)
 * Gabar goshawk, Micronisus gabar
 * Eurasian marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus
 * African marsh-harrier, Circus ranivorus
 * African goshawk, Accipiter tachiro
 * Chestnut-flanked sparrowhawk, Accipiter castanilius
 * Shikra, Accipiter badius
 * Red-thighed sparrowhawk, Accipiter erythropus
 * Little sparrowhawk, Accipiter minullus
 * Black goshawk, Accipiter melanoleucus
 * Long-tailed hawk, Urotriorchis macrourus
 * Black kite, Milvus migrans
 * African fish-eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer
 * Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
 * Red-necked buzzard, Buteo auguralis

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.


 * African grass-owl, Tyto capensis (A)
 * 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.


 * Sandy scops-owl, Otus icterorhynchus
 * African scops-owl, Otus senegalensis
 * Northern white-faced owl, Ptilopsis leucotis
 * Southern white-faced owl, Ptilopsis granti
 * Maned owl, Jubula lettii
 * Spotted eagle-owl, Bubo africanus
 * Grayish eagle-owl, Bubo cinerascens
 * Fraser's eagle-owl, Bubo poensis
 * Shelley's eagle-owl, Bubo shelleyi
 * Verreaux's eagle-owl, Bubo lacteus
 * Akun eagle-owl, Bubo leucostictus
 * Pel's fishing-owl, Scotopelia peli
 * Vermiculated fishing-owl, Scotopelia bouvieri
 * Pearl-spotted owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
 * Red-chested owlet, Glaucidium tephronotum
 * Sjöstedt's owlet, Glaucidium sjostedti
 * African wood-owl, Strix woodfordii
 * Marsh owl, Asio capensis

Mousebirds
Order: ColiiformesFamily: Coliidae

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
 * Red-backed mousebird, Colius castanotus

Trogons
Order: TrogoniformesFamily: Trogonidae

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

Hoopoes
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae

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


 * Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Woodhoopoes and scimitarbills
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Phoeniculidae

The woodhoopoes are related to the kingfishers, rollers and hoopoes. 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.


 * Forest woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus castaneiceps
 * Black scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus aterrimus

Hornbills
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Bucerotidae

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
 * African pied hornbill, Lophoceros fasciatus
 * African gray hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus
 * White-crested hornbill, Horizocerus albocristatus
 * Black dwarf hornbill, Horizocerus hartlaubi
 * Black-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna atrata
 * Black-and-white-casqued hornbill, Bycanistes subcylindricus
 * Brown-cheeked hornbill, Bycanistes cylindricus
 * White-thighed hornbill, Bycanistes albotibialis
 * Piping hornbill, Bycanistes fistulator

Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae

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


 * Shining-blue kingfisher, Alcedo quadribrachys
 * Malachite kingfisher, Corythornis cristatus
 * White-bellied kingfisher, Corythornis leucogaster
 * African pygmy kingfisher, Ispidina picta
 * African dwarf kingfisher, Ispidina lecontei
 * Chocolate-backed kingfisher, Halcyon badia
 * Gray-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
 * Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis
 * Blue-breasted kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica
 * Brown-hooded kingfisher, Halcyon albiventris
 * Striped kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti
 * Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maximus
 * Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

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.


 * Black bee-eater, Merops gularis
 * Blue-headed bee-eater, Merops muelleri
 * White-fronted bee-eater, Merops bullockoides
 * Little bee-eater, Merops pusillus
 * Blue-breasted bee-eater, Merops variegatus
 * Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Merops hirundineus
 * Black-headed bee-eater, Merops breweri
 * White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis
 * Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
 * European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
 * Rosy bee-eater, Merops malimbicus

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
 * Lilac-breasted roller, Coracias caudata
 * Racket-tailed roller, Coracias spatulata
 * Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus
 * Blue-throated roller, Eurystomus gularis

African barbets
Order: PiciformesFamily: Lybiidae

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.


 * Yellow-billed barbet, Trachyphonus purpuratus
 * Yellow-breasted barbet, Trachyphonus margaritatus
 * Gray-throated barbet, Gymnobucco bonapartei
 * Bristle-nosed barbet, Gymnobucco peli
 * Naked-faced barbet, Gymnobucco calvus
 * Speckled tinkerbird, Pogoniulus scolopaceus
 * Red-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus atroflavus
 * Yellow-throated tinkerbird, Pogoniulus subsulphureus
 * Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus bilineatus
 * Yellow-spotted barbet, Buccanodon duchaillui
 * Hairy-breasted barbet, Tricholaema hirsuta
 * Black-backed barbet, Lybius minor
 * Double-toothed barbet, Lybius bidentatus

Honeyguides
Order: PiciformesFamily: Indicatoridae

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.


 * Cassin's honeyguide, Prodotiscus insignis
 * Zenker's honeyguide, Melignomon zenkeri
 * Willcocks's honeyguide, Indicator willcocksi
 * Least honeyguide, Indicator exilis
 * Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
 * Spotted honeyguide, Indicator maculatus
 * Greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator
 * Lyre-tailed honeyguide, Melichneutes robustus

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.


 * Rufous-necked wryneck, Jynx ruficollis
 * African piculet, Verreauxia africana
 * Gabon woodpecker, Chloropicus gabonensis
 * Elliot's woodpecker, Chloropicus elliotii
 * Cardinal woodpecker, Chloropicus fuscescens
 * Golden-crowned woodpecker, Chloropicus xantholophus
 * African gray woodpecker, Chloropicus goertae
 * Brown-eared woodpecker, Campethera caroli
 * Buff-spotted woodpecker, Campethera nivosa
 * Green-backed woodpecker, Campethera cailliautii
 * Golden-tailed woodpecker, Campethera abingoni

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
 * Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
 * Gray kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
 * Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (A)
 * Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (A)
 * Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
 * Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
 * African hobby, Falco cuvierii
 * 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 coloured, and some are multi-coloured. 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.


 * Black-collared lovebird, Agapornis swinderniana
 * Red-headed lovebird, Agapornis pullarius

New World and African parrots
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two to the back. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.


 * Gray parrot, Psittacus erithacus
 * Red-fronted parrot, Poicephalus gulielmi

African and green broadbills
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Calyptomenidae

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

Pittas
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pittidae

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
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.


 * Ghana cuckooshrike, Lobotos lobatus
 * Oriole cuckooshrike, Lobotos oriolinus
 * Petit's cuckooshrike, Campephaga petiti
 * Red-shouldered cuckooshrike, Campephaga phoenicea
 * Purple-throated cuckooshrike, Campephaga quiscalina
 * Blue cuckooshrike, Cyanograucalus azureus

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 (A)
 * African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus
 * Western black-headed oriole, Oriolus brachyrhynchus
 * Black-winged oriole, Oriolus nigripennis

Wattle-eyes and batises
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Platysteiridae

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.


 * Brown-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira cyanea
 * Chestnut wattle-eye, Platysteira castanea
 * White-spotted wattle-eye, Platysteira tonsa
 * Black-necked wattle-eye, Platysteira chalybea
 * Yellow-bellied wattle-eye, Platysteira concreta
 * Chinspot batis, Batis molitor
 * Western black-headed batis, Batis erlangeri
 * Verreaux's batis, Batis minima
 * West African batis, Batis occulta
 * Angola batis, Batis minulla

Vangas, helmetshrikes, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vangidae

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.


 * Red-billed helmetshrike, Prionops caniceps
 * Rufous-bellied helmetshrike, Prionops rufiventris
 * African shrike-flycatcher, Megabyas flammulatus
 * Black-and-white shrike-flycatcher, Bias musicus

Bushshrikes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Malaconotidae

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
 * Red-eyed puffback, Dryoscopus senegalensis
 * Pink-footed puffback, Dryoscopus angolensis
 * Sabine's puffback, Dryoscopus sabini
 * Marsh tchagra, Tchagra minuta
 * Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegala
 * Brown-crowned tchagra, Tchagra australis
 * Lühder's bushshrike, Laniarius luehderi
 * Gabon boubou, Laniarius bicolor
 * Lowland sooty boubou, Laniarius leucorhynchus
 * Gray-green bushshrike, Telophorus bocagei
 * Many-colored bushshrike, Telophorus multicolor
 * Four-colored bushshrike, Telophorus viridis
 * Fiery-breasted bushshrike, Malaconotus cruentus

Drongos
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Dicruridae

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.


 * Sharpe's drongo, Dicrurus sharpei
 * Shining drongo, Dicrurus atripennis
 * Fork-tailed drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis
 * Velvet-mantled drongo, Dicrurus modestus

Monarch flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.


 * Blue-headed crested-flycatcher, Trochocercus nitens
 * Black-headed paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufiventer
 * Rufous-vented paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufocinerea
 * Bates's paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone batesi
 * African paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis

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
 * Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides
 * Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus (A)
 * Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
 * Mackinnon's shrike, Lanius mackinnoni
 * Northern fiscal, Lanius humeralis
 * Souza's shrike, Lanius souzae
 * 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.


 * Pied crow, Corvus albus

Rockfowl
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Picathartidae

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.


 * Gray-necked rockfowl, Picathartes oreas

Hyliotas
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hyliotidae

The members of this small family, all of genus Hyliota, are birds of the forest canopy. They tend to feed in mixed-species flocks.


 * Yellow-bellied hyliota, Hyliota flavigaster
 * Violet-backed hyliota, Hyliota violacea

Fairy flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Stenostiridae

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"


 * African blue flycatcher, Elminia longicauda
 * Dusky crested-flycatcher, Elminia nigromitrata

Tits, chickadees, and titmice
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae

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.


 * White-shouldered black-tit, Melaniparus guineensis
 * White-winged black-tit, Melaniparus leucomelas
 * Rufous-bellied tit, Melaniparus rufiventris
 * Dusky tit, Melaniparus funereus

Penduline-tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae

The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.


 * Forest penduline-tit, Anthoscopus flavifrons
 * African penduline-tit, Anthoscopus caroli

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.


 * Rufous-naped lark, Mirafra africana
 * Flappet lark, Mirafra rufocinnamomea
 * Red-capped lark, Calandrella cinerea

Nicators
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Nicatoridae

The nicators are shrike-like, with hooked bills. They are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.


 * Western nicator, Nicator chloris
 * Yellow-throated nicator, Nicator vireo

African warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Macrosphenidae

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
 * Red-capped crombec, Sylvietta ruficapilla
 * Moustached grass-warbler, Melocichla mentalis
 * Yellow longbill, Macrosphenus flavicans
 * Gray longbill, Macrosphenus concolor
 * Green hylia, Hylia prasina
 * Tit-hylia, Pholidornis rushiae

Cisticolas and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cisticolidae

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-bellied eremomela, Eremomela icteropygialis
 * Greencap eremomela, Eremomela scotops
 * Rufous-crowned eremomela, Eremomela badiceps
 * White-chinned prinia, Schistolais leucopogon
 * Green-backed camaroptera, Camaroptera brachyura
 * Hartert's camaroptera, Camaroptera harterti
 * Yellow-browed camaroptera, Camaroptera superciliaris
 * Olive-green camaroptera, Camaroptera chloronota
 * Black-capped apalis, Apalis nigriceps
 * Black-throated apalis, Apalis jacksoni
 * Masked apalis, Apalis binotata
 * Yellow-breasted apalis, Apalis flavida
 * Buff-throated apalis, Apalis rufogularis
 * Gosling's apalis, Apalis goslingi
 * Gray apalis, Apalis cinerea
 * Tawny-flanked prinia, Prinia subflava
 * Banded prinia, Prinia bairdii
 * Black-faced rufous-warbler, Bathmocercus rufus
 * Oriole warbler, Hypergerus atriceps
 * Red-faced cisticola, Cisticola erythrops
 * Singing cisticola, Cisticola cantans
 * Whistling cisticola, Cisticola lateralis
 * Chattering cisticola, Cisticola anonymus
 * Rattling cisticola, Cisticola chiniana
 * Tinkling cisticola, Cisticola rufilatus
 * Winding cisticola, Cisticola marginatus
 * Stout cisticola, Cisticola robustus
 * Croaking cisticola, Cisticola natalensis
 * Piping cisticola, Cisticola fulvicapillus
 * Siffling cisticola, Cisticola brachypterus
 * Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
 * 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
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.


 * African yellow-warbler, Iduna natalensis
 * Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina
 * Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
 * Common reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
 * Greater swamp warbler, Acrocephalus rufescens
 * Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus

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.


 * Fan-tailed grassbird, Catriscus brevirostris
 * Dja River swamp warbler, Bradypterus grandis

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.


 * African river martin, Pseudochelidon eurystomina
 * Plain martin, Riparia paludicola
 * Congo martin, Riparia congica
 * Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
 * Banded martin, Neophedina cincta
 * Brazza's martin, Phedinopsis brazzae
 * Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula (A)
 * Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
 * Red-chested swallow, Hirundo lucida
 * Ethiopian swallow, Hirundo aethiopica (A)
 * Angola swallow, Hirundo angolensis
 * White-throated blue swallow, Hirundo nigrita
 * White-throated swallow, Hirundo albigularis
 * Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
 * 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, Petrochelidon preussi
 * South African swallow, Petrochelidon spilodera (A)
 * Forest swallow, Atronanus fuliginosus
 * Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum
 * Square-tailed sawwing, Psalidoprocne nitens
 * Black sawwing, Psalidoprocne pristoptera
 * Gray-rumped swallow, Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Bulbuls
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pycnonotidae

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.


 * Slender-billed greenbul, Stelgidillas gracilirostris
 * Golden greenbul, Calyptocichla serinus
 * Black-collared bulbul, Neolestes torquatus
 * Red-tailed bristlebill, Bleda syndactylus
 * Lesser bristlebill, Bleda notatus
 * Simple greenbul, Chlorocichla simplex
 * Yellow-necked greenbul, Chlorocichla falkensteini
 * Honeyguide greenbul, Baeopogon indicator
 * Sjostedt's greenbul, Baeopogon clamans
 * Yellow-throated greenbul, Atimastillas flavicollis
 * Spotted greenbul, Ixonotus guttatus
 * Swamp greenbul, Thescelocichla leucopleura
 * Red-tailed greenbul, Criniger calurus
 * 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
 * Pale-olive greenbul, Phyllastrephus fulviventris
 * Icterine greenbul, Phyllastrephus icterinus
 * Xavier's greenbul, Phyllastrephus xavieri
 * White-throated greenbul, Phyllastrephus albigularis
 * Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus

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.


 * Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
 * Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli (A)
 * Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
 * Uganda woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus budongoensis

Bush warblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Scotocercidae

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

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.


 * Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
 * Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis (A)

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Zosteropidae

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.


 * Forest white-eye, Zosterops stenocricotus
 * Northern yellow white-eye, Zosterops senegalensis

Ground babblers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pellorneidae

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
 * Blackcap illadopsis, Illadopsis cleaveri

Laughingthrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Leiothrichidae

The members of this family are diverse in size and coloration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or grayish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.


 * Brown babbler, Turdoides plebejus
 * Arrow-marked babbler, Turdoides jardineii
 * Blackcap babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii

Oxpeckers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Buphagidae

As both the English and scientific names of these birds imply, they feed on ectoparasites, primarily ticks, found on large mammals.


 * Yellow-billed oxpecker, Buphagus africanus

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.


 * Wattled starling, Creatophora cinerea
 * Violet-backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
 * Chestnut-winged starling, Onychognathus fulgidus
 * White-collared starling, Grafisia torquata
 * Narrow-tailed starling, Poeoptera lugubris
 * Purple-headed starling, Hylopsar purpureiceps
 * Splendid starling, Lamprotornis splendidus
 * Purple starling, Lamprotornis purpureus

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.


 * Rufous flycatcher-thrush, Neocossyphus fraseri
 * Red-tailed ant-thrush, Neocossyphus rufus
 * White-tailed ant-thrush, Neocossyphus poensis
 * Black-eared ground-thrush, Geokichla cameronensis
 * Gray ground-thrush, Geokichla princei
 * Crossley's ground-thrush, Geokichla crossleyi
 * African thrush, Turdus pelios

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.


 * Little flycatcher, Muscicapa epulata
 * Yellow-footed flycatcher, Muscicapa sethsmithi
 * Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
 * Cassin's flycatcher, Muscicapa cassini
 * Sooty flycatcher, Bradornis fuliginosus
 * Dusky-blue flycatcher, Bradornis comitatus
 * Pale flycatcher, Agricola pallidus
 * White-browed forest-flycatcher, Fraseria cinerascens
 * African forest-flycatcher, Fraseria ocreata
 * Gray-throated tit-flycatcher, Fraseria griseigularis
 * Gray tit-flycatcher, Fraseria plumbea
 * Olivaceous flycatcher, Fraseria olivascens
 * Tessmann's flycatcher, Fraseria tessmanni
 * Ashy flycatcher, Fraseria caerulescens
 * Northern black-flycatcher, Melaenornis edolioides
 * Fire-crested alethe, Alethe castanea
 * Red-backed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas leucophrys
 * Blue-shouldered robin-chat, Cossypha cyanocampter
 * White-browed robin-chat, Cossypha heuglini
 * Red-capped robin-chat, Cossypha natalensis
 * Snowy-crowned robin-chat, Cossypha niveicapilla
 * Rufous-tailed palm-thrush, Cichladusa ruficauda
 * Brown-chested alethe, Chamaetylas poliocephala
 * Olive-backed forest robin, Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus
 * Orange-breasted forest robin, Stiphrornis erythrothorax
 * Lowland akalat, Sheppardia cyornithopsis
 * European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca
 * Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
 * African stonechat, Saxicola torquatus
 * Sooty chat, Myrmecocichla nigra
 * Congo moorchat, Myrmecocichla tholloni
 * Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (A)
 * Familiar chat, Oenanthe familiaris

Sunbirds and spiderhunters
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Nectariniidae

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
 * Mouse-brown sunbird, Anthreptes gabonicus
 * Western violet-backed sunbird, Anthreptes longuemarei
 * Violet-tailed sunbird, Anthreptes aurantius
 * Little green sunbird, Anthreptes seimundi
 * Green sunbird, Anthreptes rectirostris
 * Collared sunbird, Hedydipna collaris
 * Reichenbach's sunbird, Anabathmis reichenbachii
 * Green-headed sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
 * Blue-throated brown sunbird, Cyanomitra cyanolaema
 * Cameroon sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis
 * Olive sunbird, Cyanomitra olivacea
 * Carmelite sunbird, Chalcomitra fuliginosa
 * Green-throated sunbird, Chalcomitra rubescens
 * Amethyst sunbird, Chalcomitra amethystina
 * Olive-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris chloropygius
 * Tiny sunbird, Cinnyris minullus
 * Northern double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris preussi
 * Congo sunbird, Cinnyris congensis
 * Purple-banded sunbird, Cinnyris bifasciatus
 * Orange-tufted sunbird, Cinnyris bouvieri
 * Splendid sunbird, Cinnyris coccinigaster
 * Johanna's sunbird, Cinnyris johannae
 * Superb sunbird, Cinnyris superbus
 * Variable sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
 * Bates's sunbird, Cinnyris batesi
 * Copper sunbird, Cinnyris cupreus

Weavers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Ploceidae

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.


 * Red-crowned malimbe, Malimbus coronatus
 * Black-throated malimbe, Malimbus cassini
 * Rachel's malimbe, Malimbus racheliae
 * Red-bellied malimbe, Malimbus erythrogaster
 * Blue-billed malimbe, Malimbus nitens
 * Crested malimbe, Malimbus malimbicus
 * Red-headed malimbe, Malimbus rubricollis
 * Black-chinned weaver, Ploceus nigrimentum
 * Slender-billed weaver, Ploceus pelzelni
 * Loango weaver, Ploceus subpersonatus
 * Black-necked weaver, Ploceus nigricollis
 * Spectacled weaver, Ploceus ocularis
 * Holub's golden-weaver, Ploceus xanthops
 * Orange weaver, Ploceus aurantius
 * Lesser masked-weaver, Ploceus intermedius
 * Heuglin's masked-weaver, Ploceus heuglini
 * Vieillot's black weaver, Ploceus nigerrimus
 * Village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus
 * Black-headed weaver, Ploceus melanocephalus
 * Yellow-mantled weaver, Ploceus tricolor
 * Maxwell's black weaver, Ploceus albinucha
 * Forest weaver, Ploceus bicolor
 * Yellow-capped weaver, Ploceus dorsomaculatus
 * Preuss's weaver, Ploceus preussi
 * Compact weaver, Pachyphantes superciliosus
 * Red-headed quelea, Quelea erythrops
 * Red-billed quelea, Quelea quelea
 * Bob-tailed weaver, Brachycope anomala
 * Black-winged bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus
 * Yellow-crowned bishop, Euplectes afer
 * White-winged widowbird, Euplectes albonotatus
 * Yellow-mantled widowbird, Euplectes macroura
 * Red-collared widowbird, Euplectes ardens
 * Fan-tailed widowbird, Euplectes axillaris
 * Marsh widowbird, Euplectes hartlaubi
 * Grosbeak weaver, Amblyospiza albifrons

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.


 * Bronze mannikin, Spermestes cucullatus
 * Magpie mannikin, Spermestes fringilloides
 * Black-and-white mannikin, Spermestes bicolor
 * Green-backed twinspot, Mandingoa nitidula
 * Woodhouse's antpecker, Parmoptila woodhousei
 * White-breasted nigrita, Nigrita fusconota
 * Chestnut-breasted nigrita, Nigrita bicolor
 * Gray-headed nigrita, Nigrita canicapilla
 * Pale-fronted nigrita, Nigrita luteifrons
 * Black-tailed waxbill, Glaucestrilda perreini
 * Black-crowned waxbill, Estrilda nonnula
 * Black-headed waxbill, Estrilda atricapilla
 * Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda
 * Fawn-breasted waxbill, Estrilda paludicola
 * Common waxbill, Estrilda astrild
 * Quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis
 * Zebra waxbill, Amandava subflava
 * Southern cordonbleu, Uraeginthus angolensis
 * Western bluebill, Spermophaga haematina
 * Crimson seedcracker, Pyrenestes sanguineus
 * Black-bellied seedcracker, Pyrenestes ostrinus
 * Green-winged pytilia, Pytilia melba
 * Orange-winged pytilia, Pytilia afra
 * Brown twinspot, Clytospiza monteiri
 * African firefinch, Lagonosticta rubricata

Indigobirds
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Viduidae

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
 * Wilson's indigobird, Vidua wilsoni

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 (A)
 * Northern gray-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
 * Yellow-throated bush sparrow Gymnoris superciliaris

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.


 * Mountain wagtail, Motacilla clara
 * Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
 * African pied wagtail, Motacilla aguimp
 * White wagtail, Motacilla alba
 * Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi
 * African pipit, Anthus cinnamomeus
 * Woodland pipit, Anthus nyassae
 * Long-billed pipt, Anthus similis (A)
 * Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
 * Plain-backed pipit, Anthus leucophrys (A)
 * Long-legged pipit, Anthus pallidiventris
 * Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
 * Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus (A)
 * Short-tailed pipit, Anthus brachyurus
 * Yellow-throated longclaw, Macronyx croceus

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.


 * Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambica
 * Black-faced canary, Crithagra capistrata
 * Black-throated canary, Crithagra atrogularis

Old World buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae

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.


 * Cabanis's bunting, Emberiza cabanisi
 * Golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
 * Cinnamon-breasted bunting, Emberiza tahapisi