List of birds of Nigeria

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Nigeria. The avifauna of Nigeria include a total of 975 species, of which one is endemic. Thirty-one species are globally threatened.

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.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories, but not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.


 * (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Nigeria
 * (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Nigeria

Ostriches
Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae

The ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa. It is the largest living species of bird. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.


 * Common ostrich, Struthio camelus

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
 * White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus
 * Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (A)
 * Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis (A)
 * 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
 * Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota
 * Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
 * Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A)
 * Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
 * African black duck, Anas sparsa
 * Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata (A)
 * Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
 * Cape teal, Anas capensis
 * Northern pintail, Anas acuta
 * Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
 * Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris (A)
 * Common pochard, Aythya ferina
 * Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca
 * Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula

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
 * Western crested guineafowl, Guttera verreauxi

New World quail
Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae

Despite their family's common name, this species and one other are native to Africa.


 * Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus

Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. 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
 * Blue quail, Excalfactoria adansonii
 * Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
 * Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei
 * Ahanta francolin, Pternistis ahantensis
 * Double-spurred francolin, Pternistis bicalcaratus
 * Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus
 * Clapperton's francolin, Pternistis clappertoni

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.


 * Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor (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
 * Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
 * Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (A)

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
 * Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea
 * Afep pigeon, Columba unicincta
 * Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix
 * Cameroon pigeon, Columba sjostedti
 * Bronze-naped pigeon, Columba iriditorques
 * Lemon dove, Columba larvata
 * European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
 * Adamawa turtle-dove, Streptopelia hypopyrrha
 * African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea
 * Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens
 * Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata
 * Vinaceous dove, Streptopelia vinacea
 * Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis
 * Black-billed wood-dove, Turtur abyssinicus
 * Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer
 * Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria
 * Blue-headed wood-dove, Turtur brehmeri
 * Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
 * Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia
 * African green-pigeon, Treron calvus

Sandgrouse
Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae

Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.


 * Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus
 * Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus

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.


 * Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs
 * Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami
 * Nubian bustard, Neotis nuba (A)
 * White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis
 * Savile's bustard, Eupodotis savilei
 * 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
 * White-crested turaco, Tauraco leucolophus
 * Yellow-billed turaco, Tauraco macrorhynchus
 * Violet turaco, Musophaga violacea
 * 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.


 * Black-throated coucal, Centropus leucogaster
 * Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis
 * Blue-headed coucal, Centropus monachus
 * Black coucal, Centropus grillii
 * Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus
 * Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius
 * 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 (A)
 * Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis (A)
 * Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
 * Rufous-cheeked nightjar, Caprimulgus rufigena
 * Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius
 * Golden nightjar, Caprimulgus eximius (A)
 * Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis
 * Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis
 * Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus
 * Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma
 * Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus

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 (A)
 * Sabine's spinetail, Rhaphidura sabini
 * Cassin's spinetail, Neafrapus cassini
 * Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis
 * Common swift, Apus apus
 * Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
 * 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 (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.


 * Corn crake, Crex crex (A)
 * African crake, Crex egregia
 * Gray-throated rail, Canirallus oculeus
 * Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
 * Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata
 * Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
 * Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
 * Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni
 * African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
 * Nkulengu rail, Himantornis haematopus
 * Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis
 * Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra
 * Little crake, Zapornia parva
 * Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla

Finfoots
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
 * Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo
 * Common crane, Grus grus (A)

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
 * Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus
 * Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis
 * 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
 * European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria
 * American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A)
 * Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A)
 * Long-toed lapwing, Vanellus crassirostris
 * Spur-winged plover, Vanellus spinosus
 * Black-headed lapwing, Vanellus tectus
 * White-headed lapwing, Vanellus albiceps
 * Senegal lapwing, Vanellus lugubris
 * Wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus
 * Brown-chested lapwing, Vanellus superciliosus
 * White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus (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-snipe 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.


 * Lesser jacana, Microparra capensis
 * 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.


 * Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
 * Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris (A)
 * Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
 * Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
 * Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
 * Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
 * Red knot, Calidris canutus
 * Ruff, Calidris pugnax
 * Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus (A)
 * Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
 * Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
 * Sanderling, Calidris alba
 * Dunlin, Calidris alpina (A)
 * Little stint, Calidris minuta
 * Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
 * Great snipe, Gallinago media
 * Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
 * Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (A)
 * Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (A)
 * Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A)
 * Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
 * Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
 * Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
 * Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
 * Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (A)
 * Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
 * Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
 * Common redshank, Tringa totanus

Buttonquails
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Turnicidae

The buttonquails 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
 * Quail-plover, Ortyxelos meiffrenii

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
 * Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
 * Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
 * Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
 * Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni
 * 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.


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

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
 * Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei (A)
 * Gray-hooded gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
 * Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
 * Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
 * Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
 * Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
 * Brown noddy, Anous stolidus
 * Black noddy, Anous minutus
 * Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus
 * Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus
 * Little tern, Sternula albifrons
 * Damara tern, Sternula balaenarum
 * Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
 * Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
 * Black tern, Chlidonias niger
 * White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
 * Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
 * Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii
 * Common tern, Sterna hirundo
 * Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea
 * Great crested tern, Thalasseus bergii
 * Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
 * 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.


 * White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus
 * 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 (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 (A)
 * Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A)
 * Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (A)

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.


 * Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (A)
 * Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (A)

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
 * Black stork, Ciconia nigra
 * 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
 * Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)
 * Cape gannet, Morus capensis

Anhingas
Order: SuliformesFamily: Anhingidae

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
 * 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
 * Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
 * Dwarf bittern, Ixobrychus sturmii
 * 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
 * Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
 * Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
 * Malagasy pond-heron, Ardeola idae (A)
 * Rufous-bellied heron, Ardeola rufiventris (A)
 * 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
 * Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia (A)
 * 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
 * Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
 * European honey-buzzard, Pernis apivorus
 * African cuckoo-hawk, Aviceda cuculoides
 * White-headed vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis
 * Lappet-faced vulture, Torgos tracheliotos
 * Hooded vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus
 * White-backed vulture, Gyps africanus
 * Rüppell's griffon, Gyps rueppelli
 * Eurasian griffon, Gyps fulvus (A)
 * Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus
 * Congo serpent-eagle, Dryotriorchis spectabilis
 * Short-toed snake-eagle, Circaetus gallicus
 * Beaudouin's snake-eagle, Circaetus beaudouini
 * Brown snake-eagle, Circaetus cinereus
 * Banded snake-eagle, Circaetus cinerascens
 * Bat hawk, Macheiramphus alcinus
 * Crowned eagle, Stephanoaetus coronatus
 * Martial eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus
 * Long-crested eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis
 * Lesser spotted eagle, Clanga pomarina
 * Wahlberg's eagle, Hieraaetus wahlbergi
 * Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
 * Ayres's hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus ayresii
 * Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax
 * Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis (A)
 * Imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca (A)
 * Cassin's hawk-eagle, Aquila africana
 * African hawk-eagle, Aquila spilogaster
 * Lizard buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus
 * Dark chanting-goshawk, Melierax metabates
 * Gabar goshawk, Micronisus gabar
 * Grasshopper buzzard, Butastur rufipennis
 * Eurasian marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus
 * African marsh-harrier, Circus ranivorus
 * Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
 * Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
 * African goshawk, Accipiter tachiro
 * Chestnut-flanked sparrowhawk, Accipiter castanilius
 * Shikra, Accipiter badius
 * Red-thighed sparrowhawk, Accipiter erythropus
 * Ovambo sparrowhawk, Accipiter ovampensis
 * Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
 * Black goshawk, Accipiter melanoleucus
 * Long-tailed hawk, Urotriorchis macrourus
 * Black kite, Milvus migrans
 * African fish-eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer
 * Common buzzard, Buteo buteo (A)
 * Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus
 * 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.


 * 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.


 * Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
 * African scops-owl, Otus senegalensis
 * Northern white-faced owl, Ptilopsis leucotis
 * Grayish eagle-owl, Bubo cinerascens
 * Fraser's eagle-owl, Bubo poensis
 * 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
 * Sjostedt's owlet, Glaucidium sjostedti
 * African wood-owl, Strix woodfordii
 * Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
 * 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
 * Blue-naped mousebird, Urocolius macrourus

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
 * Bar-tailed trogon, Apaloderma vittatum

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
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.


 * Green woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus
 * White-headed woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus bollei
 * Forest woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus castaneiceps
 * Black scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus aterrimus

Ground-hornbills
Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Bucorvidae

The ground-hornbills are terrestrial birds which feed almost entirely on insects, other birds, snakes, and amphibians.


 * Abyssinian ground-hornbill, Bucorvus abyssinicus

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
 * Western red-billed hornbill, Tockus kempi
 * Northern red-billed hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus
 * White-crested hornbill, Horizocerus albocristatus
 * Black dwarf hornbill, Horizocerus hartlaubi
 * Black-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna atrata
 * Yellow-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna elata
 * Black-and-white-casqued hornbill, Bycanistes subcylindricus
 * 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
 * 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-moustached bee-eater, Merops mentalis
 * Red-throated bee-eater, Merops bulocki
 * 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
 * African green bee-eater, Merops viridissimus
 * Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
 * European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
 * Rosy bee-eater, Merops malimbicus
 * Northern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicus

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
 * Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinica
 * Rufous-crowned roller, Coracias naevia
 * Blue-bellied roller, Coracias cyanogaster
 * 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 (A)
 * Bristle-nosed barbet, Gymnobucco peli
 * Naked-faced barbet, Gymnobucco calvus
 * Speckled tinkerbird, Pogoniulus scolopaceus
 * Western tinkerbird, Pogoniulus coryphaea
 * Red-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus atroflavus
 * Yellow-throated tinkerbird, Pogoniulus subsulphureus
 * Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus bilineatus
 * Yellow-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus
 * Yellow-spotted barbet, Buccanodon duchaillui
 * Hairy-breasted barbet, Tricholaema hirsuta
 * Vieillot's barbet, Lybius vieilloti
 * White-headed barbet, Lybius leucocephalus
 * Double-toothed barbet, Lybius bidentatus
 * Bearded barbet, Lybius dubius

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
 * Wahlberg's honeyguide, Prodotiscus regulus
 * 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.


 * Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
 * Rufous-necked wryneck, Jynx ruficollis
 * African piculet, Verreauxia africana (A)
 * Melancholy woodpecker, Chloropicus lugubris
 * Gabon woodpecker, Chloropicus gabonensis
 * Elliot's woodpecker, Chloropicus elliotii
 * Little gray woodpecker, Chloropicus elachus
 * Speckle-breasted woodpecker, Chloropicus poecilolaemus
 * Cardinal woodpecker, Chloropicus fuscescens
 * Fire-bellied woodpecker, Chloropicus pyrrhogaster
 * Golden-crowned woodpecker, Chloropicus xantholophus
 * Brown-backed woodpecker, Chloropicus obsoletus
 * African gray woodpecker, Chloropicus goertae
 * Brown-eared woodpecker, Campethera caroli
 * Buff-spotted woodpecker, Campethera nivosa
 * Tullberg's woodpecker, Campethera tullbergi
 * Green-backed woodpecker, Campethera cailliautii
 * Fine-spotted woodpecker, Campethera punctuligera
 * 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
 * Fox kestrel, Falco alopex
 * Gray kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
 * Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
 * Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus
 * Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
 * Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
 * African hobby, Falco cuvierii
 * Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
 * 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.


 * Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri
 * Red-headed lovebird, Agapornis pullarius

African and New World parrots
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittacidae

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. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.


 * Gray parrot, Psittacus erithacus
 * Brown-necked parrot, Poicephalus robustus
 * Red-fronted parrot, Poicephalus gulielmi
 * Senegal parrot, Poicephalus senegalus

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.


 * 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

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.


 * Gray cuckooshrike, Coracina caesia
 * White-breasted cuckooshrike, Coracina pectoralis
 * 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
 * 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
 * Red-cheeked wattle-eye, Platysteira blissetti
 * Yellow-bellied wattle-eye, Platysteira concreta
 * Senegal batis, Batis senegalensis
 * Gray-headed batis, Batis orientalis
 * Western black-headed batis, Batis erlangeri
 * West African batis, Batis occulta

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.


 * White helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus
 * Red-billed helmetshrike, Prionops caniceps
 * 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
 * Tropical boubou, Laniarius major
 * Yellow-crowned gonolek, Laniarius barbarus
 * Black-headed gonolek, Laniarius erythrogaster
 * Yellow-breasted boubou, Laniarius atroflavus
 * Lowland sooty boubou, Laniarius leucorhynchus
 * Western boubou, Laniarius poensis
 * Fülleborn's boubou, Laniarius fuelleborni
 * Sulphur-breasted bushshrike, Telophorus sulfureopectus
 * Many-colored bushshrike, Telophorus multicolor
 * Fiery-breasted bushshrike, Malaconotus cruentus
 * Green-breasted bushshrike, Malaconotus gladiator
 * Gray-headed bushshrike, Malaconotus blanchoti

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.


 * Western square-tailed drongo, Dicrurus occidentalis
 * Sharpe's drongo, Dicrurus sharpei
 * Shining drongo, Dicrurus atripennis
 * Glossy-backed drongo, Dicrurus divaricatus
 * Fanti drongo, Dicrurus atactus
 * 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
 * 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 (A)
 * Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides
 * Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus
 * Emin's shrike, Lanius gubernator
 * Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
 * Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor (A)
 * Gray-backed fiscal, Lanius excubitoroides
 * Yellow-billed shrike, Lanius corvinus
 * Mackinnon's shrike, Lanius mackinnoni
 * Northern fiscal, Lanius humeralis
 * Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus
 * Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

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.


 * Piapiac, Ptilostomus afer
 * Pied crow, Corvus albus
 * Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis
 * Fan-tailed raven, Corvus rhipidurus

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
 * White-bellied crested-flycatcher, Elminia albiventris

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-bellied tit, Melaniparus albiventris

Penduline-tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae

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


 * Sennar penduline-tit, Anthoscopus punctifrons
 * Yellow penduline-tit, Anthoscopus parvulus
 * Forest penduline-tit, Anthoscopus flavifrons

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-rumped lark, Pinarocorys erythropygia
 * Desert lark, Ammomanes deserti
 * Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucotis
 * Black-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix nigriceps (A)
 * Rufous-naped lark, Mirafra africana
 * Flappet lark, Mirafra rufocinnamomea
 * White-tailed lark, Mirafra albicauda (A)
 * Horsfield's bushlark, Mirafra javanica
 * Rusty lark, Mirafra rufa
 * Red-capped lark, Calandrella cinerea
 * Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
 * Sun lark, Galerida modesta
 * Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Nicators
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Nicatoridae

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


 * Western nicator, Nicator chloris

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
 * Northern crombec, Sylvietta brachyura
 * Moustached grass-warbler, Melocichla mentalis
 * Kemp's longbill, Macrosphenus kempi
 * 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.


 * Yellow-bellied eremomela, Eremomela icteropygialis
 * Senegal eremomela, Eremomela pusilla
 * Rufous-crowned eremomela, Eremomela badiceps
 * Red-winged gray warbler, Drymocichla incana
 * White-chinned prinia, Schistolais leucopogon
 * Green longtail, Urolais epichlora
 * Black-collared apalis, Oreolais pulchra
 * White-tailed warbler, Poliolais lopezi
 * Green-backed camaroptera, Camaroptera brachyura
 * Yellow-browed camaroptera, Camaroptera superciliaris
 * Olive-green camaroptera, Camaroptera chloronota
 * Cricket longtail, Spiloptila clamans
 * Buff-bellied warbler, Phyllolais pulchella
 * Black-capped apalis, Apalis nigriceps
 * Black-throated apalis, Apalis jacksoni
 * Yellow-breasted apalis, Apalis flavida
 * Buff-throated apalis, Apalis rufogularis
 * Bamenda apalis, Apalis bamendae (A)
 * Gray apalis, Apalis cinerea
 * Tawny-flanked prinia, Prinia subflava
 * River prinia, Prinia fluviatilis
 * Banded prinia, Prinia bairdii
 * Red-winged prinia, Prinia erythroptera
 * Red-fronted prinia, Prinia rufifrons
 * Oriole warbler, Hypergerus atriceps
 * Red-faced cisticola, Cisticola erythrops
 * Singing cisticola, Cisticola cantans
 * Whistling cisticola, Cisticola lateralis
 * Chattering cisticola, Cisticola anonymus
 * Chubb's cisticola, Cisticola chubbi
 * Rock-loving cisticola, Cisticola aberrans
 * Red-pate cisticola, Cisticola ruficeps
 * Dorst's cisticola, Cisticola guinea
 * Winding cisticola, Cisticola marginatus
 * Stout cisticola, Cisticola robustus
 * Croaking cisticola, Cisticola natalensis
 * Siffling cisticola, Cisticola brachypterus
 * Rufous cisticola, Cisticola rufus
 * Foxy cisticola, Cisticola troglodytes
 * Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
 * Desert cisticola, Cisticola aridulus
 * Black-backed cisticola, Cisticola eximius

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.


 * Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
 * Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca
 * African yellow-warbler, Iduna natalensis
 * Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum (A)
 * Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
 * Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina
 * Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
 * Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris (A)
 * Common reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
 * Lesser swamp warbler, Acrocephalus gracilirostris
 * 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.


 * Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
 * Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia
 * Fan-tailed grassbird, Catriscus brevirostris
 * Bangwa warbler, Bradypterus bangwaensis
 * Cinnamon bracken-warbler, Bradypterus cinnamomeus
 * Little rush warbler, Bradypterus baboecala
 * Highland rush warbler, Bradypterus centralis

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
 * Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
 * Banded martin, Neophedina cincta
 * Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula
 * Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
 * Red-chested swallow, Hirundo lucida
 * Ethiopian swallow, Hirundo aethiopica
 * White-throated blue swallow, Hirundo nigrita
 * Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
 * Pied-winged swallow, Hirundo leucosoma
 * Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
 * Lesser striped swallow, Cecropis abyssinica
 * Rufous-chested swallow, Cecropis semirufa
 * Mosque swallow, Cecropis senegalensis
 * Preuss's swallow, Petrochelidon preussi
 * Forest swallow, Petrochelidon fuliginosa
 * Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum
 * Square-tailed sawwing, Psalidoprocne nitens
 * Mountain sawwing, Psalidoprocne fuliginosa
 * Black sawwing, Psalidoprocne pristoptera
 * Fanti sawwing, Psalidoprocne obscura
 * 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
 * Red-tailed bristlebill, Bleda syndactylus
 * Lesser bristlebill, Bleda notatus
 * Gray-headed bristlebill, Bleda canicapillus
 * Cameroon mountain greenbul, Arizelocichla montana
 * Western mountain greenbul, Arizelocichla tephrolaema
 * Simple greenbul, Chlorocichla simplex
 * Honeyguide greenbul, Baeopogon indicator
 * Sjöstedt's greenbul, Baeopogon clamans
 * Yellow-throated greenbul, Atimastillas flavicollis
 * Spotted greenbul, Ixonotus guttatus
 * Swamp greenbul, Thescelocichla leucopleura
 * Red-tailed greenbul, Criniger calurus
 * Western bearded-greenbul, Criniger barbatus
 * Eastern bearded-greenbul, Criniger chloronotus
 * Yellow-bearded greenbul, Criniger olivaceus
 * White-bearded greenbul, Criniger ndussumensis
 * Gray greenbul, Eurillas gracilis
 * Ansorge's greenbul, Eurillas ansorgei
 * Plain greenbul, Eurillas curvirostris
 * Yellow-whiskered bulbul, Eurillas latirostris
 * Little greenbul, Eurillas virens
 * Leaf-love, Phyllastrephus scandens
 * Baumann's greenbul, Phyllastrephus baumanni
 * Cameroon olive-greenbul, Phyllastrephus poensis
 * Icterine greenbul, Phyllastrephus icterinus
 * Xavier's greenbul, Phyllastrephus xavieri
 * White-throated greenbul, Phyllastrephus albigularis
 * Gray-headed greenbul, Phyllastrephus poliocephalus
 * 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 greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.


 * Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
 * Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
 * Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
 * Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
 * Black-capped woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus herberti

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.


 * Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
 * Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
 * African hill babbler, Sylvia abyssinica
 * Rwenzori hill babbler, Sylvia atriceps
 * Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria (A)
 * Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
 * Western Orphean warbler, Curruca hortensis
 * African desert warbler, Curruca deserti
 * Menetries's warbler, Curruca mystacea (A)
 * Moltoni's warbler, Curruca subalpina (A)
 * Western subalpine warbler, Curruca iberiae
 * Eastern subalpine warbler, Curruca cantillans
 * Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis

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
 * Puvel's illadopsis, Illadopsis puveli

Laughingthrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Leiothrichidae

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


 * Fulvous chatterer, Argya fulva (A)
 * Capuchin babbler, Turdoides atripennis
 * White-throated mountain-babbler, Turdoides gilberti
 * Brown babbler, Turdoides plebejus
 * Blackcap babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii

Treecreepers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.


 * African spotted creeper, Salpornis salvadori

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 (A)
 * Violet-backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
 * Neumann's starling, Onychognathus neumanni
 * Chestnut-winged starling, Onychognathus fulgidus
 * Waller's starling, Onychognathus walleri
 * Narrow-tailed starling, Poeoptera lugubris
 * Purple-headed starling, Hylopsar purpureiceps
 * Long-tailed glossy starling, Lamprotornis caudatus
 * Splendid starling, Lamprotornis splendidus
 * Chestnut-bellied starling, Lamprotornis pulcher
 * Lesser blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chloropterus
 * Greater blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus
 * Purple starling, Lamprotornis purpureus
 * Bronze-tailed starling, Lamprotornis chalcurus

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
 * Finsch's flycatcher-thrush, Neocossyphus finschi
 * White-tailed ant-thrush, Neocossyphus poensis
 * Black-eared ground-thrush, Geokichla cameronensis
 * Gray ground-thrush, Geokichla princei (A)
 * Crossley's ground-thrush, Geokichla crossleyi
 * Abyssinian thrush, Turdus abyssinicus
 * 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.


 * African dusky flycatcher, Muscicapa adusta
 * Little flycatcher, Muscicapa epulata
 * Yellow-footed flycatcher, Muscicapa sethsmithi
 * Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
 * Gambaga flycatcher, Muscicapa gambagae
 * Swamp flycatcher, Muscicapa aquatica
 * Cassin's flycatcher, Muscicapa cassini
 * Ussher's flycatcher, Bradornis ussheri
 * Sooty flycatcher, Bradornis infuscatus
 * 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
 * Black scrub-robin, Cercotrichas podobe
 * Rufous-tailed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas galactotes
 * Brown-backed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas hartlaubi
 * White-bellied robin-chat, Cossyphicula roberti
 * Mountain robin-chat, Cossypha isabellae
 * Blue-shouldered robin-chat, Cossypha cyanocampter
 * Gray-winged robin-chat, Cossypha polioptera
 * White-browed robin-chat, Cossypha heuglini
 * Red-capped robin-chat, Cossypha natalensis
 * Snowy-crowned robin-chat, Cossypha niveicapilla
 * White-crowned robin-chat, Cossypha albicapilla
 * Brown-chested alethe, Chamaetylas poliocephala
 * Orange-breasted forest robin, Stiphrornis erythrothorax
 * Short-tailed akalat, Sheppardia poensis
 * Lowland akalat, Sheppardia cyornithopsis
 * Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia (A)
 * Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos
 * Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
 * Semicollared flycatcher, Ficedula semitorquata
 * European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca
 * Collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis
 * Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
 * Rufous-tailed rock-thrush, Monticola saxatilis
 * Blue rock-thrush, Monticola solitarius
 * Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
 * European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
 * African stonechat, Saxicola torquatus
 * Mocking cliff-chat, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
 * Sooty chat, Myrmecocichla nigra
 * Northern anteater-chat, Myrmecocichla aethiops
 * Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
 * Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
 * Heuglin's wheatear, Oenanthe heuglini
 * Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti (A)
 * Western black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe hispanica (A)
 * Eastern black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe melanoleuca
 * White-fronted black-chat, Oenanthe albifrons
 * Familiar chat, Oenanthe familiaris
 * White-crowned wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga (A)

Dapple-throat and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Modulatricidae

This species and two others, all of different genera, were formerly placed in family Promeropidae, the sugarbirds, but were accorded their own family in 2017.


 * Gray-chested babbler, Kakamega poliothorax

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
 * Pygmy sunbird, Hedydipna platura
 * Reichenbach's sunbird, Anabathmis reichenbachii
 * Green-headed sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
 * Blue-throated brown sunbird, Cyanomitra cyanolaema
 * Cameroon sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis
 * Olive sunbird, Cyanomitra olivacea
 * Buff-throated sunbird, Chalcomitra adelberti
 * Carmelite sunbird, Chalcomitra fuliginosa
 * Green-throated sunbird, Chalcomitra rubescens
 * Scarlet-chested sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis
 * Olive-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris chloropygius
 * Tiny sunbird, Cinnyris minullus
 * Northern double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris reichenowi
 * Beautiful sunbird, Cinnyris pulchellus
 * Orange-tufted sunbird, Cinnyris bouvieri
 * Splendid sunbird, Cinnyris coccinigastrus
 * 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.


 * White-billed buffalo-weaver, Bubalornis albirostris
 * Speckle-fronted weaver, Sporopipes frontalis
 * Chestnut-crowned sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser superciliosus
 * Black-throated malimbe, Malimbus cassini
 * Rachel's malimbe, Malimbus racheliae
 * Red-vented malimbe, Malimbus scutatus
 * Ibadan malimbe, Malimbus ibadanensis (E)
 * Red-bellied malimbe, Malimbus erythrogaster
 * Blue-billed malimbe, Malimbus nitens
 * Crested malimbe, Malimbus malimbicus
 * Red-headed malimbe, Malimbus rubricollis
 * Red-headed weaver, Anaplectes rubriceps
 * Baglafecht weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
 * Bannerman's weaver, Ploceus bannermani
 * Little weaver, Ploceus luteolus
 * Slender-billed weaver, Ploceus pelzelni
 * Olive-naped weaver, Ploceus brachypterus
 * Spectacled weaver, Ploceus ocularis
 * Black-billed weaver, Ploceus melanogaster
 * Orange weaver, Ploceus aurantius
 * Vitelline masked-weaver, Ploceus vitellinus
 * Heuglin's masked-weaver, Ploceus heuglini
 * Vieillot's black weaver, Ploceus nigerrimus
 * Chestnut-and-black weaver, Ploceus castaneofuscus
 * Village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus
 * Black-headed weaver, Ploceus melanocephalus
 * Yellow-mantled weaver, Ploceus tricolor
 * Maxwell's black weaver, Ploceus albinucha
 * Forest weaver, Ploceus bicolor
 * Brown-capped weaver, Ploceus insignis
 * Preuss's weaver, Ploceus preussi
 * Compact weaver, Pachyphantes superciliosus
 * Red-headed quelea, Quelea erythrops
 * Red-billed quelea, Quelea quelea
 * Northern red bishop, Euplectes franciscanus
 * Black-winged bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus
 * Yellow-crowned bishop, Euplectes afer
 * Yellow bishop, Euplectes capensis
 * Yellow-mantled widowbird, Euplectes macroura
 * Red-collared widowbird, Euplectes ardens
 * Fan-tailed widowbird, Euplectes axillaris
 * Marsh widowbird, Euplectes hartlaubi
 * Grosbeak weaver, Anomalospiza 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
 * African silverbill, Euodice cantans
 * Shelley's oliveback, Nesocharis shelleyi
 * Green-backed twinspot, Mandingoa nitidula
 * Red-faced crimsonwing, Cryptospiza reichenovii
 * 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
 * Gray-headed oliveback, Delacourella capistrata
 * Lavender waxbill, Glaucestrilda caerulescens
 * Black-crowned waxbill, Estrilda nonnula
 * Black-headed waxbill, Estrilda atricapilla
 * Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda
 * Anambra waxbill, Estrilda poliopareia
 * Fawn-breasted waxbill, Estrilda paludicola
 * Common waxbill, Estrilda astrild
 * Black-rumped waxbill, Estrilda troglodytes
 * Quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis
 * Locustfinch, Paludipasser locustella
 * Cut-throat, Amadina fasciata
 * Zebra waxbill, Amandava subflava
 * Red-cheeked cordonbleu, Uraeginthus bengalus
 * Western bluebill, Spermophaga haematina
 * Black-bellied seedcracker, Pyrenestes ostrinus
 * Green-winged pytilia, Pytilia melba
 * Red-winged pytilia, Pytilia phoenicoptera
 * Red-faced pytilia, Pytilia hypogrammica
 * Dybowski's twinspot, Euschistospiza dybowskii
 * Brown twinspot, Clytospiza monteiri
 * Red-billed firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala
 * African firefinch, Lagonosticta rubricata
 * Jameson's firefinch, Lagonosticta rhodopareia
 * Rock firefinch, Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis
 * Reichenow's firefinch, Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis
 * Black-bellied firefinch, Lagonosticta rara
 * Bar-breasted firefinch, Lagonosticta rufopicta
 * Black-faced firefinch, Lagonosticta larvata

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
 * Sahel paradise-whydah, Vidua orientalis
 * Exclamatory paradise-whydah, Vidua interjecta
 * Eastern paradise-whydah, Vidua paradisaea
 * Village indigobird, Vidua chalybeata
 * Wilson's indigobird, Vidua wilsoni
 * Quailfinch indigobird, Vidua nigeriae
 * Jos Plateau indigobird, Vidua maryae
 * Jambandu indigobird, Vidua raricola
 * Baka indigobird, Vidua larvaticola
 * Cameroon indigobird, Vidua camerunensis
 * Variable indigobird, Vidua funerea
 * Parasitic weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis

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
 * Northern gray-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
 * Desert sparrow, Passer simplex
 * Sudan golden sparrow, Passer luteus
 * Yellow-spotted bush sparrow, Gymnoris pyrgita
 * Sahel bush sparrow, Gymnoris dentata

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
 * Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis
 * Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
 * Plain-backed pipit, Anthus leucophrys
 * Long-legged pipit, Anthus pallidiventris (A)
 * Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
 * Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
 * 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.


 * Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githaginea
 * Oriole finch, Linurgus olivaceus
 * White-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygia
 * Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambica
 * Thick-billed seedeater, Crithagra burtoni
 * West African seedeater, Crithagra canicapilla

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.


 * Brown-rumped bunting, Emberiza affinis
 * Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
 * Cabanis's bunting, Emberiza cabanisi
 * Golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
 * Gosling's bunting, Emberiza goslingi