List Of Birds Of Niger
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This is a list of the bird species recorded in Niger. The avifauna of
Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesintroduced by humans. 18 species are globally threatened. This list's
taxonomic Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...
treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of '' The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World'', 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Niger. The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories. *(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Niger *(I) Introduced - a species introduced to Niger as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions


Ostriches

Order: StruthioniformesFamily:
Struthionidae Struthionidae (; ) is a family of flightless birds, containing the extant ostriches and their extinct relatives. The two extant species of ostrich are the common ostrich and Somali ostrich, both in the genus ''Struthio'', which also contains seve ...
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 The common ostrich (''Struthio camelus''), or simply ostrich, is a species of flightless bird native to certain large areas of Africa and is the largest living bird species. It is one of two extant species of ostriches, the only living members o ...
, ''Struthio camelus''


Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order:
Anseriformes Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which in ...
Family:
Anatidae The Anatidae are the biological family of water birds that includes ducks, geese, and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica. These birds are adapted for swimming, floating ...
Anatidae includes the
duck Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form t ...
s and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and
swan Swans are birds of the family (biology), family Anatidae within the genus ''Cygnus''. The swans' closest relatives include the goose, geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form t ...
s. 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 The white-backed duck (''Thalassornis leuconotus'') is a waterbird of the family Anatidae. It is distinct from all other ducks, but most closely related to the whistling ducks in the subfamily Dendrocygninae, though also showing some similarities ...
, ''Thalassornis leuconotus'' * Greater white-fronted goose, ''Anser albifrons'' (A) * Knob-billed duck, ''Sarkidiornis melanotos'' *
Egyptian goose The Egyptian goose (''Alopochen aegyptiaca'') is a member of the duck, goose, and swan family Anatidae. It is native to Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley. Egyptian geese were considered sacred by the Ancient Egyptians, and appeared ...
, ''Alopochen aegyptiacus'' *
Common shelduck The common shelduck (''Tadorna tadorna'') is a waterfowl species of the shelduck genus, ''Tadorna''. It is widespread and common in the Euro-Siberian region of the Palearctic, mainly breeding in temperate and wintering in subtropical regions; i ...
, ''Tadorna tadorna'' (A) * Spur-winged goose, ''Plectropterus gambensis'' *
African pygmy-goose The African pygmy goose (''Nettapus auritus'') is a perching duck from sub-Saharan Africa. It is the smallest of Africa's waterfowl Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds ...
, ''Nettapus auritus'' * Garganey, ''Spatula querquedula'' *
Blue-billed teal The blue-billed teal, spotted teal or Hottentot teal (''Spatula hottentota'') is a species of dabbling duck of the genus ''Spatula''. It is migratory resident in eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan and Ethiopia west to Niger and Nigeria and ...
, ''Spatula hottentota'' *
Northern shoveler The northern shoveler (; ''Spatula clypeata''), known simply in Britain as the shoveler, is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and across the Palearctic and across most of North America, wintering in southern Euro ...
, ''Spatula clypeata'' *
Gadwall The gadwall (''Mareca strepera'') is a common and widespread dabbling duck in the family Anatidae. Taxonomy The gadwall was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. DNA studies have shown that ...
, ''Mareca strepera'' (A) * Eurasian wigeon, ''Mareca penelope'' *
Mallard The mallard () or wild duck (''Anas platyrhynchos'') is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Arge ...
, ''Anas platyrhynchos'' (A) * Cape teal, ''Anas capensis'' *
Northern pintail The pintail or northern pintail (''Anas acuta'') is a duck species with wide geographic distribution that breeds in the northern areas of Europe and across the Palearctic and North America. It is migratory and winters south of its breeding ra ...
, ''Anas acuta'' *
Green-winged teal The green-winged teal (''Anas carolinensis'') is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of North America except on the Aleutian Islands. It was considered Conspecificity, conspecific with the Eurasian teal (''A. crecca'') ...
, ''Anas crecca'' * Common pochard, ''Aythya ferina'' (A) * Ferruginous duck, ''Aythya nyroca'' *
Tufted duck The tufted duck or tufted pochard (''Aythya fuligula'') is a small diving duck with a population of close to one million birds, found in northern Eurasia. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek '' aithuia'', an unidentified seabird ment ...
, ''Aythya fuligula'' (A)


Guineafowl

Order:
Galliformes Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often ...
Family: 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''


New World quail

Order:
Galliformes Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often ...
Family: Odontophoridae Despite their family's common name, this species and one other are native to Africa. *
Stone partridge The stone partridge (''Ptilopachus petrosus'') is a bird of the New World quail family. This largely brown bird, which commonly holds its tail raised, is found in scrubland and lightly wooded habitats, often near rocks, from Kenya and Ethiopia to ...
, ''Ptilopachus petrosus''


Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order:
Galliformes Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often ...
Family:
Phasianidae The Phasianidae are a family (biology), family of heavy, ground-living birds, which includes pheasants, partridges, junglefowl, chickens, Turkey bird, turkeys, Old World quail, and peafowl. The family includes many of the most popular Game (hunti ...
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, snowcocks, francolins,
spurfowl Spurfowl are two genera of birds: * ''Galloperdix'', from India and Sri Lanka * ''Pternistis ''Pternistis'' is a genus of galliform birds formerly classified in the spurfowl group of the partridge subfamily of the pheasant family. They are d ...
s,
tragopan ''Tragopan'' is a bird genus in the pheasant family Phasianidae. Member of the genus are commonly called "horned pheasants" because males have two brightly colored, fleshy horns on their head that can be erected during courtship displays. The ha ...
s, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. * Coqui francolin, ''Campocolinus coqui'' * White-throated francolin, ''Campocolinus albogularis'' (A) * Blue quail, ''Synoicus adansonii'' (A) * Common quail, ''Coturnix coturnix'' * Double-spurred francolin, ''Pternistis bicalcaratus'' * Clapperton's francolin, ''Pternistis clappertoni''


Flamingos

Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down. * Greater flamingo, ''Phoenicopterus roseus'' * Lesser flamingo, ''Phoenicopterus minor'' (A)


Grebes

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebe Grebes () are aquatic diving birds in the order Podicipediformes . Grebes are widely distributed freshwater birds, with some species also found in marine habitats during migration and winter. Some flightless species exist as well, most notably ...
s 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'' (A) *
Eared grebe The black-necked grebe or eared grebe (''Podiceps nigricollis'') is a member of the grebe family of water birds. It was described in 1831 by Christian Ludwig Brehm. There are currently three accepted subspecies, including the nominate subspeci ...
, ''Podiceps nigricollis'' (A)


Pigeons and doves

Order:
Columbiformes Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
Family:
Columbidae Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. * Rock pigeon, ''Columba livia'' *
Speckled pigeon The speckled pigeon (''Columba guinea''), or (African) rock pigeon, is a pigeon that is a resident breeding bird in much of Africa south of the Sahara. It is a common and widespread species in open habitats over much of its range, although there ...
, ''Columba guinea'' * European turtle-dove, ''Streptopelia turtur'' * Eurasian collared-dove, ''Streptopelia decaocto'' (A) * African collared-dove, ''Streptopelia roseogrisea'' * Mourning collared-dove, ''Streptopelia decipiens'' *
Red-eyed dove The red-eyed dove (''Streptopelia semitorquata'') is a dove that is a widespread and common in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2004. Taxonomy The red-eyed dove was formally described by the G ...
, ''Streptopelia semitorquata'' *
Vinaceous dove The vinaceous dove (''Streptopelia vinacea'') is a bird species in the pigeon family Columbidae that widely resident across the Sahel and Sudan (region). Taxonomy The vinaceous dove was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Joha ...
, ''Streptopelia vinacea'' * Laughing dove, ''Streptopelia senegalensis'' *
Black-billed wood-dove The black-billed wood dove (''Turtur abyssinicus'') is a pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird in a belt across Africa just south of the Sahara Desert. This species is abundant in near desert, scrub and savannah. It builds a sti ...
, ''Turtur abyssinicus'' *
Blue-spotted wood-dove The blue-spotted wood dove (''Turtur afer'') is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is abundantly present throughout Africa south of the Sahel; it is partially present in East Africa and absent in southern Africa. Taxonomy In 1760 the ...
, ''Turtur afer'' *
Namaqua dove The Namaqua dove (''Oena capensis'') is a small pigeon. It is the only species in the genus ''Oena.'' It is found over much of Sub-Saharan Africa as well as Arabia and Madagascar. Taxonomy The Namaqua dove is the only species in the monotypic g ...
, ''Oena capensis'' *
Bruce's green-pigeon Bruce's green pigeon (''Treron waalia''), also known as the yellow-bellied fruit pigeon, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Cong ...
, ''Treron waalia'' * African green-pigeon, ''Treron calva''


Sandgrouse

Order:
Pterocliformes Sandgrouse is the common name for Pteroclidae , a family of sixteen species of bird, members of the order Pterocliformes . They are traditionally placed in two genera. The two central Asian species are classified as '' Syrrhaptes'' and the othe ...
Family:
Pteroclidae Sandgrouse is the common name for Pteroclidae , a family of sixteen species of bird, members of the order Pterocliformes . They are traditionally placed in two genera. The two central Asian species are classified as '' Syrrhaptes'' and the other ...
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 The chestnut-bellied sandgrouse or common sandgrouse (''Pterocles exustus'') is a species of sandgrouse. It is a sedentary and nomadic species that ranges from northern and central Africa and further east towards western and southern Asia. There a ...
, ''Pterocles exustus'' *
Spotted sandgrouse The spotted sandgrouse (''Pterocles senegallus'') is a species of ground dwelling bird in the family Pteroclidae. It is found in arid regions of northern and eastern Africa and across the Middle East and parts of Asia as far east as northwest In ...
, ''Pterocles senegallus'' *
Crowned sandgrouse The crowned sandgrouse (''Pterocles coronatus'') is a species of bird in the sandgrouse family, the Pteroclidae from North Africa and the Middle East. Description A fairly small sandgrouse which appears rather uniformly coloured from a distance ...
, ''Pterocles coronatus'' *
Lichtenstein's sandgrouse Lichtenstein's sandgrouse (''Pterocles lichtensteinii'') is a species of bird in the Pteroclidae family, which is named after Martin Lichtenstein. They are nomadic, mostly nocturnal birds, which drink before dawn and after dusk. Range The speci ...
, ''Pterocles lichtensteinii'' * 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 The Arabian bustard (''Ardeotis arabs'') is a species of bustard which is found across the Sahel region of Africa and south western Arabia. It is part of the large-bodied genus, ''Ardeotis'', and, though little known, appears to be a fairly typi ...
, ' *
Denham's bustard Denham's bustard, Stanley bustard or Stanley's bustard (''Neotis denhami'') is a large bird in the bustard family. It breeds in much of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a species of open ground, including agricultural land, grassland, flood-plains and ...
, ''Neotis denhami'' *
Nubian bustard The Nubian bustard (''Neotis nuba'') is a species of bird in the Otididae, bustard family. This is a medium-large bustard found in the sparsely vegetated interface between the southern margins of the Sahara desert and the northern part of the Sah ...
, ''Neotis nuba'' *
White-bellied bustard The white-bellied bustard or white-bellied korhaan (''Eupodotis senegalensis'') is an African species of bustard. It is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa in grassland and open woodland habitats. Description It is rather small for a 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. *
Violet turaco The violet turaco, also known as the violaceous plantain eater (''Musophaga violacea''), is a large turaco, a group of African otidimorphae. Characteristics These are unmistakable birds, but shy and often inconspicuous in the treetops. They are ...
, ''Musophaga violacea'' * Western plantain-eater, ''Crinifer piscator''


Cuckoos

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae The family Cuculidae includes
cuckoo Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes . The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separ ...
s, roadrunners and
anis Anis ( ar, أنيس) is a masculine given name. The meaning of the name Anis is "genial" or "close friend". People In arts * Anis Mohamed Youssef Ferchichi, German rapper known as Bushido * Anis Haffar, educational theorist, teacher, columnist ...
. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are
brood parasite Brood parasites are animals that rely on others to raise their young. The strategy appears among birds, insects and fish. The brood parasite manipulates a host, either of the same or of another species, to raise its young as if it were its own ...
s. *
Senegal coucal The Senegal coucal (''Centropus senegalensis'') is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis, and the hoatzin. It is a medium-sized member of its genus and is found in lightly-wooded c ...
, ''Centropus senegalensis'' * Black coucal, ''Centropus grillii'' (A) *
Blue malkoha The blue malkoha or chattering yellowbill (''Ceuthmochares aereus'') is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It was formerly conspecific with the green malkoha until split in 2016. It is widely distributed across the African tropical rai ...
, ''Ceuthmochares aereus'' *
Great spotted cuckoo The great spotted cuckoo (''Clamator glandarius'') is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals. It is widely spread throughout Africa and the Mediterranean Basin. It i ...
, ''Clamator glandarius'' *
Levaillant's cuckoo Levaillant's cuckoo (''Clamator levaillantii'') is a cuckoo which is a resident breeding species in Africa south of the Sahara. It is found in bushy habitats. It is a brood parasite, using the nests of bulbuls and babblers. It was named in h ...
, ''Clamator levaillantii'' *
Pied cuckoo The Jacobin cuckoo (''Clamator jacobinus''), also pied cuckoo or pied crested cuckoo, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds that is found in Africa and Asia. It is partially migratory and in India, it has been considered a harbinger of the mons ...
, ''Clamator jacobinus'' *
Dideric cuckoo The diederik cuckoo (''Chrysococcyx caprius''), formerly dideric cuckoo or didric cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners and the anis. Taxonomy The diederik cuckoo was described ...
, ''Chrysococcyx caprius'' * Klaas's cuckoo, ''Chrysococcyx klaas'' *
African emerald cuckoo The African emerald cuckoo (''Chrysococcyx cupreus'') is a species of cuckoo that is native to Africa. Taxonomy and phylogeny As a member of the family Cuculidae, the African emerald cuckoo is an Old World cuckoo. There are four subspecies, name ...
, ''Chrysococcyx cupreus'' *
Red-chested cuckoo The red-chested cuckoo (''Cuculus solitarius'') is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is a medium-sized bird found in Africa south of the Sahara. In Afrikaans, it is known as "Piet-my-vrou", after its call. Description The red-ches ...
, ''Cuculus solitarius'' (A) *
African cuckoo The African cuckoo (''Cuculus gularis'') is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa where it migrates within the continent, generally arriving and breeding in any one locality during the rainy season. A fair ...
, ''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 The pennant-winged nightjar (''Caprimulgus vexillarius'') is a species of nightjar that occurs from Nigeria to northern South Africa. It is an intra-African migrant and displays remarkable sexual dimorphism in the breeding season. Range and ha ...
, ''Caprimulgus vexillarius'' (A) *
Standard-winged nightjar The standard-winged nightjar (''Caprimulgus longipennis'') is a nocturnal bird in the nightjar family. Distribution and habitat It is a resident breeder in Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia. It is found in dry savannah habitats, with some scr ...
, ''Caprimulgus longipennis'' *
Red-necked nightjar The red-necked nightjar (''Caprimulgus ruficollis'') is the largest of the nightjars occurring in Europe. It breeds in Iberian peninsula, Iberia and North Africa, and bird migration, winters in tropical West Africa. Taxonomy ''Caprimulgus'' is de ...
, ''Caprimulgus ruficollis'' *
Eurasian nightjar The European nightjar (''Caprimulgus europaeus''), common goatsucker, Eurasian nightjar or just nightjar, is a crepuscular and nocturnality, nocturnal bird in the nightjar family that breeds across most of Europe and the Palearctic to Mongolia ...
, ''Caprimulgus europaeus'' *
Egyptian nightjar The Egyptian nightjar (''Caprimulgus aegyptius'') is a medium-small nightjar which occurs in south west Asia and north Africa and winters in tropical Africa. This is a fairly common species with a wide distribution which faces no obvious threats ...
, ''Caprimulgus aegyptius'' (A) *
Golden nightjar The golden nightjar (''Caprimulgus eximius'') is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Sahel region in northern Sub-Saharan Africa. Description The golden nightjar is a distinctively coloured, smallish nightjar whic ...
, ''Caprimulgus eximius'' * Plain nightjar, ''Caprimulgus inornatus'' *
Freckled nightjar The freckled nightjar or freckled rock nightjar (''Caprimulgus tristigma'') is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It has a wide yet patchy distribution throughout the Afrotropics. Range and habitat This species occurs throughout ...
, ''Caprimulgus tristigma'' (A) *
Long-tailed nightjar The long-tailed nightjar (''Caprimulgus climacurus'') is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in multiple African countries including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic o ...
, ''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'' *
Alpine swift The alpine swift (''Tachymarptis melba'') formerly ''Apus melba'', is a species of swift found in Africa, southern Europe and Asia. They breed in mountains from southern Europe to the Himalaya. Like common swifts, they are migratory; the souther ...
, ''Apus melba'' (A) *
Mottled swift The mottled swift (''Tachymarptis aequatorialis'') is a species of bird in the swift family, Apodidae. It is one of two species in the genus '' Tachymarptis'' together with the alpine swift (''T. melba'').Chantler, Phil & Gerald Driessens (2000) ...
, ''Apus aequatorialis'' (A) *
Common swift The common swift (''Apus apus'') is a medium-sized bird, superficially similar to the barn swallow or house martin but somewhat larger, though not stemming from those passerine species, being in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between th ...
, ''Apus apus'' *
Pallid swift The pallid swift (''Apus pallidus'') is a small bird, superficially similar to a barn swallow or house martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since the swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances betwee ...
, ''Apus pallidus'' *
Little swift The little swift (''Apus affinis''), is a small species of swift found in Africa and southwestern Asia, and are vagrants and local breeders in southern Europe. They are found both in urban areas and at rocky cliffs where they build nests in a way ...
, ''Apus affinis'' *
Horus swift The Horus swift (''Apus horus'') is a small bird in the Swift (bird), swift family. Horus, whose name this bird commemorates, was the ancient Egyptian god of the sun, son of Osiris and Isis. Description The Horus swift is 13–15 cm long an ...
, ''Apus horus'' (A) *
White-rumped swift The white-rumped swift (''Apus caffer'') is a species of swift. Although this small bird is superficially similar to a house martin, it is not closely related to that passerine species. The resemblances between the swallows and swifts are due to ...
, ''Apus caffer'' * African palm-swift, ''Cypsiurus parvus''


Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order:
Gruiformes The Gruiformes are an order (biology), order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird family (biology), families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like". Traditionally, a number of wading and t ...
Family:
Rallidae The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small- to medium-sized, ground-living birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules. Many species are associated with wetlands, althoug ...
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails,
crake The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small- to medium-sized, ground-living birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules. Many species are associated with wetlands, althoug ...
s,
coot Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family, Rallidae. They constitute the genus ''Fulica'', the name being the Latin term for "coot". Coots have predominantly black plumage, and—unlike many rails—they are usually ...
s 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 The African crake (''Crecopsis egregia'') is a small- to medium-size ground-living bird in the rail family, found in most of central to southern Africa. It is seasonally common in most of its range other than the rainforests and areas that have ...
, ''Crex egregia'' (A) * Spotted crake, ''Porzana porzana'' (A) * Lesser moorhen, ''Paragallinula angulata'' *
Eurasian moorhen The common moorhen (''Gallinula chloropus''), also known as the waterhen or swamp chicken, is a bird species in the rail family (Rallidae). It is distributed across many parts of the Old World. The common moorhen lives around well-vegetated mars ...
, ''Gallinula chloropus'' *
Eurasian coot The Eurasian coot (''Fulica atra''), also known as the common coot, or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of North Africa. It has a slaty-bla ...
, ''Fulica atra'' *
Allen's gallinule Allen's gallinule (''Porphyrio alleni''), formerly known as the lesser gallinule, is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae. Its former binomial name is ''Porphyrula alleni''. ''Porphyrio'' is the Latin for "swamphen", and ''alleni'', like the ...
, ''Porphyrio alleni'' *
African swamphen The African swamphen (''Porphyrio madagascariensis'') is a species of swamphen occurring in Egypt, Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It used to be considered a subspecies of the purple swamphen, which it resembles, but with bronze green or gre ...
, ''Porphyrio madagascariensis'' *
Black crake The black crake (''Zapornia flavirostra'') is a waterbird in the rail and crake family, Rallidae. It breeds in most of sub-Saharan Africa except in very arid areas. It undertakes some seasonal movements in those parts of its range which are subj ...
, ''Zapornia flavirostris'' * Little crake, ''Zapornia parva'' (A) *
Baillon's crake Baillon's crake (''Zapornia pusilla''), also known as the marsh crake, is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae. Distribution Their breeding habitat is Cyperaceae, sedge beds in Europe, mainly in the east, and across the Palearctic. They used ...
, ''Zapornia pusilla''


Finfoots

Order:
Gruiformes The Gruiformes are an order (biology), order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird family (biology), families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like". Traditionally, a number of wading and t ...
Family:
Heliornithidae The Heliornithidae are a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet like those of grebes and coots. The family overall are known as finfoots, although one species is known as a sungrebe. The family is composed of three speci ...
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots. *
African finfoot The African finfoot (''Podica senegalensis'') is an aquatic bird from the family Heliornithidae (the finfoots and sungrebe). The species lives in the rivers and lakes of western, central, and southern Africa. Description The African finfoot is ...
, ''Podica senegalensis''


Cranes

Order:
Gruiformes The Gruiformes are an order (biology), order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird family (biology), families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like". Traditionally, a number of wading and t ...
Family: 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 The black crowned crane (''Balearica pavonina'') is a part of the family Gruidae, along with its sister species, the grey crowned crane. It is topped with its characteristic bristle-feathered golden crown. It is usually found in the shallow w ...
, ''Balearica pavonina''


Thick-knees

Order:
Charadriiformes Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Burhinidae The stone-curlews, also known as dikkops or thick-knees, consist of 10 species within the family Burhinidae, and are found throughout the tropical and temperate parts of the world, with two or more species occurring in some areas of Africa, Asia, ...
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 The water thick-knee or water dikkop (''Burhinus vermiculatus'') is a species of bird in the thick-knee family Burhinidae. The species is found across sub-Saharan Africa, usually close to water. Distribution and habitat The water thick-knee has ...
, ''Burhinus vermiculatus'' *
Eurasian thick-knee The Eurasian stone-curlew, Eurasian thick-knee, or simply stone-curlew (''Burhinus oedicnemus'') is a northern species of the Burhinidae (stone-curlew) bird family. Taxonomy The Eurasian stone-curlew was formally described by the Swedish natur ...
, ''Burhinus oedicnemus'' (A) *
Senegal thick-knee The Senegal thick-knee (''Burhinus senegalensis'') is a stone-curlew, a group of waders in the family Burhinidae. Their vernacular scientific name refers to the prominent joints in the long yellow or greenish legs. Range It is a resident breede ...
, ''Burhinus senegalensis'' *
Spotted thick-knee The spotted thick-knee (''Burhinus capensis''), also known as the spotted dikkop or Cape thick-knee, is a wader in the family Stone-curlew, Burhinidae. It is native to tropical regions of central and southern Africa. Description The spotted thic ...
, ''Burhinus capensis''


Egyptian plover

Order:
Charadriiformes Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family: Pluvianidae The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River. *
Egyptian plover The Egyptian plover (''Pluvianus aegyptius''), also known as the crocodile bird, is a wader, the only member of the genus ''Pluvianus''. Formerly placed in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae, it is now regarded as the sole member of ...
, ''Pluvianus aegyptius''


Stilts and avocets

Order:
Charadriiformes Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family: Recurvirostridae Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and
stilt Stilt is a common name for several species of birds in the family Recurvirostridae, which also includes those known as avocets. They are found in brackish or saline wetlands in warm or hot climates. They have extremely long legs, hence the grou ...
s. 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''


Plovers and lapwings

Order:
Charadriiformes Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family: Charadriidae The family Charadriidae includes the
plover Plovers ( , ) are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae. Description There are about 66 species in the subfamily, most of them called "plover" or "dotterel". The closely related lapwing subfa ...
s, 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'' (A) *
Spur-winged lapwing The spur-winged lapwing or spur-winged plover (''Vanellus spinosus'') is a lapwing species, one of a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae. It is one of several species of wader supposed to be the "trochilus" bird said by Herodotus ...
, ''Vanellus spinosus'' *
Black-headed lapwing The black-headed lapwing or black-headed plover (''Vanellus tectus'') is a large lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae. It is a resident breeder across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, although it has seaso ...
, ''Vanellus tectus'' *
White-headed lapwing The white-crowned lapwing, white-headed lapwing, white-headed plover or white-crowned plover (''Vanellus albiceps'') is a medium-sized wader. It is resident throughout tropical Africa, usually near large rivers. Description This lapwing is unmi ...
, ''Vanellus albiceps'' * Wattled lapwing, ''Vanellus senegallus'' * White-tailed lapwing, ''Vanellus leucurus'' (A) *
Caspian plover The Caspian plover (''Charadrius asiaticus'') is a wader in the plover family of birds. The genus name ''Charadrius'' is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek ''kharadrios'' ...
, ''Charadrius asiaticus'' (A) * Kittlitz's plover, ''Charadrius pecuarius'' * Kentish plover, ''Charadrius alexandrinus'' * Common ringed plover, ''Charadrius hiaticula'' *
Little ringed plover The little ringed plover (''Charadrius dubius'') is a small plover. The genus name ''Charadrius'' is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek ''kharadrios'' a bird found in river ...
, ''Charadrius dubius'' * Forbes's plover, ''Charadrius forbesi'' (A) *
White-fronted plover The white-fronted plover or white-fronted sandplover (''Charadrius marginatus'') is a small (45-50 g) shorebird of the family Charadriidae that inhabits sandy beaches, dunes, mudflats and the shores of rivers and lakes in sub-saharan Africa and M ...
, ''Charadrius marginatus''


Painted-snipes

Order:
Charadriiformes Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Rostratulidae The Rostratulidae, commonly known as the painted-snipes, are a family of wading birds that consists of two genera: ''Rostratula'' and '' Nycticryphes''. Description The painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the t ...
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured. *
Greater painted-snipe The greater painted-snipe (''Rostratula benghalensis'') is a species of wader in the family Rostratulidae. It is found in marshes in Africa, South Asia and South-east Asia. Description Medium-sized, plump wading bird. Long reddish-brown bill, s ...
, ''Rostratula benghalensis''


Jacanas

Order:
Charadriiformes Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Jacanidae The jacanas (sometimes referred to as Jesus birds or lily trotters) are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found in the tropical regions around the world. They are noted for their elongated toes and toenails that allow ...
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 The lesser jacana (''Microparra capensis'') is a species of bird in the family Jacanidae. It is monotypic within the genus ''Microparra''. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democrat ...
, ''Microparra capensis'' * African jacana, ''Actophilornis africanus''


Sandpipers and allies

Order:
Charadriiformes Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Scolopacidae Sandpipers are a large family, Scolopacidae, of waders. They include many species called sandpipers, as well as those called by names such as curlew and snipe. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. ...
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the
sandpiper Sandpipers are a large family, Scolopacidae, of waders. They include many species called sandpipers, as well as those called by names such as curlew and snipe. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. ...
s, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers,
woodcock The woodcocks are a group of seven or eight very similar living species of wading birds in the genus ''Scolopax''. The genus name is Latin for a snipe or woodcock, and until around 1800 was used to refer to a variety of waders. The English name ...
s,
snipe A snipe is any of about 26 wading bird species in three genera in the family Scolopacidae. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill, eyes placed high on the head, and cryptic/camouflaging plumage. The ''Gallinago'' snipes have a near ...
s, dowitchers and
phalarope __NOTOC__ A phalarope is any of three living species of slender-necked shorebirds in the genus ''Phalaropus'' of the bird family Scolopacidae. Phalaropes are close relatives of the shanks and tattlers, the ''Actitis'' and Terek sandpipers, a ...
s. 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. *
Eurasian curlew The Eurasian curlew or common curlew (''Numenius arquata'') is a very large wader in the family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across temperate Europe and Asia. In Europe, this species is often referred t ...
, ''Numenius arquata'' (A) *
Black-tailed godwit The black-tailed godwit (''Limosa limosa'') is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is a member of the godwit genus, ''Limosa''. There are four subspecies, all with orange head, neck and chest ...
, ''Limosa limosa'' *
Ruff Ruff may refer to: Places *Ruff, Virginia, United States, an unincorporated community *Ruff, Washington, United States, an unincorporated community Other uses *Ruff (bird) (''Calidris pugnax'' or ''Philomachus pugnax''), a bird in the wader fami ...
, ''Calidris pugnax'' * Curlew sandpiper, ''Calidris ferruginea'' * Temminck's stint, ''Calidris temminckii'' * Sanderling, ''Calidris alba'' (A) *
Dunlin The dunlin (''Calidris alpina'') is a small wader, formerly sometimes separated with the other "stints" in the genus ''Erolia''. The English name is a dialect form of "dunling", first recorded in 1531–1532. It derives from ''dun'', "dull brown ...
, ''Calidris alpina'' (A) * Little stint, ''Calidris minuta'' *
Jack snipe The jack snipe or jacksnipe (''Lymnocryptes minimus'') is a small stocky wader. It is the smallest snipe, and the only member of the genus ''Lymnocryptes''. Features such as its sternum make it quite distinct from other snipes or woodcocks. Et ...
, ''Lymnocryptes minimus'' (A) *
Great snipe The great snipe (''Gallinago media'') is a small stocky wader in the genus ''Gallinago''. This bird's breeding habitat is marshes and wet meadows with short vegetation in north-eastern Europe, including north-western Russia. Great snipes are mig ...
, ''Gallinago media'' (A) * Common snipe, ''Gallinago gallinago'' * Red-necked phalarope, ''Phalaropus lobatus'' (A) *
Common sandpiper The common sandpiper (''Actitis hypoleucos'') is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the spotted sandpiper (''A. macularia''), make up the genus ''Actitis''. They are parapatric and replace each other geographic ...
, ''Actitis hypoleucos'' * Green sandpiper, ''Tringa ochropus'' * Spotted redshank, ''Tringa erythropus'' *
Common greenshank The common greenshank (''Tringa nebularia'') is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae, the typical waders. The genus name ''Tringa'' is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek ''trungas'' ...
, ''Tringa nebularia'' *
Marsh sandpiper The marsh sandpiper (''Tringa stagnatilis'') is a small wader. It is a rather small shank, and breeds in open grassy steppe and taiga wetlands from easternmost Europe to the Russian Far East. The genus name ''Tringa'' is the New Latin name given ...
, ''Tringa stagnatilis'' *
Wood sandpiper The wood sandpiper (''Tringa glareola'') is a small wader. This Eurasian species is the smallest of the shanks, which are mid-sized long-legged waders of the family Scolopacidae. The genus name ''Tringa'' is the New Latin name given to the green ...
, ''Tringa glareola'' * Common redshank, ''Tringa totanus''


Buttonquail

Order:
Charadriiformes Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family: 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 The common buttonquail (''Turnix sylvaticus''), also called Kurrichane buttonquail, small buttonquail, or Andalusian hemipode is a buttonquail, one of a small family of birds which resemble but are unrelated to the true of quails. Description Th ...
, ''Turnix sylvatica'' *
Quail-plover The quail-plover, lark buttonquail or lark-plover (''Ortyxelos meiffrenii'') is a small ground-living bird in the buttonquail family Turnicidae that is found in the Sahel region of Africa and in a disjunct region of East Africa. It is the only sp ...
, ''Ortyxelos meiffrenii''


Pratincoles and coursers

Order:
Charadriiformes Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Glareolidae Glareolidae is a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadrii. It contains two distinct groups, the pratincoles and the coursers. The atypical Egyptian plover (''Pluvianus aegyptius''), traditionally placed in this family, is now known to be ...
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the
pratincole The pratincoles or greywaders are a group of birds which together with the coursers make up the family Glareolidae. They have short legs, very long pointed wings and long forked tails. Description Their most unusual feature for birds classed as ...
s, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the
courser The coursers are a group of birds which together with the pratincoles make up the family Glareolidae. They have long legs, short wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards. Their most unusual feature for birds classed as waders is that ...
s, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards. *
Cream-colored courser The cream-colored courser (''Cursorius cursor'') is a wader in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae. Both parts of the scientific name derive from Latin ''cursor'', "runner", from ''currere'', "to run" which describes their usual habi ...
, ''Cursorius cursor'' *
Temminck's courser Temminck's courser (''Cursorius temminckii'') is a bird in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae. It is a wader which lives in sub-Saharan Africa. It is noted for laying its dark ash-black eggs in the burnt bushes and grass of the Africa ...
, ''Cursorius temminckii'' *
Bronze-winged courser The bronze-winged courser or violet-tipped courser (''Rhinoptilus chalcopterus'') is a species of bird in the family Glareolidae. This species is named for its characteristic bronze-tipped feathers that are visible during flight. It is found livi ...
, ''Rhinoptilus chalcopterus'' *
Collared pratincole The collared pratincole (''Glareola pratincola''), also known as the common pratincole or red-winged pratincole, is a wader in the pratincole family, Glareolidae. As with other pratincoles, it is native to the Old World. Taxonomy The collared pr ...
, ''Glareola pratincola'' *
Rock pratincole The rock pratincole (''Glareola nuchalis'') is a species of bird in the family Glareolidae. Distribution and habitat There are two subspecies of rock pratincole: *''G. n. liberiae'' (Schlegel, 1881), – ''Rufous-collared pratincole'' – from ...
, ''Glareola nuchalis'' * Gray pratincole, ''Glareola cinerea''


Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order:
Charadriiformes Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family: Laridae Laridae is a family of medium to large
seabird Seabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that are adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same enviro ...
s, the
gull Gulls, or colloquially seagulls, are seabirds of the family Laridae in the suborder Lari. They are most closely related to the terns and skimmers and only distantly related to auks, and even more distantly to waders. Until the 21st century, m ...
s, terns, and
skimmer Skimmer may refer to: Animals *Skimmer (bird), a common name for birds in the genus ''Rynchops'' *Skimmer (dragonfly), a common name for dragonflies in the family Libellulidae *Water strider or skimmer, a common name for insects in the family Ge ...
s. 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. * Slender-billed gull, ''Chroicocephalus genei'' (A) * Gray-hooded gull, ''Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus'' *
Black-headed gull The black-headed gull (''Chroicocephalus ridibundus'') is a small gull that breeds in much of the Palearctic including Europe and also in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory and winters further south, but some birds res ...
, ''Chroicocephalus ridibundus'' * Lesser black-backed gull, ''Larus fuscus'' * Little tern, ''Sternula albifrons'' * Gull-billed tern, ''Gelochelidon nilotica'' * Caspian tern, ''Hydroprogne caspia'' * Black tern, ''Chlidonias niger'' (A) * White-winged tern, ''Chlidonias leucopterus'' *
Whiskered tern The whiskered tern (''Chlidonias hybrida'') is a tern in the family Laridae. The genus name is from Ancient Greek ''khelidonios'', "swallow-like", from ''khelidon'', "swallow". The specific ''hybridus'' is Latin for ''hybrid''; Peter Simon Palla ...
, ''Chlidonias hybrida'' *
African skimmer The African skimmer (''Rynchops flavirostris'') is a species of bird belonging to the skimmer genus ''Rynchops'' in the family Laridae. It is found along rivers, lakes and lagoons in Sub-Saharan Africa. Description African skimmers have long w ...
, ''Rynchops flavirostris''


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 The African openbill (''Anastomus lamelligerus'') is a species of stork from the family Ciconiidae.Kahl, M. P. (1972). Comparative ethology of the ''Ciconiidae'': part 5. The Openbill Storks (genus ''Anastomus''). ''Journal Für Ornithologie'', ...
, ''Anastomus lamelligerus'' * Black stork, ''Ciconia nigra'' (A) *
Abdim's stork Abdim's stork (''Ciconia abdimii''), also known as the white-bellied stork, is a stork belonging to the family Ciconiidae. It is the smallest species of stork, feeds mostly on insects, and is found widely in open habitats in Sub-Saharan Africa an ...
, ''Ciconia abdimii'' *
African woolly-necked stork The African woolly-necked stork or African woollyneck (''Ciconia microscelis'') is a species of large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds singly, or in small loose colonies. It is distributed in a wide variety of habitats inclu ...
, ''Ciconia microscelis'' *
White stork The white stork (''Ciconia ciconia'') is a large bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on the bird's wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to en ...
, ''Ciconia ciconia'' * Saddle-billed stork, ''Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis'' *
Marabou stork The marabou stork (''Leptoptilos crumenifer'') is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae native to sub-Saharan Africa. It breeds in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially landfill sites. It is someti ...
, ''Leptoptilos crumenifer'' *
Yellow-billed stork The yellow-billed stork (''Mycteria ibis''), sometimes also called the wood stork or wood ibis, is a large African wading stork species in the family Ciconiidae. It is widespread in regions south of the Sahara and also occurs in Madagascar. Taxo ...
, ''Mycteria ibis''


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 The African darter (''Anhinga rufa''), sometimes called the snakebird, is a water bird of sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq. Taxonomy The African darter is a member of the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to American (''Anhinga anhin ...
, ''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 The reed cormorant (''Microcarbo africanus''), also known as the long-tailed cormorant, is a bird in the cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae. It breeds in much of Africa south of the Sahara, and Madagascar. It is resident but undertakes some se ...
, ''Microcarbo africanus'' *
Great cormorant The great cormorant (''Phalacrocorax carbo''), known as the black shag in New Zealand and formerly also known as the great black cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the black cormorant in Australia, and the large cormorant in India, is a w ...
, ''Phalacrocorax carbo'' (A)


Pelicans

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelican Pelicans (genus ''Pelecanus'') are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before s ...
s 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 The great white pelican (''Pelecanus onocrotalus'') also known as the eastern white pelican, rosy pelican or white pelican is a bird in the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia and Africa, in swamps and shallow lakes. ...
, ''Pelecanus onocrotalus'' *
Pink-backed pelican The pink-backed pelican (''Pelecanus rufescens'') is a bird of the pelican family. It is a resident breeder in the swamps and shallow lakes of Africa and southern Arabia; it has also apparently extirpated in Madagascar. Taxonomy The pink-backe ...
, ''Pelecanus rufescens''


Hammerkop

Order: PelecaniformesFamily:
Scopidae ''Scopus'' is a genus of wading birds containing the hamerkop ''(Scopus umbretta)'' and its extinct Pliocene relative, ''Scopus xenopus''. This genus is the sole representative of the family Scopidae. Taxonomy Hamerkops were traditionally includ ...
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,
heron The herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 72 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genera ''Botaurus'' and ''Ixobrychus ...
s and
egret Egrets ( ) are herons, generally long-legged wading birds, that have white or buff plumage, developing fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. Egrets are not a biologically distinct group from herons and have the same build ...
s. 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 The Eurasian bittern or great bittern (''Botaurus stellaris'') is a wading bird in the bittern subfamily (Botaurinae) of the heron family Ardeidae. There are two subspecies, the northern race (''B. s. stellaris'') breeding in parts of Europe and ...
, ''Botaurus stellaris'' *
Little bittern The little bittern or common little bittern (''Ixobrychus minutus'') is a wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. ''Ixobrychus'' is from Ancient Greek ''ixias'', a reed-like plant and ''brukhomai'', to bellow, and ''minutus'' is Latin for "sm ...
, ''Ixobrychus minutus'' * Dwarf bittern, ''Ixobrychus sturmii'' (A) *
Gray heron The grey heron (''Ardea cinerea'') is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern ...
, ''Ardea cinerea'' *
Black-headed heron The black-headed heron (''Ardea melanocephala'') is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is mainly resident, but some west African birds move further north in the rainy sea ...
, ''Ardea melanocephala'' *
Goliath heron The Goliath heron (''Ardea goliath''), also known as the giant heron, is a very large wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller, declining numbers in Southwest and South Asia. Description This i ...
, ''Ardea goliath'' * Purple heron, ''Ardea purpurea'' *
Great egret The great egret (''Ardea alba''), also known as the common egret, large egret, or (in the Old World) great white egret or great white heron is a large, widely distributed egret. The four subspecies are found in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and ...
, ''Ardea alba'' * Intermediate egret, ''Ardea intermedia'' * Little egret, ''Egretta garzetta'' *
Black heron The black heron (''Egretta ardesiaca''), also known as the black egret, is an African heron. It is well known for its habit of using its wings to form a canopy when fishing. Description The black heron is a medium-sized (42.5–66 cm ...
, ''Egretta ardesiaca'' *
Cattle egret The cattle egret (''Bubulcus ibis'') is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics, and warm-temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus ''Bubulcus'', although some authorities regard it ...
, ''Bubulcus ibis'' * Squacco heron, ''Ardeola ralloides'' * Striated heron, ''Butorides striata'' *
Black-crowned night-heron The black-crowned night heron (''Nycticorax nycticorax''), or black-capped night heron, commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, including parts of Europe, Asia, and ...
, ''Nycticorax nycticorax'' * White-backed night-heron, ''Gorsachius leuconotus'' (A)


Ibises and spoonbills

Order: PelecaniformesFamily:
Threskiornithidae The family Threskiornithidae includes 36 species of large wading birds. The family has been traditionally classified into two subfamilies, the ibises and the spoonbills; however recent genetic studies have cast doubt on this arrangement, and hav ...
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the
ibis The ibises () (collective plural ibis; classical plurals ibides and ibes) are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae, that inhabit wetlands, forests and plains. "Ibis" derives from the Latin and Ancient Greek word f ...
es and
spoonbill Spoonbills are a genus, ''Platalea'', of large, long-legged wading birds. The spoonbills have a global distribution, being found on every continent except Antarctica. The genus name ''Platalea'' derives from Ancient Greek and means "broad", refe ...
s. 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 The African sacred ibis (''Threskiornis aethiopicus'') is a species of ibis, a wading bird of the family Threskiornithidae. It is native to much of Africa, as well as small parts of Iraq, Iran and Kuwait. It is especially known for its role in ...
, ''Threskiornis aethiopicus'' *
Hadada ibis The hadeda ibis (''Bostrychia hagedash'') is an ibis native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is named for its loud three to four note calls uttered in flight especially in the mornings and evenings when they fly out or return to their roost trees. Altho ...
, ''Bostrychia hagedash'' *
Eurasian spoonbill The Eurasian spoonbill (''Platalea leucorodia''), or common spoonbill, is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The genus name ''Platalea'' is from Latin and means "broad", referring to the distinctive shape of the b ...
, ''Platalea leucorodia'' (A) *
African spoonbill The African spoonbill (''Platalea alba'') is a long-legged wading birdAccipitriformesFamily:
Sagittariidae Sagittariidae is a family of raptor with one living species—the secretarybird (''Sagittarius serpentarius'') native to Africa. This single extant species, has effected the fossil record of the group by ‘pulling’ the temporal range of the fam ...
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 ''Pandion'' is a genus of birds of prey, known as ospreys, the only genus of family Pandionidae. Most taxonomic treatments have regarded this genus as describing a single extant species, separated to subspecies or races, while some treatments rec ...
The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large
raptor Raptor or RAPTOR may refer to: Animals The word "raptor" refers to several groups of bird-like dinosaurs which primarily capture and subdue/kill prey with their talons. * Raptor (bird) or bird of prey, a bird that primarily hunts and feeds on v ...
which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. *
Osprey The osprey (''Pandion haliaetus''), , also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor reaching more than in length and across the wings. It is brown o ...
, ''Pandion haliaetus''


Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes
hawk Hawks are bird of prey, birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. They are widely distributed and are found on all continents except Antarctica. * The subfamily Accipitrinae includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks and others. Th ...
s,
eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...
s, kites, harriers and
Old World vulture Old World vultures are vultures that are found in the Old World, i.e. the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa, and which belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, buzzards, kites, and hawks. Old World vultures are not clos ...
s. 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 The palm-nut vulture (''Gypohierax angolensis'') or vulturine fish eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae (which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers, vultures, and eagles). It is the o ...
, ''Gypohierax angolensis'' (A) *
Egyptian vulture The Egyptian vulture (''Neophron percnopterus''), also called the white scavenger vulture or pharaoh's chicken, is a small Old World vulture and the only member of the genus ''Neophron''. It is widely distributed from the Iberian Peninsula and ...
, ''Neophron percnopterus'' * European honey-buzzard, ''Pernis apivorus'' *
White-headed vulture The white-headed vulture (''Trigonoceps occipitalis'') is an Old World vulture endemic to Africa. Populations have been declining steeply in recent years due to habitat degradation and poisoning of vultures at carcasses. An extinct relative was a ...
, ''Trigonoceps occipitalis'' *
Lappet-faced vulture The lappet-faced vulture or Nubian vulture (''Torgos tracheliotos'') is an Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus ''Torgos''. It ...
, ''Torgos tracheliotos'' *
Hooded vulture The hooded vulture (''Necrosyrtes monachus'') is an Old World vulture in the order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus ''Necrosyrtes,'' which is sister to the larger ''Gyps ...
, ''Necrosyrtes monachus'' * White-backed vulture, ''Gyps africanus'' * Rüppell's griffon, ''Gyps rueppelli'' * Bateleur, ''Terathopius ecaudatus'' *
Short-toed snake-eagle The short-toed snake eagle (''Circaetus gallicus''), also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. The genus na ...
, ''Circaetus gallicus'' *
Beaudouin's snake-eagle Beaudouin's snake eagle (''Circaetus beaudouini'') is a species of snake eagle in the family Accipitridae found in the Sahel region of west Africa. It forms a superspecies with the Palearctic short-toed snake eagle ''Circaetus gallicus'' and ...
, ''Circaetus beaudouini'' (A) * Brown snake-eagle, ''Circaetus cinereus'' *
Banded snake-eagle ''Circaetus'', the snake eagles, is a genus of medium-sized eagles in the bird of prey family Accipitridae. They are mainly resident African species, but the migratory short-toed snake eagle breeds from the Mediterranean basin into Russia, the M ...
, ''Circaetus cinerascens'' *
Bat hawk The bat hawk (''Macheiramphus alcinus'') is a raptor found in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia to New Guinea. It is named for its diet, which consists mainly of bats. It requires open space in which to hunt, but will live anywhere from dense r ...
, ''Macheiramphus alcinus'' *
Martial eagle The martial eagle (''Polemaetus bellicosus'') is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa.Ferguson-Lees & Christie, ''Raptors of the World''. Houghton Mifflin Company (2001), . It is the only member of the genus ''Polemaetus''. A species of t ...
, ''Polemaetus bellicosus'' *
Long-crested eagle The long-crested eagle (''Lophaetus occipitalis'') is an African bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae. It is currently placed in a monotypic genus ''Lophaetus''. It is characterized by the feathers making up the shaggy ...
, ''Lophaetus occipitalis'' * Lesser spotted eagle, ''Clanga pomarina'' (A) * Wahlberg's eagle, ''Hieraaetus wahlbergi'' *
Booted eagle The booted eagle (''Hieraaetus pennatus'', also classified as ''Aquila pennata'') is a medium-sized mostly migratory bird of prey with a wide distribution in the Palearctic and southern Asia, wintering in the tropics of Africa and Asia, with a ...
, ''Hieraaetus pennatus'' *
Ayres's hawk-eagle Ayres's hawk-eagle (''Hieraaetus ayresii''), also referred to as Ayres' eagle,Newman, K (1998) Newman's Birds of Southern Africa. Halfway House: Southern Book Publishers. . is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is native t ...
, ''Hieraaetus ayresii'' (A) * Tawny eagle, ''Aquila rapax'' * Steppe eagle, ''Aquila nipalensis'' (A) *
Imperial eagle The eagle is used in heraldry as a charge, as a supporter, and as a crest. Heraldic eagles can be found throughout world history like in the Achaemenid Empire or in the present Republic of Indonesia. The European post-classical symbolism of the ...
, ''Aquila heliaca'' (A) *
Golden eagle The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known bird of p ...
, ''Aquila chrysaetos'' *
Verreaux's eagle Verreaux's eagle (''Aquila verreauxii'') is a large, mostly African, bird of prey. It is also called the black eagle, especially in southern Africa, not to be confused with the Indian black eagle (''Ictinaetus malayensis''), which lives far to t ...
, ''Aquila verreauxii'' * African hawk-eagle, ''Aquila spilogaster'' *
Lizard buzzard The lizard buzzard (''Kaupifalco monogrammicus'') or lizard hawk, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its name, it may be more closely related to the ''Accipiter'' hawks than the ''Buteo'' bu ...
, ''Kaupifalco monogrammicus'' * Dark chanting-goshawk, ''Melierax metabates'' *
Gabar goshawk The gabar goshawk (''Micronisus gabar'') is a small species of African and Arabian bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Description The gabar goshawk is polymorphic and occurs in two distinct forms which fluctuate in relative abundance acro ...
, ''Micronisus gabar'' *
Grasshopper buzzard The grasshopper buzzard (''Butastur rufipennis'') is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which is found in a narrow zone of sub-Saharan Africa north of the equator. Taxonomy The grasshopper buzzard forms a superspecies with th ...
, ''Butastur rufipennis'' *
Eurasian marsh-harrier The western marsh harrier (''Circus aeruginosus'') is a large harrier, a bird of prey from temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa. It is also known as the Eurasian marsh harrier. Formerly, a number of relatives were includ ...
, ''Circus aeruginosus'' * Pallid harrier, ''Circus macrourus'' *
Montagu's harrier Montagu's harrier (''Circus pygargus'') is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu. Taxonomy The first formal description of Montagu's harrier was by the Swedish na ...
, ''Circus pygargus'' *
African goshawk The African goshawk (''Accipiter tachiro'') is an African species of bird of prey in the genus ''Accipiter'' which is the type genus of the family Accipitridae. Description The African goshawk is a medium-sized to large ''Accipiter'' which is m ...
, ''Accipiter tachiro'' * Shikra, ''Accipiter badius'' *
Black goshawk The black sparrowhawk (''Accipiter melanoleucus''), sometimes known as the black goshawk or great sparrowhawk, is the largest African member of the genus ''Accipiter''.Arkive. Black goshawk (''Accipiter melanoleucus''). In: Arkive: Images of Lif ...
, ''Accipiter melanoleucus'' (A) * Red kite, ''Milvus milvus'' (A) * Black kite, ''Milvus migrans'' * African fish-eagle, ''Haliaeetus vocifer'' * 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 The barn owl (''Tyto alba'') is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds, being found almost everywhere except for the polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalaya ...
, ''Tyto alba''


Owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae The
typical owl The true owls or typical owls (family Strigidae) are one of the two generally accepted families of owls, the other being the barn owls (Tytonidae). This large family comprises 230 living or recently extinct species in 24 genera. The typical owl ...
s 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 The Eurasian scops owl (''Otus scops''), also known as the European scops owl or just scops owl, is a small owl in the typical owl family Strigidae. Its breeding range extends from southern Europe eastwards to southern Siberia and the western Hima ...
, ''Otus scops'' (A) *
African scops-owl The African scops owl (''Otus senegalensis'') is a small owl which is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. Taxonomy William John Swainson first described the species in 1837 from a specimen collected in Senegal, and initially assigned it to the no ...
, ''Otus senegalensis'' *
Northern white-faced owl The northern white-faced owl (''Ptilopsis leucotis'') is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. The southern white-faced owl (''P. granti'') was formerly included in this species and the two were known as the white-faced scops-owl. It is fou ...
, ''Ptilopsis leucotis'' * Pharaoh eagle-owl, ''Bubo ascalaphus'' * Grayish eagle-owl, ''Bubo cinerascens'' *
Verreaux's eagle-owl Verreaux's eagle-owl (''Bubo lacteus''), also commonly known as the milky eagle owl or giant eagle owl, is a member of the family Strigidae. This species is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. A member of the genus ''Bubo'', it is the largest Afric ...
, ''Bubo lacteus'' * Pel's fishing-owl, ''Scotopelia peli'' *
Pearl-spotted owlet The pearl-spotted owlet (''Glaucidium perlatum'') is a small bird of prey found in sub-Saharan Africa. They belong to the Strigidae family, otherwise known as the typical owls or the true owls, which contains most species of owl. As part of the ...
, ''Glaucidium perlatum'' *
Little owl The little owl (''Athene noctua''), also known as the owl of Athena or owl of Minerva, is a bird that inhabits much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, the Palearctic east to Korea, and North Africa. It was introduced into Britain at ...
, ''Athene noctua'' *
Short-eared owl The short-eared owl (''Asio flammeus'') is a widespread grassland species in the family Strigidae. Owls belonging to genus ''Asio'' are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or ...
, ''Asio flammeus'' (A) *
Marsh owl The marsh owl (''Asio capensis'') is a medium to large species of owl in the family Strigidae. Description Medium-sized, dark brown with a pumpkin-shaped head with small 'ear' tufts. The facial disc is pale buff, with a distinct dark brown ri ...
, ''Asio capensis''


Mousebirds

Order: ColiiformesFamily:
Coliidae The mousebirds are birds in the order Coliiformes. They are the sister group to the clade Eucavitaves, which includes the Leptosomiformes (the cuckoo roller), Trogoniformes (trogons), Bucerotiformes (hornbills and hoopoes), Piciformes (woodpeck ...
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. *
Blue-naped mousebird The blue-naped mousebird (''Urocolius macrourus''), also formerly called the blue-naped coly (''Colius macrourus'') is a species of bird found in the wild in the drier regions of East Africa. It is one of the remaining six species of Mousebirds. ...
, ''Urocolius macrourus''


Trogons

Order: TrogoniformesFamily:
Trogonidae The trogons and quetzals are birds in the order Trogoniformes which contains only one family, the Trogonidae. The family Trogonidae contains 46 species in seven genera. The fossil record of the trogons dates back 49 million years to the Early E ...
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 __NOTOC__ The Narina trogon (''Apaloderma narina'') is a largely green and red, medium-sized (32–34 cm long), bird of the family Trogonidae. It is native to forests and woodlands of the Afrotropics. Though it is the most widespread and cat ...
, ''Apaloderma narina'' (A)


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 wood hoopoes or scimitarbills are a small African family, Phoeniculidae, of near passerine birds. They live south of the Sahara Desert and are not migratory. While the family is now restricted to Sub-Saharan Africa, fossil evidence shows th ...
The woodhoopoes are related to the kingfishers,
roller Roller may refer to: Birds *Roller, a bird of the family Coraciidae * Roller (pigeon), a domesticated breed or variety of pigeon Devices * Roller (agricultural tool), a non-powered tool for flattening ground * Road roller, a vehicle for compa ...
s 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'' *
Black scimitarbill The black scimitarbill (''Rhinopomastus aterrimus''), also known as the black wood hoopoe, is a species of bird in the family Phoeniculidae. Range It is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of ...
, ''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 The Abyssinian ground hornbill or northern ground hornbill (''Bucorvus abyssinicus'') is an African bird, found north of the equator, and is one of two species of ground hornbill. It is the second largest species of African hornbill, only surpass ...
, ''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. *
African gray hornbill The African grey hornbill (''Lophoceros nasutus'') is a member of the hornbill family of mainly tropical near-passerine birds found in the Old World. It is a widespread resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa and the southwest of the Arabi ...
, ''Lophoceros nasutus'' *
Northern red-billed hornbill The northern red-billed hornbill (''Tockus erythrorhynchus'') is a species of hornbill in the family Bucerotidae. It is found from southern Mauritania through Somalia and northeast Tanzania. There are five species of red-billed hornbills recogn ...
, ''Tockus erythrorhynchus''


Kingfishers

Order:
Coraciiformes The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colourful birds including the kingfishers, the bee-eaters, the rollers, the motmots, and the todies. They generally have syndactyly, with three forward-pointing toes (and toes 3 & 4 fused at their base) ...
Family: Alcedinidae Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. * Malachite kingfisher, ''Corythornis cristatus'' *
African pygmy kingfisher The African pygmy kingfisher (''Ispidina picta'') is a small insectivorous kingfisher found in the Afrotropics, mostly in woodland habitats. Taxonomy The African pygmy kingfisher was described by the French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comt ...
, ''Ispidina picta'' (A) *
Gray-headed kingfisher The grey-headed kingfisher (''Halcyon leucocephala'') is a species of kingfisher that has a wide distribution from the Cape Verde Islands off the north-west coast of Africa to Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia, east to Ethiopia, Somalia and southern ...
, ''Halcyon leucocephala'' *
Woodland kingfisher The woodland kingfisher (''Halcyon senegalensis'') is a tree kingfisher that is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. Taxonomy The Southern Africa naturalist Carl Linnaeus included the woodland kingfisher with the binomial name ...
, ''Halcyon senegalensis'' *
Blue-breasted kingfisher The blue-breasted kingfisher (''Halcyon malimbica'') is a tree kingfisher widely distributed across Equatorial Africa. This kingfisher is essentially resident, but retreats from drier savanna areas to wetter habitats in the dry season. This is ...
, ''Halcyon malimbica'' *
Striped kingfisher The striped kingfisher (''Halcyon chelicuti'') is a species of bird in the tree kingfisher subfamily. It was first described by Edward, Lord Stanley, in ''Salt's Voyage to Abyssinia''Salt (1816) in 1814 as "Chelicut kingfisher" ''Alaudo Chelic ...
, ''Halcyon chelicuti'' *
Giant kingfisher The giant kingfisher (''Megaceryle maxima'') is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert, other than the arid southwest. Taxonomy The first Species description, ...
, ''Megaceryle maximus'' * Pied kingfisher, ''Ceryle rudis''


Bee-eaters

Order:
Coraciiformes The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colourful birds including the kingfishers, the bee-eaters, the rollers, the motmots, and the todies. They generally have syndactyly, with three forward-pointing toes (and toes 3 & 4 fused at their base) ...
Family:
Meropidae The bee-eaters are a group of non-passerine birds in the family Meropidae, containing three genera and thirty species. Most species are found in Africa and Asia, with a few in southern Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterised by ...
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. *
Red-throated bee-eater The red-throated bee-eater (''Merops bulocki'') is a species of bird in the family Meropidae. This species is found in tropical Africa, in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coas ...
, ''Merops bulocki'' *
Little bee-eater The little bee-eater (''Merops pusillus'') is a bird species in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. They are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. They should not be confused with the little green bee-eater (''Merops orientalis''). Migration is limited to se ...
, ''Merops pusillus'' * White-throated bee-eater, ''Merops albicollis'' *
African green bee-eater The African green bee-eater (''Merops viridissimus'') is a species of bird in the family Meropidae. It is found throughout arid regions of Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia, and has expanded its range north to Egypt over the past few decades. ...
, ''Merops viridissimus'' *
Blue-cheeked bee-eater The blue-cheeked bee-eater (''Merops persicus'') is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. The genus name ''Merops'' is Ancient Greek for "bee-eater", and ''persicus'' is Latin for "Persian". It breeds in Northern Africa, and ...
, ''Merops persicus'' * European bee-eater, ''Merops apiaster'' (A) *
Northern carmine bee-eater The northern carmine bee-eater (''Merops nubicus'') is a brightly-coloured bird in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. It is found across northern tropical Africa, from Senegal eastwards to Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. It was formerly considered to ...
, ''Merops nubicus''


Rollers

Order:
Coraciiformes The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colourful birds including the kingfishers, the bee-eaters, the rollers, the motmots, and the todies. They generally have syndactyly, with three forward-pointing toes (and toes 3 & 4 fused at their base) ...
Family:
Coraciidae Coraciidae is a family of Old World birds, which is known as rollers because of the aerial acrobatics some of these birds perform during courtship or territorial flights. Rollers resemble crows in size and build, and share the colourful appearan ...
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not. * European roller, ''Coracias garrulus'' (A) *
Abyssinian roller The Abyssinian roller (''Coracias abyssinicus''), or Senegal roller, is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across tropical Africa in a belt south of the Sahara, known as the Sahel. It is resident in the southern part of its ra ...
, ''Coracias abyssinica'' * Rufous-crowned roller, ''Coracias naevia'' *
Blue-bellied roller The blue-bellied roller (''Coracias cyanogaster'') is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across Africa in a narrow belt from Senegal to northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is resident, apart from some local seasonal m ...
, ''Coracias cyanogaster'' *
Broad-billed roller The broad-billed roller (''Eurystomus glaucurus'') is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across tropical Africa and Madagascar in all but the driest regions. It is a wet season breeder, which migrates from the northern and south ...
, ''Eurystomus glaucurus''


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-breasted barbet The yellow-breasted barbet (''Trachyphonus margaritatus'') is a species of bird in the Lybiidae family. It is found in Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya scri ...
, ''Trachyphonus margaritatus'' * Yellow-fronted tinkerbird, ''Pogoniulus chrysoconus'' * Vieillot's barbet, ''Lybius vieilloti'' * Bearded barbet, ''Lybius dubius''


Honeyguides

Order: PiciformesFamily: Indicatoridae Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on
wax Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to give low ...
. They are named for the
greater honeyguide The greater honeyguide (''Indicator indicator'') is a bird in the family Indicatoridae, paleotropical near passerine birds related to the woodpeckers. Its English and scientific names refer to its habit of guiding people to bee colonies. Claims t ...
which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive. *
Lesser honeyguide The lesser honeyguide (''Indicator minor'') is a species of bird in the family Indicatoridae. Range It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Rep ...
, ''Indicator minor'' *
Greater honeyguide The greater honeyguide (''Indicator indicator'') is a bird in the family Indicatoridae, paleotropical near passerine birds related to the woodpeckers. Its English and scientific names refer to its habit of guiding people to bee colonies. Claims t ...
, ''Indicator indicator''


Woodpeckers

Order: PiciformesFamily:
Picidae Woodpeckers are part of the bird family Picidae, which also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions. M ...
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 The Eurasian wryneck or northern wryneck (''Jynx torquilla'') is a species of wryneck in the woodpecker family. This species mainly breeds in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Most populations are migratory, wintering in tropical Africa and ...
, ''Jynx torquilla'' (A) * Little gray woodpecker, ''Chloropicus elachus'' * Cardinal woodpecker, ''Chloropicus fuscescens'' (A) * Brown-backed woodpecker, ''Chloropicus obsoletus'' * African gray woodpecker, ''Chloropicus goertae'' * Fine-spotted woodpecker, ''Campethera punctuligera''


Falcons and caracaras

Order: FalconiformesFamily:
Falconidae The falcons and caracaras are around 60 species of diurnal birds of prey that make up the family Falconidae (representing all extant species in the order Falconiformes). The family is divided into three subfamilies, Herpetotherinae, which inclu ...
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 The common kestrel (''Falco tinnunculus'') is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In the United Kingdom, where no ...
, ''Falco tinnunculus'' *
Greater kestrel The greater kestrel (''Falco rupicoloides'') or white-eyed kestrel, is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is one of the largest kestrels and is found in open country in southern and eastern Africa. Description The pl ...
, ''Falco rupicoloides'' (A) *
Fox kestrel The fox kestrel (''Falco alopex'') is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is found in arid, open country in the northern part of Sub-Saharan Africa. Description It is a large, slender kestrel with long, narrow wings and ...
, ''Falco alopex'' * Gray kestrel, ''Falco ardosiaceus'' * Red-necked falcon, ''Falco chicquera'' *
Red-footed falcon The red-footed falcon (''Falco vespertinus''), formerly the western red-footed falcon, is a bird of prey. It belongs to the family Falconidae, the falcons. This bird is found in eastern Europe and Asia although its numbers are dwindling rapidly ...
, ''Falco vespertinus'' (A) * Eleonora's falcon, ''Falco eleonorae'' *
Sooty falcon The sooty falcon (''Falco concolor'') is a medium-sized falcon breeding from northeastern Africa to the southern Persian Gulf region. The word sooty means to be covered in soot (ash), and is used to describe the color of the Sooty Falcon. Hence, ...
, ''Falco concolor'' (A) *
Eurasian hobby The Eurasian hobby (''Falco subbuteo'') or just hobby, is a small, slim falcon. It belongs to a rather close-knit group of similar falcons often considered a subgenus '' Hypotriorchis''. Taxonomy and systematics The first formal description of ...
, ''Falco subbuteo'' *
African hobby The African hobby (''Falco cuvierii'') is a small species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. Description A small, slim falcon with blackish upperparts and deep rufous underparts with rufous cheek, nape and throat. At close range black st ...
, ''Falco cuvierii'' (A) * Lanner falcon, ''Falco biarmicus'' * Saker falcon, ''Falco cherrug'' (A) *
Peregrine falcon The peregrine falcon (''Falco peregrinus''), also known as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan bird of prey (Bird of prey, raptor) in the family (biology), family Falco ...
, ''Falco peregrinus''


Old World parrots

Order: PsittaciformesFamily:
Psittaculidae Psittaculidae is a family containing Old World parrots. It consists of five subfamilies: Agapornithinae, Loriinae, Platycercinae, Psittacellinae and Psittaculinae. This family has been accepted into ''The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World' ...
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from to in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand. *
Rose-ringed parakeet The rose-ringed parakeet (''Psittacula krameri''), also known as the ring-necked parakeet (more commonly known as the Indian ringneck parrot), is a medium-sized parrot in the genus Psittacula, of the family Psittacidae. It has disjunct native ran ...
, ''Psittacula krameri'' * Red-headed lovebird, ''Agapornis pullarius'' (A)


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 colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from to in length. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World. *
Senegal parrot The Senegal parrot (''Poicephalus senegalus'') is a parrot which is a resident breeder across a wide range of west Africa. It makes migrations within west Africa, according to the availability of the fruit, seeds and blossoms which make up its ...
, ''Poicephalus senegalus''


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. *
Red-shouldered cuckooshrike The red-shouldered cuckooshrike (''Campephaga phoenicea'') is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, I ...
, ''Campephaga phoenicea''


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''


Wattle-eyes and batises

Order: PasseriformesFamily:
Platysteiridae Platysteiridae is a family of small, stout passerine birds of the African tropics. The family contains the wattle-eyes, batises and shrike-flycatchers. They were previously classed as a subfamily of the Old World flycatchers, Muscicapidae. These ...
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 The brown-throated wattle-eye (''Platysteira cyanea''), also known as the common wattle-eye or scarlet-spectacled wattle-eye, is a small, insectivorous passerine bird. The wattle-eyes were previously classed as a subfamily of the Old World flyca ...
, ''Platysteira cyanea'' * Senegal batis, ''Batis senegalensis''


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''


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 The northern puffback (''Dryoscopus gambensis'') is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae. It is found in northern sub-Saharan Africa. It forms a superspecies with the black-backed puffback, which replaces it in eastern equatorial and s ...
, ''Dryoscopus gambensis'' *
Black-crowned tchagra The black-crowned tchagra (''Tchagra senegalus'') is a bushshrike. This family of passerine birds is closely related to the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, and was once included in that group. This species is found in the Arabian peninsu ...
, ''Tchagra senegala'' * Yellow-crowned gonolek, ''Laniarius barbarus'' * Sulphur-breasted bushshrike, ''Telophorus sulfureopectus'' * 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. * Glossy-backed drongo, ''Dicrurus divaricatus''


Monarch flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily:
Monarchidae The monarchs (family Monarchidae) comprise a family of over 100 passerine birds which includes shrikebills, paradise flycatchers, and magpie-larks. Monarchids are small insectivorous songbirds with long tails. They inhabit forest or woodland a ...
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching. * 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 The red-tailed shrike or Turkestan shrike (''Lanius phoenicuroides'') is a member of the shrike family ( Laniidae). It was formerly considered conspecific with the isabelline shrike and the red-backed shrike. Description The plumage is a sandy ...
, ''Lanius phoenicuroides'' * Isabelline shrike, ''Lanius isabellinus'' (A) *
Great gray shrike The great grey shrike (''Lanius excubitor'') is a large and predatory songbird species in the shrike family (Laniidae). It forms a superspecies with its parapatric southern relatives, the Iberian grey shrike (''L. meridionalis''), the Chinese ...
, ''Lanius excubitor'' * Lesser gray shrike, ''Lanius minor'' (A) * Yellow-billed shrike, ''Lanius corvinus'' *
Northern fiscal The northern fiscal (''Lanius humeralis'') is a member of the shrike family found through most of Sub-Saharan Africa. It used to be grouped with the southern fiscal (''Lanius collaris''). Together they were called the common fiscal. The fisca ...
, ''Lanius humeralis'' *
Masked shrike The masked shrike (''Lanius nubicus'') is a species of bird in the shrike family, Laniidae. It breeds in southeastern Europe and at the eastern end of the Mediterranean, with a separate population in eastern Iraq and western Iran. It is migrat ...
, ''Lanius nubicus'' (A) *
Woodchat shrike The woodchat shrike (''Lanius senator'') is a member of the shrike family Laniidae. It can be identified by its red-brown crown and nape. It is mainly insectivorous and favours open wooded areas with scattered trees such as orchards, particularl ...
, ''Lanius senator''


Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae The family Corvidae includes crows,
raven A raven is any of several larger-bodied bird species of the genus ''Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", common names which are assigned t ...
s,
jay A jay is a member of a number of species of medium-sized, usually colorful and noisy, passerine birds in the Crow family (biology), family, Corvidae. The evolutionary relationships between the jays and the magpies are rather complex. For examp ...
s,
chough There are two species of passerine birds commonly called chough ( ) that constitute the genus ''Pyrrhocorax'' of the Corvidae (crow) family of birds. These are the red-billed chough (''Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax''), and the Alpine chough (or yellow- ...
s,
magpie Magpies are birds of the Corvidae family. Like other members of their family, they are widely considered to be intelligent creatures. The Eurasian magpie, for instance, is thought to rank among the world's most intelligent creatures, and is one ...
s, treepies, nutcrackers and
ground jay The ground jays or ground choughs belong to a distinct group of the passerine order of birds in the genus ''Podoces'' of the crow family Corvidae. They inhabit high altitude semi-desert areas from central Asia to Mongolia. Ground jays show adapt ...
s. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence. *
Piapiac The piapiac (''Ptilostomus afer'') is an African bird in the crow family, and is the only member of the genus ''Ptilostomus''. According to recent findings, it is most closely related to the Central Asian ground jays. Taxonomy In 1760 the French ...
, ''Ptilostomus afer'' * Pied crow, ''Corvus albus'' * Brown-necked raven, ''Corvus ruficollis'' *
Fan-tailed raven The fan-tailed raven (''Corvus rhipidurus'') is a passerine bird of the crow family native to Eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Description The fan-tailed raven is completely black including bill, legs and feet and the plumage has a pur ...
, ''Corvus rhipidurus''


Fairy flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily:
Stenostiridae Stenostiridae, or the fairy flycatchers, are a family of small passerine birds proposed as a result of recent discoveries in molecular systematics.Beresford ''et al.'' (2005) They are also referred to as stenostirid warblers. Taxonomy and system ...
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''


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''


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''


Larks

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds. *
Greater hoopoe-lark The greater hoopoe-lark (''Alaemon alaudipes'') is a passerine bird which is a breeding resident of arid, desert and semi-desert regions from the Cape Verde Islands across much of northern Africa, through the Arabian peninsula, Syria, Afghanista ...
, ''Alaemon alaudipes'' *
Rufous-rumped lark The rufous-rumped lark (''Pinarocorys erythropygia'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in western and central Africa from Mali, Guinea and Sierra Leone to eastern Sudan, South Sudan and north-western Uganda. Its natural h ...
, ''Pinarocorys erythropygia'' * Bar-tailed lark, ''Ammomanes cincturus'' * Desert lark, ''Ammomanes deserti'' *
Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark The chestnut-backed sparrow-lark (''Eremopterix leucotis'') is a passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Taxonomy and systematics The chestnut-backed sparrow-lark was originally placed in the genus ''Loxi ...
, ''Eremopterix leucotis'' * Black-crowned sparrow-lark, ''Eremopterix nigriceps'' *
Rufous-naped lark The rufous-naped lark (''Mirafra africana'') or rufous-naped bush lark is a widespread and conspicuous species of lark in the lightly wooded grasslands, open savannas and farmlands of the Afrotropics. Males attract attention to themselves by a bo ...
, ''Mirafra africana'' *
Flappet lark The flappet lark (''Mirafra rufocinnamomea'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae, widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa. The name flappet originates from the distinctive wing flapping sound made during its breeding season. Taxonomy an ...
, ''Mirafra rufocinnamomea'' * Kordofan lark, ''Mirafra cordofanica'' * Horsfield's bushlark, ''Mirafra javanica'' * Rusty lark, ''Mirafra rufa'' *
Greater short-toed lark The greater short-toed lark (''Calandrella brachydactyla'') is a small passerine bird. The current scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name, ''Calandrella'', is a diminutive of ''kalandros'', the calandra lark, and ''brachydactila'' ...
, ''Calandrella brachydactyla'' *
Dunn's lark Dunn's lark (''Eremalauda dunni'') is a small passerine bird of the lark family. It is a desert bird which is found across parts of the Sahara from Mauritania to central Sudan. Taxonomy and systematics Dunn's lark was originally described as be ...
, ''Eremalauda dunni'' *
Sun lark The sun lark (''Galerida modesta'') or Nigerian sun lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Its range extends mainly across the Sudan region (south of the Sahel), from Guinea to South Sudan. Its natural habitats are dry savannah and ...
, ''Galerida modesta'' * Crested lark, ''Galerida cristata''


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. *
Northern crombec The northern crombec (''Sylvietta brachyura'') is a species of African warbler, formerly placed in the family Sylviidae. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, ...
, ''Sylvietta brachyura''


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 The yellow-bellied eremomela (''Eremomela icteropygialis'') is an Old World warbler. However, the taxonomy of the "African warblers", an assemblage of usually species-poor and apparently rather ancient "odd warblers" from Africa is currently in ...
, ''Eremomela icteropygialis'' *
Senegal eremomela The Senegal eremomela (''Eremomela pusilla'') is a member of the African warbler family, the Cisticolidae. It occurs in the savannas of western Sub-Saharan Africa. Taxonomy The Senegal eremomela was described by the German ornithologist Gustav ...
, ''Eremomela pusilla'' * Green-backed camaroptera, ''Camaroptera brachyura'' * Cricket longtail, ''Spiloptila clamans'' * Buff-bellied warbler, ''Phyllolais pulchella'' (A) *
Yellow-breasted apalis The yellow-breasted apalis (''Apalis flavida'') is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. Taxonomy The brown-tailed apalis (''A. flavocincta'') was formerly considered conspecific, but was split as a distinct species by the IOC in 2021 ...
, ''Apalis flavida'' * Tawny-flanked prinia, ''Prinia subflava'' * River prinia, ''Prinia fluviatilis'' *
Red-fronted prinia The red-fronted prinia (''Prinia rufifrons''), also known as the red-fronted warbler and the red-faced apalis, is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is found in Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and ...
, ''Prinia rufifrons'' *
Oriole warbler The oriole warbler (''Hypergerus atriceps'') is a large warbler in the family Cisticolidae, and the only member of the genus ''Hypergerus''. This bird is a resident breeder in west Africa from southern Senegal to Cameroon. This skulking passeri ...
, ''Hypergerus atriceps'' *
Singing cisticola The singing cisticola (''Cisticola cantans'') is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia ...
, ''Cisticola cantans'' * Rock-loving cisticola, ''Cisticola aberrans'' * Red-pate cisticola, ''Cisticola ruficeps'' *
Dorst's cisticola Dorst's cisticola (''Cisticola guinea''), also known as the plaintive cisticola, is a bird in the family Cisticolidae. It occurs in West Africa and south of Lake Chad. Taxonomy and systematics of this bird are quite confusing. The Cisticolidae ...
, ''Cisticola guinea'' * Winding cisticola, ''Cisticola marginatus'' * Siffling cisticola, ''Cisticola brachypterus'' *
Zitting cisticola The zitting cisticola or streaked fantail warbler (''Cisticola juncidis'') is a widely distributed Old World warbler whose breeding range includes southern Europe, Africa (outside the deserts and rainforest), and southern Asia down to northern Aus ...
, ''Cisticola juncidis'' * Desert cisticola, ''Cisticola aridulus''


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 The eastern olivaceous warbler (''Iduna pallida'') is a small passerine bird with drab plumage tones, that is native to the Old World. For the most part it breeds in southeastern Europe, the Middle East and adjacent western Asia, and winters in t ...
, ''Iduna pallida'' *
Western olivaceous warbler The western olivaceous warbler (''Iduna opaca''), also known as isabelline warbler, is a "warbler", formerly placed in the Old World warblers when these were a paraphyletic wastebin taxon. It is now considered a member of the acrocephaline warbl ...
, ''Iduna opaca'' * Olive-tree warbler, ''Hippolais olivetorum'' (A) *
Melodious warbler The melodious warbler (''Hippolais polyglotta'') is an Old World warbler in the tree warbler genus ''Hippolais''. It breeds in southwest Europe and northwest Africa. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. This small passerine bird is ...
, ''Hippolais polyglotta'' (A) *
Icterine warbler The icterine warbler (''Hippolais icterina'') is an Old World warbler in the tree warbler genus ''Hippolais''. It breeds in mainland Europe except the southwest, where it is replaced by its western counterpart, the melodious warbler. It is migr ...
, ''Hippolais icterina'' (A) * Sedge warbler, ''Acrocephalus schoenobaenus'' *
Common reed warbler The common reed warbler (''Acrocephalus scirpaceus'') is an Old World warbler in the genus '' Acrocephalus''. It breeds across Europe into the temperate western Palaearctic where it is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It is also a res ...
, ''Acrocephalus scirpaceus'' *
Greater swamp warbler The greater swamp warbler (''Acrocephalus rufescens'') is a species of Old World warbler in the family Acrocephalidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republ ...
, ''Acrocephalus rufescens'' (A) * Great reed warbler, ''Acrocephalus arundinaceus''


Grassbirds and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily:
Locustellidae Locustellidae is a newly recognized family of small insectivorous songbirds ("warblers"), formerly placed in the Old World warbler "wastebin" family. It contains the grass warblers, grassbirds, and the ''Bradypterus'' "bush warblers". These bird ...
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. *
Common grasshopper-warbler The common grasshopper warbler (''Locustella naevia'') is a species of Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus ''Locustella''. It breeds across much of temperate Europe and the western Palearctic. It is migratory, wintering in north and wes ...
, ''Locustella naevia'' (A)


Swallows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. * Plain martin, ''Riparia paludicola'' *
Bank swallow The sand martin (''Riparia riparia''), also known as the bank swallow (in the Americas), collared sand martin, or common sand martin, is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family. It has a wide range in summer, embracing practically the w ...
, ''Riparia riparia'' *
Banded martin The banded martin or banded sand martin (''Neophedina cincta'') is a small passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae that is endemic to Africa. It is the only species placed in the genus ''Neophedina''. Taxonomy The banded martin was d ...
, ''Neophedina cincta'' (A) *
Rock martin The rock martin (''Ptyonoprogne fuligula'') is a small passerine bird in the swallow family that is resident in central and southern Africa. It breeds mainly in the mountains, but also at lower altitudes, especially in rocky areas and around town ...
, ''Ptyonoprogne fuligula'' * Barn swallow, ''Hirundo rustica'' *
Red-chested swallow The red-chested swallow (''Hirundo lucida'') is a small non-migratory passerine bird found in West Africa, the Congo Basin and Ethiopia. It has a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the ...
, ''Hirundo lucida'' *
Ethiopian swallow The Ethiopian swallow (''Hirundo aethiopica'') is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. Although it is non-migratory, its range is wide, extending from Benin to Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic ...
, ''Hirundo aethiopica'' * Wire-tailed swallow, ''Hirundo smithii'' *
Pied-winged swallow The pied-winged swallow (''Hirundo leucosoma'') is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. It has distinctive steel-blue upperparts with white wing patches. It is native to parts of West Africa. Taxonomy The pied-winged swallow was species ...
, ''Hirundo leucosoma'' *
Red-rumped swallow The red-rumped swallow (''Cecropis daurica'') is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It breeds in open hilly country of temperate southern Europe and Asia from Portugal and Spain to Japan, India, Sri Lanka and tropical Africa. The India ...
, ''Cecropis daurica'' *
Lesser striped swallow The lesser striped swallow (''Cecropis abyssinica'') is a large swallow. It breeds in Sub-Saharan Africa from Sierra Leone and southern Sudan south into eastern South Africa. It is partially migratory with South African birds wintering further no ...
, ''Cecropis abyssinica'' * Rufous-chested swallow, ''Cecropis semirufa'' *
Mosque swallow The mosque swallow (''Cecropis senegalensis'') is a large swallow. It is a resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa, although most common in the west. It does not migrate but follows the rains to some extent. Taxonomy In 1760 the French z ...
, ''Cecropis senegalensis'' *
Preuss's swallow Preuss's cliff swallow (''Petrochelidon preussi''), also known as Preuss's swallow, is a species of bird in the family Hirundinidae. Distribution and habitat It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic ...
, ''Petrochelidon preussi'' *
Common house-martin Common may refer to: Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts * Clapham Common, originally com ...
, ''Delichon urbicum'' * Fanti sawwing, ''Psalidoprocne obscura'' (A) * Gray-rumped swallow, ''Pseudhirundo griseopyga''


Bulbuls

Order: PasseriformesFamily:
Pycnonotidae The bulbuls are members of a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds, which also includes greenbuls, brownbuls, leafloves, and bristlebills. The family is distributed across most of Africa and into the Middle East, tropical Asi ...
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. * Leaf-love, ''Phyllastrephus scandens'' *
Common bulbul The common bulbul (''Pycnonotus barbatus'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in north-eastern, northern, western and central Africa. Taxonomy and systematics The common bulbul was originally described in the genus ...
, ''Pycnonotus barbatus''


Leaf warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into
Wallacea Wallacea is a biogeographical designation for a group of mainly Indonesian islands separated by deep-water straits from the Asian and Australian continental shelves. Wallacea includes Sulawesi, the largest island in the group, as well as Lo ...
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'' (A) *
Western Bonelli's warbler The western Bonelli's warbler (''Phylloscopus bonelli'') is a warbler in the leaf warbler genus '' Phylloscopus''. It was formerly regarded as the western subspecies of a wider "Bonelli's warbler" species, but as a result of modern taxonomic deve ...
, ''Phylloscopus bonelli'' *
Willow warbler The willow warbler (''Phylloscopus trochilus'') is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia. It is strongly ...
, ''Phylloscopus trochilus'' *
Common chiffchaff The common chiffchaff (''Phylloscopus collybita''), or simply the chiffchaff, is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic. It is a migratory passerine which ...
, ''Phylloscopus collybita''


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'' *
Lesser whitethroat The lesser whitethroat (''Curruca curruca'') is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds in temperate Europe, except the southwest, and in the western and central Palearctic. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, winteri ...
, ''Curruca curruca'' *
Western Orphean warbler The western Orphean warbler (''Curruca hortensis'') is a typical warbler of the genus ''Curruca''. This species occurs in summer around the Mediterranean, through western Europe and extending into northwest Africa. It is migratory, wintering in ...
, ''Curruca hortensis'' *
African desert warbler The African desert warbler (''Curruca deserti'') is a typical warbler. Taxonomy Until recently it was considered conspecific with the Asian desert warbler (and called just "desert warbler"),Del Hoyo, J., Elliot, A., & Christie, D. (editors). (2 ...
, ''Curruca deserti'' (A) *
Menetries's warbler Menetries's warbler or Ménétries's warbler (''Curruca mystacea'') is a small passerine bird of Southwest Asia belonging to the genus ''Curruca''. The name of the species commemorates Édouard Ménétries, the French zoologist who described the ...
, ''Curruca mystacea'' (A) *
Rüppell's warbler Rüppell's warbler (''Curruca ruppeli'') is a typical warbler of the genus ''Curruca''. It breeds in Greece, Turkey and neighbouring islands. It is migratory, wintering in northeast Africa. This is a rare vagrant to western Europe. The name is ...
, ''Curruca ruppeli'' (A) * Sardinian warbler, ''Curruca melanocephala'' * Moltoni's warbler, ''Curruca subalpina'' (A) * Western subalpine warbler, ''Curruca iberiae'' *
Eastern subalpine warbler The eastern subalpine warbler (''Curruca cantillans'') is a small typical warbler which breeds in the southernmost areas of Europe. It was first described by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1764 and given the binomial name ''Motacil ...
, ''Curruca cantillans'' *
Greater whitethroat The common whitethroat or greater whitethroat (''Curruca communis'') is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winter ...
, ''Curruca communis'' * Spectacled warbler, ''Curruca conspicillata'' (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. * Northern yellow white-eye, ''Zosterops senegalensis''


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'' *Brown babbler, ''Turdoides plebejus'' *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. *Violet-backed starling, ''Cinnyricinclus leucogaster'' *Neumann's starling, ''Onychognathus neumanni'' *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'' (A)


Thrushes and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae The Thrush (bird), thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs. *Song thrush, ''Turdus philomelos'' (A) *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. *Spotted flycatcher, ''Muscicapa striata'' *Gambaga flycatcher, ''Muscicapa gambagae'' (A) *Swamp flycatcher, ''Muscicapa aquatica'' *Pale flycatcher, ''Agricola pallidus'' *Gray tit-flycatcher, ''Fraseria plumbea'' *Northern black-flycatcher, ''Melaenornis edolioides'' *Black scrub-robin, ''Cercotrichas podobe'' *Rufous-tailed scrub-robin, ''Cercotrichas galactotes'' *Snowy-crowned robin-chat, ''Cossypha niveicapilla'' *White-crowned robin-chat, ''Cossypha albicapilla'' *Common nightingale, ''Luscinia megarhynchos'' (A) *Bluethroat, ''Luscinia svecica'' (A) *European pied flycatcher, ''Ficedula hypoleuca'' *Collared flycatcher, ''Ficedula albicollis'' (A) *Common redstart, ''Phoenicurus phoenicurus'' *Black redstart, ''Phoenicurus ochruros'' (A) *Rufous-tailed rock-thrush, ''Monticola saxatilis'' (A) *Blue rock-thrush, ''Monticola solitarius'' *Whinchat, ''Saxicola rubetra'' (A) *European stonechat, ''Saxicola rubicola'' *African stonechat, ''Saxicola torquatus'' *Northern anteater-chat, ''Myrmecocichla aethiops'' *Northern wheatear, ''Oenanthe oenanthe'' *Isabelline wheatear, ''Oenanthe isabellina'' *Heuglin's wheatear, ''Oenanthe heuglini'' *Desert wheatear, ''Oenanthe deserti'' *Western black-eared wheatear, ''Oenanthe hispanica'' (A) *Eastern black-eared wheatear, ''Oenanthe melanoleuca'' *White-fronted black-chat, ''Oenanthe albifrons'' *Blackstart, ''Oenanthe melanura'' *Familiar chat, ''Oenanthe familiaris'' *Black wheatear, ''Oenanthe leucura'' *White-crowned wheatear, ''Oenanthe leucopyga'' *Mourning wheatear, ''Oenanthe lugens''


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. *Pygmy sunbird, ''Hedydipna platura'' *Scarlet-chested sunbird, ''Chalcomitra senegalensis'' *Beautiful sunbird, ''Cinnyris pulchellus'' *Splendid sunbird, ''Cinnyris coccinigaster'' *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'' *Blue-billed malimbe, ''Malimbus nitens'' *Little weaver, ''Ploceus luteolus'' *Olive-naped weaver, ''Ploceus brachypterus'' *Vitelline masked-weaver, ''Ploceus vitellinus'' *Heuglin's masked-weaver, ''Ploceus heuglini'' *Village weaver, ''Ploceus cucullatus'' *Black-headed weaver, ''Ploceus melanocephalus'' *Red-headed quelea, ''Quelea erythrops'' *Red-billed quelea, ''Quelea quelea'' *Northern red bishop, ''Euplectes franciscanus'' *Yellow-crowned bishop, ''Euplectes afer'' *Yellow-mantled widowbird, ''Euplectes macroura'' *Fan-tailed widowbird, ''Euplectes axillaris''


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'' *African silverbill, ''Euodice cantans'' *Lavender waxbill, ''Glaucestrilda caerulescens'' *Orange-cheeked waxbill, ''Estrilda melpoda'' *Black-rumped waxbill, ''Estrilda troglodytes'' *Quailfinch, ''Ortygospiza atricollis'' (A) *Cut-throat finch, Cut-throat, ''Amadina fasciata'' *Red-cheeked cordonbleu, ''Uraeginthus bengalus'' *Green-winged pytilia, ''Pytilia melba'' *Red-winged pytilia, ''Pytilia phoenicoptera'' *Red-billed firefinch, ''Lagonosticta senegala'' *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 parasite Brood parasites are animals that rely on others to raise their young. The strategy appears among birds, insects and fish. The brood parasite manipulates a host, either of the same or of another species, to raise its young as if it were its own ...
s, 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'' (A) *Village indigobird, ''Vidua chalybeata'' *Variable indigobird, ''Vidua funerea''


Old World sparrows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects. *House sparrow, ''Passer domesticus'' (I) *Spanish sparrow, ''Passer hispaniolensis'' (A) *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. *Gray wagtail, ''Motacilla cinerea'' (A) *Western yellow wagtail, ''Motacilla flava'' *African pied wagtail, ''Motacilla aguimp'' *White wagtail, ''Motacilla alba'' *African pipit, ''Anthus cinnamomeus'' *Long-billed pipit, ''Anthus similis'' *Tawny pipit, ''Anthus campestris'' *Plain-backed pipit, ''Anthus leucophrys'' *Tree pipit, ''Anthus trivialis'' *Red-throated pipit, ''Anthus cervinus'' (A) *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'' *White-rumped seedeater, ''Crithagra leucopygius'' *Yellow-fronted canary, ''Crithagra mozambicus'' *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'' *Golden-breasted bunting, ''Emberiza flaviventris'' *Gosling's bunting, ''Emberiza goslingi'' *House bunting, ''Emberiza sahari'' *Striolated bunting, ''Emberiza striolata''


See also

*List of birds *Lists of birds by region


References

* *


External links


Birds of Niger
- World Institute for Conservation and Environment {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Birds Of Niger Lists of birds by country, Niger Lists of birds of Sub-Saharan Africa, Niger Lists of biota of Niger, Birds Lists of birds of Africa, Niger