This is a list of the bird species recorded on Saint Helena. The avifauna of

Saint Helena Saint Helena () is a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote volcanic tropical island west of the coast of south-western Africa, and east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is one of three constitu ...

Island include a total of 209 species. 17 endemic species survives today. At least five non-endemics have been extirpated from Saint Helena but still occur elsewhere. 34 species have been introduced by humans and formed established breeding populations while many more species were introduced in the past but failed to become established. 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 Saint Helena. The following tags have been used to highlight several categories, but not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species. *(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Saint Helena *(E) Endemic - a species endemic to Saint Helena *(I) Introduced - a species introduced to Saint Helena as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions *(Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer breeds in Saint Helena although populations exist elsewhere *(X)

Extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...

- a species that was formerly endemic to Saint Helena but has now been wiped out

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 Anatidae includes the ducks 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. * Fulvous whistling-duck, ''Dendrocygna bicolor'' * Knob-billed duck, ''Sarkidiornis melanotos'' (A) * Yellow-billed teal, ''Anas flavirostris'' (A)

Guineafowl

Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage. * Helmeted guineafowl, ''Numida meleagris'' (I)

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: GalliformesFamily:

Phasianidae The Phasianidae are a family (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, partridges, 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 ...

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 junglefowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. * Ring-necked pheasant, ''Phasianus colchicus'' (I) * Indian peafowl, ''Pavo cristatus'' (I) * Red junglefowl, ''Gallus gallus'' (I) * Gray francolin, ''Ortygornis pondicerianus'' (I) * Common quail, ''Coturnix coturnix'' (I) * Chukar, ''Alectoris chukar'' (I) * Rock partridge, ''Alectoris graeca'' (I) *

Cape francolin The Cape spurfowl or Cape francolin (''Pternistis capensis'') is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. It is endemic to southern Africa, where it is the largest francolin. It occurs in the Western Cape province of South Africa, and loca ...

, ''Pternistis capensis'' (I) * Red-necked francolin, ''Pternistis afer''

Grebes

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. * Little grebe, ''Tachybaptus ruficollis''

Pigeons and doves

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. * Rock pigeon, ''Columba livia'' (I) *

Malagasy turtle-dove The Malagasy turtle dove (''Nesoenas picturatus'') is a bird species in the pigeon and dove family, Columbidae. It is found in Mauritian-Indian Ocean Territory, the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, and the Seychelles. Taxono ...

, ''Streptopelia picturata'' (I) *

Zebra dove The zebra dove (''Geopelia striata''), also known as the barred ground dove, or barred dove, is a species of bird of the dove family, Columbidae, native to Southeast Asia. They are small birds with a long tail, predominantly brownish-grey in col ...

, ''Geopelia striata'' (I) * Saint Helena dove, ''Dysmoropelia dekarchiskos'' (X)

Cuckoos

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, 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. * Yellow-billed cuckoo, ''Coccyzus americanus'' (A) * St. Helena cuckoo, ''Nannococcyx psix'' (X) * Common cuckoo, ''Cuculus canorus'' (A)

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. * Common nighthawk, ''Chordeiles minor'' (A) *

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'' (A)

Swifts

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. * Common swift, ''Apus apus'' (A) * Little swift, ''Apus affinis'' (A)

Rails, crakes, and gallinules

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 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, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers. * Corn crake, ''Crex crex'' (A) *

Inaccessible Island rail The Inaccessible Island rail (''Laterallus rogersi'') is a small bird of the rail family, Rallidae. Endemic to Inaccessible Island in the Tristan Archipelago in the isolated south Atlantic, it is the smallest extant flightless bird in the worl ...

, ''Atlantisia rogersi'' (E) *

St. Helena crake The Saint Helena crake (''Zapornia astrictocarpus'') is an extinct bird species from the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean, one of two flightless rails which survived there until the early 16th century.Storrs L. Olson, Paleornith ...

, ''Atlantisia podarces'' (X) *

Ascension crake The Ascension crake (''Mundia elpenor'') is an extinct flightless bird that previously lived on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. Like many other flightless birds on isolated islands, it was a rail. It was declared extinct by Groom ...

, ''Mundia elpenor'' (X) *

Paint-billed crake The paint-billed crake (''Neocrex erythrops'') is a species of bird in the subfamily Rallinae of the rail, crake, and coot family Rallidae.HBW and BirdLife International (2021) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digit ...

, ''Mustelirallus erythrops'' (A) * Spotted crake, ''Porzana porzana'' (A) *

Tristan moorhen The Tristan moorhen (''Gallinula nesiotis'') is an extinct species of flightless rail endemic to the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha. It was very similar to the Gough moorhen of Gough Island, located 395 miles to the southeast. The on ...

, ''Gallinula nesiotis'' (X) *

Gough moorhen The Gough moorhen (''Gallinula comeri'') is a medium-sized, almost flightless bird that is similar to the common moorhen (''Gallinula chloropus''), but is smaller, stockier, and has shorter wings. The bird has a distinctive yellow-tipped red bil ...

, ''Gallinula comeri'' (E) *

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'' * Red-gartered coot, ''Fulica armillata'' (A) * Red-knobbed coot, ''Fulica cristata'' *

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'' (A) *

Purple gallinule Purple gallinule is an alternative name for two species of birds in the rail family. It can refer to: * Purple swamphen, a group of closely related species of swamphen of the Old World * American purple gallinule The purple gallinule (''Porphyr ...

, ''Porphyrio martinicus'' (A) *

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'' * St. Helena rail, ''Aphanocrex podarces'' (X)

Sheathbills

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Chionididae The sheathbills are

scavenger Scavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While scavenging generally refers to carnivores feeding on carrion, it is also a herbivorous feeding b ...

s of the Antarctic regions. They have white plumage and look plump and dove-like but are believed to be similar to the ancestors of the modern gulls and terns. * Snowy sheathbill, ''Chionis albus'' (A)

Oystercatchers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open

mollusc Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is esti ...

s. * Eurasian oystercatcher, ''Haematopus ostralegus'' (A)

Plovers and lapwings

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. * Black-bellied plover, ''Pluvialis squatarola'' (A) * Blacksmith lapwing, ''Vanellus armatus'' (A) * Greater sand-plover, ''Charadrius leschenaultii'' (A) * Kittlitz's plover, ''Charadrius pecuarius'' * Common ringed plover, ''Charadrius hiaticula'' (A) * St. Helena plover (known locally as the wirebird), ''Charadrius sanctaehelenae'' (E) * Rufous-chested dotterel, ''Charadrius modestus'' (A)

Jacanas

Order: CharadriiformesFamily:

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. * African jacana, ''Actophilornis africanus''

Sandpipers and allies

Order: CharadriiformesFamily:

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 sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, 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. * Upland sandpiper, ''Bartramia longicauda'' (A) * Whimbrel, ''Numenius phaeopus'' (A) * Bar-tailed godwit, ''Limosa lapponica'' (A) * Ruddy turnstone, ''Arenaria interpres'' (A) * Red knot, '' Calidris canutus'' (A) *

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'' (A) * Sharp-tailed sandpiper, ''Calidris acuminata'' (A) * Sanderling, ''Calidris alba'' * Little stint, ''Calidris minuta'' (A) *

White-rumped sandpiper The white-rumped sandpiper (''Calidris fuscicollis'') is a small shorebird that breeds in the northern tundra of Canada and Alaska. This bird can be difficult to distinguish from other similar tiny shorebirds; these are known collectively as "pee ...

, ''Calidris fuscicollis'' (A) * Pectoral sandpiper, ''Calidris melanotos'' (A) * Semipalmated sandpiper, ''Calidris pusilla'' (A) * Red phalarope, ''Phalaropus fulicarius'' (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'' (A) *

Spotted sandpiper The spotted sandpiper (''Actitis macularius'') is a small shorebird. Together with its sister species the common sandpiper (''A. hypoleucos''), it makes up the genus ''Actitis''. They replace each other geographically; stray birds may settle dow ...

, ''Actitis macularius'' (A) * Green sandpiper, ''Tringa ochropus'' (A) *

Solitary sandpiper The solitary sandpiper (''Tringa solitaria'') is a small shorebird. The genus name ''Tringa'' is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek ''trungas'', a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbin ...

, ''Tringa solitaria'' (A) * Spotted redshank, ''Tringa erythropus'' (A) * Common greenshank, ''Tringa nebularia'' (A) * Lesser yellowlegs, ''Tringa flavipes'' (A) *

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'' (A) * Common redshank, ''Tringa totanus'' (A)

Skuas and jaegers

Stercorarius pomarinusPCCA20070623-3985B

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. *

Great skua The great skua (''Stercorarius skua''), sometimes known by the name bonxie in Britain, is a large seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is roughly the size of a herring gull. It mainly eats fish caught at the sea surface or taken fr ...

, ''Stercorarius skua'' (A) * Brown skua, ''Stercorarius antarctica'' *

Chilean skua The Chilean skua, also called the cinnamon skua (''Stercorarius chilensis''), is a large predatory seabird, which breeds in Argentina and Chile, but ranges as far north as Brazil and Peru when not breeding. A relatively distinctive skua, it has a ...

, ''Stercorarius chilensis'' (A) * South Polar skua, ''Stercorarius maccormicki'' (A) *

Pomarine jaeger The pomarine jaeger (''Stercorarius pomarinus''), pomarine skua, or pomatorhine skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropical oceans. Taxonomy Its relationships are not fully resolved; i ...

, ''Stercorarius pomarinus'' (A) *

Parasitic jaeger The parasitic jaeger (''Stercorarius parasiticus''), also known as the Arctic skua, Arctic jaeger or parasitic skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migratory species that breeds in Northern Scandinavia, Scotland, Iceland, ...

, ''Stercorarius parasiticus'' (A) * Long-tailed jaeger, ''Stercorarius longicaudus'' (A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and

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. *

Franklin's gull Franklin's gull (''Leucophaeus pipixcan'') is a small (length 12.6–14.2 in, 32–36 cm) gull. The genus name ''Leucophaeus'' is from Ancient Greek ''leukos'', "white", and ''phaios'', "dusky". The specific ''pipixcan'' is a Nahuatl name fo ...

, ''Leucophaeus pipixcan'' (A) * Kelp gull, ''Larus dominicanus'' (A) * Brown noddy, ''Anous stolidus'' * Black noddy, ''Anous minutus'' *

Lesser noddy The lesser noddy (''Anous tenuirostris''), also known as the sooty noddy, is a seabird in the family Laridae. It is found near the coastlines of Comoros, Kenya, India, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates. ...

, ''Anous tenuirostris'' * White tern, ''Gygis alba'' *

Sooty tern The sooty tern (''Onychoprion fuscatus'') is a seabird in the family Laridae. It is a bird of the tropical oceans, returning to land only to breed on islands throughout the equatorial zone. Taxonomy The sooty tern was described by Carl Linnaeu ...

, ''Onychoprion fuscatus'' *

Arctic tern The Arctic tern (''Sterna paradisaea'') is a tern in the family Laridae. This bird has a circumpolar breeding distribution covering the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe (as far south as Brittany), Asia, and North America (as far south a ...

, ''Sterna paradisaea'' (A) * Antarctic tern, ''Sterna vittata'' (A)

Tropicbirds

Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings. * White-tailed tropicbird, ''Phaethon lepturus'' (A) * Red-billed tropicbird, ''Phaethon aethereus'' *

Red-tailed tropicbird The red-tailed tropicbird (''Phaethon rubricauda'') is a seabird native to tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. One of three closely related species of tropicbird (Phaethontidae), it was described by Pieter Boddaert in 1783. Superfic ...

, ''Phaethon rubricauda'' (A)

Penguins

Order: SphenisciformesFamily: Spheniscidae The penguins are a group of flightless aquatic birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Most penguins feed on krill, fish,

squid True squid are molluscs with an elongated soft body, large eyes, eight arms, and two tentacles in the superorder Decapodiformes, though many other molluscs within the broader Neocoleoidea are also called squid despite not strictly fitting t ...

, and other forms of marine life caught while swimming underwater. * King penguin, ''Aptenodytes patagonicus'' (A) * Gentoo penguin, ''Pygoscelis papua'' (A) * Chinstrap penguin, ''Pygoscelis antarcticus'' (A) *

African penguin The African penguin (''Spheniscus demersus''), also known as Cape penguin or South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters. Like all extant penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body and wings stiff ...

, ''Spheniscus demersus'' * Macaroni penguin, ''Eudyptes chrysolophus'' (A) * Southern rockhopper penguin, ''Eudyptes chrysocome'' * Moseley's rockhopper penguin, ''Eudyptes moseleyi'' (A)

Albatrosses

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus ''Diomedea'' have the largest wingspans of any extant birds. * Yellow-nosed albatross, ''Thalassarche chlororhynchos'' (A) *

Gray-headed albatross The grey-headed albatross (''Thalassarche chrysostoma'') also known as the gray-headed mollymawk, is a large seabird from the albatross family. It has a circumpolar distribution, nesting on isolated islands in the Southern Ocean and feeding at hi ...

, ''Thalassarche chrysostoma'' * White-capped albatross, ''Thalassarche cauta'' *

Salvin's albatross Salvin's albatross (''Thalassarche salvini'') or Salvin's mollymawk, is a large seabird that breeds mainly on the Bounty Islands of New Zealand, with scant amounts on islands across the Southern Ocean. A medium-sized mollymawk, it was long consi ...

, ''Thalassarche salvini'' * Black-browed albatross, ''Thalassarche melanophris'' (A) *

Sooty albatross The sooty albatross, dark-mantled sooty albatross or dark-mantled albatross,BirdLife International (2008b) (''Phoebetria fusca''), is a species of bird in the albatross family. They breed on sub-Antarctic islands and range at sea across the S ...

, ''Phoebetria fusca'' (A) * Light-mantled albatross, ''Phoebetria palpebrata'' * Wandering albatross, ''Diomedea exulans'' (A)

Southern storm-petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily:

Oceanitidae Austral storm petrels, or southern storm petrels, are seabirds in the family Oceanitidae, part of the order Procellariiformes. These smallest of seabirds feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hove ...

The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. * Wilson's storm-petrel, ''Oceanites oceanicus'' (A) *

Gray-backed storm-petrel The grey-backed storm petrel (''Garrodia nereis'') is a species of seabird in the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is monotypic within the genus ''Garrodia''. It is found in Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Falkland Islands, Fr ...

, ''Garrodia nereis'' * White-faced storm-petrel, ''Pelagodroma marina'' (A) *

White-bellied storm-petrel The white-bellied storm petrel (''Fregetta grallaria'') is a species of seabird in the family Oceanitidae. It is found in Angola, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Maldives, Namibia, Ne ...

, ''Fregetta grallaria'' (A) *

Black-bellied storm-petrel The black-bellied storm petrel (''Fregetta tropica'') is a species of seabird in the family Oceanitidae. It is found in Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Bouvet Island, Brazil, Chile, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, French Southern Territo ...

, ''Fregetta tropica'' (A)

Northern storm-petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family. *

Leach's storm-petrel Leach's storm petrel or Leach's petrel (''Hydrobates leucorhous'') is a small seabird of the tubenose order. It is named after the British zoologist William Elford Leach. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek. ''Hydrobates'' is from ...

, ''Hydrobates leucorhous'' *

Band-rumped storm-petrel The band-rumped storm petrel, Madeiran storm petrel, or Harcourt's storm petrel (''Hydrobates castro'') is of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae. Description The band-rumped storm petrel is 19–21 cm in length with a 43–46 cm wi ...

, ''Hydrobates castro''

Shearwaters and petrels

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

Southern giant-petrel The southern giant petrel (''Macronectes giganteus''), also known as the Antarctic giant petrel, giant fulmar, stinker, and stinkpot, is a large seabird of the southern oceans. Its distribution overlaps broadly with the similar northern giant pet ...

, ''Macronectes giganteus'' *

Northern giant-petrel The northern giant petrel (''Macronectes halli''), also known as Hall's giant petrel, is a large predatory seabird of the southern oceans. Its distribution overlaps broadly, but is slightly north of, the similar southern giant petrel (''Macrone ...

, ''Macronectes halli'' *

Southern fulmar The southern fulmar (''Fulmarus glacialoides'') is a seabird of the Southern Hemisphere. Along with the northern fulmar, ''F. glacialis'', it belongs to the fulmar genus ''Fulmarus'' in the family Procellariidae, the true petrels. It is also kno ...

, ''Fulmarus glacialoides'' (A) * Cape petrel, ''Daption capense'' (A) *

Kerguelen petrel The Kerguelen petrel (''Aphrodroma brevirostris'') is a small (36 cm long) slate-grey seabird in the family Procellariidae. It is the only species placed in the genus ''Aphrodroma''. It is a pelagic, circumpolar seabird of the Southern Oce ...

, ''Aphrodroma brevirostris'' * Large St. Helena petrel, ''Pterodroma rupinarum'' (X) * Great-winged petrel, ''Pterodroma macroptera'' *

Trindade petrel The Trindade petrel (''Pterodroma arminjoniana'') is a species of seabird and a member of the gadfly petrels. The bird is in size, with an wingspan. The petrel has various color morphs: dark and light, as well as intermediates between the two. ...

, ''Pterodroma arminjoniana'' (A) * Murphy's petrel, ''Pterodroma ultima'' (A) *

Soft-plumaged petrel The soft-plumaged petrel (''Pterodroma mollis'') is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae. Distribution It breeds on islands in the Southern Hemisphere, nesting on Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island, the Prince Edward Islands, Crozet ...

, ''Pterodroma mollis'' (A) *

White-headed petrel The white-headed petrel (''Pterodroma lessonii''), also known as the white-headed fulmar, is a species of seabird in the petrel family, Procellariidae. It is about in length. White-headed petrels breed alone or in colonies in burrows dug among ...

, ''Pterodroma lessonii'' *

Juan Fernandez petrel ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish language, Spanish and Manx language, Manx versions of ''John (given name), John''. It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking communities around the world and in the Philippines, and also (pronoun ...

, ''Pterodroma externa'' * Atlantic petrel, ''Pterodroma incerta'' * Blue petrel, ''Halobaena caerulea'' (A) *

Broad-billed prion The broad-billed prion (''Pachyptila vittata'') is a small pelagic seabird in the shearwater and petrel family, Procellariidae. It is the largest prion, with grey upperparts plumage, and white underparts. The sexes are alike. It ranges from the ...

, ''Pachyptila vittata'' (A) *

MacGillivray's prion MacGillivray's prion (''Pachyptila macgillivrayi'') is a species of small petrels of the Southern Ocean. It is found on Roche Quille, off Saint Paul Island and on Gough Island in the Tristan da Cunha group, south-central Atlantic Ocean. It was ...

, ''Pachyptila macgillivrayi'' * Antarctic prion, ''Pachyptila desolata'' * Slender-billed prion, ''Pachyptila belcheri'' * Bulwer's petrel, ''Bulweria bulwerii'' (A) * Small St. Helena petrel, ''Bulweria bifax'' (X) *

Gray petrel The grey petrel (''Procellaria cinerea''), also called the brown petrel, pediunker or grey shearwater is a species of seabird in the Procellariidae, or petrel family. It is pelagic and occurs in the open seas of the Southern Hemisphere, mainly b ...

, ''Procellaria cinerea'' *

White-chinned petrel The white-chinned petrel (''Procellaria aequinoctialis'') also known as the Cape hen and shoemaker, is a large shearwater in the family Procellariidae. It ranges around the Southern Ocean as far north as southern Australia, Peru and Namibia, and ...

, ''Procellaria aequinoctialis'' *

Spectacled petrel The spectacled petrel (''Procellaria conspicillata'') is a rare seabird that nests only on the high western plateau of Inaccessible Island in the South Atlantic Tristan da Cunha group. It is one of the largest petrels that nests in burrows. This ...

, ''Procellaria conspicillata'' * Cory's shearwater, ''Calonectris diomedea'' * Great shearwater, ''Ardenna gravis'' * Sooty shearwater, ''Ardenna griseus'' (A) *

Subantarctic shearwater The subantarctic shearwater (''Puffinus elegans'') is a small bird species which breeds in Tristan da Cunha, islands of the southern Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8 ...

, ''Puffinus elegans'' * Tropical shearwater, ''Puffinus bailloni'' (A) * St. Helena shearwater, ''Puffinus pacificoides'' (X) * Common diving-petrel, ''Pelecanoides urinatrix''

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. * White stork, ''Ciconia ciconia'' (A)

Frigatebirds

Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. * Lesser frigatebird, ''Fregata ariel'' * Ascension frigatebird, ''Fregata aquila'' (E) *

Great frigatebird The great frigatebird (''Fregata minor'') is a large seabird in the frigatebird family. There are major nesting populations in the tropical Pacific (including the Galapagos Islands) and Indian Oceans, as well as a tiny population in the South At ...

, ''Fregata minor''

Boobies and gannets

Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish. * Masked booby, ''Sula dactylatra'' *

Brown booby The brown booby (''Sula leucogaster'') is a large seabird of the booby family Sulidae, of which it is perhaps the most common and widespread species. It has a pantropical range, which overlaps with that of other booby species. The gregarious brow ...

, ''Sula leucogaster'' *

Red-footed booby The red-footed booby (''Sula sula'') is a large seabird of the booby family, Sulidae. Adults always have red feet, but the colour of the plumage varies. They are powerful and agile fliers, but they are clumsy in takeoffs and landings. They are f ...

, ''Sula sula'' (A) * Cape gannet, ''Morus capensis''

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) -Florida Keys2

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 egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills. * 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'' (A) * Cocoi heron, ''Ardea cocoi'' (A) * Purple heron, ''Ardea purpurea'' (A) * Great egret, ''Ardea alba'' (A) *

Snowy egret The snowy egret (''Egretta thula'') is a small white heron. The genus name comes from Provençal French for the little egret, , which is a diminutive of , 'heron'. The species name ''thula'' is the Araucano term for the black-necked swan, app ...

, ''Egretta thula'' (A) * Little blue heron, ''Egretta caerulea'' (A) *

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'' (A) * Squacco heron, ''Ardeola ralloides'' (A) * Striated heron, ''Butorides striata'' (A) *

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'' (A)

Hoopoes

Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head. * St. Helena hoopoe, ''Upupa antaios'' (X)

Rollers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Coraciidae Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not. * European roller, ''Coracias garrulus'' (A)

Falcons

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. *

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) *

Amur falcon The Amur falcon (''Falco amurensis'') is a small raptor of the falcon family. It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to winter in Southern and East Africa. ...

, ''Falco amurensis'' (A)

Cockatoos

Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Cacatuidae The cockatoos share many features with other parrots including the characteristic curved beak shape and a zygodactyl foot, with two forward toes and two backwards toes. They differ, however in a number of characteristics, including the often spectacular movable headcrest. *

Galah The galah (; ''Eolophus roseicapilla''), also known as the pink and grey cockatoo or rose-breasted cockatoo, is the only species within genus ''Eolophus'' of the cockatoo family. Found throughout Australia, it is among the most common of the co ...

, ''Eolophus roseicapilla'' (I)

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tyrannidae Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous. * Eastern kingbird, ''Tyrannus tyrannus'' (A)

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 shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey. * Red-backed shrike, ''Lanius collurio'' (A)

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. * Eurasian skylark, ''Alauda arvensis''

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. * Bank swallow, ''Riparia riparia'' (A) * Barn swallow, ''Hirundo rustica'' (A) *

Cliff swallow The cliff swallow or American cliff swallow (''Petrochelidon pyrrhonota'') is a member of the passerine bird family Hirundinidae, the swallows and martins. The generic name ''Petrochelidon'' is derived from Ancient Greek ''petros'' meaning "roc ...

, ''Petrochelidon pyrrhonota'' (A) *

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'' (A)

Leaf warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors. *

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'' (A)

Starlings

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) on Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) in Kolkata W IMG 4297

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. * Common hill myna, ''Gracula religiosa'' (I) * European starling, ''Sturnus vulgaris'' (I) * Common myna, ''Acridotheres tristis'' (I)

Thrushes and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs. *

Song thrush The song thrush (''Turdus philomelos'') is a Thrush (bird), thrush that breeds across the West Palearctic. It has brown upper-parts and black-spotted cream or buff underparts and has three recognised subspecies. Its distinctive Birdsong, song, ...

, ''Turdus philomelos'' *

Eurasian blackbird The common blackbird (''Turdus merula'') is a species of true thrush. It is also called the Eurasian blackbird (especially in North America, to distinguish it from the unrelated New World blackbirds), or simply the blackbird where this does not ...

, ''Turdus merula'' * Tristan thrush, ''Turdus eremita'' (E)

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. * European robin, ''Erithacus rubecula''

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. * Scaly weaver, ''Sporopipes squamifrons'' (I) * Red fody, ''Foudia madagascariensis'' (I) *

Southern red bishop The southern red bishop or red bishop (''Euplectes orix'') is a small passerine bird belonging to the bishop and widowbird genus '' Euplectes'' in the weaver family, the Ploceidae. It is common in wetlands and grassland in Africa south of the Eq ...

, ''Euplectes orix'' (I) *

White-winged widowbird The white-winged widowbird (''Euplectes albonotatus'') is a species of passerine bird in the family Ploceidae native to Africa south of the Sahara. It is highly sexually dimorphic in its breeding season, during which the male's yellow plumage t ...

, ''Euplectes albonotatus'' (I) * Long-tailed widowbird, ''Euplectes progne'' (I)

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. * Java sparrow, ''Padda oryzivora'' (I) *

Black-faced waxbill The black-faced waxbill (''Brunhilda erythronotos'') is a common species of estrildid finch found in southern Africa. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The IUCN has cla ...

, ''Brunhilda erythronotos'' (I) * Common waxbill, ''Estrilda astrild'' (I) *

Violet-eared waxbill The violet-eared waxbill or common grenadier (''Granatina granatina'') is a common species of estrildid finch found in drier land of Southern Africa. Taxonomy The violet-eared waxbill was Species description, formally described in 1766 by the Sw ...

, ''Granatina granatina'' (I) * Southern cordonbleu, ''Uraeginthus angolensis'' *

Green-winged pytilia The green-winged pytilia (''Pytilia melba'') is a small colourful seed-eating bird in the family Estrildidae. It is widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, though it is more rarely seen in central, far southern and coastal western parts of the ...

, ''Pytilia melba'' (I)

Indigobirds

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Viduidae The indigobirds are finch-like species which usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage. All are

s, which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches. * Eastern paradise-whydah, ''Vidua paradisaea'' (I) * Shaft-tailed whydah, ''Vidua regia'' (I)

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 The house sparrow (''Passer domesticus'') is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of and a mass of . Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, a ...

, ''Passer domesticus'' (I)

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. * Common chaffinch, ''Fringilla coelebs'' *

European greenfinch The European greenfinch or simply the greenfinch (''Chloris chloris'') is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. This bird is widespread throughout Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia. It is mainly resident, but some north ...

, ''Chloris chloris'' *

Yellow-fronted canary The yellow-fronted canary (''Crithagra mozambica'') is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is sometimes known in aviculture as the green singing finch. The yellow-fronted canary was formerly placed in the genus ''Serinus'', but phylo ...

, ''Crithagra mozambica'' (I) *

Brimstone canary The brimstone canary or bully canary (''Crithagra sulphurata'') is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in central and southern Africa. This species is found in open, lightly wooded habitats, such as hillsides with ...

, ''Crithagra sulphurata'' (I) * Yellow canary, ''Crithagra flaviventris'' (I) * European goldfinch, ''Carduelis carduelis'' *

European serin The European serin, or simply the serin (''Serinus serinus''), is the smallest European species of the family of finches (Fringillidae) and is closely related to the Atlantic canary. Its diet consists mainly of a combination of buds and seeds. ...

, ''Serinus serinus'' (I) * Island canary, ''Serinus canaria'' (I) * Cape canary, ''Serinus canicollis''

Tanagers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Thraupidae The tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, mainly in the tropics. Many species are brightly colored. As a family they are omnivorous, but individual species specialize in eating fruits, seeds, insects, or other types of food. Most have short, rounded wings. * Gough Island finch, ''Rowettia goughensis'' (E) *

Inaccessible Island finch The Inaccessible Island finch (''Nesospiza acunhae''), also known as the Inaccessible bunting, is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae (formerly in Emberizidae). It is endemic to Inaccessible Island of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago wher ...

, ''Nesospiza acunhae'' (E) *

Nightingale Island finch The Nightingale Island finch (''Nesospiza questi'') is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae (formerly in Emberizidae). It is endemic to Nightingale Island of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago where its natural habitats are temperate shrubl ...

, ''Nesospiza questi'' (E) *

Wilkins's finch Wilkins's finch (''Nesospiza wilkinsi''), also known as Wilkins's bunting or the grosbeak bunting, is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is restricted to Inaccessible Island (subspecies ''dunnei'') and Nightingale Island (nominate ' ...

, ''Nesospiza wilkinsi'' (E)

References

* * * * * {{Africa topic, List of birds of

Birds Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...