# List of birds of Eritrea

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Eritrea. The avifauna of Eritrea include a total of 587 species.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Accidental species are included in the total species count for Eritrea.
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 Eritrea
* (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Eritrea as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

## Ostriches

Order: Struthioniformes Family: Struthionidae
The ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa. It is the largest living species of bird. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.
* Common ostrich, Struthio camelus

## Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
* White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata (A)
* Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
* Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos (A)
* Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus
* Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (A)
* Garganey, Spatula querquedula
* Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
* Gadwall, Mareca strepera
* Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
* Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata (A)
* Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A)
* Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha (A)
* Northern pintail, Anas acuta
* Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
* Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma
* Common pochard, Aythya ferina
* Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca
* Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
* Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa (A)

## Guineafowl

Order: Galliformes 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 Family: Odontophoridae
Despite their family's common name, this species and one other are native to Africa.
* Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus

## Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
* Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis
* Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
* Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei
* Erckel's francolin, Pternistis erckelii
* Clapperton's francolin, Pternistis clappertoni
* Yellow-necked spurfowl, Pternistis leucoscepus

## Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
* Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
* Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor

## Grebes

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

## Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
* Rock pigeon, Columba livia
* Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea
* White-collared pigeon, Columba albitorques
* Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix (A)
* Lemon dove, Columba larvata
* European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
* Dusky turtle-dove, Streptopelia lugens
* African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea
* Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens
* Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata
* Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola
* Vinaceous dove, Streptopelia vinacea
* Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis
* Black-billed wood-dove, Turtur abyssinicus
* Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer
* Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
* Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia

## Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes Family: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
* Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus
* Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus
* Yellow-throated sandgrouse, Pterocles gutturalis
* Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinii
* Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus

## Bustards

Order: Otidiformes Family: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
* Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs
* Heuglin's bustard, Neotis heuglinii (A)
* White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis
* Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster

## Turacos

Order: Musophagiformes Family: 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.
* White-cheeked turaco, Tauraco leucotis
* White-bellied go-away-bird, Corythaixoides leucogaster (A)
* Eastern plantain-eater, Crinifer zonurus

## Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
* Blue-headed coucal, Centropus monachus
* White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus
* Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius
* Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii
* Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
* Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius
* Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas
* African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus
* Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus
* African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis
* Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

## Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: 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.
* Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis
* Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
* Sombre nightjar, Caprimulgus fraenatus
* Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius (A)
* Nubian nightjar, Caprimulgus nubicus
* Montane nightjar, Caprimulgus poliocephalus
* Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus
* Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus

## Swifts

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
* Alpine swift, Apus melba
* Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis
* Common swift, Apus apus
* Nyanza swift, Apus niansae
* Little swift, Apus affinis
* White-rumped swift, Apus caffer
* African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus

## Rails, gallinules and coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
* Corn crake, Crex crex (A)
* Rouget's rail, Rougetius rougetii
* Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
* Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata (A)
* Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
* Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata
* Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A)
* African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis (A)
* Little crake, Zapornia parva (A)

## Cranes

Order: Gruiformes 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".
* Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (A)
* Common crane, Grus grus (A)

## Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
* Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus
* Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis
* Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis

## Egyptian plover

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Pluvianidae
The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River.
* Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius

## Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
* Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
* Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta (A)

## Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
* Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

## Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes Family: 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. There are 66 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in Eritrea.
* Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
* Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
* Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus
* Black-headed lapwing, Vanellus tectus
* Black-winged lapwing, Vanellus melanopterus
* Wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus
* Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius
* White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus (A)
* Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus
* Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
* Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus
* Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius (A)
* Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
* Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
* Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
* Three-banded plover, Charadrius tricollaris
* White-fronted plover, Charadrius marginatus (A)

## Painted-snipes

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
* Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis (A)

## Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of waders 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 (A)

## Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
* Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
* Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris (A)
* Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
* Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
* Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
* Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
* Ruff, Calidris pugnax
* Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus
* Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
* Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
* Sanderling, Calidris alba
* Dunlin, Calidris alpina
* Little stint, Calidris minuta
* Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (A)
* Great snipe, Gallinago media (A)
* Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
* African snipe, Gallinago nigripennis
* Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
* Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (A)
* Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
* Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
* Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
* Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
* Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
* Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
* Common redshank, Tringa totanus

## Buttonquail

Order: Charadriiformes 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, Turnix sylvatica

## Crab-plover

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Dromadidae
The crab-plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.
* Crab-plover, Dromas ardeola

## Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.
* Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor
* Somali courser, Cursorius somalensis (A)
* Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
* Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus (A)
* Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
* Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (A)

## Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
* Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (A)
* Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)

## Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.
* Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei
* Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
* White-eyed gull, Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus
* Sooty gull, Ichthyaetus hemprichii
* Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus (A)
* Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
* Armenian gull, Larus armenicus (A)
* Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
* Brown noddy, Anous stolidus
* Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus (A)
* Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus
* Little tern, Sternula albifrons (A)
* Saunders's tern, Sternula saundersi
* Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
* Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
* Black tern, Chlidonias niger (A)
* White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
* Common tern, Sterna hirundo
* White-cheeked tern, Sterna repressa
* Great crested tern, Thalasseus bergii
* Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
* Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis
* African skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris (A)

## Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Eritrea.
* Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus

## Southern storm-petrels

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

## Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: 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.
* Jouanin's petrel, Bulweria fallax (A)
* Persian shearwater, Puffinus persicus (A)

## Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: 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.
* African openbill, Anastomus lamelligerus (A)
* Black stork, Ciconia nigra
* Abdim's stork, Ciconia abdimii
* African woolly-necked stork, Ciconia microscelis
* White stork, Ciconia ciconia
* Saddle-billed stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
* Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer
* Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis

## Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes Family: 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 (A)

## Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes Family: 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, Sula leucogaster
* Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)

## Darters

Order: Suliformes Family: Anhingidae
Darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.
* African darter, Anhinga rufa

## Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
* Long-tailed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus
* Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (A)
* Socotra cormorant, Phalacrocorax nigrogularis

## Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.
* Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus (A)
* Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens

## Hammerkop

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Scopidae
The hammerkop is a medium-sized bird with a long shaggy crest. The shape of its head with a curved bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, hence its name. Its plumage is drab-brown all over.
* Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta

## Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
* Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris (A)
* Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
* Gray heron, Ardea cinerea
* Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala
* Goliath heron, Ardea goliath
* Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
* Great egret, Ardea alba
* Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia (A)
* Little egret, Egretta garzetta
* Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis
* Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
* Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
* Striated heron, Butorides striata
* Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
* White-backed night-heron, Gorsachius leuconotus (A)

## Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
* Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
* African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
* Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita
* Wattled ibis, Bostrychia carunculata
* Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
* African spoonbill, Platalea alba

## Secretarybird

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Sagittariidae
The secretary-bird is a bird of prey in the order Falconiformes but is easily distinguished from other raptors by its long crane-like legs.
* Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius

## Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae
The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
* Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

## Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
* Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
* Scissor-tailed kite, Chelictinia riocourii (A)
* African harrier-hawk, Polyboroides typus
* Bearded vulture, Gypaetus barbatus
* Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
* European honey-buzzard, Pernis apivorus
* White-headed vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis
* Lappet-faced vulture, Torgos tracheliotos
* Hooded vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus
* White-backed vulture, Gyps africanus
* Rüppell's griffon, Gyps rueppelli
* Eurasian griffon, Gyps fulvus
* Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus
* Short-toed snake-eagle, Circaetus gallicus
* Beaudouin's snake-eagle, Circaetus beaudouini (A)
* Black-chested snake-eagle, Circaetus pectoralis (A)
* Brown snake-eagle, Circaetus cinereus
* Martial eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus
* Long-crested eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis
* Lesser spotted eagle, Clanga pomarina (A)
* Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga
* Wahlberg's eagle, Hieraaetus wahlbergi
* Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
* Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax
* Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
* Imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca (A)
* Verreaux's eagle, Aquila verreauxii
* Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata (A)
* African hawk-eagle, Aquila spilogaster
* Dark chanting-goshawk, Melierax metabates
* Gabar goshawk, Micronisus gabar
* Grasshopper buzzard, Butastur rufipennis
* Eurasian marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus
* Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
* Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
* African goshawk, Accipiter tachiro
* Shikra, Accipiter badius
* Levant sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipes (A)
* Little sparrowhawk, Accipiter minullus (A)
* Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
* Rufous-breasted sparrowhawk, Accipiter rufiventris
* Black goshawk, Accipiter melanoleucus (A)
* Black kite, Milvus migrans
* African fish-eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer
* Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
* Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus
* Augur buzzard, Buteo augur

## Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae
Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
* Western barn owl, Tyto alba

## Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
* Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
* African scops-owl, Otus senegalensis
* Northern white-faced owl, Ptilopsis leucotis
* Pharaoh eagle-owl, Bubo ascalaphus
* Cape eagle-owl, Bubo capensis
* Grayish eagle-owl, Bubo cinerascens
* Verreaux's eagle-owl, Bubo lacteus
* Pel's fishing-owl, Scotopelia peli
* Pearl-spotted owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
* Little owl, Athene noctua
* Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus

## Mousebirds

Order: Coliiformes Family: Coliidae
The mousebirds are slender greyish or brown birds with soft, hairlike body feathers and very long thin tails. They are arboreal and scurry through the leaves like rodents in search of berries, fruit and buds. They are acrobatic and can feed upside down. All species have strong claws and reversible outer toes. They also have crests and stubby bills.
* Speckled mousebird, Colius striatus
* Blue-naped mousebird, Urocolius macrourus

## Trogons

Order: Trogoniformes Family: Trogonidae
The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.
* Narina trogon, Apaloderma narina

## Hoopoes

Order: Bucerotiformes Family: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.
* Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops (A)

## Woodhoopoes and scimitarbills

Order: Bucerotiformes Family: Phoeniculidae
The woodhoopoes are related to the kingfishers, rollers and hoopoes. They most resemble the hoopoes with their long curved bills, used to probe for insects, and short rounded wings. However, they differ in that they have metallic plumage, often blue, green or purple, and lack an erectile crest.
* Black-billed woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus somaliensis
* Black scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus aterrimus

## Ground-hornbills

Order: Bucerotiformes Family: Bucorvidae
The ground-hornbills are terrestrial birds which feed almost entirely on insects, other birds, snakes, and amphibians.
* Abyssinian ground-hornbill, Bucorvus abyssinicus

## Hornbills

Order: Bucerotiformes Family: 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.
* Hemprich's hornbill, Lophoceros hemprichii
* African gray hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus
* Eastern yellow-billed hornbill, Tockus flavirostris
* Northern red-billed hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus
* Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Bycanistes brevis (A)

## Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
* Half-collared kingfisher, Alcedo semitorquata
* Malachite kingfisher, Corythornis cristatus
* African pygmy kingfisher, Ispidina picta
* Gray-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
* Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis
* Striped kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti
* Collared kingfisher, Todirhamphus chloris
* Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maximus
* Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

## Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Meropidae
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.
* Red-throated bee-eater, Merops bulocki (A)
* Little bee-eater, Merops pusillus
* Ethiopian bee-eater, Merops lafresnayii
* White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis
* African green bee-eater, Merops viridissimus
* Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
* Madagascar bee-eater, Merops superciliosus (A)
* European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
* Northern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicus

## Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Coraciidae
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.
* European roller, Coracias garrulus
* Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinica
* Lilac-breasted roller, Coracias caudata (A)
* Rufous-crowned roller, Coracias naevia
* Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus

## African barbets

Order: Piciformes Family: 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, Trachyphonus margaritatus
* Red-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus pusillus
* Black-throated barbet, Tricholaema melanocephala
* Banded barbet, Lybius undatus
* Vieillot's barbet, Lybius vieilloti
* Black-billed barbet, Lybius guifsobalito

## Honeyguides

Order: Piciformes Family: Indicatoridae
Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the greater honeyguide which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive.
* Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
* Greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator

## Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
* Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
* Abyssinian woodpecker, Chloropicus abyssinicus
* Cardinal woodpecker, Chloropicus fuscescens
* Brown-backed woodpecker, Chloropicus obsoletus
* African gray woodpecker, Chloropicus goertae
* Nubian woodpecker, Campethera nubica

## Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
* Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
* Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
* Greater kestrel, Falco rupicoloides
* Fox kestrel, Falco alopex
* Gray kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
* Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (A)
* Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae (A)
* Sooty falcon, Falco concolor
* Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
* Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
* Saker falcon, Falco cherrug (A)
* Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

## Old World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.
* Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri
* Black-winged lovebird, Agapornis taranta

## African and New World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae
Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.
* Meyer's parrot, Poicephalus meyeri

## Cuckooshrikes

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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, Campephaga phoenicea

## Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes Family: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.
* Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus
* Ethiopian black-headed oriole, Oriolus monacha

## Wattle-eyes and batises

Order: Passeriformes Family: Platysteiridae
The wattle-eyes, or puffback flycatchers, are small stout passerine birds of the African tropics. They get their name from the brightly coloured fleshy eye decorations found in most species in this group.
* Brown-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira cyanea (A)
* Gray-headed batis, Batis orientalis
* Western black-headed batis, Batis erlangeri

## Vangas, helmetshrikes, and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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: Passeriformes Family: Malaconotidae
Bushshrikes are similar in habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush. Although similar in build to the shrikes, these tend to be either colourful species or largely black; some species are quite secretive.
* Brubru, Nilaus afer
* Northern puffback, Dryoscopus gambensis
* Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegala
* Ethiopian boubou, Laniarius aethiopicus
* Black-headed gonolek, Laniarius erythrogaster
* Rosy-patched bushshrike, Rhodophoneus cruentus
* Gray-headed bushshrike, Malaconotus blanchoti

## Drongos

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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.
* Fork-tailed drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis
* Glossy-backed drongo, Dicrurus divaricatus

## Monarch flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Monarchidae
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.
* African paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis

## Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.
* Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
* Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides
* Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus
* Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
* Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
* Northern fiscal, Lanius humeralis
* Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus
* Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

## Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
* House crow, Corvus splendens (I)
* Cape crow, Corvus capensis
* Pied crow, Corvus albus
* Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis
* Somali crow, Corvus edithae
* Fan-tailed raven, Corvus rhipidurus
* Thick-billed raven, Corvus crassirostris

## Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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-winged black-tit, Melaniparus leucomelas
* White-backed black-tit, Melaniparus leuconotus

## Penduline-tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Remizidae
The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.
* Sennar penduline-tit, Anthoscopus punctifrons

## Larks

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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. There are 91 species worldwide and 11 species which occur in Eritrea.
* Greater hoopoe-lark, Alaemon alaudipes
* Desert lark, Ammomanes deserti
* Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucotis
* Black-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix nigriceps
* Horsfield's bushlark, Mirafra javanica
* Blanford's lark, Calandrella blanfordi
* Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
* Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata
* Thekla's lark, Galerida theklae
* Crested lark, Galerida cristata

## African warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Macrosphenidae
African warblers are small to medium-sized insectivores which are found in a wide variety of habitats south of the Sahara.
* Northern crombec, Sylvietta brachyura

## Cisticolas and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.
* Yellow-bellied eremomela, Eremomela icteropygialis
* Green-backed eremomela, Eremomela canescens
* Green-backed camaroptera, Camaroptera brachyura
* Cricket longtail, Spiloptila clamans
* Buff-bellied warbler, Phyllolais pulchella
* Graceful prinia, Prinia gracilis
* Tawny-flanked prinia, Prinia subflava
* Red-fronted prinia, Prinia rufifrons
* Singing cisticola, Cisticola cantans
* Rattling cisticola, Cisticola chiniana
* Red-pate cisticola, Cisticola ruficeps
* Ethiopian cisticola, Cisticola lugubris
* Winding cisticola, Cisticola marginatus
* Stout cisticola, Cisticola robustus
* Croaking cisticola, Cisticola natalensis
* Siffling cisticola, Cisticola brachypterus
* Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
* Desert cisticola, Cisticola aridulus
* Black-backed cisticola, Cisticola eximius (A)
* Pectoral-patch cisticola, Cisticola brunnescens

## Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Acrocephalidae
The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.
* Booted warbler, Iduna caligata (A)
* Sykes's warbler, Iduna rama (A)
* Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
* Upcher's warbler, Hippolais languida
* Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum (A)
* Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina (A)
* Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
* Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
* Common reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
* Basra reed warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis (A)
* Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus
* Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus

## Grassbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae
Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.
* Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
* Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia

## Swallows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
* Plain martin, Riparia paludicola
* Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
* Banded martin, Neophedina cincta
* Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris (A)
* Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula
* Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
* Ethiopian swallow, Hirundo aethiopica
* Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
* Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
* Lesser striped swallow, Cecropis abyssinica
* Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum
* Black sawwing, Psalidoprocne pristoptera

## Bulbuls

Order: Passeriformes Family: Pycnonotidae
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.
* Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus

## Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae
Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.
* Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (A)
* Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis
* Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
* Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
* Brown woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus umbrovirens

## Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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
* Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria
* Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
* Arabian warbler, Curruca leucomelaena
* Eastern Orphean warbler, Curruca crassirostris
* Asian desert warbler, Curruca nana
* Menetries's warbler, Curruca mystacea
* Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis

## White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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.
* Abyssinian white-eye, Zosterops abyssinicus
* Heuglin's white-eye, Zosterops poliogastrus
* Northern yellow white-eye, Zosterops senegalensis

## Laughingthrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Leiothrichidae
The laughingthrushes are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.
* Fulvous chatterer, Argya fulva
* White-rumped babbler, Turdoides leucopygia
* Cretzschmar's babbler, Turdoides leucocephala

## Oxpeckers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Buphagidae
As both the English and scientific names of these birds imply, they feed on ectoparasites, primarily ticks, found on large mammals.
* Red-billed oxpecker, Buphagus erythrorynchus
* Yellow-billed oxpecker, Buphagus africanus

## Starlings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
* Wattled starling, Creatophora cinerea
* Violet-backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
* Slender-billed starling, Onychognathus tenuirostris
* Red-winged starling, Onychognathus morio
* White-billed starling, Onychognathus albirostris
* Somali starling, Onychognathus blythii
* Rüppell's starling, Lamprotornis purpuropterus
* Chestnut-bellied starling, Lamprotornis pulcher
* Lesser blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chloropterus
* Greater blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus

## Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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.
* Groundscraper thrush, Turdus litsitsirupa
* Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
* Abyssinian thrush, Turdus abyssinicus
* African thrush, Turdus pelios

## Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
* African dusky flycatcher, Muscicapa adusta
* Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
* Pale flycatcher, Agricola pallidus
* Northern black-flycatcher, Melaenornis edolioides
* Abyssinian slaty-flycatcher, Melaenornis chocolatinus
* Rufous-tailed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas galactotes
* Rufous-tailed rock-thrush, Monticola saxatilis
* Black scrub-robin, Cercotrichas podobe
* Rüppell's robin-chat, Cossypha semirufa
* White-throated robin, Irania gutturalis
* Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia (A)
* Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos (A)
* Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
* Semicollared flycatcher, Ficedula semitorquata
* Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
* Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
* Little rock-thrush, Monticola rufocinereus
* Rufous-tailed rock-thrush, Monticola saxatilis
* Blue rock-thrush, Monticola solitarius
* Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
* Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus
* Moorland chat, Pinarochroa sordida (A)
* Mocking cliff-chat, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
* White-winged cliff-chat, Thamnolaea semirufa
* Rüppell's chat, Myrmecocichla melaena
* Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
* Rusty-breasted wheatear, Oenanthe frenata (A)
* Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
* Heuglin's wheatear, Oenanthe heuglini (A)
* Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti
* Eastern black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe melanoleuca
* Pied wheatear, Oenanthe pleschanka
* White-fronted black-chat, Oenanthe albifrons
* Blackstart, Oenanthe melanura
* Familiar chat, Oenanthe familiaris (A)
* Brown-tailed chat, Oenanthe scotocerca
* White-crowned wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga
* Abyssinian wheatear, Oenanthe lugubris
* Kurdish wheatear, Oenanthe xanthoprymna (A)
* Persian wheatear, Oenanthe chrysopygia

## Hypocolius

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hypocoliidae
The grey hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird with the shape and soft plumage of a waxwing. They are mainly a uniform grey colour except the males have a black triangular mask around their eyes.
* Hypocolius, Hypocolius ampelinus

## Sunbirds and spiderhunters

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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.
* Nile Valley sunbird, Hedydipna metallica
* Scarlet-chested sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis
* Tacazze sunbird, Nectarinia tacazze
* Beautiful sunbird, Cinnyris pulchellus
* Mariqua sunbird, Cinnyris mariquensis
* Shining sunbird, Cinnyris habessinicus
* Variable sunbird, Cinnyris venustus

## Weavers and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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
* Red-headed weaver, Anaplectes rubriceps (A)
* Baglafecht weaver, Ploceus baglafecht
* Little weaver, Ploceus luteolus
* Rüppell's weaver, Ploceus galbula
* Village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus
* Black-headed weaver, Ploceus melanocephalus
* Chestnut weaver, Ploceus rubiginosus
* Red-billed quelea, Quelea quelea
* Northern red bishop, Euplectes franciscanus
* Yellow-mantled widowbird, Euplectes macroura
* Red-cowled widowbird, Euplectes laticauda

## Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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.
* African silverbill, Euodice cantans
* Yellow-bellied waxbill, Estrilda quartinia
* Black-rumped waxbill, Estrilda troglodytes
* Crimson-rumped waxbill, Estrilda rhodopyga
* Quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis
* Cut-throat, Amadina fasciata
* Red-cheeked cordonbleu, Uraeginthus bengalus
* Green-winged pytilia, Pytilia melba
* Red-billed firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala
* African firefinch, Lagonosticta rubricata

## Indigobirds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Viduidae
The indigobirds are finch-like species which usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage. All are brood parasites, which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches.
* Pin-tailed whydah, Vidua macroura
* Sahel paradise-whydah, Vidua orientalis
* Village indigobird, Vidua chalybeata

## Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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)
* Northern gray-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
* Swainson's sparrow, Passer swainsonii
* Sudan golden-sparrow, Passer luteus
* Yellow-spotted bush sparrow, Gymnoris pyrgita
* Sahel bush sparrow, Gymnoris dentata
* Pale rockfinch, Carpospiza brachydactyla

## Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.
* Mountain wagtail, Motacilla clara (A)
* Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
* 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

## Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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 githagineus (A)
* White-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygius
* Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambicus
* African citril, Crithagra citrinelloides
* Yellow-rumped serin, Crithagra xanthopygius
* Streaky seedeater, Crithagra striolatus
* Brown-rumped seedeater, Crithagra tristriatus
* Yellow-crowned canary, Serinus flavivertex

## Old World buntings

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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.
* Cinereous bunting, Emberiza cineracea
* Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
* Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia
* Golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
* Cinnamon-breasted bunting, Emberiza tahapisi
* Striolated bunting, Emberiza striolata