Brstjjy

This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Gambia. The avifauna of the Gambia include a total of 576 species, one of which has been introduced by humans and two of which are globally threatened. The country, which is very small and almost completely surrounded by Senegal, has no endemic species.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. Not all species will 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 the Gambia^[1]
  


• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Gambia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

Little grebes are locally common in freshwater ponds, creeks and rice fields, particularly in the Western Division.^[2]

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds. They breed on fresh water, but often visit the sea whilst migrating and in winter. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers; however, their feet are placed far back on their bodies, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 19 species worldwide. Of these, one species has been recorded in the Gambia.

• 
  Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
  

Shearwaters

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

Shearwaters are medium-sized, long-winged seabirds. Highly pelagic, they come ashore only to breed, nesting on islands and rocky cliffs. They generally glide low above the water on stiff wings, and feed on fish, squid and similar oceanic food. There are 23–27 species worldwide. (Some experts split Audubon's shearwater into several distinct species, while others consider those distinctive forms to be subspecies.)

• 
  Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus       (A)


• 
  Barolo shearwater, Puffinus baroli       (A)

Wilson's storm petrels are sometimes abundant offshore between April and September.^[2]

Austral storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The austral storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

• 
  Wilson's storm petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
  

Northern storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

• 
  European storm petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
  


• 
  Leach's storm petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa       (A)

Tropicbirds

Pink-backed pelicans are abundant along the coast, less common most places upriver.^[2]

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.

• 
  Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus       (A)

Northern gannets are sometimes seen offshore, generally after strong harmattan winds.^[2]

Gannets and boobies

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

Gannets and boobies are large seabirds with long beaks and long, pointed wings. They eat fish, which they hunt by plunge-diving from heights of up to 30 m and chasing their prey underwater. They nest colonially on islands and along coasts, either on the ground or in trees.

• 
  Northern gannet, Morus bassanus
  


• 
  Brown booby, Sula leucogaster       (A)

Cormorants

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium to large seabirds, found primarily along the coast, but occasionally ranging some way inland in aquatic environments. Their plumage is generally dark, though most species have areas of brightly coloured skin on the face. They are primarily fish eaters. Their bills are long, thin and sharply hooked, and their four-toed feet are webbed. Because their plumage is only semi-waterproof, they often stand out of the water with their wings outstretched to dry out their feathers.

• 
  Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
  


• 
  Long-tailed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus
  

The African darter is sometimes called the "snake bird" due to its habit of swimming with only its head and neck sticking out of the water.^[3]

Darters

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Darters are large waterbirds, found primarily in fresh and brackish water habitats. Because their plumage is not entirely waterproof, they often stand out of the water with their wings outstretched, drying off. Darters are strongly sexually dimorphic; males generally have much darker plumage than do females. They eat primarily fish, which they catch by diving from the water's surface.

• 
  African darter, Anhinga rufa
  

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds typically found soaring over tropical oceans. They have long wings and a deeply forked tail; their plumage is either black (males) or black-and-white (females and young). Males have coloured inflatable throat pouches, which are used in courtship. Frigatebirds spend most of their time in the air. They are kleptoparasites and often chase other seabirds to get them to drop their catches of fish; they also scoop fish from the water's surface.

• 
  Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens       (A)

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
  


• 
  Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens
  

Herons, egrets and bitterns

The huge Goliath heron is shy and solitary, typically preferring narrower creeks to more open areas.^[2]

Western reef egret (Egretta gularis gularis) dark morph.jpg

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

Herons, egrets and bitterns are long-legged birds typically associated with wetlands; herons and egrets are long-necked, while bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and quite secretive. Birds in this family often wade in shallow waters, preying on various aquatic organisms (including fish and frogs) as well as reptiles, amphibians and the occasional small bird. In flight, they hold their neck retracted in a gentle S-curve.

• 
  Grey heron, Ardea cinerea
  


• 
  Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala
  


• 
  Goliath heron, Ardea goliath
  


• 
  Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
  


• 
  Great egret, Ardea alba
  


• 
  Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia
  


• 
  Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca
  


• 
  Western reef heron, Egretta gularis
  


• 
  Little egret, Egretta garzetta
  


• 
  Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
  


• 
  Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
  


• 
  Striated heron, Butorides striata
  


• 
  Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
  


• 
  White-backed night heron, Gorsachius leuconotus
  


• 
  White-crested bittern, Tigriornis leucolophus
  


• 
  Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
  


• 
  Dwarf bittern, Ixobrychus sturmii
  


• 
  Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris       (A)

The often-gregarious hamerkop builds one of the largest and most complex of all bird nests.^[4]

Hamerkop

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Scopidae

Hamerkops are medium-sized, all-brown wading birds named for their hammer-headed appearance, which is created by the combination of their shaggy backwards-pointing crests and their heavy black bills. Typically found in wetland areas, they forage in shallow water for amphibians, small fish, crustaceans, insects, worms and small mammals. They build enormous, complex nests—which they generally use for only a matter of months—and occupy their territories year-round.

• 
  Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta
  

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

• 
  Sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
  


• 
  Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
  


• 
  Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
  


• 
  Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
  


• 
  African spoonbill, Platalea alba
  

Storks

Yellow-billed storks are most common near the coast.^[2]

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills. They occur in most of the world's warmer regions and tend to live in drier habitats than herons, to which they're closely related. They build large stick nests and sometimes nest colonially. Many species are migratory. Most storks eat a variety of small vertebrates and invertebrates; some eat carrion. Seven species have been recorded in the Gambia.

• 
  Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis
  


• 
  Black stork, Ciconia nigra       (A)


• 
  Abdim's stork, Ciconia abdimii       (A)


• 
  Woolly-necked stork, Ciconia episcopus
  


• 
  White stork, Ciconia ciconia       (A)


• 
  Saddle-billed stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
  


• 
  Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer
  

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

• 
  Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
  


• 
  Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor       Near-threatened
  

Ducks and geese

The white-faced whistling duck is the country's most common and widespread duck.^[2]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

• 
  Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
  


• 
  White-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata
  


• 
  Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus
  


• 
  Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis
  


• 
  Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos
  


• 
  African pygmy goose, Nettapus auritus
  


• 
  Common teal, Anas crecca
  


• 
  Northern pintail, Anas acuta
  


• 
  Garganey, Spatula querquedula
  


• 
  Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
  


• 
  Common pochard, Aythya ferina
  


• 
  Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca       (A)       Near-threatened
  


• 
  Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula       (A)

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

• 
  Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
  

Kites, vultures, hawks and eagles

African fish eagles are typically found perched near rivers, creeks or coastal lagoons.^[2]

Hooded vultures are abundant throughout the country, particularly around human settlements.^[2]

The medium-sized Wahlberg's eagle is common throughout the country all year round.^[2]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

• 
  African cuckoo-hawk, Aviceda cuculoides
  


• 
  European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus
  


• 
  Bat hawk, Macheiramphus alcinus
  


• 
  Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
  


• 
  African swallow-tailed kite, Chelictinia riocourii
  


• 
  Red kite, Milvus milvus       (A)


• 
  Black kite, Milvus migrans
  


• 
  Yellow-billed kite, Milvus aegyptius
  


• 
  African fish eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer
  


• 
  Palm-nut vulture, Gypohierax angolensis
  


• 
  Hooded vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus
  


• 
  Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
  


• 
  White-backed vulture, Gyps africanus
  


• 
  Rüppell's vulture, Gyps rueppelli
  


• 
  Eurasian griffon, Gyps fulvus
  


• 
  Lappet-faced vulture, Torgos tracheliotos       Vulnerable
  


• 
  White-headed vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis
  


• 
  Short-toed snake eagle, Circaetus gallicus
  


• 
  Beaudouin's snake eagle, Circaetus beaudouini
  


• 
  Brown snake eagle, Circaetus cinereus
  


• 
  Western banded snake eagle, Circaetus cinerascens
  


• 
  Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus
  


• 
  Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus
  


• 
  Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus       Near-threatened
  


• 
  Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
  


• 
  African harrier-hawk, Polyboroides typus
  


• 
  Lizard buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus
  


• 
  Dark chanting goshawk, Melierax metabates
  


• 
  Gabar goshawk, Micronisus gabar
  


• 
  Red-chested goshawk, Accipiter toussenelii
  


• 
  African goshawk, Accipiter tachiro
  


• 
  Shikra, Accipiter badius
  


• 
  Red-thighed sparrowhawk, Accipiter erythropus
  


• 
  Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus       (A)


• 
  Black goshawk, Accipiter melanoleucus
  


• 
  Grasshopper buzzard, Butastur rufipennis
  


• 
  Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
  


• 
  Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus       (A)


• 
  Red-necked buzzard, Buteo auguralis
  


• 
  Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax
  


• 
  African hawk-eagle, Aquila spilogaster
  


• 
  Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
  


• 
  Wahlberg's eagle, Hieraaetus wahlbergi
  


• 
  Martial eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus
  


• 
  Long-crested eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis
  

Secretarybird

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Sagittariidae

• 
  Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius       (A)

Falcons

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

• 
  Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni       Vulnerable
  


• 
  Common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
  


• 
  Fox kestrel, Falco alopex       (A)


• 
  Grey kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
  


• 
  Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
  


• 
  Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus       (A)^[5]
  


• 
  Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
  


• 
  African hobby, Falco cuvierii
  


• 
  Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
  


• 
  Barbary falcon, Falco pelegrinoides
  


• 
  Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
  

Francolins, quail and pheasants

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

• 
  Common quail, Coturnix coturnix       (A)


• 
  White-throated francolin, Peliperdix albogularis
  


• 
  Ahanta francolin, Pternistis ahantensis
  


• 
  Double-spurred francolin, Pternistis bicalcaratus
  

Partridges

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

• 
  Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus
  

Guineafowl

Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae

• 
  Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris
  

Black-crowned crane (Balearica pavonina)

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

• 
  Black crowned crane, Balearica pavonina       Near-threatened
  

Flufftails

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Sarothruridae

• 
  White-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura pulchra
  

Crakes, gallinules and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

• 
  African crake, Crex egregia
  


• 
  African water rail, Rallus caerulescens       (A)


• 
  Black crake, Amaurornis flavirostris
  


• 
  Little crake, Porzana parva       (A)^[6]
  


• 
  Baillon's crake, Porzana pusilla
  


• 
  Spotted crake, Porzana porzana       (A)


• 
  African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
  


• 
  Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni       (A)


• 
  Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
  


• 
  Lesser moorhen, Gallinula angulata
  


• 
  Eurasian coot, Fulica atra       (A)

Finfoots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Heliornithidae

• 
  African finfoot, Podica senegalensis
  

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otidae

• 
  Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs       (A)


• 
  Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami       (A)       Near-threatened
  


• 
  White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis       (A)


• 
  Savile's bustard, Lophotis savilei       (A)


• 
  Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster
  

Buttonquail

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

• 
  Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvatica
  


• 
  Quail-plover, Ortyxelos meiffrenii       (A)

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

• 
  African jacana, Actophilornis africanus
  

The greater painted-snipe is largely crepuscular, or most active around dawn and dusk.

Painted-snipes

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

• 
  Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
  

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

• 
  Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
  

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

• 
  Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
  


• 
  Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
  

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

• 
  Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis
  


• 
  Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis
  

Coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

• 
  Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius
  


• 
  Cream-coloured courser, Cursorius cursor       (A)


• 
  Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
  


• 
  Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
  


• 
  Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
  

Lapwings, plovers and dotterel

Spur-winged plovers are ubiquitous throughout the country, though seldom far from water.^[2]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

Lapwings, plovers and dotterels are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, generally in habitats near water, although there are some exceptions. There are 66 species worldwide; of these, 33 species have been recorded in Africa and 15 in the Gambia.

• 
  Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus       (A)


• 
  Senegal lapwing, Vanellus lugubris       (A)


• 
  Spur-winged plover, Vanellus spinosus
  


• 
  Black-headed plover, Vanellus tectus
  


• 
  White-headed plover, Vanellus albiceps
  


• 
  Wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus
  


• 
  American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica       (A)


• 
  European golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria
  


• 
  Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola
  


• 
  Ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
  


• 
  Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
  


• 
  Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius
  


• 
  Forbes's plover, Charadrius forbesi       (A)^[7]
  


• 
  White-fronted plover, Charadrius marginatus
  


• 
  Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
  


• 
  Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus       (A)

Sandpipers, curlews, stints, godwits, snipes and phalaropes

Common redshanks are common to abundant throughout the country during the winter months.^[2]

Common sandpipers are among the handful of waders which regularly hunt fiddler crabs.^[2]

Ruddy turnstones are found in parties of 15-40 along the coast, principally between October and March.^[2]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

• 
  Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
  


• 
  Great snipe, Gallinago media       Near-threatened
  


• 
  Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
  


• 
  Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
  


• 
  Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
  


• 
  Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
  


• 
  Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
  


• 
  Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
  


• 
  Common redshank, Tringa totanus
  


• 
  Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
  


• 
  Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
  


• 
  Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes       (A)


• 
  Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
  


• 
  Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria       (A)^[8]
  


• 
  Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
  


• 
  Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus       (A)


• 
  Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
  


• 
  Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
  


• 
  Red knot, Calidris canutus
  


• 
  Sanderling, Calidris alba
  


• 
  Little stint, Calidris minuta
  


• 
  Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
  


• 
  Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii       (A)


• 
  Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
  


• 
  Dunlin, Calidris alpina
  


• 
  Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima
  


• 
  Ruff, Calidris pugnax
  


• 
  Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
  


• 
  Grey phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius
  

Skuas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

• 
  Pomarine skua, Stercorarius pomarinus
  


• 
  Arctic skua, Stercorarius parasiticus
  

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Grey-headed gulls are abundant along the coast, sometimes gathering in flocks of hundreds or thousands.^[2]

Caspian tern

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

• 
  Audouin's gull, Ichthyaetus audouinii        Near-threatened
  


• 
  Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus        (A)


• 
  Common gull, Larus canus       (A)


• 
  Kelp gull, Larus dominicanus
  


• 
  Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
  


• 
  Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis
  


• 
  Grey-headed gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
  


• 
  Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
  


• 
  Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei
  


• 
  Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla        (A)


• 
  Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan        (A)


• 
  Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus        (A)


• 
  Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla        (A)


• 
  Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
  


• 
  Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
  


• 
  Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis
  


• 
  Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
  


• 
  Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus
  


• 
  Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii       (A)


• 
  Common tern, Sterna hirundo
  


• 
  Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea
  


• 
  Little tern, Sternula albifrons
  


• 
  Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
  


• 
  White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
  


• 
  Black tern, Chlidonias niger
  


• 
  Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus       (A)^[9]
  


• 
  Black noddy, Anous minutus       (A)


• 
  Brown noddy, Anous stolidus       (A)


• 
  African skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris       Near-threatened
  

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

• 
  Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus       (A)


• 
  Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus
  

Doves and pigeons

Red-eyed dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

• 
  Rock dove, Columba livia
  


• 
  Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea
  


• 
  Eurasian turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur
  


• 
  Adamawa turtle dove, Streptopelia hypopyrrha
  


• 
  African collared dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea
  


• 
  Mourning collared dove, Streptopelia decipiens
  


• 
  Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata
  


• 
  Vinaceous dove, Streptopelia vinacea
  


• 
  Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis
  


• 
  Black-billed wood dove, Turtur abyssinicus
  


• 
  Blue-spotted wood dove, Turtur afer
  


• 
  Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
  


• 
  Bruce's green pigeon, Treron waalia
  


• 
  African green pigeon, Treron calva
  

Old World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

• 
  Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri
  

African and New World parrots

Senegal parrot (Poicephalus senegalus)

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

• 
  Grey-headed parrot, Poicephalus robustus
  


• 
  Senegal parrot, Poicephalus senegalus
  

Turacos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Musophagidae

• 
  Guinea turaco, Tauraco persa
  


• 
  Violet turaco, Musophaga violacea
  


• 
  Western grey plantain-eater, Crinifer piscator
  

Cuckoos

Senegal coucal (Centropus senegalensis)

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

• 
  Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
  


• 
  Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii
  


• 
  Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius
  


• 
  Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius
  


• 
  Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus       (A)


• 
  Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
  


• 
  African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis
  


• 
  Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas
  


• 
  African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus       (A)


• 
  Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius
  


• 
  Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus
  


• 
  Black coucal, Centropus grillii
  


• 
  Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis
  

Barn owl

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

• 
  Barn owl, Tyto alba
  

True owls

Pearl-spotted owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

• 
  African scops owl, Otus senegalensis
  


• 
  Eurasian scops owl, Otus scops
  


• 
  White-faced scops owl, Ptilopsis leucotis
  


• 
  Greyish eagle-owl, Bubo cinerascens
  


• 
  Verreaux's eagle-owl, Bubo lacteus
  


• 
  Pel's fishing owl, Scotopelia peli
  


• 
  African wood owl, Strix woodfordii
  


• 
  Pearl-spotted owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
  


• 
  Marsh owl, Asio capensis
  

Nightjars

Long-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus climacurus climacurus) male

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

• 
  Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis
  


• 
  European nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
  


• 
  Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis       (A)


• 
  Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus
  


• 
  Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus
  


• 
  Pennant-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus vexillarius       (A)


• 
  Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis
  

Swifts

African palm-swift (Cypsiurus parvus)

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

• 
  Mottled spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri
  


• 
  African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus
  


• 
  Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
  


• 
  Common swift, Apus apus
  


• 
  Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
  


• 
  Little swift, Apus affinis
  


• 
  White-rumped swift, Apus caffer
  

Mousebirds

Order: Coliiformes   Family: Coliidae

• 
  Blue-naped mousebird, Urocolius macrourus
  

Kingfishers

The widespread pied kingfisher is quite gregarious and is often found in small noisy groups.

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

• 
  Shining blue kingfisher, Alcedo quadribrachys
  


• 
  Malachite kingfisher, Corythornis cristatus
  


• 
  African pygmy kingfisher, Ispidina picta
  


• 
  Grey-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
  


• 
  Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis
  


• 
  Blue-breasted kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica
  


• 
  Striped kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti
  


• 
  Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maxima
  


• 
  Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis
  

Bee-eaters

Little bee-eater (Merops pusillus pusillus)

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

• 
  Red-throated bee-eater, Merops bulocki
  


• 
  Little bee-eater, Merops pusillus
  


• 
  Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Merops hirundineus
  


• 
  White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis
  


• 
  Little green bee-eater, Merops orientalis
  


• 
  Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
  


• 
  European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
  


• 
  Northern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicus
  

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Blue-bellied roller

• 
  European roller, Coracias garrulus
  


• 
  Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinica
  


• 
  Rufous-crowned roller, Coracias naevia
  


• 
  Blue-bellied roller, Coracias cyanogaster
  


• 
  Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus
  

Hoopoe

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Upupidae

• 
  Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops
  

Woodhoopoes

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Phoeniculidae

• 
  Green woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus
  


• 
  Black woodhoopoe, Rhinopomastus aterrimus
  

Hornbills

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Bucerotidae

• 
  Western red-billed hornbill, Tockus kempi
  


• 
  African pied hornbill, Lophoceros fasciatus
  


• 
  African grey hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus
  


• 
  Abyssinian ground-hornbill, Bucorvus abyssinicus
  

Tinkerbirds

Order: Piciformes   Family: Lybiidae

• 
  Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus bilineatus
  


• 
  Yellow-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus
  


• 
  Vieillot's barbet, Lybius vieilloti
  


• 
  Bearded barbet, Lybius dubius
  

Honeyguides

Order: Piciformes   Family: Indicatoridae

• 
  Spotted honeyguide, Indicator maculatus
  


• 
  Greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator
  


• 
  Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
  

Woodpeckers

African grey woodpecker

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

• 
  Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
  


• 
  Fine-spotted woodpecker, Campethera punctuligera
  


• 
  Golden-tailed woodpecker, Campethera abingoni
  


• 
  Buff-spotted woodpecker, Campethera nivosa
  


• 
  Little grey woodpecker, Chloropicus elachus       (A)


• 
  Cardinal woodpecker, Chloropicus fuscescens
  


• 
  African grey woodpecker, Chloropicus goertae
  


• 
  Brown-backed woodpecker, Chloropicus obsoletus
  

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

• 
  Singing bushlark, Mirafra cantillans
  


• 
  Flappet lark, Mirafra rufocinnamomea
  


• 
  Rufous-rumped lark, Pinarocorys erythropygia        (A)


• 
  Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla       (A)


• 
  Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucotis
  


• 
  Crested lark, Galerida cristata
  


• 
  Sun lark, Galerida modesta
  


• 
  Temminck's horned lark, Eremophila bilopha       (A)^[10]
  

Swallows and martins

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

• 
  Sand martin, Riparia riparia
  


• 
  Brown-throated martin, Riparia paludicola
  


• 
  Banded martin, Riparia cincta
  


• 
  Eurasian crag martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris       (A)


• 
  Grey-rumped swallow, Hirundo griseopyga
  


• 
  Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
  


• 
  Red-chested swallow, Hirundo lucida
  


• 
  Wire-tailed swallow, Hirundo smithii
  


• 
  Pied-winged swallow, Hirundo leucosoma
  


• 
  Lesser striped swallow, Hirundo abyssinica
  


• 
  Rufous-chested swallow, Hirundo semirufa
  


• 
  Mosque swallow, Hirundo senegalensis
  


• 
  Red-rumped swallow, Hirundo daurica
  


• 
  Common house martin, Delichon urbicum
  


• 
  Fanti sawwing, Psalidoprocne obscura
  

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

• 
  White wagtail, Motacilla alba
  


• 
  African pied wagtail, Motacilla aguimp       (A)


• 
  Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
  


• 
  Yellow-throated longclaw, Macronyx croceus
  


• 
  Plain-backed pipit, Anthus leucophrys
  


• 
  Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
  


• 
  Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
  


• 
  Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
  

Cuckooshrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

• 
  White-breasted cuckooshrike, Coracina pectoralis
  


• 
  Red-shouldered cuckooshrike, Campephaga phoenicea
  

Bulbuls, greenbuls, bristlebills and nicators

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

• 
  Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus
  


• 
  Little greenbul, Eurillas virens
  


• 
  Yellow-throated leaflove, Atimastillas flavicollis
  


• 
  Swamp palm bulbul, Thescelocichla leucopleura       (A)


• 
  Red-tailed leaflove, Phyllastrephus scandens
  


• 
  Grey-headed bristlebill, Bleda canicapilla
  


• 
  Western nicator, Nicator chloris       (A)

Thrushes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

• 
  African thrush, Turdus pelios
  

Cisticolas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

• 
  Red-faced cisticola, Cisticola erythrops
  


• 
  Singing cisticola, Cisticola cantans
  


• 
  Whistling cisticola, Cisticola lateralis
  


• 
  Dorst's cisticola, Cisticola guinea
  


• 
  Winding cisticola, Cisticola galactotes
  


• 
  Croaking cisticola, Cisticola natalensis
  


• 
  Siffling cisticola, Cisticola brachypterus
  


• 
  Rufous cisticola, Cisticola rufus
  


• 
  Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
  


• 
  Desert cisticola, Cisticola aridulus
  


• 
  Black-backed cisticola, Cisticola eximius
  


• 
  Tawny-flanked prinia, Prinia subflava
  


• 
  River prinia, Prinia fluviatilis       (A)^[11]
  


• 
  Red-winged prinia, Prinia erythroptera
  


• 
  Yellow-breasted apalis, Apalis flavida
  


• 
  Oriole warbler, Hypergerus atriceps
  


• 
  Grey-backed camaroptera, Camaroptera brachyura
  


• 
  Olive-green camaroptera, Camaroptera chloronota       (A)


• 
  Senegal eremomela, Eremomela pusilla
  


• 
  Green-backed eremomela, Eremomela canescens
  

African warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Macrosphenidae

• 
  African moustached warbler, Melocichla mentalis       (A)


• 
  Green crombec, Sylvietta virens
  


• 
  Lemon-bellied crombec, Sylvietta denti       (A)


• 
  Northern crombec, Sylvietta brachyura
  

Cettid warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cettiidae

• 
  Green hylia, Hylia prasina
  

Locustellid warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

• 
  Common grasshopper warbler, Locustella naevia       (A)

Acrocephalid warblers

Sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

• 
  Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
  


• 
  Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
  


• 
  African reed warbler, Acrocephalus baeticatus
  


• 
  Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus       (A)


• 
  Greater swamp warbler, Acrocephalus rufescens
  


• 
  Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
  


• 
  Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
  


• 
  Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina       (A)^[12]
  

Phylloscopid warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

• 
  Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
  


• 
  Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
  


• 
  Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
  


• 
  Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix       (A)


• 
  Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus       (A)^[13]
  

Hyliotid warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hyliotidae

• 
  Yellow-bellied hyliota, Hyliota flavigaster
  

Old World warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

• 
  Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
  


• 
  Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
  


• 
  Whitethroat, Sylvia communis
  


• 
  Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca       (A)


• 
  Western Orphean warbler, Sylvia hortensis
  


• 
  Subalpine warbler, Sylvia cantillans
  


• 
  Spectacled warbler, Sylvia conspicillata       (A)


• 
  Rüppell's warbler, Sylvia ruppeli       (A)^[14]
  

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

• 
  Common rock thrush, Monticola saxatilis
  


• 
  Blue rock thrush, Monticola solitarius
  


• 
  Pale flycatcher, Melaenornis pallidus
  


• 
  Northern black flycatcher, Melaenornis edolioides
  


• 
  Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
  


• 
  Swamp flycatcher, Muscicapa aquatica
  


• 
  Grey tit-flycatcher, Myioparus plumbeus
  


• 
  European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca
  


• 
  Nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos
  


• 
  Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
  


• 
  Snowy-crowned robin-chat, Cossypha niveicapilla
  


• 
  White-crowned robin-chat, Cossypha albicapilla
  


• 
  Rufous-tailed scrub robin, Cercotrichas galactotes
  


• 
  Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
  


• 
  Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
  


• 
  Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
  


• 
  Black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe hispanica       (A)


• 
  Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina       (A)


• 
  Blackstart, Cercomela melanura       (A)


• 
  Northern anteater chat, Myrmecocichla aethiops
  


• 
  White-fronted black chat, Myrmecocichla albifrons
  

Wattle-eyes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Platysteiridae

• 
  African shrike-flycatcher, Megabyas flammulatus       (A)


• 
  Black-and-white shrike-flycatcher, Bias musicus       (A)


• 
  Brown-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira cyanea
  


• 
  Senegal batis, Batis senegalensis
  

Fairy flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Stenostiridae

• 
  African blue flycatcher, Elminia longicauda
  

Paradise flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

• 
  Black-headed paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufiventer
  


• 
  African paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis
  

Ground babblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pellorneidae

• 
  Puvel's illadopsis, Illadopsis puveli
  

Laughingthrushes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

• 
  Blackcap babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii
  


• 
  Brown babbler, Turdoides plebejus
  


• 
  Capuchin babbler, Phyllanthus atripennis
  

Tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

• 
  White-winged black tit, Melaniparus leucomelas
  

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

• 
  African spotted creeper, Salpornis salvadori       (A)

Penduline tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

• 
  Yellow penduline-tit, Anthoscopus parvulus
  

Sunbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

• 
  Mouse-brown sunbird, Anthreptes gabonicus
  


• 
  Western violet-backed sunbird, Anthreptes longuemarei
  


• 
  Collared sunbird, Hedydipna collaris
  


• 
  Pygmy sunbird, Hedydipna platura
  


• 
  Green-headed sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
  


• 
  Scarlet-chested sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis
  


• 
  Olive-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris chloropygia       (A)^[11]
  


• 
  Beautiful sunbird, Cinnyris pulchellus
  


• 
  Splendid sunbird, Cinnyris coccinigaster
  


• 
  Variable sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
  


• 
  Copper sunbird, Cinnyris cupreus
  

White-eyes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

• 
  African yellow white-eye, Zosterops senegalensis
  

Orioles

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

• 
  Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus       (A)


• 
  African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus
  

Shrikes

Yellow-billed shrike

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

• 
  Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus       (A)


• 
  Great grey shrike, Lanius excubitor       (A)


• 
  Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator
  


• 
  Yellow-billed shrike, Corvinella corvina
  

Bushshrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Malaconotidae

• 
  Brubru, Nilaus afer
  


• 
  Northern puffback, Dryoscopus gambensis
  


• 
  Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegala
  


• 
  Yellow-crowned gonolek, Laniarius barbarus
  


• 
  Sulphur-breasted bushshrike, Telophorus sulfureopectus
  


• 
  Grey-headed bushshrike, Malaconotus blanchoti
  

Helmetshrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prionopidae

• 
  White helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus
  

Drongos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

• 
  Square-tailed drongo, Dicrurus ludwigii
  


• 
  Fork-tailed drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis
  

Piapiac, crows and ravens

Pied crows are abundant along the coast, less common upriver.^[2]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

• 
  Piapiac, Ptilostomus afer
  


• 
  Pied crow, Corvus albus
  


• 
  Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis       (A)

Starlings

The long-tailed glossy-starling is common and widespread throughout the country.^[2]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

• 
  Wattled starling, Creatophora cinerea       (A)


• 
  Greater blue-eared glossy starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus
  


• 
  Lesser blue-eared glossy-starling, Lamprotornis chloropterus
  


• 
  Bronze-tailed glossy-starling, Lamprotornis chalcurus
  


• 
  Splendid glossy-starling, Lamprotornis splendidus
  


• 
  Purple glossy starling, Lamprotornis purpureus
  


• 
  Long-tailed glossy starling, Lamprotornis caudatus
  


• 
  Chestnut-bellied starling, Lamprotornis pulcher
  


• 
  Violet-backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
  


• 
  Yellow-billed oxpecker, Buphagus africanus
  

Weavers

Village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus) female

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae

• 
  White-billed buffalo weaver, Bubalornis albirostris
  


• 
  Speckle-fronted weaver, Sporopipes frontalis
  


• 
  Chestnut-crowned sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser superciliosus
  


• 
  Little weaver, Ploceus luteolus
  


• 
  Black-necked weaver, Ploceus nigricollis
  


• 
  Heuglin's masked weaver, Ploceus heuglini
  


• 
  Vitelline masked weaver, Ploceus velatus
  


• 
  Village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus
  


• 
  Vieillot's weaver, Ploceus nigerrimus       (A)


• 
  Yellow-backed weaver, Ploceus melanocephalus
  


• 
  Blue-billed malimbe, Malimbus nitens       (A)


• 
  Red-headed weaver, Anaplectes rubriceps
  


• 
  Red-headed quelea, Quelea erythrops
  


• 
  Red-billed quelea, Quelea quelea
  


• 
  Yellow-crowned bishop, Euplectes afer
  


• 
  Black-winged bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus
  


• 
  Northern red bishop, Euplectes franciscanus
  


• 
  Yellow-mantled widowbird, Euplectes macroura
  


• 
  Red-collared widowbird, Euplectes ardens
  


• 
  Parasitic weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis       (A)

Estrildid finches

Red-billed firefinches forage on the ground in small family groups, often with one or more village indigobird foster chicks in tow.

The ground-feeding red-cheeked cordon-bleu is widespread throughout the country.^[2]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

• 
  Chestnut-breasted negrofinch, Nigrita bicolor       (A)


• 
  Grey-headed oliveback, Nesocharis capistrata       (A)


• 
  Red-winged pytilia, Pytilia phoenicoptera
  


• 
  Green-winged pytilia, Pytilia melba
  


• 
  Crimson seedcracker, Pyrenestes sanguineus
  


• 
  Western bluebill, Spermophaga haematina
  


• 
  Bar-breasted firefinch, Lagonosticta rufopicta
  


• 
  Red-billed firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala
  


• 
  Black-faced firefinch, Lagonosticta larvata
  


• 
  Red-cheeked cordonbleu, Uraeginthus bengalus
  


• 
  Lavender waxbill, Estrilda caerulescens
  


• 
  Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda
  


• 
  Black-rumped waxbill, Estrilda troglodytes
  


• 
  Zebra waxbill, Amandava subflava
  


• 
  African quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis
  


• 
  African silverbill, Euodice cantans
  


• 
  Bronze mannikin, Lonchura cucullata
  


• 
  Magpie mannikin, Lonchura fringilloides
  


• 
  Cut-throat, Amadina fasciata
  

Indigobirds and whydahs

The pin-tailed whydah (male pictured above) is a brood parasite of various waxbill species.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Viduidae

• 
  Village indigobird, Vidua chalybeata
  


• 
  Baka indigobird, Vidua larvaticola
  


• 
  Quailfinch indigobird, Vidua nigeriae
  


• 
  Cameroon indigobird, Vidua camerunensis
  


• 
  Pin-tailed whydah, Vidua macroura
  


• 
  Exclamatory paradise whydah, Vidua interjecta
  


• 
  Northern paradise whydah, Vidua orientalis
  

Buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

• 
  Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana       (A)


• 
  House bunting, Emberiza sahari       (A)


• 
  Gosling's bunting, Emberiza goslingi
  


• 
  Brown-rumped bunting, Emberiza affinis
  

The yellow-fronted canary is a common resident breeder throughout the country.^[2]

Canaries and seedeaters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

• 
  White-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygius
  


• 
  Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambicus
  

Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

• 
  House sparrow, Passer domesticus       (I)


• 
  Grey-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
  


• 
  Sudan golden sparrow, Passer luteus
  


• 
  Bush petronia, Gymnornis dentata
  

See also

• List of regional bird lists

References

• 
  Collinson, Martin (June 2006). "Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists". British Birds. 99: 306–323.
  

External links

• African Bird Club's checklist for the Gambia


• 
  Birds of The Gambia - World Institute for Conservation and Environment


• Avibase checklist for the Gambia