List of birds of The Gambia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of the bird species recorded in The Gambia. The avifauna of The Gambia includes 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 certain relevant categories. Not all species will fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring, native species.

  • (A) = Accidental occurrence based fewer than 10 records, and unlikely to occur regularly—this information is from Barlow's A Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia and Senegal, unless otherwise noted.
  • (I) = Introduced to The Gambia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions.


Table of contents

Non-passerines: Grebes • Shearwaters • Storm-petrels • Tropicbirds • Pelicans • Gannets and boobies • Cormorants • Darters • Frigatebirds • Herons, egrets and bitterns • Hamerkop • Storks • Ibises and spoonbills • Flamingos • Ducks and geese • Osprey • Kites, vultures, hawks and eagles • Secretary Bird • Falcons • Francolins, quail and partridges • Guineafowl • Buttonquail • Cranes • Crakes, gallinules and coots • Finfoots • Bustards • Jacanas • Painted Snipes • Oystercatchers • Stilts and avocets • Thick-knees • Coursers • Lapwings, plovers and dotterel • Sandpipers, curlews, stints, godwits, snipes, and phalaropes • Skuas • Gulls • Terns • Skimmers • Sandgrouse • Doves and pigeons • Parrots • Turacos • Cuckoos • Barn Owl • True Owls • Nightjars • Swifts • Mousebirds • Kingfishers • Bee-eaters • Rollers • Hoopoe • Woodhoopoes • Hornbills • Tinkerbirds • Honeyguides • Woodpeckers

Passerines: Larks • Swallows and martins • Wagtails and pipits • Cuckoo-shrikes • Bulbuls, greenbuls, bristlebills and nicators • Thrushes • Cisticolas • Old World warblers • Old World flycatchers • Wattle-eyes • Paradise-flycatchers • Old World babblers • Tits • Treecreepers • Penduline tits • Sunbirds • White-eyes • Orioles • Shrikes • Bushshrikes • Helmetshrikes • Drongos • Piapiac, crows and ravens • Starlings • Weavers • Estrildid finches • Indigobirds and whydahs • Buntings • Canaries and seedeaters • Sparrows

See also        References        External links
Little Grebes are locally common in freshwater ponds, creeks and rice fields, particularly in the Western Division.
Little Grebes are locally common in freshwater ponds, creeks and rice fields, particularly in the Western Division.[1]

[edit] 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 20 species worldwide, though one—the Alaotra Grebe—may now be extinct.[2] Of these, one species has been recorded in The Gambia.

[edit] 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.) Of these, 13 species have been recorded in Africa, and two in The Gambia.

Wilson's Storm-Petrels are sometimes abundant offshore between April and September.
Wilson's Storm-Petrels are sometimes abundant offshore between April and September.[1]

[edit] Storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae

Storm-petrels are small birds which spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to breed.[3] They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering or pattering across the water. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 22 species worldwide, three of which have been recorded in The Gambia.

[edit] Tropicbirds

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are medium-sized seabirds found primarily in tropical oceans; they typically come ashore only to breed. They are predominantly white, with elongated central tail feathers. When hunting for the flying fish (and occasional squid) they feed on, they hover above the water, then plunge dive in after their prey. There are three species worldwide, one of which has been recorded in The Gambia.

Pink-backed Pelicans are abundant along the coast, less common most places upriver.
Pink-backed Pelicans are abundant along the coast, less common most places upriver.[1]

[edit] Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds with distinctive pouches under their beaks. Found along both inland and coastal waterways, they are primarily fish-eaters. Many species hunt in groups, chasing fish into shallow waters and then scooping them up in their huge bills, but one plunge-dives after prey. They nest colonially. There are eight species worldwide; of these, two have been recorded in The Gambia.

Northern Gannets are sometimes seen offshore, generally after strong harmattan winds.
Northern Gannets are sometimes seen offshore, generally after strong harmattan winds.[1]

[edit] Gannets and boobies

Order: Pelecaniformes 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. There are ten species worldwide; of these six have been recorded in Africa, and two in The Gambia.

[edit] Cormorants

Order: Pelecaniformes 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. There are 39 species worldwide; of these, 11 have been reported in Africa and two in The Gambia.

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.
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.[4]

[edit] Darters

Order: Pelecaniformes 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. There are two to four species worldwide (some taxonomists lump all the Old World species as Anhinga melanogaster, while others treat them separately); of these, one has been recorded in Africa, and in The Gambia.

[edit] Frigatebirds

Order: Pelecaniformes 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 inflatable coloured 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. There are five species worldwide; of these four have been reported in Africa, and one in The Gambia.

[edit] Herons, egrets and bitterns

The huge Goliath Heron is shy and solitary, typically preferring narrower creeks to more open areas.
The huge Goliath Heron is shy and solitary, typically preferring narrower creeks to more open areas.[1]

Order: Ciconiiformes 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. There are 61 species worldwide; of these, 29 occur in Africa, and 18 in The Gambia.

The often-gregarious Hamerkop builds one of the largest and most complex of all bird nests.
The often-gregarious Hamerkop builds one of the largest and most complex of all bird nests.[5]

[edit] Hamerkop

Order: Ciconiiformes 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. There is only a single species, which is found in The Gambia.

[edit] Storks

Yellow-billed Storks are most common near the coast.
Yellow-billed Storks are most common near the coast.[1]

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. There are 19 species of storks worldwide; of those, eight have been recorded in Africa and seven in The Gambia.

[edit] Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Threskiornithidae

[edit] Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae

[edit] Ducks and geese

The White-faced Whistling-duck is the country's most common and widespread duck.
The White-faced Whistling-duck is the country's most common and widespread duck.[1]

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

[edit] Osprey

Order: Falconiformes Family: Pandionidae

[edit] Kites, vultures, hawks and eagles

African Fish Eagles are typically found perched near rivers, creeks or coastal lagoons.
African Fish Eagles are typically found perched near rivers, creeks or coastal lagoons.[1]
Hooded Vultures are abundant throughout the country, particularly around human settlements.
Hooded Vultures are abundant throughout the country, particularly around human settlements.[1]
The medium-sized Wahlberg's Eagle is common throughout the country all year round.
The medium-sized Wahlberg's Eagle is common throughout the country all year round.[1]

Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae

[edit] Secretary Bird

Order: Falconiformes Family: Sagittariidae

[edit] Falcons

The Red-necked Falcon, which hunts bats, birds and large insects, is particularly active at dawn and dusk.
The Red-necked Falcon, which hunts bats, birds and large insects, is particularly active at dawn and dusk.[1]

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

[edit] Francolins, quail and partridges

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae

[edit] Guineafowl

Order: Galliformes Family: Numididae

[edit] Buttonquail

Order: Gruiformes Family: Turnicidae

Black-crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina)
Black-crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina)

[edit] Cranes

Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae

[edit] Crakes, gallinules and coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

[edit] Finfoots

Order: Gruiformes Family: Heliornithidae

[edit] Bustards

Order: Gruiformes Family: Otidae

[edit] Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Jacanidae

The Greater Painted Snipe is largely crepuscular, or most active around dawn and dusk.
The Greater Painted Snipe is largely crepuscular, or most active around dawn and dusk.

[edit] Painted Snipes

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Rostratulidae

[edit] Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae

[edit] Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

[edit] Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Burhinidae

[edit] Coursers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Glareolidae

[edit] Lapwings, plovers and dotterel

Spur-winged Plovers are ubiquitous throughout the country, though seldom far from water.
Spur-winged Plovers are ubiquitous throughout the country, though seldom far from water.[1]

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.

[edit] Sandpipers, curlews, stints, godwits, snipes, and phalaropes

Common Redshanks are common to abundant throughout the country during the winter months.
Common Redshanks are common to abundant throughout the country during the winter months.[1]
Common Sandpipers are among the handful of waders which regularly hunt fiddler crabs.
Common Sandpipers are among the handful of waders which regularly hunt fiddler crabs.[1]
Ruddy Turnstones are found in parties of 15-40 along the coast, principally between October and March.
Ruddy Turnstones are found in parties of 15-40 along the coast, principally between October and March.[1]

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

[edit] Skuas

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae

[edit] Gulls

Grey-headed Gulls are abundant along the coast, sometimes gathering in flocks of hundreds or thousands.
Grey-headed Gulls are abundant along the coast, sometimes gathering in flocks of hundreds or thousands.[1]

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

[edit] Terns

Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Sternidae

[edit] Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Rynchopidae

[edit] Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes Family: Pteroclidae

[edit] Doves and pigeons

Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)
Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

[edit] Parrots

Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus)
Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus)

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

[edit] Turacos

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Musophagidae

[edit] Cuckoos

Senegal Coucal (Centropus senegalensis)
Senegal Coucal (Centropus senegalensis)

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

[edit] Barn Owl

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

[edit] True Owls

Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)
Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae

[edit] Nightjars

Standard-winged Nightjar
Standard-winged Nightjar

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae

[edit] Swifts

African Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus parvus)
African Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus parvus)

Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae

[edit] Mousebirds

Order: Coliiformes Family: Coliidae

[edit] Kingfishers

The widespread Pied Kingfisher is quite gregarious, and is often found in small noisy groups.
The widespread Pied Kingfisher is quite gregarious, and is often found in small noisy groups.

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

[edit] Bee-eaters

Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)
Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Meropidae

[edit] Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Coraciidae

Blue-bellied Roller
Blue-bellied Roller

[edit] Hoopoe

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Upupidae

[edit] Woodhoopoes

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Phoeniculidae

[edit] Hornbills

Red-billed Hornbill
Red-billed Hornbill

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Bucerotidae

[edit] Tinkerbirds

Order: Piciformes Family: Capitonidae

[edit] Honeyguides

Order: Piciformes Family: Indicatoridae

[edit] Woodpeckers

Grey Woodpecker
Grey Woodpecker

Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae

[edit] Larks

Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae

[edit] Swallows and martins

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae

[edit] Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae

[edit] Cuckoo-shrikes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Campephagidae

[edit] Bulbuls, greenbuls, bristlebills and nicators

Order: Passeriformes Family: Pycnonotidae

[edit] Thrushes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae

[edit] Cisticolas

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cisticolidae

[edit] Old World warblers

Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae

[edit] Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae

[edit] Wattle-eyes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Platysteiridae

[edit] Paradise-flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Monarchidae

[edit] Old World babblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Timaliidae

[edit] Tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae

[edit] Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Certhiidae

[edit] Penduline Tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Remizidae

[edit] Sunbirds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Nectariniidae

[edit] White-eyes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Zosteropidae

[edit] Orioles

Order: Passeriformes Family: Oriolidae

[edit] Shrikes

Yellow-billed Shrike
Yellow-billed Shrike

Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae

[edit] Bushshrikes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Malaconotidae

[edit] Helmetshrikes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Prionopidae

[edit] Drongos

Order: Passeriformes Family: Dicruridae

[edit] Piapiac, crows and ravens

Pied Crows are abundant along the coast, less common upriver.
Pied Crows are abundant along the coast, less common upriver.[1]

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae

[edit] Starlings

The Long-tailed Glossy-starling is common and widespread throughout the country.
The Long-tailed Glossy-starling is common and widespread throughout the country.[1]

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae

[edit] Weavers

Village Weaver
Village Weaver

Order: Passeriformes Family: Ploceidae

[edit] Estrildid finches

Red-billed Firefinches forage on the ground in small family groups, often with one or more Village Indigobird foster chicks in tow.
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.
The ground-feeding Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu is widespread throughout the country.[1]

Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae

[edit] Indigobirds and whydahs

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

Order: Passeriformes Family: Viduidae

[edit] Buntings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae

The Yellow-fronted Canary is a common resident breeder throughout the country.
The Yellow-fronted Canary is a common resident breeder throughout the country.[1]

[edit] Canaries and seedeaters

Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae

[edit] Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Barlow, Clive & Wacher, Tim (1997), A Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia and Senegal, London: Pica Press 
  2. ^ Ogilvie, Malcolm; Chris Rose (2003). Grebes of the World. Uxbridge, UK: Bruce Coleman. ISBN 1-872842-03-8. 
  3. ^ Brinkley, Edward B.; Alec Humann (2001). "Storm-Petrels". The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behaviour. Ed. Chris Elphick, John B. Dunning, Jr. & David Sibley. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6250-6. 
  4. ^ Orta, Jaume (1992), “Family Anhingidae (Darters)”, in Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott & Jordi Sargatal, Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, p. 355, ISBN 84-87334-10-5 
  5. ^ Elliott, Andrew (1992), “Family Scopidae (Hamerkop)”, in Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott & Jordi Sargatal, Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 432-433, ISBN 84-87334-10-5 
  6. ^ Mikkola, Anita and Heimo (March 2002). "First record of Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus in The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club 9 (1): 45. 
  7. ^ Ranner, Andreas; Graham Tebb & Markus Craig (March 2000). "First record of Little Crake Porzana parva in The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club 7 (1): 51-52. 
  8. ^ Kirk, Gordon; Clive Barlow (August 2002). "Second confirmed record of Forbes's Plover Charadrius forbesi for The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club 9 (2): 138-139. 
  9. ^ Crewe, Mike D.; Brian J. Small (August 2002). "Temminck's Horned Lark Eremophila bilopha—a new species for The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club 9 (2): 136-138. 
  10. ^ a b Barnett, Linda K.; Craig Emms (March 2001). "New species and breeding records for The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club 8 (1): 44-45. 
  11. ^ Barlow, Clive (March 2007). "First Records of Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina for The Gambia and Senegal". Bulletin of the African Bird Club 14 (1): 72-73. 
  12. ^ Barlow, Clive (March 2007). "First Record of Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus for The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club 14 (1): 74-75. 
  13. ^ Crewe, Mike D.; Megan A. Crewe & Tombong Sanyang (March 2008). "First Record of Rüppell's Warbler Sylvia rueppelli for The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club 15 (1): 91-92. 
  • Collinson, Martin (June 2006). "Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists". British Birds 99: 306-323. 

[edit] External links