This is a list of the bird species recorded in Angola. The avifauna of Angola include a total of 1005 species, of which thirteen are endemic, and one has been introduced by humans.
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. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Angola.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Angola (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Angola (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Angola as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Ostriches
Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
The ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa, and 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: AnseriformesFamily: 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 Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Hartlaub's duck, Pteronetta hartlaubii Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota Cape shoveler, Spatula smithii (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata African black duck, Anas sparsa Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata Cape teal, Anas capensis Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa (A)
Guineafowl
Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage.
Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris Black guineafowl, Agelastes niger Plumed guineafowl, Guttera plumifera Western crested guineafowl, Guttera verreauxi
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, 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.
Latham's francolin, Peliperdix lathami Crested francolin, Ortygornis sephaena Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui White-throated francolin, Campocolinus albogularis Red-winged francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii Finsch's francolin, Scleroptila finschi Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis Blue quail, Synoicus adansonii Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei Hartlaub's francolin, Pternistis hartlaubi Swierstra's francolin, Pternistis swierstrai (E) Gray-striped francolin, Pternistis griseostriatus (E) Red-billed francolin, Pternistis adspersus Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus Swainson's francolin, Pternistis swainsonii Red-necked francolin, Pternistis afer
Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 1–1.5 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, Phoeniconaias minor
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (A)
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea Afep pigeon, Columba unicincta Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix Bronze-naped pigeon, Columba iriditorques Lemon dove, Columba larvata (A) Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis Emerald-spotted wood-dove, Turtur chalcospilos Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria Blue-headed wood-dove, Turtur brehmeri Namaqua dove, Oena capensis African green-pigeon, Treron calva
Sandgrouse
Order: PterocliformesFamily: 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.
Namaqua sandgrouse, Pterocles namaqua Yellow-throated sandgrouse, Pterocles gutturalis Double-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles bicinctus Burchell's sandgrouse, Pterocles burchelli
Bustards
Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Kori bustard, Ardeotis kori Ludwig's bustard, Neotis ludwigii Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis Rüppell's bustard, Eupodotis rueppellii Red-crested bustard, Lophotis ruficrista White-quilled bustard, Eupodotis afraoides Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster
Turacos
Order: MusophagiformesFamily: Musophagidae
The turacos, plantain eaters and go-away-birds make up the bird family Musophagidae. They are medium-sized arboreal birds. The turacos and plantain eaters are brightly coloured, usually in blue, green or purple. The go-away birds are mostly grey and white.
Great blue turaco, Corythaeola cristata Guinea turaco, Tauraco persa Schalow's turaco, Tauraco schalowi Black-billed turaco, Tauraco schuettii Yellow-billed turaco, Tauraco macrorhynchus Red-crested turaco, Tauraco erythrolophus (E) Ross's turaco, Musophaga rossae Gray go-away-bird, Corythaixoides concolor
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs.
Gabon coucal, Centropus anselli Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis Blue-headed coucal, Centropus monachus Coppery-tailed coucal, Centropus cupreicaudus White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus Black coucal, Centropus grillii Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Thick-billed cuckoo, Pachycoccyx audeberti Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas Yellow-throated cuckoo, Chrysococcyx flavigularis (A) African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus Dusky long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx mechowi Olive long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx olivinus Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Pennant-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus vexillarius Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus Rufous-cheeked nightjar, Caprimulgus rufigena Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis Montane nightjar, Caprimulgus poliocephalus Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus Square-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii
Swifts
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Mottled spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri Black spinetail, Telacanthura melanopygia (A) Sabine's spinetail, Rhaphidura sabini Cassin's spinetail, Neafrapus cassini Bat-like spinetail, Neafrapus boehmi Scarce swift, Schoutedenapus myoptilus Alpine swift, Apus melba Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis Common swift, Apus apus Pallid swift, Apus pallidus African swift, Apus barbatus (A) Bradfield's swift, Apus bradfieldi Little swift, Apus affinis Horus swift, Apus horus White-rumped swift, Apus caffer African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus
Flufftails
Order: GruiformesFamily: Sarothruridae
The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa.
White-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura pulchra Buff-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura elegans Red-chested flufftail, Sarothrura rufa Chestnut-headed flufftail, Sarothrura lugens Streaky-breasted flufftail, Sarothrura boehmi Striped flufftail, Sarothrura affinis
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: 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.
African rail, Rallus caerulescens Corn crake, Crex crex (A) African crake, Crex egregia Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis Nkulengu rail, Himantornis haematopus Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis Black crake, Zapornia flavirostris Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla
Finfoots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.
African finfoot, Podica senegalensis
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: 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".
Gray crowned-crane, Balearica regulorum Black crowned-crane, Balearica pavonina Wattled crane, Bugeranus carunculatus
Thick-knees
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae