This is a list of the bird species recorded in Ethiopia. The avifauna of Ethiopia included a total of 880 confirmed species as of August 2021. Of them, 20 are endemic, one has been introduced by humans, and the statuses of 11 are under review. An additional 16 species are hypothetical as defined below. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of Avibase.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/updateindex/october-2022/ Retrieved November 1, 2022.
The following tags highlight several categories of occurrence other than regular migrants and residents.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Ethiopia (also called a vagrant) (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Ethiopia (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Ethiopia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (S) Status - a species whose status is under review (H) Hypothetical - a species possibly present but which has not been documented.
Ostriches Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
The ostriches are flightless birds native to Africa. They are the largest living species of bird and are distinctive in appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.
Common ostrich, Struthio camelus North African ostrich, S. c. camelus Masai ostrich, S. c. massaicus Somali ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes
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 Blue-winged goose, Cyanochen cyanopterus (E) Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna (A) Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus Garganey, Spatula querquedula Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope African black duck, Anas sparsa Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Cape teal, Anas capensis Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (S) Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa
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 Vulturine guineafowl, Acryllium vulturinum
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: 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: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quail, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowl, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowl, and jungle fowl. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Crested francolin, Ortygornis sephaena Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui Moorland francolin, Scleroptila psilolaemus (E) Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei Sand partridge, Ammoperdix heyi (H) Chestnut-naped francolin, Pternistis castaneicollis Black-fronted francolin, Pternistis atrifrons Erckel's francolin, Pternistis erckelii Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus Clapperton's francolin, Pternistis clappertoni Harwood's francolin, Pternistis harwoodi (E) Yellow-necked francolin, Pternistis leucoscepus
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 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
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 White-collared pigeon, Columba albitorques Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix Delegorgue's pigeon, Columba delegorguei (A) Lemon dove, Columba larvata European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur Dusky turtle-dove, Streptopelia lugens African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea White-winged collared-dove, Streptopelia reichenowi Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola Vinaceous dove, Streptopelia vinacea Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis Emerald-spotted wood-dove, Turtur chalcospilos Black-billed wood-dove, Turtur abyssinicus Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria Namaqua dove, Oena capensis Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia 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.
Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus Yellow-throated sandgrouse, Pterocles gutturalis Black-faced sandgrouse, Pterocles decoratus Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinii Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus
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.
Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs Kori bustard, Ardeotis kori Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami (A) Heuglin's bustard, Neotis heuglinii White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis Little brown bustard, Eupodotis humilis Buff-crested bustard, Lophotis gindiana Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster Hartlaub's bustard, Lissotis hartlaubii
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.
White-cheeked turaco, Tauraco leucotis Prince Ruspoli's turaco, Menelikornis ruspolii (E) Bare-faced go-away-bird, Corythaixoides personatus White-bellied go-away-bird, Corythaixoides leucogaster Eastern plantain-eater, Crinifer zonurus
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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis Blue-headed coucal, Centropus monachus White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus Black coucal, Centropus grillii Green malkoha, Ceuthmochares australis 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 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.
Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus Sombre nightjar, Caprimulgus fraenatus Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius (A) Nubian nightjar, Caprimulgus nubicus Donaldson-Smith's nightjar, Caprimulgus donaldsoni Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis (A) Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus Star-spotted nightjar, Caprimulgus stellatus Nechisar nightjar, Caprimulgus solala (E) Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus Slender-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus clarus
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. They 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.
Scarce swift, Schoutedenapus myoptilus Alpine swift, Apus melba Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis Common swift, Apus apus Nyanza swift, Apus niansae Pallid swift, Apus pallidus (A) African swift, Apus barbatus (A) 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.
Buff-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura elegans (A) Red-chested flufftail, Sarothrura rufa White-winged flufftail, Sarothrura ayresi
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 African crake, Crex egregia Rouget's rail, Rougetius rougetii Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra (A) Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis Black crake, Amaurornis flavirostris Little crake, Zapornia parva (A) 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