This is a list of the bird species recorded in Burundi. The avifauna of Burundi include a total of 700 species, of which 3 have 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 Burundi.
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 Burundi (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Burundi as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
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 Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus Garganey, Spatula querquedula Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) African black duck, Anas sparsa Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata Cape teal, Anas capensis Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (A) Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Common pochard, Aythya ferina 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
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.
Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui Ring-necked francolin, Scleroptila streptophora Red-winged francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii Blue quail, Synoicus adansonii Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei Handsome francolin, Pternistis nobilis Hildebrandt's francolin, Pternistis hildebrandti Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus Red-necked francolin, Pternistis afer
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, Phoenicopterus 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 (A) 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 Afep pigeon, Columba unicincta Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix Lemon dove, Columba larvata Dusky turtle-dove, Streptopelia lugens 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 Namaqua dove, Oena capensis (A) African green-pigeon, Treron calva
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.
Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami 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 Livingstone's turaco, Tauraco livingstonii Schalow's turaco, Tauraco schalowi Black-billed turaco, Tauraco schuettii Purple-crested turaco, Tauraco porphyreolophus Rwenzori turaco, Ruwenzorornis johnstoni Ross's turaco, Musophaga rossae Bare-faced go-away-bird, Corythaixoides personatus 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.
Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis Blue-headed coucal, Centropus monachus White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus Black coucal, Centropus grillii Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius (A) Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Thick-billed cuckoo, Pachycoccyx audeberti Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus Dusky long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx mechowi Barred long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx montanus Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis Madagascar cuckoo, Cuculus rochii (A) 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 Sombre nightjar, Caprimulgus fraenatus (A) Rufous-cheeked nightjar, Caprimulgus rufigena Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis Montane nightjar, Caprimulgus poliocephalus Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus (A) Star-spotted nightjar, Caprimulgus stellatus 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.
Scarce swift, Schoutedenapus myoptilus Alpine swift, Apus melba (A) Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis (A) Common swift, Apus apus African swift, Apus barbatus 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 (A) Red-chested flufftail, Sarothrura rufa Streaky-breasted flufftail, Sarothrura boehmi
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 Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata (A) Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis Black crake, Zapornia flavirostris Little crake, Zapornia parva 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
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Water thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis
Egyptian plover Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Pluvianidae
The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River.
Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius (A)
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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)
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) Long-toed lapwing, Vanellus crassirostris Blacksmith lapwing, Vanellus armatus (A) Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus White-headed lapwing, Vanellus albiceps Senegal lapwing, Vanellus lugubris Crowned lapwing, Vanellus coronatus Wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus Brown-chested lapwing, Vanellus superciliosus Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (A) Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius (A) Three-banded plover, Charadrius tricollaris Forbes's plover, Charadrius forbesi (A) White-fronted plover, Charadrius marginatus