This is a list of the bird species recorded in Tanzania. The avifauna of Tanzania included a total of 1160 confirmed species as of October 2024. Of them, 29 are endemic, and four have been introduced by humans. One additional species is hypothetical as defined below; it and two proposed endemic species are not included in the counts. 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 non-endemic residents. The notes of population status are from the Avibase Bird Checklists of the World.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Tanzania (also called a vagrant) (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Tanzania (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Tanzania as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (H) Hypothetical - a species possibly present but which has not been documented
Ostriches Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
The ostriches are flightless birds native to Africa, and are the largest living species of bird. They are distinctive in their 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 Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus Garganey, Spatula querquedula Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota Cape shoveler, Spatula smithii (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope 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 Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A) (vulnerable) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa (vulnerable)
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 Eastern crested guineafowl, Guttera pucherani Southern crested guineafowl, Guttera edouardi
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.
Udzungwa partridge, Xenoperdix udzungwensis (E) (endangered) Rubeho forest partridge, Xenoperdix obscuratus (E) (endangered) Latham's francolin, Peliperdix lathami Crested francolin, Ortygornis sephaena Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui Ring-necked francolin, Scleroptila streptophora Red-winged francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii (near-threatened) Shelley's francolin, Scleroptila shelleyi Blue quail, Synoicus adansonii Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei Hildebrandt's francolin, Pternistis hildebrandti Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus Yellow-necked francolin, Pternistis leucoscepus Gray-breasted francolin, Pternistis rufopictus (E) 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, Phoeniconaias minor (near-threatened)
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 Afep pigeon, Columba unicincta (A) Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix Delegorgue's pigeon, Columba delegorguei Lemon dove, Columba larvata European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur (A) (vulnerable) 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 Pemba green-pigeon, Treron pembaensis (E) (vulnerable) African green-pigeon, Treron calvus
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 Yellow-throated sandgrouse, Pterocles gutturalis Black-faced sandgrouse, Pterocles decoratus
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 (near-threatened) Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami (near-threatened) White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis 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 family Musophagidae. They are medium-sized arboreal birds. The turacos and plantain-eaters are brightly colored, usually in blue, green, or purple. The go-away birds are mostly gray and white.
Great blue turaco, Corythaeola cristata Livingstone's turaco, Tauraco livingstonii Schalow's turaco, Tauraco schalowi Black-billed turaco, Tauraco schuettii Fischer's turaco, Tauraco fischeri (near-threatened) Hartlaub's turaco, Tauraco hartlaubi Purple-crested turaco, Tauraco porphyreolophus Ross's turaco, Musophaga rossae Bare-faced go-away-bird, Corythaixoides personatus Gray go-away-bird, Corythaixoides concolor 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 Coppery-tailed coucal, Centropus cupreicaudus White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus Black coucal, Centropus grillii Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus Green malkoha, Ceuthmochares australis 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 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 Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis Madagascar cuckoo, Cuculus rochii 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 Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis (A) Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus Sombre nightjar, Caprimulgus fraenatus Rufous-cheeked nightjar, Caprimulgus rufigena (A) Nubian nightjar, Caprimulgus nubicus Donaldson-Smith's nightjar, Caprimulgus donaldsoni Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis Montane nightjar, Caprimulgus poliocephalus Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma Slender-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus clarus 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 Bat-like spinetail, Neafrapus boehmi Scarce swift, Schoutedenapus myoptilus Alpine swift, Apus melba Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis Common swift, Apus apus Nyanza swift, Apus niansae African swift, Apus barbatus Forbes-Watson's swift, Apus berliozi (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.
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 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 Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra