This is a list of the species of birds found in Egypt, a country in north-east Africa. The avifauna of Egypt include a total of 501 species of birds. No species are endemic to Egypt.
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. All of the birds below are included in the total bird count for Egypt.
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 Egypt (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Egypt as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Egypt although populations exist elsewhere (X) Extinct - a species or subspecies that no longer exists.
Ostriches Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
The ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa. 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 Linnaeus, 1758 North African ostrich, Struthio camelus camelus Arabian ostrich, Struthio camelus syriacus (X)
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.
Graylag goose, Anser anser (Linnaeus, 1758) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (Scopoli, 1769) Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (Linnaeus, 1758) (A) Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis (Latham, 1787) (A) Brant, Branta bernicla (Linnaeus, 1758) (A) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (Bechstein, 1803) (A) Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (Pallas, 1769) (A) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (Gmelin, JF, 1789) Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (Linnaeus, 1758) (A) Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca (Linnaeus, 1766) Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (Pallas, 1764) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus, 1758) Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis (Linnaeus, 1766) (I) Garganey, Spatula querquedula (Linnaeus, 1758) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (Linnaeus, 1766) (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus, 1758) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (Linnaeus, 1758) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (Linnaeus, 1758) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 Northern pintail, Anas acuta Linnaeus, 1758 Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Linnaeus, 1758 Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris (Ménétriés, 1832) Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina (Pallas, 1773) Common pochard, Aythya ferina (Linnaeus, 1758) Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (Güldenstädt, 1770) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus, 1758) Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca (Linnaeus, 1758) (A) Smew, Mergellus albellus (Linnaeus, 1758) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Linnaeus, 1758 Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (Gmelin, JF, 1789) (I) White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala (Scopoli, 1769)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Sand partridge, Ammoperdix heyi (Temminck, 1825) Common quail, Coturnix coturnix (Linnaeus, 1758); Ancient Egyptian: pcr.t > Coptic: pere (meaning unknown) Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara (Bonnaterre, 1790) "aegypticus" (Siwa, marsa matruah) Chukar, Alectoris chukar (Gray, JE, 1830)
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 Pallas, 1811 (Ancient Egyptian name: dSr "reddish one"; Coptic: eteSi) Lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, É, 1798) (A)
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 (Pallas, 1764) Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (Boddaert, 1783) (A) Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Brehm, CL, 1831
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 Gmelin, JF, 1789; Ancient Egyptian "one of turquoise colour" (?) Stock dove, Columba oenas Linnaeus, 1758 Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 (A) European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur turtur; Ancient Egyptian: mnw.t (meaning unknown) Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis (Latham, 1790) (A) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea (Sundevall, 1857) Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens (Hartlaub & Finsch, 1870) (A) Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766); Ancient Egyptian: cb3 "glittering, shining one" Namaqua dove, Oena capensis (Linnaeus, 1766) Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia (Meyer, FAA, 1793) (A)
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.
Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata (Linnaeus, 1766) (A) Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus Temminck, 1825 (A) Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus (Linnaeus, 1771) Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis (Linnaeus, 1758) Crowned sandgrouse, Pterocles coronatus Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823 Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinii Temminck, 1825
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.
Great bustard, Otis tarda Linnaeus, 1758 (A) Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata (Jacquin, 1784) MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii (Gray, JE, 1832) Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ex)Listed as extirpated per source, but no other sources put Egypt in the species' range.
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 (Linnaeus, 1766) Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius (Linnaeus, 1758) African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis Stephens, 1815 Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus Linnaeus, 1758
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.
Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus Linnaeus, 1758 Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823 Nubian nightjar, Caprimulgus nubicus Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823 (A)
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.
Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba (Linnaeus, 1758) Common swift, Apus apus (Linnaeus, 1758) Pallid swift, Apus pallidus (Shelley, 1870) Little swift, Apus affinis (Gray, JE, 1830)
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.
Water rail, Rallus aquaticus Linnaeus, 1758 Corn crake, Crex crex (Linnaeus, 1758) Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (Linnaeus, 1766) Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758); Ancient Egyptian: sbḥ "one who cries out" or "laments" Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata (Sundevall, 1850) Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni Thomson, 1842 (A) African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis (Latham, 1801) Little crake, Zapornia parva (Scopoli, 1769) Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (Pallas, 1776)
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".
Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo; Ancient Egyptian wDc "splitter" (?) Common crane, Grus grus (Linnaeus, 1758); Ancient Egyptian: D3.t "the one stretching/reaching" or "borer"
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.
Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus (Linnaeus, 1758) Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis (Swainson, 1837)
Egyptian plover Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Pluvianidae
The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River. It has a mutualistic relationship with Nile crocodiles by eating food and parasites from their opened mouths. This is also reflected in the Ancient Egyptian name of the bird according to a Demotic dreambook (papyrus Vienna D 6104): b3k msh "servant of the crocodile".
Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius (Linnaeus, 1758) (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 (Linnaeus, 1758) Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta Linnaeus, 1758
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus Linnaeus, 1758
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.