This is a list of the bird species recorded in Somaliland. The avifauna of Somaliland include a total of 725 species, of which seven are endemic, one has been introduced by humans and one is rare or accidental. Fourteen species are globally threatened.
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, 6th 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 Somaliland.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories, but not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Somaliland (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Somaliland (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Somaliland as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
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.
Somali ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes
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. There are 20 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Somaliland.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Albatrosses Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds. There are 21 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Somaliland.
Shy albatross, Thalassarche cauta (A)
Shearwaters and petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Cape petrel, Daption capense Mascarene petrel, Pterodroma aterrima Antarctic prion, Pachyptila desolata Jouanin's petrel, Bulweria fallax Kerguelen petrel, Aphrodroma brevirostris Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacificus Persian shearwater, Puffinus persicus Tropical shearwater, Puffinus bailloni
Austral storm petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
The austral storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Wilson's storm petrel, Oceanites oceanicus White-faced storm petrel, Pelagodroma marina Black-bellied storm petrel, Fregetta tropica
Northern storm petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
Swinhoe's storm petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis Matsudaira's storm petrel, Oceanodroma matsudairae
Tropicbirds Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus
Boobies and gannets Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Masked booby, Sula dactylatra Red-footed booby, Sula sula Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
Cormorants Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.
Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo Socotra cormorant, Phalacrocorax nigrogularis Long-tailed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus
Darters Order: SuliformesFamily: Anhingidae
Darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.
African darter, Anhinga melanogaster
Frigatebirds Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
Great frigatebird, Fregata minor Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel
Pelicans Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.
Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens
Bitterns, herons and egrets Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
Grey heron, Ardea cinerea Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala Goliath heron, Ardea goliath Purple heron, Ardea purpurea Great egret, Ardea alba Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca Western reef heron, Egretta gularis Little egret, Egretta garzetta Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides Madagascar pond heron, Ardeola idae Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis Striated heron, Butorides striata Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax Dwarf bittern, Ixobrychus sturmii
Hammerkop Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Scopidae
The hammerkop is a medium-sized bird with a long shaggy crest. The shape of its head with a curved bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, hence its name. Its plumage is drab-brown all over.
Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta
Ibises and spoonbills Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
Sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus Waldrapp, Geronticus eremita Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia African spoonbill, Platalea alba
Storks Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.
Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis African openbill, Anastomus lamelligerus Black stork, Ciconia nigra Abdim's stork, Ciconia abdimii African woolly-necked stork, Ciconia microscelis White stork, Ciconia ciconia Saddle-billed stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer
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. There are 6 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Somaliland.
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor
Ducks, geese and swans 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.
Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor White-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos African pygmy goose, Nettapus auritus Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Gadwall, Mareca strepera Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata Northern pintail, Anas acuta Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha Hottentot teal, Spatula hottentota Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
Osprey Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, kites and eagles Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
African cuckoo hawk, Aviceda cuculoides European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus Bat hawk, Macheiramphus alcinus Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus Scissor-tailed kite, Chelictinia riocourii Yellow-billed kite, Milvus aegyptius African fish eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer Hooded vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus Lammergeier, Gypaetus barbatus Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus White-backed vulture, Gyps africanus Rüppell's vulture, Gyps rueppelli Eurasian griffon, Gyps fulvus Lappet-faced vulture, Torgos tracheliotos White-headed vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis Black-breasted snake eagle, Circaetus pectoralis Brown snake eagle, Circaetus cinereus Fasciated snake eagle, Circaetus fasciolatus Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus African marsh harrier, Circus ranivorus Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus African harrier-hawk, Polyboroides typus Lizard buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus Dark chanting goshawk, Melierax metabates Eastern chanting goshawk, Melierax poliopterus Gabar goshawk, Micronisus gabar African goshawk, Accipiter tachiro Shikra, Accipiter badius Little sparrowhawk, Accipiter minullus Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus Black goshawk, Accipiter melanoleucus Grasshopper buzzard, Butastur rufipennis Eurasian buzzard, Buteo buteo Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus Augur buzzard, Buteo augur Tawny eagle, Aquila rapax Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis Verreaux's eagle, Aquila verreauxii African hawk-eagle, Aquila spilogaster Wahlberg's eagle, Hieraaetus wahlbergi Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus Ayres's hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus ayresii Martial eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus Long-crested eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis
Secretarybird Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Sagittariidae
The secretarybird is a bird of prey in the order Falconiformes but is easily distinguished from other raptors by its long crane-like legs.
Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius
Caracaras and falcons