↑ETHIOPIA
ETHIOPIA↑

TARGETS
SPECIALTIES

MELKA GHEBDU

ETHIOPIALOCALE

# Species:338
# Excl Vagrants:338
# Endemics:11
# Near Endemics:16

BIRD CHECKLIST

The table below lists species recorded at this locale but does not indicate frequency of occurrence there. It does indicate whether each species is globally threatened or endangered according to the IUCN and also whether it is migratory, very rare, or accidental in the country. The list is based on available data and may be incomplete.*

color codes

 
Ducks: Anatidae

1White-backed DuckThalassornis leuconotus
2Blue-winged GooseCyanochen cyanoptera
3Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
4/Northern Shoveler/Spatula clypeata
5African Black DuckAnas sparsa
6Yellow-billed DuckAnas undulata

 
Guineafowl: Numididae

7Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagris

 
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies: Phasianidae

8Crested FrancolinOrtygornis sephaena
9Moorland FrancolinScleroptera psilolaemus
10Erckel's SpurfowlPternistis erckelii
11Clapperton's SpurfowlPternistis clappertoni

 
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae

12Speckled PigeonColumba guinea
13White-collared PigeonColumba albitorques
14Dusky Turtle-DoveStreptopelia lugens
15African Collared-DoveStreptopelia roseogrisea
16Mourning Collared-DoveStreptopelia decipiens
17Red-eyed DoveStreptopelia semitorquata
18Ring-necked DoveStreptopelia capicola
19Vinaceous DoveStreptopelia vinacea
20Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
21Emerald-spotted Wood-DoveTurtur chalcospilos
22Black-billed Wood-DoveTurtur abyssinicus
23Blue-spotted Wood-DoveTurtur afer
24Tambourine DoveTurtur tympanistria
25Namaqua DoveOena capensis
26Bruce's Green-PigeonTreron waalia

 
Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae

27Chestnut-bellied SandgrousePterocles exustus
28Yellow-throated SandgrousePterocles gutturalis

 
Turacos: Musophagidae

29Bare-faced Go-away-birdCrinifer personatus
30White-bellied Go-away-birdCrinifer leucogaster
31Eastern Plantain-eaterCrinifer zonurus
32White-cheeked TuracoMenelikkornis leucotis

 
Cuckoos: Cuculidae

33/Common Cuckoo/Cuculus canorus
34Blue-headed CoucalCentropus monachus
35White-browed CoucalCentropus superciliosus
36Pied CuckooClamator jacobinus
37Klaas's CuckooChrysococcyx klaas
38\Dideric Cuckoo\Chrysococcyx caprius

 
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae

39Slender-tailed NightjarCaprimulgus clarus

 
Swifts: Apodidae

40Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
41Mottled SwiftTachymarptis aequatorialis
42Nyanza SwiftApus niansae
43African Palm SwiftCypsiurus parvus

 
Thick-knees: Burhinidae

44Senegal Thick-kneeBurhinus senegalensis

 
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae

45/Black-winged Stilt/Himantopus himantopus

 
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae

46Three-banded PloverThinornis tricollaris
47/Little Ringed Plover/Thinornis dubius

 
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae

48/Common Sandpiper/Actitis hypoleucos
49/Green Sandpiper/Tringa ochropus
50/Wood Sandpiper/Tringa glareola

 
Grebes: Podicipedidae

51Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis

 
Storks: Ciconiidae

52/Black Stork/Ciconia nigra
53Abdim's StorkCiconia abdimii
54Yellow-billed StorkMycteria ibis

 
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae

55African Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus
56Hadada IbisBostrychia hagedash
57Wattled IbisBostrychia carunculata

 
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae

58Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
59Little EgretEgretta garzetta
60Striated HeronButorides striata
61Western Cattle-EgretBubulcus ibis

 
Hamerkop: Scopidae

62HamerkopScopus umbretta

 
Shoebill: Balaenicipitidae

63ShoebillBalaeniceps rex

 
Pelicans: Pelecanidae

64Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescens

 
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae

65Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
66African Harrier-HawkPolyboroides typus
67Bearded VultureGypaetus barbatus
68Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterus
69Lappet-faced VultureTorgos tracheliotos
70Hooded VultureNecrosyrtes monachus
71White-backed VultureGyps africanus
72Rueppell's GriffonGyps rueppelli
73Black-chested Snake-EagleCircaetus pectoralis
74/Short-toed Snake-Eagle/Circaetus gallicus
75Brown Snake-EagleCircaetus cinereus
76Martial EaglePolemaetus bellicosus
77/Lesser Spotted Eagle/Clanga pomarina
78/Booted Eagle/Hieraaetus pennatus
79Ayres's Hawk-EagleHieraaetus ayresii
80Tawny EagleAquila rapax
81/Steppe Eagle/Aquila nipalensis
82Verreaux's EagleAquila verreauxii
83African Hawk-EagleAquila spilogaster
84Gabar GoshawkMicronisus gabar
85Dark Chanting-GoshawkMelierax metabates
86Eastern Chanting-GoshawkMelierax poliopterus
87Little SparrowhawkTachyspiza minullus
88ShikraTachyspiza badius
89Rufous-breasted SparrowhawkAccipiter rufiventris
90/Pallid Harrier/Circus macrourus
91/Black Kite/Milvus migrans
92Yellow-billed Kite**Milvus aegyptius
93/Common Buzzard/Buteo buteo
94/Long-legged Buzzard/Buteo rufinus
95Augur BuzzardButeo augur

 
Owls: Strigidae

96Grayish Eagle-OwlBubo cinerascens
97Pearl-spotted OwletGlaucidium perlatum

 
Mousebirds: Coliidae

98Speckled MousebirdColius striatus
99Blue-naped MousebirdUrocolius macrourus

 
Hoopoes: Upupidae

100Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops

 
Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills: Phoeniculidae

101Black-billed WoodhoopoePhoeniculus somaliensis

 
Hornbills: Bucerotidae

102Abyssinian Ground-HornbillBucorvus abyssinicus
103Hemprich's HornbillLophoceros hemprichii
104African Gray HornbillLophoceros nasutus
105Northern Red-billed HornbillTockus erythrorhynchus
106Eastern Yellow-billed HornbillTockus flavirostris
107Von der Decken's HornbillTockus deckeni

 
Bee-eaters: Meropidae

108Little Bee-eaterMerops pusillus
109Ethiopian Bee-eaterMerops lafresnayii
110\White-throated Bee-eater\Merops albicollis
111(Olive Bee-eater)Merops superciliosus
112/European Bee-eater/Merops apiaster
113Northern Carmine Bee-eaterMerops nubicus

 
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

114Half-collared KingfisherAlcedo semitorquata
115Malachite KingfisherCorythornis cristatus
116African Pygmy KingfisherIspidina picta
117Gray-headed KingfisherHalcyon leucocephala
118(Woodland Kingfisher)Halcyon senegalensis
119Striped KingfisherHalcyon chelicuti
120Giant KingfisherMegaceryle maxima
121Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis

 
Rollers: Coraciidae

122Abyssinian RollerCoracias abyssinicus
123Lilac-breasted RollerCoracias caudatus
124Purple RollerCoracias naevius

 
African Barbets: Lybiidae

125Red-and-yellow BarbetTrachyphonus erythrocephalus
126Yellow-breasted BarbetTrachyphonus margaritatus
127Northern Red-fronted TinkerbirdPogoniulus uropygialis
128Red-fronted BarbetTricholaema diademata
129Black-throated BarbetTricholaema melanocephala
130Banded BarbetLybius undatus
131Black-billed BarbetLybius guifsobalito

 
Honeyguides: Indicatoridae

132Lesser HoneyguideIndicator minor
133Greater HoneyguideIndicator indicator

 
Woodpeckers: Picidae

134Abyssinian WoodpeckerDendropicos abyssinicus
135Nubian WoodpeckerCampethera nubica

 
Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae

136/Lesser Kestrel/Falco naumanni
137Eurasian KestrelFalco tinnunculus
138Fox KestrelFalco alopex
139Gray KestrelFalco ardosiaceus
140Lanner FalconFalco biarmicus
141Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus

 
Parrots: Psittaculidae

142Black-winged LovebirdAgapornis taranta

 
Parrots: Psittacidae

143Red-bellied ParrotPoicephalus rufiventris

 
Old World Orioles: Oriolidae

144Ethiopian Black-headed OrioleOriolus monacha
145African Black-headed OrioleOriolus larvatus

 
Wattle-eyes and Batises: Platysteiridae

146Gray-headed BatisBatis orientalis
147Western Black-headed BatisBatis erlangeri

 
Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Vangidae

148White-crested HelmetshrikePrionops plumatus

 
Bushshrikes: Malaconotidae

149BrubruNilaus afer
150Northern PuffbackDryoscopus gambensis
151Black-crowned TchagraTchagra senegalus
152Ethiopian BoubouLaniarius aethiopicus
153Tropical BoubouLaniarius major
154Slate-colored BoubouLaniarius funebris
155Sulphur-breasted BushshrikeChlorophoneus sulfureopectus
156Gray-headed BushshrikeMalaconotus blanchoti

 
Drongos: Dicruridae

157Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilis

 
Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae

158African Paradise-FlycatcherTerpsiphone viridis

 
Shrikes: Laniidae

159|Red-backed Shrike|Lanius collurio
160/Red-tailed Shrike/Lanius phoenicuroides
161/Isabelline Shrike/Lanius isabellinus
162Northern FiscalLanius humeralis
163/Masked Shrike/Lanius nubicus

 
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae

164Cape CrowCorvus capensis
165Pied CrowCorvus albus
166Fan-tailed RavenCorvus rhipidurus
167Thick-billed RavenCorvus crassirostris

 
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice: Paridae

168White-winged Black-TitMelaniparus leucomelas

 
Penduline-Tits: Remizidae

169Mouse-colored Penduline-TitAnthoscopus musculus

 
Larks: Alaudidae

170Black-crowned Sparrow-LarkEremopterix nigriceps
171Chestnut-headed Sparrow-LarkEremopterix signatus
172Thekla's LarkGalerida theklae
173Blanford's LarkCalandrella blanfordi

 
African Warblers: Macrosphenidae

174Northern CrombecSylvietta brachyura

 
Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae

175Yellow-vented EremomelaEremomela flavicrissalis
176Yellow-bellied EremomelaEremomela icteropygialis
177Gray Wren-WarblerCalamonastes simplex
178Green-backed CamaropteraCamaroptera brachyura
179Buff-bellied WarblerPhyllolais pulchella
180Yellow-breasted ApalisApalis flavida
181Tawny-flanked PriniaPrinia subflava
182Pale PriniaPrinia somalica
183Singing CisticolaCisticola cantans
184Boran CisticolaCisticola bodessa
185Rattling CisticolaCisticola chiniana
186Ethiopian CisticolaCisticola lugubris
187Stout CisticolaCisticola robustus

 
Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae

188/Eastern Olivaceous Warbler/Iduna pallida

 
Grassbirds and Allies: Locustellidae

189Cinnamon Bracken-WarblerBradypterus cinnamomeus

 
Swallows: Hirundinidae

190Black SawwingPsalidoprocne pristoptera
191Gray-rumped SwallowPseudhirundo griseopyga
192Plain MartinRiparia paludicola
193/Bank Swallow/Riparia riparia
194/Eurasian Crag-Martin/Ptyonoprogne rupestris
195Southern Crag-MartinPtyonoprogne fuligula
196/Barn Swallow/Hirundo rustica
197Ethiopian SwallowHirundo aethiopica
198Wire-tailed SwallowHirundo smithii
199/Western House-Martin/Delichon urbicum
200African Red-rumped SwallowCecropis melanocrissus
201Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinica

 
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae

202Common BulbulPycnonotus barbatus

 
Leaf Warblers: Phylloscopidae

203|Willow Warbler|Phylloscopus trochilus
204/Common Chiffchaff/Phylloscopus collybita
205Brown Woodland-WarblerPhylloscopus umbrovirens

 
Sylviid Warblers and Allies: Sylviidae

206/Eurasian Blackcap/Sylvia atricapilla
207|Garden Warbler|Sylvia borin
208Abyssinian CatbirdSylvia galinieri
209/Lesser Whitethroat/Curruca curruca
210/Greater Whitethroat/Curruca communis

 
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae

211Abyssinian White-eyeZosterops abyssinicus
212Ethiopian White-eyeZosterops poliogastrus

 
Laughingthrushes and Allies: Leiothrichidae

213Rufous ChattererArgya rubiginosa
214White-rumped BabblerTurdoides leucopygia
215Cretzschmar's BabblerTurdoides leucocephala

 
Oxpeckers: Buphagidae

216Red-billed OxpeckerBuphagus erythroryncha

 
Starlings: Sturnidae

217&Violet-backed StarlinglCinnyricinclus leucogaster
218Slender-billed StarlingOnychognathus tenuirostris
219Red-winged StarlingOnychognathus morio
220White-billed StarlingOnychognathus albirostris
221Somali StarlingOnychognathus blythii
222Rueppell's StarlingLamprotornis purpuroptera
223Superb StarlingLamprotornis superbus
224Lesser Blue-eared StarlingLamprotornis chloropterus
225Greater Blue-eared StarlingLamprotornis chalybaeus

 
Thrushes and Allies: Turdidae

226Ethiopian ThrushTurdus simensis
227Abyssinian ThrushTurdus abyssinicus
228African ThrushTurdus pelios

 
Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae

229|Spotted Flycatcher|Muscicapa striata
230Pale FlycatcherAgricola pallidus
231Abyssinian Slaty-FlycatcherMelaenornis chocolatinus
232/Black Scrub-Robin/Cercotrichas podobe
233Rufous-tailed Scrub-RobinCercotrichas galactotes
234White-browed Scrub RobinCercotrichas leucophrys
235/White-throated Robin/Irania gutturalis
236/Common Nightingale/Luscinia megarhynchos
237/Common Redstart/Phoenicurus phoenicurus
238/Black Redstart/Phoenicurus ochruros
239Little Rock-ThrushMonticola rufocinereus
240/Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush/Monticola saxatilis
241/Blue Rock-Thrush/Monticola solitarius
242White-winged Cliff-ChatMonticola semirufa
243African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
244Moorland ChatPinarochroa sordida
245Mocking Cliff-ChatThamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
246Rueppell's ChatMyrmecocichla melaena
247/Northern Wheatear/Oenanthe oenanthe
248Rusty-breasted WheatearOenanthe frenata
249/Isabelline Wheatear/Oenanthe isabellina
250Eastern Black-eared WheatearOenanthe melanoleuca
251/Pied Wheatear/Oenanthe pleschanka
252Familiar ChatOenanthe familiaris
253Sombre Rock ChatOenanthe dubia
254Brown-tailed ChatOenanthe scotocerca
255Abyssinian WheatearOenanthe lugubris

 
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae

256Nile Valley SunbirdHedydipna metallica
257Scarlet-chested SunbirdChalcomitra senegalensis
258Hunter's SunbirdChalcomitra hunteri
259Tacazze SunbirdNectarinia tacazze
260Beautiful SunbirdCinnyris pulchellus
261Marico SunbirdCinnyris mariquensis
262Abyssinian SunbirdCinnyris habessinicus
263Variable SunbirdCinnyris venustus

 
Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae

264Red-billed Buffalo-WeaverBubalornis niger
265White-headed Buffalo-WeaverDinemellia dinemelli
266White-browed Sparrow-WeaverPlocepasser mahali
267Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-WeaverPlocepasser superciliosus
268Red-headed WeaverAnaplectes rubriceps
269Baglafecht WeaverPloceus baglafecht
270Little WeaverPloceus luteolus
271Spectacled WeaverPloceus ocularis
272Lesser Masked-WeaverPloceus intermedius
273Vitelline Masked-WeaverPloceus vitellinus
274Rueppell's WeaverPloceus galbula
275Village WeaverPloceus cucullatus
276Chestnut WeaverPloceus rubiginosus
277Red-billed QueleaQuelea quelea
278Northern Red BishopEuplectes franciscanus
279Black-winged BishopEuplectes hordeaceus
280Yellow BishopEuplectes capensis
281White-winged WidowbirdEuplectes albonotatus
282Red-cowled WidowbirdEuplectes laticauda
283Fan-tailed WidowbirdEuplectes axillaris

 
Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae

284Bronze MannikinSpermestes cucullata
285Black-and-white MannikinSpermestes bicolor
286African SilverbillEuodice cantans
287Black-faced WaxbillBrunhilda erythronotos
288Black-cheeked WaxbillBrunhilda charmosyna
289Fawn-breasted WaxbillEstrilda paludicola
290Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
291Crimson-rumped WaxbillEstrilda rhodopyga
292QuailfinchOrtygospiza atricollis
293Cut-throatAmadina fasciata
294Purple GrenadierGranatina ianthinogaster
295Red-cheeked CordonbleuUraeginthus bengalus
296Blue-capped CordonbleuUraeginthus cyanocephalus
297Green-winged PytiliaPytilia melba
298Red-billed PytiliaPytilia lineata
299Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala
300African FirefinchLagonosticta rubricata

 
Indigobirds: Viduidae

301Pin-tailed WhydahVidua macroura
302Exclamatory Paradise-WhydahVidua interjecta
303Eastern Paradise-WhydahVidua paradisaea
304Steel-blue WhydahVidua hypocherina
305Straw-tailed WhydahVidua fischeri
306Village IndigobirdVidua chalybeata

 
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae

307Northern Gray-headed SparrowPasser griseus
308Swainson's SparrowPasser swainsonii
309Chestnut SparrowPasser eminibey
310Yellow-spotted Bush SparrowGymnornis pyrgita
311Sahel Bush SparrowGymnornis dentata
312/Pale Rockfinch/Carpospiza brachydactyla

 
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae

313Mountain WagtailMotacilla clara
314/Gray Wagtail/Motacilla cinerea
315/Western Yellow Wagtail/Motacilla flava
316African Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimp
317/White Wagtail/Motacilla alba
318African PipitAnthus cinnamomeus
319Long-billed PipitAnthus similis
320/Tawny Pipit/Anthus campestris
321Plain-backed PipitAnthus leucophrys
322/Tree Pipit/Anthus trivialis
323/Red-throated Pipit/Anthus cervinus
324Abyssinian LongclawMacronyx flavicollis

 
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies: Fringillidae

325White-rumped SeedeaterCrithagra leucopygius
326Yellow-fronted CanaryCrithagra mozambicus
327African CitrilCrithagra citrinelloides
328Reichenow's SeedeaterCrithagra reichenowi
329Yellow-rumped SerinCrithagra xanthopygius
330Yellow-throated SerinCrithagra flavigula
331Streaky SeedeaterCrithagra striolatus
332Brown-rumped SeedeaterCrithagra tristriatus
333Ankober SerinCrithagra ankoberensis
334Yellow-crowned CanarySerinus flavivertex
335Ethiopian SiskinSerinus nigriceps

 
Old World Buntings: Emberizidae

336/Ortolan Bunting/Emberiza hortulana
337Striolated BuntingEmberiza striolata
338Cinnamon-breasted BuntingEmberiza tahapisi

 

 *Nomenclature and taxonomic affinities are based on Clements 6th Edition published 2007 with updates through 2021 maintained by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, which relies largely on the AOU and SACC nomenclature committees. IUCN status may reflect splits not currently recognized by Clements.
**Species not accepted by Clements, AOU, or SACC that we recognize based on the IOC, field observations along with geographical separation, consensus opinions of field guide authors, and other sources. These species are potential splits in future Clements updates.

OTHER LOCALES

PRESENCE CODES

CodeDescription##
//Boreal Visitor48
\\Austral Visitor2
||Transient4
##Non-breeding Dispersal0
<>Erratic/Irregular1
()Breeding Season Only2
{}Casual/Vagrant0
[]Accidental0

STATUS CODES

CodeDescription##
NTNear Threatened5
VVulnerable4
ENEndangered5
CRCritically Endangered3

Species counts in code tables depend on completeness of the data. For some countries or locales, data may not include all species or information on species presence may be incomplete.