This is a list of the bird species recorded in Eritrea. The avifauna of Eritrea include a total of 587 species.
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. Accidental species are included in the total species count for Eritrea.
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 Eritrea (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Eritrea 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.
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 (A) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos (A) Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata (A) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula 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
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
Despite their family's common name, this species and one other are native to Africa.
Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, 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.
Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei Erckel's francolin, Pternistis erckelii Clapperton's francolin, Pternistis clappertoni Yellow-necked spurfowl, Pternistis leucoscepus
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
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 Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea White-collared pigeon, Columba albitorques Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix (A) Lemon dove, Columba larvata European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur Dusky turtle-dove, Streptopelia lugens African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola Vinaceous dove, Streptopelia vinacea Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis Black-billed wood-dove, Turtur abyssinicus Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer Namaqua dove, Oena capensis Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia
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 Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus Yellow-throated sandgrouse, Pterocles gutturalis Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinii Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus
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.
Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs Heuglin's bustard, Neotis heuglinii (A) White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis 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.
White-cheeked turaco, Tauraco leucotis White-bellied go-away-bird, Corythaixoides leucogaster (A) 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.
Blue-headed coucal, Centropus monachus White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis 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.
Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus Sombre nightjar, Caprimulgus fraenatus Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius (A) Nubian nightjar, Caprimulgus nubicus Montane nightjar, Caprimulgus poliocephalus Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus
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, Apus melba Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis Common swift, Apus apus Nyanza swift, Apus niansae Little swift, Apus affinis White-rumped swift, Apus caffer African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus
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.
Corn crake, Crex crex (A) Rouget's rail, Rougetius rougetii Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata (A) Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A) African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis (A) Little crake, Zapornia parva (A)
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 (A) Common crane, Grus grus (A)
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 Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis 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
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)
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
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. There are 66 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in Eritrea.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus Black-headed lapwing, Vanellus tectus Black-winged lapwing, Vanellus melanopterus Wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus (A) Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius (A) Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Three-banded plover, Charadrius tricollaris White-fronted plover, Charadrius marginatus (A)
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis (A)
Jacanas