This is a list of the bird species recorded in Kenya. The avifauna of Kenya included a total of 1164 confirmed species as of October 2024. Of them, 11 are endemic, and 4 have been introduced by humans. An additional three species are considered "hypothetical" (see below) and are not included in the count. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of Avibase. Swahili names follow the scientific name in parentheses.
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 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and apply to the world-wide population except for endemics.IUCN 2021. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2020-3. https://www.iucnredlist.org ISSN 2307-8235 Retrieved March 1, 2021.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Kenya (also called a vagrant) (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Kenya (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Kenya as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (H) Hypothetical - a species recorded but not confirmed in Kenya
Ostriches
Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
The ostriches are flightless birds native to Africa. They are the largest living species of bird and are distinctive in appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.
Common ostrich, Struthio camelus () Somali ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes () (vulnerable)
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 () Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea () (A) Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis () African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus () Garganey, Spatula querquedula () Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota () Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata () Gadwall, Mareca strepera () Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope () African black duck, Anas sparsa () Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata () Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos () 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) () Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (near-threatened) () 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 () Western crested guineafowl, Guttera verreauxi ()
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, 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.
Crested francolin, Ortygornis sephaena () Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui () Ring-necked francolin, Scleroptila streptophora () (near-threatened) Red-winged francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii () Elgon francolin, Scleroptila elgonensis () Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis () Shelley's francolin, Scleroptila shelleyi () Blue quail, Synoicus adansonii () Common quail, Coturnix coturnix () Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei () Chestnut-naped francolin, Pternistis castaneicollis () Jackson's francolin, Pternistis jacksoni () Hildebrandt's francolin, Pternistis hildebrandti () Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus () Yellow-necked francolin, Pternistis leucoscepus () 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. Their feet are 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 () Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea () 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 () White-winged collared-dove, Streptopelia reichenowi () (near-threatened) Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens () Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata () Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola () Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis () Emerald-spotted wood-dove, Turtur chalcospilos () Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer () Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria () Namaqua dove, Oena capensis () Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia () 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 () 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 () (A) (near-threatened) Kori bustard, Ardeotis kori () (near-threatened) Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami () (near-threatened) Heuglin's bustard, Neotis heuglinii () 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 blue, green, or purple. The go-away-birds are mostly gray and white.
Great blue turaco, Corythaeola cristata () Schalow's turaco, Tauraco schalowi () Black-billed turaco, Tauraco schuettii () White-crested turaco, Tauraco leucolophus () Fischer's turaco, Tauraco fischeri () (near-threatened) Hartlaub's turaco, Tauraco hartlaubi () Purple-crested turaco, Gallirex porphyreolophus () Ross's turaco, Tauraco rossae () Bare-faced go-away-bird, Corythaixoides personatus () 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 () 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 () 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 () Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus () Sombre nightjar, Caprimulgus fraenatus () 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 () Star-spotted nightjar, Caprimulgus stellatus () Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma () Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus () (A) Slender-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus clarus () Square-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii ()
Swifts
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. They 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 () Sabine's spinetail, Rhaphidura sabini () Bat-like spinetail, Neafrapus boehmi () (A) 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 () 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 ()