This is a list of the bird species recorded in South Sudan. The avifauna of South Sudan include a total of 831 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. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for South Sudan.
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 South Sudan (E) Endemic - a species endemic to South Sudan (I) Introduced - a species introduced to South Sudan as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Ostriches Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
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 Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus (A) Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Hartlaub's duck, Pteronetta hartlaubii (A) Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus 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 Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope African black duck, Anas sparsa Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma (A) Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
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 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, 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.
Latham's francolin, Peliperdix lathami (A) Crested francolin, Ortygornis sephaena Schlegel's francolin, Campocolinus schlegelii (A) Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis (A) Blue quail, Synoicus adansonii Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus Heuglin's francolin, Pternistis icterorhynchus Clapperton's francolin, Pternistis clappertoni Yellow-necked francolin, 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
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
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 (I) Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea Afep pigeon, Columba unicincta (A) Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix Delegorgue's pigeon, Columba delegorguei Bronze-naped pigeon, Columba iriditorques (A) Lemon dove, Columba larvata White-naped pigeon, Columba albinucha (A) European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur Dusky turtle-dove, Streptopelia lugens Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola Vinaceous dove, Streptopelia vinacea Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis Emerald-spotted wood-dove, Turtur chalcospilos Black-billed wood-dove, Turtur abyssinicus Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria Namaqua dove, Oena capensis Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia African green-pigeon, Treron calva
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 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 Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami (A) White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis Buff-crested bustard, Eupodotis gindiana Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster Hartlaub's bustard, Lissotis hartlaubii (A)
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.
Great blue turaco, Corythaeola cristata Black-billed turaco, Tauraco schuettii (A) White-crested turaco, Tauraco leucolophus White-cheeked turaco, Tauraco leucotis (A) Ross's turaco, Musophaga rossae (A) White-bellied go-away-bird, Corythaixoides leucogaster Eastern plantain-eater, Crinifer zonurus
Cuckoos and anis 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 (A) Blue-headed coucal, Centropus monachus White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus Black coucal, Centropus grillii (A) Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Thick-billed cuckoo, Pachycoccyx audeberti (A) Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas Yellow-throated cuckoo, Chrysococcyx flavigularis (A) African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis (A) 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 (A) Sombre nightjar, Caprimulgus fraenatus (A) Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius Donaldson-Smith's nightjar, Caprimulgus donaldsoni Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis Montane nightjar, Caprimulgus poliocephalus Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis (A) Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus Star-spotted nightjar, Caprimulgus stellatus (A) Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma (A) Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus Slender-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus clarus
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.
Scarce swift, Schoutedenapus myoptilus (A) Alpine swift, Apus melba Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis Common swift, Apus apus Pallid swift, Apus pallidus (A) Little swift, Apus affinis 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 (A) Buff-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura elegans Striped flufftail, Sarothrura affinis (A)
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.
African rail, Rallus caerulescens (A) Corn crake, Crex crex (A) African crake, Crex egregia (A) Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata (A) Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis (A) Black crake, Zapornia flavirostris Little crake, Zapornia parva
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".
Gray crowned-crane, Balearica regulorum (A) Black crowned-crane, Balearica pavonina Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo Common crane, Grus grus
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.
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
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae