List of birds of Ethiopia

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Ethiopia. The avifauna of Ethiopia included a total of 880 confirmed species as of August 2021. Of them, 20 are endemic, one has been introduced by humans, and the statuses of 11 are under review. An additional 16 species are hypothetical as defined below. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of Avibase.

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.^[1]

The following tags highlight several categories of occurrence other than regular migrants and residents.

• (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Ethiopia (also called a vagrant)
• (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Ethiopia
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Ethiopia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
• (S) Status - a species whose status is under review
• (H) Hypothetical - a species possibly present but which has not been documented.

Order: Struthioniformes   Family: 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
  • North African ostrich, S. c. camelus
  • Masai ostrich, S. c. massaicus
• Somali ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes

Order: Anseriformes   Family: 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.

Order: Galliformes   Family: 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

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

Despite their family's common name, this species and one other are native to Africa.

• Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quail, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowl, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowl, and jungle fowl. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

• Crested francolin, Ortygornis sephaena
• Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui
• Moorland francolin, Scleroptila psilolaemus (E)
• Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis
• Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
• Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei
• Sand partridge, Ammoperdix heyi (H)
• Chestnut-naped francolin, Pternistis castaneicollis
• Black-fronted francolin, Pternistis atrifrons
• Erckel's francolin, Pternistis erckelii
• Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus
• Clapperton's francolin, Pternistis clappertoni
• Harwood's francolin, Pternistis harwoodi (E)
• Yellow-necked francolin, Pternistis leucoscepus

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) 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

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: 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
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: 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
• Black-faced sandgrouse, Pterocles decoratus
• Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinii
• Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus

Order: Otidiformes   Family: 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
• Kori bustard, Ardeotis kori
• Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami (A)
• Heuglin's bustard, Neotis heuglinii
• White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis
• Little brown bustard, Eupodotis humilis
• Buff-crested bustard, Lophotis gindiana
• Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster
• Hartlaub's bustard, Lissotis hartlaubii

Order: Musophagiformes   Family: 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
• Prince Ruspoli's turaco, Tauraco ruspolii (E)
• Bare-faced go-away-bird, Corythaixoides personatus
• White-bellied go-away-bird, Corythaixoides leucogaster
• Eastern plantain-eater, Crinifer zonurus

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: 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
• Green malkoha, Ceuthmochares australis
• 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
• Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius
• African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis
• Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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.

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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.

• Scarce swift, Schoutedenapus myoptilus
• Alpine swift, Apus melba
• Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis
• Common swift, Apus apus
• Nyanza swift, Apus niansae
• Pallid swift, Apus pallidus (A)
• African swift, Apus barbatus (A)
• Little swift, Apus affinis
• Horus swift, Apus horus
• White-rumped swift, Apus caffer
• African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Sarothruridae

The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa.

• Buff-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura elegans (A)
• Red-chested flufftail, Sarothrura rufa
• White-winged flufftail, Sarothrura ayresi

Order: Gruiformes   Family: 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
• Corn crake, Crex crex
• African crake, Crex egregia
• Rouget's rail, Rougetius rougetii
• Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
• Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata
• Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
• Eurasian coot, Fulica atra (A)
• Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata
• Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni
• African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
• Black crake, Amaurornis flavirostris
• Little crake, Zapornia parva (A)
• Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Heliornithidae

Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.

• African finfoot, Podica senegalensis

Order: Gruiformes   Family: 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 (A)
• Wattled crane, Bugeranus carunculatus
• Common crane, Grus grus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of waders 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.

• Water thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus
• Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus
• Indian thick-knee, Burhinus indicus
• Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis
• Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Pluvianidae

The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River.

• Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

• Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of waders found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

• Lesser jacana, Microparra capensis
• African jacana, Actophilornis africanus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquails are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.

• Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus
• Quail-plover, Ortyxelos meiffrenii (A)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings, and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings, and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

• Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor (A)
• Somali courser, Cursorius somalensis
• Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
• Double-banded courser, Smutsornis africanus
• Three-banded courser, Rhinoptilus cinctus
• Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus (A)
• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
• Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni
• Madagascar pratincole, Glareola ocularis (A)
• Rock pratincole, Glareola nuchalis

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, kittiwakes, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with gray or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: 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.

• 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
• Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas or 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 rufa

Order: Suliformes   Family: 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.

• Long-tailed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (S)

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. They have webbed feet with four toes.

• Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
• Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Balaenicipididae

The shoebill is a large bird related to the storks. It derives its name from its massive shoe-shaped bill.

• Shoebill, Balaeniceps rex

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Scopidae

The hamerkop 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

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: 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.

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: 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.

• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
• Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita
• Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
• Wattled ibis, Bostrychia carunculata (E)
• Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
• African spoonbill, Platalea alba

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Sagittariidae

The secretarybird is a bird of prey but is easily distinguished from other raptors by its long crane-like legs.

• Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: 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

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: 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.

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• African grass-owl, Tyto capensis
• Western barn owl, Tyto alba

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
• African scops-owl, Otus senegalensis
• Northern white-faced owl, Ptilopsis leucotis
• Pharaoh eagle-owl, Bubo ascalaphus
• Cape eagle-owl, Bubo capensis
• Grayish eagle-owl, Bubo cinerascens
• Verreaux's eagle-owl, Bubo lacteus
• Pel's fishing-owl, Scotopelia peli
• Pearl-spotted owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
• Little owl, Athene noctua
• African wood-owl, Strix woodfordii
• Abyssinian owl, Asio abyssinicus
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
• Marsh owl, Asio capensis

Order: Coliiformes   Family: Coliidae

The mousebirds are slender greyish or brown birds with soft, hairlike body feathers and very long thin tails. They are arboreal and scurry through the leaves like rodents in search of berries, fruit, and buds. They are acrobatic and can feed upside down. All species have strong claws and reversible outer toes. They also have crests and stubby bills.

• Speckled mousebird, Colius striatus
• White-headed mousebird, Colius leucocephalus (A)
• Blue-naped mousebird, Urocolius macrourus

Order: Trogoniformes   Family: Trogonidae

The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

• Narina trogon, Apaloderma narina

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white, and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops (S)

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Phoeniculidae

The woodhoopoes and scimitarbills are related to the hoopoes, ground-hornbills, and hornbills. They most resemble the hoopoes with their long curved bills, used to probe for insects, and short rounded wings. However, they differ in that they have metallic plumage, often blue, green, or purple, and lack an erectile crest.

• Green woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus
• Violet woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus damarensis (A)
• Black-billed woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus somaliensis
• Black scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus aterrimus
• Abyssinian scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus minor

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Bucorvidae

The ground-hornbills are terrestrial birds that feed almost entirely on insects, other birds, snakes, and amphibians.

• Abyssinian ground-hornbill, Bucorvus abyssinicus

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Bucerotidae

Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured.

• Crowned hornbill, Lophoceros alboterminatus
• Hemprich's hornbill, Lophoceros hemprichii
• African gray hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus
• Eastern yellow-billed hornbill, Tockus flavirostris
• Jackson's hornbill, Tockus jacksoni (A)
• Von der Decken's hornbill, Tockus deckeni
• Northern red-billed hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus
• Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Bycanistes brevis

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

• Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis (A)
• Half-collared kingfisher, Alcedo semitorquata
• Malachite kingfisher, Corythornis cristatus
• African pygmy kingfisher, Ispidina picta
• Gray-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
• Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis
• Blue-breasted kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica
• Striped kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti
• Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maximus
• Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colorful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

• Red-throated bee-eater, Merops bulocki
• Little bee-eater, Merops pusillus
• Ethiopian bee-eater, Merops lafresnayii
• Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Merops hirundineus
• Somali bee-eater, Merops revoilii
• White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis
• African green bee-eater, Merops viridissimus
• Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
• Madagascar bee-eater, Merops superciliosus
• European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
• Northern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicus

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

• European roller, Coracias garrulus
• Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinica
• Lilac-breasted roller, Coracias caudata
• Rufous-crowned roller, Coracias naevia
• Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus

Order: Piciformes   Family: Lybiidae

The barbets are plump birds with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.

• Red-and-yellow barbet, Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
• Yellow-breasted barbet, Trachyphonus margaritatus
• D'Arnaud's barbet, Trachyphonus darnaudii
• Red-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus pusillus
• Yellow-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus
• Red-fronted barbet, Tricholaema diademata
• Black-throated barbet, Tricholaema melanocephala
• Banded barbet, Lybius undatus
• Vieillot's barbet, Lybius vieilloti (A)
• Black-billed barbet, Lybius guifsobalito
• Double-toothed barbet, Lybius bidentatus

Order: Piciformes   Family: Indicatoridae

Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the greater honeyguide which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive.

• Green-backed honeyguide, Prodotiscus zambesiae
• Wahlberg's honeyguide, Prodotiscus regulus
• Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
• Scaly-throated honeyguide, Indicator variegatus
• Greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

• Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
• Rufous-necked wryneck, Jynx ruficollis
• Abyssinian woodpecker, Chloropicus abyssinicus (E)
• Cardinal woodpecker, Chloropicus fuscescens
• Bearded woodpecker, Chloropicus namaquus
• Brown-backed woodpecker, Chloropicus obsoletus
• African gray woodpecker, Chloropicus goertae
• Mountain gray woodpecker, Chloropicus spodocephalus
• Green-backed woodpecker, Campethera cailliautii
• Nubian woodpecker, Campethera nubica

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

• Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri
• Red-headed lovebird, Agapornis pullarius
• Black-winged lovebird, Agapornis taranta

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.

• Meyer's parrot, Poicephalus meyeri
• Red-bellied parrot, Poicephalus rufiventris
• Yellow-fronted parrot, Poicephalus flavifrons (E)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails, and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects, and similar invertebrates.

• African pitta, Pitta angolensis (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.

• Gray cuckooshrike, Coracina caesia
• White-breasted cuckooshrike, Coracina pectoralis
• Black cuckooshrike, Campephaga flava
• Red-shouldered cuckooshrike, Campephaga phoenicea

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful birds which are not related to the similar-looking New World orioles.

• Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus
• African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus
• Ethiopian black-headed oriole, Oriolus monacha
• African black-headed oriole, Oriolus larvatus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Platysteiridae

The wattle-eyes, or puffback flycatchers, are small stout passerine birds of the African tropics. They get their name from the brightly coloured fleshy eye decorations found in most species in this group.

• Brown-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira cyanea
• Gray-headed batis, Batis orientalis
• Western black-headed batis, Batis erlangeri
• Pygmy batis, Batis perkeo

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vangidae

The helmetshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes, but tend to be colourful species with distinctive crests or other head ornaments, such as wattles, from which they get their name.

• White helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Malaconotidae

Bushshrikes are similar in habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush. Although similar in build to the shrikes, these tend to be either colourful species or largely black. Some species are quite secretive.

• Brubru, Nilaus afer
• Northern puffback, Dryoscopus gambensis
• Pringle's puffback, Dryoscopus pringlii
• Marsh tchagra, Tchagra minuta
• Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegala
• Three-streaked tchagra, Tchagra jamesi
• Red-naped bushshrike, Laniarius ruficeps
• Ethiopian boubou, Laniarius aethiopicus
• Black-headed gonolek, Laniarius erythrogaster
• Slate-colored boubou, Laniarius funebris
• Rosy-patched bushshrike, Rhodophoneus cruentus
• Sulphur-breasted bushshrike, Telophorus sulfureopectus
• Gray-headed bushshrike, Malaconotus blanchoti

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

• Fork-tailed drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis
• Glossy-backed drongo, Dicrurus divaricatus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

• African paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.

• Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
• Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides
• Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus
• Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
• Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
• Gray-backed fiscal, Lanius excubitoroides
• Taita fiscal, Lanius dorsalis
• Somali fiscal, Lanius somalicus
• Northern fiscal, Lanius humeralis
• Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus
• Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator
• White-rumped shrike, Eurocephalus ruppelli

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Stresemann's bush-crow, Zavattariornis stresemanni (E)
• Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
• Piapiac, Ptilostomus afer
• House crow, Corvus splendens (A)
• Cape crow, Corvus capensis
• Pied crow, Corvus albus
• Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis (A)
• Somali crow, Corvus edithae
• Fan-tailed raven, Corvus rhipidurus
• Thick-billed raven, Corvus crassirostris

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hyliotidae

The members of this small family, all of genus Hyliota, are birds of the forest canopy. They tend to feed in mixed-species flocks.

• Yellow-bellied hyliota, Hyliota flavigaster

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

• White-shouldered black-tit, Melaniparus guineensis
• White-winged black-tit, Melaniparus leucomelas
• Somali tit, Melaniparus thruppi
• White-backed black-tit, Melaniparus leuconotus (E)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

• Sennar penduline-tit, Anthoscopus punctifrons (A)
• Mouse-colored penduline-tit, Anthoscopus musculus
• Forest penduline-tit, Anthoscopus flavifrons (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Macrosphenidae

African warblers are small to medium-sized insectivores which are found in a wide variety of habitats south of the Sahara.

• Northern crombec, Sylvietta brachyura
• Short-billed crombec, Sylvietta philippae
• Red-faced crombec, Sylvietta whytii
• Somali crombec, Sylvietta isabellina
• Moustached grass-warbler, Melocichla mentalis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

• Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
• African yellow-warbler, Iduna natalensis
• Upcher's warbler, Hippolais languida
• Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum
• Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina
• Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
• Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
• Common reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
• Basra reed warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis
• Lesser swamp warbler, Acrocephalus gracilirostris
• Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

• Bamboo warbler, Locustella alfredi
• River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis
• Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
• Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia
• Fan-tailed grassbird, Catriscus brevirostris
• Cinnamon bracken-warbler, Bradypterus cinnamomeus
• Little rush warbler, Bradypterus baboecala
• Highland rush warbler, Bradypterus centralis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red, or orange vents, cheeks, throats, or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

• Sombre greenbul, Andropadus importunus (A)
• Yellow-throated greenbul, Atimastillas flavicollis
• Northern brownbul, Phyllastrephus strepitans
• Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

• Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (A)
• Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis
• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
• Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
• Brown woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus umbrovirens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

• Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
• Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
• Abyssinian catbird, Sylvia galinieri (E)
• African hill babbler, Sylvia abyssinica
• Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria
• Banded parisoma, Curruca boehmi
• Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
• Brown parisoma, Curruca lugens
• Western Orphean warbler, Curruca hortensis
• Eastern Orphean warbler, Curruca crassirostris
• Asian desert warbler, Curruca nana
• Menetries's warbler, Curruca mystacea
• Rüppell's warbler, Curruca ruppeli (H)
• Eastern subalpine warbler, Curruca cantillans (A)
• Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull color like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.

• Pale white-eye, Zosterops flavilateralis
• Abyssinian white-eye, Zosterops abyssinicus
• Heuglin's white-eye, Zosterops poliogastrus
• Northern yellow white-eye, Zosterops senegalensis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

The laughingthrushes are somewhat diverse in size and colouration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage.

• Rufous chatterer, Argya rubiginosa
• Scaly chatterer, Argya aylmeri
• Fulvous chatterer, Argya fulva
• Brown babbler, Turdoides plebejus
• White-rumped babbler, Turdoides leucopygius
• Scaly babbler, Turdoides squamulatus
• Cretzschmar's babbler, Turdoides leucocephalus
• Dusky babbler, Turdoides tenebrosus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

• African spotted creeper, Salpornis salvadori

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Buphagidae

As both the English and scientific names of these birds imply, they feed on ectoparasites, primarily ticks, found on large mammals.

• Red-billed oxpecker, Buphagus erythrorynchus
• Yellow-billed oxpecker, Buphagus africanus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

• Abyssinian ground-thrush, Geokichla piaggiae
• Groundscraper thrush, Turdus litsitsirupa
• Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
• Abyssinian thrush, Turdus abyssinicus
• African bare-eyed thrush, Turdus tephronotus
• African thrush, Turdus pelios

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, though some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Viduidae

The indigobirds are finch-like species which usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage. All are brood parasites, which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches.

• Pin-tailed whydah, Vidua macroura
• Sahel paradise-whydah, Vidua orientalis
• Exclamatory paradise-whydah, Vidua interjecta
• Eastern paradise-whydah, Vidua paradisaea
• Steel-blue whydah, Vidua hypocherina
• Straw-tailed whydah, Vidua fischeri
• Village indigobird, Vidua chalybeata
• Wilson's indigobird, Vidua wilsoni
• Jambandu indigobird, Vidua raricola
• Baka indigobird, Vidua larvaticola
• Purple indigobird, Vidua purpurascens (A)
• Parasitic weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (A)
• Somali sparrow, Passer castanopterus
• Shelley's rufous sparrow, Passer shelleyi
• Northern gray-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
• Swainson's sparrow, Passer swainsonii
• Parrot-billed sparrow, Passer gongonensis
• Sudan golden sparrow, Passer luteus
• Chestnut sparrow, Passer eminibey
• Yellow-spotted bush sparrow, Gymnoris pyrgita
• Sahel bush sparrow, Gymnoris dentata
• Pale rockfinch, Carpospiza brachydactyla

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

• Brown-rumped bunting, Emberiza affinis
• Cinereous bunting, Emberiza cineracea
• Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
• Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia (A)
• Golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
• Somali bunting, Emberiza poliopleura
• Cinnamon-breasted bunting, Emberiza tahapisi
• Gosling's bunting, Emberiza goslingi (A)
• Striolated bunting, Emberiza striolata

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

• Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Ethiopia". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 August 2021.

• Birds of Ethiopia - World Institute for Conservation and Environment
• Birding Ethiopia List of bird pictures including songs of endemic Ethiopian birds