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This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Gambia. The avifauna of the Gambia include a total of 619 species, two of which have been introduced. The country, which is very small and almost completely surrounded by Senegal, has no endemic species.

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, 2021 edition.[1]

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. Not all species will fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.



Ducks, geese, and waterfowl


The white-faced whistling duck is the country's most common and widespread duck.[3]
The white-faced whistling duck is the country's most common and widespread duck.[3]

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.


Guineafowl


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.


New World quail


Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

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


Pheasants, grouse, and allies


Order: Galliformes   Family: 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.


Flamingos


Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are 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.


Grebes


Little grebes are locally common in freshwater ponds, creeks and rice fields, particularly in the Western Division.[3]
Little grebes are locally common in freshwater ponds, creeks and rice fields, particularly in the Western Division.[3]

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds. They breed on fresh water, but often visit the sea whilst migrating and in winter. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers; however, their feet are placed far back on their bodies, making them quite ungainly on land.


Pigeons and doves


Red-eyed dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)
Red-eyed dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

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


Sandgrouse


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.


Bustards


Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otidae

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.


Turacos


Order: Musophagiformes   Family: 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 coloured, usually in blue, green, or purple. The go-away-birds are mostly grey and white.


Cuckoos


Senegal coucal (Centropus senegalensis)
Senegal coucal (Centropus senegalensis)

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.


Nightjars and allies


Long-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus climacurus climacurus) male
Long-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus climacurus climacurus) male

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.


Swifts


African palm-swift (Cypsiurus parvus)
African palm-swift (Cypsiurus parvus)

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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.


Flufftails


Order: Gruiformes   Family: Sarothruridae

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


Rails, gallinules, and coots


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.


Finfoots


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.


Cranes


Black-crowned crane (Balearica pavonina)
Black-crowned crane (Balearica pavonina)

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".


Thick-knees


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.


Egyptian plover


Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Pluvianidae

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


Stilts and avocets


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.


Oystercatchers


Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

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


Plovers and lapwings


Spur-winged plovers are ubiquitous throughout the country, though seldom far from water.[3]
Spur-winged plovers are ubiquitous throughout the country, though seldom far from water.[3]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

Lapwings, plovers and dotterels are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, generally in habitats near water, although there are some exceptions.


Painted-snipes


The greater painted-snipe is largely crepuscular, or most active around dawn and dusk.
The greater painted-snipe is largely crepuscular, or most active around dawn and dusk.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.


Jacanas


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.


Sandpipers and allies


Common redshanks are common to abundant throughout the country during the winter months.[3]
Common redshanks are common to abundant throughout the country during the winter months.[3]
Common sandpipers are among the handful of waders which regularly hunt fiddler crabs.[3]
Common sandpipers are among the handful of waders which regularly hunt fiddler crabs.[3]
Ruddy turnstones are found in parties of 15-40 along the coast, principally between October and March.[3]
Ruddy turnstones are found in parties of 15-40 along the coast, principally between October and March.[3]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae


Buttonquail


Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquail 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.


Pratincoles and coursers


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.


Skuas and jaegers


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.


Gulls, terns, and skimmers


Grey-headed gulls are abundant along the coast, sometimes gathering in flocks of hundreds or thousands.[3]
Grey-headed gulls are abundant along the coast, sometimes gathering in flocks of hundreds or thousands.[3]
Caspian tern
Caspian tern

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae


Tropicbirds


Pink-backed pelicans are abundant along the coast, less common most places upriver.[3]
Pink-backed pelicans are abundant along the coast, less common most places upriver.[3]

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.


Southern storm-petrels


Wilson's storm petrels are sometimes abundant offshore between April and September.[3]
Wilson's storm petrels are sometimes abundant offshore between April and September.[3]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.


Northern storm-petrels


Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.


Shearwaters and petrels


Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

Shearwaters are medium-sized, long-winged seabirds. Highly pelagic, they come ashore only to breed, nesting on islands and rocky cliffs. They generally glide low above the water on stiff wings, and feed on fish, squid and similar oceanic food. There are 23–27 species worldwide. (Some experts split Audubon's shearwater into several distinct species, while others consider those distinctive forms to be subspecies.)


Storks


Yellow-billed storks are most common near the coast.[3]
Yellow-billed storks are most common near the coast.[3]

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills. They occur in most of the world's warmer regions and tend to live in drier habitats than herons, to which they're closely related. They build large stick nests and sometimes nest colonially. Many species are migratory. Most storks eat a variety of small vertebrates and invertebrates; some eat carrion. Seven species have been recorded in the Gambia.


Frigatebirds


Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds typically found soaring over tropical oceans. They have long wings and a deeply forked tail; their plumage is either black (males) or black-and-white (females and young). Males have coloured inflatable throat pouches, which are used in courtship. Frigatebirds spend most of their time in the air. They are kleptoparasites and often chase other seabirds to get them to drop their catches of fish; they also scoop fish from the water's surface.


Gannets and boobies


Northern gannets are sometimes seen offshore, generally after strong harmattan winds.[3]
Northern gannets are sometimes seen offshore, generally after strong harmattan winds.[3]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

Gannets and boobies are large seabirds with long beaks and long, pointed wings. They eat fish, which they hunt by plunge-diving from heights of up to 30 m and chasing their prey underwater. They nest colonially on islands and along coasts, either on the ground or in trees.


Anhingas


The African darter is sometimes called the snake bird due to its habit of swimming with only its head and neck sticking out of the water.[8]
The African darter is sometimes called the "snake bird" due to its habit of swimming with only its head and neck sticking out of the water.[8]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas or darters are large waterbirds, found primarily in fresh and brackish water habitats. Because their plumage is not entirely waterproof, they often stand out of the water with their wings outstretched, drying off. Darters are strongly sexually dimorphic; males generally have much darker plumage than do females. They eat primarily fish, which they catch by diving from the water's surface.


Cormorants and shags


Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium to large seabirds, found primarily along the coast, but occasionally ranging some way inland in aquatic environments. Their plumage is generally dark, though most species have areas of brightly coloured skin on the face. They are primarily fish eaters. Their bills are long, thin and sharply hooked, and their four-toed feet are webbed. Because their plumage is only semi-waterproof, they often stand out of the water with their wings outstretched to dry out their feathers.


Pelicans


Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.


Hamerkop


The often-gregarious hamerkop builds one of the largest and most complex of all bird nests.[9]
The often-gregarious hamerkop builds one of the largest and most complex of all bird nests.[9]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Scopidae

Hamerkops are medium-sized, all-brown wading birds named for their hammer-headed appearance, which is created by the combination of their shaggy backwards-pointing crests and their heavy black bills. Typically found in wetland areas, they forage in shallow water for amphibians, small fish, crustaceans, insects, worms and small mammals. They build enormous, complex nests—which they generally use for only a matter of months—and occupy their territories year-round.


Herons, egrets, and bitterns


The huge Goliath heron is shy and solitary, typically preferring narrower creeks to more open areas.[3]
The huge Goliath heron is shy and solitary, typically preferring narrower creeks to more open areas.[3]
Western reef egret (Egretta gularis gularis) dark morph.jpg
Western reef egret (Egretta gularis gularis) dark morph.jpg

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

Herons, egrets and bitterns are long-legged birds typically associated with wetlands; herons and egrets are long-necked, while bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and quite secretive. Birds in this family often wade in shallow waters, preying on various aquatic organisms (including fish and frogs) as well as reptiles, amphibians and the occasional small bird. In flight, they hold their neck retracted in a gentle S-curve.


Ibises and spoonbills


Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills.


Secretarybird


Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Sagittariidae

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


Osprey


Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae


Hawks, eagles, and kites


African fish eagles are typically found perched near rivers, creeks or coastal lagoons.[3]
African fish eagles are typically found perched near rivers, creeks or coastal lagoons.[3]
Hooded vultures are abundant throughout the country, particularly around human settlements.[3]
Hooded vultures are abundant throughout the country, particularly around human settlements.[3]
The medium-sized Wahlberg's eagle is common throughout the country all year round.[3]
The medium-sized Wahlberg's eagle is common throughout the country all year round.[3]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae


Barn-owls


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.


Owls


Pearl-spotted owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)
Pearl-spotted owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)

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.


Mousebirds


Order: Coliiformes   Family: Coliidae

The mousebirds are slender grayish 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.


Hoopoes


Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

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


Woodhoopoes and scimitarbills


Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Phoeniculidae

The woodhoopoes are related to the kingfishers, rollers and hoopoes. 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.


Ground-hornbills


Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Bucorvidae

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


Hornbills


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.


Kingfishers


The widespread pied kingfisher is quite gregarious and is often found in small noisy groups.
The widespread pied kingfisher is quite gregarious and is often found in small noisy groups.

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae


Bee-eaters


Little bee-eater (Merops pusillus pusillus)
Little bee-eater (Merops pusillus pusillus)

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 colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.


Rollers


Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Blue-bellied roller
Blue-bellied roller

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.


African barbets


Order: Piciformes   Family: Lybiidae

The African 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.


Honeyguides


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.


Woodpeckers


African grey woodpecker
African grey woodpecker

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.


Falcons and caracaras


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.


Old World parrots


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.


African and New World parrots


Senegal parrot (Poicephalus senegalus)
Senegal parrot (Poicephalus senegalus)

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two to the back. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.


Cuckooshrikes


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.


Old World orioles


Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.


Wattle-eyes and batises


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.


Vangas, helmetshrikes, and allies


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.


Bushshrikes and allies


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.


Drongos


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.


Monarch flycatchers


Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

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


Shrikes


Yellow-billed shrike
Yellow-billed shrike

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.


Crows, jays, and magpies


Pied crows are abundant along the coast, less common upriver.[3]
Pied crows are abundant along the coast, less common upriver.[3]

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.


Hyliotas


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.


Fairy flycatchers


Order: Passeriformes   Family: Stenostiridae

Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".


Tits, chickadees, and titmice


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.


Penduline-tits


Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

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


Larks


Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae


Nicators


Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nicatoridae

The nicators are shrike-like, with hooked bills. They are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.


African warblers


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.


Cisticolas and allies


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.


Reed warblers and allies


Sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)

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.


Grassbirds and allies


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.


Swallows


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.


Bulbuls


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.


Leaf warblers


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.


Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies


Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

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


White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies


Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour 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.


Ground babblers and allies


Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pellorneidae

These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.


Laughingthrushes and allies


Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.


Treecreepers


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.


Oxpeckers


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.


Starlings


The long-tailed glossy-starling is common and widespread throughout the country.[3]
The long-tailed glossy-starling is common and widespread throughout the country.[3]

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.


Thrushes and allies


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.


Old World flycatchers


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.


Sunbirds and spiderhunters


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.


Weavers and allies


Village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus) female
Village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus) female

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. Some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.


Waxbills and allies


Red-billed firefinches forage on the ground in small family groups, often with one or more village indigobird foster chicks in tow.
Red-billed firefinches forage on the ground in small family groups, often with one or more village indigobird foster chicks in tow.
The ground-feeding red-cheeked cordon-bleu is widespread throughout the country.[3]
The ground-feeding red-cheeked cordon-bleu is widespread throughout the country.[3]

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.


Indigobirds


The pin-tailed whydah (male pictured above) is a brood parasite of various waxbill species.
The pin-tailed whydah (male pictured above) is a brood parasite of various waxbill species.

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 waxbills and other estrildid finches.


Old World sparrows


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.


Wagtails and pipits


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.


Finches, euphonias, and allies


The yellow-fronted canary is a common resident breeder throughout the country.[3]
The yellow-fronted canary is a common resident breeder throughout the country.[3]

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.


Old World buntings


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.


See also



References


  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ Retrieved August 15, 2021
  2. this information is from Barlow's A Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia and Senegal, unless otherwise noted
  3. Barlow, Clive; Wacher, Tim (1997). A Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia and Senegal. London: Pica Press.
  4. Ranner, Andreas; Graham Tebb; Markus Craig (March 2000). "First record of Little Crake Porzana parva in The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 7 (1): 51–52.
  5. Kirk, Gordon; Clive Barlow (August 2002). "Second confirmed record of Forbes's Plover Charadrius forbesi for The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 9 (2): 138–139.
  6. Barlow, Clive R. (September 2009). "Three records of Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria in The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 16 (2): 209–210.
  7. High, John (March 2006). "First record of Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus for The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 13 (1): 77–78.
  8. Orta, Jaume (1992). "Family Anhingidae (Darters)". In Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott & Jordi Sargatal (ed.). Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 355. ISBN 84-87334-10-5.
  9. Elliott, Andrew (1992). "Family Scopidae (Hamerkop)". In Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott & Jordi Sargatal (ed.). Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 432–433. ISBN 84-87334-10-5.
  10. Mikkola, Anita and Heimo (March 2002). "First record of Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus in The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 9 (1): 45.
  11. Crewe, Mike D.; Brian J. Small (August 2002). "Temminck's Horned Lark Eremophila bilopha—a new species for The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 9 (2): 136–138.
  12. Barlow, Clive (March 2007). "First Records of Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina for The Gambia and Senegal". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 14 (1): 72–73.
  13. Barlow, Clive (March 2007). "First Record of Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus for The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 14 (1): 74–75.
  14. Crewe, Mike D.; Megan A. Crewe; Tombong Sanyang (March 2008). "First Record of Rüppell's Warbler Sylvia rueppelli for The Gambia". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 15 (1): 91–92.





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