List of birds of Egypt

This is a list of the species of birds found in Egypt, a country in north-east Africa.^[1] The avifauna of Egypt include a total of 498 species of birds. No species are endemic to Egypt.^[2][3]

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, 2021 edition.^[4] All of the birds below are included in the total bird count for Egypt.

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 Egypt
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Egypt as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
• (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Egypt although populations exist elsewhere
• (X) Extinct - a species or subspecies that no longer exists.

Ostriches[]

Order: Struthioniformes   Family: Struthionidae

The ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa. It is the largest living species of bird. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.

• Common ostrich, Struthio camelus
  • North African ostrich, Struthio camelus camelus
  • Arabian ostrich, Struthio camelus syriacus (X)

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl[]

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.

Pheasants, grouse, and allies[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

• Sand partridge, Ammoperdix heyi
• Common quail, Coturnix coturnix; Ancient Egyptian: pcr.t > Coptic: PERE (meaning unknown)
• Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara "aegypticus" (Siwa, Marsa Matruah)
• Chukar, Alectoris chukar

Flamingos[]

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, Phoenicopterus minor (A)

Grebes[]

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
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A)
• Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

Pigeons and doves[]

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

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

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia; Ancient Egyptian sSmt(y) 'one of turquoise colour' (?)
• Stock dove, Columba oenas
• Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus (A)
• European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur turtur; Ancient Egyptian: mnw.t (meaning unknown)
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto
• African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea
• Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens (A)
• Laughing dove, Streptopeliasenegalensis; Ancient Egyptian: cb3 'glittering, shining one'
• Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
• Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia (A)

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.

• Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata (A)
• Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus (A)
• Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus
• Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis
• Crowned sandgrouse, Pterocles coronatus
• Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinii

Bustards[]

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.

• Great bustard, Otis tarda (A)
• Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata
• Macqueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii
• Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (Ex)^{[note 1][5]}

Cuckoos[]

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.

• Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis
• Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius
• African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis
• Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Nightjars and allies[]

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.

• Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
• Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius
• Nubian nightjar, Caprimulgus nubicus (A)

Swifts[]

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.

• Alpine swift, Apus melba
• Common swift, Apus apus
• Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
• Little swift, Apus affinis

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.

• Water rail, Rallus aquaticus
• Corn crake, Crex crex
• Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
• Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus; Ancient Egyptian: sbH 'one who cries out, laments'
• Lesser moorhen, Gallinula angulata
• Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
• Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A)
• African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
• Little crake, Zapornia parva
• Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla

Cranes[]

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".

• Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo; Ancient Egyptian wDc 'splitter' (??)
• Common crane, Grus grus; Ancient Egyptian: D3.t 'the one stretching/reaching' or 'borer'

Thick-knees[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

• Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus
• Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis

Egyptian plover[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Pluvianidae

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

• Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius (A)

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.

• Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
• Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Oystercatchers[]

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

Plovers and lapwings[]

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.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria
• Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
• Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus; Ancient Egyptian: its hieroglyph mostly used to denote rxt 'common folk, subjects'; also once its head follows the word (i)3by.t 'dancer' (cfr. Eng.: lapwing = leap-wing
• Spur-winged plover, Vanellus spinosus
• Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius
• White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus
• Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus
• Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
• Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus
• Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius
• Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
• Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
• Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
• Three-banded plover, Charadrius tricollaris
• Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus

Painted-snipes[]

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

Sandpipers and allies[]

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.

Crab-plover[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Dromadidae

The crab-plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black-and-white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.

• Crab-plover, Dromas ardeola

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.

• Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor
• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
• Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (A)
• Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni

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.

• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus

Gulls, terns, and skimmers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey 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 grey 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.

Tropicbirds[]

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.

• Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus

Albatrosses[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

• White-capped albatross, Thalassarche cauta (A)

Southern storm-petrels[]

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.

• Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus

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.

• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A)

Shearwaters and petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

• Streaked shearwater, Streaked diomedea (A)
• Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
• Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacifica (A)
• Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus
• Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan
• Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus (A)
• Persian shearwater, Puffinus persicus (A)

Storks[]

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. Many species are migratory.

• African openbill, Anastomus lamelligerus (A)
• Black stork, Ciconia nigra
• White stork, Ciconia ciconia
• Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer (A)
• Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis

Boobies and gannets[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

• Masked booby, Sula dactylatra (A)
• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
• Northern gannet, Morus bassanus

Anhingas[]

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 (A)

Cormorants and shags[]

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 (A)
• Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmeus (A)
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
• European shag, Gulosus aristotelis (A)

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.

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

Herons, egrets, and bitterns[]

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.

• Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris
• Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis (A)
• Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
• Schrenck's bittern, Ixobrychus eurhythmus (A)
• Gray heron, Ardea cinerea
• Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala (A)
• Goliath heron, Ardea goliath
• Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
• Great egret, Ardea alba
• Little egret, Egretta garzetta
• Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
• Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
• Striated heron, Butorides striata
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

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
• Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita (Ex)^[6]
• African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus (Ex)
• Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Secretarybird[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Sagittariidae

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

• Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius (Ex)^[7]

Osprey[]

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

Hawks, eagles, and kites[]

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.

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.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba; its hieroglyph stands for the consonant -m- probably derived from the owl's name (i)m(w) 'one who moans, laments'

Owls[]

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
• Pallid scops-owl, Otus brucei (A)
• Pharaoh eagle-owl, Bubo ascalaphus
• Little owl, Athene noctua
• Desert owl, Strix hadorami
• Omani owl, Strix butleri
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus

Hoopoes[]

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

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

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops; Ancient Egyptian: hieroglyph of the bird almost always used as or in the word db 'sundried brick' (literal meaning: 'one that blocks up'); therefore one of the ancient names must have been Db(3)w/Db(3).t 'the one who blocks up (its nest hole)'; a later name would be q(w)q(w)p.t > Coptic KOUKOUPAT/KRAPEP e.a. comparable to biblical dukhiphat (literal meaning unknown)

Kingfishers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

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

• Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis; Ancient Egyptian: Hnty 'the one of the canal'
• White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
• Collared kingfisher, Todirhamphus chloris
• Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis; Ancient Egyptian: cnHb.t < cn-nHb.t 'the one turning around the neck (when hovering above water spying fish)'

Bee-eaters[]

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.

• Green bee-eater, Merops orientalis; Ancient Egyptian: w3D3D 'totally green one'
• Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
• European bee-eater, Merops apiaster

Rollers[]

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; Ancient Egyptian swrrw (meaning unknown)
• Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinica (A)
• Cinnamon roller, Eurystomus glaucurus (A)

Woodpeckers[]

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
• Syrian woodpecker, Dendrocopos syriacus

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. In Ancient Egyptian only one species is depicted as breeding in the Delta and called HrT (meaning unknown).

• Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
• Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
• Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus
• Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
• Sooty falcon, Falco concolor
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
• Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
• Saker falcon, Falco cherrug (A)
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus; Ancient Egyptian: its hieroglyphic sign stands for the deity Hr Horus 'the One Far Up/High'
  • Barbary falcon, Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides

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 coloured, and some are multi-coloured. 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.

• Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria (A)
• Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (I)

Old World orioles[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

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

• Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus; Ancient Egyptian: gnw 'the one (with) carved (eye line)'

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.

• Rosy-patched bushshrike, Rhodophoneus cruentus

Shrikes[]

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 typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

• Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
• Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides
• Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus (A)
• Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
• Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
• Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus
• Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

Crows, jays, and magpies[]

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.

Ancient Egyptian names for crow or raven species include very possibly gbgb/gbg3; this bird is once called 3pd km or 'black bird', while its eggs could apparently be gathered according to a medical papyrus, and therefore points to a breeding bird of Egypt. In demotic an ʾbḳ-bird can be determined by help of the existence of Coptic abook 'Crow, raven'. But perhaps the latter is also a derivation of the bird name kbk.

Late Egyptian, male personal names include a Gebgeb, possible 'the crow', perhaps because the baby had black hair or a dark complexion. (drs. Carles Wolterman, Amstelveen, Holland)

• House crow, Corvus splendens (I)
• Rook, Corvus frugilegus
• Carrion crow, Corvus corone
• Hooded crow, Corvus cornix
• Pied crow, Corvus albus (A)
• Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis
• Fan-tailed raven, Corvus rhipidurus
• Common raven, Corvus corax

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.

• Great tit, Parus major

Penduline-tits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

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

• Eurasian penduline-tit, Remiz pendulinus

Larks[]

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.

• Greater hoopoe-lark, Alaemon alaudipes
• Thick-billed lark, Ramphocoris clotbey (A)
• Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cincturus
• Desert lark, Ammomanes deserti
• Black-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix nigriceps
• Temminck's lark, Eremophila bilopha
• Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla
• Bimaculated lark, Melanocorypha bimaculata
• Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
• Dupont's lark, Chersophilus duponti
• Mediterranean short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens
• Turkestan short-toed lark, Alaudala heinei
• Wood lark, Lullula arborea
• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
• Oriental skylark, Alauda gulgula
• Thekla's lark, Galerida theklae (A)
• Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Bearded reedling[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Panuridae

This species, the only one in its family, is found in reed beds throughout temperate Europe and Asia.

• Bearded reedling, Panurus biarmicus (A)

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.

• Graceful prinia, Prinia gracilis
• Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis

Reed warblers and allies[]

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.

• Thick-billed warbler, Arundinax aedon (A)
• Booted warbler, Iduna caligata
• Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
• Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca (A)
• Upcher's warbler, Hippolais languida
• Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum
• Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina
• Aquatic warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola (A)
• Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon
• Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
• Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum
• Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
• Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
• Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus
• Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus

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.

• River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis
• Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
• Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia (A)

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.

• Plain martin, Riparia paludicola (A)
• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
• Banded martin, Neophedina cincta (A)
• Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
• Rock martin, Ptyonoprogne fuligula
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica: Ancient Egyptian: mn.t (meaning uncertain)
• Ethiopian swallow, Hirundo aethiopica (A)
• Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
• Streak-throated swallow, Petrochelidon fluvicola (A)
• Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum

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.

• Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus
• White-spectacled bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos

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.

• Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
• Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
• Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis
• Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (A)
• Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (A)
• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
• Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
• Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides

Bush warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place genus Erythrocerus in another family.^[8]

• Scrub warbler, Scotocerca inquieta
• Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti (A)

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies[]

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
• Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria
• Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
• Arabian warbler, Curruca leucomelaena
• Eastern Orphean warbler, Curruca crassirostris
• Asian desert warbler, Curruca nana
• Menetries's warbler, Curruca mystacea
• Rüppell's warbler, Curruca ruppeli
• Cyprus warbler, Curruca melanothorax (A)
• Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala
• Eastern subalpine warbler, Curruca cantillans
• Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis
• Spectacled warbler, Curruca conspicillata
• Marmora's warbler, Curruca sarda (A)

Laughingthrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

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

• Fulvous chatterer, Argya fulva
• Arabian babbler, Argya squamiceps

Kinglets[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

• Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
• Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus (A)

Wrens[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

• Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes (A)

Starlings[]

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.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
• Rosy starling, Pastor roseus
• Common myna, Acridotheres tristis (I)
• Tristram's starling, Onychognathus tristramii

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.

• Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus
• Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
• Redwing, Turdus iliacus
• Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula
• Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
• Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus
• Black-throated thrush, Turdus atrogularis (A)

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.

Hypocolius[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hypocoliidae

The hypocolius is a small Middle Eastern bird with the shape and soft plumage of a waxwing. They are mainly a uniform grey colour except the males have a black triangular mask around their eyes.

• Hypocolius, Hypocolius ampelinus (A)

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.

• Nile Valley sunbird, Hedydipna metallica
• Palestine sunbird, Cinnyris oseus
• Shining sunbird, Cinnyris habessinicus (A)

Weavers and allies[]

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.

• Village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus (A)
• Streaked weaver, Ploceus manyar (I)

Waxbills and allies[]

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.

• Indian silverbill, Euodice malabarica (I)
• Red avadavat, Amandava amandava (I)

Accentors[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.

• Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Old World sparrows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

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

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus
• Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
• Dead Sea sparrow, Passer moabiticus (A)
• Desert sparrow, Passer simplex (A)
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (A)
• Yellow-throated sparrow, Gymnornis xanthocollis (A)
• Pale rockfinch, Carpospiza brachydactyla
• White-winged snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis (A)

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.

• Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
• Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava; Ancient Egyptian (possibly): bnw (meaning unknown)
• Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (A)
• African pied wagtail, Motacilla aguimp
• White wagtail, Motacilla alba
• Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi (A)
• Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis
• Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
• Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis
• Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
• Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni (A)
• Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
• Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta
• American pipit, Anthus rubescens (A)

Finches, euphonias, and allies[]

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.

• Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
• Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
• Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes
• Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus
• Sinai rosefinch, Carpodacus synoicus
• Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githaginea
• Mongolian finch, Rhodopechys mongolica
• European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
• Eurasian linnet, Linaria cannabina
• European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
• European serin, Serinus serinus
• Fire-fronted serin, Serinus pusillus (A)
• Syrian serin, Serinus syriacus
• Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus

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. In Europe, most species are called buntings. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

• Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
• Red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps (A)
• Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra
• Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus (A)
• Gray-necked bunting, Emberiza buchanani (A)
• Cinereous bunting, Emberiza cineracea (A)
• Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana
• Cretzschmar's bunting, Emberiza caesia
• House bunting, Emberiza sahari (A)
• Striolated bunting, Emberiza striolata
• Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus (A)
• Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (A)
• Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (A)
• Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (A)

See also[]

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

References[]

Specific

General

External links[]

• Birds of Egypt - World Institute for Conservation and Environment