List of birds of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The avifauna of the Democratic Republic of Congo include a total of 1191 species, of which twenty-one are endemic, and one has been introduced by humans. This country has the greatest avian biodiversity of any African country.

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.^[1] The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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 the Democratic Republic of Congo
• (E) Endemic - a species endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Democratic Republic of Congo as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

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.

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. There are 6 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris
• Black guineafowl, Agelastes niger
• Plumed guineafowl, Guttera plumifera
• Crested guineafowl, Guttera pucherani

New World quail[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.

• Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus
• Nahan's francolin, Ptilopachus nahani

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 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

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. There are 20 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
• Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus

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.

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. There are 3 species which have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami
• White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis
• Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster

Turacos[]

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.

• Great blue turaco, Corythaeola cristata
• Guinea turaco, Tauraco persa
• Schalow's turaco, Tauraco schalowi
• Black-billed turaco, Tauraco schuettii
• White-crested turaco, Tauraco leucolophus
• Yellow-billed turaco, Tauraco macrorhynchus
• Rwenzori turaco, Ruwenzorornis johnstoni
• Ross's turaco, Musophaga rossae
• Bare-faced go-away-bird, Corythaixoides personatus
• Gray go-away-bird, Corythaixoides concolor
• Western plantain-eater, Crinifer piscator
• Eastern plantain-eater, Crinifer zonurus

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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

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.

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.

Flufftails[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Sarothruridae

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

• White-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura pulchra
• Buff-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura elegans
• Red-chested flufftail, Sarothrura rufa
• Chestnut-headed flufftail, Sarothrura lugens
• Streaky-breasted flufftail, Sarothrura boehmi
• Striped flufftail, Sarothrura 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.

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.

• African finfoot, Podica senegalensis

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".

• Gray crowned-crane, Balearica regulorum
• Black crowned-crane, Balearica pavonina (A)
• Wattled crane, Bugeranus carunculatus

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.

• Water thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus
• Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus (A)
• Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis
• Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis

Egyptian plover[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Pluvianidae

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

• Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius

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 (A)

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.

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

Jacanas[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are 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

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.

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.

• Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvatica
• Black-rumped buttonquail, Turnix nanus

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.

• Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
• Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
• Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni
• Rock pratincole, Glareola nuchalis
• Gray pratincole, Glareola cinerea

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.

• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)

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.

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

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
• Black stork, Ciconia nigra (A)
• Abdim's stork, Ciconia abdimii
• Woolly-necked stork, Ciconia episcopus
• White stork, Ciconia ciconia
• Saddle-billed stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
• Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer
• 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.

• Cape gannet, Morus capensis (A)

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

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
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
• Cape cormorant, Phalacrocorax capensis (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

Shoebill[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Balaenicipididae

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

• Shoebill, Balaeniceps rex

Hammerkop[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Scopidae

The hammerkop 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

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.

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
• Olive ibis, Bostrychia olivacea
• Spot-breasted ibis, Bostrychia rara
• Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
• Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia (A)
• African spoonbill, Platalea alba

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.

• Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius

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.

• African grass owl, Tyto capensis
• Barn owl, Tyto alba
• Congo bay-owl, Phodilus prigoginei (E)

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.

Mousebirds[]

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
• Red-backed mousebird, Colius castanotus
• Blue-naped mousebird, Urocolius macrourus
• Red-faced mousebird, Urocolius indicus

Trogons[]

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
• Bare-cheeked trogon, Apaloderma aequatoriale
• Bar-tailed trogon, Apaloderma vittatum

Hoopoes[]

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Woodhoopoes[]

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.

• Green woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus
• White-headed woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus bollei
• Forest woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus castaneiceps
• Black scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus aterrimus
• Common scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Ground-hornbills[]

Order:Bucerotiformes Family: Bucorvidae

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

• Abyssinian ground-hornbill, Bucorvus abyssinicus
• Southern ground-hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri

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.

• Red-billed dwarf hornbill, Lophoceros camurus
• Crowned hornbill, Lophoceros alboterminatus
• African pied hornbill, Lophoceros fasciatus
• African gray hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus
• Pale-billed hornbill, Lophoceros pallidirostris
• White-crested hornbill, Horizocerus albocristatus
• Black dwarf hornbill, Horizocerus hartlaubi
• Black-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna atrata
• Black-and-white-casqued hornbill, Bycanistes subcylindricus
• White-thighed hornbill, Bycanistes albotibialis
• Trumpeter hornbill, Bycanistes bucinator
• Piping hornbill, Bycanistes fistulator

Kingfishers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. There are 93 species worldwide and 14 species which occur in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Half-collared kingfisher, Alcedo semitorquata
• Shining-blue kingfisher, Alcedo quadribrachys
• Malachite kingfisher, Corythornis cristatus
• White-bellied kingfisher, Corythornis leucogaster
• African pygmy kingfisher, Ispidina picta
• African dwarf kingfisher, Ispidina lecontei
• Chocolate-backed kingfisher, Halcyon badia
• Gray-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
• Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis
• Blue-breasted kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica
• Brown-hooded kingfisher, Halcyon albiventris
• Striped kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti
• Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maximus
• Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

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. There are 26 species worldwide and 17 species which occur in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo contains the largest number of bee-eaters of any country.

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. The Democratic Republic of Congo contains the largest number of rollers of any country.

• European roller, Coracias garrulus
• Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinica
• Lilac-breasted roller, Coracias caudata
• Racket-tailed roller, Coracias spatulata
• Rufous-crowned roller, Coracias naevia
• Blue-bellied roller, Coracias cyanogaster
• Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus
• Blue-throated roller, Eurystomus gularis

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.

• Cassin's honeyguide, Prodotiscus insignis
• Green-backed honeyguide, Prodotiscus zambesiae
• Wahlberg's honeyguide, Prodotiscus regulus
• Zenker's honeyguide, Melignomon zenkeri
• Dwarf honeyguide, Indicator pumilio
• Willcocks's honeyguide, Indicator willcocksi
• Pallid honeyguide, Indicator meliphilus
• Least honeyguide, Indicator exilis
• Thick-billed honeyguide, Indicator conirostris
• Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
• Spotted honeyguide, Indicator maculatus
• Scaly-throated honeyguide, Indicator variegatus
• Greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator
• Lyre-tailed honeyguide, Melichneutes robustus

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.

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.

• Pygmy falcon, Polihierax semitorquatus
• Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
• Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
• Rock kestrel, Falco rupicolus
• Fox kestrel, Falco alopex
• Gray kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
• Dickinson's kestrel, Falco dickinsoni
• Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
• Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus
• Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (A)
• Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
• Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
• African hobby, Falco cuvierii
• Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

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.

• Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri
• Black-collared lovebird, Agapornis swinderniana
• Red-headed lovebird, Agapornis pullarius

African and New World parrots[]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

African and New World 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.

• Gray parrot, Psittacus erithacus
• Brown-necked parrot, Poicephalus robustus
• Red-fronted parrot, Poicephalus gulielmi
• Meyer's parrot, Poicephalus meyeri
• Niam-Niam parrot, Poicephalus crassus

African and green broadbills[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calyptomenidae

The broadbills are small, brightly coloured birds, which feed on fruit and also take insects in flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests.

• African broadbill, Smithornis capensis
• Gray-headed broadbill, Smithornis sharpei
• Rufous-sided broadbill, Smithornis rufolateralis

Asian and Grauer’s broadbills[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Eurylaimidae

Many of the species are brightly coloured birds that present broad heads, large eyes and a hooked, flat and broad beak.

• Grauer's broadbill, Pseudocalyptomena graueri

Pittas[]

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
• Green-breasted pitta, Pitta reichenowi

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.

• Grauer's cuckooshrike, Coracina graueri (E)
• Gray cuckooshrike, Coracina caesia
• White-breasted cuckooshrike, Coracina pectoralis
• Oriole cuckooshrike, Campephaga oriolina
• Black cuckooshrike, Campephaga flava
• Petit's cuckooshrike, Campephaga petiti
• Red-shouldered cuckooshrike, Campephaga phoenicea
• Purple-throated cuckooshrike, Campephaga quiscalina
• Blue cuckooshrike, Coracina azurea

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
• African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus
• Western black-headed oriole, Oriolus brachyrhynchus
• African black-headed oriole, Oriolus larvatus
• Black-tailed oriole, Oriolus percivali
• Black-winged oriole, Oriolus nigripennis

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.

• Brown-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira cyanea
• Black-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira peltata
• Chestnut wattle-eye, Platysteira castanea
• White-spotted wattle-eye, Platysteira tonsa
• Jameson's wattle-eye, Platysteira jamesoni
• Yellow-bellied wattle-eye, Platysteira concreta
• Boulton's batis, Batis margaritae
• Rwenzori batis, Batis diops
• Chinspot batis, Batis molitor
• Gray-headed batis, Batis orientalis
• Western black-headed batis, Batis erlangeri
• Ituri batis, Batis ituriensis
• Angola batis, Batis minulla

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.

• White helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus
• Yellow-crested helmetshrike, Prionops alberti (E)
• Red-billed helmetshrike, Prionops caniceps
• Rufous-bellied helmetshrike, Prionops rufiventris
• Retz's helmetshrike, Prionops retzii
• African shrike-flycatcher, Megabyas flammulatus
• Black-and-white shrike-flycatcher, Bias musicus

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. The Democratic Republic of Congo contains the largest number of bushshrikes of any country.

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.

• Sharpe's drongo, Dicrurus sharpei
• Common square-tailed drongo, Dicrurus ludwigii
• Shining drongo, Dicrurus atripennis
• Fork-tailed drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis
• Glossy-backed drongo, Dicrurus divaricatus
• Velvet-mantled drongo, Dicrurus modestus

Monarch flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

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

• Blue-headed crested-flycatcher, Trochocercus nitens
• African crested-flycatcher, Trochocercus cyanomelas
• Black-headed paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufiventer
• Bedford's paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone bedfordi (E)
• Rufous-vented paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufocinerea
• Bates's paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone batesi
• African paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis

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)
• Emin's shrike, Lanius gubernator
• Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
• Gray-backed fiscal, Lanius excubitoroides
• Mackinnon's shrike, Lanius mackinnoni
• Northern fiscal, Lanius humeralis
• Souza's shrike, Lanius souzae
• Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus (A)
• Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator
• Yellow-billed shrike, Lanius corvinus

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.

• Piapiac, Ptilostomus afer
• Cape crow, Corvus capensis
• Pied crow, Corvus albus
• White-necked raven, Corvus albicollis

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.

• Yellow-bellied hyliota, Hyliota flavigaster
• Southern hyliota, Hyliota australis
• Violet-backed hyliota, Hyliota violacea

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".

• African blue flycatcher, Elminia longicauda
• White-tailed blue flycatcher, Elminia albicauda
• Dusky crested-flycatcher, Elminia nigromitrata
• White-bellied crested-flycatcher, Elminia albiventris
• White-tailed crested-flycatcher, Elminia albonotata

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.

• White-shouldered black-tit, Melaniparus guineensis
• White-winged black-tit, Melaniparus leucomelas
• Rufous-bellied tit, Melaniparus rufiventris
• Southern black-tit, Melaniparus niger
• Dusky tit, Melaniparus funereus
• Miombo tit, Melaniparus griseiventris
• Stripe-breasted tit, Melaniparus fasciiventer
• Gray tit, Melaniparus afer

Penduline-tits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

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

• Yellow penduline-tit, Anthoscopus parvulus
• Forest penduline-tit, Anthoscopus flavifrons
• African penduline-tit, Anthoscopus caroli

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.

• Spike-heeled lark, Chersomanes albofasciata (A)
• Rufous-rumped lark, Pinarocorys erythropygia
• Dusky lark, Pinarocorys nigricans
• Gray-backed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix verticalis (A)
• Fischer's sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucopareia
• Sabota lark, Calendulauda sabota
• Rufous-naped lark, Mirafra africana
• Angola lark, Mirafra angolensis
• Flappet lark, Mirafra rufocinnamomea
• White-tailed lark, Mirafra albicauda
• Red-capped lark, Calandrella cinerea
• Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla (A)
• Sun lark, Galerida modesta

Nicators[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nicatoridae

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

• Western nicator, Nicator chloris
• Eastern nicator, Nicator gularis
• Yellow-throated nicator, Nicator vireo

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.

• Green crombec, Sylvietta virens
• Lemon-bellied crombec, Sylvietta denti
• White-browed crombec, Sylvietta leucophrys
• Northern crombec, Sylvietta brachyura
• Red-capped crombec, Sylvietta ruficapilla
• Cape crombec, Sylvietta rufescens
• Moustached grass-warbler, Melocichla mentalis
• Yellow longbill, Macrosphenus flavicans
• Gray longbill, Macrosphenus concolor
• Grauer's warbler, Graueria vittata
• Green hylia, Hylia prasina
• Tit-hylia, Pholidornis rushiae

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. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the greatest diversity of cisticolas of any country.

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.

• Papyrus yellow-warbler, Calamonastides gracilirostris
• Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
• African yellow-warbler, Iduna natalensis
• Mountain yellow-warbler, Iduna similis
• Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum (A)
• Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina
• Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
• Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
• Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
• African reed warbler, Acrocephalus baeticatus
• Lesser swamp warbler, Acrocephalus gracilirostris
• Greater swamp warbler, Acrocephalus rufescens
• Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus

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.

• Fan-tailed grassbird, Catriscus brevirostris
• Evergreen-forest warbler, Bradypterus lopezi
• Cinnamon bracken-warbler, Bradypterus cinnamomeus
• Grauer's swamp warbler, Bradypterus graueri
• Little rush-warbler, Bradypterus baboecala
• Highland rush warbler, Bradypterus centralis
• White-winged scrub warbler, Bradypterus carpalis
• Bamboo warbler, Locustella alfredi
• River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis (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. The Democratic Republic of Congo contains the largest number of swallows of any country on earth.

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. The Democratic Republic of Congo contains the largest number of bulbuls of any country on earth.

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 grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.

• Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
• Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita (A)
• Brown woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus umbrovirens
• Red-faced woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus laetus
• Laura's woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus laurae
• Uganda woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus budongoensis

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.^[2]

• Chestnut-capped flycatcher, Erythrocercus mccallii
• Neumann's warbler, Urosphena neumanni

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.

• African hill babbler, Sylvia abyssinica
• Rwenzori hill babbler, Sylvia atriceps
• Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
• Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
• Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria (A)
• Brown parisoma, Curruca lugens
• Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis

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.

• Green white-eye, Zosterops stuhlmanni
• Northern yellow white-eye, Zosterops senegalensis
• Southern yellow white-eye, Zosterops anderssoni

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.

• Brown illadopsis, Illadopsis fulvescens
• Pale-breasted illadopsis, Illadopsis rufipennis
• Mountain illadopsis, Illadopsis pyrrhoptera
• Blackcap illadopsis, Illadopsis cleaveri
• Scaly-breasted illadopsis, Illadopsis albipectus
• Puvel's illadopsis, Illadopsis puveli
• Thrush babbler, Illadopsis turdina

Laughingthrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

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

• Blackcap babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii (A)
• Dusky babbler, Turdoides tenebrosus
• Black-lored babbler, Turdoides sharpei
• Hartlaub's babbler, Turdoides hartlaubii
• Black-faced babbler, Turdoides melanops
• Brown babbler, Turdoides plebejus
• Arrow-marked babbler, Turdoides jardineii
• Red-collared mountain-babbler, Turdoides rufocinctus (E)
• Chapin's mountain-babbler, Turdoides chapini (E)
• Capuchin babbler, Turdoides atripennis

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.

• African spotted creeper, Salpornis salvadori

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.

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

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.

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.

• Rufous flycatcher-thrush, Neocossyphus fraseri
• Red-tailed ant-thrush, Neocossyphus rufus
• White-tailed ant thrush, Neocossyphus poensis
• Spotted ground-thrush, Geokichla guttata
• Black-eared ground-thrush, Geokichla cameronensis
• Gray ground-thrush, Geokichla princei
• Crossley's ground-thrush, Geokichla crossleyi
• Oberländer's ground-thrush, Geokichla oberlaenderi
• Abyssinian ground-thrush, Geokichla piaggiae
• Orange ground-thrush, Geokichla gurneyi
• Groundscraper thrush, Psophocichla litsitsirupa
• Abyssinian thrush, Turdus abyssinicus
• Kurrichane thrush, Turdus libonyana
• African thrush, Turdus pelios

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.

Dapple-throat and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Modulatricidae

This species and two others, all of different genera, were formerly placed in family Promeropidae, the sugarbirds, but were accorded their own family in 2017.

• Gray-chested babbler, Kakamega poliothorax

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. The Democratic Republic of Congo contains the largest number of sunbirds of any country on earth.

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. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the greatest diversity of weavers of any country.

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. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the greatest diversity of estrildid finches of any country.

Indigobirds[]

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
• Exclamatory paradise-whydah, Vidua interjecta
• Broad-tailed paradise-whydah, Vidua obtusa
• Eastern paradise-whydah, Vidua paradisaea
• Village indigobird, Vidua chalybeata
• Wilson's indigobird, Vidua wilsoni
• Jambandu indigobird, Vidua raricola
• Baka indigobird, Vidua larvaticola
• Cameroon indigobird, Vidua camerunensis
• Variable indigobird, Vidua funerea
• Purple indigobird, Vidua purpurascens
• Green indigobird, Vidua codringtoni (A)
• Parasitic weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis

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. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)
• Northern gray-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
• Yellow-throated bush sparrow, Gymnornis superciliaris

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[]

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.

• Brown-rumped bunting, Emberiza affinis
• Cabanis's bunting, Emberiza cabanisi
• Golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
• Lark-like bunting, Emberiza impetuani (A)
• Cinnamon-breasted bunting, Emberiza tahapisi
• Gosling's bunting, Emberiza goslingi

See also[]

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region
• List of amphibians of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• List of mammals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

References[]

• Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of birds of the Democratic Republic of Congo". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
• Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: a Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.

External links[]

• Birds of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - World Institute for Conservation and Environment