• Source: List of birds of Ghana

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Ghana. The avifauna of Ghana included a total of 772 confirmed species as of August 2021. Of them, one has been introduced by humans. None are endemic. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of Avibase.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.
The following tags highlight several categories of occurrence other than regular migrants and residents.

(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Ghana (also called a vagrant)
(I) Introduced - a species introduced to Ghana 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.

Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris
White-breasted guineafowl, Agelastes meleagrides
Western crested guineafowl, Guttera verreauxi




New World quail


Order: Galliformes Family: Odontophoridae
Despite their family's common name, this species and one other are native to Africa.

Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus




Pheasants, grouse, and allies


Order: 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.

Latham's francolin, Peliperdix lathami
Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui
White-throated francolin, Campocolinus albogularis
Blue quail, Excalfactoria adansonii
Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei (A)
Ahanta francolin, Pternistis ahantensis
Double-spurred francolin, Pternistis bicalcaratus




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.

Lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias 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




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.




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.

Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus (A)
Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus




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.

Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs (Ex)
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 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
Yellow-billed turaco, Tauraco macrorhynchus
Violet turaco, Musophaga violacea
Western plantain-eater, Crinifer piscator




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.

Pennant-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus vexillarius (A)
Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis
Brown nightjar, Caprimulgus binotatus
Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis (A)
Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus (A)
Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis
Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis
Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus
Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma
Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus




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.

Mottled spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri
Black spinetail, Telacanthura melanopygia
Sabine's spinetail, Rhaphidura sabini
Cassin's spinetail, Neafrapus cassini
Alpine swift, Apus melba
Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis
Common swift, Apus apus
Pallid swift, Apus pallidus (A)
African swift, Apus barbatus
Little swift, Apus affinis
Horus swift, Apus horus
White-rumped swift, Apus caffer
Bates's swift, Apus batesi
African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus




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 (A)
Streaky-breasted flufftail, Sarothrura boehmi




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.

Corn crake, Crex crex (A)
African crake, Crex egregia
Gray-throated rail, Canirallus oculeus
Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (A)
Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata
Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni
African swamphen, Porphyrio madagarscariensis
Nkulengu rail, Himantornis haematopus
Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis
Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra
Little crake, Zapornia parva (A)
Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla




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".

Black crowned-crane, Balearica pavonina (Ex)




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.

Water thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus
Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus
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




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

Lesser jacana, Microparra capensis (A)
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 sylvaticus
Black-rumped buttonquail, Turnix nanus
Quail-plover, Ortyxelos meiffrenii




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 (A)
Rock pratincole, Glareola nuchalis
Gray pratincole, Glareola cinerea (A)




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.

Great skua, Stercorarius skua (A)
South Polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A)
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)
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.

White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus (A)




Southern storm-petrels


Order: Procellariiformes Family: Oceanitidae
The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Until 2018, this family's species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.

Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (A)




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.

European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus (A)
Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous
Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (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.

Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea (A)
Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (A)
Sooty shearwater, Ardenna grisea (A)
Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (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
Black stork, Ciconia nigra
Abdim's stork, Ciconia abdimii
African woolly-necked stork, Ciconia microscelis
White stork, Ciconia ciconia
Saddle-billed stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer
Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis (A)




Frigatebirds


Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

Ascension frigatebird, Fregata aquila (A)




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.

Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A)
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 (A)




Pelicans


Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. They have webbed feet with four toes.

Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens (A)




Hamerkop


Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Scopidae
The hamerkop is a medium-sized bird with a long shaggy crest. The shape of its head with a curved bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, hence its name. Its plumage is drab-brown all over.

Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta




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
Spot-breasted ibis, Bostrychia rara
Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
African spoonbill, Platalea alba (A)




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.

Western barn owl, Tyto alba




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.




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




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




Woodhoopoes and scimitarbills


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

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




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




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
African pied hornbill, Lophoceros fasciatus
African gray hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus
Northern red-billed hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus
White-crested hornbill, Horizocerus albocristatus
Black dwarf hornbill, Horizocerus hartlaubi
Black-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna atrata
Yellow-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna elata
Black-and-white-casqued hornbill, Bycanistes subcylindricus
Brown-cheeked hornbill, Bycanistes cylindricus
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.

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
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.

Black bee-eater, Merops gularis
Blue-moustached bee-eater, Merops mentalis
Red-throated bee-eater, Merops bulocki
Little bee-eater, Merops pusillus
Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Merops hirundineus
Black-headed bee-eater, Merops breweri
White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis
African green bee-eater, Merops viridissimus (A)
Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
Rosy bee-eater, Merops malimbicus
Northern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicus




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 (A)
Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinicus
Rufous-crowned roller, Coracias naevius
Blue-bellied roller, Coracias cyanogaster
Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus
Blue-throated roller, Eurystomus gularis




African barbets


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

Yellow-billed barbet, Trachyphonus purpuratus
Bristle-nosed barbet, Gymnobucco peli
Naked-faced barbet, Gymnobucco calvus
Speckled tinkerbird, Pogoniulus scolopaceus
Red-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus atroflavus
Yellow-throated tinkerbird, Pogoniulus subsulphureus
Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus bilineatus
Yellow-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus
Yellow-spotted barbet, Buccanodon duchaillui
Hairy-breasted barbet, Tricholaema hirsuta
Vieillot's barbet, Lybius vieilloti
Double-toothed barbet, Lybius bidentatus
Bearded barbet, Lybius dubius




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
Wahlberg's honeyguide, Prodotiscus regulus (A)
Yellow-footed honeyguide, Melignomon eisentrauti
Willcocks's honeyguide, Indicator willcocksi
Least honeyguide, Indicator exilis
Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
Spotted honeyguide, Indicator maculatus
Greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator




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
African piculet, Verreauxia africana
Melancholy woodpecker, Chloropicus lugubris
Cardinal woodpecker, Chloropicus fuscescens
Fire-bellied woodpecker, Chloropicus pyrrhogaster
Brown-backed woodpecker, Chloropicus obsoletus
African gray woodpecker, Chloropicus goertae
Brown-eared woodpecker, Campethera caroli
Buff-spotted woodpecker, Campethera nivosa
Little green woodpecker, Campethera maculosa
Green-backed woodpecker, Campethera cailliautii
Fine-spotted woodpecker, Campethera punctuligera
Golden-tailed woodpecker, Campethera abingoni




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.

Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni (A)
Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
Fox kestrel, Falco alopex
Gray kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (A)
Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae (A)
Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo (A)
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 swindernianus
Red-headed lovebird, Agapornis pullarius




African and New World parrots


Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae
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. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.

Gray parrot, Psittacus erithacus
Brown-necked parrot, Poicephalus fuscicollis
Red-fronted parrot, Poicephalus gulielmi
Senegal parrot, Poicephalus senegalus




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
Rufous-sided broadbill, Smithornis rufolateralis




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




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.

White-breasted cuckooshrike, Coracina pectoralis
Ghana cuckooshrike, Campephaga lobatus
Red-shouldered cuckooshrike, Campephaga phoenicea
Purple-throated cuckooshrike, Campephaga quiscalina
Blue cuckooshrike, Cyanograucalus azureus




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 (A)
African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus
Western black-headed oriole, Oriolus brachyrhynchus
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
West African wattle-eye, Platysteira hormophora
Red-cheeked wattle-eye, Platysteira blissetti
Senegal batis, Batis senegalensis
West African batis, Batis occulta




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
Red-billed helmetshrike, Prionops caniceps
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.

Brubru, Nilaus afer
Northern puffback, Dryoscopus gambensis
Sabine's puffback, Dryoscopus sabini
Marsh tchagra, Tchagra minutus
Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegalus
Brown-crowned tchagra, Tchagra australis
Tropical boubou, Laniarius major
Yellow-crowned gonolek, Laniarius barbarus
Lowland sooty boubou, Laniarius leucorhynchus
Sulphur-breasted bushshrike, Telophorus sulfureopectus
Many-colored bushshrike, Telophorus multicolor
Fiery-breasted bushshrike, Malaconotus cruentus
Lagden's bushshrike, Malaconotus lagdeni
Gray-headed bushshrike, Malaconotus blanchoti




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.

Western square-tailed drongo, Dicrurus occidentalis
Shining drongo, Dicrurus atripennis
Glossy-backed drongo, Dicrurus divaricatus
Fanti drongo, Dicrurus atactus
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
Black-headed paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufiventer
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 shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.

Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio (A)
Emin's shrike, Lanius gubernator
Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor (A)
Yellow-billed shrike, Lanius corvinus
Northern fiscal, Lanius humeralis
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.

Piapiac, Ptilostomus afer
Pied crow, Corvus albus




Rockfowl


Order: Passeriformes Family: Picathartidae
Rockfowl are lanky birds with long necks, tails, and legs, crow-like bills, and strong feet adapted to terrestrial feeding. They are similar in size and structure to the completely unrelated roadrunners, but they hop rather than walk. They also have brightly coloured unfeathered heads.

White-necked rockfowl, Picathartes gymnocephalus




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
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
Dusky crested-flycatcher, Elminia nigromitrata




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
Dusky tit, Melaniparus funereus




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




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.

Rufous-rumped lark, Pinarocorys erythropygia
Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucotis
Flappet lark, Mirafra rufocinnamomea
Horsfield's bushlark, Mirafra javanica
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




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
Northern crombec, Sylvietta brachyura
Moustached grass-warbler, Melocichla mentalis
Kemp's longbill, Macrosphenus kempi
Gray longbill, Macrosphenus concolor
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.




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.

Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca
Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina (A)
Aquatic warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola (A)
Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
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.

Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides
Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia (A)
Little rush warbler, Bradypterus baboecala




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.

Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
Iberian chiffchaff, Phylloscopus ibericus




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.

Chestnut-capped flycatcher, Erythrocercus mccallii




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.

Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
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.

Northern yellow white-eye, Zosterops senegalensis




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
Blackcap illadopsis, Illadopsis cleaveri
Puvel's illadopsis, Illadopsis puveli
Rufous-winged illadopsis, Illadopsis rufescens




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.

Capuchin babbler, Phyllanthus atripennis
Brown babbler, Turdoides plebejus
Blackcap babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii




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.

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.

Wattled starling, Creatophora cinerea (A)
Common myna, Acridotheres tristis (I)
Violet-backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Chestnut-winged starling, Onychognathus fulgidus
Narrow-tailed starling, Poeoptera lugubris
Copper-tailed starling, Hylopsar cupreocauda
Long-tailed glossy starling, Lamprotornis caudatus
Splendid starling, Lamprotornis splendidus
Chestnut-bellied starling, Lamprotornis pulcher
Lesser blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chloropterus
Greater blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Purple starling, Lamprotornis purpureus
Bronze-tailed starling, Lamprotornis chalcurus




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.

Finsch's flycatcher-thrush, Neocossyphus finschi
White-tailed ant-thrush, Neocossyphus poensis
Gray ground-thrush, Geokichla princei
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.




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


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


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


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.

Pin-tailed whydah, Vidua macroura
Exclamatory paradise-whydah, Vidua interjecta
Togo paradise-whydah, Vidua togoensis
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
Parasitic weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis




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.

House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)
Northern gray-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
Sahel bush sparrow, Gymornis dentata




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.

Mountain wagtail, Motacilla clara
Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
African pied wagtail, Motacilla aguimp
White wagtail, Motacilla alba
Long-billed pipit, Anthus similis
Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
Plain-backed pipit, Anthus leucophrys
Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
Yellow-throated longclaw, Macronyx croceus




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.

White-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygia
Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambica
West African seedeater, Crithagra canicapilla




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
Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana (A)
Cabanis's bunting, Emberiza cabanisi
Golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
Gosling's bunting, Emberiza goslingi




See also


List of birds
Lists of birds by region




References






External links


Birds of Ghana - World Institute for Conservation and Environment

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Tawau
• Pipit-api
• Virus dalam sejarah manusia
• Ekonomi Finlandia
• Bande Utkala Janani
• List of birds of Ghana
• Keoladeo National Park
• List of birds of Africa
• Flag of Ghana
• List of governors of the Gold Coast
• Index of Ghana-related articles
• Ghana
• List of birds of Egypt
• List of birds of South Africa
• List of birds of Kenya