List of birds of Africa

This list contains 2712 species. Individual endemic species found in a single country are tagged (E-country); the rest of the endemics are tagged (E) or noted in text. The countries that have endemics and the number in each are listed below. Places with endemic species: • Algeria (1) • Aldabra (4) • Angola (10) • Ascension (2) • Cameroon (7) • Canary Islands (7) • Cape Verde (5) • Comoros (18) • Democratic Republic of the Congo (11) • Djibouti (1) • Equatorial Guinea (3) • Ethiopia (9) • Gough Island (2) • Inaccessible Island (2) • Kenya (11) • Madagascar (109) • Mauritius (28) • Mayotte (4) • Namibia (1) • Nigeria (2) • Nightingale Islands (1) • Réunion (17) • Rodrigues (11) • Saint Helena (17) • São Tomé and Príncipe (25) • Seychelles (14) • Somalia (8) • South Africa (15) • Sudan (2) • Tanzania (29) • Tristan da Cunha (1) • Uganda (1) • Zambia (1) The sources classify vagrants; they are tagged (V). Some of them occur fairly frequently but are far outside their normal ranges; several have only a single record. ==Ostriches==

Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae The ostriches are flightless birds native to Africa. They are the largest living species of bird and are distinctive in appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds. • Common ostrich, Struthio camelus • Somali ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes (E) ==Ducks, geese, and waterfowl==

Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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. • White-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata • Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor • White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus • Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus • Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (V) • Greylag goose, Anser anser • Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons • Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (V) • Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis • Tundra bean goose, Anser serrirostris • Brent goose, Branta bernicla (V) • Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (V) • Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (V) • Blue-winged goose, Cyanochen cyanoptera (E-Ethiopia) • Mute swan, Cygnus olor • Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (V) • Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (V) • Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos • Hartlaub's duck, Pteronetta hartlaubii (E) • Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca • Mauritius shelduck, Alopochen mauritiana (E-Mauritius) extinct • Réunion shelduck, Alopochen kervazoi (E-Reunion) extinct • Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea • South African shelduck, Tadorna cana (E) • Australian shelduck, Tadorna tadornoides • Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna • Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis (E) • Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata (I) • Cotton pygmy-goose, Nettapus coromandelianus (V) • African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus • Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata • Garganey, Spatula querquedula • Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota • Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (V) • Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (V) • Cape shoveler, Spatula smithii (E) • Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata • Gadwall, Mareca strepera • Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope • American wigeon, Mareca americana (V) • African black duck, Anas sparsa (E) • Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata (E) • Meller's duck, Anas melleri (E-Madagascar) • Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos • American black duck, Anas rubripes (V) • Cape teal, Anas capensis (E) • Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha • Northern pintail, Anas acuta • Eurasian teal, Anas crecca • Green-winged teal, Anas carolinensis (V) • Mauritius duck, Anas theodori extinct • Bernier's teal, Anas bernieri (E-Madagascar) • Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris • Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina • Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma • Common pochard, Aythya ferina • Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (V) • Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca • Madagascar pochard, Aythya innotata (E-Madagascar) • Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula • Greater scaup, Aythya marila • Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (V) • Common eider, Somateria mollissima (V) • Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca • White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (V) • Common scoter, Melanitta nigra • Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (V) • Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (V) • Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (V) • Smew, Mergellus albellus (V) • Common merganser, Mergus merganser (V) • Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (V) • Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (V) • White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala • Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa (E) ==Guineafowl==

, Kenya Order: GalliformesFamily: 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 (E) • Black guineafowl, Agelastes niger (E) • Vulturine guineafowl, Acryllium vulturinum (E) • Plumed guineafowl, Guttera plumifera (E) • Eastern crested guineafowl, Guttera pucherani (E) • Western crested guineafowl, Guttera verreauxi (E) • Southern crested guineafowl, Guttera edouardi (E) ==New World quail==

Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae Despite their family's common name, two species are native to Africa. • Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus (E) • Nahan's partridge, Ptilopachus nahani (E) • Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (I) • California quail, Callipepla californica (I) ==Pheasants and allies==

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. • Udzungwa partridge, Xenoperdix udzungwensis (E-Tanzania) • Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta (A) • Reeves's pheasant, Syrmaticus reevesii (I) • Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) • Congo peacock, Afropavo congensis (E-Democratic Republic of the Congo) • Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (I) • Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus (I) • Latham's francolin, Peliperdix lathami (E) • Crested francolin, Ortygornis sephaena (E) • Grey francolin, Ortygornis pondicerianus (I) • Chinese francolin, Francolinus pintadeanus (I) • Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui (E) • White-throated francolin, Campocolinus albogularis (E) • Schlegel's francolin, Campocolinus schlegelii (E) • Ring-necked francolin, Scleroptila streptophora (E) • Red-winged francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii (E) • Finsch's francolin, Scleroptila finschi (E) • Moorland francolin, Scleroptila psilolaema (E) • Elgon francolin, Scleroptila elgonensis • Grey-winged francolin, Scleroptila afra (E) • Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis (E) • Shelley's francolin, Scleroptila shelleyi (E) • Whyte's francolin, Scleroptila whytei (E) • Sand partridge, Ammoperdix heyi • Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis (I) • Blue quail, Synoicus adansonii (E) • Madagascar partridge, Margaroperdix madagarensis (E-Madagascar) • Common quail, Coturnix coturnix • Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei • Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara • Arabian partridge, Alectoris melanocephala (I) • Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa (I) • Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I) • Rock partridge, Alectoris graeca (I) • Jungle bush-quail, Perdicula asiatica (I) • Hartlaub's francolin, Pternistis hartlaubi (E) • Cameroon francolin, Pternistis camerunensis (E-Cameroon) • Handsome francolin, Pternistis nobilis (E) • Chestnut-naped francolin, Pternistis castaneicollis (E) • Erckel's francolin, Pternistis erckelii • Djibouti francolin, Pternistis ochropectus (E-Djibouti) • Swierstra's francolin, Pternistis swierstrai (E-Angola) • Ahanta francolin, Pternistis ahantensis (E) • Grey-striped francolin, Pternistis griseostriatus (E-Angola) • Jackson's francolin, Pternistis jacksoni (E-Kenya) • Red-billed francolin, Pternistis adspersus (E) • Cape francolin, Pternistis capensis (E-South Africa) • Natal francolin, Pternistis natalensis (E) • Hildebrandt's francolin, Pternistis hildebrandti (E) • Double-spurred francolin, Pternistis bicalcaratus (E) • Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus (E) • Heuglin's francolin, Pternistis icterorhynchus (E) • Clapperton's francolin, Pternistis clappertoni (E) • Harwood's francolin, Pternistis harwoodi (E-Ethiopia) • Swainson's francolin, Pternistis swainsonii (E) • Yellow-necked francolin, Pternistis leucoscepus (E) • Grey-breasted francolin, Pternistis rufopictus (E-Tanzania) • Red-necked francolin, Pternistis afer (E) ==Flamingos==

Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down. • Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus • Lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor ==Grebes==

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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. • Alaotra grebe, Tachybaptus rufolavatus (E-Madagascar) extinct • Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis • Madagascar grebe, Tachybaptus pelzelnii (E-Madagascar) • Slavonian grebe, Podiceps auritus (V) • Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (V) • Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus • Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis ==Pigeons and doves==

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. • Rock pigeon, Columba livia • Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea (E) • White-collared pigeon, Columba albitorques (E) • Stock dove, Columba oenas • Somali pigeon, Columba oliviae (E-Somalia) • Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus • Bolle's pigeon, Columba bollii (E) • Afep pigeon, Columba unicincta (E) • Laurel pigeon, Columba junoniae (E) • Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix • Cameroon pigeon, Columba sjostedti (E) • Maroon pigeon, Columba thomensis (E-São Tomé and Príncipe) • Delegorgue's pigeon, Columba delegorguei (E) • Bronze-naped pigeon, Columba iriditorques (E) • Sao Tome pigeon, Columba malherbii (E) • Mauritian wood pigeon, Columba thiriouxi (E-Mauritius) extinct • Lemon dove, Columba larvata (E) • Comoro pigeon, Columba pollenii • White-naped pigeon, Columba albinucha (E) • Pink pigeon, Nesoenas mayeri (E-Mauritius) • Reunion pigeon, Nesoenas duboisi extinct • Mauritian turtle dove, Nesoenas cicur (E-Mauritius) extinct • Rodrigues pigeon, Nesoenas rodericanus (E-Rodrigues) extinct • European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur • Dusky turtle dove, Streptopelia lugens • Adamawa turtle dove, Streptopelia hypopyrrha (E) • Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis (A) • Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto • African collared dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea • White-winged collared dove, Streptopelia reichenowi (E) • Mourning collared dove, Streptopelia decipiens • Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata • Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola • Vinaceous dove, Streptopelia vinacea (E) • Malagasy turtle dove, Streptopelia picturata • Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis (I) • Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis • Emerald-spotted wood dove, Turtur chalcospilos (E) • Black-billed wood dove, Turtur abyssinicus (E) • Blue-spotted wood dove, Turtur afer (E) • Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria • Blue-headed wood dove, Turtur brehmeri (E) • Namaqua dove, Oena capensis • Zebra dove, Geopelia striata (I) • Dodo, Raphus cucullatus (E-Mauritius) extinct • Rodrigues solitaire, Pezophaps solitaria (E-Rodrigues) extinct • Bruce's green pigeon, Treron waalia • Comoros green pigeon, Treron griveaudi (E-Comoros) • Pemba green pigeon, Treron pembaensis (E-Tanzania) • Sao Tome green pigeon, Treron sanctithomae (E-São Tomé and Príncipe) • African green pigeon, Treron calvus (E) • Mauritius blue pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissimus (E-Mauritius) extinct • Rodrigues blue pigeon, Alectroenas payandeei (E-Rodrigues) extinct • Madagascar blue pigeon, Alectroenas madagascariensis (E-Madagascar) • Comoro blue pigeon, Alectroenas sganzini • Seychelles blue pigeon, Alectroenas pulcherrimus (E-Seychelles) ==Mesites==

Order: MesitornithiformesFamily: Mesitornithidae The mesites (Mesitornithidae) are a family of birds that are part of a clade (Columbimorphae) that include Columbiformes and Pterocliformes. They are smallish flightless or near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar. They are the only family with more than two species in which every species is threatened (all three are listed as vulnerable). • White-breasted mesite, Mesitornis variegata (E-Madagascar) • Brown mesite, Mesitornis unicolor (E-Madagascar) • Subdesert mesite, Monias benschi (E-Madagascar) ==Sandgrouse==

Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes. • Pin-tailed sandgrouse, Pterocles alchata • Namaqua sandgrouse, Pterocles namaqua (E) • Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus • Spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus • Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis • Yellow-throated sandgrouse, Pterocles gutturalis (E) • Crowned sandgrouse, Pterocles coronatus • Black-faced sandgrouse, Pterocles decoratus (E) • Madagascar sandgrouse, Pterocles personatus (E-Madagascar) • Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinii • Double-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles bicinctus (E) • Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus (E) • Burchell's sandgrouse, Pterocles burchelli (E) ==Bustards==

Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays. • Great bustard, Otis tarda • Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs • Kori bustard, Ardeotis kori (E) • Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata • MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii • Ludwig's bustard, Neotis ludwigii (E) • Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami (E) • Heuglin's bustard, Neotis heuglinii (E) • Nubian bustard, Neotis nuba (E) • White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis (E) • Blue bustard, Eupodotis caerulescens (E-South Africa) • Karoo korhaan, Eupodotis vigorsii (E) • Rüppell's bustard, Eupodotis rueppellii (E) • Little brown bustard, Eupodotis humilis (E) • Savile's bustard, Lophotis savilei (E) • Buff-crested bustard, Lophotis gindiana (E) • Red-crested bustard, Lophotis ruficrista (E) • Black bustard, Afrotis afra (E) • White-quilled bustard, Afrotis afraoides (E) • Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster (E) • Hartlaub's bustard, Lissotis hartlaubii (E) • Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax ==Turacos==

Order: MusophagiformesFamily: 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. The entire family is endemic to Africa. • Great blue turaco, Corythaeola cristata • Guinea turaco, Tauraco persa • Livingstone's turaco, Tauraco livingstonii • Schalow's turaco, Tauraco schalowi • Knysna turaco, Tauraco corythaix • Black-billed turaco, Tauraco schuettii • White-crested turaco, Tauraco leucolophus • Fischer's turaco, Tauraco fischeri • Yellow-billed turaco, Tauraco macrorhynchus • Bannerman's turaco, Tauraco bannermani (E-Cameroon) • Red-crested turaco, Tauraco erythrolophus (E-Angola) • Hartlaub's turaco, Tauraco hartlaubi • White-cheeked turaco, Tauraco leucotis • Prince Ruspoli's turaco, Tauraco ruspolii (E-Ethiopia) • Purple-crested turaco, Tauraco porphyreolophus • Rwenzori turaco, Ruwenzorornis johnstoni • Violet turaco, Musophaga violacea • Ross's turaco, Musophaga rossae • Bare-faced go-away-bird, Corythaixoides personatus • Grey go-away-bird, Corythaixoides concolor • White-bellied go-away-bird, Corythaixoides leucogaster • Western plantain-eater, Crinifer piscator • Eastern plantain-eater, Crinifer zonurus ==Cuckoos==

Order: CuculiformesFamily: 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. • Crested coua, Coua cristata (E-Madagascar) • Verreaux's coua, Coua verreauxi (E-Madagascar) • Blue coua, Coua caerulea (E-Madagascar) • Red-capped coua, Coua ruficeps (E-Madagascar) • Red-fronted coua, Coua reynaudii (E-Madagascar) • Coquerel's coua, Coua coquereli (E-Madagascar) • Running coua, Coua cursor (E-Madagascar) • Giant coua, Coua gigas (E-Madagascar) • Snail-eating coua, Coua delalandei (E-Madagascar) extinct • Red-breasted coua, Coua serriana (E-Madagascar) • Gabon coucal, Centropus anselli (E) • Black-throated coucal, Centropus leucogaster (E) • Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis (E) • Blue-headed coucal, Centropus monachus (E) • Coppery-tailed coucal, Centropus cupreicaudus (E) • White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus • Malagasy coucal, Centropus toulou • Black coucal, Centropus grillii (E) • Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus (E) • Green malkoha, Ceuthmochares australis (E) • Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius • Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii (E) • Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus • Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (V) • St. Helena cuckoo, Nannococcyx psix (E-Saint Helena) extinct • Thick-billed cuckoo, Pachycoccyx audeberti • Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius • Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas • Yellow-throated cuckoo, Chrysococcyx flavigularis (E) • African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus (E) • Pallid cuckoo, Cacomantis pallidus (V) • Dusky long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx mechowi (E) • Olive long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx olivinus (E) • Barred long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx montanus (E) • Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus (E) • Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius (E) • Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus • African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis • Madagascar cuckoo, Cuculus rochii • Himalayan cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus (V) • Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus ==Nightjars==

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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. • Collared nightjar, Gactornis enarratus (E-Madagascar) • Pennant-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus vexillarius (E) • Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis (E) • Brown nightjar, Caprimulgus binotatus (E) • Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis • Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus • Sombre nightjar, Caprimulgus fraenatus (E) • Rufous-cheeked nightjar, Caprimulgus rufigena (E) • Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius • Nubian nightjar, Caprimulgus nubicus • Golden nightjar, Caprimulgus eximius (E) • Donaldson-Smith's nightjar, Caprimulgus donaldsoni (E) • Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis (E) • Montane nightjar, Caprimulgus poliocephalus (E) • Madagascar nightjar, Caprimulgus madagascariensis • Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis (E) • Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus • Star-spotted nightjar, Caprimulgus stellatus (E) • Nechisar nightjar, Caprimulgus solala (E-Ethiopia) • Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma (E) • Itombwe nightjar, Caprimulgus prigoginei (E) • Bates's nightjar, Caprimulgus batesi (E) • Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus (E) • Slender-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus clarus (E) • Square-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii (E) ==Swifts==

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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. • Madagascar spinetail, Zoonavena grandidieri (E-Madagascar) • Sao Tome spinetail, Zoonavena thomensis (E-São Tomé and Príncipe) • Mottled spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri (E) • Black spinetail, Telacanthura melanopygia (E) • Sabine's spinetail, Rhaphidura sabini (E) • Cassin's spinetail, Neafrapus cassini (E) • Bat-like spinetail, Neafrapus boehmi (E) • Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (V) • White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus (V) • Seychelles swiftlet, Aerodramus elaphrus (E-Seychelles) • Mascarene swiftlet, Aerodramus francicus • Scarce swift, Schoutedenapus myoptilus (E) • Alpine swift, Apus melba • Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis (E) • Alexander's swift, Apus alexandri (E-Cape Verde) • Common swift, Apus apus • Plain swift, Apus unicolor • Nyanza swift, Apus niansae (E) • Pallid swift, Apus pallidus • African swift, Apus barbatus (E) • Forbes-Watson's swift, Apus berliozi (E) • Bradfield's swift, Apus bradfieldi (E) • Malagasy swift, Apus balstoni • Pacific swift, Apus pacificus (V) • Little swift, Apus affinis • Horus swift, Apus horus (E) • White-rumped swift, Apus caffer • Bates's swift, Apus batesi (E) • African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus • Malagasy palm-swift, Cypsiurus gracilis ==Flufftails==

Order: GruiformesFamily: Sarothruridae The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa. • Madagascar wood-rail, Mentocrex kioloides (E-Madagascar) • Tsingy wood-rail, Mentocrex beankaensis (E-Madagascar) • 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 • Madagascar flufftail, Sarothrura insularis (E-Madagascar) • White-winged flufftail, Sarothrura ayresi • Slender-billed flufftail, Sarothrura watersi (E-Madagascar) ==Rails==

Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers. • Water rail, Rallus aquaticus • African rail, Rallus caerulescens (E) • Madagascar rail, Rallus madagascariensis (E-Madagascar) • White-throated rail, Dryolimnas cuvieri • Reunion rail, Dryolimnas augusti (E-Réunion) extinct • Red rail, Aphanapteryx bonasia (E-Mauritius) extinct • Rodrigues rail, Erythromachus leguati (E-Rodrigues) extinct • Corn crake, Crex crex • African crake, Crex egregia (E) • Rouget's rail, Rougetius rougetii (E) • St. Helena crake, Atlantisia podarces (E-St. Helena) extinct • Ascension crake, Mundia elpenor (E-Ascension) extinct • Inaccessible Island rail, Atlantasia rogersi (E-Inaccessible Island) • Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis (V) • Grey-throated rail, Canirallus oculeus • Sora, Porzana carolina (V) • Spotted crake, Porzana porzana • Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata • Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus • Gough moorhen, Gallinula comeri (E-Gough Island) • Tristan moorhen, Gallinula nesiotis (E-Tristan da Cunha) extinct • Eurasian coot, Fulica atra • Mascarene coot, Fulica newtonii extinct • Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata • Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni • Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica (V) • Reunion gallinule, Porphyrio caerulescens (E-Réunion) extinct • Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio • African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis • Nkulengu rail, Himantornis haematopus (E) • Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea (V) • White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus (V) • Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis (E) • Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra • Little crake, Zapornia parva • Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla • St. Helena rail, Zapornia astrictocarpus (E-St. Helena) extinct • Sakalava rail, Zapornia olivieri (E-Madagascar) ==Finfoots==

Order: GruiformesFamily: 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 (E) ==Cranes==

, Namibia Order: GruiformesFamily: 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". • Grey crowned crane, Balearica regulorum (E) • Black crowned crane, Balearica pavonina (E) • Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo • Blue crane, Anthropoides paradiseus (E) • Wattled crane, Bugeranus carunculatus (E) • Common crane, Grus grus ==Sheathbills==