List of birds of the Gambia

is the country's most common and widespread duck. 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 • Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos • Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus • Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis • African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus • Garganey, Spatula querquedula • Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata • Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A) • Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) • American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) • Northern pintail, Anas acuta • Green-winged teal, Anas crecca • Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A) • Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca • Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula ==Guineafowl==

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 ==New World quail==

Order: GalliformesFamily: 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: GalliformesFamily: 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. • White-throated francolin, Campocolinus albogularis • Common quail, Coturnix coturnix • Ahanta francolin, Pternistis ahantensis • Double-spurred francolin, Pternistis bicalcaratus ==Flamingos==

Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae Flamingos are 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, Phoenicopterus minor ==Grebes==

s are locally common in freshwater ponds, creeks and rice fields, particularly in the Western Division. Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds. They breed on fresh water, but often visit the sea whilst migrating and in winter. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers; however, their feet are placed far back on their bodies, making them quite ungainly on land. • Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis • Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (A) ==Pigeons and doves==

(Streptopelia semitorquata) 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 • European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur • Adamawa turtle-dove, Streptopelia hypopyrrha (A) • African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea • Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens • Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata • Vinaceous dove, Streptopelia vinacea • Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis • Black-billed wood-dove, Turtur abyssinicus • Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer • Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria • Namaqua dove, Oena capensis • Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia • African green-pigeon, Treron calva ==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. • Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus(A) • Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus ==Bustards==

Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otidae Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays. • Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs(A) • Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami • White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis(A) • Savile's bustard, Lophotis savilei • Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster ==Turacos==

Order: MusophagiformesFamily: 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. • Guinea turaco, Tauraco persa • Violet turaco, Musophaga violacea • Western plantain-eater, Crinifer piscator ==Cuckoos==

(Centropus senegalensis) 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. • Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis • Black coucal, Centropus grillii • Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus • Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius • Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii • Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus • Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius • Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas • African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus(A) • Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus(A) • Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius • African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis • Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus ==Nightjars and allies==

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. • Pennant-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus vexillarius(A) • Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis • Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis • Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus • Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius • Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis • Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis(A) • Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus • Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus ==Swifts==

(Cypsiurus parvus) 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. • Mottled spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri • Alpine swift, Apus melba (A) • Common swift, Apus apus • Pallid swift, Apus pallidus • Little swift, Apus affinis • White-rumped swift, Apus caffer (A) • African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus ==Flufftails==

Order: GruiformesFamily: Sarothruridae The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa. • White-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura pulchra ==Rails, gallinules, and coots==

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. • African rail, Rallus caerulescens(A) • African crake, Crex egregia • Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (A) • Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata • Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus • Eurasian coot, Fulica atra(A) • Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni • African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis • Black crake, Zapornia flavirostris • Little crake, Zapornia parva(A) • Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (A) ==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 ==Cranes==

(Balearica pavonina) 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". • Black crowned crane, Balearica pavonina ==Thick-knees==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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. • Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus (A) • Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis • Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis ==Egyptian plover==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Pluvianidae The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River. • Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius ==Stilts and avocets==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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==