Species

Almost 2,500 bird species of 111 bird families have been seen in Africa and its associated islands. A complete checklist of species can be found in the African Bird Club Checklist. The countries which have the largest number of species on their national lists with the approximate numbers are the following.

Endemic families

Cameroon Grey-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas
Photo: Doug Peters and courtesy of Earthwatch Institute Europe

There are 20 endemic bird families in Africa as follows.

*These families are found only in Madagascar.

Some authorities place the Ground Hornbills in Bucorvidae, an African endemic family. The ABC checklist includes these species as part of Bucerotidae which is not endemic to Africa.

There is considerable on-going debate as to the family relationships of the following 5 species. The resolution of this would be likely to result in additional African endemic families.

The ABC checklist places these species currently in the family Timaliidae which is not endemic to Africa.

Endemic species

Some 1,800 species are estimated to be found only in Africa and its associated islands.

Threatened species

BirdLife International 2000 has listed 343 species of global conservation concern in Africa. Of these, some 32 species are also found on other continents. The status of Africa's threatened birds is shown below.

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Last page update 1st September 2010