Burkina Faso Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti

Photo: Yvan Perré (IRD)

Burkina Faso is possibly one of the safer countries in Africa with friendly people, a good tourist infrastructure and travel connections. Perhaps surprisingly for the birdwatcher, it has a good range of species because the country spans an area from the Sahel in the north to tropical forests in the south. There has been little ornithological investigation so it would make a good destination for the independent minded birder (PORTIER et al 2002).

A good selection of birds can be found in and around the capital, Ouagadougou including Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bulocki, Senegal Eremomela Eremomela pusilla and Savile’s Bustard Eupodotis savilei. It will be necessary to travel further afield however to find Golden Nightjar Caprimulgus eximius or the rare Kordofan Lark Mirafra cordofanica.

The purpose of this document is to provide a summary of Burkina Faso and its birds for birders interested in the country and potentially planning a visit. The information has been put together from a number of sources and it is intended to add new information as it becomes available. As such, readers are welcome to submit contributions by e-mail to info@africanbirdclub.org. You should note that the names of birds used in this document are those of the African Bird Club checklist.