SUB-REGION
Southern Africa
SIZE
1,246,700 kmĀ² including the exclave of Cabinda (7th largest country in Africa)
BIRDS AND BIRDING
SPECIES
Diversity
Strongly Afrotropical avifauna
Approximately 970 recorded species (5th longest bird list of any country in the ABC region)
Endemics (E)
Swierstra’s Spurfowl (EN)
Grey-striped Spurfowl (LC)
Red-crested Turaco (LC)
Red-backed Mousebird (LC)
White-fronted Wattle-eye (NT)
Braun’s Bushshrike (EN)
Gabela Bushshrike (EN)
Gabela Helmetshrike | Angola Helmetshrike (EN)
Angola Greenbul | Green-crowned Greenbul (NT)
Pulitzer’s Longbill (EN)
Huambo Cisticola (LC)
Hartert’s Camaroptera | Green-tailed Camaroptera (LC)
Angola Slaty Flycatcher (LC)
Gabela Akalat (EN)
Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird (LC)
Angola Waxbill (LC)
Near-endemics (NE), including Zambezian endemics or near-endemics (Z) and endemic subspecies (ESS)
Pale-olive Greenbul
Bubbling Cisticola (ESS bulliens)
Angola White-eye
Angola Cave Chat
Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush
Bocage’s Sunbird (Z)
Cinderella Waxbill
Grimwood’s Longclaw (Z)
Birds best found in Angola but occurring more widely (BT), including Zambezian (Z) and Guineo-Congolian (G-C) endemics or near-endemics and ESS
Gabon Coucal (G-C)
Anchieta’s Barbet (Z ESS rex)
Angola Batis
Monteiro’s Bushshrike (ESS monteiri)
Yellow-throated Nicator (G-C)
Falkenstein’s Greenbul | Yellow-necked Greenbul (G-C)
Brazza’s Martin
Black-and-rufous Swallow (Z)
Black-tailed Cisticola | Slender-tailed Cisticola (Z)
Southern Hyliota
Sharp-tailed Starling (Z)
Forest Scrub Robin (G-C ESS reichenowi)
White-headed Robin-Chat
Bocage’s Akalat (ESS bocagei)
Oustalet’s Sunbird | Angola White-bellied Sunbird (Z ESS oustaleti)
Golden-backed Bishop
Grey Waxbill | Black-tailed Waxbill
Dusky Twinspot (ESS cinereovinacea)
Black-faced Canary (Z ESS hildegardae)
Birds occurring in only two territories of the ABC region but not NE or BT (1/2), including ESS
Hartlaub’s Spurfowl
RĆ¼ppell’s Korhaan | RĆ¼ppell’s Bustard
Violet Wood Hoopoe
Monteiro’s Hornbill
RĆ¼ppell’s Parrot
White-tailed Shrike | Ground Batis
Carp’s Tit
Gray’s Lark
Benguela Long-billed Lark
Rockrunner (ESS spadix)
Bare-cheeked Babbler (ESS gymnogenys)
Herero Chat
Birds best found in two territories but occurring in more (B2), including more Z and ESS
Finsch’s Francolin
Bradfield’s Swift
Damara Red-billed Hornbill | Damara Hornbill
Miombo Pied Barbet | Miombo Barbet (Z)
Margaret’s Batis | Boulton’s Batis (Z ESS margaritae)
Rufous-bellied Tit (Z)
Angola Lark (Z ESS angolensis)
Black-collared Bulbul
Red-throated Cliff Swallow | Red-throated Swallow (Z)
Black-necked Eremomela | Black-collared Eremomela (Z)
Short-toed Rock Thrush
Bannerman’s Sunbird (Z)
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver (Z)
Black-chinned Weaver
Bocage’s Weaver (Z)
Bar-winged Weaver (Z)
Red-headed Bluebill
Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah (Z)
FĆ¼lleborn’s Longclaw (Z)
More Zambezian endemics or near-endemics occurring in Angola, including ESS
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Pale-billed Hornbill
Racket-tailed Roller
Dickinson’s Kestrel
Souza’s Shrike
White-tailed Blue Flycatcher
Miombo Tit | Miombo Grey Tit
Red-capped Crombec (ESS makayii)
Luapula Cisticola
Chirping Cisticola (ESS pipiens)
Dambo Cisticola | Cloud-scraping Cisticola
Miombo Wren-Warbler | Pale Wren-Warbler (ESS huilae)
Stierling’s Wren-Warbler
Hartlaub’s Babbler
Babbling Starling | White-winged Starling (ESS gutturalis)
Kurrichane Thrush
Miombo Scrub Robin
Bƶhm’s Flycatcher
Miombo Rock Thrush
Arnot’s Chat | White-headed Black Chat (ESS harterti)
Anchieta’s Sunbird | Red-and-blue Sunbird
Western Miombo Sunbird
White-bellied Sunbird | White-breasted Sunbird
Red-throated Twinspot | Peters’s Twinspot
Brown Firefinch
Black-eared Seedeater
More Guineo-Congolian endemics or near-endemics occurring in Angola, including ESS
Hartlaub’s Duck
Great Blue Turaco
Guinea Turaco (zenkeri)
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo
Afep Pigeon
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon | Bronze-naped Pigeon
White-spotted Flufftail
Spot-breasted Ibis
Congo Serpent Eagle
Long-tailed Hawk
Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk
Red-thighed Sparrowhawk
Fraser’s Eagle-Owl (poensis)
Akun Eagle-Owl
Vermiculated Fishing Owl
Congo Pied Hornbill
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill (subquadratus)
Black-casqued Hornbill
Eastern Long-tailed Hornbill
Blue-throated Roller (neglectus)
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher
African Dwarf Kingfisher (lecontei)
White-bellied Kingfisher (leucogaster)
Black Bee-eater (australis)
Bristle-nosed Barbet
Naked-faced Barbet (congicus)
Speckled Tinkerbird (flavisquamatus)
Red-rumped Tinkerbird
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird (flavimentum)
Cassin’s Honeybird (insignis)
Least Honeyguide (exilis)
African Piculet
Buff-spotted Woodpecker (nivosus)
Brown-eared Woodpecker (caroli)
Little Green Woodpecker (permista)
Yellow-crested Woodpecker | Golden-crowned Woodpecker
Elliot’s Woodpecker (elliotii)
Chestnut Wattle-eye
Black-necked Wattle-eye
Many-colored Bushshrike (batesi)
Bocage’s Bushshrike | Gray-green Bushshrike (bocagei)
Sabine’s Puffback (melanoleucus)
Red-eyed Puffback
Lowland Sooty Boubou
Petit’s Cuckooshrike
Western Oriole | Western Black-headed Oriole (laetior)
Black-winged Oriole
Velvet-mantled Drongo (coracinus)
Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher (nitens)
Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher | Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher (neumanni)
Bates’s Paradise Flycatcher (bannermani)
Slender-billed Greenbul (gracilirostris)
Red-tailed Bristlebill (syndactylus)
Swamp Palm Bulbul | Swamp Greenbul
Simple Greenbul
Honeyguide Greenbul (indicator)
Red-tailed Greenbul (emini)
Yellow-whiskered Greenbul (latirostris)
Plain Greenbul (curvirostris)
Little Grey Greenbul | Gray Greenbul (gracilis)
White-bibbed Swallow | White-throated Blue Swallow
Yellow Longbill (flavicans)
Grey Longbill
Green Crombec (baraka/tando)
Lemon-bellied Crombec (denti)
Green Hylia (prasina)
Tit Hylia (denti)
White-chinned Prinia (leucopogon)
Lowland Masked Apalis | Masked Apalis
Black-throated Apalis (jacksoni)
Buff-throated Apalis (nigrescens)
Gosling’s Apalis
Yellow-browed Camaroptera
Rufous-crowned Eremomela
Brown Illadopsis (ugandae/ESS dilutior)
Scaly-breasted Illadopsis
Chestnut-winged Starling (intermedius)
Narrow-tailed Starling
Fraser’s Rufous Thrush | Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush (rubicunda)
White-tailed Ant Thrush (praepectoralis/ESS pallidigularis)
Fire-crested Alethe (castanea)
White-browed Forest Flycatcher (ruthae)
Fraser’s Forest Flycatcher | African Forest Flycatcher (ocreata)
Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher (griseigularis)
Dusky-blue Flycatcher (comitatus)
Sooty Flycatcher (fuliginosus)
Cassin’s Flycatcher
Fraser’s Sunbird (cameroonensis)
Violet-tailed Sunbird
Little Green Sunbird (minor)
Grey-chinned Sunbird
Reichenbach’s Sunbird
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird (octaviae)
Carmelite Sunbird (fuliginosa)
Green-throated Sunbird (rubescens)
Superb Sunbird (superbus)
Bates’s Sunbird
Vieillot’s Black Weaver
Yellow-mantled Weaver
Blue-billed Malimbe
Red-headed Malimbe (ESS praedi)
Crested Malimbe
Woodhouse’s Antpecker (ansorgei)
White-breasted Nigrita (fusconotus)
Chestnut-breasted Nigrita (brunnescens)
Pale-fronted Nigrita (luteifrons)
Black-bellied Seedcracker
Proposed new species or splits not yet accepted by IOC
Chestnut-breasted Francolin (B2 Z)
Crawshay’s Francolin
Cunene Francolin (1/2)
Cranch’s Spurfowl
Black-shouldered Nightjar
Benguela Nightjar (E)
Loanda Swift
Verreaux’s Turaco
Western Black-billed Turaco
Barrow’s Bustard
Cape Gull
Ngami Owlet
Eastern Piping Hornbill
Pale-throated Barbet | Angola Naked-faced Barbet (E)
Eastern Yellow-spotted Barbet
Streaky-throated Barbet
White-bellied Barbet | Angola White-headed Barbet (E)
Brown-faced Barbet (BT)
White-faced Barbet (B2 Z)
Thick-billed Honeyguide
Northern Olive Woodpecker | Red-bellied Woodpecker
Grey-headed Parrot
West African Pitta (B2)
Perrin’s Bushshrike (BT)
Anchieta’s Tchagra
Clancey’s Drongo
Bradfield’s Lark
Petit’s Saw-wing
Eastern Saw-wing
African Reed Warbler
Lepe Cisticola (1/2)
Angola Stout Cisticola (NE)
Angola Buff-throated Apalis (E)
Salvadori’s Eremomela (BT Z)
Benguela Long-tailed Starling (E)
Cunene Long-tailed Starling (NE)
Red-backed Mannikin
Spectacled Quailfinch | African Quailfinch
Black-chinned Quailfinch
Landana Firefinch | Pale-billed Firefinch (NE)
Ansorge’s Firefinch (NE)
Benguela Seedeater (NE)
Three-streaked Bunting
Other taxa of interest (see also under Birding Sites), including more ESS
White-backed Duck
African Pygmy Goose
Blue-billed Teal
African Black Duck
Yellow-billed Duck
Red-billed Teal
Southern Pochard
Helmeted Guineafowl (galeatus/marungensis)
Western Crested Guineafowl (verreauxi)
Coqui Francolin (coqui)
Scaly Spurfowl (squamatus)
Red-necked Spurfowl (afer)
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (damarensis)
Fiery-necked Nightjar (shelleyi)
Square-tailed Nightjar (welwitschii)
Pennant-winged Nightjar
African Black Swift (roehli)
Horus Swift (horus)
Grey Go-away-bird (pallidiceps)
Ross’s Turaco
Schalow’s Turaco (schalowi)
Black-bellied Bustard (melanogaster)
Blue-headed Coucal (occidentalis)
White-browed Coucal (loandae)
Black Coucal
Blue Malkoha | Chattering Yellowbill (aereus)
Thick-billed Cuckoo (validus)
African Emerald Cuckoo
Ring-necked Dove (tropica)
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove
Blue-spotted Wood Dove
African Green Pigeon (calvus/ESS ansorgei/schalowi)
African Finfoot (petersii)
Chestnut-headed Flufftail (lynesi)
African Rail | African Water Rail
Lesser Moorhen
Spotted Thick-knee (capensis)
Water Thick-knee
Blacksmith Lapwing
Crowned Lapwing
African Wattled Lapwing
Lesser Jacana
African Snipe (angolensis)
Temminck’s Courser (ruvanensis)
Bronze-winged Courser
Rufous-bellied Heron
Pink-backed Pelican
Western Banded Snake Eagle
Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle
Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle
African Goshawk (sparsimfasciatus)
African Marsh Harrier
Red-necked Buzzard
African Grass Owl
Pearl-spotted Owlet (diurnum/licua)
African Scops Owl
Southern White-faced Owl
Marsh Owl
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl
Speckled Mousebird (nigricollis/congicus)
Red-faced Mousebird (lacteifrons)
Narina Trogon (narina)
Black Scimitarbill (anchietae)
Common Scimitarbill (cyanomelas)
Green Wood Hoopoe (angolensis)
Crowned Hornbill
Trumpeter Hornbill
Purple Roller | Rufous-crowned Roller (mosambicus)
Lilac-breasted Roller (caudatus)
Broad-billed Roller (suahelicus)
Grey-headed Kingfisher (pallidiventris)
Brown-hooded Kingfisher (prentissgrayi)
Striped Kingfisher (chelicuti)
Blue-breasted Kingfisher (malimbica)
Woodland Kingfisher (cyanoleuca)
African Pygmy Kingfisher (ferrugina/natalensis)
Shining-blue Kingfisher (guentheri)
Half-collared Kingfisher
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (furcatus)
Little Bee-eater (meridionalis)
Blue-breasted Bee-eater (variegatus/bangweoloensis)
White-fronted Bee-eater
Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Grey-throated Barbet (bonapartei)
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (leucolaimus)
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird (extoni)
Black-collared Barbet (congicus/bocagei)
Double-toothed Barbet (bidentatus)
Crested Barbet (suahelicus)
Pallid Honeyguide (angolensis)
Lesser Honeyguide (teitensis)
Scaly-throated Honeyguide
Red-throated Wryneck | Rufous-necked Wryneck (ruficollis)
Bennett’s Woodpecker (bennettii)
Golden-tailed Woodpecker (abingoni)
Little Spotted Woodpecker | Green-backed Woodpecker (nyansae)
Bearded Woodpecker (namaquus)
Cardinal Woodpecker (sharpii/loandae)
African Grey Woodpecker (meridionalis)
Rock Kestrel
Grey Kestrel
Lanner Falcon (biarmicus)
Red-fronted Parrot (gulielmi)
Red-headed Lovebird (pullarius)
African Broadbill (albigularis)
Chinspot Batis (pintoi/palliditergum)
Western Black-headed Batis | von Erlanger’s Batis (congoensis)
Black-throated Wattle-eye (mentalis)
Grey-headed Bushshrike (interpositus)
Orange-breasted Bushshrike | Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike (similis)
Brown-crowned Tchagra (ESS ansorgei/souzae)
Black-crowned Tchagra (armenus)
Black-backed Puffback (hamatus/okavangensis)
Tropical Boubou (major)
Brubru (brubru/affinis)
White-crested Helmetshrike | White Helmetshrike (poliocephalus)
Retz’s Helmetshrike (nigricans)
African Shrike-flycatcher (aequatorialis)
Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher (musicus)
White-breasted Cuckooshrike
Black Cuckooshrike
Purple-throated Cuckooshrike (quiscalina)
Black-headed Oriole | African Black-headed Oriole (angolensis)
African Golden Oriole (notatus)
Square-tailed Drongo (saturnus)
Sharpe’s Drongo (sharpei)
African Paradise Flycatcher (speciosa/plumbeiceps)
Northern Fiscal (capelli)
Cape Crow (capensis)
Pied Crow
African Blue Flycatcher (teresita)
White-winged Black Tit (insignis)
Grey Penduline Tit | African Penduline Tit (ansorgei)
Western Nicator
Spike-heeled Lark (ESS obscurata)
Dusky Lark
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (damarensis)
Flappet Lark (fischeri/schoutedeni)
Red-capped Lark (saturiator)
Yellow-bellied Greenbul (occidentalis)
Little Greenbul (virens)
Leaf-love (orientalis)
Dark-capped Bulbul (tricolor)
Banded Martin (parvula/xerica/cincta)
Brown-throated Martin (paludicola)
Grey-rumped Swallow (griseopyga)
Pearl-breasted Swallow (marwitzi)
White-throated Swallow
Wire-tailed Swallow (smithii)
Angola Swallow
Red-breasted Swallow | Rufous-chested Swallow (gordoni/semirufa)
Mosque Swallow (monteiri)
Lesser Striped Swallow (unitatis/ampliformis)
Greater Striped Swallow
South African Cliff Swallow | South African Swallow
Moustached Grass Warbler (mentalis)
Greater Swamp Warbler (ansorgei)
Lesser Swamp Warbler (winterbottomi/cunenensis)
African Yellow Warbler (major)
Fan-tailed Grassbird (alexinae)
Little Rush Warbler (ESS benguellensis)
Whistling Cisticola (modestus)
Chattering Cisticola
Rattling Cisticola (fortis)
Levaillant’s Cisticola (perpullus)
Croaking Cisticola (katanga)
Short-winged Cisticola | Siffling Cisticola (loanda)
Neddicky | Piping Cisticola (dispar)
Zitting Cisticola (terrestris)
Cloud Cisticola (ESS bulubulu)
Pale-crowned Cisticola (cinnamomeus)
Tawny-flanked Prinia (graueri)
Yellow-breasted Apalis (flavida)
Brown-headed Apalis (alticola)
Grey-backed Camaroptera (tincta/intercalata)
Green-capped Eremomela | Greencap Eremomela (congensis/pulchra)
Southern Yellow White-eye (anderssoni)
Arrow-marked Babbler (hyposticta/tamalakanei)
Yellow-bellied Hyliota (barbozae)
African Spotted Creeper (salvadori)
Wattled Starling
Cape Starling
Splendid Starling (splendidus/bailundensis)
Violet-backed Starling (verreauxi)
Groundscraper Thrush (pauciguttatus/stierlingi)
White-browed Scrub-Robin | Red-backed Scrub Robin (munda)
Pale Flycatcher (murinus)
Grey Tit-Flycatcher (catoleuca)
Ashy Flycatcher (brevicauda/impavida)
Southern Black Flycatcher (poliogynus)
African Dusky Flycatcher (subadusta)
White-browed Robin-Chat (subrufescens/heuglini)
Red-capped Robin-Chat (larischi/intensa)
African Stonechat (salax/stonei)
Sooty Chat
Capped Wheatear
Familiar Chat (angolensis)
Western Violet-backed Sunbird (angolensis)
Collared Sunbird (somereni)
Green-headed Sunbird (bohndorffi)
Amethyst Sunbird (deminuta)
Scarlet-chested Sunbird (saturatior)
Olive-bellied Sunbird (chloropygius/orphogaster)
Purple-banded Sunbird (bifasciatus)
Variable Sunbird (falkensteini)
Copper Sunbird (chalceus)
Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow (rufitergum)
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow (ugandae)
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow (diffusus)
Thick-billed Weaver (tandae)
Spectacled Weaver (crocatus)
Holub’s Golden Weaver
Village Weaver (collaris/nigriceps)
Compact Weaver
Dark-backed Weaver | Forest Weaver (amaurocephalus)
Red-headed Weaver (leuconotos)
Red-headed Quelea
Red-billed Quelea (lathamii)
Black-winged Red Bishop
Fan-tailed Widowbird (bocagei)
Yellow-mantled Widowbird (macroura)
White-winged Widowbird (asymmetrurus)
Red-collared Widowbird
Long-tailed Widowbird (delacouri)
Bronze Mannikin (scutata)
Black-and-white Mannikin (poensis)
Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Fawn-breasted Waxbill (benguellensis)
Common Waxbill (ESS angolensis + jagoensis)
Locust Finch
Orange-breasted Waxbill | Zebra Waxbill (clarkei)
Blue Waxbill | Southern Cordon-bleu (angolensis)
Green-winged Pytilia (melba)
Orange-winged Pytilia
Red-billed Firefinch (ruberrima)
African Firefinch (congica)
Village Indigobird (okavangoensis)
Dusky Indigobird | Variable Indigobird (nigerrima)
Pin-tailed Whydah
Long-tailed Paradise Whydah | Eastern Paradise Whydah
Cuckoo-finch | Parasitic Weaver
Cape Wagtail (simplicissima)
Mountain Wagtail (torrentium)
African Pied Wagtail (vidua)
Rosy-throated Longclaw (altanus)
African Pipit (lichenya/bocagii)
Wood Pipit | Woodland Pipit (schoutedeni)
Buffy Pipit (neumanni)
Plain-backed Pipit (bohndorffi/tephridorsus)
Bushveld Pipit | Bush Pipit (mzimbaensis)
Black-throated Canary (lwenarum/semideserti)
Yellow-fronted Canary (tando/samaliyae/vansoni)
Brimstone Canary (sharpii)
Golden-breasted Bunting (kalaharica/flaviventris)
National bird
Red-crested Turaco | Turaco de Angola
MAIN HABITATS
Escarpment forest, Afromontane forest and grassland, lowland forest, gallery forest, miombo woodland, desert
BIRD AREAS
Western Angola Endemic Bird Area
Gabon Cabinda coast Secondary Area (SA)
Namibian escarpment SA
West ZaĆÆre and North Angola forests SA
23 Important Bird Areas
BIRDING SITES
Luanda (Mussulo Peninsula, IlhƩu dos PƔssaros Integral Nature Reserve, Saco dos Flamingos and Cuanza River Mouth) for waterbirds including Cape Teal, Greater Flamingo and Lesser Flamingo, White-fronted Plover (mechowi) among other waders/shorebirds, Damara Tern, Caspian Tern and West African Crested Tern, as well as Palm-nut Vulture, Desert Cisticola (ESS lobito), Mangrove Sunbird, Slender-billed Weaver, Orange Weaver, Yellow-throated Longclaw and Long-legged Pipit
QuiƧama National Park (NP) for Grey-striped Spurfowl, Red-crested Turaco, Red-backed Mousebird, White-fronted Wattle-eye, Monteiro’s Bushshrike (ESS monteiri), Gabela Helmetshrike and Hartert’s Camaroptera, Violet Wood Hoopoe, RĆ¼ppell’s Parrot (rueppellii), Rosy-faced Lovebird (ESS catumbella), Angola Batis, Carp’s Tit, Pale-olive Greenbul, Bubbling Cisticola (septentrionalis), Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush and Golden-backed Bishop, as well as Mottled Spinetail (benguellensis), Bƶhm’s Spinetail (boehmi), Senegal Coucal (senegalensis), Senegal Lapwing, Saddle-billed Stork, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (elegans), Olive Bee-eater (alternans), Acacia Pied Barbet (centralis), Swamp Boubou (guttatus), Southern White-crowned Shrike (anguitimens), Long-billed Crombec (ESS ansorgei), Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (niger), Lesser Masked Weaver (cabanisii), Yellow-crowned Bishop (afer), Southern Red Bishop and Red-headed Finch (erythrocephala)
Cuanza River Floodplain for waterbirds including Long-toed Lapwing and African Openbill, and further upstream for White-crowned Lapwing, Egyptian Plover and Rock Pratincole (nuchalis)
Tombingo Forest for lowland forest species including Guineo-Congolian endemics
Damengola Forest and Quibaxe for Braun’s Bushshrike and Angola Greenbul, more Guineo-Congolian endemics including Gabon Coucal, Brown-necked Parrot (fuscicollis), Brown-throated Wattle-eye (cyanea), Black-collared Bulbul, Banded Prinia (ESS heinrichi), Brown-backed Scrub Robin, Orange-tufted Sunbird, White-collared Oliveback and Brown Twinspot
Kinjila for White-headed Robin-Chat, Anchieta’s Barbet, Buff-throated Apalis (ESS angolensis) and Sharp-tailed Starling (acuticaudus), as well as Meyer’s Parrot (ESS reichenowi), Cabanis’s Greenbul (cabanisi), Red-faced Cisticola (lepe), Grey-winged Robin-Chat (polioptera) and Green Twinspot (schlegeli)
Black Rocks at Pungo Andongo for Grey-striped Spurfowl, Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird and Angola Waxbill, as well as Red-throated Rock Martin (rufigula) and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (tahapisi)
Cangandala NP and Luando Integral Nature Reserve for miombo woodland species
Cumbira Forest for Grey-striped Spurfowl, Red-crested Turaco, Naked-faced Barbet (ESS vernayi), Monteiro’s Bushshrike (ESS monteiri), Gabela Bushshrike, Gabela Helmetshrike, Pulitzer’s Longbill, Buff-throated Apalis (ESS brauni), Hartert’s Camaroptera and Gabela Akalat, Gabon Coucal, Angola Batis, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye (ESS ansorgei), Gorgeous Bushshrike (viridis), Dusky Tit (ESS gabela), Yellow-throated Nicator, Pale-throated Greenbul (flavigula), Falkenstein’s Greenbul, Pale-olive Greenbul, Brown Illadopsis (ESS dilutior), Southern Hyliota (inornata), Forest Scrub Robin (ESS reichenowi), Brown-chested Alethe (ESS hallae) and Red-headed Bluebill, as well as Lemon Dove (samaliyae), Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet, Pink-footed Puffback (angolensis), Mackinnon’s Shrike, Olive Sunbird (cephaelis), Black-necked Weaver (nigricollis), Brown-capped Weaver, Black Bishop (gierowii), Grey-headed Nigrita (angolensis) and Red-faced Crimsonwing (reichenovii)
Mount Moco and Namba Mountains for Swierstra’s Spurfowl, Montane Nightjar (ESS koesteri), Red-backed Mousebird, Naked-faced Barbet (ESS vernayi), Huambo Cisticola, Angola Slaty Flycatcher (ESS bailunduensis), Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird and Angola Waxbill, Afromontane species including Red-winged Francolin (kikuyuensis), Scarce Swift (myoptilus), African Olive Pigeon, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Bar-tailed Trogon, Western Tinkerbird (ESS angolensis), Olive Woodpecker (ruwenzori), Evergreen Forest Warbler (ESS boultoni), Grey Apalis (ESS grandis), African Hill Babbler (ansorgei), Orange Ground Thrush (otomitra), Bocage’s Akalat (ESS bocagei), Bronze Sunbird (ESS gadowi), Thick-billed Seedeater (tanganjicae) and Yellow-crowned Canary (ESS huillensis), as well as Finsch’s Francolin, Fernando Po Swift, White-bellied Bustard (mackenziei), Lemon Dove, Black-backed Barbet (minor), Green-backed Honeybird (ESS lathburyi), Margaret’s Batis (ESS margaritae), Gorgeous Bushshrike (viridis), White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Angola Lark (ESS angolensis), Black-collared Bulbul, Pale-throated Greenbul, Black Saw-wing (reichenowi), Red-throated Rock Martin, Black-and-rufous Swallow, Laura’s Woodland Warbler (ESS laurae), Red-faced Cisticola (lepe), Wailing Cisticola (ESS namba), Stout Cisticola (angolensis), Croaking Cisticola (huambo), Wing-snapping Cisticola (ayresii), Miombo Wren-Warbler (ESS huilae), African Thrush (bocagei), Angola Cave Chat, Miombo Rock Thrush (angolensis), Mountain Chat (ESS nigricauda), Bocage’s Sunbird, Oustalet’s Sunbird (ESS oustaleti), Black-chinned Weaver, Yellow Bishop (ESS angolensis), Dusky Twinspot (ESS cinereovinacea), FĆ¼lleborn’s Longclaw, Long-billed Pipit (ESS moco), Striped Pipit and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Cassongue area for Brazza’s Martin and Black-faced Canary (ESS hildegardae) as well as Chirping Cisticola (ESS pipiens), Hartlaub’s Babbler and Marsh Widowbird (hartlaubi)
Tundavala Escarpment for Swierstra’s Spurfowl, White-headed Barbet (ESS leucogaster), Red-backed Mousebird, Angola Slaty Flycatcher, Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird and Angola Waxbill, Rockrunner (ESS spadix) and Angola Cave Chat, as well as Finsch’s Francolin, Freckled Nightjar (lentiginosus), Alpine Swift (africanus), Bradfield’s Swift (bradfieldi), African Olive Pigeon, Black Stork, Booted Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Western Tinkerbird, Olive Woodpecker, Rock Kestrel, Lanner Falcon, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Rufous-naped Lark (ESS occidentalis), Black Saw-wing, Large Rock Martin (anderssoni), Tinkling Cisticola (ansorgei), Wailing Cisticola, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Grey Apalis, Bocage’s Akalat, Short-toed Rock Thrush (brevipes), Oustalet’s Sunbird, Jameson’s Firefinch (ansorgei), Striped Pipit, Yellow-crowned Canary, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting and Cape Bunting (ESS nebularum)
Benguela (BĆŗfalo Partial Reserve and Chimalavera Regional Nature Park) and Namibe (Iona NP and Namibe Partial Reserve) for Meves’s Starling (ESS benguelensis) and Cinderella Waxbill, Orange River Francolin (jugularis), Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, RĆ¼ppell’s Korhaan (rueppelii), RĆ¼ppell’s Parrot (mariettae), Rosy-faced Lovebird (ESS catumbella), Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Monteiro’s Hornbill, White-tailed Shrike, Carp’s Tit, Gray’s Lark (hoeschi), Benguela Long-billed Lark, Rockrunner (pycnopygius), Bare-cheeked Babbler (ESS gymnogenys) and Herero Chat, other desert and arid savanna taxa including Common Ostrich, Horus Swift (ESS fuscobrunneus), Ludwig’s Bustard, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Speckled Pigeon (phaeonota), Ring-necked Dove (onguati), Spotted Thick-knee (damarensis), Burchell’s Courser, Double-banded Courser (ESS bisignatus), Secretarybird, Pale Chanting Goshawk (argentior), Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (elegans), Little Bee-eater (argutus), Olive Bee-eater (alternans), Acacia Pied Barbet, Greater Kestrel (rupicoloides), Pririt Batis (affinis), Bokmakierie (phanus), Brown-crowned Tchagra (damarensis), Southern Fiscal (aridicolus), Ashy Tit (benguelae), Cape Penduline Tit (damarensis), Sabota Lark (ESS ansorgei/naevia), Fawn-colored Lark (makarikari), Stark’s Lark, Red-capped Lark (spleniata), African Red-eyed Bulbul, Long-billed Crombec (ESS ansorgei), Grey-backed Cisticola (newtoni), Black-chested Prinia (ansorgei), Barred Wren-Warbler (ESS pallidior), Yellow-bellied Eremomela (ESS puellula), Chestnut-vented Warbler (ESS ansorgei), Pale-winged Starling, Kalahari Scrub Robin (ESS benguellensis), Chat Flycatcher (benguellensis), Karoo Chat (benguellensis), Tractrac Chat (hoeschi), Mountain Chat (ESS albipileata), Dusky Sunbird (ESS inclusus), Cape Sparrow (damarensis), Great Sparrow (benguellensis), White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (ansorgei), Scaly-feathered Weaver (squamifrons), Lesser Masked Weaver (ESS beattyi), Southern Masked Weaver (ESS finschi), Chestnut Weaver (trothae), Red-headed Finch, Red-billed Firefinch (rendalli), Purple Indigobird, Nicholson’s Pipit (palliditinctus), Black-throated Canary (deserti), Yellow Canary (damarensis), White-throated Canary (crocopygia), Lark-like Bunting, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (nivenorum) and Golden-breasted Bunting (princeps), as well as African Oystercatcher, White-fronted Plover (marginatus) and Chestnut-banded Plover, and seabirds including Kelp Gull (vetula), Cape Gannet and Cape Cormorant, along the coast and within the marine conservation area
HuĆla (Bicuar NP) and Cunene (Mupa NP) for Violet Wood Hoopoe, White-tailed Shrike, Babbling Starling (ESS gutturalis) and Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver as well as Red-billed Spurfowl, Fiery-necked Nightjar (fervidus), Grey Go-away-bird (bechuanae), Kori Bustard (kori), Red-crested Korhaan, Double-banded Sandgrouse (ESS ansorgei), Mourning Collared Dove (ambigua), Southern Ground Hornbill, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (elegans), African Grey Hornbill (epirhinus), Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (hirundineus), Acacia Pied Barbet, Crested Barbet (vaillantii), Lesser Honeyguide (damarensis), Bennett’s Woodpecker (capricorni), Golden-tailed Woodpecker (anderssoni), Brown-necked Parrot (suahelicus), Meyer’s Parrot (damarensis), Rosy-faced Lovebird, Grey-headed Bushshrike (citrinipectus), Crimson-breasted Shrike, Southern White-crowned Shrike, Magpie Shrike (melanoleucus), Retz’s Helmetshrike (retzii), Grey Penduline Tit (caroli), Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark (hoeschi), Pink-billed Lark (damarensis), Rufous-naped Lark (pallida), Flappet Lark (mababiensis), Red-capped Lark (fulvida), Long-billed Crombec (flecki), Grey-backed Camaroptera (sharpei), Neddicky (hallae), Desert Cisticola (eremicus), Tawny-flanked Prinia (bechuanae), Black-chested Prinia (bihe), Burnt-necked Eremomela (usticollis), Southern Pied Babbler, Black-faced Babbler (melanops), Greater Blue-eared Starling (nordmanni), Meves’s Starling (violacior), Burchell’s Starling, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, White-browed Scrub Robin (ovamboensis), Southern Black Flycatcher (diabolicus), Marico Flycatcher (acaciae), Marico Sunbird (mariquensis), White-bellied Sunbird, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Scaly-feathered Weaver, Southern Masked Weaver (caurinus), Red-headed Weaver (rubriceps), Southern Red Bishop, Black-faced Waxbill (erythronotos), Violet-eared Waxbill, Blue Waxbill (cyanopleurus), Cut-throat Finch (meridionalis) and Shaft-tailed Whydah
Cuando Cabango (Luengue-Luiana and Mavinga NPs) for Helmeted Guineafowl (papillosus), Southern Crested Guineafowl (edouardi), Crested Francolin (zambesiae), Swainson’s Spurfowl, Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (rufigena), Senegal Coucal (flecki), Yellow-throated Sandgrouse (saturatior), Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Grey Crowned Crane (regulorum), Wattled Crane, Long-toed Lapwing, Three-banded Courser (seebohmi), Rock Pratincole, African Skimmer, White-backed Night Heron, Slaty Egret, African Goshawk (tachiro), Pel’s Fishing Owl, Red-faced Mousebird (mossambicus), Southern Ground Hornbill, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (leucomelas), Bradfield’s Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Pygmy Falcon (semitorquatus), Brown-hooded Kingfisher (orientalis), Brown-crowned Tchagra (ESS bocagei/rhodesiensis), Black-crowned Tchagra (kalahari), Swamp Boubou (sticturus), Southern Fiscal (subcoronatus), Southern Black Tit (xanthostomus), Fawn-colored Lark (trapnelli), Plains Lark (ESS irwini), Terrestrial Brownbul, Little Rush Warbler (msiri), Rattling Cisticola (smithersi), Tinkling Cisticola (rufilatus), Luapula Cisticola, Chirping Cisticola (arundicola), Stierling’s Wren-Warbler (stierlingi), Yellow-bellied Eremomela (helenorae), Black-faced Babbler (querula), Meves’s Starling (mevesii), Sharp-tailed Starling (ecki), Red-billed Oxpecker, Bearded Scrub Robin (quadrivirgata), Collared Sunbird (zambesiana), Thick-billed Weaver (maxima), Southern Brown-throated Weaver (castaneigula), Yellow-crowned Bishop (taha), Common Waxbill (niediecki), Jameson’s Firefinch (jamesoni), Wood Pipit (chersophilus) and Buffy Pipit (chobiensis)
Moxico (Cameia NP) for White-throated Francolin (dewittei), Wattled Crane, Forbes’s Plover, Margaret’s Batis (kathleenae), Grey-olive Greenbul (schoutedeni), Angola Lark (antonii), Chirping Cisticola (congo), Cloud Cisticola (anselli), Dambo Cisticola (dambo), Southern Hyliota (inornata), Congo Moor Chat and Grimwood’s Longclaw as well as Bƶhm’s Spinetail, Grey Go-away-bird (molybdophanes), Southern Ground Hornbill, Meyer’s Parrot (matschiei), Black-fronted Bushshrike (manningi), Brubru (nigritemporalis), Rufous-naped Lark (gomesi), Desert Cisticola (traylori), Tawny-flanked Prinia (kasokae), Yellow-breasted Apalis (neglecta), African Thrush (stormsi), Familiar Chat (modesta), Collared Sunbird (garguensis), Purple-banded Sunbird (microrhynchus) and Black-and-white Mannikin (woltersi)
Lunda Sul (Cacolo) for Plains Lark (kabalii) and Black-tailed Cisticola as well as White-headed Saw-wing (ESS suffusa)
Lunda Norte (Lake Carumbo, Luachimo and Luembe River Valleys) for a mix of Guineo-Congolian and Zambezian endemics as well as floodplain grassland species including Swamp Nightjar, Denham’s Bustard (jacksoni), Brazza’s Martin, Dambo Cisticola, Congo Moor Chat, Black-chinned Weaver, widowbirds, Quailfinch (fuscata), Grimwood’s Longclaw and Short-tailed Pipit (leggei), also Spotted Thrush-Babbler (upembae), Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat (niveicapilla) and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu (katangae)
Cabinda (Maiombe NP and Chiloango River Mouth) for Loango Weaver and Guineo-Congolian endemics including Black Guineafowl, Plumed Guineafowl, Latham’s Francolin (lathami), Sabine’s Spinetail, Cassin’s Spinetail, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Blue-headed Wood Dove (brehmeri), Grey-throated Rail, Nkulengu Rail, White-crested Tiger Heron, Red-chested Owlet, Sjƶstedt’s Barred Owlet, White-thighed Hornbill, Eastern Dwarf Hornbill, Black-headed Bee-eater, Rosy Bee-eater, Yellow-spotted Barbet (duchaillui), Spotted Honeyguide, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Gabon Woodpecker, Grey Parrot, Rufous-sided Broadbill (rufolateralis), West African Batis, White-spotted Wattle-eye, Fiery-breasted Bushshrike, LĆ¼hder’s Bushshrike, Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike (rufiventris), Blue Cuckooshrike, Shining Drongo, Grey-necked Rockfowl, Golden Greenbul, Yellow-lored Bristlebill, Spotted Greenbul, Sjƶstedt’s Greenbul, Eastern Bearded Greenbul, White-bearded Greenbul, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Xavier’s Greenbul, Icterine Greenbul, Common Bulbul, Square-tailed Saw-wing (nitens), Chestnut-capped Flycatcher (mccallii), Olive-green Camaroptera, Forest White-eye, Pale-breasted Illadopsis (rufipennis), Blackcap Illadopsis, Purple-headed Starling, Red-tailed Ant Thrush, Little Grey Flycatcher, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Forest Robin, Tiny Sunbird, Johanna’s Sunbird (johannae), Cassin’s Malimbe, Red-headed Malimbe (rubricollis) and Western Bluebill (pustulata), as well as Grey Pratincole, Red-chested Goshawk (toussenelii), Broad-billed Roller (afer), Northern Puffback (congicus), Swamp Boubou (bicolor), Sabota Lark (ESS plebeja), Black Saw-wing (petiti), Grey-rumped Swallow (melbina), Winding Cisticola (amphilectus), Croaking Cisticola (strangei), Short-winged Cisticola (brachypterus), Yellow-breasted Apalis (caniceps), Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Mangrove Sunbird, Green-headed Sunbird (cyanocephala), Copper Sunbird (cupreus), Black-headed Waxbill (avakubi) and Common Waxbill (rubriventris)
TIMING (AugāOct)
Best at the start of the rains (AugāOct) when most birds breed
Some places, including Cumbira Forest, may be inaccessible during the rains (NovāMar)
FebāMay is good for breeding plumaged Golden-backed Bishop and various Vidua species
JunāJul is unproductive in the highlands
RESOURCES
Apps
Birds of Africa (iOS or Android)
Field guides
The Special Birds of Angola/As Aves Especiais de Angola by Michael Mills (2017) is the first field guide dedicated to Angolan birds, with text in both English and Portuguese
Birds of Western Africa by Ron Demey & Nik Borrow (2014) is the best available field guide for the north of the country
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa by Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, Warwick Tarboton, Niall Perrins, Dominic Rollinson & Peter Ryan (2020) is useful for the south of the country and, together with the previous field guide, covers most non-endemic birds
Birds of Africa South of the Sahara by Ian Sinclair & Peter Ryan (2010) and Birds of Southern Africa by Ber van Perlo (2009) are currently the only field guides to illustrate all bird species occurring in Angola
Sounds
Vocalisations of Angolan Birds by Michael S L Mills is the only sound guide to Angolan birds and covers 110 species, including most of the endemics
African Bird Sounds Vol 2: West and Central Africa by Claude Chappuis
Southern African Bird Sounds by Guy Gibbon
Site guides
Birds Angola: Birding Sites by Michael Mills
Southern African Birdfinder by Callan Cohen, Claire Spottiswoode & Jonathan Rossouw (2006)
Birding Western Angola by Ian Sinclair, Claire Spottiswoode, Callan Cohen, Michael Mills, Rodney Cassidy, Pedro vaz Pinto & Peter Ryan (2004)
Further reading
The Avifauna of Angola: Richness, Endemism and Rarity by Richard Dean, Martim Melo & Michael Mills in Biodiversity of Angola Science & Conservation: a Modern Synthesis edited by Brian J Huntley, Vladimir Russo, Fernanda Lages & Nuno Ferrand (2019)
As Aves Comuns de Luanda/The Common Birds of Luanda by Martim Melo & Michael Mills (2015)
The Collection and Database of Birds of Angola Hosted at IICT (Instituto de InvestigaĆ§Ć£o CientĆfica Tropical), Lisboa, Portugal by Miguel Monteiro, LuĆs Reino, Pedro Beja, Michael Stuart Lyne Mills, Cristiane Bastos-Silveira, Manuela Ramos, Diana Rodrigues, Isabel QueirĆ³s Neves, Susana ConsciĆŖncia & Rui Figueira (2014)
The Checklist of the Birds of Angola 2013 Edition/A Lista das Aves de Angola EdiĆ§Ć£o 2013 by Michael Mills & Martim Melo (2013)
A Bibliography of Angolan Birds compiled by W R J Dean and M S L Mills (2012)
Angola by W R J Dean in Important Bird Areas in Africa and Associated Islands: Priority Sites for Conservation edited by Lincoln D C Fishpool & Michael I Evans (2001)
The Birds of Angola: an Annotated Checklist by W R J Dean (2000)
Ornitolgia de Angola Vol 1: Non-passeres by AntĆ³nio Augusto da Rosa Pinto (1983)
Articles in Bull. ABC, Malimbus, etc.
Websites
Birds Angola
Birding Angola
Blogs
Angola Field Group: Birds
Kumbira Forest Project: Saving Angola’s Endemic Birds
Facebook groups
Birding Angola is a group whose goal is to promote birdwatching in Angola
Angola Selvagem is a forum for anyone interested in the fantastic wildlife and natural environment of Angola
ORGANISATIONS
There is currently no BirdLife Partner in Angola
Bird or conservation organisations active in Angola include –
AssociaĆ§Ć£o Angolana para Aves e Natureza/Angolan Association for Birds and Nature
Wild Bird Trust
FundaĆ§Ć£o Kissama/Kissama Foundation
Mount Moco
EcoAngola
Bioconserv
AcĆ§Ć£o para o Desenvolvimento Rural e Ambiente (ADRA)/Action for Rural Development and Environment
Juventude EcolĆ³gica Angolana (JEA)
African Parks: Iona, Luengue-Luiana and Mavinga National Parks
Peace Parks Foundation: Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) and Liuwa Plains-Mussuma TFCA
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)