REGION
Horn of Africa
SIZE
1,104,300 km² (10th largest country in Africa)
BIRDS AND BIRDING
SPECIES
Diversity
Mostly Afrotropical avifauna, with a high degree of endemism
Approximately 860 recorded species (9th longest bird list of any country in the ABC region)
Endemics (E)
Blue-winged Goose (NT)
Moorland Francolin (NT)
Harwood’s Spurfowl (NT)
Nechisar Nightjar (VU)
Ruspoli’s Turaco (NT)
Spot-breasted Lapwing (LC)
Yellow-fronted Parrot (LC)
Stresemann’s Bushcrow | Ethiopian Bushcrow (EN)
White-tailed Swallow (VU)
Abyssinian Catbird (LC)
Red-billed Pytilia | Lineated Pytilia (LC)
Abyssinian Longclaw (NT)
Yellow-throated Seedeater | Yellow-throated Serin (EN)
Salvadori’s Seedeater | Salvadori’s Serin (NT)
Ankober Serin (VU)
Ethiopian Siskin | Black-headed Siskin (LC)
Near-endemics (NE)
Chestnut-naped Spurfowl
Erckel’s Spurfowl
White-cheeked Turaco
White-collared Pigeon
Rouget’s Rail
Wattled Ibis
Abyssinian Owl | Abyssinian Long-eared Owl
Black-billed Wood Hoopoe
Ethiopian Bee-eater
Banded Barbet
Abyssinian Woodpecker | Golden-backed Woodpecker
Black-winged Lovebird
Ethiopian Boubou
Ethiopian Oriole | Ethiopian Black-headed Oriole
Thick-billed Raven
White-backed Black Tit
Blanford’s Lark
Ethiopian Cisticola
Ethiopian White-eye | Heuglin’s White-eye
White-rumped Babbler
White-billed Starling
Ethiopian Thrush
Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher
White-winged Cliff Chat
Rüppell’s Black Chat | Rüppell’s Chat
Rusty-breasted Wheatear
Sombre Rock Chat
Swainson’s Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Seedeater | White-throated Seedeater
Brown-rumped Seedeater
Birds best found in Ethiopia but occurring more widely (BT), including endemic subspecies (ESS)
White-winged Collared Dove
Hemprich’s Hornbill
Yellow-breasted Barbet
Grey-headed Batis
Red-naped Bushshrike
Somali Fiscal
Somali Crow | Dwarf Raven
Fan-tailed Raven
Archer’s Lark | Liben Lark
Gillett’s Lark
Somali Short-toed Lark
Boran Cisticola (ESS kaffensis)
Abyssinian White-eye
Shelley’s Starling
White-crowned Starling
Abyssinian Ground Thrush
Little Rock Thrush
Moorland Chat | Alpine Chat (ESS sordida)
Blackstart
Abyssinian Wheatear
Nile Valley Sunbird
Abyssinian Sunbird | Shining Sunbird
Rüppell’s Weaver
Juba Weaver | Salvadori’s Weaver
Barka Indigobird | Baka Indigobird
Northern Grosbeak-Canary
Birds occurring in only two territories of the ABC region but not NE or BT (1/2), including ESS
Little Brown Bustard
White-winged Flufftail
Masked Lark (ESS personata)
Philippa’s Crombec | Short-billed Crombec
Kafa White-eye | Kaffa White-eye (ESS kaffensis)
Somali Wheatear
Birds best found in two territories but occurring in more (B2), including ESS
Somali Ostrich
Vulturine Guineafowl
Clapperton’s Spurfowl
Sombre Nightjar
Donaldson Smith’s Nightjar
Star-spotted Nightjar
Nyanza Swift
Hartlaub’s Bustard
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse
Black-winged Lapwing
Somali Courser
Cape Eagle-Owl
Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Somali Bee-eater
Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird
Black-billed Barbet
Eastern Grey Woodpecker | Mountain Gray Woodpecker | Grey-headed Woodpecker
Fox Kestrel
Pringle’s Puffback
Mouse-colored Penduline Tit
Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark
Thekla’s Lark (ESS harrarensis + huei)
Rufous-capped Lark
Somali Crombec
Ashy Cisticola
Tiny Cisticola
Foxy Cisticola
Pale Prinia
Brown-tailed Apalis
Grey Wren-Warbler
Yellow-vented Eremomela
Green-backed Eremomela
Rufous Chatterer
Scaly Chatterer
Bristle-crowned Starling
Magpie Starling
Gambaga Flycatcher
Rüppell’s Robin-Chat
Brown-tailed Rock Chat | Brown-tailed Chat
Black-capped Social Weaver
Shelley’s Sparrow | Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow | White Nile Sparrow
Abyssinian Crimsonwing
Black-cheeked Waxbill
Crimson-rumped Waxbill
African Citril | Abyssinian Citril
Stripe-breasted Seedeater
Proposed new species or splits not yet accepted by IOC
Archer’s Francolin (BT)
Black-fronted Spurfowl (NE)
Schuett’s Spurfowl
Abyssinian Nightjar
Brown-faced Go-away-bird (E)
Crimson-crested Turaco | Donaldson’s Turaco (E)
White-breasted Cormorant
Ethiopian Goshawk (NE)
Abyssinian Eagle-Owl (B2)
Central African Hoopoe
Grant’s Wood Hoopoe (1/2)
Lilac-throated Roller | Blue-breasted Roller (BT)
Barbary Falcon
Ethiopian Puffback (NE)
Glossy-backed Drongo
Arabian Grey Shrike
Foxy Lark | Abyssinian Lark (B2)
Sidamo Lark | Erard’s Lark (E)
Singing Bush Lark (BT)
Degodi Lark (1/2)
Erlanger’s Lark (E)
Short-crested Lark (NE)
Dodson’s Bulbul (B2)
Somali Bulbul (BT)
Dark-capped Bulbul
Blue Saw-wing (NE pristoptera/blanfordi)
Brown Saw-wing (E antinorii)
Ethiopian Saw-wing (NE oleaginea)
West African Swallow
Eastern Crombec | White-bellied Crombec
African Reed Warbler
Ethiopian Stout Cisticola (NE)
Bale Parisoma | Bale Warbler (E)
African Scrub Robin
White-winged Scrub Robin (B2)
Bafirawar’s Flycatcher | Wajir Flycatcher (1/2)
Ethiopian Grey Flycatcher (BT)
Ethiopian Stonechat (NE)
Emin’s Weaver (B2)
Reichenow’s Weaver
Yellow-shouldered Widowbird
Abyssinian Waxbill (NE)
Black-faced Quailfinch
Spectacled Quailfinch
Ethiopian Firefinch | Reddish Firefinch (NE)
Other taxa of interest (see also under Birding Sites), including more ESS
Common Ostrich (camelus)
Maccoa Duck
Stone Partridge
Egyptian Nightjar
Nubian Nightjar (torridus)
Swamp Nightjar
Scarce Swift
White-bellied Bustard (senegalensis)
Black Coucal
Green Malkoha
Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon | Delegorgue’s Pigeon
Ring-necked Dove (ESS electa)
African Finfoot
Red-chested Flufftail
African Crake
Baillon’s Crake
Great Crested Grebe (infuscatus)
Quail-plover
African Skimmer
Double-banded Courser (ESS raffertyi)
Bronze-winged Courser
Rock Pratincole
Dwarf Bittern
White-backed Night Heron
Shoebill
Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle
Bat Hawk
African Goshawk (ESS croizati)
Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (ESS perspicillaris)
Ovambo Sparrowhawk
African Marsh Harrier
African Grass Owl
Marsh Owl
Pel’s Fishing Owl
White-headed Mousebird
Jackson’s Hornbill
Broad-billed Roller (ESS aethiopicus)
Blue-breasted Kingfisher
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird (ESS xanthostictus)
Red-throated Wryneck (ESS aequatorialis)
Little-spotted Woodpecker | Green-backed Woodpecker (nyansae)
Meyer’s Parrot (meyeri/saturatus)
Red-headed Lovebird
Marsh Tchagra (minuta)
Brubru (afer + ESS hilgerti)
African Golden Oriole (auratus)
Piapiac
Red-billed Chough (ESS baileyi)
Brown-necked Raven
Friedmann’s Lark
White-tailed Lark
Collared Lark
Flappet Lark (ESS rufocinnamomea + omoensis)
Kidepo Lark
Red-winged Lark (ESS gallarum)
Crested Lark (altirostris/somaliensis)
Sombre Greenbul
Brown-throated Martin (ESS schoensis)
Red-chested Swallow (ESS rothschildi)
Brown Woodland Warbler (ESS omoensis)
Lesser Swamp Warbler (ESS tsanae)
Bamboo Warbler
Little Rush Warbler (ESS abyssinicus)
Red-faced Cisticola (niloticus)
Red-pate Cisticola (scotopterus)
Red-winged Prinia (ESS major)
Yellow-breasted Apalis (ESS abyssinica)
Grey-backed Camaroptera (ESS insulata)
Brown Parisoma | Brown Warbler (ESS lugens)
White-headed Babbler | Cretzschmar’s Babbler
Dusky Babbler
African Spotted Creeper (ESS erlangeri)
Fischer’s Starling
Stuhlmann’s Starling
Pale Flycatcher (duyerali)
White-fronted Black Chat (ESS pachyrhyncha)
Collared Sunbird (ESS djamdjamensis)
Olive-bellied Sunbird (ESS bineschensis)
Purple-banded Sunbird
Somali Sparrow (castanopterus/fulgens)
Grey-capped Social Weaver (ESS australoabyssinicus)
Cardinal Quelea (cardinalis)
Yellow-crowned Bishop (ESS strictus)
Yellow Bishop (ESS xanthomelas)
Fan-tailed Widowbird (ESS traversii)
Magpie Mannikin
Common Waxbill (ESS peasei)
Blue-capped Cordon-bleu
Green-winged Pytilia (citerior)
Orange-winged Pytilia
Jameson’s Firefinch (rhodopareia)
Purple Indigobird
Jambandu Indigobird
Cuckoo-finch | Parasitic Weaver
Mountain Wagtail (ESS clara)
African Pipit (ESS cinnamomeus)
Bushveld Pipit (ESS australoabyssinicus)
Southern Citril
Striolated Bunting (saturatior)
MAIN HABITATS
Montane moorlands, escarpments and forests, arid savanna
BIRD AREAS
Central Ethiopian highlands Endemic Bird Area (EBA)
Jubba and Shabeelle valleys EBA
South Ethiopian highlands EBA
Northern Ethiopia Secondary Area
68 Important Bird Areas
BIRDING SITES
Addis Ababa (Hotel and Embassy Grounds, Gullele Botanic Garden, Entoto Natural Park, Bihere Tsige Public Park and Bole International Airport) for Abyssinian Catbird, Erckel’s Spurfowl, White-collared Pigeon, Rouget’s Rail, Wattled Ibis, Ethiopian Bee-eater, Banded Barbet (ESS undatus), Abyssinian Woodpecker, Black-winged Lovebird, Northern Puffback (erythreae), Ethiopian Boubou, Thick-billed Raven, White-backed Black Tit, Ethiopian Cisticola, Ethiopian White-eye, Ethiopian Thrush, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher (chocolatinus), White-winged Cliff Chat, Swainson’s Sparrow and Brown-rumped Seedeater, more highland taxa including Montane Nightjar (poliocephalus), Nyanza Swift, Dusky Turtle Dove, Augur Buzzard, Eastern Grey Woodpecker (spodocephalus), Brown-throated Martin (ESS schoensis), African Red-rumped Swallow (melanocrissus), Brown Woodland Warbler (ESS omoensis), Cinnamon Bracken Warbler (cinnamomeus), Brown Parisoma (ESS lugens), Abyssinian Thrush (abyssinicus), African Dusky Flycatcher (minima), Rüppell’s Robin-Chat (semirufa), Moorland Chat (ESS sordida), Mocking Cliff Chat (albiscapulata), Tacazze Sunbird (tacazze), Baglafecht Weaver (baglafecht), Yellow-bellied Waxbill (quartinia), Mountain Wagtail (ESS clara), African Citril (citrinelloides), Streaky Seedeater (striolata) and Yellow-crowned Canary (flavivertex), as well as more widespread birds including Egyptian Goose, African Black Duck, Little Swift, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Speckled Pigeon, Red-eyed Dove, Spur-winged Lapwing, Marabou Stork, Abdim’s Stork, African Sacred Ibis, Hadada Ibis (nilotica), Western Cattle Egret, Black-headed Heron, Hamerkop, Black-winged Kite, African Harrier-Hawk, Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture, Long-crested Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Black Sparrowhawk, Yellow-billed Kite, Speckled Mousebird (leucotis), Eurasian Hoopoe (senegalensis), Lanner Falcon, African Paradise Flycatcher (ferreti), Northern Fiscal (humeralis), Pied Crow, Common Bulbul (schoanus), Black Saw-wing (antinorii), Pale Crag Martin (pusilla), African Yellow Warbler, Tawny-flanked Prinia (subflava), Grey-backed Camaroptera (abessinica), Abyssinian White-eye (abyssinicus), Greater Blue-eared Starling, Superb Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, Variable Sunbird (fazoqlensis), Northern Grey-headed Sparrow (ugandae), Spectacled Weaver (crocatus), Village Weaver (abyssinicus), Bronze Mannikin (scutata), African Silverbill (orientalis), Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu (bengalus), Red-billed Firefinch (brunneiceps), Village Indigobird (ultramarina) and Pin-tailed Whydah
Menagesha Suba Forest for Yellow-fronted Parrot and Abyssinian Catbird, White-cheeked Turaco (leucotis), Abyssinian Woodpecker, Black-winged Lovebird, Northern Puffback (erythreae), Ethiopian Oriole (ESS meneliki), Thick-billed Raven, White-backed Black Tit, Ethiopian White-eye, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher and Brown-rumped Seedeater, more highland taxa including African Olive Pigeon, Lemon Dove, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (ESS perspicillaris), African Hill Babbler (abyssinica), Slender-billed Starling (tenuirostris), Sharpe’s Starling and Abyssinian Ground Thrush (piaggiae), as well as Crowned Eagle, Narina Trogon and African Spotted Creeper (ESS erlangeri)
Sululta Plain for Blue-winged Goose, Spot-breasted Lapwing, Blanford’s Lark (erlangeri), Abyssinian Longclaw and Ethiopian Siskin, White-collared Pigeon, Rouget’s Rail, Wattled Ibis, Ethiopian Bee-eater, Ethiopian Cisticola, Ethiopian Thrush, White-winged Cliff Chat, Rusty-breasted Wheatear and Swainson’s Sparrow, more highland taxa including Black-winged Lapwing, African Snipe, Cape Crow, Thekla’s Lark (praetermissa), Red-chested Swallow (ESS rothschildi), Pectoral-patch Cisticola (brunnescens), African Stonechat (albofasciatus), Moorland Chat, Yellow-crowned Bishop (ESS strictus), Yellow Bishop (ESS xanthomelas), Fan-tailed Widowbird (ESS traversii), Common Waxbill (ESS peasei) and African Pipit (ESS cinnamomeus), as well as waterbirds including Yellow-billed Duck and Red-knobbed Coot
Berga Wetland for White-winged Flufftail
Debre Libanos Monastery and Portuguese Bridge for Erckel’s Spurfowl, White-cheeked Turaco, White-collared Pigeon, Banded Barbet, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Ethiopian Oriole, White-backed Black Tit, Ethiopian White-eye, White-rumped Babbler (limbata), White-billed Starling, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, White-winged Cliff Chat, Rüppell’s Black Chat, Swainson’s Sparrow and Brown-rumped Seedeater, as well as Nyanza Swift, Bearded Vulture, Verreaux’s Eagle, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Lanner Falcon, Black-crowned Tchagra (habessinicus), Fan-tailed Raven (rhipidurus), Black Saw-wing, Pale Crag Martin, Stout Cisticola (ESS robustus), Little Rock Thrush (rufocinereus), Mocking Cliff Chat and Mountain Wagtail
Jemma Valley for Harwood’s Spurfowl and Red-billed Pytilia, Erckel’s Spurfowl, Ethiopian Bee-eater, Black-winged Lovebird, White-winged Cliff Chat, Rüppell’s Black Chat, Swainson’s Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Seedeater, as well as African Hawk-Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Black-billed Barbet, Common Kestrel (rufescens), Fox Kestrel, Lanner Falcon, Fan-tailed Raven, Pale Crag Martin, Singing Cisticola (cantans), Foxy Cisticola (ferrugineus), Abyssinian White-eye, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Little Rock Thrush, Mocking Cliff Chat, Familiar Chat (falkensteini), Abyssinian Wheatear (lugubris), Scarlet-chested Sunbird (proteus), Speckle-fronted Weaver (frontalis), Red-cowled Widowbird (laticauda), Crimson-rumped Waxbill (centralis), Mountain Wagtail, Long-billed Pipit (hararensis), Yellow-fronted Canary (gommaensis) and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (tahapisi)
Ankober Escarpment and Gemasa Gedel for Ankober Serin and Ethiopian Siskin, White-collared Pigeon, Thick-billed Raven, Ethiopian White-eye, White-billed Starling, Ethiopian Thrush and Brown-rumped Seedeater, as well as Bearded Vulture, Verreaux’s Eagle, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (ESS perspicillaris), Augur Buzzard, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Peregrine Falcon, Cape Crow, Thekla’s Lark, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Singing Cisticola, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Red-winged Starling, Slender-billed Starling, Moorland Chat, Yellow Bishop and Streaky Seedeater
Melka Gebdu for Yellow-throated Seedeater, Ethiopian Bee-eater, Banded Barbet, Northern Puffback (erythreae), White-rumped Babbler (smithii), Rüppell’s Black Chat, Swainson’s Sparrow and Brown-rumped Seedeater, as well as Clapperton’s Spurfowl (sharpii), Bare-faced Go-away-bird (ESS personatus), Eastern Plantain-eater, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Black Stork, Half-collared Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Black-billed Barbet, Fan-tailed Raven, Abyssinian White-eye, Little Rock Thrush, Abyssinian Wheatear, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Rüppell’s Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Mountain Wagtail and Long-billed Pipit
Awash National Park (NP) and Aledeghe Wildlife Reserve for Black-billed Wood Hoopoe (ESS neglectus), Ethiopian Bee-eater, Ethiopian Boubou, African Grey Flycatcher (pumilus) and Swainson’s Sparrow, Arabian Bustard (arabs), Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse (lichtensteinii), African Collared Dove, Yellow-breasted Barbet (margaritatus), Desert Lark (assabensis), Black Scrub Robin (podobe) and Blackstart (lypura), as well as Somali Ostrich, Helmeted Guineafowl (meleagris), Crested Francolin (grantii), Harlequin Quail, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Star-spotted Nightjar, Slender-tailed Nightjar, African Palm Swift (parvus), White-bellied Go-away-bird, Eastern Plantain-eater, Kori Bustard, White-bellied Bustard (canicollis), Buff-crested Bustard, Hartlaub’s Bustard, White-browed Coucal, Jacobin Cuckoo, Diederik Cuckoo, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (ellioti), Yellow-throated Sandgrouse (saturatior), Mourning Collared Dove (decipiens), Ring-necked Dove (tropica), Laughing Dove (senegalensis), Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Namaqua Dove (capensis), Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Common Buttonquail, Senegal Thick-knee, Black-headed Lapwing (tectus), Crowned Lapwing (coronatus), Caspian Plover, Double-banded Courser (ESS raffertyi), Three-banded Courser (mayaudi), Secretarybird, Black-winged Kite, Scissor-tailed Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Gabar Goshawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Shikra, Little Sparrowhawk, Grasshopper Buzzard, Pearl-spotted Owlet, African Scops Owl, Northern White-faced Owl, Blue-naped Mousebird (abyssinicus), Abyssinian Scimitarbill (minor), Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Purple Roller, Abyssinian Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller (lorti), Grey-headed Kingfisher (leucocephala), Woodland Kingfisher (senegalensis), Striped Kingfisher (chelicuti), African Pygmy Kingfisher (picta), Little Bee-eater (cyanostictus), White-throated Bee-eater, Olive Bee-eater, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird (uropygialis), Red-fronted Barbet (diademata), Black-throated Barbet (melanocephala), Black-billed Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker (nubica), Bearded Woodpecker (schoensis), Cardinal Woodpecker (hemprichii), Pygmy Falcon (castanonotus), Grey Kestrel, Lanner Falcon, Red-bellied Parrot (rufiventris), Grey-headed Batis (orientalis), Grey-headed Bushshrike (approximans), Rosy-patched Bushshrike (hilgerti), Black-crowned Tchagra, Slate-colored Boubou, Brubru (ESS hilgerti), White-crested Helmetshrike (cristatus), Fork-tailed Drongo (lugubris), Northern White-crowned Shrike, Somali Fiscal, Somali Crow, Fan-tailed Raven, Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark (leucotis), Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark (signatus), Gillett’s Lark (gilletti), Singing Bush Lark (marginata), Fawn-colored Lark (intercedens), Flappet Lark (ESS rufocinnamomea), Red-winged Lark (ESS gallarum), Common Bulbul (somaliensis), Ethiopian Swallow (aethiopica), Lesser Striped Swallow (abyssinica), Northern Crombec (leucopsis), Ashy Cisticola (cinereolus), Zitting Cisticola (uropygialis), Desert Cisticola (lavendulae), Red-fronted Prinia (rufifrons), Buff-bellied Warbler, Grey Wren-Warbler, Yellow-bellied Eremomela (griseoflava), Rufous Chatterer (rubiginosa), Wattled Starling, Rüppell’s Starling (purpuroptera), White-crowned Starling (albicapillus), Red-billed Oxpecker, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (minor), White-browed Scrub Robin (leucoptera), Pale Flycatcher (bowdleri), Brown-tailed Rock Chat (spectatrix), Nile Valley Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, Marico Sunbird (osiris), Abyssinian Sunbird (habessinicus), Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow (pyrgita), Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (intermedius), White-headed Buffalo Weaver (dinemelli), White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (melanorhynchus), Little Weaver, Lesser Masked Weaver (intermedius), Vitelline Masked Weaver (uluensis), Chestnut Weaver (rubiginosus), Red-billed Quelea (aethiopica), Northern Red Bishop (franciscanus), Black-cheeked Waxbill (charmosyna), Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Cut-throat Finch (alexanderi), Purple Grenadier, Green-winged Pytilia (soudanensis), Steel-blue Whydah, Straw-tailed Whydah, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, African Pied Wagtail, White-bellied Canary (maculicollis) and Somali Bunting
Lake Basaka for Sombre Rock Chat, as well as Plain Nightjar, Egyptian Vulture, Blackstart, Nile Valley Sunbird, Rüppell’s Weaver and Striolated Bunting (striolata), and waterbirds including Senegal Thick-knee, Kittlitz’s Plover, Gull-billed Tern, Yellow-billed Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, African Darter, Reed Cormorant, Great Cormorant (lucidus), Western Reef Heron, Pink-backed Pelican, African Fish Eagle and Pied Kingfisher
Lake Cheleleka and Lake Bishoftu Guda for Ethiopian Bee-eater and Black-winged Lovebird, waterbirds including White-faced Whistling Duck, White-backed Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Knob-billed Duck, Blue-billed Teal, Yellow-billed Duck, Red-billed Teal, Southern Pochard, Maccoa Duck, Red-knobbed Coot, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-winged Stilt, African Spoonbill, Little Egret, Squacco Heron, Great Egret, Grey Heron and Pink-backed Pelican, as well as Horus Swift, Black Crowned Crane (ceciliae), Brown-throated Martin (ESS schoensis), African Yellow Warbler, Rüppell’s Weaver and Quailfinch (fuscocrissa)
Abijatta-Shalla NP for more waterbirds including Cape Teal, Black-necked Grebe, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Pied Avocet, Three-banded Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover, Collared Pratincole and Yellow-billed Stork, as well as African Cuckoo, Black Crowned Crane and Temminck’s Courser
Lake Langano for Yellow-fronted Parrot, Bare-faced Go-away-bird (ESS personatus), White-cheeked Turaco, Wattled Ibis, African Goshawk (unduliventer), Black-billed Wood Hoopoe, Ethiopian Bee-eater, Banded Barbet (ESS leucogenys), Black-winged Lovebird, Northern Puffback (erythreae), Ethiopian Boubou, Ethiopian Oriole, White-rumped Babbler (ESS lacuum) and Swainson’s Sparrow, as well as Scaly Spurfowl (schuetti), Clapperton’s Spurfowl (sharpii), Freckled Nightjar, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Mottled Swift, Nyanza Swift, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Green Malkoha, White-browed Coucal, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Diederik Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, African Olive Pigeon, Lemon Dove (bronzina), Mourning Collared Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Tambourine Dove, Namaqua Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Senegal Thick-knee, Three-banded Courser, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Gabar Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk, Western Barn Owl, Northern White-faced Owl, Greyish Eagle-Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Blue-naped Mousebird, Narina Trogon, Black Scimitarbill (notatus), Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Broad-billed Roller (ESS aethiopicus), Lilac-breasted Roller (lorti), Grey-headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird (affinis), Red-fronted Barbet, Black-billed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet (aequatorialis), Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Lesser Honeyguide, Red-throated Wryneck (ESS aequatorialis), Nubian Woodpecker, Bearded Woodpecker, Eastern Grey Woodpecker, Red-bellied Parrot, Western Black-headed Batis (erlangeri), Brown-throated Wattle-eye (aethiopica), Orange-breasted Bushshrike (similis), Black-crowned Tchagra, Slate-colored Boubou, Brubru, Grey Cuckooshrike (purus), Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Fork-tailed Drongo, Grey-backed Fiscal (intercedens), Fan-tailed Raven, White-winged Black Tit (leucomelas), Black Saw-wing, Brown-throated Martin, Red-throated Rock Martin (fusciventris), Mosque Swallow, Red-faced Crombec (loringi), Rattling Cisticola (fricki), Buff-bellied Warbler, Green-backed Eremomela (abyssinica), African Hill Babbler, Abyssinian White-eye, Rufous Chatterer, Wattled Starling, Rüppell’s Starling, Violet-backed Starling, Red-winged Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Abyssinian Thrush, African Thrush (pelios), Pale Flycatcher (bowdleri), Northern Black Flycatcher (lugubris), African Dusky Flycatcher, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Little Rock Thrush, Mocking Cliff Chat (subrufipennis), Abyssinian Wheatear, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, Marico Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Baglafecht Weaver (emini), Little Weaver (luteolus), Spectacled Weaver, Rüppell’s Weaver, Lesser Masked Weaver (intermedius), Village Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Northern Red Bishop, Green Twinspot (chubbi), African Firefinch (haematocephala), African Citril and Reichenow’s Seedeater
Lake Awassa for Black-billed Wood Hoopoe, White-rumped Babbler and Fawn-breasted Waxbill (ochrogaster), waterbirds including Fulvous Whistling Duck, African Pygmy Goose, African Rail, Lesser Moorhen, Common Moorhen, Allen’s Gallinule, African Swamphen, Black Crake, Greater Painted-snipe, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, Grey-headed Gull, Saddle-billed Stork, Reed Cormorant, Great Cormorant (lucidus), Little Bittern, Black Heron, Yellow-billed Egret, Purple Heron, Goliath Heron, Great White Pelican, African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher and Pied Kingfisher, as well as Blue-headed Coucal, Black Crowned Crane, Woodland Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Double-toothed Barbet, Red-throated Wryneck, African Hobby, Western Black-headed Batis, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Black Cuckooshrike, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Grey-backed Fiscal, Wire-tailed Swallow, Lesser Swamp Warbler (parvus), Common Reed Warbler (cinnamomeus), Little Rush Warbler (ESS abyssinicus), Red-faced Cisticola, African Spotted Creeper (ESS erlangeri), White-browed Robin-Chat (heuglini), Thick-billed Weaver (melanota), Spectacled Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Common Waxbill (ESS peasei) and White-winged Widowbird (eques)
Wondo Genet for Yellow-fronted Parrot, White-cheeked Turaco, Wattled Ibis, African Goshawk (unduliventer), Banded Barbet, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Black-winged Lovebird, Ethiopian Boubou, Ethiopian Oriole, Ethiopian White-eye, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, White-winged Cliff Chat, Swainson’s Sparrow and Brown-rumped Seedeater, more highland taxa including Scaly Spurfowl, Nyanza Swift, African Emerald Cuckoo, Lemon Dove, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Green-backed Honeybird (ellenbecki), Eastern Grey Woodpecker, Brown Woodland Warbler, Singing Cisticola, African Hill Babbler, Brown Parisoma (ESS lugens), Slender-billed Starling, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Abyssinian Thrush, African Dusky Flycatcher, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Little Rock Thrush, Tacazze Sunbird, Baglafecht Weaver (reichenowi), Yellow-bellied Waxbill, African Citril and Streaky Seedeater, as well as Black Cuckoo (clamosus), Red-chested Cuckoo, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Tambourine Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Little Sparrowhawk, African Wood Owl, Narina Trogon, Half-collared Kingfisher, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird (ESS xanthostictus), Lesser Honeyguide, Black Saw-wing, Red-winged Starling, African Thrush, Collared Sunbird (ESS djamdjamensis), Olive Sunbird (ragazzii), Variable Sunbird, Black-and-white Mannikin (poensis), Green Twinspot, African Firefinch and Mountain Wagtail
Bale Mountains NP (Gaysay Valley, Dinsho Park HQ, Sanetti Plateau and Harenna Forest) for Blue-winged Goose, Moorland Francolin, White-cheeked Turaco (ESS donaldsoni), Spot-breasted Lapwing, Yellow-fronted Parrot, Blanford’s Lark (erlangeri), Abyssinian Catbird, Brown Parisoma (ESS griseiventris), Abyssinian Longclaw and Ethiopian Siskin, Chestnut-naped Spurfowl (casteneicollis), White-collared Pigeon, Rouget’s Rail, Wattled Ibis, African Goshawk (unduliventer), Abyssinian Owl (ESS abyssinicus), Cape Eagle-Owl (dillonii), Banded Barbet (ESS salvadorii), Abyssinian Woodpecker, Black-winged Lovebird, Northern Puffback (erythreae), Ethiopian Boubou, Ethiopian Oriole, Thick-billed Raven, White-backed Black Tit, Ethiopian Cisticola, Ethiopian White-eye, Ethiopian Thrush, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Rusty-breasted Wheatear and Brown-rumped Seedeater, Ruddy Shelduck, Golden Eagle (homeyeri) and Red-billed Chough (ESS baileyi), more highland taxa including Common Quail, Montane Nightjar, Scarce Swift, Alpine Swift, African Emerald Cuckoo, African Olive Pigeon, Lemon Dove, Dusky Turtle Dove, Black-winged Lapwing, African Snipe, Bearded Vulture, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Mountain Buzzard, Augur Buzzard, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Eastern Grey Woodpecker, Grey Cuckooshrike, Cape Crow, Thekla’s Lark (ESS huei), Brown-throated Martin, Pale Crag Martin, Red-chested Swallow (ESS rothschildi), African Red-rumped Swallow, Brown Woodland Warbler, African Yellow Warbler, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, African Hill Babbler, Slender-billed Starling, Somali Starling, Sharpe’s Starling, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Abyssinian Thrush, African Dusky Flycatcher, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat (donaldsoni), African Stonechat, Moorland Chat, Tacazze Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird (cupreonitens), Baglafecht Weaver (reichenowi), Yellow Bishop (ESS xanthomelas), Fan-tailed Widowbird (ESS traversii), Red-cowled Widowbird, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Abyssinian Crimsonwing (salvadorii), Streaky Seedeater, African Citril and Yellow-crowned Canary, as well as African Black Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Red-knobbed Coot, Red-chested Cuckoo, Tambourine Dove, Wattled Crane, Crowned Eagle, Martial Eagle, Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle, African Wood Owl, Narina Trogon, African Hobby, Lanner Falcon, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Fan-tailed Raven, Common Bulbul (ESS spurius), Black Saw-wing, Red-winged Starling, Olive Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Red-billed Oxpecker, Black-and-white Mannikin, Green Twinspot and Common Waxbill (ESS peasei)
Liben Plain for, at least formerly, Archer’s Lark as well as Coqui Francolin (maharao), Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Kori Bustard, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Black-winged Lapwing, Crowned Lapwing, Caspian Plover, Temminck’s Courser, Black-winged Kite, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Lilac-breasted Roller, Taita Fiscal, Somali Crow, Somali Short-toed Lark (megaensis), Ethiopian Swallow, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Zitting Cisticola, White-crowned Starling (horrensis), Shelley’s Sparrow, Grey-capped Social Weaver (ESS australoabyssinicus), Speke’s Weaver, Plain-backed Pipit (omoensis) and Reichenow’s Seedeater
Melka Guba (Dawa River) for Black-billed Wood Hoopoe (somaliensis), White-winged Collared Dove and Juba Weaver, as well as Vulturine Guineafowl, Black-faced Sandgrouse (ellenbecki), Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Abyssinian Scimitarbill (cabanisi), Red-bellied Parrot (rufiventris), Pygmy Batis, Pringle’s Puffback, Three-streaked Tchagra (jamesi), Red-naped Bushshrike (rufinuchalis), Acacia Tit (thruppi), Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Northern Brownbul, Somali Crombec, Pale Prinia (erlangeri), Red-fronted Prinia (smithi), Brown-tailed Apalis (flavocincta), Grey Wren-Warbler, Yellow-vented Eremomela, Banded Parisoma (somalica), Scaly Chatterer (aylmeri), Bare-eyed Thrush, Golden-breasted Starling, Shelley’s Starling, Magpie Starling, White-browed Scrub Robin (leucoptera), African Grey Flycatcher (neumanni), Spotted Palm Thrush (rufipennis), Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Collared Sunbird (ESS djamdjamensis), Hunter’s Sunbird, Black-bellied Sunbird (erlangeri), Chestnut Weaver, Red-billed Firefinch (somaliensis), Village Indigobird, Reichenow’s Seedeater, Northern Grosbeak-Canary and Somali Bunting
Bogol Manyo to Dolo for Gillett’s Lark (degodiensis), Philippa’s Crombec and Somali Wheatear, as well as Sombre Nightjar, African Palm Swift (laemostigma), Heuglin’s Bustard, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (olivascens), Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse (sukensis), Mourning Collared Dove (elegans), Water Thick-knee, Black-headed Lapwing (latifrons), Crowned Lapwing (demissus), Somali Courser (littoralis), Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, White-headed Mousebird (leucocephalus), Blue-naped Mousebird (pulcher), Somali Bee-eater, White-crested Helmetshrike (vinaceigularis), Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark, Short-tailed Lark (fremantlii), Sombre Greenbul (insularis), Rufous Chatterer (bowdleri), Fischer’s Starling, Purple-banded Sunbird (microrhynchus), Parrot-billed Sparrow, Green-winged Pytilia (soudanensis), Long-tailed Paradise Whydah and Golden Pipit
Arero Forest for Ruspoli’s Turaco and Salvadori’s Seedeater, White-cheeked Turaco, Black-billed Wood Hoopoe, Ethiopian Oriole and White-rumped Babbler, as well as African Olive Pigeon, Hemprich’s Hornbill, White-breasted Cuckooshrike and Northern Brownbul
Yabelo-Mega area (Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary and Borena NP) for Stresemann’s Bushcrow and White-tailed Swallow, Chestnut-naped Spurfowl (atrifrons), Bare-faced Go-away-bird (ESS personatus), Black-billed Wood Hoopoe (somaliensis), Masked Lark (yavelloensis) and Pale Flycatcher (bafirawari), as well as Somali Ostrich, Helmeted Guineafowl (somaliensis), Vulturine Guineafowl, Crested Francolin (spilogaster), Harlequin Quail, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Sombre Nightjar, Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar, Mottled Swift, White-rumped Swift, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Kori Bustard, Heuglin’s Bustard, White-bellied Bustard, Buff-crested Bustard, White-browed Coucal, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Ring-necked Dove (somalica), Laughing Dove, Namaqua Dove, Spotted Thick-knee (maculosus), Crowned Lapwing (coronatus), Three-banded Courser (cinctus), Somali Courser, Secretarybird, Black-winged Kite, Egyptian Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Martial Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Shikra, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Blue-naped Mousebird (abyssinicus), Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Purple Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller (lorti), Somali Bee-eater, Little Bee-eater, Red-and-yellow Barbet (versicolor), D’Arnaud’s Barbet (darnaudi), Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Red-fronted Barbet, Black-throated Barbet (stigmatothorax), Greater Honeyguide, Nubian Woodpecker, Bearded Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker (massaicus), Pygmy Falcon, Greater Kestrel (arthuri), Red-bellied Parrot, Pygmy Batis, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Rosy-patched Bushshrike (hilgerti), Pringle’s Puffback, Three-streaked Tchagra, Slate-colored Boubou, Red-naped Bushshrike, Brubru (minor), White-crested Helmetshrike (cristatus), Black Cuckooshrike, Fork-tailed Drongo (jubaensis), Black-headed Oriole (rolleti), Northern White-crowned Shrike, Taita Fiscal, Somali Fiscal, Somali Crow, Fan-tailed Raven, Acacia Tit (barakae), Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Fawn-colored Lark (intercedens), Short-tailed Lark (megaensis), Thekla’s Lark (huriensis), Somali Short-toed Lark, Northern Brownbul, Common Bulbul (dodsoni), Ethiopian Swallow, Lesser Striped Swallow (abyssinica), Red-faced Crombec, Somali Crombec, Boran Cisticola (bodessa), Rattling Cisticola, Ashy Cisticola (schillingsi), Croaking Cisticola (argenteus), Tiny Cisticola, Desert Cisticola, Pale Prinia, Red-fronted Prinia, Brown-tailed Apalis, Grey Wren-Warbler, Buff-bellied Warbler, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Banded Parisoma, Pale White-eye (jubaensis), Rufous Chatterer (rubiginosa), Scaly Chatterer (boranensis), Wattled Starling, Rüppell’s Starling, Golden-breasted Starling, Shelley’s Starling, White-crowned Starling, Bristle-crowned Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, Bare-eyed Thrush, White-browed Scrub Robin, Northern Black Flycatcher (schistaceus), African Grey Flycatcher, Spotted Palm Thrush (intercalans), Brown-tailed Rock Chat (turkana), Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Hunter’s Sunbird, Marico Sunbird, Abyssinian Sunbird (turkanae), Variable Sunbird (albiventris), Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow, Chestnut Sparrow, Shelley’s Sparrow, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Grey-capped Social Weaver, Black-capped Social Weaver, Lesser Masked Weaver, Vitelline Masked Weaver (uluensis), Speke’s Weaver, Chestnut Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Grey-headed Silverbill, Black-cheeked Waxbill, Cut-throat Finch, Purple Grenadier, Green-winged Pytilia, Steel-blue Whydah, Straw-tailed Whydah, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, Bushveld Pipit (ESS australoabyssinicus), Reichenow’s Seedeater, White-bellied Canary, Northern Grosbeak-Canary and Somali Bunting
Nech Sar NP to search for Nechisar Nightjar, as well as for Orange River Francolin (archeri), Marsh Owl, White-tailed Lark, White-fronted Black Chat (ESS pachyrhyncha), Northern Masked Weaver (taeniopterus) and Stripe-breasted Seedeater
Mago NP, Tama Wildlife Reserve and Omo NP for Ethiopian Boubou and White-rumped Babbler (omoensis) as well as Standard-winged Nightjar, Eastern Plantain-eater, Black-bellied Bustard, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Black-headed Lapwing (tectus), Egyptian Plover, African Woolly-necked Stork, Western Banded Snake Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Violet Wood Hoopoe (granti), Jackson’s Hornbill, Abyssinian Roller, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (heuglini), Olive Bee-eater, Double-toothed Barbet, Meyer’s Parrot (saturatus), Grey-headed Batis (bella), Black-headed Gonolek, White-crested Helmetshrike (concinnatus), White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark (harrisoni), Pink-breasted Lark, Flappet Lark (torrida), Kidepo Lark (kathangorensis), Boran Cisticola (ESS kaffensis), Brown Babbler (cinerea), Dusky Babbler, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, African Thrush (centralis), White-crowned Robin-Chat (omoensis), Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat (niveicapilla), Spotted Palm Thrush (guttata), Familiar Chat (omoensis), Collared Sunbird (garguensis), Donaldson-Smith’s Sparrow-Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, Black-winged Red Bishop (craspedopterus), White-winged Widowbird and Yellow-fronted Canary (grotei)
Gura Ferda Forest for Yellow-fronted Parrot and Kafa White-eye (ESS kaffensis), White-cheeked Turaco (leucotis), Rouget’s Rail, Wattled Ibis, African Goshawk (ESS croizati), Ethiopian Bee-eater, Banded Barbet (ESS leucogenys), Abyssinian Woodpecker, Northern Puffback (erythreae), Ethiopian Boubou, Ethiopian Oriole, Thick-billed Raven, White-rumped Babbler (omoensis), Swainson’s Sparrow and Fawn-breasted Waxbill (ochrogaster), Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon and Stuhlmann’s Starling among other highland taxa including Scaly Spurfowl, African Olive Pigeon, Lemon Dove, African Emerald Cuckoo, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Red-throated Wryneck, Cardinal Woodpecker (lepidus), Eastern Grey Woodpecker, Grey Cuckooshrike, African Red-rumped Swallow (melanocrissus), Brown Woodland Warbler, African Yellow Warbler, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Highland Rush Warbler (sudanensis), African Hill Babbler, Sharpe’s Starling, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Abyssinian Thrush, African Dusky Flycatcher, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Baglafecht Weaver (baglafecht), Red-cowled Widowbird, Yellow-bellied Waxbill and African Citril, as well as Eastern Plantain-eater, Green Malkoha, Senegal Coucal, African Green Pigeon (uellensis), Crowned Eagle, Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, Narina Trogon, Green Wood Hoopoe (niloticus), Crowned Hornbill, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-billed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Little Spotted Woodpecker (nyansae), Brown-backed Woodpecker (ingens), Red-headed Lovebird (ugandae), Western Black-headed Batis, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Pale-throated Greenbul (soror), Moustached Grass Warbler (amauroura), Foxy Cisticola, Abyssinian White-eye (omoensis), Brown Babbler, Dusky Babbler, Yellow-bellied Hyliota (flavigaster), Lesser Blue-eared Starling, White-crowned Robin-Chat, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Collared Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, Copper Sunbird (cupreus), Black-necked Weaver, Compact Weaver, Black Bishop, Black-and-white Mannikin, Green Twinspot and African Firefinch
Gambella NP and Baro River for Red-billed Pytilia, Northern Puffback (erythreae) and Fawn-breasted Waxbill (ochrogaster), Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, Red-throated Bee-eater (frenatus), Red-pate Cisticola (mongalla), Foxy Cisticola, Green-backed Eremomela, Gambaga Flycatcher, Sahel Bush Sparrow, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Black-rumped Waxbill, Bar-breasted Firefinch (lateritia), Black-faced Firefinch (larvata), Barka Indigobird, Wilson’s Indigobird, Exclamatory Paradise Whydah and Brown-rumped Bunting, as well as Clapperton’s Spurfowl (clappertoni), Long-tailed Nightjar, Standard-winged Nightjar, African Palm Swift (myochrous), Mourning Collared Dove, Vinaceous Dove, Black-billed Wood Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Senegal Coucal, Blue-headed Coucal, Black Crowned Crane, Long-toed Lapwing, African Wattled Lapwing, Egyptian Plover, African Openbill, Saddle-billed Stork, African Woolly-necked Stork, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Gabar Goshawk, Shikra, Grasshopper Buzzard, Red-necked Buzzard, Greyish Eagle-Owl, Speckled Mousebird, Blue-naped Mousebird (griseogularis), Green Wood Hoopoe, Black Scimitarbill, African Grey Hornbill, Abyssinian Roller, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Little Bee-eater (ocularis), African Green Bee-eater (viridissimus), Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Black-billed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Red-necked Falcon, Grey-headed Batis (chadensis), Grey-headed Bushshrike (catharoxanthus), Black-crowned Tchagra, Black-headed Gonolek, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Grey-backed Fiscal (excubitoroides), Fan-tailed Raven, White-shouldered Black Tit, Flappet Lark (ESS omoensis), Pale-throated Greenbul, Ethiopian Swallow, African Red-rumped Swallow (domicella), Moustached Grass Warbler, Northern Crombec, Lesser Swamp Warbler (jacksoni), Red-faced Cisticola (pyrrhomitra), Winding Cisticola (marginatus), Croaking Cisticola (inexpectatus), Short-winged Cisticola (zedlitzi), Tawny-flanked Prinia (pallescens), Red-winged Prinia (ESS major), Northern Yellow White-eye (senegalensis), Brown Babbler, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Rüppell’s Starling, African Thrush, Pale Flycatcher (pallidus/parvus), Silverbird, Northern Black Flycatcher (lugubris), White-browed Robin-Chat, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Spotted Palm Thrush (guttata), Heuglin’s Wheatear, Pygmy Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, Copper Sunbird, Grey-capped Social Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Little Weaver, Northern Masked Weaver, Compact Weaver, Red-headed Quelea, Yellow-crowned Bishop (taha), Black Bishop (ansorgei), Black-winged Red Bishop, Northern Red Bishop, Fan-tailed Widowbird (phoeniceus), Common Waxbill (macmillani), Quailfinch (ugandae), White-rumped Seedeater and Yellow-fronted Canary (grotei)
Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve for Yellow-fronted Parrot, Abyssinian Catbird and Kafa White-eye (ESS kaffensis), Chestnut-naped Spurfowl, White-cheeked Turaco, Rouget’s Rail, Wattled Ibis, African Goshawk (ESS croizati), Ethiopian Bee-eater, Banded Barbet, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Black-winged Lovebird, Northern Puffback (erythreae), Ethiopian Boubou, Ethiopian Oriole, Thick-billed Raven, Ethiopian Cisticola, White-rumped Babbler (omoensis), Ethiopian Thrush, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher (ESS reichenowi), Swainson’s Sparrow, Fawn-breasted Waxbill (ochrogaster) and Brown-rumped Seedeater, Bamboo Warbler (alfredi), Stout Cisticola (ESS omo), Yellow-breasted Apalis (ESS abyssinica), Olive-bellied Sunbird (ESS bineschensis) and Stuhlmann’s Starling among other highland taxa including African Black Duck, Scaly Spurfowl, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo (gabonensis), African Olive Pigeon, Lemon Dove, Dusky Turtle Dove, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Augur Buzzard, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Green-backed Honeybird, Eastern Grey Woodpecker, Grey Cuckooshrike, Cape Crow, Brown Woodland Warbler, African Yellow Warbler, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, African Hill Babbler, Slender-billed Starling, Sharpe’s Starling, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Abyssinian Thrush, African Dusky Flycatcher, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Moorland Chat, Tacazze Sunbird, Baglafecht Weaver, Yellow-billed Waxbill, Abyssinian Crimsonwing and African Citril, as well as African Green Pigeon, African Finfoot, Red-chested Flufftail, Black Crowned Crane, African Darter, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Crowned Eagle, Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, African Hobby, African Wood Owl, Narina Trogon, Crowned Hornbill, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Half-collared Kingfisher, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Double-toothed Barbet, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Pale-throated Greenbul, Green-backed Eremomela, Splendid Starling, Pale Flycatcher (parvus), Olive Sunbird, Black-necked Weaver and Mountain Wagtail
Kafa Biosphere Reserve for Yellow-fronted Parrot, Abyssinian Catbird, Kafa White-eye (ESS kaffensis) and Abyssinian Longclaw, Chestnut-naped Spurfowl, White-cheeked Turaco, Rouget’s Rail, Wattled Ibis, African Goshawk (ESS croizati), Ethiopian Bee-eater, Banded Barbet, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Black-winged Lovebird, Northern Puffback (erythreae), Ethiopian Boubou, Ethiopian Oriole, Thick-billed Raven, Ethiopian Cisticola, White-rumped Babbler (omoensis), Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher (ESS reichenowi), Swainson’s Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Seedeater and Brown-rumped Seedeater, Yellow-breasted Apalis (ESS abyssinica) and Stuhlmann’s Starling among other highland taxa, as well as African Black Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Blue-headed Coucal, Red-chested Flufftail, African Rail, Black Crowned Crane, Wattled Crane, African Woolly-necked Stork, Half-collared Kingfisher, Marsh Tchagra, Splendid Starling, African Stonechat, Copper Sunbird, Black Bishop, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Red-cowled Widowbird, Common Waxbill, Mountain Wagtail and African Pipit
Gibe Gorge (Gibe Sheleko NP) for Red-billed Pytilia, Ethiopian Bee-eater, Northern Puffback (erythreae), Ethiopian Boubou, White-rumped Babbler, Swainson’s Sparrow, Fawn-breasted Waxbill (ochrogaster) and Yellow-rumped Seedeater, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Foxy Cisticola, Green-backed Eremomela, Gambaga Flycatcher, Sahel Bush Sparrow, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Black-faced Firefinch, Barka Indigobird and Wilson’s Indigobird, as well as Clapperton’s Spurfowl, Little Swift, Eastern Plantain-eater, Black-bellied Bustard, Blue-headed Coucal, African Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Vinaceous Dove, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Black Crowned Crane, Senegal Thick-knee, Three-banded Plover, African Wattled Lapwing, Egyptian Plover, Yellow-billed Stork, Brown Snake Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Greyish Eagle-Owl, Black Scimitarbill, African Grey Hornbill, Abyssinian Roller, Grey-headed Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Black-billed Barbet, Greater Honeyguide, Bearded Woodpecker, Western Black-headed Batis, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Black-crowned Tchagra, Grey-backed Fiscal (intercedens), Fan-tailed Raven, Brown-throated Martin, Red-throated Rock Martin, Wire-tailed Swallow, Moustached Grass Warbler, Red-faced Crombec, Red-faced Cisticola, Short-winged Cisticola, Stout Cisticola (ESS robustus), Abyssinian White-eye (omoensis), Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Red-winged Starling, African Thrush, Pale Flycatcher, Grey Tit-Flycatcher (plumbea), Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Little Rock Thrush, Mocking Cliff Chat, Familiar Chat (falkensteini), Red-headed Weaver, Black-winged Red Bishop, Orange-breasted Waxbill, Cut-throat Finch, African Pied Wagtail, Long-billed Pipit, Stripe-breasted Seedeater and Yellow-fronted Canary (grotei)
Lake Tana and Tis Abay Falls for White-cheeked Turaco, Black-billed Wood Hoopoe (ESS neglectus), Ethiopian Bee-eater, Black-winged Lovebird, Northern Puffback (erythreae), Ethiopian Boubou, Ethiopian Oriole (monacha), White-rumped Babbler (limbata), Swainson’s Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Seedeater, as well as White-rumped Swift, Eastern Plantain-eater, Blue-headed Coucal, Vinaceous Dove, Laughing Dove, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Namaqua Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Black Crowned Crane, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Woodland Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater (ocularis), Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird (chrysoconus), Black-billed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Brown-backed Honeybird, Nubian Woodpecker, African Grey Woodpecker (abessinicus), African Hobby, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Grey-rumped Swallow, Wire-tailed Swallow, Lesser Swamp Warbler (ESS tsanae), Common Reed Warbler (cinnamomeus), Grey-backed Camaroptera (brevicaudata), Violet-backed Starling, Northern Yellow White-eye, African Thrush, Northern Black Flycatcher (lugubris), Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Copper Sunbird, Baglafecht Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow-crowned Bishop (ESS strictus), Yellow-mantled Widowbird (macrocercus), Red-billed Firefinch (rhodopsis), Village Indigobird, African Pied Wagtail, African Citril and waterbirds including African Finfoot, African Rail, African Wattled Lapwing, African Darter, African Openbill, Striated Heron, African Fish Eagle and Giant Kingfisher
Simien Mountains NP for Spot-breasted Lapwing, Blanford’s Lark (erlangeri), Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Longclaw, Ankober Serin and Ethiopian Siskin, Chestnut-naped Spurfowl, Erckel’s Spurfowl, White-collared Pigeon, Rouget’s Rail, Wattled Ibis, African Goshawk (unduliventer), Abyssinian Owl (ESS abyssinicus), Cape Eagle-Owl (dillonii), Banded Barbet (thiogaster), Abyssinian Woodpecker, Ethiopian Boubou, Thick-billed Raven, White-backed Black Tit, Ethiopian Cisticola, Ethiopian White-eye, White-rumped Babbler (leucopygia), White-billed Starling, Ethiopian Thrush, Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher (chocolatinus), White-winged Cliff Chat, Rüppell’s Black Chat, Rusty-breasted Wheatear, Swainson’s Sparrow and Brown-rumped Seedeater, as well as Alpine Swift, Nyanza Swift, Horus Swift, African Collared Dove, Dusky Turtle Dove, Black Stork, Bearded Vulture, Verreaux’s Eagle, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Mountain Buzzard, Augur Buzzard, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Common Kestrel, Lanner Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Red-billed Chough (ESS baileyi), Cape Crow, Fan-tailed Raven, Thekla’s Lark (praetermissa), Pale Crag Martin, Black Saw-wing (pristoptera), African Red-rumped Swallow, Brown Woodland Warbler (umbrovirens), Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Stout Cisticola (schraderi), Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Red-winged Starling, Slender-billed Starling, Somali Starling, Abyssinian Thrush, Pale Flycatcher (bowdleri), African Dusky Flycatcher, African Stonechat, Moorland Chat, Mocking Cliff Chat (albiscapulata), White-fronted Black Chat (albifrons), Familiar Chat, Brown-tailed Rock Chat (scotocerca), Abyssinian Wheatear, Tacazze Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Yellow Bishop, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Mountain Wagtail, African Pipit, Long-billed Pipit (nivescens), Streaky Seedeater, Yellow-crowned Canary and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (septemstriata)
Kafta Sheraro NP for Black-billed Wood Hoopoe (abyssinicus), Ethiopian Bee-eater, Northern Puffback (erythreae), Ethiopian Boubou and Swainson’s Sparrow, Egyptian Nightjar, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse (lichtensteinii), African Collared Dove, Yellow-breasted Barbet (margaritatus), Great Grey Shrike (aucheri), Sennar Penduline Tit, Chestnut-bellied Starling, Black Scrub Robin and Sudan Golden Sparrow, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, Red-throated Bee-eater, White-headed Babbler, Sahel Bush Sparrow and Black-rumped Waxbill, as well as Helmeted Guineafowl, Long-tailed Nightjar, Standard-winged Nightjar, African Palm Swift (parvus), Eastern Plantain-eater, Blue-headed Coucal, Vinaceous Dove, Black-billed Wood Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Spotted Thick-knee, Senegal Thick-knee, Black-headed Lapwing (tectus), Egyptian Plover, Bronze-winged Courser, African Woolly-necked Stork, Brown Snake Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Gabar Goshawk, Blue-naped Mousebird (syntactus), Black Scimitarbill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Purple Roller, Abyssinian Roller, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, White-throated Bee-eater, African Green Bee-eater, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Vieillot’s Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Grey Kestrel, Red-necked Falcon, Meyer’s Parrot (meyersi), Rose-ringed Parakeet, Grey-headed Batis, Black-headed Gonolek, White-crested Helmetshrike (concinnatus), Fan-tailed Raven, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, Ethiopian Swallow, Northern Crombec (brachyura), Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Rüppell’s Starling (aeneocephalus), Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Heuglin’s Wheatear, Nile Valley Sunbird, Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow, White-billed Buffalo Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Little Weaver, Black-headed Weaver (dimidiatus), Black-winged Red Bishop, Crimson-rumped Waxbill (rhodopyga), Cut-throat Finch (fasciata), Green-winged Pytilia (jessei), Sahel Paradise Whydah, White-rumped Seedeater and Golden-breasted Bunting (flavigaster)
Danakil Depression for Spotted Sandgrouse, Greater Hoopoe-Lark (desertorum), Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (melanauchen), Graceful Prinia (gracilis), Blackstart (aussae) and White-crowned Wheatear
Jijiga Plain for Archer’s Lark and Rufous-capped Lark (daaroodensis) as well as Black-winged Lapwing, Temminck’s Courser, Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark, Thekla’s Lark (ESS harrarensis), Somali Short-toed Lark (perconfusa), African Pipit (annae) and Plain-backed Pipit (saphiroi)
Gurdumi area for Black-billed Wood Hoopoe (somaliensis), African Grey Flycatcher (pumilus) and Swainson’s Sparrow, Little Brown Bustard, Philippa’s Crombec and Somali Wheatear, as well as Vulturine Guineafowl, Crested Francolin (spilogaster), Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Donaldson Smith’s Nightjar, Buff-crested Bustard, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (ellioti), Black-faced Sandgrouse, Ring-necked Dove (somalica), Spotted Thick-knee (dodsoni), Crowned Lapwing (demissus), Double-banded Courser (hartingi), Three-banded Courser (mayaudi), Somali Courser (somalensis), Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Little Owl (somaliensis), African Scops Owl, Northern White-faced Owl, Blue-naped Mousebird (macrourus), Abyssinian Scimitarbill (minor), Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Purple Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller, Little Bee-eater, Somali Bee-eater, Red-and-yellow Barbet (shelleyi), D’Arnaud’s Barbet (boehmi), Black-throated Barbet (melanocephala), Nubian Woodpecker (nubica), Cardinal Woodpecker (hemprichii), Pygmy Falcon, Greater Kestrel (fieldi), Red-bellied Parrot (pallidus), Pygmy Batis, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Red-naped Bushshrike, Brubru (hilgerti), Fork-tailed Drongo (lugubris), Northern White-crowned Shrike, Somali Fiscal, Somali Crow, Acacia Tit (thruppi), Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Gillett’s Lark (gilletti), Fawn-colored Lark (alopex), Short-tailed Lark (fremantlii), Common Bulbul (dodsoni), Ethiopian Swallow (amadoni), Somali Crombec, Pale Prinia (somalica), Red-fronted Prinia (rufifrons), Brown-tailed Apalis (viridiceps), Grey Wren-Warbler, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Banded Parisoma (somalica), Rufous Chatterer (rubiginosa), Golden-breasted Starling, White-crowned Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, White-browed Scrub Robin (leucoptera), Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Nile Valley Sunbird, Hunter’s Sunbird, Marico Sunbird (osiris), Abyssinian Sunbird (alter), Variable Sunbird (albiventris), Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Cut-throat Finch (alexanderi), Purple Grenadier, Green-winged Pytilia (jessei), Straw-tailed Whydah, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, Reichenow’s Seedeater, White-bellied Canary, Northern Grosbeak-Canary and Somali Bunting
Jubba and Shabeelle Valleys for Speckled Mousebird (mombassicus), Grey-headed Kingfisher (hyacinthina), Lesser Striped Swallow (unitatis), Lesser Swamp Warbler (leptorhynchus), Scaly Babbler (jubaensis/carolinae), Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (hamertoni), Collared Sunbird (elachior), Golden Palm Weaver, Village Weaver (nigriceps) and Northern Red Bishop (pusillus)
Also Lake Koka, Lake Ziway, Arsi Mountains NP, Lake Boyo, Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary, Loka-Abaya NP, Maze NP, Chebera Churchura NP, Belete Gera Forest, Mao-Komo NP, Dhati-Welel NP, Deddessa NP, Alitash NP, Bejimiz NP, Donkoro Chaka NP, Yanguddi Rassa NP and Mille-Serdo Wildlife Reserve, Babile Elephant Sanctuary, Malka Guba NP, Geralle NP and Chelbi Wildlife Reserve
TIMING (Oct, Mar-Apr)
Best to visit at the start of the rains in the highlands (Mar–May) and the main rains in the arid lowlands (Apr–May, Oct), when most birds breed
Afro-Palearctic migrants are present Oct–Mar and best on passage Sep–Oct
Avoid the main rains in the highlands (Jun–Sep)
RESOURCES
Apps
Birds of Africa (iOS or Android)
Field guides
Birds of the Horn of Africa by Nigel Redman, Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe (2011)
Birds of Eastern Africa by Ber Van Perlo (2009)
Sounds
Bird Recordings from Ethiopia by Steve Smith
Site guides
Where to Watch Birds in Ethiopia by Claire Spottiswoode, Merid Gabremichael & Julian Francis (2010)
Birding Ethiopia: a Guide to the Country’s Birding Sites by Ken Behrens, Keith Barnes & Christian Boix (2010)
Where to Watch Birds in World Cities by Paul Milne (2006) covers birding sites in and around Addis Ababa
Atlases
Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: an Atlas of Distribution by John Ash & John Atkins (2009)
Further reading
Ethiopia by Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society (EWNHS) in Important Bird Areas in Africa and Associated Islands: Priority Sites for Conservation edited by Lincoln D C Fishpool & Michael I Evans (2001)
A Guide to Endemic Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea by Jose Luis Vivero Pol (2004)
The Search for the Rarest Bird in the World by Vernon R L Head (2014)
Ethiopia: in Search of Endemic Birds, a trip report by Julian Francis & Hadoram Shirihai (1999)
A Survey of Nechisar National Park, Ethiopia by J W Duckworth (1992)
Bird Diversity of Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia: the Study of Avian Relative Abundance, Distribution and Seasonal Habitat Association by Dereje Woldejohannes Tanga (2011)
Articles in Walia (journal of the EWNHS), Agazen (EWNHS educational newsletter), SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science, Scopus, Bull. ABC, etc.
Websites
Simien National Park – UNESCO World Heritage List
Tadele Travel
Ethiopia Tours – Ashanti African Tours
Blogs
Ethiopia’s Endemics – 10,000 Birds by Adam Riley (2012)
Tribes and Birds of the Lower Omo Valley – 10,000 Birds by Adam Riley (2015)
ORGANISATIONS
The Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society (EWNHS) is the BirdLife Partner in Ethiopia
The BirdLife International UNDP/GEF Migratory Soaring Birds Project works in Ethiopia
Other bird or conservation organisations active in Ethiopia include –
Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA)
Wildlife Conservation and Environmental Development Association of Ethiopia (WildCODE)
Wildlife for Sustainable Development (WSD)
Lem, the Environment & Development Society of Ethiopia (Lem Ethiopia)
Forum for Environment (FfE)
Ethiopian Heritage Trust
Lalibela Bird Club
Berga Bird Lovers Group
Menagesha Suba Forest Lovers Group
SOS Sahel Ethiopia
Biodiversity Inventory for Conservation (BINCO)
WeForest
NABU
Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS)