SUB-REGION
West Africa
SIZE
1,267,000 km² (6th largest country in Africa)
BIRDS AND BIRDING
SPECIES
Diversity
Afrotropical avifauna
Approximately 540 recorded species
Taxa of interest
Golden Nightjar
Nubian Bustard
Savile’s Bustard
Quail-plover
Scissor-tailed Kite | African Swallow-tailed Kite
Pharaoh Eagle-Owl
African Green Bee-eater
Yellow-breasted Barbet
Little Grey Woodpecker
Fox Kestrel
Brown-necked Raven
Sennar Penduline Tit
Rufous-rumped Lark
Desert Lark
Rusty Bush Lark
Kordofan Lark
Cricket Warbler
Fulvous Babbler
Chestnut-bellied Starling
Black Scrub Robin
White-crowned Wheatear
Pygmy Sunbird
Sudan Golden Sparrow
White-rumped Seedeater (pallens)
MAIN HABITATS
Desert, arid savanna
BIRD AREAS
17 Important Bird Areas
BIRDING SITES
W National Park for Savile’s Bustard
Zinder area for Kordofan Lark and Rusty Bush Lark
Termit and Tin-Toumma National Nature Reserve for Nubian Bustard
TIMING (Oct–Nov, Feb)
Being arid, most birds breed at the end of the rains (Sep–Nov)
The cooler months (Dec–Feb), when most migrants are present, are also good
Avoid Apr–Jun due to heat
RESOURCES
Apps
Birds of Africa (iOS or Android)
Field guides
Birds of Western Africa by Nik Borrow & Ron Demey (2014)
Sounds
African Bird Sounds Vol 2: West and Central Africa by Claude Chappuis
Further reading
Niger by Joost Brouwer, S François Codjo & Wim C Mullié in Important Bird Areas in Africa and Associated Islands: Priority Sites for Conservation edited by Lincoln D C Fishpool & Michael I Evans (2001)
Les Oiseaux du Complexe WAP by Gilles Balança, Daniel Cornélis & Roger Wilson (2007)
Articles in Malimbus, Bull. ABC, etc.
Websites
UNESCO World Heritage List: Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves and W-Arly-Pendjari Complex
Facebook groups
Birds of Pendjari , W and Arly Parks
ORGANISATIONS
There is currently no BirdLife Partner in Niger
The West African Bird DataBase (WABDaB) accepts records and images of birds from Niger
Bird or conservation organisations active in Niger include –
Contribution à la Gestion des Zones Humides du Niger (COGEZOH)
Aménagement des Terroirs et Productions Forestières (ATPF)
Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF)
Parcs de Noé (PDN): Réserve Naturelle Nationale de Termit et Tin-Toumma
Association des Campements Touristiques pour l’Appui à la Gestion du Parc Régional W (ACTAG-PRW)