Benin bird checklist

484 bird species in 90 families have been recorded in Benin, according to eBird; about 296 of them are seen regularly, and the rest are rarities, vagrants and escaped or introduced birds. Download the full list as a PDF, or tick birds off on your phone, with counts and notes, even without signal.

Species data: eBird.org, updated 13 Oct 2026 · How these lists are made

The most common birds in Benin right now

1Little Egret
2Pied Kingfisher
3Village Weaver
4Black Kite
5Western Reef-Heron
6Great Egret
7Laughing Dove
8Green Woodhoopoe
9Long-tailed Nightjar
10Mosque Swallow

The top 20, and how they are ranked

Benin bird checklist

484 species · loading the checklist tools…

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

White-faced Whistling-Duck
Knob-billed Duck
Egyptian Goose
Spur-winged Goose
African Pygmy-Goose
Garganey
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal

Guineafowl

Helmeted Guineafowl
Western Crested Guineafowl

New World Quail

Stone Partridge

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

White-throated Francolin
Ahanta Spurfowl
Double-spurred Spurfowl

Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeon
Speckled Pigeon
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon
European Turtle-Dove
African Collared-Dove
Mourning Collared-Dove
Red-eyed Dove
Vinaceous Dove
Laughing Dove
Black-billed Wood-Dove
Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
Tambourine Dove
Namaqua Dove
Bruce's Green-Pigeon
African Green-Pigeon

Sandgrouse

Four-banded Sandgrouse

Bustards

Denham's Bustard
White-bellied Bustard
Black-bellied Bustard

Turacos

Western Plantain-eater
Violet Turaco
Guinea Turaco

Cuckoos

Black-throated Coucal
Senegal Coucal
Blue-headed Coucal
Black Coucal
Blue Malkoha
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Levaillant's Cuckoo
Pied Cuckoo
Thick-billed Cuckoo
Dideric Cuckoo
Klaas's Cuckoo
Black Cuckoo
Red-chested Cuckoo
African Cuckoo

Nightjars and Allies

Standard-winged Nightjar
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Swamp Nightjar
Plain Nightjar
Freckled Nightjar
Long-tailed Nightjar

Swifts

Mottled Spinetail
Alpine Swift
Mottled Swift
Common Swift
Little Swift
White-rumped Swift
African Palm Swift

Flufftails

White-spotted Flufftail
Red-chested Flufftail

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

African Crake
Lesser Moorhen
Eurasian Moorhen
Allen's Gallinule
African Swamphen
Black Crake

Finfoots

African Finfoot

Cranes

Black Crowned-Crane

Thick-knees

Spotted Thick-knee
Water Thick-knee
Senegal Thick-knee

Egyptian Plover

Egyptian Plover

Stilts and Avocets

Black-winged Stilt

Plovers and Lapwings

Black-bellied Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Forbes's Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Spur-winged Lapwing
Black-headed Lapwing
White-crowned Lapwing
Senegal Lapwing
Wattled Lapwing
Kittlitz's Plover
White-fronted Plover

Painted-Snipes

Greater Painted-Snipe

Jacanas

Lesser Jacana
African Jacana

Sandpipers and Allies

Eurasian Whimbrel
Eurasian Curlew
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
Great Snipe
Common Snipe
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Ruff
Curlew Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Sanderling
Little Stint
Pectoral Sandpiper

Buttonquail

Small Buttonquail

Pratincoles and Coursers

Bronze-winged Courser
Rock Pratincole
Gray Pratincole
Collared Pratincole

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Lesser Black-backed Gull
Little Tern
Damara Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Whiskered Tern
Black Tern
Arctic Tern
Common Tern
Roseate Tern
Sandwich Tern
West African Crested Tern

Grebes

Little Grebe

Storks

African Openbill
Black Stork
Abdim's Stork
African Woolly-necked Stork
Saddle-billed Stork
Marabou Stork

Anhingas

African Darter

Cormorants and Shags

Reed Cormorant

Ibises and Spoonbills

Glossy Ibis
African Sacred Ibis
Hadada Ibis

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Dwarf Bittern
Little Bittern
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black Heron
Little Egret
Western Reef-Heron
Little Heron
Squacco Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Great Egret
Yellow-billed Egret
Gray Heron
Purple Heron
Black-headed Heron
Goliath Heron

Hamerkop

Hamerkop

Pelicans

Great White Pelican

Osprey

Osprey

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Black-winged Kite
African Harrier-Hawk
Palm-nut Vulture
African Cuckoo-Hawk
European Honey-buzzard
White-headed Vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
Hooded Vulture
White-backed Vulture
Rüppell's Griffon
Bateleur
Western Banded Snake-Eagle
Beaudouin's Snake-Eagle
Brown Snake-Eagle
Martial Eagle
Long-crested Eagle
Wahlberg's Eagle
Booted Eagle
Tawny Eagle
African Hawk-Eagle
Bat Hawk
Gabar Goshawk
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
Lizard Buzzard
African Goshawk
Red-thighed Sparrowhawk
Shikra
Ovambo Sparrowhawk
Black Goshawk
Western Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Black Kite
African Fish-Eagle
Grasshopper Buzzard
Red-necked Buzzard

Barn-Owls

Western Barn Owl

Owls

African Scops-Owl
Northern White-faced Owl
Grayish Eagle-Owl
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
Pearl-spotted Owlet
African Wood-Owl
Marsh Owl

Trogons

Narina Trogon

Hoopoes

Common Hoopoe

Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills

Green Woodhoopoe
Black Scimitarbill

Hornbills

Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill
West African Pied Hornbill
African Gray Hornbill
Northern Red-billed Hornbill
Piping Hornbill

Bee-eaters

Red-throated Bee-eater
Little Bee-eater
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
White-throated Bee-eater
African Green Bee-eater
Rosy Bee-eater
Northern Carmine Bee-eater

Kingfishers

Shining-blue Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Woodland Kingfisher
Blue-breasted Kingfisher
Striped Kingfisher
Giant Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher

Rollers

Abyssinian Roller
Purple Roller
Blue-bellied Roller
Broad-billed Roller
Blue-throated Roller

African Barbets

Naked-faced Barbet
Speckled Tinkerbird
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
Vieillot's Barbet
Double-toothed Barbet
Bearded Barbet

Honeyguides

Lesser Honeyguide
Spotted Honeyguide
Greater Honeyguide

Woodpeckers

Fire-bellied Woodpecker
Cardinal Woodpecker
Brown-backed Woodpecker
African Gray Woodpecker
Buff-spotted Woodpecker
Green-backed Woodpecker
Fine-spotted Woodpecker
Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Falcons and Caracaras

Eurasian Kestrel
Fox Kestrel
Gray Kestrel
Red-necked Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
African Hobby
Lanner Falcon
Peregrine Falcon

Old World Parrots

Rose-ringed Parakeet
Red-headed Lovebird

New World and African Parrots

Gray Parrot
Senegal Parrot

Cuckooshrikes

White-breasted Cuckooshrike
Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike
Purple-throated Cuckooshrike

Old World Orioles

African Golden Oriole
Black-winged Oriole

Wattle-eyes and Batises

Chestnut Wattle-eye
Brown-throated Wattle-eye
Red-cheeked Wattle-eye
Senegal Batis

Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies

White-crested Helmetshrike
Red-billed Helmetshrike
African Shrike-flycatcher

Bushshrikes and Allies

Brubru
Northern Puffback
Sabine's Puffback
Marsh Tchagra
Black-crowned Tchagra
Brown-crowned Tchagra
Tropical Boubou
Yellow-crowned Gonolek
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
Gray-headed Bushshrike

Drongos

Sharpe's Drongo
Fork-tailed Drongo

Monarch Flycatchers

Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher
African Paradise-Flycatcher

Shrikes

Yellow-billed Shrike
Northern Fiscal
Woodchat Shrike

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Piapiac
Pied Crow

Hyliotas

Yellow-bellied Hyliota

Fairy Flycatchers

African Blue Flycatcher

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

White-shouldered Black-Tit

Penduline-Tits

Yellow Penduline-Tit

Larks

Rufous-rumped Lark
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
Flappet Lark
Sun Lark

Nicators

Western Nicator

African Warblers

Green Crombec
Northern Crombec
Moustached Grass-Warbler
Kemp's Longbill
Gray Longbill

Cisticolas and Allies

Senegal Eremomela
Green-backed Camaroptera
Yellow-browed Camaroptera
Olive-green Camaroptera
Yellow-breasted Apalis
Buff-throated Apalis
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Red-winged Prinia
Oriole Warbler
Red-faced Cisticola
Singing Cisticola
Whistling Cisticola
Rock-loving Cisticola
Dorst's Cisticola
Winding Cisticola
Croaking Cisticola
Siffling Cisticola
Rufous Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola

Reed Warblers and Allies

Western Olivaceous Warbler
Melodious Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Common Reed Warbler
Greater Swamp Warbler
Great Reed Warbler

Grassbirds and Allies

Little Rush Warbler

Swallows

Fanti Sawwing
Banded Martin
Plain Martin
Bank Swallow
Red-throated Crag-Martin
Pied-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Red-chested Swallow
Ethiopian Swallow
Wire-tailed Swallow
Western House-Martin
African Red-rumped Swallow
Lesser Striped Swallow
Rufous-chested Swallow
Mosque Swallow
Preuss's Swallow

Bulbuls

Slender-billed Greenbul
Gray-headed Bristlebill
Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul
Swamp Greenbul
Simple Greenbul
Red-tailed Greenbul
Little Greenbul
Plain Greenbul
Gray Greenbul
White-throated Greenbul
Leaf-love
Baumann's Greenbul
Common Bulbul

Leaf Warblers

Wood Warbler
Willow Warbler

Hylias

Green Hylia

Sylviid Warblers and Allies

Garden Warbler

White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies

Northern Yellow White-eye

Ground Babblers and Allies

Brown Illadopsis
Puvel's Illadopsis

Laughingthrushes and Allies

Brown Babbler
Blackcap Babbler

Spotted Creepers

African Spotted Creeper

Oxpeckers

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Starlings

Violet-backed Starling
Chestnut-winged Starling
Purple-headed Starling
Long-tailed Glossy Starling
Splendid Starling
Chestnut-bellied Starling
Lesser Blue-eared Starling
Purple Starling
Bronze-tailed Starling

Thrushes and Allies

African Thrush

Old World Flycatchers

Spotted Flycatcher
Swamp Flycatcher
Pale Flycatcher
White-browed Forest-Flycatcher
Gray Tit-Flycatcher
Ashy Flycatcher
Northern Black-Flycatcher
Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
White-crowned Robin-Chat
Orange-breasted Forest Robin
Common Nightingale
European Pied Flycatcher
Common Redstart
Whinchat
African Stonechat
Mocking Cliff-Chat
Heuglin's Wheatear
White-fronted Black-Chat
Familiar Chat

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters

Fraser's Sunbird
Mouse-brown Sunbird
Western Violet-backed Sunbird
Collared Sunbird
Pygmy Sunbird
Green-headed Sunbird
Olive Sunbird
Buff-throated Sunbird
Carmelite Sunbird
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Olive-bellied Sunbird
Beautiful Sunbird
Splendid Sunbird
Superb Sunbird
Variable Sunbird
Copper Sunbird

Weavers and Allies

Speckle-fronted Weaver
Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver
Red-vented Malimbe
Blue-billed Malimbe
Red-headed Malimbe
Red-headed Weaver
Little Weaver
Slender-billed Weaver
Olive-naped Weaver
Orange Weaver
Vitelline Masked-Weaver
Heuglin's Masked-Weaver
Chestnut-and-black Weaver
Village Weaver
Black-headed Weaver
Yellow-mantled Weaver
Compact Weaver
Red-headed Quelea
Red-billed Quelea
Northern Red Bishop
Black-winged Bishop
Yellow-crowned Bishop
Yellow-mantled Widowbird
Grosbeak Weaver

Waxbills and Allies

Bronze Mannikin
Black-and-white Mannikin
African Silverbill
Chestnut-breasted Nigrita
Gray-headed Nigrita
Lavender Waxbill
Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Anambra Waxbill
Black-rumped Waxbill
Quailfinch
Cut-throat
Zebra Waxbill
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
Western Bluebill
Black-bellied Seedcracker
Red-winged Pytilia
Red-billed Firefinch
African Firefinch
Black-bellied Firefinch
Bar-breasted Firefinch
Black-faced Firefinch

Whydahs and Indigobirds

Pin-tailed Whydah
Exclamatory Paradise-Whydah
Togo Paradise-Whydah
Village Indigobird
Wilson's Indigobird

Old World Sparrows

Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
Sahel Bush Sparrow

Wagtails and Pipits

Western Yellow Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
Plain-backed Pipit
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Yellow-throated Longclaw

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

White-rumped Seedeater
Yellow-fronted Canary
West African Seedeater

Old World Buntings

Brown-rumped Bunting
Cabanis's Bunting
Gosling's Bunting

Most common birds in Benin

Ranked by how recently and how widely each was reported to eBird in the 30 days to 2026-10-13, and whether it is one of Benin’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.

Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis
Village WeaverPloceus cucullatus
Black KiteMilvus migrans
Western Reef-HeronEgretta gularis
Great EgretArdea alba
Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
Green WoodhoopoePhoeniculus purpureus
Long-tailed NightjarCaprimulgus climacurus
Mosque SwallowCecropis senegalensis
Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala
Northern FiscalLanius humeralis
African Gray WoodpeckerDendropicos goertae
Rufous-chested SwallowCecropis semirufa
Tawny-flanked PriniaPrinia subflava
Northern PuffbackDryoscopus gambensis
Yellow-fronted CanaryCrithagra mozambica
White-crested HelmetshrikePrionops plumatus
Variable SunbirdCinnyris venustus
Wilson's IndigobirdVidua wilsoni

Largest bird families in Benin

Among its regular birds.

Weavers and Allies20
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites18
Waxbills and Allies17
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns13
Pigeons and Doves13
Swallows12
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters11
Cisticolas and Allies10

Reported in the last 30 days

32 species reported to eBird in Benin in the 30 days to 2026-10-13, most recent first:

Pied Kingfisher, Little Egret, Village Weaver, Western Reef-Heron, Black Kite, Mosque Swallow, Great Egret, Green Woodhoopoe, Laughing Dove, Long-tailed Nightjar, African Gray Woodpecker, Northern Fiscal, Northern Puffback, Wilson's Indigobird, Red-billed Firefinch, Rufous-chested Swallow, Simple Greenbul, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Variable Sunbird, White-crested Helmetshrike, Yellow-fronted Canary, Black-crowned Tchagra, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Olive-naped Weaver, Black-winged Kite, Black Coucal, Black Goshawk, Collared Sunbird, Copper Sunbird, Dideric Cuckoo, Double-spurred Spurfowl, Western Yellow Wagtail.