Burkina Faso bird checklist
401 bird species in 82 families have been recorded in Burkina Faso, according to eBird; about 291 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 · How these lists are made
The most common birds in Burkina Faso right now
1African Gray Hornbill
2Laughing Dove
3Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
4Hooded Vulture
5Green Sandpiper
6Little Swift
7Little Egret
8Hamerkop
9Zitting Cisticola
10African Green Bee-eater
Burkina Faso bird checklist
401 species · loading the checklist tools…
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
- White-faced Whistling-Duck
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck
- Knob-billed Duck
- Egyptian Goose
- Spur-winged Goose
- Muscovy Duck
- African Pygmy-Goose
- Garganey
Guineafowl
- Helmeted Guineafowl
New World Quail
- Stone Partridge
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
- Indian Peafowl
- Common Quail
- Double-spurred Spurfowl
Pigeons and Doves
- Rock Pigeon
- Speckled 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
- Namaqua Dove
- Bruce's Green-Pigeon
- African Green-Pigeon
Sandgrouse
- Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
- Four-banded Sandgrouse
Bustards
- Arabian Bustard
- Denham's Bustard
- White-bellied Bustard
- Savile's Bustard
- Black-bellied Bustard
Turacos
- Western Plantain-eater
- Violet Turaco
- Guinea Turaco
Cuckoos
- Senegal Coucal
- Black Coucal
- Blue Malkoha
- Great Spotted Cuckoo
- Levaillant's Cuckoo
- Pied Cuckoo
- Dideric Cuckoo
- Klaas's Cuckoo
- African Cuckoo
- Common Cuckoo
Nightjars and Allies
- Pennant-winged Nightjar
- Standard-winged Nightjar
- Plain Nightjar
- Long-tailed Nightjar
Swifts
- Mottled Spinetail
- Mottled Swift
- Common Swift
- Pallid Swift
- Little Swift
- White-rumped Swift
- African Palm Swift
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
- Senegal Thick-knee
Egyptian Plover
- Egyptian Plover
Stilts and Avocets
- Black-winged Stilt
- Pied Avocet
Plovers and Lapwings
- Common Ringed Plover
- Little Ringed Plover
- Spur-winged Lapwing
- Black-headed Lapwing
- White-crowned Lapwing
- Wattled Lapwing
- Kittlitz's Plover
Painted-Snipes
- Greater Painted-Snipe
Jacanas
- Lesser Jacana
- African Jacana
Sandpipers and Allies
- Eurasian Curlew
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Common Snipe
- Common Sandpiper
- Green Sandpiper
- Marsh Sandpiper
- Wood Sandpiper
- Common Redshank
- Spotted Redshank
- Common Greenshank
- Ruff
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Temminck's Stint
- Little Stint
Buttonquail
- Small Buttonquail
Pratincoles and Coursers
- Bronze-winged Courser
- Temminck's Courser
- Collared Pratincole
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
- African Skimmer
- Gull-billed Tern
- Caspian Tern
- White-winged Tern
Grebes
- Little Grebe
Storks
- African Openbill
- Black Stork
- Abdim's Stork
- African Woolly-necked Stork
- White Stork
- Saddle-billed Stork
- Marabou Stork
Anhingas
- African Darter
Cormorants and Shags
- Reed Cormorant
Ibises and Spoonbills
- Glossy Ibis
- African Sacred Ibis
- Hadada Ibis
- African Spoonbill
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
- Dwarf Bittern
- Little Bittern
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- Little Egret
- Western Reef-Heron
- White-backed Night Heron
- Little Heron
- Squacco Heron
- Western Cattle-Egret
- Great Egret
- Yellow-billed Egret
- Gray Heron
- Purple Heron
- Black-headed Heron
- Goliath Heron
Hamerkop
- Hamerkop
Osprey
- Osprey
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
- Scissor-tailed Kite
- 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
- Short-toed 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
- Shikra
- Ovambo Sparrowhawk
- Western Marsh Harrier
- Pallid Harrier
- Montagu's Harrier
- Black Kite
- African Fish-Eagle
- Grasshopper Buzzard
- Red-necked Buzzard
- Long-legged Buzzard
Barn-Owls
- Western Barn Owl
Owls
- African Scops-Owl
- Northern White-faced Owl
- Grayish Eagle-Owl
- Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
- Pel's Fishing-Owl
- Pearl-spotted Owlet
Hoopoes
- Common Hoopoe
Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills
- Green Woodhoopoe
- Black Scimitarbill
Hornbills
- Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill
- African Gray Hornbill
- Northern Red-billed Hornbill
Bee-eaters
- Red-throated Bee-eater
- Little Bee-eater
- Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
- White-throated Bee-eater
- African Green Bee-eater
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
- European 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
- European Roller
- Abyssinian Roller
- Purple Roller
- Blue-bellied Roller
- Broad-billed Roller
African Barbets
- Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
- Vieillot's Barbet
- Bearded Barbet
Honeyguides
- Brown-backed Honeybird
- Lesser Honeyguide
- Greater Honeyguide
Woodpeckers
- Eurasian Wryneck
- Cardinal Woodpecker
- Brown-backed Woodpecker
- African Gray Woodpecker
- Fine-spotted Woodpecker
Falcons and Caracaras
- Eurasian Kestrel
- Fox Kestrel
- Gray Kestrel
- Red-necked Falcon
- Red-footed Falcon
- African Hobby
- Lanner Falcon
- Peregrine Falcon
Old World Parrots
- Rose-ringed Parakeet
New World and African Parrots
- Gray Parrot
- Senegal Parrot
Cuckooshrikes
- White-breasted Cuckooshrike
- Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike
Old World Orioles
- Eurasian Golden Oriole
- African Golden Oriole
Wattle-eyes and Batises
- Brown-throated Wattle-eye
- Senegal Batis
Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies
- White-crested Helmetshrike
Bushshrikes and Allies
- Brubru
- Northern Puffback
- Black-crowned Tchagra
- Yellow-crowned Gonolek
- Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
- Gray-headed Bushshrike
Drongos
- Sharpe's Drongo
- Fork-tailed Drongo
Monarch Flycatchers
- African Paradise-Flycatcher
Shrikes
- Yellow-billed Shrike
- Isabelline Shrike
- Great Gray Shrike
- Woodchat Shrike
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
- Piapiac
- Pied Crow
- Brown-necked Raven
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
- Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark
- Singing Bushlark
- Flappet Lark
- Sun Lark
- Crested Lark
African Warblers
- Northern Crombec
- Moustached Grass-Warbler
Cisticolas and Allies
- Senegal Eremomela
- Green-backed Camaroptera
- Cricket Longtail
- Yellow-breasted Apalis
- Tawny-flanked Prinia
- Red-winged Prinia
- Oriole Warbler
- Red-faced Cisticola
- Singing Cisticola
- Winding Cisticola
- Croaking Cisticola
- Siffling Cisticola
- Rufous Cisticola
- Zitting Cisticola
Reed Warblers and Allies
- Western Olivaceous Warbler
- Melodious Warbler
- Icterine Warbler
- Sedge Warbler
- Common Reed Warbler
- Great Reed Warbler
Swallows
- Fanti Sawwing
- Gray-rumped Swallow
- 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
- Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul
- Common Bulbul
Leaf Warblers
- Wood Warbler
- Western Bonelli's Warbler
- Willow Warbler
- Common Chiffchaff
- Iberian Chiffchaff
Sylviid Warblers and Allies
- Eurasian Blackcap
- Garden Warbler
- Western Subalpine Warbler
- Greater Whitethroat
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies
- Northern Yellow White-eye
Laughingthrushes and Allies
- Brown Babbler
- Blackcap Babbler
Oxpeckers
- Yellow-billed Oxpecker
Starlings
- Violet-backed Starling
- Neumann's Starling
- Long-tailed Glossy Starling
- Chestnut-bellied Starling
- Lesser Blue-eared Starling
- Greater Blue-eared Starling
- Purple Starling
- Bronze-tailed Starling
Thrushes and Allies
- African Thrush
Old World Flycatchers
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Gambaga Flycatcher
- Swamp Flycatcher
- Pale Flycatcher
- Northern Black-Flycatcher
- Black Scrub-Robin
- Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin
- Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
- White-crowned Robin-Chat
- Common Nightingale
- Bluethroat
- European Pied Flycatcher
- Common Redstart
- Whinchat
- Mocking Cliff-Chat
- Northern Anteater-Chat
- Northern Wheatear
- Heuglin's Wheatear
- Western Black-eared Wheatear
- White-fronted Black-Chat
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters
- Western Violet-backed Sunbird
- Pygmy Sunbird
- Green-headed Sunbird
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird
- Beautiful Sunbird
- Splendid Sunbird
- Copper Sunbird
Weavers and Allies
- White-billed Buffalo-Weaver
- Speckle-fronted Weaver
- Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver
- Red-headed Weaver
- Little Weaver
- Olive-naped Weaver
- Vitelline Masked-Weaver
- Heuglin's Masked-Weaver
- Village Weaver
- Black-headed Weaver
- Red-headed Quelea
- Red-billed Quelea
- Northern Red Bishop
- Black-winged Bishop
- Yellow-crowned Bishop
- Yellow-mantled Widowbird
Waxbills and Allies
- Bronze Mannikin
- African Silverbill
- Lavender Waxbill
- Orange-cheeked Waxbill
- Black-rumped Waxbill
- Quailfinch
- Cut-throat
- Zebra Waxbill
- Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
- Green-winged Pytilia
- Red-winged Pytilia
- Red-billed Firefinch
- Black-bellied Firefinch
- Bar-breasted Firefinch
- Black-faced Firefinch
Whydahs and Indigobirds
- Pin-tailed Whydah
- Sahel Paradise-Whydah
- Exclamatory Paradise-Whydah
- Village Indigobird
- Parasitic Weaver
Old World Sparrows
- House Sparrow
- Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
- Sudan Golden Sparrow
- Sahel Bush Sparrow
Wagtails and Pipits
- Western Yellow Wagtail
- African Pied Wagtail
- White Wagtail
- Tawny Pipit
- Tree Pipit
- Yellow-throated Longclaw
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
- White-rumped Seedeater
- Yellow-fronted Canary
- West African Seedeater
Old World Buntings
- Brown-rumped Bunting
- Golden-breasted Bunting
- Gosling's Bunting
Most common birds in Burkina Faso
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 Burkina Faso’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.
- African Gray HornbillLophoceros nasutus
- Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
- Northern Gray-headed SparrowPasser griseus
- Hooded VultureNecrosyrtes monachus
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Little SwiftApus affinis
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- HamerkopScopus umbretta
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- African Green Bee-eaterMerops viridissimus
- Long-tailed Glossy StarlingLamprotornis caudatus
- Namaqua DoveOena capensis
- Lavender WaxbillGlaucestrilda caerulescens
- Purple StarlingLamprotornis purpureus
- Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala
- Little WeaverPloceus luteolus
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- African Gray WoodpeckerDendropicos goertae
- Red-cheeked CordonbleuUraeginthus bengalus
- Red-billed QueleaQuelea quelea
Largest bird families in Burkina Faso
Among its regular birds.
- Hawks, Eagles, and Kites18
- Weavers and Allies14
- Pigeons and Doves13
- Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns13
- Waxbills and Allies12
- Old World Flycatchers12
- Cisticolas and Allies11
- Swallows11
Reported in the last 30 days
108 species reported to eBird in Burkina Faso in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:
Zitting Cisticola, African Gray Hornbill, African Green Bee-eater, Green Sandpiper, African Gray Woodpecker, Northern Gray-headed Sparrow, Hamerkop, Hooded Vulture, Laughing Dove, Lavender Waxbill, Levaillant's Cuckoo, Little Egret, Little Swift, Little Weaver, Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Namaqua Dove, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Purple Starling, Red-billed Firefinch, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Red-billed Quelea, Red-cheeked Cordonbleu, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Senegal Coucal, Senegal Eremomela, Senegal Thick-knee, Shikra, Spotted Thick-knee, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Heron, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Vieillot's Barbet, Village Weaver, Vinaceous Dove, White-billed Buffalo-Weaver, Western Plantain-eater, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler, …
Get to know some of them
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Village Weaver
White-faced Whistling-Duck
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black Kite
Western Cattle-Egret
Common Bulbul
Bronze Mannikin
Common Sandpiper
Squacco Heron
Reed Cormorant
Gray Heron
Great Egret
African Palm Swift
Purple Heron
Eurasian Kestrel
Osprey
Rock Pigeon
Western House-Martin
Black-winged Stilt