Congo bird checklist

630 bird species in 91 families have been recorded in Congo, according to eBird; about 323 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 Congo right now

1Village Weaver
2African Woolly-necked Stork
3Little Egret
4Pied Crow
5African Palm Swift
6Palm-nut Vulture
7Purple Heron
8African Jacana
9Little Swift
10Reed Cormorant

The top 20, and how they are ranked

Congo bird checklist

630 species · loading the checklist tools…

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

White-faced Whistling-Duck
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Knob-billed Duck
Hartlaub's Duck
Spur-winged Goose
African Pygmy-Goose
Yellow-billed Duck

Guineafowl

Helmeted Guineafowl
Black Guineafowl
Plumed Guineafowl
Western Crested Guineafowl

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Latham's Francolin
Coqui Francolin
Finsch's Francolin
Blue Quail
Harlequin Quail
Scaly Spurfowl
Red-necked Spurfowl

Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeon
Afep Pigeon
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon
White-naped Pigeon
Lemon Dove
Red-eyed Dove
Ring-necked Dove
Laughing Dove
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
Tambourine Dove
Blue-headed Wood-Dove
Namaqua Dove
African Green-Pigeon

Bustards

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

Turacos

Great Blue Turaco
Western Plantain-eater
Yellow-billed Turaco
Black-billed Turaco
Guinea Turaco

Cuckoos

Gabon Coucal
Senegal Coucal
Blue-headed Coucal
White-browed Coucal
Black Coucal
Blue Malkoha
Levaillant's Cuckoo
Pied Cuckoo
Thick-billed Cuckoo
Dideric Cuckoo
Klaas's Cuckoo
Yellow-throated Cuckoo
African Emerald Cuckoo
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo
Black Cuckoo
Red-chested Cuckoo
African Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo

Nightjars and Allies

Brown Nightjar
Pennant-winged Nightjar
Standard-winged Nightjar
Eurasian Nightjar
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Swamp Nightjar
Bates's Nightjar
Long-tailed Nightjar
Square-tailed Nightjar

Swifts

Mottled Spinetail
Black Spinetail
Sabine's Spinetail
Cassin's Spinetail
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Little Swift
Horus Swift
White-rumped Swift
Bates's Swift
African Palm Swift

Flufftails

White-spotted Flufftail
Buff-spotted Flufftail
Red-chested Flufftail
Streaky-breasted Flufftail

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

African Rail
African Crake
Gray-throated Rail
Lesser Moorhen
Allen's Gallinule
African Swamphen
Nkulengu Rail
Striped Crake
Black Crake

Finfoots

African Finfoot

Thick-knees

Water Thick-knee

Egyptian Plover

Egyptian Plover

Plovers and Lapwings

Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Forbes's Plover
Three-banded Plover
Little Ringed Plover
White-crowned Lapwing
Senegal Lapwing
White-fronted Plover

Jacanas

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
Ruff
Curlew Sandpiper
Sanderling
Little Stint

Buttonquail

Small Buttonquail
Black-rumped Buttonquail

Pratincoles and Coursers

Bronze-winged Courser
Temminck's Courser
Rock Pratincole
Gray Pratincole
Collared Pratincole

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Gray-hooded Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
African Skimmer
Little Tern
Damara Tern
Caspian Tern
Whiskered Tern
Black Tern
White-winged Tern
Common Tern
Sandwich Tern
West African Crested Tern

Flamingos

Greater Flamingo

Grebes

Little Grebe

Shearwaters and Petrels

Southern Giant-Petrel

Storks

African Openbill
Abdim's Stork
African Woolly-necked Stork
White Stork
Marabou Stork
Yellow-billed Stork

Anhingas

African Darter

Cormorants and Shags

Reed Cormorant
Great Cormorant

Ibises and Spoonbills

Glossy Ibis
Olive Ibis
Spot-breasted Ibis
Hadada Ibis
African Spoonbill

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

White-crested Tiger-Heron
Dwarf Bittern
Little Bittern
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black Heron
Little Egret
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

Pelicans

Great White Pelican
Pink-backed Pelican

Osprey

Osprey

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Black-winged Kite
African Harrier-Hawk
Palm-nut Vulture
African Cuckoo-Hawk
European Honey-buzzard
Bateleur
Congo Snake-Eagle
Black-chested Snake-Eagle
Crowned Eagle
Martial Eagle
Long-crested Eagle
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Wahlberg's Eagle
Ayres's Hawk-Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Cassin's Hawk-Eagle
Bat Hawk
Long-tailed Hawk
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
Lizard Buzzard
African Goshawk
Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk
Red-thighed Sparrowhawk
Shikra
Black Goshawk
Western Marsh Harrier
African Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Black Kite
African Fish-Eagle
Red-necked Buzzard
Common Buzzard

Barn-Owls

African Grass-Owl
Western Barn Owl

Owls

Spotted Eagle-Owl
Fraser's Eagle-Owl
Akun Eagle-Owl
Pel's Fishing-Owl
Vermiculated Fishing-Owl
Red-chested Owlet
Sjöstedt's Owlet
African Wood-Owl
Marsh Owl

Mousebirds

Speckled Mousebird

Trogons

Narina Trogon
Bare-cheeked Trogon

Hoopoes

Common Hoopoe

Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills

Forest Scimitarbill
Black Scimitarbill

Hornbills

Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill
Congo Pied Hornbill
Eastern Long-tailed Hornbill
Western Dwarf Hornbill
Eastern Dwarf Hornbill
Black-casqued Hornbill
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
White-thighed Hornbill
Piping Hornbill

Bee-eaters

Black Bee-eater
Blue-headed Bee-eater
White-fronted Bee-eater
Little Bee-eater
Blue-breasted Bee-eater
Black-headed Bee-eater
White-throated Bee-eater
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
Rosy Bee-eater

Kingfishers

Shining-blue Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
White-bellied Kingfisher
African Pygmy Kingfisher
African Dwarf Kingfisher
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Woodland Kingfisher
Blue-breasted Kingfisher
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Striped Kingfisher
Giant Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher

Rollers

European Roller
Lilac-breasted Roller
Broad-billed Roller
Blue-throated Roller

African Barbets

Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet
Gray-throated Barbet
Sladen's Barbet
Bristle-nosed Barbet
Naked-faced Barbet
Speckled Tinkerbird
Red-rumped Tinkerbird
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
Yellow-spotted Barbet
Hairy-breasted Barbet
Miombo Barbet
Black-backed Barbet
Double-toothed Barbet

Honeyguides

Cassin's Honeybird
Zenker's Honeyguide
Willcocks's Honeyguide
Least Honeyguide
Lesser Honeyguide
Spotted Honeyguide
Greater Honeyguide
Lyre-tailed Honeyguide

Woodpeckers

Red-throated Wryneck
African Piculet
Golden-crowned Woodpecker
Gabon Woodpecker
Elliot's Woodpecker
Cardinal Woodpecker
African Gray Woodpecker
Brown-eared Woodpecker
Buff-spotted Woodpecker
Green-backed Woodpecker
Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Falcons and Caracaras

Lesser Kestrel
Eurasian Kestrel
Gray Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
African Hobby
Lanner Falcon
Peregrine Falcon

Old World Parrots

Black-collared Lovebird
Red-headed Lovebird

New World and African Parrots

Gray Parrot
Red-fronted Parrot

African and Green Broadbills

African Broadbill
Gray-headed Broadbill
Rufous-sided Broadbill

Pittas

African Pitta

Cuckooshrikes

Oriole Cuckooshrike
Petit's Cuckooshrike
Purple-throated Cuckooshrike
Blue Cuckooshrike

Old World Orioles

Eurasian Golden Oriole
Western Black-headed Oriole
Black-winged Oriole

Wattle-eyes and Batises

Chestnut Wattle-eye
White-spotted Wattle-eye
Brown-throated Wattle-eye
Black-necked Wattle-eye
Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye
Chinspot Batis
Western Black-headed Batis
Verreaux's Batis
West African Batis
Angola Batis

Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies

Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike
African Shrike-flycatcher
Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher

Bushshrikes and Allies

Northern Puffback
Red-eyed Puffback
Sabine's Puffback
Marsh Tchagra
Black-crowned Tchagra
Brown-crowned Tchagra
Lühder's Bushshrike
Gabon Boubou
Lowland Sooty Boubou
Four-colored Bushshrike
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
Many-colored Bushshrike
Fiery-breasted Bushshrike

Drongos

Sharpe's Drongo
Shining Drongo
Fork-tailed Drongo
Velvet-mantled Drongo

Monarch Flycatchers

Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher
Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher
Rufous-vented Paradise-Flycatcher
Bates's Paradise-Flycatcher
African Paradise-Flycatcher

Shrikes

Red-tailed Shrike
Lesser Gray Shrike
Mackinnon's Shrike
Northern Fiscal
Souza's Shrike

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Pied Crow

Rockfowl

Gray-necked Rockfowl

Hyliotas

Yellow-bellied Hyliota
Violet-backed Hyliota

Fairy Flycatchers

African Blue Flycatcher
Dusky Crested Flycatcher

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

White-winged Black-Tit
Dusky Tit

Penduline-Tits

Forest Penduline-Tit
African Penduline-Tit

Larks

Flappet Lark
Plains Lark
Greater Short-toed Lark
Red-capped Lark

Nicators

Western Nicator
Yellow-throated Nicator

African Warblers

Green Crombec
Lemon-bellied Crombec
Red-capped Crombec
Moustached Grass-Warbler
Yellow Longbill
Gray Longbill

Cisticolas and Allies

Yellow-bellied Eremomela
Green-capped Eremomela
Rufous-crowned Eremomela
White-chinned Prinia
Green-backed Camaroptera
Yellow-browed Camaroptera
Olive-green Camaroptera
Black-capped Apalis
Black-throated Apalis
Yellow-breasted Apalis
Buff-throated Apalis
Gosling's Apalis
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Banded Prinia
Black-faced Rufous-Warbler
Red-faced Cisticola
Singing Cisticola
Whistling Cisticola
Chattering Cisticola
Rattling Cisticola
Tinkling Cisticola
Winding Cisticola
Croaking Cisticola
Piping Cisticola
Siffling Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola
Black-backed Cisticola
Pectoral-patch Cisticola
Wing-snapping Cisticola

Reed Warblers and Allies

African Yellow-Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Common Reed Warbler
Greater Swamp Warbler
Great Reed Warbler

Grassbirds and Allies

Fan-tailed Grassbird

Swallows

African River Martin
Square-tailed Sawwing
Black Sawwing
Gray-rumped Swallow
Banded Martin
Brazza's Martin
Congo Martin
Bank Swallow
Red-throated Crag-Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-chested Swallow
Ethiopian Swallow
Angola Swallow
White-throated Blue Swallow
Forest Swallow
Western House-Martin
Lesser Striped Swallow
Rufous-chested Swallow
Mosque Swallow
Red-throated Swallow
Preuss's Swallow
South African Swallow

Bulbuls

Slender-billed Greenbul
Golden Greenbul
Black-collared Bulbul
Red-tailed Bristlebill
Yellow-lored Bristlebill
Yellow-eyed Bristlebill
Pale-throated Greenbul
Spotted Greenbul
Swamp Greenbul
Yellow-necked Greenbul
Simple Greenbul
Honeyguide Greenbul
Sjöstedt's Greenbul
Eastern Bearded-Greenbul
Red-tailed Greenbul
White-bearded Greenbul
Little Greenbul
Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
Plain Greenbul
Gray Greenbul
Ansorge's Greenbul
White-throated Greenbul
Xavier's Greenbul
Icterine Greenbul
Leaf-love
Common Bulbul

Leaf Warblers

Wood Warbler
Willow Warbler
Uganda Woodland-Warbler

Hylias

Green Hylia
Tit-hylia

Yellow Flycatchers

Chestnut-capped Flycatcher

Sylviid Warblers and Allies

Garden Warbler

White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies

Forest White-eye
Northern Yellow White-eye

Ground Babblers and Allies

Brown Illadopsis
Pale-breasted Illadopsis
Blackcap Illadopsis

Laughingthrushes and Allies

Arrow-marked Babbler

Oxpeckers

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Starlings

Violet-backed Starling
Chestnut-winged Starling
White-collared Starling
Narrow-tailed Starling
Purple-headed Starling
Splendid Starling

Thrushes and Allies

Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush
Red-tailed Ant-Thrush
White-tailed Ant-Thrush
African Thrush

Old World Flycatchers

Little Flycatcher
Yellow-footed Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher
Cassin's Flycatcher
Sooty Flycatcher
Dusky-blue Flycatcher
Pale Flycatcher
White-browed Forest-Flycatcher
African Forest-Flycatcher
Gray-throated Tit-Flycatcher
Gray Tit-Flycatcher
Olivaceous Flycatcher
Tessmann's Flycatcher
Ashy Flycatcher
Fire-crested Alethe
White-browed Scrub-Robin
Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat
White-browed Robin-Chat
Red-capped Robin-Chat
White-headed Robin-Chat
Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
Rufous-tailed Palm-Thrush
Brown-chested Alethe
Yellow-breasted Forest Robin
Lowland Akalat
Whinchat
African Stonechat
Sooty Chat
Congo Moor Chat

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters

Fraser's Sunbird
Mouse-brown Sunbird
Western Violet-backed Sunbird
Violet-tailed Sunbird
Little Green Sunbird
Gray-chinned Sunbird
Collared Sunbird
Reichenbach's Sunbird
Green-headed Sunbird
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird
Olive Sunbird
Carmelite Sunbird
Green-throated Sunbird
Amethyst Sunbird
Olive-bellied Sunbird
Tiny Sunbird
Congo Sunbird
Purple-banded Sunbird
Orange-tufted Sunbird
Johanna's Sunbird
Superb Sunbird
Bates's Sunbird
Copper Sunbird

Weavers and Allies

Red-crowned Malimbe
Black-throated Malimbe
Red-bellied Malimbe
Blue-billed Malimbe
Crested Malimbe
Red-headed Malimbe
Black-chinned Weaver
Slender-billed Weaver
Loango Weaver
Black-necked Weaver
Spectacled Weaver
Holub's Golden-Weaver
Orange Weaver
Lesser Masked-Weaver
Vieillot's Black Weaver
Village Weaver
Weyns's Weaver
Black-headed Weaver
Yellow-mantled Weaver
Maxwell's Black Weaver
Dark-backed Weaver
Yellow-capped Weaver
Preuss's Weaver
Compact Weaver
Red-headed Quelea
Red-billed Quelea
Bob-tailed Weaver
Black-winged Bishop
Yellow-crowned Bishop
White-winged Widowbird
Yellow-mantled Widowbird
Red-collared Widowbird
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Marsh Widowbird
Grosbeak Weaver

Waxbills and Allies

Bronze Mannikin
Magpie Mannikin
Black-and-white Mannikin
Green-backed Twinspot
Woodhouse's Antpecker
White-breasted Nigrita
Chestnut-breasted Nigrita
Gray-headed Nigrita
Pale-fronted Nigrita
Black-tailed Waxbill
Black-crowned Waxbill
Black-headed Waxbill
Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Fawn-breasted Waxbill
Common Waxbill
Quailfinch
Locustfinch
Zebra Waxbill
Southern Cordonbleu
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
Grant's Bluebill
Western Bluebill
Black-bellied Seedcracker
Orange-winged Pytilia
Brown Twinspot
Red-billed Firefinch
African Firefinch
Jameson's Firefinch

Whydahs and Indigobirds

Pin-tailed Whydah
Cameroon Indigobird
Parasitic Weaver

Old World Sparrows

House Sparrow
Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Wagtails and Pipits

Mountain Wagtail
Western Yellow Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pipit
Woodland Pipit
Long-billed Pipit
Plain-backed Pipit
Long-legged Pipit
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Short-tailed Pipit
Yellow-throated Longclaw

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Yellow-fronted Canary
Black-faced Canary
Black-throated Canary

Old World Buntings

Cabanis's Bunting
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Most common birds in Congo

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 Congo’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.

Village WeaverPloceus cucullatus
African Woolly-necked StorkCiconia microscelis
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Pied CrowCorvus albus
African Palm SwiftCypsiurus parvus
Palm-nut VultureGypohierax angolensis
Purple HeronArdea purpurea
African JacanaActophilornis africanus
Little SwiftApus affinis
Reed CormorantMicrocarbo africanus
Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
Vieillot's Black WeaverPloceus nigerrimus
Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis
Malachite KingfisherCorythornis cristatus
Slender-billed WeaverPloceus pelzelni
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Congo Pied HornbillLophoceros fasciatus
Winding CisticolaCisticola marginatus
Great EgretArdea alba

Largest bird families in Congo

Among its regular birds.

Weavers and Allies25
Swallows20
Waxbills and Allies16
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters15
Cisticolas and Allies14
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns11
Old World Flycatchers11
Swifts10

Reported in the last 30 days

149 species reported to eBird in Congo in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:

African Woolly-necked Stork, Vieillot's Black Weaver, Village Weaver, Palm-nut Vulture, Congo Pied Hornbill, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Slender-billed Weaver, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Crow, African Palm Swift, African Jacana, Winding Cisticola, Squacco Heron, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Black Crake, Blue-headed Coucal, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Pied Kingfisher, Reed Cormorant, Little Swift, Little Bittern, Speckled Mousebird, House Sparrow, African Dwarf Kingfisher, Green-backed Woodpecker, Sooty Flycatcher, Common Buzzard, Black-winged Kite, Osprey, Black Sawwing, Barn Swallow, Spotted Greenbul, African Emerald Cuckoo, White-throated Blue Swallow, Piping Hornbill, Cassin's Flycatcher, Black-casqued Hornbill, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Hartlaub's Duck, …