Ghana bird checklist
667 bird species in 96 families have been recorded in Ghana, according to eBird; about 503 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 Ghana right now
1Barn Swallow
2Western House-Martin
3Little Swift
4Laughing Dove
5Black Kite
6White-faced Whistling-Duck
7Village Weaver
8Red-throated Bee-eater
9Bank Swallow
10Sahel Bush Sparrow
Ghana bird checklist
667 species · loading the checklist tools…
Ostriches
- Common Ostrich
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
- White-faced Whistling-Duck
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck
- Knob-billed Duck
- Hartlaub's Duck
- Egyptian Goose
- Spur-winged Goose
- African Pygmy-Goose
- Garganey
- Northern Shoveler
- Eurasian Wigeon
- Northern Pintail
- Green-winged Teal
- Tufted Duck
Guineafowl
- Helmeted Guineafowl
- White-breasted Guineafowl
- Western Crested Guineafowl
New World Quail
- Stone Partridge
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
- Latham's Francolin
- White-throated Francolin
- Blue Quail
- Common Quail
- Ahanta Spurfowl
- Double-spurred Spurfowl
Pigeons and Doves
- Rock Pigeon
- Speckled Pigeon
- Afep Pigeon
- Western Bronze-naped Pigeon
- European Turtle-Dove
- Mourning Collared-Dove
- Red-eyed Dove
- Vinaceous Dove
- Laughing Dove
- Black-billed Wood-Dove
- Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
- Tambourine Dove
- Blue-headed Wood-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
- Great Blue Turaco
- Western Plantain-eater
- Violet Turaco
- Yellow-billed 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
- 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
- Standard-winged Nightjar
- Red-necked Nightjar
- Eurasian Nightjar
- Fiery-necked Nightjar
- Swamp Nightjar
- Plain Nightjar
- Freckled Nightjar
- Long-tailed Nightjar
Swifts
- Mottled Spinetail
- Black Spinetail
- Sabine's Spinetail
- Cassin's Spinetail
- Alpine Swift
- Mottled Swift
- Common Swift
- Pallid Swift
- Little Swift
- Horus Swift
- White-rumped Swift
- Bates's Swift
- African Palm Swift
Flufftails
- White-spotted Flufftail
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- African Crake
- Gray-throated Rail
- Lesser Moorhen
- Eurasian Moorhen
- Allen's Gallinule
- African Swamphen
- Nkulengu Rail
- Black Crake
Finfoots
- African Finfoot
Thick-knees
- Spotted Thick-knee
- Water Thick-knee
- Senegal Thick-knee
Egyptian Plover
- Egyptian Plover
Stilts and Avocets
- Black-winged Stilt
- Pied Avocet
Oystercatchers
- Eurasian Oystercatcher
Plovers and Lapwings
- Black-bellied Plover
- American Golden-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
- Kentish Plover
Painted-Snipes
- Greater Painted-Snipe
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
- Spotted Redshank
- Common Greenshank
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Red Knot
- Ruff
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Temminck's Stint
- Sanderling
- Little Stint
- Pectoral Sandpiper
Buttonquail
- Small Buttonquail
Pratincoles and Coursers
- Bronze-winged Courser
- Temminck's Courser
- Rock Pratincole
- Collared Pratincole
Skuas and Jaegers
- Long-tailed Jaeger
- Parasitic Jaeger
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
- Slender-billed Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- African Skimmer
- Little Tern
- Gull-billed Tern
- Caspian Tern
- Whiskered Tern
- Black Tern
- White-winged 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
- White Stork
- Saddle-billed Stork
- Marabou Stork
- Yellow-billed Stork
Boobies and Gannets
- Cape Gannet
Anhingas
- African Darter
Cormorants and Shags
- Reed Cormorant
- Great Cormorant
Ibises and Spoonbills
- Glossy 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
- 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
- Black-winged Kite
- African Harrier-Hawk
- Palm-nut Vulture
- African Cuckoo-Hawk
- European Honey-buzzard
- White-headed Vulture
- Hooded Vulture
- White-backed Vulture
- Rüppell's Griffon
- Bateleur
- Western Banded Snake-Eagle
- Congo Snake-Eagle
- Beaudouin's Snake-Eagle
- Short-toed Snake-Eagle
- Brown Snake-Eagle
- Crowned Eagle
- Martial Eagle
- Long-crested Eagle
- Wahlberg's Eagle
- Ayres's Hawk-Eagle
- Booted Eagle
- Tawny Eagle
- Cassin's Hawk-Eagle
- African Hawk-Eagle
- Bat Hawk
- Gabar Goshawk
- Long-tailed Hawk
- 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
- Common Buzzard
Barn-Owls
- Western Barn Owl
Owls
- Sandy Scops-Owl
- African Scops-Owl
- Northern White-faced Owl
- Grayish Eagle-Owl
- Fraser's Eagle-Owl
- Akun Eagle-Owl
- Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
- Shelley's Eagle-Owl
- Pel's Fishing-Owl
- Rufous Fishing-Owl
- Pearl-spotted Owlet
- Red-chested Owlet
- African Barred Owlet
- African Wood-Owl
Trogons
- Narina Trogon
Hoopoes
- Common Hoopoe
Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills
- Green Woodhoopoe
- White-headed Woodhoopoe
- Forest Scimitarbill
- Black Scimitarbill
Hornbills
- Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill
- Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill
- West African Pied Hornbill
- African Gray Hornbill
- Northern Red-billed Hornbill
- Western Long-tailed Hornbill
- Western Dwarf Hornbill
- Yellow-casqued Hornbill
- Black-casqued Hornbill
- Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
- Brown-cheeked Hornbill
- Piping Hornbill
Bee-eaters
- Black Bee-eater
- Blue-moustached Bee-eater
- Red-throated Bee-eater
- Little Bee-eater
- Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
- Black-headed Bee-eater
- White-throated Bee-eater
- African Green Bee-eater
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
- European Bee-eater
- Rosy Bee-eater
- Northern Carmine 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
- Striped Kingfisher
- Giant Kingfisher
- Pied Kingfisher
Rollers
- European Roller
- Abyssinian Roller
- Purple Roller
- Blue-bellied Roller
- Broad-billed Roller
- Blue-throated Roller
African Barbets
- Western Yellow-billed 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
- Vieillot's Barbet
- Double-toothed Barbet
- Bearded Barbet
Honeyguides
- Cassin's Honeybird
- Brown-backed Honeybird
- Yellow-footed Honeyguide
- Willcocks's Honeyguide
- Least Honeyguide
- Lesser Honeyguide
- Spotted Honeyguide
- Greater Honeyguide
Woodpeckers
- Eurasian Wryneck
- African Piculet
- Fire-bellied Woodpecker
- Melancholy Woodpecker
- Cardinal Woodpecker
- Brown-backed Woodpecker
- African Gray Woodpecker
- Brown-eared Woodpecker
- Buff-spotted Woodpecker
- Green-backed Woodpecker
- Fine-spotted Woodpecker
- Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Falcons and Caracaras
- Lesser Kestrel
- Eurasian Kestrel
- Fox Kestrel
- Gray Kestrel
- Red-necked Falcon
- Red-footed Falcon
- Eurasian Hobby
- African Hobby
- Lanner Falcon
- Peregrine Falcon
Old World Parrots
- Rose-ringed Parakeet
- Black-collared Lovebird
- Red-headed Lovebird
New World and African Parrots
- Gray Parrot
- Brown-necked Parrot
- Red-fronted Parrot
- Senegal Parrot
African and Green Broadbills
- African Broadbill
- Rufous-sided Broadbill
Pittas
- African Pitta
Cuckooshrikes
- White-breasted Cuckooshrike
- Ghana Cuckooshrike
- Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike
- Purple-throated Cuckooshrike
- Blue Cuckooshrike
Old World Orioles
- Eurasian Golden Oriole
- African Golden Oriole
- Western Black-headed Oriole
- Black-winged Oriole
Wattle-eyes and Batises
- West African Wattle-eye
- Brown-throated Wattle-eye
- Red-cheeked Wattle-eye
- Senegal Batis
- West African Batis
Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies
- White-crested Helmetshrike
- Red-billed Helmetshrike
- African Shrike-flycatcher
- Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher
Bushshrikes and Allies
- Brubru
- Northern Puffback
- Sabine's Puffback
- Marsh Tchagra
- Black-crowned Tchagra
- Brown-crowned Tchagra
- Tropical Boubou
- Yellow-crowned Gonolek
- Lowland Sooty Boubou
- Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
- Many-colored Bushshrike
- Fiery-breasted Bushshrike
- Lagden's Bushshrike
- Gray-headed Bushshrike
Drongos
- Sharpe's Drongo
- Shining Drongo
- Fork-tailed Drongo
- Velvet-mantled Drongo
Monarch Flycatchers
- Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher
- Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher
- African Paradise-Flycatcher
Shrikes
- Yellow-billed Shrike
- Emin's Shrike
- Northern Fiscal
- Woodchat Shrike
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
- Piapiac
- Pied Crow
Rockfowl
- White-necked Rockfowl
Hyliotas
- Yellow-bellied Hyliota
- Violet-backed Hyliota
Fairy Flycatchers
- African Blue Flycatcher
- Dusky Crested Flycatcher
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
- White-shouldered Black-Tit
- Dusky Tit
Penduline-Tits
- Yellow Penduline-Tit
- Forest Penduline-Tit
Larks
- Rufous-rumped Lark
- Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
- Singing Bushlark
- Flappet Lark
- Sun Lark
Nicators
- Western Nicator
African Warblers
- Green Crombec
- Lemon-bellied Crombec
- Northern Crombec
- Moustached Grass-Warbler
- Kemp's Longbill
- Gray Longbill
Cisticolas and Allies
- Senegal Eremomela
- Rufous-crowned Eremomela
- Green-backed Camaroptera
- Yellow-browed Camaroptera
- Olive-green Camaroptera
- Black-capped Apalis
- Yellow-breasted Apalis
- Sharpe's 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
- Black-backed 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
- Square-tailed Sawwing
- Fanti Sawwing
- Plain Martin
- Bank Swallow
- Red-throated Crag-Martin
- Pied-winged Swallow
- Barn Swallow
- Red-chested Swallow
- Ethiopian Swallow
- White-throated Blue 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
- Golden Greenbul
- Red-tailed Bristlebill
- Green-tailed Bristlebill
- Gray-headed Bristlebill
- Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul
- Spotted Greenbul
- Swamp Greenbul
- Simple Greenbul
- Honeyguide Greenbul
- Western Bearded-Greenbul
- Red-tailed Greenbul
- Yellow-bearded Greenbul
- Little Greenbul
- Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
- Plain Greenbul
- Gray Greenbul
- Ansorge's Greenbul
- White-throated Greenbul
- Icterine Greenbul
- Leaf-love
- Baumann's Greenbul
- Common Bulbul
Leaf Warblers
- Wood Warbler
- Western Bonelli's Warbler
- Willow Warbler
- Common Chiffchaff
Hylias
- Green Hylia
- Tit-hylia
Yellow Flycatchers
- Chestnut-capped Flycatcher
Sylviid Warblers and Allies
- Garden Warbler
- Greater Whitethroat
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies
- Northern Yellow White-eye
Ground Babblers and Allies
- Brown Illadopsis
- Pale-breasted Illadopsis
- Blackcap Illadopsis
- Puvel's Illadopsis
- Rufous-winged Illadopsis
Laughingthrushes and Allies
- Capuchin Babbler
- Brown Babbler
- Blackcap Babbler
Spotted Creepers
- African Spotted Creeper
Oxpeckers
- Yellow-billed Oxpecker
Starlings
- Violet-backed Starling
- Chestnut-winged Starling
- Narrow-tailed Starling
- Copper-tailed Starling
- Rüppell's Starling
- Long-tailed Glossy Starling
- Splendid Starling
- Chestnut-bellied Starling
- Lesser Blue-eared Starling
- Greater Blue-eared Starling
- Purple Starling
- Bronze-tailed Starling
Thrushes and Allies
- Finsch's Flycatcher-Thrush
- White-tailed Ant-Thrush
- African Thrush
Old World Flycatchers
- Little Flycatcher
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Gambaga Flycatcher
- Swamp Flycatcher
- Cassin's Flycatcher
- Ussher's 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
- Nimba Flycatcher
- Northern Black-Flycatcher
- White-tailed Alethe
- Forest Scrub-Robin
- Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin
- Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat
- Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
- White-crowned Robin-Chat
- Brown-chested Alethe
- Orange-breasted Forest Robin
- Common Nightingale
- European Pied Flycatcher
- Common Redstart
- Blue Rock-Thrush
- Whinchat
- Mocking Cliff-Chat
- Northern Wheatear
- White-fronted Black-Chat
- Familiar Chat
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters
- Fraser's Sunbird
- Mouse-brown Sunbird
- Western Violet-backed Sunbird
- Little Green Sunbird
- Yellow-chinned Sunbird
- Collared Sunbird
- Pygmy Sunbird
- Reichenbach's Sunbird
- Green-headed Sunbird
- Blue-throated Brown Sunbird
- Olive Sunbird
- Buff-throated Sunbird
- Carmelite Sunbird
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird
- Olive-bellied Sunbird
- Tiny Sunbird
- Beautiful Sunbird
- Splendid Sunbird
- Johanna's Sunbird
- Superb Sunbird
- Variable Sunbird
- Bates's Sunbird
- Copper Sunbird
Weavers and Allies
- White-billed Buffalo-Weaver
- Speckle-fronted Weaver
- Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver
- Red-vented Malimbe
- Blue-billed Malimbe
- Crested 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
- Maxwell's Black Weaver
- Preuss's 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
- Magpie Mannikin
- Black-and-white Mannikin
- African Silverbill
- Green-backed Twinspot
- Red-fronted Antpecker
- White-breasted Nigrita
- Chestnut-breasted Nigrita
- Gray-headed Nigrita
- Pale-fronted Nigrita
- Gray-headed Oliveback
- Lavender Waxbill
- Orange-cheeked Waxbill
- Black-rumped Waxbill
- Quailfinch
- Cut-throat
- Zebra Waxbill
- Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
- Western Bluebill
- Black-bellied Seedcracker
- Green-winged Pytilia
- Red-winged Pytilia
- Red-faced 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
- Barka Indigobird
- Cameroon Indigobird
- Parasitic Weaver
Old World Sparrows
- House Sparrow
- Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
- Sahel Bush Sparrow
Wagtails and Pipits
- Western Yellow Wagtail
- African Pied Wagtail
- Long-billed Pipit
- 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
- Ortolan Bunting
- Cabanis's Bunting
- Golden-breasted Bunting
- Gosling's Bunting
Most common birds in Ghana
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 Ghana’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.
- Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
- Western House-MartinDelichon urbicum
- Little SwiftApus affinis
- Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- White-faced Whistling-DuckDendrocygna viduata
- Village WeaverPloceus cucullatus
- Red-throated Bee-eaterMerops bulocki
- Bank SwallowRiparia riparia
- Sahel Bush SparrowGymnoris dentata
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Vinaceous DoveStreptopelia vinacea
- Preuss's SwallowPetrochelidon preussi
- Red-eyed DoveStreptopelia semitorquata
- Yellow-fronted CanaryCrithagra mozambica
- Northern Red BishopEuplectes franciscanus
- Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagris
- Speckled PigeonColumba guinea
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- Yellow-mantled WidowbirdEuplectes macroura
Largest bird families in Ghana
Among its regular birds.
- Weavers and Allies26
- Hawks, Eagles, and Kites25
- Old World Flycatchers22
- Waxbills and Allies22
- Bulbuls22
- Cisticolas and Allies21
- Sunbirds and Spiderhunters21
- Sandpipers and Allies17
Reported in the last 30 days
454 species reported to eBird in Ghana in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:
Black-winged Kite, Red-throated Bee-eater, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Western House-Martin, White-crested Helmetshrike, European Pied Flycatcher, Rufous Cisticola, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Black-crowned Tchagra, Sahel Bush Sparrow, White-shouldered Black-Tit, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, White-backed Vulture, Malachite Kingfisher, Egyptian Plover, Little Swift, Speckled Pigeon, Laughing Dove, Wire-tailed Swallow, Striped Kingfisher, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Black Kite, Village Weaver, Black-headed Heron, Plain Martin, Gray Kestrel, Purple Roller, Western Marsh Harrier, Bateleur, Pale Flycatcher, Yellow-fronted Canary, Northern Red Bishop, Red-eyed Dove, Croaking Cisticola, Fork-tailed Drongo, White-fronted Black-Chat, Preuss's Swallow, Moustached Grass-Warbler, …
Get to know some of them
Red-eyed Dove
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Wire-tailed Swallow
Common Bulbul
Bronze Mannikin
African Palm Swift
Western Marsh Harrier
Rock Pigeon
Pied Crow
Western Cattle-Egret
Reed Cormorant
Common Sandpiper
Great Egret
House Sparrow
Western Yellow Wagtail
Common Ringed Plover