South Sudan bird checklist
565 bird species in 86 families have been recorded in South Sudan, according to eBird; about 301 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 South Sudan right now
1Pin-tailed Whydah
2Woodland Kingfisher
3Village Weaver
4Barn Swallow
5African Thrush
6Rüppell's Griffon
7Vinaceous Dove
8Black Kite
9African Gray Hornbill
10Speckled Mousebird
South Sudan bird checklist
565 species · loading the checklist tools…
Ostriches
- Common Ostrich
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
- White-faced Whistling-Duck
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck
- White-backed Duck
- Knob-billed Duck
- Hartlaub's Duck
- Egyptian Goose
- Spur-winged Goose
- African Pygmy-Goose
- Garganey
- Blue-billed Teal
- Northern Shoveler
- Eurasian Wigeon
- African Black Duck
- Northern Pintail
- Green-winged Teal
- Ferruginous Duck
- Tufted Duck
Guineafowl
- Helmeted Guineafowl
- Western Crested Guineafowl
New World Quail
- Stone Partridge
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
- Crested Francolin
- Orange River Francolin
- Common Quail
- Harlequin Quail
- Scaly Spurfowl
- Clapperton's Spurfowl
- Yellow-necked Spurfowl
Pigeons and Doves
- Rock Pigeon
- Speckled Pigeon
- White-naped Pigeon
- Lemon Dove
- Dusky Turtle-Dove
- African Collared-Dove
- Mourning Collared-Dove
- Red-eyed Dove
- Ring-necked Dove
- Vinaceous Dove
- Laughing Dove
- Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
- Black-billed Wood-Dove
- Tambourine Dove
- Namaqua Dove
- Bruce's Green-Pigeon
- African Green-Pigeon
Sandgrouse
- Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
- Four-banded Sandgrouse
Bustards
- Arabian Bustard
- White-bellied Bustard
- Buff-crested Bustard
- Black-bellied Bustard
- Hartlaub's Bustard
Turacos
- Great Blue Turaco
- White-bellied Go-away-bird
- Eastern Plantain-eater
- Ross's Turaco
- White-crested Turaco
Cuckoos
- Senegal Coucal
- Blue-headed Coucal
- White-browed Coucal
- Black Coucal
- Great Spotted Cuckoo
- Levaillant's Cuckoo
- Pied Cuckoo
- Thick-billed Cuckoo
- Dideric Cuckoo
- Klaas's Cuckoo
- Yellow-throated Cuckoo
- African Emerald Cuckoo
- Black Cuckoo
- Red-chested Cuckoo
- African Cuckoo
- Common Cuckoo
Nightjars and Allies
- Pennant-winged Nightjar
- Standard-winged Nightjar
- Fiery-necked Nightjar
- Montane Nightjar
- Plain Nightjar
- Star-spotted Nightjar
- Freckled Nightjar
- Long-tailed Nightjar
- Slender-tailed Nightjar
Swifts
- Alpine Swift
- Common Swift
- Little Swift
- African Palm Swift
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- African Rail
- Spotted Crake
- Allen's Gallinule
- Black Crake
Cranes
- Gray Crowned-Crane
- Black Crowned-Crane
- Common 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
- Crowned Lapwing
- Wattled Lapwing
Jacanas
- Lesser Jacana
- African Jacana
Sandpipers and Allies
- Eurasian Curlew
- Black-tailed Godwit
- African Snipe
- Common Snipe
- Common Sandpiper
- Green Sandpiper
- Marsh Sandpiper
- Wood Sandpiper
- Common Redshank
- Spotted Redshank
- Common Greenshank
- Ruff
- Little Stint
Buttonquail
- Small Buttonquail
Pratincoles and Coursers
- Three-banded Courser
- Temminck's Courser
- Rock Pratincole
- Collared Pratincole
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
- Black-headed Gull
- African Skimmer
- Gull-billed Tern
- Caspian Tern
- Whiskered Tern
- White-winged Tern
Flamingos
- Greater Flamingo
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
Anhingas
- African Darter
Cormorants and Shags
- Reed Cormorant
- Great 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
- Little Heron
- Squacco Heron
- Western Cattle-Egret
- Great Egret
- Yellow-billed Egret
- Gray Heron
- Purple Heron
- Black-headed Heron
- Goliath Heron
Hamerkop
- Hamerkop
Shoebill
- Shoebill
Pelicans
- Great White Pelican
- Pink-backed Pelican
Secretarybird
- Secretarybird
Osprey
- Osprey
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
- Scissor-tailed Kite
- Black-winged Kite
- African Harrier-Hawk
- Palm-nut Vulture
- Egyptian 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
- Black-chested Snake-Eagle
- Short-toed Snake-Eagle
- Brown Snake-Eagle
- Martial Eagle
- Long-crested Eagle
- Lesser Spotted Eagle
- Wahlberg's Eagle
- Booted Eagle
- Tawny Eagle
- Verreaux's Eagle
- African Hawk-Eagle
- Gabar Goshawk
- Dark Chanting-Goshawk
- Eastern Chanting-Goshawk
- Lizard Buzzard
- African Goshawk
- Little Sparrowhawk
- Shikra
- Black Goshawk
- Western Marsh Harrier
- Pallid Harrier
- Montagu's Harrier
- Black Kite
- African Fish-Eagle
- Grasshopper Buzzard
- Red-necked Buzzard
- Augur Buzzard
- Common Buzzard
- Long-legged Buzzard
Barn-Owls
- Western Barn Owl
Owls
- Eurasian Scops-Owl
- African Scops-Owl
- Northern White-faced Owl
- Grayish Eagle-Owl
- Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
- African Wood-Owl
Mousebirds
- Speckled Mousebird
- Blue-naped Mousebird
Hoopoes
- Common Hoopoe
Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills
- Green Woodhoopoe
- Black Scimitarbill
- Abyssinian Scimitarbill
Hornbills
- Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill
- Crowned Hornbill
- Congo Pied Hornbill
- Hemprich's Hornbill
- African Gray Hornbill
- Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill
- Jackson's Hornbill
- Northern Red-billed Hornbill
- Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
Bee-eaters
- Red-throated Bee-eater
- Little Bee-eater
- Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
- Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
- White-throated Bee-eater
- African Green Bee-eater
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
- Olive Bee-eater
- European Bee-eater
- Northern Carmine Bee-eater
Kingfishers
- Shining-blue Kingfisher
- Malachite 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
- Broad-billed Roller
African Barbets
- Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet
- Red-and-yellow Barbet
- D'Arnaud's Barbet
- Gray-throated Barbet
- Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
- Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird
- Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
- Red-fronted Barbet
- Spot-flanked Barbet
- Black-throated Barbet
- Vieillot's Barbet
- White-headed Barbet
- Black-billed Barbet
- Double-toothed Barbet
- Black-breasted Barbet
Honeyguides
- Lesser Honeyguide
- Spotted Honeyguide
- Greater Honeyguide
Woodpeckers
- Cardinal Woodpecker
- Brown-backed Woodpecker
- African Gray Woodpecker
- Green-backed Woodpecker
- Nubian Woodpecker
- Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Falcons and Caracaras
- Pygmy Falcon
- 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
- Meyer's Parrot
Cuckooshrikes
- Gray Cuckooshrike
- White-breasted Cuckooshrike
- Black Cuckooshrike
- Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike
Old World Orioles
- Eurasian Golden Oriole
- African Golden Oriole
- African Black-headed Oriole
- Black-winged Oriole
Wattle-eyes and Batises
- Brown-throated Wattle-eye
- Gray-headed Batis
- Western Black-headed Batis
- Pygmy Batis
Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies
- White-crested Helmetshrike
- African Shrike-flycatcher
- Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher
Bushshrikes and Allies
- Brubru
- Northern Puffback
- Marsh Tchagra
- Black-crowned Tchagra
- Brown-crowned Tchagra
- Three-streaked Tchagra
- Ethiopian Boubou
- Black-headed Gonolek
- Slate-colored Boubou
- Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
Drongos
- Fork-tailed Drongo
- Velvet-mantled Drongo
Monarch Flycatchers
- African Paradise-Flycatcher
Shrikes
- Yellow-billed Shrike
- Red-backed Shrike
- Isabelline Shrike
- Great Gray Shrike
- Gray-backed Fiscal
- Taita Fiscal
- Northern Fiscal
- Masked Shrike
- Woodchat Shrike
- White-rumped Shrike
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
- Piapiac
- Cape Crow
- Pied Crow
- Fan-tailed Raven
Hyliotas
- Yellow-bellied Hyliota
Fairy Flycatchers
- African Blue Flycatcher
- Dusky Crested Flycatcher
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
- White-shouldered Black-Tit
Penduline-Tits
- Mouse-colored Penduline-Tit
Larks
- Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
- Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark
- Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark
- Pink-breasted Lark
- Flappet Lark
- Kidepo Lark
- Sun Lark
African Warblers
- Green Crombec
- Northern Crombec
- Red-faced Crombec
- Moustached Grass-Warbler
Cisticolas and Allies
- Yellow-bellied Eremomela
- Green-backed Eremomela
- Red-winged Gray Warbler
- Gray Wren-Warbler
- Green-backed Camaroptera
- Buff-bellied Warbler
- Yellow-breasted Apalis
- Gray Apalis
- Tawny-flanked Prinia
- Pale Prinia
- Red-winged Prinia
- Black-faced Rufous-Warbler
- Gray-capped Warbler
- Red-faced Cisticola
- Singing Cisticola
- Whistling Cisticola
- Rock-loving Cisticola
- Boran Cisticola
- Rattling Cisticola
- Ashy Cisticola
- Red-pate Cisticola
- Winding Cisticola
- Croaking Cisticola
- Siffling Cisticola
- Foxy Cisticola
- Zitting Cisticola
- Desert Cisticola
Reed Warblers and Allies
- Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
- Mountain Yellow-Warbler
- Sedge Warbler
- Common Reed Warbler
- Lesser Swamp Warbler
- Greater Swamp Warbler
- Great Reed Warbler
Swallows
- Gray-rumped Swallow
- Plain Martin
- Bank Swallow
- Red-throated Crag-Martin
- Barn Swallow
- Ethiopian Swallow
- Wire-tailed Swallow
- Western House-Martin
- African Red-rumped Swallow
- Rufous-chested Swallow
- Mosque Swallow
Bulbuls
- Pale-throated Greenbul
- Simple Greenbul
- Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
- Northern Brownbul
- Common Bulbul
Leaf Warblers
- Willow Warbler
- Common Chiffchaff
Sylviid Warblers and Allies
- Eurasian Blackcap
- Garden Warbler
- Lesser Whitethroat
- Greater Whitethroat
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies
- Northern Yellow White-eye
Laughingthrushes and Allies
- Rufous Chatterer
- Brown Babbler
- Dusky Babbler
Oxpeckers
- Red-billed Oxpecker
Starlings
- Wattled Starling
- Violet-backed Starling
- Red-winged Starling
- Magpie Starling
- Sharpe's Starling
- Shelley's Starling
- Rüppell's Starling
- Long-tailed Glossy Starling
- Splendid Starling
- Superb Starling
- Lesser Blue-eared Starling
- Greater Blue-eared Starling
- Purple Starling
- Bronze-tailed Starling
Thrushes and Allies
- Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush
- Abyssinian Ground-Thrush
- Abyssinian Thrush
- African Thrush
Old World Flycatchers
- African Dusky Flycatcher
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Gambaga Flycatcher
- Swamp Flycatcher
- Sooty Flycatcher
- African Gray Flycatcher
- Pale Flycatcher
- Gray Tit-Flycatcher
- Ashy Flycatcher
- Silverbird
- Northern Black-Flycatcher
- White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher
- White-browed Scrub-Robin
- Cape Robin-Chat
- Rüppell's Robin-Chat
- White-browed Robin-Chat
- Spotted Morning-Thrush
- Equatorial Akalat
- Thrush Nightingale
- Common Nightingale
- Common Redstart
- Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush
- Whinchat
- Mocking Cliff-Chat
- Northern Wheatear
- Isabelline Wheatear
- White-fronted Black-Chat
- Brown-tailed Chat
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters
- Western Violet-backed Sunbird
- Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird
- Little Green Sunbird
- Collared Sunbird
- Pygmy Sunbird
- Green-headed Sunbird
- Olive Sunbird
- Green-throated Sunbird
- Amethyst Sunbird
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird
- Malachite Sunbird
- Northern Double-collared Sunbird
- Beautiful Sunbird
- Red-chested Sunbird
- Abyssinian Sunbird
- Splendid Sunbird
- Variable Sunbird
- Copper Sunbird
Weavers and Allies
- White-billed Buffalo-Weaver
- White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
- Speckle-fronted Weaver
- White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
- Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver
- Gray-capped Social-Weaver
- Red-headed Weaver
- Baglafecht Weaver
- Little Weaver
- Spectacled Weaver
- Northern Masked-Weaver
- Lesser Masked-Weaver
- Vitelline Masked-Weaver
- Heuglin's Masked-Weaver
- Rüppell's Weaver
- Village Weaver
- Black-headed Weaver
- Golden-backed Weaver
- Chestnut Weaver
- Brown-capped Weaver
- Red-headed Quelea
- Red-billed Quelea
- Northern Red Bishop
- Black-winged Bishop
- Black Bishop
- Yellow-crowned Bishop
- Yellow Bishop
- Yellow-mantled Widowbird
- Fan-tailed Widowbird
- Grosbeak Weaver
Waxbills and Allies
- Gray-headed Silverbill
- Bronze Mannikin
- Black-and-white Mannikin
- African Silverbill
- Yellow-bellied Waxbill
- Abyssinian Crimsonwing
- Black-faced Waxbill
- Black-cheeked Waxbill
- Black-crowned Waxbill
- Fawn-breasted Waxbill
- Common Waxbill
- Black-rumped Waxbill
- Crimson-rumped Waxbill
- Cut-throat
- Purple Grenadier
- Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
- Blue-capped Cordonbleu
- Green-winged Pytilia
- Red-billed Firefinch
- African Firefinch
- Jameson's Firefinch
- Black-bellied Firefinch
- Bar-breasted Firefinch
Whydahs and Indigobirds
- Pin-tailed Whydah
- Sahel Paradise-Whydah
- Exclamatory Paradise-Whydah
- Eastern Paradise-Whydah
- Steel-blue Whydah
- Straw-tailed Whydah
- Village Indigobird
- Quailfinch Indigobird
- Cameroon Indigobird
- Parasitic Weaver
Old World Sparrows
- House Sparrow
- Shelley's Rufous Sparrow
- Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
- Parrot-billed Sparrow
- Chestnut Sparrow
- Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow
Wagtails and Pipits
- Gray Wagtail
- Western Yellow Wagtail
- African Pied Wagtail
- White Wagtail
- African Pipit
- Plain-backed Pipit
- Tree Pipit
- Golden Pipit
- Yellow-throated Longclaw
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
- Oriole Finch
- White-rumped Seedeater
- Yellow-fronted Canary
- Reichenow's Seedeater
- White-bellied Canary
- Stripe-breasted Seedeater
Old World Buntings
- Brown-rumped Bunting
- Cabanis's Bunting
- Somali Bunting
- Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
- Striolated Bunting
Most common birds in South Sudan
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 South Sudan’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.
- Pin-tailed WhydahVidua macroura
- Woodland KingfisherHalcyon senegalensis
- Village WeaverPloceus cucullatus
- Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
- African ThrushTurdus pelios
- Rüppell's GriffonGyps rueppelli
- Vinaceous DoveStreptopelia vinacea
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- African Gray HornbillLophoceros nasutus
- Speckled MousebirdColius striatus
- African GoshawkAerospiza tachiro
- Common BulbulPycnonotus barbatus
- White-browed Sparrow-WeaverPlocepasser mahali
- SilverbirdEmpidornis semipartitus
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilis
- Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-WeaverPlocepasser superciliosus
- Hooded VultureNecrosyrtes monachus
- BateleurTerathopius ecaudatus
- Three-streaked TchagraTchagra jamesi
Largest bird families in South Sudan
Among its regular birds.
- Weavers and Allies20
- Hawks, Eagles, and Kites19
- Pigeons and Doves15
- Waxbills and Allies15
- Starlings12
- Cisticolas and Allies12
- Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl11
- Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns10
Reported in the last 30 days
45 species reported to eBird in South Sudan in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:
Woodland Kingfisher, African Goshawk, African Thrush, African Scops-Owl, Pin-tailed Whydah, Pygmy Batis, Rüppell's Griffon, Silverbird, Speckled Mousebird, Three-streaked Tchagra, Village Weaver, Vinaceous Dove, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, African Gray Hornbill, Barn Swallow, Bateleur, Black Kite, Black-billed Barbet, Black-headed Gonolek, Black Scimitarbill, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Common Bulbul, Western Yellow Wagtail, Fork-tailed Drongo, Gray Wagtail, Northern Gray-headed Sparrow, Hemprich's Hornbill, Hooded Vulture, Little Bee-eater, Exclamatory Paradise-Whydah, Marabou Stork, Namaqua Dove, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Pied Crow, Speckled Pigeon, Northern Red Bishop, Bronze Mannikin, Amethyst Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, …
Get to know some of them
Common Bulbul
Western Yellow Wagtail
Pied Crow
Gray Wagtail
Bronze Mannikin
House Sparrow
Black-crowned Night Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Rock Pigeon
Great Egret
Little Egret
Common Sandpiper
White-faced Whistling-Duck
Laughing Dove
Reed Cormorant
Squacco Heron
Little Swift
Glossy Ibis
African Palm Swift
Western House-Martin
Red-eyed Dove