Ethiopia stands out as one of Africa’s top bird-watching destinations, boasting a recorded count of over 920 species. The sheer number and variety of birds, many of which are vibrantly colored, are a highlight for visitors.
What sets Ethiopia apart is its high number of endemic species. Of the 832 species of birds known to occur in Ethiopia, twenty-three are found exclusively within the country’s boundaries. Most of these twenty-three endemic birds are widely distributed, chiefly on the western and southeastern highland plateau. Incredibly, most of these rarities can be seen on a standard birding trip.
Bird watching in Ethiopia is best from November to March when migratory birds are present. This coincides with the Dry season, which is a great time to travel. April to September is good for birding too. At this time many resident birds come into breeding plumage and are more vocal and easier to find. July and August see heavy rainfall, which might interfere with bird watching and other activities.
It’s easy to see birds in Ethiopia. They are literally everywhere, and often in big numbers. The countryside and historical sites offer great opportunities for general birding, while some of the parks are better for marking off some of the sought-after localized species.
Here are some notable birds you might encounter in Ethiopia:
Read also: Birds of the Savanna
Notable Bird Species of Ethiopia
Due to the sheer number of species, there was no way to include every bird in Ethiopia in this article.
Map of Ethiopia showing topography and regions.
1. Abyssinian Roller
Abyssinian Rollers fly through forests decimated by fire, looking for disturbed rodents, snakes, invertebrates, and reptiles to hunt. They’re also aggressive at defending their territory. Although unrelated to corvids, these flashy birds make a crow-like sound of “GawwwK” or a screechy “Arrrg.” These mimicking sounds are deliberately intimidating, and this fearless species has the personality to back them up. However, its appearance is just one of its many incredible traits.
2. African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle’s resoundingly clear call is sometimes known as The Spirit of Africa. This remarkable bird is a habitat generalist, meaning it can live in most climates. Its only true requirement is a large body of water, like a lake or the ocean. Their brown bodies contrast with black wings and a white face, chest, and legs. In addition to fish, they eat large birds, frogs, baby crocodiles, and carrion. They’re even known to eat monkeys! Typically, they perch on a branch, then dive down in a graceful swoop to grab their dinner.
3. African Grey Hornbill
The first thing you’ll notice about the African Grey Hornbill is its large beak. They are white, grey, and dusty brown. They look somewhat top-heavy, but the bill has internal supports and hollow chambers that keep it fairly light. The mother sheds all her flight feathers just before nesting time in preparation for the coming months. Then, the female encloses herself and the eggs inside with mud, poop, and fruit purée! The male brings food to the incubating mother and passes it through a tiny hole in the chamber wall. Once the nestlings outgrow the hollow, she breaks out, reseals it, and then both parents feed the young through the small hole that remains.
Read also: A Guide to African Lovebirds
4. African Paradise Flycatcher
The African Paradise Flycatcher confuses birders in Ethiopia because its coloring is highly variable. The coloring is typically black across the head, neck, and body, with chestnut wings and tail feathers. However, coloring is variable across subspecies. Look for this species in dense, moist forests, bushlands, and plantations. It can even be seen in gardens or catching pest insects in orchards. When eating, they flutter their tail and use wing downbeats to hover in place.
5. African Sacred Ibis
The Sacred Ibis was integral to ancient Egyptian religious ceremonies. Unfortunately, it’s now locally extinct in Egypt. Its long scythe-like beak cuts through vegetation in marshes, swamps, and along riverbanks. It pokes in the muddy bottoms of small water bodies as it forages and visits mud flats far inland in search of food. The African Sacred Ibis has a variety of sounds, from a call similar to a yappy dog to a long, loud honk.
6. Bee-eater
Males are black on the face and belly, with metallic green on the head, back, and underparts. These colorful, flashy birds in Ethiopia feed primarily on nectar, like the hummingbirds of the western hemisphere. They like to feed upside down, hanging from a branch to get to inverted flowers. This position can make them look a little like a traffic light. Hotel proprietors often plant their preferred flowers to attract them to entertain visitors.
7. Common Hoopoe
Look for the Common Hoopoe in rural gardens, cities, plantations, savannas, and grasslands. They often spend time near piles of rotting leaves or a fallen log where insects, grubs, and worms will use it as a habitat. This unusual-looking bird has a variety of defensive tactics. Its movable crest is used for advertising and intimidating potential predators and rival Hoopoes. If that doesn’t work, this species is ready for a fight! In addition to their fighting skill and intimidating looks, they produce a substance that smells of rotting meat. They cover themselves and their eggs with the substance to warn away predators.
8. Common Ostrich
Their plumage is dark on the body, with white wings and tail tips. The long legs and neck are buff to pinkish, sometimes with pale downy feathers. They can run at over 70 kph (43 mph), and their kick is powerful enough to kill a lion! Interestingly, all this athletic prowess is for survival only since Ostriches are predominantly herbivores. During the breeding season, they form harems of one male and between two and seven females. Then, they raise their young as a community. You might think Ostriches look practically prehistoric, and you’d be right! But that’s not the only reason this giant species is remarkable.
Read also: Learn about Lovebirds
9. Crested Lark
In fact, Crested Larks prefer dry, open land areas, such as fields of cereal grains or roadsides. Most of their diet is plant material, but they will occasionally eat beetles and insects, and they certainly don’t mind stealing some farmed grains or seeds. Their names are as varied as their locations, including the North-west Moroccan crested lark, the West Moroccan crested lark, the North Algerian crested lark, the North-east Algerian crested lark, the Northern Nile Valley crested lark, and the Southern Nile Valley crested lark. It seems as if everyone wants to have their own local Crested Lark version!
10. Hadada Ibis
They are grey overall, with a wash of iridescent green and purple on the wings. Despite its large and relatively round shape, the Hadada Ibis spends much of its time in trees! This species roosts and nests in branches, which can be particularly dangerous for their young. Although it’s comfortable in trees, the Hadada Ibis forages for food on the ground. They feed on multitudes of insects and larvae, which is a boon to those who work outside. For example, gardeners appreciate their visits since they eat snails and don’t damage the plants. Greenskeepers like them too, because they remove moth and beetle larvae that eat the roots of grasses. They also dig up earthworms with their long curved beak.
11. Hamerkop
You might have seen pictures of the Hamerkop on its favorite perch - the back of a hippopotamus! An easy way to identify this bird in Ethiopia is to look for its incredible nest. They build a huge nest (up to two meters tall) in a tree fork, with only a tiny side entrance.
12. Helmeted Guineafowl
Their coloring is black with white spots. These chicken-like birds in Ethiopia are capable of flight but only do so when in danger. Instead, they walk up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) daily in their quest for food. Outside breeding season, they form flocks of up to 24 birds and roost communally so they can alert each other to predators. They have an explosive take-off and only flap for short distances, gliding for longer flights. Helmeted Guineafowl have various calls, and some are more pleasant than others.
13. Hooded Vulture
As a result, it’s developed skills to make sure they can eat before more aggressive vultures chase it off from a carcass. Another way this species has adapted is to start visiting slaughterhouses and garbage dumps. Here, they take advantage of easy meals. Despite finding ways to adapt and survive, Hooded Vultures are still considered critically endangered. Often, when poachers kill big game, they remove the valuable parts and then poison the carcass with pesticides.
14. Lesser Flamingo
Have you ever wondered why Flamingos are pink? Unfortunately, their bright coloring and relatively large size make them a target for many predators. Common culprits are big cats, eagles, pelicans, foxes, jackals, hyenas, vultures, and baboons. To protect themselves and their young, they form gigantic flocks called crèches. Lesser Flamingos are among the most successful species in their family, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t in trouble.
Lesser Flamingo in flight.
15. Lilac-breasted Roller
The Lilac-breasted Roller has an aggressive attitude, particularly when defending its nest. It will ascend 144 meters (472 feet) to dive bomb much larger raptors. They are primarily insectivores, but they also eat scorpions, snails, lizards, rodents, and even other birds.
16. Little Bee-Eater
They have a green back, a bright yellow throat, and a black collar. Little Bee-eaters are the smallest species of African bee-eater. These birds are quite tame and friendly. As their name implies, these little birds subsist on hornets, wasps, and bees. But, they’ve found an efficient way to avoid being stung by their favorite foods. Look for groups of Little Bee-eaters lined up, roosting communally on a branch. These tight-knit communities spend time together year-round. For example, a non-breeding pair will help feed chicks and even sit on the eggs to help out.
17. Lappet-faced Vulture
This gigantic species stands taller than some adult humans and has an incredibly large wingspan. Look for these birds, also called “Undertaker Birds”, circling above carcasses or garbage dumps. They fly with their neck retracted but keep their feet out, using them as a steering rudder.
18. Northern Red-billed Hornbill
Look for Northern Red-billed Hornbills in dry forest habitats. They are ground foragers and omnivores, eating small animals, insects, fruits, and eggs. If this species looks familiar, it might be that you remember it from a movie! The Northern Red-billed Hornbill was the model for the character Zazu in The Lion King. I don’t think it takes much imagination to see the resemblance.
19. Pied Crow
If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between a crow and a raven, studying the Pied Crow is a good way to learn! This bird in Ethiopia is considered a “link” between the two related families. It has the larger bill and long legs of a raven, as well as wider wings and a longer tail. Pied Crows are often found near humans, but they don’t interact with people very much. They are social and may congregate near an abundance of food but are generally found in pairs or small groups. Pied Crows eat reptiles and mammals, nestlings and eggs, insects and invertebrates, peanuts, grains, carrion, and human trash.
20. Pied Kingfisher
They often hover over a body of water, hunting until they spot a likely victim. Then, they drop vertically into the water, grab their prey, and leap out again. Compared with other kingfishers, this species is gregarious and friendly. They often roost together in large groups at night.
21. Pin-tailed Whydah
Look for Pin-tailed Whydahs in grassland habitats. It’s a common bird in Ethiopia south of the Sahara. This species is considered a brood parasite, meaning the female lays her eggs in the nest of other species. Unlike some other brood parasites, the Pin-Tailed Whydah doesn’t destroy the host bird’s eggs, which means other species can still thrive alongside it.
22. Red-throated Bee Eater
Red-throated Bee Eaters are a communal species, nesting in colonies all year round. Like other bee-eaters, they dig a tunnel in a sandy or muddy bank early in the season before the soil dries and solidifies. They eat small bees, stingless bees, grasshoppers, flying ants, and locusts. Their sound is rather penetrating and can be quite startling if you’re not expecting it.
23. Secretary Bird
Their coloring is pale gray on the head and top half of the body, with black flight feathers. This species has red skin on the face around the eyes and beak. This large bird hunts on the ground, but it has a fascinating way of grabbing a meal. Its neck isn’t flexible or long enough to reach the ground quickly. So, when they find their prey, they stomp on it until it stops moving! They’ll happily consume large insects, crabs, mammals, lizards, tortoises, smaller birds, and snakes, including VENOMOUS species.
24. Speckled Pigeon
It’s not uncommon for hundreds of Speckled Pigeons to form a flock and inhabit the exterior of large human structures. Although their shape and behavior are similar to typical urban rock pigeons, Speckled Pigeons are much larger. Even if the Speckled Pigeon’s call is understated and melodic, it can be overwhelming when hundreds are singing at once.
25. Village Weaver
For one, the nests themselves look like Christmas ornaments! They’re woven balls of grass and feathers that hang from the branches of trees. Additionally, male Village Weavers build the nests alone and defend them to attract a mate. Once a female chooses a nest (and a mate), she fills it with bedding and lays her eggs. Then, the male finds another mate and begins the process again! Despite having up to five broods at a time, the male Village Weaver contributes to the feeding and care of all his hatchlings.
26. White-backed Vulture
Its coloring is muted brown, except for its off-white back. Its conservation status has gone from Least Concern to Critically Endangered in just fifteen years. Part of the reason for their decline is that White-backed Vultures are very tame and will happily wander into town to look for food. In addition to diclofenac poisoning, fires have recently eliminated much of their breeding territory, adding to the decline. Their extremely long breeding cycle is another strain on their population.
27. White-throated Bee Eater
White-throated Bee Eaters congregate in large groups, which protects them from predators. Like others of their family, White-throated Bee Eaters eat hornets, wasps, and bees, catching them in mid-flight by leaping from a low perch. Before they eat them, however, they remove their prey’s stinger by jamming it into a hard surface several times to extract it. This species has a dry, high-pitched, rattling call.
28. Woodland Kingfishers
The really interesting thing about kingfishers is you can instantly tell whether they live on fish or insects by the color of their beaks! Woodland Kingfishers are unusual because they can mimic other birds with the way they stand. When they squat and puff out their feathers, they tend to look like a sparrow, and if they stand taller, they are more like a robin. Females stand up tall more often to advertise to a potential mate. The sound of their song is usually one sharp note, a pause, then about 20 trills of a descending note.
29. Common Chiffchaffs
Common Chiffchaffs are passerine birds, meaning they perch in trees or bushes. You can often spot them standing on just one leg as they sing and chirrup. Most bird watchers consider this species a member of the LBJs, or “Little Brown Jobs”. These small warblers eat mostly insects, including eggs and larvae from moths and butterflies. The most common predator of the Common Chiffchaff are domestic cats.
30. Laughing Dove
Endemic to Ethiopia, the Laughing Dove is a small pigeon with a long tail. It spends most of its time walking along the ground, looking for food. Laughing Doves are highly territorial and mate for life; otherwise, they are solitary. Look for them in dry areas, savannahs with trees, acacia thickets, and similar environments. The nest of the Laughing Dove is a rough pile of sticks, stems, and roots. Typically, the male dove gathers the materials, and then the female arranges them.
31. Northern Wheatear
Males are grayish-white over most of their bodies, with a rufous chin and a black stripe over the eye. Every year during migration, the Northern Wheatear makes a record-setting journey, crossing deserts, ice fields, and oceans. The Northern Wheatear spends its winters in the sub-Saharan region of Africa, then travels across the Northern Hemisphere to its remote breeding locations in Asia, Europe...
Northern Wheatear.
Awash National Park should be on every birder’s itinerary, as it is great for both general birding and dry-country specials. Bale Mountains National Park, with its high-altitude grassland and dense swathes of forest, is a good place to see a lot of endemic species.
Like Thick-Billed Raven, Wattled Ibis, Black Winged Love bird and White Collared Pigeon- are notably common over extensive areas of the plateau, and, because they are big readily identified and not especially shy, they are consequently easy to see and observe.
Is considered to be one of the most beautiful of any bird in Africa, Three Ethiopian Endemics are confined to the southern edge of Ethiopian plateau: they are the Streetman’s Bush-Crow, The white Tailed Swallow and Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco.
The little-known Banded Barbet is very widely distributed throughout Ethiopia between 300 and 2400 meters above sea level. It has been reported to eat insects and the fruit of fig trees. The barbet has been described also to hawk insects like a flycatcher and to hang from a branch up side down.
The Ruppel’s Chat is a bird which! is uncommon to locally frequent in the western highlands of Shoa. Gojjam. Gondar, Wollo. Tigray and Eritrea regions. This Chat living! singly in small parties or in pairs, inhabits on edges and sides of cliffs and gorges and associated bare rock above 1800 meters. The Ruppel’s Chat is wholly black bird except for a white patch on the inner surface of the wing which contrasts sharply with the black when it flies.
One usually notices the catbird when it sings. The catbird, one of the finest, if not the finest singer of all the birds of Africa is! frequently common in the western and northern highlands between 1800 and 8500 meters. It is found as far north as the Semien Mountains. It lives singly, in pairs or in parties up to eight! often in thickets and vines that fringe these forests. It is a regular inhabitant in Addis Ababa for instance, embassies, hotels and many private! compounds.
The white-billed Starling is frequent to locally abundant in the western and southeastern highlands. being most common in the north. Widely distributed in the country, it usually lives in association with cliffs and gorges near waterfalls. Its square tail and white bill distinguish the white-billed Starling from other red-wing starlings.
Assessment of avifaunal assemblage and their distribution pattern across different habitat types of Gibe Sheleko National Park, South-western Ethiopia. A total of 116 bird species consisting of 2 endemics to both Ethiopia and Eritrea were recorded.
Assessment of birds of the Arid water bodies in Tigray,Northern Ethiopia. A total of 22,845 birds of 67 species belonging to 19 families were recorded.
Top 5 Birds Only Found in Ethiopia
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