List of birds of the Gambia
This is a list of the bird species recorded in The Gambia. The avifauna of The Gambia include a total of 621 species, two of which have been introduced. The country, which is very small and almost completely surrounded by Senegal, has no endemic species. This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. Not all species will fall into one of these categories.
This is a list of the bird species recorded in The Gambia. The avifauna of The Gambia include a total of 621 species, two of which have been introduced. The country, which is very small and almost completely surrounded by Senegal, has no endemic species.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. Not all species will fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.

(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in the Gambia
(I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Gambia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
(Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in the Gambia although populations exist elsewhere

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus
Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos
Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus
Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis
African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus
Garganey, Spatula querquedula
Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A)
Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A)
American wigeon, Mareca americana (A)
Northern pintail, Anas acuta
Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A)
Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca
Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula

Guineafowl
Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae
Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage.

Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris

New World quail
Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae
Despite their family's common name, this species and one other are native to Africa.

Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus

Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

White-throated francolin, Campocolinus albogularis
Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
Ahanta francolin, Pternistis ahantensis
Double-spurred francolin, Pternistis bicalcaratus

Flamingos
Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor

Grebes
Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds. They breed on fresh water, but often visit the sea whilst migrating and in winter. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers; however, their feet are placed far back on their bodies, making them quite ungainly on land.

Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (A)

Pigeons and doves
Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Sandgrouse
Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small pigeon-like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.

Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus       (A)
Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus

Bustards
Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otidae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.

Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs       (A)
Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami
White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis       (A)
Savile's bustard, Lophotis savilei
Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster

Turacos
Order: Musophagiformes   Family: Musophagidae
The turacos, plantain-eaters, and go-away-birds make up the family Musophagidae. They are medium-sized arboreal birds. The turacos and plantain-eaters are brightly coloured, usually in blue, green, or purple. The go-away-birds are mostly grey and white.

Guinea turaco, Tauraco persa
Violet turaco, Musophaga violacea
Western plantain-eater, Crinifer piscator

Cuckoos
Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis
Black coucal, Centropus grillii
Blue malkoha, Ceuthmochares aereus
Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius
Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii
Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus
Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius
Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas
African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus       (A)
Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus       (A)
Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius
African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Nightjars and allies
Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Pennant-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus vexillarius       (A)
Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis
Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis
Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius
Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis
Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis       (A)
Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus
Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus

Swifts
Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Mottled spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri
Alpine swift, Apus melba (A)
Common swift, Apus apus
Pallid swift, Apus pallidus
Little swift, Apus affinis
White-rumped swift, Apus caffer (A)
African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus

Flufftails
Order: Gruiformes   Family: Sarothruridae
The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa.

White-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura pulchra

Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

African rail, Rallus caerulescens       (A)
African crake, Crex egregia
Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (A)
Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata
Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian coot, Fulica atra       (A)
Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni
African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
Black crake, Zapornia flavirostris
Little crake, Zapornia parva       (A)
Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (A)

Finfoots
Order: Gruiformes   Family: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.

African finfoot, Podica senegalensis

Cranes
Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

Black crowned crane, Balearica pavonina

Thick-knees
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes, and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus (A)
Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis
Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis

Egyptian plover
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Pluvianidae
The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River.

Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius

Stilts and avocets
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Oystercatchers
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
African oystercatcher, Haematopus moquini (A)

Plovers and lapwings
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae
Lapwings, plovers and dotterels are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, generally in habitats near water, although there are some exceptions.

Painted-snipes
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.

Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis

Jacanas
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of waders found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

Lesser jacana, Microparra capensis (A)
African jacana, Actophilornis africanus

Sandpipers and allies
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Buttonquail
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae
The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.

Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus
Quail-plover, Ortyxelos meiffrenii        (A)

Pratincoles and coursers
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings, and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings, and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

Cream-coloured courser, Cursorius cursor       (A)
Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola

Skuas and jaegers
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

Great skua, Stercorarius skua (A)
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus

Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Tropicbirds
Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus

Southern storm-petrels
Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae
The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus

Northern storm-petrels
Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae
Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.

European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous       (A)

Shearwaters and petrels
Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae
Shearwaters are medium-sized, long-winged seabirds. Highly pelagic, they come ashore only to breed, nesting on islands and rocky cliffs. They generally glide low above the water on stiff wings, and feed on fish, squid and similar oceanic food. There are 23–27 species worldwide. (Some experts split Audubon's shearwater into several distinct species, while others consider those distinctive forms to be subspecies.)

Fea's petrel, Pterodroma feae
Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (A)
Sooty shearwater, Ardenna grisea (A)
Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus       (A)
Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus
Boyd's shearwater, Puffinus boydi

Storks
Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills. They occur in most of the world's warmer regions and tend to live in drier habitats than herons, to which they're closely related. They build large stick nests and sometimes nest colonially. Many species are migratory. Most storks eat a variety of small vertebrates and invertebrates; some eat carrion. Seven species have been recorded in the Gambia.

Black stork, Ciconia nigra       (A)
Abdim's stork, Ciconia abdimii       (A)
African woolly-necked stork, Ciconia microscelis
White stork, Ciconia ciconia       (A)
Saddle-billed stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer
Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis

Frigatebirds
Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds typically found soaring over tropical oceans. They have long wings and a deeply forked tail; their plumage is either black (males) or black-and-white (females and young). Males have coloured inflatable throat pouches, which are used in courtship. Frigatebirds spend most of their time in the air. They are kleptoparasites and often chase other seabirds to get them to drop their catches of fish; they also scoop fish from the water's surface.

Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens       (A)

Gannets and boobies
Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae
Gannets and boobies are large seabirds with long beaks and long, pointed wings. They eat fish, which they hunt by plunge-diving from heights of up to 30 m and chasing their prey underwater. They nest colonially on islands and along coasts, either on the ground or in trees.

Brown booby, Sula leucogaster       (A)
Northern gannet, Morus bassanus

Anhingas
Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae
Anhingas or darters are large waterbirds, found primarily in fresh and brackish water habitats. Because their plumage is not entirely waterproof, they often stand out of the water with their wings outstretched, drying off. Darters are strongly sexually dimorphic; males generally have much darker plumage than do females. They eat primarily fish, which they catch by diving from the water's surface.

African darter, Anhinga rufa

Cormorants and shags
Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants are medium to large seabirds, found primarily along the coast, but occasionally ranging some way inland in aquatic environments. Their plumage is generally dark, though most species have areas of brightly coloured skin on the face. They are primarily fish eaters. Their bills are long, thin and sharply hooked, and their four-toed feet are webbed. Because their plumage is only semi-waterproof, they often stand out of the water with their wings outstretched to dry out their feathers.

Long-tailed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus
Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

Pelicans
Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens

Hamerkop
Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Scopidae
Hamerkops are medium-sized, all-brown wading birds named for their hammer-headed appearance, which is created by the combination of their shaggy backwards-pointing crests and their heavy black bills. Typically found in wetland areas, they forage in shallow water for amphibians, small fish, crustaceans, insects, worms and small mammals. They build enormous, complex nests—which they generally use for only a matter of months—and occupy their territories year-round.

Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta

Herons, egrets, and bitterns
Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae
Herons, egrets and bitterns are long-legged birds typically associated with wetlands; herons and egrets are long-necked, while bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and quite secretive. Birds in this family often wade in shallow waters, preying on various aquatic organisms (including fish and frogs) as well as reptiles, amphibians and the occasional small bird. In flight, they hold their neck retracted in a gentle S-curve.

Ibises and spoonbills
Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills.

Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
African spoonbill, Platalea alba

Secretarybird
Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Sagittariidae
The secretarybird is a bird of prey in the order Accipitriformes but is easily distinguished from other raptors by its long crane-like legs.

Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius       (A)

Osprey
Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites
Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Barn-owls
Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae
Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls
Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
African scops-owl, Otus senegalensis
Northern white-faced owl, Ptilopsis leucotis
Grayish eagle-owl, Bubo cinerascens
Verreaux's eagle-owl, Bubo lacteus
Pel's fishing-owl, Scotopelia peli
Pearl-spotted owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
African wood-owl, Strix woodfordii
Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (A)
Marsh owl, Asio capensis

Mousebirds
Order: Coliiformes   Family: Coliidae
The mousebirds are slender grayish or brown birds with soft, hairlike body feathers and very long thin tails. They are arboreal and scurry through the leaves like rodents in search of berries, fruit, and buds. They are acrobatic and can feed upside down. All species have strong claws and reversible outer toes. They also have crests and stubby bills.

Blue-naped mousebird, Urocolius macrourus (A)

Hoopoes
Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae
Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Woodhoopoes and scimitarbills
Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Phoeniculidae
The woodhoopoes are related to the kingfishers, rollers and hoopoes. They most resemble the hoopoes with their long curved bills, used to probe for insects, and short rounded wings. However, they differ in that they have metallic plumage, often blue, green or purple, and lack an erectile crest.

Green woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus
Black scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus aterrimus

Ground-hornbills
Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Bucorvidae
The ground-hornbills are terrestrial birds which feed almost entirely on insects, other birds, snakes, and amphibians.

Abyssinian ground-hornbill, Bucorvus abyssinicus

Hornbills
Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Bucerotidae
Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured.

African pied hornbill, Lophoceros fasciatus
African gray hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus
Western red-billed hornbill, Tockus kempi
Black-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna atrata (A)
Yellow-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna elata (Ex)
Piping hornbill, Bycanistes fistulator

Kingfishers
Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Shining blue kingfisher, Alcedo quadribrachys
Malachite kingfisher, Corythornis cristatus
African pygmy kingfisher, Ispidina picta
Gray-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis
Blue-breasted kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica
Striped kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti
Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maxima
Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

Bee-eaters
Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

Red-throated bee-eater, Merops bulocki
Little bee-eater, Merops pusillus
Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Merops hirundineus
White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis
Green bee-eater, Merops orientalis
Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
Northern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicus

Rollers
Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

European roller, Coracias garrulus
Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinica
Rufous-crowned roller, Coracias naevia
Blue-bellied roller, Coracias cyanogaster
Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus

African barbets
Order: Piciformes   Family: Lybiidae
The African barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.

Red-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus atroflavus
Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus bilineatus
Yellow-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus
Hairy-breasted barbet, Tricholaema hirsuta (A)
Vieillot's barbet, Lybius vieilloti
Bearded barbet, Lybius dubius

Honeyguides
Order: Piciformes   Family: Indicatoridae
Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the greater honeyguide which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive.

Cassin's honeyguide, Prodotiscus insignis (A)
Wahlberg's honeyguide, Prodotiscus regulus (A)
Least honeyguide, Indicator exilis
Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
Spotted honeyguide, Indicator maculatus
Greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator

Woodpeckers
Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
Little grey woodpecker, Chloropicus elachus
Cardinal woodpecker, Chloropicus fuscescens
Brown-backed woodpecker, Chloropicus obsoletus
African gray woodpecker, Chloropicus goertae
Buff-spotted woodpecker, Campethera nivosa
Little green woodpecker, Campethera maculosa (A)
Fine-spotted woodpecker, Campethera punctuligera
Golden-tailed woodpecker, Campethera abingoni

Falcons and caracaras
Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
Fox kestrel, Falco alopex       (A)
Gray kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus       (A)
Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
African hobby, Falco cuvierii
Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Old World parrots
Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri

African and New World parrots
Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae
Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two to the back. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.

Brown-necked parrot, Poicephalus fuscicollis
Senegal parrot, Poicephalus senegalus

Cuckooshrikes
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae
The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.

White-breasted cuckooshrike, Coracina pectoralis
Red-shouldered cuckooshrike, Campephaga phoenicea

Old World orioles
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus       (A)
African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus

Wattle-eyes and batises
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Platysteiridae
The wattle-eyes, or puffback flycatchers, are small stout passerine birds of the African tropics. They get their name from the brightly coloured fleshy eye decorations found in most species in this group.

Brown-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira cyanea
Senegal batis, Batis senegalensis

Vangas, helmetshrikes, and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vangidae
The helmetshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes, but tend to be colourful species with distinctive crests or other head ornaments, such as wattles, from which they get their name.

White helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus
African shrike-flycatcher, Megabyas flammulatus       (A)
Black-and-white shrike-flycatcher, Bias musicus       (A)

Bushshrikes and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Malaconotidae
Bushshrikes are similar in habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush. Although similar in build to the shrikes, these tend to be either colourful species or largely black; some species are quite secretive.

Brubru, Nilaus afer
Northern puffback, Dryoscopus gambensis
Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegala
Yellow-crowned gonolek, Laniarius barbarus
Sulphur-breasted bushshrike, Telophorus sulfureopectus
Gray-headed bushshrike, Malaconotus blanchoti

Drongos
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae
The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

Western square-tailed drongo, Dicrurus occidentalis
Glossy-backed drongo, Dicrurus divaricatus

Monarch flycatchers
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

Black-headed paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufiventer
African paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis

Shrikes
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.

Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio (A)
Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides
Isabelline shrike, Lanius isabellinus       (A)
Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor       (A)
Yellow-billed shrike, Lanius corvinus
Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

Crows, jays, and magpies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Piapiac, Ptilostomus afer
Pied crow, Corvus albus
Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis       (A)

Hyliotas
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hyliotidae
The members of this small family, all of genus Hyliota, are birds of the forest canopy. They tend to feed in mixed-species flocks.

Yellow-bellied hyliota, Hyliota flavigaster
Southern hyliota, Hyliota australis

Fairy flycatchers
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Stenostiridae
Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".

African blue flycatcher, Elminia longicauda

Tits, chickadees, and titmice
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

White-shouldered black-tit, Melaniparus guineensis

Penduline-tits
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae
The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

Yellow penduline-tit, Anthoscopus parvulus

Larks
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Rufous-rumped lark, Pinarocorys erythropygia        (A)
Dusky lark, Pinarocorys nigricans        (A)
Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucotis
Black-crowned sparrow-lark, Eremopterix nigriceps        (A)
Flappet lark, Mirafra rufocinnamomea
Kordofan lark, Mirafra cordofanica
Horsfield's bushlark, Mirafra javanica
Temminck's lark, Eremophila bilopha       (A)
Sun lark, Galerida modesta
Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Nicators
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nicatoridae
The nicators are shrike-like, with hooked bills. They are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.

Western nicator, Nicator chloris

African warblers
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Macrosphenidae
African warblers are small to medium-sized insectivores which are found in a wide variety of habitats south of the Sahara.

Green crombec, Sylvietta virens
Lemon-bellied crombec, Sylvietta denti       (A)
Northern crombec, Sylvietta brachyura
Green hylia, Hylia prasina

Cisticolas and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

Reed warblers and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae
The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida
Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca
Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina       (A)
Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon (A)
Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris (A)
Common reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Greater swamp warbler, Acrocephalus rufescens
Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus       (A)

Grassbirds and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae
Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides (A)
Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia       (A)

Swallows
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Bulbuls
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

Gray-headed bristlebill, Bleda canicapillus
Sjöstedt's greenbul, Baeopogon clamans
Yellow-throated greenbul, Atimastillas flavicollis
Swamp greenbul, Thescelocichla leucopleura       (A)
Red-tailed greenbul, Criniger calurus
Little greenbul, Eurillas virens
Leaf-love, Phyllastrephus scandens
White-throated greenbul, Phyllastrephus albigularis
Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus

Leaf warblers
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae
Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix       (A)
Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus       (A)
Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
Iberian chiffchaff, Phylloscopus ibericus (A)

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. As another common name, Old World warblers, implies, they mainly occur as breeding species in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria (A)
Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca       (A)
Western Orphean warbler, Curruca hortensis (A)
Rüppell's warbler, Curruca ruppeli       (A)
Western subalpine warbler, Curruca iberiae
Eastern subalpine warbler, Curruca cantillans
Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis
Spectacled warbler, Curruca conspicillata       (A)

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae
The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast, or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.

Northern yellow white-eye, Zosterops senegalensis

Ground babblers and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pellorneidae
These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.

Brown illadopsis, Illadopsis fulvescens (A)
Puvel's illadopsis, Illadopsis puveli

Laughingthrushes and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae
The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.

Capuchin babbler, Turdoides atripennis
Blackcap babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii
Brown babbler, Turdoides plebejus

Treecreepers
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

African spotted creeper, Salpornis salvadori

Oxpeckers
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Buphagidae
As both the English and scientific names of these birds imply, they feed on ectoparasites, primarily ticks, found on large mammals.

Yellow-billed oxpecker, Buphagus africanus

Starlings
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Wattled starling, Creatophora cinerea       (A)
Violet-backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Neumann's starling, Onychognathus neumanni
Long-tailed glossy starling, Lamprotornis caudatus
Splendid starling, Lamprotornis splendidus
Chestnut-bellied starling, Lamprotornis pulcher
Lesser blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chloropterus
Greater blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Purple starling, Lamprotornis purpureus
Bronze-tailed starling, Lamprotornis chalcurus

Thrushes and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

African thrush, Turdus pelios

Old World flycatchers
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Sunbirds and spiderhunters
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Mouse-brown sunbird, Anthreptes gabonicus
Western violet-backed sunbird, Anthreptes longuemarei
Collared sunbird, Hedydipna collaris
Pygmy sunbird, Hedydipna platura
Green-headed sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
Scarlet-chested sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis
Olive-bellied sunbird, Cinnyris chloropygia
Beautiful sunbird, Cinnyris pulchellus
Splendid sunbird, Cinnyris coccinigaster
Variable sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
Copper sunbird, Cinnyris cupreus

Weavers and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae
The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black. Some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.

White-billed buffalo-weaver, Bubalornis albirostris
Speckle-fronted weaver, Sporopipes frontalis
Chestnut-crowned sparrow-weaver, Plocepasser superciliosus
Red-headed weaver, Anaplectes rubriceps (A)
Little weaver, Ploceus luteolus
Olive-naped weaver, Ploceus brachypterus
Vitelline masked weaver, Ploceus velatus
Heuglin's masked weaver, Ploceus heuglini
Chestnut-and-black weaver, Ploceus castaneofuscus
Village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus
Black-headed weaver, Ploceus melanocephalus
Red-headed quelea, Quelea erythrops
Red-billed quelea, Quelea quelea
Northern red bishop, Euplectes franciscanus
Southern red bishop, Euplectes orix
Black-winged bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus
Yellow-crowned bishop, Euplectes afer
Yellow-mantled widowbird, Euplectes macroura
Red-collared widowbird, Euplectes ardens (A)

Waxbills and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.

Indigobirds
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Viduidae
The indigobirds are finch-like species which usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage. All are brood parasites which lay their eggs in the nests of waxbills and other estrildid finches.

Pin-tailed whydah, Vidua macroura
Sahel paradise-whydah, Vidua orientalis
Exclamatory paradise-whydah, Vidua interjecta
Village indigobird, Vidua chalybeata
Wilson's indigobird, Vidua wilsoni (A)
Quailfinch indigobird, Vidua nigeriae
Baka indigobird, Vidua larvaticola
Cameroon indigobird, Vidua camerunensis
Parasitic weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis (A)

Old World sparrows
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae
Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

House sparrow, Passer domesticus       (I)
Northern gray-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
Sudan golden sparrow, Passer luteus
Sahel bush sparrow, Gymnoris dentata

Wagtails and pipits
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.

Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
African pied wagtail, Motacilla aguimp       (A)
White wagtail, Motacilla alba
Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
Plain-backed pipit, Anthus leucophrys
Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
Yellow-throated longclaw, Macronyx croceus

Finches, euphonias, and allies
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

White-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygius
Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambicus

Old World buntings
Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae
The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Brown-rumped bunting, Emberiza affinis
Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana       (A)
Golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris (A)
Gosling's bunting, Emberiza goslingi
House bunting, Emberiza sahari       (A)
Striolated bunting, Emberiza striolata (A)

See also
List of regional bird lists

References
Collinson, Martin (June 2006). "Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists". British Birds. 99: 306–323.
Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of the Gambia". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 September 2019.

External links
African Bird Club's checklist for the Gambia
Birds of The Gambia - World Institute for Conservation and Environment
Avibase checklist for the Gambia