Birds of Niger

The West African nation of Niger is home to over 500 species of birds. The various avifauna lives in the country’s diverse habitats, including savannas and woodlands.

Among the many birds found in Niger, some notable species include the African Collared Dove, the Black Crowned Crane, and the Stone Partridge.

List of Common Birds Found in Niger

Native Birds

Abyssinian Roller
African Collared Dove
African Collared Swift
African Darter
African Fish Eagle
African Golden Oriole
African Gray Hornbill
African Harrier-hawk
African Hobby
African Jacana
African Mourning Dove
African Openbill
African Palm Swift
African Pied Wagtail
African Pipit
African Pygmy Falcon
African Pygmy Kingfisher
African Silverbill
African Swamphen
African Thrush
African Wattled Lapwing
Allen’s Gallinule
Alpine Swift
Barbary Falcon
Bearded Barbet
Beautiful Sunbird
Black-bellied Bustard
Black Crowned Crane
Black Heron
Black Scimitarbill
Black Scrub Robin
Black Stork
Black-winged Stilt
Blue-breasted kingfisher
Blue-naped Mousebird
Bronze-winged Courser
Brown Snake Eagle
Bruce’s Green Pigeon
Cardinal Woodpecker
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
Chestnut-bellied Starling
Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver
Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting
Common Bulbul
Common Cuckoo
Common Greenshank
Common Ostrich
Common Sandpiper
Cream-colored Courser
Crested Lark
Crowned Lapwing
Dark Chanting Goshawk
Denham’s Bustard
Desert Cisticola
Double-spurred Francolin
Dusky Turtle Dove
Eastern Chanting Goshawk
Egyptian Vulture
Eurasian Hoopoe
European Bee-eater
European Roller
Fischer’s Lovebird
Fork-tailed Drongo
Fulvous Chatterer
Gambaga Flycatcher
Garganey
Giant Kingfisher
Golden-breasted Bunting
Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Grasshopper Buzzard
Gray-backed Camaroptera
Gray-backed Fiscal
Gray-headed Bushshrike
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Grayish Eagle-owl
Gray Kestrel
Gray-necked Picathartes
Greater Painted-snipe
Great Reed Warbler
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Green Woodhoopoe
Hadada Ibis
Hamerkop
Hartlaub’s Duck
Helmeted Guineafowl
Hooded Vulture
Intermediate Egret
Isabelline Shrike
Kordofan Lark
Lanner Falcon
Lappet-faced Vulture
Laughing Dove
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lesser Flamingo
Lesser Kestrel
Little Bee-eater
Little Bittern
Little Grebe
Little Ringed Plover
Little Weaver
Long-crested Eagle
Long-tailed Nightjar
Madagascar Bee-eater
Montagu’s Harrier
Mosque Swallow
Namaqua Dove
Namaqua Sandgrouse
Northern Anteater Chat
Northern Carmine Bee-eater
Northern Crombec
Northern Fiscal
Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
Northern Pintail
Northern Red-billed Hornbill
Northern Red Bishop
Northern Shoveler
Northern White-crowned Shrike
Nubian Bustard
Olive Bee-eater
Pallid Harrier
Pearl-spotted Owlet
Piapiac
Pied Avocet
Pied Crow
Pied Kingfisher
Pink-backed Pelican
Pin-tailed Whydah
Pratincole
Purple Heron
Red-billed Firefinch
Red-billed Quelea
Red-chested Cuckoo
Red-necked Falcon
Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike
Red-throated Bee Eater
Red-winged Warbler
Rufous-crowned Roller
Sahelian Woodpecker
Senegal Coucal
Senegal Thick-knee
Speckled Pigeon
Splendid Starling
Standard-winged Nightjar
Stone Partridge
Striped Kingfisher
Village Weaver
Water Thick-knee
White-backed Vulture
White-billed Buffalo Weaver
Woodland Kingfisher
Yellow-crowned Gonolek

Non-native Birds

Collared Flycatcher
Common Nightingale
Fanti Sawwing
Gray Wagtail
House Sparrow
Rüppell’s Warbler
Song Thrush
Spectacled Warbler

Some of the best birding sites in Niger include Aïr Mountains National Park, Djado Plateau, and W National Park. The last one is notable as it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.