Birding Factoids

649 species

10 endemic species
39 speciality birds
10 endangered species

Somalia
Hotspots

Somalia Specialities Black-faced Sandgrouse - Photo copyright Paul and Helen Harris

Photo copyright Paul and Helen Harris

"If Somalia was free from political strife and possessed a good infrastructure, it would be a popular birding destination, thanks to its fine selection of birds, which includes many northeast African Specialities and ten endemics. Meanwhile, birders can only live in hope that one day they will be able to enjoy a birding trip to this little known country."

from Where to Watch Birds in Africa - by Nigel Wheatley.

Tours and Guides

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Photo copyright Don Roberson

Eco-Lodges

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Photo copyright Don Roberson

Endemics and Specialities

in Somalia

Information on endemics and specialities is derived from Sibley & Monroe checklists and bird distribution lists in Thayer's Birder's Diary - Version 2.05, supplemented by material found in Where to Watch Birds in Africa - by Nigel Wheatley. African speciality birds, while not endemic, are those that can only be found in three or less countries of Africa. Information on endangered birds is derived from the IUCN Red List, Birdlife International. The endemic, endangered and speciality birds may be uncommon, extremely rare vagrants, may be extirpated in the country now or may only be present in migration. However, documented sightings of each species noted below have been made in Somalia.

Endemics in Somalia
___ Archer's Buzzard ___ Archer's Lark ___ Ash's Lark ___ Bulo Burti Boubou	___ Lesser Hoopoe-Lark ___ Obbia Lark ___ Somali Lark	___ Somali Long-billed Lark ___ Somali Pigeon ___ Warsangli Linnet

Endangered Birds in Somalia (endemics are printed in *bold italic*)
Breeding Birds		Non-Breeding Birds
___ *Archer's Lark* ___ Ash's Lark ___ *Bulo Burti Boubou* ___ *Obbia Lark*	___ *Somali Pigeon* ___ Somali Thrush ___ Tana River Cisticola ___ *Warsangli Linnet*	___ Lesser Kestrel ___ White-eyed Gull

Other Speciality and Near-endemic Birds in Somalia (adapted from *Where to Watch Birds in Africa* - by Nigel Wheatley.)
___ Abyssinian Grosbeak-Canary ___ Abyssinian Lark ___ Arabian Golden-Sparrow ___ Black-billed Woodhoopoe ___ Blanford's Lark ___ Brown-rumped Seedeater ___ Brown-tailed Apalis ___ Chestnut-naped Francolin ___ Collared Lark ___ Donaldson-Smith's ___ Sparrow-Weaver ___ Fire-fronted Bishop ___ Fischer's Starling ___ Fischer's Turaco	___ Golden Palm Weaver ___ Golden-winged Grosbeak ___ Gullett's Lark ___ Heuglin's Bustard ___ Little brown Bustard ___ Long-tailed Fiscal ___ Malindi Pipit ___ Mombasa Woodpecker ___ Pangani Longclaw ___ Red-naped Bush-shrike ___ Salvadori's Weaver ___ Short-billed Crombec ___ Sidamo Lark	___ Somali Bee-eater ___ Somali Crombec ___ Somali Sparrow ___ Somali Starling ___ Somali Wheatear ___ Sombre Chat ___ Swainson's Sparrow ___ Thick-billed Raven ___ Violet-breasted Sunbird ___ White-collared Pigeon ___ White-headed Mousebird ___ White-winged Collared-Dove ___ Yellow Flycatcher