African Species List

Mainland and adjacent islands

Part 1 - Ostrich to Quail Plover

Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

S. c. camelus -- Alternative English Name(s): North African Ostrich -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. c. spatzi, S. c. rothschildi
S. c. australis -- Alternative English Name(s): Southern Ostrich
S. c. massaicus -- Alternative English Name(s): Masai Ostrich
S. c. molbdophanes -- Alternative English Name(s): Somali Ostrich -- Alternative scientific name(s): Struthio molbdophanes

Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi) -- Alternative English Name(s): Seesee

A. h. heyi -- Alternative English Name(s): Palestine Seesee
A. h. nicolli
A. h. cholmleyi -- Alternative English Name(s): Nubian Seesee

Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) -- Alternative English Name(s): Chukar, Indian Chukor

Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara)

A. b. barbara
A. b. spatzi
A. b. duprezi
A. b. koenigi

Coqui Francolin (Francolinus coqui) -- Alternative English Name(s): Coqui

P. c. coqui -- Alternative English Name(s): Angola Coqui -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. c. campbelli, P. c. lynesi, P. c. vernayi, P. c. hoeschianus, P. c. angolensis, P. c. bourgquii, P. c. kasaicus, P. c. ruandae
P. c. hubbardi -- Alternative English Name(s): Hubbard's Coqui
P. c. maharao -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. c. thikae
P. c. spinetorum

White-throated Francolin (Francolinus albogularis)

P. a. albogularis
P. a. buckleyi -- Alternative English Name(s): Nigerian White-throated Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. a. gambagae
P. a. dewittei -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. a. meinertzhageni

Schlegel's Francolin (Francolinus schlegelii)

Forest Francolin (Francolinus lathami) -- Alternative English Name(s): Latham's Forest Francolin

P. l. lathami -- Alternative English Name(s): Latham's Francolin
P. l. schubotzi -- Alternative English Name(s): Schubotz's Francolin

Crested Francolin (Francolinus sephaena)

P. s. sephaena -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. s. zuluensis
P. s. zambesiae -- Alternative English Name(s): Zambezi Crested Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. s. chobiensis, P. s. mabaiensis, P. s. thompsoni
P. s. granti -- Alternative English Name(s): Grant's Crested Francolin, Juba Crested Francolin, Shoa Crested Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. s. jubaensis, P. s. schoanus
P. s. rovuma -- Alternative English Name(s): Rovuma Crested Francolin, Kirk's Francolin
P. s. spilogaster -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Crested Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. s. somaliensis

Ring-necked Francolin (Francolinus streptophorus)

Finsch's Francolin (Francolinus finschi)

Grey-wing Francolin (Francolinus africanus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Greywing, Cape Partridge, Grey-winged Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. afer, S. a africanus, S. a. proximus

Red-wing Francolin (Francolinuc levaillantii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Redwing, Red-winged Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. africanus

S. l. levaillantii -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Red-wing Francolin, Angola Red-wing Francolin, Nyasa Red-wing Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. l. benguellensis, S. l. crawshayi
S. l. kikuyuensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Nandi Red-wing Francolin, Ruanda Red-wing Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. l. mulemae, S. l. clayi

Moorland Francolin (Francolinus psilolaemus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. africanus

S. p. psilolaemus -- Alternative English Name(s): Shoa Greywing, Gallaland Greywing -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. p. ellenbecki
S. p. elgonensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Elgon Shelley Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. p. theresae

Shelley's Francolin (Francolinus shelleyi) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. africanus

S. s. shelleyi -- Alternative English Name(s): Kenya Greywing, Ugalla Shelley's Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. s. canidorsalis, S. s. sequestris, S. s. uluensis, S. s. trothae
S. s. whytei -- Alternative English Name(s): Nyasaland Shelley's Francolin

Orange River Francolin (Francolinus levaillantoides) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. africanus, S. gariepensis

S. l. levaillantoides -- Alternative English Name(s): Damaraland Orange River Francolin, North Transvaal Orange River Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. l. gariepensis, S. l. palidior, S. l. ludwigi, S. l. kalaharica
S. l. jugularis -- Alternative English Name(s): Angola Orange River Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. l. cunenensis, S. l. stresemanni, S. l. langi, S. l. wattii, S. l. camerunensis
S. l. gutturalis -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Greywing, Bogosland Greywing -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. l. eritreae
S. l. lorti -- Alternative English Name(s): Somaliland Greywing -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. l. macartheri, S. l. archeri, S. l. friedmanni, S. l. stantoni

Nahan's Francolin (Francolinus nahani) -- Alternative English Name(s): Nahan's Forest Francolin

Hartlaub's Francolin (Francolinus hartlaubi) -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. h. hartlaubi, P. h. bradfieldi, P. h. ovambensis, P. h. crypticus

Double-spurred Francolin (Francolinus bicalcaratus)

P. b. bicalcaratus -- Alternative English Name(s): Sierra Leone Double-spurred Francolin, Adamwa Double-spurred Francolin, Banso Double-spurred Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. b. thornei, P. b. adamauae, P. b. ogilvie-granti
P. b. ayesha -- Alternative English Name(s): Moroccan Double-spurred Francolin

Clapperton's Francolin (Francolinus clappertoni) -- Alternative English Name(s): Lake Chad Clapperton Francolin, White Nile Clapperton Francolin, Uganda Clapperton Francolin, Abyssinian Clapperton Francolin, Black-spotted Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. c. clappertoni, P. c. tscahdensis, P. c. heuglini, P. c. gedgei, P. c. cavei, P. c. sharpii, P. c. testis, P. c. konigseggi, P. c. nigrosquamatus

Heuglin's Francolin (Francolinus icterorhynchus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Heuglin's Double-spurred Francolin, Dybowski's Double-spurred Francolin, Uganda Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. i. icterorhynchus, P. i. emini, P. i. dybowskii, P. i. grisescens, P. i. ugandensis

Harwood's Francolin (Francolinus harwoodi)

Red-billed Francolin (Francolinus adspersus)

Cape Francolin (Francolinus capensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Pheasant

Hildebrandt's Francolin (Francolinus hildebrandti) -- Alternative English Name(s): Steppe Hildebrandt Francolin, Kenya Hildebrandt Francolin, Heller''s Hildebrandt Francolin, Nyasa Hildebrandt Francolin, Mikindani Hildebrandt Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. h. hildebrandti, P. h. fischeri, P. h. altumi, P. h. helleri, P. h. johnstoni, P. h. grotei, P. h. lindi

Natal Francolin (Francolinus natalensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Natal Pheasant, Neave's Natal Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. n. natalensis, P. n. thamnobium, P. n. neavei

Ahanta Francolin (Francolinus ahantensis) -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. a. ahantensis, P. a. hopkinsoni

Scaly Francolin (Francolinus squamatus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Angola Scaly Francolin, Grouse-like Francolin, Lake Victoria Scaly Francolin, Loita Plains, Scaly Francolin, Mt Kenya Scaly Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. s. squamatus, P. s. schuetti, P. s. tetraoninus, P. s. zappeyi, P. s. dowashanus, P. s. maranensis, P. s. usambarae, P. s. uzungwensis, P. s. chyuluensis, P. s. doni

Grey-striped Francolin (Francolinus griseostriatus)

Yellow-necked Francolin (Francolinus leucoscepus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Abyssinian Bare-throated Francolin, Somaliland bare-throated Francolin, East African Bare-throated Francolin, Shoan Bare-throated Francolin, Mt Kenya Bare-throated Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. l. leucoscepus, P. l. muhamed-ben-abdullah, P. l. kilimensis, P. l. oldowai, P. l. infuscatus, P. l. tokora, P. l. holtermulleri, P. l. keniensis

Grey-breasted Francolin (Francolinus rufopictus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Grey-breasted Red-necked Francolin

Red-necked Spurfowl (Francolinus afer) -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-necked Francolin

P. a. castaneiventer -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Red-necked Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. a. nudicollis, P. a. krebsi, P. a. lehmanni
P. a. afer -- Alternative English Name(s): Angola Red-necked Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. a. chio
P. a. swynnertoni -- Alternative English Name(s): Mashonaland Red-necked Francolin
P. a. melanogaster -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. a. loangwae
P. a. leucoparaeus -- Alternative English Name(s): East African Red-necked Francolin
P. a. cranchii -- Alternative English Name(s): Congo Vermiculated Red-necked Francolin, Humboldt's Red-necked Francolin, Nyasa Vermiculated Red-necked Francolin, East African Vermiculated Red-necked Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. a. manueli, P. a. mackensiei, P. a. humboldti, P. a. benguellensis, P. a. intercedens, P. a. bohmi, P. a. tertius, P. a. swynnertoni, P. a. cooperi, P. a. notatus, P. a. cunensis, P. a. aylwinae, P. a. itigi
P. a. harterti -- Alternative English Name(s): Usumbara Vermiculated Red-necked Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. a. nyanzae

Swainson's Francolin (Francolinus swainsonii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Swainson's Spurfowl

P. s. swainsonii -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. s. damarensis, P. s. grilli, P. s. chobiensis
P. s. lundazi

Erckel's Francolin (Francolinus erckelii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Erkowit Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. e. erkelii, P. e. pentoni

Djibouti Francolin (Francolinus ochropectus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Ochre-breasted Francolin

Chestnut-naped Francolin (Francolinus castaneicollis)

P. c. castaneicollis -- Alternative English Name(s): Bottego's Chestnut-naped Francolin, Somaliland Chestnut-naped Francolin, Gofa Chestnut-naped Francolin -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. c. bottegi, P. c. ogoensis, P. c. kaffanus, P. c. atrifrons, P. c. gofanus
P. c. atrifrons

Handsome Francolin (Francolinus nobilis) -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. n. nobilis, P. n. chapini

Jackson's Francolin (Francolinus jacksoni) -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. j. jacksoni, P. j. gurae, P. j. pollenorum

Mount Cameroon Francolin (Francolinus camerunensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cameroon Mountain Francolin, Cameroon Francolin

Swierstra's Francolin (Francolinus swierstrai) -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. cruzi

Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) -- Alternative English Name(s): Quail

C. c. erlangeri -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Quail
C. c. coturnix -- Alternative English Name(s): European Quail, Cape Quail -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. c. africana
C. c. africana

Harlequin Quail (Coturnix delegorguei)

C. d. delegorguei
C. d. histrionica -- Alternative English Name(s): Gulf of Guinea Harlequin Quail

Blue Quail (Coturnix adansonii) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Blue Quail

Udzungwa Partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Udzungwa Forest Partridge

Stone Partridge (Ptilopachus petrosus)

P. p. petrosus -- Alternative English Name(s): Kordofan Stone Partridge, Kenya Stone Partidge, Lado Stone Partridge, Bahr el Ghazal Stone Partridge -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. p. fuscus, P. p. brehmi, P. p. florentiae, P. p. saturatoir, P. p. emini, P. p. ladoensis, P. p. butleri
P. p. major -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Stone Partridge

Congo Peacock (Afropavo congensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Congo Peafowl

White-breasted Guineafowl (Agelastes meleagrides) -- Alternative English Name(s): Turkey-like Guineafowl

Black Guineafowl (Agelastes niger)

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) -- Alternative English Name(s): Helmet-Guineafowl, Tufted Guineafowl, Wattle-nosed Guineafowl

N. m. meleagris -- Alternative English Name(s): Sennar Tufted Guineafowl, Uganda Tufted Guineafowl, Congo Tufted Guineafowl, Baringo Tufted Guineafowl, Ankoli Helmeted Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): N. m. major, N. m. neumanni, N. m. omoensis, N. m. toruensis, N. m. inermis, N. m. macroceras, N. m. rendilis, N. m. intermedia, N. m. uhehensis
N. m. sabyi
N. m. galeata -- Alternative English Name(s): Grey-breasted Helmeted Guineafowl, Gabon Helmeted Guineafowl, Ubanghi Helmeted Guineafowl, Zech's Helemeted Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): N. m. marchei, N. m. strasseni, N. m. blancoui, N. m. zechi, N. m. callewaerti
N. m. somaliensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Somali Tufted Guineafowl
N. m. reichenowi -- Alternative English Name(s): East African Helmeted Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): N. m. ansorgei
N. m. mitrata -- Alternative English Name(s): Madagascar Helmeted Guineafowl
N. m. marungensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Katanga Helmeted Guineafowl, Angola Helmeted Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): N. m. bodalyae, N. m. maxima, N. m. frommi, N. m. rikwae
N. m. damarensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Damaraland Wattle-nosed Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): N. m. mulondensis, N. m. papillosa
N. m. coronata -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Helmeted Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): N. m. transvaalensis, N. m. limpopoensis

Plumed Guineafowl (Guttera plumifera)

G. p. sclateri -- Alternative English Name(s): Cameroon Plumed Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. p. plumifera
G. p. schubotzi -- Alternative English Name(s): Uele River Plumed Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. p. barbata, G. p. granti, G. p. makondorum

Crested Guineafowl (Guttera pucherani)

G. p. pucherani -- Alternative English Name(s): Kenya Crested Guineafowl
G. p. verreauxi -- Alternative English Name(s): West African Crested Guineafowl, Lindi Crested Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. p. schoutedeni, G. p. pallasi, G. p. cristata, G. p. suahelica, G. p. chapini, G. p. kathleenae, G. p. seth-smithi
G. p. sclateri -- Alternative English Name(s): Sclater's Crested Guineafowl
G. p. barbata -- Alternative English Name(s): Uganda Crested Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. p. granti
G. p. edouardi -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Crested Guineafowl -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. p. lividicolis, G. p. symonsi

Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum)

Fulvous Tree Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) -- Alternative English Name(s): Fulvous Whistling Duck, Fulvous Duck -- Alternative scientific name(s): D. fulva

White-faced Tree Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) -- Alternative English Name(s): White-faced Whistling Duck, White-faced Duck

White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus)

T. l. leuconotus

Maccoa Duck (Oxyura maccoa) -- Alternative scientific name(s): O. punctata

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): North American Ruddy Duck

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)

Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Bewick's Swan

C. c. bewickii

Bean Goose (Anser fabalis)

A. f. fabalis
A. f. rossicus

White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) -- Alternative English Name(s): Greater White-fronted Goose

A. a. albifrons

Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus)

Greylag Goose (Anser anser) -- Alternative English Name(s): Greylag

A. a. anser
A. a. rubirostris

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)

Brent Goose (Branta bernicla) -- Alternative English Name(s): Brant

B. b. bernicla

Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis)

Blue-winged Goose (Cyanochen cyanopterus)

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus)

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)

South African Shelduck (Tadorna cana) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Shelduck

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Shelduck

Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis)

P. g. gambensis
P. g. niger -- Alternative English Name(s): Black Spur-winged Goose

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) -- Alternative English Name(s): Carolina Duck

Hartlaub's Duck (Pteronetta hartlaubii) -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. h. albifrons

Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) -- Alternative English Name(s): Comb Duck

S. m. melanotos

Pygmy Goose (Nettapus auritus) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Pygmy-Goose, Dwarf Goose

Cape Wigeon (Anas capensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Teal

Gadwall (Anas strepera)

Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) -- Alternative English Name(s): Wigeon

American Wigeon (Anas americana)

African Black Duck (Anas sparsa)

A. s. sparsa
A. s. leucostigma
A. s. maclatchyi

American Black Duck (Anas rubriceps)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. boschas

A. p. platyrhynchos

Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)

A. u. undulata
A. u. rueppelli -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Yellow-billed Duck

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)

Cape Shoveler (Anas smithi)

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) -- Alternative English Name(s): Shoveler

Red-billed Teal (Anas erythrorhyncha) -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-billed Duck

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) -- Alternative English Name(s): Pintail

A. a. acuta

Garganey (Anas querquedula)

Teal (Anas crecca) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Teal, Green-winged Teal

A. c. crecca -- Alternative English Name(s): European Green-winged Teal
A. c. carolinensis -- Alternative English Name(s): American Green-winged Teal -- Alternative scientific name(s): Anas carolinensis

Hottentot Teal (Anas hottentota) -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. punctata

Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) -- Alternative English Name(s): Marbled Duck

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)

Southern Pochard (Netta erythrophthalma) -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Pochard, Red-eyed Pochard

N. e. brunnea

Pochard (Aythya ferina) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Pochard, Northern Pochard

Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) -- Alternative English Name(s): Ferruginous Pochard, White-eyed Pochard -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. n. nyroca

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)

A. m. marila

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) -- Alternative English Name(s): Black Scoter

M. n. nigra

Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) -- Alternative English Name(s): White-winged Scoter

M. f. fusca

King Eider (Somateria spectabilis)

Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Goldeneye

B. c. clangula

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Smew (Mergus albellus)

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

Goosander (Mergus merganser) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Merganser

M. m. merganser

Kurrichane Button-Quail (Turnix sylvatica) -- Alternative English Name(s): Small Button-Quail, Andalusain Hemipode, Little Button-Quail

T. s. leptirana -- Alternative English Name(s): West African Button-Quail -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. s. alleni
T. s. sylvatica

Black-rumped Button-Quail (Turnix hottentotta) -- Alternative English Name(s): Natal Button-Quail

T. h. nana -- Alternative English Name(s): Black-rumped Button-Quail -- Alternative scientific name(s): Turnix nana, T. n. luciana, T. n. insolata
T. h. hottentotta -- Alternative English Name(s): Hottentot Button-Quail

Quail Plover (Ortyxelos meiffrenii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Lark Button-Quail, Lark Quail