African Species List

Mainland and adjacent islands

Part 5 - Rock Dove to Grey Pratincole

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Barn Owl

T. a. affinis -- Alternative English Name(s): Fernando Po Barn Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. a. poensis
T. a. poensis
T. a. erlangeri
T. a. alba
T. a. schmitzi
T. a. thomensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Sao Tome Barn Owl

Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Grass Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. c. capensis, T. c. cabrae, T. c. cameroonensis, T. c. damarensis

Congo Bay Owl (Phodilus prigoginei) -- Alternative English Name(s): Prigogine's Owl

Sandy Scops Owl (Otus icterorhynchus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cinamon Scops Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): O. holerythrus

O. i. icterorhynchus
O. i. holerythrus -- Alternative English Name(s): Cameroon Scops-Owl

Sokoke Scops Owl (Otus ireneae) -- Alternative English Name(s): Morden's Scops Owl

Sao Tome Scops-Owl (Otus hartlaubi) -- Alternative scientific name(s): O. leucopsis, O. scapulatus

Pallid Scops Owl (Otus brucei) -- Alternative English Name(s): Bruce's Scops Owl, Striated Scops Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): O. scops socotranus

O. b. exiquus
O. b. socotranus -- Alternative English Name(s): Socotra Scops Owl

African Scops Owl (Otus senegalensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Scops Owl, Annobon Scops Owl

O. s. senegalensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Scops-Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): O. s. capensis, O. s. hendersoni, O. s. ugandae, O. s. intermedia, O. s. grisea, O. s. pusilla, O. s. konigseggi
O. s. nivosus
O. s. feae -- Alternative English Name(s): Annobon Scops-Owl

European Scops Owl (Otus scops) -- Alternative English Name(s): Eurasian Scops Owl, Common Scops Owl

O. s. scops
O. s. mallorcae
O. s. pulchellus -- Alternative English Name(s): Eastern Scops-Owl
O. s. cycladum
O. s. turanicus

Pemba Scops Owl (Otus pembaensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Russet Scops Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): O. rutila pembaensis

White-faced Scops Owl (Otus leucotis) -- Alternative English Name(s): White-faced Owl

O. l. leucotis -- Alternative English Name(s): Northern White-faced Scops Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): Otus leucotis
O. l. granti -- Alternative English Name(s): Southern White-faced Scops Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): Otus granti

Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) -- Alternative English Name(s): Eagle Owl, Desert Eagle Owl

B. b. hispanicus

Pharaoh's Eagle-Owl (Bubo ascalaphus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Desert Eagle-Owl

B. a. ascalaphus -- Alternative English Name(s): Desert Eagle-Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): B. a. desertorum
B. a. interpositus

Cape Eagle-Owl (Bubo capensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Mountain Eagle-Owl

B. c. capensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Eagle-Owl
B. c. dillonii -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Eagle-Owl
B. c. mackinderi -- Alternative English Name(s): Mackinder's Eagle-Owl, Kenya Eagle-Owl

Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Spotted Eagle-Owl

B. a. africanus -- Alternative scientific name(s): B. a. maculosus
B. a. cinerascens -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Spotted Eagle-Owl, Greyish Eagle-Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): B. a. kollmannspergeri
B. a. tanai

Fraser's Eagle-Owl (Bubo poensis)

Usambara Eagle-Owl (Bubo vosseleri) -- Alternative English Name(s): Nduk Eagle-Owl

Shelley's Eagle-Owl (Bubo shelleyi) -- Alternative English Name(s): Banded Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl (Bubo lacteus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Giant Eagle-Owl, Milky Eagle-Owl

Akun Eagle-Owl (Bubo leucostictus)

Pel's Fishing-Owl (Scotopelia peli) -- Alternative English Name(s): Fishing Owl Alternative scientific name(s): S. p. fischeri, S. p. salvago-raggii

Rufous Fishing-Owl (Scotopelia ussheri) -- Alternative English Name(s): Ussher's Fishing-Owl

Vermiculated Fishing-Owl (Scotopelia bouvieri) -- Alternative English Name(s): Bouvier's Fishing-Owl

African Wood Owl (Strix woodfordii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Wood Owl

S. w. woodfordii -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Wood-Owl, Swahili Wood-Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. w. suahelia
S. w. nuchalis -- Alternative English Name(s): West African Wood-Owl, Niam-Niam Wood-Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. w. bohndorffi
S. w. nigricantior -- Alternative English Name(s): East African Wood-Owl
S. w. umbrina -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Wood-Owl

Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

S. a. mauretanica

Hume's Tawny Owl (Strix butleri) -- Alternative English Name(s): Hume's Owl

Maned Owl (Jubula lettii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Akun Scops-Owl

Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)

G. p. licua -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. p. kilimense
G. p. perlatum

Red-chested Owlet (Glaucidium tephronotum) -- Alternative English Name(s): Yellow-legged Owlet -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. pycrafti

G. t. tephronotum
G. t. pycrafti -- Alternative English Name(s): Yellow-legged Owlet
G. t. medje -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. t. lukolelae, G. t. kivuense
G. t. elgonense

Sjostedt's Barred Owlet (Glaucidium sjostedti) -- Alternative English Name(s): Chestnut-backed Owlet, Cameroon Barred Owlet, Sjostedt's Owlet

African Barred Owlet (Glaucidium capense) -- Alternative English Name(s): Scheffler's Owl, Chestnut Owlet -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. castaneum

G. c. ngamiense -- Alternative English Name(s): Ngami Barred Owlet -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. c. clanceyi, G. c. robertsi
G. c. capense -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Barred Owlet
G. c. scheffleri -- Alternative English Name(s): Scheffler's Owl, East African Barred Owlet

Chestnut Owlet (Glaucidium castaneum)

G. c. castaneum -- Alternative English Name(s): Chestnut Owlet, Lake District Barred Owlet
G. c. etchecopari

Albertine Owlet (Glaucidium albertinum)

Little Owl (Athene noctua)

A. n. glaux
A. n. saharae
A. n. lilith
A. n. solitudinis
A. n. spilogastra -- Alternative English Name(s): Red Sea Little Owl
A. n. somaliensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Somali Little Owl

Abyssinian Owl (Asio abyssinicus) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Long-eared Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. otus abyssinicus

A. a. abyssinicus -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Long-eared Owl
A. o. graueri -- Alternative English Name(s): Central African Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Northern Long-eared Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. abyssinicus otus

A. o. otus

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

A. f. flammeus -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. f. accipitrinus

Marsh Owl (Asio capensis) -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. helvola

A. c. capensis -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Marsh Owl -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. c. helvola
A. c. tingitanus -- Alternative English Name(s): Algerian Marsh Owl
A. c. hova

Brown Nightjar (Caprimulgus binotatus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Dusky Nightjar

Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis)

C. r. ruficollis
C. r. desertorum -- Alternative English Name(s): Algerian Red-necked Nightjar

Eurasian Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) -- Alternative English Name(s): European Nightjar, Nightjar

C. e. europaeus -- Alternative English Name(s): European Nightjar -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. e. sarudnyi
C. e. sarudnyi
C. e. meridionalis -- Alternative English Name(s): Southern European Nightjar
C. e. unwini -- Alternative English Name(s): Central Asian Nightjar
C. e. plumipes

Dusky Nightjar (Caprimulgus fraenatus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Sombre Nightjar, Kenya Rufous-cheeked Nightjar, Mt Kenya Nightjar -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. keniensis

Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (Caprimulgus rufigena)

C. r. rufigena -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. r. quanzae
C. r. damarensis

Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius)

C. a. saharae -- Alternative English Name(s): Saharan Nightjar
C. a. aegyptius
C. a. arenicolor

Nubian Nightjar (Caprimulgus nubicus)

C. n. torridus -- Alternative English Name(s): Somaliland Nightjar
C. n. taruensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Taru Desert Nightjar
C. n. nubicus --
C. n. tamaricis -- Alternative English Name(s): Dead Sea Nightjar
C. n. jonesi -- Alternative English Name(s): Socotra Nightjar

Golden Nightjar (Caprimulgus eximius)

C. e. eximius
C. e. simplicior -- Alternative English Name(s): Zinder Golden Nightjar

Donaldson-Smith's Nightjar (Caprimulgus donaldsoni)

Fiery-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus pectoralis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Dusky Nightjar

C. p. fervidus -- Alternative English Name(s): Fiery-necked Nightjar
C. p. pectoralis -- Alternative English Name(s): Dusky Nightjar
C. p. shelleyi
C. p. crepusculans

Black-shouldered Nightjar (Caprimulgus nigriscapularis) -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. claudi, C. pectoralis nigriscapularis

Mountain Nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Montane Nightjar -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. guttifer

C. p. poliocephalus -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Nightjar -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. p. palmquisti
C. p. guttifer -- Alternative English Name(s): Usambara Dusky Nightjar, Usambara Nightjar
C. p. koesteri

Rwenzori Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruwenzorii) -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. poliocephalus ruwenzorii

Swamp Nightjar (Caprimulgus natalensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Natal Nightjar, White-tailed Nightjar

C. n. natalensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Natal White-tailed Nightjar, Chad Natal Nightjar, Uganda Rufous-cheeked Nightjar, Gaboon Natal Nightjar, Angola Natal Nightjar -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. n. chadensis, C. n. ugandae, C. n. gabonensis, C. n. carpi, C. n. mpasa, C. n. fulviventris
C. n. accrae -- Alternative English Name(s): Gold Coast Natal Nightjar

Plain Nightjar (Caprimulgus inornatus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. i. inornatus, C. i. ludovicianus, C. i. houyi, C. i. vinacea-brunneus, C. i. malbranti

Star-spotted Nightjar (Caprimulgus stellatus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Lake Zwai Star-spotted Nightjar -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. s. stellatus, C. s. simplex

Freckled Nightjar (Caprimulgus tristigma) -- Alternative English Name(s): Rock Nightjar

C. t. granosus
C. t. sharpei -- Alternative English Name(s): Gold Coast Freckled Nightjar
C. t. tristigma -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. t. apatelius
C. t. lentiginosus -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Freckled Nightjar
C. t. pallidogriseus

Bates's Nightjar (Caprimulgus batesi)

Long-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus climacurus)

C. c. climacurus
C. c. sclateri
C. c. nigricans -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. c. leoninus

Slender-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus clarus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Lakes Mozambique Nightjar -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. fossii clarus, C. climacrurus clarus, C. c. apatelius

Square-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Mozambique Nightjar, Gabon Nightjar

C. f. welwitschii
C. f. fossii -- Alternative English Name(s): Mozambique Nightjar
C. f. griseoplurus

Nechisar Nightjar (Caprimulgus solala)

Itombwe Nightjar (Caprimulgus prigoginei) -- Alternative English Name(s): Prigogine's Nightjar

Standard-winged Nightjar (Macrodipteryx longipennis) -- Alternative scientific name(s): M. macrodipterus, M. houyi

Pennant-winged Nightjar (Macrodipteryx vexillaria) -- Alternative scientific name(s): M. fulleborni

Rock Dove (Columba livia) -- Alternative English Name(s): Rock Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Domestic Pigeon

C. l. livia
C. l. canariensis
C. l. gaddi
C. l. schimperi -- Alternative English Name(s): Egyptian Rock Pigeon
C. l. dakhlae
C. l. targia -- Alternative English Name(s): Saharan Rock Pigeon, Butler's Rock Pigeon -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. l. butleri
C. l. gymnocyclus -- Alternative English Name(s): Senegal Rock Pigeon
C. l. atlantis
C. l. butleri
C. l. 'domestica' -- Alternative English Name(s): Domestic Pigeon

Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea) -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Speckled Pigeon, Cape Speckled Pigeon, Uhehe Speckled Pigeon, Speckled Rock Pigeon, Rock Pigeon

C. g. guinea -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Speckled Pigeon -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. g. dilloni
C. g. phaeonotus -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Speckled Pigeon, Uhehe Speckled Pigeon -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. g. uhehensis

White-collared Pigeon (Columba albitorques)

Somali Pigeon (Columba oliviae) -- Alternative English Name(s): Somali Stock Dove, Somaliland Pigeon

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Wood Pigeon

C. p. excelsa
C. p. palumbus
C. p. azorica
C. p. maderensis

Stock Dove (Columba oenas) -- Alternative English Name(s): Stock Pigeon

Afep Pigeon (Columba unicincta) -- Alternative English Name(s): Grey Wood Pigeon

Cameroon Olive Pigeon (Columba sjostedti) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cameroon Mountain Olive Pigeon -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. arquatrix sjostedi

Sao Tome Olive Pigeon (Columba thomensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Maroon Pigeon -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. arquatrix thomensis

African Olive Pigeon (Columba arquatrix) -- Alternative English Name(s): Rameron Pigeon, Olive Pigeon

White-naped Pigeon (Columba albinucha) -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. arquatrix albinucha

Western Bronze-naped Pigeon (Columba iriditorques) -- Alternative English Name(s): Gabon Bronze-naped Pigeon, Bronze-naped Pigeon -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. i. rothschildi

Sao Tome Bronze-naped Pigeon (Columba malherbii)

Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon (Columba delegorguei) -- Alternative English Name(s): Delegorgue's Pigeon

C. d. delegorguei -- Alternative English Name(s): Delegorgue's Bronze-naped Pigeon
C. d. sharpei -- Alternative English Name(s): Elgon Bronze-naped Pigeon

Lemon Dove (Columba larvata) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cinnamon Dove, Forest Dove

C. l. larvata
C. l. bronzina -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Lemon Dove
C. l. jacksoni -- Alternative English Name(s): Ruwenzori Forest Dove
C. l. inornata -- Alternative English Name(s): Cameroon Forest Dove, Southern Cameroon Forest Dove, Fernando Po Forest Dove, Annobon Forest Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. l. plumbescens, C. l. poensis, C. l. hypoleuca
C. l. principalis -- Alternative English Name(s): Principe Island Forest Dove
C. l. simplex -- Alternative English Name(s): Sao Tome Lemon Dove, Forest Dove

European Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia turtur)

S. t. turtur
S. t. arenicola -- Alternative English Name(s): Persian Turtle-Dove
S. t. hoggara -- Alternative English Name(s): Saharan Turtle-Dove
S. t. rufescens
S. t. isabellina -- Alternative English Name(s): Egyptian Turtle-Dove

Adamawa Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia hypopyrrha)

Pink-breasted Turtle Dove (Streptopelia lugens) -- Alternative English Name(s): Dusky Turtle Dove, Abyssinian Pink-breasted Turtle Dove, East African Pink-breasted Turtle Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. l. lugens, S. l. funebrea

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Palm Dove

S. s. senegalensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Laughing Dove, Sudan Laughing Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. s. aequatorialis, S. s. sudanensis
S. s. phoenicophila
S. s. dahlakae
S. s. aegyptiaca
S. s. sokotrae -- Alternative English Name(s): Socotra Laughing Dove

African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Mourning Collared Dove, Mourning Collared Dove

S. d. shelleyi -- Alternative English Name(s): Niger Mourning Dove
S. d. logonensis
S. d. decipiens -- Alternative English Name(s): Sudan Mourning Dove
S. d. perspicillata -- Alternative English Name(s): Masai Mourning Dove
S. d. elegans -- Alternative English Name(s): Juba Mourning Dove, Somali Mourning Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. d. griseiventris
S. d. ambigua -- Alternative English Name(s): Angola Mourning Dove, East African Mourning Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. d. kafuensis, S. d. permista

Vinaceous Dove (Streptopelia vinacea) -- Alternative English Name(s): Sudan Vinaceous Dove, Bogosland Vinaceous Dove, Shoa Vinaceous Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. v. vinacea, S. v. barbaru, S. v. erythreae, S. v. schoana

Cape Turtle Dove (Streptopelia capicola) -- Alternative English Name(s): Ring-necked Dove

S. c. capicola
S. c. tropica -- Alternative English Name(s): East African Turtle Dove
S. c. damarensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Damaraland Turtle Dove
S. c. onguati
S. c. somalica -- Alternative English Name(s): South Somali Turtle Dove, North Somali Turtle Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. c. hilgerti
S. c. electa -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Turtle Dove

Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata) -- Alternative English Name(s): Lesser Red-eyed Dove, West African Red-eyed Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. s. semitorquata, S. s. minor, S. s. erythrophrys

Rose-grey Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Collared Dove, Pink-headed Dove

S. r. roseogrisea
S. r. arabica -- Alternative English Name(s): Arabian Collared Dove

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

S. d. decaocto

African White-winged Dove (Streptopelia reichenowi) -- Alternative English Name(s): African White-winged Collared-Dove, White-winged Turtle-Dove

Black-billed Wood-Dove (Turtur abyssinicus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Black-billed Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Sudan Black-billed Wood-Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. a. abyssinicus, T. a. delicatula

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (Turtur chalcospilos) -- Alternative English Name(s): Green-spotted Wood-Dove, Damaraland Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. c. chalcospilos, T. c. volkmanni

Blue-spotted Wood-Dove (Turtur afer) -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-billed Wood-Dove, Senegal Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Abyssinian Blue-spotted Wood-Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. a. afer, T. a. kilimensis, T. a. mearnsi

Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria) -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Tambourine Dove, West African Tambourine Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. t. tympanistra, T. t. fraseri

Blue-headed Wood-Dove (Turtur brehmeri) -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. puella

T. b. brehmeri
T. b. infelix -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. b. puella

Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Long-tailed Dove -- Alternative scientific name(s): O. c. capensis

Bruce's Green-Pigeon (Treron waalia)

African Green-Pigeon (Treron calva) -- Alternative English Name(s): Green Pigeon

T. c. nudirostris -- Alternative English Name(s): Senegal Green Pigeon
T. c. sharpei -- Alternative English Name(s): Sierra Leone Green Pigeon
T. c. calva -- Alternative English Name(s): Loango Green Pigeon, Portugese Guinea Green Pigeon -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. c. crassirostris
T. c. uellensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Uele River Green Pigeon
T. c. gibberifrons -- Alternative English Name(s): Uganda Green Pigeon -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. c. salvadorii
T. c. salvadorii
T. c. brevicera -- Alternative English Name(s): East African Green Pigeon
T. c. wakefieldii -- Alternative English Name(s): Wakefield's Green Pigeon
T. c. schalowi -- Alternative English Name(s): Schalow's Green Pigeon
T. c. ansorgei -- Alternative English Name(s): Angola Green Pigeon
T. c. vylderi
T. c. delalandii -- Alternative English Name(s): Delalande's Green Pigeon, Zambesi Green Pigeon, Damaraland Green Pigeon -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. c. orientalis, T. c. damarensis
T. c. granviki
T. c. orientalis
T. c. chobiensis
T. c. damarensis
T. c. granti
T. c. virescens -- Alternative English Name(s): Principe Green Pigeon, Fernando Po Green Pigeon -- Alternative scientific name(s): T. c. poensis
T. c. poensis

Pemba Green-Pigeon (Treron pembaensis)

Sao Tome Green-Pigeon (Treron sanctithomae)