African Species List
Mainland and adjacent islands
Part 6 - Skuas to Falcons
Great Skua (Catharacta skua) -- Alternative English Name(s): Brown Skua
C. s. skua
C. s. lonnebergi -- Alternative English Name(s): Brown Skua -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. s. madagascariensis
Subantarctic Skua (Catharacta antarctica) -- Alternative English Name(s): Southern Skua, Antarctic Skua
C. a. hamiltoni
C. a. antarctica
South Polar Skua (Catharacta maccormicki) -- Alternative English Name(s): McCormick's Skua
Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Pomarine Jaeger, Pomatorhine Skua
Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Parasitic Jaeger, Parasitic Skua, Arctic Jaeger, Richardson's Skua -- Alternative scientific name(s): S.. crepidatus
Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Long-tailed Jaeger
S. l. longicaudus
S. l. pallescens
African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris)
White-eyed Gull (Larus leucophthalmus)
Hemprich's Gull (Larus hemprichii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Sooty Gull
Common Gull (Larus canus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Mew Gull
L. c. canus
Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii)
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Dominican Gull
L. d. vetula -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Gull
L. d. dominicanus -- Alternative English Name(s): Kelp Gull
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
L. a. michahellis
L. a. argentatus
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cachinnans)
L. c. cachinnans -- Alternative English Name(s): Yelow-legged Herring Gull
L. c. heuglini
L. c. atlantis
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): L. glaucus
L. h. hyperboreus
Armenian Gull (Larus armenicus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
L. f. fuscus -- Alternative English Name(s): British Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eastern Lesser Black-backed Gull -- Alternative scientific name(s): L. f. affinis, L. f. taimyrensis L. f. graellsii
L. f. intermedius
Great Black-headed Gull (Larus ichthyaetus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Fish Gull
Grey-headed Gull (Larus cirrocephalus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Grey-hooded Gull
L. c. poliocephalus
Hartlaub's Gull (Larus hartlaubii) -- Alternative English Name(s): King Gull
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Black-headed Gull -- Alternative scientific name(s): L.. r. ridibundus
Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei) -- Alternative English Name(s): Rosy Gull -- Alternative scientific name(s): L.. galastes
Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia)
Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus)
Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)
L. a. atricilla
Franklin's Gull (Larus pipixcan)
Little Gull (Larus minutus)
Sabine's Gull (Larus sabini)
L. s. sabini
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) -- Alternative English Name(s): Kittiwake
Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica) -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. angelica
G. n. nilotica
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. tschegraa
Royal Tern (Sterna maxima)
S. m. albididorsalis
Lesser Crested Tern (Sterna bengalensis) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. b. par
S. b. emigrata
S. b. bengalensis
Swift Tern (Sterna bergii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Greater Crested Tern
S. b. bergii
S. b. thalassina -- Alternative English Name(s): Mascarene Swift Tern
S. b. velox -- Alternative English Name(s): Red Sea Swift Tern
S. b. enigma
Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)
S. s. sandvicensis
Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii)
S. d. dougallii
S. d. bangsi
S. d. arideensis
Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. melanauchen, S. s. sumatrana
S. s. matthewsi
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
S. h. hirundo
S. h. tibetana
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. macrura
Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. antistropha
S. v. tristanensis
S. v. georgiae
S. v. vittata -- Alternative English Name(s): Kerguelen Tern
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)
S. a. albifrons -- Alternative English Name(s): European Little Tern
S. a. guineae
S. a. sinensis
Saunders' Tern (Sterna saundersi) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. albifrons saundersi
S. s. saundersi -- Alternative English Name(s): Indian Little Tern
Damara Tern (Sterna balaenarum)
White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. albigena
Bridled Tern (Sterna anaethetus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Brown-winged Tern, Atlantic Bridled Tern, Red Sea Bridled Tern -- Alternative scientific ame(s): S. a. melanoptera, S. a. fuligula
S. a. melanoptera
S. a. fuligula
S. a. antarctica
Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. fuliginosa
S. f. fuscata
S. f. nubilosa
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. leucoparei
C. h. hybridus -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. h. leucoparei
C. h. delalandii -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Whiskered Tern -- Alternative scientific name(s): C. h. sclateri
C. h. sclateri
White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) -- Alternative English Name(s): White-winged Black Tern
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
C. n. niger
Common Noddy (Anous stolidus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Brown Noddy
A. s. stolidus -- Alternative English Name(s): Atlantic Noddy
A. s. plumbeigularis -- Alternative English Name(s): Red Sea Noddy
A. s. pileatus
Black Noddy (Anous minutus) -- Alternative English Name(s): White-capped Noddy
A. m. atlanticus -- Alternative English Name(s): Atlantic White-capped Noddy
Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris) -- Alternative English Name(s): White-capped Noddy
A. t. tenuirostris -- Alternative English Name(s): Seychelles White-capped Nddy
Little Auk (Alle alle) -- Alternative English Name(s): Dovekie
A. a. alle
Guillemot (Uria aalge) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Murre
U. a. albionis
Razorbill (Alca torda)
A. t. islandica
Puffin (Fratercula arctica) -- Alternative English Name(s): Atlantic Puffin
F. a. grabae
P. h. haliaetus
African Cuckoo Hawk (Aviceda cuculoides) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Cuckoo Falcon, African Baza
A. c. cuculoides -- Alternative English Name(s): West African Cuckoo Falcon
A. c. batesi -- Alternative English Name(s): Cameroon Cuckoo Falcon, Great Lakes Cuckoo Falcon -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. c. emini
A. c. verreauxi -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Cuckoo Falcon
Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) -- Alternative English Name(s): European Honey Buzzard
P. a. apivorus
Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Oriental Honey Buzzard
Bat Hawk (Machaerhamphus alcinus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Bat-eating Buzzard
M. a. anderssoni
Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Black-winged Kite
E. c. caeruleus
Swallow-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Swallow-tailed Kite, Scissor-tailed Kite
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
M. m. milvus
Black Kite (Milvus parasiticus) -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Kite, Tropical African Kite, Arabian Kite, Yellow-billed Kite -- Alternative scientific name(s): M.. p. parasiticus, M. p. tenebrosus, M. p. arabicus
M. m. parasiticus -- Alternative English Name(s): Yellow-billed Kite
M. m. aegyptius -- Alternative English Name(s): Egyptian Kite
M. m. migrans -- Alternative English Name(s): Black Kite
African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Sea-Eagle -- Alternative scientific name(s): H.. v. clamans
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) -- Alternative English Name(s): European Sea Eagle
H. a. albicilla
Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Vulturine Fish Eagle
Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Bearded Vulture, African Lammergeier
G. b. meridionalis -- Alternative English Name(s): African Lammergeier
G. b. barbatus
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
N. p. percnopterus
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Monk Vulture
N. m. monachus -- Alternative English Name(s): Senegambian Hooded Vulture
N. m. pileatus -- Alternative English Name(s): Southern Hooded Vulture
White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) -- Alternative English Name(s): African White-necked Vulture
Ruppell's Griffon (Gyps rueppellii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Ruppell's Vulture
G. r. rueppellii
G. r. erlangeri -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Griffon
Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus) -- Alternative English Name(s): European Griffon, Eurasian Vulture
G. f. fulvus
Cape Griffon (Gyps coprotheres) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Vulture, Kolbe's Griffon Alternative scientific name(s): G. kolbii
Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cinereous Vulture, Eurasian Black Vuture
Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. auricularis
A. t. tracheliotus -- Alternative English Name(s): Southern Lappet-faced Vulture
A. t. nubicus -- Alternative English Name(s): Northern Lappet-faced Vulture
White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)
Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) -- Alternative English Name(s): European Snake Eagle, Short-toed Snake Eagle
Beaudouin's Snake-Eagle (Circaetus beaudouini) -- Alternative English Name(s): Beaudouin's Harrier Eagle
Black-breasted Snake-Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Black-breasted Harrier Eagle -- Alternative scientific name(s): C.. gallicus pectoralis
Brown Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinereus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Brown Harrier-Eagle -- Alternative scientific name(s): C.. gallicus cinereus
Southern Banded Snake-Eagle (Circaetus fasciolatus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Fasciolated Snake-Eagle, Fasciated Snake-Eagle, Banded Harirer-Eagle
Western Banded Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) -- Alternative English Name(s): Banded Snake-Eagle, Smaller Banded Snake-Eagle, Smaller Banded Harrier-Eagle
Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Bateleur Eagle
Congo Serpent-Eagle (Dryotriorchis spectabilis)
D. s. spectabilis -- Alternative English Name(s): Gold Coast Serpent-Eagle
D. s. batesi -- Alternative English Name(s): Congo Serpent-Eagle
Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Western Marsh Harrier, Marsh Harrier
C. a. aeruginosus
C. a. harterti
African Marsh Harrier (Circus ranivorus) -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Marsh Harrier Alternative scientific name(s): C. aeruginosus ranivorus
Black Harrier (Circus maurus)
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Northern Harrier
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Pale Harrier
Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)
African Gymnogene (Polyboroides typus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Gymnogene, African Harrier Hawk, Harier Hawk
P. t. typus
P. t. pectoralis -- Alternative English Name(s): West African Harrier-Hawk Alternative scientific name(s): P. t. prigoginei
Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus)
K. m. monogrammicus -- Alternative English Name(s): Northern Lizard Buzzard
K. m. meridionalis -- Alternative English Name(s): Southern Lizard Buzzard
Dark Chanting Goshawk (Melierax metabates)
M. m. metabates -- Alternative English Name(s): White Nile Chanting Goshawk
M. m. theresae
M. m. neumanni -- Alternative English Name(s): Sahara Chanting Goshawk
M. m. mechowi -- Alternative English Name(s): Angola Chanting Goshawk
Eastern Chanting Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk -- Alternative scientific name(s): M.. canorus poliopterus
Pale Chanting Goshawk (Melierax canorus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk -- Alternative scientific name(s): M.. musicus
M. c. canorus -- Alternative scientific name(s): M. c. coombsi
M. c. argentior
Gabar Goshawk (Micronisus gabar) -- Alternative scientific name(s): M. niger, M. g. gabar
M. g. niger
M. g. aequatorius
M. g. gabar
African Goshawk (Accipiter tachiro) -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-chested Goshawk
A. t. tachiro -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Goshawk
A. t. sparsimfasciatus -- Alternative English Name(s): East African Goshawk
A. t. unduliventer -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Goshawk
A. t. croizati
A. t. pembaensis
Red-chested Goshawk (Accipiter toussenelii)
A. t. canescens -- Alternative English Name(s): Ituri Red-chested Goshawk
A. t. toussenelii -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-chested Goshawk
A. t. macroscelides -- Alternative English Name(s): West African Goshawk
A. t. lopezi -- Alternative English Name(s): Fernando Po Goshawk
Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk (Accipiter castanilius)
A. c. castanilius
A. c. beniensis
Shikra (Accipiter badius) -- Alternative English Name(s): Little Banded Goshawk
A. b. polyzonoides -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Shikra
A. b. sphenurus -- Alternative English Name(s): Eritrean Shikra -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. b. riggenbachi
Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes)
Western Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter erythropus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-thighed Sparrowhawk
A. e. erythropus -- Alternative English Name(s): West African Little Sparrowhawk
A. e. zenkeri -- Alternative English Name(s): Hartlaub's Sparrowhawk, Sharpe's Sparrowhawk -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. e. hartlaubi, A. e. sharpei
Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Little Sparrowhawk, East African Little Sparrowhawk, Abyssinian Little Sparrowhawk -- Alternative scientific name(s): A.. buttikoferi, A. m. minullus, A. m. tropicalis, A. m. intermedius
Ovampo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Hilgert's Sparrowhawk -- Alternative scientific name(s): A.. hilgerti
European Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Sparrowhawk
A. n. nisus
A. n. punicus
A. n. granti
Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris) -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-breasted Sparrowhawk
A. r. rufiventris -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Sparrowhawk
A. r. perspicillaris -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Sparrowhawk
Black Goshawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Black Sparrowhawk, Great Sparrowhawk
A. m. melanoleucus
A. m. temminckii
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Goshawk, Eurasian Goshawk
A. g. arrigonii
A. g. gentilis
Long-tailed Hawk (Urotriorchis macrourus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cameroon Long-tailed Hawk -- Alternative scientific name(s): U.. m. macrourus, U. m. batesi
Grasshopper Buzzard (Butastur rufipennis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Grasshopper Buzzard-Eagle
Steppe Buzzard (Buteo buteo) -- Alternative English Name(s): Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Buzzard
B. b. vulpinus -- Alternative English Name(s): Steppe Buzzard -- Alternative scientific name(s): B. b. desertorum, B. b. anceps, B. b. rufiventer
B. b. buteo
B. b. rothschildi
B. b. insularum
Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus)
B. o. oreophilus -- Alternative English Name(s): Mountain Buzzard
B. o. trizonatus -- Alternative English Name(s): Forest Buzzard, Rudebeck's Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): B. ferox
B. r. rufinus
B. r. cirtensis
Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
Red-necked Buzzard (Buteo auguralis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-tailed Buzzard
Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur) -- Alternative scientific name(s): B. rufofuscus augur
Archer's Buzzard (Buteo archeri) -- Alternative English Name(s): Somaliland Buzzard -- Alternative scientific name(s): B.. rufofuscus archeri
Jackal Buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): B. jakal
Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina)
A. p. pomarina
Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga)
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Tawny Eagle
A. r. rapax
A. r. belisarius -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Tawny Eagle -- Alternative scientific name(s): A. r. raptor, A. r. albicans, A. r. albipes
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
A. n. orientalis -- Alternative English Name(s): Western Steppe Eagle
A. n. nipalensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Eastern Steppe Eagle
Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
Adalbert's Eagle (Aquila adalberti) -- Alternative English Name(s): Spanish Imperial Eagle
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
A. c. homeyeri
Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Black Eagle
Wahlberg's Eagle (Aquila wahlbergi)
African Hawk-Eagle (Hieraaetus spilogaster)
Bonelli's Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus)
H. f. fasciatus
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
H. p. pennatus
Ayres' Hawk-Eagle (Hieraaetus ayresii) -- Alternative scientific name(s): H. ayresi, H. lucani
Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus)
Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Long-crested Hawk-Eagle
Cassin's Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus africanus)
Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Crowned Hawk-Eagle, African Crowned Hawk-Eagle
Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. s. gambiensis
Pygmy Falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus) -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Pygmy Falcon, Abyssinian Pygmy Falcon -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. s. semotorquatus, P. s. castanonotus
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) -- Alternative English Name(s): Western Lesser Kestrel, Eastern Lesser Kestrel -- Alternative scientific name(s): F.. n. naumanni, F. n. pekinensis
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Rock Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel
F. t. tinnunculus -- Alternative English Name(s): European Kestrel
F. t. rupicolaeformis -- Alternative English Name(s): Egyptian Kestrel
F. t. archeri -- Alternative English Name(s): Somaliland Kestrel
F. t. rufescens -- Alternative English Name(s): African Mountain Kestrel, Abyssinian Kestrel, Tanganyikan Kestrel -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. t. carlo, F. t. tanganyikae
F. t. rupicolus -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Kestrel -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. t. ngamiensis, F. t. rhodesi
Greater Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) -- Alternative English Name(s): Larger Kestrel
F. r. rupicoloides -- Alternative English Name(s): Larger South African Kestrel
F. r. arthuri -- Alternative English Name(s): Larger East African Kestrel, Buxton's Kestrel
F. r. fieldi -- Alternative English Name(s): Larger Somali Kestrel, Field's Kestrel
Fox Kestrel (Falco alopex) -- Alternative English Name(s): Togoland Fox Kestrel -- Alternative scientific name(s): F.. a. alopex, F. a. eremica, F. a. deserticola
Grey Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus)
Dickinson's Kestrel (Falco dickinsoni)
Red-necked Falcon (Falco chicquera)
F. c. ruficollis -- Alternative English Name(s): African Red-necked Kestrel
F. c. horsbrughi -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Red-necked Kestrel Alternative scientific name(s): F. c. daviesi
Western Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-footed Falcon, Western Red-legged Kestrel
Eastern Red-footed Falcon (Falco amurensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Amur Falcon, Eastern Red-legged Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae)
Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor)
Merlin (Falco columbarius)
F. c. aesalon
F. c. insignis
European Hobby (Falco subbuteo) -- Alternative English Name(s): Hobby, Eurasian Hobby
F. s. subbuteo
African Hobby (Falco cuvierii)
Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Lanner
F. b. biarmicus -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Lanner
F. b. abyssinicus -- Alternative English Name(s): Abyssinian Lanner
F. b. tanypterus -- Alternative English Name(s): Sudan Lanner
F. b. feldeggii
F. b. erlangeri
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) -- Alternative English Name(s): Saker
F. c. cherrug
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Peregrine -- Alternative scientific name(s): F.. japonicus
F. p. minor -- Alternative English Name(s): African Peregrine Falcon, Babylonian Peregrine Falcon -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. p. perconfusus, F. p. babylonicus
F. p. brookei -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. p. wallichensis
F. p. peregrinus -- Alternative English Name(s): European Peregrine -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. p. communis
F. p. calidus -- Alternative English Name(s): Eastern Peregrine -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. p. japonicus
Barbary Falcon (Falco peregrinoides) -- Alternative English Name(s): Arabian Peregrine -- Alternative scientific name(s): F.. p. arabicus
Taita Falcon (Falco fasciinucha) -- Alternative English Name(s): Teita Falcon