African Species List
Mainland and adjacent islands
Part 7 - Grebes to Storm-Petrels
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Dabchick -- Alternative scientific name(s): T.. fluviatilis
T. r. capensis -- Alternative English Name(s): African Little Grebe
T. r. ruficollis
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
P. c. infuscatus -- Alternative English Name(s): African Great Crested Grebe
P. c. cristatus
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Eared Grebe -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. caspicus
P. n. nigricollis -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. n. gurneyi
P. n. gurneyi
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
P. g. grisegena
Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Horned Grebe
P. a. auritus
Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus)
P. a. indicus -- Alternative English Name(s): Smaller Red-billed Tropicbird
P. a. aethereus
Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. r. rubricauda
P. r. rubricauda
White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus)
P. l. lepturus -- Alternative English Name(s): Indian Ocean Tropicbird
P. l. ascensionis -- Alternative English Name(s): Ascension Tropicbird
P. i. europae
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) -- Alternative English Name(s): North Atlantic Gannet
Cape Gannet (Morus capensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Malagash, South African Gannet
Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator) -- Alternative English Name(s): Austarlian Gannet
Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) -- Alternative English Name(s): Blue-faced Booby
S. d. melanops -- Alternative English Name(s): Indian Ocean Booby
S. d. dactylatra -- Alternative English Name(s): Ascension Booby -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. d. cyanops
Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. piscator
S. s. rubripes -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. s. sula
Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)
S. l. plotus
S. l. leucogaster
Darter (Anhinga rufa) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Darter, Snake-bird
A. r. rufa
A. r. vulsini
Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus)
Reed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Long-tailed Cormorant
P. a. africanus -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. a. menegauxi
P. a. pictilis
Crowned Cormorant (Phalacrocorax coronatus)
Bank Cormorant (Phalacrocorax neglectus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Wahlberg's Cormorant, Bank Duiker
White-breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) -- Alternative English Name(s): Great Cormorant, White-necked Cormorant
P. c. lucidus -- Alternative English Name(s): Red Sea White-breasted Cormorant -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. c. lugubris, P. c. patricki
P. c. sinensis
P. c. maroccanus
P. c. carbo
Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)
Cape Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis)
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) -- Alternative English Name(s): European Shag
P. a. desmarestii
P. a. riggenbachi
Slaty Egret (Egretta vinaceigula) -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-throated Heron
Black Egret (Egretta ardesiaca) -- Alternative English Name(s): Black Heron
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
E. g. garzetta
E. g. schistacea
Reef Heron (Egretta gularis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Western Reef Heron, Western Reef Egret
E. g. gularis -- Alternative English Name(s): West African Reef Heron
E. g. asha -- Alternative English Name(s): Red Sea Reef Heron -- Alternative scientific name(s): E. g. schistacea
Dimorphic Egret (Egretta dimorpha) -- Alternative English Name(s): Mascarene Reef-Heron
Yellow-billed Egret (Egretta intermedia) -- Alternative English Name(s): Intermediate Egret
E. i. brachyrhyncha
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
A. c. cinerea
A. c. monicae
Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala)
Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
A. p. purpurea
Great White Egret (Casmerodius albus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Great Egret
E. a. melanorhynchos
E. a. alba
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Buff-backed Heron
B. i. ibis
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Squacco Heron
Madagascar Squacco Heron (Ardeola idae) -- Alternative English Name(s): Malagasy Pond Heron -- Alternative scientific name(s): A.. ralloides idae
Rufous-bellied Heron (Ardeola rufiventris)
Green-backed Heron (Butorides striatus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Striated Heron, Green Heron
B. s. atricapillus
B. s. brevipes -- Alternative English Name(s): Red Sea Green-backed Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
N. n. nycticorax
White-crested Tiger Heron (Tigriornis leucolophus) -- Alternative English Name(s): White-crested Bittern
White-backed Night Heron (Gorsachius leuconotus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): G. l. natalensis
Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)
I. m. payesii -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-necked Little Bittern
I. m. minutus
Dwarf Bittern (Ixobrychus sturmii) -- Alternative English Name(s): Rail Heron
Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Bittern
B. s. stellaris -- Alternative English Name(s): Eurasian Bittern
B. s. capensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Bittern
S. u. umbretta -- Alternative scientific name(s): S. u. bannermanni
S. u. minor
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
P. r. roseus -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. r. roseus, P. r. antiquorum
Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. f. falcinellus
Hadada (Bostrychia hagedash) -- Alternative English Name(s): Hadeda, Hadada Ibis
B. h. hagedash -- Alternative English Name(s): South African Hadeda
B. h. brevirostris -- Alternative English Name(s): East African Hadeda, West African Hadeda -- Alternative scientific name(s): B. h. erlangeri, B. h. guineensis
B. h. nilotica -- Alternative English Name(s): Nile Valley Hadeda
Wattled Ibis (Bostrychia carunculata)
African Green Ibis (Bostrychia olivacea) -- Alternative English Name(s): Olive Ibis
B. o. olivacea -- Alternative English Name(s): Plain-breasted Green Ibis, Liberian Green Ibis -- Alternative scientific name(s): B. o. splendida
B. o. cupreipennis
B. o. akleyorum -- Alternative English Name(s): Mt Kenya Ibis
B o. rothschildi -- Alternative English Name(s): Prince's Island Green Ibis
B. o. bocagei -- Alternative English Name(s): Dwarf Olive Ibis
Spot-breasted Ibis (Bostrychia rara) -- Alternative English Name(s): Spot-breasted Green Ibis
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) -- Alternative English Name(s): Waldrapp, Hermit Ibis, Bald Ibis
Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Bald Ibis
Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopica)
T. a. aethiopica
European Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) -- Alternative English Name(s): Eurasian Spoonbill, White Spoonbill
P. l. leucorodia
P. l. balsaci
P. l. archeri
African Spoonbill (Platalea alba)
Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) -- Alternative English Name(s): Whale-headed Stork
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) -- Alternative English Name(s): White Pelican -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. o. roseus
Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens)
Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus)
Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Wood Ibis
Open-bill Stork (Anastomus lamelligerus) -- Alternative English Name(s): African Open-bill Stork, African Openbill
A. l. lamelligerus
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
Abdim's Stork (Ciconia abdimii) -- Alternative English Name(s): White-bellied Stork
Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus)
C. e. microscelis
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
C. c. ciconia
Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Saddlebill, Jabiru, African Jabiru
Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Marabou
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. m. lowei
Greater Frigatebird (Fregata minor) -- Alternative English Name(s): Aldabra Frigatebird, Nicoll's Frigatebird
F. m. aldabrensis -- Alternative English Name(s): Aldabra Frigatebird, Nicoll's Frigatebird -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. m. nicolli
Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel)
F. a. iredalei
King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
A. p. halli
Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) -- Alternative scientific name(s): E. cristatus
E. c. moseleyi
E. c. chrysocome
Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
E. c. chrysolophus
African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Jackass Penguin
Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata) -- Alternative English Name(s): Red-throated Loon
Black-throated Diver (Gavia arctica) -- Alternative English Name(s): Arctic Loon
G. a. arctica
Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) -- Alternative English Name(s): Common Loon, Northern Loon
Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Antarctic Giant Petrel, Nellie, Stinker
Northern Giant Petrel (Macronectes halli) -- Alternative English Name(s): Hall's Giant Petrel, Nellie, Stinker
Southern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides) -- Alternative English Name(s): Antarctic Fulmar, Silver-grey Petrel -- Alternative scientific name(s): F.. antarctica
Antarctic Petrel (Thalassoica antarctica)
Pintado Petrel (Daption capense) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Petrel, Cape Pigeon
D. c. capense
Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea)
Kerguelen Petrel (Pterodroma brevirostris)
Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera) -- Alternative English Name(s): Long-winged Petrel
P. m. macroptera
White-headed Petrel (Pterodroma lessoni)
Madeira Petrel (Pterodroma madeira) -- Alternative English Name(s): Zino's Petrel -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. mollis madeira
Fea's Petrel (Pterodroma feae) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Verde Petrel, Gon-gon -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. mollis feae
Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis)
P. m. dubia
Atlantic Petrel (Pterodroma incerta) -- Alternative English Name(s): Schlegel's Petrel
Blue Petrel (Halobaena caerulea)
Broad-billed Prion (Pachyptila vittata) -- Alternative English Name(s): Broad-billed Whale-bird -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. v. keyteli
Salvin's Prion (Pachyptila salvini) -- Alternative English Name(s): Medium-billed Prion, Medium-billed Whale-bird -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. vittata salvini
P. s. macgillivrayi
P. s. salvini
Antarctic Prion (Pachyptila desolata) -- Alternative English Name(s): Antarctic Whale-bird, Dove Prion
P. d. desolata -- Alternative English Name(s): Kerguelen Prion
P. d. banksi -- Alternative English Name(s): Bank's Prion
Thin-billed Prion (Pachyptila belcheri) -- Alternative English Name(s): Slender-billed Whale-bird, Slender-billed Prion -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. b. orientalis
Fairy Prion (Pachyptila turtur) -- Alternative English Name(s): Fairy Blue Petrel, Fairy Blue Whale-bird, Kerguelen Fairy Prion -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. ariel, P. t. brevirostris, P. t. eatoni
Fulmar Prion (Pachyptila crassirostris)
P. c. crassirostris
Bulwer's Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii)
Jouanin's Petrel (Bulweria fallax)
White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Hen, Shoemaker
P. a. aequinoctialis -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. a. mixta
P. a. conspicillata -- Alternative English Name(s): Spectacled Petrel -- Alternative scientific name(s): Procellaria conspicillata
Streaked Shearwater (Calonectes leucomelas)
Grey Petrel (Procellaria cinerea) -- Alternative English Name(s): Great Grey Shearwater, Pediunker
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectes diomedea) -- Alternative English Name(s): Kuhl's Shearwater -- Alternative scientific name(s): C.. kuhli
C. d. diomedea
C. d. borealis
C. d. edwardsii -- Alternative English Name(s): Cape Verde Shearwater, Canary Islands Shearwater -- Alternative scientific name(s): Calonectes edwardsii, C. e. mariae, C. e. fortunatus
Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. chlororhynchus, P. p. hamiltoni
Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris)
Flesh-footed Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes)
Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Southern Greater Shearwater -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. g. flavirostris
Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. g. stricklandi
Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) -- Alternative English Name(s): Balearic Shearwater
P. p. mauretanicus -- Alternative English Name(s): Balearic Shearwater
P. p. puffinus
Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) -- Alternative English Name(s): Levantine Shearwater, Mediterranean Shearwater
Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) -- Alternative English Name(s): Persian Shearwater, Dusky Shearwater
P. l. persica -- Alternative English Name(s): Persian Shearwater -- Alternative scientific name(s): Puffinus persicus
P. l. bailloni -- Alternative English Name(s): Dusky Little Shearwater
P. l. nicolae
P. l. temptator
Mascarene Shearwater (Puffinus atrodorsalis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Mascarene Petrel
Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. munda
P. a. baroli -- Alternative English Name(s): Little Madeiran Shearwater
P. a. tunneyi
P. a. elegans -- Alternative English Name(s): Gough Island Shearwater -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. a. boydi
P. a. boydi -- Alternative scientific name(s): Puffinus boydi
Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans)
D. e. exulans
D. e. dabbenena
D. e. ginsoni
Amsterdam Albatross (Diomedea amsterdamensis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Amsterdam Island Albatross
Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora)
D. e. sanfordi -- Alternative English Name(s): Northern Royal Albatross
D. e. epomorphora -- Alternative English Name(s): Southern Royal Albatross
Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis)
Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) -- Alternative English Name(s): Black-browed Mollymawk
D. m. melanophris
Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) -- Alternative English Name(s): Shy Albatross, Salvin's Mollymawk, Layard's Mollymawk
D. c. cauta -- Alternative English Name(s): Layard's Albatross -- Alternative scientific name(s): D. c. layardi
D. c. salvini -- Alternative English Name(s): Salvin's Albatross
D. c. eremita -- Alternative English Name(s): Chatam Island Albatross
Grey-headed Albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) -- Alternative English Name(s): Grey-headed Mollymawk
Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos) -- Alternative English Name(s): Yellow-nosed Mollymawk
D. c. bassi -- Alternative English Name(s): Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross -- Alternative scientific name(s): D. c. carteri
D. c. chlororhynchos -- Alternative English Name(s): Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
Buller's Albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) -- Alternative English Name(s): Buller's Mollymawk
T. b bulleri
Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca) -- Alternative English Name(s): Sooty Mollymawk, Dark-mantled Sooty Albatross
Light-mantled Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata) -- Alternative English Name(s): Light-mantled Sooty Mollymawk, Light-mantled Albatross -- Alternative scientific name(s): P.. p. palpebrata, P. p. fuliginosa
Wilson's Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)
O. o. oceanicus -- Alternative scientific name(s): O. o. parvus
O. o. exasperatus
White-faced Storm-Petrel (Pelagodroma marina)
P. m. hypoleuca
P. m. eadesi
P. m. dulciae -- Alternative scientific name(s): P. m. marina
P. m. marina
Black-bellied Storm-Petrel (Fregetta tropica) -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. leucogaster
F. t. tropica -- Alternative English Name(s): Atlantic Black-bellied Storm-Petrel, Indian Ocean Black-bellied Storm-Petrel -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. t. melanogaster
F. t. melanileuca
White-bellied Storm-Petrel (Fregetta grallaria)
F. g. leucogaster -- Alternative scientific name(s): F. g. tristanensis
Grey-backed Storm-Petrel (Garrodia nereis) -- Alternative English Name(s): Kerguelen Grey-backed Storm-Petrel, Falkland Grey-backed Storm-Petrel -- Alternative scientific name(s): G.. n. couesi, G. n. chubbi
British Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) -- Alternative English Name(s): European Storm-Petrel
Madeiran Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma castro) -- Alternative English Name(s): Band-rumped Storm-Petrel -- Alternative scientific name(s): O.. c. castro
Leach's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) -- Alternative scientific name(s): O. l. leucorhoa
O. l. leucorhoa
Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma monorhis)
Matsudaira's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma matsudairae)