Sierra Leone’s coastlines, forests and savannas support a wide range of resident and migratory birds, making the country interesting for both local naturalists and visiting birders. Habitats vary from mangroves and estuaries to inland forests and open grasslands, so species mix changes with season and location.
There are 43 Birds of Sierra Leone, ranging from African Fish-Eagle to Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird. For each species you’ll find below the following columns: Scientific name,Status,Where found (regions/habitats).
How complete is this list for birdwatching in Sierra Leone?
The list focuses on regularly recorded residents and migrants drawn from recent surveys and checklists; it should cover species you’re likely to encounter but may omit rare vagrants or very recent records—use the Status column for abundance info and check local updates before planning.
Where can I see species like the African Fish-Eagle or Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird?
African Fish-Eagle is most often seen along large rivers, lakes and coastal estuaries, while Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird prefers forest edges, secondary growth and wooded gardens; early morning visits to mangroves, riverbanks and nearby forest reserves listed below give the best viewing opportunities.
Birds of Sierra Leone
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Where found (regions/habitats) |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-necked Rockfowl | Picathartes gymnocephalus | Resident; VU | Rainforest, rocky outcrops |
| African Grey Parrot | Psittacus erithacus | Resident; EN | Rainforest canopy, forest edge |
| Pied Crow | Corvus albus | Resident; LC | Coast, towns, savanna, farmland |
| Village Weaver | Ploceus cucullatus | Resident; LC | Savanna, farmland, wetlands, villages |
| Common Bulbul | Pycnonotus barbatus | Resident; LC | Forest edge, savanna, gardens |
| Hooded Vulture | Necrosyrtes monachus | Resident; CR | Savanna, woodland, near towns and refuse sites |
| White-backed Vulture | Gyps africanus | Resident; CR | Savanna, open country |
| African Fish-Eagle | Haliaeetus vocifer | Resident; LC | Rivers, lakes, estuaries, coast |
| Palm-nut Vulture | Gypohierax angolensis | Resident; LC | Coast, mangroves, rivers, palm-lined areas |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans | Resident/migrant; LC | Coast, wetlands, savanna, towns |
| Shikra | Accipiter badius | Resident; LC | Woodland, forest edge, savanna, gardens |
| Lizard Buzzard | Kaupifalco monogrammicus | Resident; LC | Woodland, forest edge, savanna clearings |
| African Harrier-Hawk | Polyboroides typus | Resident; LC | Woodland, forest edge, savanna, towns |
| African Openbill | Anastomus lamelligerus | Resident; LC | Wetlands, floodplains, rice paddies, mangroves |
| African Spoonbill | Platalea alba | Resident; LC | Shallow wetlands, estuaries, lagoons |
| Goliath Heron | Ardea goliath | Resident; LC | Large wetlands, rivers, marshes |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | Resident; LC | Wetlands, marshes, lagoons, coast |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | Resident/migrant; LC | Marshes, estuaries, mangroves |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | Resident; LC | Freshwater ponds, lakes, slow-moving rivers |
| Hamerkop | Scopus umbretta | Resident; LC | Wetlands, rivers, floodplains, marshes |
| African Jacana | Actophilornis africanus | Resident; LC | Floating vegetation in wetlands, marshes, lagoons |
| Spur-winged Lapwing | Vanellus spinosus | Resident; LC | Wet grasslands, mudflats, riverbanks, wetlands |
| Pied Kingfisher | Ceryle rudis | Resident; LC | Rivers, estuaries, lakes, coastal inlets |
| Malachite Kingfisher | Corythornis cristatus | Resident; LC | Small rivers, marshes, reedbeds |
| African Pygmy Kingfisher | Ispidina picta | Resident; LC | Forest streams, shaded waterways, rainforest |
| Grey-headed Kingfisher | Halcyon leucocephala | Resident; LC | Woodland, savanna, forest edge |
| Woodland Kingfisher | Halcyon senegalensis | Migrant/resident; LC | Woodland, forest edge, savanna |
| Blue-breasted Kingfisher | Halcyon malimbica | Resident; LC | Forest rivers, mangroves, dense riverine forest |
| Piapiac | Ptilostomus afer | Resident; LC | Savanna, farmland, forest edge, near settlements |
| Greater Blue-eared Starling | Lamprotornis chalybaeus | Resident; LC | Savanna, open woodland, towns |
| Violet-backed Starling | Cinnyricinclus leucogaster | Migrant/resident; LC | Forest edge, gallery forest, savanna woodlands |
| Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird | Pogoniulus chrysoconus | Resident; LC | Forest, forest edge, woodland, gardens |
| Red-headed Malimbe | Malimbus rubricollis | Resident; LC | Lowland rainforest, canopy, forest edges |
| Violet Turaco | Musophaga violacea | Resident; LC | Rainforest, gallery forest, forest edge |
| African Green Pigeon | Treron calvus | Resident; LC | Woodland, forest edge, coastal palms |
| Fork-tailed Drongo | Dicrurus adsimilis | Resident; LC | Open woodland, savanna, forest edge, farms |
| Little Bee-eater | Merops pusillus | Resident; LC | Woodland, riverine scrub, savanna edge |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | Migrant; LC | Open country, villages, coast, farmland |
| African Golden Oriole | Oriolus auratus | Resident; LC | Rainforest canopy, woodland, forest edge |
| Black-crowned Tchagra | Tchagra senegalus | Resident; LC | Savanna, bushy woodland, farmland edges |
| African Paradise Flycatcher | Terpsiphone viridis | Resident; LC | Woodland, forest edge, gardens |
| Olive Sunbird | Cinnyris chloropygius | Resident; LC | Rainforest understory, forest edges, gardens |
| Splendid Sunbird | Cinnyris coccinigastrus | Resident; LC | Woodland, forest edge, gardens |
Images and Descriptions
White-necked Rockfowl
A secretive, long-legged forest bird with bare heads and white necks, nesting on cave-like rock faces. Best sought in deep rainforest and gorges; locally scarce and vulnerable to disturbance, a must-see for visiting birders.
African Grey Parrot
A large, smart parrot with grey plumage and bright red tail. Found in tall primary forest and forest edges, often trapped for the pet trade; declining but still encountered in remote forested parts of Sierra Leone.
Pied Crow
A bold, familiar black-and-white crow common in towns, villages and coastlines. Noisy and opportunistic, often seen scavenging around markets and farms; one of the easiest urban species for new birders to spot.
Village Weaver
An abundant, sociable weaver with bright yellow and black breeding plumage in males. Builds hanging woven nests in colonies near water or villages; common and widespread across open country and agricultural areas.
Common Bulbul
A ubiquitous, chatty brownish songbird with a distinctive bubbling call. Tolerant of human presence; found in gardens, scrub and woodland edges throughout the country and one of the most conspicuous everyday birds.
Hooded Vulture
A small, hooded scavenger often circling over settlements and garbage dumps. Critically endangered from poisoning and persecution; still seen near towns and carcasses but numbers have fallen steeply.
White-backed Vulture
A large, broad-winged vulture of open habitats, often seen soaring in groups. Critically endangered due to poisoning and habitat pressures; sightings are now rarer but still possible on the savannas.
African Fish-Eagle
A striking raptor with a white head and chestnut body, famous for its ringing call. Perches near rivers and estuaries to hunt fish; common along major waterways and coastal lagoons.
Palm-nut Vulture
A specialist of palm-rich habitats that feeds on palm fruits and crabs as well as carrion. Often seen in mangroves and estuaries; distinctive, pale-headed vulture common near coastal villages and palms.
Black Kite
A familiar, agile scavenger seen over towns, wetlands and shoreline. Often forms mixed flocks and follows fishing boats; present year-round with some seasonal influxes of migrants.
Shikra
A small, sparrowhawk-like raptor that darts through woodland hunting small birds. Look for rapid, flapping-then-gliding flight near forest edges and gardens; common but skulking in thicker cover.
Lizard Buzzard
A compact hawk often perched quietly on branches scanning for lizards and insects. Prefers patchy woodland and forest edges; unobtrusive but regular in suitable habitats.
African Harrier-Hawk
A slim, long-legged raptor with flexible toes used to extract prey from cavities. Frequently visits villages and palm groves; notable for its unusual foraging behavior and crepuscular activity.
African Openbill
A stork with a distinctive gap between the mandibles adapted to feed on snails. Found in shallow wetlands and agricultural paddies; often seen in small flocks and pairs.
African Spoonbill
A white wading bird with a flattened bill used for sweeping in shallow water. Seen singly or in small groups on estuaries and tidal flats; elegant and unmistakable when feeding.
Goliath Heron
The largest heron, slow and solitary, often stalking large fish in deep water. Prefers extensive wetlands and river channels; an impressive sight when present but typically wary and isolated.
Great Egret
A tall, elegant white heron common on estuaries and inland marshes. Often seen standing motionless hunting fish and amphibians; more numerous in the wet season and in protected wetlands.
Little Egret
A small white egret with black legs and yellow feet, active and agile when hunting. Occurs widely on coastlines, mangroves and inland wetlands; often seen in flocks.
Little Grebe
A tiny, diving waterbird with a neat black cap and chestnut neck in breeding season. Found on small lakes and ponds; secretive but common in suitable freshwater habitats.
Hamerkop
A medium-sized, odd-looking wader with a hammer-shaped head and massive stick nests. Active and noisy around shallow water; nests often visible and used by many other species.
African Jacana
A long-legged, long-toed wader that walks on lily pads hunting insects. Common on freshwater lagoons and flooded rice fields; striking in flight with spiky wing shape.
Spur-winged Lapwing
A bold, pied plover with a black forehead and spur-like wing projection. Often seen on riverbanks and flooded fields; noisy and territorial when breeding.
Pied Kingfisher
A black-and-white hovering kingfisher frequently seen over open water plunging for fish. Common on rivers and larger lagoons; one of the most noticeable water birds.
Malachite Kingfisher
A tiny, bright kingfisher with turquoise back and orange underparts, perching low over slow streams. Fast and skittish but often visible at close range on small waterways.
African Pygmy Kingfisher
A diminutive, colorful kingfisher of forest interiors with bright blues and rufous tones. Elusive and best found along shaded streams and quiet forest edges.
Grey-headed Kingfisher
A compact kingfisher with a red bill and grey head, hunting insects and small prey from open perches. Prefers dry woodland and savanna margins; often seen after heavy rains.
Woodland Kingfisher
A colourful blue kingfisher that breeds locally in woodlands and arrives as a seasonal migrant. Noted for loud calls and bold hunting from conspicuous perches in open forest.
Blue-breasted Kingfisher
A large, richly coloured kingfisher of shaded waterways with cobalt blue and chestnut breast. Prefers forested rivers and mangroves; quieter than open-country kingfishers but showy when found.
Piapiac
A glossy black corvid with long tail and social habits, often seen in pairs or small groups following agriculture. Noisy and inquisitive, frequently associates with livestock and humans.
Greater Blue-eared Starling
A glossy, metallic starling common in open country and near settlements. Loud and gregarious, often forming noisy flocks around fruiting trees and human habitation.
Violet-backed Starling
A small starling with iridescent violet male plumage and a sweet, high song. Appears seasonally in woodlands and edges where it feeds on fruit and insects.
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
A tiny, energetic barbet-like bird with a bright yellow forehead and fast, metallic call. Common in wooded gardens and forest edges, often heard before seen.
Red-headed Malimbe
A chunky, colourful weaver relative with a reddish head and glossy body, dwelling high in rainforest canopy. Often in small mixed-species flocks, conspicuous by voice and foraging behaviour.
Violet Turaco
A large, soft-plumaged bird with violet tones and a prominent crest found in wooded areas and forest edges. Moves in small groups feeding on fruit; eye-catching in canopy gaps.
African Green Pigeon
A chunky, green pigeon that feeds on figs and fruits in the canopy. Common in wooded gardens and coastal palms; often betrays its presence by noisy flight and fruiting trees.
Fork-tailed Drongo
A glossy-black, bold insectivore known for mimicking calls and mobbing predators. Perches conspicuously on dead branches, hawking insects and often stealing food from other birds.
Little Bee-eater
A small, colourful bee-eater that hawks insects from low perches. Agile and social, prefers open woodland and river edges; colourful and delightful to watch in flight.
Barn Swallow
A familiar, long-tailed swallow arriving seasonally to breed and pass through. Nests on buildings and under eaves; seen widely over fields and near water catching insects on the wing.
African Golden Oriole
A bright yellow and black oriole with a fluting, melodious song. Prefers forest canopy and tall trees; spotted by sound and diet of fruit and large insects.
Black-crowned Tchagra
A retiring shrike-like bird with a mask and conspicuous crest, often heard with a series of whistles. Prefers dense scrub and edge habitats; eats insects and small vertebrates.
African Paradise Flycatcher
A graceful flycatcher with long tail streamers in males and silky plumage. Catches insects on the wing in woodland and shady gardens; striking in breeding plumage.
Olive Sunbird
A small, curved-billed nectar feeder with subtle olive and metallic highlights. Common in rainforest understory and cocoa/coconut plantations; lively and often near flowering plants.
Splendid Sunbird
A dazzling nectar-feeder with iridescent males showing purple banding and a curved bill. Visits flowers and fruiting trees in woodland and gardens; agile and active, especially during the wet season.
