Cape Verde bird checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World

Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World

Cape Verde

This checklist includes all bird species found in Cape Verde , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to .

The taxonomic order and nomenclature follows Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2). If you prefer to view the list based on a different authority, click on one of the list available below. Globally threatened species (status in red) were identified by Birdlife International in Birdlife Data Zone (species).

Bird Checklists of the World is part of Avibase and Bird links to the World, which are designed and maintained by Denis Lepage, and hosted by Birds Canada, which is a co-partner of Birdlife International.

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Country or region: Cape Verde [map]

Other names: Republic of Cabo Verde

Number of species: 290
Number of endemics: 4
Number of breeding endemics: 3
Number of globally threatened species: 11
Number of introduced species: 5
Date last reviewed: 2020-08-23
Last modified: 2022-12-24
See also: https://www.africanbirdclub.org/countries/checklists/download

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ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
White-faced Whistling Duck	Dendrocygna viduata
Fulvous Whistling Duck	Dendrocygna bicolor
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Rare/Accidental
Marbled Teal	Marmaronetta angustirostris
Common Pochard	Aythya ferina	Rare/Accidental
Ferruginous Duck	Aythya nyroca	Rare/Accidental
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	Rare/Accidental
Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis	Rare/Accidental
Garganey	Spatula querquedula	Rare/Accidental
Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Rare/Accidental
Blue-winged Teal	Spatula discors	Rare/Accidental
Gadwall	Mareca strepera	Rare/Accidental
Eurasian Wigeon	Mareca penelope	Rare/Accidental
American Wigeon	Mareca americana	Rare/Accidental
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	Rare/Accidental
Common Teal	Anas crecca
GALLIFORMES: Numididae
Helmeted Guineafowl	Numida meleagris	Introduced species
GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae
Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Phoenicopteridae
Greater Flamingo	Phoenicopterus roseus	Rare/Accidental
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Podicipedidae
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Rock Dove	Columba livia
Wood Pigeon	Columba palumbus	Rare/Accidental
European Turtle Dove	Streptopelia turtur
Eurasian Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	Introduced species
Red-eyed Dove	Streptopelia semitorquata
Laughing Dove	Streptopelia senegalensis	Rare/Accidental
Namaqua Dove	Oena capensis	Rare/Accidental
PHAETHONTIFORMES: Phaethontidae
Red-billed Tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus
White-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus	Rare/Accidental
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae
European Nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus	Rare/Accidental
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae
Alpine Swift	Tachymarptis melba	Rare/Accidental
Little Swift	Apus affinis	Rare/Accidental
African Swift	Apus barbatus	Rare/Accidental
Plain Swift	Apus unicolor	Rare/Accidental
Alexander's Swift	Apus alexandri	Endemic
Pallid Swift	Apus pallidus	Rare/Accidental
Common Swift	Apus apus
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Great Spotted Cuckoo	Clamator glandarius	Rare/Accidental
Common Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
African Crake	Crex egregia	Rare/Accidental
Spotted Crake	Porzana porzana	Rare/Accidental
Little Crake	Zapornia parva
Baillon's Crake	Zapornia pusilla	Rare/Accidental
Allen's Gallinule	Porphyrio alleni	Rare/Accidental
Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio martinicus	Rare/Accidental
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Lesser Moorhen	Gallinula angulata	Rare/Accidental
Common Coot	Fulica atra	Rare/Accidental
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Oceanitidae
Wilson's Storm-petrel	Oceanites oceanicus
White-faced Storm-petrel	Pelagodroma marina
White-bellied Storm-petrel	Fregetta grallaria	Rare/Accidental
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Hydrobatidae
European Storm-petrel	Hydrobates pelagicus
Madeiran Storm-petrel	Hydrobates castro
Leach's Storm-petrel	Hydrobates leucorhous
Swinhoe's Storm-petrel	Hydrobates monorhis	Rare/Accidental
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Procellariidae
Herald Petrel	Pterodroma arminjoniana	Rare/Accidental
Black-capped Petrel	Pterodroma hasitata	Rare/Accidental
Cape Verde Petrel	Pterodroma feae	Breeding endemic
Atlantic Petrel	Pterodroma incerta	Rare/Accidental
Sooty Shearwater	Ardenna grisea	Rare/Accidental
Great Shearwater	Ardenna gravis
Scopoli's Shearwater	Calonectris diomedea
Cory's Shearwater	Calonectris borealis	Breeding endemic
Cape Verde Shearwater	Calonectris edwardsii	Breeding endemic
Tropical Shearwater	Puffinus bailloni
Manx Shearwater	Puffinus puffinus
Yelkouan Shearwater	Puffinus yelkouan
Audubon's Shearwater	Puffinus lherminieri
Bulwer's Petrel	Bulweria bulwerii
PELECANIFORMES: Ciconiidae
Black Stork	Ciconia nigra	Rare/Accidental
European White Stork	Ciconia ciconia	Rare/Accidental
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae
Great White Pelican	Pelecanus onocrotalus	Rare/Accidental
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae
Eurasian Bittern	Botaurus stellaris	Rare/Accidental
Little Bittern	Ixobrychus minutus	Rare/Accidental
Dwarf Bittern	Ixobrychus sturmii	Rare/Accidental
Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
Striated Heron	Butorides striata	Rare/Accidental
Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Rare/Accidental
Black-headed Heron	Ardea melanocephala	Rare/Accidental
Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea
Great Egret	Ardea alba	Rare/Accidental
Intermediate Egret	Ardea intermedia
Black Heron	Egretta ardesiaca	Rare/Accidental
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	Rare/Accidental
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
Western Reef Egret	Egretta gularis
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae
Eurasian Spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia
Northern Bald Ibis	Geronticus eremita	Rare/Accidental
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus
PELECANIFORMES: Fregatidae
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens
Ascension Island Frigatebird	Fregata aquila	Rare/Accidental
PELECANIFORMES: Sulidae
Northern Gannet	Morus bassanus	Rare/Accidental
Red-footed Booby	Sula sula	Rare/Accidental
Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster
Masked Booby	Sula dactylatra	Rare/Accidental
PELECANIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae
Long-tailed Cormorant	Microcarbo africanus	Rare/Accidental
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Haematopodidae
Eurasian Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus
CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae
Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae
Grey Plover	Pluvialis squatarola
Eurasian Golden Plover	Pluvialis apricaria	Rare/Accidental
Pacific Golden Plover	Pluvialis fulva	Rare/Accidental
American Golden Plover	Pluvialis dominica
Eurasian Dotterel	Eudromias morinellus	Rare/Accidental
Common Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	Rare/Accidental
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius
White-fronted Plover	Charadrius marginatus	Rare/Accidental
Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus
Northern Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	Rare/Accidental
Spur-winged Lapwing	Vanellus spinosus	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	Rare/Accidental
Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica
Black-tailed Godwit	Limosa limosa
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Red Knot	Calidris canutus
Ruff	Calidris pugnax
Stilt Sandpiper	Calidris himantopus	Rare/Accidental
Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea
Temminck's Stint	Calidris temminckii
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Dunlin	Calidris alpina
Purple Sandpiper	Calidris maritima
Baird's Sandpiper	Calidris bairdii	Rare/Accidental
Little Stint	Calidris minuta
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	Rare/Accidental
White-rumped Sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis	Rare/Accidental
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Calidris subruficollis	Rare/Accidental
Pectoral Sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	Rare/Accidental
Semipalmated Sandpiper	Calidris pusilla	Rare/Accidental
Eurasian Woodcock	Scolopax rusticola
Great Snipe	Gallinago media	Rare/Accidental
Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago
Wilson's Snipe	Gallinago delicata	Rare/Accidental
Jack Snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus	Rare/Accidental
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes
Spotted Redshank	Tringa erythropus
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	Rare/Accidental
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola
Marsh Sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis	Rare/Accidental
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	Rare/Accidental
Grey Phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius
CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae
Cream-coloured Courser	Cursorius cursor
Collared Pratincole	Glareola pratincola
Black-winged Pratincole	Glareola nordmanni	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Alcidae
Common Guillemot	Uria aalge
CHARADRIIFORMES: Stercorariidae
Long-tailed Skua	Stercorarius longicaudus	Rare/Accidental
Arctic Skua	Stercorarius parasiticus
Pomarine Skua	Stercorarius pomarinus
Great Skua	Stercorarius skua
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae
Black-legged Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla
Sabine's Gull	Xema sabini	Rare/Accidental
Slender-billed Gull	Chroicocephalus genei	Rare/Accidental
Black-headed Gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Laughing Gull	Leucophaeus atricilla	Rare/Accidental
Mediterranean Gull	Ichthyaetus melanocephalus	Rare/Accidental
Audouin's Gull	Ichthyaetus audouinii	Rare/Accidental
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus
Yellow-legged Gull	Larus michahellis
Caspian Gull	Larus cachinnans
Sooty Tern	Onychoprion fuscatus	Rare/Accidental
Little Tern	Sternula albifrons
Gull-billed Tern	Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybrida	Rare/Accidental
White-winged Tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	Rare/Accidental
Black Tern	Chlidonias niger	Rare/Accidental
Roseate Tern	Sterna dougallii	Rare/Accidental
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo
Arctic Tern	Sterna paradisaea
Sandwich Tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis
Royal Tern	Thalasseus maximus	Rare/Accidental
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae
Egyptian Vulture	Neophron percnopterus
Booted Eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus	Rare/Accidental
Western Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus
Hen Harrier	Circus cyaneus	Rare/Accidental
Pallid Harrier	Circus macrourus	Rare/Accidental
Montagu's Harrier	Circus pygargus
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	Rare/Accidental
Red Kite	Milvus milvus
Black Kite	Milvus migrans
Eurasian Buzzard	Buteo buteo
Long-legged Buzzard	Buteo rufinus
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae
Common Barn Owl	Tyto alba
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus
BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae
Common Hoopoe	Upupa epops	Rare/Accidental
PICIFORMES: Picidae
Northern Wryneck	Jynx torquilla	Rare/Accidental
CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater	Merops persicus	Rare/Accidental
European Bee-eater	Merops apiaster	Rare/Accidental
CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae
European Roller	Coracias garrulus	Rare/Accidental
Broad-billed Roller	Eurystomus glaucurus	Rare/Accidental
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
Pied Kingfisher	Ceryle rudis	Rare/Accidental
Grey-headed Kingfisher	Halcyon leucocephala
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
Lesser Kestrel	Falco naumanni	Rare/Accidental
Common Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
Amur Falcon	Falco amurensis	Rare/Accidental
Eleonora's Falcon	Falco eleonorae	Rare/Accidental
Lanner Falcon	Falco biarmicus	Rare/Accidental
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittaculidae
Rose-ringed Parakeet	Psittacula krameri	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae
Eurasian Golden Oriole	Oriolus oriolus	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae
Red-backed Shrike	Lanius collurio	Rare/Accidental
Great Grey Shrike	Lanius excubitor	Rare/Accidental
Woodchat Shrike	Lanius senator	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
Brown-necked Raven	Corvus ruficollis
PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae
Red-billed Firefinch	Lagonosticta senegala
Common Waxbill	Estrilda astrild	Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species
Spanish Sparrow	Passer hispaniolensis
Cape Verde Sparrow	Passer iagoensis	Endemic
Sudan Golden Sparrow	Passer luteus	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis
Red-throated Pipit	Anthus cervinus
Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis	Rare/Accidental
Tawny Pipit	Anthus campestris	Rare/Accidental
Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava	Rare/Accidental
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	Rare/Accidental
Citrine Wagtail	Motacilla citreola	Rare/Accidental
White Wagtail	Motacilla alba
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae
Trumpeter Finch	Bucanetes githagineus	Rare/Accidental
European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis	Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae
Striated Bunting	Fringillaria striolata	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae
Greater Hoopoe Lark	Alaemon alaudipes
Thick-billed Lark	Ramphocoris clotbey	Rare/Accidental
Bar-tailed Lark	Ammomanes cinctura
Black-crowned Sparrow Lark	Eremopterix nigriceps
Greater Short-toed Lark	Calandrella brachydactyla	Rare/Accidental
Raso Island Lark	Alauda razae	Endemic
Eurasian Sky Lark	Alauda arvensis	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae
Savi's Warbler	Locustella luscinioides	Rare/Accidental
Grasshopper Warbler	Locustella naevia	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae
Booted Warbler	Iduna caligata
Olivaceous Warbler	Iduna pallida	Rare/Accidental
Isabelline Warbler	Iduna opaca	Rare/Accidental
Melodious Warbler	Hippolais polyglotta	Rare/Accidental
Icterine Warbler	Hippolais icterina	Rare/Accidental
Sedge Warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	Rare/Accidental
Common Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus	Rare/Accidental
Cape Verde Warbler	Acrocephalus brevipennis	Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
Northern House Martin	Delichon urbicum	Rare/Accidental
Preuss's Swallow	Petrochelidon preussi	Rare/Accidental
Red-rumped Swallow	Cecropis daurica	Rare/Accidental
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Eurasian Crag Martin	Ptyonoprogne rupestris	Rare/Accidental
Pale Crag Martin	Ptyonoprogne obsoleta	Rare/Accidental
Rock Martin	Ptyonoprogne fuligula	Rare/Accidental
Plain Martin	Riparia paludicola	Rare/Accidental
Sand Martin	Riparia riparia
PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae
Western Bonelli's Warbler	Rhadina bonelli	Rare/Accidental
Yellow-browed Warbler	Abrornis inornatus	Rare/Accidental
Willow Warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus
Common Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae
Eurasian Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla
Garden Warbler	Sylvia borin	Rare/Accidental
African Desert Warbler	Curruca deserti	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Whitethroat	Curruca curruca	Rare/Accidental
Western Subalpine Warbler	Curruca inornata	Rare/Accidental
Sardinian Warbler	Curruca melanocephala	Rare/Accidental
Common Whitethroat	Curruca communis	Rare/Accidental
Spectacled Warbler	Curruca conspicillata
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
Common Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Rare/Accidental
Rosy Starling	Pastor roseus	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae
Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata	Rare/Accidental
European Robin	Erithacus rubecula	Rare/Accidental
Common Nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos	Rare/Accidental
Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica	Rare/Accidental
European Pied Flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca	Rare/Accidental
Common Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	Rare/Accidental
Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros	Rare/Accidental
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra	Rare/Accidental
Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	Rare/Accidental
Isabelline Wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	Rare/Accidental
Desert Wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	Rare/Accidental
White-crowned Wheatear	Oenanthe leucopyga	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos	Rare/Accidental
Redwing	Turdus iliacus	Rare/Accidental

References (partial list)