Ethiopian Birds & Bird photography

Black-billed Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus somaliensis Singles, pairs or family groups are common and widespread throughout region, occupying semi-arid bushed and wooded areas, often in larger acacias and riverine woodland, from sea-level up to 2100m. Photo by:HenuPhotography Degehabur Ethiopia 🇪🇹 Oct.7/2024

Hi Henu! Greetings!! Good shots!

Fulvous Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) a warm‑toned waterfowl with rich cinnamon plumage and a cheerful, high‑pitched whistle that gives it its name. Found across tropical wetlands in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, it loves forming large flocks and feeding on seeds, rice, and aquatic plants. Unlike many ducks, it often perches in trees and is equally at home on water or land. Its sociable nature and constant whistling make it one of the most lively voices of the marshlands. Photo By Samson Zelleke Lake Awasa Ethiopia Feb. 2026

African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp) is a lively little bird dressed in striking black‑and‑white plumage, often seen wagging its tail as it darts along riverbanks and lakeshores. Found across much of Sub‑Saharan Africa, it thrives near water, feeding on insects and even following livestock to snatch up disturbed prey. Its cheerful tail‑wagging habit makes it one of the most recognizable wagtails on the continent, a symbol of energy and movement in African wetlands. Photo By Samson Zelleke Lake Awasa Ethiopia Feb. 2026

Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis Singles and pairs are widespread and common in variety of woodland, bushed grassland, cultivation and gardens at 400–1500m, almost entirely in and west of Rift Valley; nominate birds are resident in Et, but apparently only breeding visitors to Er. Southern race cyanoleuca migrates north after breeding, and in our region is only known from extreme WEt. Photo By Samson Zelleke Lake Awasa Ethiopia Feb. 2026

Temminck’s Courser Cursorius temminckii Slightly smaller than similar species with rufous cap. Lower breast dull rufous, with a blackish smudge in centre of belly. Pale lore's, dark eye-line and whitish superciliary stripe give neat ‘capped’ head pattern.Pairs and small groups are widespread and fairly common in Et (but scarce in Er) in wide range of drier open bushed and occasionally wooded grassland, up to 2450m; recently found breeding in NWSo, and often nomadic. Photo by: HenuPhotography jigjiga Ethiopia October 16 2025

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus may be small, but it’s a mighty traveller! This elegant raptor breeds across southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia, then migrates thousands of kilometres to winter in tropical Africa and India. What makes it extra fascinating is its two plumage styles—light morph with pale underparts and dark flight feathers, and dark morph with rich brown tones. Despite its modest size, it’s a skilled hunter, swooping down on birds, reptiles, and small mammals with powerful talons. Truly a globe‑trotting eagle with a stylish wardrobe! Photo by HenuPhotography Addis Ababa/botanical garden Ethiopia jan27 2026

Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea Flocks are highly mobile, common and widespread throughout region from sea-level to 2400m, often near cattle and plains game. Nomadic and migratory, seasonal movements are poorly understood; in SSo present only Aug–Dec.Non-breeding male, female and immature are the most frequently encountered: all are pale brown with darker wings and tail and whitish rump. At close range, show small area of pale yellow skin around and behind dark eye. photo by HenuPhotography lake Abijjata Ethiopia Jan. 2024

The Brubru (Nilaus afer) a small, lively bush-shrike often seen alone or in pairs, calling from treetops in open woodlands and acacia country up to 2100m. The Male stands out with bold black-and-white plumage, chestnut sides, and a striking white eyebrow, while the female is darker brown with faint throat streaks. Young birds are mottled brown with creamy patterns and pale barred underparts. Across Africa, they show regional differences: east of the Rift Valley they flash a broad white wing line, while west of the Rift they carry rufous-buff wings and deeper chestnut sides. Photo by:HenuPhotography ziway / Batu Ethiopia 2022

Brown Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens Three races occur:Locally common in many highland forests in Er, Et and NSo, at 1500–3700m. Generally solitary or in pairs,feeding in canopy or tall bushes.Much browner than other leaf warblers in our area, with wings and tail edged green. Photo by HenuPhotography Addis Ababa/botanical garden Ethiopia jan3 2025

little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Pairs and family groups are widespread and common on wide range of fresh and alkaline water from sea-level to 4000m, but generally less common in lowlands. Large flocks occur on Rift Valley lakes in non-breeding season. Photo by HenuPhotography Addis Ababa Ethiopia December 27 2025

Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata [Alt: Crested Coot] Small flocks are common on lakes and pools in Er and Et up to 3300m (though rare in So). Non-breeding flocks of hundreds may gather on freshwater lakes in Rift Valley and nearby highlands.Very dark grey-black rallid with striking white bill and frontal shield. Breeding adult has two swollen red knobs above frontal shield, but hard to see at distance and quickly reduced and darker after breeding. At close range, feathering in front of eye is rounded (ends in point in Eurasian Coot), and top of frontal shield is straighter and more squared-off. White bill is often tinged bluish. In flight wings are all dark. Photo by HenuPhotography Addis Ababa Ethiopia December 27 2025

Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma A large dark diving duck; Male is blackish-brown, with paler chestnut-brown flanks,red eyes, and blue-grey bill (no eclipse plumage).Small flocks are locally common on alkaline and freshwater Rift Valley lakes and elsewhere in Er and Et to 3000m;Although small numbers may breed, most are visitors from southern Africa, appearing mainly from Oct–Mar. Photo by HenuPhotography Addis Ababa Ethiopia December 21 2025

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Small groups are widespread and may be locally common on permanent water and rivers, generally with fringing vegetation for roosting. Some birds are probably of Palearctic origin.Adult has black crown and back contrasting with dove-grey wings, whitish face and underparts. At close range has long white neck-plumes. Photo by HenuPhotography Addis Ababa Ethiopia December 21 2025

Singing Bush Lark Mirafra cantillans Locally common but patchily distributed in bush country with sparse grass cover from sea-level to 1800m. Also appears in flocks in seasonal grasslands during rains. Flies and dives into cover when flushed, hovering briefly before plunging to ground. Photo by: HenuPhotography jigjiga Ethiopia October 10 2025

European Roller Coracias garrulus Singles (often moving together in loose associations) are locally common Palearctic passage migrants, typically in bushed and wooded grassland up to 1400m. Birds appear to undertake a loop migration, with large southward passage in Er and NSo in autumn, Aug–Nov, and very heavy northward spring passage through SSo in Apr. Some birds overwinter in SEt and SSo, Dec–Feb. Photo by: HenuPhotography jigjiga Ethiopia October 10 2025

Yellow-billed Kite Milvus (migrans) aegyptius Addis Ababa Ethiopia November 18 2025

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Singles to large flocks are common diurnal Palearctic passage migrants, Sep–Nov and Mar–Apr; some birds overwinter. Occurs across wide range of open, bushed and wooded habitats in Er, Dj and Et;In flight, typical adults have brown or rufous underwing-coverts, dark smudged or thin comma-like carpal patch, and pale flight feathers with black tips and trailing edges, tail grey brown or rufous (often finely barred and may show dark subterminal band). Immature has less distinct trailing edge to wings. Scarce dark morphs are blackish-brown on body and underwing-coverts. Photo by HenuPhotography Addis Ababa Ethiopia November 5 2025

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Singles to large flocks are common diurnal Palearctic passage migrants, Sep–Nov and Mar–Apr; some birds overwinter. Occurs across wide range of open, bushed and wooded habitats in Er, Dj and Et;In flight, typical adults have brown or rufous underwing-coverts, dark smudged or thin comma-like carpal patch, and pale flight feathers with black tips and trailing edges, tail grey brown or rufous (often finely barred and may show dark subterminal band). Immature has less distinct trailing edge to wings. Scarce dark morphs are blackish-brown on body and underwing-coverts. Photo by HenuPhotography Addis Ababa Ethiopia November 5 2025