Ethiopian Birds & Bird photography

Today is International Vulture Awareness Day 1.Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus): Locally known as the Lammergeier, this giant bird thrives in the high-altitude Bale and Simien Mountains. It is famous for dropping bones from great heights onto rocks to break them open for nutrient-rich marrow. 2.Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus): A smaller, common sight across urban areas and markets in Ethiopia, recognizable by its slender beak and bare pinkish face. 3.Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppelli): Holds the world record for the highest recorded bird flight. These powerful cliff-nesters call the Ethiopian highlands home. 4.White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus): A widespread African species that feeds in large social groups, vital for keeping rural savannah ecosystems clean. 5. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus): Known for its bright yellow face and white plumage, this smart migratory species frequently winters in the north-eastern lowlands like the Afar region. 6. Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos):

Please join the meeting this afternoon for a talk about the amazing vultures by Alazar *International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD) 2026 is this Saturday, 5 September!* One day ahead of this important day, join Fridays4Birds webinar, featuring Alazar Daka from Ethiopia, who will present and discuss the conservation of these remarkable yet highly threatened birds. Join the team to celebrate vultures, raise awareness of the challenges they face, and explore what we can do to help secure their future! Friday, 4 September 2026 15:00 (CET) Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/93435020122 Passcode: 765246 📺 Past webinars: www.youtube.com/@f4b_22 Team Fridays4Birds

For people who missed the talk on the Liben Lark https://youtu.be/HQIpga5-JBE?si=9Dok4VmWVdLFNU2j

Selam Everyone ‎ ‎I hope you will join us tomorrow afternoon for a very important talk on our endemic and critically endangered Liben Lark. Our very own colleague Samy will be giving the talk so please join the meeting ‎ ‎Join Fridays4Birds to learn about one of Africa’s most threatened birds, the Liben Lark, and the conservation challenges it faces in Ethiopia. ‎ ‎➡️ Saving Africa’s Most Threatened Bird: The Liben Lark in Ethiopia ‎ ‎🎙️ Samson Zelleke, Birds and Nature Ethiopia ‎ ‎📅 Friday, 21 August 2026 🕒 3:00 PM (CET) ‎ ‎💻 Join: https://zoom.us/j/92050950301 🔑 Passcode: 393386 ‎ ‎📺 Missed it? Catch it: http://www.youtube.com/@f4b_22

Brown-throated Martin [Alt: Plain Martin] Riparia paludicola Common and widespread species, often in large flocks, occurring at 400–2400m over rivers, lakes and wetlands.Upperparts, throat and breast are brown; belly is white. Three races occur, differing in tone and size: paludibula (NEt) is small and fairly dark; schoensis (highlands of Et) is larger and darker; ducis (vagrant to So) is even darker with little or no white on the belly. Addis Ababa/Bole Rwanda Ethiopia July 31 /2026

little egret Egretta garzetta "Medium-sized, elegant white egret with slender black bill, black legs, and bright yellow feet. Lore's are usually blue-grey, but may turn yellowish or orange in breeding birds. Dark morph (rare) is similar to Western Reef Egret but the latter has thicker, drooping bill and yellowish-green legs. Singles to small groups are common and widespread in fresh and alkaline wetlands throughout region,including coast. Mainly resident but migrants pass south along Red Sea coast in Sep–Oct. Lake Hawassa Ethiopia Feb.28 2026

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) is a familiar and striking bird across Africa, including Ethiopia, where it inhabits open savannas, grasslands, and farmlands. About 53–63 cm long, it is instantly recognized by its spotted black‑and‑white plumage, bare bluish skin on the face and neck, and the distinctive bony casque (helmet) atop its head. Both sexes look alike, though males are slightly larger with longer wattles, while juveniles are duller and browner until they acquire the adult’s speckled plumage. Highly social, Helmeted Guineafowl are usually seen in flocks, moving together on the ground in search of seeds, tubers, and insects, which they scratch from the soil. They are strong runners and prefer to escape danger by sprinting rather than flying, though they can take short, noisy flights when alarmed. Their calls are loud, harsh, and cackling, often heard echoing across farmland and bush. Breeding pairs nest on the ground, laying clutches of up to 20 eggs, with chicks quickly becoming independent

The African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) a small, plain brown insect‑eating bird, common across Ethiopia’s highland forests, riverine woodlands, and gardens. Measuring about 13 cm, it has brown upperparts, a pale grey chin, and grey‑brown underparts with faint streaking, while juveniles show buff spotting. Males and females look alike, both with a short, straight black bill and a narrow eye‑ring. This species is usually seen singly or in pairs, perching openly and sallying out to catch insects in short flights. It builds neat cup‑shaped nests in tree cavities a few meters above the ground, laying 2–3 green eggs, and pairs are monogamous, often reusing the same nest in subsequent seasons. Its voice is soft and high‑pitched, with calls described as “tzeeet” and “tsirit”. Widespread across sub‑Saharan Africa, the African Dusky Flycatcher is a common resident in Ethiopia, adaptable to both natural and suburban habitats, and is classified as Least Concern, making it a familiar and understated presence

Selam Everyone ‎ ‎I wanted to forward this call to contribute your recording of bird songs, bird photos, nest or feather photos which you found interesting and wanted to share. ‎ ‎Read about this unique artistic project in the two documents below and submit by July 31 on this email submissions@spiritus.art ‎ ‎Thanks and look forward to seeing your work being acknowledged globally 🙂🐦

The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a medium‑sized wader, about 55–65 cm long, instantly recognizable by its slender, down‑curved bill and shimmering plumage. In good light, its feathers reveal a stunning mix of bronze, purple, and green iridescence, though at a distance it often appears dark brown. Both sexes look alike, while juveniles are duller with less gloss and paler streaking. This ibis is widespread across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, making it one of the most cosmopolitan waterbirds. In Ethiopia, it is found in wetlands, marshes, floodplains, and lakeshores, often feeding in flocks. Its diet consists mainly of insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and small amphibians, which it probes from mud and shallow water with its long bill. The Glossy Ibis is highly social, often seen in large mixed flocks with herons, storks, and other ibises. In flight, it shows broad wings and a graceful silhouette, with a steady flapping style. Its call is a low, croaking grunt, though it is generally quiet co

White‑bellied Go‑away‑bird (Male) Corythaixoides leucogaster is a large, long‑tailed turaco of East Africa, including Ethiopia, easily recognized by its upright crest, grey upperparts, and contrasting white belly and vent. Males are slightly larger with a more pronounced crest and sharper grey tones, while females are smaller with softer plumage and a shorter crest; juveniles resemble females but are duller overall with shorter tails. Highly vocal, it is named after its loud nasal “go‑away” call, often heard across savannas and bushlands. Usually seen in pairs or small groups, it feeds mainly on fruits, buds, and flowers, occasionally browsing leaves, and plays an important role in seed dispersal. In Ethiopia it is a fairly common resident of dry acacia woodlands, riverine bush, and semi‑arid savannas, classified as Least Concern thanks to its adaptability, making it one of the most familiar and conspicuous birds of East Africa’s open landscapes. Photo by Henupotography OMO National Park Ethiopia July 2023

The African Goshawk (subspecies unduliventer), endemic to the Ethiopian highlands, is a highly maneuverable bird of prey. The female is distinctly larger than the male, cryptically colored, and highly adapted for hunting in dense woodlands and riverine forests.Physical CharacteristicsSize & Weight: Females weigh roughly 260 - 510 g with wingspans measuring 540 - 700 mm. Males are significantly smaller (145 - 340 g).Plumage: The upperparts are a dark slate-gray, while the underparts feature a cryptically barred or undulating pattern (which gives the unduliventer subspecies its name).Eyes & Wings: Adults possess striking red to orange-tinged eyes, with short, broad wings and long tails for darting through trees.Habitat and BehaviorLocation: They are frequently sighted in the woodlands and forests of Ethiopia, such as the areas around Entoto.Diet: As apex woodland raptors, females prey on small birds, reptiles, and small mammals, frequently bringing food back to nests. Photo by :HenuPhotography June 14 2026

The African Harrier‑Hawk (Polyboroides typus) a distinctive raptor found across sub‑Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, where it inhabits woodlands, savannas, and forest edges. Measuring 60–66 cm in length, it is recognized by its grey plumage, bare yellow facial skin (which can flush red when excited), and broad wings with a striking black‑and‑white barred tail. Juveniles are browner, with streaked underparts. This hawk is famous for its double‑jointed legs, allowing it to reach into tree holes and crevices to extract nestlings, eggs, or insects — a rare adaptation among raptors. It feeds on a wide range of prey, from small mammals and birds to reptiles and invertebrates. Often seen soaring or gliding with slow wingbeats, it also perches conspicuously in tall trees. Photo by :HenuPhotography Addis Ababa Ethiopia June 3/2026

The Black‑bellied Bustard (Lissotis melanogaster) is a medium‑sized bird of Africa’s grasslands and savannas, including Ethiopia, where it is most often seen after rains. Males are distinctive with bold black underparts and patterned brown‑and‑buff upperparts, while females are more cryptic, blending into tall grasses with mottled buff plumage. About 58–65 cm long, it feeds on insects like beetles, grasshoppers, and ants, as well as seeds, fruits, and green shoots. Usually found singly or in pairs, it inhabits wetter grasslands, cultivated fields, and open savannas. The male’s courtship display is dramatic, combining whistles, popping “quock” notes, and gurgling calls, sometimes with aerial movements. Though widespread, it is only locally common in Ethiopia, but plays an important ecological role as both insect controller and seed disperser. Photo by :HenuPhotography Abijjata shalla Ethiopia May 17 2026

The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a small falcon widely seen across Ethiopia’s highlands and open country, recognized by its hovering flight as it hunts rodents, birds, and insects. About 32–35 cm long with a wingspan of 58–74 cm, males show a grey head, reddish‑brown back with dark spots, and a grey tail tipped black, while females are larger and more heavily streaked with a barred tail. Both sexes have dark eyes and a hooked bill. This species is a resident and migrant, with local populations joined by Eurasian winter visitors, making it one of the most familiar raptors in Ethiopia. Its hovering “windhover” style and shrill calls make it easy to identify, and ecologically it plays an important role in controlling small animal populations. Photo by :HenuPhotography Langano Ethiopia May 18 2026

Red‑throated Wryneck (Jynx ruficollis) also called Red‑breasted Wryneck is a small, cryptic woodpecker relative found in Ethiopia’s highlands. Adults have finely mottled upperparts in shades of brown, grey, and black, with darker streaks along the nape and back. The throat and breast are washed in rufous red, while the rest of the underparts are buffy‑white with fine brown streaks and bars, and a cinnamon tint near the vent. Immatures are darker, with heavier barring above and less extensive rufous on the throat and breast. This species is a resident bird, widespread but only locally common in Ethiopia, inhabiting open woodland, forest edges, and highland grasslands with scattered trees between 1500–3300 m. Often seen singly or in pairs, it is known for its distinctive voice, a mix of quiet chatters and muffled screeches, making it easier to detect than to spot among the branches. Photo by :HenuPhotography Langano Ethiopia May 18 2026