List of birds of Cape Verde

. This is a list of the bird species recorded in Cape Verde. The avifauna of Cape Verde includes a total of 187 species, of which 4 are endemic, 3 have been introduced by humans, and 75 are rare or accidental. 1 species listed is extirpated in Cape Verde and is not included in the species count. 4 species are globally threatened.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of Clements's 5th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflects this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Cape Verde.

The following tags have been used to highlight certain relevant categories. It must be noted that not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring, native species.

* (A) Accidental A species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Cape Verde.
* (E) Endemic A species endemic to Cape Verde.
* (I) Introduced A species introduced to Cape Verde as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions.
* (Ex) Extirpated A species that no longer occurs in Cape Verde although populations exist elsewhere.

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Grebes

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large sized freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes, and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 20 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Little Grebe "Tachybaptus ruficollis"

hearwaters and Petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized 'true petrels', characterised by united nostrils with a medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide and 10 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Fea's Petrel "Pterodroma feae"
*Bulwer's Petrel "Bulweria bulwerii"
*Cory's Shearwater "Calonectris diomedea"
*Cape Verde Shearwater "Calonectris edwardsii"
*Greater Shearwater "Puffinus gravis"
*Sooty Shearwater "Puffinus griseus" (A)
*Manx Shearwater "Puffinus puffinus" (A)
*Balearic Shearwater "Puffinus mauretanicus"
*Little Shearwater "Puffinus assimilis"
*Audubon's Shearwater "Puffinus lherminieri"

torm-Petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels, and are the smallest of sea-birds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 21 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Wilson's Storm-Petrel "Oceanites oceanicus"
*White-faced Storm-Petrel "Pelagodroma marina"
*White-bellied Storm-Petrel "Fregetta grallaria" (A)
*European Storm-Petrel "Hydrobates pelagicus"
*Band-rumped Storm-Petrel "Oceanodroma castro"
*Leach's Storm-Petrel "Oceanodroma leucorhoa"

Tropicbirds

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings. There are 3 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Red-billed Tropicbird "Phaethon aethereus"
*White-tailed Tropicbird "Phaethon lepturus"

Boobies and Gannets

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups comprise medium-to-large coastal sea-birds that plunge-dive for fish. There are 9 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Northern Gannet "Morus bassanus" (A)
*Masked Booby "Sula dactylatra" (Ex)
*Red-footed Booby "Sula sula" (A)
*Brown Booby "Sula leucogaster"

Cormorants

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae

The Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large coastal, fish-eating sea-birds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black and white, and a few being colourful. There are 38 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Great Cormorant "Phalacrocorax carbo"

Frigatebirds

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large sea-birds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply-forked tails. The males have inflatable coloured throat pouches. They do not swim or walk, and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. There are 5 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Magnificent Frigatebird "Fregata magnificens"

Bitterns, Herons and Egrets

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds suck as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide and 10 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Gray Heron "Ardea cinerea"
*Purple Heron "Ardea purpurea"
*Great Egret "Ardea alba" (A)
*Black Heron "Egretta ardesiaca" (A)
*Intermediate Egret "Egretta intermedia" (A)
*Western Reef-Heron "Egretta gularis" (A)
*Little Egret "Egretta garzetta"
*Squacco Heron "Ardeola ralloides" (A)
*Cattle Egret "Bubulcus ibis"
*Black-crowned Night-Heron "Nycticorax nycticorax" (A)

torks

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute; bill-clattering is an important mode of stork communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. There are 19 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*White Stork "Ciconia ciconia"

Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Threskiornithidae

The Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers. There are 36 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Waldrapp "Geronticus eremita" (A)
*Glossy Ibis "Plegadis falcinellus" (A)
*Eurasian Spoonbill "Platalea leucorodia" (A)

Flamingos

Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet high, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. They are more numerous in the latter. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly-shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume, and are uniquely used upside-down. There are 6 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Greater Flamingo "Phoenicopterus roseus" (A)

Ducks, Geese and Swans

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Fulvous Whistling-Duck "Dendrocygna bicolor"
*White-faced Whistling-Duck "Dendrocygna viduata"
*Eurasian Teal "Anas crecca" (A)
*Marbled Teal "Marmaronetta angustirostris"
*Common Pochard "Aythya ferina" (A)
*Ferruginous Pochard "Aythya nyroca" (A)
*Tufted Duck "Aythya fuligula" (A)

Osprey

Order: FalconiformesFamily: Pandionidae

The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the Osprey. The Osprey is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

*Osprey "Pandion haliaetus"

Hawks, Kites and Eagles

Order: FalconiformesFamily: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. There are 233 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Red Kite "Milvus milvus"
*Black Kite "Milvus migrans"
*Egyptian Vulture "Neophron percnopterus"
*Western Marsh-Harrier "Circus aeruginosus"
*Montagu's Harrier "Circus pygargus"
*Eurasian Buzzard "Buteo buteo"
*Long-legged Buzzard "Buteo rufinus" (A)

Caracaras and Falcons

Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their feet. There are 62 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Eurasian Kestrel "Falco tinnunculus"
*Peregrine Falcon "Falco peregrinus"

Pheasants and Partridges

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they may vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. There are 156 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Common Quail "Coturnix coturnix"

Guineafowl

Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae

Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage. There are 6 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Helmeted Guineafowl "Numida meleagris" (I)

Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Little Crake "Porzana parva"
*Common Moorhen "Gallinula chloropus"

Oystercatchers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Eurasian Oystercatcher "Haematopus ostralegus"

Avocets and Stilts

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and the stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Black-winged Stilt "Himantopus himantopus"
*Pied Avocet "Recurvirostra avosetta" (A)

Pratincoles and Coursers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards. There are 17 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Cream-colored Courser "Cursorius cursor"
*Collared Pratincole "Glareola pratincola"

Plovers and Lapwings

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water, although there are some exceptions. There are 66 species worldwide and 10 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Northern Lapwing "Vanellus vanellus" (A)
*Pacific Golden-Plover "Pluvialis fulva" (A)
*American Golden-Plover "Pluvialis dominica"
*European Golden-Plover "Pluvialis apricaria"
*Black-bellied Plover "Pluvialis squatarola"
*Common Ringed Plover "Charadrius hiaticula"
*Semipalmated Plover "Charadrius semipalmatus" (A)
*Little Ringed Plover "Charadrius dubius"
*White-fronted Plover "Charadrius marginatus" (A)
*Snowy Plover "Charadrius alexandrinus"

andpipers and allies

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae

The Scolopacidae are a large diverse family of small to medium sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 89 species worldwide and 30 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Eurasian Woodcock "Scolopax rusticola"
*Jack Snipe "Lymnocryptes minimus" (A)
*Great Snipe "Gallinago media" (A)
*Common Snipe "Gallinago gallinago" (A)
*Black-tailed Godwit "Limosa limosa"
*Bar-tailed Godwit "Limosa lapponica"
*Whimbrel "Numenius phaeopus"
*Eurasian Curlew "Numenius arquata" (A)
*Spotted Redshank "Tringa erythropus" (A)
*Common Redshank "Tringa totanus"
*Marsh Sandpiper "Tringa stagnatilis"
*Common Greenshank "Tringa nebularia"
*Greater Yellowlegs "Tringa melanoleuca" (A)
*Lesser Yellowlegs "Tringa flavipes" (A)
*Green Sandpiper "Tringa ochropus"
*Wood Sandpiper "Tringa glareola"
*Common Sandpiper "Actitis hypoleucos"
*Ruddy Turnstone "Arenaria interpres"
*Red Knot "Calidris canutus" (A)
*Sanderling "Calidris alba"
*Little Stint "Calidris minuta"
*Temminck's Stint "Calidris temminckii" (A)
*Least Sandpiper "Calidris minutilla" (A)
*Pectoral Sandpiper "Calidris melanotos" (A)
*Curlew Sandpiper "Calidris ferruginea"
*Dunlin "Calidris alpina"
*Purple Sandpiper "Calidris maritima"
*Ruff "Philomachus pugnax"
*Red-necked Phalarope "Phalaropus lobatus" (A)
*Red Phalarope "Phalaropus fulicarius"

kuas and Jaegers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are 7 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Great Skua "Stercorarius skua"
*Pomarine Jaeger "Stercorarius pomarinus"
*Parasitic Jaeger "Stercorarius parasiticus"
*Long-tailed Jaeger "Stercorarius longicaudus" (A)

Gulls

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large birds seabirds and includes gulls and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 55 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Lesser Black-backed Gull "Larus fuscus"
*Caspian Gull "Larus cachinnans"
*Yellow-legged Gull "Larus michahellis"
*Black-headed Gull "Larus ridibundus"
*Slender-billed Gull "Larus genei" (A)
*Sabine's Gull "Xema sabini"
*Black-legged Kittiwake "Rissa tridactyla"

Terns

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Sternidae

Terns are a group of generally general medium to large sea-birds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species now known to live in excess of 25 to 30 years. There are 44 species worldwide and 10 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Gull-billed Tern "Sterna nilotica" (A)
*Caspian Tern "Sterna caspia"
*Sandwich Tern "Sterna sandvicensis"
*Royal Tern "Sterna maxima" (A)
*Roseate Tern "Sterna dougallii"
*Common Tern "Sterna hirundo"
*Arctic Tern "Sterna paradisaea"
*Little Tern "Sterna albifrons" (A)
*Sooty Tern "Sterna fuscata"
*Whiskered Tern "Chlidonias hybridus"

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae

Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits, however they are not related to the penguins bnd differ in being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest. There are 24 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Common Murre "Uria aalge"

Pigeons and Doves

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Rock Pigeon "Columba livia"
*Eurasian Turtle-Dove "Streptopelia turtur"
*Red-eyed Dove "Streptopelia semitorquata"

Parrots, Macaws and allies

Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and the have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. There are 335 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Rose-ringed Parakeet "Psittacula krameri" (A)

Cuckoos and Anis

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Unlike the cuckoo species of the Old World, North American cuckoos are not brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Great Spotted Cuckoo "Clamator glandarius"
*Common Cuckoo "Cuculus canorus"

Barn owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are 16 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Barn Owl "Tyto alba"

Typical owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae

Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. There are 195 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Short-eared Owl "Asio flammeus" (A)

wifts

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae

Swifts are small aerial birds, spending the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. There are 98 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Alpine Swift "Tachymarptis melba" (A)
*Alexander's Swift "Apus alexandri" (E)
*Common Swift "Apus apus"
*Pallid Swift "Apus pallidus" (A)

Kingfishers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. There are 93 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Gray-headed Kingfisher "Halcyon leucocephala"

Bee-eaters

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colorful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are 26 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Blue-cheeked Bee-eater "Merops persicus" (A)
*European Bee-eater "Merops apiaster" (A)

Typical Rollers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not. There are 12 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*European Roller "Coracias garrulus" (A)
*Broad-billed Roller "Eurystomus glaucurus" (A)

Hoopoes

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Hoopoe "Upupa epops" (A)

Larks

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds. There are 91 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark "Eremopterix nigriceps"
*Bar-tailed Lark "Ammomanes cincturus"
*Greater Hoopoe-Lark "Alaemon alaudipes"
*Razo Skylark "Alauda razae" (E)

wallows and Martins

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae

The Hirundinidae family is a group of passerines characterized by their adaptation to aerial feeding. Their adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and short bills with wide gape. The feet are designed for perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. There are 75 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Bank Swallow "Riparia riparia" (A)
*Plain Martin "Riparia paludicola" (A)
*Barn Swallow "Hirundo rustica"
*Red-rumped Swallow "Cecropis daurica" (A)
*Common House-Martin "Delichon urbica" (A)

Wagtails and Pipits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae

The Motacillidae are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country. There are 54 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*White Wagtail "Motacilla alba"
*Yellow Wagtail "Motacilla flava" (A)
*Tawny Pipit "Anthus campestris" (A)
*Tree Pipit "Anthus trivialis" (A)

Thrushes and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs. There are 335 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Song Thrush "Turdus philomelos" (A)

Old World warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. The Sylviidae mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs. There are 291 species worldwide and 11 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Grasshopper Warbler "Locustella naevia" (A)
*Cape Verde Swamp-warbler "Acrocephalus brevipennis" (E)
*Booted Warbler "Hippolais caligata"
*Eastern Olivaceous Warbler "Hippolais pallida" (A)
*Western Olivaceous Warbler "Hippolais opaca" (A)
*Willow Warbler "Phylloscopus trochilus" (A)
*Blackcap "Sylvia atricapilla"
*Greater Whitethroat "Sylvia communis" (A)
*African Desert Warbler "Sylvia deserti" (A)
*Subalpine Warbler "Sylvia cantillans" (A)
*Spectacled Warbler "Sylvia conspicillata"

Old World flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is very varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls. There 274 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Spotted Flycatcher "Muscicapa striata" (A)
*European Pied Flycatcher "Ficedula hypoleuca" (A)
*Common Nightingale "Luscinia megarhynchos" (A)
*Common Redstart "Phoenicurus phoenicurus" (A)
*Northern Wheatear "Oenanthe oenanthe" (A)

Crows, Jays, Ravens and Magpies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae

The Corvidae family includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size for the bird order Passeriformes. Some of the larger species show high levels of learning behavior. There are 120 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Brown-necked Raven "Corvus ruficollis"

tarlings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. There are 125 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*European Starling "Sturnus vulgaris" (A)

Weavers and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season. There are 116 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cape Verde.

*Village Weaver "Ploceus cucullatus" (A)

Waxbills and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed-eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have a wide variation in plumage colours and pattern. There are 141 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*Red-billed Firefinch "Lagonosticta senegala"
*Red-cheeked Cordonbleu "Uraeginthus bengalus" (A)
*Common Waxbill "Estrilda astrild"

iskins, Crossbills and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have 12 tail feathers and 9 primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. There are 137 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*European Goldfinch "Carduelis carduelis" (I)
*Trumpeter Finch "Bucanetes githaginea" (A)

parrows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae

Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed-eaters, and they also consume small insects. There are 35 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Cape Verde.

*House Sparrow "Passer domesticus" (I)
*Spanish Sparrow "Passer hispaniolensis"
*Cape Verde Sparrow "Passer iagoensis" (E)

ee also

*List of birds
*Lists of birds by region

References

*cite web
last = Lepage
first = Denis
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coauthors =
year =
url = http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp?region=cv&pg=checklist&list=clements
title = Checklist of birds of Cape Verde
format =
work = Bird Checklists of the World
publisher = Avibase
accessdate = 27 April
accessyear = 2007
*cite book
title=Birds of the World: a Checklist
first= James F.
last = Clements
publisher = Cornell University Press
date = 2000
id = ISBN 0934797161
pages = 880