Birding Africa: Cameroon February 2004
ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF BIRD SPECIES RECORDED
Common (bolded) and scientific names (italicised) are followed by the number of days on which the species was recorded and, in parentheses, the maximum number seen per day. ‘Heard only’ species are denoted with an “h”. If more than 50 individuals were seen on at least one day then denoted with a “c”. Nomenclature based largely on Borrow & Demey 2002 “Birds of Western Africa” (Helm).
Occasional notes cover taxonomy (such as mention of distinctive subspecies or when a species may be “sometimes lumped with” (SLW) other taxa), identification, species recorded by single individuals only, and species recorded only before or after the official tour. Species recorded by only one person are followed by that person’s initials: BW = Bob Walton; CC = Callan Cohen; CD = Cliff Dorse; MM = Michael Mills
Total species: 604
Range-restricted species confined to the Cameroon Mountain’s Endemic Bird Area (common names underlined): 24 of 25 species. Only Mount Cameroon Francolin, currently requiring a 26 km hike, was not recorded. Alexander’s Akalat and Cameroon Pipit, taxa confined to this EBA but not currently recognised by BirdLife International as full species were also seen well.
List no. Common name Scientific name > no. of days recorded (max no. recorded on a day)
1. Common ostrich Struthio camelus > 1 (2)
2. Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis > 1 (1)
3. Long-tailed cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus > 5 (20)
4. African darter Anhinga rufa > 3 (5)
5. Great white pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus > 1 (25)
6. Black-crowned night heron Nycticorax nycticorax > 3 (30)
7. Squacco heron Ardeola ralloides > 6 (8)
8. Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis > 16 (c)
9. Green-backed heron Butroides striatus > 1 (1)
10. Black heron Egretta ardesiaca > 1 (1)
11. Western reef egret Egretta gularis > 2 (3)
12. Little egret Egretta garzetta > 8 (20)
13. Intermediate egret Egretta intermedia > 1 (4)
14. Great egret Egretta alba > 5 (5)
15. Purple heron Ardea pururea > 1 (3)
16. Grey heron Ardea cinerea > 4 (2)
17. Black-headed heron Ardea melanocephala > 5 (c)
18. Hamerkop Scopus umbretta > 6 (2)
19. Yellow-billed stork Mycteria ibis > 1 (15)
20. African openbill stork Anastomus lamelligerus > 3 (5)
21. Black Stork Ciconia nigra > 1 (3)
22. Woolly-necked stork Ciconia episcopus > 4 (3)
23. White stork Ciconia ciconia > 1 (1)
24. Saddle-billed stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis > 3 (8)
25. Marabou stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus > 1 (25)
26. Hadada ibis Bostrychia hagedash > 2 (5)
27. Sacred ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus > 5 (20)
28. African spoonbill Platalea alba > 1 (10)
29. White-faced whistling duck Dendrocygna viduata > 3 (15)
30. Spur-winged goose Plectropterus gambensis > 2 (c)
31. Hartlaub's duck Pteronetta hartlaubii > 2 (7)
32. Knob-billed duck Sarkidiornis melanotos > 3 (c)
33. Common teal Anas crecca > 1 (2)
34. Northern pintail Anas acuta > 1 (10)
35. Garganey Anas querquedula > 3 (c)
36. Northern shoveller Anas clypeata > 1 (2)
37. European honey buzzard Pernis apivorus > 5 (3)
38. Black-shouldered kite Elanus caeruleus > 5 (8)
39. African swallow-tailed kite Chelictinia riocourii > 4 (12)
40. Yellow-billed kite Milvus parasitus > 16 (c) SLW Black Kite M. migrans
41. African fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer > 3 (3)
42. Palm-nut vulture Gypohierax angolensis > 10 (4)
43. Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus > 2 (8)
44. Hooded vulture Necrosyrtes monachus > 5 (c)
45. African white-backed vulture Gyps africanus > 4 (8)
46. Rueppell's griffon vulture Gyps ruepellii > 1 (2)
47. Lappet-faced vulture Torgos tracheliotus > 1 (2)
48. Short-toed eagle Circaetus gallicus > 2 (2)
49. Beaudouin's snake eagle Circaetus beaudouini > 1 (1)
50. Brown snake eagle Circaetus cinerus > 1 (1)
51. Bateleur Terathipius ecaudatus > 4 (2)
52. African harrier hawk Polyboroides typus > 12 (8)
53. Pallid harrier Circus macrourus > 2 (2)
54. Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus > 4 (10)
55. Eurasian marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus > 3 (2)
56. Gabar goshawk Micronisus gabar > 3 (5)
57. Dark chanting goshawk Melierax metabates > 4 (15)
58. Red-chested goshawk Accipiter toussenelii > 3 (1) SLW African Goshawk A. tachiro
59. Shikra Accipiter badius > 3 (1)
60. Black sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus > 1 (1)
61. Grasshopper buzzard Butastur rufipennis > 6 (20)
62. Lizard buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus > 6 (4)
63. Red-necked buzzard Buteo auguralis > 10 (3)
64. Tawny eagle Aquila rapax > 1 (2)
65. Wahlberg's eagle Aquila wahlbergi > 1 (1)
66. Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus > 3 (2)
67. Long-crested eagle Lophaetus occipitalis > 5 (1)
68. Cassin's hawk eagle Spizaetus africanus > 2 (2)
69. Crowned eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus > 3 (1)
70. Martial eagle Polemaetus bellicosus > 1 (1)
71. Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius > 1 (1)
72. Common kestrel Falco tinnunculus > 6 (3) including migratory tinnunculus
73. Fox kestrel Falco alopex > 3 (2)
74. Grey kestrel Falco ardosiaceus > 1 (2)
75. Red-necked falcon Falco chicquera > 2 (2)
76. Eurasian hobby Falco subbuteo > 2 (1)
77. Lanner falcon Falco biarmicus > 4 (1)
78. Stone partridge Ptilopachus petrosus > 4 (30)
79. White-throated francolin Francolinus albogularis > 1 (h)
80. Schlegel's francolin Francolinus schlegelii > 1 (3)
81. Scaly francolin Francolinus squamatus > 4 (1)
82. Double-spurred francolin Francolinus bicalcaratus > 5 (15)
83. Clapperton's francolin Francolinus clappertoni > 3 (50)
84. Black guineafowl Agelastes niger > 1 (2)
85. Helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris > 4 (c)
86. Quail-plover Ortyxelos meiffrenii > 1 (2)
87. Nkulengu rail Himantornis haematopus > 3 (h)
88. White-spotted flufftail Sarothrura pulchra > 4 (1)
89. African water rail Rallus caerulescens > 2 (h)
90. Black crake Amaurornis flavirostris > 2 (2)
91. Purple swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio > 1 (4)
92. Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus > 2 (20)
93. Black crowned crane Balearica pavonina > 2 (c)
94. African finfoot Podica senegalensis > 1 (1)
95. Denham's bustard Neotis denhami > 1 (1) MM
96. Arabian bustard Ardeotis arabs > 1 (1)
97. White-bellied bustard Eupodotis senegalensis > 2 (2)
98. African jacana Actophilornis africanus > 3 (15)
99. Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus > 3 (25)
100. Senegal thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis > 1 (h)
101. Spotted thick-knee Burhinus capensis > 1 (2)
102. Egyptian plover Pluvialis aegyptius > 1 (1)
103. Temminck's courser Cursorius temminckii > 2 (5)
104. Bronze-winged courser Rhinoptilus chalcopterus > 3 (2)
105. Rock pratincole Glareola nuchalis > 2 (2)
106. Grey pratincole Glareola cinerea > 1 (10)
107. Three-banded plover Charadrius tricollaris > 1 (1)
108. White-fronted plover Charadrius marginatus > 1 (2)
109. Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola > 1 (1)
110. White-headed lapwing Vanellus albiceps > 1 (2)
111. Black-headed lapwing Vanellus tectus > 3 (30)
112. Spur-winged lapwing Vanellus spinosus > 2 (8)
113. Brown-chested lapwing Vanellus superciliosus > 1 (h)
114. Ruff Philomachus pugnax > 1 (2) post-trip
115. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus > 1 (1) post-trip
116. Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata > 1 (1)
117. Spotted redshank Tringa erythropus > 1 (5)
118. Common greenshank Tringa nebularia > 5 (5)
119. Green sandpiper Tringa ochropus > 4 (6)
120. Wood sandpiper Tringa glareola > 4 (20)
121. Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos > 5 (5)
122. Royal tern Sterna maxima > 1 (10) pre-trip
123. Black tern Chlidonias niger > 1 (1)
124. African skimmer Rynchops flavirostris > 1 (50)
125. Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse Pterocles exustus > 3 (80)
126. Four-banded sandgrouse Pterocles quadricinctus > 2 (1)
127. African green pigeon Treron calva > 12 (15)
128. Bruce's green pigeon Treron waalia > 4 (50)
129. Blue-headed wood dove Turtur brehmeri > 4 (3)
130. Tambourine dove Turtur tympanistria > 6 (5)
131. Blue-spotted wood dove Turtur afer > 13 (5)
132. Black-billed wood dove Turtur abyssinicus > 2 (10)
133. Namaqua dove Oena capensis > 4 (c)
134. Cameroon olive pigeon Columba sjostedti > 3 (8)
135. Afep pigeon Columba unicincta > 1 (h)
136. Speckled pigeon Columba guinea > 6 (15)
137. Feral pigeon Columba livia > 6 (20)
138. Lemon dove Aplopelia larvata > 1 (2)
139. Red-eyed dove Streptopelia semitorquata > 14 (5)
140. African mourning dove Streptopelia decipiens > 2 (2)
141. Vinaceous dove Streptopelia vinacea > 8 (c)
142. African collared dove Streptopelia roseogrisea > 4 (c)
143. European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur > 2 (c)
144. Adamawa turtle dove Streptopelia hypopyrrha > 2 (3)
145. Laughing dove Streptopelia senegalensis > 7 (c)
146. Grey parrot Psittacus erithacus > 5 (10)
147. Senegal parrot Poicephalus senegalus > 4 (8)
148. Rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri > 1 (2)
149. Great blue turaco Corythaeola cristata > 6 (3)
150. Green turaco Tauraco persa > 5 (2)
151. Yellow-billed turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus > 11 (6)
152. White-crested turaco Tauraco leucolophus > 3 (2)
153. Bannerman's turaco Tauraco bannermani > 1 (1)
154. Violet turaco Musophaga violacea > 1 (2)
155. Ross' turaco Musophaga rossae > 3 (2)
156. Western grey plantain-eater Crinifer piscator > 3 (12)
157. Red-chested cuckoo Cuculus solitarius > 3 (1)
158. Black cuckoo Cuculus clamosus > 2 (1)
159. Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus > 2 (1)
160. African cuckoo Cuculus gularis > 4 (2)
161. Dusky long-tailed cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi > 1 (h)
162. Olive long-tailed cuckoo Cercococcyx olivinus > 3 (1)
163. African emerald cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus > 7 (1)
164. Klaas' cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas > 6 (1)
165. Didric cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius > 1 (1)
166. Yellowbill Ceuthmochares aereus > 9 (4)
167. Black-throated coucal Centropus leucogaster > 3 (h)
168. Senegal coucal Centropus senegalensis > 8 (8)
169. Blue-headed coucal Centropus monachus > 6 (1)
170. Barn owl Tyto alba > 3 (2)
171. African scops owl Otus senegalensis > 4 (1)
172. Greyish eagle owl Bubo cinerascens > 1 (h)
173. Fraser's eagle owl Bubo poensis > 2 (h)
174. Verreaux's eagle owl Bubo lacteus > 1 (h)
175. Vermiculated fishing owl Scotopelia bouvieri > 3 (1)
176. Pearl-spotted owlet Glaucidium perlatum > 1 (h)
177. Chestnut-backed owlet Glaucidium sjostedti > 2 (h)
178. African wood owl Strix woodfordii > 3 (h)
179. Long-tailed nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus > 3 (2)
180. Black-shouldered nightjar Caprimulgus nigriscapularis > 1 (1)
181. Freckled nightjar Caprimulgus tristigma > 1 (1)
182. Standard-winged nightjar Macrodipteryx longipennis > 1 (1)
183. Sabine's spinetail Rhaphidura sabini > 3 (6)
184. Mottled spinetail Telacanthura ussheri > 3 (8)
185. African palm swift Cypsiurus parvus > 12 (25)
186. Common swift Apus apus > 1 (20)
187. Black swift sp. Apus sp. > 1 (10) Large dark swifts on Mt Cameroon, possibly sladeinae
188. Bates' swift Apus batesi > 5 (15)
189. Little swift Apus affinus > 9 (c)
190. Blue-naped mousebird Urocolius marourus > 4 (8)
191. Speckled mousebird Colius striatus > 10 (15)
192. Bar-tailed trogon Apaloderma vittatum > 3 (5)
193. Bare-cheeked trogon Apaloderma aequatoriale > 4 (1)
194. Chocolate-backed kingfisher Halcyon badia > 3 (h)
195. Grey-headed kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala > 2 (4)
196. Blue-breasted kingfisher Halcyon malimbica > 1 (2)
197. Woodland kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis > 6 (10)
198. Striped kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti > 4 (2)
199. African dwarf kingfisher Ceyx lecontei > 1 (1)
200. African pygmy kingfisher Ceyx pictus > 7 (4)
201. Malachite kingfisher Alcedo cristata > 4 (1)
202. Shining-blue kingfisher Alcedo quadribrachys > 2 (1)
203. Giant kingfisher Megaceryle maxima > 3 (1)
204. Pied kingfisher Ceryle rudis > 4 (4)
205. Blue-headed bee-eater Merops muelleri > 1 (1)
206. Black bee-eater Merops gularis > 3 (1)
207. Little bee-eater Merops pusillus > 1 (6)
208. Blue-breasted bee-eater Merops variegatus > 1 (2)
209. Swallow-tailed bee-eater Merops hirundineus > 1 (2)
210. Red-throated bee-eater Merops bulocki > 3 (c)
211. White-throated bee-eater Merops albicollis > 10 (c)
212. Little green bee-eater Merops orientalis > 3 (15)
213. Northern carmine bee-eater Merops nubicus > 5 (50)
214. Rufous-crowned roller Coracias naevia > 1 (2)
215. Blue-bellied roller Coracias cyanogaster > 1 (2)
216. Abyssinian roller Coracias abyssinica > 8 (20)
217. Broad-billed roller Eurystomus glaucurus > 1 (1)
218. Green wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus > 5 (6)
219. Black wood-hoopoe Rhinopomastus aterrimus > 3 (3)
220. Hoopoe Upapa epops > 4 (6) both senegalensis and epops
221. Abyssinian ground hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus > 5 (3)
222. White-crested hornbill Tropicranus albocristatus > 2 (2)
223. Black dwarf hornbill Tockus hartlaubi > 2 (1)
224. Red-billed dwarf hornbill Tockus camurus > 4 (4)
225. Red-billed hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus > 4 (c)
226. African pied hornbill Tockus fasciatus > 10 (10)
227. African grey hornbill Tockus nasutus > 8 (20)
228. Piping hornbill Bycanistes fistulator > 6 (15)
229. White-thighed hornbill Bycanistes albotibialis > 1 (4)
230. Black-casqued hornbill Ceratogymna atrata > 2 (2)
231. Yellow-casqued hornbill Ceratogymna elata > 4 (4)
232. Grey-throated barbet Gymnobucco bonapartei > 1 (1)
233. Naked-faced barbet Gymnobucco calvus > 8 (10)
234. Speckled tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus > 2 (1)
235. Western green tinkerbird Pogoniulus coryphaeus > 7 (2)
236. Red-rumped tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus > 5 (1)
237. Yellow-throated tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus > 5 (2)
238. Yellow-rumped tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus > 11 (4)
239. Yellow-fronted tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus > 6 (2)
240. Yellow-spotted barbet Buccanodon duchaillui > 10 (4)
241. Hairy-breasted barbet Tricholaema hirsuta > 9 (1)
242. Vieillot's barbet Lybius veilloti > 6 (4)
243. White-headed barbet Lybius leucocephalus > 1 (2)
244. Double-toothed barbet Lybius bidentatus > 3 (5)
245. Bearded barbet Lybius dubius > 2 (5)
246. Yellow-billed barbet Trachylaemus purpuratus > 6 (4)