Gabon’s mix of lowland rainforest, coastal mangroves and inland savanna supports a striking variety of bird species, attracting both field researchers and casual birdwatchers. From riverbanks to canopy, the country offers easy roadside sightings and more secretive forest residents.
There are 27 Birds of Gabon, ranging from African Broadbill to Yellow-billed Turaco. For each species, you’ll find below Scientific name, Habitat & distribution in Gabon, Residency status to make identification and planning straightforward — you’ll find below.
Which species are easiest for a first-time visitor to spot in Gabon?
Look for common, resident birds in accessible habitats: forest edges, riverine gallery forests and protected savanna areas. Species like the Yellow-billed Turaco and other canopy or edge dwellers are often more visible than deep-forest specialists such as the African Broadbill; visiting national parks and river corridors early in the morning increases sightings.
How can this list be used for conservation or fieldwork?
The combination of Scientific name, Habitat & distribution in Gabon, and Residency status gives a practical baseline for monitoring and survey design: it helps prioritize habitats, track seasonal visitors versus residents, and ensures consistent species identification for research or local conservation planning.
Birds of Gabon
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat & distribution in Gabon | Residency status |
|---|---|---|---|
| African Grey Parrot | Psittacus erithacus | Lowland coastal and inland rainforest, near villages and parks | Resident |
| Great Blue Turaco | Corythaeola cristata | Primary and secondary rainforest, Lopé and Loango areas | Resident |
| Yellow-billed Turaco | Tauraco macrorhynchus | Lowland and gallery forest, coastal regions and inland rivers | Resident |
| Black-casqued Hornbill | Ceratogymna atrata | Lowland rainforest, especially coastal and Gabon Estuary forests | Resident |
| White-crested Hornbill | Horizocerus albocristatus | Dense lowland forest, riverine corridors and national parks | Resident |
| African Fish Eagle | Haliaeetus vocifer | Rivers, estuaries, lagoons—Ogooué River and coastal wetlands | Resident |
| Palm-nut Vulture | Gypohierax angolensis | Coastal lagoons, mangroves, palm-rich riverbanks | Resident |
| Goliath Heron | Ardea goliath | Large rivers, lakes, mangroves—Ogooué basin and coast | Resident |
| Hamerkop | Scopus umbretta | Freshwater wetlands, marshes, riverbanks and coastal lagoons | Resident |
| Malachite Kingfisher | Corythornis cristatus | Small streams, ponds, lagoons in forest and savanna | Resident |
| Pied Kingfisher | Ceryle rudis | Lagoons, estuaries and large rivers, widespread coastal areas | Resident |
| African Pygmy Kingfisher | Ispidina picta | Forest edges, clearings, and riverine woodland | Resident |
| Little Bee-eater | Merops pusillus | Open woodland, forest edge and savanna near Gabon’s clearings | Resident |
| Long-tailed Cormorant | Microcarbo africanus | Rivers, lagoons, mangroves and coastal estuaries | Resident |
| African Jacana | Actophilornis africanus | Shallow wetlands, marshes and floodplains across Gabon | Resident |
| African Openbill | Anastomus lamelligerus | Wetlands and rice-like marshes, river floodplains | Resident |
| Western Bronze-naped Pigeon | Columba iriditorques | Lowland rainforest canopy, widely distributed in Gabon | Resident |
| African Green Pigeon | Treron calvus | Woodland, savanna and forest edges, common near fruiting trees | Resident |
| Crested Guineafowl | Guttera pucherani | Forest and secondary growth, often near villages and trails | Resident |
| African Harrier-Hawk | Polyboroides typus | Woodland, forest edge and savanna around settlements | Resident |
| Little Greenbul | Eurillas virens | Understory of lowland rainforest, gardens and secondary growth | Resident |
| Olive Sunbird | Cyanomitra olivacea | Forest edge, secondary growth, gardens and mangrove margins | Resident |
| African Thrush | Turdus pelios | Woodland, gardens, forest edge and plantations near towns | Resident |
| Purple-throated Cuckooshrike | Campephaga quiscalina | Canopy of lowland forest, gallery forest and clearings | Resident |
| African Golden Oriole | Oriolus auratus | Savanna woodland, gallery forest and riverine trees | Resident |
| Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher | Terpsiphone rufiventer | Forest, forest edge and secondary growth in lowlands | Resident |
| African Broadbill | Smithornis capensis | Dense lowland and riverine forest, quiet understory spots | Resident |
Images and Descriptions
African Grey Parrot
Iconic, highly intelligent grey parrot with red tail; often heard before seen. Found in forest edges and towns, prized for vocal mimicry and a conservation concern due to trapping for pet trade.
Great Blue Turaco
Large, striking green-blue bird with a loud booming call and red flight feathers. Seen moving through canopy in groups; a showy forest species beloved by photographers and ecotourists.
Yellow-billed Turaco
Green turaco with a prominent yellow bill and rufous underparts. Moves in small flocks through canopy; conspicuous calls and bright plumage make it easy to spot in Gabon’s forests.
Black-casqued Hornbill
Large black hornbill with a glossy casque and noisy flock behavior. Feeds on fruit and large insects; a key rainforest species often encountered at fruiting trees and in protected reserves.
White-crested Hornbill
Medium-sized hornbill with white crest and strong beak. Travels in small groups, nesting in tree cavities; its distinctive calls and social behavior attract birders to Gabon’s rainforest trails.
African Fish Eagle
Powerful raptor with white head and chest, known for its piercing cry. Often perched near water, it feeds on fish and is a charismatic sight along Gabon’s waterways and mangroves.
Palm-nut Vulture
Unusual vulture often feeding on palm fruits and crabs as much as carrion. White-bodied with dark flight feathers, it’s commonly seen around mangroves and coastal villages in Gabon.
Goliath Heron
World’s largest heron with slow deliberate hunting style and chestnut-grey plumage. Solitary and impressive at river edges, it’s a highlight for wetland birdwatching in Gabon.
Hamerkop
Medium brown wading bird with a distinctive hammer-shaped head crest. Builds enormous nest structures and feeds on fish and frogs; common and easily noticed around Gabon’s wetlands.
Malachite Kingfisher
Tiny, jewel-like kingfisher with bright blue back and orange underparts. Perches low over water to sally for small fish; delightful and often photographed along Gabon’s waterways.
Pied Kingfisher
Black-and-white hovering kingfisher that plunges for fish. Bold and conspicuous, often seen in pairs or small groups along the coast and major rivers in Gabon.
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Tiny, bright kingfisher with rufous belly and metallic blue back. Elusive yet frequently found at forest edges and clearings; admired for its vivid colors and quick flights.
Little Bee-eater
Small, colorful bee-eater with green upperparts and rufous throat. Agile aerial insectivore often perched on wires or branches; common in open habitats and forest edges.
Long-tailed Cormorant
Smaller cormorant with long tail and dark plumage, often drying wings on sticks. Common on inland waters and the coast, frequently seen fishing in groups along the Ogooué.
African Jacana
Slender wader with long toes for walking on floating vegetation. Bright chestnut and yellow markings, often seen running across lily pads feeding on insects and invertebrates.
African Openbill
Distinctive stork with gap between bill tips adapted for snails. Often found in marshes and shallow waters, foraging in small groups and striking to see when feeding.
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon
Shy, chunky pigeon with iridescent nape and soft cooing calls. Moves through canopy in pairs or small groups; a typical forest pigeon in Gabon’s interior.
African Green Pigeon
Plump green pigeon often seen quietly feeding on figs and fruits. Blends into foliage but is detectable by movement; common in both forest and village trees.
Crested Guineafowl
Black guineafowl with curled crest and spotted plumage, forming noisy flocks on forest floor. Ground-dwelling and social, frequently seen near trails and forest edges in Gabon.
African Harrier-Hawk
Unique raptor with double-jointed legs used to extract prey from cavities. Hunts around villages and forests, often seen climbing trees and investigating nests and crevices.
Little Greenbul
Small olive-green songbird with a soft, melodic call. Common in the forest understory and near camps, useful for learning forest bird songs in Gabon.
Olive Sunbird
Small, energetic nectar-feeder with olive-green plumage; males show metallic throat. Frequently visits flowers and fruiting shrubs, easy to watch in disturbed forest and village gardens.
African Thrush
Familiar medium-sized thrush with warm brown upperparts and spotted breast. Often active on lawns and in village gardens, singing melodious phrases and easily observed in settled areas.
Purple-throated Cuckooshrike
Glossy black-and-purple cuckooshrike with a bold call. Often seen perched conspicuously in canopy, feeding on large insects and fruit and noticed on forest edges.
African Golden Oriole
Bright yellow and black oriole with a fluting song and shy behavior. Seen moving through tall trees near rivers and edges, providing colorful contrast to Gabon’s green habitats.
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher
Elegant flycatcher with long tail and rufous underparts. Hunts insects in flight from exposed perches; the male’s long tail makes it a striking forest species to spot.
African Broadbill
Plump, broad-headed bird with subtle plumage and distinctive wing-whirring display. Shy and often heard before seen, it forages quietly in shaded forest and is prized by forest birders.
