Guinea-Bissau’s mosaic of mangroves, rice fields, savanna and seasonal wetlands supports a rich mix of resident species and migrants that pass through on long journeys along the West African coast. Local habitats concentrate different groups, so a short trip can reveal waterbirds, raptors and forest species in a few hours.
There are 61 Birds of Guinea-Bissau, ranging from the wetland-dependent African Darter to the widespread Yellow-billed Kite. For each species you’ll find below Scientific name, Status (resident/migrant; abundance), Main habitat & distribution — organized so you can scan identification, occurrence and where to look, and you’ll find below.
How was this list compiled and how current is it?
The list draws on national checklists, recent field surveys and major databases (field guides, BirdLife, eBird) to reflect verified records; it includes regular residents and migrants but check online databases or recent trip reports for the latest vagrants or status changes.
When and where are you most likely to see many of these species?
Coastal mangroves and estuaries (Bolama, Cacheu), inland rice paddies and seasonal wetlands are prime; waterbirds peak in the dry season while migrants concentrate in winter — visiting a mix of habitats on the same day gives the best chance to encounter a wide range.
Birds of Guinea-Bissau
| Common name | Scientific name | Status (resident/migrant; abundance) | Main habitat & distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| African Fish-Eagle | Haliaeetus vocifer | Resident; common | Coastal estuaries, rivers, Bijagós, mainland coast |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Migrant/visitor; uncommon | Coastal waters, Bijagós islands |
| Palm-nut Vulture | Gypohierax angolensis | Resident; uncommon | Mangroves, riverine palms, Bijagós |
| Hooded Vulture | Necrosyrtes monachus | Resident; uncommon to rare | Savanna, villages, near coast and Bijagós |
| White-backed Vulture | Gyps africanus | Resident; rare | Open savanna, inland plains |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Migrant; uncommon | Coastal waters, estuaries, Bijagós |
| Western Marsh Harrier | Circus aeruginosus | Migrant/resident; uncommon | Marshes, mangroves, seasonally flooded wetlands |
| African Harrier-Hawk | Polyboroides typus | Resident; uncommon | Woodland edges, savanna, villages |
| Common Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | Resident/migrant; common | Open savanna, farmland, coastal plains |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | Migratory/visitor; uncommon | Coastal cliffs, open coast, Bijagós |
| Pink-backed Pelican | Pelecanus rufescens | Resident; uncommon | Coastal lagoons, Bijagós, inland wetlands |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | Resident; common | Coasts, mangroves, marshes, Bijagós |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | Resident; common | Estuaries, marshes, mangroves, Bijagós |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | Resident; common | Savanna, farmland, wetlands, villages |
| Squacco Heron | Ardeola ralloides | Migratory/resident; common | Freshwater marshes, flooded grassland, mangroves |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | Resident; common | Mangroves, coastal lagoons, Bijagós |
| Striated Heron | Butorides striata | Resident; common | Mangroves, creeks, coastal pools, Bijagós |
| African Darter | Anhinga rufa | Resident; uncommon | Freshwater lagoons, mangroves, inland rivers |
| Spur-winged Goose | Plectropterus gambensis | Resident; uncommon | Freshwater marshes, flooded grassland, Bijagós lagoons |
| White-faced Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna viduata | Resident; common | Mangroves, lagoons, flooded grassland, Bijagós |
| Fulvous Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | Resident; uncommon | Freshwater marshes, seasonal pools, rice fields |
| Garganey | Spatula querquedula | Migratory; common in season | Freshwater marshes, flooded grasslands, Bijagós |
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | Migratory; uncommon | Coastal lagoons, mudflats, inland shallow pools |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus | Resident; common | Mudflats, coastal pools, marshes, Bijagós |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | Migratory; common on coast | Sandy shores, mudflats, Bijagós islands |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | Migratory; common on coast | Rocky shores, sandy beaches, Bijagós |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | Migratory; common on coast | Sandy beaches, tidal flats, Bijagós |
| Curlew Sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | Migratory; common seasonally | Mudflats, tidal lagoons, Bijagós |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | Migratory; common | Rocky shores, riverbanks, coastal pools |
| Greenshank | Tringa nebularia | Migratory; uncommon | Mudflats, lagoons, marshes, Bijagós |
| Common Redshank | Tringa totanus | Migratory; uncommon | Coastal marshes, mudflats, Bijagós |
| Black-tailed Godwit | Limosa limosa | Migratory; uncommon | Coastal mudflats, estuaries, Bijagós |
| Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | Resident/migrant; common | Sandy beaches, salt pans, Bijagós coast |
| Little Stint | Calidris minuta | Migratory; uncommon | Mudflats, flooded grasslands, Bijagós |
| Common Oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus | Vagrant/occasional; rare | Rocky shores, coastal islands, Bijagós |
| Pied Kingfisher | Ceryle rudis | Resident; common | Coastal estuaries, inland rivers, mangroves |
| Malachite Kingfisher | Corythornis cristatus | Resident; common | Freshwater pools, creeks, mangroves, Bijagós |
| Grey-headed Kingfisher | Halcyon leucocephala | Resident; uncommon | Woodland edges, savanna, riverine trees |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | Resident; common | Estuaries, rivers, marshes, Bijagós |
| African Spoonbill | Platalea alba | Resident; uncommon | Coastal lagoons, mangroves, Bijagós, shallow wetlands |
| Grey-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus | Resident; common | Coastal waters, mudflats, Bijagós islands |
| Royal Tern | Thalasseus maximus | Resident/migrant; common on coast | Open coast, sandy beaches, Bijagós |
| Sandwich Tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | Migratory; common seasonally | Coastal waters, islands, Bijagós |
| Yellow-billed Kite | Milvus aegyptius | Resident; common | Savanna, coastal plains, villages |
| White-throated Bee-eater | Merops albicollis | Resident; common | Savanna, wooded grassland, inland dunes |
| Little Bee-eater | Merops pusillus | Resident; common | Savanna, light woodland, near water |
| Village Weaver | Ploceus cucullatus | Resident; abundant | Savanna, villages, cultivated areas, wetlands |
| Hamerkop | Scopus umbretta | Resident; uncommon | Wetlands, river mouths, mangroves, Bijagós |
| African Jacana | Actophilornis africanus | Resident; common | Floating vegetation on lagoons, Bijagós, marshes |
| Western Reef-Heron | Egretta gularis | Resident; common on coast | Rocky shores, tidal flats, Bijagós islands |
| African Skimmer | Rynchops flavirostris | Resident; uncommon | Sandy islands, river mouths, Bijagós coast |
| Senegal Lapwing | Vanellus lugubris | Resident; common | Open grassland, wetlands, coastal plains |
| Rock Dove (feral/pigeon) | Columba livia | Resident; common in towns | Villages, towns, near ports |
| Fork-tailed Drongo | Dicrurus adsimilis | Resident; common | Woodland edges, savanna, villages |
| Senegal Parrot | Poicephalus senegalus | Resident; common | Savanna, woodland, palm groves, Bijagós |
| African Grey Parrot | Psittacus erithacus | Resident; rare | Gallery forest patches, riverine woodland |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | Resident; common | Small freshwater pools, lagoons, mangrove creeks |
| White-winged Tern | Chlidonias leucopterus | Migratory; uncommon | Freshwater marshes, flooded rice fields, Bijagós |
| African Wattled Plover | Vanellus senegallus | Resident; common | Swamps, flooded grassland, mangrove edges |
| Fork-tailed Swift | Apus pacificus | Migratory; uncommon passage | Open sky over coast and inland |
| Long-tailed Cormorant | Microcarbo africanus | Resident; common | Lagoons, estuaries, inland rivers, Bijagós |
Images and Descriptions
African Fish-Eagle
Large, crow-like eagle with white head and chestnut body; perches on mangroves and riverine trees, calls with loud descending whistle. Watch near estuaries and inland rivers where it feeds on fish and crabs year-round.
Osprey
Slim, white-and-dark raptor that hovers before plunging for fish. Seen seasonally along the Bijagós and mainland coast during migration and winter; distinctive croaking call and narrow wings help identification.
Palm-nut Vulture
Unusual vulture that eats palm fruit, crabs and carrion; pale head and dark body. Often found around palm groves and coastal wetlands, easy to spot perching conspicuously in tall palms.
Hooded Vulture
Small, slender vulture with hooded neck and pale bill; often seen scavenging around settlements and landfill sites. Populations are declining but still recorded across mainland and coastal habitats.
White-backed Vulture
Large, broad-winged vulture that soars over savanna looking for carcasses. Pale back and long neck; historically widespread but now rare due to declines. Seen occasionally inland away from dense forest.
Osprey
Hooked raptor with white underparts and dark eye stripe; hovers then dives feet-first for fish. Seasonal visitor along the Bijagós and coastal estuaries during migration, often alone or in pairs.
Western Marsh Harrier
Large harrier with long wings, male grey-brown and female mottled brown; quartering low over marshes hunting small birds, rodents, and frogs. Seen in wetlands during dry and wet seasons.
African Harrier-Hawk
Long-legged, flexible-clawed raptor that pries into nests and crevices. Grey upperparts, pale underparts and black tail bands; often seen moving through trees near villages and forest edges.
Common Kestrel
Small falcon often hovering above open country; brown spotted back with streaked underparts. Hunts small mammals and insects; one of the most visible raptors across mainland habitats.
Peregrine Falcon
Powerful falcon, dark hood and barred underparts, famed for stooping hunting. Occasional migrant or passage visitor along the coast and islands, seen hunting terns and pigeons.
Pink-backed Pelican
Smaller, graceful pelican with pinkish back and long bill pouch; fishes in groups by scooping shallow water. Found in coastal lagoons, mangroves and large inland wetlands, often in small flocks.
Little Egret
Slender white egret with black bill and yellow feet; active feeder in shallow water, foot-trembling to disturb prey. Widespread and conspicuous along the coast and wetlands year-round.
Great Egret
Tall white heron with long S-shaped neck and yellow bill; slow, deliberate stalking behaviour. Found in coastal lagoons and inland marshes, often alone or in small groups.
Cattle Egret
Stocky white egret often following livestock, yellow bill in breeding season with chestnut plumes. Extremely confiding species in grasslands and near human habitation, abundant across mainland.
Squacco Heron
Chunky heron with buff-brown upperparts and streaked neck; often freezes then darts for fish and insects. Common in wetlands and seasonally flooded areas, numbers rise in migration.
Black-crowned Night Heron
Stout, night-active heron with black crown and back, red eyes. Rests in trees by day and feeds at dusk in shallow water; noisy colonies often in mangrove stands.
Striated Heron
Small, compact heron with greenish back and streaked neck; waits patiently on mangrove roots for fish. Secretive but widespread along tidal creeks and coastal edges.
African Darter
Snake-like swimming bird that spears fish; dries wings perched with long thin neck and sharp bill. Found in quieter inland and coastal waters, often seen drying wings on exposed branches.
Spur-winged Goose
Large goose with black-and-white plumage and fleshy spur at wing bend. Feeds in shallow water and grasslands; locally fairly common where wetlands persist.
White-faced Whistling-Duck
Distinctive whistling duck with white face and dark body; forms noisy flocks on lagoons and ricefields. Easily seen across coastal wetlands and inland flooded areas in groups.
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Warm brown whistling-duck often in flocks on shallow water; distinctive whistling calls and long neck. Seen seasonally in inland marshes and rice paddies, sometimes near coast.
Garganey
Small dabbling duck with male’s striking pale crescent over eye in breeding plumage. Arrives as a Palearctic migrant in the non-breeding season, frequenting shallow freshwater wetlands.
Northern Pintail
Elegant duck with slender neck and long tail streamers in males; migrates from Eurasia to West African wetlands. Seen on larger coastal lagoons and seasonal pools during winter.
Black-winged Stilt
Long-legged, black-and-white wader with very long pink legs and slender bill. Walks boldly across shallow water picking invertebrates; abundant on coastal mudflats and lagoons.
Whimbrel
Large curlew with long, decurved bill and streaked head; scours exposed mudflats and sandy beaches in flocks during migration. Distinctive piping call heard over coastal feeding areas.
Ruddy Turnstone
Stout, short-legged shorebird with bold patterned plumage that flips stones and debris searching for invertebrates. Abundant on Bijagós beaches and rocky tidal zones in migration and winter.
Sanderling
Small, pale sandpiper that races with waves probing for crustaceans. Often seen in tight flocks at the water’s edge on sandy beaches, especially during migration and winter.
Curlew Sandpiper
Small to medium sandpiper with slightly downcurved bill; breeding plumage is rufous. Arrives in non-breeding season to feed on mudflats and tidal lagoons in large numbers.
Common Sandpiper
Small brown-and-white wader with distinctive bobbing motion and rapid wingbeat in flight. Widespread along coast and inland waters during migration and winter.
Greenshank
Tall, long-legged wader with slightly upturned bill and greenish legs. Slow probing feeder on mudflats and in shallow water, seen during migration and winter on coastal wetlands.
Common Redshank
Medium wader with noisy alarm calls and bright red legs; probes mud and runs along shorelines. Present in non-breeding season on tidal flats and lagoons.
Black-tailed Godwit
Large, long-billed wader with straight bill and striking flight silhouette. Feeds by probing on mudflats and sand; occurs in modest numbers during migration on coastal wetlands.
Kentish Plover
Small, pale plover with dark forehead patch in breeding males; runs and pecks on open sand and salt flats. Local breeder and migrant along the Bijagós and mainland beaches.
Little Stint
Very small, active sandpiper with fine bill and quick movements; breeding plumage shows rufous tones. Commonly occurs on coastal mudflats during migration and in winter in flocks with other small waders.
Common Oystercatcher
Bold black-and-white shorebird with bright orange bill used to pry shellfish; primarily a rare visitor to coastal islands and rocky points. Not regularly present but recorded on Bijagós.
Pied Kingfisher
Black-and-white hovering kingfisher that plunges for fish; often seen singly or in pairs and nests in riverbanks. A conspicuous bird of waterways across mainland and coastal sites.
Malachite Kingfisher
Tiny bright kingfisher with blue back and rufous chest; darts from perches to catch small fish. Frequently seen along sheltered creeks and freshwater edges around the Bijagós islands.
Grey-headed Kingfisher
Compact kingfisher with grey head and colorful body; perched quietly before sallies to catch insects and small reptiles. More often seen in woodland and savanna near water.
Grey Heron
Large grey heron with long neck and dagger bill; slow and deliberate hunter in shallow water. Widespread on the coast and inland wetlands, often solitary stalking fish and amphibians.
African Spoonbill
Large white wader with spatulate bill used for sweeping in shallow water; elegant slo-mo feeding motion. Found on larger coastal lagoons and seasonal wetlands, often in small groups.
Grey-headed Gull
Small gull with pale grey head in breeding season and dark eye; feeds on fish, invertebrates, and scraps along coast. Abundant around Bijagós islands and mainland shoreline year-round.
Royal Tern
Large tern with black cap and orange bill; plunges for fish and breeds on remote sandbanks. Common offshore and around island colonies, often seen in small to large flocks.
Sandwich Tern
Sleek tern with angular wings and black bill with pale tip; dives for small fish in coastal waters. Present seasonally and sometimes in large feeding flocks around the archipelago.
Yellow-billed Kite
Medium kite with forked tail and yellow bill; often seen perched on telephone wires and circling over towns. Opportunistic scavenger and predator, abundant across mainland and near coast.
White-throated Bee-eater
Colorful bee-eater with green body, white throat and rufous crown; nests in burrows and catches insects in flight. Very social, seen in small groups hunting over open habitats.
Little Bee-eater
Tiny, vivid bee-eater with green body and rufous throat; perches on low twigs before darting for flying insects. Frequent in savanna and cultivated areas, often in mixed-species flocks.
Village Weaver
Bright yellow male in breeding plumage weaves globular nests from grass near water or buildings. Social and noisy, common in towns, farmland and wetlands, easy to spot in breeding season.
Hamerkop
Medium, shaggy brown bird with weird hammerhead profile; builds enormous nests in trees. Forages in shallow water for fish, frogs and invertebrates, often solitary or in pairs.
African Jacana
Long-legged waterbird with enormous toes that walk on lily pads; chestnut back and black head. Locally common on vegetated freshwater pools and coastal lagoons.
Western Reef-Heron
Two color morphs—grey and white—this heron probes tidal pools and rocks for crabs and fish. Common on the Bijagós and mainland tidal zones, often in surprisingly close proximity to people.
African Skimmer
Striking tern-like bird with lower bill longer than upper, skimming water surface for fish; black cap and orange bill. Breeds on sandy islands and is a highlight for coastal birders.
Senegal Lapwing
Medium plover with loud alarm calls and patterned back; forages in open grass and damp ground. Widespread across savanna and around seasonal pools and rice fields.
Rock Dove (feral/pigeon)
Wild-derived domestic pigeon present around human settlements; variable plumage, often grey with iridescent neck. Common around ports and towns, sometimes feeding on coastal piers.
Fork-tailed Drongo
Glossy black songbird with forked tail and bold antics; mimics calls of other species and mob predators. Agile insect hunter, often perches conspicuously at woodland edges.
Senegal Parrot
Stocky parrot with green body and yellow breast patch; noisy flocks in palm groves and savanna. Common and conspicuous, often heard before seen in rural and village landscapes.
African Grey Parrot
Large grey parrot with red tail; highly vocal and intelligent. Historically recorded in forest patches and riverine corridors but now rare due to trapping and habitat loss.
Little Grebe
Tiny diving grebe with dark plumage and rounded profile; dives for fish and invertebrates, often seen in pairs. Found on small sheltered water bodies across the country.
White-winged Tern
Slender tern with black body and white wings in breeding plumage; hovers and snaps up insects. Occurs seasonally on inland flooded habitats and coastal lagoons during migration.
African Wattled Plover
Also called Senegal lapwing; prominent yellow facial wattles in some individuals, noisy and territorial. Common breeder in marshy areas and wet grasslands, often in small family groups.
Fork-tailed Swift
Fast, scythe-winged swift seen on migration; spends entire life airborne catching insects. Observed in passage over coastal and inland areas, especially during migration peaks.
Long-tailed Cormorant
Small cormorant with long tail and slender body; dries wings perched on logs. Hunts fish by diving; abundant on inland and coastal waters including Bijagós islands.
