This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The avifauna of the Democratic Republic of Congo include a total of 1188 species, of which twenty-one are endemic, and one has been introduced by humans. This country has the greatest avian biodiversity of any African country.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (E) Endemic - a species endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Democratic Republic of Congo as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus
Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos
Hartlaub's duck, Pteronetta hartlaubii
Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca
Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis
African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus
Garganey, Spatula querquedula
Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota
Cape shoveler, Spatula smithii (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) African black duck, Anas sparsa Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata Cape teal, Anas capensis (A) Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (A) Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A) Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa
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 4 species which occur in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris
Black guineafowl, Agelastes niger
Plumed guineafowl, Guttera plumifera
Western crested guineafowl, Guttera verreauxi
New World quail
Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus
Nahan's francolin, Ptilopachus nahani
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Congo peacock, Afropavo congensis (E) Latham's francolin, Peliperdix lathami Crested francolin, Ortygornis sephaena Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui White-throated francolin, Campocolinus albogularis Red-winged francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii Finsch's francolin, Scleroptila finschi Shelley's francolin, Scleroptila shelleyi Whyte's francolin, Scleroptila whytei Blue quail, Synoicus adansonii Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei Handsome francolin, Pternistis nobilis Hildebrandt's francolin, Pternistis hildebrandti Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus Heuglin's francolin, Pternistis icterorhynchus Red-necked spurfowl, Pternistis afer
Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. 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, uniquely, are used upside-down.