Common Birds of Ethiopia

One of Africa's great ornithological mysteries — restricted to a tiny 10,000 km² area of thorny scrub near Yabello, its evolutionary origins remain poorly understood.

An Ethiopian endemic known from only a handful of locations around the Mega area — pure white underparts and tail base separate it instantly from other swallows.

The Blue-winged Goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera) is endemic to Ethiopian highlands — a chocolate-brown goose with brilliant powder-blue wing patches, grazing on montane meadows.

An Ethiopian endemic lapwing with bold black spotting on a white breast — found on open highland grasslands and montane meadows, often conspicuous and vocal.

Named for an Italian explorer who died hunting it — this rare turaco is restricted to a tiny area of southern Ethiopian juniper woodland.

A slate-grey endemic thrush found only in dense highland forest — sounds remarkably like a cat's mew, which gives the family its common name.

Africa's most powerful vulture — its huge bill can tear through hide and sinew that other vultures cannot penetrate, making it first at carcasses after hyenas.

An Ethiopian endemic with characteristic red wattles dangling from the chin — roosts communally in vast numbers in highland towns, filling the air with raucous calls at dusk.