ANGOLA TOUR REPORT 2025

6 - 24 August 2025

János Oláh

Angola is an amazingly diverse but much neglected country by birders! Due to the long civil war (1975-2002) it had a no-go reputation, and this is changing only very slowly. However, Birdquest has been running tours as soon as it was possible to go and things have changed a lot! We used to do an all-camping tour but not since 2014. Nowadays, it is a remarkably comfortable tour with decent accommodation and fairly good infrastructure throughout. Angola has many special birds, at the moment 15 recognised endemics (AviList) and we managed to see 13 of these: Grey-striped Spurfowl, Red-crested Turaco, Red-backed Mousebird, Braun’s and Gabela Bushshrikes, Gabela Helmetshrike, Pulitzer’s Longbill, Harter’s Camaroptera, Huambo Cisticola, Angolan Slaty Flycatcher, Gabela Akalat, Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird and Angola Waxbill. Luck was not always on our side and sadly Swierstra’s Francolin and Angola Greenbul remained heard-only despite our hard-work! We also had many other special birds which are near-endemic or simply not easy to see anywhere else. These goodies included Hartlaub’s Francolin, the local form of Naked-faced (Pale-throated) and Anchieta’s Barbet, Rüppel’s Parrot, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Angola Batis, White-fronted Wattle-eye, Monteiro’s Bushshrike, Yellow-throated Nicator, Angola Lark, Dusky Lark, Falkenstein’s and Pale-olive Greenbuls, Black-collared Bulbul, Black-and-rufous Swallow, Red-throated Cliff Swallow, Bates’s Paradise Flycatcher, Souza’s Shrike, Böhm’s Flycatcher, Miombo and Rufous-bellied Tits, the local form of Red-faced (Lepe) and Bubbling Cisticolas, Black-necked Eremomela, the local form of Southern Hyliota (Forest), Sharp-tailed Starling, the local form of Meve’s Starling (Benguela Long-tailed), Bocage’s Akalat, White-headed Robin-Chat, Angola Cave Chat, Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush, Miombo and Forest Scrub Robins, Bocage’s and Oustalet’s Sunbirds, Bocage’s Weaver, Golden-backed Bishop, White-collared Oliveback, Brown Twinspot, Dusky Indigobird, Brown Firefinch, the local forms of African (Landana) and Jameson’s (Ansorgei) Firefinches, Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah as well as Long-legged Pipit. Add to these special birds there were many spectacular species like Pennant-winged Nightjar, Böhm’s Spinetail, Great Blue Turaco, Ludwig’s Bustard, Gabon Coucal, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Egyptian Plover, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Black-casqued Hornbill, Black Bee-eater, Black-backed Barbet, African Broadbill, Gorgeous Bushshrike, African Spotted Creeper, Miombo Rock Thrush and Anchieta’s Sunbird to name but a few. Reading this impressive list, it is no doubt why Angola is a superb country to go birding! Our 2025 tour visited the Northern Scarp forest around Uige, the lovely Kalandula Falls and the surrounding miombo and gallery forests, the amazing Baobab woodland of Kissama National Park, the endemic-rich Central Scarp forest at Kumbira, the highlands around Mount Moco, the impressive Tundavala Escarpment and the coastal areas around Namibe and Benguela. Sadly, Mount Namba was not accessible on this tour, so we had no chance for Margaret’s Batis and Laura’s Woodland Warbler.

The tour started in Luanda but early morning we were on our way north. Our first stop was in a classic dry habitat with Baobabs near Caxito. The biggest concentration of baobab trees is found in the Kissama National Park south of the capital but there is similar habitat to the north as well. It was a great introduction to this special habitat, and we had a great time finding a singing pair of Monteiro’s Bushshrike, Angola Batis, Brown-backed Scrub Robin, Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush, White-fronted Wattle-eye, Hartert’s Camaroptera, Bubbling Cisticola and a party of Gabela Helmetshrikes. It was definitely a good start, and we happily pressed on to the north. We did reach the Dande River bridge by lunch and while munching on our sandwiches we did find the Forest Swallow type hirundines regularly seen here and which is most probably an undescribed taxon. Pete was the first one to see them on our tours back in 2022. The birds are regularly seen at this location ever since, but we also saw them at Damengola Forest later in the afternoon. They have a distinct pale cinnamon throat and upper breast and very different from Forest Swallow. We made it to the Damengola Forest by late afternoon and virtually the first bird we saw was the endemic and stunning Braun’s Bushshrike. What a treat! Other highlights for our short introductory birding here included Blue Malkoha, Black-casqued Hornbill, Pink-footed Puffback, Banded Prinia, Bate’s Paradise Flycatcher, Honeyguide Greenbul, Fraser’s Rufous Thrush and Grey-chinned Sunbird just to name a few of the goodies.

Our next full day was spent in Damengola Forest and we had many great birds in the northern scarp forest. The forest edge area gave us Marsh Tchagra (Anchieta’s), Western Black-headed Batis, Fan-tailed Grassbird, the handsome Black-collared Bulbul, Angola White-eye, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Compact Weaver, Dusky Indigobird, White-collared Oliveback and Brown Twinspots. The forest interior birds proved more skulking and regardless how hard we tried the Angola Greenbuls refused to budge. We did see shapes in the tangle but could never get them out for a proper look, hence they remained heard-only. Frustrating! Other tangle birds were easier like Yellow-throated Nicator, Yellow Longbill, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Rufous-crowned Eremomela and Green Hylia. Larger birds like Great Blue and Guinea Turaco showed well, as did Afep Pigeon and the often-tricky Western Bronze-naped Pigeon too. Woodpeckers and barbets were well represented with Hairy-breasted, Naked-faced and Bristle-nosed Barbets and Brown-eared, Green-backed and Yellow-crested Woodpeckers seen. The shy Gabon Coucal played hide-and-seek and only one person managed to see it, but the game was not over with this species! We also had a few more widely distributed birds like a fantastic African Emerald Cuckoo, Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, Buff-throated Apalis and Splendid Starling. A great day of forest birding with over 100 species seen. Next morning we made a visit to another forest patch nearer to Uige where we found Narrow-tailed Starling, African Blue Flycatcher and Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher and eventually we all got great looks of the ultra-shy Gabon Coucal. The rest of the day in our cars was spent heading towards Kalandula Falls. A short lunch break produced African Hobby, Chin-spot Batis, Orange-winged Pytilia and Golden-breasted Bunting. It was almost dusk when we arrived at our lodge overlooking the impressive Kalandula Falls, but we still managed a few photographs!

Everybody was excited as the next day was our first chance to see the White-headed Robin-Chat, one of those highly localised and very special birds Angola has on offer.  We drove to Kinjila village where we met with local bird guides and started to explore the riverine habitat in search of the robin chats. First, we found a Grey-winged Robin-Chat and in the first territory we heard the white-headed in a distance. A second territory gave some brief views for some of us, but still not satisfactory. A showy Brown-headed Apalis, a canopy-dwelling Brown Illadopsis, a few Sharp-tailed Starlings and a pair of Black-backed Barbets showed nicely. The endemic Red-crested Turacos were also elusive, mostly seen in flight only. In the late morning, we decided to explore another area slightly further away in a different part of the gallery forest. The longish walk was very productive however and we connected with a fantastic breeding plumaged Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah, a party of Pale-billed Hornbills, Brown Snake Eagle, stunning Black-collared Bulbul and Retz’s Helmetshrikes. Best of all were great looks of White-headed Robin-Chats as they were foraging under bushes and then skulking in the viny tangles. Unlike most other robin-chats they seem to be moving in small parties, they are very social like babblers. What an amazing bird! All very happy, we made our way back through great miombo woodland, but it was excruciatingly quiet. A daytime African Barred Owlet, some gorgeous Narina’s Trogons and White-breasted Cuckooshrike were seen.

We were back to this fantastic area for another day and this time it was more birdy! We tracked dawn a displaying African Broadbill, while a fantastic Thick-billed Cuckoo flew over. We worked our way through lots of sunbirds on the flowering trees and saw many Amethyst, Variable and Olive Sunbirds as well as many Green-headed Sunbirds. No matter how hard we tried to ‘turn them’ into Bannerman’s Sunbirds they were just not looking good, and we concluded they are all the Angolan blue-headed type of Green-headed Sunbirds. We came across another party of White-headed Robin-Chats and this time we could watch them as long as we wanted! Although the White-spotted Flufftail was not showing a fine Western Banded Snake Eagle was a great bonus! The miombo woodland was also much more productive today and we secured great look of the scarce Anchieta’s Barbet and a stunning male Anchieta’s Sunbird. While the supporting cast included Gorgeous Bushshrike, Whistling Cisticola, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Western Violet-backed Sunbird and Black-backed Barbet.

The following day we had an action-packed morning around Kalandula Falls with great looks of Red-necked Spurfowls, Little Sparrowhawk, Grey-headed Bushshrike, African Golden Oriole, Red-capped Crombec, Green-capped Eremomela and Arrow-marked Babbler. After a fine breakfast we left for a long drive towards Kissama National Park. And indeed, it was long and slow with lots of roadworks. It was very late afternoon when we arrived to the Baobab Forest and we tried our luck in the dry scrub but the endemic Grey-striped Spurfowl was heard-only for today. We finished the day with great looks of Square-tailed Nightjars. We were out very early the next morning as we were hoping to find this endemic chicken on the dirt tracks. And we did! One was cautiously walking along the road, and we managed to see it well. Our breakfast spot provided us with Gabela Helmetshrikes and singing Forest Scrub Robin while our morning walk in the Baobab Forest of Kissama NP produced a lot of birds like African Cuckoo-Hawk, Böhm”s and Mottled Spinetails, Red-backed Mousebird, Lesser Honeyguide, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Monteiro’s Bushshrike, White-fronted Wattle-eye, Pale-olive Greenbul and many non-breeding plumaged, but still distinctive, Golden-backed Bishops. The floodplain of the Kwanza River was less productive as there was no wildfowl around, but we did manage to see our prime target, a fantastic Egyptian Plover, as well as Giant Kingfisher, Blue-headed Coucal, Olive bee-eaters, Marsh Widowbirds, Black-and-white Mannikins and lots of queleas and weavers. We also had several Blue Monkeys – sadly we also had to save one from a snare trap – and a fine male Southern Talapoin Monkey.

Travelling through the Kissama National park the next morning we made a few more stops, but all the usual candidates were seen such as Gabela Helmetshrike, Angola Batis, Grey Waxbill, Holub’s Golden Weavers. Along the coastal road progress was slow and not many birding stops but Red-headed Finch, Lilac-breasted Roller, elegans race of the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill and Southern White-crowned Shrike were seen. Our lunch stop was by the papyrus swamp near Porto Amboim where we had some waterbirds for our list like Black Crake, Collared Pratincole, African Openbill and Yellow-billed Stork. As we climbed higher along the Central Escarpment we made a short stop at the Keve River bridge but there were no pratincoles, but we had great looks of African Black Ducks. We made it to the edge of the Kumbira Forest for the last bit of daylight and managed to track down the endemic Pulitzer’s Longbill. Our accommodation at Fazenda Rio Uiri was a magical island in the deforested landscape with great food! Our next day we were back to Kumbira Forest. We had several important birds to find, especially two endemics, the Gabela Bushshrike and the Gabela Akalat. Upon arrival we soon heard the bushshrike singing and made our way towards the singing bird. A pair of Gabela Akalats were seen in the process. When we first selected the location to try for the bushshrike little we knew how difficult it was going to be! Needless to say, the Gabela Bushsrike was not playing the game, so we changed location again and again, climbed steep hillsides and made all the tricks we could. Eventually one bird was enticed to view but sadly it stayed around only for a short while and not for everybody to see it. While waiting for the bushshrike at various thickets we had great looks of Forest Scrub Robin, Pale-olive Greenbul and more Gabela Akalats. It was a frustrating experience with this endemic bushshrike but as we have been trying for hours we decided to go and look for other birds. Kumbira Forest has many other goodies, and we managed to find Piping Hornbill, the local vernayi race of the Naked-faced Barbet sometimes called Pale-throated Barbet, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher, the local inornata race of the Southern Hyliota, Falkenstein’s Greenbul, Yellow-throated Nicator, Hartert’s Camaroptera and Carmelite Sunbird. Many good birds but we were still exhausted and disappointed not seeing the Gabela Bushshrike.

Next day was our earliest start of the tour as we were heading towards Mount Namba even though we were informed that access could be a problem as one of the main bridges was broken. We still decided to try and maybe walk several kilometers to reach the forest. Some of us saw Spotted Eagle Owl and a male Pennant-winged Nightjar on the road at night. By dawn we were within 20 kilometers of the site when we arrived at another bridge which was not passable safely, so our plan was blown. We cut our losses and spent the rest of the morning in dambo habitat along rivers and miombo woodland. Our target was the rare Brazza’s Martin so we checked many suitable places and many hirundines but the effort was to no avail. Only Pearl-breasted, White-throated, Grey-rumped and Lesser Striped Swallows were seen. In the process however we found a singing Dusky Lark, an amazing large lark species which is usually hard-to-come by. We were very happy to see this bird displaying in a recently burnt area with many flowers. Wow! African Marsh Harrier was cruising by, and we saw our first Coppery-tailed Coucals, Moustached Grass Warbler, White-winged Black Tit, and Grey Penduline Tit. After the early morning activity our attention turned towards the miombo woodland and in the next few hours we had one of the best miombo birding I have ever experienced! On our walk in this special habitat, we had superb views of Wahlberg’s Eagle, Anchieta’s Barbet, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Rufous-bellied and Miombo Tits, Black-necked and Green-capped Eremomelas, Neddicky, African Spotted Creeper, Miombo Scrub Robin, Western Miombo Sunbird, Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah, Wood Pipit and Golden -breasted Bunting. It was a strange day when nothing was going according to plan, but we still enjoyed a great day of birding!

With not giving up on a special bird so easily and we decided to return to Kumbira Forest! We were there by crack of dawn and explored some new areas in the hope of locating the Gabela Bushshrike. We covered a lot of great looking habitat, but there was no sign of the bushshrike. As it is often the case with persistence, eventually we found a freshly cleared area and at the top-end of it a Gabela Bushshrike was singing! It was not easy to climb the hill and make position, but it was well worth the effort as the Gabela Bushshrike came to the exact spot twice we were expecting it, so we got great looks of this devilish skulker! Albeit we left some birds behind this year in Kumbira Forest due to spending most of our precious time inside the bush looking for the endemic birds eventually we left the area with great memories! Our drive towards Mount Moco was long and we made several stops again (every single bridge) to look for the Brazza’s Martin but we could not find any. Perhaps we were slightly early? Not breeding yet? We did however get lucky and find a party of Brown Firefinches and also had superb looks of both Bocage’s Weaver and a stunning male Bocage’s Sunbird! A magical hour in perfect afternoon light with special birds!

Mount Moco is a fascinating area for special birds, and we had a full day to explore the area. Unfortunately, one day is short especially when we could not visit Mount Namba which has a similar selection of species. As is often the case in Angola with special habitats, not much is left of it. The accessible parts (without serious hiking) of the Mount Moco Afromontane forests are just disturbed and very fragmented. A great deal of conservation work has been done in this area (mountmoco.org) and hopefully in 20 years time the valley above Kanjonde will have more forest! We arrived early morning and explored the area above the village for most of the day. Despite being there very early morning there were no francolins calling and we only heard Swierstra’s Francolin once and far. Our first special birds were Angolan Lark and Oustalet’s Sunbird but as we climbed higher, we also found Grey Apalis, Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird, Buffy Pipit and the local form of Black-throated Wattle-eye. In the few standing trees and undergrowth, we had White-tailed Blue Flycatchers, Western Tinkerbird, the endemic Huambo Cisticola, Bocage’s Akalat, Bronze Sunbird, Thick-billed Seedeater, the endemic Angola Waxbill and the macclounii race of Black-backed Barbet. We also had Horus Swifts, the huambo race of Croaking Cisticola, the very localised Black-and-rufous Swallow and Wing-snapping Cisticola. A great day of birding! In the last hour of the day we made our way to another river bridge in the hope of the martins but very few hirundines were found, mostly Angola and Black-and-rufous Swallows.

Our last morning in the highlands near Mount Moco was spent in another miombo woodland. It was a productive morning with excellent looks of Schalow’s Turaco, African Cuckoo, Black-chested Snake Eagle, the local lepe form of Red-faced Cisticola, the local affinis form of Brubru, the local salvadorii form of Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Sooty Chats, Kurrichane Thrush as well as some top targets like Souza’s Shrike and Böhm’s Flycatcher! We even got excited by fast flying martins over the river but after our initial excitement they turned out to be Brown-throated Martins and not Brazza’s Martin. In the afternoon we made our way to the coast. Near Benguela we were out early next morning exploring fantastic rocky hill country for a different set of special birds. This area is very similar to Namibia, and the specialties were also similar. The first commoner birds like Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Carp’s Tit and Rosy-faced Lovebird showed up while we were having our field breakfast with coffee. Other goodies took some time to find but first we got good looks of the nominate form of Red-necked Spurfowl but eventually also tracked down a pair of Hartlaub’s Spurfowl with chicks. A party of Bare-faced Babblers performed but a large flock of Rüppell’s Parrots and the amazing White-tailed Shrike was also top experiences! We did see Klipspringer at this location which was probably our largest land mammal species seen on the entire tour. After the morning birding we made our way to the famous Tundavala Escarpment and we arrived before dusk just in time to admire the jaw-dropping scenery. There were lots of Alpine and Bradfield’s Swifts swirling around us and a Wailing Cisticola was hopping on the rocks.

We were back before dawn and found Freckled Nightjars and a Western Rock Sengi. It was a windy morning which is often the case at this site especially this time of the year, and it was not easy to hear the birds. Our main target, the endemic Swierstra’s Spurfowl was rather silent, but we kept trying in sheltered gorges without even hearing one. A fantastic pair of Angola Cave Chats showed up on steep rockface, and we had excellent looks of this localised specialty. As the morning was progressing our chances for the spurfowls were diminishing and we decided to walk to a forest patch below the escarpment to look for the local form of White-headed Barbet. On the way to the location, we had great views of Miombo Rock Thrush and a superb Grey-headed Bushshrike. It was a longish walk with very few birds in the heat of the day like Short-toed Rock Thrush, Tinkling Cisticola, Violet-eared Waxbill and Buffy Pipit. We spent some time looking down on the forest patch where the barbets live but we could not see any and we could not locate any fruiting trees. In the afternoon we birded the camping area but mostly spent our time in the spurfowl habitat, trying various locations. All in all, we did not even hear the spurfowls on our full day at all. We had some great birds but it was a disappointing day. We met other birders at the hotel who did hear the spurfowls, but they could not locate them. We decided to return for one more morning and sacrificing our precious morning time lower down the escarpment, but we felt we must try harder for the Swierstra’s Francolins! So still before dawn we were at a different gorge and after some waiting we heard the spurfowls calling down below us. We spent the next hours looking, scanning, listening but we could not find the birds. It was time to go so we left, but made one last stop at the main parking area where we heard another Swierstra’s Francolin. It did sound close and we knew this must be our best and last chance to find it! But the bird had different idea, and we never had a glimpse. Such as birding even if it was hurting! Our last birds in the Tundavala area were a noisy pair of Hartlaub’s Babblers and a pair of Striped Pipits.

In the afternoon we made our way to Namibe with various birding stops. It was a great afternoon with lots of birds. At the base of the escarpment, we saw many familiar birds which included many gorgeous White-tailed Shrikes, Red-faced Mousebirds, White-bellied and Purple-banded Sunbirds. As we were getting into progressively dryer habitat we saw Monteiro’s Hornbill, Mountain Chat, Kalahari Scrub Robin, Pririt Batis, Chestnut-vented Warbler and Dusky Sunbird. When we got to the real desert birds become scarce, but we had Tractrac Chat and Cape Sparrows. Around Namibe we had a look around the bay in the morning where Greater Crested Tern, Cape Cormorant and White-fronted Plovers were found. After breakfast we left for Benguela along the coast and on this all-day journey we had many birding stops. Still in the desert we found Spike-heeled and the benguela race of Karoo Long-billed Larks, Double-banded Courser, Tractrac and Karoo Chats, Acacia Pied Barbe. Other goodies along the way included Chestnut-banded Plover, Verreaux’s Eagle, Ludwig’s Bustard, Bokmakierie, Long-billed Crombec. Bare-cheeked Babbler, the benguela race of Meve’s Starling, Pale-winged Starling, Scaly-feathered Weaver and Great Sparrow. It was evening by the time we rolled into our seaside hotel in Lobito. On our last day we still had a fair drive to Luanda airport and as usual we left early. The papyrus swamp and the salt pans near Porto Amboim gave us a few new birds, like Purple Swamphen, Long-toed Lapwing, Kittlitz’s Plover and a few early arriving palearctic waders. Nearer to the capital we had a short lunch break by some mangroves where we had Mangrove Sunbird and a few Long-legged Pipits were seen on the lawn. For the last hour of the tour near the airport we did a little bit of sea-watching where West African Crested Tern and Humpback Whale were the best finds. There were a few painful dips on the tour, but best to remember for the amazing variety of goodies we did see! We even had a few unexpected birds and good and keen group! We must thank you our tireless drivers and guides both Stirling and Jeff for their hard work and great company! It was certainly an action-packed tour with many great memories!

BIRD OF THE TOUR

1st: White-headed Robin-Chat 30/5

2nd: Braun’s Bushshrike 30/4

3rd: Red-crested Turaco 26/3

4th: Gabela Bushshrike 20/3

5th: Bocage’s Sunbird 18/4

5th: Hartlaub’s Spurfowl 18/2

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follow Gill, F., Donsker, D., & Rasmussen, P.(Eds). 2025. IOC World Bird List (v15.1).

BIRDS

African Black Duck  Anas sparsa

Yellow-billed Duck  Anas undulata

Hartlaub’s Spurfowl ◊  Pternistis hartlaubi  Excellent looks of family with male, female and two chicks.

Swierstra’s Spurfowl ◊  Pternistis swierstrai  Endemic. Heard-only. Despite much effort, unlucky this year!

Grey-striped Spurfowl ◊  Pternistis griseostriatus  Endemic. Great looks in Kissama NP.

Red-necked Spurfowl  Pternistis afer  The cranchii race was seen near Calandula and the afer near Benguela.

Fiery-necked Nightjar  Caprimulgus pectoralis

Freckled Nightjar  Caprimulgus tristigma  Two of the lentiginosus race was seen at Tundavala.

Square-tailed Nightjar  Caprimulgus fossii  Excellent looks of the welwitschia race in Kissama NP.

Pennant-winged Nightjar  Caprimulgus vexillarius  Briefs looks of a fine male for some on the road.

Mottled Spinetail  Telacanthura ussheri  Great looks of the benguellensis race in Kissama NP.

Böhm’s Spinetail  Neafrapus boehmi

African Palm Swift  Cypsiurus parvus

Alpine Swift  Tachymarptis melba

Mottled Swift  Tachymarptis aequatorialis

Common Swift  Apus apus

Bradfield’s Swift ◊  Apus bradfieldi  Common in the Tundavala area.

Little Swift  Apus affinis

Horus Swift  Apus horus

White-rumped Swift  Apus caffer

Great Blue Turaco  Corythaeola cristata  Several great sightings in the Damengola Forest.

Grey Go-away-bird  Crinifer concolor

Ross’s Turaco  Tauraco rossae  Non-leader in the Kinjila area.

Red-crested Turaco ◊  Tauraco erythrolophus  Endemic. Seen at Kinjila, Kissama NP and Kumbira FR.

Guinea Turaco (Green T)  Tauraco persa

Schalow’s Turaco  Tauraco schalowi

Ludwig’s Bustard ◊  Neotis ludwigii  Great looks between Namibe and Benguela.

Gabon Coucal ◊  Centropus anselli  What a skulker! Great looks eventually near Uige.

Senegal Coucal  Centropus senegalensis

Blue-headed Coucal  Centropus monachus

Coppery-tailed Coucal  Centropus cupreicaudus  Common in the Mount Moco area.

White-browed Coucal  Centropus superciliosus  Several sightings of the loandae race.

Blue Malkoha  Ceuthmochares aereus  Good looks in Damengola Forest of the nominate race.

Thick-billed Cuckoo ◊  Pachycoccyx audeberti  One was seen in the Kinjila area. The validus race here.

Klaas’s Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx cupreus

Red-chested Cuckoo  Cuculus solitarius

African Cuckoo  Cuculus gularis

Rock Dove (introduced)  Columba [livia] var_domestica

Afep Pigeon ◊  Columba unicincta  Excellent looks in the Damengola Forest.

African Olive Pigeon  Columba arquatrix  Heard-only.

Western Bronze-naped Pigeon ◊  Columba iriditorques  It was great to find one in the Damengola Forest.

Mourning Collared Dove (African Mourning D)  Streptopelia decipiens

Red-eyed Dove  Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove  Streptopelia capicola

Laughing Dove  Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove  Turtur chalcospilos

Blue-spotted Wood Dove  Turtur afer

Tambourine Dove  Turtur tympanistria  Heard-only.

Namaqua Dove  Oena capensis

African Green Pigeon  Treron calvus 

White-spotted Flufftail  Sarothrura pulchra  Heard-only in the Kinjila area.

African Swamphen  Porphyrio madagascariensis

Black Crake  Zapornia flavirostra

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis

Greater Flamingo  Phoenicopterus roseus

Water Thick-knee  Burhinus vermiculatus

Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus

Pied Avocet  Recurvirostra avosetta

Long-toed Lapwing (L-t Plover)  Vanellus crassirostris

Blacksmith Lapwing (B Plover)  Vanellus armatus

Senegal Lapwing (S Plover)  Vanellus lugubris

African Wattled Lapwing  Vanellus senegallus

Kittlitz’s Plover  Anarhynchus pecuarius

Chestnut-banded Plover  Anarhynchus pallidus

White-fronted Plover  Anarhynchus marginatus

Egyptian Plover ◊  Pluvianus aegyptius  A singleton was seen in the Kissama NP. The river is being disturbed!

African Jacana  Actophilornis africanus

Eurasian Whimbrel  Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew  Numenius arquata

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos

Marsh Sandpiper  Tringa stagnatilis

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia

Ruddy Turnstone  Arenaria interpres

Curlew Sandpiper  Calidris ferruginea

Sanderling  Calidris alba

Dunlin  Calidris alpina

Little Stint  Calidris minuta

Double-banded Courser  Rhinoptilus africanus  Great looks of the bisignatus race near Namibe.

Collared Pratincole  Glareola pratincola

Caspian Tern  Hydroprogne caspia

Common Tern  Sterna hirundo

Sandwich Tern  Thalasseus sandvicensis

Greater Crested Tern  Thalasseus bergii  One was seen at Namibe, it was a write in for the tour.

West African Crested Tern ◊ (African Royal T)  Thalasseus albididorsalis

Kelp Gull (Cape G)  Larus [dominicanus] vetula

African Openbill  Anastomus lamelligerus

Yellow-billed Stork  Mycteria ibis

African Darter  Anhinga rufa

Reed Cormorant (Long-tailed C)  Microcarbo africanus

Cape Cormorant ◊  Phalacrocorax capensis  Just one was seen at Namibe.

Great Cormorant (White-breasted C)  Phalacrocorax [carbo] lucidus

African Sacred Ibis  Threskiornis aethiopicus

African Spoonbill  Platalea alba

Little Bittern  Botaurus minutus

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta

Little Heron  Butorides atricapilla

Squacco Heron  Ardeola ralloides

Great Egret  Ardea alba

Western Cattle Egret  Ardea ibis

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea

Black-headed Heron  Ardea melanocephala

Hamerkop  Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican  Pelecanus onocrotalus

Black-winged Kite  Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene)  Polyboroides typus

Palm-nut Vulture  Gypohierax angolensis

African Cuckoo-Hawk  Aviceda cuculoides  Excellent look in the baobab forest of Kissama NP, the batesi race.

Bateleur  Terathopius ecaudatus

Western Banded Snake Eagle  Circaetus cinerascens  One was seen in the Kinjila area.

Black-chested Snake Eagle  Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle  Circaetus cinereus

Long-crested Eagle  Lophaetus occipitalis

Wahlberg’s Eagle  Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Booted Eagle  Hieraaetus pennatus

Verreaux’s Eagle  Aquila verreauxii

Gabar Goshawk  Micronisus gabar

Dark Chanting Goshawk  Melierax metabates  The mechowi race was seen in miombo habitat.

Lizard Buzzard  Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Little Sparrowhawk  Tachyspiza minulla

African Marsh Harrier  Circus ranivorus

Yellow-billed Kite  Milvus aegyptius

African Fish Eagle  Icthyophaga vocifer

Red-necked Buzzard  Buteo auguralis  Several great looks.

Augur Buzzard  Buteo augur

Western Barn Owl  Tyto alba

Pearl-spotted Owlet  Glaucidium perlatum

African Barred Owlet ◊  Glaucidium capense  Daytime looks in the Kinjila area of the ngamiense race.

Spotted Eagle-Owl  Bubo africanus

Speckled Mousebird  Colius striatus

Red-backed Mousebird ◊  Colius castanotus  Endemic. Many excellent looks of this specialty.

Red-faced Mousebird  Urocolius indicus

Narina Trogon  Apaloderma narina  Excellent looks in the Kinjila area.

Eurasian Hoopoe (African H)  Upupa [epops] africana

Green Wood Hoopoe  Phoeniculus purpureus

Black Scimitarbill  Rhinopomastus aterrimus  A few sightings in the Kinjila area, the anchietae race.

Common Scimitarbill  Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Damara Red-billed Hornbill ◊  Tockus damarensis  Common in the Benguela area.

Monteiro’s Hornbill ◊  Tockus monteiri  Two were seen near Namibe.

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill  Tockus leucomelas  A few sightings of the endemic elegans race.

Crowned Hornbill  Lophoceros alboterminatus

Congo Pied Hornbill ◊  Lophoceros fasciatus  Common in the northern scarp forest.

Pale-billed Hornbill ◊  Lophoceros pallidirostris  A party of four were seen in the Kinjila area.

Piping Hornbill (Eastern Piping H)  Bycanistes [fistulator] sharpii 

Trumpeter Hornbill  Bycanistes bucinator

Black-casqued Hornbill (B-c Wattled H)  Ceratogymna atrata

Purple Roller (Rufous-crowned R)  Coracias naevius

Lilac-breasted Roller  Coracias caudatus

Broad-billed Roller  Eurystomus glaucurus

Grey-headed Kingfisher  Halcyon leucocephala

Brown-hooded Kingfisher  Halcyon albiventris

Striped Kingfisher  Halcyon chelicuti

Woodland Kingfisher  Halcyon senegalensis

African Pygmy Kingfisher  Ispidina picta

Malachite Kingfisher  Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher  Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher  Ceryle rudis

Black Bee-eater  Merops gularis  The australis race was seen in the Damengola Forest.

Little Bee-eater  Merops pusillus

Blue-breasted Bee-eater  Merops variegatus  Two were seen at the Calongue River.

White-fronted Bee-eater  Merops bullockoides

Olive Bee-eater  Merops superciliosus  The alternans race was obvious in the Kissama NP.

European Bee-eater  Merops apiaster

Bristle-nosed Barbet ◊  Gymnobucco peli  Several sightings in the Damengola Forest.

Naked-faced Barbet  Gymnobucco calvus

Naked-faced Barbet ◊ (Pale-throated B)  Gymnobucco [calvus] vernayi  Great looks in the Kumbira Forest.

Anchieta’s Barbet ◊  Stactolaema anchietae  Excellent sightings in the Kinjila area and near Cassongue.

Speckled Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus scolopaceus

Western Tinkerbird ◊ (W Green T)  Pogoniulus coryphaea  Highly disjunct angolensis seen at Mount Moco.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus bilineatus

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Hairy-breasted Barbet (Brown-streaked B)  Tricholaema [hirsuta] angolensis  Seen in Damengola and Kumbira.

Acacia Pied Barbet  Tricholaema leucomelas

Black-collared Barbet  Lybius torquatus

Black-backed Barbet ◊ (Brown-faced B)  Pogonornis minor  The minor race was seen at Kinjila, macclounii at Mount Moco.

Lesser Honeyguide  Indicator minor

Greater Honeyguide  Indicator indicator

Buff-spotted Woodpecker  Pardipicus nivosus

Brown-eared Woodpecker  Pardipicus caroli

Bennett’s Woodpecker ◊ (Capricorn W)  Campethera [bennettii] capricorni  One was seen by some near Benguela.

Golden-tailed Woodpecker  Campethera abingoni

Little Green Woodpecker (Green-backed W)  Campethera [maculosa] permista

Yellow-crested Woodpecker  Chloropicus xantholophus

Cardinal Woodpecker  Dendropicos fuscescens

Rock Kestrel  Falco rupicolus

African Hobby  Falco cuvierii

Lanner Falcon  Falco biarmicus

Red-fronted Parrot ◊  Poicephalus gulielmi  It was seen at Damengola Forest.

Meyer’s Parrot (Brown P)  Poicephalus meyeri

Rüppell’s Parrot ◊  Poicephalus rueppellii  A flock of 20 were seen near Benguela.

Rosy-faced Lovebird ◊  Agapornis roseicollis  Just two were seen near Benguela.

African Broadbill  Smithornis capensis  Excellent looks in the Kinjila area.

Chinspot Batis  Batis molitor  The pintoi race was seen a few times.

Pririt Batis ◊  Batis pririt  Several sightings. It was a surprise to see one near Caxito.

Western Black-headed Batis  Batis erlangeri  Two sightings in the Damengola Forest, congoensis race.

Angola Batis ◊  Batis minulla  Several great looks!

White-tailed Shrike ◊  Lanioturdus torquatus  Many great sightings in the Benguela and Namibe area.

Chestnut Wattle-eye  Platysteira castanea

Black-throated Wattle-eye  Platysteira peltata

White-fronted Wattle-eye ◊  Platysteira albifrons  First seen near Caxito and better looks in Kissama NP.

Monteiro’s Bushshrike ◊  Malaconotus monteiri  Excellent looks near Caxito and in Kissama NP.

Grey-headed Bushshrike  Malaconotus blanchoti

Bocage’s Bushshrike (Grey-green B)  Chlorophoneus bocagei  Super looks in the Damengola Forest.

Orange-breasted Bushshrike (Sulphur-b B)  Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Gorgeous Bushshrike  Telophorus viridis  What a bird! Excellent sighting in the Kinjila area.

Bokmakierie ◊  Telophorus zeylonus  One was seen on our drive from Namibe to Benguela.

Marsh Tchagra ◊ (Anchieta’s T)  Bocagia [minuta] anchietae  Excellent looks in the Damengola area.

Brown-crowned Tchagra  Tchagra australis  We saw the ansorgei and souzae races.

Black-crowned Tchagra  Tchagra senegalus

Pink-footed Puffback  Dryoscopus angolensis

Black-backed Puffback  Dryoscopus cubla

Braun’s Bushshrike ◊  Laniarius brauna  Endemic. Stunning looks of this stunning bird!

Gabela Bushshrike ◊  Laniarius amboimensis  Endemic. Hard work in Kumbira but eventually great looks!

Tropical Boubou  Laniarius major

Swamp Boubou ◊  Laniarius bicolor  Common.

Crimson-breasted Shrike  Laniarius atrococcineus

Brubru  Nilaus afer

White-crested Helmetshrike (White H)  Prionops plumatus

Retz’s Helmetshrike  Prionops retzii  A party of five were seen in the Kinjila area. This is the nigricans race.

Gabela Helmetshrike ◊  Prionops gabela  Endemic. Three excellent sightings on the tour!

Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher (Vanga F)  Bias musicus  One was seen in Damengola Forest.

White-breasted Cuckooshrike  Ceblepyris pectoralis  It was seen a few times in miombo habitat.

Black Cuckooshrike  Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole (Eastern B-h O)  Oriolus larvatus

Black-winged Oriole  Oriolus nigripennis  Several good looks in Damengola and Kumbira Forests.

African Golden Oriole  Oriolus auratus  Excellent views in the Capacata area.

Velvet-mantled Drongo  Dicrurus modestus  The coracinus race was seen in Damengola Forest.

Fork-tailed Drongo  Dicrurus adsimilis

Square-tailed Drongo  Dicrurus ludwigii

Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher ◊  Terpsiphone rufocinerea  Several sightings in Damengola and Kumbira.

Bates’s Paradise Flycatcher ◊  Terpsiphone batesi  The bannermanni race was seen in the Damengola Forest.

African Paradise Flycatcher  Terpsiphone viridis

Southern White-crowned Shrike  Eurocephalus anguitimens

Northern Fiscal  Lanius humeralis

Souza’s Shrike ◊  Lanius souzae  One was seen very well in the Capacata area.

Southern Fiscal  Lanius collaris

Cape Crow (C Rook)  Corvus capensis

Pied Crow  Corvus albus

African Blue Flycatcher  Elminia longicauda

White-tailed Blue Flycatcher ◊  Elminia albicauda  Several seen well in the Mount Moco area.

White-winged Black Tit  Melaniparus leucomelas

Carp’s Tit ◊  Melaniparus carpi  Two sightings in the Benguella area.

Rufous-bellied Tit ◊  Melaniparus rufiventris  The nominate race was seen very well in the Cassongue area.

Miombo Tit ◊  Melaniparus griseiventris  A singleton was seen very well in the Cassongue area.

Grey Penduline Tit  Anthoscopus caroli  The ansorgei race was seen.

Yellow-throated Nicator ◊  Nicator vireo  Excellent looks in Damengola and Kumbira Forests.

Dusky Lark ◊  Pinarocorys nigricans  One of the tour highlights to see a displaying bird near Cassongue!

Spike-heeled Lark  Chersomanes albofasciata

Karoo Long-billed Lark (Benguela  Lb L)  ◊  Certhilauda benguelensis  Excellent looks near Namibe.

Sabota Lark ◊  Calendulauda sabota  Seen well on our way back to Benguela, ansorgei race.

Angola Lark ◊  Amirafra angolensis  Endemic. Excellent looks in the highlands near Mount Moco.

Rufous-naped Lark  Corypha africana  Two were seen at Tundavala, the occidentalis race.

Red-capped Lark  Calandrella cinerea

Slender-billed Greenbul  Stelgidillas gracilirostris

Black-collared Bulbul ◊  Neolestes torquatus  Beautiful bird. Best views were in the Damengola Forest.

Pale-throated Greenbul  Atimastillas flavigula

Falkenstein’s Greenbul ◊ (Yellow-necked G)  Chlorocichla falkensteini  Common in the Kumbira Forest.

Yellow-bellied Greenbul  Chlorocichla flaviventris

Honeyguide Greenbul  Baeopogon indicator

Little Greenbul  Eurillas virens

Yellow-whiskered Greenbul  Eurillas latirostris

Angola Greenbul ◊  Phyllastrephus viridiceps  Despite much effort it remained heard-only. Fleeting glimpses.

Cabanis’s Greenbul  Phyllastrephus cabanisi

Pale-olive Greenbul ◊  Phyllastrephus fulviventris  Good looks in Kissama NP and Kumbira Forest.

African Red-eyed Bulbul  Pycnonotus nigricans

Common Bulbul (Dark-capped B)  Pycnonotus [barbatus] tricolor

Black Saw-wing  Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Grey-rumped Swallow  Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Banded Martin  Neophedina cincta

Brown-throated Martin  Riparia paludicola 

Large Rock Martin  Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Black-and-rufous Swallow ◊  Hirundo nigrorufa  Good looks in the highlands near Mount Moco.

Pearl-breasted Swallow  Hirundo dimidiata

Angola Swallow  Hirundo angolensis

White-throated Swallow ◊  Hirundo albigularis  Good looks near Kinjila and Cassongue.

Wire-tailed Swallow  Hirundo smithii

Forest Swallow type ◊ (undescribed form)  Atronanus sp. nov?  Good views at the Dande River and Damengola.

Lesser Striped Swallow  Cecropis abyssinica

Red-throated Cliff Swallow ◊  Petrochelidon rufigula  Best looks were near Kinjila.

Moustached Grass Warbler (African M W)  Melocichla mentalis

Rockrunner ◊  Achaetops pycnopygius  Heard-only at Tundavala.

Yellow Longbill  Macrosphenus flavicans  Excellent looks in the Damengola Forest.

Pulitzer’s Longbill ◊  Macrosphenus pulitzeri  Endemic. Good views in the Kumbira Forest.

Long-billed Crombec  Sylvietta rufescens

Red-capped Crombec  Sylvietta ruficapilla  Two were seen near Calandula Falls.

Green Crombec  Sylvietta virens

Green Hylia  Hylia prasina

Tit Hylia  Pholidornis rushiae  Non-leader in Damengola Forest.

Fan-tailed Grassbird  Catriscus brevirostris

Red-faced Cisticola ◊ (Lepe C)  Cisticola [erythrops] lepe  Two were seen near Mount Moco.

Whistling Cisticola  Cisticola lateralis

Bubbling Cisticola ◊  Cisticola bulliens  Regularly seen.

Huambo Cisticola ◊  Cisticola bailunduensis  Endemic. One was seen very well at Mount Moco.

Rattling Cisticola  Cisticola chiniana

Tinkling Cisticola ◊ (Grey C)  Cisticola rufilatus  Good views at Tundavala.

Grey-backed Cisticola ◊  Cisticola subruficapilla

Wailing Cisticola ◊  Cisticola lais  The endemic namba race was seen well at Tundavala.

Chirping Cisticola ◊  Cisticola pipiens  Several sightings of the nominate race in wetland habitat.

Croaking Cisticola  Cisticola natalensis  The endemic huambo race was seen well at Mount Moco.

Short-winged Cisticola (Siffling C)  Cisticola brachypterus  The loanda race was common on the tour.

Neddicky (Piping Cisticola)  Cisticola fulvicapilla  The dispar race was seen in miombo habitat.

Wing-snapping Cisticola  Cisticola ayresii

Tawny-flanked Prinia  Prinia subflava

Banded Prinia  Prinia bairdii

Buff-throated Apalis  Apalis rufogularis

Grey Apalis  Apalis cinerea

Brown-headed Apalis ◊  Apalis alticola  Superb looks in the riverine forest of Kinjila.

Grey-backed Camaroptera  Camaroptera brevicaudata

Hartert’s Camaroptera ◊ (Green-tailed C)  Camaroptera harterti  Endemic. Many good looks

Yellow-browed Camaroptera  Camaroptera superciliaris  Smart looking little bird seen well in the Uige area.

Miombo Wren-Warbler ◊ (Pale W-W)  Calamonastes undosus  Repeated good views in miombo habitat.

Yellow-bellied Eremomela  Eremomela icteropygialis

Yellow-bellied Eremomela ◊ (Salvadori’s E)  Eremomela [icteropygialis] salvadorii  Two seen near Capacata.

Green-capped Eremomela  Eremomela scotops

Rufous-crowned Eremomela  Eremomela badiceps

Black-necked Eremomela ◊  Eremomela atricollis  Excellent looks of this miombo specialty.

Chestnut-vented Warbler ◊  Curruca subcoerulea  Two sightings near Namibe.

Angola White-eye ◊  Zosterops kasaicus  The heinrichi race was seen in Damengola and quanzae at Moco.

Southern Yellow White-eye  Zosterops anderssoni

Brown Illadopsis  Illadopsis fulvescens  The endemic dilutior race was seen at Kinjila.

Arrow-marked Babbler  Turdoides jardineii

Bare-cheeked Babbler ◊  Turdoides gymnogenys  Nominate was seen well around Benguela.

Hartlaub’s Babbler ◊  Turdoides hartlaubii  Nominate was seen well at Tundavala.

Yellow-bellied Hyliota  Hyliota flavigaster

Southern Hyliota  Hyliota australis  The distinctive inornata race was seen well in Kumbira Forest.

African Spotted Creeper  Salpornis salvadori  One was seen in miombo habitat.

Wattled Starling  Creatophora cinerea

Cape Starling (C Glossy S)  Lamprotornis nitens

Splendid Starling (S Glossy S)  Lamprotornis splendidus

Meves’s Starling ◊  Lamprotornis mevesii  The benguelensis race was seen near Benguela.

Sharp-tailed Starling ◊  Lamprotornis acuticaudus  Several great looks in the Kinjila area.

Violet-backed Starling  Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Chestnut-winged Starling  Onychognathus fulgidus

Pale-winged Starling ◊  Onychognathus nabouroup  Just two were seen on our way from Namibe to Benguela.

Narrow-tailed Starling  Poeoptera lugubris  Good looks in the Uige area.

Yellow-billed Oxpecker  Buphagus africanus

Fraser’s Rufous Thrush (R Flycatcher T)  Stizorhina fraseri  Seen well in the Damengola Forest, rubicunda race.

African Thrush  Turdus pelios

Kurrichane Thrush  Turdus libonyana

Forest Scrub Robin ◊  Tychaedon leucosticte  Two excellent sightings of the reichenowi race in Kissana NP and Kumbira Forest.

Miombo Scrub Robin ◊  Tychaedon barbata  One was seen near Cassongue and one at Capacata.

Kalahari Scrub Robin ◊  Cercotrichas paena  A few in the Namibe area, benguellensis race.

Brown-backed Scrub Robin  Cercotrichas hartlaubi  First seen at Caxito and also at Damengola Forest.

White-browed Scrub Robin  Cercotrichas leucophrys  The munda and ovamboensis races were seen.

Pale Flycatcher  Agricola pallidus

Chat Flycatcher  Agricola infuscatus  The benguellensis race was seen a few times.

Grey Tit-Flycatcher (Lead-coloured F)  Fraseria plumbea

Ashy Flycatcher  Fraseria caerulescens 

Angola Slaty Flycatcher ◊  Melaenornis brunneus  Frustratingly only a few people saw it despite hard work!

Dusky-blue Flycatcher  Bradornis comitatus

Böhm’s Flycatcher ◊  Myopornis boehmi  A pair was seen very well near Capacata.

Cassin’s Flycatcher  Muscicapa cassini

Brown-chested Alethe  Chamaetylas poliocephala  Heard-only.

White-browed Robin-Chat  Cossypha heuglini

White-headed Robin-Chat ◊  Cossypha heinrichi  Eventually absolutely amazing looks in the Kinjila area.

Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush ◊  Cichladusa ruficauda  Several good looks of this specialty.

Angola Cave Chat ◊  Xenocopsychus ansorgei  Three were seen in the Tundavala area.

Bocage’s Akalat ◊  Sheppardia bocagei  Just one was seen at Mount Moco.

Gabela Akalat ◊  Sheppardia gabela  Endemic. Four were seen in the Kumbira Forest.

Grey-winged Robin-Chat  Sheppardia polioptera

Short-toed Rock Thrush ◊  Monticola brevipes  Several sightings on the tour.

Miombo Rock Thrush ◊  Monticola angolensis  A pair was seen at Tundavala.

African Stonechat  Saxicola torquatus

Karoo Chat ◊  Emarginata schlegelii  A few seen on the Namibe to Benguela drive.

Tractrac Chat ◊  Emarginata trictrac  A few seen on the Namibe to Benguela drive.

Mountain Chat ◊  Myrmecocichla monticola  A few around Namibe.

Sooty Chat  Myrmecocichla nigra

Capped Wheatear  Oenanthe pileata

Familiar Chat  Oenanthe familiaris

Anchieta’s Sunbird ◊  Anthreptes anchietae  A fantastic male was seen in the Kinjila area.

Mangrove Sunbird ◊  Anthreptes gabonicus  One was seen at Mangais.

Western Violet-backed Sunbird  Anthreptes longuemarei

Little Green Sunbird  Anthreptes seimundi

Grey-chinned Sunbird (Green S)  Anthreptes tephrolaemus

Collared Sunbird  Hedydipna collaris

Green-headed Sunbird  Cyanomitra verticalis

Blue-throated Brown Sunbird  Cyanomitra cyanolaema

Olive Sunbird  Cyanomitra olivacea

Carmelite Sunbird ◊  Chalcomitra fuliginosa

Amethyst Sunbird  Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird  Chalcomitra senegalensis

Bocage’s Sunbird ◊  Nectarinia bocagii  A superb male was seen in the best light with full tail stremaers!

Bronze Sunbird (Bronze S)  Nectarinia kilimensis

Olive-bellied Sunbird  Cinnyris chloropygius

Western Miombo Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris gertrudis  One was seen near Cassongue.

Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris ludovicensis  Many good looks at Mount Moco and Tundavala.

Purple-banded Sunbird  Cinnyris bifasciatus

Orange-tufted Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris bouvieri  A single male at Damengola Forest.

Superb Sunbird  Cinnyris superbus  Best looks in the northern carp forests.

Oustalet’s Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris oustaleti  A few seen well at Mount Moco.

White-bellied Sunbird  Cinnyris talatala

Variable Sunbird  Cinnyris venustus

Dusky Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris fuscus  Several around Namibe.

Copper Sunbird  Cinnyris cupreus

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow  Gymnoris superciliaris

Cape Sparrow ◊  Passer melanurus  Many seen in the Namibe area.

Great Sparrow ◊  Passer motitensis  A few were seen on our drive from Namibe to Benguela, benguellensis race.

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow  Passer griseus

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow  Passer diffusus

House Sparrow (introduced)  Passer domesticus

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver  Bubalornis niger

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver  Plocepasser mahali

Scaly-feathered Weaver ◊  Sporopipes squamifrons  Just a few seen on our way from Namibe to Benguela.

Thick-billed Weaver (Grosbeak W)  Amblyospiza albifrons

Spectacled Weaver  Ploceus ocularis

Black-necked Weaver  Ploceus nigricollis

Bocage’s Weaver ◊  Ploceus temporalis  Absolutely brilliant looks of a single individual.

Holub’s Golden Weaver  Ploceus xanthops

Lesser Masked Weaver  Ploceus intermedius

Southern Masked Weaver  Ploceus velatus

Village Weaver  Ploceus cucullatus

Vieillot’s Black Weaver  Ploceus nigerrimus  Common in the Damengola Forest.

Yellow-mantled Weaver  Ploceus tricolor  Several in the Damengola Forest.

Compact Weaver  Ploceus superciliosus  Seven were seen in the Damengola Forest.

Dark-backed Weaver (Forest W)  Ploceus bicolor

Red-headed Malimbe  Malimbus rubricollis

Red-headed Weaver  Anaplectes rubriceps

Red-billed Quelea  Quelea quelea

Golden-backed Bishop ◊  Euplectes aureus  Non-breeding birds were seen at Kissama NP. Distinctive!

Yellow Bishop  Euplectes capensis  A few were seen, the endemic angolensis race.

Fan-tailed Widowbird  Euplectes axillaris

Yellow-mantled Widowbird  Euplectes macroura

Marsh Widowbird  Euplectes hartlaubi

White-winged Widowbird  Euplectes albonotatus

Bronze Mannikin  Spermestes cucullata

Black-and-white Mannikin  Spermestes bicolor

White-collared Oliveback ◊  Nesocharis ansorgei  We had good prolonged looks of one at Damengola Forest.

Angola Waxbill ◊  Coccopygia bocagei  Just four were seen at Mount Moco.

White-breasted Nigrita (W-b Negrofinch)  Nigrita fusconotus

Grey-headed Nigrita (G-h Negrofinch)  Nigrita canicapillus

Grey Waxbill ◊ (Black-tailed W)  Glaucestrilda perreini  Several excellent looks on the tour.

Orange-cheeked Waxbill  Estrilda melpoda

Fawn-breasted Waxbill  Estrilda paludicola

Common Waxbill  Estrilda astrild

Red-headed Finch ◊  Amadina erythrocephala  Four were seen along the coast.

Orange-breasted Waxbill (Zebra W)  Amandava subflava

Violet-eared Waxbill  Granatina granatina

Blue Waxbill  Uraeginthus angolensis

Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch)  Pytilia melba

Orange-winged Pytilia ◊  Pytilia afra  Two sightings on the tour with excellent scope looks!

Brown Twinspot ◊  Clytospiza monteiri  Two were seen in Damengola Forest.

Red-billed Firefinch  Lagonosticta senegala

African Firefinch ◊ (Pale-billed F, Landana F)  Lagonosticta [rubricata] landanae  Regular sightings.

Jameson’s Firefinch  Lagonosticta [rhodopareia] ansorgei  It was seen at Tundavala.

Brown Firefinch  Lagonosticta nitidula

Dusky Indigobird ◊  Vidua funerea  A party of four were seen in Damengola Forest.

Pin-tailed Whydah  Vidua macroura

Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah ◊  Vidua obtusa  Breeding plumaged males ware seen at Kinjila and Cassangue. Special!

African Pied Wagtail  Motacilla aguimp

African Pipit (Grassland P)  Anthus cinnamomeus

Wood Pipit ◊  Anthus nyassae  Our best sighting was at Capacata.

Buffy Pipit  Anthus vaalensis  The neumanni race was seen a few times.

Plain-backed Pipit  Anthus leucophrys  The bohndorffi race was seen in the highlands.

Long-legged Pipit ◊  Anthus pallidiventris  A few were seen in the Luanda area on the coast.

Striped Pipit  Anthus lineiventris  A pair was seen at Tundavala.

Black-throated Canary  Crithagra atrogularis

Yellow-fronted Canary  Crithagra mozambica

Brimstone Canary  Crithagra sulphurata

Yellow Canary  Crithagra flaviventris  Two were seen in the Tundavala area, damarensis race.

White-throated Canary  Crithagra albogularis

Thick-billed Seedeater  Crithagra burtoni

Streaky-headed Seedeater Crithagra gularis  One was seen by some in the miombo, benguellensis race.

Golden-breasted Bunting  Emberiza flaviventris

MAMMALS

Bush Hyrax  Heterohyrax brucei

Rock Hyrax  Procavia capensis

Bushveld Sengi  Elephantulus intufi

Western Rock Sengi  Elephantulus rupestris

Common Dwarf Mongoose  Helogale parvula  Three were seen at the Tundavala Escarpment.

Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus 

Humpback Whale  Megaptera novaeangliae  One was seen in the Mussolo Bay near Luanda.

Lesser Epauletted Fruit Bat  Epomophorus pusillus

Angolan Soft-furred Fruit Bat  Lissonycteris angolensis

Blue Monkey  Cercopithecus mitis

Malbrouck Monkey  Chlorocebus cynosuros

Southern Talapoin Monkey  Miopithecus talapoin

Kinda Baboon  Papio kindae

African Savanna Hare  Lepus victoriae

Greater Cane Rat (Marsh C R)  Thryonomys swinderianus

Congo Rope Squirrel  Funisciurus congicus

Gambian Sun Squirrel  Heliosciurus gambianus