Checklist of the birds
of Congo
By Tommy Pedersen
This checklist covers the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre).
Total species observed in the D.R.C. is 1.140, as of February 14th 2005 with
Chiffchaff and Mountain Pipit Anthus hoeschi being the most recent additions.
The systematic follows mainly "Checklist of African Birds" published by the African Bird Club 2004.
I started this checklist during my stay in Congo. The status of each species is subjective and in need of further research. I have none the less included the relative status as a possible aid to birders visiting the area.
The description of subspecies follows
mostly Keith,
Urban & Fry; The Birds of Africa, Vol. 1 - 7, and Clements; Birds of the World
- A
Checklist (2000, online updates through 2004).
I am much indebted to P. Herroelen, R.J. Dowsett and R. Demey for their
valuable help in making this checklist as complete as it is.
Non-passeriformes
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL Oceanites oceanicus oceanicus - Occurs as a rare to
uncommon non-breeding visitor to the coast.
LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis capensis - Fairly common all Congo.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus infuscatus - Very rare in the Lake Kivu area
to south Lake Edward. Have been recorded in south-east Shaba in Kamina.
CAPE GANNET Morus capensis - One observation known from the coast in November
1973; appx. 40 immatures passing at sea. Should be a regular visitor here.
GREAT CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus - Common from Lake Tanganyika to
Lake Albert. Might occur in the Shaba region.
LONG-TAILED CORMORANT Phalacrocorax africanus africanus - Locally common all Congo.
Several thousands seen in Lake Upemba in the Shaba region.
AFRICAN DARTER Anhinga rufa rufa - Found locally in all Congo, but not common.
GREAT WHITE PELICAN Pelecanus onocrotalus - Common non-breeding resident at Lake
Edward. Occurs also in west Congo, possibly also Shaba.
PINK-BACKED PELICAN Pelecanus rufescens - Fairly common all Congo. Breeds at Lake
Edward.
GREAT BITTERN Botaurus stellaris stellaris - Very rare winter visitor; one
female Equateur region in Oct., one Tshuapa in Dec. Also recorded extreme ne. Congo.
If you would like a copy of
this checklist in Microsoft Word format (620 kb in size, complete with a map), please write a
request in my guestbook, and I will email you
the checklist as an e-mail attachment.
Recent confirmations:
Gadwall Anas strepera - Said to
occur as a vagrant to Congo, not confirmed. Now confirmed once in the Ubangi district,
west Congo in 1957.
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa
lapponica lapponica - Might occur as an uncommon passage migrant along the coast.
Now confirmed with two seen at the coast between Moanda and Banana, November 10, 1990.
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
- Might occur as an uncommon passage migrant along the coast. Now confirmed, Prigogine
1979, Gerfaut 69:503-505.
Black Tern Chlidonias niger niger
- Might occur as an uncommon passage migrant along the coast. Now confirmed, with one
adult collected the 17. September 1955 in south-east Tshuapa, misidentified among
White-winged Terns in the museum.
Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter
brevipes - Said to be recorded in the extreme north-eastern Congo, but not
confirmed. Now confirmed with one specimen collected near the Garamba National Park in
1955.
Black-chinned Weaver Ploceus
nigrimentum - Said to occur in west Congo. Now confirmed as occuring in west
Congo, at Bombo-Lumene Game Reserve, Bateke Plateau close to Kinshasa.