Birding Factoids

971 species
in 75 families
8 endemic species
8 speciality birds
16 endangered species

Angola
Hotspots

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Angola Specialities Red-billed Francolin - Photo copyright Peter Nilssen

Photo copyright Peter Nilssen

Rueppell's Vulture - Photo copyright Naoto Noda

Photo copyright Naoto Noda

Bradfeild's Hornbill - Photo copyright John Milbank

Photo copyright John Milbank

.. ."Angola boasts a fine selection of birds, including plenty of endemics

and near-endemics. However, the lengthy civil war devastated the country and it is depressing to think what toll has probably been taken of the habitats and birds in the process. The best birding places are still likely to be:

Amboin - Remnant forest along the west Angolan escarpment, from Dondo south to Quilengues, used to support some very special species, including the following endemics: Grey-striped Francolin, Gabela Bush-shrike, Angola Helmetshrike, White-fronted Wattle-eye, Gabela Akalat, and Pulitzer's Longbill. The best forest used to be just north of Gabela.
Bailundu Highlands - inland from the Angola escarpment, remnant forest patches may still be present which contain the endemic Sweirstra's Francolin.
Kangandala National Park - southeast of Malanje, and the area around N'gola, is covered by Miombo woodland.

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.. From in Where to Watch Birds in Africa - by Nigel Wheatley.

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.....Trip Report: Angola, October 2001 - By Mike Pope. I have

returned from a weeks business trip in Luanda, where I managed to get in some informal birding in the City. It was recommended by the locals that I dealt with that travelling anywhere outside of the city was not safe - so that was a disappointment.

Factoids taken from Where to Watch Birds in Africa - by Nigel Wheatley.

Tours and Guides

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Photo copyright Graham Cooke

Eco-Lodges

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Endemics and Specialities

in Angola

Information on endemics and specialities is derived from Sibley & Monroe checklists and bird distribution lists in Thayer's Birder's Diary - Version 2.05, supplemented by material found in Where to Watch Birds in Africa - by Nigel Wheatley. African speciality birds, while not endemic, are those that can only be found in three or less countries of Africa. Information on endangered birds is derived from the IUCN Red List, Birdlife International. The endemic, endangered and speciality birds may be uncommon, extremely rare vagrants, may be extirpated in the country now or may only be present in migration. However, documented sightings of each species noted below have been made in Angola.

Endemics in Angola
___ Angola Cave-Chat ___ Angola Helmet-shrike ___ Angola Slaty-Flycatcher ___ Gabela Akalat	___ Grey-striped Francolin ___ Montane Double-collared ___ Sunbird	___ Pulitzer's Longbill ___ Swierstra's Francolin

Endangered Birds in Angola (endemics are printed in *bold italic*)
Breeding Birds		Non-Breeding Birds
___ Black-chinned Weaver ___ Fernando Po Swift ___ *Gabela Akalat* ___ Gabela Bushshrike ___ Gabela (Angola) Helmetshrike ___ *Grey-striped Francolin* ___ Loanda Swift ___ Loango Weaver	___ Monteiro's Bushshrike ___ Orange-breasted Bushshrike ___ Pulitzer's Longbill ___ Red-backed Mousebird ___ *Swierstra's Francolin* ___ Wattled Crane ___ White-headed Robin-Chat	___ Lesser Kestrel

Other Speciality and Spectacular Birds in Angola (adapted from *Where to Watch Birds in Africa* - by Nigel Wheatley.)
___ Babbling Starrling ___ Black-chinned Weaver ___ Bocages Sunbird	___ Laura's Wood Warbler ___ Monteiro's Bushshrike ___ Red-crested Turaco	___ White-fronted Wattle-eye ___ White-headed Robin-Chat