Angola is among Africa's most biologically diverse countries. Within its borders lie habitats ranging from the parched gravel plains of the Namib, one of the world's driest deserts, to the lush rainforests of the Congo Basin. Its varied habitats support a wealth of birds, with a country list of at least 920 species.
From the first expedition made in 1858 to a flurry of ornithological visits and publications in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Angola had become a rich field for bird study before a protracted civil war closed its borders to all visitors.
Reasonably accessible key sites include Quicama National Park (coastal thicket and riverine forest), the Gabela area (montane forest) and Tundavala (rocky outcrops, miombo woodland). Further exploration of the country may soon uncover more good birding sites.
According to Claire Spottiswoode (Birding Africa) Angola's top 10 birds are Angola Cave-chat, Angola Slaty Flycatcher, Gabela Akalat, Gabela Bush-shrike, Gabela Helmet-shrike, Golden-backed Bishop, Grey-striped Francolin, Monteiro's Bush-shrike, Pulitzer's Longbill and White-fronted Wattle-eye. Angola is now again a stable, peace-loving country, beginning to rebuild.
For more information on birding Angola, visit Birds Angola 'Birds Angola' aims to support, promote and conduct information gathering, research and conservation of Angolan birds.
Greater Flamingo © Ron Marshall
Showing the 8 Most Recent Trip Reports Posted
Angola - 22nd November - 14th December 2005, author Pete Morris (link created October 29, 2007)
(Perhaps one of the most amazing ornithological opportunities of recent times has got to be the opening up of the war ravaged country of Angola.)
Angola Scouting Trip - May 2018, author Birding Ecotours (added October 18, 2022)
(Swierstra’s Spurfowl , Angolan Cave Chat, escarpment forests with Schalow’s Turaco, Ludwig’s Bustard and Namaqua Sandgrouse, miombo and forest species such as Black-necked Eremomela, Margaret’s Batis, Red-crested Turaco, Pulitzer’s Longbill, Sou)
Angola - 14th to 23rd October 2010, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created March 7, 2011)
(Rockjumper Birding Tours is excited to again offer a birding tour to this incredibly rich African destination)
Angola - 14th to 23rd October 2010 , author Jon Hornbuckle (added March 19, 2011)
(Kumbira forest, Tundavala Escarpment, Gabela Helmetshrikes, Gabela Bushshrike, Red-crested Turaco, Angola Cave Chat)
Angola - August 2006 Birding Africa and African Bird Club Conservation Fund Tour, author Deirdre Vrancken (added April 27, 2009)
(Kissama National Park and Angolan scarp near Gabela: Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush, Bubbling Cisticola, Golden-backed Bishop, Red-backed Mousebird, White-fronted Wattle-eye, Angola Slaty Flycatcher, Red-crested Turaco, Gabela Akalat, Gabela Bush-Shrike, Angol)
Angola - October 2005 Birding Africa and African Bird Club Conservation Fund Tour, author Deirdre Vrancken (added April 27, 2009)
(Kissama National Park and Angolan scarp near Gabela: Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush, Bubbling Cisticola, Golden-backed Bishop, Red-backed Mousebird, White-fronted Wattle-eye, Red-crested Turaco, Gabela Akalat, Gabela Bush-Shrike, Angola Cave Chat, Ludwig's Sun)
Angola October 2010, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created April 11, 2012)
Angola September 2011, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created April 11, 2012)
No Sightings Have Been Posted for this Region Yet.