Birds of Accra

Pied Crow

Corvus albus
Key features: Large black-and-white crow; white belly and breast; heavy black bill; loud cawing call.

The large and often noisy black-and-white bird you’re seeing is the Pied Crow. As well as a loud, very crow-like ‘caw’, it can also make a clicking noise so listen out for that. Occasionally I have seen them soaring like vultures so look out for the white belly to distinguish them. There is only one other corvid in the list, but it is all black and much smaller, so the two are easy to tell apart.

A video of the Pied Crow can be seen here.

Red-eyed Dove

Streptopelia semitorquata
Key features: Large grey-brown dove; distinctive black collar; red eye; deep, repetitive call.

The Red-eyed Dove is a very common dove and although it is quite similar to many other African doves, in Accra it is the only one with the distinctive black collar. The other giveaway is its call, which one guide explained is the bird telling you its name: ‘I am (pause) the-red-eyed-dove’. It’s hard to write and I never got a good video of the call but if you look up the call on eBird you will see what I mean if you repeat that sentence along with its call.

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis
Key features: Small dove; grey-edged wings; spotted neck; delicate build.

The Laughing Dove is the smallest of the Accra doves, very pretty and also very common. Note the grey edges to the wings and the spots on the neck area. Like many pigeons, they make a very simple nest of a few twigs on a ledge, often on a building, where they lay their eggs.

A video of the Laughing Dove can be seen here.

Western Plantain-eater

Crinifer piscator
Key features: Large grey-brown turaco; long tail; bold yellow bill; relatively conspicuous and approachable.

The Western Plantain-eater is part of the turaco family and you will find two more members of this family lower down this list. The Western Plantain-eater is not nearly as colourful as its cousins but has the advantage of being a lot less shy. Look closely and you can see that, far from being bland, its plumage is really quite pretty, set off by its bold yellow bill. In my view, it is one of the most underrated birds in Accra.

A video of the Western Plantain-eater can be seen here.

Yellow-billed Shrike

Corvinella corvina
Key features: Long-tailed shrike; bright yellow bill; often noisy and seen in groups.

One of the noisier of the common Accra birds, especially when they get together in a flock. They have a raucous screech as well as a chatter that is quite distinctive once you get to know it. It is another bird with a nice yellow bill, but note the long tail, which usually gives it away first.

A video of the Yellow-billed Shrike can be seen here.

Common Bulbul

Pycnonotus barbatus
Key features: Common upright bulbul; squarish head; plain brown-grey plumage; distinctive early-morning call.

When you first arrive in Accra, you can be forgiven for not noticing this most common of birds. In fact, you will probably know it first by its early-morning call, which may well wake you. Note its squarish head and upright posture.

A video of the Common Bulbul can be seen here.

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis
Key features: Bright blue-and-white kingfisher; red-and-black bicoloured bill; usually found away from water.

Unlike many kingfishers, the Woodland Kingfisher does not typically hunt fish but prefers insects and small lizards, so it is mainly found away from the water and will often be seen in an urban setting. Notice the bicoloured bill — black and red — which is unusual in kingfishers generally. It can be confused with the similar-looking Blue-breasted Kingfisher, but that species is rarely seen in Accra. A video on the differences between the Blue-breasted and Woodland Kingfishers can be seen here.

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus
Key features: Grey hornbill; long tail; plaintive call often given in flight; male and female differ in bill colour.

I cannot tell you the joy I experienced on discovering how common this hornbill is in the neighbourhood where I lived in Accra. I have always been fascinated by hornbills, so being able to see one so often was a real treat. Their most distinctive feature is probably their plaintive call, often made while beating their wings. Also note the difference in bill colour between males and females.

A video of the African Grey Hornbill can be seen here.

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Key features: Glossy blue starling; dark blue ear patch; smaller eye than Purple Starling.

The Greater Blue-eared Starling is the most common of the ‘glossy’ starlings seen regularly in Accra. The dark blue ear can be hard to see, depending on the light conditions. It is very similar to the Lesser Blue-eared Starling, but that species is far less common in Accra. The large, saucer-like eye of the Purple Starling is the thing to watch for to distinguish these two species.

A video of the Greater Blue-eared Starling can be seen here.

Senegal Coucal

Centropus senegalensis
Key features: Large dark coucal; long tail; deep repeated hoop-hoop-hoop call; often tips head forward while calling.

The Senegal Coucal is very common in Accra despite what its name might suggest. Like most coucals, they make a deep ‘hoop hoop hoop’ type noise, tipping their heads forward when they do so, which is lovely to see. They are very similar to the Blue-headed Coucal, but that bird is rarer and usually found near the marshes.

Senegal Parrot

Poicephalus senegalus
Key features: Compact green parrot; orange belly with yellow sides; often seen flying overhead in noisy groups.

Despite the name, this is another bird found not only in Senegal but across West Africa. They are the most common parrot species in Accra, often seen flying overhead flashing their orange belly with yellow sides and screeching raucously as they go.

A video of the Senegal Parrot can be seen here.

Shikra

Tachyspiza badia
Key features: Small agile raptor; fine barring on adults; red-eyed male, yellow-eyed female; juveniles more heavily streaked.

The Shikra is the most common falcon-like species in Accra, although it is not actually a falcon. These raptors are small and agile. Males and females have different eye colours (red and yellow respectively) and juveniles have broader streaking, unlike the adults, where the barring is very fine.

A video of the Shikra can be seen here.

Splendid Sunbird

Cinnyris coccinigastrus
Key features: Large sunbird; often looks dark in poor light; metallic green, red, blue and purple visible in good light.

The Splendid Sunbird is the most common member of the sunbird family found in Accra. They are small birds, but large by sunbird standards. They often appear almost completely black with maybe just a touch of metallic green on the shoulders, but see them in good light and you can see all manner of colours including red, blue, green and purple.

A video of the Splendid Sunbird can be seen here.

Double-toothed Barbet

Pogonornis bidentatus
Key features: Colourful barbet; bright red breast; pale facial skin; two ridges along the bill.

A wonderfully colourful bird usually first identified by its bright red breast as it flies by. The teeth are two ridges on either side of its bill which you have to get pretty close to get a look at but they are definitely there. It is quite similar to another slightly larger barbet, the Bearded Barbet, but that bird is rarer. The video below explains the differences between the two.

A video of the Double-toothed Barbet can be seen here.

Western Cattle Egret

Ardea ibis
Key features: White egret with yellow bill and black legs; breeding adults develop orange head/back and multicoloured bill.

Now on to the egrets and herons. The Western Cattle Egret is by far the most common of the egret species. At first glance they seem pretty plain and indeed the non-breeding plumage of the adult bird is fairly straightforward, white plumage, a yellow bill and black legs. However, the breeding adult develops light orange colouring on the head and back and a multi-coloured bill with purple and red tones while retaining yellow at the tip. They strut around grassland looking for insects and are often found near grazing animals. In Legon Botanical Garden there is an island in the pond with a tree where Western Cattle Egrets nest. At times, I have counted more than 100 birds there.

A video of the Western Cattle Egret can be seen here.

Great Egret

Ardea alba
Key features: Large white egret; long yellow bill; gape line extends beyond the eye.

South America is blessed with only one large white egret, but unfortunately Africa has two, the Great Egret and the Yellow-billed Egret. The Great Egret is the more common of the two in Accra but the best way to identify them is by getting a really good photo of the head and eye. The Great Egret’s gape, which is the skin at the base of the bill, extends beyond the eye, whereas the Yellow-billed Egret’s skin around the eye does not extend beyond the eye — good luck!

A video of the Great Egret can be seen here.

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax
Key features: Stocky heron; dark crown and back; red eyes; juveniles brown with pale spots and streaks.

Black-crowned Night Herons do like to fish at night, but that won’t stop you seeing them during the day. Notice how the black crown (actually a dark blue) extends down the back which is useful when distinguishing them from the smaller Little Heron. They also have red eyes. The juvenile bird is completely different, being brown with creamy stripes and spots and has a yellow eye.

A video of the Black-crowned Night Heron can be seen here.

Black Heron

Egretta ardesiaca
Key features: All-dark heron; bright yellow feet; distinctive umbrella-feeding behaviour with wings held over the head.

This is one of those really fun birds in that they make an umbrella with their wings creating a pool of shade in which they hunt, helping to confuse their prey. They also have remarkably bright yellow feet as you can see in the video. They are not always there but can often be seen at the pond in the Legon Botanical Garden.d much smaller, so the two are easy to tell apart.

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis
Key features: Black-and-white kingfisher; often hovers over water; conspicuous and easy to identify.

The Pied Kingfisher is the most common kingfisher in Accra and readily identified by its black and white colouring. They are also capable of hovering, which is quite rare in kingfishers. Although I have seen them at the pond in Legon Botanical Garden, they are more readily found by the sea.

A video of the Pied Kingfisher can be seen here.

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus
Key features: Tiny vivid blue kingfisher; orange underparts; cap extends down towards the eye; lacks purple behind the eye.

Like many kingfishers, this small kingfisher is usually first identified by a flash of electric blue colour as it flies by. The place where I have seen them most often is at Panbros Saltpans but I have also seen them in Legon Botanical Garden a few times. They can be mixed up with the African Pygmy Kingfisher, but the Malachite Kingfisher lacks the purple colouring on the neck.

A video of the Malachite Kingfisher can be seen here.

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Ispidina picta
Key features: Very small kingfisher; eye fully visible below cap; lilac-purple colouring behind the eye.

The African Pygmy Kingfisher is the smallest of the kingfishers in Accra, but only by a small margin. There are two things to look out for to distinguish this kingfisher from the Malachite Kingfisher above. Firstly, its cap does not extend to the eye, so the eye is completely visible, and secondly, they have lilac or purple colouring behind the eye. See this video for more details.

Reed Cormorant

Microcarbo africanus
Key features: Small cormorant; relatively long tail; piercing red eyes; often seen around freshwater.

The Reed Cormorant, which was until recently known as the Long-tailed Cormorant, is really the only cormorant you are likely to see in Accra. They are quite small with relatively long tails and piercing red eyes. Along with the Western Cattle Egrets, they often nest together in the same tree in Legon Botanical Garden.

A video of the Reed Cormorant can be seen here.

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus
Key features: Dark waterbird; red bill with yellow tip; white patches under tail; juveniles much duller.

The Common Moorhen found in Accra is the same species you will find in Europe and Asia. The adult is distinctive with its bright red bill with a yellow tip and distinctive white patches under the tail. The young birds are much duller in comparison and lack the red bill. They are often found in the pond at Legon Botanical Garden.

Senegal Thick-knee

Burhinus senegalensis
Key features: Large ground-dwelling wader; huge eye with white surround; cryptic brown plumage; often stands very still.

The Senegal Thick-knee is a large wading bird, although it is often found away from water. It has a large eye surrounded by a white ring and is often excellently camouflaged among fallen leaves or similarly coloured ground. They make a loud call when alarmed, although they often prefer to stay quiet and still. They are often seen at Legon Botanical Garden around the ring in its centre or down by the pond.

A video of the Senegal Thick-knee can be seen here.

Violet Turaco

Tauraco violaceus
Key features: Large violet-and-green turaco; yellow and red facial markings; often seen in noisy groups.

The cover of my bird book ‘The Birds of Ghana’ features the Violet Turaco and it really is the signature bird of West Africa. Fortunately, they can be readily seen in Legon Botanical Garden and Achimota Forest in Accra. Despite their bold colouring, in poor light they can be mistaken for the Guinea Turaco below, so look out for the yellow and red markings on the head. They are often in groups and it’s a good idea to learn the call so you can listen out for them. If you get a glimpse of one flying overhead, another may soon be on the way.

A video of the Violet Turaco can be seen here.

Guinea Turaco

Tauraco persa
Key features: Green turaco with prominent crest; distinctive facial pattern; often in vocal groups.

Another spectacular bird found in Accra, and more commonly than the Violet Turaco above. Their colouring on the wings and lower back is similar to the Violet Turaco, so note the facial pattern and crest to be sure of the identification. Like Violet Turacos, they are often in groups of many birds, calling raucously to other groups nearby.

A video of the Guinea Turaco can be seen here.

Levaillant’s Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii
Key features: Large cuckoo; black crest; strongly striped throat; brood parasite.

Though not a common bird, I have seen Levaillant’s Cuckoo at one time or another in all the main birding locations in Accra. They are quite large and have a distinctive stripy throat and black crest. Like many cuckoos, they lay their eggs in the nests of babblers and other similarly sized birds.nd much smaller, so the two are easy to tell apart.

A video of Levaillant’s Cuckoo can be seen here.

Blue-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur afer
Key features: Small dove; grey head; blue wing spots; rufous wing patches visible in flight; highly camouflaged.

The Blue-spotted Wood Dove is the least commonly seen of the pigeon and dove family, although once you know its call you realise they are more common than you might think. Note the small size, grey head, blue spots on the wings and the rufous patches on the wings seen in flight. They rely on camouflage and so are often only seen once you get very close and they fly off.e easy to tell apart.

A video of the Blue-spotted Wood Dove can be seen here.

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos
Key features: Small wader; constantly bobs tail; white underparts extend up in front of the folded wing.

The Common Sandpiper isn’t really that common in Accra but can be seen occasionally at any of the birding places with water. They bob their tails when walking around, but the main feature to watch for is the white of their belly. In Common Sandpipers, unlike many others, the white colour extends up to the shoulder, creating a triangular shape.

A video of the Common Sandpiper can be seen here.

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus
Key features: Small, very slender swift; narrow scythe-shaped wings; plain grey-brown plumage; often near palms.

Although there are a few species of swift to be found in Accra, the most common and probably easiest to identify is the African Palm Swift. Their bodies and wings are thin and the whole bird I would describe as spindly. They are a nondescript grey-brown colour and are often found near palm trees where they nest. Note the scythe-shaped wings in flight.maller, so the two are easy to tell apart.

Hooded Vulture

Necrosyrtes monachus
Key features: Medium-sized soaring vulture; bare pink face in adults, grey in immatures; often seen around rubbish or water.

The large soaring bird you see over Accra is often the Hooded Vulture and they can be found at rubbish dumps and even visiting swimming pools to drink. Note the bare pink face in adult birds, which is grey in immature birds. Although not uncommon in Accra, they are listed as critically endangered, so if you see one, count yourself lucky.

A video of the Hooded Vulture can be seen here.

Lizard Buzzard

Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Key features: Compact grey raptor; pale throat with central black stripe; white tail bars; dark red eyes.

A very distinctive, smart-looking raptor, the Lizard Buzzard can be seen quite often. If you can get a good photo, you’ll notice its pale throat with a distinctive black line in the middle and note the white bars on the tail. They have dark, blood-red eyes with a piercing gaze when perched.

Green Woodhoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus
Key features: Long red bill; long tail; black-and-white wings in flight; metallic green-copper plumage; highly social.

The Green Woodhoopoe is unmistakable in Accra with a long red bill, although the bill is black in young birds. In flight, they have clearly visible black-and-white wings with their long tail trailing behind. Get them in good light and you’ll see their coppery and metallic green colouring, although often they just look black. They are highly social and often in groups of 10 to 20 birds, making a loud chatter as they go.are easy to tell apart.

A video of the Green Woodhoopoe can be seen here

West African Pied Hornbill

Lophoceros semifasciatus
Key features: Black-and-white hornbill; black-tipped bill; similar size to African Grey Hornbill.

Although not strictly common, the West African Pied Hornbill can be found from time to time in Legon Botanical Garden. They are a similar size to the African Grey Hornbill, which is more common, but note the black-and-white colouring and the black tip to the bill. They make a series of high-pitched noises and are not nearly as demonstrative as the African Grey Hornbill when doing so.o the two are easy to tell apart.

A video of the West African Pied Hornbill can be seen here.

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus
Key features: Pale hornbill; bright red bill; lighter overall colouring than other Accra hornbills.

The Northern Red-billed Hornbill perhaps should not really be in a list of common birds. I often saw a single bird in Legon Botanical Garden and my local bird guide said that it could be an escapee from captivity. However, towards the end of my time there I started seeing a pair of them, so I have included the species for this reason. The red bill and lighter colouring easily distinguish them from the other hornbills in Accra.

A video of the Northern Red-billed Hornbill can be seen here.

Piping Hornbill

Bycanistes fistulator
Key features: Black-and-white hornbill; short wedge-shaped bill; stockier and more compact than West African Pied Hornbill.l.

The Piping Hornbill can often be found in Legon Botanical Garden. The colouring is similar to the West African Pied Hornbill, but the bill shape is very different. It is a short, triangular or wedge-shaped bill. They are a stouter, more compact bird than the West African Pied Hornbill and their call, though at times similar, is slightly different., but it is all black and much smaller, so the two are easy to tell apart.

A video of the Piping Hornbill can be seen here.

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus
Key features: Dark roller; purple wing colour visible in good light; broad bill; distinctive cackling calls.

Unlike most members of the roller family, the Broad-billed Roller is not especially colourful. However, get them in good light in flight and you can see the purple colouring on their wings and this is also evident on their wing edges when perched. They have a series of distinctive cackling calls, which can be quite surprising when first heard and a good indicator of their presence once you know the call. They are found in gardens and neighbourhoods as well as the obvious birding spots in Accra.

Bearded Barbet

Pogonornis dubius
Key features: Large barbet; bristly “beard” below bill; extensive pale-yellow facial skin; larger than Double-toothed Barbet.

The Bearded Barbet is a comical-looking bird with feathers sticking out under its bill, giving it its name. They are larger than the Double-toothed Barbet and their facial skin covers more of the head. The facial skin is pale yellow rather than the cream colour of the Double-toothed Barbet. Whereas the Double-toothed Barbet is common and found in city parks and gardens, the Bearded Barbet I have mainly seen in Legon Botanical Garden.

A video of the Bearded Barbet can be seen here.

Fine-spotted Woodpecker

Campethera punctuligera
Key features: Spotted woodpecker; male with red moustache and full red crown; female with partly red crown and spotted black moustache.

The Fine-spotted Woodpecker is a handsome woodpecker commonly found in Legon Botanical Garden. If you play its call at the circle point in Legon Botanical Garden they are quite likely to come. The male and female have slightly different facial colouring, with the male showing a red moustache and all-red crown, while the female has a half-red, half-black crown with white spots. The female also has a black moustache with white spots.ch smaller, so the two are easy to tell apart.

African Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos goertae
Key features: Plain grey woodpecker with olive-green back; male has red crown, female lacks it.

The African Grey Woodpecker can be found in city parks and gardens as well as the usual birding hotspots in Accra. They are plainer than most woodpeckers, having grey on their front and head and an olive-green back. Males have a red crown, which is missing in females.

Black Kite

Milvus migrans
Key features: Brown raptor with forked tail; often seen soaring; local birds commonly called Yellow-billed Kites.

Over time the Black Kite may be split into subspecies as they are found over most of the world except the Americas. Local guides will usually refer to this bird as the Yellow-billed Kite, which is actually a subspecies of the Black Kite. They are migratory and mostly leave Accra in the summer months, returning around October. They are brown, not black, and have a forked tail. They breed in Legon Botanical Garden, where you can see up to 50 or more birds at a time.

Grey Kestrel

Falco ardosiaceus
Key features: Small all-grey kestrel; yellow bare skin around eyes; yellow feet.

A small and striking raptor, this bird I have only ever seen in Legon Botanical Garden. They are all grey except for bare yellow skin around the eyes and yellow feet. Although there are other grey-coloured kestrels, this is the only one you’ll find in Accra.

A video of the Grey Kestrel can be seen here.

Grey Parrot

Psittacus erithacus
Key features: Large grey parrot; bright red tail; white facial skin; very distinctive whistles and calls.

When I was a child, my grandmother used to sometimes look after a pet Grey Parrot which had an extraordinary range of vocalisations. I was stunned to see them flying around my neighbourhood when I arrived in Accra. You may well hear them before you see them, making a range of very distinctive whistles and other loud noises. The red tail, seen mainly in flight, gives them away and note the white skin colour on the face. Unfortunately, while I was in Accra, eBird classified them as escapees only, so I have yet to see a true example in the wild.

A video of the Grey Parrot can be seen here.

Ring-necked Parakeet

Psittacula krameri
Key features: Bright green parakeet; long pointed tail; very noisy; males show a neck ring.

The Ring-necked Parakeet, also known as the Rose-ringed Parakeet, is native to India and West Africa but has been introduced to Europe and elsewhere, where they thrive. If you are from London, for instance, the noisy parakeet that you see all over is the same species that you’ll see in Accra. They are found in parks and gardens throughout Accra and are often very noisy. However, if they choose to be quiet, they can be difficult to spot as their colouring blends in so well with the leaves of trees.

Northern Puffback

Dryoscopus gambensis
Key features: Male black-and-white with red eyes; female brown; can puff out conspicuous white back feathers.

Male

Female

The Northern Puffback is an interesting bird for two reasons. Firstly, they can puff out the feathers on their back, making it seem like they have a white puffball stuck to them, although I have to say I have only actually seen them doing this a couple of times. Secondly, the males are totally different from the females. The males are black and white with red eyes, whereas the females are all brown. Although not especially common, they can be found in Legon Botanical Garden.

Yellow-crowned Gonolek

Laniarius barbarus
Key features: Bold red throat; yellow crown; black back; distinctive loud call.

This bird will almost certainly be heard before you see it as they have a very distinctive call which you can hear in the videos below. They are also fantastically colourful, with the bright red throat, yellow head and contrasting black back. They can be found in a number of places but are seen most commonly in Legon Botanical Garden and Achimota Forest.

Piapiac

Ptilostomus afer
Key features: Small black corvid; red bill in adults, dark bill in immatures.

The only other corvid on my list is the Piapiac. They are not very common but are always nice to see with their black colouring and red bills. Immature birds have dark-coloured bills, an example of which you can also see in the video below.ch smaller, so the two are easy to tell apart.

A video of the Piapiac can be seen here.

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura
Key features: Small skulking warbler; grey-green appearance; loud bleating call often reveals its presence.

Like the Black Kite/Yellow-billed Kite confusion, local guides will usually refer to these birds as the Grey-backed Camaroptera, which is actually the subspecies found in the area. They make a loud bleating noise, which is well worth learning so that you are alerted to the presence of this small bird and can look carefully for it. They can be found throughout Accra.

Oriole Warbler

Hypergerus atriceps
Key features: Large warbler; yellow body; long tail; scaly grey head; often heard in duet.

This large warbler is a real treat, with its yellow body, long tail and scaly grey head. They also have an interesting call, often sung as a duet with another bird which, again, is well worth learning. You can hear it in the video below. They are not often seen but I have seen them in all the usual places at one time or another. to tell apart.

A video of the Oriole Warbler can be seen here.

Ethiopian Swallow

Hirundo aethiopica
Key features: Small swallow; most common swallow around Accra; often seen on wires or in flight over urban areas.

The most common swallow is the rather oddly named Ethiopian Swallow. It is best to get a photo of one perched on a wire or have the Merlin App identify the bird by its call to confirm the identification, as they are quite similar to some other species. Typically, though, this will be the swallow you are seeing throughout Accra.

Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul

Atimastillas flavicollis
Key features: Brown greenbul with bright yellow throat; attractive but often localised in wooded habitat.

Another bird that has suffered from name changes. It used to be called the Yellow-throated Greenbul and is also known as the Yellow-throated Leaflove. The species was recently separated into two, hence the name change, so be aware of this when talking to local guides who may still be using the old names. It is very pretty when you get a good view, with its brown colouring and lovely yellow throat. Legon Botanical Garden is the best place to find them.

A video of the Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul can be seen here.

Simple Greenbul

Chlorocichla simplex
Key features: Plain greenbul; broken white eye-ring is the key field mark.

This bird is much less striking than the Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul and, again, might be referred to as a Simple Leaflove. The main feature to look for is the broken white eye-ring. Again, the main place I have seen them is Legon Botanical Garden but they can be found in other places too.

Brown Babbler

Turdoides plebejuss
Key features: Grey-brown babbler; pale grey head; striking orange eye; usually found in noisy groups.

The more common of the two babbler species in Accra is the Brown Babbler. They are more striking than their name would suggest, with a striking orange eye contrasting nicely with their light grey head. They are usually in a flock of several birds and can start ‘babbling’ loudly all at once from thick bushes right beside you, which can be quite surprising.

A video of the Brown Babbler can be seen here.

Blackcap Babbler

Turdoides reinwardtii
Key features: Babbler with contrasting black cap and pale white eye; usually less common than Brown Babbler.

The Blackcap Babbler is far less common in my experience but can definitely be found in both Legon Botanical Garden and Achimota Forest. It also has a striking contrast in colour, but this time it is a white eye surrounded by its black cap. the two are easy to tell apart.

A video of the Blackcap Babbler can be seen here.

Long-tailed Glossy Starling

Lamprotornis caudatus
Key features: Large glossy starling; exceptionally long tail; unmistakable proportions.

Moving on to the rest of the starlings, the Long-tailed Glossy Starling is the largest and most impressive. Their large size and extremely long tail make them unmistakable in the field. Although not quite as common as the other starlings, they can often be seen around the circle in Legon Botanical Garden.

A video of the Long-tailed Glossy Starling can be seen here.

Purple Starling

Lamprotornis purpureus
Key features: Glossy purple-blue starling; very large yellow eye is the key identification feature.

The Purple Starling is indeed more purple than the other common starlings in Accra, but in poor light this isn’t always easy to tell. The key feature to look for in identifying Purple Starlings is the eye, which is yellow and much larger than those of the other starlings. It really is a saucer of an eye. They are relatively common and can be found throughout Accra.

A video of the Purple Starling can be seen here.

Splendid Starling

Lamprotornis splendidus
Key features: Large glossy blue-purple starling; creamy-white eyes; scratchy caws and chatters.

‘Splendid’ seems a little generous for this starling in my view. Although it is glossy and metallic blue and purple, they always look slightly ragged around the edges to me. They have distinctive creamy white eyes, which are an important identifier, and their calls are a range of scratchy caws and chatters. They are one of the larger starlings and can be found throughout Accra. easy to tell apart.

A video of the Splendid Starling can be seen here.

African Thrush

Turdus pelios
Key features: Plain brown-grey thrush; yellow bill; common in parks and gardens; pleasant song.

A very common bird in the parks and gardens of Accra, although not particularly colourful. The key element to note is their yellow bill. While not the most colourful bird, it does have a nice song often heard in the mornings and evenings.

Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat

Cossypha niveicapilla
Key features: Orange-and-black robin-chat; white crown patch; black cap appears broken at the neck.

The robin-chats are confusing at first as they both look quite similar. To help me distinguish them I always think of the Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat as wearing a cap because of the ‘snow’. You can see that the black cap is broken at the neck, creating the ‘cap’ effect. The Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat is less common than its cousin below, but both can be seen at Legon Botanical Garden.

White-crowned Robin-Chat

Cossypha albicapillus
Key features: Orange-and-black robin-chat; white crown stripe; dark crown continues unbroken down the back.

Unlike the Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat above, the dark crown of the White-crowned Robin-Chat extends unbroken down its back. This is the key differentiator between the two species. I actually think the more broken-looking white stripe on the head looks more like snow than the Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, so I am careful to ignore this feature so as not to get confused.

A video of the White-crowned Robin-Chat can be seen here.

Copper Sunbird

Cinnyris cupreus
Key features: Small dark-looking sunbird; copper and green iridescence with metallic pink on shoulder in good light.

Like the Splendid Sunbird, you really need to see the Copper Sunbird in good light to see its true colours and properly identify it. In most light it simply looks black, but in the right light you can see its beautiful copper and green colours with a touch of metallic pink on the shoulder.

A video of the Copper Sunbird can be seen here.

Village Weaver

Ploceus cucullatus
Key features: Large yellow-and-black weaver; stout bill; red eye; often nests colonially in trees.

There are many weaver birds in Ghana, but the most common one in Accra is the Village Weaver. They are called Village Weavers because they make their nests together, often in a single tree. They are larger than most weaver birds, with a piercing red eye and pronounced bill. These features are particularly important when identifying the non-breeding male.

Northern Red Bishop

Euplectes franciscanus
Key features: Breeding male bright red-and-black and unmistakable; female and non-breeding male much duller and sparrow-like.

The breeding male of this species is unmistakable and a true delight to see at any time. The main place to see them in Accra is at Panbros, where they are fairly common. Females and non-breeding males are much duller by comparison, somewhat resembling female House Sparrows.

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata
Key features: Very small finch; black head, white front, barred flanks; bicoloured bill; often feeds in flocks on grass seed.

The Bronze Mannikin is one of the smallest common birds in Accra. Adults of both sexes have a mostly brown back, black head, white front with barred sides and a bicoloured bill — black on top and grey below. The immature birds are a nice soft brown colour and, as they often flock with adults on the ground feeding on grass seeds, they are usually easy to identify.

A video of the Bronze Mannikin can be seen here.

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala
Key features: Small finch; red bill and yellowish eye-ring; males red, females mostly brown with red on face and tail.

There are several firefinches in Ghana but the Red-billed Firefinch is the most common in Accra. Note the red bill, yellowish eye-ring and, if you get a very good view, the colour under the tail is brown rather than black. The female is mostly brown but does have a few patches of red on the face and tail. You can see them sometimes bathing both in sand and in small puddles.

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp
Key features: Black-and-white wagtail; long constantly bobbing tail; runs on open ground; undulating flight.

This bird can be found commonly in the parks and gardens of Accra and is the only black-and-white wagtail, so it is fairly easy to identify. They are often seen running along the ground looking for insects and bob their tail up and down as they go. They make a high-pitched call which is worth learning so that you are alerted to their presence, and their flight has a characteristic undulating pattern up and down.

A video of the African Pied Wagtail can be seen here.