This is a list of the bird species recorded in Benin. The avifauna of Benin include a total of 600 species.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Accidental species are included in the total species count for Benin.

The following tags have been used to highlight accidentals and introduced species.

• (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Benin
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Benin as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

• White-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata
• Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A)
• White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus (A)
• Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos
• Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus (A)
• Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis
• African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus
• Garganey, Spatula querquedula
• Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A)
• Northern pintail, Anas acuta
• Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
• Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (A)

Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae

Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage.

• Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris
• Western crested guineafowl, Guttera verreauxi

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

Despite their family's common name, this species and one other are native to Africa.

• Stone partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

• White-throated francolin, Campocolinus albogularis
• Common quail, Coturnix coturnix (A)
• Ahanta francolin, Pternistis ahantensis
• Double-spurred francolin, Pternistis bicalcaratus

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

• Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
• Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea
• Bronze-naped pigeon, Columba iriditorques
• European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur (A)
• Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens
• Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata
• Vinaceous dove, Streptopelia vinacea
• Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis
• Black-billed wood-dove, Turtur abyssinicus
• Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer
• Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria
• Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
• Bruce's green-pigeon, Treron waalia
• African green-pigeon, Treron calva

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.

• Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus
• Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.

• Arabian bustard, Ardeotis arabs (A)
• Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami
• White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis
• Savile's bustard, Eupodotis savilei (A)
• Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster

Order: Musophagiformes   Family: Musophagidae

The turacos, plantain eaters and go-away-birds make up the bird family Musophagidae. They are medium-sized arboreal birds. The turacos and plantain eaters are brightly coloured, usually in blue, green or purple. The go-away birds are mostly grey and white.

• Guinea turaco, Tauraco persa
• Violet turaco, Musophaga violacea
• Western plantain-eater, Crinifer piscator

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

• Standard-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus longipennis
• Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus (A)
• Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis
• Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis
• Plain nightjar, Caprimulgus inornatus
• Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma
• Long-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus climacurus

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

• Mottled spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri
• Alpine swift, Apus melba
• Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis
• Common swift, Apus apus
• Pallid swift, Apus pallidus (A)
• African swift, Apus barbatus (A)
• Little swift, Apus affinis
• Horus swift, Apus horus
• White-rumped swift, Apus caffer
• African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Sarothruridae

The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa.

• White-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura pulchra
• Red-chested flufftail, Sarothrura rufa (A)
• Streaky-breasted flufftail, Sarothrura boehmi (A)

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

• African crake, Crex egregia
• Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata
• Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
• Eurasian coot, Fulica atra (A)
• Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni
• African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
• Black crake, Zapornia flavirostris

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Heliornithidae

Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.

• African finfoot, Podica senegalensis

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

• Black crowned-crane, Balearica pavonina

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

• Water thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus
• Senegal thick-knee, Burhinus senegalensis
• Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Pluvianidae

The Egyptian plover is found across equatorial Africa and along the Nile River.

• Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

• Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
• Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A)
• Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus
• Black-headed lapwing, Vanellus tectus
• White-headed lapwing, Vanellus albiceps
• Senegal lapwing, Vanellus lugubris
• Wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus
• Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius
• Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
• Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
• Forbes's plover, Charadrius forbesi
• White-fronted plover, Charadrius marginatus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.

• Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

• Lesser jacana, Microparra capensis (A)
• African jacana, Actophilornis africanus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquails are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.

• Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvatica

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

• Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
• Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
• Rock pratincole, Glareola nuchalis
• Gray pratincole, Glareola cinerea

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

• Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (A)

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

• African openbill, Anastomus lamelligerus
• Black stork, Ciconia nigra
• Abdim's stork, Ciconia abdimii
• African woolly-necked stork, Ciconia microscelis
• White stork, Ciconia ciconia
• Saddle-billed stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
• Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer
• Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A)

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas or darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.

• African darter, Anhinga rufa

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

• Long-tailed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (A)

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

• Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
• Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Scopidae

The hammerkop is a medium-sized bird with a long shaggy crest. The shape of its head with a curved bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, hence its name. Its plumage is drab-brown all over.

• Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
• Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
• Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia (A)
• African spoonbill, Platalea alba (A)

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Sagittariidae

The secretarybird is a bird of prey in the order Accipitriformes but is easily distinguished from other raptors by its long crane-like legs.

• Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• Western barn owl, Tyto alba

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
• African scops-owl, Otus senegalensis
• Northern white-faced owl, Ptilopsis leucotis
• Grayish eagle-owl, Bubo cinerascens
• Verreaux's eagle-owl, Bubo lacteus
• Pel's fishing-owl, Scotopelia peli
• Vermiculated fishing-owl, Scotopelia bouvieri
• Pearl-spotted owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
• African barred owlet, Glaucidium capense (A)
• African wood-owl, Strix woodfordii
• Marsh owl, Asio capensis (A)

Order: Coliiformes   Family: Coliidae

The mousebirds are slender greyish or brown birds with soft, hairlike body feathers and very long thin tails. They are arboreal and scurry through the leaves like rodents in search of berries, fruit and buds. They are acrobatic and can feed upside down. All species have strong claws and reversible outer toes. They also have crests and stubby bills.

• Blue-naped mousebird, Urocolius macrourus (A)

Order: Trogoniformes   Family: Trogonidae

The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

• Narina trogon, Apaloderma narina

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Phoeniculidae

The woodhoopoes are related to the kingfishers, rollers and hoopoes. They most resemble the hoopoes with their long curved bills, used to probe for insects, and short rounded wings. However, they differ in that they have metallic plumage, often blue, green or purple, and lack an erectile crest.

• Green woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus
• Black scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus aterrimus

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Bucorvidae

The ground-hornbills are terrestrial birds which feed almost entirely on insects, other birds, snakes, and amphibians.

• Abyssinian ground hornbill, Bucorvus abyssinicus

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Bucerotidae

Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured.

• African pied hornbill, Lophoceros fasciatus
• African gray hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus
• Western red-billed hornbill, Tockus kempi
• Northern red-billed hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus
• White-crested hornbill, Horizocerus albocristatus
• Piping hornbill, Bycanistes fistulator

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

• Shining-blue kingfisher, Alcedo quadribrachys
• Malachite kingfisher, Corythornis cristatus
• African pygmy kingfisher, Ispidina picta
• Gray-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
• Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis
• Blue-breasted kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica
• Striped kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti
• Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maximus
• Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

• Red-throated bee-eater, Merops bulocki
• Little bee-eater, Merops pusillus
• Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Merops hirundineus
• White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis
• African green bee-eater, Merops viridissimus
• Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
• European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
• Rosy bee-eater, Merops malimbicus
• Northern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicus

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

• Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinica
• Rufous-crowned roller, Coracias naevia
• Blue-bellied roller, Coracias cyanogaster
• Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus
• Blue-throated roller, Eurystomus gularis

Order: Piciformes   Family: Lybiidae

The African barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.

• Yellow-billed barbet, Trachyphonus purpuratus
• Naked-faced barbet, Gymnobucco calvus
• Speckled tinkerbird, Pogoniulus scolopaceus
• Yellow-throated tinkerbird, Pogoniulus subsulphureus
• Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus bilineatus
• Yellow-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus
• Hairy-breasted barbet, Tricholaema hirsuta
• Vieillot's barbet, Lybius vieilloti
• Double-toothed barbet, Lybius bidentatus
• Bearded barbet, Lybius dubius

Order: Piciformes   Family: Indicatoridae

Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the greater honeyguide which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive.

• Wahlberg's honeyguide, Prodotiscus regulus (A)
• Willcock's honeyguide, Indicator willcocksi
• Least honeyguide, Indicator exilis (A)
• Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
• Spotted honeyguide, Indicator maculatus
• Greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

• Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
• Cardinal woodpecker, Chloropicus fuscescens
• Fire-bellied woodpecker, Chloropicus pyrrhogaster
• Brown-backed woodpecker, Chloropicus obsoletus
• African gray woodpecker, Chloropicus goertae
• Buff-spotted woodpecker, Campethera nivosa
• Green-backed woodpecker, Campethera cailliautii
• Fine-spotted woodpecker, Campethera punctuligera
• Golden-tailed woodpecker, Campethera abingoni

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

• Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
• Fox kestrel, Falco alopex
• Gray kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
• Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
• Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (A)
• Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
• Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
• African hobby, Falco cuvierii
• Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

• Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri
• Red-headed lovebird, Agapornis pullarius

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.

• Senegal parrot, Poicephalus senegalus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.

• White-breasted cuckooshrike, Coracina pectoralis
• Red-shouldered cuckooshrike, Campephaga phoenicea
• Purple-throated cuckooshrike, Campephaga quiscalina

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

• Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus (A)
• African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus
• Black-winged oriole, Oriolus nigripennis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Platysteiridae

The wattle-eyes, or puffback flycatchers, are small stout passerine birds of the African tropics. They get their name from the brightly coloured fleshy eye decorations found in most species in this group.

• Brown-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira cyanea
• Chestnut wattle-eye, Platysteira castanea
• West African wattle-eye, Platysteira hormophora
• Red-cheeked wattle-eye, Platysteira blissetti
• Senegal batis, Batis senegalensis
• West African batis, Batis occulta

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vangidae

The helmetshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes, but tend to be colourful species with distinctive crests or other head ornaments, such as wattles, from which they get their name.

• White helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus
• Red-billed helmetshrike, Prionops caniceps
• African shrike-flycatcher, Megabyas flammulatus
• Black-and-white shrike-flycatcher, Bias musicus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Malaconotidae

Bushshrikes are similar in habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush. Although similar in build to the shrikes, these tend to be either colourful species or largely black; some species are quite secretive.

• Brubru, Nilaus afer
• Northern puffback, Dryoscopus gambensis
• Sabine's puffback, Dryoscopus sabini
• Marsh tchagra, Tchagra minuta
• Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegala
• Tropical boubou, Laniarius major
• Yellow-crowned gonolek, Laniarius barbarus
• Sulphur-breasted bushshrike, Telophorus sulfureopectus
• Gray-headed bushshrike, Malaconotus blanchoti

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

• Western square-tailed drongo, Dicrurus occidentalis
• Glossy-backed drongo, Dicrurus divaricatus
• Fanti drongo, Dicrurus atactus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

• Black-headed paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufiventer
• African paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

• Emin's shrike, Lanius gubernator
• Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor
• Yellow-billed shrike, Lanius corvinus
• Northern fiscal, Lanius humeralis
• Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence. There are 120 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Benin.

• Piapiac, Ptilostomus afer
• House crow, Corvus splendens (A)
• Pied crow, Corvus albus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hyliotidae

The members of this small family, all of genus Hyliota, are birds of the forest canopy. They tend to feed in mixed-species flocks.

• Yellow-bellied hyliota, Hyliota flavigaster
• Violet-backed hyliota, Hyliota violacea

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Stenostiridae

Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".

• African blue flycatcher, Elminia longicauda

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

• White-shouldered black-tit, Melaniparus guineensis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

• Yellow penduline-tit, Anthoscopus parvulus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Rufous-rumped lark, Pinarocorys erythropygia
• Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucotis
• Flappet lark, Mirafra rufocinnamomea
• Horsfield's bushlark, Mirafra javanica
• Sun lark, Galerida modesta
• Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nicatoridae

The nicators are shrike-like, with hooked bills. They are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.

• Western nicator, Nicator chloris

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Macrosphenidae

African warblers are small to medium-sized insectivores which are found in a wide variety of habitats south of the Sahara.

• Green crombec, Sylvietta virens
• Northern crombec, Sylvietta brachyura
• Moustached grass warbler, Melocichla mentalis
• Kemp's longbill, Macrosphenus kempi
• Gray longbill, Macrosphenus concolor
• Green hylia, Hylia prasina
• Tit-hylia, Pholidornis rushiae

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

• Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca
• Melodious warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
• Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina (A)
• Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
• Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
• Greater swamp warbler, Acrocephalus rufescens
• Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

• Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides (A)
• Little rush warbler, Bradypterus baboecala (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

• Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (A)
• Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli (A)
• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
• Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

• Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla (A)
• Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
• Moltoni's warbler, Curruca subalpina (A)
• Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis (A)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.

• Northern yellow white-eye, Zosterops senegalensis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pellorneidae

These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.

• Brown illadopsis, Illadopsis fulvescens
• Puvel's illadopsis, Illadopsis puveli

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

The members of this family are diverse in size and colouration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or greyish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.

• Capuchin babbler, Turdoides atripennis
• Brown babbler, Turdoides plebejus
• Blackcap babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

• African spotted creeper, Salpornis salvadori

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Buphagidae

As both the English and scientific names of these birds imply, they feed on ectoparasites, primarily ticks, found on large mammals.

• Yellow-billed oxpecker, Buphagus africanus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

• Violet-backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
• Neumann's starling, Onychognathus neumanni
• Chestnut-winged starling, Onychognathus fulgidus
• Purple-headed starling, Hylopsar purpureiceps
• Long-tailed glossy starling, Lamprotornis caudatus
• Splendid starling, Lamprotornis splendidus
• Chestnut-bellied starling, Lamprotornis pulcher
• Lesser blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chloropterus
• Greater blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus
• Purple starling, Lamprotornis purpureus
• Bronze-tailed starling, Lamprotornis chalcurus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

• Finsch's flycatcher-thrush, Neocossyphus finschi
• White-tailed ant-thrush, Neocossyphus poensis
• African thrush, Turdus pelios

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Viduidae

The indigobirds are finch-like species which usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage. All are brood parasites, which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches.

• Pin-tailed whydah, Vidua macroura
• Sahel paradise-whydah, Vidua orientalis
• Exclamatory paradise-whydah, Vidua interjecta
• Village indigobird, Vidua chalybeata
• Wilson's indigobird, Vidua wilsoni
• Quailfinch indigobird, Vidua nigeriae (A)
• Baka indigobird, Vidua larvaticola
• Cameroon indigobird, Vidua camerunensis (A)
• Parasitic weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• Northern gray-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
• Sahel bush sparrow, Gymnoris dentata

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

• Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
• African pied wagtail, Motacilla aguimp
• White wagtail, Motacilla alba (A)
• Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris
• Plain-backed pipit, Anthus leucophrys
• Long-legged pipit, Anthus pallidiventris (A)
• Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
• Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
• Yellow-throated longclaw, Macronyx croceus

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

• White-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygius
• Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambicus
• West African seedeater, Crithagra canicapilla

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

• Brown-rumped bunting, Emberiza affinis
• Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana (A)
• Cabanis's bunting, Emberiza cabanisi
• Golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
• Gosling's bunting, Emberiza goslingi

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

• Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Benin". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
• Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: A Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.

• Birds of Benin - World Institute for Conservation and Environment