Ethiopia regularly hits the top of the list of favourite African birding destinations. The entire country is dripping with birds and one cannot fail to enjoy the myriad of bright species, special mammals, spectacular scenery, superb coffee and wonderfully friendly people — not to mention that the birding is relatively very easy and that there are so many endemics and specials on offer. this tour of the “roof of Africa” racked up over 550 bird species, countless great mammals .

Broadly speaking Ethiopia can be divided into a number of habitats with respect to bird life the Rift Valley lakes, the highland massifs, the lowlands , and the arid semi- deserts. Each of these is in turn a complex mosaic of terrain, soils, vegetation, and human use, all of which govern the avifauna found there.

Many of the endemic species present on the Highlands and plateau parts of the country are common and surprisingly easy to see, even in the environs of a city. Endemic species include the Heavy- Headed Thick- Billed Raven ; the Wattled Ibis , with its raucous call and unsightly habit of clasping its partners wattles and pulling ; the Black- Winged Lovebird , which whirrs through the sky like a miniature helicopter; and the White- Collared Pigeon , a delicate-gray bird with a neat white collar and telling-light white patch on the primary wing which can be seen on flight.

To find some of the most sought-after endemics, including the fabled Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco, the range-restricted Stresemann’s Bush-crow and Salvadori Seedeater, the rarely seen African White-winged dove and Juba Weaver. We will venture to rarely-visited remote corners of this ancient land. There is also a few-days extension to look for the final four endemics: Harwood’s Francolin and Ankober, Yellow-rumped and Yellow- throated Serins, so it will be possible to see all of the Ethiopian endemics during this comprehensive tour.

 
List of the Endemic Birds of Ethiopia

Francolinus harwoodi (Phasianidae) Harwood's Francolin
Cyanochen cyanoptera (Anatidae) Blue-winged Goose
Vanellus melanocephalus (Charadriidae) Spot-breasted Lapwing
Poicephalus flavifrons (Psittacidae) Yellow-fronted Parrot
Tauraco ruspolii (Musophagidae) Ruspoli's Turaco
Zavattariornis stresemanni (Corvidae) Stresemann's Bush Crow
Hirundo megaensis (Hirundinidae) White-tailed Swallow
Heteromirafra sidamoensis (Alaudidae) Sidamo Lark
Mirafra degodiensis (Alaudidae) Degodi Bushlark
Parophasma galinieri (Timaliidae) Abyssinian Catbird
Cercomela dubia (Musciapidae) Sombre Chat
Pytilia lineata (Estrildidae) Ethiopian Aurora Finch
Macronyx flavicollis (Motacillidae) Abyssinian Longclaw
Serinus ankoberensis (Fringillidae) Ankober Serin
Serinus flavigula (Fringillidae) Yellow-throated Seedeater
Serinus nigriceps (Fringillidae) Ethiopian Siskin
Serinus xantholaemus (Fringillidae) Salvadori's Seedeater

Caprimulgus solala (Caprimulgidae) Nechisar Nightjar

 
Ethiopia is a country rich in avifauna, with a total of about 864 species (39.14 percent of the total for the main Africa continent and associated islands). These are contained in 24 Orders and 87 Families.