Discover some of the most spectacular bird species you’ll encounter during your birding adventure. Each species represents the incredible diversity of Gambian avifauna.
Little Bee-eater
Merops pusillus
A small, brightly colored bird with green upperparts, golden throat, and a black eye stripe. Agile and graceful, it catches insects—especially bees and dragonflies—in midair.
Habitat:
Open woodlands, grasslands, riverbanks, and savannas
Best Season:
Year-round (most active during the dry season)
African Fish Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
A majestic raptor known for its striking white head, chestnut body, and powerful call. It soars over lakes and rivers, swooping down to catch fish with its sharp talons.
Habitat:
Lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal lagoons
Best Season:
Year-round (most easily seen during the dry season)
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
A large migratory shorebird with a long, curved bill and streaked brown plumage, often seen along coastlines searching for crabs and worms.
Habitat:
Coastal mudflats, estuaries, sandy shores
Best Season:
Winter and migration periods
Egyptian Plover
Pluvianus aegyptius
A striking wader with a blue-gray back, black crown, and white collar. Often called the “crocodile bird,” it’s famous for its habit of picking insects from crocodiles’ mouths.
Habitat:
Sandy riverbanks and freshwater shores
Best Season:
Dry season, when water levels are low
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