


Top 13 Most Common Bird in Yobe
Yobe is marked by a richly diverse ecosystem, offering ideal habitats for a variety of bird species. The most common 13 birds found here exemplify unique adaptations, distinct behaviors, and fascinating appearances that contribute to the vibrancy of the region's wildlife. Their intriguing characteristics reflect the intricate and remarkable nature of Yobe's ornithological richness.

Most Common Bird

1. Shikra
The Schikrasperber or Schikra (Accipiter badius) belongs to the family of the hawk-like (Accipitridae). The species is considered largely unexplored. It originally occurred in western Central Asia, South Kazakhstan and South Asia. Schikras have also been reported on the African continent.

2. Black-headed Lapwing
The black-headed lapwing or black-headed plover (Vanellus tectus) is a large lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae. It is a resident breeder across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, although it has seasonal movements. It lays two or three eggs on a ground scrape. These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They are medium-large waders with a black head other than a white forehead, lower face and bands across the rear head and nape. There is a wispy black crest like northern lapwing and the bill and legs are red. The tail is white, tipped black. In flight, the black-headed lapwing's upperwings have black flight feathers and brown coverts separated by a white bar. The underwings are white with black flight feathers. This species is a common breeder in wet lowland habitats close to water. It often feeds in drier habitats, such as golf courses and grassy scrub, picking insects and other invertebrates from the ground. The black-headed lapwing has a metallic tink-tink call.


3. Eurasian Hoopoe
Instantly recognizable by its crown-shaped crest and plumage pattern, the eurasian Hoopoe is a medium-sized, ground-feeding bird that reveals the stunning black and white stripes on its wings during flight. When on the ground, this insectivorous bird tends to move somewhat strangely, often changing direction suddenly. This attractive bird has an important significance among many cultures and is the national bird of Israel.

4. Red-necked Falcon
The red-necked falcon is a medium-sized, long-winged species with a bright rufous crown and nape. It is on average 30–36 cm in length with a wingspan of 85 cm. The wings and upper parts are bluish grey and the tail has narrow bars, a broad subterminal black band tipped with white. The wingtip does not reach the tip of the tail at rest. The second and third primaries are the longest and almost equal in length while the first is a fourth the length. The first two primaries are notched. The legs, ceres and eyering are yellow. The tip of the bill is black while the basal portion is greenish yellow. The voice of this species is a shrill ki-ki-ki-ki. The sexes are similar except in size, males are smaller than females as is usual in falcons. Young birds are buff below with less extensive barring and duller upper plumage.


5. Chestnut-bellied Starling

6. African Grey Hornbill

7. Black-crowned Night-heron
The shorter, stockier version of their long-legged heron counterparts, the black-crowned Night-heron is most active in the early evening hours, giving them their name. The most commonly-found heron across the world, you can spot them in wetlands, though they may be more difficult to notice than the taller heron species. Studying their nests can get a bit smelly- startled nestlings tend to eject their food when they are approached by people.

8. White-billed Buffalo Weaver

9. Greater Blue-eared Starling
The greater blue-eared starling is a 22 cm long, short tailed bird. This starling is glossy blue-green with a purple-blue belly and blue ear patch. Its iris is bright yellow or orange. The sexes are similar, but the juvenile is duller and has blackish brown underparts. The populations from southern Kenya southwards are smaller than northern birds and are sometimes considered to be a separate subspecies, L. c. sycobius. The lesser blue-eared starling is similar to this species, but the blue of the belly does not extend forward of the legs. The greater blue-eared starling has a range of musical or grating calls, but the most familiar is a nasal squee-ar.


10. Common Whitethroat
The common Whitethroat is a medium-sized warbler identifiable by its long tail. The bird flicks its tail as it darts out from cover in search of insects. In the fall, the bird also eats fruit and berries that fall to the ground. The bird is rarely found in urban areas, preferring open fields, gardens, and meadows.

11. Northern Grey-headed Sparrow
The northern grey-headed sparrow (Passer griseus), also known as the grey-headed sparrow, is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae, which is resident in much of tropical Africa. It occurs in a wide range of open habitats, including open woodlands and human habitation, often occupying the same niche as the house sparrow does in Eurasia. The adult northern grey-headed sparrow has a pale grey head with a white moustache stripe, pale brown upperparts, whitish underparts and chestnut wings with a small white shoulder patch. The sexes are similar, but young birds are slightly duller and lack the white wing patch. There are three subspecies, differing in plumage tone, especially with regard to the darkness of the head. This sparrow is mainly resident in its range, but there is some seasonal movement, and flocks of up to 50 birds form outside the breeding season. It builds a cup nest in trees, thatch, or old nests of other birds; 2–4 eggs are laid. This species feeds principally on seeds and grain, like other sparrows, but will readily take insects including termites, especially when feeding young. The calls include cheeps and chirps, and the typical sparrow churring alarm call. The northern grey-headed sparrow is replaced in eastern and southern Africa by very similar birds that are sometimes considered races of this species: Swainson's sparrow, the parrot-billed sparrow, the Swahili sparrow, and the southern grey-headed sparrow. According to phylogenetic studies by Arnaiz-Villena et al., this species is indeed related to the other grey-headed sparrows, and these species together are most closely related within genus Passer to the house sparrow and allies.


12. Laughing Dove
The laughing Dove is a small dove named after its distinctive laugh-like vocalization. This ground-feeding, non-migratory bird is a regular inhabitant of man-altered environments such as villages, gardens, and orchards. In cities, these doves tend to become quite confident. They pair for life and live in very small communities.

13. Zitting Cisticola
The zitting cisticola is 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in) in length. It is brown above, heavily streaked with black markings. The underparts are whitish, and the tail is broad, white-tipped and flicked frequently, giving rise to the alternative name for the species. The adult males have less crown streaking and more back marking than the females, but there are no great difference between the sexes or the eighteen geographical races. The absence of a nuchal collar separate it from the golden-headed cisticola (Cisticola exilis). In the non-breeding season, they tend to skulk within the grass and can be hard to spot.
