Birds That Live in the African Forest

Africa's lush landscape includes forests that line the south, east, west and north parts of the region. The dense underbrush and large trees within these forests make them ideal homes for birds of all species. From large colorful parrots to small tree weavers, Africa's forests contain many different types of birds, many which are endemic to certain areas.

  1. Forest Facts

    • Forest and woodlands in Africa account for 21.8 percent of its land area. They are classified into nine categories including tropical rain forests, tropical mountain forest,and subtropical dry forests. These forests are home to various types of bird species which are endemic to the region, such as the African gray parrot and the Congo peafowl.

    Forest Species

    • Many African countries contain rain forests, including Liberia, Uganda, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is home to the second largest rain forest in the world. Some birds that are endemic to African rain forests are flamingos, white breasted guinea fowls, eagles and falcons. The coastal forests of East Africa, located on low hills near the Indian Ocean, are over 27 million years old. Because of their moist and stable climate, these forests an ideal habitats for birds such as the Amani sunbird, the green tinkerbird and the white winged apalis.

    Rain Forest Birds

    • The African rain forest supports several distinctive bird species including the African gray parrot -- native to lowland rain forests in western and central Africa -- and the Congo peafowl. The African gray parrot, distinctive because of its colors and ability to talk, is generally about 13 to 16 inches long and has red tail feathers, gray front feathers, white patches around the eyes and a dark gray, curved bill. The Congo peafowl, which is indigenous to the rain forests of South Africa, was not discovered by scientists until the 1930s. It resembles a traditional peacock with colorful, widespread feathers and a small tuft of feathers at the top of its head. This bird is classified on the vulnerable species list because of its likelihood of becoming endangered due to its diminishing population.

    Endangered Birds

    • According to the website On The Brink, 190 endangered bird species exist and 27 of these live in Africa. Found only in Kenya's Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and some areas of its Brachystegia Forest, Clarke's weaver is a rare, highly endangered bird. Because this species has extremely elusive living conditions, no one has ever found a nest. Another extremely endangered forest bird is the Raso lark, which is endemic to the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Western Africa. A small perching bird, the Raso lark has an existing population of only about 130 because of low reproductive success and predation by the giant gecko, which also lives on the islands.