The Birds of Chad are diverse and beautiful, with a huge suite of songbirds, raptors, and game birds. There are also two endemic species and many migratory species.
In this article, you’ll learn about a few of these endemic birds. If you have been to the country, take a look at the Check list of birds of Chad to get a better idea of what you can see.
What will I learn?
588 bird species
The five hundred and eighty-eight species of birds native to Chad are an intriguing array of species. Chad’s ecosystem is varied, ranging from the desert of the Sahara to the wetlands of Lake Chad. This diversity in ecosystems provides habitat for many types of bird life.
Here we discuss some of the most common species of birds in Chad and the importance of conserving them. Let’s start with the lark, which is a small, terrestrial insectivore.
The Sahelian belt of the country’s centre contains 300-600 mm (12-24 in) of annual precipitation. It’s dominated by tall thorny bushes, and it’s a habitat favored by wildlife.
Savannas in the southern part of the country are dotted with several species of birds, including red-billed queleas and the endangered Mocquard’s Writhing Skink.
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Endemic
The flora and fauna of Chad are diverse. The country has several vegetation belts and climatic zones, each with their own peculiar land uses and habitats.
This diverse landscape allows for a great deal of biodiversity. The following list is an incomplete list of Chad’s native species, based on literature, herbarium collections, and land surveys. For more information about the region’s plants and animals, check out the Chad Bird Atlas.
The wetlands of Hadejia-Nguru support a wide range of migratory birds. Over one million ruff have been counted in Lake Chad. In addition to the ruff, the wetlands are home to many other species of wetlands birds. The rusty lark, northern pintail, and white-faced whistling duck are all found in this region.
The Cretzschmar’s bunting is a large, black, and red-spotted bird that spends its winters in the open forests of Chad and northern Sudan. It has a long, hook-shaped bill, and pink-colored beak and tail.
The bird feeds on insects and seeds, and nests on the highest branches of trees. It lays two to four eggs in a nest. Although the species is endangered, its range is extremely wide and its population is stable.
Rare
There are 599 species of birds in the African country of Chad. Some of these species are resident while others migrate through the country. During the breeding season, breeding birds spend their time in Chad while others migrate elsewhere.
While most species are common, there are also many rare species that are an integral part of the ecosystems of Chad. Here are some of the more common birds you might come across while birding in the country.
Penduline-tits and larks are small passerines and insectivores. Larks are small terrestrial birds that feature extravagant songs and display flights.
Their diet is insects and seeds. Cisticolidae, which is also a subfamily of birds, are small insectivores that live in open country. Chad is home to 20 species of cisticolids. This family includes the slender-billed curlew, which is critically endangered.
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Migratory
The birds of Chad include a wide variety of species. The Check list of Chad’s birds includes a wide array of wading and waterfowl, as well as raptors and game birds.
You’ll also find the rusty lark and white-faced whistling duck. Here are a few of the most commonly found species. You may also see a few rare species.
The fork-tailed drongo is a migratory bird from southern Africa that spends the winters in Chad. Its plumage is black with brown streaks and is adorned with orange “mustaches.”
This migrant bird feeds on insects and seeds and nests in the highest branches of trees. The bird’s population in the region ranges from 447,000 to 920,000 individuals.
The researchers measured songbird migration traffic rates using the fixed beam method, a technique similar to that used by Bruderer (1971). This methodology uses a fully computerized recording system.
The data was collected at high and low elevations every hour, and three elevations were chosen for each location. At the Mohammed Lemna and Bir Amrane sites, the data were recorded every eight minutes at six degrees and eight degrees, respectively.
Wintering
In the center of the African continent lies the landlocked country of Chad. The country is home to several eco-regions, including the Saharan desert, Sudanian savanna, and Lake Chad wetlands.
The ecosystem diversity in Chad provides habitat for a number of species of birds. The following information will describe some of the most common Chad birds and their wintering locations. In addition, you will learn more about the endemic and rare species that live in Chad.
The Cretzschmar’s bunting spends the winter in Chad. Males are black with an orange “mustache” and pink beaks, and have a brown-streaked back. They feed on seeds and insects, and have a population of approximately 447,000-920,000. They are one of the most distinctive birds in the world. Their large range and stable population make them a desirable bird to observe.
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Savanna Species
There are two savanna species of birds in Chad, both of which are common. Barbets are small, terrestrial birds with bristles around their payments.
They live in scrub savannas and open woodlands. They feed mostly on seeds and insects. Hornbills are large, flightless insectivores native to southern Africa and Asia. They have long, curved bills and a fused neck vertebra.
The Savanna of Chad has a temperate climate, and the region experiences rainy and dry seasons. In fact, the rainy season lasts from May to November, with 15 to 25 inches of rain in each month.
The dry season, which lasts about seven months of the year, is only four inches of rain. Because the climate of the Savanna is characterized by a wet-dry cycle, it has a high diversity of plants and animals.
Secretary birds hunt on the ground and eat small rodents, amphibians and reptiles. Their highly-developed feet and sharp claws make them excellent predators.
They are typically found in sub-Saharan Africa. Two other savanna species of birds inhabit the region. They are both similar in appearance, with both species being found in semi-arid or desert areas.
Giraffe Species
The giraffes of Chad and Cameroon are a distinct group, but both are closely related to rothschildi. The other two subspecies, reticulata and camelopardalis, are found in the central and eastern African region.
There are no major geographical barriers that separate these groups. East recognized three arbitrary groups in the IUCN classification: nubian/rothschildi, reticulata, and typica.
The two subspecies of giraffes are closely related but differ in their nuclear genomes. The genetic structure of the northern giraffe is less divergent than that of the Shambe.
Both populations exhibit low genome-wide heterozygosity, with the northern subspecies showing lower FHBD than Shambe giraffes. The giraffes of both areas exhibit moderate levels of FHBD.
To estimate Ne, the cytochrome b gene and mitochondrial control region were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Primers specific to each subspecies were used to generate sequences. The PCR was performed in a final volume of 15 mL, containing 10 ng DNA, 7.5 mL of Taq DNA Polymerase 2X Master Mix, and desalted water.
Ostrich Species
The common ostrich is an arid-adapted bird that has developed a long colon, which is 11 to 80 cm long. It has a unique, microbial fermentation chamber in the caecum, which stores water and carbohydrate.
Ostriches store most of their urine and feces in the terminal colon, which is located ventral to the urodeum and terminal rectum.
These birds are highly adaptable. They are capable of surviving for days without drinking water. They also use metabolic water and the moisture found in plants to keep themselves hydrated.
Because of their adaptation to water scarcity, they spend most of their winter season alone or in pairs, although they can be found in small groups of five or more. These birds graze much like zebras and are active during the early morning and late afternoon.
The common ostrich’s diet consists mostly of plant matter, but it also eats small animals like snakes and scorpions. The ostriches live in nomadic groups of five to 50 birds, and they hide and run when they feel threatened.
However, they are dangerous enough to defend themselves and their young, and their powerful legs are useful for attacking other birds. These animals have different mating habits depending on their geographic ranges. Territorial males will fight for a harem of two or seven females.
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