10 Common Birds You’ll See in Ghana

Ghana is blessed with many beautiful birds that pass through our skies every day. Some are rare and take hours of birdwatching to find. But others? You’ll see them without even trying: in your backyard, on electric poles, along the roadside, and around your home.

These are the common birds of Ghana. They live close to us, especially in towns and cities, and most of us see them daily without really paying attention. In this series, I’ll share 10 common birds you’re likely to see in Ghana, and why they’re worth noticing.

10 Common Birds In Ghana

Here are the 10 most common birds in Ghana, in no particular order. You will find these birds in abundance in any region of the country:

1. Village weavers:

The Village Weaver is seen almost everywhere in Ghana. Even though it is very common, it is one of the most beautiful birds you will see around. The males have a black head, red eyes, and bright yellow feathers. The females are also yellow, but without the black head.

You will almost always hear them in your backyard or see them in trees, especially near water or in mango trees. They are usually in groups, busy calling and weaving their hanging nests.

2. Common bulbul:

The Common Bulbul is one of those birds you see and hear almost every day in Ghana. You’ll find it around homes, schools, farms, and even busy towns. It may not be the most colourful bird, but it is one of the smartest and most confident birds you’ll come across.

It has different songs and calls, and you’ll hear them often in the mornings and evenings.

You’ll usually see them moving around people without fear, hopping on fences, roofs, and trees. Sometimes, two bulbuls face each other, open their wings slightly, and call loudly at each other. This is a greeting behaviour you’ll often notice when they meet.

3. Northern grey-headed sparrow:

In most parts of Ghana, the Northern Grey-headed Sparrow is widespread and occurs in both rural and urban environments. Because it is so common, birders and casual observers often overlook it in favour of more colourful or less familiar species. However, the species is an important component of local ecosystems, contributing to seed dispersal and the control of small insects, especially in human-dominated landscapes. Beyond its ecological role, the Northern Grey-headed Sparrow is also a subtly beautiful bird, with clean grey head markings and warm brown tones, and deserves more attention than it often receives.

4. Pied Crow:

In many parts of Ghana, Pied Crows are associated with negative beliefs and are sometimes described as witches or wizards because of their dark colour and bold behaviour around people. This perception has contributed to fear and dislike of the species in some communities. In addition, Pied Crows are often considered a nuisance because they pick up soap, food scraps, and other items left unattended around homes, markets, and work areas.

However, this behaviour is not linked to anything supernatural. Pied Crows are highly intelligent and opportunistic birds. They investigate objects in their environment out of curiosity or in search of food, which explains why they may carry away items that appear edible or interesting. While their boldness can be inconvenient, the species plays an important ecological role as a scavenger, helping to clean up waste and carcasses in both rural and urban environments.

5. Western Plantain Eater:

These birds, from the turaco family, are also very common across much of southern Ghana, especially in forest edges, farmlands, and areas with scattered trees. The name “plantain-eater” comes from early observations of the species feeding on plantain and other cultivated fruits around farms and settlements.

However, despite the name, Western Plantain-eaters do not feed only on plantain. Their diet mainly consists of wild fruits, berries, seeds, and occasionally insects. They are often heard before they are seen, as their loud, croaking calls carry far across.

6. Laughing Dove:

If this bird weren’t so common in Ghana, it would be one of those species that makes you say “wow” when you see it. The Laughing Dove has beautiful reddish-brown plumage along its back and wings, and distinctive black-and-white spotted markings along the sides of its neck. Its soft, cooing call gives the species its name.

These doves have adapted remarkably well to urban environments. They are often found nesting in unexpected places, such as the backs of air conditioning units, where the warmth and shelter provide a safe site for raising their young.

7. Green-backed Camaroptera:

Often heard before it is seen, the Green-backed Camaroptera is a small, secretive bird that spends most of its time hidden in dense undergrowth and bushes. It is very common across Ghana, and its distinctive, repetitive “churring” call is more often heard than the bird is seen. Despite its unobtrusive appearance, it plays an important role in controlling insects, as it feeds largely on small insects and other invertebrates within its habitat.

8. African Thrush:

The African Thrush is one of the most familiar birds in towns, gardens, and forest edges across Ghana. For many people, it is often the first bird heard in the morning. Its song is slow, rich, and flute-like, usually given from a high perch before sunrise. This early-morning singing makes the African Thrush a constant background presence in everyday life, even for people who do not actively watch birds.

On the ground, it feeds by hopping through leaf litter and lawns, searching for insects, worms, and fallen fruits. Because it is comfortable around people and adapts well to human-altered environments, the African Thrush is a good example of a native forest bird that has successfully adjusted to living close to settlements.

9. Yellow-billed kite:

The Yellow-billed Kite is one of the most familiar birds of prey in Ghana and across much of Africa, often seen gliding effortlessly over towns, roadsides, farmlands, and open spaces. Unlike many raptors that keep to remote forests and protected areas, this species has adapted well to human-dominated landscapes.

It feeds on a wide range of food, including insects, small animals, carrion, and food scraps, which allows it to survive in both natural and urban environments. You will often see it circling high in the sky, riding warm air currents with barely a wingbeat, scanning the ground below for feeding opportunities. This slow, graceful soaring flight is a classic behaviour of birds of prey and makes the Yellow-billed Kite easy to recognise, even from a distance.

10. Rock Pigeons:

The Rock Pigeon is one of the most widely known birds in the world, found on almost every continent and in an incredible range of colour forms and patterns. In Ghana, it is especially common in towns and cities, where it lives closely alongside people. Although many now see it mainly as an “urban bird,” the Rock Pigeon originally evolved on cliffs and rocky outcrops, where it nested on ledges that closely resemble the buildings and bridges it uses today.

Rock Pigeons are highly social birds, seen in flocks feeding on the ground or resting on rooftops and wires. Their familiarity sometimes makes them easy to overlook, but they are a powerful example of how wildlife can adjust to changing landscapes and thrive in close association with humans.