Chad
Chad spans a dramatic transition from the Sahara in the north through the Sahel to savannas in the south. Northern Chad is dominated by immense desert landscapes and the volcanic Tibesti Mountains, whose peaks exceed 3,000 metres. Central regions consist largely of dry steppe and seasonal grasslands, while the south receives more rainfall and supports woodland and savanna. In the west, Lake Chad and its surrounding floodplains form a shifting mosaic of shallow water, reedbeds, islands and wetlands whose extent varies greatly with rainfall and river flow.
Overview
Chad's birdlife reflects its position between the Sahara, Sahel and tropical Africa. Lake Chad and associated wetlands are internationally important for migratory and resident waterbirds, including pelicans, herons, storks, ducks and large numbers of Palearctic migrants. Sahelian habitats support Arabian Bustard, vultures, coursers, sandgrouse, larks and various seed-eating birds. Farther south, Zakouma National Park offers richer savanna birding alongside major wildlife populations, with Black Crowned Crane, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, raptors and large waterbird concentrations. Chad receives very few birding tourists, and travel outside established areas can be difficult. Poor infrastructure, extreme distances and serious security risks in several border and desert regions make independent exploration challenging; organized local logistics and current security advice are essential.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-cheeked Cordonbleu Uraeginthus bengalus | 48.6% | 65.0% | 51.3% | 44.9% | 46.8% | 73.8% | 48.3% | 43.1% | 44.0% | 20.4% | 44.7% | 55.3% | 45.9% |
| Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea | 47.4% | 58.0% | 36.9% | 39.5% | 44.0% | 71.8% | 49.6% | 39.7% | 64.5% | 26.4% | 38.3% | 59.4% | 40.8% |
| Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis | 42.7% | 57.5% | 34.7% | 40.8% | 46.9% | 65.7% | 29.2% | 46.4% | 47.1% | 32.2% | 36.0% | 33.1% | 43.0% |
| Western Cattle-Egret Ardea ibis | 42.4% | 41.9% | 50.0% | 40.3% | 36.8% | 38.9% | 49.6% | 72.8% | 75.1% | 39.1% | 23.0% | 17.4% | 24.3% |
| Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala | 39.0% | 30.7% | 42.0% | 31.2% | 47.3% | 50.4% | 35.0% | 43.5% | 70.1% | 22.0% | 27.3% | 29.7% | 38.2% |
| Mourning Collared-Dove Streptopelia decipiens | 33.6% | 34.4% | 36.9% | 33.1% | 44.7% | 38.9% | 21.7% | 28.4% | 41.5% | 18.3% | 16.9% | 47.6% | 41.3% |
| Long-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis caudatus | 29.1% | 20.6% | 34.0% | 26.9% | 17.6% | 10.6% | 20.8% | 33.4% | 59.5% | 12.5% | 27.5% | 54.1% | 31.3% |
| Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus | 28.3% | 48.8% | 15.7% | 25.2% | 40.6% | 46.9% | 43.3% | 22.2% | 36.4% | 23.3% | 11.6% | 13.7% | 11.3% |
| Pied Crow Corvus albus | 26.0% | 44.3% | 34.0% | 33.0% | 36.4% | 23.2% | 4.2% | 30.4% | 6.0% | 18.1% | 23.5% | 19.0% | 40.3% |
| African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus | 24.1% | 45.8% | 16.5% | 27.6% | 39.3% | 38.2% | 38.3% | 15.0% | 19.4% | 15.6% | 12.9% | 11.3% | 8.7% |