Birds of Somalia: new records, range extensions and observations from Somaliland

Abstract

Due to recent political instability and unrest across the Horn of Africa region, Somaliland (the northwest sector of Somalia) is ornithologically little-known. This is despite it being a peaceful and stable state, and its avifauna being summarized in the recently-published Birds of the Horn of Africa (Redman et al. 2009). We present new information on the ranges and dates of occurrence for 71 species in Somaliland, based on our visit from 17 to 31 May 2010. These include three species not recorded before from Somaliland, namely Von der Decken’s Hornbill Tockus deckeni, Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis and Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus.