Avian surveys near Camp Lemonnier and Day Forest, Djibouti, Africa

Abstract

Two brief biodiversity surveys were conducted near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, in May 2014 and February 2016, and to the Day Forest (Forêt du Day) in February 2016. Our complete avian checklist of 143 species, with 96 species preserved as museum specimens is presented here. We document nesting for Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus (Linnaeus, 1758), the occurrence of Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga Sundevall, 1850, and confirm Little Tern Sternula albifrons (Pallas, 1764) in Djibouti. We comment on observations for the Critically Endangered Djibouti Spurfowl Pternistis ochropectus (Dorst & Jouanin 1952), and the Endangered Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758), and a previously noted Fringillidae (Crithagra sp.) Swainson, 1827 from the Day Forest. Hybridization between Somali Sparrow Passer castanopterus Blythi,1885 and House Sparrow Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) is documented with voucher specimens. Although these surveys and taxa lists represent brief inventories for the areas visited, they provide a foundation and reference for future work in this understudied region in the Horn of Africa.