Go Back

COMMON BIRDS OF SIERRA LEONE - An Indigenous Language Guide

Hazell S Thompson, Papanie Bai-Sesay, Andrea Haffner & Momoh Bai-Sesay

Sierra Leone has more than 600 bird species. Many of them are beautiful and play important roles in Sierra Leoneans’ lives. But, till now, there has not been any public record of how Sierra Leoneans call their birds in their own languages. This guide describes 60 common bird species in Sierra Leone and gives their names in one or more of the three main indigenous languages  Mende, Temne  and Krio. The  guide  is  designed  for  the  public  and  beginners  of  birdwatching. It is written in non-technical terms and describes only species likely to be seen easily. All birds are presented with brilliant colour photographs and are well described. The introduction explains important things about bird watching, bird habitats and how to use the guide. There are also notes on the behaviour of the birds, and their cultural connections and importance to Sierra Leoneans. There are references and resources for advanced readers. The hope for this guide is that it will raise readers’ awareness of the rich bird life of Sierra Leone and get more Sierra Leoneans involved in their conservation.