African Finfoot

Podica senegalensis (Vieillot, 1817)

Heliornithidae — Finfoots

African Finfoot, Podica senegalensis, is a widespread breeding bird across Africa, especially where rivers, streams and lakes provide cover along the banks. It belongs to the finfoot family and is an aquatic species found in western, central and southern parts of the continent. Its most notable feature is its long neck, sharp bill and red lobed feet. The plumage differs between races, with darker upperparts and paler underparts, and males are usually darker than females. It is secretive and is most often encountered alone or in pairs.

Order
Gruiformes
Family
Heliornithidae — Finfoots
Breeding range
Africa: widespread
African Finfoot
© Clint Ralph · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

36 tours in The Gambia 17, Uganda 8, Senegal 3, Namibia 2, South Africa 2, Gambia 1, Botswana 1, Tanzania 1, Kenya 1

16 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Tour
16 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Tour
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 16 days

Fixed-date Uganda birding and wildlife photography tour with Shoebill, Murchison Falls, Budongo, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mb...

From USD 5,492 Next: Sep 4, 2027
Private 15-Day Casamance, Southern Senegal and Rural Gambia Birding Tour
Private 15-Day Casamance, Southern Senegal and Rural Gambia Birding Tour
Senegal / Ziguinchor Private tour 15 days

A private 15-day cross-border route through Casamance, rural Gambia and the Saloum Delta, combining tropical forest, rice fields, river wetl...

Private 14-Day Southeastern Senegal and Sine-Saloum Birding Tour
Private 14-Day Southeastern Senegal and Sine-Saloum Birding Tour
Senegal / Dakar Private tour 14 days

A private 14-day circuit through Senegal’s south-east, Niokolo-Koba and Kedougou before finishing among the wetlands and bird roosts of th...

Private 13-Day River Gambia Birding Adventure
Private 13-Day River Gambia Birding Adventure
Gambia / Banjul Private tour 13 days

A private 13-day expedition through coastal, wetland, savannah and riverine habitats from Farasuto and Kiang West to Janjanbureh, Kuntaur an...

Private 14-Day Western Uganda Birding and Wildlife Tour
Private 14-Day Western Uganda Birding and Wildlife Tour
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 14 days

Explore western Uganda on a private 14-day birding route linking lowland and montane forests, savanna, wetlands, primate tracking and two sc...

13-Day Wings Over the Wild Birding and Photography Safari
13-Day Wings Over the Wild Birding and Photography Safari
Botswana / Maun 13 days

A private 13-day birding and wildlife photography journey from Maun to Kasane through Moremi, Khwai, Savuti and the Chobe Riverfront, with m...

From USD 7,200
Custom Gambia and Senegal Birdwatching and Photography Tour
Custom Gambia and Senegal Birdwatching and Photography Tour
The Gambia / Coastal Gambia Private tour

A private, fully customized birdwatching and wildlife photography journey through The Gambia and Senegal, led by Gambia-based guide Ansumana...

Nine-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour
Nine-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 9 days

A nine-day private birding or photography journey through coastal Gambia, Tendaba and Kiang West with three boat trips and a choice of half-...

5-Day Inland Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
5-Day Inland Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
The Gambia / Tendaba Private tour 5 days

Spend four nights and five days birding inland Gambia’s river, wetland, woodland and savannah country on a private trip with JJ....

8-Day Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
8-Day Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 8 days

Sample coastal wetlands and woodland plus a shorter inland component on an eight-day private Gambia birding tour with JJ....

10-Day Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
10-Day Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 10 days

Balance well-known coastal sites with a selected inland extension on a private 10-day Gambia birding tour guided by Junkung Jadama....

14-Day Extended Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
14-Day Extended Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 14 days

Use 14 private birding days to range from western Gambia’s coastal habitats through river country to the far east with Junkung Jadama....

14-Day Custom Gambia and Senegal Target Bird Tour with JJ
14-Day Custom Gambia and Senegal Target Bird Tour with JJ
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 14 days

Shape a private 14-day Gambia and Senegal route around priority birds, seasonal access and the habitats most relevant to the target list....

18-Day Gambia, Southern and Northern Senegal Birding Tour with JJ
18-Day Gambia, Southern and Northern Senegal Birding Tour with JJ
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 18 days

Connect coastal and inland Gambia with southern and northern Senegal on an 18-day private journey led by Junkung Jadama....

Private Full-Day Gambia Birding Tour with Junkung Jadama
Private Full-Day Gambia Birding Tour with Junkung Jadama
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 9.5h

Bird coastal Gambia on a flexible private full day with Junkung Jadama, matching the route to seasonal activity and guest priorities....

From GBP 80
15-Day Uganda Birding Tour 2027
15-Day Uganda Birding Tour 2027
Uganda / Entebbe Group tour 15 days

A 15-day Uganda birding circuit from Entebbe through Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo, Mgahinga, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Semliki for Sh...

From USD 4,685
Ultimate 26-Day Tailor-Made Uganda Birding Safari
Ultimate 26-Day Tailor-Made Uganda Birding Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 26 days

A 26-day tailor-made circuit spanning Uganda’s Lake Victoria wetlands, western forests, Albertine Rift, Nile savanna and eastern dry-count...

8-Day Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Birding Safari
8-Day Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Birding Safari
Uganda / Queen Elizabeth National Park Private tour 8 days

An eight-day Uganda route pairing Queen Elizabeth’s savanna and Kazinga Channel with the Albertine Rift forests of Bwindi....

16-Day Uganda Mixed Ecosystems Popular Birding Safari
16-Day Uganda Mixed Ecosystems Popular Birding Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 16 days

A 16-day Uganda circuit across Lake Victoria wetlands, western rainforests, Nile and savanna habitats, Bwindi’s Albertine Rift forests and...

14-Day Eastern Arc and Northern Tanzania Birding Safari with Wings Explorers Tours
14-Day Eastern Arc and Northern Tanzania Birding Safari with Wings Explorers Tours
Tanzania / Arusha Private tour 14 days

A 14-day private Tanzania birding itinerary linking Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, the Usambara Mountains, Amani Nature Reserve a...

16 Days Central, Northern and Western Kenya Birding
16 Days Central, Northern and Western Kenya Birding
Kenya / Nairobi Private tour 16 days

Kenya birding route through Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo, Kakamega, Kisumu, Masai Mara, Naivasha and Kinangop....

From USD 3,767
14 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Safari
14 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 14 days

Uganda western circuit birding and wildlife photography route with Mabamba, Budongo, Kibale, Semuliki, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mbur...

From USD 4,880
Warblers & Pachyderms, a Birding Safari with Natural History
Warblers & Pachyderms, a Birding Safari with Natural History
Namibia / Windhoek Private tour 21 days

A private 21-day birding and nature-photography journey from northern Namibia through the Okavango and Zambezi regions to Victoria Falls....

Blyde River Canyon Birding Tour with Bedneck Maibela
Blyde River Canyon Birding Tour with Bedneck Maibela
South Africa / Hoedspruit Private tour

A guide-led birding outing in the Blyde River Canyon area, with African Finfoot and Pel’s Fishing Owl among Bedneck’s highlighted specie...

From ZAR 500
Private Uganda Birding with Alex Gabiito
Private Uganda Birding with Alex Gabiito
Uganda / Bwindi Private tour 1 day

Private Uganda birding guidance with Alex Gabiito of African Skimmer Tours, covering Bwindi, Mabamba, Budongo, Kibale, Semuliki, Murchison F...

14-Day Senegal and Gambia Combined Birdwatching Trip with Turaco Birding
14-Day Senegal and Gambia Combined Birdwatching Trip with Turaco Birding
The Gambia / Senegal and The Gambia Private tour 14 days

A combined 14-day Senegambia birdwatching trip linking Turaco Birding routes in The Gambia and Senegal....

10-Day Senegal Birdwatching Trip with Turaco Birding
10-Day Senegal Birdwatching Trip with Turaco Birding
Senegal / Senegal Private tour 10 days

An all-inclusive 10-day Senegal birdwatching trip operated by Turaco Birding from its Senegambia birding program....

10-Day Birdwatching Trip in The Gambia with Turaco Birding
10-Day Birdwatching Trip in The Gambia with Turaco Birding
The Gambia / The Gambia Private tour 10 days

An all-inclusive 10-day Turaco Birding trip through The Gambia for coastal, wetland, river and up-country birding....

Birds and Breakfast at Lamin Lodge with Abuko Birding
Birds and Breakfast at Lamin Lodge with Abuko Birding
The Gambia / Lamin and Abuko Private tour 7h

An early Birds and Breakfast outing with coffee at Lamin Lodge, rice-field birding and Abuko Nature Reserve....

Full-Day Gambia Birdwatching Trips with Turaco Birding
Full-Day Gambia Birdwatching Trips with Turaco Birding
The Gambia / Greater Banjul Coast Private tour 11h

A full-day Turaco Birding option from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM combining coastal forests, wetlands, creeks and woodland sites....

Half-Day Coastal Birdwatching Trips with Turaco Birding
Half-Day Coastal Birdwatching Trips with Turaco Birding
The Gambia / Greater Banjul Coast Private tour 5.5h

A half-day private birdwatching option covering Abuko, Farasutu, Brufut Woods, Pirang/Bonto, Kartong, Kotu Creek or Marakissa....

Tendaba and Basse 4-Day Birding Excursion with Turaco Birding
Tendaba and Basse 4-Day Birding Excursion with Turaco Birding
The Gambia / Tendaba and Basse Private tour 4 days

A four-day Turaco Birding route from the coast toward Tendaba and Basse for river, woodland and up-country birding....

Southern Africa Birding Expedition: Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls with Birding Ecotours
Southern Africa Birding Expedition: Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls with Birding Ecotours
Namibia / Walvis Bay Group tour 18 days

An 18-day birding expedition from Namibia's Atlantic coast through Etosha and the Okavango Panhandle to Victoria Falls, combining desert nea...

From USD 10,206
Private Garden Route Birding Day Tour with Birding Ecotours
Private Garden Route Birding Day Tour with Birding Ecotours
South Africa / Plettenberg Bay Private tour 1 day

A private day from Plettenberg Bay shaped around Garden Route forests, fynbos, wetlands and estuaries, with local targets selected for the s...

From ZAR 7,000
14 Day Comprehensive Nature Adventure Birding- Gambia-Senegal
14 Day Comprehensive Nature Adventure Birding- Gambia-Senegal
The Gambia Group tour 14 days

Experience an unforgettable 14-day birdwatching adventure in The Gambia and Senegal, exploring some of West Africa’s richest and most dive...

From EUR 2,000
11-Day Gambia Birding Expedition
11-Day Gambia Birding Expedition
The Gambia Group tour 11 days

Explore the rich birdlife of The Gambia and Senegal on an eleven-day expedition through some of West Africa’s most diverse and rewarding h...

From EUR 650