The chromosomes of ten species of birds and their karyological relationships have been studied. These species are Gelochelidon nilotica 2nϭ60 and Larus genei 2nϭ54 (Family: Laridae), Himantopus himantopus 2nϭ58 (Family: Recurvirostridae), Hoplopterus spinosus 2nϭ72 (Family: Charadriidae), Lophura edwardsii 2nϭ50 (Family: Phasianidae), Numida meleagris 2nϭ56 (Family: Numididae), Tachybaptus ruficollis 2nϭ58 (Family: Podicipedidae), Phalacrocorax carbo 2nϭ62 (Family: Phalacrocoracidae), Plegadis falcinellus 2nϭ50 (Family: Threskiornithidae) and Anas querquedula 2nϭ74 (Family: Anatidae). details the karyotypes of these ten species. Besides, this is an attempt to contribute to the knowledge of evolution of karyotype of birds of Egypt, so far ignored in this aspect. To the best of author knowledge these results are reported for the first time in Egypt. Materials and methodsSpecimens of Himantopus himantopus, Hoplopterus spinosus, Larus genei, Gelochelidon nilotica, Numida meleagris, Lophura edwardsii, Tachybaptus ruficollis, Phalacrocorax carbo, Plegadis falcinellus and Anas querquedula were collected from different localities around Mediterranean Sea; Zoo Animals and Lake Manzala. Identification and classification of the specimens was carried out by the help of the description and keys provided by Gianfranco (1984) and Steven et al. (1989). Chromosomal preparations have been made from colchicinized bone marrow cells with usual air-drying techniqe according to Adegoke and Nadesan (1986) with some modifications made by Adegoke and Ejere (1991) and Salama et al. (1995). More than seventy spreads were counted to determine the diploid chromosome number and at least 15 well mitotic metaphases were karyotyped from each species. The measurements and calculations were made and chromosome lengths were standardized as a percent of a total complement length. Centromeric position was described according to the criteria established by Levan et al. (1964). 182 Cytologia 70(2) A. M. Ebied et al.