BlueGnu - all about South Africa - towns, places of interest, animals and plants

The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

List of South African Birds

OVER 850 SPECIES OF BIRDS HAVE BEEN RECORDED IN SOUTH AFRICA MAKING IT A GREAT PLACE TO GO BIRD-WATCHING. BELOW IS A LIST OF THE SPECIES THAT HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED ON BLUEGNU

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Avocet, Pied

Recurvirostra avosetta

B

Babbler, Arrow-marked

Turdoides jardineii

Barbet, Black-collared

Lybius torquatus

Barbet, Crested

Trachyphonus vaillantii

Barbet, White-eared

Stactolaema leucotis

Bateleur

Terathopius ecaudatus

Batis, Chinspot

Batis molitor

Bee-eater, European

Merops apiaster

Bee-eater, Little

Merops pusillus

Bee-eater, White-fronted

Merops bullockoides

Bishop, Southern Red

Euplectes orix

Bokmakierie

Telophorus zeylonus

Boubou, Southern

Laniarius ferrugineus

Bulbul, African Red-eyed

Pycnonotus nigricans

Bulbul, Dark-capped

Pycnonotus barbatus

Bunting, Cinnamon-breasted

Emberiza tahapisi

Bunting, Golden-breasted

Emberiza flaviventris

Bush-shrike, Grey-headed

Malaconotus blanchoti

Bustard, Kori

Ardeotis kori

Buzzard, Jackal

Buteo rufofuscus

Buzzard, Steppe

Buteo vulpinus

C

Canary, Yellow-fronted

Serinus mozambicus

Chat, Ant-eating

Myrmecocichla formicivora

Cisticola, Levaillant's

Cisticola tinneins

Cliff-Chat, Mocking

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Coot, Red-knobbed

Fulica cristata

Cormorant, Reed

Microcarbo africanus

Cormorant, White-breasted

Phalacrocorax lucidus

Coucal, Burchells

Centropus burchellii

Courser, Temminck's

Cursorius temminckii

Crake, Black

Amaurornis flavirostra

Crane, Blue

Anthropoides paradiseus

Crane, Grey Crowned

Balearica regulorum

Crane, Wattled

Grus carunculata

Crombec, Long-billed

Sylvietta rufescens

Crow, Pied

Corvus albus

Cuckoo, Diderick

Chrysococcyx caprius

Cuckoo, Klaas's

Chrysococcyx caprius

Cuckooshrike, Grey

Coracina caesia

D

Darter, African

Anhinga rufa

Dove, African Mourning

Streptopelia decipiens

Dove, Cape Turtle

Streptopelia capicola

Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood

Turtur chalcospilos

Dove, Laughing

Spilopelia senegalensis

Dove, Namaqua

Oena capensis

Dove, Red-eyed

Streptopelia semitorquata

Dove, Tembourine

Turtur tympanistria

Drongo, Fork-tailed

Dicrurus adsimilis

Drongo, Square-tailed

Dicrurus ludwigii

Duck, African Black

Anas sparsa

Duck, Maccoa

Oxyura maccoa

Duck, White-faced

Dendrocygna viduata

Duck, Yellow-billed

Anas undulata

E

Eagle, African Fish

Haliaeetus vocifer

Eagle, Long-crested

Lophaetus occipitalis

Eagle, Martial

Polemaetus bellicosus

Aquila rapax

Bubo capensis

Bubo africanus

Bubulcus ibis

Egretta alba

Egretta garzetta

F

Falcon, Lanner

Falco biarmicus

Firefinch, Red-billed

Lagonosticta senegala

Fiscal, Common

Lanius collaris

Flamingo, Greater

Phoenicopterus roseus

Flycatcher, African Dusky

Muscicapa adusta

Flycatcher, Fiscal

Sigelus silens

Flycatcher, Southern Black

Melaenornis pammelaina

Flycatcher, Spotted

Muscicapa striata

Francolin, Crested

Dendroperdix sephaena

G

Go-away-bird, Grey

Corythaixoides concolor

Goose, Egyptian

Alopochen aegyptiacus

Goose, Spur-winged

Plectropterus gambensis

Goshawk, African

Accipiter tachiro

Goshawk, Southern Pale Chanting

Melierax canorus

Grebe, Little

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Greenbul, Sombre

Andropadus importunus

Greenbul, Yellow-bellied

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Greenshank, Common

Tringa nebularia

Guineafowl, Crested

Guttera edouardi

Guineafowl, Helmeted

Plectropterus gambensis

Gull, Kelp

Larus dominicanus

H

Hamerkop

Scopus umbretta

Harrier-Hawk, African

Polyboroides typus

Heron, Black

Egretta ardesiaca

Heron, Black-headed

Ardea melanocephala

Butorides striatus

Ardea cinerea

Ardea purpurea

Indicator minor

Upapa africana

Hornbill, African Grey

Tockus nasutus

Hornbill, Crowned

Tockus alboterminatus

Hornbill, Red-billed

Tockus rufirostris

Hornbill, Southern Ground

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Hornbill, Southern Yellow-billed

Tockus leucomelas

Hornbill, Trumpeter

Bycanistes bucinator

I

Ibis, Glossy

Plegadis falcinellus

Ibis, Hadeda

Bostrychia hagedash

Ibis, Sacred

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Ibis, Southern Bald

Geronticus calvus

J

K

Kestrel, Greater

Falco rupicoloides

Kingfisher, Giant

Ceryle maxima

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded

Halcyon albiventris

Kingfisher, Malachite

Alcedo cristata

Kingfisher, Pied

Ceryle rudis

Kingfisher, Woodland

Halcyon senegalensis

Kite, Black-shouldered

Elanus caeruleus

Kite, Yellow-billed

Milvus aegyptius parasitus

Korhaan, Red-crested

Lophotis ruficrista

Korhaan, Southern Black

Eupodotis afra

L

Lapwing, African Wattled

Vanellus senegallus

Lapwing, Blacksmith

Vanellus armatus

Lapwing, Black-winged

Charadrius tricollaris

Lapwing, Crowned

Vanellus coronatus

Lark, Rufous-naped

Mirafra africana

Lark, Sabota

Calendulauda sabota

Longclaw, Cape

Macronyx capensis

Longclaw, Yellow-throated

Macronyx croceus

M

Mannikin, Bronze

Lonchura cucullata

Mannikin, Red-backed

Lonchura nigriceps

Marsh-Harrier, African

Circus ranivorus

Martin, Banded

Riparia cincta

Masked-Weaver, Lesser

Ploceus intermedius

Masked-Weaver, Southern

Ploceus velatus

Moorhen, Common

Acridotheres tristus

Mousebird, Red-faced

Urocolius indicus

Mousebird, Speckled

Colius striatus

Mousebird, White-backed

Colius colius

Mousebirds

Myna, Common

Acridotheres tristis

N

O

Oriolus larvatus

Pandion haliaetus

Struthio camelus

Otus senegalensis

Asio capensis

Glaucidium perlatum

Oxpecker, Red-billed

Buphagus erythrorhynchus

Oystercatcher, African Black

Haematopus moquini

P

Paradise-Flycatcher, African

Terpsiphone viridis

Parakeet, Rose-ringed

Psittacula krameri

Parrot, Brown-headed

Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

Pelican, Pink-backed

Pelecanus rufescens

Penguin, African

Spheniscus demersus

Pigeon, African Olive-

Columba arquatrix

Columba arquatrix

Columba guinea

Anthus cinnamomeus

Charadrius tricollaris

Prinia, Tawny-flanked

Prinia subflava

Puffback, Black-backed

Dryoscopus cubla

Pytilia, Green-winged

Pytilia melba

Q

Quelea, Red-billed

Quelea quelea

R

Raven, White-necked

Corvus albicollis

Robin, Kalahari Scrub

Cercotrichas paena

Robin, White-browed Scrub

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Robin-Chat, Cape

Cossypha caffra

Robin-Chat, Red-capped

Cossypha natalensis

Robin-Chat, White-browed

Cossypha heuglini

Robin-Chat, White-throated

Cossypha humeralis

Roller, European

Coracias garrulus

Roller, Lilac-breasted

Coracias caudatus

Roller, Purple

Coracias naevius

S

Sandgrouse, Burchell's

Pterocles burchelli

Sandgrouse, Double-banded

Pterocles bicinctus

Sandgrouse, Namaqua

Pterocles namaqua

Secretarybird

Sagittarius serpentarius

Shelduck, South African

Tadorna cana

Shoveler, Cape

Anas smithii

Shrike, Crimson-breasted

Laniarius atrococcineus

Shrike, Magpie

Urolestes melanoleucus

Shrike, Red-backed

Lanius collurio

Shrike, Southern White-crowned

Eurocephalus anguitimens

Snake Eagle, Black-chested

Circaetus pectoralis

Snake Eagle, Brown

Circaetus cinereus

Sparrow, Cape

Passer melanurus

Sparrow, House

Passer domesticus

Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed

Passer diffusus

Sparrowhawk, Black

Accipiter melanoleucus

Sparrowhawk, Little

Accipiter minullus

Spoonbill, African

Platalea alba

Spurfowl, Natal

Pternistis natalensis

Spurfowl, Swainson's

Pternistis swainsonii

Starling, Black-bellied

Lamprotornis corruscus

Starling, Burchell's

Lamprotornis australis

Starling, Cape Glossy

Lamprotornis nitens

Starling, Greater Blue-eared

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Starling, Pied

Spreo bicolor

Starling, Red-winged

Onychognathus morio

Starling, Wattled

Creatophora cinerea

Stonechat, African

Saxicola torquatus

Stork, Black

Ciconia nigra

Stork, Marabou

Leptoptilos crumeniferus

Stork, Saddlebilled

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Ciconia ciconia

Ciconia episcopus

Mycteria ibis

Promerops gurneyi

Nectarinia amethystina

Sunbird, Collared

Hedydipna collaris

Sunbird, Grey

Cyanomitra veroxii

Sunbird, Marico

Cinnyris mariquensis

Sunbird, Olive

Cyanomitra olivacea

Sunbird, Scarlet-chested

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Sunbird, White-bellied

Cinnyris talatala

Swallow, Barn

Hirundo rustica

Swallow, Lesser Striped

Hirundo abyssinica

Swallow, Red-breasted

Cecropis semirufa

Swallow, White-throated

Hirundo albigularis

Swift, African-Palm

Cypsiurus parvus

Swift, Little

Apus affinis

T

Teal, Red-billed

Anas erythrorhyncha

Tern, Swift

Sterna bergii

Tern, Whiskered

Chlidonias hybrida

Thick-knee, Spotted

Burhinus capensis

Thrush, Groundscraper

Psophocichla litsitsirupa

Turdus olivaceus

Parus niger

Apaloderma narina

Tauraco corythaix

Turaco, Purple-crested

Tauraco porphyreolophus

U

V

Vulture, Cape

Gyps coprotheres

Vulture, White-backed

Gyps africanus

Vulture, White-headed

Trigonoceps occipitalis

W

Wagtail, African Pied

Motacilla aguimp

Wagtail, Cape

Motacilla capensis

Waxbill, Blue

Uraeginthus angolensis

Waxbill, Common

Estrilda astrild

Waxbill, Violet-eared

Granatina granatina

Weaver, Sociable

Philetairus socius

Weaver, Spectacled

Ploceus ocularis

Weaver, Thick-billed

Amblyospiza albifrons

Ploceus cucullatus

Ploceus subaureus

Oenanthe monticola

Zosterops pallidus

Whydah, Long-tailed Paradise

Vidua paradisaea

Whydah, Pin-tailed

Vidua macroura

Whydah, Shaft-tailed

Vidua regia

Widow, Fan-tailed

Euplectes axillaris

Widowbird, Long-tailed

Euplectes progne

Widowbird, White-winged

Euplectes albonotatus

Wood-hoopoe, Green

Phoeniculus purpureus

Woodpecker, Bennett's

Campethera bennettii

Woodpecker, Cardinal

Dendropicos fuscescens

Woodpecker, Golden-tailed

Campethera abingoni

Wryneck, Redthroated

Jynx ruficollis

X

Y

Z

Top

Visit our sister site Nature on your doorstep