Despite Lesotho’s landlocked location and small size, more than 360 bird species have been recorded there. The whole country stands above 1,000m/3,280ft, so the main birding interest is highland specials. Drakensberg siskin and are among several species to the Drakensberg Mountains. Other specials include yellow-breasted pipit and . and nest on the cliffs, and the country is one of the best places in southern Africa to see the sought-after bearded vulture.
Endemic & Near-Endemic Birds
No birds are endemic or near-endemic to Lesotho, but the kingdom is home to a high proportion of those species that are near-endemic to South Africa.(NE) = South African near-endemic that occurs in Lesotho
(NE/SLE) = South African near-endemic restricted to South Africa, Lesotho and/or Eswatini
- African pied starling (NE/SLE)
- African rock pipit (NE/SLE)
- Barratt’s warbler (NE)
- Black harrier (NE)
- Black-headed canary (NE)
- Blue bustard (NE/SLE)
- Blue crane (NE)
- Bokmakierie (NE)
- Buff-streaked chat (NE/SLE)
- Bush blackcap (NE/SLE)
- Cape clapper lark (NE)
- Cape grassbird (NE)
- Cape rock thrush (NE/SLE)
- Cape weaver (NE)
- Cape white-eye (NE)
- Cloud cisticola (NE)
- Drakensberg prinia (NE/SLE)
- Drakensberg rockjumper (NE/SLE)
- Drakensberg siskin (NE/SLE)
- Eastern long-billed lark (NE/SLE)
- Fairy flycatcher (NE)
- Fiscal flycatcher (NE)
- Greater double-collared sunbird (NE/SLE)
- Grey-winged francolin (NE/SLE)
- Ground woodpecker (NE)
- Gurney’s sugarbird (NE)
- Jackal buzzard (NE)
- Karoo prinia (NE)
- Karoo thrush (NE)
- Large-billed lark (NE)
- Layard’s tit-babbler (NE)
- Mountain pipit (NE/SLE)
- Rudd’s lark
- Sentinel rock thrush (NE/SLE)
- Sickle-winged chat (NE)
- Southern bald ibis (NE/SLE)
- Southern double-collared sunbird (NE)
- Swee waxbill (NE)
- Yellow-breasted pipit (NE/SLE)
Other Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
Best Time for Bird Watching
Many of Lesotho’s special birds are and can be seen throughout the year. However, the best time for birding is from November to April, when the from Europe and northern Africa are present. At this time, many birds are nesting and are in breeding plumage too.
Recommended Birding Books
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Roberts Bird Guide (2nd edition; book and app)
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Sasol Birds of Southern Africa (book and app)
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Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa (book and app)
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Pocket Guide: Birds of Southern Africa