Part of the globally important Eastern Zimbabwe Mountains Endemic Bird Area (EBA), Nyanga National Park is a top birding destination with 300-plus species recorded. Near-endemics present in Nyanga include Gurney’s sugarbird (often seen feeding on aloes or proteas) and the forest-dwelling Chirinda apalis and Swynnerton’s robin, although most forest specials are more easily seen in the nearby Vumba Mountains. Migratory birds, present from November to April, include 5% of the global breeding population of the endangered blue swallow.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
Zimbabwe has no endemic birds.(NE) near-endemic = lives in Zimbabwe and neighboring countries
- Barratt’s warbler
- Blue swallow
- Blue-spotted wood dove
- Bronzy sunbird
- Chirinda apalis (NE)
- Common quail
- Eastern olive sunbird
- Eastern saw-wing
- Fan-tailed grassbird
- Gurney’s sugarbird (NE)
- Livingstone’s turaco
- Long-crested eagle
- Malachite sunbird
- Mottled swift
- Pale batis
- Red-faced crimsonwing
- Red-necked spurfowl
- Roberts’s warbler (NE)
- Rufous-chested sparrowhawk
- Scarce swift
- Swee waxbill
- Swynnerton’s robin (NE)
- Taita falcon
- Tambourine dove
- Variable sunbird
- Verreaux’s eagle
- White-eared barbet
- White-starred robin
- Whyte’s barbet
- Yellow-bellied waxbill
Best Time for Bird Watching
Nyanga is good year-round for birdlife but at its best when the migratory birds from Europe and northern Africa are present (November to April). Resident birds are in their colorful breeding plumage and nesting at this time.