Zimbabwe has more than 700 bird species and is an excellent birding destination. The country has no endemic birds, but several near-endemics can be found in the globally important Eastern Zimbabwe Mountains Endemic Bird Area (EBA). The high standard of guiding in the national parks, and the many opportunities for , make Zimbabwe particularly rewarding for birders. Migratory birds are present from November to April, and the general number of birds is phenomenal.
Endemic & Near-endemic Birds
Zimbabwe has no endemic birds.(NE) near-endemic = lives in Zimbabwe and neighboring countries
- Chirinda apalis (NE)
- Gurney’s sugarbird (NE)
- Lemon-breasted canary (NE)
- Melodious lark (NE)
- Roberts’s warbler (NE)
- Swynnerton’s robin (NE)
- Woodwards’ batis (NE)
Other Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- African pitta
- African skimmer
- Ayres’s hawk-eagle
- Blue-mantled crested flycatcher
- Boulder chat
- Bradfield’s hornbill
- Bronze-winged courser
- Bronzy sunbird
- Buff-spotted flufftail
- Cabanis’s bunting
- Cinnamon-breasted tit
- Crimson-breasted shrike
- Livingstone’s turaco
- Pel’s fishing-owl
- Pennant-winged nightjar
- Peter’s twinspot
- Racket-tailed roller
- Red-faced crimsonwing
- Red-faced crombec
- Rufous-crowned roller
- Southern carmine bee-eater
- Southern hyliota
- Southern pied babbler
- Spotted creeper
- Stripe-cheeked greenbul
- Swamp nightjar
- Verreaux’s eagle
- Verreaux’s eagle owl
- White-breasted cuckoo-shrike
- White-headed black chat
- Yellow-bellied waxbill
Best Time for Bird Watching
Zimbabwe offers the best bird watching in the Wet season from November to April. At this time, migratory birds are present and all species are in full breeding plumage. The scenery is lush and at it most beautiful, but this isn't the best time for general wildlife viewing, which is at its prime in the middle and end of the Dry season from June or July to October.
Best Parks for Birding Includes Birding Rating
The Eastern Highlands, including Nyanga National Park, is a well-known birding hot spot. Hwange National Park has almost 500 species recorded, and the parks in the Zambezi Valley have a rich birdlife as well.
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Hwange NP
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Matusadona NP
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Mana Pools NP
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Zambezi NP
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Nyanga NP
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Gonarezhou NP
Recommended Birding Books
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Roberts Bird Guide (2nd edition; book)
The pick of several complete field guides for southern Africa.
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Roberts Bird Guide (2nd edition; app)
Comprehensive, with birdcalls and extra info not in the book.
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Sasol Birds of Southern Africa
Another excellent, complete field guide; app available.
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Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa
Complete guide with lifelike illustrations; app available.
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Pocket Guide: Birds of Southern Africa
Useful but limited beginner’s guide.