Birds of Eswatini

Eswatini, or the Kingdom of Eswatini, is home to over 500 avian species. Despite its small size, the country possesses a high level of biodiversity

The national bird of the Kingdom of Eswatini is the Purple-crested Turaco. Other notable species include the African Hoopoe, the Marico Sunbird, and the Red-billed Oxpecker.

Birds of Eswatini

List of Common Birds Found in Eswatini

Native Birds

  • African Barred Owlet
  • African Black Duck
  • African Black-headed Oriole
  • African Black Oystercatcher
  • African Black Swift
  • African Blue Flycatcher
  • African Crowned Eagle
  • African Darter
  • African Finfoot
  • African Firefinch
  • African Fish-eagle
  • African Goshawk
  • African Green Pigeon
  • African Gray Hornbill
  • African Harrier-hawk
  • African Hoopoe
  • African Jacana
  • African Marsh Harrier
  • African Marsh Warbler
  • African Palm Swift
  • African Paradise Flycatcher
  • African Pied Starling
  • African Pied Wagtail
  • African Pygmy Goose
  • African Pygmy Kingfisher
  • African Quailfinch
  • African Rail
  • African Reed Warbler
  • African Rock Martin
  • African Rock Pipit
  • African Sacred Ibis
  • African Scops Owl
  • African Skimmer
  • African Spoonbill
  • African Swamphen
  • African Wattled Lapwing
  • African Wood Owl
  • African Yellow Warbler
  • African Yellow White-eye
  • Amethyst Sunbird
  • Bateleur
  • Black-bellied Bustard
  • Black-bellied Starling
  • Black-chested Prinia
  • Black-chested Snake Eagle
  • Black-collared Barbet
  • Black-headed Heron
  • Black Saw-wing
  • Black-winged Lapwing
  • Blue Waxbill
  • Broad-billed Roller
  • Brown-backed Honeybird
  • Brown-hooded Kingfisher
  • Brown Snake Eagle
  • Brown-throated Martin
  • Cape Glossy Starling
  • Cape Longclaw
  • Cape Vulture
  • Chorister Robin-chat
  • Common Waxbill
  • Crested Francolin
  • Crowned Hornbill
  • Dark-capped Bulbul
  • Dusky Lark
  • Eurasian Bee-eater
  • Fiery-necked Nightjar
  • Goliath Heron
  • Great Blue Turaco
  • Great White Pelican
  • Green-backed Camaroptera
  • Green Woodhoopoe
  • Grey Crowned Crane
  • Grey Go-away-bird
  • Grey-headed Kingfisher
  • Hamerkop
  • Knysna Turaco
  • Kurrichane Thrush
  • Lesser Flamingo
  • Lesser Moorhen
  • Lilac-breasted Roller
  • Little Bee-eater
  • Lizard Buzzard
  • Malachite Kingfisher
  • Malachite Sunbird
  • Marico Sunbird
  • Olive Bushshrike
  • Pearl-spotted Owlet
  • Pied Crow
  • Purple-banded Sunbird
  • Purple-crested Turaco
  • Purple Heron
  • Red-backed Shrike
  • Red-billed Firefinch
  • Red-billed Oxpecker
  • Red-chested Cuckoo
  • Red-collared Widowbird
  • Red-faced Cisticola
  • Red-throated Wryneck
  • Red-winged Starling
  • Rüppell’s Parrot
  • Scarlet-chested Sunbird
  • Secretarybird
  • Southern Black Tit
  • Southern Boubou
  • Southern Carmine Bee-eater
  • Southern Ground Hornbill
  • Southern Red Bishop
  • Southern White-crowned Shrike
  • Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
  • Striped Kingfisher
  • Thick-billed Weaver
  • Wahlberg’s Eagle
  • White-bellied Sunbird
  • White-breasted Cormorant
  • White-faced Duck
  • White-fronted Bee-eater
  • White-throated Swallow
  • Yellow-bellied Greenbul
  • Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
  • Yellow-throated Longclaw

Non-native Birds

  • Common Myna
  • House Sparrow
  • Rock Pigeon
  • Rose-ringed Parakeet
  • South African Ostrich

There are several birding sites in Eswatini, including Mlawula Nature Reserve, Hlane Royal National Park, and Malolotja Nature Reserve. The peak season for birdwatching in Eswatini typically coincides with the country’s wetter months, which are November to March.

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