Birds of Lesotho

Around 400 species live in the South African country of Lesotho. The climate of the nation is cool, with several migratory birds visiting the country when it is summer in other places.

Some of the notable avifauna found in Lesotho include the African Rock Pipit, the Cape Canary, and the Drakensberg Siskin.

List of Common Birds Found in Lesotho

Native Birds

African Darter
African Fish-eagle
African Harrier-hawk
African Hoopoe
African Jacana
African Marsh Harrier
African Olive Pigeon
African Palm Swift
African Paradise Flycatcher
African Pied Wagtail
African Pipit
African Pygmy Kingfisher
African Quailfinch
African Rail
African Red-eyed Bulbul
African Reed Warbler
African Rock Pipit
African Sacred Ibis
African Snipe
African Stonechat
African Yellow Warbler
Banded Martin
Barratt’s Warbler
Black-collared Barbet
Black Crake
Black-crowned Tchagra
Black-headed Heron
Black-headed Oriole
Blue Crane
Blue Korhaan
Buff-streaked Chat
Cape Batis
Cape Canary
Cape Glossy Starling
Cape Grassbird
Cape Grassbird
Cape Longclaw
Cape Robin-chat
Cape Rockjumper
Cape Sparrow
Cape Starling
Cape Vulture
Cape Wagtail
Cape Weaver
Cape White-eye
Common Waxbill
Diederik Cuckoo
Drakensberg Siskin
Eurasian Reed Warbler
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Gray Crowned Crane
Gray-headed Gull
Gray-winged Francolin
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
Greater Honeyguide
Greater Kestrel
Greater Painted-snipe
Ground Woodpecker
Gurney’s Sugarbird
Jackal Buzzard
Large-billed Lark
Lesser Striped Swallow
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Little Grebe
Little Swift
Malachite Go-away-bird
Malachite Kingfisher
Malachite Sunbird
Monarch Flycatcher
Mountain Pipit
Mountain Wheatear
Northern Black Korhaan
Olive Thrush
Orange-breasted Waxbill
Plain-backed Pipit
Red-billed Teal
Red-chested Flufftail
Red-throated Wryneck
Red-winged Francolin
Sentinel Rock Thrush
Southern Bald Ibis
Southern Boubou
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
Southern Gray-headed Sparrow
Southern Tchagra
Speckled Pigeon
Swee Waxbill
Three-banded Plover
White-breasted Cormorant
White-browed Robin-chat
White-throated Swallow
White-winged Tern
Wing-snapping Cisticola
Yellow-bellied Greenbul
Yellow-billed Duck
Yellow Bishop
Yellow-breasted Pipit
Yellow-fronted Canary

Non-native Birds

Cape Teal
Common Myna
Denham’s Bustard
European Starling
Great Crested Grebe
Harlequin Quail
House Sparrow
Namaqua Sandgrouse
Rock Pigeon
Southern Pochard

Some of the best birding sites in Lesotho include Tsehlanyane National Park, Sani Pass, and Mokhotlong Plateau. The peak season for birdwatching in Lesotho typically coincides with the spring and summer months, which are from September to March. During this time, many migratory bird species arrive in Lesotho from their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere, increasing the diversity of birdlife in the country.