BIRDING IN ZIMBABWE

Victoria Falls

Coppery-tailed Coucal

The Victoria Falls area is diverse, including as it does here Kazungula and the Zambezi National Park to the south of the Falls and many different habitats. Our bird list should be used with some discretion as some birds occur only in the Kazungula area.

Kazungula occupies the most westerly corner of the country with the Zambezi River and its swamps and floodplains, acacia and open woodland, with Zambia just across the river, Botswana to the west and an arrow point of the Caprivi Strip north of that. On the floodplains are specials such as the Slaty Egret, Long-toed Lapwings, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Swamp Nightjar, Hartlaub’s Babbler, Greater Swamp-warbler, Luapula and Chirping Cisticolas, Plain-backed Pipit, Southern Brown-throated Weaver and Swamp Boubou. Kazungula occupies the most westerly corner of the country with the Zambezi River and its swamps and floodplains, acacia and open woodland, with Zambia just across the river, Botswana to the west and an arrow point of the Caprivi Strip north of that. On the floodplains are specials such as the Slaty Egret, Long-toed Lapwings, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Swamp Nightjar, Hartlaub’s Babbler,

Greater Swamp-warbler, Luapula and Chirping Cisticolas, Plain-backed Pipit, Southern Brown-throated Weaver and Swamp Boubou. Shelley’s Sunbird is found and there is a strong probability of Basra Reed-warbler, as yet to be officially added to the Zimbabwean list. Fan-tailed Widowbird is marginal to the country at this spot with Burchell’s Starling more common. Bradfield’s Hornbill, Broad-tailed Paradise-whydah, Orange-winged Pytilia, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Red-necked Falcon, Olive-tree Warbler are generally found in the woodlands of the area, Denham’s Bustard in the National Park, along with occasional and rare Red-headed Quelea between the Falls and Kazungula. The Victoria Falls can give you Brown Firefinch, Schalow’s Turaco, Olive Woodpecker, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Collared Palm-thrush and many others. The gorges are very popular for adventure-type safaris and activities and this has threatened the Taita Falcon though Peregrine Falcons are more tolerant of disturbance. There are also many other raptors to be seen in the area, including the migrants in summer. African Black Swifts are common in the gorges and the mottled hollidayi race here has led to reports of Mottled Swift! Naturally every birder knows to check out the local sewage works and the ponds at Victoria Falls are no exception. Ross’s Turaco has been reported from the river and here you can find Western Banded Snake-eagle, Lesser Sand Plover (rare), Grey Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Rufous-bellied Heron, Rock, Collared and Black-winged Pratincoles, African Skimmer and many other waders and waterbirds.

Image credits: Slaty Egret by Ian Riddell; Southern Brown-throated Weaver & Coppery-tailed Coucal by Roger MacDonald