BIRDING IN ZIMBABWE

Lake Mutirikwi

Narina Trogon

Lake Mutirikwe is a dam near Masvingo surrounded by granite hills, miombo woodlands and with Lake Mutirikwe Recreational Park on the north shore. The well-known Great Zimbabwe ruins, a world heritage site, and some forest lie on the south side.

The lake itself will give you the normal herons, egrets and storks with ducks and other waterbirds. The miombo woodland is a popular habitat to bird in and offers African Cuckoo Hawk, Brown-backed and Green-backed Honeybirds, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, African Golden Oriole, Cinnamon-breasted Tit, Miombo Rock-thrush, Boulder Chat, Red-faced Crombec, Green-capped Eremomela, Stierling’s Wren-warbler, Southern Hyliota, Collared Flycatcher, Grey Tit-flycatcher, Wood Pipit, Miombo Blue-eared Starling and Miombo Double-collared Sunbird amongst others.It is worth checking the unusual forest birds that occur at Great Zimbabwe with African Emerald Cuckoo, Narina Trogon, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Grey Cuckooshrike, Red-capped Robin-chat, African Dusky Flycatcher, Cape Batis and Swee Waxbill having been recorded there. Being on the edge of the plateau there are some interesting lowveld birds to watch out for.

Our bird list is still under development so any ‘new’ species you see are needed.

Image credits: Acacia Pied Barbet, Stierling’s Wren-warbler & Narina Trogon by Roger MacDonald