This is a list of the bird species recorded in Botswana. The avifauna of Botswana

Botswana

Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...

 includes a total of 593 species, of which 4 have been introduced

Introduced species

An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...

 by humans, and 100 are rare or accidental. 8 species are globally threatened.

This list's taxonomic

Taxonomy

Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...

 treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of Clements

James Clements

Dr. James Franklin Clements was an ornithologist, author and very successful businessman. He was born in New York....

's 5th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflects this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Botswana.

The following tags have been used to highlight certain relevant categories. The commonly occurring, native

Indigenous (ecology)

In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...

, species do not fall into any of these categories.

• (A) Accidental A species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Botswana.
• (I) Introduced A species introduced to Botswana as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions.

Table of contents
Non-passerines: Ostriches . Grebes . Pelicans . Cormorants . Darters . Bitterns, Herons and Egrets . Hammerkop . Storks . Ibises and Spoonbills . Flamingos . Ducks, Geese and Swans . Osprey . Hawks, Kites and Eagles . Secretary-bird . Caracaras and Falcons . Pheasants and Partridges . Guineafowl . Buttonquails . Cranes . Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots . Sungrebe and Finfoots . Bustards . Jacanas . Painted snipe . Avocets and Stilts . Thick-knees . Pratincoles and Coursers . Plovers and Lapwings . Sandpipers and allies . Skuas and Jaegers . Gulls . Terns . Skimmers . Sandgrouse . Pigeons and Doves . Parrots, Macaws and allies . Turacos . Cuckoos and Anis . Barn owls . Typical owls . Nightjars . Swifts . Mousebirds . Trogons and Quetzals . Kingfishers . Bee-eaters . Typical Rollers . Hoopoes . Woodhoopoes . Hornbills . Barbets . Honeyguides . Woodpeckers and allies .
Passerines: Broadbills . Larks . Swallows and Martins . Wagtails and Pipits . Cuckoo-shrikes . Bulbuls . Thrushes and allies . Cisticolas and allies . Old World warblers . Old World flycatchers . Wattle-eyes . Monarch flycatchers . Babblers . Chickadees and Titmice . Treecreepers . Penduline tits . Sunbirds and Spiderhunters . White-eyes . Old World Orioles . Shrikes . Bushshrikes and allies . Helmetshrikes . Drongos . Crows, Jays, Ravens and Magpies . Starlings . Weavers and allies . Waxbills and allies . Indigobirds . Weavers and allies . Buntings, Sparrows, Seedeaters and allies . Siskins, Crossbills and allies . Sparrows .
See also       References

Ostriches

Order: Struthioniformes. Family: Struthionidae

The Ostrich is a flightless bird native to Africa. It is the largest living species of bird. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.

• Ostrich
  Ostrich
  The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
  
   Struthio camelus

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes. Family: Podicipedidae

Grebe

Grebe

A grebe is a member of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter...

s are small to medium-large sized freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes, and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 20 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Botswana.

• Little Grebe
  Little Grebe
  The Little Grebe , also known as Dabchick, member of the grebe family of water birds. At 23 to 29 cm in length it is the smallest European member of its family. It is commonly found in open bodies of water across most of its range.-Description:The Little Grebe is a small water bird with a pointed...
  
   Tachybaptus ruficollis
• Great Crested Grebe
  Great Crested Grebe
  The Great Crested Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.- Description :The Great Crested Grebe is long with a wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations...
  
   Podiceps cristatus
• Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes

Pelecaniformes

The Pelecaniformes is a order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. As traditionally—but erroneously—defined, they encompass all birds that have feet with all four toes webbed. Hence, they were formerly also known by such names as totipalmates or steganopodes...

. Family: Pelecanidae

Pelican

Pelican

A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....

s are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
• Pink-backed Pelican
  Pink-backed Pelican
  The Pink-backed Pelican is a member of the pelican family of birds. It is a resident breeder in Africa, southern Arabia and apparently extinct in Madagascar in swamps and shallow lakes.-Description:...
  
   Pelecanus rufescens

Cormorants

Order: Pelecaniformes

Pelecaniformes

The Pelecaniformes is a order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. As traditionally—but erroneously—defined, they encompass all birds that have feet with all four toes webbed. Hence, they were formerly also known by such names as totipalmates or steganopodes...

. Family: Phalacrocoracidae

The Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large coastal, fish-eating sea-birds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black and white, and a few being colourful. There are 38 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• Great Cormorant
  Great Cormorant
  The Great Cormorant , known as the Great Black Cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the Black Cormorant in Australia and the Black Shag further south in New Zealand, is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds...
  
   Phalacrocorax carbo
• Long-tailed Cormorant
  Long-tailed Cormorant
  The Reed Cormorant , also known as the Long-tailed Cormorant, is a bird in the cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae. It breeds in much of Africa south of the Sahara, and Madagascar. It is resident but undertakes some seasonal movements.This is a common and widespread species, and is not considered to...
  
   Phalacrocorax africanus

Darters

Order: Pelecaniformes

Pelecaniformes

The Pelecaniformes is a order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. As traditionally—but erroneously—defined, they encompass all birds that have feet with all four toes webbed. Hence, they were formerly also known by such names as totipalmates or steganopodes...

. Family: Anhingidae

Darters are frequently referred to as "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged.
The males have black and dark brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have a much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet, and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving. There are 4 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• Darter
  Darter
  The darters or snakebirds are mainly tropical waterbirds in the family Anhingidae. There are four living species, three of which are very common and widespread while the fourth is rarer and classified as near-threatened by the IUCN. The term "snakebird" is usually used without any additions to...
  
   Anhinga melanogaster

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: Ciconiiformes

Ciconiiformes

Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. Ciconiiformes are known from the Late Eocene...

. Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bittern

Bittern

Bitterns are a classification of birds in the heron family, Ardeidae, a family of wading birds. Species named bitterns tend to be the shorter-necked, often more secretive members of this family...

s, heron

Heron

The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....

s and egret

Egret

An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets...

s. Herons and egrets are medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds suck as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide and 18 species which occur in Botswana.

• Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
• Black-headed Heron
  Black-headed Heron
  The Black-headed Heron is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is mainly resident but some west African birds move further north in the rainy season....
  
   Ardea melanocephala
• Goliath Heron
  Goliath Heron
  The Goliath Heron is a very large wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller numbers in Southwest and South Asia.-Description:This is the world's largest heron...
  
   Ardea goliath
• Purple Heron
  Purple Heron
  The Purple Heron is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia. The European populations are migratory, wintering in tropical Africa; the more northerly Asian populations also migrate further south within Asia...
  
   Ardea purpurea
• Great Egret
  Great Egret
  The Great Egret , also known as the Great White Egret or Common Egret, White Heron, or Great White Heron, is a large, widely-distributed egret. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, in southern Europe it is rather localized...
  
   Ardea alba
• Slaty Egret
  Slaty Egret
  The Slaty Egret, Egretta vinaceigula, is a small, dark egret. It breeds in Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies...
  
   Egretta vinaceigula
• Black Heron
  Black Heron
  The Black Heron also known as the Black Egret, is an African heron. It is a medium-sized , black-plumaged heron with yellow legs and feet. It is found south of the Sahara Desert, including Madagascar, and prefers shallow open waters, such as the edges of freshwater lakes and ponds...
  
   Egretta ardesiaca
• Intermediate Egret
  Intermediate Egret
  The Intermediate Egret, Median Egret, or Yellow-billed Egret is a medium-sized heron. It is a resident breeder from east Africa across tropical southern Asia to Australia. It often nests in colonies with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs...
  
   Egretta intermedia
• Little Egret
  Little Egret
  The Little Egret is a small white heron. It is the Old World counterpart to the very similar New World Snowy Egret.-Subspecies:Depending on authority, two or three subspecies of Little Egret are currently accepted....
  
   Egretta garzetta
• Squacco Heron
  Squacco Heron
  The Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, is a small heron, long, of which the body is , with wingspan. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East.-Behaviour:...
  
   Ardeola ralloides
• Rufous-bellied Heron
  Rufous-bellied Heron
  The Rufous-bellied Heron is a species of heron in the Ardeidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Ardeola rufiventris
• Cattle Egret
  Cattle Egret
  The Cattle Egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret...
  
   Bubulcus ibis
• Striated Heron
  Striated Heron
  The Striated Heron, Butorides striata, also known as Mangrove Heron, Little Heron or Green-backed Heron, is a small heron. Striated Herons are mostly non-migratory and noted for some interesting behavioral traits. Their breeding habitat is small wetlands in the Old World tropics from west Africa to...
  
   Butorides striata
• Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
• White-backed Night-Heron
  White-backed Night-heron
  The White-backed Night Heron is a species of heron in the Ardeidae family. This relatively small and dark night heron is found throughout a large part of sub-Saharan Africa. It was formerly placed in the genus Nycticorax....
  
   Gorsachius leuconotus
• Little Bittern
  Little Bittern
  The Little Bittern is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, native to the Old World, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Madagascar. Birds from temperate regions in Europe and western Asia are migratory, wintering in Africa and further south in...
  
   Ixobrychus minutus
• Dwarf Bittern
  Dwarf Bittern
  The Dwarf Bittern is a species of heron in the Ardeidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,...
  
   Ixobrychus sturmii
• Great Bittern
  Great Bittern
  The Eurasian Bittern or Great Bittern is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies.-Etymology:...
  
   Botaurus stellaris (A)

Hammerkop

Order: Ciconiiformes

Ciconiiformes

Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. Ciconiiformes are known from the Late Eocene...

. Family: Scopidae

The Hammerkop is a medium-sized bird with a long shaggy crest. The shape of its head with a curved bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, hence its name. Its plumage is a drab brown all over.

• Hamerkop Scopus umbretta

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes

Ciconiiformes

Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. Ciconiiformes are known from the Late Eocene...

. Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute; bill-clattering is an important mode of stork communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. There are 19 species worldwide and 8 species which occur in Botswana.

• Yellow-billed Stork
  Yellow-billed Stork
  The Yellow-billed Stork, Mycteria ibis, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It occurs in Africa south of the Sahara and in Madagascar....
  
   Mycteria ibis
• African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus
• Black Stork
  Black Stork
  The Black Stork Ciconia nigra is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread, but rare, species that breeds in the warmer parts of Europe, predominantly in central and eastern regions. This is a shy and wary species, unlike the closely related White Stork. It is seen in...
  
   Ciconia nigra
• Abdim's Stork
  Abdim's Stork
  The Abdim's Stork, also known as White-bellied Stork, is a black stork with grey legs, red knees and feet, grey bill and white underparts. It has red facial skin in front of eye and blue skin near the bill in breeding season...
  
   Ciconia abdimii
• Woolly-necked Stork
  Woolly-necked Stork
  The Woolly-necked Stork or White necked stork , Ciconia episcopus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It can also be known as the Espiscopos....
  
   Ciconia episcopus
• White Stork
  White Stork
  The White Stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to end of tail, with a wingspan...
  
   Ciconia ciconia
• Saddle-billed Stork
  Saddle-billed Stork
  The Saddle-billed Stork is a large wading bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa, and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Chad in west Africa.This is a close...
  
   Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
• Marabou Stork
  Marabou Stork
  The Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, occurring in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips...
  
   Leptoptilos crumeniferus

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Ciconiiformes

Ciconiiformes

Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. Ciconiiformes are known from the Late Eocene...

. Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae

The family Threskiornithidae includes 34 species of large terrestrial and wading birds, falling into two subfamilies, the ibises and the spoonbills. It was formerly known as Plataleidae. The spoonbills and ibises were once thought to be related to other groups of long-legged wading birds in the...

The Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibis

Ibis

The ibises are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae....

es and spoonbill

Spoonbill

Spoonbills are a group of large, long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae, which also includes the Ibises.All have large, flat, spatulate bills and feed by wading through shallow water, sweeping the partly opened bill from side to side...

s. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers. There are 36 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Botswana.

• Sacred Ibis
  Sacred Ibis
  The African Sacred Ibis is a species of ibis.-Description:An adult individual is 68 cm long with all-white body plumage apart from dark plumes on the rump. The bald head and neck, thick curved bill and legs are black. The white wings show a black rear border in flight...
  
   Threskiornis aethiopicus
• Hadada Ibis
  Hadada Ibis
  The Hadada or Hadeda Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash, is an ibis found in Sub-Saharan Africa.-Appearance:The Hadeda is a large , dark brown ibis with a white "moustache", glossy greenish purple wings, a large black bill with a red stripe on the upper mandible, and blackish legs.-Call:It has a...
  
   Bostrychia hagedash
• Glossy Ibis
  Glossy Ibis
  The Glossy Ibis is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae.This is the most widespread ibis species, breeding in scattered sites in warm regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Atlantic and Caribbean region of the Americas...
  
   Plegadis falcinellus
• African Spoonbill
  African Spoonbill
  The African Spoonbill is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. It lives in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water and...
  
   Platalea alba

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes. Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingo

Flamingo

Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...

s are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet high, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. They are more numerous in the latter. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly-shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume, and are uniquely used upside-down. There are 6 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• Greater Flamingo
  Greater Flamingo
  The Greater Flamingo is the most widespread species of the flamingo family. It is found in parts of Africa, southern Asia , and southern Europe...
  
   Phoenicopterus roseus
• Lesser Flamingo
  Lesser Flamingo
  The Lesser Flamingo is a species in the flamingo family of birds that resides in Africa and in southern Asia...
  
   Phoenicopterus minor

Ducks, geese and swans

Order: Anseriformes

Anseriformes

The order Anseriformes contains about 150 living species of birds in three extant families: the Anhimidae , Anseranatidae , and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans.All species in the order are highly adapted for an aquatic existence at...

. Family: Anatidae

Anatidae

Anatidae is the biological family of birds that includes ducks, geese and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica and on most of the world's islands and island groups...

The family Anatidae includes the duck

Duck

Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...

s and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese

Goose

The word goose is the English name for a group of waterfowl, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller....

 and swan

Swan

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...

s. These are birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide and 18 species which occur in Botswana.

• Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
• White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata
• White-backed Duck
  White-backed Duck
  The White-backed Duck is a waterbird of the family Anatidae. It is distinct from all other ducks, but most closely related to the whistling ducks in the subfamily Dendrocygninae, though also showing some similarities to the stiff-tailed ducks in the subfamily Oxyurinae...
  
   Thalassornis leuconotus
• Egyptian Goose
  Egyptian Goose
  The Egyptian Goose is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae, and is the only extant member of the genus Alopochen...
  
   Alopochen aegyptiacus
• South African Shelduck Tadorna cana
• Spur-winged Goose
  Spur-winged Goose
  The Spur-winged Goose is a large bird in the family Anatidae, related to the geese and the shelducks, but distinct from both of these in a number of anatomical features, and therefore treated in its own subfamily, the Plectropterinae...
  
   Plectropterus gambensis
• Comb Duck
  Comb Duck
  The Knob-billed Duck , or Comb Duck, is an unusual, pan-tropical duck, found in tropical wetlands in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar and south Asia from Pakistan to Laos and extreme southern China...
  
   Sarkidiornis melanotos
• African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus
• African Black Duck
  African Black Duck
  The African Black Duck is a species of duck of the genus Anas. It is genetically closest to the mallard group , but shows some peculiarities in its behavior and plumage; it is accordingly placed in the subgenus Melananas pending further research.The African Black Duck is an...
  
   Anas sparsa
• Cape Teal
  Cape Teal
  The Cape Teal is a 44-46 cm long dabbling duck of open wetlands in sub-Saharan Africa.This species is essentially non-migratory, although it moves opportunistically with the rains. Like many southern ducks, the sexes are similar. It is very pale and mainly grey, with a browner back and pink...
  
   Anas capensis
• Yellow-billed Duck
  Yellow-billed Duck
  The Yellow-billed Duck, Anas undulata, is a 51–58 cm long dabbling duck which is an abundant resident breeder in southern and eastern Africa.This duck is not migratory, but will wander in the dry season to find suitable waters...
  
   Anas undulata
• Northern Pintail
  Northern Pintail
  The Pintail or Northern Pintail is a widely occurring duck which breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator...
  
   Anas acuta (A)
• Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha
• Hottentot Teal
  Hottentot Teal
  The Hottentot Teal is a species of dabbling duck of the genus Anas. It is migratory resident in eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan and Ethiopia west to Niger and Nigeria and south to South Africa and Namibia. In west Africa and Madagascar it is sedentary.The Hottentot Teal breed year round,...
  
   Anas hottentota
• Garganey
  Garganey
  The Garganey is a small dabbling duck. It breeds in much of Europe and western Asia, but is strictly migratory, with the entire population moving to southern Africa, India Santragachi and Australasia in winter, where large flocks can occur. This species was first described by Linnaeus in 1758...
  
   Anas querquedula (A)
• Cape Shoveler
  Cape Shoveler
  The Cape Shoveler Anas smithii formerly known as Cape Shoveller is a species of dabbling duck of the genus Anas. It is resident in South Africa, and uncommon further north in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, southern Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Zambia.This 51–53 cm long duck is non-migratory,...
  
   Anas smithii
• Southern Pochard
  Southern Pochard
  The Southern Pochard is a duck.There are two subspecies, the South American Pochard N. e. erythrophthalma and the African Pochard N. e...
  
   Netta erythrophthalma
• Maccoa Duck
  Maccoa Duck
  The Maccoa Duck is a small long African stiff-tailed duck.Adult males have a chestnut body, a blue bill and a black head...
  
   Oxyura maccoa

Osprey

Order: Falconiformes

Falconiformes

The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that comprises the diurnal birds of prey. Raptor classification is difficult and the order is treated in several ways.- Classification problems :...

. Family: Pandionidae

The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the Osprey. The Osprey is a medium large raptor

Bird of prey

Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....

 which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

• Osprey
  Osprey
  The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
  
   Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, kites and eagles

Order: Falconiformes

Falconiformes

The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that comprises the diurnal birds of prey. Raptor classification is difficult and the order is treated in several ways.- Classification problems :...

. Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae

The Accipitridae, one of the two major families within the order Accipitriformes , are a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a...

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include hawk

Hawk

The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...

s, eagle

Eagle

Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...

s, kites

Kite (bird)

Kites are raptors with long wings and weak legs which spend a great deal of time soaring. Most feed mainly on carrion but some take various amounts of live prey.They are birds of prey which, along with hawks and eagles, are from the family Accipitridae....

, harriers

Harrier (bird)

A harrier is any of the several species of diurnal hawks forming the Circinae sub-family of the Accipitridae family of birds of prey. Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds....

 and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. There are 233 species worldwide and 47 species which occur in Botswana.

• African Cuckoo-Hawk
  African Cuckoo-Hawk
  The African Cuckoo-Hawk is a medium-sized raptor in the family Accipitridae resembling a Common Cuckoo, found in sub-Saharan Africa and along the eastern parts of Southern Africa...
  
   Aviceda cuculoides (A)
• European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus (A)
• Bat Hawk
  Bat Hawk
  The Bat Hawk is a raptor found in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia to New Guinea. It is named for its diet, which consists mainly of bats. It requires open space in which to hunt, but will live anywhere from dense rainforest to semi-arid veld.-Description:The Bat Hawk is a slender, medium-sized...
  
   Macheiramphus alcinus
• Black-shouldered Kite
  Black-shouldered Kite
  The Black-shouldered Kite or Australian Black-shouldered Kite is a small raptor found in open habitat throughout Australia and resembles similar species found in Eurasia and North America, which have in the past also been named as Black-shouldered Kites...
  
   Elanus caeruleus
• Black Kite
  Black Kite
  The Black Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. Unlike others of the group, they are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to scavenge. They spend a lot of time soaring and gliding in thermals in search of food. Their...
  
   Milvus migrans
• African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
• Palm-nut Vulture
  Palm-nut Vulture
  The Palm-nut Vulture or Vulturine Fish Eagle, is a very large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers, vultures, and eagles. It is the only member of the genus Gypohierax...
  
   Gypohierax angolensis (A)
• Hooded Vulture
  Hooded Vulture
  The Hooded Vulture is an Old World vulture in the order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Necrosyrtes....
  
   Necrosyrtes monachus
• Egyptian Vulture
  Egyptian Vulture
  The Egyptian Vulture is a small Old World vulture, found widely distributed from southwestern Europe and northern Africa to southern Asia. It is the only living member of the genus Neophron. It has sometimes also been known as the White Scavenger Vulture or Pharaoh's Chicken...
  
   Neophron percnopterus (A)
• White-backed Vulture
  White-backed Vulture
  The White-backed Vulture is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is closely related to the European Griffon Vulture, G. fulvus...
  
   Gyps africanus
• Cape Griffon Gyps coprotheres
• Lappet-faced Vulture
  Lappet-faced Vulture
  The Lappet-faced Vulture or Nubian Vulture is a mostly African Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Torgos. A distinct subspecies T. t. negevensis occurs in the Sinai, the Negev...
  
   Torgos tracheliotus
• White-headed Vulture
  White-headed Vulture
  The White-headed Vulture is an Old World vulture endemic to Africa. It has a pink beak and a white crest, and the featherless areas on its head are pale. Its has dark brown upper parts and black tail feathers. The feathers on its lower parts and legs are white. It has a wing span of 2 m and spends...
  
   Trigonoceps occipitalis
• Black-breasted Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis
• Brown Snake-Eagle
  Brown Snake-eagle
  The Brown Snake Eagle is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa....
  
   Circaetus cinereus
• Banded Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinerascens
• Bateleur
  Bateleur
  The Bateleur is a medium-sized eagle in the bird family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as buzzards, kites and harriers...
  
   Terathopius ecaudatus
• Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus
• African Marsh-Harrier Circus ranivorus
• Black Harrier
  Black Harrier
  The Black Harrier, Circus maurus, is a medium-sized African harrier of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.When perched, this bird appears all black. However, in flight a white rump and flight feathers become visible. Its morphology is comparable to that of other harriers, with a slim body, narrow...
  
   Circus maurus (A)
• Pallid Harrier
  Pallid Harrier
  The Pale or Pallid Harrier is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. It breeds in southern parts of eastern Europe and central Asia and winters mainly in India and southeast Asia...
  
   Circus macrourus
• Montagu's Harrier
  Montagu's Harrier
  The Montagu's Harrier is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu.-Plumage:...
  
   Circus pygargus
• African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus
• Lizard Buzzard
  Lizard Buzzard
  The Lizard Buzzard is a bird of prey. It belongs to the family Accipitridae. Despite its name, it may be more closely related to the Accipiter hawks than the Buteo buzzards....
  
   Kaupifalco monogrammicus
• Dark Chanting-Goshawk Melierax metabates
• Pale Chanting-Goshawk Melierax canorus
• Gabar Goshawk
  Gabar Goshawk
  The Gabar Goshawk is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana,...
  
   Micronisus gabar
• African Goshawk
  African Goshawk
  The African Goshawk is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family.As defined here following the Handbook of the Birds of the World, it is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique,...
  
   Accipiter tachiro (A)
• Shikra
  Shikra
  The Shikra is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae found widely distributed in Asia and Africa where it is also called the Little Banded Goshawk. The African forms may represent a separate species but have usually been considered as subspecies of the Shikra...
  
   Accipiter badius
• Little Sparrowhawk
  Little Sparrowhawk
  The Little Sparrowhawk is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda,...
  
   Accipiter minullus
• Ovampo Sparrowhawk
  Ovampo Sparrowhawk
  The Ovambo or Ovampo Sparrowhawk is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia,...
  
   Accipiter ovampensis
• Black Goshawk
  Black Goshawk
  The Black Sparrowhawk , sometimes known as the Black Goshawk or Great Sparrowhawk, is the largest African member of the genus Accipiter . Downloaded on 06 October 2011....
  
   Accipiter melanoleucus
• Eurasian Buzzard Buteo buteo
• Long-legged Buzzard
  Long-legged Buzzard
  The Long-legged Buzzard is a bird of prey.-Description:It is similar in appearance to the Rough-legged Buzzard , but larger and more robust. There are many different colour forms, but usually Long-leggeds have a clear orange tint to the plumage, red or orange tail, pale head and largely white...
  
   Buteo rufinus (A)
• Augur Buzzard
  Augur Buzzard
  The Augur Buzzard is a 55–60 cm long African bird of prey. The taxonomy on this species is confusing, with some taxonomists considering this species, the Jackal Buzzard, and the Archer's Buzzard to be the same superspecies. Many taxonomists consider them all to be distinct, having...
  
   Buteo augur (A)
• Jackal Buzzard
  Jackal Buzzard
  The Jackal Buzzard is a 45–55 cm long African bird of prey. The taxonomy on this species is confusing, with some taxonomists considering this species, the Archer's Buzzard, and the Augur Buzzard to be the same superspecies. Many taxonomists consider them all to be distinct, having different...
  
   Buteo rufofuscus (A)
• Lesser Spotted Eagle
  Lesser Spotted Eagle
  The Lesser Spotted Eagle is a large Eastern European bird of prey. Like all typical eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae...
  
   Aquila pomarina
• Tawny Eagle
  Tawny Eagle
  The Tawny Eagle is a large bird of prey. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. It was once considered to be closely related to the migratory Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis, and the two forms have previously been treated as conspecific...
  
   Aquila rapax
• Steppe Eagle
  Steppe Eagle
  The Steppe Eagle is a bird of prey. It is about in length and has a wingspan of . Females, weighing 2.3–4.9 kg , are slightly larger than males, at 2–3.5 kg . Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae...
  
   Aquila nipalensis
• Wahlberg's Eagle
  Wahlberg's Eagle
  The Wahlberg's Eagle is a bird of prey. It is about 55–60 cm in length and has a wingspan of 130–160 cm. Body mass is 1.04 kg for males and 1.3 kg for females on average. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae.Wahlberg's Eagle breeds in most of Africa south of...
  
   Aquila wahlbergi
• Verreaux's Eagle
  Verreaux's Eagle
  Verreaux's Eagle , alternatively known as the Black Eagle , is a large bird of prey. This eagle lives in hilly and mountaineous regions of southern and eastern Africa , and very locally in Western Asia.- Description :It is long. Males weigh and females weigh...
  
   Aquila verreauxii
• African Hawk-Eagle Aquila spilogaster
• Booted Eagle
  Booted Eagle
  The Booted Eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey. It is about in length and has a wingspan of . Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae....
  
   Aquila pennatus
• Ayres's Hawk-Eagle
  Ayres's Hawk-eagle
  Ayres's Hawk-Eagle is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Its name honours South African ornithologist Thomas Ayres.-References:...
  
   Aquila ayresii
• Martial Eagle
  Martial Eagle
  The Martial Eagle , is a very large eagle found in open and semi-open habitats of sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only member of the genus Polemaetus.-Description:...
  
   Polemaetus bellicosus
• Long-crested Eagle
  Long-crested Eagle
  The Long-crested Eagle is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae. It is currently placed in a monotypic genus Lophaetus....
  
   Lophaetus occipitalis
• Crowned Hawk-Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus (A)

Secretary-bird

Order: Falconiformes

Falconiformes

The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that comprises the diurnal birds of prey. Raptor classification is difficult and the order is treated in several ways.- Classification problems :...

. Family: Sagittariidae

The Secretary-bird is a bird of prey in the order Falconiformes

Falconiformes

The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that comprises the diurnal birds of prey. Raptor classification is difficult and the order is treated in several ways.- Classification problems :...

 but is easily distinguished from other raptors by it long crane-like legs.

• Secretary-bird Sagittarius serpentarius

Caracaras and falcons

Order: Falconiformes

Falconiformes

The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that comprises the diurnal birds of prey. Raptor classification is difficult and the order is treated in several ways.- Classification problems :...

. Family: Falconidae

Falconidae

The falcons and caracaras are around 60 species of diurnal birds of prey that make up the family Falconidae. The family is divided into two subfamiles, Polyborinae, which includes the caracaras and forest falcons, and Falconinae, the falcons, kestrels and falconets.-Description:Falcons and...

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their feet. There are 62 species worldwide and 13 species which occur in Botswana.

• Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus
• Lesser Kestrel
  Lesser Kestrel
  The Lesser Kestrel is a small falcon. This species breeds from the Mediterranean across southern central Asia to China and Mongolia. It is a summer migrant, wintering in Africa and Pakistan and sometimes even to India and Iraq. It is rare north of its breeding range, and declining in its European...
  
   Falco naumanni
• Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
• Greater Kestrel
  Greater Kestrel
  The Greater Kestrel or White-eyed Kestrel is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is one of the largest kestrels and is found in open country in southern and eastern Africa.-Description:...
  
   Falco rupicoloides
• Dickinson's Kestrel
  Dickinson's Kestrel
  Dickinson's Kestrel is a bird of prey of southern and eastern Africa belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is named after John Dickinson, an English physician and missionary who collected the type specimen. It is also known as the White-rumped Kestrel...
  
   Falco dickinsoni
• Red-necked Falcon
  Red-necked Falcon
  The Red-necked Falcon or Red-headed Merlin is a bird of prey in the falcon family. This bird is a widespread resident in India and adjacent regions as well as sub-Saharan Africa. It is sometimes called Turumti locally....
  
   Falco chicquera
• Red-footed Falcon
  Red-footed Falcon
  The Red-footed Falcon , formerly Western Red-footed Falcon, is a bird of prey. It belongs to the family Falconidae, the falcons. This bird is found in eastern Europe and Asia although its numbers are dwindling rapidly due to habitat loss and hunting. It is migratory, wintering in Africa...
  
   Falco vespertinus
• Amur Falcon
  Amur Falcon
  The Amur Falcon , formerly Eastern Red-footed Falcon, is a small raptor of the falcon family. It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China, wintering in Southern Africa...
  
   Falco amurensis
• Sooty Falcon
  Sooty Falcon
  The Sooty Falcon is a medium-sized falcon breeding from northeastern Africa to the southern Persian Gulf region. It belongs to the hobby group, a rather close-knit number of similar falcons often considered a subgenus Hypotriorchis...
  
   Falco concolor (A)
• Eurasian Hobby
  Eurasian Hobby
  The Eurasian Hobby , or just simply Hobby, is a small slim falcon. It belongs to a rather close-knit group of similar falcons often considered a subgenus Hypotriorchis.-Description:...
  
   Falco subbuteo
• African Hobby
  African Hobby
  The African Hobby is a species of bird of prey in the Falconidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,...
  
   Falco cuvierii (A)
• Lanner Falcon
  Lanner Falcon
  The Lanner Falcon is a large bird of prey that breeds in Africa, southeast Europe and just into Asia. It is mainly resident, but some birds disperse more widely after the breeding season.-Description:...
  
   Falco biarmicus
• Peregrine Falcon
  Peregrine Falcon
  The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
  
   Falco peregrinus

Pheasants and partridges

Order: Galliformes

Galliformes

Galliformes are an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game bird, containing turkey, grouse, chicken, New and Old World Quail, ptarmigan, partridge, pheasant, and the Cracidae. Common names are gamefowl or gamebirds, landfowl, gallinaceous birds or galliforms...

. Family: Phasianidae

Phasianidae

The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl , Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae...

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quail

Quail

Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally considered in the order Galliformes. Old World quail are found in the family Phasianidae, while New World quail are found in the family Odontophoridae...

s, partridge

Partridge

Partridges are birds in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are a non-migratory Old World group.These are medium-sized birds, intermediate between the larger pheasants and the smaller quails. Partridges are native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East...

s, snowcock

Snowcock

The snowcocks are a group of bird species in the genus Tetraogallus of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are ground-nesting birds which breed in the mountain ranges of southern Eurasia from the Caucasus to the Himalayas and western China. The Himalayan Snowcock has been introduced...

s, francolin

Francolin

Francolins are birds that traditionally have been placed in the genus Francolinus, but now commonly are divided into multiple genera , although some of the major taxonomic listing sources have yet to divide them. They are members of the pheasant family, Phasianidae...

s, spurfowls, tragopan

Tragopan

Tragopan is a genus of bird in the family Phasianidae. These birds are commonly called "horny pheasants" because of two brightly-colored, fleshy horns on their heads that they can erect during courtship displays...

s, monal

Monal

A Monal is a bird of genus Lophophorus of the Pheasant family, Phasianidae. There are three species and several sub-species within the genus Lophophorus:* Himalayan Monal Lophophorus impejanus* Sclater's Monal Lophophorus sclateri...

s, pheasant

Pheasant

Pheasants refer to some members of the Phasianinae subfamily of Phasianidae in the order Galliformes.Pheasants are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. Males are usually larger than females and have...

s, peafowl

Peafowl

Peafowl are two Asiatic species of flying birds in the genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae, best known for the male's extravagant eye-spotted tail, which it displays as part of courtship. The male is called a peacock, the female a peahen, and the offspring peachicks. The adult female...

s and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they may vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. There are 156 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in Botswana.

• Coqui Francolin
  Coqui Francolin
  The Coqui Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,...
  
   Francolinus coqui
• Crested Francolin
  Crested Francolin
  The Crested Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
  
   Francolinus sephaena
• Orange River Francolin
  Orange River Francolin
  The Orange River Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family found in grassland and woodland in Africa. In the taxa from the northern part of its distribution , the neck-line does not reach the eye and the belly is whitish...
  
   Francolinus levaillantoides
• Red-billed Francolin
  Red-billed Francolin
  The Red-billed Spurfowl , also known as the Red-billed Francolin, is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Francolinus adspersus
• Natal Francolin
  Natal Francolin
  The Natal Spurfowl or Natal Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Francolinus natalensis
• Swainson's Francolin
  Swainson's Francolin
  The Swainson's Spurfowl or Swainson's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Francolinus swainsonii
• Common Quail
  Common Quail
  The Common Quail, Coturnix coturnix, is a small bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. It is widespread and is found in parts of Europe, .- Description :It is a small rotund bird, essentially streaked brown with...
  
   Coturnix coturnix (A)
• Harlequin Quail
  Harlequin Quail
  The Harlequin Quail is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Africa.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
  
   Coturnix delegorguei
• Blue Quail
  Blue Quail
  The Blue Quail or African Blue Quail, is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.-Geographic Range:The species ranges from Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, and south to Zambia, and eastward to Kenya, and is migratory...
  
   Coturnix adansonii

Guineafowl

Order: Galliformes

Galliformes

Galliformes are an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game bird, containing turkey, grouse, chicken, New and Old World Quail, ptarmigan, partridge, pheasant, and the Cracidae. Common names are gamefowl or gamebirds, landfowl, gallinaceous birds or galliforms...

. Family: Numididae

Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage. There are 6 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• Helmeted Guineafowl
  Helmeted Guineafowl
  The Helmeted Guineafowl is the best known of the guineafowl bird family, Numididae, and the only member of the genus Numida...
  
   Numida meleagris

Buttonquails

Order: Gruiformes

Gruiformes

The Gruiformes are an order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like"....

. Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquails are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes, and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young. There are 16 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• Small Buttonquail
  Small Buttonquail
  The Kurrichane Buttonquail, Small Buttonquail, Common Buttonquail, or Andalusian Hemipode, Turnix sylvaticus, is a buttonquail, one of a small family of birds which resemble, but are unrelated to, the true quails...
  
   Turnix sylvatica

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes

Gruiformes

The Gruiformes are an order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like"....

. Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are 15 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Botswana.

• Gray Crowned-Crane Balearica regulorum
• Blue Crane
  Blue Crane
  The Blue Crane , also known as the Stanley Crane and the Paradise Crane, is the national bird of South Africa. It is a tall, ground-dwelling bird, but is fairly small by the standards of the crane family. It is 100–120 cm tall and weighs 4.0–6.2 kg...
  
   Grus paradisea (A)
• Wattled Crane
  Wattled Crane
  The Wattled Crane, Bugeranus carunculatus is a large bird found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It is monotypical for its genus.At a height of up to , it is the largest crane in Africa and is the second tallest species of crane, after the Sarus Crane. The wingspan is , the length is...
  
   Bugeranus carunculatus

Rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes

Gruiformes

The Gruiformes are an order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like"....

. Family: Rallidae

Rallidae

The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coot

Coot

Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family Rallidae. They constitute the genus Fulica. Coots have predominantly black plumage, and, unlike many of the rails, they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water...

s, and gallinule

Rallidae

The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...

s. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide and 14 species which occur in Botswana.

• Buff-spotted Flufftail
  Buff-spotted Flufftail
  The Buff-spotted Flufftail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone,...
  
   Sarothrura elegans (A)
• Red-chested Flufftail
  Red-chested Flufftail
  The Red-chested Flufftail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone,...
  
   Sarothrura rufa (A)
• African Rail
  African Rail
  The African Rail is a small wetland bird of the rail family.Its breeding habitat is marshes and reedbeds across eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa...
  
   Rallus caerulescens
• African Crake
  African Crake
  The African Crake is a bird in the rail family that breeds in most of sub-Saharan Africa away from the arid south and southwest. It is seasonally common in most of its range other than the rainforests and areas that have low annual rainfall...
  
   Crecopsis egregia
• Corn Crake
  Corn Crake
  The Corn Crake, Corncrake or Landrail is a bird in the rail family. It breeds in Europe and Asia as far east as western China, and migrates to Africa for the winter...
  
   Crex crex (A)
• Black Crake
  Black Crake
  The Black Crake, Amaurornis flavirostra, is a waterbird in the rail and crake family Rallidae. It breeds in most of sub-Saharan Africa except in very arid areas. It undertakes some seasonal movements in those parts of its range which are subject to drought...
  
   Amaurornis flavirostris
• Baillon's Crake
  Baillon's Crake
  The Baillon's Crake is a very small waterbird of the family Rallidae.-Distribution:Their breeding habitat is sedge beds in Europe, mainly in the east, and across Asia. They used to breed in Great Britain up to the mid-19th century, but the western European population declined through drainage....
  
   Porzana pusilla (A)
• Spotted Crake
  Spotted Crake
  The Spotted Crake is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae.Their breeding habitat is marshes and sedge beds across temperate Europe into western Asia. They nest in a dry location in marsh vegetation, laying 6-15 eggs...
  
   Porzana porzana
• Striped Crake
  Striped Crake
  The Striped Crake is a species of bird in the Rallidae family. It is the only species in the genus Aenigmatolimnas....
  
   Aenigmatolimnas marginalis (A)
• Purple Swamphen
  Purple Swamphen
  The Purple Swamphen , also known as the African Purple Swamphen, Purple Moorhen, Purple Gallinule, Pūkeko or Purple Coot, is a large bird in the family Rallidae . From its name in French, talève sultane, it is also known as the Sultana Bird...
  
   Porphyrio porphyrio
• Allen's Gallinule
  Allen's Gallinule
  The Allen's Gallinule , formerly known as the Lesser Gallinule is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae. Its former binomial name is Porphyrula alleni....
  
   Porphyrio alleni
• Common Moorhen
  Common Moorhen
  The Common Moorhen is a bird in the Rallidae family with an almost worldwide distribution. The North and South American Committees of the AOU and the IOC have voted on or before July 2011 to split the American forms into a new species Common Gallinule, however, no other committee has voted to...
  
   Gallinula chloropus
• Lesser Moorhen
  Lesser Moorhen
  The Lesser Moorhen is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana,...
  
   Gallinula angulata
• Red-knobbed Coot
  Red-knobbed Coot
  The Red-knobbed Coot or Crested Coot, , is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae.It is a resident breeder across much of Africa and in southernmost Spain on freshwater lakes and ponds. It builds a nest of dead reeds near the water's edge or more commonly afloat, laying about 8...
  
   Fulica cristata

Sungrebe and Finfoots

Order: Gruiformes

Gruiformes

The Gruiformes are an order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like"....

. Family: Heliornithidae

Heliornithidae

The Heliornithidae are a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet like those of grebes and coots. The family overall are known as finfoots, although one species is known as a Sungrebe. The family is composed of three species in three genera.-Description:Finfoots resemble...

The Heliornithidae are small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• African Finfoot
  African Finfoot
  The African Finfoot is an aquatic bird inhabiting the rivers and lakes of western, central, and southern Africa.-Description:...
  
   Podica senegalensis

Bustards

Order: Gruiformes

Gruiformes

The Gruiformes are an order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like"....

. Family: Otididae

Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World

Old World

The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....

. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips, and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays. There are 26 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Botswana.

• Kori Bustard
  Kori Bustard
  The Kori Bustard is a large bird native to Africa. It is a member of the bustard family. It may be the heaviest bird capable of flight....
  
   Ardeotis kori
• Ludwig's Bustard
  Ludwig's Bustard
  The Ludwig's Bustard is a species of bird in the bustard family. It is a mid-to-large sized species. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. Its habitats include semi-arid grasslands....
  
   Neotis ludwigii (A)
• Stanley Bustard
  Stanley Bustard
  Denham's Bustard, Stanley Bustard or Stanley's Bustard, Neotis denhami, is a large bird in the bustard family. It breeds in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It is a species of open ground, including agricultural land, grassland, flood-plains and burnt fynbos...
  
   Neotis denhami
• White-bellied Bustard
  White-bellied Bustard
  The White-bellied Bustard or White-bellied Korhaan is an African species of bustard.-Range and habitat:...
  
   Eupodotis senegalensis
• Red-crested Bustard
  Red-crested Bustard
  The Red-crested Bustard or Red-crested Korhaan is a species of bird in the Otididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Eupodotis ruficrista
• White-quilled Bustard
  White-quilled Bustard
  The Northern Black Korhaan or White-quilled Bustard is a species of bird in the bustard family Otididae.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. Its habitat is primarily open grassland and scrub....
  
   Eupodotis afraoides
• Black-bellied Bustard
  Black-bellied Bustard
  The Black-bellied Bustard is an African ground-dwelling bird in the bustard family. Some authorities place it in the genus Eupodotis.-Description:...
  
   Lissotis melanogaster

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Jacanidae

The jacana

Jacana

The jaçanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone. See Etymology below for pronunciation....

s are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found worldwide in the Tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. There 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• Lesser Jacana
  Lesser Jacana
  The Lesser Jacana is a species of bird in the Jacanidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Microparra....
  
   Microparra capensis
• African Jacana
  African Jacana
  The African Jacana is a jacana. The jacanas are a group of waders in the family Jacanidae, which are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. They are found worldwide within the tropical...
  
   Actophilornis africanus

Painted snipe

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Rostratulidae

Painted snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis

Avocets and stilts

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadrii. It contains two distinct groups of birds, the avocets and the stilts .-Description and diet:...

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocet

Avocet

The four species of Avocets are a genus, Recurvirostra, of waders in the same avian family as the stilts.Avocets have long legs and long, thin, upcurved bills which they sweep from side to side when feeding in the brackish or saline wetlands they prefer...

s and the stilt

Stilt

Stilt is a common name for several species of birds in the family Recurvirostridae, which also includes those known as avocets. They are found in brackish or saline wetlands in warm or hot climates....

s. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• Black-winged Stilt
  Black-winged Stilt
  The Black-winged Stilt or Common Stilt is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family . Opinions differ as to whether the birds treated under the scientific name H. himantopus ought to be treated as a single species and if not, how many species to recognize...
  
   Himantopus himantopus
• Pied Avocet
  Pied Avocet
  The Pied Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta, is a large black and white wader in the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae. They breed in temperate Europe and western and Central Asia. It is a migratory species and most winter in Africa or southern Asia...
  
   Recurvirostra avosetta

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• Water Thick-knee
  Water Thick-knee
  The Water Thick-knee is a species of bird in the Burhinidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia,...
  
   Burhinus vermiculatus
• Spotted Thick-knee
  Spotted Thick-knee
  The Spotted Thick-knee, Burhinus capensis, also known as the Spotted Dikkop or Cape Thick-knee, is a stone-curlew in the family Burhinidae.- Description :...
  
   Burhinus capensis

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadri. It contains two distinct groups, the pratincoles and the coursers. The coursers include the atypical Egyptian Plover, Pluvianus aegyptius, which has sometimes been placed in its own family...

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincole

Pratincole

The Pratincoles or Greywaders are a group of birds which together with the coursers and Egyptian Plover make up the family Glareolidae. They have short legs, very long pointed wings and long forked tails....

s, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the courser

Courser

The Coursers are a group of birds which together with the pratincoles make up the family Glareolidae. They have long legs, short wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards...

s, which have long legs, short wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards. There are 17 species worldwide and 8 species which occur in Botswana.

• Burchell's Courser
  Burchell's Courser
  The Burchell's Courser Cursorius rufus is a wader in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae.Although classed as waders, these are birds of dry open country, preferably semi-desert, where they typically hunt their insect prey by running on the ground.This is a small bird that lives in the...
  
   Cursorius rufus (A)
• Temminck's Courser
  Temminck's Courser
  Temminck's Courser, Cursorius temminckii, is a bird in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae. It is a wader which lives in sub-Saharan Africa....
  
   Cursorius temminckii
• Double-banded Courser
  Double-banded Courser
  The Double-banded Courser is a species of bird in the Glareolidae family.It is sometimes classified as the sole member of the genus Smutsornis as Smutsornis africanus....
  
   Smutsornis africanus
• Three-banded Courser
  Three-banded Courser
  The Three-banded Courser is a species of bird in the Glareolidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Rhinoptilus cinctus
• Bronze-winged Courser
  Bronze-winged Courser
  The Bronze-winged Courser or Violet-tipped Courser is a species of bird in the Glareolidae family. It is found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.-References:...
  
   Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
• Collared Pratincole
  Collared Pratincole
  The Collared Pratincole or Common Pratincole, Glareola pratincola, is a wader in the pratincole family, Glareolidae.Pratincoles are unusual among waders in that they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground.The Collared Pratincole is a...
  
   Glareola pratincola
• Black-winged Pratincole
  Black-winged Pratincole
  The Black-winged Pratincole, Glareola nordmanni, is a wader in the pratincole bird family, Glareolidae.Their most unusual feature of the pratincoles is that although classed as waders they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the...
  
   Glareola nordmanni
• Rock Pratincole
  Rock Pratincole
  The Rock Pratincole is a species of bird in the Glareolidae family.-Distribution and habitat:It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea,...
  
   Glareola nuchalis (A)

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Charadriidae

Charadriidae

The bird family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings, about 64 to 66 species in all.- Morphology :They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings, but most species of lapwing may have more rounded wings...

The family Charadriidae includes the plover

Plover

Plovers are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae. There are about 40 species in the subfamily, most of them called "plover" or "dotterel". The closely related lapwing subfamily, Vanellinae, comprises another 20-odd species.Plovers are found throughout...

s, dotterels, and lapwing

Lapwing

Vanellinae are any of various crested plovers, family Charadriidae, noted for its slow, irregular wingbeat in flight and a shrill, wailing cry. Its length is 10-16 inches. They are a subfamily of medium-sized wading birds which also includes the plovers and dotterels. The Vanellinae are...

s. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water, although there are some exceptions. There are 66 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in Botswana.

• Long-toed Lapwing
  Long-toed Lapwing
  The Long-toed Lapwing is a species of bird in the Charadriidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:*...
  
   Vanellus crassirostris
• Blacksmith Plover Vanellus armatus
• Spur-winged Plover
  Spur-winged Plover
  The Spur-winged Lapwing or Spur-winged Plover is a lapwing species, one of a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae....
  
   Vanellus spinosus (A)
• White-headed Lapwing Vanellus albiceps
• Senegal Lapwing
  Senegal Lapwing
  The Senegal Lapwing or Lesser Black-winged Lapwing is a species of bird in the Charadriidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria,...
  
   Vanellus lugubris
• Crowned Lapwing
  Crowned Lapwing
  The Crowned Lapwing , also known as the Crowned Plover, is a bird of the lapwing subfamily that occurs contiguously from the Red Sea coast of Somalia to southern and southwestern Africa. It is an adaptable and numerous species, with bold and noisy habits...
  
   Vanellus coronatus
• Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus
• Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
• Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
• Kittlitz's Plover
  Kittlitz's Plover
  The Kittlitz’s Plover is a small plover found in much of Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and the Nile delta. Some birds, especially in coastal areas, are resident, other populations are migratory or nomadic.-Description:...
  
   Charadrius pecuarius
• Three-banded Plover
  Three-banded Plover
  The Three-banded Plover or Three-banded Sandplover, Charadrius tricollaris, is a small wader. This plover is resident in much of eastern and southern Africa and Madagascar, mainly on inland rivers, pools and lakes. Its nest is a bare scrape on shingle.The adult Three-banded Plover is 18 cm in...
  
   Charadrius tricollaris
• White-fronted Plover
  White-fronted Plover
  The White-fronted Plover or White-fronted Sandplover, Charadrius marginatus, is a small wader. This plover is resident in much of Africa south of the Sahara on rocky, sandy or muddy coasts and large inland rivers and lakes....
  
   Charadrius marginatus
• Chestnut-banded Plover
  Chestnut-banded Plover
  The Chestnut-banded Plover is a species of bird in the Charadriidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Charadrius pallidus
• Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii (A)
• Caspian Plover
  Caspian Plover
  The Caspian Plover is a wader in the plover family of birds.It breeds on open grassland in central Asia, mainly to the north and east of the Caspian Sea. This bird breeds in loose colonies, with three eggs being laid in a ground nest. These birds migrate south in winter to east Africa, usually...
  
   Charadrius asiaticus

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae

The sandpipers are a large family, Scolopacidae, of waders or shorebirds. They include many species called sandpipers, as well as those called by names such as curlew and snipe. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil...

The Scolopacidae are a large diverse family of small to medium sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlew

Curlew

The curlews , genus Numenius, are a group of eight species of birds, characterised by long, slender, downcurved bills and mottled brown plumage. They are one of the most ancient lineages of scolopacid waders, together with the godwits which look similar but have straight bills...

s, godwit

Godwit

The godwits are a group of large, long-billed, long-legged and strongly migratory wading birds of the genus Limosa. They form large flocks on coasts and estuaries in winter....

s, shanks

Tringa

Tringa is a genus of waders, containing the shanks and tattlers. They are mainly freshwater birds, often with brightly coloured legs as reflected in the English names of six species, as well as the specific names of two of these and the Green Sandpiper. They are typically associated with northern...

, tattler

Tattler (bird)

The tattlers are the two very similar bird species in the shorebird genus Tringa. They formerly had their own genus, Heteroscelus. The old genus name means "different leg" in Greek, referring to the leg scales that differentiate the tattlers from their close relatives, the shanks.The species are:*...

s, woodcock

Woodcock

The woodcocks are a group of seven or eight very similar living species of wading birds in the genus Scolopax. Only two woodcocks are widespread, the others being localized island endemics. Most are found in the Northern Hemisphere but a few range into Wallacea...

s, snipe

Snipe

A snipe is any of about 25 wading bird species in three genera in the family Scolopacidae. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill and crypsis plumage. The Gallinago snipes have a nearly worldwide distribution, the Lymnocryptes Jack Snipe is restricted to Asia and Europe and the...

s, dowitcher

Dowitcher

The three dowitchers are medium-sized long-billed wading birds. They resemble godwits in body and bill shape, and the reddish underparts in summer, but are much shorter legged, more like snipe to which they are also somewhat closer related...

s and phalarope

Phalarope

A phalarope or wadepiper is any of three living species of slender-necked shorebirds in the genus Phalaropus of the bird family Scolopacidae. They are close relatives of the shanks and tattlers, the Actitis and Terek Sandpipers, and also of the turnstones and calidrids...

s. The majority of species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 89 species worldwide and 26 species which occur in Botswana.

• African Snipe
  African Snipe
  The African Snipe, Gallinago nigripennis, also known as the Ethiopian Snipe, is a small stocky wader. It breeds in eastern and southern Africa in wet mountain moorland and swamps at altitudes of 1700 - 4000m. When not breeding it disperses widely, including into coastal lowlands.-Description:This...
  
   Gallinago nigripennis
• Great Snipe
  Great Snipe
  The Great Snipe, Gallinago media is a small stocky wader in the genus Gallinago.This bird's breeding habitat is marshes and wet meadows with short vegetation in north-eastern Europe including north-western Russia. Great Snipes are migratory, wintering in Africa...
  
   Gallinago media (A)
• Black-tailed Godwit
  Black-tailed Godwit
  The Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758. It is a member of the Limosa genus, the godwits...
  
   Limosa limosa
• Bar-tailed Godwit
  Bar-tailed Godwit
  The Bar-tailed Godwit is a large wader in the family Scolopacidae, which breeds on Arctic coasts and tundra mainly in the Old World, and winters on coasts in temperate and tropical regions of the Old World...
  
   Limosa lapponica (A)
• Whimbrel
  Whimbrel
  The Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the mostwidespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic North America, Europe and Asia as far south as Scotland....
  
   Numenius phaeopus
• Eurasian Curlew
  Eurasian Curlew
  The Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across temperate Europe and Asia...
  
   Numenius arquata
• Spotted Redshank
  Spotted Redshank
  The Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus, is a wader in the large bird family Scolopacidae. It breeds across northern Scandinavia and northern Asia and migrates south to the Mediterranean, the southern British Isles, France, tropical Africa, and tropical Asia for the winter...
  
   Tringa erythropus (A)
• Common Redshank
  Common Redshank
  The Common Redshank or simply Redshank is an Eurasian wader in the large family Scolopacidae.- Description and systematics :...
  
   Tringa totanus (A)
• Marsh Sandpiper
  Marsh Sandpiper
  The Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis, is a small wader. It is a rather small shank, and breeds in open grassy steppe and taiga wetlands from easternmost Europe to central Asia....
  
   Tringa stagnatilis
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
• Greater Yellowlegs
  Greater Yellowlegs
  The Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca, is a large North American shorebird, similar in appearance to the smaller Lesser Yellowlegs. Its closest relative, however, is the Greenshank, which together with the Spotted Redshank form a close-knit group...
  
   Tringa melanoleuca (A)
• Green Sandpiper
  Green Sandpiper
  The Green Sandpiper is a small wader of the Old World. It represents an ancient lineage of the genus Tringa; its only close living relative is the Solitary Sandpiper . They both have brown wings with little light dots and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern...
  
   Tringa ochropus
• Wood Sandpiper
  Wood Sandpiper
  The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, is a small wader. This Eurasian species is the smallest of the shanks, which are mid-sized long-legged waders of the family Scolopacidae.- Description and systematics :...
  
   Tringa glareola
• Terek Sandpiper
  Terek Sandpiper
  The Terek Sandpiper is a small migratory Palearctic wader species, the only member of the genus Xenus.- Description and systematics :...
  
   Xenus cinereus (A)
• Common Sandpiper
  Common Sandpiper
  The Common Sandpiper is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the Spotted Sandpiper , make up the genus Actitis. They are parapatric and replace each other geographically; stray birds of either species may settle down with breeders of the other and hybridize...
  
   Actitis hypoleucos
• Ruddy Turnstone
  Ruddy Turnstone
  The Ruddy Turnstone is a small wading bird, one of two species of turnstone in the genus Arenaria. It is now classified in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae but was formerly sometimes placed in the plover family Charadriidae...
  
   Arenaria interpres
• Red Knot
  Red Knot
  The Red Knot, Calidris canutus , is a medium sized shorebird which breeds in tundra and the Arctic Cordillera in the far north of Canada, Europe, and Russia. It is a large member of the Calidris sandpipers, second only to the Great Knot...
  
   Calidris canutus (A)
• Sanderling
  Sanderling
  The Sanderling is a small wader. It is a circumpolar Arctic breeder, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to South America, South Europe, Africa, and Australia...
  
   Calidris alba
• Little Stint
  Little Stint
  The Little Stint, Calidris minuta , is a very small wader. It breeds in arctic Europe and Asia, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to Africa and south Asia...
  
   Calidris minuta
• Temminck's Stint
  Temminck's Stint
  Temminck's Stint, Calidris or Erolia temminckii, is a small wader.This stint's breeding habitat is bogs and marshes in the taiga of Arctic northern Europe and Asia. It will breed in southern Scandinavia and occasionally Scotland. It has a distinctive hovering display flight. It nests in a scrape...
  
   Calidris temminckii (A)
• Long-toed Stint
  Long-toed Stint
  The Long-toed Stint, Calidris or Erolia subminuta, is a small wader bird. It breeds across northern Asia and is strongly migratory, wintering in south and south east Asia and Australasia...
  
   Calidris subminuta (A)
• Pectoral Sandpiper
  Pectoral Sandpiper
  The Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, is a small wader. It is sometimes separated with the "stint" sandpipers in Erolia. This may or may not represent a good monophyletic group, depending on the placement of the phylogenetically enigmatic Curlew Sandpiper , the type species of Erolia...
  
   Calidris melanotos (A)
• Curlew Sandpiper
  Curlew Sandpiper
  The Curlew Sandpiper is a small wader that breeds on the tundra of Arctic Siberia. It is strongly migratory, wintering mainly in Africa, but also in south and southeast Asia and in Australasia...
  
   Calidris ferruginea
• Ruff Philomachus pugnax
• Red-necked Phalarope
  Red-necked Phalarope
  The Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus, is a small wader. This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It is migratory, and, unusually for a wader, winters at sea on tropical oceans....
  
   Phalaropus lobatus (A)
• Red Phalarope
  Red Phalarope
  The Red Phalarope , Phalaropus fulicarius, is a small wader. This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia...
  
   Phalaropus fulicarius (A)

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are 7 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

Gulls

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large birds seabirds and includes gull

Gull

Gulls are birds in the family Laridae. They are most closely related to the terns and only distantly related to auks, skimmers, and more distantly to the waders...

s and kittiwake

Kittiwake

The kittiwakes are two closely related seabird species in the gull family Laridae, the Black-legged Kittiwake and the Red-legged Kittiwake . The epithets "Black-legged" and "Red-legged" are used to distinguish the two species in North America, but in Europe, where R...

s. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 55 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Botswana.

• Lesser Black-backed Gull
  Lesser Black-backed Gull
  The Lesser Black-backed Gull is a large gull that breeds on the Atlantic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from the British Isles south to West Africa...
  
   Larus fuscus (A)
• Gray-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus
• Black-headed Gull
  Black-headed Gull
  The Black-headed Gull is a small gull which breeds in much of Europe and Asia, and also in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory, wintering further south, but some birds in the milder westernmost areas of Europe are resident...
  
   Larus ridibundus (A)

Terns

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Sternidae

Tern

Tern

Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily of the gull family Laridae . They form a lineage with the gulls and skimmers which in turn is related to skuas and auks...

s are a group of generally general medium to large sea-birds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species now known to live in excess of 25 to 30 years. There are 44 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Botswana.

• Gull-billed Tern
  Gull-billed Tern
  The Gull-billed Tern formerly Sterna nilotica , is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae...
  
   Sterna nilotica (A)
• Caspian Tern
  Caspian Tern
  The Caspian Tern is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. Despite its extensive range, it is monotypic of its genus, and has no subspecies accepted either...
  
   Sterna caspia
• Whiskered Tern
  Whiskered Tern
  The Whiskered Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in size and minor plumage details....
  
   Chlidonias hybridus
• White-winged Tern
  White-winged Tern
  The White-winged Tern, or White-winged Black Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus, is a small tern generally found in or near bodies of fresh water across from Southeastern Europe east to Australia....
  
   Chlidonias leucopterus
• Black Tern
  Black Tern
  The Black Tern, Chlidonias niger, is a small tern generally found in or near inland water in Europe and North America. As its name suggests, it has predominantly dark plumage.- Description :...
  
   Chlidonias niger

Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...

. Family: Rynchopidae

Skimmer

Skimmer

The Skimmers, Rynchopidae, are a small family of tern-like birds in the order Charadriiformes, which also includes the waders, gulls and auks. The family comprises three species found in South Asia, Africa, and the Americas....

s are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• African Skimmer
  African Skimmer
  The African Skimmer is a skimmer that lives in Senegal to northern Congo River and southern Nile Valley, southern Tanzania to the Zambezi Valley, and then to Natal and Angola.- Appearance :...
  
   Rynchops flavirostris

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes. Family: Pteroclidae

Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes. There are 16 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Botswana.

• Namaqua Sandgrouse
  Namaqua Sandgrouse
  The Namaqua Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007....
  
   Pterocles namaqua
• Yellow-throated Sandgrouse
  Yellow-throated Sandgrouse
  The Yellow-throated Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Pterocles gutturalis
• Double-banded Sandgrouse
  Double-banded Sandgrouse
  The Double-banded Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Pterocles bicinctus
• Burchell's Sandgrouse
  Burchell's Sandgrouse
  The Burchell's Sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Pterocles burchelli

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes

Columbiformes

Columbiformes are an avian order that includes the very widespread and successful doves and pigeons, classified in the family Columbidae, and the extinct Dodo and the Rodrigues Solitaire, long classified as a second family Raphidae. 313 species, found worldwide, comprise the Columbiformes order....

. Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and dove

Dove

Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...

s are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere

Cère

The Cère is a long river in south-western France, left tributary of the Dordogne River. Its source is in the south-western Massif Central, near the mountain Plomb du Cantal...

. There are 308 species worldwide and 10 species which occur in Botswana.

• Rock Pigeon
  Rock Pigeon
  The Rock Dove or Rock Pigeon, is a member of the bird family Columbidae . In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon"....
  
   Columba livia (I)
• Speckled Pigeon
  Speckled Pigeon
  The Speckled Pigeon or Rock Pigeon is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in much of Africa south of the Sahara. It is a common and widespread species in open habitats over a good deal of its range, although there are sizeable gaps in its distribution.This species builds a large stick nest...
  
   Columba guinea
• Eurasian Turtle-Dove Streptopelia turtur (A)
• African Mourning Dove
  African Mourning Dove
  The Mourning Collared Dove is a pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird in Africa south of the Sahara. Despite its name, it is not a close relative of the North American Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura. This species is common or abundant near water...
  
   Streptopelia decipiens
• Red-eyed Dove
  Red-eyed Dove
  The Red-eyed Dove is a pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird in Africa south of the Sahara. It is a common, if not abundant, species in most habitats other than desert....
  
   Streptopelia semitorquata
• Ring-necked Dove
  Ring-necked Dove
  The Ring-necked Dove , also known as the Cape Turtle Dove and the Half-Collared Dove, is a widespread and abundant bird in the bush, savannah, farmlands, and woodlands of southern and eastern Africa. Their name comes from a black patch of feathers on the back of their necks...
  
   Streptopelia capicola
• Laughing Dove
  Laughing Dove
  The Laughing Dove is a small pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in the tropics in Africa south of the Sahara, the Middle East and southern Asia east to India. In India it is also known as the Little Brown Dove...
  
   Streptopelia senegalensis
• Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos
• Namaqua Dove
  Namaqua Dove
  The Namaqua Dove is a small pigeon. It is the only species in the genus Oena. .-Description:The Namaqua Dove is a tiny sparrow-sized pigeon, typically 22 cm in length with a 28–33 cm wingspan, and weighing 40g. It has a very long black tapered tail, and the size and shape have led to...
  
   Oena capensis
• African Green Pigeon Treron calva

Parrots, macaws and allies

Order: Psittaciformes. Family: Psittacidae

Parrot

Parrot

Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...

s are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and the have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. There are 335 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Botswana.

• Peach-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis (A)
• Brown-necked Parrot Poicephalus robustus (A)
• Meyer's Parrot
  Meyer's Parrot
  The Meyer's Parrot is a small , stocky African parrot. Meyer's parrots display a dull brown head, back and tail, green or blue-green abdomen, blue rump and bright yellow markings on the carpal joint of the wings. Most subspecies have some yellow on the top of the head as well. Forshaw recognizes...
  
   Poicephalus meyeri

Turacos

Order: Cuculiformes

Cuculiformes

The near passerine bird order Cuculiformes traditionally included three families as below:* Musophagidae - turacos and allies* Cuculidae - cuckoos, coucals, roadrunners and anis* Opisthocomidae - Hoatzin...

. Family: Musophagidae

The turacos, plantain eaters and go-away birds make up the bird family Musophagidae. They are medium-sized arboreal birds. The turacos and plantain eaters are brightly coloured birds, usually blue, green or purple. The go-away birds are mostly grey and white. There are 23 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Botswana.

• Schalow's Turaco
  Schalow's Turaco
  The Schalow's Turaco is a frugivorous bird in the Musophagidae family. It is named after Herman Schalow. Mature birds have, on average, the longest crests of any turaco species....
  
   Tauraco schalowi (A)
• Purple-crested Turaco
  Purple-crested Turaco
  The Purple-crested Turaco is a species of bird in the Musophagidae family.It is found in Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Tauraco porphyreolophus (A)
• Ross's Turaco
  Ross's Turaco
  Ross's Turaco or Lady Ross's Turaco is a mainly bluish-purple African bird of the turaco family, Musophagidae.It is found in woodland, open forest and riparian habitats in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan,...
  
   Musophaga rossae (A)
• Gray Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor

Cuckoos and anis

Order: Cuculiformes

Cuculiformes

The near passerine bird order Cuculiformes traditionally included three families as below:* Musophagidae - turacos and allies* Cuculidae - cuckoos, coucals, roadrunners and anis* Opisthocomidae - Hoatzin...

. Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoo

Cuckoo

The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...

s, roadrunner

Geococcyx

The roadrunners are two species of bird in the genus Geococcyx of the cuckoo family, Cuculidae, native to North and Central America...

s and anis

Ani (bird)

The anis are the three species of near-passerine birds in the genus Crotophaga of the cuckoo family. They are essentially tropical New world birds, although the range of two species just reaches the United States...

. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Unlike the cuckoo species of the Old World, North American cuckoos are not brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in Botswana.

• Pied Cuckoo
  Pied Cuckoo
  The Jacobin Cuckoo, Pied Cuckoo, or Pied Crested Cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds that is found in Africa and Asia. It is partially migratory and in India, it has been considered a harbinger of the Monsoon rains due to the timing of its arrival...
  
   Clamator jacobinus
• Levaillant's Cuckoo
  Levaillant's Cuckoo
  Levaillant's Cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii is a cuckoo which is a resident breeding species in Africa south of the Sahara. It is found in bushy habitats. It is a brood parasite, using the nests of bulbuls and babblers...
  
   Clamator levaillantii
• Great Spotted Cuckoo
  Great Spotted Cuckoo
  The Great Spotted Cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals....
  
   Clamator glandarius
• Thick-billed Cuckoo
  Thick-billed Cuckoo
  The Thick-billed Cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Pachycoccyx....
  
   Pachycoccyx audeberti (A)
• Red-chested Cuckoo
  Red-chested Cuckoo
  The Red-chested Cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family. It is a medium-sized bird , found in Africa south of the Sahara.-Distribution and habitat:...
  
   Cuculus solitarius
• Black Cuckoo
  Black Cuckoo
  The Black Cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family. The species is distributed widely across sub-Saharan Africa...
  
   Cuculus clamosus
• Common Cuckoo
  Common Cuckoo
  The Common Cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes, which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals....
  
   Cuculus canorus
• African Cuckoo
  African Cuckoo
  The African Cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana,...
  
   Cuculus gularis
• Klaas's Cuckoo
  Klaas's Cuckoo
  The Klaas's Cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia,...
  
   Chrysococcyx klaas
• African Emerald Cuckoo
  African Emerald Cuckoo
  The African Emerald Cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,...
  
   Chrysococcyx cupreus (A)
• Dideric Cuckoo
  Dideric Cuckoo
  The Diederik Cuckoo , formerly Dideric Cuckoo or Didric Cuckoo, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis, and the Hoatzin....
  
   Chrysococcyx caprius
• Black Coucal
  Black Coucal
  The Black Coucal is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,...
  
   Centropus grillii
• Coppery-tailed Coucal
  Coppery-tailed Coucal
  The Coppery-tailed Coucal is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Centropus cupreicaudus
• Senegal Coucal
  Senegal Coucal
  The Senegal Coucal, Centropus senegalensis, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis, and the Hoatzin....
  
   Centropus senegalensis
• White-browed Coucal
  White-browed Coucal
  The White-browed Coucal is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family.It is found in sub-Saharan Africa.The southern subspecies is sometimes split as Burchell's Coucal, Centropus burchelli...
  
   Centropus superciliosus

Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes. Family: Tytonidae

Tytonidae

Barn-owls are one of the two families of owls, the other being the true owls, Strigidae. They are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons...

Barn owl

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...

s are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are 16 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• African Grass-Owl
  African Grass-owl
  The African Grass Owl is a species of owl in the Tytonidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
  
   Tyto capensis
• Barn Owl
  Barn Owl
  The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
  
   Tyto alba

Typical owls

Order: Strigiformes. Family: Strigidae

Typical owl

Typical owl

True owl or Typical owl are one of the two generally accepted families of Owls, the other being the barn owls . The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy unites the Caprimulgiformes with the owl order; here, the typical owls are a subfamily Strigidae...

s are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. There are 195 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in Botswana.

• African Scops-Owl Otus senegalensis
• Southern White-faced Owl
  Southern White-faced Owl
  The Southern White-faced Owl is a fairly small owl in the family Strigidae. It is native to the southern half of Africa. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the Northern White-faced Owl but the two are now commonly treated as separate species.It is 22-28 centimetres long and weighs...
  
   Ptilopsis granti
• Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus
• Verreaux's Eagle-Owl Bubo lacteus
• Pel's Fishing-Owl
  Pel's Fishing-owl
  The Pel's Fishing Owl is a large species of owl in the Strigidae family. It feeds nocturnally on fish and frogs snatched from the surface of lakes and rivers. The species prefers slow moving rivers with large overhanging trees to roost and forage from. It nests in hollows and the forks of large...
  
   Scotopelia peli
• African Wood-Owl
  African Wood-owl
  The African Wood Owl, Strix woodfordii, is a medium-sized owl with dark eyes and no ear tufts. It is 30 to 36 cm long and weighs from 240 to 350 grams. It lives in Africa from Senegambia to Sudan and south to Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and on the east coast to...
  
   Strix woodfordii
• Pearl-spotted Owlet
  Pearl-spotted Owlet
  The Pearl-spotted Owlet is an owl which breeds in Africa south of the Sahara. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.Pearl-spotted Owlet is a common and easily seen...
  
   Glaucidium perlatum
• African Barred Owlet
  African Barred Owlet
  The African Barred Owlet is a species of owl in the Strigidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and...
  
   Glaucidium capense
• Marsh Owl
  Marsh Owl
  The Marsh Owl, Asio capensis, is a species of owl which is a mainly resident breeder in Africa and Madagascar.This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl...
  
   Asio capensis

Nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes

Caprimulgiformes

The Caprimulgiformes is an order of birds that includes a number of birds with global distribution . They are generally insectivorous and nocturnal...

. Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjar

Nightjar

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills. They are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers from the mistaken belief that they suck milk from goats . Some New World species are named as nighthawks...

s are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves. There are 86 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Botswana.

• Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (A)
• Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
  Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
  The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International...
  
   Caprimulgus rufigena
• Fiery-necked Nightjar
  Fiery-necked Nightjar
  The Fiery-necked Nightjar is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
  
   Caprimulgus pectoralis
• Swamp Nightjar
  Swamp Nightjar
  The Swamp Nightjar is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone,...
  
   Caprimulgus natalensis
• Freckled Nightjar
  Freckled Nightjar
  The Freckled Nightjar is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia,...
  
   Caprimulgus tristigma
• Square-tailed Nightjar
  Square-tailed Nightjar
  The Square-tailed Nightjar is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,...
  
   Caprimulgus fossii
• Pennant-winged Nightjar
  Pennant-winged Nightjar
  The Pennant-winged Nightjar, Macrodipteryx vexillarius, is an intra-African migrant that occurs from Nigeria to northern South Africa. The male is characteristic in having a broad white band over the otherwise black primaries. In addition the males acquire a striking 9th primary feather during the...
  
   Macrodipteryx vexillarius

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes

Apodiformes

Traditionally, the bird order Apodiformes contained three living families: the swifts , the tree swifts , and the hummingbirds . In the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this order is raised to a superorder Apodimorphae in which hummingbirds are separated as a new order, Trochiliformes...

. Family: Apodidae

Swift

Swift

The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are actually not closely related to passerine species at all; swifts are in the separate order Apodiformes, which they share with hummingbirds...

s are small aerial birds, spending the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. There are 98 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in Botswana.

• Bat-like Spinetail
  Bat-like Spinetail
  The Böhm's Spinetail or Bat-like Spinetail is a species of swift in the Apodidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
  
   Neafrapus boehmi
• African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus parvus
• Alpine Swift
  Alpine Swift
  The Alpine Swift syn. is a species of Swift. The bird is superficially similar to a large Barn Swallow or House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes...
  
   Tachymarptis melba
• Common Swift
  Common Swift
  The Common Swift is a small bird, superficially similar to the Barn Swallow or House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the separate order Apodiformes...
  
   Apus apus
• African Swift
  African Swift
  The African Black Swift or African Swift, Apus barbatus, is a small bird in the swift family. It breeds in Africa discontinuously from Liberia, Cameroon, Zaire, Uganda and Kenya south to South Africa, and on Madagascar. The breeding habitat is damp mountains, typically between 1,600 - 2,400 m,...
  
   Apus barbatus
• Bradfield's Swift
  Bradfield's Swift
  The Bradfield's Swift is a species of swift in the Apodidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007....
  
   Apus bradfieldi (A)
• Little Swift
  Little Swift
  The Little Swift , is a small bird, superficially similar to a Barn Swallow or House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles...
  
   Apus affinis
• Horus Swift
  Horus Swift
  The Horus Swift, Apus horus, is a small bird in the swift family. It breeds in sub-Saharan Africa. It has an extensive continuous distribution from eastern and southern South Africa north to southern Zambia and central Mozambique, and has recently colonised the De Hoop Nature Reserve area of the...
  
   Apus horus
• White-rumped Swift
  White-rumped Swift
  The White-rumped Swift is a small swift. Although this bird is superficially similar to a House Martin, it is completely unrelated to that passerine species. The resemblances between the swallows and swifts are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.Swifts have very short legs...
  
   Apus caffer

Mousebirds

Order: Coliiformes. Family: Coliidae

The mousebirds are slender greyish or brown birds with soft, hairlike body feathers and very long thin tails. They are arboreal and scurry through the leaves like rodents in search of berries, fruit and buds. They are acrobatic, and can feed upside down. All species have strong claws and reversible outer toes. They also have crests and stubby bills. There are 6 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Botswana.

• Speckled Mousebird
  Speckled Mousebird
  The Speckled Mousebird is the largest species of mousebird, as well as one of the most common.- Description :This bird is about 35 cm long, with the tail comprising approximately half the length, and weighs about 57 grams...
  
   Colius striatus
• White-backed Mousebird
  White-backed Mousebird
  The White-backed Mousebird is a large species of mousebird. It is distributed in western and central regions of southern Africa from Namibia and southern Botswana eastwards to Central Transvaal and the eastern Cape....
  
   Colius colius
• Red-faced Mousebird
  Red-faced Mousebird
  The Red-faced Mousebird is a species of mousebird or coly. It is a common in southern Africa from Zaire, Zambia and Tanzania south to the Cape. Its habitat is savanna with thickets, fynbos scrub, other open woodland, gardens and orchards.This bird is about 34 cm long, with the tail...
  
   Urocolius indicus

Trogons and Quetzals

Order: Trogoniformes. Family: Trogonidae

The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage. There are 33 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• Narina Trogon
  Narina Trogon
  The Narina Trogon, Apaloderma narina, is a medium-sized , largely green forest bird in the Trogonidae family, the most widespread and catholic in habitat choice of three Apaloderma trogons...
  
   Apaloderma narina (A)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

. Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. There are 93 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in Botswana.

• Half-collared Kingfisher
  Half-collared Kingfisher
  The Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata is a species of kingfisher that feeds almost exclusively on fish and can be found near water at all times. It can be found on shores and around larger bodies of water in southern and eastern Africa....
  
   Alcedo semitorquata (A)
• Malachite Kingfisher
  Malachite Kingfisher
  The Malachite Kingfisher is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate related movements....
  
   Alcedo cristata
• African Pygmy-Kingfisher
  African Pygmy-Kingfisher
  The African Pygmy Kingfisher is a small insectivorous kingfisher found in the Afrotropics, mostly in woodland habitats. Some texts refer to this species as Ceyx pictus.-Description:...
  
   Ispidina picta
• Gray-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala
• Woodland Kingfisher
  Woodland Kingfisher
  The Woodland Kingfisher is a tree kingfisher.-Description:This is a medium-sized kingfisher, 20–23 cm in length. The adult has a bright blue back, wing panel and tail. Its head, neck and underparts are white, and its shoulders are black. The flight of the Woodland Kingfisher is rapid and direct...
  
   Halcyon senegalensis
• Brown-hooded Kingfisher
  Brown-hooded Kingfisher
  The Brown-hooded Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Halcyonidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife...
  
   Halcyon albiventris
• Striped Kingfisher
  Striped Kingfisher
  The Striped Kingfisher is a species of bird in the tree kingfisher family. It was first described by Edward, Lord Stanley, in Salt's Voyage to Abyssinia in 1814 as "Chelicut Kingfisher" Alaudo Chelicuti....
  
   Halcyon chelicuti
• Giant Kingfisher
  Giant Kingfisher
  The Giant Kingfisher is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert other than the arid southwest....
  
   Megaceryle maximus
• Pied Kingfisher
  Pied Kingfisher
  The Pied Kingfisher is a water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Their black and white plumage, crest and the habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish makes it distinctive. Males have a double band across the breast while females have a...
  
   Ceryle rudis

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

. Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine

Near passerine

Near passerine or higher land-bird assemblage are terms often given to arboreal birds or those most often believed to be related to the true passerines due to ecological similarities; the group corresponds to some extent with the Anomalogonatae of Garrod All near passerines are land birds...

 birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colorful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are 26 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Botswana.

• White-fronted Bee-eater
  White-fronted Bee-eater
  The White-fronted Bee-eater, Merops bullockoides, is a species of bee-eater widely distributed in sub-equatorial Africa.They have a distinctive white forehead, a square tail and a bright red patch on their throat...
  
   Merops bullockoides
• Little Bee-eater
  Little Bee-eater
  The little Bee-eater, Merops pusillus is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It is resident in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It should not be confused with the Little Green Bee-eater, Merops orientalis. Migration is limited to seasonal movements depending on rainfall...
  
   Merops pusillus
• Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
  Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
  The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It breeds in savannah woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It is partially migratory, moving in response to rainfall patterns....
  
   Merops hirundineus
• Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
  Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
  The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Merops persicus, is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. It breeds in Northern Africa, and the Middle East from eastern Turkey to Kazakhstan and India. It is generally strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa, although some populations breed...
  
   Merops persicus
• Madagascar Bee-eater
  Madagascar Bee-eater
  The Olive Bee-eater, is a near passerine bee-eater species in the genus Merops.-References: Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern...
  
   Merops superciliosus (A)
• European Bee-eater
  European Bee-eater
  The European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster, is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It breeds in southern Europe and in parts of north Africa and western Asia. It is strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka...
  
   Merops apiaster
• Southern Carmine Bee-eater
  Southern Carmine Bee-eater
  The Southern Carmine Bee-eater occurs across sub-equatorial Africa, ranging from KwaZulu-Natal and Namibia to Gabon, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya....
  
   Merops nubicoides

Typical rollers

Order: Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

. Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crow

Crow

Crows form the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Ranging in size from the relatively small pigeon-size jackdaws to the Common Raven of the Holarctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia, the 40 or so members of this genus occur on all temperate continents and several...

s in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...

s and bee-eater

Bee-eater

The bee-eaters are a group of near-passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa and Asia but others occur in southern Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers...

s. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not. There are 12 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Botswana.

• European Roller
  European Roller
  The European Roller, Coracias garrulus, is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East and Central Asia and Morocco....
  
   Coracias garrulus
• Lilac-breasted Roller
  Lilac-breasted Roller
  The Lilac-breasted Roller is a member of the roller family of birds. It is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula, preferring open woodland and savanna; it is largely absent from treeless places...
  
   Coracias caudata
• Racket-tailed Roller
  Racket-tailed Roller
  The Racket-tailed Roller is a species of bird in the Coraciidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Coracias spatulata
• Rufous-crowned Roller
  Rufous-crowned Roller
  The Purple Roller , also called the Rufous-crowned Roller, is found over sub-Saharan Africa to as far south as Namibia and the Transvaal. Compared with other rollers its colours are rather dull and its voice rather harsh and grating...
  
   Coracias naevia
• Broad-billed Roller
  Broad-billed Roller
  The Broad-billed Roller, Eurystomus glaucurus, is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across tropical Africa and Madagascar in all but the driest regions. It is a wet season breeder, which migrates from the northern and southern areas of its range towards the moister equatorial...
  
   Eurystomus glaucurus

Hoopoes

Order: Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

. Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• Hoopoe
  Hoopoe
  The Hoopoe is a colourful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive 'crown' of feathers. It is the only extant species in the family Upupidae. One insular species, the Giant Hoopoe of Saint Helena, is extinct, and the Madagascar subspecies of the Hoopoe is sometimes...
  
   Upupa epops

Woodhoopoes

Order: Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

. Family: Phoeniculidae

The woodhoopoes are related to the kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...

s, roller

Roller

The rollers are an Old World family, Coraciidae, of near passerine birds. The group gets its name from the aerial acrobatics some of these birds perform during courtship or territorial flights. Rollers resemble crows in size and build, and share the colourful appearance of kingfishers and...

s and hoopoe

Hoopoe

The Hoopoe is a colourful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive 'crown' of feathers. It is the only extant species in the family Upupidae. One insular species, the Giant Hoopoe of Saint Helena, is extinct, and the Madagascar subspecies of the Hoopoe is sometimes...

. They most resemble the last species with their long curved bills, used for probing for insects, and short rounded wings. However, they differ in that they have metallic plumage

Plumage

Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...

, often blue, green or purple, and lack an erectile crest. There are 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• Green Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus
• Common Scimitar-bill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Hornbills

Order: Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

. Family: Bucerotidae

Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured. There are 57 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Botswana.

• Red-billed Hornbill
  Red-billed Hornbill
  Red-billed Hornbill is a relatively small species of hornbill found in savanna and woodland of sub-Saharan Africa. It is sometimes split into five species, the Northern Red-billed Hornbill , Western Red-billed Hornbill , Tanzania Red-billed Hornbill , Southern Red-billed Hornbill Red-billed...
  
   Tockus erythrorhynchus
• Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
  Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
  The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is a Hornbill found in southern Africa. It is a medium sized bird, with length between 48 to 60 cm, characterized by a long yellow beak with a casque . The skin around the eyes and in the malar stripe is pinkish...
  
   Tockus leucomelas
• Crowned Hornbill
  Crowned Hornbill
  The Crowned Hornbill, Tockus alboterminatus, is an African hornbill. It is a medium-sized bird, with a length between 50 and 54 cm, and it is characterized by its white belly and black back and wings. The tips of the long tail feathers are white. The eyes are yellow; the beak is red and...
  
   Tockus alboterminatus (A)
• Bradfield's Hornbill
  Bradfield's Hornbill
  The Bradfield's Hornbill, Tockus bradfieldi, is an African Hornbill. It is a medium sized bird, with length between 50 to 57 cm, characterized by white belly, black back and wings. The tip feathers of the long tail are white....
  
   Tockus bradfieldi
• African Gray Hornbill Tockus nasutus
• Trumpeter Hornbill
  Trumpeter Hornbill
  The Trumpeter Hornbill, Bycanistes bucinator, is a medium-sized hornbill, with length between , characterized by a large grey casque on the bill, smaller in females. The eyes are brown or red, with pink surrounding skin. Body mass is reported between . They are similar to Silvery-cheeked Hornbill...
  
   Ceratogymna bucinator
• Southern Ground-Hornbill
  Southern Ground-hornbill
  The Southern Ground Hornbill or cafer , is one of two species of ground hornbill and is the largest species of hornbill....
  
   Bucorvus leadbeateri

Barbets

Order: Piciformes

Piciformes

Nine families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives...

. Family: Capitonidae

The barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured. There are 84 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Botswana.

• Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
  Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
  The Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus, is a small African barbet formerly known as Yellow-fronted Tinker Barbet. Barbets are near passerine birds with bristles around the base of the bill and a world-wide tropical distribution....
  
   Pogoniulus chrysoconus
• Pied Barbet
  Pied Barbet
  The Acacia Pied Barbet or Pied Barbet is a species of bird in the Lybiidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Tricholaema leucomelas
• Black-collared Barbet
  Black-collared Barbet
  The Black-collared Barbet is a species of bird in the Lybiidae family.It is found in sub-Saharan Africa through Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Readily...
  
   Lybius torquatus
• Crested Barbet
  Crested Barbet
  The Crested Barbet is a species of bird in the Lybiidae family.-Appearance:With its thick bill and very colourful plumage the Crested Barbet is unmistakable. This small bird has a speckled yellow and red face with a small black crest. The belly is yellow with red speckles, wings are black with...
  
   Trachyphonus vaillantii

Honeyguides

Order: Piciformes

Piciformes

Nine families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives...

. Family: Indicatoridae

Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax

Wax

thumb|right|[[Cetyl palmitate]], a typical wax ester.Wax refers to a class of chemical compounds that are plastic near ambient temperatures. Characteristically, they melt above 45 °C to give a low viscosity liquid. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in organic, nonpolar solvents...

. They are named for the behaviour of the Greater Honeyguide

Greater Honeyguide

The Greater Honeyguide is a bird in the family Indicatoridae, paleotropical near passerine birds related to the woodpeckers. Its English and scientific names refer to its habit of guiding people to bee colonies....

 which leads large animals to bees' nests and then feeds on the wax once the animal has broken the nest open to get at the honey. There are 17 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Botswana.

• Greater Honeyguide
  Greater Honeyguide
  The Greater Honeyguide is a bird in the family Indicatoridae, paleotropical near passerine birds related to the woodpeckers. Its English and scientific names refer to its habit of guiding people to bee colonies....
  
   Indicator indicator
• Lesser Honeyguide
  Lesser Honeyguide
  The Lesser Honeyguide is a species of bird in the Indicatoridae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia,...
  
   Indicator minor
• Green-backed Honeyguide
  Green-backed Honeyguide
  The Green-backed Honeybird , also known as the Eastern Green-backed Honeyguide or Green-backed Honeyguide, is a species of bird in the Indicatoridae family....
  
   Prodotiscus zambesiae (A)
• Wahlberg's Honeyguide
  Wahlberg's Honeyguide
  The Brown-backed Honeybird , also known as the Wahlberg's Honeybird or Wahlberg's Honeyguide, is a species of bird in the Indicatoridae family....
  
   Prodotiscus regulus

Woodpeckers and allies

Order: Piciformes

Piciformes

Nine families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives...

. Family: Picidae

Picidae

The woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks are a family, Picidae, of near-passerine birds. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia and New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions...

Woodpeckers are small to medium sized birds with chisel like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward, and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. There are 218 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Botswana.

• Bennett's Woodpecker
  Bennett's Woodpecker
  The Bennett's Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded...
  
   Campethera bennettii
• Golden-tailed Woodpecker
  Golden-tailed Woodpecker
  The Golden-tailed Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Canada, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali,...
  
   Campethera abingoni
• Cardinal Woodpecker
  Cardinal Woodpecker
  The Cardinal Woodpecker, Dendropicos fuscescens, is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It is a species found in a wide range of habitats from dense forest to thornbush...
  
   Dendropicos fuscescens
• Bearded Woodpecker
  Bearded Woodpecker
  The Bearded Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and...
  
   Dendropicos namaquus
• Olive Woodpecker
  Olive Woodpecker
  The Olive Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 27...
  
   Dendropicos griseocephalus (A)

Broadbills

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Eurylaimidae

The broadbills are small, brightly coloured birds that feed on fruit and also take insects in flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests. There are 15 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• African Broadbill
  African Broadbill
  The African Broadbill, Smithornis capensis, is a species of bird in the Eurylaimidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria,...
  
   Smithornis capensis (A)

Larks

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds. There are 91 species worldwide and 16 species which occur in Botswana.

• Monotonous Lark
  Monotonous Lark
  The Monotonous Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.- Range :The range of M. Passerina is quite broad, extending over six countries in Africa; Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
  
   Mirafra passerina
• Latakoo Lark
  Latakoo Lark
  The Latakoo Lark or Melodious Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family, that is currently threatened by habitat loss.- Range and population :...
  
   Mirafra cheniana (A)
• Rufous-naped Lark
  Rufous-naped Lark
  The Rufous-naped Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.- Range :The Rufous-naped lark's range is very large, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 5,600,000 square km...
  
   Mirafra africana
• Flappet Lark
  Flappet Lark
  The Flappet Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.- Range and population :Mirafra rufocinnamomea has a large range covering much of the African continent with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 10,000,000 square km...
  
   Mirafra rufocinnamomea
• Eastern Clapper Lark Mirafra fasciolata
• Sabota Lark
  Sabota Lark
  The Sabota Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.- Range :M. sabota has a vast range spanning the countries of Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe...
  
   Calendulauda sabota
• Fawn-colored Lark Calendulauda africanoides
• Dusky Lark
  Dusky Lark
  The Dusky Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Pinarocorys nigricans
• Short-clawed Lark
  Short-clawed Lark
  The Short-clawed Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.It is found in Botswana and South Africa.Its natural habitat is dry savanna....
  
   Certhilauda chuana
• Spike-heeled Lark
  Spike-heeled Lark
  The Spike-heeled Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Chersomanes....
  
   Chersomanes albofasciata
• Black-eared Sparrow-Lark
  Black-eared Sparrow-lark
  The Black-eared Sparrow-lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.It is found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa....
  
   Eremopterix australis (A)
• Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
  Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark
  The Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucotis, is a passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.This lark is a bird of open dry habitats. It nests on the ground and lays one egg. The food is insects and seeds....
  
   Eremopterix leucotis
• Gray-backed Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix verticalis
• Red-capped Lark
  Red-capped Lark
  The Red-capped Lark, Calandrella cinerea, is a small passerine bird. This lark breeds in the highlands of eastern Africa southwards from Ethiopia and northern Somalia. In the south, its range stretches across the continent to Angola and south to the Cape in South Africa.This is a species of short...
  
   Calandrella cinerea
• Pink-billed Lark
  Pink-billed Lark
  The Pink-billed Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.It is found in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.-References:...
  
   Spizocorys conirostris
• Stark's Lark
  Stark's Lark
  The Stark's Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Captain George Shelley named the species in honor of Arthur Stark.-References:* BirdLife...
  
   Spizocorys starki

Swallows and martins

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Hirundinidae

The Hirundinidae family is a group of passerines characterized by their adaptation to aerial feeding. Their adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and short bills with wide gape. The feet are designed for perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. There are 75 species worldwide and 17 species which occur in Botswana.

• Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
• Plain Martin Riparia paludicola
• Banded Martin
  Banded Martin
  The Banded Martin or Banded Sand Martin, Riparia cincta, is a small passerine bird in the swallow family.The Banded Martin is found in open habitats such as farmland, grassland and savannah, usually near water...
  
   Riparia cincta
• Gray-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga
• Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula
• Barn Swallow
  Barn Swallow
  The Barn Swallow is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts, a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas...
  
   Hirundo rustica
• Angola Swallow
  Angola Swallow
  The Angola Swallow is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.-References:...
  
   Hirundo angolensis (A)
• White-throated Swallow
  White-throated Swallow
  The White-throated Swallow is a small bird in the swallow family. It is a common species, found in southern Africa, which has benefited from the increased nesting opportunities presented by the construction of bridges and dams....
  
   Hirundo albigularis
• Wire-tailed Swallow
  Wire-tailed Swallow
  The Wire-tailed Swallow is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. Swallows are somewhat similar in habits and appearance to other aerial insectivores, such as the related martins and the unrelated swifts ....
  
   Hirundo smithii
• Pearl-breasted Swallow
  Pearl-breasted Swallow
  The Pearl-breasted Swallow is a small swallow. It breeds in southern Africa from Angola, southern Zaire and Tanzania southwards. It is partially migratory with many birds from the south west of South Africa wintering further north....
  
   Hirundo dimidiata
• Greater Striped-Swallow Cecropis cucullata
• Lesser Striped-Swallow Cecropis abyssinica
• Rufous-chested Swallow
  Rufous-chested Swallow
  The Rufous-chested Swallow , also known as the Red-breasted Swallow, is a large swallow. It breeds in equatorial Africa, although most common in the east. It is partially migratory, following the rains beyond the breeding range in the wet season.This is a bird of dry open country...
  
   Cecropis semirufa
• Mosque Swallow
  Mosque Swallow
  The Mosque Swallow is a large swallow. It is a resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa, although most common in the west. It does not migrate, but will follow the rains to some extent....
  
   Cecropis senegalensis
• South African Swallow
  South African Swallow
  The South African Cliff Swallow , also known as the South African Swallow, is a species of bird in the Hirundinidae family...
  
   Petrochelidon spilodera
• Common House-Martin Delichon urbica
• Blue Sawwing Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae

The Motacillidae are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. There are around 65 species in 6 genera and they include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. The longclaws are entirely restricted to the Afrotropics, and the wagtails are predominately found in Europe, Africa and...

The Motacillidae are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country. There are 54 species worldwide and 16 species which occur in Botswana.

• African Pied Wagtail
  African Pied Wagtail
  The African Pied Wagtail is a species of bird in the Motacillidae family.-Habitat and distribution:It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Equatorial...
  
   Motacilla aguimp
• Cape Wagtail
  Cape Wagtail
  The Cape Wagtail is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which includes the wagtails, pipits and longclaws....
  
   Motacilla capensis
• Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
• Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea (A)
• Mountain Wagtail
  Mountain Wagtail
  The Mountain Wagtail , also known as the Long-tailed Wagtail, is a species of bird in the Motacillidae family....
  
   Motacilla clara (A)
• Orange-throated Longclaw Macronyx capensis (A)
• Rosy-throated Longclaw
  Rosy-throated Longclaw
  The Rosy-throated Longclaw, also known as the Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Macronyx ameliae, is a species of bird in the Motacillidae family....
  
   Macronyx ameliae
• Striped Pipit
  Striped Pipit
  The Striped Pipit is a species of bird in the Motacillidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitat is dry savanna.-References:* BirdLife...
  
   Anthus lineiventris
• Mountain Pipit
  Mountain Pipit
  The Mountain Pipit is a species of bird in the Motacillidae family.It is found in Lesotho, South Africa, possibly Botswana, possibly Democratic Republic of the Congo, possibly Namibia, and possibly Zambia....
  
   Anthus hoeschi
• Woodland Pipit
  Woodland Pipit
  The Wood Pipit or Woodland Pipit is a small passerine bird belonging to the pipit genus Anthus in the family Motacillidae. It was formerly included in the Long-billed Pipit but is now frequently treated as a separate species...
  
   Anthus nyassae (A)
• Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys
• Buffy Pipit
  Buffy Pipit
  The Buffy Pipit is a species of bird in the Motacillidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Anthus vaalensis
• African Pipit
  African Pipit
  The African Pipit is a fairly small passerine bird belonging to the pipit genus Anthus in the family Motacillidae. It is also known as the Grassveld Pipit or Grassland Pipit...
  
   Anthus cinnamomeus
• Long-billed Pipit
  Long-billed Pipit
  The Long-billed Pipit or Brown Rock Pipit is a passerine bird which has a wide distribution. A number of subspecies have been created for the populations in Africa, through the Arabian peninsula and South Asia. The systematics of this complex is yet to be clarified...
  
   Anthus similis
• Bush Pipit
  Bush Pipit
  The Bush Pipit or Bushveld Pipit is a species of bird in the pipit and wagtail family Motacillidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and dry...
  
   Anthus caffer (A)
• Tree Pipit
  Tree Pipit
  Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis, is a small passerine bird which breeds across most of Europe and temperate western and central Asia. It is a long-distance migrant moving in winter to Africa and southern Asia....
  
   Anthus trivialis (A)

Cuckoo-shrikes

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Campephagidae

The cuckoo-shrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured. There are 82 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike
  White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike
  The White-breasted Cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali,...
  
   Coracina pectoralis
• Black Cuckoo-shrike
  Black Cuckoo-shrike
  The Black Cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural...
  
   Campephaga flava

Bulbuls

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throat or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests. There are 130 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Botswana.

• Common Bulbul
  Common Bulbul
  The Common Bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a ubiquitous resident breeder throughout Africa...
  
   Pycnonotus barbatus
• Black-fronted Bulbul
  Black-fronted Bulbul
  The Black-fronted Bulbul is a species of songbird in the Pycnonotidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Pycnonotus nigricans
• Yellow-bellied Greenbul
  Yellow-bellied Greenbul
  The Yellow-bellied Greenbul is a species of songbird in the Pycnonotidae family. It is found in Africa south from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya to South Africa...
  
   Chlorocichla flaviventris
• Terrestrial Brownbul
  Terrestrial Brownbul
  The Terrestrial Brownbul is a species of songbird in the Pycnonotidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry...
  
   Phyllastrephus terrestris

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Turdidae

The thrushes

Thrush (bird)

The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...

 are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs. There are 335 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in Botswana.

• Cape Rock-Thrush
  Cape Rock-thrush
  The Cape Rock Thrush is a member of the thrush family of birds. This rock thrush breeds in eastern and southern South Africa. It is a common endemic resident, non-migratory apart from seasonal altitudinal movements in some areas....
  
   Monticola rupestris
• Short-toed Rock-Thrush
  Short-toed Rock-thrush
  The Short-toed Rock Thrush is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland....
  
   Monticola brevipes
• Miombo Rock-Thrush
  Miombo Rock-thrush
  The Miombo Rock Thrush is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Monticola angolensis (A)
• Groundscraper Thrush
  Groundscraper Thrush
  The Groundscraper Thrush is a passerine bird of southern and eastern Africa belonging to the thrush family Turdidae. It is the only member of the genus Psophocichla....
  
   Psophocichla litsipsirupa
• Olive Thrush
  Olive Thrush
  The Olive Thrush is, in its range, one of the most common members of the thrush family . It occurs in east African highlands from Eritrea and Ethiopia in north to the Cape of Good Hope in south...
  
   Turdus olivaceus
• Kurrichane Thrush
  Kurrichane Thrush
  The Kurrichane Thrush is a species of bird in the Turdidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Turdus libonyanus

Cisticolas and allies

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Cisticolidae

Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae family of small passerine birds is a group of about 110 warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are often included within the Old World warbler family Sylviidae....

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub. There are 111 species worldwide and 19 species which occur in Botswana.

• Red-faced Cisticola
  Red-faced Cisticola
  The Red-faced Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia,...
  
   Cisticola erythrops
• Rock-loving Cisticola Cisticola aberrans
• Rattling Cisticola
  Rattling Cisticola
  The Rattling Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and...
  
   Cisticola chiniana
• Gray Cisticola Cisticola rufilatus
• Chirping Cisticola
  Chirping Cisticola
  The Chirping Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Cisticola pipiens
• Tinkling Cisticola
  Levaillant's Cisticola
  Levaillant's Cisticola or Tinkling Cisticola, Cisticola tinniens, is a small passerine bird Levaillant's Cisticola or Tinkling Cisticola, Cisticola tinniens, is a small passerine bird Levaillant's Cisticola or Tinkling Cisticola, Cisticola tinniens, is a small passerine bird (though Tinkling...
  
   Cisticola tinniens (A)
• Croaking Cisticola
  Croaking Cisticola
  The Croaking Cisticola, Cisticola natalensis, is an Old World warbler in the genus Cisticola. This genus is sometimes split off with various other southern warbler genera and given family status as the Cisticolidae....
  
   Cisticola natalensis (A)
• Piping Cisticola
  Piping Cisticola
  The Piping Cisticola, Cisticola fulvicapillus, is a small passerine bird. In South Africa it is known as the Neddicky from the Afrikaans name for the species....
  
   Cisticola fulvicapillus
• Zitting Cisticola
  Zitting Cisticola
  The Zitting Cisticola or Streaked Fantail Warbler , is widely distributed Old World warbler whose breeding range includes southern Europe, Africa outside the deserts and rainforest, and southern Asia down to northern Australia...
  
   Cisticola juncidis
• Desert Cisticola
  Desert Cisticola
  The Desert Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its...
  
   Cisticola aridulus
• Pale-crowned Cisticola
  Pale-crowned Cisticola
  The Pale-crowned Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Gabon, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are damp or marshy areas in upland...
  
   Cisticola cinnamomeus
• Tawny-flanked Prinia
  Tawny-flanked Prinia
  The Tawny-flanked Prinia is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Prinia in the family Cisticolidae, a family of Old World warblers. It is widespread and common in most parts of Africa south of the Sahara. The Plain Prinia The Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava) is a small passerine...
  
   Prinia subflava
• Black-chested Prinia
  Black-chested Prinia
  The Black-chested Prinia is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitat is dry savanna.-References:...
  
   Prinia flavicans
• Rufous-eared Warbler
  Rufous-eared Warbler
  The Rufous-eared Warbler is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. It is the only species in the genus Malcorus....
  
   Malcorus pectoralis
• Bar-throated Apalis
  Bar-throated Apalis
  The Bar-throated Apalis is a small African passerine bird belonging to the genus Apalis of the family Cisticolidae.It inhabits forest and scrub in Southern and East Africa from southern and eastern parts of South Africa north as far as the Chyulu Hills in Kenya...
  
   Apalis thoracica
• Yellow-breasted Apalis
  Yellow-breasted Apalis
  The Yellow-breasted Apalis is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,...
  
   Apalis flavida
• Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
• Miombo Camaroptera Calamonastes undosus
• Barred Camaroptera Calamonastes fasciolatus

Old World warblers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Sylviidae

Sylviidae

Sylviidae is a family of passerine birds that was part of an assemblage known as the Old World warblers. The family was formerly a wastebin taxon with over 400 species of bird in over 70 genera. The family was poorly defined with many characteristics shared with other families...

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. The Sylviidae mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs. There are 291 species worldwide and 22 species which occur in Botswana.

• African Bush-Warbler
  African Bush-warbler
  The African Bush-warbler or Little Rush-Warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family....
  
   Bradypterus baboecala
• Eurasian River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis (A)
• Sedge Warbler
  Sedge Warbler
  The Sedge Warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a medium-sized warbler with a brown, streaked back and wings and a distinct pale supercilium. Sedge Warblers are migratory, crossing the Sahara to get from their European and Asian breeding grounds to spend winter in Africa...
  
   Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
• Eurasian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
• African Reed-Warbler
  African Reed-warbler
  The African Reed Warbler or African Marsh Warbler, Acrocephalus baeticatus, is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds in much of Africa south of the Sahara...
  
   Acrocephalus baeticatus
• Marsh Warbler
  Marsh Warbler
  The Marsh Warbler, Acrocephalus palustris, is an Old World warbler currently classified in the family Acrocephalidae. It breeds in temperate Europe and western Asia and winters mainly in south east Africa...
  
   Acrocephalus palustris
• Great Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
• Basra Reed-Warbler
  Basra Reed-warbler
  The Basra Reed Warbler is a "warbler" of the genus Acrocephalus. It is an endemic breeder in East and southern Iraq and Israel in extensive beds of papyrus and reeds. It is easily mistaken for the Great Reed Warbler but is a bit smaller, has whiter under parts and has a narrower, longer and more...
  
   Acrocephalus griseldis (A)
• Greater Swamp-Warbler
  Greater Swamp-warbler
  The Greater Swamp-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Acrocephalidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia,...
  
   Acrocephalus rufescens
• Lesser Swamp-Warbler
  Lesser Swamp-warbler
  The Lesser Swamp Warbler or Cape Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus gracilirostris, is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a resident breeder in Africa from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Chad and Ethiopia south to South Africa...
  
   Acrocephalus gracilirostris
• Olive-tree Warbler
  Olive-tree Warbler
  The Olive-tree Warbler is an Old World warbler in the tree warbler genus Hippolais. It breeds in southeast Europe and the near east. It is migratory, wintering in eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya south to South Africa.This small passerine bird is a species found in open-canopy oakwoods,...
  
   Hippolais olivetorum
• Icterine Warbler
  Icterine Warbler
  The Icterine Warbler is an Old World warbler in the tree warbler genus Hippolais . It breeds in mainland Europe except the southwest, where it is replaced by its western counterpart, Melodious Warbler. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa...
  
   Hippolais icterina
• African Yellow Warbler Chloropeta natalensis
• Yellow-bellied Eremomela
  Yellow-bellied Eremomela
  The Yellow-bellied Eremomela is an Old World warbler. However, the taxonomy of the "African warblers", an assemblage of usually species-poor and apparently rather ancient "odd warblers" from Africa is currently in a state of flux.The Yellow-bellied Eremomela is a common breeding species in Africa...
  
   Eremomela icteropygialis
• Greencap Eremomela
  Greencap Eremomela
  The Greencap Eremomela is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its...
  
   Eremomela scotops
• Burnt-neck Eremomela
  Burnt-neck Eremomela
  The Burnt-necked Eremomela is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical...
  
   Eremomela usticollis
• Cape Crombec
  Cape Crombec
  The Cape Crombec or Long-billed Crombec, Sylvietta rufescens, is an African warbler.The Cape Crombec breeds in southern Africa from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Tanzania southwards to South Africa....
  
   Sylvietta rufescens
• Willow Warbler
  Willow Warbler
  The Willow Warbler is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia...
  
   Phylloscopus trochilus
• Garden Warbler
  Garden Warbler
  The Garden Warbler, Sylvia borin, is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe into western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in central and southern Africa...
  
   Sylvia borin
• Greater Whitethroat Sylvia communis
• Barred Warbler
  Barred Warbler
  The Barred Warbler is a typical warbler which breeds across temperate regions of central and eastern Europe and western and central Asia. This passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in tropical eastern Africa....
  
   Sylvia nisoria
• Rufous-vented Warbler
  Rufous-vented Warbler
  The Chestnut-vented Warbler , Parisoma subcaeruleum, is an Old World warbler...
  
   Parisoma subcaeruleum

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is very varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls. There 274 species worldwide and 29 species which occur in Botswana.

• Pale Flycatcher
  Pale Flycatcher
  The Pale Flycatcher is a bird species of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae, found in Africa.- Range :It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea,...
  
   Bradornis pallidus
• African Dusky Flycatcher
  African Dusky Flycatcher
  The African Dusky Flycatcher or Dusky Alseonax, Muscicapa adusta, is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. It is a resident breeder in Africa from Nigeria, the Central African Republic, Sudan and Ethiopia south to South Africa...
  
   Muscicapa adusta
• Chat Flycatcher
  Chat Flycatcher
  The Chat Flycatcher is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.-See also:*African Grey Flycatcher, Bradornis microrhynchus*Chat Flycatcher, Bradornis infuscatus*Mariqua Flycatcher, Bradornis mariquensis...
  
   Bradornis infuscatus
• Mariqua Flycatcher
  Mariqua Flycatcher
  The Mariqua Flycatcher or Marico Flycatcher is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.- Range :It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Bradornis mariquensis
• Southern Black-Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina
• Fiscal Flycatcher
  Fiscal Flycatcher
  The Fiscal Flycatcher, Sigelus silens, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It is a resident breeder in Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland, and a vagrant to Namibia...
  
   Sigelus silens
• Spotted Flycatcher
  Spotted Flycatcher
  The Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in most of Europe and western Asia, and is migratory, wintering in Africa and south western Asia. It is declining in parts of its range....
  
   Muscicapa striata
• Ashy Flycatcher
  Ashy Flycatcher
  The Ashy Flycatcher or Ashy Alseonax is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea,...
  
   Muscicapa caerulescens
• Gray Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus
• Fairy Flycatcher Stenostira scita
• Thrush Nightingale
  Thrush Nightingale
  The Thrush Nightingale, Luscinia luscinia , is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
  
   Luscinia luscinia
• Cape Robin-Chat
  Cape Robin-Chat
  The Cape Robin-Chat, Cossypha caffra, is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.It is a mainly resident breeder in southern and eastern Africa from Kenya south to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland...
  
   Cossypha caffra (A)
• White-throated Robin-Chat
  White-throated Robin-chat
  The White-throated Robin-chat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Cossypha humeralis
• White-browed Robin-Chat
  White-browed Robin-chat
  The White-browed Robin-chat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South...
  
   Cossypha heuglini
• Red-capped Robin-Chat
  Red-capped Robin-chat
  The Red-capped Robin-chat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South...
  
   Cossypha natalensis (A)
• Collared Palm-Thrush
  Collared Palm-thrush
  The Collared Palm-thrush is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Cichladusa arquata (A)
• Bearded Scrub-Robin
  Bearded Scrub-robin
  The Bearded Scrub-robin is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Cercotrichas quadrivirgata (A)
• Red-backed Scrub-Robin
  Red-backed Scrub-robin
  The White-browed Scrub Robin , also known as the Red-backed Scrub-robin, is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family...
  
   Cercotrichas leucophrys
• Kalahari Scrub-Robin
  Kalahari Scrub-robin
  The Kalahari Scrub-robin is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family. It is sometimes known as the Sandy Scrub-robin....
  
   Cercotrichas paena
• Whinchat
  Whinchat
  The Whinchat Saxicola rubetra is a small migratory passerine bird breeding in Europe and western Asia and wintering in Africa.Its scientific name means "small rock-dweller", in reference to its habitat...
  
   Saxicola rubetra (A)
• African Stonechat
  African Stonechat
  The African Stonechat is a species of the Old World flycatcher family , inhabiting sub-Saharan Africa and adjacent regions. Like the other chats, it was long assigned to the thrush family , to which the chats are convergent...
  
   Saxicola torquata
• Mountain Wheatear
  Mountain Wheatear
  The Mountain Wheatear or Mountain Chat, Oenanthe monticola, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae....
  
   Oenanthe monticola (A)
• Northern Wheatear
  Northern Wheatear
  The Northern Wheatear or Wheatear is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
  
   Oenanthe oenanthe (A)
• Capped Wheatear
  Capped Wheatear
  The Capped Wheatear, Oenanthe pileata, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae....
  
   Oenanthe pileata
• Sicklewing Chat Cercomela sinuata (A)
• Familiar Chat
  Familiar Chat
  The Familiar Chat, Cercomela familiaris, is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is a common resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara in rocky and mountainous habitat and around human habitation.-Description:...
  
   Cercomela familiaris
• Southern Anteater-Chat
  Southern Anteater-chat
  The Ant-eating Chat or Southern Anteater-chat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Myrmecocichla formicivora
• White-headed Black-Chat
  White-headed Black-chat
  Arnot's Chat, also called the White-headed Black-chat, is a species of bird in the chat and flycatcher family Muscicapidae.The species is found in southern Africa from Tanzania and Angola to South Africa.-Taxonomy:...
  
   Myrmecocichla arnotti
• Mocking Cliff-Chat
  Mocking Cliff-chat
  The Mocking Cliff Chat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania,...
  
   Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
• Boulder Chat
  Boulder Chat
  The Boulder Chat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Pinarornis. It is found in Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, where its natural habitat is dry savanna....
  
   Pinarornis plumosus

Wattle-eyes

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Platysteiridae

The wattle-eyes or puffback flycatchers are small stout passerine birds of the African tropics. They get their name from the brightly coloured fleshy eye decorations found in most species in this group. There are 31 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Botswana.

• Cape Batis
  Cape Batis
  The Cape Batis, Batis capensis, is a small passerine bird in the wattle-eye family. It is resident in the highlands of southern and eastern South Africa and Zimbabwe....
  
   Batis capensis (A)
• Chinspot Batis
  Chinspot Batis
  The chinspot batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and...
  
   Batis molitor
• Pririt Batis
  Pririt Batis
  The Pririt Batis also known as the Pririt Puff-back Flycatcher or Pririt Puffback, is a small passerine bird in the wattle-eye family. It is resident in western and central southern Africa....
  
   Batis pririt

Monarch flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines, which hunt by flycatching. There are 99 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis

Babblers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Timaliidae

The babblers or timaliids are somewhat diverse in size and coloration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage. There are 270 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Botswana.

• Black-faced Babbler Turdoides melanops
• Hartlaub's Babbler Turdoides hartlaubii
• Southern Pied-Babbler
  Southern Pied-babbler
  The Southern Pied-babbler is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family.It is found in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitat is dry savanna.-Species description:...
  
   Turdoides bicolor
• Arrow-marked Babbler
  Arrow-marked Babbler
  The Arrow-marked Babbler is a species of bird in the babbler family Timaliidae.-Distribution and habitat:It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda,...
  
   Turdoides jardineii

Chickadees and titmice

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects. There are species 59 worldwide and 3 species which occur in Botswana.

• Southern Black-Tit Melaniparus niger
• Rufous-bellied Tit
  Rufous-bellied Tit
  The Rufous-bellied Tit is a species of bird in the tit family.It is found in Africa from the Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and northern Namibia east to Tanzania and northern Mozambique....
  
   Melaniparus rufiventris (A)
• Ashy Tit
  Ashy Tit
  The Ashy Tit is a species of bird in the Paridae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and dry savanna.-References:...
  
   Melaniparus cinerascens

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees. There are 6 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• Spotted Creeper
  Spotted Creeper
  The Spotted Creeper is a small passerine bird, which is the only member of the subfamily Salpornithinae of the treecreeper family Certhiidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa and northern India in open deciduous forest and mango groves...
  
   Salpornis spilonotus (A)

Penduline tits

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Remizidae

The penduline tits are a group of small passerine birds, related to the true tits. They are insectivores. There are 13 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• African Penduline-Tit
  African Penduline-tit
  The Grey Penduline Tit , also known as the African Penduline-tit, is a species of bird in the Remizidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda,...
  
   Anthoscopus caroli
• Southern Penduline-Tit
  Southern Penduline-tit
  Th Cape Penduline Tit or Southern Penduline-tit is a species of bird in the Remizidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Anthoscopus minutus

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed. There are 131 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in Botswana.

• Collared Sunbird
  Collared Sunbird
  The Collared Sunbird, Hedydipna collaris , is a sunbird. The sunbirds are a group of very small Old World passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Collared Sunbird is in fact mainly insectivorous.Sunbird flight is fast and...
  
   Hedydipna collaris
• Amethyst Sunbird
  Amethyst Sunbird
  The Amethyst Sunbird is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and...
  
   Chalcomitra amethystina
• Scarlet-chested Sunbird
  Scarlet-chested Sunbird
  The Scarlet-chested Sunbird is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya,...
  
   Chalcomitra senegalensis
• Miombo Sunbird Cinnyris manoensis
• Mariqua Sunbird
  Mariqua Sunbird
  The Mariqua Sunbird or Marico Sunbird is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife...
  
   Cinnyris mariquensis
• Purple-banded Sunbird
  Purple-banded Sunbird
  The Purple-banded Sunbird is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family....
  
   Cinnyris bifasciatus (A)
• White-breasted Sunbird
  White-breasted Sunbird
  The White-breasted Sunbird , also known as the White-bellied Sunbird, is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family....
  
   Cinnyris talatala
• Dusky Sunbird
  Dusky Sunbird
  The Dusky Sunbird is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. This relatively dull sunbird is found in arid savanna, thickets and shrubland in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.-References:...
  
   Cinnyris fuscus
• Copper Sunbird
  Copper Sunbird
  The Copper Sunbird is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,...
  
   Cinnyris cupreus (A)

White-eyes

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and are mostly of undistinguished appearance, the plumage above being generally either some dull color like greenish olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests many species have a white ring around the eyes. There are 96 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• African Yellow White-eye
  African Yellow White-eye
  The African Yellow White-eye is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family.-Taxonomy:The taxa stenocricotus from Central Africa and kirki from the Comoros, by most authorities considered subspecies of the African Yellow White-eye, are occasionally considered separate species, the Cameroon Green...
  
   Zosterops senegalensis
• Cape White-eye
  Cape White-eye
  The Cape White-eye, Zosterops pallidus, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. It is native to southern Africa.-Taxonomy:There are six subspecies. Traditionally, the western nominate group and the eastern capensis group have been treated as separate species; the Orange River White-eye ...
  
   Zosterops pallidus

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Oriolidae

The Old World Orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles. There are 29 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Botswana.

• Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
• African Golden Oriole
  African Golden Oriole
  The African Golden Oriole is a member of the oriole family of passerine birds which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara....
  
   Oriolus auratus
• African Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey. There are 31 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in Botswana.

• Red-backed Shrike
  Red-backed Shrike
  The Red-backed Shrike is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae.English common names include 'Wariangle' and 'worrier'.-Description:...
  
   Lanius collurio
• Souza's Shrike
  Souza's Shrike
  The Souza's Shrike is a species of bird in the Laniidae family. It was named after J.A. de Souza, a 19th century Portuguese zoologist....
  
   Lanius souzae (A)
• Lesser Gray Shrike Lanius minor
• Common Fiscal
  Common Fiscal
  The Common Fiscal is a member of the shrike family found through most of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also sometimes named Fiscal Shrike, as well as Jackie Hangman or Butcher Bird due to its habit of impaling its prey on acacia thorns to store the food for later consumption. It is sometimes split...
  
   Lanius collaris
• Magpie Shrike
  Magpie Shrike
  The Magpie Shrike , also known as the African Long-tailed Shrike, is a species of bird in the Laniidae family...
  
   Corvinella melanoleuca
• White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus anguitimens

Bushshrikes and allies

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Malaconotidae

Bushshrikes are similar in habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush. Although similar in build to the shrikes, these tend to be either colourful species or largely black; some species are quite secretive. There are 46 species worldwide and 11 species which occur in Botswana.

• Brubru
  Brubru
  The Brubru is a member of the bushshrike family found in much of sub-Saharan Africa apart from the western rainforests and southern South Africa. It is the only member of the genus Nilaus.-Distribution and habitat:...
  
   Nilaus afer
• Black-backed Puffback
  Black-backed Puffback
  The Black-backed Puffback is a species of bird in the Malaconotidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are...
  
   Dryoscopus cubla
• Black-crowned Tchagra
  Black-crowned Tchagra
  The Black-crowned Tchagra is a bushshrike. This family of passerine birds is closely related to the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, and was once included in that group....
  
   Tchagra senegala
• Brown-crowned Tchagra
  Brown-crowned Tchagra
  The Brown-crowned Tchagra is a species of bird in the Malaconotidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique,...
  
   Tchagra australis
• Tropical Boubou
  Tropical Boubou
  The Tropical Boubou or Bell Shrike is a medium-sized passerine bird of sub-Saharan Africa. This very diverse "species" with its numerous subspecies and morphs has since long posed a taxonomic problem, and recent research suggests it is a cryptic species complex that ought to be split into several...
  
   Laniarius aethiopicus
• Gabon Boubou
  Gabon Boubou
  The Gabon Boubou , also known as the Swamp Boubou, is a species of bird in the Malaconotidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical mangrove...
  
   Laniarius bicolor
• Southern Boubou
  Southern Boubou
  The Southern Boubou is a bushshrike. This family of passerine birds is closely related to the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, and were once included in that group....
  
   Laniarius ferrugineus
• Crimson-breasted Gonolek
  Crimson-breasted Gonolek
  The Crimson-breasted Gonolek , Laniarius atrococcineus, formerly called the Crimson-breasted Shrike, is a southern African bird occurring in a broad swathe from southern Angola to the Free State province in South Africa. This species was first collected by ‎William John Burchell in 1811 near the...
  
   Laniarius atrococcineus
• Bokmakierie
  Bokmakierie
  The Bokmakierie is a bushshrike. This family of passerine birds is closely related to the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, and was once included in that group...
  
   Telophorus zeylonus (A)
• Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
  Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
  The Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike or Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike is a species of bird in the Malaconotidae family....
  
   Telophorus sulfureopectus
• Gray-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti

Helmetshrikes

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Prionopidae

The helmetshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes, but tend to be colourful species with distinctive crests or other head ornaments, such as wattles, from which they get their name. There are 12 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Botswana.

• White Helmetshrike
  White Helmetshrike
  The White-crested Helmetshrike , also known as the White Helmetshrike, is a species of passerine bird in the helmetshrike family Prionopidae, formerly usually included in the Malaconotidae.-Distribution and habitat:...
  
   Prionops plumatus
• Retz's Helmetshrike
  Retz's Helmetshrike
  The Retz's Helmetshrike is a species of bird in the helmetshrike family Prionopidae, formerly usually included in the Malaconotidae....
  
   Prionops retzii

Drongos

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly are black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright whilst perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground. There are 24 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• Fork-tailed Drongo
  Fork-tailed Drongo
  The Fork-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis, also called the Common Drongo, African Drongo or Savanna Drongo, is a drongo, a type of small passerine bird of the Old World tropics. The species was earlier considered to cover Asia, but the Asian species is now called the Black Drongo...
  
   Dicrurus adsimilis

Crows, jays, ravens and magpies

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Corvidae

Corvidae

Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of oscine passerine birds that contains the crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs and nutcrackers. The common English names used are corvids or the crow family , and there are over 120 species...

The Corvidae family includes crow

Crow

Crows form the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Ranging in size from the relatively small pigeon-size jackdaws to the Common Raven of the Holarctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia, the 40 or so members of this genus occur on all temperate continents and several...

s, raven

Raven

Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...

s, jay

Jay

The jays are several species of medium-sized, usually colorful and noisy, passerine birds in the crow family Corvidae. The names jay and magpie are somewhat interchangeable, and the evolutionary relationships are rather complex...

s, chough

Chough

The Red-billed Chough or Chough , Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, is a bird in the crow family; it is one of only two species in the genus Pyrrhocorax...

s, magpie

Magpie

Magpies are passerine birds of the crow family, Corvidae.In Europe, "magpie" is often used by English speakers as a synonym for the European Magpie, as there are no other magpies in Europe outside Iberia...

s, treepie

Treepie

The treepies comprise four closely related genera of long-tailed passerine birds in the family Corvidae...

s, nutcracker

Nutcracker (bird)

The nutcrackers are a genus of two species of passerine bird, in the family Corvidae, related to the jays and crows. One, the Spotted Nutcracker , occurs in Europe and Asia, the other, Clark's Nutcracker , in western North America.The most important food resources for both these species are the...

s, and ground jay

Ground jay

The ground jays or ground choughs belong to a distinct group of the passerine order of birds in the genus Podoces of the crow family Corvidae...

s. Corvids are above average in size for the bird order Passeriformes. Some of the larger species show high levels of learning behavior. There are 120 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Botswana.

• Cape Crow
  Cape Crow
  The Cape Crow or Black Crow is slightly larger than the Carrion Crow and is completely black with a slight gloss of purple in the feathers. It has proportionately longer legs, wings and tail too and has a much longer, slimmer bill that seems to be designed for probing into the ground for...
  
   Corvus capensis
• Pied Crow
  Pied Crow
  The Pied Crow is a widely distributed African bird species in the crow genus.Structurally, the Pied Crow is better thought of as a small crow-sized Raven, especially as it can hybridise with the Somali Crow where their ranges meet in the Horn of Africa...
  
   Corvus albus
• White-necked Raven
  White-necked Raven
  The White-necked Raven, Corvus albicollis, is somewhat smaller than the Common Raven or indeed its nearest relative, the Thick-billed Raven C. crassirostris.-Description:...
  
   Corvus albicollis (A)

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. There are 125 species worldwide and 14 species which occur in Botswana.

• Common Myna
  Common Myna
  The Common Myna or Indian Myna also sometimes spelled Mynah, is a member of family Sturnidae native to Asia. An omnivorous open woodland bird with a strong territorial instinct, the Myna has adapted extremely well to urban environments...
  
   Acridotheres tristis (I)
• European Starling
  European Starling
  The Common Starling , also known as the European Starling or just Starling, is a passerine bird in the family Sturnidae.This species of starling is native to most of temperate Europe and western Asia...
  
   Sturnus vulgaris (I)
• Wattled Starling
  Wattled Starling
  The Wattled Starling is a nomadic resident in eastern and southern Africa. It is a species of grassland, open woodland and cultivation....
  
   Creatophora cinerea
• Cape Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis nitens
• Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
  Greater Blue-eared Glossy-starling
  The Greater Blue-eared Glossy-starling or Greater Blue-eared Starling is a bird that breeds from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south through eastern Africa to northeastern South Africa and Angola...
  
   Lamprotornis chalybaeus
• Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
  Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-starling
  The Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-starling or Lesser Blue-eared Starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family....
  
   Lamprotornis chloropterus
• Meves's Glossy-Starling
  Meves's Glossy-starling
  The Meves's Glossy-starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Lamprotornis mevesii
• Burchell's Glossy-Starling
  Burchell's Glossy-starling
  The Burchell's Glossy-starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Lamprotornis australis
• Sharp-tailed Glossy-Starling
  Sharp-tailed Glossy-starling
  The Sharp-tailed Starling , also known as the Sharp-tailed Glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia....
  
   Lamprotornis acuticaudus (A)
• Violet-backed Starling
  Violet-backed Starling
  The Violet-backed Starling , also known as the Plum-coloured Starling or Amethyst Starling, is a relatively small species of starling in the Sturnidae family. This strongly sexually dimorphic species is found widely in woodland of mainland sub-Saharan Africa.-References:* BirdLife International 2004....
  
   Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
• Red-winged Starling
  Red-winged Starling
  The Red-winged Starling, Onychognathus morio, is a bird of the starling family Sturnidae native to eastern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape in South Africa. It is known in Afrikaans as the Rooivlerkspreeu.-Taxonomy:...
  
   Onychognathus morio
• Pale-winged Starling
  Pale-winged Starling
  The Pale-winged Starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007....
  
   Onychognathus nabouroup (A)
• Red-billed Oxpecker
  Red-billed Oxpecker
  The Red-billed Oxpecker, Buphagus erythrorhynchus, is a passerine bird in the starling and myna family Sturndidae; some ornithologists regard the oxpeckers to be in a family by themselves, the Buphagidae. It is native to the savannah of sub-Saharan Africa, from the Central African Republic east to...
  
   Buphagus erythrorhynchus
• Yellow-billed Oxpecker
  Yellow-billed Oxpecker
  The Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Buphagus africanus, is a passerine bird in the starling and myna family Sturnidae; some ornithologists regard the Oxpeckers to be a separate family, the Buphagidae . It is native to the savannah of sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Sudan...
  
   Buphagus africanus

Weavers and allies

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finch

Finch

The true finches are passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. They are predominantly seed-eating songbirds. Most are native to the Northern Hemisphere, but one subfamily is endemic to the Neotropics, one to the Hawaiian Islands, and one subfamily – monotypic at genus level – is found...

es. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season. There are 116 species worldwide and 22 species which occur in Botswana.

• Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
  Red-billed Buffalo-weaver
  The Red-billed Buffalo Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Bubalornis niger
• Scaly Weaver
  Scaly Weaver
  The Scaly-feathered Weaver , also known as the Scaly-feathered Finch, is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Sporopipes squamifrons
• White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
  White-browed Sparrow-weaver
  The White-browed Sparrow-Weaver is a predominantly brown, sparrow-sized weaver found throughout central and northcentral southern Africa. It is found in...
  
   Plocepasser mahali
• Social Weaver
  Sociable Weaver
  The Sociable Weaver or Social Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family endemic to Southern Africa. It is monotypic within the genus Philetairus. It is found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. but their range is centred around Northern Cape Province and southern Namibia...
  
   Philetairus socius
• Lesser Masked-Weaver Ploceus intermedius
• Spectacled Weaver
  Spectacled Weaver
  The Spectacled Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family. It is found widely in woodland, forest edge and gardens of East, Middle and Southern Africa, but is absent from the most arid regions and dense, primary rainforest...
  
   Ploceus ocularis
• Holub's Golden-Weaver
  Holub's Golden-weaver
  The Holub's Golden Weaver , previously called the African Golden Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family....
  
   Ploceus xanthops
• Southern Brown-throated Weaver
  Southern Brown-throated Weaver
  The Southern Brown-throated Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.It is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
  
   Ploceus xanthopterus
• Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus
• Village Weaver
  Village Weaver
  The Village Weaver , also known as the Spotted-backed Weaver or Black-headed Weaver , is a species of bird found in much of sub-Saharan Africa...
  
   Ploceus cucullatus
• Chestnut Weaver
  Chestnut Weaver
  The Chestnut Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.-References:...
  
   Ploceus rubiginosus
• Red-headed Weaver
  Red-headed Weaver
  The Red-headed Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Anaplectes....
  
   Anaplectes rubriceps
• Red-headed Quelea
  Red-headed Quelea
  The Red-headed Quelea is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana,...
  
   Quelea erythrops (A)
• Red-billed Quelea
  Red-billed Quelea
  The Red-billed Quelea is the world's most abundant wild bird species, with an estimated adult breeding population of 1.5 billion pairs. Some estimates of the overall population have been as large as 10 billion...
  
   Quelea quelea
• Yellow-crowned Bishop
  Yellow-crowned Bishop
  The Yellow-crowned Bishop is a species of passerine bird in the family Ploceidae native to Africa south of the Sahara. It is highly sexually dimorphic in its breeding season, during which the male adopts a distinctive yellow and black plumage, contrasting with the female's predominantly brown...
  
   Euplectes afer
• Red Bishop Euplectes orix
• Yellow Bishop
  Yellow Bishop
  The Yellow Bishop or Yellow-rumped Widow is a resident breeding bird species in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.This common weaver...
  
   Euplectes capensis
• Fan-tailed Widowbird
  Fan-tailed Widowbird
  The Fan-tailed Widowbird is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda,...
  
   Euplectes axillaris
• White-winged Widowbird
  White-winged Widowbird
  The White-winged Widowbird is a species of passerine bird in the family Ploceidae native to Africa south of the Sahara. It is highly sexually dimorphic in its breeding season, during which the male's yellow plumage turns dark and he gains more white feathers, contrasting with the female's...
  
   Euplectes albonotatus
• Red-collared Widowbird
  Red-collared Widowbird
  The Red-collared Widowbird is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,...
  
   Euplectes ardens (A)
• Long-tailed Widowbird
  Long-tailed Widowbird
  The Long-tailed Widowbird is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zambia.-References:...
  
   Euplectes progne
• Grosbeak Weaver
  Grosbeak Weaver
  The Thick-billed Weaver or Thick-billed Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Amblyospiza....
  
   Amblyospiza albifrons

Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finch

Estrildid finch

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They can be classified as the family Estrildidae , or as a sub-group within the family Passeridae, which also includes the true sparrows....

es are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia

Australasia

Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...

. They are gregarious and often colonial seed-eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have a wide variation in plumage colours and pattern. There are 141 species worldwide and 16 species which occur in Botswana.

• Orange-winged Pytilia
  Orange-winged Pytilia
  The Orange-winged Pytilia is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 2,300,000 km²....
  
   Pytilia afra
• Green-winged Pytilia
  Green-winged Pytilia
  The Green-winged Pytilia is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of .It is found in most of Africa south of the Sahara...
  
   Pytilia melba
• Brown Firefinch
  Brown Firefinch
  The Brown Firefinch is a common species of estrildid finch found in Southern Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 1,300,000 km²....
  
   Lagonosticta nitidula
• Red-billed Firefinch
  Red-billed Firefinch
  The Red-billed Firefinch or Senegal Firefinch is a very small passerine bird. This estrildid finch is a resident breeding bird in almost all parts of sub-Saharan Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10,000,000 km²...
  
   Lagonosticta senegala
• Jameson's Firefinch
  Jameson's Firefinch
  Jameson's Firefinch is a common species of estrildid finch found in Southern Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 2,600,000 km²....
  
   Lagonosticta rhodopareia
• Blue-breasted Cordonbleu Uraeginthus angolensis
• Violet-eared Waxbill Uraeginthus granatina
• Common Waxbill
  Common Waxbill
  The Common Waxbill , also known as the St Helena Waxbill, is a small passerine bird belonging to the estrildid finch family. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa but has been introduced to many other regions of the world and now has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10,000,000 km²...
  
   Estrilda astrild
• Black-cheeked Waxbill
  Black-cheeked Waxbill
  The Black-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda erythronotos is a common species of estrildid finch found in southern Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 1,300,000 km²....
  
   Estrilda erythronotos
• Zebra Waxbill
  Zebra Waxbill
  The Zebra Waxbill or Orange-breasted Waxbill is a small sparrow-like bird with a reddish iris, orange breast, red bill and dark olive-green plumage. The male has a red rump, dark bars on the whitish flank and a scarlet eyebrow stripe...
  
   Sporaeginthus subflavus
• African Quailfinch
  African Quailfinch
  The Black-faced Quail-Finch , also known as the African Quail-Finch, is a common species of estrildid finch found in almost all parts of Africa except at far north of Africa...
  
   Ortygospiza fuscocrissa
• Locustfinch
  Locustfinch
  The Locustfinch, Paludipasser locustella, is a species of estrildid finch found in south-east Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Angola, Tanzania, Malawi , Mozambique , Zimbabwe and Botswana...
  
   Paludipasser locustella (A)
• Bronze Mannikin
  Bronze Mannikin
  The Bronze Mannikin or Bronze Munia Lonchura cucullata is a small passerine bird. This estrildid finch is an abundant resident breeding bird in much of Africa south of the Sahara Desert of dry savanna habitats...
  
   Spermestes cucullatus
• Magpie Mannikin
  Magpie Mannikin
  The Magpie Mannikin or Magpie Munia Lonchura fringilloides is a species of estrildid finch found in southern and central Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 1,400,000 km²....
  
   Spermestes fringilloides (A)
• Cut-throat
  Cut-throat Finch
  The Cut-throat Finch Amadina fasciata is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa and originated in Africa, also known as the Bearded Finch, the Ribbon Finch, the Cut Throat, or the Weaver Finch....
  
   Amadina fasciata
• Red-headed Finch
  Red-headed Finch
  The Red-headed Finch, Amadina erythrocephala, is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 1,600,000 km²...
  
   Amadina erythrocephala

Indigobirds

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Viduidae

The indigobirds are finch-like species which usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage. All are brood parasites, which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finch species. There are 20 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in Botswana.

• Village Indigobird
  Village Indigobird
  The Village Indigobird, Vidua chalybeata, is a small songbird. It is a resident breeding bird in most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert....
  
   Vidua chalybeata
• Purple Indigobird Vidua purpurascens
• Shaft-tailed Whydah Vidua regia
• Pin-tailed Whydah
  Pin-tailed Whydah
  The Pin-tailed Whydah, Vidua macroura, is a small songbird. It is a resident breeding bird in most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert.This whydah is found in many open habitats including open woodland, scrub and cultivation....
  
   Vidua macroura
• Eastern Paradise-Whydah Vidua paradisaea
• Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah
  Broad-tailed Paradise-whydah
  The Broad-tailed Paradise-whydah is a species of bird in the Viduidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
  
   Vidua obtusa

Weavers and allies

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finch

Finch

The true finches are passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. They are predominantly seed-eating songbirds. Most are native to the Northern Hemisphere, but one subfamily is endemic to the Neotropics, one to the Hawaiian Islands, and one subfamily – monotypic at genus level – is found...

es. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season. There are 116 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Botswana.

• Parasitic Weaver
  Parasitic Weaver
  The Cuckoo Finch , also known as the Parasitic Weaver or Cuckoo Weaver, is a small passerine bird now placed in the family Viduidae with the indigobirds and whydahs. It occurs in grassland in Africa south of the Sahara. The male is mainly yellow and green while the female is buff with dark streaks...
  
   Anomalospiza imberbis (A)

Buntings, sparrows, seedeaters and allies

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Emberizidae

Emberizidae

The Emberizidae are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill.In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the sparrows, the...

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill. In Europe, most species are named as buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as Sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns. There are species 275 worldwide and 4 species which occur in Botswana.

• Lark-like Bunting
  Lark-like Bunting
  The Lark-like Bunting is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Emberiza impetuani
• Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
  Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
  The Cinnamon-breasted Bunting is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon,...
  
   Emberiza tahapisi
• Cape Bunting
  Cape Bunting
  The Cape Bunting, Emberiza capensis, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae.-Taxonomy:There are a dozen subspecies, differing in plumage, but all have the distinctive head pattern and rufous in the wings. The northeastern race E. c. vincenti is very dark above, and slaty below. It...
  
   Emberiza capensis (A)
• Golden-breasted Bunting
  Golden-breasted Bunting
  The Golden-breasted Bunting, Emberiza flaviventris, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae. It occurs in dry open woodlands in Africa south of the Sahara, but is absent from the equatorial forest belt.There are three subspecies:...
  
   Emberiza flaviventris

Siskins, crossbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Fringillidae

Finch

Finch

The true finches are passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. They are predominantly seed-eating songbirds. Most are native to the Northern Hemisphere, but one subfamily is endemic to the Neotropics, one to the Hawaiian Islands, and one subfamily – monotypic at genus level – is found...

es are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have 12 tail feathers and 9 primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. There are 137 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Botswana.

• Black-throated Canary
  Black-throated Canary
  The Yellow-rumped Seedeater , also known as the Black-throated Canary, is a species of finch in the Fringillidae family.-Distribution:...
  
   Serinus atrogularis
• Yellow-fronted Canary
  Yellow-fronted Canary
  The Yellow-fronted Canary is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is known elsewhere and in aviculture as the Green Singing Finch....
  
   Serinus mozambicus
• Yellow Canary
  Yellow Canary
  The Yellow Canary is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in much of the western and central regions of southern Africa and has been introduced to Ascension and St Helena islands....
  
   Serinus flaviventris
• Streaky-headed Seedeater
  Streaky-headed Seedeater
  The Streaky-headed Seedeater or Streaky-headed Canary is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a common resident breeder in suitable habitat in much of Africa south of the Sahara....
  
   Serinus gularis
• Black-eared Seedeater
  Black-eared Seedeater
  The Black-eared Seedeater is a species of finch in the Fringillidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
  
   Serinus mennelli (A)
• Black-headed Canary
  Black-headed Canary
  The Black-headed Canary is a species of finch found in Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. It is sometimes placed in genus Alario as Alario alario...
  
   Alario alario (A)
• Damara Canary
  Damara Canary
  The Damara Canary, Serinus leucolaema, is a small passerine bird in the finch family.-Description:The Damara Canary is 12-15 cm in length. The adult male has rich brown upperparts and tail, a white hind collar and mainly white underparts...
  
   Alario leucolaema

Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Passeridae

Sparrow

Sparrow

The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...

s are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed-eaters, and they also consume small insects. There are 35 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Botswana.

• House Sparrow
  House Sparrow
  The House Sparrow is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the House Sparrow occurs naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia...
  
   Passer domesticus (I)
• Great Rufous Sparrow Passer motitensis
• Cape Sparrow
  Cape Sparrow
  The Cape Sparrow or Mossie is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. Brightly coloured and distinctive, it is coloured grey, brown, and chestnut, with some black and white markings on the male...
  
   Passer melanurus
• Southern Gray-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus
• Yellow-throated Petronia
  Yellow-throated Petronia
  The Yellow-throated Petronia is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
  
  Petronia superciliaris

External links

• Birds of Botswana Birdlist, multi-lingual website by country with standardized codes for abundance and seasonal presence.