List of Birds documented in the area

Bonza Bay offers a prolific abundance of bird life... A haven for birding enthusiasts!

Common Name Scientific name Number Status Habitat No.
Dabchick Tachybaptus ruficollis variable winter lagoon 8
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea scarce vagrant pelagic 34
Cape Pigeon Daption capense scarce vagrant pelagic 21
Greatwinged Petrel Pterodrom macroptera scarce vagrant pelagic 23
Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur scarce vagrant pelagic 31
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea scarce vagrant pelagic 34
Pinkbacked Pelican Pelicanus rufescens scarce vagrant lagoon 50
Audubon's Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri scarce vagrant pelagic 40
Reed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus regular local lagoon 58
Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis frequent winter marine 56
Whitebreasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo frequent local marine 55
Darter Anhinga anhinga occasional local lagoon 60
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea regular local lagoon 62
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath scarce vagrant lagoon 64
Blackheaded Heron Ardea melanocephala regular local grassland 63
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea occasional vagrant lagoon 65
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides scarce vagrant lagoon 72
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis regular winter grassland 71
Great White Egret Egretta alba occasional vagrant lagoon 66
Black Egret Egretta ardesiaca scarce vagrant lagoon 69
Little Egret Egretta garzetta regular local river 67
Yellowbilled Egret Egretta intermedia scarce vagrant lagoon 68
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus scarce summer lagoon 78
Blackcrowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax occasional local lagoon 76
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta frequent local river 81
Black Stork Ciconia nigra scarce winter on route 84
Woollynecked Stork Ciconia episcopus scarce vagrant lagoon 86
Openbill Anostomus lamelligerus scarce vagrant lagoon 87
Yellowbilled Stork Mycteria ibis scarce vagrant lagoon 90
Hadeda Bostrychia hagedash regular resident grassland 94
Spoonbill Platalea alba occasional local lagoon 95
Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus occasional winter lagoon 91
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber scarce vagrant lagoon 96
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegypticus regular resident river 102
Cape Teal Anas capensis scarce vagrant lagoon 106
Redbilled Teal Anas erythrorhyncha frequent local lagoon 108
Shoveller Anas smithii occasional local lagoon 112
Black Duck Anas sparsa occasional local river 105
Yellowbill Duck Anas undulata regular local lagoon 104
Whitefaced Duck Dendrocygna viduata occasional local lagoon 99
Spurwinged Goose Plectropterus gambensis occasional vagrant lagoon 116
Shelduck Tadorna cana occasional vagrant lagoon 103
Secretary Bird Sagittarius serpentarius scarce vagrant on route 118
Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus occasional local   158
Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus frequent local forest 157
African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro regular resident forest 160
Cuckoo Hawk Aviceda cuculoides occasional local forest 128
Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus occasional local grassland 152
Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus scarce vagrant lagoon 165
Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer regular resident river 148
Longcrested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis occasional local grassland 139
Yellowbilled Kite Milvus migrans occasional summer   126
Gymnogene Polyboroides typus frequent local   169
Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus frequent local   141
Osprey Pandion haliaetus frequent summer marine 170
Peregrine Falco peregrinus scarce vagrant   171
Lanner Falco biarmicus occasional local   172
Hobby Falco subbuteo occasional summer dunes 173
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix scarce summer on route 200
           
Rednecked Francolin Francolinus afer occasional resident grassland 198
Redwing Francolin Francolinus levaillantii occasional resident grassland 192
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris frequent feral   203
Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum regular local lagoon 209
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris scarce vagrant lagoon 213
Redknobbed Coot Fulica cristata scarce vagrant lagoon 228
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio scarce vagrant lagoon 223
Buffspotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans occasional local forest 218
Jacana Actophilornis africana scarce vagrant lagoon 240
Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis scarce vagrant lagoon 242
Black Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini regular resident sea-shore 244
European Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus scarce summer sea-shore 243
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula frequent summer sea-shore 245
Whitefronted Plover Charadrius marginatus regular resident sea-shore 246
Threebanded Plover Charadrius tricollaris frequent local river 249
Blacksmith Plover Vanellus armatus occasional local lagoon 258
Crowned Plover Vanellus coronatus occasional local grassland 255
Blackwinged Plover Vanellus melanopterus occasional local grassland 257
Turnstone Arenaria interpres regular summer sea-shore 262
Sanderling Calidris alba regular summer sea-shore 281
Little Stint Calidris minuta occasional summer lagoon 274
Ethiopian Snipe Gallinago nigripennis scarce vagrant lagoon 286
Bartailed Godwit Limosa lapponica scarce summer sea-shore 288
Whimbrel Numeius phaeopus regular summer sea-shore 290
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius scarce summer sea-shore 291
Ruff Philomachus pugnax scarce summer lagoon 284
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola occasional summer lagoon 266
Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos frequent summer river 264
Greenshank Tringa nebularia frequent summer lagoon 270
Spotted Dikkop Burhinus capensis regular resident grassland 297
Water Dikkop Burhinus vermiculatus regular resident sea-shore 298
Bronzewinged Courser Rhinoptilus chalcopterus scarce vagrant savanna 303
Pomarine Skua Stercoracius pomarinus scarce summer marine 309
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus regular local sea-shore 312
Greyheaded Gull Larus cirrocephalus scarce vagrant marine 315
           
Sabine's Gull Larus sabini scarce vagrant marine 318
Little Tern Sterna albifrons occasional summer marine 335
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia scarce vagrant marine 322
Swift Tern Sterna bergii regular local marine 324
Common Tern Sterna hirundo regular summer marine 327
Feral Pigeon Columba livia regular feral   348
Rock Pigeon Columba guinea frequent local sea-shore  
Cinnamon Dove Aplopelia larvata frequent resident forest 360
Turtle Dove Streptopelia capicola occasional local grassland 354
Redeyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata regular resident forest 352
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis regular resident commensal 355
Green Pigeon Treron calva frequent local forest 361
Emeraldspotted Dove Turtur chalcospilos occasional local savanna 358
Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria frequent resident forest 359
Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus scarce vagrant on route 362
Roseringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri scarce feral   366
Knysna Lourie Tauraco corythaix regular resident forest 370
Burchell's Coucal Centropus superciliosus frequent resident grassland 391
Didric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius occasional summer grassland 386
Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas frequent local forest 385
Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus regular summer savanna 378
Barn Owl Tyto alba occasional local   392
Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus frequent local   401
Scops Owl Otus senegalensis regular resident forest 396
Wood Owl Strix woodfordii scarce local forest 394
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europeus scarce summer forest 404
Fierynecked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis regular resident grassland 405
Little Swift Apus affinis occasional local aerial 417
European Swift Apus apus occasional summer aerial 411
Black Swift Apus barbatus frequent local aerial 412
Whiterumped Swift Apus cafer frequent summer aerial 415
Horus Swift Apus horus occasional local aerial 416
Alpine Swift Apus melba frequent local aerial 418
Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus frequent local aerial 421
Redfaced Mousebird Colius indicus occasional winter savanna 426
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus frequent resident forest 424
Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina scarce local forest 427
Malechite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata occasional local lagoon 431
Halfcollared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata frequent local river 430
Giant Kingfisher Ceryle maxima frequent local river 429
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis frequent local lagoon 428
Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx pictus frequent summer forest 432
Brownhooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris frequent resident forest 435
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster scarce vagrant   438
Hoopoe Upupa epops scarce local grassland 451
Redbilled Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus regular resident forest 452
Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator regular local forest 455
Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus regular resident savanna 460
Blackcollared Barbet Lybius torquatus regular resident forest 464
Redfronted Tinker Barbet Pogoniulus pusillus regular resident forest 469
Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator scarce local savanna 474
Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor frequent resident forest 476
Scalythroated Honeyguide Indicator variegatus scarce local forest 475
Sharpbilled Honeyguide Prodotiscus regulus occasional local savanna 478
Knysna Woodpecker Campethera notata frequent resident forest 484
Olive Woodpecker Mesopicos griseocephalus frequent resident forest 488
Rufousnaped Lark Mirafra africana no longer resident grassland 494
House Martin Delichon urbica occasional summer lagoon 530
Lesser Striped Swallow Hirundo abyssinica regular summer savanna 527
Whitethroated Swallow Hirundo albigularis regular summer river 520
Greater Striped Swallow Hirundo cucullata occasional summer grassland 526
Pearlbreasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata occasional summer lagoon 523
Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula frequent local lagoon 529
European Swallow Hirundo rustica frequent summer grassland 518
Cliff Swallow Hirundo spilodera scarce local lagoon 528
Black Sawwing Swallow Psalidoprocne holomelas regular summer forest 536
Banded Martin Riparia cincta occasional summer lagoon 534
Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava occasional local savanna 538
Whitebreast Cuckooshrike Coracina pectoralis scarce winter forest 539
Forktailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis regular resident savanna 541
Squaretailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii scarce vagrant forest 542
Blackheaded Oriole Oriolus larvatus regular local forest 545
Raven Corvus albicollis scarce vagrant on route 550
Pied Crow Corvus albus frequent local commensal 548
Black Crow Corvus capensis scarce vagrant on route 547
Black Tit Parus niger occasional resident savanna 554
Sombre Bulbul Andropadus importunus regular resident forest 572
Terrestrial Bulbul Phyllastrephus terrestris frequent resident forest 569
Blackeyed Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus regular resident forest 568
Cape Robin Cossypha caffra occasional local forest 601
Chorister Robin Cossypha dichroa frequent resident forest 598
Natal Robin Cossypha natalensis occasional resident forest 600
Whitebrowed Robin Erythropygia leucophrys frequent resident forest 613
Brown Robin Erythropygia signata frequent resident forest 616
Cape Rock Thrush Monticola rupestris occasional local cliffs 581
Starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata occasional winter forest 606
Stonechat Saxicola torquata occasional winter lagoon 596
Spotted Thrush Turdus fischeri scarce vagrant forest 578
Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus regular resident forest 577
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus occasional summer lagoon 628
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris scarce vagrant lagoon 635
European Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris frequent summer savanna 633
Yellowbreasted Apalis Apalis flavida frequent resident forest 648
Barthroated Apalis Apalis thoracica frequent resident forest 645
Sedge Warbler Bradypterus baboecala occasional local lagoon 638
Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti frequent winter lagoon 639
Knysna Warbler Bradypterus sylvaticus occasional local lagoon 640
Lazy Cisticola Cisticola aberrans frequent resident grassland 679
Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapilla frequent resident grassland 681
Fantailed Cisticola Cisticola juncidis occasional local lagoon 664
Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens frequent resident lagoon 677
Bleating Warbler Cameroptera brachyura regular resident forest 657
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus frequent summer forest 643
Spotted Prinia Prinia maculosa frequent resident sea-shore 686
Tawnyflanked Prinia Prinia subflava frequent resident forest 683
Cape Batis Batis capensis frequent resident forest 700
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor occasional resident savanna 701
Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina scarce local savanna 694
Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta regular resident river 690
Bluegrey Flycatcher Muscicapa cinerea frequent resident forest 691
Fiscal Flycatcher Sigelus silens occasional local savanna 698
Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis frequent summer forest 710
Bluemantled Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas frequent resident forest 708
Plainbacked Pipit Anthus leucophrys frequent local grassland 718
Orangethroated Longclaw Macronyx capensis frequent resident grassland 727
Pied Wagtail Motacilla aquimp occasional local river 711
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis frequent resident lagoon 713
Puffback Dryoscopus cubla frequent resident forest 740
Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus frequent resident forest 736
Greyheaded Shrike Malaconotus blanchoti regular resident forest 751
Olive Shrike Telophorus olivaceus occasional local forest 750
Orangebreasted Shrike Telophorus sulphureopectus occasional local savanna 748
Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus scarce local grassland 746
Blackcrowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala scarce local savanna 744
Greybreasted Tchagra Tchagra tchagra occasional resident forest 742
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea scarce vagrant commensal 760
Blackbellied Starling Lamprotornis corruscus occasional local forest 768
Glossy Starling Lamprotornis nitens occasional local savanna 764
Redwinged Starling Onychognathus morio occasional local cliffs 769
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris regular resident commensal 757
Black Sunbird Nectarinia amethystina regular resident savanna 792
Gt.Double-collar.Sunbird Nectarinia afra frequent local forest 785
Less.Double-col. Sunbird Nectarinia chalybea frequent resident forest 783
Olive Sunbird Nectarinia olivacea occasional resident forest 790
Collared Sunbird Anthreptes collaris regular resident forest 793
Malechite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa scarce winter grassland 775
Grey Sunbird Nectarinia veroxii regular resident forest 789
Cape White-eye Zosterops pallidus regular resident forest 796
Thickbilled Weaver Ambylospiza albifrons frequent resident grassland 807
Redshouldered Widow Euplectes axillaris occasional resident grassland 828
Red Bishop Euplectes orix occasional resident lagoon 824
House Sparrow Passer domesticus scarce local commensal 801
Greyheaded Sparrow Passer griseus frequent resident commensal 804
Forest Weaver Ploceus bicolor frequent resident forest 808
Spottedbacked Weaver Ploceus cucullatus frequent resident savanna 811
Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis frequent resident savanna 810
Yellow Weaver Ploceus subaureus occasional resident river 817
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild frequent resident grassland 846
Swee Waxbill Estrilda melanotis occasional local forest 850
Bluebilled Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata occasional local forest 840
Green Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula scarce vagrant forest 835
Quail Finch Ortygospiza atricollis scarce local lagoon 852
Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullatus frequent resident commensal 857
Black Widowfinch Vidua funerea occasional summer savanna 864
Pintailed Whydah Vidua macroura occasional summer grassland 860
Cape Canary Serinus canicollis occasional winter   872
Streakyheaded Canary Serinus gularis frequent resident savanna 881
Yelloweyed Canary Serinus mozambicus frequent resident savanna 869
Forest Canary Serinus scotops frequent resident forest 873
Bully Canary Serinus sulphuratus occasional local savanna 877

 

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Gillian Vernon

Shipwreck survivors by Gillian Vernon