↑BOTSWANA">
BOTSWANA↑

TARGETS">
SPECIALTIES

MAKGADIKGADI PANS

BOTSWANA
LOCALE

Area (SqKm):12,000
# Species:372
# Excl Vagrants:372
# Endemics:0
# Near Endemics:0
Species/100 SqKm:3.1

BIRD CHECKLIST

The table below lists species recorded at this locale but does not indicate frequency of occurrence there. It does indicate whether each species is globally threatened or endangered according to the IUCN and also whether it is migratory, very rare, or accidental in the country. The list is based on available data and may be incomplete.*

color codes

 
Ostriches: Struthionidae

1Common OstrichStruthio camelus

 
Ducks: Anatidae

2White-faced Whistling-DuckDendrocygna viduata
3Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolor
4White-backed DuckThalassornis leuconotus
5Knob-billed DuckSarkidiornis melanotos
6Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
7South African ShelduckTadorna cana
8Spur-winged GoosePlectropterus gambensis
9African Pygmy-GooseNettapus auritus
10Blue-billed TealSpatula hottentota
11Cape ShovelerSpatula smithii
12Yellow-billed DuckAnas undulata
13Cape TealAnas capensis
14Red-billed DuckAnas erythrorhyncha
15Southern PochardNetta erythrophthalma
16Maccoa DuckOxyura maccoa

 
Guineafowl: Numididae

17Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagris

 
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies: Phasianidae

18Crested FrancolinOrtygornis sephaena
19Coqui FrancolinCampocolinus coqui
20Orange River FrancolinScleroptera levaillantoides
21/Harlequin Quail/Coturnix delegorguei
22Red-billed SpurfowlPternistis adspersus
23Swainson's SpurfowlPternistis swainsonii

 
Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae

24Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
25Lesser FlamingoPhoenicoparrus minor

 
Grebes: Podicipedidae

26Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
27Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
28Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis

 
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae

29Rock PigeonColumba livia
30Speckled PigeonColumba guinea
31Mourning Collared-DoveStreptopelia decipiens
32Red-eyed DoveStreptopelia semitorquata
33Ring-necked DoveStreptopelia capicola
34Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
35Emerald-spotted Wood-DoveTurtur chalcospilos
36Namaqua DoveOena capensis

 
Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae

37Namaqua SandgrousePterocles namaqua
38Yellow-throated SandgrousePterocles gutturalis
39Double-banded SandgrousePterocles bicinctus
40Burchell's SandgrousePterocles burchelli

 
Bustards: Otididae

41Kori BustardArdeotis kori
42Denham's BustardNeotis denhami
43Red-crested BustardLophotis ruficrista
44White-quilled BustardAfrotis afraoides

 
Turacos: Musophagidae

45Gray Go-away-birdCrinifer concolor

 
Cuckoos: Cuculidae

46/Black Cuckoo/Cuculus clamosus
47Common CuckooCuculus canorus
48/African Cuckoo/Cuculus gularis
49Coppery-tailed CoucalCentropus cupreicaudus
50Senegal CoucalCentropus senegalensis
51(Pied Cuckoo)Clamator jacobinus
52Levaillant's CuckooClamator levaillantii
53Great Spotted CuckooClamator glandarius
54Klaas's CuckooChrysococcyx klaas
55Dideric CuckooChrysococcyx caprius

 
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae

56Eurasian NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
57Rufous-cheeked NightjarCaprimulgus rufigena
58Square-tailed NightjarCaprimulgus fossii

 
Swifts: Apodidae

59Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
60/Common Swift/Apus apus
61Little SwiftApus affinis
62African Palm SwiftCypsiurus parvus

 
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae

63(African Crake)Crex egregia
64/Spotted Crake/Porzana porzana
65/Lesser Moorhen/Gallinula angulata
66Eurasian MoorhenGallinula chloropus
67Red-knobbed CootFulica cristata
68African SwamphenPorphyrio madagascariensis
69Black CrakeZapornia flavirostra
70Baillon's CrakeZapornia pusilla

 
Cranes: Gruidae

71Gray Crowned-CraneBalearica regulorum
72Blue CraneAnthropoides paradiseus
73Wattled CraneBugeranus carunculatus

 
Thick-knees: Burhinidae

74Spotted Thick-kneeBurhinus capensis
75Water Thick-kneeBurhinus vermiculatus

 
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae

76Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
77Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta

 
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae

78/Black-bellied Plover/Pluvialis squatarola
79/Common Ringed Plover/Charadrius hiaticula
80Three-banded PloverCharadrius tricollaris
81Blacksmith LapwingVanellus armatus
82Crowned LapwingVanellus coronatus
83/Caspian Plover/Anarhynchus asiaticus
84Greater Sand-PloverAnarhynchus leschenaultii
85Kittlitz's PloverAnarhynchus pecuarius
86Chestnut-banded PloverAnarhynchus pallidus
87White-fronted PloverAnarhynchus marginatus

 
Painted-Snipes: Rostratulidae

88Greater Painted-SnipeRostratula benghalensis

 
Jacanas: Jacanidae

89African JacanaActophilornis africanus

 
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae

90/Whimbrel/Numenius phaeopus
91/Eurasian Curlew/Numenius arquata
92Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica
93/Black-tailed Godwit/Limosa limosa
94African SnipeGallinago nigripennis
95/Terek Sandpiper/Xenus cinereus
96/Common Sandpiper/Actitis hypoleucos
97/Green Sandpiper/Tringa ochropus
98/Marsh Sandpiper/Tringa stagnatilis
99/Wood Sandpiper/Tringa glareola
100Common RedshankTringa totanus
101/Common Greenshank/Tringa nebularia
102Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres
103/Ruff/Calidris pugnax
104/Curlew Sandpiper/Calidris ferruginea
105/Sanderling/Calidris alba
106/Little Stint/Calidris minuta

 
Buttonquail: Turnicidae

107Small ButtonquailTurnix sylvaticus

 
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae

108Bronze-winged CourserRhinoptilus chalcopterus
109Double-banded CourserSmutsornis africanus
110#Temminck's Courser#Cursorius temminckii
111/Black-winged Pratincole/Glareola nordmanni
112Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola

 
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae

113Gray-hooded GullChroicocephalus cirrocephalus
114Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
115African SkimmerRynchops flavirostris
116Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
117Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
118White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus

 
Storks: Ciconiidae

119African OpenbillAnastomus lamelligerus
120Black StorkCiconia nigra
121/Abdim's Stork/Ciconia abdimii
122African Woolly-necked StorkCiconia microscelis
123/White Stork/Ciconia ciconia
124Saddle-billed StorkEphippiorhynchus senegalensis
125Marabou StorkLeptoptilos crumenifer
126Yellow-billed StorkMycteria ibis

 
Anhingas: Anhingidae

127African DarterAnhinga rufa

 
Cormorants and Shags: Phalacrocoracidae

128Long-tailed CormorantMicrocarbo africanus
129Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo

 
Pelicans: Pelecanidae

130#Great White Pelican#Pelecanus onocrotalus
131Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescens

 
Hamerkop: Scopidae

132HamerkopScopus umbretta

 
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae

133Dwarf BitternIxobrychus sturmii
134Little BitternIxobrychus minutus
135Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
136Black HeronEgretta ardesiaca
137Little EgretEgretta garzetta
138Striated HeronButorides striata
139Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
140Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
141Great EgretArdea alba
142Yellow-billed EgretArdea brachyrhyncha
143Gray HeronArdea cinerea
144Purple HeronArdea purpurea
145Black-headed HeronArdea melanocephala
146Goliath HeronArdea goliath

 
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae

147Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
148African Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus
149Hadada IbisBostrychia hagedash
150African SpoonbillPlatalea alba

 
Secretary-bird: Sagittariidae

151SecretarybirdSagittarius serpentarius

 
Osprey: Pandionidae

152/Osprey/Pandion haliaetus

 
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae

153Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
154African Harrier-HawkPolyboroides typus
155White-headed VultureTrigonoceps occipitalis
156Lappet-faced VultureTorgos tracheliotos
157Hooded VultureNecrosyrtes monachus
158White-backed VultureGyps africanus
159Cape GriffonGyps coprotheres
160BateleurTerathopius ecaudatus
161Black-chested Snake-EagleCircaetus pectoralis
162Brown Snake-EagleCircaetus cinereus
163Martial EaglePolemaetus bellicosus
164/Lesser Spotted Eagle/Clanga pomarina
165/Wahlberg's Eagle/Hieraaetus wahlbergi
166/Booted Eagle/Hieraaetus pennatus
167Tawny EagleAquila rapax
168/Steppe Eagle/Aquila nipalensis
169African Hawk-EagleAquila spilogaster
170Dark Chanting-GoshawkMelierax metabates
171Pale Chanting-GoshawkMelierax canorus
172Gabar GoshawkMicronisus gabar
173/Western Marsh Harrier/Circus aeruginosus
174African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorus
175/Pallid Harrier/Circus macrourus
176/Montagu's Harrier/Circus pygargus
177ShikraAccipiter badius
178Little SparrowhawkAccipiter minullus
179Ovambo SparrowhawkAccipiter ovampensis
180/Black Kite/Milvus migrans
181African Fish-EagleIcthyophaga vocifer
182/Common Buzzard/Buteo buteo

 
Barn-Owls: Tytonidae

183Barn OwlTyto alba

 
Owls: Strigidae

184African Scops-OwlOtus senegalensis
185Southern White-faced OwlPtilopsis granti
186Spotted Eagle-OwlBubo africanus
187Verreaux's Eagle-OwlKetupa lactea
188Pearl-spotted OwletGlaucidium perlatum
189African Barred OwletGlaucidium capense
190Marsh OwlAsio capensis

 
Mousebirds: Coliidae

191Speckled MousebirdColius striatus
192Red-faced MousebirdUrocolius indicus

 
Hoopoes: Upupidae

193African Hoopoe**Upupa africana

 
Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills: Phoeniculidae

194Green WoodhoopoePhoeniculus purpureus
195Common ScimitarbillRhinopomastus cyanomelas

 
Hornbills: Bucerotidae

196Southern Ground-HornbillBucorvus leadbeateri
197Bradfield's HornbillLophoceros bradfieldi
198African Gray HornbillLophoceros nasutus
199Southern Red-billed HornbillTockus rufirostris
200Southern Yellow-billed HornbillTockus leucomelas

 
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

201Malachite KingfisherCorythornis cristatus
202/African Pygmy Kingfisher/Ispidina picta
203/Gray-headed Kingfisher/Halcyon leucocephala
204Brown-hooded KingfisherHalcyon albiventris
205Striped KingfisherHalcyon chelicuti
206Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis

 
Bee-eaters: Meropidae

207Little Bee-eaterMerops pusillus
208Swallow-tailed Bee-eaterMerops hirundineus
209/Blue-cheeked Bee-eater/Merops persicus
210/European Bee-eater/Merops apiaster
211/Southern Carmine Bee-eater/Merops nubicoides

 
Rollers: Coraciidae

212/European Roller/Coracias garrulus
213Lilac-breasted RollerCoracias caudatus
214Rufous-crowned RollerCoracias naevius

 
African Barbets: Lybiidae

215Crested BarbetTrachyphonus vaillantii
216Yellow-fronted TinkerbirdPogoniulus chrysoconus
217Pied BarbetTricholaema leucomelas

 
Honeyguides: Indicatoridae

218Lesser HoneyguideIndicator minor

 
Woodpeckers: Picidae

219Cardinal WoodpeckerDendropicos fuscescens
220Bearded WoodpeckerChloropicus namaquus
221Bennett's WoodpeckerCampethera bennettii
222Golden-tailed WoodpeckerCampethera abingoni

 
Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae

223/Lesser Kestrel/Falco naumanni
224Greater KestrelFalco rupicoloides
225Dickinson's KestrelFalco dickinsoni
226Red-necked FalconFalco chicquera
227/Red-footed Falcon/Falco vespertinus
228Amur FalconFalco amurensis
229/Eurasian Hobby/Falco subbuteo
230Lanner FalconFalco biarmicus
231Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus

 
Parrots: Psittacidae

232Meyer's ParrotPoicephalus meyeri

 
Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae

233(Black Cuckooshrike)Campephaga flava

 
Old World Orioles: Oriolidae

234/Eurasian Golden Oriole/Oriolus oriolus
235#African Golden Oriole#Oriolus auratus
236African Black-headed OrioleOriolus larvatus

 
Wattle-eyes and Batises: Platysteiridae

237Chinspot BatisBatis molitor
238Pririt BatisBatis pririt

 
Bushshrikes: Malaconotidae

239BrubruNilaus afer
240Black-backed PuffbackDryoscopus cubla
241Black-crowned TchagraTchagra senegalus
242Brown-crowned TchagraTchagra australis
243Gabon BoubouLaniarius bicolor
244Crimson-breasted GonolekLaniarius atrococcineus

 
Drongos: Dicruridae

245Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilis

 
Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae

246(African Paradise-Flycatcher)Terpsiphone viridis

 
Shrikes: Laniidae

247/Red-backed Shrike/Lanius collurio
248/Lesser Gray Shrike/Lanius minor
249Magpie ShrikeLanius melanoleuca
250Southern FiscalLanius collaris
251White-crowned ShrikeEurocephalus anguitimens

 
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae

252Cape CrowCorvus capensis
253Pied CrowCorvus albus

 
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice: Paridae

254Southern Black-TitMelaniparus niger
255Ashy TitMelaniparus cinerascens

 
Penduline-Tits: Remizidae

256African Penduline-TitAnthoscopus caroli
257Southern Penduline-TitAnthoscopus minutus

 
Larks: Alaudidae

258Spike-heeled LarkChersomanes albofasciata
259/Dusky Lark/Pinarocorys nigricans
260Chestnut-backed Sparrow-LarkEremopterix leucotis
261Gray-backed Sparrow-LarkEremopterix verticalis
262Sabota LarkCalendulauda sabota
263Fawn-colored LarkCalendulauda africanoides
264Monotonous LarkMirafra passerina
265Rufous-naped LarkMirafra africana
266Flappet LarkMirafra rufocinnamomea
267Eastern Clapper LarkMirafra fasciolata
268Red-capped LarkCalandrella cinerea
269Pink-billed LarkSpizocorys conirostris

 
African Warblers: Macrosphenidae

270Cape CrombecSylvietta rufescens

 
Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae

271Yellow-bellied EremomelaEremomela icteropygialis
272Burnt-neck EremomelaEremomela usticollis
273Stierling's Wren-WarblerCalamonastes stierlingi
274Barred Wren-WarblerCalamonastes fasciolatus
275Green-backed CamaropteraCamaroptera brachyura
276Tawny-flanked PriniaPrinia subflava
277Black-chested PriniaPrinia flavicans
278Rufous-eared WarblerMalcorus pectoralis
279Rattling CisticolaCisticola chiniana
280Tinkling CisticolaCisticola rufilatus
281Piping CisticolaCisticola fulvicapilla
282Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
283Desert CisticolaCisticola aridulus

 
Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae

284/Icterine Warbler/Hippolais icterina
285/Sedge Warbler/Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
286/Common Reed Warbler/Acrocephalus scirpaceus
287Lesser Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus gracilirostris
288/Great Reed Warbler/Acrocephalus arundinaceus

 
Grassbirds and Allies: Locustellidae

289River WarblerLocustella fluviatilis
290Little Rush WarblerBradypterus baboecala

 
Swallows: Hirundinidae

291/Gray-rumped Swallow/Pseudhirundo griseopyga
292(Banded Martin)Neophedina cincta
293Plain MartinRiparia paludicola
294/Bank Swallow/Riparia riparia
295Rock MartinPtyonoprogne fuligula
296Pearl-breasted SwallowHirundo dimidiata
297/Barn Swallow/Hirundo rustica
298(White-throated Swallow)Hirundo albigularis
299/Western House-Martin/Delichon urbicum
300(Greater Striped Swallow)Cecropis cucullata
301Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinica
302(Rufous-chested Swallow)Cecropis semirufa
303|South African Swallow|Petrochelidon spilodera

 
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae

304Black-fronted BulbulPycnonotus nigricans

 
Leaf Warblers: Phylloscopidae

305/Willow Warbler/Phylloscopus trochilus

 
Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies: Sylviidae

306/Garden Warbler/Sylvia borin
307Chestnut-vented WarblerCurruca subcaerulea
308/Greater Whitethroat/Curruca communis

 
Laughingthrushes and Allies: Leiothrichidae

309Southern Pied-BabblerTurdoides bicolor

 
Oxpeckers: Buphagidae

310Red-billed OxpeckerBuphagus erythrorynchus
311Yellow-billed OxpeckerBuphagus africanus

 
Starlings: Sturnidae

312(Wattled Starling)Creatophora cinerea
313(Violet-backed Starling)Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
314Burchell's StarlingLamprotornis australis
315Meves's StarlingLamprotornis mevesii
316Greater Blue-eared StarlingLamprotornis chalybaeus
317Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitens

 
Thrushes and Allies: Turdidae

318Groundscraper ThrushTurdus litsitsirupa
319Kurrichane ThrushTurdus libonyana

 
Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae

320/Spotted Flycatcher/Muscicapa striata
321Marico FlycatcherBradornis mariquensis
322Chat FlycatcherAgricola infuscatus
323|Fiscal Flycatcher|Melaenornis silens
324Kalahari Scrub-RobinCercotrichas paena
325Red-backed Scrub-RobinCercotrichas leucophrys
326Collared Palm-ThrushCichladusa arquata
327Southern Anteater-ChatMyrmecocichla formicivora
328(Capped Wheatear)Oenanthe pileata
329Familiar ChatOenanthe familiaris

 
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae

330Marico SunbirdCinnyris mariquensis
331White-breasted SunbirdCinnyris talatala

 
Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae

332Red-billed Buffalo-WeaverBubalornis niger
333Scaly WeaverSporopipes squamifrons
334White-browed Sparrow-WeaverPlocepasser mahali
335Red-headed WeaverAnaplectes rubriceps
336Lesser Masked-WeaverPloceus intermedius
337Southern Masked-WeaverPloceus velatus
338(Red-billed Quelea)Quelea quelea
339Southern Red BishopEuplectes orix
340Yellow-crowned BishopEuplectes afer

 
Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae

341Black-faced WaxbillBrunhilda erythronotos
342Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
343QuailfinchOrtygospiza atricollis
344Cut-throatAmadina fasciata
345Red-headed FinchAmadina erythrocephala
346Violet-eared WaxbillGranatina granatina
347Southern CordonbleuUraeginthus angolensis
348Green-winged PytiliaPytilia melba
349Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala

 
Indigobirds: Viduidae

350Pin-tailed WhydahVidua macroura
351Eastern Paradise-WhydahVidua paradisaea
352Shaft-tailed WhydahVidua regia
353Village IndigobirdVidua chalybeata

 
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae

354House SparrowPasser domesticus
355Great Rufous SparrowPasser motitensis
356Cape SparrowPasser melanurus
357Southern Gray-headed SparrowPasser diffusus
358Yellow-throated Bush SparrowGymnornis superciliaris

 
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae

359Cape WagtailMotacilla capensis
360Gray WagtailMotacilla cinerea
361/Western Yellow Wagtail/Motacilla flava
362African Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimp
363African PipitAnthus cinnamomeus
364\Mountain Pipit\Anthus hoeschi
365Plain-backed PipitAnthus leucophrys
366(Buffy Pipit)Anthus vaalensis

 
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies: Fringillidae

367Yellow-fronted CanaryCrithagra mozambicus
368Black-throated CanaryCrithagra atrogularis
369Yellow CanaryCrithagra flaviventris

 
Old World Buntings: Emberizidae

370Lark-like BuntingEmberiza impetuani
371Cinnamon-breasted BuntingEmberiza tahapisi
372Golden-breasted BuntingEmberiza flaviventris

 

 *Nomenclature and taxonomic affinities are based on Clements 6th Edition published 2007 with updates through 2021 maintained by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, which relies largely on the AOU and SACC nomenclature committees. IUCN status may reflect splits not currently recognized by Clements.
**Species not accepted by Clements, AOU, or SACC that we recognize based on the IOC, field observations along with geographical separation, consensus opinions of field guide authors, and other sources. These species are potential splits in future Clements updates.

OTHER LOCALES

PRESENCE CODES

CodeDescription##
//Boreal Visitor61
\\Austral Visitor1
||Transient2
##Non-breeding Dispersal3
<>Erratic/Irregular0
()Breeding Season Only13
{}Casual/Vagrant4
[]Accidental2

STATUS CODES

CodeDescription##
NTNear Threatened11
VVulnerable7
ENEndangered7
CRCritically Endangered3

Species counts in code tables depend on completeness of the data. For some countries or locales, data may not include all species or information on species presence may be incomplete.