↑BOTSWANA
BOTSWANA↑

TARGETS
SPECIALTIES

MAKGADIKGADI PANS

BOTSWANALOCALE

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

 
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae

24Rock PigeonColumba livia
25Speckled PigeonColumba guinea
26Mourning Collared-DoveStreptopelia decipiens
27Red-eyed DoveStreptopelia semitorquata
28Ring-necked DoveStreptopelia capicola
29Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
30Emerald-spotted Wood-DoveTurtur chalcospilos
31Namaqua DoveOena capensis

 
Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae

32Namaqua SandgrousePterocles namaqua
33Yellow-throated SandgrousePterocles gutturalis
34Double-banded SandgrousePterocles bicinctus
35Burchell's SandgrousePterocles burchelli

 
Bustards: Otididae

36Kori BustardArdeotis kori
37Denham's BustardNeotis denhami
38Red-crested BustardLophotis ruficrista
39White-quilled BustardAfrotis afraoides

 
Turacos: Musophagidae

40Gray Go-away-birdCrinifer concolor

 
Cuckoos: Cuculidae

41/Black Cuckoo/Cuculus clamosus
42Common CuckooCuculus canorus
43/African Cuckoo/Cuculus gularis
44Coppery-tailed CoucalCentropus cupreicaudus
45Senegal CoucalCentropus senegalensis
46(Pied Cuckoo)Clamator jacobinus
47Levaillant's CuckooClamator levaillantii
48Great Spotted CuckooClamator glandarius
49Klaas's CuckooChrysococcyx klaas
50Dideric CuckooChrysococcyx caprius

 
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae

51Eurasian NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
52Rufous-cheeked NightjarCaprimulgus rufigena
53Square-tailed NightjarCaprimulgus fossii

 
Swifts: Apodidae

54Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
55/Common Swift/Apus apus
56Little SwiftApus affinis
57African Palm SwiftCypsiurus parvus

 
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae

58(African Crake)Crecopsis egregia
59/Spotted Crake/Porzana porzana
60/Lesser Moorhen/Gallinula angulata
61Eurasian MoorhenGallinula chloropus
62Red-knobbed CootFulica cristata
63African SwamphenPorphyrio madagascariensis
64Black CrakeZapornia flavirostra
65Baillon's CrakeZapornia pusilla

 
Cranes: Gruidae

66Gray Crowned-CraneBalearica regulorum
67Blue CraneAnthropoides paradiseus
68Wattled CraneBugeranus carunculatus

 
Thick-knees: Burhinidae

69Spotted Thick-kneeBurhinus capensis
70Water Thick-kneeBurhinus vermiculatus

 
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae

71Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
72Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta

 
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae

73/Black-bellied Plover/Pluvialis squatarola
74/Common Ringed Plover/Charadrius hiaticula
75Three-banded PloverThinornis tricollaris
76Blacksmith LapwingVanellus armatus
77Crowned LapwingVanellus coronatus
78/Caspian Plover/Anarhynchus asiaticus
79Greater Sand-PloverAnarhynchus leschenaultii
80Kittlitz's PloverAnarhynchus pecuarius
81Chestnut-banded PloverAnarhynchus pallidus
82White-fronted PloverAnarhynchus marginatus

 
Painted-Snipes: Rostratulidae

83Greater Painted-SnipeRostratula benghalensis

 
Jacanas: Jacanidae

84African JacanaActophilornis africanus

 
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae

85/Whimbrel/Numenius phaeopus
86/Eurasian Curlew/Numenius arquata
87Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica
88/Black-tailed Godwit/Limosa limosa
89African SnipeGallinago nigripennis
90/Terek Sandpiper/Xenus cinereus
91/Common Sandpiper/Actitis hypoleucos
92/Green Sandpiper/Tringa ochropus
93/Marsh Sandpiper/Tringa stagnatilis
94/Wood Sandpiper/Tringa glareola
95Common RedshankTringa totanus
96/Common Greenshank/Tringa nebularia
97Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres
98/Ruff/Calidris pugnax
99/Curlew Sandpiper/Calidris ferruginea
100/Sanderling/Calidris alba
101/Little Stint/Calidris minuta

 
Buttonquail: Turnicidae

102Small ButtonquailTurnix sylvaticus

 
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae

103Double-banded CourserSmutsornis africanus
104Bronze-winged CourserRhinoptilus chalcopterus
105#Temminck's Courser#Cursorius temminckii
106/Black-winged Pratincole/Glareola nordmanni
107Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola

 
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae

108Gray-hooded GullChroicocephalus cirrocephalus
109Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
110African SkimmerRynchops flavirostris
111Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
112Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
113White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus

 
Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae

114Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
115Lesser FlamingoPhoenicoparrus minor

 
Grebes: Podicipedidae

116Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
117Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
118Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis

 
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

128Reed CormorantMicrocarbo africanus
129Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo

 
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae

130Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
131African Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus
132Hadada IbisBostrychia hagedash
133African SpoonbillPlatalea alba

 
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae

134Dwarf BitternBotaurus sturmii
135Little BitternBotaurus minutus
136Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
137Black HeronEgretta ardesiaca
138Little EgretEgretta garzetta
139Striated HeronButorides striata
140Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
141Western Cattle-EgretBubulcus ibis
142Great EgretArdea alba
143Yellow-billed EgretArdea brachyrhyncha
144Gray HeronArdea cinerea
145Purple HeronArdea purpurea
146Black-headed HeronArdea melanocephala
147Goliath HeronArdea goliath

 
Hamerkop: Scopidae

148HamerkopScopus umbretta

 
Pelicans: Pelecanidae

149#Great White Pelican#Pelecanus onocrotalus
150Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescens

 
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
170Gabar GoshawkMicronisus gabar
171Dark Chanting-GoshawkMelierax metabates
172Pale Chanting-GoshawkMelierax canorus
173Little SparrowhawkTachyspiza minullus
174ShikraTachyspiza badius
175Ovambo SparrowhawkAccipiter ovampensis
176/Western Marsh Harrier/Circus aeruginosus
177African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorus
178/Pallid Harrier/Circus macrourus
179/Montagu's Harrier/Circus pygargus
180/Black Kite/Milvus migrans
181African Fish-EagleIcthyophaga vocifer
182/Common Buzzard/Buteo buteo

 
Barn-Owls: Tytonidae

183Western Barn 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

 
Bee-eaters: Meropidae

201Little Bee-eaterMerops pusillus
202Swallow-tailed Bee-eaterMerops hirundineus
203/Blue-cheeked Bee-eater/Merops persicus
204/European Bee-eater/Merops apiaster
205/Southern Carmine Bee-eater/Merops nubicoides

 
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

206Malachite KingfisherCorythornis cristatus
207/African Pygmy Kingfisher/Ispidina picta
208/Gray-headed Kingfisher/Halcyon leucocephala
209Brown-hooded KingfisherHalcyon albiventris
210Striped KingfisherHalcyon chelicuti
211Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis

 
Rollers: Coraciidae

212/European Roller/Coracias garrulus
213Lilac-breasted RollerCoracias caudatus
214Purple 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

247Magpie ShrikeUrolestes melanoleuca
248/Red-backed Shrike/Lanius collurio
249/Lesser Gray Shrike/Lanius minor
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
265Flappet LarkAmirafra rufocinnamomea
266Eastern Clapper LarkCorypha fasciolata
267Rufous-naped LarkCorypha africana
268Pink-billed LarkSpizocorys conirostris
269Red-capped LarkCalandrella cinerea

 
African Warblers: Macrosphenidae

270Long-billed 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
295Southern Crag-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 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 erythroryncha
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|Sigelus silens
324Kalahari Scrub-RobinCercotrichas paena
325White-browed 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-bellied 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.