Known as the landlocked country in southern Africa, Botswana is a country rich in flora and fauna. The country has more than 2500 species of plants and 650 species of trees. It is also a rich home to millions of animals, making it a perfect travel destination for those who want to experience the wildlife.
Another exciting thing about Botswana is that it is famed for having the Big Five in its domain: Lion, leopard, black rhino, buffalo, and elephant. Most of their animals can be witnessed in their two main wildlife parks: the Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve.
The country is rich in a wide range of animals, including birds. In fact, Botswana has more than 550 species of birds! Let’s take a look at the most fascinating and remarkable birds of Botswana!Take a dive into the wildlife of Botswana
Read further to know more of Botswana’s most notable birds.
Kori Bustard – This bird is native to the African continent and is famed for its huge size, black crest, and large neck. Its overall color is mainly grey and brown and patterned with black and white colors. Kori Bustards are classified as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to the continuous decline of their population. Presently, a handful of Kori Bustards still roam around the savannas, grasslands, and scrublands in Botswana. They are omnivores who primarily eat berries, seeds, insects, small mammals, reptiles, and even other birds.
Common Ostrich – This flightless bird is commonly found in the African continent. This species belongs to the order Stuthioniformes, together with animals such as kiwis, rheas, emus, and cassowaries. A common ostrich weighs from 63 to 145 kilograms. It is known for its long neck and legs that keep its head almost 9ft above the ground. This flightless bird faces many daunting predators in the savannas, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and African hunting dogs.
Grebe (Black-Nested, Great Crested, and Little/Dabchick) – This is an adorable aquatic diving bird that is classified in the order Podicipediformes. Its size ranges from small to medium-large, have lobed toes, and are known to be exceptional swimmers and divers. It can only run for a short distance because its feet are located far back on its body. It has narrow wings that allow them to fly, although some of its kind are considered flightless. It has a waterproof plumage, and it dives and swims away when a predator is on sight.
Pigeon (African Green, African Olive/Rameron, and Speckled/Rock) – Pigeons are generally distributed worldwide except in cold areas. Its name was derived from the Latin word “pipio,” meaning “young cheeping bird.” They breed all year round, but peaks during hot seasons. They are monogamous and can breed as early as six months of age. Pigeons eat insects, fruits, and worms. An interesting fact about pigeons is that they have been discovered to pass the “mirror test,” which is the ability of an animal to distinguish its own reflection in a mirror. They are the only non-mammals who possess this ability.
Swift (African Black, African Palm, Alpine, Common, Horus, Little, and White-rumped) – These birds were named “Swift” for a reason: Despite their small size, they are agile and fast-flying. Swifts belong to the family of Apodidae. A Swift has long, curved wings that help it fly as fast as 110 kilometers per hour. It has tiny, weak feet, but it possesses very sharp claws to grip and climb on vertical surfaces. Swifts primarily feed on insects. However, large falcons feed on these small, agile flyers.
Crane (Blue, Grey/Southern Crowned/Wattled) – Cranes can be easily distinguishable through their long necks and straight beaks. They are very social birds, often seen flying in large flocks. They are also opportunistic feeders who devour fish, insects, amphibians, and small rodents. They are excellent flyers—some cranes can travel up to 500 miles in a single day to search for food. Just like Pigeons, Cranes are monogamous birds. They make excellent parents to their chicks, as they take good care of them for up to 10 months after their hatching.
While we have only tackled a few of Botswana’s notable birds, it is worth noting that Botswana is loaded with the world’s most beautiful birds.
Keep the links under the picture and all the birds listed.
Apalis, Bar-throated
Apalis, Yellow-breasted
Avocet, Pied
Babbler, Angola or Hartlaub’s
Babbler, Arrow-marked
Babbler, Black-lored
Babbler, Southern Pied
Barbet, Black-collared
Barbet, Crested
Barbet, Pied
Bateleur
Batis, Chinspot
Batis, Pririt
Baza, African or Cuckoo-Hawk
Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked
Bee-eater, European
Bee-eater, Little
Bee-eater, Southern Carmine
Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed
Bee-eater, White-fronted
Bishop, Red
Bishop, Yellow-crowned or Golden
Bishop, Yellow or Yellow-rumped Widowbird
Bittern, Dwarf
Bittern, Great
Bittern, Little
Bokmakierie
Boubou, Gabon or Swamp
Boubou, Southern
Boubou, Tropical
Broadbill, African
Brownbul, Terrestrial
Brubru
Bulbul, Black-fronted or Red-eyed
Bulbul, Garden or Common
Bunting, African Golden-breasted
Bunting, Cape
Bunting, Cinnamon-breasted
Bunting, Lark-like
Bustard, Black-bellied
Bustard, Kori
Bustard, Ludwig’s
Bustard, Red-crested
Bustard, Southern White-bellied
Bustard, Stanley or Denham’s
Bustard, White-quilled or Northern Black
Buttonquail, Small or Common
Buzzard, Common
Buzzard, European Honey
Buzzard, Jackal
Buzzard, Lizard
Canary, Black-throated or Yellow-rumped Seedeater
Canary, Yellow
Canary, Yellow-fronted or Yellow-eyed
Chat, Boulder
Chat, Cape Robin
Chat, Familiar
Chat, Karoo
Chat, Mocking Cliff
Chat, Red-capped or Natal Robin
Chat, White-browed or Heglin’s Robin
Chat, White-headed or Arnot’s Black
Cisticola, Chirping
Cisticola, Croaking
Cisticola, Desert
Cisticola, Grey or Tinkling
Cisticola, Lazy
Cisticola, Piping or Neddicky
Cisticola, Rattling
Cisticola, Red-faced
Cisticola, Red-headed or Grey-backed
Cisticola, Winding or Black-backed
Cisticola, Zitting
Coot, Red-knobbed or Crested
Cordonbleu, Blue-breasted or Blue Waxbill
Cormorant, Great or White-breasted
Cormorant, Long-tailed or Reed
Corncrake
Coucal, Black
Coucal, Burchell’s
Coucal, Coppery-tailed
Coucal, Senegal
Coucal, White-browed
Courser, Bronze-winged or Violet-tipped
Courser, Burchell’s
Courser, Double-banded
Courser, Temminck’s
Courser, Three-banded or Heuglin’s
Crake, African
Crake, Baillon’s
Crake, Black
Crake, Spotted
Crake, Striped
Crane, Blue
Crane, Grey or Southern Crowned
Crane, Wattled
Crombec, Cape or Long-billed
Crow, Cape or Black
Crow, Pied
Cuckoo, African
Cuckoo, Black
Cuckoo, Common or Eurasian
Cuckoo, Didric
Cuckoo, Emerald
Cuckoo, Great spotted
Cuckoo, Klaas’s
Cuckoo, Pied or Jacobin
Cuckoo, Red-chested
Cuckoo, Striped
Cuckooshrike, Black
Cuckooshrike, White-breasted
Curlew, Eurasian
Darter, African
Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood
Dove, Laughing or Palm
Dove, Mourning Collared
Dove, Namaqua
Dove, Red-eyed
Dove, Ring-necked or Cape Turtle
Dove, Tambourine
Drongo, Fork-tailed
Duck, African Black
Duck, Comb or Knob-billed
Duck, Fulvous Whistling
Duck, Fulvous Whistling
Duck, Maccoa
Duck, Red-billed or Red-billed Teal
Duck, White-faced Whistling
Duck, Yellow-billed
Eagle, African Fish
Eagle, African Hawk
Eagle, Ayre’s Hawk
Eagle, Banded Snake
Eagle, Booted
Eagle, Brown Snake
Eagle, Lesser Spotted
Eagle, Long-crested
Eagle, Martial
Eagle, Short-toed or Black-breasted Snake
Eagle, Steppe
Eagle, Tawny
Eagle, Verreaux’s
Eagle, Wahlberg’s
Egret, Cattle
Egret, Great
Egret, Intermediate
Egret, Little
Egret, Slaty
Eremomela, Burnt-necked
Eremomela, Greencap
Eremomela, Yellow-bellied
Falcon, Amur or Eastern Red-footed
Falcon, Lanner
Falcon, Peregrine
Falcon, Pygmy
Falcon, Red-footed
Falcon, Red-necked
Finch, Cut-throat
Finch, Red-headed
Finfoot, African
Firefinch, Brown
Firefinch, Jameson’s
Firefinch, Red-billed
Flamingo, Greater
Flamingo, Lesser
Flufftail, Red-chested
Flycatcher, African Paradise
Flycatcher, Ashy or Blue-grey
Flycatcher, Chat
Flycatcher, Collared
Flycatcher, Fairy
Flycatcher, Fiscal
Flycatcher, Grey or Fan-tailed Tit
Flycatcher, Marico or Mariqua
Flycatcher, Pale or Mouse-coloured
Flycatcher, Southern Black
Flycatcher, Spotted
Francolin, Coqui
Francolin, Crested
Francolin, Natal
Francolin, Orange River
Francolin, Red-billed
Francolin, Red-necked
Francolin, Swainson’s Gallinule, Allen’s
Go-away-bird or Lourie, Grey
Godwit, Bar-tailed
Gonolek or Shrike, Crimson-breasted
Goose, African Pygmy
Goose, Egyptian
Goose, Spur-winged
Goshawk, African
Goshawk, Black or Great Sparrowhawk
Goshawk, Dark Chanting
Goshawk, Gabar
Goshawk, Pale Chanting
Grebe, Black-necked
Grebe, Great Crested
Grebe, Little or Dabchick
Greenbul, Yellow-bellied
Greenshank, Common
Grenadier, Common
Guineafowl, Crested
Guineafowl, Helmeted or Tufted
Gull, Grey-headed
Gull, Lesser Black-backed
Hamerkop or Hammerhead
Harrier, African Marsh
Harrier, Black
Harrier, Montagu’s
Harrier, Pallid
Harrier, Western or Eurasian Marsh
Hawk, African Harrier or Gymnogene
Hawk, Bat
Helmetshrike, Retz’s or Red-billed
Helmetshrike, White
Heron, Black-crowned Night
Heron, Black-headed
Heron, Black
Heron, Goliath
Heron, Grey
Heron, Purple
Heron, Rufous-bellied
Heron, Squacco
Heron, Striated Green or Little
Heron, White-backed Night
Hobby, African
Hobby, Eurasian
Honeyguide, Greater
Honeyguide, Green-backed or Slender-billed
Honeyguide, Lesser
Honeyguide, Wahlberg’s or Sharp-billed
Hoopoe, African
Hornbill, African Grey
Hornbill, Bradfield’s
Hornbill, Crowned
Hornbill, Red-billed
Hornbill, Southern Ground
Hornbill, Southern Yellow-billed
Hornbill, Trumpeter
Ibis, Glossy
Ibis, Hadada
Ibis, Sacred
Indigobird, Dusky or Purple Widowfinch
Indigobird, Village
Jacana, African
Jacana, Lesser
Kestrel, Common or Eurasian
Kestrel, Dickinson’s
Kestrel, Greater or White-eyed
Kestrel, Lesser
Kingfisher, African Pygmy
Kingfisher, Brown-hooded
Kingfisher, Giant
Kingfisher, Grey-headed
Kingfisher, Half-collared
Kingfisher, Malachite
Kingfisher, Pied
Kingfisher, Striped
Kingfisher, Woodland
Kite, Black
Kite, Black-winged or shouldered
Kite, Yellow-billed
Lapwing, Blacksmith
Lapwing, Crowned
Lapwing, Long-toed
Lapwing, Spur-winged
Lapwing, Wattled
Lapwing, White-headed or Crowned
Lark, Black-eared Sparrow
Lark, Chestnut-backed Sparrow
Lark, Clapper
Lark, Dusky
Lark, Fawn-coloured
Lark, Flappet
Lark, Grey-backed Sparrow
Lark, Melodious or Latakoo
Lark, Monotonous
Lark, Pink-billed
Lark, Red-capped
Lark, Rufous-naped
Lark, Sabota
Lark, Short-clawed
Lark, Spike-heeled
Lark, Stark’s
Locustfinch
Longclaw, Rosy-throated
Lovebird, Black-cheeked
Martin, Banded
Martin, Northern House
Martin, Plain
Martin, Rock
Martin, Sand or Bank Swallow
Moorhen, Common
Moorhen, Lesser
Mousebird, Red-faced
Mousebird, Speckled
Mousebird, White-backed
Munia or Mannikin, Bronze
Munia, Magpie or Pied Mannikin
Myna, Common or Indian
Nicator, Eastern or Yellow-spotted
Nightingale, Thrush or Sprosser
Nightjar, Eurasian
Nightjar, Fiery-necked
Nightjar, Freckled
Nightjar, Pennant-winged
Nightjar, Rufous-cheeked
Nightjar, Square-tailed or Mozambique
Nightjar, Swamp or Natal
Oriole, African Black-headed
Oriole, African Golden
Oriole, Eurasian Golden
Osprey
Ostrich
Owl, African Barred
Owl, African Scops
Owl, African Wood
Owl, Barn
Owl, Cape Eagle
Owl, Marsh
Owl, Pearl-spotted
Owl, Pel’s Fishing
Owl, Spotted Eagle
Owl, Verreaux’s or Giant Eagle
Owl, White-faced Scops
Oxpecker, Red-billed
Oxpecker, Yellow-billed
Parrot, Brown-necked or Cape
Parrot, Meyer’s
Pelican, Great White
Pelican, Pink-backed
Petronia, Yellow-throated
Phalarope, Red or Grey
Pigeon, African Green
Pigeon, African Olive or Rameron
Pigeon, Speckled or Rock
Pipit, African or Grassveld
Pipit, Buffy
Pipit, Bush or Bushveld
Pipit, Long-billed
Pipit, Plain-backed
Pipit, Striped
Pipit, Tree
Plover, Caspian
Plover, Chestnut-banded
Plover, Common Ringed
Plover, Grey or Black-bellied
Plover, Kittlitz’s
Plover, Three-banded
Plover, White-fronted
Pochard, Southern
Pratincole, Black-winged
Pratincole, Collared
Pratincole, Rock
Prinia, Black-chested
Prinia, Tawny-flanked
Puffback, Black-backed
Pytilia, Green-winged
Pytilia, Orange-winged
Quail, Common
Quail, Harlequin
Quailfinch, African
Quelea, Red-billed
Rail, Kaffir
Raven, White-necked
Redshank, Common
Redshank, Spotted
Robin, Bearded Scrub
Robin, Kalahari Scrub
Robin, Red-backed Scrub
Roller, Broad-billed
Roller, European
Roller, Lilac-breasted
Roller, Racket-tailed
Roller, Rufous-crowned or Purple
Ruff
Sanderling
Sandgrouse, Double-banded
Sandgrouse, Namaqua
Sandgrouse, Spotted or Burchell’s
Sandgrouse, Yellow-throated
Sandpiper, Common
Sandpiper, Curlew
Sandpiper, Green
Sandpiper, Marsh
Sandpiper, Pectoral
Sandpiper, Terek
Sandpiper, Wood
Scimitar-bill, Common or Greater
Secretarybird
Seedeater, Black-eared
Seedeater, Streaky-headed
Shelduck, South african
Shikra or Little Banded Goshawk
Shoveler, Cape
Shrike, Common Fiscal
Shrike, Grey-headed Bush
Shrike, Lesser Grey
Shrike, Magpie or African Long-tailed
Shrike, Red-backed
Shrike, Sousa’s
Shrike, Sulphur or Orange-breasted Bush
Shrike, White-crowned
Skimmer, African
Snipe, African
Snipe, Great
Snipe, Greater Painted
Sparrow, Cape
Sparrow, House
Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed
Sparrow, Southern Rufous
Sparrowhawk, Little
Sparrowhawk, Ovambo
Spoonbill, African
Starling, Burchell’s Glossy
Starling, Greater Blue-eared Glossy
Starling, Lesser Blue-eared Glossy
Starling, Meves’s Glossy
Starling, Red-shouldered or Cape Glossy
Starling, Red-winged
Starling, Sharp-tailed Glossy
Starling, Violet-backed or Amethyst
Starling, Wattled
Stilt, Black-winged
Stint, Little
Stint, Red-necked
Stint, Temminck’s
Stonechat, Common
Stork, Abdim’s
Stork, African Open-billed
Stork, Black
Stork, Marabou
Stork, Saddle-billed
Stork, White
Stork, Woolly-necked
Stork, Yellow-billed
Sunbird, Amethyst or African Black
Sunbird, Collared
Sunbird, Copper
Sunbird, Dusky
Sunbird, Marico or Mariqua
Sunbird, Miombo Double-collared
Sunbird, Purple-banded
Sunbird, Scarlet-chested
Sunbird, Shelley’s
Sunbird, White-breasted
Swallow, Barn
Swallow, Greater Striped
Swallow, Grey-rumped
Swallow, Lesser Striped
Swallow, Mosque
Swallow, Pearl-breasted
Swallow, Rufous-chested
Swallow, South African Cliff
Swallow, White-throated
Swallow, Wire-tailed
Swamphen, Purple
Swift, African Black
Swift, African Palm
Swift, Alpine
Swift, Common
Swift, Horus
Swift, Little
Swift, White-rumped
Tchagra, Black-crowned
Tchagra, Three-streaked
Teal, Cape
Teal, Hottentot
Tern, Black
Tern, Caspian
Tern, Gull-billed
Tern, Whiskered
Tern, White-winged
Thick-knee or Dikkop, Spotted
Thick-knee or Dikkop, Water
Thrush, Collared Palm
Thrush, Groundscraper
Thrush, Kurrichane
Thrush, Miombo Rock
Thrush, Short-toed Rock
Tinkerbird or Barbet, Yellow-fronted
Tit, African Penduline
Tit, Ashy
Tit, Black
Tit, Grey
Tit, Southern or Cape Penduline
Trogon, Narina
Turaco, Ross’s
Turnstone, Ruddy
Twinspot, Peter’s
Vulture, Cape Griffon
Vulture, Hooded
Vulture, Lappet-faced
Vulture, Palm-nut
Vulture, White-backed
Vulture, White-headed
Wagtail, African Pied
Wagtail, Black-headed
Wagtail, Cape
Wagtail, Grey
Wagtail, Grey-headed
Wagtail, Yellow-headed
Warbler or Titbabbler, Rufous-vented
Warbler, African Bush
Warbler, African Reed
Warbler, Barred Wren
Warbler, Eurasian Reed
Warbler, Eurasian River
Warbler, Garden
Warbler, Great Reed
Warbler, Greater Swamp
Warbler, Grey-backed Bleating
Warbler, Icterine
Warbler, Lesser Swamp or Cape Reed
Warbler, Marsh
Warbler, Olive-tree
Warbler, Rufous-eared
Warbler, Sedge
Warbler, Stierling’s Barred
Warbler, Willow
Waxbill, Black-cheeked
Waxbill, Black-tailed
Waxbill, Cinderella
Waxbill, Common
Waxbill, Orange-breasted
Weaver, Grosbeak or Thick-billed
Weaver, Holub’s Golden
Weaver, Parasitic or Cuckoofinch
Weaver, Red-billed Buffalo
Weaver, Red-headed
Weaver, Scaly
Weaver, Social
Weaver, Southern Brown-throated
Weaver, Southern Masked
Weaver, Spectacled
Weaver, Village or Spotted-backed
Weaver, White-browed Sparrow
Wheatear, Capped
Wheatear, Mountain
Wheatear, Northern
Whimbrel
Whinchat
White-eye, African Yellow
White-eye, Pale or Cape
Whitethroat, Common or Greater
Whydah, Broad-tailed Paradise
Whydah, Eastern Paradise
Whydah, Pin-tailed
Whydah, Queen or Shaft-tailed
Widowbird, Fan-tailed or Red-shouldered
Widowbird, Long-tailed
Widowbird, White-winged
Woodhoopoe, Green or Red-billed
Woodpecker, Bearded
Woodpecker, Bennett’s
Woodpecker, Cardinal
Woodpecker, Golden-tailed
Woodpecker, Olive