Zimbabwe is home to different species of animals, in which its birds have over 650 species. Because of this, many people travel to Zimbabwe to witness its natural beauty.
Its birds have a lot of various species that live in the different parts of Zimbabwe. Although it doesn’t have any endemics birds, it does have several near-endemic birds residing in the Eastern Zimbabwe Mountains Endemic Birds Area (EBA).
Zimbabwe is a vast country located in South Africa, and it is known as the 60th largest country in the world in terms of land area. It holds some of the world’s most beautiful species of wildlife, making it a perfect tourist destination.
Another interesting fact about this country is its culture and historical values that remain throughout the years. One important factor for this is its national symbol – The Golden Bird, also known as the “Great Zimbabwe Bird.” This bird heavily resembles the appearance of the African Fish Eagle, which has a large body and pretty much looks like the commonly known Bald Eagle.
An overview of the notable birds in Zimbabwe
Before we jump into the list of birds found in Zimbabwe, let’s first take a look into the most remarkable birds present in this land.
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Common Ostrich
The common ostrich, or simply known as ostrich, is a bird species that is native to some areas in Africa. This bird is known by its appearance, mainly because of its massive body – which could stand tall from six feet and eleven inches, up to nine feet and two inches for males. Besides its body size, it also has a long neck and legs, which enables them to run at extreme speeds. Another interesting fact about this bird is it is one of the few flightless birds in existence and considered to be the largest. Despite its big body, it could run for a long time at extreme speeds thanks to its long and sturdy legs. A long run can have a speed of 55km/h, while short bursts up to about 70km/h – the fastest pace of any bird on land.
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Frigatebirds
The Frigatebirds are a species of seabirds found across tropical and subtropical oceans. Its appearance has distinct features, especially for male frigatebirds, which has a red gular pouch. The body of this bird has black plumage, long forked tails, and long hooked bills. The most notable feature of this bird is its wings, which can span up to 2.3 meters or seven feet and five inches – this is the largest ratio for wing area to body weight compared to any other birds.
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African Fish Eagle
Also known as African Sea Eagles, this species of birds lives throughout sub-Saharan Africa, mainly in areas with large bodies of water for its food supply. As mentioned earlier, this bird symbolizes the country of Zimbabwe, and it is the national bird of Namibia at Zambia. Its wings are also significantly large, spanning up to seven feet and nine inches for females, which is a proportionate size to its massive body – unlike those of Frigatebirds. Its appearance heavily resembles the bald eagle with its brown plumage and white head. This bird has a healthy physique, starting from its hooked bills for its carnivorous lifestyle, powerful talons for catching its prey, and large dynamic wings for its fast movement.
These three birds are only a few of the hundreds of species present in Zimbabwe. As we dig more rooted in the Zimbabwe birds, we can see its various natural wonders, and appreciate the exceptional beauty of each bird. In this article, we are going to look into the list of different Zimbabwe birds.
Learn More About Zimbabwe Birds
Here are some products to satisfy your interest and feed your knowledge about African, and specifically, Zimbabwe birds.
Birds of Southern Africa: Fourth Edition (Princeton Field Guide
This book is one of the best books that cover all the bird species in the Southern African region. Since it introduces all birds in South Africa, it also includes other countries besides Zimbabwe – including Botswana, Namibia, and other countries. This book showcases beautiful artwork for every bird and information about their behavior and habitat.
AVITOPIA – Birds of Zimbabwe (Kindle Edition)
The ultimate guide to the birds of Zimbabwe is now available in Kindle. This product includes an interesting guide about the bird species located in Zimbabwe, which provides complete information in color, along with links to HD videos for more than 100 species.
The Birds of Zimbabwe
This product is an old book authored by Michael Stuart Irwin in 1981. It features different species of birds in Zimbabwe. It has a beautiful hardcover, along with creative artwork within the book.