Eswatini bird checklist

477 bird species in 87 families have been recorded in Eswatini, according to eBird; about 342 of them are seen regularly, and the rest are rarities, vagrants and escaped or introduced birds. Download the full list as a PDF, or tick birds off on your phone, with counts and notes, even without signal.

Species data: eBird.org, updated 13 Oct 2026 · How these lists are made

The most common birds in Eswatini right now

1Cape Starling
2Red-billed Quelea
3Pin-tailed Whydah
4Red-eyed Dove
5Red-billed Oxpecker
6Red-backed Shrike
7Red-faced Mousebird
8Ring-necked Dove
9Rattling Cisticola
10Red-billed Firefinch

The top 20, and how they are ranked

Eswatini bird checklist

477 species · loading the checklist tools…

Ostriches

Common Ostrich

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

White-faced Whistling-Duck
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
White-backed Duck
Knob-billed Duck
Egyptian Goose
Spur-winged Goose
African Pygmy-Goose
Blue-billed Teal
Cape Shoveler
African Black Duck
Yellow-billed Duck
Cape Teal
Red-billed Duck
Southern Pochard
Maccoa Duck

Guineafowl

Helmeted Guineafowl
Southern Crested Guineafowl

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Indian Peafowl
Crested Francolin
Coqui Francolin
Red-winged Francolin
Shelley's Francolin
Common Quail
Harlequin Quail
Natal Spurfowl
Swainson's Spurfowl

Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeon
Speckled Pigeon
Rameron Pigeon
Lemon Dove
Red-eyed Dove
Ring-necked Dove
Laughing Dove
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Tambourine Dove
Namaqua Dove
African Green-Pigeon

Bustards

Denham's Bustard
White-bellied Bustard
Red-crested Bustard
Black-bellied Bustard

Turacos

Gray Go-away-bird
Purple-crested Turaco
Livingstone's Turaco
Knysna Turaco

Cuckoos

Burchell's Coucal
Black Coucal
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Levaillant's Cuckoo
Pied Cuckoo
Thick-billed Cuckoo
Dideric Cuckoo
Klaas's Cuckoo
African Emerald Cuckoo
Black Cuckoo
Red-chested Cuckoo
African Cuckoo

Nightjars and Allies

Eurasian Nightjar
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Freckled Nightjar
Square-tailed Nightjar

Swifts

Alpine Swift
Common Swift
African Swift
Little Swift
Horus Swift
White-rumped Swift
African Palm Swift

Flufftails

Buff-spotted Flufftail
Red-chested Flufftail
Striped Flufftail

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

African Rail
African Crake
Lesser Moorhen
Eurasian Moorhen
Red-knobbed Coot
African Swamphen
Black Crake

Finfoots

African Finfoot

Cranes

Blue Crane

Thick-knees

Spotted Thick-knee
Water Thick-knee

Stilts and Avocets

Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet

Plovers and Lapwings

Common Ringed Plover
Three-banded Plover
Blacksmith Lapwing
Senegal Lapwing
Black-winged Lapwing
Crowned Lapwing
Wattled Lapwing
Kittlitz's Plover

Painted-Snipes

Greater Painted-Snipe

Jacanas

Lesser Jacana
African Jacana

Sandpipers and Allies

African Snipe
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Ruff
Curlew Sandpiper
Little Stint

Buttonquail

Small Buttonquail
Black-rumped Buttonquail

Pratincoles and Coursers

Bronze-winged Courser
Temminck's Courser
Collared Pratincole

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Gray-hooded Gull
Caspian Tern
Whiskered Tern
White-winged Tern

Flamingos

Greater Flamingo
Lesser Flamingo

Grebes

Little Grebe

Storks

African Openbill
Black Stork
Abdim's Stork
African Woolly-necked Stork
White Stork
Saddle-billed Stork
Marabou Stork
Yellow-billed Stork

Anhingas

African Darter

Cormorants and Shags

Reed Cormorant
Great Cormorant

Ibises and Spoonbills

Glossy Ibis
African Sacred Ibis
Southern Bald Ibis
Hadada Ibis
African Spoonbill

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Dwarf Bittern
Little Bittern
Black-crowned Night Heron
Little Egret
White-backed Night Heron
Little Heron
Squacco Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Great Egret
Yellow-billed Egret
Gray Heron
Purple Heron
Black-headed Heron
Goliath Heron

Hamerkop

Hamerkop

Pelicans

Pink-backed Pelican

Secretarybird

Secretarybird

Osprey

Osprey

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Black-winged Kite
African Harrier-Hawk
African Cuckoo-Hawk
European Honey-buzzard
White-headed Vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
Hooded Vulture
White-backed Vulture
Cape Griffon
Bateleur
Black-chested Snake-Eagle
Brown Snake-Eagle
Crowned Eagle
Martial Eagle
Long-crested Eagle
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Wahlberg's Eagle
Booted Eagle
Steppe Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Verreaux's Eagle
African Hawk-Eagle
Bat Hawk
Gabar Goshawk
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
Lizard Buzzard
African Goshawk
Little Sparrowhawk
Shikra
Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk
Black Goshawk
African Marsh Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Black Kite
African Fish-Eagle
Jackal Buzzard
Common Buzzard
Forest Buzzard

Barn-Owls

African Grass-Owl
Western Barn Owl

Owls

African Scops-Owl
Southern White-faced Owl
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
Pearl-spotted Owlet
African Barred Owlet
African Wood-Owl
Marsh Owl

Mousebirds

Speckled Mousebird
Red-faced Mousebird

Trogons

Narina Trogon

Hoopoes

Common Hoopoe

Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills

Green Woodhoopoe
Common Scimitarbill

Hornbills

Southern Ground-Hornbill
Crowned Hornbill
African Gray Hornbill
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Southern Red-billed Hornbill
Trumpeter Hornbill

Bee-eaters

White-fronted Bee-eater
Little Bee-eater
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Kingfishers

Half-collared Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Woodland Kingfisher
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Striped Kingfisher
Giant Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher

Rollers

European Roller
Lilac-breasted Roller
Purple Roller
Broad-billed Roller

African Barbets

Crested Barbet
White-eared Barbet
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
Pied Barbet
Black-collared Barbet

Honeyguides

Brown-backed Honeybird
Lesser Honeyguide
Scaly-throated Honeyguide
Greater Honeyguide

Woodpeckers

Red-throated Wryneck
Bearded Woodpecker
Cardinal Woodpecker
Olive Woodpecker
Ground Woodpecker
Bennett's Woodpecker
Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Falcons and Caracaras

Rock Kestrel
Amur Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
Lanner Falcon
Peregrine Falcon

New World and African Parrots

Brown-headed Parrot

African and Green Broadbills

African Broadbill

Cuckooshrikes

Gray Cuckooshrike
Black Cuckooshrike

Old World Orioles

Eurasian Golden Oriole
African Black-headed Oriole

Wattle-eyes and Batises

Black-throated Wattle-eye
Cape Batis
Chinspot Batis

Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies

White-crested Helmetshrike
Retz's Helmetshrike

Bushshrikes and Allies

Brubru
Black-backed Puffback
Black-crowned Tchagra
Brown-crowned Tchagra
Southern Tchagra
Southern Boubou
Bokmakierie
Four-colored Bushshrike
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
Olive Bushshrike
Gray-headed Bushshrike

Drongos

Square-tailed Drongo
Fork-tailed Drongo

Monarch Flycatchers

African Crested Flycatcher
African Paradise-Flycatcher

Shrikes

Magpie Shrike
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Gray Shrike
Southern Fiscal

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Cape Crow
Pied Crow
White-necked Raven

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

Southern Black-Tit

Penduline-Tits

African Penduline-Tit

Larks

Eastern Long-billed Lark
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
Sabota Lark
Flappet Lark
Rufous-naped Lark
Red-capped Lark

Nicators

Eastern Nicator

African Warblers

Long-billed Crombec
Cape Grassbird

Cisticolas and Allies

Yellow-bellied Eremomela
Burnt-neck Eremomela
Stierling's Wren-Warbler
Green-backed Camaroptera
Bar-throated Apalis
Yellow-breasted Apalis
Rudd's Apalis
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Drakensberg Prinia
Red-faced Cisticola
Rock-loving Cisticola
Rattling Cisticola
Wailing Cisticola
Levaillant's Cisticola
Croaking Cisticola
Piping Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola
Desert Cisticola
Cloud Cisticola
Wing-snapping Cisticola

Reed Warblers and Allies

African Yellow-Warbler
Olive-tree Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Common Reed Warbler
Lesser Swamp Warbler
Great Reed Warbler

Grassbirds and Allies

Fan-tailed Grassbird
Little Rush Warbler

Swallows

Black Sawwing
Gray-rumped Swallow
Banded Martin
Plain Martin
Bank Swallow
Southern Crag-Martin
Montane Blue Swallow
Pearl-breasted Swallow
Barn Swallow
White-throated Swallow
Wire-tailed Swallow
Western House-Martin
Greater Striped Swallow
Lesser Striped Swallow
Rufous-chested Swallow
Mosque Swallow
South African Swallow

Bulbuls

Sombre Greenbul
Yellow-bellied Greenbul
Yellow-streaked Greenbul
Terrestrial Brownbul
Common Bulbul

Leaf Warblers

Willow Warbler
Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler

Sylviid Warblers and Allies

Garden Warbler
Bush Blackcap
Greater Whitethroat

White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies

Cape White-eye
Southern Yellow White-eye

Laughingthrushes and Allies

Arrow-marked Babbler

Oxpeckers

Red-billed Oxpecker
Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Starlings

Wattled Starling
Common Myna
Violet-backed Starling
Red-winged Starling
Black-bellied Starling
Burchell's Starling
African Pied Starling
Cape Starling

Thrushes and Allies

Orange Ground-Thrush
Groundscraper Thrush
Kurrichane Thrush
Olive Thrush

Old World Flycatchers

African Dusky Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher
Pale Flycatcher
Gray Tit-Flycatcher
Ashy Flycatcher
Fiscal Flycatcher
Southern Black-Flycatcher
Brown Scrub-Robin
Bearded Scrub-Robin
White-browed Scrub-Robin
Cape Robin-Chat
White-throated Robin-Chat
White-browed Robin-Chat
Red-capped Robin-Chat
Chorister Robin-Chat
White-starred Robin
Sentinel Rock-Thrush
Cape Rock-Thrush
African Stonechat
Buff-streaked Chat
Mocking Cliff-Chat
Southern Anteater-Chat
Mountain Chat
Capped Wheatear
Familiar Chat

Sugarbirds

Gurney's Sugarbird

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters

Collared Sunbird
Olive Sunbird
Mouse-colored Sunbird
Amethyst Sunbird
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Malachite Sunbird
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
Marico Sunbird
Purple-banded Sunbird
White-bellied Sunbird

Weavers and Allies

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
Red-headed Weaver
Spectacled Weaver
Cape Weaver
African Golden-Weaver
Holub's Golden-Weaver
Lesser Masked-Weaver
Southern Masked-Weaver
Village Weaver
Dark-backed Weaver
Red-billed Quelea
Southern Red Bishop
Yellow-crowned Bishop
Yellow Bishop
White-winged Widowbird
Red-collared Widowbird
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Long-tailed Widowbird
Grosbeak Weaver

Waxbills and Allies

Bronze Mannikin
Magpie Mannikin
Black-and-white Mannikin
Swee Waxbill
Green-backed Twinspot
Black-tailed Waxbill
Common Waxbill
Quailfinch
Cut-throat
Zebra Waxbill
Southern Cordonbleu
Green-winged Pytilia
Pink-throated Twinspot
Red-billed Firefinch
African Firefinch
Jameson's Firefinch

Whydahs and Indigobirds

Pin-tailed Whydah
Eastern Paradise-Whydah
Village Indigobird
Dusky Indigobird
Purple Indigobird
Parasitic Weaver

Old World Sparrows

House Sparrow
Cape Sparrow
Southern Gray-headed Sparrow
Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Wagtails and Pipits

Cape Wagtail
Mountain Wagtail
Western Yellow Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pipit
Nicholson's Pipit
Plain-backed Pipit
Buffy Pipit
Striped Pipit
Short-tailed Pipit
Bush Pipit
Yellow-breasted Pipit
Orange-throated Longclaw
Yellow-throated Longclaw

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Yellow-fronted Canary
Forest Canary
Black-throated Canary
Brimstone Canary
Yellow Canary
Streaky-headed Seedeater
Cape Canary

Old World Buntings

Golden-breasted Bunting
Cape Bunting
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Most common birds in Eswatini

Ranked by how recently and how widely each was reported to eBird in the 30 days to 2026-10-13, and whether it is one of Eswatini’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.

Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitens
Red-billed QueleaQuelea quelea
Pin-tailed WhydahVidua macroura
Red-eyed DoveStreptopelia semitorquata
Red-billed OxpeckerBuphagus erythroryncha
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
Red-faced MousebirdUrocolius indicus
Ring-necked DoveStreptopelia capicola
Rattling CisticolaCisticola chiniana
Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala
Southern Gray-headed SparrowPasser diffusus
Red-winged StarlingOnychognathus morio
Spur-winged GoosePlectropterus gambensis
Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis
Speckled MousebirdColius striatus
Village WeaverPloceus cucullatus
Wattled StarlingCreatophora cinerea
White-faced Whistling-DuckDendrocygna viduata
Purple-crested TuracoGallirex porphyreolophus
White-fronted Bee-eaterMerops bullockoides

Largest bird families in Eswatini

Among its regular birds.

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites20
Cisticolas and Allies19
Old World Flycatchers18
Weavers and Allies17
Waxbills and Allies14
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters11
Swallows11
Pigeons and Doves10

Reported in the last 30 days

238 species reported to eBird in Eswatini in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:

Cape Starling, African Black Duck, Stierling's Wren-Warbler, Mocking Cliff-Chat, Namaqua Dove, Narina Trogon, Pale Flycatcher, Peregrine Falcon, Pied Barbet, Pied Kingfisher, Pink-throated Twinspot, Pin-tailed Whydah, Purple-crested Turaco, Rattling Cisticola, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Red-billed Firefinch, Red-billed Oxpecker, Red-billed Quelea, Red-backed Shrike, Red-chested Cuckoo, Red-eyed Dove, Red-faced Mousebird, Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Red-headed Weaver, Retz's Helmetshrike, Red-winged Starling, Ring-necked Dove, Purple Roller, Rufous-naped Lark, Sabota Lark, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Senegal Lapwing, Southern Gray-headed Sparrow, Southern Black-Flycatcher, Sombre Greenbul, Southern Black-Tit, Southern Boubou, Southern Fiscal, Speckled Mousebird, …