Namibia bird checklist

674 bird species in 100 families have been recorded in Namibia, according to eBird; about 486 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 Namibia right now

1Laughing Dove
2Ring-necked Dove
3Little Swift
4Fork-tailed Drongo
5Southern Gray-headed Sparrow
6White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
7Cape Starling
8Little Grebe
9Helmeted Guineafowl
10Red-billed Quelea

The top 20, and how they are ranked

Namibia bird checklist

674 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
South African Shelduck
Spur-winged Goose
Muscovy Duck
African Pygmy-Goose
Wood Duck
Garganey
Blue-billed Teal
Cape Shoveler
African Black Duck
Yellow-billed Duck
Mallard
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
Orange River Francolin
Common Quail
Harlequin Quail
Hartlaub's Spurfowl
Red-billed Spurfowl
Cape Spurfowl
Natal Spurfowl
Swainson's Spurfowl
Red-necked Spurfowl

Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeon
Speckled Pigeon
Mourning Collared-Dove
Red-eyed Dove
Ring-necked Dove
Laughing Dove
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Tambourine Dove
Namaqua Dove
Asian Emerald Dove
Croaking Ground Dove
African Green-Pigeon

Sandgrouse

Namaqua Sandgrouse
Yellow-throated Sandgrouse
Double-banded Sandgrouse
Burchell's Sandgrouse

Bustards

Kori Bustard
Ludwig's Bustard
Denham's Bustard
Karoo Bustard
Rüppell's Bustard
Red-crested Bustard
White-quilled Bustard
Black-bellied Bustard

Turacos

Gray Go-away-bird
Ross's Turaco
Schalow's Turaco

Cuckoos

Senegal Coucal
Coppery-tailed Coucal
White-browed 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
Common Cuckoo

Nightjars and Allies

Pennant-winged Nightjar
Eurasian Nightjar
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Swamp Nightjar
Freckled Nightjar
Square-tailed Nightjar

Swifts

Sabine's Spinetail
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Bradfield's Swift
Little Swift
Horus Swift
White-rumped Swift
African Palm Swift

Flufftails

Buff-spotted Flufftail
Red-chested Flufftail

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

African Rail
Corn Crake
African Crake
Spotted Crake
Lesser Moorhen
Eurasian Moorhen
Red-knobbed Coot
Allen's Gallinule
African Swamphen
Striped Crake
Black Crake
Baillon's Crake

Finfoots

African Finfoot

Cranes

Gray Crowned-Crane
Wattled Crane
Blue Crane

Thick-knees

Spotted Thick-knee
Water Thick-knee

Stilts and Avocets

Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet

Oystercatchers

Eurasian Oystercatcher
African Oystercatcher

Plovers and Lapwings

Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Three-banded Plover
Long-toed Lapwing
Blacksmith Lapwing
White-crowned Lapwing
Crowned Lapwing
Wattled Lapwing
Caspian Plover
Tibetan Sand-Plover
Greater Sand-Plover
Kittlitz's Plover
Chestnut-banded Plover
White-fronted Plover

Painted-Snipes

Greater Painted-Snipe

Jacanas

Lesser Jacana
African Jacana

Sandpipers and Allies

Eurasian Whimbrel
Eurasian Curlew
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
Hudsonian Godwit
Great Snipe
African Snipe
Wilson's Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Terek Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Redshank
Lesser Yellowlegs
Common Greenshank
Ruddy Turnstone
Great Knot
Red Knot
Ruff
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Sanderling
Little Stint
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper

Buttonquail

Small Buttonquail

Pratincoles and Coursers

Double-banded Courser
Bronze-winged Courser
Three-banded Courser
Temminck's Courser
Burchell's Courser
Rock Pratincole
Gray Pratincole
Collared Pratincole
Black-winged Pratincole

Skuas and Jaegers

Long-tailed Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Pomarine Jaeger
Brown Skua

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Sabine's Gull
Black-headed Gull
Gray-hooded Gull
Hartlaub's Gull
Franklin's Gull
Kelp Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
African Skimmer
Black Skimmer
Little Tern
Damara Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Whiskered Tern
Black Tern
White-winged Tern
Arctic Tern
Common Tern
Sandwich Tern
Elegant Tern
Lesser Crested Tern
West African Crested Tern
Great Crested Tern

Flamingos

Greater Flamingo
Lesser Flamingo

Grebes

Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Eared Grebe

Tropicbirds

Red-billed Tropicbird

Penguins

African Penguin

Albatrosses

Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
White-capped Albatross
Black-browed Albatross

Southern Storm-Petrels

Wilson's Storm-Petrel
White-bellied Storm-Petrel
Black-bellied Storm-Petrel

Northern Storm-Petrels

European Storm-Petrel
Leach's Storm-Petrel

Shearwaters and Petrels

Southern Giant-Petrel
Northern Giant-Petrel
Pintado Petrel
Great-winged Petrel
Soft-plumaged Petrel
Barau's Petrel
Antarctic Prion
White-chinned Petrel
Spectacled Petrel
Cory's Shearwater
Scopoli's Shearwater
Great Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Manx Shearwater

Storks

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

Boobies and Gannets

Cape Gannet
Brown Booby

Anhingas

African Darter

Cormorants and Shags

Reed Cormorant
Crowned Cormorant
Bank Cormorant
Cape Cormorant
Great Cormorant

Ibises and Spoonbills

Glossy Ibis
African Sacred Ibis
Hadada Ibis
African Spoonbill

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

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

Hamerkop

Hamerkop

Pelicans

Great White Pelican
Pink-backed Pelican

Secretarybird

Secretarybird

Osprey

Osprey

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Black-winged Kite
African Harrier-Hawk
Palm-nut Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
African Cuckoo-Hawk
European Honey-buzzard
White-headed Vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
Hooded Vulture
White-backed Vulture
Cape Griffon
Bateleur
Western Banded Snake-Eagle
Black-chested Snake-Eagle
Brown Snake-Eagle
Crowned Eagle
Martial Eagle
Long-crested Eagle
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Wahlberg's Eagle
Ayres's Hawk-Eagle
Booted Eagle
Steppe Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Verreaux's Eagle
African Hawk-Eagle
Bat Hawk
Gabar Goshawk
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
Pale Chanting-Goshawk
Lizard Buzzard
African Goshawk
Little Sparrowhawk
Shikra
Ovambo Sparrowhawk
Black Goshawk
Western Marsh Harrier
African Marsh Harrier
Black Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Black Kite
African Fish-Eagle
Red-necked Buzzard
Augur Buzzard
Jackal Buzzard
Common Buzzard

Barn-Owls

Western Barn Owl

Owls

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

Mousebirds

White-backed Mousebird
Red-faced Mousebird

Trogons

Narina Trogon

Hoopoes

Common Hoopoe

Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills

Green Woodhoopoe
Violet Woodhoopoe
Common Scimitarbill

Hornbills

Southern Ground-Hornbill
Crowned Hornbill
Bradfield's Hornbill
African Gray Hornbill
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Monteiro's Hornbill
Southern Red-billed Hornbill
Damara Red-billed Hornbill
Trumpeter Hornbill

Bee-eaters

White-fronted Bee-eater
Little Bee-eater
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Olive Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
Northern Carmine 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
Racket-tailed Roller
Purple Roller
Broad-billed Roller

African Barbets

Crested Barbet
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
Pied Barbet
Black-collared Barbet

Honeyguides

Green-backed Honeybird
Brown-backed Honeybird
Lesser Honeyguide
Greater Honeyguide

Woodpeckers

Bearded Woodpecker
Cardinal Woodpecker
Olive Woodpecker
Bennett's Woodpecker
Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Falcons and Caracaras

Pygmy Falcon
Lesser Kestrel
Rock Kestrel
Greater Kestrel
Gray Kestrel
Dickinson's Kestrel
Red-necked Falcon
Red-footed Falcon
Amur Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
African Hobby
Lanner Falcon
Peregrine Falcon

Cockatoos

Cockatiel

Old World Parrots

Alexandrine Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Budgerigar
Rosy-faced Lovebird
Yellow-collared Lovebird
Lilian's Lovebird
Black-cheeked Lovebird

New World and African Parrots

Brown-necked Parrot
Meyer's Parrot
Rüppell's Parrot

African and Green Broadbills

African Broadbill

Pittas

African Pitta

Cuckooshrikes

White-breasted Cuckooshrike
Black Cuckooshrike

Old World Orioles

Eurasian Golden Oriole
African Golden Oriole
African Black-headed Oriole

Wattle-eyes and Batises

White-tailed Shrike
Chinspot Batis
Pririt Batis

Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies

White-crested Helmetshrike
Retz's Helmetshrike

Bushshrikes and Allies

Brubru
Black-backed Puffback
Black-crowned Tchagra
Brown-crowned Tchagra
Tropical Boubou
Gabon Boubou
Crimson-breasted Gonolek
Bokmakierie
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
Gray-headed Bushshrike

Drongos

Fork-tailed Drongo

Monarch Flycatchers

African Paradise-Flycatcher

Shrikes

Magpie Shrike
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Gray Shrike
Southern Fiscal
Souza's Shrike
White-crowned Shrike

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

House Crow
Cape Crow
Pied Crow

Fairy Flycatchers

Fairy Flycatcher

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

Rufous-bellied Tit
Southern Black-Tit
Carp's Tit
Ashy Tit
Gray Tit

Penduline-Tits

African Penduline-Tit
Southern Penduline-Tit

Larks

Spike-heeled Lark
Gray's Lark
Karoo Long-billed Lark
Dusky Lark
Black-eared Sparrow-Lark
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
Gray-backed Sparrow-Lark
Sabota Lark
Fawn-colored Lark
Karoo Lark
Dune Lark
Monotonous Lark
Flappet Lark
Eastern Clapper Lark
Rufous-naped Lark
Stark's Lark
Pink-billed Lark
Sclater's Lark
Red-capped Lark

Nicators

Eastern Nicator

African Warblers

Long-billed Crombec
Rockrunner

Cisticolas and Allies

Yellow-bellied Eremomela
Green-capped Eremomela
Karoo Eremomela
Burnt-neck Eremomela
Namaqua Warbler
Stierling's Wren-Warbler
Barred Wren-Warbler
Green-backed Camaroptera
Yellow-breasted Apalis
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Black-chested Prinia
Karoo Prinia
Cinnamon-breasted Warbler
Rufous-eared Warbler
Red-faced Cisticola
Rattling Cisticola
Tinkling Cisticola
Gray-backed Cisticola
Luapula Cisticola
Chirping Cisticola
Levaillant's Cisticola
Piping Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola
Desert Cisticola

Reed Warblers and Allies

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

Grassbirds and Allies

River Warbler
Little Rush Warbler

Swallows

Gray-rumped Swallow
Banded Martin
Plain Martin
Bank Swallow
Southern Crag-Martin
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

Pale-throated Greenbul
Yellow-bellied Greenbul
Terrestrial Brownbul
Common Bulbul
Black-fronted Bulbul

Leaf Warblers

Willow Warbler

Sylviid Warblers and Allies

Eurasian Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Layard's Warbler
Chestnut-vented Warbler
Greater Whitethroat

White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies

Orange River White-eye
Southern Yellow White-eye

Laughingthrushes and Allies

Arrow-marked Babbler
Bare-cheeked Babbler
Southern Pied-Babbler
Hartlaub's Babbler
Black-faced Babbler

Oxpeckers

Red-billed Oxpecker
Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Starlings

European Starling
Wattled Starling
Common Myna
Violet-backed Starling
Pale-winged Starling
Red-winged Starling
Burchell's Starling
Meves's Starling
Lesser Blue-eared Starling
Sharp-tailed Starling
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Cape Starling

Thrushes and Allies

Groundscraper Thrush
Kurrichane Thrush
Karoo Thrush

Old World Flycatchers

Spotted Flycatcher
Marico Flycatcher
Pale Flycatcher
Chat Flycatcher
Gray Tit-Flycatcher
Ashy Flycatcher
Herero Chat
Southern Black-Flycatcher
Karoo Scrub-Robin
Bearded Scrub-Robin
Kalahari Scrub-Robin
White-browed Scrub-Robin
Cape Robin-Chat
White-browed Robin-Chat
Red-capped Robin-Chat
Angola Cave-Chat
Collared Palm-Thrush
Rufous-tailed Palm-Thrush
Thrush Nightingale
Collared Flycatcher
Short-toed Rock-Thrush
Whinchat
African Stonechat
Sickle-winged Chat
Karoo Chat
Tractrac Chat
Southern Anteater-Chat
Mountain Chat
Arnot's Chat
Northern Wheatear
Capped Wheatear
Familiar Chat

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters

Collared Sunbird
Amethyst Sunbird
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Malachite Sunbird
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
Marico Sunbird
Shelley's Sunbird
Purple-banded Sunbird
White-bellied Sunbird
Variable Sunbird
Dusky Sunbird
Copper Sunbird

Weavers and Allies

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
Scaly Weaver
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
Sociable Weaver
Red-headed Weaver
Spectacled Weaver
Cape Weaver
Holub's Golden-Weaver
Southern Brown-throated Weaver
Lesser Masked-Weaver
Southern Masked-Weaver
Village Weaver
Chestnut Weaver
Red-headed Quelea
Red-billed Quelea
Southern Red Bishop
Yellow-crowned Bishop
White-winged Widowbird
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Grosbeak Weaver

Waxbills and Allies

Zebra Finch
Bronze Mannikin
Java Sparrow
Gouldian Finch
Black-faced Waxbill
Cinderella Waxbill
Common Waxbill
Quailfinch
Cut-throat
Red-headed Finch
Zebra Waxbill
Violet-eared Waxbill
Southern Cordonbleu
Green-winged Pytilia
Orange-winged Pytilia
Red-billed Firefinch
Jameson's Firefinch
Brown Firefinch

Whydahs and Indigobirds

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

Old World Sparrows

House Sparrow
Great Rufous Sparrow
Cape Sparrow
Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
Southern Gray-headed Sparrow
Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Wagtails and Pipits

Cape Wagtail
Gray Wagtail
Western Yellow Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
White Wagtail
African Pipit
Woodland Pipit
Nicholson's Pipit
Plain-backed Pipit
Buffy Pipit
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Rosy-throated Longclaw

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Yellow-fronted Canary
Black-throated Canary
Yellow Canary
White-throated Canary
Streaky-headed Seedeater
Black-headed Canary

Old World Buntings

Ortolan Bunting
Golden-breasted Bunting
Cape Bunting
Lark-like Bunting
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Most common birds in Namibia

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 Namibia’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.

Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
Ring-necked DoveStreptopelia capicola
Little SwiftApus affinis
Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilis
Southern Gray-headed SparrowPasser diffusus
White-browed Sparrow-WeaverPlocepasser mahali
Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitens
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagris
Red-billed QueleaQuelea quelea
Black-throated CanaryCrithagra atrogularis
White-backed VultureGyps africanus
Lesser Masked-WeaverPloceus intermedius
Red-billed DuckAnas erythrorhyncha
Rattling CisticolaCisticola chiniana
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Spur-winged GoosePlectropterus gambensis
Namaqua DoveOena capensis
Black-fronted BulbulPycnonotus nigricans
Blacksmith LapwingVanellus armatus

Largest bird families in Namibia

Among its regular birds.

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites28
Old World Flycatchers25
Weavers and Allies17
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns17
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl16
Cisticolas and Allies15
Swallows15
Sandpipers and Allies15

Reported in the last 30 days

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

Gabon Boubou, Hartlaub's Babbler, Common Hoopoe, White-browed Robin-Chat, Pririt Batis, Cape Starling, Green-backed Camaroptera, Southern Gray-headed Sparrow, Fork-tailed Drongo, Monteiro's Hornbill, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Laughing Dove, Rüppell's Parrot, Pied Barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Green-winged Pytilia, Black-fronted Bulbul, Carp's Tit, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Black-throated Canary, Red-crested Bustard, Ring-necked Dove, Crimson-breasted Gonolek, Rattling Cisticola, Tawny-flanked Prinia, White-bellied Sunbird, Rufous-chested Swallow, Black-chested Prinia, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Great Rufous Sparrow, Red-billed Spurfowl, White-crowned Shrike, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Black-winged Kite, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Lappet-faced Vulture, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Willow Warbler, …