South Africa bird checklist
891 bird species in 106 families have been recorded in South Africa, according to eBird; about 702 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 · How these lists are made
The most common birds in South Africa right now
1Egyptian Goose
2Common Waxbill
3White-faced Whistling-Duck
4Barn Swallow
5Little Grebe
6Pied Crow
7Plain Martin
8Laughing Dove
9Ring-necked Dove
10Western Cattle-Egret
South Africa bird checklist
891 species · loading the checklist tools…
Ostriches
- Common Ostrich
Cassowaries and Emu
- Emu
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
- White-faced Whistling-Duck
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck
- White-backed Duck
- Bar-headed Goose
- Graylag Goose
- Swan Goose
- Mute Swan
- Black Swan
- Knob-billed Duck
- Egyptian Goose
- South African Shelduck
- Common Shelduck
- Spur-winged Goose
- Muscovy Duck
- African Pygmy-Goose
- Ringed Teal
- Wood Duck
- Mandarin Duck
- Blue-billed Teal
- Cape Shoveler
- Northern Shoveler
- African Black Duck
- Yellow-billed Duck
- Mallard
- Cape Teal
- Red-billed Duck
- Northern Pintail
- Red-crested Pochard
- Southern Pochard
- Ruddy Duck
- White-headed Duck
- Maccoa Duck
Guineafowl
- Helmeted Guineafowl
- Southern Crested Guineafowl
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
- Wild Turkey
- Indian Peafowl
- Red Junglefowl
- Crested Francolin
- Coqui Francolin
- Red-winged Francolin
- Gray-winged Francolin
- Orange River Francolin
- Shelley's Francolin
- Common Quail
- Harlequin Quail
- Chukar
- Red-billed Spurfowl
- Cape Spurfowl
- Natal Spurfowl
- Swainson's Spurfowl
- Red-necked Spurfowl
Pigeons and Doves
- Rock Pigeon
- Speckled Pigeon
- Rameron Pigeon
- Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon
- Lemon Dove
- European Turtle-Dove
- Mourning Collared-Dove
- Red-eyed Dove
- Ring-necked Dove
- Laughing Dove
- Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
- Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
- Tambourine Dove
- Namaqua 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
- White-bellied Bustard
- Blue Bustard
- Karoo Bustard
- Red-crested Bustard
- Black Bustard
- White-quilled Bustard
- Black-bellied Bustard
Turacos
- Gray Go-away-bird
- Purple-crested Turaco
- Violet Turaco
- Livingstone's Turaco
- Knysna Turaco
Cuckoos
- Senegal Coucal
- Burchell's Coucal
- Black Coucal
- Green Malkoha
- Great Spotted Cuckoo
- Levaillant's Cuckoo
- Pied Cuckoo
- Thick-billed Cuckoo
- Dideric Cuckoo
- Klaas's Cuckoo
- African Emerald Cuckoo
- Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo
- Black Cuckoo
- Red-chested Cuckoo
- Lesser Cuckoo
- African Cuckoo
- Madagascar 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
- Mottled Spinetail
- Bat-like Spinetail
- Alpine Swift
- Common Swift
- African Swift
- Bradfield's Swift
- Little Swift
- Horus Swift
- White-rumped Swift
- African Palm Swift
Flufftails
- Buff-spotted Flufftail
- Red-chested Flufftail
- Streaky-breasted Flufftail
- Striped Flufftail
- White-winged Flufftail
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- African Rail
- Corn Crake
- African Crake
- Spotted Crake
- Lesser Moorhen
- Eurasian Moorhen
- Red-knobbed Coot
- Allen's Gallinule
- Purple Gallinule
- African Swamphen
- White-breasted Waterhen
- Striped Crake
- Black Crake
- Little Crake
- Baillon's Crake
Finfoots
- African Finfoot
Cranes
- Gray Crowned-Crane
- Wattled Crane
- Blue Crane
Sheathbills
- Black-faced Sheathbill
- Snowy Sheathbill
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
- Little Ringed Plover
- Long-toed Lapwing
- Blacksmith Lapwing
- Spur-winged Lapwing
- White-crowned Lapwing
- Senegal Lapwing
- Black-winged 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
- Upland Sandpiper
- Eurasian Whimbrel
- Eurasian Curlew
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Hudsonian Godwit
- Asian Dowitcher
- 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
- Spotted Redshank
- Common Greenshank
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Great Knot
- Red Knot
- Ruff
- Broad-billed Sandpiper
- Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Temminck's Stint
- Red-necked Stint
- Buff-breasted Sandpiper
- Sanderling
- Dunlin
- Baird's Sandpiper
- Little Stint
- White-rumped Sandpiper
- Pectoral Sandpiper
Buttonquail
- Small Buttonquail
- Black-rumped Buttonquail
- Fynbos Buttonquail
Crab-Plover
- Crab-Plover
Pratincoles and Coursers
- Double-banded Courser
- Bronze-winged Courser
- Three-banded Courser
- Temminck's Courser
- Burchell's Courser
- Rock Pratincole
- Collared Pratincole
- Black-winged Pratincole
Skuas and Jaegers
- Long-tailed Jaeger
- Parasitic Jaeger
- Pomarine Jaeger
- Brown Skua
- South Polar Skua
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
- Sabine's Gull
- Black-headed Gull
- Gray-hooded Gull
- Hartlaub's Gull
- Laughing Gull
- Franklin's Gull
- Sooty Gull
- Kelp Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- African Skimmer
- Black Skimmer
- Lesser Noddy
- Sooty Tern
- Bridled Tern
- Little Tern
- Saunders's Tern
- Damara Tern
- Gull-billed Tern
- Caspian Tern
- Whiskered Tern
- Black Tern
- White-winged Tern
- Arctic Tern
- Antarctic Tern
- Kerguelen Tern
- Common Tern
- White-cheeked Tern
- Black-naped Tern
- Roseate Tern
- Sandwich Tern
- Elegant Tern
- Lesser Crested Tern
- Great Crested Tern
Flamingos
- Greater Flamingo
- Lesser Flamingo
Grebes
- Little Grebe
- Great Crested Grebe
- Eared Grebe
Tropicbirds
- Red-tailed Tropicbird
Penguins
- King Penguin
- Gentoo Penguin
- African Penguin
- Macaroni Penguin
- Eastern Rockhopper Penguin
- Moseley's Rockhopper Penguin
Albatrosses
- Northern Royal Albatross
- Southern Royal Albatross
- Snowy Albatross
- Tristan Albatross
- Sooty Albatross
- Light-mantled Albatross
- Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
- Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
- Gray-headed Albatross
- Buller's Albatross
- White-capped Albatross
- Salvin's Albatross
- Chatham Albatross
- Black-browed Albatross
Southern Storm-Petrels
- Wilson's Storm-Petrel
- Pincoya Storm-Petrel
- Gray-backed Storm-Petrel
- White-faced Storm-Petrel
- White-bellied Storm-Petrel
- Black-bellied Storm-Petrel
Northern Storm-Petrels
- European Storm-Petrel
- Leach's Storm-Petrel
- Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel
Shearwaters and Petrels
- Southern Giant-Petrel
- Northern Giant-Petrel
- Southern Fulmar
- Antarctic Petrel
- Pintado Petrel
- Kerguelen Petrel
- Great-winged Petrel
- Gray-faced Petrel
- Soft-plumaged Petrel
- Barau's Petrel
- White-headed Petrel
- Atlantic Petrel
- Blue Petrel
- Fairy Prion
- Salvin's Prion
- Antarctic Prion
- Slender-billed Prion
- Jouanin's Petrel
- Tahiti Petrel
- Gray Petrel
- White-chinned Petrel
- Spectacled Petrel
- Streaked Shearwater
- Cory's Shearwater
- Flesh-footed Shearwater
- Great Shearwater
- Wedge-tailed Shearwater
- Sooty Shearwater
- Short-tailed Shearwater
- Manx Shearwater
- Little Shearwater
- Subantarctic Shearwater
- Tropical Shearwater
- Common Diving-Petrel
- South Georgia Diving-Petrel
Storks
- African Openbill
- Black Stork
- Abdim's Stork
- African Woolly-necked Stork
- White Stork
- Saddle-billed Stork
- Marabou Stork
- Yellow-billed Stork
Frigatebirds
- Lesser Frigatebird
- Great Frigatebird
Boobies and Gannets
- Cape Gannet
- Australasian Gannet
- Red-footed Booby
- Brown Booby
Anhingas
- African Darter
Cormorants and Shags
- Reed Cormorant
- Crowned Cormorant
- Bank Cormorant
- Cape Cormorant
- Great Cormorant
- Imperial Cormorant
Ibises and Spoonbills
- Glossy Ibis
- African Sacred Ibis
- Southern Bald Ibis
- Hadada Ibis
- African Spoonbill
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
- Eurasian Bittern
- Dwarf Bittern
- Little Bittern
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- Little Blue Heron
- Slaty Egret
- Black Heron
- Snowy Egret
- Little Egret
- White-backed Night Heron
- Little Heron
- Rufous-bellied Heron
- Squacco Heron
- Malagasy Pond-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
- Bearded Vulture
- Egyptian Vulture
- African Cuckoo-Hawk
- European Honey-buzzard
- Oriental Honey-buzzard
- White-headed Vulture
- Lappet-faced Vulture
- Hooded Vulture
- White-backed Vulture
- Cape Griffon
- Rüppell's Griffon
- Bateleur
- Southern 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
- Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk
- Black Goshawk
- Western Marsh Harrier
- African Marsh Harrier
- Black Harrier
- Pallid Harrier
- Montagu's Harrier
- Black Kite
- African Fish-Eagle
- Red-necked Buzzard
- 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
- Cape Eagle-Owl
- Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
- Pel's Fishing-Owl
- Pearl-spotted Owlet
- African Barred Owlet
- African Wood-Owl
- Marsh Owl
Mousebirds
- Speckled Mousebird
- White-backed 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
- White-throated 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
- Mangrove 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
- Green 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
- Knysna Woodpecker
- Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Falcons and Caracaras
- Pygmy Falcon
- Lesser Kestrel
- Rock Kestrel
- Greater Kestrel
- Dickinson's Kestrel
- Red-necked Falcon
- Red-footed Falcon
- Amur Falcon
- Eleonora's Falcon
- Sooty Falcon
- Eurasian Hobby
- African Hobby
- Lanner Falcon
- Peregrine Falcon
- Taita Falcon
Cockatoos
- Cockatiel
- Yellow-crested Cockatoo
Old World Parrots
- Rose-ringed Parakeet
- Turquoise Parrot
- Eastern Rosella
- Budgerigar
- Rosy-faced Lovebird
- Fischer's Lovebird
- Yellow-collared Lovebird
- Lilian's Lovebird
- Black-cheeked Lovebird
New World and African Parrots
- Brown-necked Parrot
- Cape Parrot
- Meyer's Parrot
- Brown-headed Parrot
- Bronze-winged Parrot
African and Green Broadbills
- African Broadbill
Cuckooshrikes
- Gray Cuckooshrike
- White-breasted Cuckooshrike
- Black Cuckooshrike
Old World Orioles
- Eurasian Golden Oriole
- African Golden Oriole
- African Black-headed Oriole
Wattle-eyes and Batises
- Black-throated Wattle-eye
- Cape Batis
- Woodwards' Batis
- 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
- Southern Tchagra
- Tropical Boubou
- Southern Boubou
- Crimson-breasted Gonolek
- Bokmakierie
- Four-colored Bushshrike
- Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
- Olive Bushshrike
- Black-fronted 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
- Red-tailed Shrike
- Lesser Gray Shrike
- Southern Fiscal
- White-crowned Shrike
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
- House Crow
- Cape Crow
- Pied Crow
- White-necked Raven
Rockjumpers
- Cape Rockjumper
- Drakensberg Rockjumper
Hyliotas
- Southern Hyliota
Fairy Flycatchers
- Fairy Flycatcher
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
- Southern Black-Tit
- Ashy Tit
- Gray Tit
Penduline-Tits
- African Penduline-Tit
- Southern Penduline-Tit
Larks
- Spike-heeled Lark
- Short-clawed Lark
- Karoo Long-billed Lark
- Eastern Long-billed Lark
- Cape Long-billed Lark
- Dusky Lark
- Black-eared Sparrow-Lark
- Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
- Gray-backed Sparrow-Lark
- Sabota Lark
- Fawn-colored Lark
- Karoo Lark
- Red Lark
- Dune Lark
- Rudd's Lark
- Monotonous Lark
- Melodious Lark
- Flappet Lark
- Cape Clapper Lark
- Eastern Clapper Lark
- Rufous-naped Lark
- Stark's Lark
- Pink-billed Lark
- Botha's Lark
- Sclater's Lark
- Large-billed Lark
- Red-capped Lark
Nicators
- Eastern Nicator
African Warblers
- Long-billed Crombec
- Cape Grassbird
- Victorin's Warbler
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
- Bar-throated Apalis
- Yellow-breasted Apalis
- Rudd's Apalis
- Tawny-flanked Prinia
- Black-chested Prinia
- Karoo Prinia
- Drakensberg Prinia
- Cinnamon-breasted Warbler
- Rufous-eared Warbler
- Red-faced Cisticola
- Rock-loving Cisticola
- Rattling Cisticola
- Tinkling Cisticola
- Gray-backed Cisticola
- Wailing Cisticola
- Rufous-winged Cisticola
- Levaillant's Cisticola
- Croaking Cisticola
- Piping Cisticola
- Zitting Cisticola
- Desert Cisticola
- Cloud Cisticola
- Pale-crowned Cisticola
- Wing-snapping Cisticola
Reed Warblers and Allies
- African Yellow-Warbler
- Upcher's Warbler
- Olive-tree Warbler
- Icterine Warbler
- Sedge Warbler
- Marsh Warbler
- Common Reed Warbler
- Lesser Swamp Warbler
- Great Reed Warbler
Grassbirds and Allies
- River Warbler
- Fan-tailed Grassbird
- Knysna Warbler
- Barratt's Warbler
- Little Rush Warbler
Swallows
- Black Sawwing
- Gray-rumped Swallow
- Mascarene Martin
- 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
- European Red-rumped Swallow
- Lesser Striped Swallow
- Rufous-chested Swallow
- Mosque Swallow
- South African Swallow
Bulbuls
- Sombre Greenbul
- Yellow-bellied Greenbul
- Yellow-streaked Greenbul
- Terrestrial Brownbul
- Red-eyed Bulbul
- Common Bulbul
- Black-fronted Bulbul
- Cape Bulbul
Leaf Warblers
- Wood Warbler
- Willow Warbler
- Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler
Sylviid Warblers and Allies
- Eurasian Blackcap
- Garden Warbler
- Bush Blackcap
- Layard's Warbler
- Chestnut-vented Warbler
- Lesser Whitethroat
- Greater Whitethroat
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies
- Orange River White-eye
- Cape White-eye
- Southern Yellow White-eye
Laughingthrushes and Allies
- Arrow-marked Babbler
- Southern Pied-Babbler
Oxpeckers
- Red-billed Oxpecker
- Yellow-billed Oxpecker
Starlings
- European Starling
- Wattled Starling
- Common Myna
- Violet-backed Starling
- Pale-winged Starling
- Red-winged Starling
- Black-bellied Starling
- Burchell's Starling
- Meves's Starling
- African Pied Starling
- Greater Blue-eared Starling
- Cape Starling
Thrushes and Allies
- Boulder Chat
- Spotted Ground-Thrush
- Orange Ground-Thrush
- Groundscraper Thrush
- Kurrichane Thrush
- Olive Thrush
- Karoo Thrush
Old World Flycatchers
- African Dusky Flycatcher
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Marico Flycatcher
- Pale Flycatcher
- Chat Flycatcher
- Gray Tit-Flycatcher
- Ashy Flycatcher
- Fiscal Flycatcher
- Southern Black-Flycatcher
- Karoo Scrub-Robin
- Brown Scrub-Robin
- Bearded Scrub-Robin
- Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin
- Kalahari Scrub-Robin
- White-browed Scrub-Robin
- Cape Robin-Chat
- White-throated Robin-Chat
- White-browed Robin-Chat
- Red-capped Robin-Chat
- Chorister Robin-Chat
- Collared Palm-Thrush
- White-starred Robin
- Thrush Nightingale
- European Pied Flycatcher
- Collared Flycatcher
- Common Redstart
- Short-toed Rock-Thrush
- Sentinel Rock-Thrush
- Cape Rock-Thrush
- Whinchat
- African Stonechat
- Buff-streaked Chat
- Sickle-winged Chat
- Karoo Chat
- Tractrac Chat
- Mocking Cliff-Chat
- Southern Anteater-Chat
- Mountain Chat
- Arnot's Chat
- Northern Wheatear
- Capped Wheatear
- Familiar Chat
Sugarbirds
- Gurney's Sugarbird
- Cape Sugarbird
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters
- Plain-backed Sunbird
- Collared Sunbird
- Orange-breasted Sunbird
- Olive Sunbird
- Mouse-colored Sunbird
- Amethyst Sunbird
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird
- Malachite Sunbird
- Southern Double-collared Sunbird
- Neergaard's Sunbird
- Greater Double-collared Sunbird
- Marico Sunbird
- Purple-banded Sunbird
- White-bellied Sunbird
- Dusky Sunbird
Weavers and Allies
- Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
- Scaly Weaver
- White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
- Sociable Weaver
- Red-headed Weaver
- Spectacled Weaver
- Cape Weaver
- African Golden-Weaver
- Holub's Golden-Weaver
- Southern Brown-throated Weaver
- Lesser Masked-Weaver
- Southern Masked-Weaver
- Village Weaver
- Chestnut Weaver
- Dark-backed Weaver
- Red-headed Quelea
- 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
- Zebra Finch
- Bronze Mannikin
- Magpie Mannikin
- Black-and-white Mannikin
- Java Sparrow
- Scaly-breasted Munia
- Swee Waxbill
- Green-backed Twinspot
- Black-faced Waxbill
- Black-tailed Waxbill
- Common Waxbill
- Quailfinch
- Cut-throat
- Red-headed Finch
- Zebra Waxbill
- Violet-eared Waxbill
- Southern Cordonbleu
- Green-winged Pytilia
- Orange-winged Pytilia
- Pink-throated Twinspot
- Red-billed Firefinch
- African Firefinch
- Jameson's Firefinch
Whydahs and Indigobirds
- Pin-tailed Whydah
- Eastern Paradise-Whydah
- Shaft-tailed Whydah
- Village Indigobird
- Dusky Indigobird
- Purple Indigobird
- Parasitic Weaver
Old World Sparrows
- House Sparrow
- Great Rufous Sparrow
- Cape Sparrow
- Southern Gray-headed Sparrow
- Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow
Wagtails and Pipits
- Cape Wagtail
- Mountain Wagtail
- Gray Wagtail
- Western Yellow Wagtail
- Citrine Wagtail
- African Pied Wagtail
- White Wagtail
- African Pipit
- Mountain Pipit
- Long-billed Pipit
- Nicholson's Pipit
- Plain-backed Pipit
- Buffy Pipit
- Striped Pipit
- Yellow-tufted Pipit
- Tree Pipit
- Red-throated Pipit
- Short-tailed Pipit
- Bush Pipit
- Golden Pipit
- Yellow-breasted Pipit
- Orange-throated Longclaw
- Yellow-throated Longclaw
- Rosy-throated Longclaw
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
- Common Chaffinch
- Yellow-fronted Canary
- Forest Canary
- Black-throated Canary
- Lemon-breasted Seedeater
- Brimstone Canary
- Yellow Canary
- White-throated Canary
- Protea Canary
- Streaky-headed Seedeater
- Cape Siskin
- Drakensberg Siskin
- Island Canary
- Cape Canary
- Black-headed Canary
Old World Buntings
- Golden-breasted Bunting
- Cape Bunting
- Lark-like Bunting
- Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Most common birds in South Africa
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 South Africa’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
- White-faced Whistling-DuckDendrocygna viduata
- Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Pied CrowCorvus albus
- Plain MartinRiparia paludicola
- Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
- Ring-necked DoveStreptopelia capicola
- Western Cattle-EgretArdea ibis
- Hadada IbisBostrychia hagedash
- Rock PigeonColumba livia
- Red-eyed DoveStreptopelia semitorquata
- Speckled PigeonColumba guinea
- Namaqua DoveOena capensis
- Southern Red BishopEuplectes orix
- Gray HeronArdea cinerea
- Common BulbulPycnonotus barbatus
- Southern Masked-WeaverPloceus velatus
- Reed CormorantMicrocarbo africanus
Largest bird families in South Africa
Among its regular birds.
- Hawks, Eagles, and Kites44
- Old World Flycatchers33
- Cisticolas and Allies32
- Weavers and Allies24
- Larks24
- Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers20
- Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl19
- Waxbills and Allies19
Reported in the last 30 days
689 species reported to eBird in South Africa in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:
Common Chaffinch, Cape White-eye, Olive Thrush, Fork-tailed Drongo, Swee Waxbill, Black Goshawk, European Starling, Pied Crow, Hadada Ibis, Cape Starling, Fiscal Flycatcher, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Egyptian Goose, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Common Bulbul, White-throated Robin-Chat, Common Waxbill, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Familiar Chat, White-throated Canary, Namaqua Dove, Karoo Chat, Black-headed Canary, Cape Bunting, Karoo Prinia, Long-billed Crombec, Little Grebe, African Stonechat, Plain Martin, Large-billed Lark, African Pied Starling, Karoo Scrub-Robin, Pale Chanting-Goshawk, Three-banded Plover, Cape Wagtail, Bokmakierie, Ring-necked Dove, Yellow Canary, Black-headed Heron, Speckled Pigeon, …
Get to know some of them
Rock Pigeon
Red-eyed Dove
Gray Heron
Common Bulbul
Reed Cormorant
European Starling
African Palm Swift
Black-winged Stilt
Little Swift
House Sparrow
Great Cormorant
Great Egret
Village Weaver
Common Greenshank
Glossy Ibis
Eurasian Moorhen
Common Myna
Bronze Mannikin