Bird Species Check List ~ for the Zuurberg, Nyathi, Main Camp & Colchester Sections ~

Birding with the Big Five: The Addo Elephant National Park is the third largest park in the country, stretching from its far North-Western extreme in the Karoo near Jansenville, all the way to its far South-Eastern extreme in the Coastal Forest near Port Alfred. This vast protected area, covering some 180 000 hectares, is home to over 400 bird species.

Because the Park is so vast, guests visiting RiverBend Lodge, usually only get to see the the “central” sections of the park, between the Suurberg Mountains and the town of Colchester. This check list is specifically made for this “central” area of the park, but even so, this area boasts with 332 bird species, including 224 resident species and 43 migrant species.

Explaining Abundance: Common: it is easily found inside its natural habitat. It can be fairly common or even locally abundant. Uncommon: either there are very few of them, or they are elusive and hard to spot, you need to search for it. Rare: it is been seen here before, but it's highly unlikely that you will find it unless you are very lucky!

Explaining Status: Resident: it usually stays in the park throughout the year. Migrant: it leaves the park during the cooler winter season. Vagrant: it is only a visitor, and it does not live in the Park.

X Common Names: Scientific Names: Abundance: Status: Apalis, Bar-throated Apalis thoracica Common Resident Apalis, Yellow-breasted Apalis flavida Common Resident Avocet, Pied Recurvirostra avosetta Rare Vagrant Barbet, Acacia Pied Tricholaema leucomelas Common Resident Barbet, Black-collared Lybius torquatus Uncommon Resident Batis, Cape Batis capensis Common Resident Batis, Chinspot Batis molitor Common Resident Batis, Pririt Batis pririt Rare Vagrant Bee-eater, European Merops apiaster Rare Migrant Bee-eater, White-fronted Merops bullockoides Rare Vagrant X Common Names: Scientific Names: Abundance: Status: Bishop, Southern Red Euplectes orix Common Resident Bishop, Yellow Euplectes capensis Rare Resident Bittern, Little Ixobrychus minutus Rare Vagrant Blackcap, Bush Lioptilus nigricapillus Rare Vagrant Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus Common Resident Boubou, Southern Laniarius ferrugineus Common Resident Brownbul, Terrestrial Phyllastrephus terrestris Common Resident Bulbul, African Red-eyed Pycnonotus nigricans Rare Vagrant Bulbul, Cape Pycnonotus capensis Uncommon Resident Bulbul, Dark-capped Pycnonotus tricolor Common Resident Bunting, Cape Emberiza capensis Rare Resident Bunting, Cinnamon-breasted Emberiza tahapisi Rare Resident Bunting, Golden-breasted Emberiza flaviventris Uncommon Resident Bunting, Lark-like Emberiza impetuani Rare Vagrant Bushshrike, Grey-headed Malaconotus blanchoti Uncommon Resident Bushshrike, Olive Telophorus olivaceus Uncommon Resident Bushshrike, Orange-breasted Telophorus sulfureopectus Uncommon Resident Bustard, Denham's Neotis denhami Uncommon Resident Bustard, Kori Ardeotis kori Rare Vagrant Bustard, Ludwig's Neotis ludwigii Rare Vagrant Buzzard, Common (Steppe) Buteo vulpinus Common Migrant Buzzard, European Honey Pernis apivorus Rare Migrant Buzzard, Forest Buteo trizonatus Uncommon Resident Buzzard, Jackal Buteo rufofuscus Common Resident Camaroptera, Green-backed Camaroptera brachyura Common Resident Canary, Black-headed Serinus alario Rare Vagrant Canary, Black-throated Crithagra atrogularis Rare Vagrant Canary, Brimstone Crithagra sulphuratus Common Resident Canary, Cape Serinus canicollis Uncommon Resident Canary, Forest Crithagra scotops Common Resident Canary, White-throated Crithagra albogularis Uncommon Resident Canary, Yellow Crithagra flaviventris Uncommon Resident Canary, Yellow-fronted Crithagra mozambicus Common Resident Chat, Anteating Myrmecocichla formicivora Common Resident Chat, Familiar Cercomela familiaris Uncommon Resident Chat, Mocking Cliff Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris Uncommon Resident Chat, Sickle-winged Cercomela sinuata Rare Vagrant Cisticola, Cloud Cisticola textrix Rare Vagrant Cisticola, Grey-backed Cisticola subruficapilla Common Resident Cisticola, Lazy Cisticola aberrans Common Resident Cisticola, Levaillant's Cisticola tinniens Uncommon Resident Cisticola, Wailing Cisticola lais Uncommon Resident Cisticola, Wing-snapping Cisticola ayresii Rare Resident Cisticola, Zitting Cisticola juncidis Uncommon Resident Coot, Red-knobbed Fulica cristata Common Resident Cormorant, Reed Phalacrocorax africanus Uncommon Resident Cormorant, White-breasted Phalacrocorax carbo Uncommon Resident Coucal, Burchell's Centropus burchellii Uncommon Resident Courser, Double-banded Rhinoptilus africanus Rare Vagrant Crake, Black Amaurornis flavirostris Uncommon Resident Crane, Blue Anthropoides paradiseus Common Resident Crane, Grey Crowned Balearica regulorum Rare Vagrant Crombec, Long-billed Sylvietta rufescens Common Resident Crow, Cape Corvus capensis Common Resident X Common Names: Scientific Names: Abundance: Status: Crow, Pied Corvus albus Common Resident Cuckoo, African Emerald Chrysococcyx cupreus Rare Migrant Cuckoo, Black Cuculus clamosus Common Migrant Cuckoo, Diderick Chrysococcyx caprius Common Migrant Cuckoo, Great Spotted Clamator glandarius Rare Vagrant Cuckoo, Jacobin Clamator jacobinus Common Migrant Cuckoo, Klaas's Chrysococcyx klaas Common Resident Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuculus solitarius Common Migrant Cuckooshrike, Black Campephaga flava Common Resident Cuckooshrike, Grey Coracina caesia Uncommon Resident Darter, African Anhinga rufa Uncommon Resident Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood Turtur chalcospilos Common Resident Dove, Laughing Streptopelia senegalensis Common Resident Dove, Lemon Columba larvata Uncommon Resident Dove, Namaqua Oena capensis Uncommon Resident Dove, Red-eyed Streptopelia semitorquata Common Resident Dove, Ring-necked (Cape Turtle) Streptopelia capicola Common Resident Dove, Rock Columba livia Rare Vagrant Dove, Tambourine Turtur tympanistria Rare Resident Drongo, Fork-tailed Dicrurus adsimilis Common Resident Duck, African Black Anas sparsa Common Resident Duck, Maccoa Oxyura maccoa Rare Vagrant Duck, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Rare Vagrant Duck, White-faced Whistling Dendrocygna viduata Rare Vagrant Duck, Yellow-billed Anas undulata Common Resident Eagle, African Fish Haliaeetus vocifer Uncommon Resident Eagle, Black-chested Snake Circaetus pectoralis Rare Vagrant Eagle, Booted Aquila pennatus Uncommon Resident Eagle, Brown Snake Circaetus cinereus Rare Vagrant Eagle, Crowned Stephanoaetus coronatus Uncommon Resident Eagle, Long-crested Lophaetus occipitalis Rare Resident Eagle, Martial Polemaetus bellicosus Uncommon Resident Eagle, Verreaux's Aquila verreauxii Rare Vagrant Egret, Great Ardea alba Rare Vagrant Egret, Intermediate (Yellow-billed) Egretta intermedia Rare Vagrant Egret, Little Egretta garzetta Uncommon Resident Egret, Western Cattle Bubulcus ibis Common Resident Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Eremomela icteropygialis Rare Vagrant Falcon, Amur Falco amurensis Uncommon Migrant Falcon, Lanner Falco biarmicus Uncommon Resident Falcon, Peregrine Falco peregrinus Rare Resident Finch, Red-headed Amadina erythrocephala Rare Vagrant Finfoot, African Podica senegalensis Rare Resident Firefinch, African Lagonosticta rubricata Uncommon Resident Firefinch, Red-billed Lagonosticta senegala Rare Vagrant Fiscal, Southern (Common) Lanius collaris Common Resident Flamingo, Greater Phoenicopterus ruber Rare Vagrant Flufftail, Buff-spotted Sarothrura elegans Rare Resident Flufftail, Red-chested Sarothrura rufa Rare Vagrant Flufftail, Striped Sarothrura affinis Rare Resident Flycatcher, African Dusky Muscicapa adusta Common Resident Flycatcher, African Paradise Terpsiphone viridis Common Migrant Flycatcher, Blue-mantled Crested Trochocercus cyanomelas Common Resident Flycatcher, Fairy Stenostira scita Rare Vagrant X Common Names: Scientific Names: Abundance: Status: Flycatcher, Fiscal Sigelus silens Common Resident Flycatcher, Southern Black Melaenornis pammelaina Uncommon Resident Flycatcher, Spotted Muscicapa striata Uncommon Migrant Francolin, Grey-winged Scleroptila africanus Rare Resident Francolin, Red-winged Scleroptila levaillantii Rare Resident Goose, Egyptian Alopochen aegyptiacus Common Resident Goose, Spur-winged Plectropterus gambensis Uncommon Resident Goshawk, African Accipiter tachiro Uncommon Resident Goshawk, Gabar Micronisus gabar Rare Vagrant Goshawk, Pale Chanting Melierax canorus Common Resident Grassbird, Cape Sphenoeacus afer Rare Resident Grebe, Black-necked Podiceps nigricollis Rare Vagrant Grebe, Little Tachybaptus ruficollis Common Resident Greenbul, Sombre Andropadus importunus Common Resident Greenshank, Common Tringa nebularia Rare Migrant Guineafowl, Helmeted Numida meleagris Common Resident Gull, Kelp Larus dominicanus Rare Vagrant Hamerkop Scopus umbretta Uncommon Resident Harrier, African Marsh Circus ranivorus Rare Resident Harrier, Black Circus maurus Rare Vagrant Hawk, African Harrier Polyboroides typus Uncommon Resident Heron, Black-crowned Night Nycticorax nycticorax Uncommon Resident Heron, Black-headed Ardea melanocephala Common Resident Heron, Goliath Ardea goliath Rare Resident Heron, Grey Ardea cinerea Uncommon Resident Heron, Purple Ardea purpurea Rare Resident Honeybird, Brown-backed Prodotiscus regulus Rare Resident Honeyguide, Greater Indicator indicator Uncommon Resident Honeyguide, Lesser Indicator minor Uncommon Resident Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Indicator variegatus Uncommon Resident Hoopoe, African Upupa africana Common Resident Hoopoe, Green Wood Phoeniculus purpureus Common Resident Hornbill, Crowned Tockus alboterminatus Uncommon Resident Hornbill, Southern Ground Bucorvus leadbeateri Rare Vagrant Hornbill, Trumpeter Bycanistes bucinator Rare Vagrant Ibis, African Sacred Threskiornis aethiopicus Common Resident Ibis, Hadeda (Hadada) Bostrychia hagedash Common Resident Indigobird, Dusky Vidua funerea Rare Resident Jacana, African Actophilornis africanus Rare Vagrant Kestrel, Rock Falco rupicolus Uncommon Resident Kingfisher, African Pygmy Ispidina picta Uncommon Migrant Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Halcyon albiventris Common Resident Kingfisher, Giant Megaceryle maximus Rare Resident Kingfisher, Half-collared Alcedo semitorquata Rare Resident Kingfisher, Malachite Alcedo cristata Uncommon Resident Kingfisher, Pied Ceryle rudis Uncommon Resident Kite, Black-winged Elanus caeruleus Common Resident Kite, Yellow-billed Milvus aegyptius Common Migrant Korhaan, Southern Black Afrotis afra Common Resident Lapwing, Blacksmith Vanellus armatus Common Resident Lapwing, Black-winged Vanellus melanopterus Rare Vagrant Lapwing, Crowned Vanellus coronatus Common Resident Lark, Cape Clapper Mirafra apiata Uncommon Resident Lark, Eastern Clapper Mirafra fasciolata Rare Vagrant X Common Names: Scientific Names: Abundance: Status: Lark, Eastern Long-billed Certhilauda semitorquata Rare Vagrant Lark, Red-capped Calandrella cinerea Common Resident Lark, Rufous-naped Mirafra africana Common Resident Lark, Spike-heeled Chersomanes albofasciata Rare Vagrant Longclaw, Cape Macronyx capensis Common Resident Mannikin, Bronze Spermestes cucullatus Rare Vagrant Martin, Banded Riparia cincta Rare Migrant Martin, Brown-throated Riparia paludicola Rare Resident Martin, Common House Delichon urbicum Rare Migrant Martin, Rock Hirundo fuligula Common Resident Martin, Sand Riparia riparia Rare Vagrant Moorhen, Common Gallinula chloropus Common Resident Mousebird, Red-faced Urocolius indicus Common Resident Mousebird, Speckled Colius striatus Common Resident Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapilla Common Resident Nightjar, European Caprimulgus europaeus Rare Migrant Nightjar, Fiery-necked Caprimulgus pectoralis Common Resident Oriole, Black-headed Oriolus larvatus Common Resident Oriole, Eurasian Golden Oriolus oriolus Rare Migrant Osprey, Western Pandion haliaetus Rare Migrant Ostrich, Common Struthio camelus Common Resident Owl, African Scops Otus senegalensis Uncommon Resident Owl, African Wood Strix woodfordii Uncommon Resident Owl, Cape Eagle Bubo capensis Rare Resident Owl, Spotted Eagle Bubo africanus Common Resident Owl, Western Barn Tyto alba Uncommon Resident Oxpecker, Red-billed Buphagus erythrorhynchus Uncommon Resident Petronia, Yellow-throated Petronia superciliaris Uncommon Resident Pigeon, African Green Treron calvus Rare Resident Pigeon, African Olive Columba arquatrix Uncommon Resident Pigeon, Speckled Columba guinea Uncommon Resident Pipit, African Anthus cinnamomeus Common Resident Pipit, Buffy Anthus vaalensis Rare Vagrant Pipit, Long-billed Anthus similis Rare Resident Pipit, Plain-backed Anthus leucophrys Uncommon Resident Plover, Common Ringed Charadrius hiaticula Rare Migrant Plover, Kittlitz's Charadrius pecuarius Rare Vagrant Plover, Three-banded Charadrius tricollaris Common Resident Pochard, Southern Netta erythrophthalma Rare Vagrant Prinia, Karoo Prinia maculosa Common Resident Prinia, Tawny-flanked Prinia subflava Rare Resident Puffback, Black-backed Dryoscopus cubla Common Resident Quail, Common Coturnix coturnix Uncommon Migrant Quailfinch, African Ortygospiza atricollis Uncommon Resident Quelea, Red-billed Quelea quelea Uncommon Resident Rail, African Rallus caerulescens Rare Vagrant Raven, White-necked Corvus albicollis Common Resident Robin, Brown Scrub Cercotrichas signata Uncommon Resident Robin, Karoo Scrub Cercotrichas coryphoeus Common Resident Robin, White-browed Scrub Cercotrichas leucophrys Common Resident Robin, White-starred Pogonocichla stellata Uncommon Resident Robin-chat, Cape Cossypha caffra Common Resident Robin-chat, Chorister Cossypha dichroa Uncommon Resident Roller, European Coracias garrulus Uncommon Migrant X Common Names: Scientific Names: Abundance: Status: Ruff (♂) / Reeve (♀) Philomachus pugnax Rare Migrant Sandpiper, Common Actitis hypoleucos Rare Migrant Sandpiper, Curlew Calidris ferruginea Rare Migrant Sandpiper, Marsh Tringa stagnatilis Rare Migrant Sandpiper, Wood Tringa glareola Rare Migrant Saw-wing, Black Psalidoprocne holomelaena Common Migrant Scimitarbill, Common Rhinopomastus cyanomelas Rare Vagrant Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius Uncommon Resident Seedeater, Streaky-headed Crithagra gularis Common Resident Shelduck, South African Tadorna cana Common Resident Shoveler, Cape Anas smithii Rare Resident Shrike, Red-backed Lanius collurio Uncommon Migrant Sparrow, Cape Passer melanurus Common Resident Sparrow, House Passer domesticus Common Resident Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed Passer diffusus Common Resident Sparrowhawk, Black Accipiter melanoleucus Rare Resident Sparrowhawk, Little Accipiter minullus Uncommon Resident Sparrowhawk, Rufous-breasted (-chested) Accipiter rufiventris Rare Resident Spoonbill, African Platalea alba Uncommon Resident Spurfowl, Red-necked Pternistis afer Common Resident Starling, Black-bellied Lamprotornis corruscus Uncommon Resident Starling, Cape (Cape Glossy) Lamprotornis nitens Common Resident Starling, Common Sturnus vulgaris Common Resident Starling, Pale-winged Onychognathus nabouroup Rare Vagrant Starling, Pied Spreo bicolor Common Resident Starling, Red-winged Onychognathus morio Common Resident Starling, Wattled Creatophora cinerea Uncommon Resident Stilt, Black-winged Himantopus himantopus Uncommon Resident Stint, Little Calidris minuta Rare Migrant Stonechat, African Saxicola torquatus Common Resident Stork, Black Ciconia nigra Uncommon Resident Stork, White Ciconia ciconia Rare Migrant Sugarbird, Cape Promerops cafer Rare Vagrant Sunbird, Amethyst Chalcomitra amethystina Common Resident Sunbird, Collared Hedydipna collaris Common Resident Sunbird, Dusky Cinnyris fuscus Rare Vagrant Sunbird, Greater Double-collared Cinnyris afer Common Resident Sunbird, Grey Cyanomitra veroxii Common Resident Sunbird, Malachite Nectarinia famosa Common Resident Sunbird, Orange-breasted Anthobaphes violacea Rare Vagrant Sunbird, Southern Double-collared Cinnyris chalybeus Common Resident Swallow, Barn Hirundo rustica Common Migrant Swallow, Greater Striped Hirundo cucullata Uncommon Migrant Swallow, Lesser Striped Cecropis abyssinica Common Migrant Swallow, Pearl-breasted Hirundo dimidiata Uncommon Migrant Swallow, White-throated Hirundo albigularis Uncommon Migrant Swamphen, African Porphyrio madagascariensis Rare Resident Swift, African Black Apus barbatus Rare Resident Swift, African Palm Cypsiurus parvus Uncommon Resident Swift, Alpine Tachymarptis melba Rare Migrant Swift, Common Apus apus Rare Migrant Swift, Horus Apus horus Uncommon Migrant Swift, Little Apus affinis Common Resident Swift, White-rumped Apus caffer Common Migrant X Common Names: Scientific Names: Abundance: Status: Tchagra, Black-crowned Tchagra senegalus Rare Vagrant Tchagra, Southern Tchagra tchagra Common Resident Teal, Cape Anas capensis Uncommon Resident Teal, Hottentot Anas hottentota Rare Vagrant Teal, Red-billed Anas erythrorhyncha Uncommon Resident Tern, Caspian Sterna caspia Rare Vagrant Tern, Whiskered Chlidonias hybrida Rare Vagrant Thick-knee, Spotted Burhinus capensis Common Resident Thick-knee, Water Burhinus vermiculatus Rare Vagrant Thrush, Cape Rock Monticola rupestris Uncommon Resident Thrush, Karoo Turdus smithi Rare Vagrant Thrush, Olive Turdus olivaceus Common Resident Tinkerbird, Red-fronted Pogoniulus pusillus Common Resident Tit, Cape Penduline Anthoscopus minutus Uncommon Resident Tit, Grey Parus afer Rare Vagrant Tit, Southern Black Parus niger Common Resident Trogon, Narina Apaloderma narina Uncommon Resident Turaco, Knysna Tauraco corythaix Common Resident Vulture, Cape Gyps coprotheres Rare Vagrant Wagtail, African Pied Motacilla aguimp Rare Vagrant Wagtail, Cape Motacilla capensis Common Resident Wagtail, Mountain Motacilla clara Uncommon Resident Warbler (Tit-babbler), Chestnut-vented Parisoma subcaeruleum Common Resident Warbler (Tit-babbler), Layard's Parisoma layardi Rare Vagrant Warbler, African Reed Acrocephalus baeticatus Rare Migrant Warbler, Lesser Swamp Acrocephalus gracilirostris Common Resident Warbler, Little Rush Bradypterus baboecala Uncommon Resident Warbler, Marsh Acrocephalus palustris Rare Migrant Warbler, Rufous-eared Malcorus pectoralis Uncommon Resident Warbler, Willow Phylloscopus trochilus Common Migrant Warbler, Yellow-throated Woodland Phylloscopus ruficapilla Uncommon Resident Waxbill, Common Estrilda astrild Common Resident Waxbill, Swee Coccopygia melanotis Uncommon Resident Weaver, Cape Ploceus capensis Common Resident Weaver, Dark-backed Ploceus bicolor Common Resident Weaver, Southern Masked Ploceus velatus Common Resident Weaver, Spectacled Ploceus ocularis Common Resident Weaver, Thick-billed Amblyospiza albifrons Rare Resident Weaver, Village Ploceus cucullatus Uncommon Resident Weaver, Yellow Ploceus subaureus Rare Vagrant Wheatear, Capped Oenanthe pileata Uncommon Resident Wheatear, Mountain Oenanthe monticola Rare Resident White-eye, Cape Zosterops virens Common Resident Whydah, Pin-tailed Vidua macroura Uncommon Resident Widowbird, Fan-tailed Euplectes axillaris Rare Resident Widowbird, Long-tailed Euplectes progne Rare Vagrant Widowbird, Red-collared Euplectes ardens Rare Resident Woodpecker, Cardinal Dendropicos fuscescens Common Resident Woodpecker, Ground Geocolaptes olivaceus Rare Resident Woodpecker, Knysna Campethera notata Common Resident Woodpecker, Olive Dendropicos griseocephalus Common Resident Wryneck, Red-throated Jynx ruficollis Common Resident Completed by Christiaan Viljoen in July 2019, using data obtained from SABAP2, as well as data obtained from the Addo Elephant National Park bird list, and sighting reported by RiverBend guides.