> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.travel-info.co.zw/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Birding in Zimbabwe > Birding in Zimbabwe: about 670 species, the best areas from the Eastern Highlands to the Zambezi Valley, a month-by-month migrant calendar, special species and Important Bird Areas. **Zimbabwe has about 670 recorded bird species, and the best time for birding is November to March**, when the country's more than 140 migrant species have arrived for the summer. BirdLife Zimbabwe counts 674 species. The top areas are the Eastern Highlands for forest and grassland specials, the Zambezi Valley for waterbirds, Hwange for Kalahari-sand species, Matobo for eagles, and Victoria Falls and Kazungula for floodplain birds. **Written by [Bryan Fawcett](/about-this-guide).** > [!NOTE] > > **Last reviewed: 21 October 2026** against BirdLife Zimbabwe's site guides and Important Bird Area accounts, its journal *Honeyguide* (June 2021 and June 2022) and the Avibase checklist. Full list under [Sources](#sources). ## How many bird species? * **BirdLife Zimbabwe:** 674 species ("over 670" on its birding pages). BirdLife Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe's BirdLife International partner. * **Avibase:** 706 species, including 5 introduced species, using the Howard and Moore (4th edition) taxonomy. The totals differ because checklists use different taxonomies and treat rare vagrants differently. More than **140 species are migrants**, according to BirdLife Zimbabwe. ## The best birding areas ### Eastern Highlands A 260 km mountain chain along the Mozambique border, with montane forest, grassland and lowland forest. BirdLife Zimbabwe says it supports 23 Afrotropical Highland biome species and a set of restricted-range birds found nowhere else in the country. * **[Nyanga](/destinations/nyanga):** 246 species. Zimbabwe's most important grasslands for the **Blue Swallow** (an estimated 400–600 birds), plus Wattled Crane and Roberts's Warbler. * **[Bvumba](/destinations/bvumba-mountains):** 242 species. Bunga Forest holds **Swynnerton's Robin**, Orange Ground-thrush and other Afromontane forest birds. * **[Chimanimani](/destinations/chimanimani):** 221 species. Roberts's Warbler, Gurney's Sugarbird and Blue Swallow on the plateau. Footpath access only. * **Chirinda Forest (Mount Selinda):** a 950 ha rainforest south of Chipinge and the type locality of Swynnerton's Robin. It is also home to the Big Tree, a National Monument. ### Zambezi Valley, Mana Pools and Kariba More than 400 species. Highlights include large colonies of **Southern Carmine Bee-eaters** (an estimated 10,500 birds), **African Skimmers** on the sandbanks, Rock Pratincoles, **Lilian's Lovebirds**, Pel's Fishing-owl, Dickinson's Kestrel and about 90 waterbird species. At least 52 raptor species, including owls, are recorded. Birding by canoe on the river is excellent. See [Mana Pools](/destinations/mana-pools), [Lake Kariba](/destinations/lake-kariba) and [walking and canoe safaris](/planning/walking-and-canoe-safaris). ### Hwange National Park 449 species on the park checklist. Hwange probably holds the largest protected population of **Bradfield's Hornbill**, and possibly the largest protected population of Yellow-billed Oxpecker in the region. Its seasonal pans attract migrant waterbirds such as Woolly-necked Stork. See [Hwange](/destinations/hwange-national-park). ### Matobo Hills: raptors About 340 species, and one of the densest raptor populations in the world: at least 50 raptor species, 32 known to breed. Matobo has the world's highest concentration of **Verreaux's (Black) Eagles** per square kilometre, about 45 pairs. BirdLife Zimbabwe's Matabeleland branch has surveyed them every year since 1964. Boulder Chat and Mocking Cliff-chat are easy at the campsites. See [Matobo Hills](/destinations/matobo-hills). ### Victoria Falls and Kazungula The Zambezi floodplains near Kazungula hold specials such as **Slaty Egret**, Long-toed Lapwing, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Swamp Nightjar and Hartlaub's Babbler. Around the falls look for Schalow's Turaco, Brown Firefinch and Collared Palm-thrush. The town's sewage ponds attract waders, African Skimmer and Rock Pratincole. > [!WARNING] > > **Taita Falcon:** the Batoka Gorge below the falls is famous for this rare falcon, but BirdLife Zimbabwe warns that adventure activities in the gorges have threatened it there, and that it has become locally extinct in some parts of Zimbabwe. Treat a sighting as a bonus. BirdLife's Important Bird Area accounts also list it for Nyanga and Chimanimani, and it was seen in Chizarira's Mucheni Gorge in 2021. See [Victoria Falls](/destinations/victoria-falls). ### Other areas * **Miombo woodland around Harare:** "miombo specials" such as Spotted Creeper. Try Mukuvisi Woodlands, Monavale Vlei and [Lake Chivero](/destinations/lake-chivero). * **Masvingo and Lake Mutirikwi:** Swee Waxbill and Black Saw-wing, hard to find elsewhere in Zimbabwe. * **[Gonarezhou](/destinations/gonarezhou) and the south-east lowveld:** birds shared with Kruger and Mozambique. ## Migrant calendar BirdLife Zimbabwe says most migrants **arrive in summer, just before the rains start, and leave at the end of the rainy season**. They come from Europe and Asia (Palearctic migrants) and from elsewhere in Africa (intra-African migrants). In Zimbabwe the rains usually start in November and end in April (see [weather by month](/essentials/weather-by-month)). The months below come from first-arrival records that BirdLife Zimbabwe members reported in *Honeyguide* (June 2021 and June 2022 issues). Arrival dates vary from year to year. | Month | What's happening | | - | - | | **July – August** | First Palearctic waders arrive: Wood Sandpiper from late July, then Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Little Stint and Ruff. Yellow-billed Kites and Wahlberg's Eagles return. Southern Carmine Bee-eaters arrive in the Zambezi Valley from August | | **September** | European Bee-eater, Klaas's Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, African Paradise Flycatcher and Broad-billed Roller arrive. Blue Swallows return to the Eastern Highlands grasslands. Rock Pratincoles on the Zambezi from about September to December | | **October** | Barn Swallow, House Martin, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Steppe Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Jacobin and Levaillant's Cuckoos. Carmine bee-eater colonies are busy. Abdim's Storks arrive (late September to November) | | **November** | Woodland Kingfisher, European Roller, Steppe Eagle, Amur Falcon, White Stork, Red-backed Shrike and Black Cuckoo arrive, often with the first heavy rain | | **December – March** | Peak season: residents and migrants are all present. Some roads and camps close in the heaviest rain (January to March) | | **March – April** | Migrants leave as the rains end | | **May – June** | Resident birds only. Dry and cool, with easy viewing. Verreaux's Eagle breeding surveys in Matobo run from May to October | Species named "European", "Eurasian", "Steppe" or "Amur", plus Barn Swallow, House Martin, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, White Stork, Red-backed Shrike and the waders, are Palearctic migrants. The cuckoos, Woodland Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller, Abdim's Stork, Wahlberg's Eagle, Yellow-billed Kite, the carmine bee-eaters and the Blue Swallow are intra-African migrants. ## Special species to look for | Species | Where | | - | - | | Swynnerton's Robin | Bvumba, Chirinda Forest | | Roberts's Warbler | Nyanga, Chimanimani | | Chirinda Apalis | Eastern Highlands forests | | Blue Swallow | Nyanga, Bvumba, Chimanimani (September–April) | | Lilian's Lovebird | Zambezi Valley, especially Mana Pools | | African Skimmer | Zambezi River sandbanks | | Pel's Fishing-owl | Zambezi River | | Southern Carmine Bee-eater | Zambezi Valley (from August) | | Bradfield's Hornbill | Hwange, Victoria Falls woodlands | | Verreaux's Eagle | Matobo Hills | | Boulder Chat | Matobo Hills | | Slaty Egret | Kazungula floodplains | | Wattled Crane | Nyanga, Driefontein grasslands | | Spotted Creeper | Miombo woodland on the Mashonaland plateau | The Blue Swallow months are our reading of BirdLife Zimbabwe's "arrives in September" and its summer stay; confirm with a local guide. ## Important Bird Areas BirdLife Zimbabwe runs a programme to protect Zimbabwe's **Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs)**, also called Key Biodiversity Areas. They are numbered from Z001 to Z020. BirdLife Zimbabwe's website has accounts for these: | Code | Important Bird Area | | - | - | | Z001 | Middle Zambezi River | | Z002 | Mavuradonha Mountains | | Z003 | Chizarira National Park | | Z006 | Nyanga Mountains | | Z007 | Nyanga Lowlands / Honde Valley | | Z008 | Stapleford Forest | | Z009 | Sebakwe Poort | | Z010 | Hwange National Park | | Z011 | Bvumba Highlands | | Z012 | Banti Forest Reserve | | Z013 | Driefontein Grasslands | | Z014 | Chimanimani Mountains | | Z016 | Wabai Hill | | Z017 | Chirinda Forest | | Z018 | Matobo Hills | | Z019 | Save–Runde Junction | | Z020 | Limpopo–Mwenezi Pans | We could not confirm the names of Z004, Z005 and Z015 from BirdLife Zimbabwe's website, and the site also uses the code Z012 for a Bakota Gorge page. Check with [BirdLife Zimbabwe](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org) for the definitive list. ## Tips for birders * **Get a site checklist:** BirdLife Zimbabwe publishes bird lists for many areas on its website. * **Bring a field guide or app:** BirdLife Zimbabwe suggests the Roberts' Bird app, Sasol Birds of Southern Africa or the free Merlin Bird ID app. * **Log your sightings** on the BirdLasser app, which BirdLife Zimbabwe recommends. * **Respect breeding colonies:** keep boats and people well back from bee-eater banks and skimmer sandbars. ## Related guides > **[Animals and birds](/wildlife/animals-and-birds)** > **[Eastern Highlands](/destinations/eastern-highlands)** > **[Weather by month](/essentials/weather-by-month)** ## Sources * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Migratory Birds (Nature Quest)](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/migratory-birds-nature-quest/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Birding in Zimbabwe](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/birding-in-zimbabwe/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Eastern Highlands: Birding in Zimbabwe](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/eastern-highlands-birding-in-zimbabwe/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Zambezi Valley: Birding in Zimbabwe](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/zambezi-valley-birding-in-zimbabwe/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Victoria Falls](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/victoria-falls/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — The Matopos National Park](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/the-matopos-national-park/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Verreaux's Eagle](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/verreauxs-eagle/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Raptors](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/raptors/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Blue Swallow](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/blue-swallow-2/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Lilian's Lovebirds](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/lilians-lovebirds/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Conservation programmes](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/conservation/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Z001 Middle Zambezi River](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/z001-middle-zambezi-river/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Z006 Nyanga Mountains](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/z006-nyanga-mountains/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Z010 Hwange National Park](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/z010-hwange-national-park/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Z011 Bvumba Highlands](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/z011-bvumba-highlands/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Z014 Chimanimani Mountains](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/z014-chimanimani-mountains/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Z017 Chirinda Forest](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/z017-chirinda-forest/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Z018 Matobo Hills](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/z018-matobo-hills/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Honeyguide, Volume 67, Part 1](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Honeyguide-67-Part-1.pdf), dated June 2021 * [BirdLife Zimbabwe — Honeyguide, Volume 68, Part 1](https://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Honeyguide-68.pdf), dated June 2022 * [Avibase, Birds Canada — Zimbabwe bird checklist (Howard and Moore 4th edition)](https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=ZW\&list=howardmoore), accessed 21 October 2026 Premium booking partner Plan your Zimbabwe birding trip with a local Moses Adventures builds tailored Zimbabwe trips and has visited every destination they sell. Share your dates and budget for a quote. Get a quote from Moses Adventures → (opens in a new tab) [See all booking partners](/book) This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.