This is a list of the bird species recorded in Botswana. The avifauna of Botswana included a total of 615 species, as of May 2023, according to BirdLife Botswana's Checklist of Birds in Botswana, supplemented by Avibase. Of them, three have been introduced by humans. None are endemic.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/updateindex/october-2022/ Retrieved November 1, 2022. Differences in common and scientific names between the Clements taxonomy and that of BirdLife Botswana are frequent but not noted here.
The following tags highlight several categories of occurrence other than regular migrants and residents; the tags follow the BirdLife Botswana list usage.
(A) Accidental - a species which has been recorded 10 or fewer times in Botswana (B) Uncommon - a species which has been recorded more than 10 times but for which BirdLife Botswana wishes to receive more records so as to better assess their status (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Botswana as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions, and which has a self-sustaining population.
Ostriches Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
The ostriches are flightless birds native to Africa, and are the largest living species of bird. They are distinctive in their appearance, with a long neck and legs with the ability to run at high speeds.
Common ostrich, Struthio camelus South African ostrich, Struthio camelus australis
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (B) White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus (B) Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca South African shelduck, Tadorna cana Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota Cape shoveler, Spatula smithii African black duck, Anas sparsa (B) Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata Cape teal, Anas capensis Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa (B)
Guineafowl
Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage.
Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris Western crested guineafowl, Guttera verreauxi (A)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Crested francolin, Ortygornis sephaena Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis Blue quail, Synoicus adansonii Common quail, Coturnix coturnix (B) Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei Red-billed francolin, Pternistis adspersus Natal francolin, Pternistis natalensis Swainson's francolin, Pternistis swainsonii
Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus Lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor (B)
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (B)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur (A) Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis Emerald-spotted wood-dove, Turtur chalcospilos Namaqua dove, Oena capensis African green-pigeon, Treron calvus African olive pigeon, Columba arquatrix
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small pigeon-like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Namaqua sandgrouse, Pterocles namaqua Yellow-throated sandgrouse, Pterocles gutturalis Double-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles bicinctus Burchell's sandgrouse, Pterocles burchelli
Bustards
Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Kori bustard, Ardeotis kori (B) Ludwig's bustard, Neotis ludwigii (A) Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami (B) White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis (A) Red-crested bustard, Lophotis ruficrista White-quilled Bustard, Afrotis afraoides Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster
Turacos Order: MusophagiformesFamily: Musophagidae
The turacos, plantain eaters, and go-away-birds make up the bird family Musophagidae. They are medium-sized arboreal birds. The turacos and plantain eaters are brightly coloured, usually in blue, green, or purple. The go-away birds are mostly grey and white.
Schalow's turaco, Tauraco schalowi (A) Purple-crested turaco, Gallirex porphyreolophus (A) Ross's turaco, Tauraco rossae (A) Gray go-away-bird, Crinifer concolor
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.
Burchell's coucal, Centropus burchellii Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis Coppery-tailed coucal, Centropus cupreicaudus White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus Black coucal, Centropus grillii (B) Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Thick-billed cuckoo, Pachycoccyx audeberti (B) Diederik cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus (B) Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (B)
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Pennant-winged nightjar, Caprimulgus vexillarius (B) Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus (A) Rufous-cheeked nightjar, Caprimulgus rufigena Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis Swamp nightjar, Caprimulgus natalensis (B) Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma Square-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Bat-like spinetail, Neafrapus boehmi (A) Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba (B) Common swift, Apus apus African swift, Apus barbatus (B) Bradfield's swift, Apus bradfieldi (A) Little swift, Apus affinis Horus swift, Apus horus (B) White-rumped swift, Apus caffer African palm-swift, Cypsiurus parvus
Flufftails Order: GruiformesFamily: Sarothruridae
The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa.
Buff-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura elegans (A) Red-chested flufftail, Sarothrura rufa (B)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
African rail, Rallus caerulescens (B) Corn crake, Crex crex (A) African crake, Crecopsis egregia (B) Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (B) Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis Striped crake, Aenigmatolimnas marginalis (B) Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla
Finfoots Order: GruiformesFamily: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.
African finfoot, Podica senegalensis (B)
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Gray crowned-crane, Balearica regulorum (B) Wattled crane, Grus carunculata (B)
Thick-knees
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes, and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Water thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola (B) Long-toed lapwing, Vanellus crassirostris Blacksmith lapwing, Vanellus armatus