This is a list of common names of birds occurring in Gauteng, South Africa. Gauteng includes both the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria, and numerous satellite municipalities spreading over a total of some 18,000 square km and an enormous diversity of habitat, and ranging in elevation from 1300 to 1900 metres. Gauteng lies at the junction of three major biomes – grassland to the south, arid savannah to the north-west, and moist savannah to the north-east and east – this location largely accounts for its great diversity of species.
The growing occupation of the area by man since the discovery of gold in the late 1800s has led to inevitable habitat loss and degradation, with the consequent displacement and decline of many species. The establishing of parks and suburban gardens, on the other hand, has created a multitude of niches and this, together with progressively milder highveld winters, has attracted a wealth of bushveld species from north of the Magaliesberg, and from other warmer areas. Tall office blocks and high-rise apartments have provided nesting opportunities for cliff dwellers, while the collective, man-made forest is regarded as the world's largest. Some arrivals in Johannesburg gardens within recent times have been the hadeda ibis, green wood hoopoe, Cape starling, red-winged starling, grey go-away-bird, African grey hornbill, pin-tailed whydah, African green pigeon and southern boubou.
The avifauna of Gauteng included a total of 606 species, as of October 2022.
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 1 November 2022.
The following tags highlight several categories of occurrence other than regular migrants and residents:
(A) Accidental – a species which has been recorded 10 or fewer times in Gauteng (I) Introduced – a species introduced to Gauteng 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, S. c. 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 White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus 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 Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (I) Cape teal, Anas capensis Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa
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 Southern crested guineafowl, Guttera edouardi (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 Red-winged francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii Gray-winged francolin, Scleroptila afra Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis Shelley's francolin, Scleroptila shelleyi Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei 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
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
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 Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix Lemon dove, Columba larvata Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis Emerald-spotted wood-dove, Turtur chalcospilos Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer Namaqua dove, Oena capensis African green-pigeon, Treron calva
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.
Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis Blue bustard, Eupodotis caerulescens Red-crested bustard, Eupodotis ruficrista White-quilled bustard, Eupodotis afraoides Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster (A)
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.
Knysna turaco, Tauraco corythaix Purple-crested turaco, Tauraco porphyreolophus Gray go-away-bird, Corythaixoides 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.
White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus Black coucal, Centropus grillii (A) Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Thick-billed cuckoo, Pachycoccyx audeberti (B) Dideric 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 Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus Rufous-cheeked nightjar, Caprimulgus rufigena Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis 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.
Alpine swift, Apus melba Common swift, Apus apus African swift, Apus barbatus Little swift, Apus affinis Horus swift, Apus horus 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 Red-chested flufftail, Sarothrura rufa White-winged flufftail, Sarothrura ayresi (A)
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 Corn crake, Crex crex African crake, Crex egregia Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (A) Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A) African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (A)
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
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 Blue crane, Anthropoides paradiseus Wattled crane, Bugeranus carunculatus (A)
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 (A) Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae