The east-coast of South Africa is a remarkable place for bird watching. There are 960 known bird species in Southern Africa and about 70 percent of them are found on the East Coast. We are comfortable with all the birds in Zululand, but specialise in some rare specials.
1
Green Barbet
Arguably the most localised bird in South Africa, the Green Barbet is a forest dwelling bird with a green body and yellow ear. A true zululand special, the Green Barbet is a great find for any Birder.
2
Eastern Bronze-Naped Pigeon
Birders don't get excited over many pigeons, but this pigeon is an exception. It has a habit of spending most of its time up in the high canopy of lush evergreen forest - making seeing it difficult, and identifying it all but impossible.
3
Palm Nut Vulture
South Africa's only fruit-eating Vulture - the Palm-Nut Vulture - is a highly localised vulture that can only be found on the North Eastern coast, and is thus highly sought after by Birders. Junior Gabela can help you get closer to this bird!
4
Mangrove Kingfisher
The most range-limited of the South African Kingfishers, the Mangrove Kingfisher lives almost exclusively in the Mangrove plants on the East Coast of Africa - a specialist in this sparsely distributed and threatened habitat - and is highly sought after by Birders. Junior Gabela can help you connect with this rare bird.
5
Southern Banded Snake Eagle
Sometimes referred to as the "Flagship Species" when it comes to conserving the coastal forest ecosystem, the Southern Banded Snake Eagle is a raptor that lives in the canopies of indigenous forests eating snakes and other reptiles, amphibians and sometimes small mammals or birds. With estimated adult numbers of less than 100 in South Africa, they are highly sought after by Birders.
6
Green Twinspot
A shy bird that lives near the forest floor, the Green Twinspot is small and camouflaged and can be hard to locate, even where they are relatively common. Understanding their behaviour and contact call is critical in locating them.
7
Grey Waxbill
This little waxbill is a gorgeous grey bird with a red rump that hangs out in small groups and, while common, is shy and secretive and not always easily seen, making it a great sighting for any lucky enough to spot it.
8
Swamp NightJar
The nightjars have always been shrouded in mystery. Originally thought to suck milk from goats at night, or be witches in the dark, these creepy birds are now understood to be nocturnal insectivores with distinct and varying songs sung at night. Easy to hear and recognize singing at night, but they hide in the day and can be hard to say, making them a great sighting for any Birder.
9
Spotted Ground Thrush
This rare spotted bird is unassuming and difficult to locate in the dappled shadows of the forest. It has a very small range and is limited to coastal forests and scarp, making them a rare find.
10
Baillon's crake
While Baillon's Crake is a bird that is distributed all throughout the world from Australia, through Eurasia to Africa, it is one that is rarely seen by even the most astute birders. Its secretive and retiring nature mean it is highly sought after by birders. Junior Gabela can help you add this bird to your list!
11
African Finfoot
The African Finfoot is a distinctive aquatic bird that is generally known as secretive and shy. Its notable appearance and surreptitious habits mean it is highly sought after by birders. Junior Gabela can help you connect with this elusive bird
12
Narina Trogon
The Narina Trogon can be found in wooded areas in much of Sub-Saharan Africa with a wide but fragmented range. In South Africa, the Narina Trogon lives near to the coast from the eastern cape, up to the Mozambique border and through Swaziland and the Kruger Park, and cannot be found in the highveld or in the Karoo or far Western and Northern Cape.
13
Pale crowned cisticola
One of the "cloud-scrapers", the Pale-Crowned Cisticola is extremely difficult to distinguish visually, meaning its call is your best chance of distinguishing it. However, its call is normally given while flying high in the sky which makes it tricky to see and a highly sought after sighting for birders. Junior can help you get close to this elusive bird.
14
Fan-Tailed Grassbird
The Fan-Tailed Grassbird - also known as the Broad-Tailed Warbler - is a warbler with a diagnostically wide tail, known for its Warbler-like secrecy and skulking and dull coloration, all making it a highly sought-after sighting for Birders. Junior can help you connect with this secretive bird
