Bird Watching
The San Sebastian Peninsula, where the resort is located, is fortunate in having an array of wetland and indigenous bush. The diversity of these in such a small area is significant and, as such, migratory species have evolved in using it as a flyway to exploit this rich resource. The Bazaruto Archipelago is one such vital (East African) flyway through which vast numbers of migratory birds move from their breeding to non-breeding grounds, and the estuary serves as a resting and feeding spot. It also provides wintering grounds for some species of Palearctic migrants.

Several breeding colonies of Olive Bee-eaters – the second largest breeding occurrence in Africa, can be found near the Sanctuary office in season and the Southern-banded Snake Eagle, a near-threatened raptor, can often be spotted perched in a large tree or flying along the estuary. The endangered Plain-backed Sunbird can also be heard in the tangled moist dune forest on the eastern Ocean View road. A small group of Pink-backed Pelicans, the only pelican species to roost in trees, can almost always be seen in the outermost mangroves at Pelican Bay. In the more mature Miombo woodland and the magnificent freshwater wetlands, many other interesting species can be seen.
Species List |
RD |
S |
E |
|
Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Thalassarche carteri |
EN |
V |
||
Apalis, Rudd’s Apalis ruddi |
||||
Apalis, Yellow-breasted Apalis flavida |
||||
Avocet, Pied Recurvirostra avosetta |
||||
Babbler, Arrow-marked Turdoides jardineii |
||||
Barbet, Black-collared Lybius torquatus |
||||
Batis, Pale Batis soror |
||||
Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked Merops persicus |
||||
Bee-eater, European Merops apiaster |
||||
Bee-eater, Little Merops pusillus |
||||
Bee-eater, Olive Merops superciliosus |
||||
Bee-eater, Southern Carmine Merops nubicoides |
||||
Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Merops hirundineus |
||||
Bishop, Black-winged Euplectes hordeaceus |
||||
Bishop, Southern Red Euplectes orix |
||||
Booby, Brown Sula leucogaster |
||||
Booby, Red-footed Sula sula |
||||
Boubou, Southern Laniarius ferrugineus |
||||
Brownbul, Terrestrial Phyllastrephus terrestris |
||||
Brubru Nilaus afer |
||||
Bulbul, Dark-capped Pycnonotus tricolor |
||||
Bunting, Golden-breasted Emberiza flaviventris |
||||
Bush-shrike, Gorgeous Chlorophoneus viridis |
||||
Bush-shrike, Grey-headed Malaconotus blanchoti |
||||
Bush-shrike, Orange-breasted Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus |
||||
Bustard, Black-bellied Lissotis melanogaster |
||||
Buttonquail, Common (Kurrichane) Turnix sylvaticus |
||||
Buzzard, Common (Steppe ) Buteo buteo |
||||
Buzzard, European Honey Pernis apivorus |
||||
Buzzard, Lizard Kaupifalco monogrammicus |
||||
Camaroptera, Green-backed Camaroptera brachyura |
||||
Canary, Brimstone Crithagra sulphurata |
||||
Canary, Lemon-breasted Crithagra citrinipectus |
||||
Canary, Yellow-fronted Crithagra mozambica |
||||
Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola natalensis |
||||
Cisticola, Rattling Cisticola chiniana |
||||
Cisticola, Rufous-winged Cisticola galactotes |
||||
Cisticola, Short-winged Cisticola brachypterus |
||||
Cisticola, Zitting Cisticola juncidis |
||||
Cormorant, Reed Microcarbo africanus |
||||
Cormorant, White-breasted Phalacrocorax lucidus |
||||
Coucal, Burchell’s Centropus burchellii |
||||
Crake, Black Amaurornis flavirostra |
||||
Crane, Wattled Bugeranus carunculatus |
VU |
|||
Crombec, Long-billed Sylvietta rufescens |
||||
Crombec, Red-faced Sylvietta whytii |
||||
Crow, Pied Corvus albus |
||||
Cuckoo, Black Cuculus clamosus |
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Cuckoo, Common Cuculus canorus |
||||
Cuckoo, Diederik Chrysococcyx caprius |
||||
Cuckoo, Klaas’s Chrysococcyx klaas |
||||
Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuculus solitarius |
||||
Cuckoo, Thick-billed Pachycoccyx audeberti |
||||
Cuckooshrike, Black Campephaga flava |
||||
Curlew, Eurasian Numenius arquata |
NT |
|||
Darter, African Anhinga rufa |
||||
Dove, Cape Turtle Streptopelia capicola |
||||
Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood Turtur chalcospilos |
||||
Dove, Red-eyed Streptopelia semitorquata |
||||
Dove, Tambourine Turtur tympanistria |
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Drongo, Fork-tailed Dicrurus adsimilis |
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Drongo, Square-tailed Dicrurus ludwigii |
||||
Duck, Fulvous Whistling Dendrocygna bicolor |
||||
Duck, Knob-billed Sarkidiornis melanotos |
||||
Duck, White-backed Thalassornis leuconotus |
||||
Duck, White-faced Whistling Dendrocygna viduata |
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Duck, Yellow-billed Anas undulata |
||||
Eagle, African Fish Haliaeetus vocifer |
||||
Eagle, Ayre’s Hawk Hieraaetus ayresii |
||||
Eagle, Black-chested Snake Circaetus pectoralis |
||||
Eagle, Crowned Stephanoaetus coronatus |
NT |
|||
Eagle, Martial Polemaetus bellicosus |
VU |
|||
Eagle, Southern Banded Snake Circaetus fasciolatus |
||||
Eagle, Wahlberg’s Hieraaetus wahlbergi |
||||
Egret, Great Egretta alba |
||||
Egret, Little Egretta garzetta |
||||
Egret, Western Cattle Bubulcus ibis |
||||
Egret, Yellow-billed (Intermediate) Ardea intermedia |
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Eremomela, Green-capped Eremomela scotops |
||||
Falcon, Peregrine Falco peregrinus |
||||
Firefinch, Jameson’s Lagonosticta rhodopareia |
||||
Firefinch, Red-billed Lagonosticta senegala |
||||
Flamingo, Greater Phoenicopterus roseus |
||||
Flamingo, Lesser Phoeniconaias minor |
NT |
|||
Flufftail, Red-chested Sarothrura rufa |
||||
Flycatcher, African Dusky Muscicapa adusta |
||||
Flycatcher, African Paradise Terpsiphone viridis |
||||
Flycatcher, Ashy Muscicapa caerulescens |
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Flycatcher, Grey Tit– Myioparus plumbeus |
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Flycatcher, Pale Bradornis pallidus |
||||
Flycatcher, Southern Black Melaenornis pammelaina |
||||
Flycatcher, Spotted Muscicapa striata |
||||
Frigatebird, Great Fregata minor |
V |
|||
Frigatebird, Lesser Fregata ariel |
||||
Gannet, Cape Morus capensis |
VU |
V |
||
Godwit, Bar-tailed Limosa lapponica |
NT |
|||
Goose, African Pygmy Nettapus auritus |
||||
Goose, Egyptian Alopochen aegyptiaca |
||||
Goose, Spur-winged Plectropterus gambensis |
||||
Goshawk, African Accipiter tachiro |
||||
Goshawk, Dark Chanting Melierax metabates |
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Goshawk, Gabar Melierax gabar |
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Grebe, Little Tachybaptus ruficollis |
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Greenbul, Sombre Andropadus importunus |
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Greenbul, Yellow-bellied Chlorocichla flaviventris |
||||
Greenshank, Common Tringa nebularia |
||||
Guineafowl, Crested Guttera pucherani |
||||
Guineafowl, Helmeted Numida meleagris |
||||
Gull, Common Black-headed Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
V |
|||
Gull, Grey-headed Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus |
||||
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta |
||||
Harrier, African Marsh Circus ranivorus |
||||
Harrier, Pallid Circus macrourus |
NT |
|||
Hawk, African Cuckoo Aviceda cuculoides |
||||
Hawk, African Harrier- Polyboroides typus |
||||
Helmet-shrike, Chestnut-fronted Prionops scopifrons |
||||
Helmet-shrike, White-crested Prionops plumatus |
||||
Heron, Black Egretta ardesiaca |
||||
Heron, Black-crowned Night Nycticorax nycticorax |
||||
Heron, Black-headed Ardea melanocephala |
||||
Heron, Goliath Ardea goliath |
||||
Heron, Green-backed Butorides striata |
||||
Heron, Grey Ardea cinerea |
||||
Heron, Purple Ardea purpurea |
||||
Heron, Rufous-bellied Ardeola rufiventris |
||||
Heron, Squacco Ardeola ralloides |
||||
Honeyguide, Greater Indicator indicator |
||||
Honeyguide, Lesser Indicator minor |
||||
Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Indicator variegatus |
||||
Hoopoe, African Upupa africana |
||||
Hornbill, African Grey Tockus nasutus |
||||
Hornbill, Crowned Tockus alboterminatus |
||||
Hornbill, Trumpeter Bycanistes bucinator |
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Ibis, African Sacred Threskiornis aethiopicus |
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Ibis, Glossy Plegadis falcinellus |
||||
Ibis, Hadeda Bostrychia hagedash |
||||
Jacana, African Actophilornis africanus |
||||
Jacana, Lesser Microparra capensis |
||||
Kingfisher, African Pygmy Ispidina picta |
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Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Halcyon albiventris |
||||
Kingfisher, Giant Megaceryle maxima |
||||
Kingfisher, Malachite Alcedo cristata |
||||
Kingfisher, Mangrove Halcyon senegaloides |
||||
Kingfisher, Pied Ceryle rudis |
||||
Kingfisher, Striped Halcyon chelicuti |
||||
Kite, Black-shouldered Elanus caeruleus |
||||
Kite, Yellow-billed Milvus aegyptius |
||||
Lapwing, Blacksmith Vanellus armatus |
||||
Lapwing, Long-toed Vanellus crassirostris |
||||
Lark, Rufous-naped Mirafra africana |
||||
Longclaw, Yellow-throated Macronyx croceus |
||||
Malkoha, Green Ceuthmochares australis |
||||
Mannikin, Bronze Lonchura cucullata |
||||
Mannikin, Red-backed Lonchura nigriceps |
||||
Martin, Brown-throated Riparia paludicola |
||||
Martin, Common House Delichon urbicum |
||||
Martin, Mascarene Phedina borbonica |
||||
Martin, Sand Riparia riparia |
||||
Moorhen, Common Gallinula chloropus |
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Mousebird, Red-faced Urocolius indicus |
||||
Mousebird, Speckled Colius striatus |
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Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapilla |
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Nicator, Eastern Nicator gularis |
||||
Nightjar, Fiery-necked Caprimulgus pectoralis |
||||
Nightjar, Square-tailed Caprimulgus fossii |
||||
Noddy, Lesser Anous tenuirostris |
V |
|||
Openbill, African Anastomus lamelligerus |
||||
Oriole, Black-headed Oriolus larvatus |
||||
Osprey, Western Pandion haliaetus |
||||
Owl, African Scops Otus senegalensis |
||||
Owl, African Wood Strix woodfordii |
||||
Owl, Spotted Eagle- Bubo africanus |
||||
Owl, Western Barn Tyto alba |
||||
Oxpecker, Red-billed Buphagus erythrorynchus |
||||
Oystercatcher, African Black Haematopus moquini |
NT |
V |
||
Oystercatcher, Eurasian Haematopus ostralegus |
NT |
V |
||
Pelican, Pink-backed Pelecanus rufescens |
||||
Penduline-tit, Grey Anthoscopus caroli |
||||
Petronia, Yellow-throated Gymnoris superciliaris |
||||
Pigeon, African Green Treron calvus |
||||
Pipit, African Anthus cinnamomeus |
||||
Plover, Caspian Charadrius asiaticus |
||||
Plover, Chestnut-banded Charadrius pallidus |
NT |
|||
Plover, Common Ringed Charadrius hiaticula |
||||
Plover, Crab- Dromas ardeola |
||||
Plover, Greater Sand Charadrius leschenaultii |
||||
Plover, Grey Pluvialis squatarola |
||||
Plover, Kittlitz’s Charadrius pecuarius |
||||
Plover, Lesser Sand Charadrius mongolus |
||||
Plover, Three-banded Charadrius tricollaris |
||||
Plover, White-fronted Charadrius marginatus |
||||
Pochard, Southern Netta erythrophthalma |
||||
Pratincole, Collared Glareola pratincola |
||||
Prinia, Tawny-flanked Prinia subflava |
||||
Puffback, Black-backed Dryoscopus cubla |
||||
Quail, Harlequin Coturnix delegorguei |
||||
Quail-finch, African Ortygospiza fuscocrissa |
||||
Quelea, Red-billed Quelea quelea |
||||
Robin, Bearded Scrub Cercotrichas quadrivirgata |
||||
Robin, White-browed Scrub Cercotrichas leucophrys |
||||
Robin-chat, Red-capped Cossypha natalensis |
||||
Robin-chat, White-throated Cossypha humeralis |
||||
Roller, European Coracias garrulus |
||||
Roller, Lilac-breasted Coracias caudatus |
||||
Roller, Purple Coracias naevius |
||||
Roller, Racket-tailed Coracias spatulatus |
||||
Ruff Philomachus pugnax |
||||
Sanderling Calidris alba |
||||
Sandpiper, Common Actitis hypoleucos |
||||
Sandpiper, Curlew Calidris ferruginea |
NT |
|||
Sandpiper, Marsh Tringa stagnatilis |
||||
Sandpiper, Terek Xenus cinereus |
||||
Sandpiper, Wood Tringa glareola |
||||
Saw-wing, Black Psalidoprocne pristoptera |
||||
Scimitarbill, Common Rhinopomastus cyanomelas |
||||
Seedeater, Black-eared Crithagra mennelli |
||||
Shikra Accipiter badius |
||||
Shrike, Lesser Grey Lanius minor |
||||
Shrike, Red-backed Lanius collurio |
||||
Skimmer, African Rynchops flavirostris |
NT |
V |
||
Sparrow, House Passer domesticus |
I |
|||
Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed Passer diffusus |
||||
Spoonbill, African Platalea alba |
||||
Spurfowl, Red-necked Pternistis afer |
||||
Starling, Black-bellied Notopholia corrusca |
||||
Starling, Violet-backed Cinnyricinclus leucogaster |
||||
Stilt, Black-winged Himantopus himantopus |
||||
Stint, Little Calidris minuta |
||||
Stork, Saddle-billed Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis |
||||
Stork, Woolly-necked Ciconia episcopus |
||||
Stork, Yellow-billed Mycteria ibis |
||||
Sunbird, Amethyst Chalcomitra amethystina |
||||
Sunbird, Collared Anthodiaeta collaris |
||||
Sunbird, Grey Cyanomitra veroxii |
||||
Sunbird, Neergard’s Cinnyris neergaardi |
NT |
|||
Sunbird, Olive Cyanomitra olivacea |
||||
Sunbird, Plain-backed Anthreptes reichenowi |
||||
Sunbird, Purple-banded Cinnyris bifasciatus |
||||
Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Chalcomitra senegalensis |
||||
Sunbird, White-bellied Cinnyris talatala |
||||
Swallow, Barn Hirundo rustica |
||||
Swallow, Grey-rumped Pseudhirundo griseopyga |
||||
Swallow, White-throated Hirundo albigularis |
||||
Swamphen, African (Purple) Porphyrio madagascariensis |
||||
Swift, African Palm Cypsiurus parvus |
||||
Swift, Horus Apus horus |
||||
Tchagra, Black-crowned Tchagra senegalus |
||||
Tchagra, Brown-crowned Tchagra australis |
||||
Teal, Cape Anas capensis |
||||
Teal, Hottentot Anas hottentota |
||||
Teal, Red-billed Anas erythrorhyncha |
||||
Tern, Caspian Sterna caspia |
||||
Tern, Common Sterna hirundo |
||||
Tern, Gull-billed Gelochelidon nilotica |
V |
|||
Tern, Lesser Crested Thalasseus bengalensis |
||||
Tern, Little Sterna albifrons |
||||
Tern, Roseate Sterna dougallii |
V |
|||
Tern, Sandwich Thalasseus sandvicensis |
||||
Tern, Sooty Onychoprion fuscatus |
||||
Tern, Swift Thalasseus bergii |
||||
Tern, Whiskered Chlidonias hybrida |
||||
Tern, White-winged Chlidonias leucopterus |
||||
Thick-knee, Spotted Burhinus capensis |
||||
Thick-knee, Water Burhinus vermiculatus |
||||
Thrush, Kurrichane Turdus libonyanus |
||||
Tinkerbird, Yellow-fronted Pogoniulus chrysoconus |
||||
Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Pogoniulus bilineatus |
||||
Tit, Southern Black Parus niger |
||||
Trogon, Narina Apaloderma narina |
||||
Turaco, Purple-crested Tauraco porphyreolophus |
||||
Turnstone, Ruddy Arenaria interpres |
||||
Wagtail, African Pied Motacilla aguimp |
||||
Wagtail, Cape Motacilla capensis |
||||
Wagtail, Western Yellow Motacilla flava |
||||
Warbler, African Reed Acrocephalus baeticatus |
||||
Warbler, Great Reed Acrocephalus arundinaceus |
||||
Warbler, Icterine Hippolais icterina |
||||
Warbler, Lesser Swamp Acrocephalus gracilirostris |
||||
Warbler, Little Rush Bradypterus baboecala |
||||
Warbler, Marsh Acrocephalus palustris |
||||
Warbler, Willow Phylloscopus trochilus |
||||
Wattle-eye, Black-throated Platysteira peltata |
||||
Waxbill, Blue Uraeginthus angolensis |
||||
Waxbill, Common Estrilda astrild |
||||
Waxbill, Grey Estrilda perreini |
||||
Weaver, Dark-backed Ploceus bicolor |
||||
Weaver, Lesser Masked Ploceus intermedius |
||||
Weaver, Southern Masked Ploceus velatus |
||||
Weaver, Spectacled Ploceus ocularis |
||||
Weaver, Thick-billed Amblyospiza albifrons |
||||
Weaver, Village Ploceus cucullatus |
||||
Weaver, Yellow Ploceus subaureus |
||||
Whimbrel, Common Numenius phaeopus |
||||
White-eye, African Yellow Zosterops senegalensis |
||||
Whydah, Pin-tailed Vidua macroura |
||||
Widowbird, Fan-tailed Euplectes axillaris |
||||
Widowbird, White-winged Euplectes albonotatus |
||||
Wood-hoopoe, Green Phoeniculus purpureus |
||||
Woodpecker, Bearded Dendropicos namaquus |
||||
Woodpecker, Cardinal Dendropicos fuscescens |
CR |
Critically Endangered |
V |
Vagrant |
EN |
Endangered |
I |
Introduced |
VU |
Vulnerable |
||
NT |
Near Threatened |
||
LC |
Least Concern |
||
EX |
Extinct (regionally) |
||
DD |
Data Deficient |
||
NR |
Not Recognised by BirdLife International |
||
NA |
Not Assessed Red List § Refer to footnote |