The birdlife of Mozambique isn’t well known and there is no definitive checklist. Approximately 750 bird species have been recorded, with only one endemic to Mozambique. You don’t have to go far off the beaten track to find the country’s specials. Some of the best birds can be seen in the coastal resort areas. The unique crab-plover is a common summer visitor to the Bazaruto Archipelago. And Eleonora’s falcon, one of the world’s rarest raptors, has been spotted in several locations.
Endemic & Near-endemic Birds
(E) endemic = only lives in Mozambique(NE) near-endemic = lives in Mozambique and neighboring countries
- African tailorbird (NE)
- Brown scrub robin (NE)
- Chirinda apalis (NE)
- Cholo alethe (NE)
- Dappled mountain-robin (NE)
- East coast akalat (NE)
- Kretschmer’s longbill (NE)
- Lesser seedcracker (NE)
- Long-billed tailorbird (NE)
- Namuli apalis (E)
- Neergaard’s sunbird (NE)
- Pink-throated twinspot (NE)
- Roberts’s warbler (NE)
- Stierling’s woodpecker (NE)
- Swynnerton’s robin (NE)
- Uluguru violet-backed sunbird (NE)
- White-winged apalis (NE)
- Zanzibar red bishop (NE)
Other Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- African citril
- Bar-tailed godwit
- Bearded scrub robin
- Bertram’s weaver
- Black-and-white flycatcher
- Black-headed apalis
- Böhm’s bee-eater
- Brown-breasted barbet
- Cardinal quelea
- Chestnut-fronted helmet-shrike
- Crab-plover
- Eastern saw-wing
- Eleonora’s falcon
- Greater sand plover
- Green tinkerbird
- Green-backed woodpecker
- Green-headed oriole
- Gull-billed tern
- Lemon-breasted canary
- Livingstone’s flycatcher
- Livingstone’s turaco
- Madagascar squacco heron
- Marsh tchagra
- Mottled spinetail
- Moustached grass-warbler
- Olive-headed weaver
- Pale batis
- Pale-billed hornbill
- Palm-nut vulture
- Peter’s twinspot
- Racket-tailed roller
- Red-headed quelea
- Rudd’s apalis
- Terek sandpiper
- Tiny greenbul
- White-chested alethe
- White-tailed crested flycatcher
- Woodwards’ batis
- Yellow-bellied waxbill
Best Time for Bird Watching
Bird watching in Mozambique is great throughout the year. The best months, however, are during the Wet season, from November to April, when migratory birds are present. Wildlife viewing is better during the middle and end of the Dry season, from July to October.
Best Parks for Birding Includes Birding Rating
Gorongosa and Maputo National Parks are top birding destinations. Both are classified as Important Bird Areas (IBAs), which are areas vital for bird conservation. Although very undeveloped for tourism, Niassa Special Reserve has great potential as a birding destination, with some good miombo woodland specials, as well as many raptors. Banhine National Park has some amazing wetland areas that host many migrant birds during the wet summer months, particularly high concentrations of wattled cranes. The Bazaruto and Quirimbas Archipelagos are great for interesting waders and migratory birds.
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Gorongosa NP
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Maputo NP
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Zinave NP
Recommended Birding Books
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Field Guide to Birds of Greater Southern Africa
Only southern African guide that’s complete for Mozambique.
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Birds of Africa: South of the Sahara
Complete Mozambique coverage within a dauntingly vast area.
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Roberts Bird Guide (2nd edition; book)
Complete for Mozambique south of the Zambezi River but not north.
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Roberts Bird Guide (2nd edition; app)
Based on the book but with birdcalls and additional info.