Birding
A Birder’s Paradise
Shandon’s rich landscapes provide a sanctuary for an impressive variety of bird species, from vibrant bee-eaters to majestic raptors. Whether you’re an experienced birder or simply enjoy the occasional sighting, our birdlife promises something special in every season. Browse the full bird list and immerse yourself in our gallery of captivating bird photography.
Image
Scientific Name
Short Appearance Description
African Green Pigeon
Treron calvus
Olive-green upperparts, yellow thighs, red bill with white tip, red feet; often blends into foliage.
African Harrier-Hawk
Polyboroides typus
Pale grey upperparts with barred white belly, black-edged grey wings, black tail with white band, bare face patch often yellow or red.
African Hoopoe
Upupa africana
Cinnamon body with chestnut crest tipped black, long down-curved bill, bold black-and-white striped wings and tail.
African Paradise Flycatcher
Terpsiphone viridis
Males have long chestnut tail streamers, glossy black head, and white or rufous body; females shorter-tailed.
African Wattled Lapwing
Vanellus senegallus
Brownish-grey with white belly, yellow face wattles, black crown, and white wing patches in flight.
Arrow-marked Babbler
Turdoides jardineii
Brown with white-edged feathers creating scaly look; pale eyes.
Ashy Flycatcher
Muscicapa caerulescens
Uniform grey upperparts, pale grey underparts, dark bill.
Black-collared Barbet
Lybius torquatus
Red head and throat bordered by black collar, olive-brown body.
Black-headed Oriole
Oriolus larvatus
Bright yellow body, black head, reddish bill.
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Halcyon albiventris
Brown head, turquoise back and wings, red bill.
Chinspot Batis
Batis molitor
Grey upperparts, black mask, white underparts with black breast band and spots on sides.
Crested Barbet
Trachyphonus vaillantii
Brightly marked with yellow, red, black spots and bands.
Crowned Hornbill
Lophoceros alboterminatus
Brownish-black with white belly, red bill.
European Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
Bright green, yellow throat, chestnut crown and back, black eye-stripe.
Levaillant’s Cuckoo
Clamator levaillantii
Black upperparts with white wing patches, barred tail, pale underparts.
Narina Trogon
Apaloderma narina
Colorful forest bird with red belly and green back, tropical forests of Africa.
Red-chested Cuckoo
Cuculus solitarius
Migratory cuckoo with red chest, southern Africa.
Retz’s Helmetshrike
Prionops retzii
Social bird with black-and-white helmet-like head, southern Africa.
Southern Black Flycatcher
Melaenornis pammelaina
Small black flycatcher, common in southern Africa.
Southern Masked Weaver
Ploceus velatus
Weaver bird with black face mask, southern Africa.
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Bubo africanus
Large nocturnal owl with spotted plumage, southern Africa.
Violet-backed Starling
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Male is violet-purple, female brown, fruit-eating bird.
White-crested Helmetshrike
Prionops plumatus
Social bird with white crest, black-and-white body.
White-fronted Bee-eater
Merops bullockoides
Colorful bee-eater with white forehead, southern Africa.
