List of birds of Malawi

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Malawi. The avifauna of Malawi include a total of 684 species, of which 2 have been introduced by humans. 1 species is endemic.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2021 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Malawi.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories, but not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.

• (A) Accidental - a rarely occurring species in Malawi
• (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Malawi
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Malawi as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
• (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Malawi although populations exist elsewhere

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl[]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: 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.

Guineafowl[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: 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
• Crested guineafowl, Guttera pucherani

Pheasants, grouse, and allies[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: 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
• Shelley's francolin, Scleroptila shelleyi
• Blue quail, Synoicus adansonii
• Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
• Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei
• Hildebrandt's francolin, Pternistis hildebrandti
• Scaly francolin, Pternistis squamatus
• Swainson's francolin, Pternistis swainsonii
• Red-necked spurfowl, Pternistis afer

Flamingos[]

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) 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, Phoenicopterus minor

Grebes[]

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: 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

Pigeons and doves[]

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Sandgrouse[]

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: 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.

• Double-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles bicinctus

Bustards[]

Order: Otidiformes   Family: 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
• Black-bellied bustard, Lissotis melanogaster

Turacos[]

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: 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.

• Livingstone's turaco, Tauraco livingstonii
• Schalow's turaco, Tauraco schalowi
• Purple-crested turaco, Tauraco porphyreolophus
• Bare-faced go-away-bird, Corythaixoides personatus
• Gray go-away-bird, Corythaixoides concolor

Cuckoos[]

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Nightjars and allies[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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
• Fiery-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis
• Rwenzori nightjar, Caprimulgus ruwenzorii
• Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma
• Square-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii

Swifts[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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.

• Mottled spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri (A)
• Bat-like spinetail, Neafrapus boehmi (A)
• Scarce swift, Schoutedenapus myoptilus
• Alpine swift, Apus melba
• Mottled swift, Apus aequatorialis
• 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: Gruiformes   Family: 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
• Chestnut-headed flufftail, Sarothrura lugens (A)
• Streaky-breasted flufftail, Sarothrura boehmi
• Striped flufftail, Sarothrura affinis

Rails, gallinules and coots[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: 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
• Lesser moorhen, Gallinula angulata
• Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
• Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata
• Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni
• African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
• Striped crake, Amaurornis marginalis
• Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra
• Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla

Finfoots[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: 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: Gruiformes   Family: 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
• Wattled crane, Bugeranus carunculatus

Thick-knees[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are 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
• Spotted thick-knee, Burhinus capensis

Stilts and avocets[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

• Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
• Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Plovers and lapwings[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Painted-snipes[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.

• Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis

Jacanas[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

• Lesser jacana, Microparra capensis
• African jacana, Actophilornis africanus

Sandpipers and allies[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Buttonquail[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.

• Small buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus
• Black-rumped buttonquail, Turnix nanus

Pratincoles and coursers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

• Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
• Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
• Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni (A)
• Rock pratincole, Glareola nuchalis

Gulls, terns, and skimmers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

• Gray-hooded gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
• Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus (A)
• Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
• Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus (A)
• Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
• White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
• Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
• Common tern, Sterna hirundo (A)
• African skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris

Storks[]

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

• African openbill, Anastomus lamelligerus
• Black stork, Ciconia nigra
• Abdim's stork, Ciconia abdimii
• Woolly-necked stork, Ciconia episcopus
• White stork, Ciconia ciconia
• Saddle-billed stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
• Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer
• Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis

Anhingas[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas or darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.

• African darter, Anhinga rufa

Cormorants and shags[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

• Long-tailed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

Pelicans[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

• Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
• Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens

Hamerkop[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Scopidae

The hamerkop is a medium-sized bird with a long shaggy crest. The shape of its head with a curved bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, hence its name. Its plumage is drab-brown all over.

• Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta

Herons, egrets, and bitterns[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Ibises and spoonbills[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
• Hadada ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
• African spoonbill, Platalea alba

Secretarybird[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Sagittariidae

The secretarybird is a bird of prey in the order Accipitriformes but is easily distinguished from other raptors by its long crane-like legs.

• Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius

Osprey[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Barn-owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• African grass-owl, Tyto capensis (A)
• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops
• African scops-owl, Otus senegalensis
• Southern white-faced owl, Ptilopsis granti
• Cape eagle-owl, Bubo capensis (A)
• Spotted eagle-owl, Bubo africanus
• Verreaux's eagle-owl, Bubo lacteus
• Pel's fishing owl, Scotopelia peli
• Pearl-spotted owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
• African barred owlet, Glaucidium capense
• African wood-owl, Strix woodfordii
• Marsh owl, Asio capensis

Mousebirds[]

Order: Coliiformes   Family: Coliidae

The mousebirds are slender greyish or brown birds with soft, hairlike body feathers and very long thin tails. They are arboreal and scurry through the leaves like rodents in search of berries, fruit and buds. They are acrobatic and can feed upside down. All species have strong claws and reversible outer toes. They also have crests and stubby bills.

• Speckled mousebird, Colius striatus
• Red-faced mousebird, Urocolius indicus

Trogons[]

Order: Trogoniformes   Family: Trogonidae

The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

• Narina trogon, Apaloderma narina
• Bar-tailed trogon, Apaloderma vittatum

Hoopoes[]

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Woodhoopoes and scimitarbills[]

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Phoeniculidae

The woodhoopoes are related to the kingfishers, rollers and hoopoes. They most resemble the hoopoes with their long curved bills, used to probe for insects, and short rounded wings. However, they differ in that they have metallic plumage, often blue, green or purple, and lack an erectile crest.

• Green woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus
• Common scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Ground-hornbills[]

Order:Bucerotiformes Family: Bucorvidae

The ground-hornbills are terrestrial birds which feed almost entirely on insects, other birds, snakes, and amphibians.

• Southern ground-hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri

Hornbills[]

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Bucerotidae

Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly coloured.

• Crowned hornbill, Lophoceros alboterminatus
• African gray hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus
• Pale-billed hornbill, Lophoceros pallidirostris
• Southern yellow-billed hornbill, Tockus leucomelas
• Southern red-billed hornbill, Tockus rufirostris
• Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Bycanistes brevis
• Trumpeter hornbill, Bycanistes bucinator

Kingfishers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

• Half-collared kingfisher, Alcedo semitorquata
• Malachite kingfisher, Corythornis cristatus
• African pygmy kingfisher, Ispidina picta
• Gray-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
• Woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis
• Brown-hooded kingfisher, Halcyon albiventris
• Striped kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti
• Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maximus
• Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

Bee-eaters[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

• White-fronted bee-eater, Merops bullockoides
• Little bee-eater, Merops pusillus
• Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Merops hirundineus
• Böhm's bee-eater, Merops boehmi
• Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
• Madagascar bee-eater, Merops superciliosus
• European bee-eater, Merops apiaster
• Southern carmine bee-eater, Merops nubicoides

Rollers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

• European roller, Coracias garrulus
• Lilac-breasted roller, Coracias caudatus
• Racket-tailed roller, Coracias spatulatus
• Rufous-crowned roller, Coracias naevius
• Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus

African barbets[]

Order: Piciformes   Family: Lybiidae

The African barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly coloured.

• Crested barbet, Trachyphonus vaillantii
• White-eared barbet, Stactolaema leucotis
• Whyte's barbet, Stactolaema whytii
• Green barbet, Stactolaema olivacea
• Green tinkerbird, Pogoniulus simplex
• Moustached tinkerbird, Pogoniulus leucomystax
• Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Pogoniulus bilineatus
• Yellow-fronted tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus
• Miombo barbet, Tricholaema frontata
• Black-collared barbet, Lybius torquatus
• Brown-breasted barbet, Lybius melanopterus
• Black-backed barbet, Lybius minor

Honeyguides[]

Order: Piciformes   Family: Indicatoridae

Honeyguides are among the few birds that feed on wax. They are named for the greater honeyguide which leads traditional honey-hunters to bees' nests and, after the hunters have harvested the honey, feeds on the remaining contents of the hive.

• Green-backed honeyguide, Prodotiscus zambesiae
• Wahlberg's honeyguide, Prodotiscus regulus
• Pallid honeyguide, Indicator meliphilus
• Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
• Scaly-throated honeyguide, Indicator variegatus
• Greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator

Woodpeckers[]

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

• Cardinal woodpecker, Chloropicus fuscescens
• Bearded woodpecker, Chloropicus namaquus
• Stierling's woodpecker, Chloropicus stierlingi
• Olive woodpecker, Chloropicus griseocephalus
• Brown-eared woodpecker, Campethera caroli
• Green-backed woodpecker, Campethera cailliautii
• Bennett's woodpecker, Campethera bennettii
• Reichenow's woodpecker, Campethera scriptoricauda
• Golden-tailed woodpecker, Campethera abingoni

Falcons[]

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

• Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
• Rock kestrel, Falco rupicolus
• Gray kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus (A)
• Dickinson's kestrel, Falco dickinsoni
• Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
• Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus
• Amur falcon, Falco amurensis
• Eleonora's falcon, Falco eleonorae
• Sooty falcon, Falco concolor (A)
• Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
• African hobby, Falco cuvierii (A)
• Lanner falcon, Falco biarmicus
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
• Taita falcon, Falco fasciinucha

Old World parrots[]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

• Lilian's lovebird, Agapornis lilianae

African and New World parrots[]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Most of the species in this family are found in the New World.

• Brown-necked parrot, Poicephalus robustus
• Meyer's parrot, Poicephalus meyeri
• Brown-headed parrot, Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

African and green broadbills[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calyptomenidae

The broadbills are small, brightly coloured birds, which feed on fruit and also take insects in flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests.

• African broadbill, Smithornis capensis

Pittas[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates. There are 32 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Malawi.

• African pitta, Pitta angolensis

Cuckooshrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.

• Gray cuckooshrike, Coracina caesia
• White-breasted cuckooshrike, Coracina pectoralis
• Black cuckooshrike, Campephaga flava

Old World orioles[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

• Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus
• African golden oriole, Oriolus auratus
• Green-headed oriole, Oriolus chlorocephalus
• African black-headed oriole, Oriolus larvatus

Wattle-eyes and batises[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Platysteiridae

The wattle-eyes, or puffback flycatchers, are small stout passerine birds of the African tropics. They get their name from the brightly coloured fleshy eye decorations found in most species in this group.

• Black-throated wattle-eye, Platysteira peltata
• Short-tailed batis, Batis mixta
• Dark batis, Batis crypta (E)
• Cape batis, Batis capensis
• Woodward's batis, Batis fratrum
• Chinspot batis, Batis molitor
• Pale batis, Batis soror

Vangas, helmetshrikes, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vangidae

The helmetshrikes are similar in build to the shrikes, but tend to be colourful species with distinctive crests or other head ornaments, such as wattles, from which they get their name.

• White helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus
• Retz's helmetshrike, Prionops retzii
• Chestnut-fronted helmetshrike, Prionops scopifrons
• Black-and-white shrike-flycatcher, Bias musicus

Bushshrikes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Malaconotidae

Bushshrikes are similar in habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush. Although similar in build to the shrikes, these tend to be either colourful species or largely black; some species are quite secretive.

• Brubru, Nilaus afer
• Black-backed puffback, Dryoscopus cubla
• Marsh tchagra, Tchagra minuta
• Black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegala
• Brown-crowned tchagra, Tchagra australis
• Tropical boubou, Laniarius major
• Southern boubou, Laniarius ferrugineus
• Fülleborn's boubou, Laniarius fuelleborni
• Sulphur-breasted bushshrike, Telophorus sulfureopectus
• Olive bushshrike, Telophorus olivaceus
• Black-fronted bushshrike, Telophorus nigrifrons
• Four-colored bushshrike, Telophorus viridis
• Gray-headed bushshrike, Malaconotus blanchoti

Drongos[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

• Common square-tailed drongo, Dicrurus ludwigii
• Fork-tailed drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis

Monarch flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

• African crested-flycatcher, Trochocercus cyanomelas
• African paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis

Shrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

• Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
• Red-tailed shrike, Lanius phoenicuroides (A)
• Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor
• Magpie shrike, Lanius melanoleucus
• Northern fiscal, Lanius humeralis
• Southern fiscal, Lanius collaris
• Souza's shrike, Lanius souzae

Crows, jays, and magpies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Pied crow, Corvus albus
• White-necked raven, Corvus albicollis

Hyliotas[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hyliotidae

The members of this small family, all of genus Hyliota, are birds of the forest canopy. They tend to feed in mixed-species flocks.

• Yellow-bellied hyliota, Hyliota flavigaster
• Southern hyliota, Hyliota australis

Fairy flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Stenostiridae

Most of the species of this small family are found in Africa, though a few inhabit tropical Asia. They are not closely related to other birds called "flycatchers".

• African blue flycatcher, Elminia longicauda
• White-tailed blue flycatcher, Elminia albicauda
• White-tailed crested-flycatcher, Elminia albonotata

Tits, chickadees, and titmice[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

• White-winged black-tit, Melaniparus leucomelas
• Rufous-bellied tit, Melaniparus rufiventris
• Southern black-tit, Melaniparus niger
• Carp's tit, Melaniparus carpi (A)
• Miombo tit, Melaniparus griseiventris

Penduline-tits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The penduline tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

• African penduline-tit, Anthoscopus caroli

Larks[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Dusky lark, Pinarocorys nigricans (A)
• Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucotis
• Fischer's sparrow-lark, Eremopterix leucopareia
• Rufous-naped lark, Mirafra africana
• Flappet lark, Mirafra rufocinnamomea
• Red-capped lark, Calandrella cinerea

Nicators[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nicatoridae

The nicators are shrike-like, with hooked bills. They are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.

• Eastern nicator, Nicator gularis

African warblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Macrosphenidae

African warblers are small to medium-sized insectivores which are found in a wide variety of habitats south of the Sahara.

• Red-capped crombec, Sylvietta ruficapilla
• Red-faced crombec, Sylvietta whytii
• Cape crombec, Sylvietta rufescens
• Moustached grass-warbler, Melocichla mentalis

Cisticolas and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

Reed warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

• African yellow-warbler, Iduna natalensis
• Mountain yellow-warbler, Iduna similis
• Olive-tree warbler, Hippolais olivetorum
• Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina
• Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
• Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
• Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
• African reed warbler, Acrocephalus baeticatus (A)
• Basra reed warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis
• Lesser swamp warbler, Acrocephalus gracilirostris
• Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Grassbirds and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

• River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis
• Fan-tailed grassbird, Catriscus brevirostris
• Evergreen-forest warbler, Bradypterus lopezi
• Cinnamon bracken-warbler, Bradypterus cinnamomeus
• Little rush-warbler, Bradypterus baboecala

Swallows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Bulbuls[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

• Sombre greenbul, Andropadus importunus
• Shelley's greenbul, Arizelocichla masukuensis
• Eastern mountain greenbul, Arizelocichla nigriceps
• Black-browed mountain greenbul, Arizelocichla fusciceps
• Stripe-cheeked greenbul, Arizelocichla milanjensis
• Yellow-bellied greenbul, Chlorocichla flaviventris
• Yellow-throated greenbul, Atimastillas flavicollis
• Little greenbul, Eurillas virens
• Terrestrial brownbul, Phyllastrephus terrestris
• Gray-olive greenbul, Phyllastrephus cerviniventris
• Cabanis's greenbul, Phyllastrephus cabanisi
• Yellow-streaked bulbul, Phyllastrephus flavostriatus
• Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus

Leaf warblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.

• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
• Yellow-throated woodland-warbler, Phylloscopus ruficapilla

Bush warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place genus Erythrocerus in another family.^[1]

• Livingstone's flycatcher, Erythrocercus livingstonei

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

• Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
• Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
• African hill babbler, Sylvia abyssinica
• Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria (A)
• Brown parisoma, Curruca lugens
• Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.

• Southern yellow white-eye, Zosterops anderssoni

Ground babblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pellorneidae

These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.

• Mountain illadopsis, Illadopsis pyrrhoptera

Laughingthrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

The members of this family are diverse in size and coloration, though those of genus Turdoides tend to be brown or grayish. The family is found in Africa, India, and southeast Asia.

• Arrow-marked babbler, Turdoides jardineii

Treecreepers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

• African spotted creeper, Salpornis salvadori

Oxpeckers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Buphagidae

As both the English and scientific names of these birds imply, they feed on ectoparasites, primarily ticks, found on large mammals.

• Red-billed oxpecker, Buphagus erythrorhynchus
• Yellow-billed oxpecker, Buphagus africanus

Starlings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

• Wattled starling, Creatophora cinerea
• Violet-backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
• Slender-billed starling, Onychognathus tenuirostris
• Neumann's starling, Onychognathus neumanni
• Red-winged starling, Onychognathus morio
• Waller's starling, Onychognathus walleri
• Babbling starling, Neocichla gutturalis
• Sharpe's starling, Pholia sharpii (A)
• Meves's starling, Lamprotornis mevesii
• Lesser blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chloropterus
• Greater blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Thrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

• Spotted ground-thrush, Geokichla guttata
• Orange ground-thrush, Geokichla gurneyi
• Groundscraper thrush, Psophocichla litsitsirupa
• Abyssinian thrush, Turdus abyssinicus
• Kurrichane thrush, Turdus libonyana
• Olive thrush, Turdus olivaceus

Old World flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers and chats are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Dapple-throat and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Modulatricidae

This species and two others, all of different genera, were formerly placed in family Promeropidae, the sugarbirds, but were accorded their own family in 2017.

• Spot-throat, Modulatrix stictigula

Sunbirds and spiderhunters[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Weavers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season.

Waxbills and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.

Indigobirds[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Viduidae

The indigobirds are finch-like species which usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage. All are brood parasites, which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches.

• Pin-tailed whydah, Vidua macroura
• Broad-tailed paradise-whydah, Vidua obtusa
• Eastern paradise-whydah, Vidua paradisaea
• Village indigobird, Vidua chalybeata
• Variable indigobird, Vidua funerea
• Purple indigobird, Vidua purpurascens
• Green indigobird, Vidua codringtoni
• Parasitic weaver, Anomalospiza imberbis

Old World sparrows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)
• Northern gray-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
• Swahili sparrow, Passer suahelicus
• Southern gray-headed sparrow, Passer diffusus
• Yellow-throated bush sparrow, Gymnornis superciliaris

Wagtails and pipits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

Finches, euphonias, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

• Oriole finch, Linurgus olivaceus
• Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambica
• Southern citril, Crithagra hyposticuta
• Lemon-breasted seedeater, Crithagra citrinipectus
• Brimstone canary, Crithagra sulphurata
• Yellow-browed seedeater, Crithagra whytii
• Black-eared seedeater, Crithagra mennelli
• Reichard's seedeater, Crithagra reichardi
• Yellow-crowned canary, Serinus flavivertex

Old World buntings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

• Cabanis's bunting, Emberiza cabanisi
• Golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
• Cape bunting, Emberiza capensis
• Vincent's bunting, Emberiza vincenti
• Cinnamon-breasted bunting, Emberiza tahapisi

See also[]

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

References[]

• African Bird Club & Dowsett, Bob (2007) Checklist of the Birds of Malawi. Retrieved on 30 December 2007.
• Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: a Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.
• Dowsett-Lemaire, Françoise & Dowsett, Robert J. (2006) The Birds of Malawi, Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium.
• Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of birds of Malawi". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 April 2020.

External links[]

• Birds of Malawi - World Institute for Conservation and Environment