The Simakade Field Guide to African Birds
Understand where species are found, when they are most likely to be seen, and which destinations offer the best opportunities to encounter them.
African Birds
This collection of bird guides helps you understand where different species occur, how seasons influence sightings, and which destinations offer the best opportunities to see them. Each guide provides a clear, practical context so you can plan travel around habitats, timing, and regions that support meaningful birding experiences. Explore African Birds Below:
Namaqua Dove
The Namaqua Dove is a small, elegant dove with a long tail and soft grey body, with males showing a ...
Laughing Dove
The Laughing Dove is a slender, long-tailed dove with warm brown plumage and a distinctive spotted n...
Gorgeous Bushshrike
The Gorgeous Bushshrike lives up to its name with bold green, yellow, black, and red plumage that st...
Grey Headed Bushshrike
The Grey-headed Bushshrike is a striking bird with a grey head, green back, and bright yellow underp...
Olive Bushshrike
The Olive Bushshrike is a more subtle species, with olive-green plumage and soft yellow underparts t...
Chinspot Batis
The Chinspot Batis is a small, active bird with bold black, white, and grey markings and a distincti...
Cape Batis
The Cape Batis is a small forest bird with soft grey and white plumage and a subtle black eye stripe...
Namaqua Sandgrouse
The Namaqua Sandgrouse is a beautifully marked desert bird with intricate patterns and long central ...
Gabar Goshawk
The Gabar Goshawk is a small, agile bird of prey with grey plumage and striking red eyes. It is foun...
Double-banded Courser
The Double-banded Courser is a ground-dwelling bird with sandy plumage and two bold chest bands. It ...
Northern Black Korhaan
The Northern Black Korhaan is a medium-sized bustard with striking black and white plumage in males ...
Crimson-breasted Shrike
The Crimson-breasted Shrike is a striking bird with glossy black upperparts and a vivid crimson ches...
Pygmy Falcon
The Pygmy Falcon is a very small bird of prey with grey and white plumage and bright yellow eye ring...
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
The White-browed Sparrow-Weaver is a medium-sized bird with bold black, white, and chestnut markings...
Ostrich
The Ostrich is the world’s largest bird, with long legs, a powerful build, and distinctive black a...
Arrow-marked Babbler
The Arrow-marked Babbler is a medium-sized, brown bird with subtle arrow-shaped markings on its ches...
Burchell’s Starling
Burchell’s Starling is a sleek, metallic bird with glossy blue-green plumage that shines in sunlig...
Woodland Kingfisher
The Woodland Kingfisher is a medium-sized bird with bright blue upperparts and a striking red bill. ...
European Bee-eater
The European Bee-eater is a colourful migratory bird with green, yellow, and chestnut tones. It visi...
Southern Carmine Bee-eater
The Southern Carmine Bee-eater is a striking bird with bright red plumage and blue-green accents. It...
Racket Tailed Roller
The Racket-tailed Roller is a large, colourful bird with long tail streamers ending in racket-shaped...
Broad Billed Roller
The Broad-billed Roller is a compact, brightly coloured bird with turquoise and green plumage. It is...
Lilac-breasted Roller
The Lilac-breasted Roller is one of Africa’s most iconic birds, with a mix of lilac, blue, green, ...
Barred Owlet
The Barred Owlet is a small, compact owl with brown and white barring across its body and a rounded ...
Pearl Spotted Owlet
The Pearl-spotted Owlet is a small, active owl with brown plumage marked by white spots and distinct...
Western Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is a pale, ghost-like owl with a heart-shaped face and soft white underparts. It is fou...
Spotted Eagle Owl
The Spotted Eagle-Owl is a medium to large owl with mottled brown plumage and prominent ear tufts. I...
Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl
Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl is a large, powerful owl with dark plumage and striking pink eyelids that sta...
Fiery-necked Nightjar
The Fiery-necked Nightjar is a small, cryptic bird with mottled brown plumage that blends perfectly ...
African Pygmy Kingfisher
The Pygmy Kingfisher is a tiny, brightly coloured bird with orange underparts and blue upperparts. I...
Malachite Kingfisher
The Malachite Kingfisher is a small, brilliant bird with bright blue upperparts and a vivid orange b...
Half-collared Kingfisher
The Half-collared Kingfisher is a medium-sized, striking bird with deep blue plumage and a white thr...
African Jacana
The African Jacana is a distinctive wetland bird with long toes that allow it to walk on floating ve...
Goliath Heron
The Goliath Heron is the largest heron in the world, with a massive body, long legs, and a powerful ...
African Pygmy Goose
The African Pygmy Goose is a small, colourful waterfowl with green, white, and chestnut markings. It...
Black-throated Wattle-eye
The Black-throated Wattle-eye is a small, striking bird with bold black and white markings and a dis...
African Broadbill
The African Broadbill is a small, compact bird with a large, flat bill and soft green and grey tones...
Trumpeter Hornbill
The Trumpeter Hornbill is a medium-sized bird with black plumage, a white belly, and a large curved ...
Knysna Turaco
The Knysna Turaco is a striking forest bird with deep green plumage, a red crest, and flashes of cri...
Purple-crested Turaco
The Purple-crested Turaco is a beautiful bird with green plumage, a tall purple crest, and bright re...
Narina Trogon
The Narina Trogon is a beautifully coloured forest bird with a green back, red belly, and long tail....
White-backed Vulture
The White-backed Vulture is a large scavenger with pale back feathers and a broad wingspan. It is fo...
Lappet-faced Vulture
The Lappet-faced Vulture is a massive bird with a powerful bill and bare, wrinkled head. It is found...
Cape Vulture
The Cape Vulture is a large, pale vulture found mainly in Southern Africa. It prefers mountainous an...
Palm-nut Vulture
The Palm-nut Vulture is a distinctive bird with mostly white plumage, black wings, and a red facial ...
Southern Banded Snake Eagle
The Southern Banded Snake Eagle is a medium-sized raptor with grey and white plumage and a strong, h...
Black-chested Snake Eagle
The Black-chested Snake Eagle is a large bird of prey with a dark chest and pale underparts. It is f...
Brown Snake Eagle
The Brown Snake Eagle is a large, powerful raptor with uniform brown plumage and bright yellow eyes....
African Hawk-Eagle
The African Hawk-Eagle is a medium-sized raptor with bold black, white, and chestnut markings and a ...
Bateleur
The Bateleur is a distinctive eagle with short tail feathers, long wings, and striking black, white,...
Verreaux Eagle
Verreaux’s Eagle is a large, powerful raptor with glossy black plumage and a pale back that stands...
Martial Eagle
The Martial Eagle is one of Africa’s largest and most powerful eagles, with a broad wingspan and s...
Secretarybird
The Secretary Bird is a tall, long-legged bird of prey with a distinctive crest and elegant posture....
Kori Bustard
The Kori Bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, with a large body and patterned b...
Southern Ground Hornbill
The Southern Ground Hornbill is a large, black bird with a red face and a deep, booming call. It is ...
Saddle-billed Stork
The Saddle-billed Stork is a tall, elegant bird with black and white plumage and a brightly coloured...
African Finfoot
The African Finfoot is a rare, secretive waterbird with a long neck and mottled brown plumage. It is...
Pel’s Fishing Owl
Pel’s Fishing Owl is a large, powerful owl with rich brown plumage and large dark eyes. It is foun...
African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle is a large, iconic raptor with a white head, dark body, and powerful hooked b...
Crowned Eagle
The Crowned Eagle is a powerful forest raptor with a bold crest and striking black and white marking...