Vernacular Names For Zambian Birds

Zambia has 779 indigenous bird species. This is not counting those that have been introduced to this region artificially by humans. And yes, we are talking about real birds!

As a child, I remember walking down to Chimwemwe stream to watch the rich bird varieties in the thick growth of reeds that grew all along the river banks. My favourite was  the red-collared widow-bird in mating season. With its long tail and dashes of red plumage, noisy bird song and bursts of frequent low-level flight, it was just sheer exhibitionism.

Nowadays the stream is bare (and mosquito free). Fortunately there are still bird sanctuaries where it’s possible to observe birds going about their business in a more natural environment. Around Kitwe, Kumasamba Lodge and Chembe Bird Sanctuary offer the visitor a chance to bird watch.

In the villages, It’s well known that the Greater Honeyguide  displays deliberate behavior to attract human attention and lead them to beehives.When humans get the honey, the birds benefit from the massive numbers of bees whose home has been destroyed.

Outside the Copperbelt, the wild life becomes even richer. “Zambia features some of the most remote and unspoiled ecosystems in southern Africa, as well as the broadest range of activities by which to fully experience the adventure of safari.” (Classic Africa.com)

Here we present pictures of 45 common Zambian birds and include their vernacular (Bemba) and scientific names. The post would not be complete without a table! So, we have gathered all the info in a table for easier reference.

We welcome your comments and contributions. Remember there are 72 other columns waiting to be filled with the equivalent names in all Zambian languages. Send in your suggestions and contributions.

The Photos below show the bird with its Bemba, English and Scientific(in brackets) names, in that order (below each photo)

African Fish Eagle

 

Cembe  = The African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)

 

Racket-tailed Rollerid=”attachment_2537″ align=”aligncenter” width=”230″ caption=”Racket-tailed Roller”

Cikwekwe = The Racket-tailed Roller (Coracias spatulatus)
Marabou Stork

id=”attachment_2543″ align=”aligncenter” width=”222″ caption=”Marabou Stork”

Cipampa = Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus):
Source: Wickipedia
Turtle Dove

id=”attachment_2544″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Turtle Dove”

Icipele = Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
common-quail

id=”attachment_2545″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”common-quail”

Icipingila = Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix)
Grass_Owl

id=”attachment_2546″ align=”aligncenter” width=”247″ caption=”Grass_Owl”

Icipululu = Owl – Grass Owl (Tyto capensis)
Bateleur Eagle

id=”attachment_2547″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Bateleur Eagle”

Icipungu = Bateleur eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus)
Moutain_Marsh_Widowbird

id=”attachment_2548″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Moutain_Marsh_Widowbird”

Cisokopela = Weaver (Euplectes psammocromius)
(male Mountain Marsh Widowbird in mating season plumage)
black-eyed_bulbul

id=”attachment_2549″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”black-eyed_bulbul”

Pwele = Black-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus)
Wax bill

id=”attachment_2550″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Wax bill”

Uluseba = Wax bill (Serinus striolatus)
White-fronted_Bee_Eater

id=”attachment_2551″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”White-fronted_Bee_Eater”

Umulumbelumbe = White-fronted bee eater(Merops bullockoides)
Crested_guineafowl

id=”attachment_2552″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Crested_guineafowl”

Ikanga = Crested Guineafowl (Guttera pucherani)
 
White Stork

id=”attachment_2553″ align=”aligncenter” width=”284″ caption=”White Stork”

Inkowa = White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Source: Wickipedia
Pied_crow

id=”attachment_2554″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Pied_crow”

Mwankole = Pied Crow (Corvus albus)
Barn swallow

id=”attachment_2555″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Barn swallow”

Akamimbi = Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica)
Night Jar

id=”attachment_2556″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Night Jar”

Ulumbasa = Black shouldered Night Jar (Caprimulgus nigriscapularis)
Chanting Go-Hawk

id=”attachment_2557″ align=”aligncenter” width=”257″ caption=”Chanting Go-Hawk”

Kakoshi = Dark Chanting Go-Hawk (Melierax metabates)
Senegal Cougal

id=”attachment_2558″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Senegal Cougal”

Mukuta = Cougal (Centropus Burchelli)
Image source: Bird Photo.org
East__African_Crowned_Crane

id=”attachment_2559″ align=”aligncenter” width=”201″ caption=”East__African_Crowned_Crane”

Ngoli = Crested (or Crowned) Crane = (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps)
Image source: Edinburgh Zoo.org.uk
Crowned Plover

id=”attachment_2560″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Crowned Plover”

Kakolenkole = Crowned Plover (Vanellus coronatus)
Laughing Dove

id=”attachment_2561″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Laughing Dove”

Katutwa = Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
Square-tailed Drongo

id=”attachment_2562″ align=”aligncenter” width=”223″ caption=”Square-tailed Drongo”

Muntengu = Square-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus ludwigii)
Gabon-Congo-Serpent-Eagle

id=”attachment_2563″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Gabon-Congo-Serpent-Eagle”

Kapumpe =Congo Serpent Eagle( Dryotriorchis spectabilis)
Brown-Falcon

id=”attachment_2565″ align=”aligncenter” width=”252″ caption=”Brown-Falcon”

Pungwa = Brown falcon (Falco berigora)
Kori Bustard

id=”attachment_2566″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Kori Bustard”

Namungwa = Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)
Red-neck-Frankolin

id=”attachment_2567″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Red-neck-Frankolin”

Kapeshi =Red-necked Francolin (Francolinus afer)
White-bellied Go-away bird

id=”attachment_2568″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”White-bellied Go-away bird”

Kuwe = White-bellied go-away bird (Corythaixoides leucogaster)
Thick-billed_Green_Pigeon

id=”attachment_2569″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Thick-billed_Green_Pigeon”

Nkondonkondo = Thick-billed Green Pigeon (Male)(Treron curvirostra)
Great Egret

id=”attachment_2570″ align=”aligncenter” width=”285″ caption=”Great Egret”

Inkoba = Great Egret (Egretta alba)
Greater-Honeyguide

id=”attachment_2571″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Greater-Honeyguide”

Nsolo = Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator)
African Grey Hornbill

id=”attachment_2572″ align=”aligncenter” width=”250″ caption=”African Grey Hornbill”

Lukoma = African Grey Hornbill (Tockus nasutus)
Woodland-Kingfisher

id=”attachment_2573″ align=”aligncenter” width=”275″ caption=”Woodland-Kingfisher”

Mulowa = Woodland Kingfisher ( Halcyon senegalensis)
Red-collared-Widowbird

id=”attachment_2574″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Red-collared-Widowbird”

Muleya = Red-collared Widowbird (Euplectes ardens)
Ostrich

id=”attachment_2575″ align=”aligncenter” width=”228″ caption=”Ostrich”

Mwakatala= Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
African Marsh Harrier

id=”attachment_2576″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”African Marsh Harrier”

Kakoshi Kanika = African Marsh Harrier (Circus ranivorus)
Rose-ringed_Parakeet_(Male)

id=”attachment_2577″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Rose-ringed_Parakeet_(Male)”

Muchenche = Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
White Pelican

id=”attachment_2578″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”White Pelican”

Mukanga = White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)
White-necked-Raven

id=”attachment_2579″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”White-necked-Raven”

Mwankole = White-necked Raven (Corvus albicollis)
Roller

id=”attachment_2580″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Roller”

Mukufi = Roller (Coracias caudatus)
 
African-Reed-Warbler

id=”attachment_2581″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”African-Reed-Warbler”

Titi = African Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus baeticatus)
Common Snipe

id=”attachment_2582″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Common Snipe”

Kakandamatipa = Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Golden-tailed_Woodpecker

id=”attachment_2583″ align=”aligncenter” width=”270″ caption=”Golden-tailed_Woodpecker”

Tondwe = Golden-tailed Woodpecker (Campethera abingoni)
African Pied Wagtail

id=”attachment_2584″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”African Pied Wagtail”

Katyetye = African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp)
Spur-winged-Goose

id=”attachment_2585″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Spur-winged-Goose”

Mbata = Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis)
Bronze_Sunbird

id=”attachment_2586″ align=”aligncenter” width=”232″ caption=”Bronze_Sunbird”

Sosa = Bronze Sunbird (Nectarinia kilimensis)
 
 
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7 Thoughts on Vernacular Names For Zambian Birds
    Kennedy
    26 Jan 2016
    10:51am

    Very good site! I have sited one or two of the features birds in Lusaka in the mutumbi Meanwood area which is yet to be fully developed for housing! I wish my Nsenga was good enough to give you the Nsenga names of the birds featured.

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      JS
      26 Jan 2016
      11:58pm

      Hi Kennedy,
      Thanks for your kind comments.
      The sounds of birds singing in their natural environment is something beautiful. I still remember watching birds in the reeds as they made their mating calls and dances, when I was two or three. Beautiful plumage – lasting memories.
      Even if you manage to get just one bird in Nsenga, we’ll be happy to post the information.

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    Imasiku AKA
    27 Jan 2020
    8:58am

    Here are some of the same bird names in the SILOZI Language of western Zambia:

    Sichikwele – AFrican Grey Parrot
    Nongolo – Egret
    Njolo – Honey Guide
    Ostrich – Mpye
    Sibungu – Bateleur’s Eagle
    Fish Eagle – Ng’wanyi
    Kambimbi – Swallow
    Sitengu – Forktailed Drongo
    Linongu – Vulture
    Lingomba – Ground Horn Bill
    Pied Crow – Ling’walala
    Night Jar – ?
    Munembo – ?
    Simukuyu – ?
    Imuyulu – ?
    Simikata – ?

    ? – King Fisher
    ? – Woodpecker

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      JS
      27 Jan 2020
      9:48am

      Hi Imasiku. This is a great contribution. We will update the post to incorporate your input. Thank you.

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    Leonard
    6 Feb 2022
    2:12pm

    Keep up the good work, we can’t afford to lose all that our forefathers knew, I love the names some of which remind me my grandparents and my childhood

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      JS
      6 Feb 2022
      3:12pm

      Thanks. It’s up to us all to pass on what we know to those who come after us.

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    Swithin Kashulwe
    19 Oct 2021
    12:29pm

    What is the vernacular name for the secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius)

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