Text and Photos by Wildlife ACT Priority Species Monitor: iMfolozi, Chris du Toit
Zululand is an extremely diverse landscape with a wide array of habitats and ecosystems. Inhabiting these different environments is a great multitude of birds, as Zululand is known to support more than 400 bird species.
These are just a few examples of the birds of Zululand and the habitats they prefer:
Pied Avocets along with Greater and Lesser Flamingo favour shallow, saline inland water bodies.
Great Egrets, African Spoonbills and Saddle Billed Storks like to inhabit large river systems, lake margins and wetlands.
Blue-cheeked and White-fronted Bee-eaters also prefer lake or river margins and avoid very arid regions.
Collared Sunbirds can be found in dense woodland and evergreen forests looking for nectar rich flowers and insects.
Long-Crested Eagles prefer moist, dense woodlands with adjacent grasslands and marshes.
Bateleurs, along with White-backed and Lappet-faced Vultures, can be found in savanna woodlands and semi-arid areas.
Southern Ground Hornbills, Spotted Thick-knees and Black-shouldered Kites favour open, stony savanna and grasslands, often with scattered trees.
White-crested Helmet Shrikes inhabit broad-leaved woodlands and can also be found along drainage lines consisting of mixed savanna.
Find out more about Zululand’s wildlife here: