This is a list of the bird species recorded in Malawi. The avifauna of Malawi include a total of 683 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, 2022 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: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus Garganey, Spatula querquedula Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) African black duck, Anas sparsa Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata Cape teal, Anas capensis (A) Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A) Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa (A)
Guineafowl Order: GalliformesFamily: 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 Southern crested guineafowl, Guttera edouardi
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: 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 Whyte's francolin, Scleroptila whytei 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: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 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: PodicipediformesFamily: 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: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Speckled pigeon, Columba guinea Rameron pigeon, Columba arquatrix Delegorgue's pigeon, Columba delegorguei Lemon dove, Columba larvata Dusky turtle-dove, Streptopelia lugens Mourning collared-dove, Streptopelia decipiens Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis Emerald-spotted wood-dove, Turtur chalcospilos Blue-spotted wood-dove, Turtur afer Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria Namaqua dove, Oena capensis African green-pigeon, Treron calva
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: 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: OtidiformesFamily: 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: CuculiformesFamily: 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: CuculiformesFamily: 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.
Senegal coucal, Centropus senegalensis Coppery-tailed coucal, Centropus cupreicaudus White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus Black coucal, Centropus grillii Green malkoha, Ceuthmochares australis Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius Levaillant's cuckoo, Clamator levaillantii Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Thick-billed cuckoo, Pachycoccyx audeberti Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius Klaas's cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas African emerald cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus Barred long-tailed cuckoo, Cercococcyx montanus Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius Lesser cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus African cuckoo, Cuculus gularis Madagascar cuckoo, Cuculus rochii (A) Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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 Montane nightjar, Caprimulgus poliocephalus Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma Square-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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: GruiformesFamily: 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: GruiformesFamily: 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: GruiformesFamily: 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: GruiformesFamily: 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: CharadriiformesFamily: 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: CharadriiformesFamily: 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: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) Long-toed lapwing, Vanellus crassirostris Blacksmith lapwing, Vanellus armatus Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus White-headed lapwing, Vanellus albiceps Senegal lapwing, Vanellus lugubris Crowned lapwing, Vanellus coronatus Wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (A) Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula Three-banded plover, Charadrius tricollaris White-fronted plover, Charadrius marginatus
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae