This is a list of the bird species recorded in Lesotho. The avifauna of Lesotho included a total of 361 species, as of October 2022, according to Avibase. Four species have been introduced by humans, and the statuses of six are under review.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (English and scientific names) are those of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/updateindex/october-2022/ Retrieved November 1, 2022.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Lesotho (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Lesotho as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Lesotho although populations exist elsewhere (S) Status - a species whose status is under review
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 (A) White-backed duck, Thalassornis leuconotus Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus South African shelduck, Tadorna cana Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis African pygmy-goose, Nettapus auritus Blue-billed teal, Spatula hottentota (A) Cape shoveler, Spatula smithii African black duck, Anas sparsa Yellow-billed duck, Anas undulata Cape teal, Anas capensis (A) Red-billed duck, Anas erythrorhyncha Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma (A) Maccoa duck, Oxyura maccoa
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
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowl, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowl, and jungle fowl. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Red-winged francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii Gray-winged francolin, Scleroptila afra Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei (A) Swainson's francolin, Pternistis swainsonii
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, Phoeniconaias 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 Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus (A) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
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 Red-eyed dove, Streptopelia semitorquata Ring-necked dove, Streptopelia capicola Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
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.
Namaqua sandgrouse, Pterocles namaqua (A)
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.
Kori bustard, Ardeotis kori Ludwig's bustard, Neotis ludwigii Denham's bustard, Neotis denhami (A) White-bellied bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis Blue bustard, Eupodotis caerulescens Karoo bustard, Eupodotis vigorsii White-quilled bustard, Eupodoti afraoides
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.
White-browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus (A) Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus Dideric cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius Black cuckoo, Cuculus clamosus (A) Red-chested cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (A)
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.
Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus (A) Freckled nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma Square-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii (A)
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.
Alpine swift, Apus melba Common swift, Apus apus African swift, Apus barbatus (S) Little swift, Apus affinis Horus swift, Apus horus White-rumped swift, Apus caffer
Flufftails Order: GruiformesFamily: Sarothruridae
The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa.
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 (A) African crake, Crex egregia Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Lesser moorhen, Paragallinula angulata Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis Baillon's crake, Porzana pusilla
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 (A) Blue crane, Anthropoides paradisea (A) Wattled crane, Bugeranus carunculatus (A)
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of waders 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.
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 (A)
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 Blacksmith lapwing, Vanellus armatus Black-winged lapwing, Vanellus melanopterus Crowned lapwing, Vanellus coronatus (A) Wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus Kittlitz's plover, Charadrius pecuarius Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A) Three-banded plover, Charadrius tricollaris
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of waders 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.
African jacana, Actophilornis africanus
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (A) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (A) Ruff, Calidris pugnax Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) Little stint, Calidris minuta African snipe, Gallinago nigripennis Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis (A) Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
Buttonquails Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Turnicidae
The buttonquails 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 (A)
Pratincoles and coursers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Burchell's courser, Cursorius rufus Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii Double-banded courser, Smutsornis africanus Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola (A) Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni
Gulls, terns, and skimmers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae