South Africa is a large country, ranked 25th by size in the world, and is situated in the temperate latitudes and subtropics. Due to a range of climate types present, a patchwork of unique habitat types occur, which contribute to its biodiversity and level of endemism. This list incorporates the mainland and nearshore islands and waters only. The submerged though ecologically important Agulhas Bank is for most part inside its territorial waters. Offshore, South Africa's territory includes the Prince Edward Islands in the Subantarctic Indian Ocean.

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, except that South African spelling is used.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 1 November 2022. Taxonomic changes are on-going. As more research is gathered from studies of distribution, behaviour and DNA, the order and number of families and species may change. Furthermore, different approaches to ornithological nomenclature have led to concurrent systems of classification (see Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy and IOU taxonomy).

Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of BirdLife South Africa (BLSA). Notes in the status column are also from this source. Notes of population status, such as "endangered", refer to the worldwide population, not the South African part of it except for endemics. Unless otherwise noted in the "status" column, the species is a resident or regularly-occurring migrant.

"Vagrant" means the species rarely or accidentally occurs in South Africa. "Endemic" means the species is found only in South Africa. "SLE endemic" means the species is found only in South Africa and the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). Lesotho is surrounded by South Africa and Eswatini nearly so.

This list contains 879 species according to the Clements taxonomy. The BLSA list includes additional entries as species which Clements considers subspecies; some of them are noted. According to BLSA, 18 species are endemic, 20 are SLE endemic, and 11 have been introduced by humans. Clements describes only 15 as endemic and 14 as SLE endemic.

Ostriches

Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae

Ostriches are flightless birds native to Africa. They are the largest living species of bird. They are distinctive in appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds.

Common name Binomial Status Common ostrich(South African ostrich) Struthio camelus(S. c. australis)

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are birds adapted to an aquatic existence, with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

Common name Binomial Status White-faced whistling-duck Dendrocygna viduata Fulvous whistling-duck Dendrocygna bicolor White-backed duck Thalassornis leuconotus Mute swan Cygnus olor Introduced Knob-billed duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiaca South African shelduck Tadorna cana Spur-winged goose Plectropterus gambensis African pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus Garganey Spatula querquedula Vagrant Blue-billed teal Spatula hottentota Cape shoveler Spatula smithii Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata Vagrant African black duck Anas sparsa Yellow-billed duck Anas undulata Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Introduced Cape teal Anas capensis Red-billed duck Anas erythrorhyncha Northern pintail Anas acuta Vagrant Southern pochard Netta erythrophthalma Maccoa duck Oxyura maccoa Vulnerable

Guineafowl

Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae

The guineafowl are a family of birds native to Africa. They typically eat insects and seeds, are ground-nesting, and resemble partridges, except with featherless heads.

Common name Binomial Status Helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris Southern crested guineafowl Guttera edouardi

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds consisting of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowl, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump and have broad, relatively short wings.

Common name Binomial Status Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus Introduced Crested francolin Ortygornis sephaena Coqui francolin Campocolinus coqui Red-winged francolin Scleroptila levaillantii Grey-winged francolin Scleroptila africanus SLE endemic Orange River francolin Scleroptila gutturalis Shelley's francolin Scleroptila shelleyi Blue quail Synoicus adansonii Vagrant Common quail Coturnix coturnix Harlequin quail Coturnix delegorguei Chukar Alectoris chukar Introduced Red-billed francolin Pternistis adspersus Cape francolin Pternistis capensis See noteClements lists this species as endemic Natal francolin Pternistis natalensis Swainson's francolin Pternistis swainsonii Red-necked francolin Pternistis afer

Flamingos

Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are large gregarious wading birds 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.

Common name Binomial Status Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor Near threatened

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.

Common name Binomial Status Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus 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.

Common name Binomial Status Rock pigeon Columba livia Introduced Speckled pigeon Columba guinea Rameron pigeon Columba arquatrix Delegorgue's pigeon Columba delegorguei Lemon dove Columba larvata European turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur Vagrant; vulnerable 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 calvus

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.

Common name Binomial Status Namaqua sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua Yellow-throated sandgrouse Pterocles gutturalis Double-banded sandgrouse Pterocles bicinctus Burchell's sandgrouse Pterocles burchelli

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.

Common name Binomial Status Kori bustard Ardeotis kori Near threatened Ludwig's bustard Neotis ludwigii Endangered Denham's bustard Neotis denhami Near threatened White-bellied bustard Eupodotis senegalensis Blue bustard Eupodotis caerulescens SLE endemic (see note);Clements lists this species as endemic to South Africa alone near threatened Karoo bustard Eupodotis vigorsii Red-crested bustard Eupodotis ruficrista Black bustard Eupodoti afra Endemic; vulnerable White-quilled bustard Eupodoti afraoides Black-bellied bustard Lissotis melanogaster

Turacos

Order: MusophagiformesFamily: Musophagidae

The turacos, plantain eaters, and go-away-birds make up the 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.

Common name Binomial Status Livingstone's turaco Tauraco livingstonii Knysna turaco Tauraco corythaix SLE endemic Purple-crested turaco Tauraco porphyreolophus Grey 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.

Common name Binomial Status Senegal coucal Centropus senegalensis Vagrant 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 Vagrant Black cuckoo Cuculus clamosus Red-chested cuckoo Cuculus solitarius Lesser cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus Vagrant African cuckoo Cuculus gularis Madagascar cuckoo Cuculus rochii Vagrant Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus

Nightjars and allies

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized ground-nesting nocturnal birds with 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.

Common name Binomial Status Pennant-winged nightjar Caprimulgus vexillarius Eurasian nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Rufous-cheeked nightjar Caprimulgus rufigena Fiery-necked nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis Swamp nightjar Caprimulgus natalensis 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.

Common name Binomial Status Mottled spinetail Telacanthura ussheri Bat-like spinetail Neafrapus boehmi Alpine swift Apus melba Common swift Apus apus African swift Apus barbatus Bradfield's swift Apus bradfieldi 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.

Common name Binomial Status Buff-spotted flufftail Sarothrura elegans Red-chested flufftail Sarothrura rufa Streaky-breasted flufftail Sarothrura boehmi Vagrant Striped flufftail Sarothrura affinis White-winged flufftail Sarothrura ayresi Critically endangered

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae