Species

Country checklist and status

You can download and print a checklist for Botswana.

A checklist of over 560 species for Botswana can also be downloaded from BirdLife Botswana. The list has some 320 non-passerines and 240 passerines.

A spreadsheet version of this checklist for Botswana which requires less data transmission can be downloaded from this link: Botswana checklist.

Botswana has no endemic species although it does have very important populations of several globally threatened species. For example, the Okavango Delta holds the largest single population of Wattled Cranes Bugeranus carunculatus of any country in Africa and most of the world’s Slaty Egrets Egretta vinaceigula also occur here.

It also has good populations of several species that are much sought after, from White-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus to Pel’s Fishing-owl Scotopelia peli. Important African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris populations occur in the Okavango Delta and Rock Pratincoles Glareola nuchalis breed near Kasane at Chobe Rapids. Botswana boasts southern Africa’s most important Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber and Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor breeding sites, at Sua Pan in the Makgadikgadi system.

Waterbird populations generally are large and diverse with good numbers of migrant crakes and Palearctic waders occurring in wet summers.

Botswana holds a very significant proportion of Palearctic non-breeding populations of Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio and Lesser Grey Shrike L. minor, Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum and Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata.

Endemic species

There are no endemic species in Botswana

Near endemic species (found in 3 or less African countries)

Threatened species

Further information can be found at BirdLife International.

Last page update 1st March 2007