Country checklist and status
iGoTerra
We are delighted that our Corporate Sponsor iGoTerra has made its country checklists, including subspecies (IOC or Clements) as well as all other species groups like mammals, butterflies etc. available through the ABC website. The only thing required is a Basic membership / registration which is free of charge. Go to Mozambique checklists. If you are already a member of iGoTerra, you will be taken directly to the country page. In case you are not a member, you will be redirected automatically to the registration form and from there can go straight to the country page.
The birdlife of Mozambique is poorly known and as yet, there is no definitive checklist for the country. Approximately 690 bird species have been recorded in Mozambique, with 8 of the 10 families endemic to the African continent being represented and only one endemic species, the *Namuli Apalis Apalis (thoracica) lynesi, being restricted to the region. More than 530 species breed within the country.
The Mozambique Bird Atlas Project was started in December 1994 and covered the southern areas of the country between the Sabe River and the KwaZulu Natal border in South Africa for the first three years. Subsequently, the survey has concentrated on the northern part of the country. Records can be sent to Vincent Parker - see contact section for address. Bird Numbers 5:15-16 December 1995 and ABC Bulletins 3:2 75-76, 4:1 10, 6:2 86.
Endemic species
*Namuli Apalis | Apalis (thoracica) lynesi |
* Although some authorities raise Namuli Apalis Apalis lynesi to full species level, it is recorded in the African Bird Club checklist as a subspecies of Bar-throated Apalis Apalis (thoracica) lynesi.
Near endemic species (found in 3 countries at most)
Stierling’s Woodpecker | Dendropicos stierlingi |
Swynnerton’s Robin | Swynnertonia swynnertoni |
East Coast Akalat | Sheppardia gunningi |
Brown Scrub-Robin | Cercotrichas signata |
Cholo Alethe | Alethe choloensis |
Kretschmer’s Longbill | Macrosphenus kretschmeri |
Long-billed Tailorbird | Orthotomus moreaui |
African Tailorbird | Orthotomus metopias |
Briar Warbler | Oreophilais robertsi |
White-winged Apalis | Apalis chariessa |
Chirinda Apalis | Apalis chirindensis |
Dappled Mountain-Robin | Arcanator orostruthus |
Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird | Anthreptes neglectus |
Neergaard’s Sunbird | Cinnyris neergaardi |
Southern Tchagra | Tchagra tchagra |
Zanzibar Bishop | Euplectes nigroventris |
Lesser Seedcracker | Pyrenestes minor |
Pink-throated Twinspot | Hypargos margaritatus |
The following has been raised to full species status by some authorities but is treated as a subspecies by the African Bird Club.
Malawi Batis | Batis (capensis) dimorpha |
Threatened species
Madagascar Pond Heron | Ardeola idae | Vulnerable |
Slaty Egret | Egretta vinaceigula | Vulnerable |
Cape Vulture | Gyps coprotheres | Vulnerable |
Lappet-faced Vulture | Torgos tracheliotus | Vulnerable |
Lesser Kestrel | Falco naumanni | Vulnerable |
Corncrake | Crex crex | Vulnerable |
Wattled Crane | Bugeranus carunculatus | Vulnerable |
Blue Swallow | Hirundo atrocaerulea | Vulnerable |
Swynnerton’s Robin | Swynnertonia swynnertoni | Vulnerable |
East Coast Akalat | Sheppardia gunningi | Vulnerable |
Cholo Alethe | Alethe choloensis | Endangered |
Long-billed Tailorbird | Orthotomus moreaui | Critical |
Namuli Apalis | Apalis (thoracica) lynesi | Vulnerable |
White-winged Apalis | Apalis chariessa | Vulnerable |
Dappled Mountain-Robin | Arcanator orostruthus | Vulnerable |
The lists of endemic, near endemic and threatened species have been compiled from a number of sources including the African Bird Club, BirdLife International, and Birds of the World Version 2.0 1994-1996, Dr. Charles Sibley and Thayer Birding Software, Ltd.