Black Harrier – Bird of the Year 2026
Introducing the Black Harrier: Bird of the Year 2026 Known as the Witkruisvleivalk in Afrikaans, mmankgodi-wa-dihlaba in Sesotho and umamhlangenomnyama in isiZulu, the Black Harrier is categorised as “near-endemic”, meaning that the majority of its population occurs within South Africa, and it has the unfortunate distinction of being by far the most threatened near-endemic raptor […]
Red-billed Oxpecker – Bird of the Year 2025
Introducing the Red-billed Oxpecker: Bird of the Year 2025 For almost 20 years, BirdLife South Africa has named a Bird of the Year. This tradition is a way of championing one of South Africa’s many incredible bird species. The BOTY is celebrated all year long to highlight the importance of conserving our precious avifauna. Although […]
Bateleur – Bird of the Year 2024
Introducing the Bateleur: Bird of the Year 2024 BirdLife South Africa is thrilled to announce that the Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is Bird of the Year 2024! Also known as the Berghaan (Afrikaans), ingqungqulu (isiZulu), and ingqanga (isiXhosa), this magnificent raptor is famous for its striking appearance and remarkable aerial behaviour. Surely a Bateleur soaring high […]
Cape Parrot – Bird of the Year 2023
BirdLife South Africa is pleased to announce the Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus) as Bird of the Year for 2023. The Cape Parrot (isikhwenene, upholi, Hokwe, Dikgwapa, Woudpapegaai) is endemic to South Africa, so it occurs nowhere else in the world. This beautiful parrot inhabits isolated patches of forest in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo […]
Cape Gannet – Bird of the Year 2022
Cape Gannet – Bird of the Year 2022 BirdLife South Africa is pleased to announce the Cape Gannet as Bird of the Year for 2022. Gannets are spectacular high-speed diving birds. With their unusually narrow-set eyes and exquisitely painted faces, these birds are as unmistakable as they are beautiful. They feed primarily on sardine and […]
Cape Rock Jumper – Bird of The Year 2021
Introducing the CapeRock Jumper: Brd of the year 2021 Each year BirdLlife South Africa selects a species as the ‘Bird of the Year’. The Cape Rockjumper has been chosen as Bird of the Year in 2021. We are partnering with Rockjumper Worldwide Birding Adventures to raise awareness about this interesting species. Bird of the Year […]
The Southern Ground-Hornbill – Bird of the Year 2020
Introducing the Southern Ground-Hornbill: Bird of the Year 2025 Each year Birdlife South Africa selects a species as the ‘Bird of the Year’. This year, in partnership with the Mabula Ground-Hornbill Project and funded by the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, the Southern Ground-Hornbill has been chosen as the Bird of the Year 2020. The Southern Ground-Hornbill is […]
Secretarybird – Bird of the Year 2019
Introducing the Secretary Bird : Bird of the Year 2019 BirdLife South Africa is thrilled to announce that the Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is Bird of the Year 2024! Also known as the Berghaan (Afrikaans), ingqungqulu (isiZulu), and ingqanga (isiXhosa), this magnificent raptor is famous for its striking appearance and remarkable aerial behaviour. Surely a Bateleur […]
African Black Oystercatcher – Bird of the Year 2018
Introducing the African Black Oystercatcher: Bird of the Year 2025 BirdLife South Africa has chosen the near-endemic African Black Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini as the Bird of the Year for 2018. The African Black Oystercatcher is a modern-day conservation success story with its population having dramatically increased over the last few decades, leading to its regional red listing status being […]