Forest Edge - Bird List Knysna, Garden Route

Birds of the Garden Route - One of the reasons people decide to visit Forest Edge is the unique opportunity to bird watch, not only the birds of the area, but the special behaviours and kinds of birds that frequent the forest's edge. Although the birds are not as obvious, or plentiful, as for example in a riverine bush setting in the Kruger Park, they are varied and very rewarding for any twitcher.

As one of our guests wrote about Forest Edge "as you slow slow to its rhythm and the beat of its hospitable heart" you will increasingly see more birds. The marvel of forest fringes must be the Knysna Loerie (now known as the Knysna Touraco), but at Forest Edge you can see the majestic Fish Eagle or the dainty little Swee Waxbills, iridescent sunbirds galore, while you hear the gurgle of the Black-headed Oriole, the screech of a heron or the gentle chatter of the yellow-billed ducks on the pond. The summer calls of the Redchested Cuckoo (Piet-my-vrou) and Diederik's Cuckoo is synonymous with the golden glow of swimming, summer snoozing or lighting the braai. You may even spot the Grey Cuckooshrike, or see a group of Cape Batises mob a boomslang. You are almost certain to hear the calls of the Fierynecked Nightjar, Cape Eagle Owl, Spotted Eagle Owl and Wood Owl at night - sometimes all of them at the same time from different corners of the forest belt! We cannot possibly discuss all we see here on a regular basis, but this should give you an idea of what even the amateur Twitcher can expect to see; never cease to be charmed and surprised by the feathered gifts of the forest. Bring your binoculars and bird book, and go twitching on a Forest Walk or from the gentle rocking of your hammock...

Quicklinks to other Nature-lovers' Lists: Knysna Mammal list; Knysna Tree list;

Please see a few of the photos of birds taken at Forest Edge below, before and after the actual BIRD LIST (this is not the full list; just some of the more commonly spotted birds). Guest photos are acknowledged in the hover-over.

     

 

No	English	Afrikaans	Xhosa
58	Reed Cormorant	Rietduiker	Ugwidi
62	Grey Heron	Bloureier	Isikhawalimanzi
63	Blackheaded Heron	Swartkopreier	Isikhawalimanzi
67	Little Egret	Kleinwitreier
71	Cattle Egret	Bosluisvoel	Ilanda
94	Hadeda Ibis	Hadeda	Ing'ang'ane
102	Egyptian Goose	Kolgans	Ilowe
104	Yellowbilled Duck	Geelbekeend	Idada
126	Yellowbilled Kite	Geelbekwou	Untloyiya
127	Blackshouldered Kite	Blouvalk	Umdlampuku
148	African Fish Eagle	Visarend	Ingqolane
150	Forest Buzzard	Bosjakkalsvoel
152	Jackal Buzzard	Rooiborsjakkalsvoel	Indlandlokazi
169	Gymnogene	Kaalwangvalk
203	Helmeted Guineafowl	Gewone Tarentaal	Impangele
208	Blue Crane	Bloukraanvoel	Indwe
255	Crowned Plover	Kroonkiewiet	Igxiya
258	Blacksmith Plover	Bontkiewiet
349	Rock Pigeon	Kransduif	Ivukuthu
350	Rameron Pigeon	Geelbekbosduif	Izuba
352	Redeyed Dove	Grootringduif	Indlasidudu
354	Cape Turtle Dove	Gewone Tortelduif	Ihobe
370	Knysna Lourie or Turaco	Knysnaloerie	Igolomi
377	Redchested Cuckoo	Piet-my-vrou	Uphezukomkhono
384	Emerald Cuckoo	Mooimeisie	Intananja
386	Diederik Cuckoo	Diederikkie	Umgcibilitshane
391	Burchell's Coucall	Gewone Vleiloerie	Ubikhwe
392	Barn Owl	Nonnetjie-uil	Isikhova
400	Cape Eagle Owl	Kaapse Ooruil
405	Fierynecked Nightjar	Afrikaanse Naguil	Udebeza
415	Whiterumped Swift	Witkruiswindswael	Ihlabankomo
424	Speckled Mousebird	Gevlekte Muisvoel	Indlazi
428	Pied Kingfisher	Bontvisvanger	Isaxwila
429	Giant Kingfisher	Reuse Visvanger	Uxomoyi
430	Halfcollared Kingfisher	Blouvisvanger	Isaxwila
435	Brownhooded Kingfisher	Bruinkopvisvanger	Undozela
451	Hoopoe	Hoephoep	Ubhobhoyi
484	Knysna Woodpecker	Knysnaspeg	Isinqolamthi
488	Olive Woodpecker	Gryskopspeg
527	Lesser Striped Swallow	Kleinstreepswael	Inkonjane
536	Black Saw-wing Swallow	Swartsaagvlerkswael	Unomalahlana
541	Forktailed Drongo	Mikstertbyvanger	Intengu
545	Blackheaded Oriole	Swartkopwielewaal	Umkro
550	Whitenecked Raven	Withalskraai	Ihlungule
566	Cape Bulbul	Kaapse Tiptol
572	Sombre Bulbul	Gewone Willie	Inkwili
598	Chorister Robin	Lawaaimakerjanfrederik	Ugagasisi
601	Cape Robin	Gewone Janfrederik	Ugaga
645	Barthroated Apalis	Bandkeelkleinjantjie	Ugxakhweni
690	Dusky Flycatcher	Donkervlieevanger	Unomaphelana
698	Fiscal Flycatcher	Fiskaalvlieevanger	Icola
700	Cape Batis	Kaapse Bosbontrokkie	Ingedle
708	Bluemantled Flycatcher	Bloukuifvlieevanger	Igotyl
710	Paradise Flycatcher	Paradysvlieevanger	Ujejane
713	Cape Wagtail	Gewone Kwikkie	Umcelu
732	Fiscal Shrike	Fiskaallaksman	Inxanxadi
736	Southern Boubou	Suidelike Waterfiskaal	Igqubusha
769	Redwinged Starling	Rooivlerkspreeu	Isomi
775	Malachite Sunbird	Jangroentjie	Ingcungcu
783	Lesser Doublecollared Sunbird	Kleinrooibandsuikerbekkie
785	Greater Doublecollared Sunbird	Rooibandsuikerbekkie
792	Black Sunbird	Swartsuikerbekkie	Ingcungcu
796	Cape White-eye	Kaapse Glasogie	Intukwane
803	Cape Sparrow	Gewone Mossie	Undlunkulu
804	Greyheaded Sparrow	Gryskopmossie
813	Cape Weaver	Kaapse Wewer	Ihobo-hobo
850	Swee Waxbill	Suidelike Swie

This official list was obtained from Sanparks in Knysna; please let us know if you spot any errors or ommissions and we'll let them know.

   

The following incredible photographs were taken by Andre Marais at Forest Edge during March 2011. WOW!
   

   
*** Seeing this enticing Forest Edge Bird List of Knysna Forest birds of the Garden Route, we hope you will visit us for a birdwatching breakaway.
Book a stay and twitch away!