Menu
Malawi is not only famous for its beautiful nature and animals but also famous for its birdwatching as well. Malawi is a bird sanctuary with a bird population of more than 650 species recorded throughout the countrywide which is quite a surprising amount for a small country. The bird species in Malawi are woodland and grassland birds.
This time, ACU PAY will introduce an example of interesting birds from various bird species in Malawi. What birds are there? Let’s read along together!
The Pied Kingfisher has black and white feathers, a short and bushy crest, and a pitch-black beak. It is different from Crested Kingfisher because the Pied Kingfisher is smaller and has a thicker black pattern. Also its crest is shorter and less erect than the Created Kingfisher.
The Pied Kingfisher often perched in a pair or a small flock, flying still over the water surface to look for its prey. It can be seen in many types of water sources such as lakes, bays, or mangrove forest. It gives a high-pitched and rattling cry.
It is a species of water kingfisher that spread throughout the sub-Saharan region of Africa and Asia.
The Burchell’s Coucal ( Centropus Burchellii ) has a black head, creamy white on the chest and neck area, wings and back is reddish brown. The Burchell’s Coucal is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. This bird is often seen in sub-Saharan Africa. It lives in areas covered with thick wood, including the coastal areas. It usually lives individually or in a pair.
The common name of this bird in Afrikaans is gewone vleiloerie and umGugwane in Zulu. Sometimes, this bird is considered a subspecies of the White-browed Coucal. The name Burchell’s Coucal was named after William John Burchell, a British scientist.
Böhm’s bee-eater is a species of Meropidae. It can be seen in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. The bird has orange fur on its neck and head, with black tail end. It is found mostly in rainforests and forest edges, often near rivers and streams. It is normally perched in a pair or a small flock. The cry is an up-and-down high-pitched screech which is quite like a Madagascar Bee-eater, but it is smaller and slender, thinner, and has no broad white bands on its face.
The scientific name for the Black Heron or Black Egret is Egretta ardesiaca. It is a species of African Stork. Its color is black from head to legs with yellow feet. It is about 40-60 centimeters tall when fully grown. It often lives in water sources to catch fish and small aquatic animals for food.
The remarkable feature of this bird is its way of finding food called “ Canopy feeding” which it will spread its wings out like an umbrella over the prey it will catch. Scientists assume that this is the way to reduce the light reflection on the water surface so that it can see its prey more clearly.
The African Openbill is medium sized, its feathers are mostly greenish gloss with a unique thick, pointed straight bill. When its bills meet, it creates a diagnostic gap between the two halves of the bill, and that is the reason why this bird is called African “Openbill”.
The reason why there is a gap between its bills is for convenience when carrying prey with its bill. The African Openbill feeds on aquatic animals, especially snails and mussels. The African Openbill can be seen if the environment permits.
Birdwatching in Malawi is another special activity. We can watch birds all year round but the perfect time for birdwatching is the rainy season from November to April. It’s a time when migratory birds are seen, which is different from wildlife viewing that has the best time to watch in the dry season.
The ideal bird watching spot in Malawi should be the bird viewing spot in many of Malawi’s national parks, where viewers can experience nature closely.
