There are over 450 species of bird in the Selous, making Sand Rivers paradise for beginners and keen bird watchers alike. It is wondeful to stop at a lakeside for an hour or two during the late afternoon with a pair of binoculars watching waders, eagles and kingfishers. The lodge itself with its open verandas and panoramic river views also make the most delighful hide from which to see birds.

Little Grebe – Tachybaptus ruficollis
White Pelican – Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pink-backed Pelican – Pelecanus rufescens
Long-tailed Cormorant – Phalacrocorax africanus
Greater Cormorant – Phalacrocorax carbo
Darter – Anhinga rufa
Little Bittern – Ixobrychus minutus
Dwarf Bittern – Ixobrychus sturmii
Grey Heron – Ardea cinerea
Goliath Heron – Ardea goliath
Black-headed Heron – Ardea melanocephala
Purple Heron – Ardea purpurea
Madagascar Squacco Heron – Ardeola idae
Squacco Heron – Ardeola ralloides
Rufous-bellied Heron – Ardeola rufiventris
Cattle Efret – Bubulcus ibis
Green-backed Heron – Butorides striatus
Great White Egret – Egretta alba
Little Egret – Egretta garzetta
Yellow-billed Egret – Egretta intermedia
Night Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax
Hamerkop – Scopus umbretta
Open-billed Stork – Anastomus lamelligerus
White Stork – Ciconia ciconia
Abdims’s Stork – Ciconia abdimii
Woolly-necked Stork – Ciconia episcopus
Saddle-billed Stork – Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Marabou – Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Yellow-billed Stork – Mycteria ibis
Hadada – Bostychia hagedash
Glossy Ibis – Plegadis falcinellus
Sacred Ibis – Threskiornis aethiopica
African Spoonbill – Platalea alba
Fulvous Whistling Duck – Dendrocygna bicolor
White-faced Whistling Duck – Dendrocygna viduata
Egyptian Goose – Alopochen aegyptiacus
Spur-winged Goose – Plectopterus gambensis
Knob-billed Duck – Sarkidiornis melanotos
African Pygmy Goose – Nettapus auritus
Secretary Bird – Sagittarius serpentarius
Palm Nut Vulture – Gypohierax angolensis
African White-backed Vulture – Gyps africanus
Ruppell’s Vulture – Gyps rueppellii
Hooded Vulture – Neophron monachus
Lappet-faced Vulture – Torgos tracheliotus
White-headed Vulture – Trigonoceps occipitalis
Eurasian Marsh Harrier – Circus aeruginosus
Pallid Harrier – Circus macrourus
Montagu’s Harrier – Circus pygargus
African Marsh Harrier – Circus ranivorus
Harrier Hawk – Polyboroides radiatus
Bateleur – Terathopius ecaudatus
Brown Snake Eagle – Circaetus cinereus
Southern Banded Snake Eagle – Ciraetus fasciolatus
Short-toed Snake Eagle – Ciraetus gallicus
Greater Sparrowhawk – Accipiter melanoleucos
Little Sparrowhawk – Accipiter minullus
Shikra – Accipiter badius
Ovampo Sparrowhawk – Accipiter ovampensis
African Goshawk – Accipiter tachiro
Lesser Spotted Eagle – Aquila pomarina
Tawny Eagle – Aquila rapax
Wahlberg’s Eagle – Aquila wahlbergi
African Hawk Eagle – Hieraaetus spilogaster
Lizard Buzzard – Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Gabar Goshawk – Melierax gabar
Dark Chanting Goshawk – Melierax metabates
Martial Eagle – Polemaetus bellicosus
Crowned Eagle – Stephanoaetus coronatus
African Fish Eagle – Haliaeetus vocifer
Black Kite – Milvus migrans
Cuckoo Hawk – Aviceda cuculoides
Honey Buzzard – Pernis apivorus
Black-shouldered Kite – Elanus caeruleus
Bat Hawk – Macheiramphus alcinus
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
Eastern Red-footed Falcon – Falco amurensis
Grey Kestrel – Falco ardosiaceus
Red-necked Falcon – Falco chicquera
Sooty Falcon – Falco concolor
African Hobby – Falco cuvieri
Dickinson’s Kestrel – Falco dickinsoni
Eleonora’s Falcon – Falco eleonorae
Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus
Hobby – Falco subbuteo
Harlequin Quail – Coturnix delgorguei
Red-necked Spurfowl – Francolinus afer
Coqui Francolin – Francolinus coqui
Hildebrandt’s Francolin - Francolinus hildebrandti
Crested Francolin – Francolinus sephaena
Shelley’s Francolin – Francolinus shelleyi
Crested Gineafowl – Guttera edouardi
Helmeted Gineafowl – Numida meleagris
Button Quail – Turnix sylvatica
Corncrake – Crex crex
African Crake – Crex egregia
Black Crake – Limnocorax flavirostra
African Finfoot – Podica senegalensis
Black-bellied Bustard – Eupodotis melanogaster
Jacana – Actophilornis africanus
Painted Snipe – Rostratula benghalensis
Greater Sandplover – Charadrius leschenaultii
White-fronted Sandrlover – Charadrius marginatus
Kittlitz’s Sandplover – Charadrius pecuarius
Three-banded Plover – Charadrius tricollis
Grey Plover – Pluvialis squatarola
White-headed Plover – Vanellus albiceps
Blacksmith Plover – Vanellus armatus
Crowned Plover – Vanellus coronatus
Senegal Plover – Vanellus lugubris
Spur-winged Plover – Vanellus spinosus
Common Sandpiper – Actitis hypoleucos
Wood Sandpiper – Tringa glareola
Greenshank - Tringa nebularia
Green Sandpiper – Tringa ochropus
Marsh Sandpiper – Tringa stagnatilis
Common Snipe – Gallinago gallinago
Curlew Sandpiper – Calidris ferruginea
Ruff – Philomachus pugnax
Little Stint – Calidris minuta
Black-winged Stilt – Himantopus himantopus
Avocet – Recurvirostra avosetta
Spotted Thicknee – Burhinus capensis
Water Thicknee – Burhinus vermiculatus
Temminck’s Courser – Cursorius temminckii
Violet-tipped Courser – Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
White-collared Pratincole – Glareola nuchalis
Common Pratincole – Glareola pratincola
Whiskered Tern – Chlidonius hybridus
Gull-billed Tern – Gelochelidon nilotica
African Skimmer – Rhynchops flavirostris
Lemon Dove – Aplopeloa larvata
Speckled Pigeon – Columba guinea
Namaqua Dove – Oena capensis
Ring-necked Dove – Streptopelia capicola
Red-eyed Dove – Streptopelia semitorquata
Laughing Dove – Streptopelia senegalensis
Blue-spotted Wood Dove – Turtur afer
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove – Turtur chalcospilos
Tambourine Dove – Turtur tympanistria
Green Pigeon – Treron australis
Brown-headed Parrot – Poicephalaus cryptoxanthus
Brown-necked Parrot – Poicephalus robustus
Go-away Bird – Corythaixoides concolor
Livingstone’s Turaco – Tauraco livingstonii
Violet-crested Turaco – Tauraco porphyreolophus
Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo – Cercococcyx montanus
Didric Cuckoo – Chrysococcyx caprius
Emerald Cuckoo – Chrysococcyx cupreus
Klaa’s Cuckoo – Chrysococcyx klaas
Great Spotted Cuckoo – Clamator glandarius
Black and White Cuckoo – Clamator jacobinus
Levaillant’s Cuckoo – Clamator levaillantii
Eurasian Cuckoo – Cuculus canorus
Black Cuckoo – Cuculus clamosus
African Cuckoo – Cuculus gularis
Red-chested Cuckoo – Cuculus solitarius
Yellowbill – Ceuthmochares aereus
Black Coucal – Centropus grillii
White-browed Coucal – Centropus superciliosus
Spotted Eagle Owl – Bubo africanus
Verreaux’s Eagle Owl – Bubo lacteus
African Wood Owl – Ciccaba woodfordii
Barred Owlet – Glaucidium capense
Pearl-spotted Owl – Glaucidium perlatum
Pel’s Fishing Owl – Scotopelia peli
Eurasian Nightjar – Caprimulgus europaeus
Gabon Nightjar – Caprimulgus fossii
Fiery-necked Nighthar – Caprimulgus pectoralis
Freckled Nightjar – Caprimulgus tristigma
Pennant-winged Nightjar – Macrodipteryx vexillarius
Little Swift – Apus affinis
Eurasian Swift – Apus apus
White-rumped Swift – Apus caffer
Horus Swift – Apus horus
Palm Swift – Cypsiurus parvus
Bohm’s Spinetail – Neafrapus boehmi
Mottle-throated Spinetail – Telecanthira ussheri
Speckled Mousebird – Colius striatus
Blue-naped Mousebird – Urocolius macrourus
Narina’s Trogon – Apaloderma narina
Giant Kingfisher – Ceryle maxima
Pied Kingfisher – Ceryle rudis
Malachite Kingfisher – Alcedo cristata
Brown-hooded Kingfisher – Halcyon albiventris
Striped Kingfisher – Halcyon chelicuti
Chestnut-bellied Kingfisher – Halcyon leucocephala
Woodland Kingfisher – Halcyon senegalensis
Mangrove Kingfisher – Halcyon senegaloides
Pygmy Kingfisher – Ispidina picta
White-throated Bee-eater – Merops albicollis
Eurasian Bee-easte – Merops apiaster
Bohm’s Bee-eater – Merops boehmi
White-fronted Bee-eater – Merops bullockoides
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater – Merops hirundineus
Carmine Bee-eater – Merops nubicus
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater – Merops persicus
Little Bee-eater – Merops pusillus
Madagascar Bee-eater – Merops superciliosus
Lilac-breasted Roller – Coracias caudata
Eurasian Roller – Coracias garrulus
Rufous-crowned Roller – Coracias naevia
Racquet-tailed Roller – Coracias spatulata
Broad-billed Roller – Eurystomus glaucurus
Hoopoe – Upupa epops
Scimitarbill – Phoeniculus cyanomelas
Green Wood Hoopoe – Phoeniculus purpureus
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill – Bycanistes brevis
Trumpeter Hornbill – Bycanistes bucinator
Crowned Hornbill – Tockus alboterminatus
Von der Decken’s Hornbill – Tockus deckeni
Grey Hornbill – Tockus nasutus
Pale-billed Hornbill – Tockus pallidirostris
Ground Hornbill – Bocorvus cafer
White-eared Barbet – Buccanodon leucotis
Whytes’s Barbet – Buccanodon whytii
Spotted-flanked Barbet – Lybius lacrymosus
Black-collared Barbet – Lybius torquatus
Brown-breasted Barbet – Lybius melanopterus
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird – Pogoniulus bilineatus
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird – Pogoniulus chrysoconus
Green Tinkerbird – Pogoniulus simplex
Levaillant’s Barbet – Trachyphonus vaillantii
Black-throated Honeyguide – Indicator indicator
Lesser Honeyguide – Indicator minor
Scaly-throated Honeyguide – Indicator variegatus
Golden-tailed Woodpecker – Campethera abingoni
Bennett’s Woodpecker – Campethera bennettii
Little Spotted Woodpecker – Capethera cailiautii
Nubian Woodpecker - Campethera nubica
Cardinal Woodpecker – Dendropicos fuscescens
Stierling’s Woodpecker – Dendropicos stierlingi
Bearded Woodpecker – Thripias namaquus
African Broadbill – Smithornis capensis
African Pitta – Pitta angolensis
Fischer’s Sparrow Lark – Eremopterix leucopareia
Rufous-naped Lark – Mirafra africana
Dusky Bush Lark – Mirafra nigricans
Flappet Lark – Mirafra rufocinnamonea
House Martin – Delichon urbica
Striped Swallow – Hirundo abyssinica
African Rock Martin – Hirundo fuligula
Grey-rumped Swallow – Hirundo griseopyga
Eurasian Swallow – Hirundo rustica
Mosque Swallow – Hirundo senegalensis
Wire-tailed Swallow – Hirundo smithii
Black Rough-wing – Psalidoprocne pristoptera
African Sand Martin – Riparia paludicola
Eurasian Sand Martin – Riparia riparia
Drongo – Dicrurus adsimilis
Square-tailed Drongo – Dicrurus ludwigii
African Golden Oriole – Oriolus auratus
Green-headed Oriole – Oriolus chlorocephalus
Black-headed Oriole – Oriolus larvatus
Golden Oriole – Oriolus oriolus
White-necked Raven – Corvus albicollis
Pied Crow – Corvus albus
White-bellied Tit – Parus albiventris
Black Tit – Parus leucomelas
Rufous-bellied Tit – Parus rufiventris
African Penduline Tit – Remiz caroli
Spotted Creeper – Salpornis spilonota
Arrow-marker Vavvler – Turdoides jardineii
Black-lored Babbler – Turdoides melanops
Rufous Chatterer – Turdoides rubinginosus
Black Cuckoo Shrike – Campephaga flava
White-breasted Cuckoo Shrike – Coracina pectoralis
Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul – Andropadus imprtunus
Little Greenbul – Andropadus virens
Yellow-bellied Breenbul – Chlorocichla flavivnetris
Nicator – Nicator chloris
Grey-olive Greenbul – Phyllastrephus cerviniventris
Tiny Greenbul – Phyllastrephus debilis
Fischer’s Greenbul – Phyllastrephus fischeri
Yellow-streaked Greenbul – Phyllastrephus flavostriatus
Northern Brownbul – Phyllastrephus strepitans
Brownbul – Phyllastrephus terrestris
Common Bulbul – Pycnonotus barbatus
White-chested Alethe – Alethe fulleborni
Red-tailed Chat – Cercomela familiaris
White-browed Scrub Robin – Cercotrichas leucophrys
Eastern Bearded Scrub Robin – Cercotrichas quadrivirgata
Morning Thrush – Cichladusa arquata
Spotted Morning Thrush – Cichladusa guttata
White-browed Robin Chat – Cossypha heuglini
Red-capped Robin Chat – Cossypha natalensis
Miombo Rock Thrush – Monticola angolensis
Rock Thrush – Monticola saxatilis
Northern Wheatear – Oenanthe oenanthe
Capped Wheatear – Oenanthe pileata
Pied Wheatear – Oenanthe pleschanka
White-starred Forest Robin – Pogonochicla stellata
White-headed Black Chat – Thamnolaea arnoti
Cliff Chat – Thamnolaea cinnamonmeiventris
Orange Ground Thrush – Turdus gurneyi
Kurrichane Thrush – Turdus libonyanus
Great Reed Warbler – Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Lesser Swamp Warbler – Acrocephalus gracilirostris
Sedge Warbler – Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Yellow-breasted Apalis – Apalis flavida
Black-headed Apalis – Apalis melanocephala
Little Rush Warbler – Bradypterus baboecala
Grey-backed Camaroptera – Camaroptera brachyura
Barred wren Warbler – Camaroptera steirlingi
Desert Cisticola – Cisticola aridula
Siffling Cisticola – Cisticola brachyptera
Singing Cisticola – Cisticola cantans
Rattling Cisticola – Cisticola chiniana
Red-faced Cisticola – Cisticola erythrops
Tabora Cisticola – Cisticola fulvicapilla
Winding Cisticola – Cisticola galactotes
Zitting Cisticola – Cisticola juncidis
Croaking Cisticola – Cisticola natalensis
Yellow-bellied Eremomela – Eremomela icteropygialis
Green-capped Eremomela – Eremomela scotops
Red-winged Warbler – Heliolais erythroptera
Olivaceous Warbler – Hippolais pallida
Yellow-bellied Hyliota – Hyliota flavigaster
Kretschmer’s Longbill – Macrosphenus kretschmeri
Willow Warbler – Phylloscopus trichilus
Tawny-flanked Prinia – Prinia subflava
Moustached Warbler – Sphenoeacus mentalis
Barred Warbler – Sylvia nisoria
Red-faced Crombec – Sylvietta whytii
Pale Flycatcher – Bradornis pallidus
Southern Black Flycatcher – Melaenornis pammelaina
Ashy Flycatcher – Muscicapa caerulescens
Spotted Flycatcher – Muscicapa striata
Lead-coloured Flycatcher – Myioparus plumbeus
Black-headed Batis – Batis minor
Forest Batis – Batis mixta
East Coast Batis – Batis soror
Black and White Flycatcher – Bias musicus
Black-throated Wattleye – Platysteira peltata
Livingstone’s Flycatcher – Erythrocercus livingstonei
Paradise Flycatcher – Terpsiphone virdis
Crested Flycatcher – Trochocercus cyanomelas
Little Tawny Pipit – Anthus Caffer
Richard’s Pipit – Anthus novaeseelandiae
Long-billed Pipit – Anthis similis
Buffy Pipit – Anthus vaalensis
Yellow-throated Longclaw – Macronyx croceus
African Pied Wagtail – Motacilla aguimp
Yellow Wagtail – Motacilla flava
Golden Pipit – Tmetothylacus tenellus
Black-backed Puffback – Dryoscopus cubla
Tropical Boubou – Laniarius ferrugineus
Grey-headed Bush Shrike – Malaconotus blanchoti
Black-fronted Bush Shrike – Malaconotus multicolor
Four-couloured Bush Shrike – Malaconotus quadricolor
Sulpher-breasted Bush Shrike – Malaconotus sulphureopectus
Brubru – Nilaus afer
Brown-headed Tchagra – Tchagra australis
Marsh Tchagra – Tchagra minuta
Black-headed Tchagra – Tchagra senegala
Long-tailed Fiscal – Lanius cabanisi
Red-backed Shrike – Lanius ccollurio
Red-tailed Shrike – Lanius isabellinus
Lesser Grey Shrike – Lanius minor
Helmet Shrike – Prionops plumata
Retz’s Shrike – Prionops retzii
Chestnut-fronted Helmet Shrike – Prionops scopifons
Violet-backed Starling – Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Wattled Starling – Creatophora cinerea
Blue-eared Glossy Starling – Lamprotornis chalybeus
Lesser Blue-eared Glossy Starling – Lamprotornis chloropterus
Black-breasted Glossy Starling – Lamprotornis corruscus
Yellow-billed Oxpecker – Buphagus africanus
Red-billed Oxpecker – Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Collared Sunbird – Anthreptes collaris
Violet-backed Sunbird – Anthreptes longuemarei
Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird – Anthreptes neglectus
Amethyst Sunbird – Nectarinia anethystina
Little Purple-banded Sunbird – Nectarinia bifasciata
Mariqua Sunbird – Nectarinia mariquensis
Olive Sunbird – Nectarina olivacea
Rufous-winged Sunbird – Nectarinia rufipennis
Scarlet-chested Sunbird – Nectarinia senegalensis
Shelley’s Sunbird – Nectarinia shelleyi
Variable Sunbird – Nectarinia venusta
Yellow Whiteye – Zoserops senegalensis
Grosbeak Weaver - Amblyospiza albifrons
Red-headed Weaver – Anaplectes rubriceps
Paracitic Weaver – Anomalospiza imberbis
Red-naped Widowbird – Euplectes ardens
Fan-tailed Widowbird – Euplectes axillaris
Yellow Bishop – Euplectes capensis
Black-winged Red Bishop – Euplectes hordeaceus
Zanzibar Red Bishop – Euplectes nigroventris
Dark-backed Weaver – Ploceus bicolor
Black-headed Weaver – Ploceus cucllatus
Masked Weaver – Ploceus intermedius
Spectacled Weaver – Ploceus ocularis
Olive-headed Golden Weaver – Ploceus olivaceiceps
Golden Weaver – Ploceus subaureus
Vitelline Masked Weaver – Ploceus velatus
Red-headed Quelea – Quelea erythrops
Red-billed Quelea – Quelea quelea
Red-billed Buffalo Weaver – Bubalornis niger
White-browed Sparrow Weaver – Plocepasser donaldsoni
Grey-headed Sparrow – Passer griseus
Yellow-throated Petronia – Petronia superciliaris
Red-billed Firefinch Indigobird – Hypochera chalybeata
African Firefinch Indigobird – Hypochera funerea
Pin-tailed Whydah – Vidua macroura
Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah – Vidua obtusa
Paradise Whydah – Vidua paradisaea
Zebra Waxbill – Amandava subflava
Waxbill – Estrilda astrild
Lavender Waxbill – Estrilda perreini
Peter’s Twinspot – Hypargos niveoguttatus
African Firefinch – Lagonosticta rubricata
Red-billed Firefinch – Lagonosticta senegala
Green-backed Twinspot – Mandingoa nitidula
Lesser Seed-cracker – Pyrenestes minor
Orange-winged Pytilia – Pytilia afra
Green-winged Pytilia – Pytilia melba
Cordon Bleu – Uraeginthus angolensis
Black and White Mannikin – Lonchura bicolor
Bronze Mannikin – Lonchura cucullata
Cabani’s Bunting – Emberiza cabanisi
Golden-breasted Bunting – Emberiza flaviventris
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting – Emberiza tahapisi
Yellow-rumped Seed-eater – Serinus atrogularis
Yellow-fronted Canary – Serinus mozambicus
Brimstone Canary – Serinus sulphuratus