Zimbabwean Bird Names (Ibis – Korhaans)

Below are Zimbabwean names for birds corresponding with those that begin with the letters ‘I -K’ in the English vernacular. These local bird names were obtained from personal communication with contributors, as well as reference to lists contained in Cooke (1970) and Maclean (1985). These are not exhaustive and may be subject to minor errors.

Links to further information pertaining to each group or taxa are included.

Ibis (Hadeda)
Manghandzwanu; Man’an’ani; Xikohlwa hi jambo – Shangaan/Tsonga

Ibis (Sacred)
N’wafayaswitlangi – Shangaan/Tsonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/threskiornithidae/index.htm

Kingfishers (Generic)
Chinderera; Chinyurirahove – Shona (all dialects)
inTangaza – Ndebele
Tshololwana – Shangaan/Tsonga
Nchelelebula – baTonga

Kingfishers (Giant and Pied)
Chitoto – Shona (all dialects)
iKolera – Ndebele
N’waripetani; Mavungana; Xicelele – Shangaan/Tsonga
Spikita – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/coraciiformes.htm

Kite (Black-shouldered / Black-winged)
Rukodzi – Shona (all dialects)
N’watavagoni; N’warikapanyana – Shangaan/Tsonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/accipitridae/elanus_caeruleus.htm

Kite (Black / Yellow-billed)
Njerere; Mmakgodi – Shona (all dialects)
umZwazwa; isiKlanu – Ndebele/Nambya
Mangatlu – Shangaan/Tsonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/accipitridae/milvus_aegyptius.htm

Korhaan (Black-bellied)
Guhwi – Shona (all dialects)
umTsilitswili; eZwanizwane – Ndebele
Cocololwani; Nkołolwani – Shangaan/Tsonga

Korhaan (Red-crested)
Gaundya – Shona (all dialects)
umTsilitswili; eZwanizwane – Ndebele
Muchukwana; Ntsukwani – Shangaan/Tsonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/otitidae/index.htm

Additional References:

Cooke, P. (1970). Ndebele Bird Names. NADA, vol.10 (2): 67-68.

Maclean, GL. (1985). Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa (5th ed.). John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa.

In the next post I will move on to bird names beginning with the letters ‘L to N’.

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