Below are Zimbabwean names for birds corresponding with those that begin with the letters ‘O’ 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.

Oriole (Black-headed)
Gotowa – Shona (all dialects)
Phamanyarhi – Shangaan/Tsonga

Oriole (African/Eurasian golden)
Ndukuzani – Shangaan/Tsonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/oriolidae/

Ostrich (Common)
Mhou, Mhowani – Shona (all dialects)
iNtshe – Ndebele
Mpšhe; Mthlue – Venda/Sotho
Yinca; Nyimbu; Bulume – Shangaan/Tsonga
Mpoo  – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/struthionidae/struthio_camelus.htm

Owls (Owlets, Barn, Grass)
Zizi; Zizimagonjwa; uMandukulo – Shona (all dialects)
uMundugulu; isiKhova – Ndebele
Legwitha; Leribisi; Makgohlo – Venda/Sotho
Nsoo; Madzukuya; Mankhudu; Xinkhovha  – Shangaan/Tsonga
iGunda – Nambya
Tumba; Chikova; Polo; Lulumba – baTonga

Owl (African Wood)
Zizi – Shona (all dialects)
Mankhudu – Shangaan/Tsonga

Owl (Marsh)
Zizi – Shona (all dialects)
Xikhotlwana – Shangaan/Tsonga

Owl (Pel’s fishing)
Dinidza – Shona (all dialects)
uMfukumuzi – Ndebele

Owl (Scops)
Chipotonho – Shona (all dialects)
Xikhotlwana; Xikotlani – Shangaan/Tsonga

Owl (Southern white-faced)
Zizi; Chipotonho – Shona (all dialects)
Kurkurtavoni; Xikhova – Shangaan/Tsonga

Owl (Spotted Eagle-owl/Cape Eagle-owl)
Zizi; Jichidza; Chizizimbori – Shona (all dialects)
isiKhova; uMandukulu – Ndebele
Ligwitha – Venda/Sotho
Xiyinha; Khukhunu; Phikuphiku – Shangaan/Tsonga
Kumbatamusamu – baTonga

Owl (Verreaux’s Eagle-owl)
Zizi; Chigunda – Shona (all dialects)
uMandukulu – Ndebele
Ligwitha – Venda/Sotho
Nkhunsi; Khuhunu; Phikuphiku – Shangaan/Tsonga
Chinchizya – baTonga

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

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

Oxpeckers (Generic)
Tsande – Shona (all dialects)
uMlanda – Ndebele
Kala – Venda/Sotho (also Tswana)
Ndzanza; Yandhana  – Shangaan/Tsonga
Sakayuni – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/sturnidae/buphagus.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 letter ‘P’.