Below are Zimbabwean names for birds corresponding with those that begin with the letter ‘S’ 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.

Sandgrouse (Generic)
iKwalakwala; inKwali – Ndebele
Setlalawe – Venda/Sotho
Xighwaraghwara  – Shangaan/Tsonga
Chikwalkwalu – baTonga

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

Sandpipers (Generic)
N’wantshekutsheku; Xitsatsana; Xitshekutsheku – Shangaan/Tsonga

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

Secretarybird
Hwata; Munditi; Mukwasa; Mampfana – Shona (all dialects)
uDwayi – Ndebele
Nju; Thlame – Venda/Sotho
Mampfana  – Shangaan/Tsonga
Jule – baTonga

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

Shrikes
Shrike (Fiscal)
Korera – Shona (all dialects)
iLunga – Ndebele
Juka; Rhiyani   – Shangaan/Tsonga
Simulasozi – baTonga

Shrike (Long-tailed / Magpie)
Djgwechkwe – Shona (all dialects)
iTshilobi – Ndebele
Ncilongi  – Shangaan/Tsonga
Sekeleseya – baTonga

Shrike (Southern white-crowned)
Chisamaura – Shona (all dialects)
Nkululamutwe – baTonga

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

Shrike-like taxa
Southern Boubou
Chigamaura; Chinyamburo – Shona (all dialects)
iBilibomvu – Ndebele
Hwilo, Samjukwa, Xighigwa – Shangaan/Tsonga
Chikelekele – baTonga

Puffback
Mukuruwobhuku – Shona (all dialects)
Phavomu – Shangaan/Tsonga

Retz’s helmet-shrike
Chipololongwe – baTonga
Urhiana – Shangaan/Tsonga

White-crested helmet-shrike
Chiteveravadzimba; Mashoranyama; Shavishavi; Mariyani – Shona
iHolanyama – Ndebele
Masula-bayeni – Venda/Sotho
Urhiana  – Shangaan/Tsonga
Mpongozyathengwe; Lungulungwa – baTonga

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

Sparrows (Generic)
Inzwaunzwe – Shona (all dialects)
uMayadi – Ndebele
Lemphorokgohlo – Venda/Sotho
Mbolowi – baTonga

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

Sparrow-weaver (White-browed)
uMayadi – Ndebele
iNsoswani – Nambya
Nsansa – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/ploceidae/plocepasser_mahali.htm

Sparrowhawk (Generic)
Rukodzi – Shona (all dialects)
uMahlewane – Ndebele
Lunga – baTonga

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

Starlings (Glossy / Generic)
Hwirigwiri; Hwidzikwidzi; Hwidzikuyozi; Svigonde – Shona
Hudzululu – Shona (Kalanga)
iKhwezi – Ndebele
Liholi; Legodi – Venda/Sotho
Kwezu; Kwezu-leri-tsongo; Kholowane  – Shangaan/Tsonga
Nkulyukulyu; iMpiye – Nambya
Chikuyanongo – baTonga

Starling (Burchell’s)
Kwezu-leri-kulu – Shangaan/Tsonga

Starling (Meve’s)
Mwazea – Shona (all dialects)
iTshilobi – Ndebele
Kwezu  – Shangaan/Tsonga
Mpiye – baTonga

Starling (Red-winged)
Gwitso – Shona (all dialects)
iNsomi – Ndebele
Kwezu  – Shangaan/Tsonga
Syobobo – baTonga

Starling (Violet-backed)
Nguringa; Hwirigwiri – Shona (all dialects)
Xinwavulombe – Shangaan/Tsonga
Zengule – baTonga

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

Storks (Generic / White & Abdim’s)
Shuramurove; Shohore; Djongwe – Shona (all dialects)
iNgabuzane – Ndebele
Leakabošwana – Venda/Sotho
Gumba; Ntsavila; Xaxari – Shangaan/Tsonga
Tongonyangu – Nambya
Syalwilwi – baTonga

Stork (Marabou)
Svorenyama – Shona (all dialects)
iNkosi-ya-amanque (same as Lappet-faced Vulture) – Ndebele
Mmakaitšimeletša  – Venda/Sotho
Ghumba; Quandlopfu – Shangaan/Tsonga

Stork (Openbill)
Mukyindlopfu – Shangaan/Tsonga

Stork (Saddle-billed)
Hukumihlanga; Kokswabi – Shona (all dialects)
Ngwamhlanga – Shangaan/Tsonga

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

Sunbirds (Generic)
Dzonya; Tsodzo; Chizezuru – Shona (all dialects)
uGoli; amaNofi – Ndebele
Nwapyopyamhanya; Ntsotsotso – Shangaan/Tsonga
Mpungubulubi – Nambya
Syosyobuluba – baTonga

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

Swallows / Martins (Generic)
Nyenganyenga; Mherere – Shona (all dialects)
iNkonjane; iNzvenzne – Ndebele
Nkonjana; Nyenga; Nyengha; Mbawulwana – Shangaan/Tsonga
Sikapembezya – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/hirundinidae/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 letter ‘T’.