Babblers – Birdlore

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

Babblers
Hochachocha; Dywedywe; Zhongozho; Ngayakaya – Shona (all dialects)
iDlakadlaka – Ndebele
Chikwalukutaru – Nambya
Mayokoyokwani – Shangaan
Dhele – baTonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/sylviidae/turdoides.htm

Barbets (Generic)
Rovogotora; Ndowara – Shona (all dialects)
Xitsemahogoni – Shangaan
Chikolobondo – baTonga

Barbet (Black-collared)
Chikweguru; Chikumegumbo – Shona (all dialects)
iNkangu; uSibagobe – Ndebele
Shologulu – Nambya

Barbet (Crested)
Chizuraguru – Shona (all dialects)
iMvenduna – Ndebele
Chikekelele – Nambya

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

Bee-eaters (Generic)
Gamanyuchi; Pfunyepfunye; Hwirogwiro – Shona (all dialects)
iNkonjane – Ndebele
Muhladzanhu – Shangaan
Smunkwangwa – baTonga

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

Bishops (Generic)
Chikenya; Nyamafuro; Manyikampau – Shona (all dialects)
iNthaka; umSilamode – Ndebele
Chifada – Nambya
Thagalehlaka; Lewerwe – Venda/Sotho
Ncilakulandza – Shangaan
(Male) Chamsankanana / (Female) Tuyonimbile – baTonga

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

Bitterns (Generic)
Chihuta; Chipizi – Shona (all dialects)

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/ardeidae/ixobrychus_minutus.htm

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/ardeidae/ixobrychus_sturmii.htm

Bulbul (Common)
Chigwenhure; Mugwetore; Bwoto – Shona (all dialects)
isiKopouko; iGigo; isiKobhololigo – Ndebele
Simagolya – Nambya
Rankgwetshe – Venda/Sotho
Bokota; Byitana; Ngubanhi; Phandlane – Shangaan/Tsonga
Simagolya – baTonga

Bulbul (Yellow-bellied [Greenbul])
iGalankala – Ndebele
Chigalagala – Nambya
Jinchiyo – baTonga

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

Bunting (Cinnamon-breasted or Rock)
Mvemvere; Tindiri; Ndirindere – Shona (all dialects)

Bunting (Golden-breasted)
Chidhindire; Nzgwanzgwe; Kadzatiye – Shona (all dialects)
uBhontsiyo; iVolontiyo – Ndebele
Kabotiyo – Nambya

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

Bush-shrikes (Generic)
uHlaza – Ndebele

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

Bustard (Kori)
Umguwe; Ngomanyuni – Shona (all dialects)
iTsheme – Ndebele
Manthensi; Mthisi; Cholowani – Shangaan/Tsonga

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

Buzzards (Generic)
Chikondomaswinu – Shona (all dialects)
uMahlewane – Ndebele

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

Buzzard (Lizard)
uKhozilombangwa – Ndebele

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/accipitridae/kaupifalco_monogrammicus.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 ‘C’.

The Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardenii (pictured) and Southern Pied Babbler Turdoides bicolor are sociable species that usually frequent the understorey. Here they spend most of the day noisily moving from place to place while foraging amongst leaf litter for a variety of food items including insects, grubs and small reptiles.

Babblers are named for their raucous communication calls that are reminiscent of hysterical laughter. As they often become bold and venture close to human habitation it is unsurprising that they should feature in local folklore. Indeed, a number of baTonga and Shangaan interviewees related a common belief that a flock of babblers near a homestead foretells the imminent arrival of a visitor.

Local names for babblers in Zimbabwe:

Hochachocha, Dywedywe, Zhongozho – Shona (all dialects)
iDlakadlaka – Ndebele
Chikwalukutaru – Nambya
Ngayakaya, Mayokoyokwani – Shangaan
Dhele – baTonga