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

Canary (Yellow-eyed)
Manswikidyani; Risunyani; Ritswini – Shangaan/Tsonga

Canary (Black-throated)
Ngodzi – Shangaan/Tsonga

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

Chat (Arnot’s)
Mandlakeni; Quovo – Shangaan/Tsonga
Nkalamabuwa – baTonga

Chat (Boulder)
iZwezwe – Ndebele
Tantabe – Venda/Sotho

Chat (Mocking)
Samaura; Nhaire – Shona (all dialects)
iSome – Ndebele
Tantabe – Venda/Sotho

Chat (Stone)
Chidjenje – Shona (all dialects)

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

Cisticolas (Generic)
Dumba; Timba – Shona (all dialects)
inGcethe – Ndebele
Ngonhavarimbi; Matinti – Shangaan/Tsonga
Tangtang – Venda/Sotho
Denya – baTonga

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

Coot (Red-knobbed)
Nhapata; Kukurudzi – Shona (all dialects)
Nkukumezane – Shangaan/Tsonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/rallidae/fulica_cristata.htm

Cormorants (Generic)
Gukugwizi – Shona (all dialects)
Ngulukwani – Shangaan/Tsonga
Nchongelabasvi – baTonga

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

Coucals (Generic)
Murenda; Krookroo – Shona (all dialects)
uFukwe; umFuku; umKubani; umGugwane – Ndebele
Nfuku – Shangaan/Tsonga
Similenda – baTonga

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

Coursers (Generic)
Kuiekuie – Shona (all dialects)
Tshembyana – Shangaan/Tsonga

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

Crakes (Generic)
Nhapata; Chiramukuta – Shona (all dialects)
iNewenewe – Ndebele
Nkukumezani; Nkukumezovi; Hukunambu – Shangaan/Tsonga
Kogonoka – Venda/Sotho

Crake (Black)
Nhapata; Chinyamukukutu; Chiramukuta – Shona (all dialects)
umSwiliswili – Ndebele

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

Crane (Crowned)
Horiori; Hororo; Ewoni – Shona (all dialects)
iHemu; inGalukhumiyeyanga; Horowane – Ndebele
Sekwarhandzana – Shangaan/Tsonga
Wawali – baTonga

Crane (Wattled)
Jowori – Shona (all dialects)
Nyakukolwe – Shangaan/Tsonga

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

Crombecs (Generic)
Ngunhu; Nqcunu – Shangaan/Tsonga
Kapwilili – Nambya

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

Crows (Generic)
iWabayi – Ndebele
Chikwangla – baTonga

Crow (Black)
Chikungubaya – Shona (all dialects)
iWabayi – Ndebele
Segogobane – Sotho
Gunguva; Qugwana; Xikhunguba – Shangaan/Tsonga

Crow (Pied)
Gunguwo; Sawara – Shona (all dialects)
iWabayi – Ndebele
Legokobu – Sotho
Ukuuku; Qugwana – Shangaan/Tsonga

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

Cuckoo (Levaillant’s / Jacobin)
Haya; Hwaya; Dawa – Shona (all dialects)
iNkanku – Ndebele/Kalanga
Tihunyi; Hunyi; Tatamagova – Shangaan/Tsonga
Kiwa – baTonga/Nambya

Cuckoo (Red-chested)
Kukudza – Shona (all dialects)
iNkanku; umKubani – Ndebele
Tsheketani – Shangaan/Tsonga

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

Cuckooshrike (Black)
Mhupufumba – Shona (all dialects)
Rankwitšidi – Sotho

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/campephagidae/campephaga_flava.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 ‘D’.