Zimbabwean Bird Names (Quails – Rollers)

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

Quail (Blue)
umGoqo – Ndebele
Xindogo; Xitshatshana  – Shangaan/Tsonga

Quail (Common)
Huta – Shona (all dialects)
inKwale; iKwalakwala; isiGwaca – Ndebele
Sekhwiri – Venda/Sotho
Mavolwane  – Shangaan/Tsonga
Kabeya – baTonga

Quail (Harlequin)
Dzurhini; N’hwarixigwaqa; Xigwatla – Shangaan/Tsonga

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

Quelea/Quelea flock (Red-billed)
Ngozha; Chimokoto – Shona (all dialects)
inThaka; umUndumo, umDumanyoni – Ndebele
Butsiyelele; Lerwerwe – Venda/Sotho
Tingozi; Vuryiyana; Ndzheyana – Shangaan/Tsonga
Kandonga – Nambya

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

Raven (White-necked)
Sawara – Shona (all dialects)
iWabayi – Ndebele
Gwavava; Gunguva; Ukuuku  – Shangaan/Tsonga

http://biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/corvidae/corvus_albicollis.htm

Robin-chats (Generic)
uNgcethe – Ndebele
Nyarihututu  – Shangaan/Tsonga

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

Rollers (Generic)
Gatawa – Shona (all dialects)
iFefe, iFifi, iTshegela – Ndebele
Matlakela – Venda/Sotho
Vhevhe; Bvebve; Thekedwani  – Shangaan/Tsonga
Sikaka – baTonga/Nambya

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/coraciidae/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 ‘S’.