Zimbabwean Bird Names (Tchagras – Tits)

Below are Zimbabwean names for birds corresponding with those that begin with the letter ‘T’ 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.

Tchagras (Generic)
Chisamaura; Nyamaburo  – Shona (all dialects)
inGubane – Ndebele
Mghubhana – Shangaan/Tsonga
Chikelekele – baTonga

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

Thrush (Groundscraper)
umQawana – Ndebele
Xihandzamatala – Shangaan/Tsonga

Thrush (Kurrichane)
Dzvotsvirondo – Shona (all dialects)
Mbyhiyoni; n’Wadlodloma – Shangaan/Tsonga
Jangamazyu – Nambya

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

Tinkerbarbet / Tinkerbird (Yellow-fronted)
Chizuvaguru; Chivangazuva – Shona (all dialects)

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

Tit (Southern black)
Vayivayi – Shona (all dialects)
Xidzhavadzhava – Shangaan/Tsonga

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/birds/paridae/parus_niger.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 ‘V’ (Vultures).