Eswatini Ramsar wetland
Sand River Dam
186 bird species recorded; the most in November.
Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 by EOX IT Services GmbH (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data), CC BY 4.0, with relief shading from Copernicus WorldDEM-30
This month here
68 species in January.109 species in February.1 species in March.0 species in April.60 species in May.67 species in June.88 species in July.7 species in August.55 species in September.54 species in October.149 species in November.66 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
No records for this month.
CR
CR
CR
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
186 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 186Speciesrecorded more than once
- 57Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 3ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 1,348Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 296 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 13Raptors
- 14Waders
- 2Gulls & seabirds
- 4Ducks & geese
- 20Herons, ibises & grebes
- 6Storks & cranes
- 83Songbirds
- 44Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 186 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White-backed VultureGyps africanusCR
- African Fish EagleHaliaeetus vocifer
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- BateleurTerathopius ecaudatus
- LannerFalco biarmicus
- African Harrier-hawkPolyboroides typus
- Hooded VultureNecrosyrtes monachusCR
- Yellow-billed KiteMilvus aegyptius
- Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
- Cape VultureGyps coprotheresVU
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- African GoshawkAccipiter tachiro
Waders14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Blacksmith LapwingVanellus armatus
- Water DikkopBurhinus vermiculatus
- African Wattled LapwingVanellus senegallus
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Crowned lapwingVanellus coronatus
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- African JacanaActophilornis africanus
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Three-banded PloverCharadrius tricollaris
- Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- Kittlitz's PloverCharadrius pecuarius
Gulls & seabirds2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Grey-headed GullChroicocephalus cirrocephalus
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
Ducks & geese4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Spur-winged GoosePlectropterus gambensis
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- White-faced Whistling-duckDendrocygna viduata
- Red-billed TealAnas erythrorhyncha
Herons, ibises & grebes20 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- HamerkopScopus umbretta
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- White-breasted CormorantPhalacrocorax lucidus
- Long-tailed CormorantMicrocarbo africanus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- HadadaBostrychia hagedash
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Egretta intermediaEgretta intermedia
- Goliath HeronArdea goliath
- Striated HeronButorides striata
- African Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescens
- African SpoonbillPlatalea alba
- Black HeronEgretta ardesiaca
- Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- DarterAnhinga rufa
Storks & cranes6 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- SaddlebillEphippiorhynchus senegalensisNT
- MarabouLeptoptilos crumeniferus
- Leptoptilos crumeniferLeptoptilos crumenifer
- Asian WoollyneckCiconia episcopusNT
- Yellow-billed StorkMycteria ibis
- Openbill StorkAnastomus lamelligerus
Songbirds83 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Sombre GreenbulAndropadus importunus
- Southern PuffbackDryoscopus cubla
- Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitens
- Motacilla aguimpMotacilla aguimp
- Common BulbulPycnonotus barbatus
- Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilis
- White-bellied SunbirdCinnyris talatala
- Yellow-breasted ApalisApalis flavida
- Chinspot BatisBatis molitor
- Erythropygia leucophrysErythropygia leucophrys
- Rattling CisticolaCisticola chiniana
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Pin-tailed WhydahVidua macroura
- Tawny-flanked PriniaPrinia subflava
- Wire-tailed SwallowHirundo smithii
- Scarlet-chested SunbirdChalcomitra senegalensis
- Dark-capped BulbulPycnonotus tricolor
- Southern Black-FlycatcherMelaenornis pammelaina
- Blue WaxbillUraeginthus angolensis
- Green-backed CamaropteraCamaroptera brachyura
- Black TitParus niger
- Violet-backed StarlingCinnyricinclus leucogaster
- Cape SparrowPasser diffusus
- Perrin's Bush-shrikeTelophorus viridis
- Southern BoubouLaniarius ferrugineus
- Kurrichane ThrushTurdus libonyana
- Eastern NicatorNicator gularis
- Cape CrombecSylvietta rufescens
- Pink-throated TwinspotHypargos margaritatus
- Village WeaverPloceus cucullatus
- Orange-breasted BushshrikeChlorophoneus sulfureopectus
- Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinica
- Yellow-throated Bush SparrowGymnoris superciliaris
- Yellow-fronted CanaryCrithagra mozambica
- Pied CrowCorvus albus
- White-crested HelmetshrikePrionops plumatus
- Black-headed OrioleOriolus larvatus
- Yellow-throated LongclawMacronyx croceus
- African Paradise-FlycatcherTerpsiphone viridis
- Common FiscalLanius collaris
- Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
- Spectacled WeaverPloceus ocularis
- Groundscraper ThrushPsophocichla litsitsirupa
- Brown-crowned TchagraTchagra australis
- BrubruNilaus afer
- Terrestrial BrownbulPhyllastrephus terrestris
- Red-billed OxpeckerBuphagus erythrorhynchus
- African PipitAnthus cinnamomeus
- Golden-breasted BuntingEmberiza flaviventris
- Lead-coloured FlycatcherMyioparus plumbeus
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- White-browed Robin-chatCossypha heuglini
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Bronze MannikinLonchura cucullata
- Eastern Golden WeaverPloceus subaureus
- White-winged WidowbirdEuplectes albonotatus
- African Sand MartinRiparia paludicola
- Marico SunbirdCinnyris mariquensis
- Black-crowned TchagraTchagra senegalus
- African FirefinchLagonosticta rubricata
- Lesser Masked WeaverPloceus intermedius
- Red BishopEuplectes orix
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Red-breasted SwallowCecropis semirufa
- Cape White-eyeZosterops virens
- Mirafra africanaMirafra africana
- Long-tailed Paradise WhydahVidua paradisaea
- Grey-headed BushshrikeMalaconotus blanchoti
- Common MynaAcridotheres tristis
- Cape WagtailMotacilla capensis
- Levaillant's CisticolaCisticola tinniens
- Red-billed QueleaQuelea quelea
- Grosbeak WeaverAmblyospiza albifrons
- Southern Masked WeaverPloceus velatus
- Magpie ShrikeUrolestes melanoleucus
- Purple-banded SunbirdCinnyris bifasciatus
- Streaky-headed SeedeaterCrithagra gularis
- Piping CisticolaCisticola fulvicapilla
- Amethyst SunbirdChalcomitra amethystina
- Collared SunbirdHedydipna collaris
- Grey-rumped SwallowPseudhirundo griseopyga
- Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
Other birds44 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis
- Brown-headed KingfisherHalcyon albiventris
- African Palm SwiftCypsiurus parvus
- Emerald-spotted DoveTurtur chalcospilos
- Black-collared BarbetLybius torquatus
- Giant KingfisherMegaceryle maxima
- Red-eyed DoveStreptopelia semitorquata
- Red-chested CuckooCuculus solitarius
- Ring-necked DoveStreptopelia capicola
- Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagris
- Diederik CuckooChrysococcyx caprius
- Purple-crested TuracoTauraco porphyreolophus
- Striped KingfisherHalcyon chelicuti
- Red-faced MousebirdUrocolius indicus
- Little SwiftApus affinis
- Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
- Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
- Golden-tailed WoodpeckerCampethera abingoni
- Green WoodhoopoePhoeniculus purpureus
- Woodland KingfisherHalcyon senegalensis
- Speckled MousebirdColius striatus
- Klaas's CuckooChrysococcyx klaas
- White-browed CoucalCentropus superciliosus
- Crowned HornbillLophoceros alboterminatus
- Eastern Crested GuineafowlGuttera pucherani
- Black CrakeAmaurornis flavirostra
- Lilac-breasted RollerCoracias caudatus
- Cardinal WoodpeckerDendropicos fuscescens
- Yellow-rumped TinkerbirdPogoniulus bilineatus
- Red-fronted TinkerbirdPogoniulus pusillus
- Malachite KingfisherCorythornis cristatus
- Common ButtonquailTurnix sylvaticus
- White-fronted Bee-eaterMerops bullockoides
- Southern Yellow-billed HornbillTockus leucomelas
- Namaqua DoveOena capensis
- Common Scimitar-billRhinopomastus cyanomelas
- Black CuckooCuculus clamosus
- Ortygornis sephaenaOrtygornis sephaena
- Red-knobbed CootFulica cristata
- European RollerCoracias garrulus
- Little Bee-eaterMerops pusillus
- Common OstrichStruthio camelus
- White-rumped SwiftApus caffer
- Bearded WoodpeckerChloropicus namaquus
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in November.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan32°/19°142 mm
- Feb31°/19°98 mm
- Mar31°/19°83 mm
- Apr28°/16°55 mm
- May27°/14°14 mm
- Jun25°/11°10 mm
- Jul25°/11°10 mm
- Aug27°/12°12 mm
- Sep30°/14°27 mm
- Oct31°/16°56 mm
- Nov31°/18°98 mm
- Dec32°/19°124 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Sand River Dam.
Reservoir in Lubombo District, Eswatini
Sand River Dam is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Eswatini, 296 m above the sea.
186 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 1,348 open records.
The most recorded are the Pied Kingfisher, the Hamerkop and the Western Cattle Egret.
34 species come for the summer, 22 for the winter and 1 only pass through.
3 are threatened worldwide, including White-backed Vulture, Hooded Vulture and Cape Vulture.
The most species are recorded in November.
Get there and watch
- Thunzininearest town · 4.5 km in a straight line
- King Mswati III International Airport (SHO)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 41 km in a straight lineCar hire at MPM airport (Maputo)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- car parks within 3 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- campsites within 10 km
- places to stay within 10 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Sand River Dam.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas13 mountains within 25 kmNkungwini · 12 kmInkambeni · 14 kmNtabinezimpisi · 17 kmKuFokho · 20 kmMhloshana · 22 kmUmgungundlovo · 22 kmMadubula · 24 kmNtabansimbi · 24 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Other places nearby.
Sand River Dam
Eswatini
- 62Birdyas Score
- 186Species
- 57Migrants
- 3Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q60774869) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 1,348 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Lakeyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
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