Flagship Species

The Lilian’s lovebird (Agapornis lilianae) is the smallest species of parrot in Zambia, restricted to the Zambezi basin along the Zambezi Valley from Mozambique to Zimbabwe, into Zambia, Namibia, Malawi, and south of Tanzania. The total population may be as high as 20,000 or as low as 10,000 birds in the wild. Lilian’s Lovebirds are at risk due to a number of threats including habitat loss especially the loss of mature Mopane trees where they roost, persecution by farmers, illegal trade, and pesticide use. Learn more...

The Black-cheeked Lovebird Agapornis nigrigenis is Africa’s most localized parrot with a core range estimated at 2,500Km² and is endemic to Zambia. The species is never far from permanent sources of surface water as the birds need to drink at least twice daily. It is a small parrot species of the Lovebird genus that occurs primarily in mopane woodland but utilizes adjacent riverine vegetation and agricultural areas to forage and drink. The Black-cheeked Lovebird is considered to be the most endangered of all African parrot species with the smallest area of distribution (4,550 Km²) in Southwest Zambia between the Kafue River to the north and the Zambezi River to the south. It is a  Zambian endemic found in a relatively small area of mopane woodland (Colophospermum) in Machile IBA, which covers parts of Mwandi district and the Nanzhila plains area, south of the Kafue National Park. Learn more 

Zambian Barbet (Lybius chaplini) or Chaplin’s Barbet is an endemic bird, a true Zambian bird. Although found only in Zambia it is restricted to the south and central Zambia to specific areas which meet their habitat conditions. They are found almost exclusively in open woodland where the fig, Ficus sycomorus - their favorite food source and nesting tree is abundant. Just like any other bird, they are important to the ecosystem: they are agents of seed dispersal, aid in plant pollination, and help in pest control by feeding on insects and various pest species. The Zambian Barbet is threatened as a result of habitat loss especially the removal of dead branches from the fig trees which are commonly used as a source of firewood. By virtue of the species being endemic to this country, the Zambian Barbet is the bird that has been minted on the one-kwacha coin. Learn more

The Grey-crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) occurs mostly on larger floodplains. They occur in flocks of up to 100 outside the breeding season with 150 - 200 on the Kafue Flats, the Busanga, Liuwa Plains and Luangwa Valley, The Grey-crowned Crane is a resident species with movements of only short distances although little is known about these movements and would require satellite tracking. The overall population ranges between 2,000 and 2,500 individuals. Learn more

The Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) is present as a breeding resident in shallow wetlands adjoining grasslands, dambos, floodplains, and throughout much of the Zambian plateau. They breed mainly in wetlands, notably Liuwa Plain, Kafue National Park, Kafue Flats and Bangweulu Wetlands. Zambia holds 60% of the global population with the highest number mainly foraging and breeding in the Kafue Flats.

The Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) was once a common resident in most of Zambia’s IBAs but the population has significantly declined with the species now not being recorded at all in some IBAs. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife reports increased illegal hunting of this bird in most national parks for the sale of body parts on the black market for use in the synthesis of some traditional medicines. In addition, intentional poisoning has greatly contributed to the decline in the Southern Ground Hornbill population. This species breeds in very large trees of which a large number have been cleared within the species' range.

Shoebill (Balaenicepts rex) is a very large marsh bird endemic to tropical African wetlands along the Great Rift Valley, from South Sudan in the north to the Bangweulu Swamps in Zambia as the southern limit of its range. Threats range from habitat loss due to shrinking wetlands, droughts as a result of climate change, nest raiding by egg and chick collectors, fires and poaching.

The Secretary Birds (Sagittarius serpentarius) is an endangered terrestrial bird species native to the grasslands, floodplains, dambos, and savannahs of Zambia. It is patchily distributed across the Zambezi West and Kafue Flats. The secretary bird's population has greatly reduced and the decline has been attributed to habitat loss, poisoning, and human disturbance.

The Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) is a large black and white stock with a diagnostic red and black banded bill that has a yellow saddle at the base of the upper mandible. It is a sparsely distributed resident bird usually found in freshwater dams, lakes, and rivers either solitary or usually in pairs. Sightings for this species have been reduced over the last decade and they have become rare, especially outside protected areas.

The Slaty Egret (Egretta vinaceigula) is confined to the swamps of the upper Zambezi, Kafue Flats, and Bangweulu Wetlands in seasonally flooded grassland and pans on the floodplains. Like the Wattled Crane, this species is highly vulnerable to changing flood regimes. Though the Slaty Egret may have been recorded in about 9 countries in its range, the species are principally restricted to the Okavango and middle Zambezi systems of northern Botswana, northeastern Namibia, and southwestern Zambia.

The Taita Falcon (Falco fasciinucha) inhabits and nests in rocky gorges although it can no longer be found readily in its best-known habitat (Batoka Gorge) in Mosi-oa-Tunya NP and Batoka Gorge IBA. This is possibly as a result of disturbance from overhead tourist flights, or competition by larger falcons occurring in the same habitat. These birds of prey have increased linked to growth in populations of domestic and urban prey species. Further surveys to establish the presence of this species in the Muchinga Escarpment and Wonder Gorge IBA will be required.

The African Pitta (Pitta angolensis); is a secretive species inhabiting riverine thickets and forests in the eastern half of Zambia in the Rift valleys from the Kariba area in the south, to the middle Luangwa Valley in the north, as well as the Sumbu thickets between Mweru and Tanganyika. Rapid deforestation has caused significant declines in key areas such as Mutulanganga IBA. The species is an intra-African migrant present in Zambia from November to April.