Baviaanskloof Bird Life

The Baviaanskloof is a bird watcher's paradise. Which birds the visitor sees is determined by the veld type, habitat and season.  Nearly 300 species have been recorded.

Streams, rivers and open water offer splendid opportunities to view a number of water fowl and species such as fish eagles, herons kingfishers and even the African finfoot.

The forest patches are home to the Knysna loerie, Rameron pigeons, Klaas's and red-chested cuckoo, Knysna and olive woodpecker.

Large congregations of different species can be seen at times when the white stinkwood and Cape figs are in fruit.  Most species may also be seen in the bushveld on the lower mountain slopes and along river and stream banks, a habitat which also offers the opportunity of seeing a range of other species, including the Paradise flycatcher, red-billed wood hoopoe, brown-hooded kingfisher, black-collared barbet, black headed oriole, glossy starling and six different species of weaver.

A walk up onto the Fynbos and grassy plateaus could yield sightings of Cape sugarbirds, stone chats, orange-throated longclaw, Greyling francolin, black harrier and even Cape rockjumper. 

A move into the drier Karoo parts of the reserve could produce sightings of pale chanting goshawk, Karoo korhaan, Namaqua dove, mountain chat, Pririt batis and perhaps a black-breasted snake eagle.

The area boasts an impressive twenty five raptor species ranging from the little Sparrowhawk to the martial eagle.  Others include the crowned eagle and black sparrowhead. Eight sunbirds occur in the area.  The orange-breasted sunbird is the characteristic species in the fynbos while the greater double-collared and black sunbirds will usually be found in the low-lying bushy parts.

Some threatened and near-threatened species inhabit, or make use of, the area at certain times of the year.  These include blue crane, African marsh harrier, striped fluff tail, Stanley's bustard, black harrier, protea canary, black stork and peregrine falcon.