Even committed non-birders find themselves excited at the sight of elegant Saddle-billed storks, mighty eagles or a crimson carpet of Carmine bee-eaters. While some species occur in a variety of habitats, many are found only in one or two areas.

Resident expert Peter Ginn guides us through the country's top birding environments.

Open Water

Traditionally, pools along the larger rivers and seasonal pans, such as those found at Mana Pools and the Save Conservancy, characterise open water areas. Today the construction of many dams (most notably Kariba) has broadened this habitat which can now be found in most areas. The African fish eagle is probably the most spectacular bird here, but there are a great variety of ducks, crakes, gallinules, herons, egrets, storks and kingfishers to be seen. The stately Goliath heron is nearly 2m tall, while the Malachite kingfisher is only 15cm in length from long, straight beak to short tail. The sandbanks of the large lowveld rivers are home to the White-crowned plover (very conspicuous) and the small White-fronted plover (inconspicuous).

The open Zambezi River above Victoria Falls is a very special habitat of limited extent, which no birder should miss. Imbabala Lodge, about 70km above the Falls, provides a base from which to see a range of special birds found nowhere else in Zimbabwe because they are related to those found in the Okavango system and its giant papyrus. These include the Long-toed plover, Coppery-tailed coucal, Natal or Swamp nightjar, Greater swamp warbler, Brown firefinch, White-rumped babbler and well over 300 other species.

Grasslands of the River Valleys

This habitat varies from the dry grasses along the woodland margins to wet areas along the streams. These grasslands tend to have a variety of rather drab brown species (well camouflaged in the parched beige covering of the dry season). The Kurrichane button quail is perhaps the most interesting, thanks to its sexual role-reversal. The female is more brightly coloured than the male and does the courting, while the males do all the incubation and the rearing of chicks. Brightly coloured residents include the various Widow and Bishop birds, the males of which are really striking in their breeding plumage, notably the Red bishop bird. The Yellow-throated longclaw has a drab back but a brightly coloured throat and belly.

Woodlands of the Plateau

Semi-deciduous miombo, with a canopy when well developed and limited ground cover, make this one of the most user-friendly of all birding habitats. Here you can expect to find a number of special species not found in other habitats, with the Fork-tailed drongo on sentry duty. The majority of birds, such as the Mashona hyliota, are to be seen foraging in the canopy, although there are some very unusual species, such as the Spotted creeper which has adapted to gleaning food along the trunks of trees. There are also some ground dwellers like the Wood or Miombo pipit. Although large areas of woodland have been cleared for agriculture, there remain excellent places such as Gosho Park near Marondera where you can still find a wide range of birds. Other species to look for include the Miombo rock thrush, Miombo double-collared sunbird, Black-eared canary, and the Yellow-fronted tinker barbet.

Woodlands of the Lowveld

These are usually deciduous; very large areas are essentially mopane woodlands, often scattered with baobabs. Such trees have many cavities, attracting hole-nesting species such as hoopoes, rollers, woodland kingfishers, hornbills and chats. The birds range from the very conspicuous Yellow-billed hornbill, with its unusual nesting habits (the female seals herself in a hole before laying her eggs), to the often heard but seldom seen African scops owl. One of the most interesting species is the very large Ground hornbill which occurs in family groups and rears a single chick each year. In the Save Valley the tall mopane tree is home to the spectacular Racquet-tailed roller. Of the 400-plus species found here, ones to look out for include the Bateleur eagle, Zimbabwe's five vulture species, the Giant eagle owl, Woodland kingfisher in summer and the Kori Bustard (reputedly the world's heaviest flying bird) in open areas.

Acacia Woodlands

Acacia woodlands are usually limited in extent, although acacia species are included in other woodlands. They tend to occur in drier areas in the middleveld and contain a number of unusual species such as the Acacia pied barbet, Crimson-breasted boubou, Pied babbler and Marico flycatcher. Many of the shrikes are well represented here and you can usually see both the White-crowned and Long-tailed varieties.

The Granite Shield

This occupies a large area in Zimbabwe within all the habitats described above. The exfoliation of the granite through weathering has created an amazing variety of different rock shapes - in particular, areas of jumbled rocky kopjes and extensive weathered domes, known locally as dwalas. These are best typified by the Matobo Hills, but are also widespread in eastern Zimbabwe. The Matobos have long been known for their birdlife, notably for high numbers of large eagles, especially Verreaux's (or Black) eagles.

The rocky areas within the miombo woodlands have created a habitat with a number of birds not found elsewhere in Zimbabwe. The agile Boulder chat (and the closely related Mocking chat) and the Freckled or Rock nightjar (with amazing colouration providing perfect camouflage on the lichen-covered granite boulders) are two very special birds of this sub-habitat.

Eastern Highlands

These mountains have montane scrub and grassland, with patches of evergreen mist-belt forest on the eastern slopes. This habitat is the smallest in terms of area, but for birding it is unique, as here we find the only near-endemics of Zimbabwe (shared with south-western Mozambique). Interestingly, the open montane habitats host birds like the Cape grassbird, found at sea level in the southern Cape but occurring here at over 1500m. The evergreen forests have their own special assemblage of species, many of which are hard to find. Fortunately for birdwatchers, a lodge called Seldomseen, in the Bvumba area, has paths which provide easy access to the forests, and an outstanding bird guide. Who can remain unexcited at the flashing crimson wings of the Livingstone's lourie as it moves from tree to tree?

Many of the other forest species are smaller but no less interesting. Swynnerton's robin is a retiring bird found only in these forests (another subspecies occurs in Tanzania). The common Square-tailed drongo is a cheerfully noisy species, always heard and often seen. The Chirinda apalis is a small but regularly seen species, restricted to these forests. Other types to look for include the Buff-spotted flufftail, Natal and Starred robins, the Orange ground thrush, White-tailed flycatcher (which builds an exquisite nest, shaped like a wine glass and covered with moss), Forest weaver, the noisy Robert's warbler, Yellow-throated warbler and Eastern saw-wing swallow.

So even if it's fur rather than feathers that has lured you into the bush, keep an eye out and an ear open for the avian community. You will be well rewarded: its colours, songs and variety are astounding.

As well as contributing to various birding books and articles, Peter Ginn guides birding safaris throughout southern Africa.

There are at least 400 species in each of these birding habitats; a two- to three-week safari allows you to visit them all. You can expect to see over 300 species in winter and over 350 in summer. Peter's record is 427 in 18 days.

When to Come March-April (warm and wet) are probably the best months, as all the migrants are still around. August-December is also great for birds, but from October it can be very hot and dry.

Guides Most Zimbabwean lodges have guides who know the birdlife well. Dedicated birders may prefer to employ a specialist bird guide.

Birding factfile

There are at least 400 species in each of these birding habitats; a two- to three-week safari allows you to visit them all. You can expect to see over 300 species in winter and over 350 in summer. Peter's record is 427 in 18 days.

When to Come March-April (warm and wet) are probably the best months, as all the migrants are still around. August-December is also great for birds, but from October it can be very hot and dry.

Guides Most Zimbabwean lodges have guides who know the birdlife well. Dedicated birders may prefer to employ a specialist bird guide.

Published in Travel Africa Edition Nineteen: Spring 2002.Text is subject to Worldwide Copyright (c)