St Lucia’s Top 10 Birds

​St Lucia is home to a spectacular number and diversity of birds so it was difficult to narrow it down to the top ten. When deciding on the top ten the criteria I used were:

• How localised the bird is ( birds with a localised distribution which are restricted to St Lucia and Northwards were given preference over more widely distributed birds)
• The difficulty level of finding the birds (as an example White-eared barbet are localised to the North-eastern corner of Zululand but are very plentiful and conspicuous where they occur whereas Buff-spotted flufftail have a much wider distribution but are extremely difficult to see)
• The rarity of the bird (birds which are endangered or occur in low numbers within South Africa were given preference over more abundant species)
• Birds need to be resident or annual summer or winter visitors to St Lucia. Rare vagrants were not considered.

So, the top ten birds in St Lucia,  according to my opinion and based on the above criteria are as follows:

​1. Green malkoha

The bane of many birder, the Green malkoha is the ultimate skulker. A denizen of dense tangles and trees choked with creepers, the green malkoha creeps along branches squirrel-like and often sits/rests in the heart of the densest tangles. If one is lucky, the malkoha might poke its head out revealing its prominent  yellow bill before flying to a neighbouring tangle with its characteristic swooping flight. St Lucia is arguably the best place in the country to see this localised species which occurs in forests and forest edge along the North-eastern coast of KZN.

2. Woodward’s batis

​A secretive species with a very localised distribution within South Africa, there are estimated to be only a few thousand of these birds remaining in the country. This is largely due to their preference for dune forest- a habitat type restricted to the North-Eastern coast of KZN-which has dwindled in recent years due to agriculture and mining. Woodward’s batis are known as the ‘lazy’ batis- not moving much compared to other batis species- which makes them very discreet and difficult to see in the dense and gloomy dune forest understory.

3. Southern-banded snake-eagle

One of the rarest birds in the country, there are estimated to be fewer than 100 birds in the whole country, the majority of which occur from St Lucia Northwards into the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park. Their rarity can be attributed to the same habitat destruction affecting the Woodward’s batis. Specialist snake hunters, the Southern-banded snake eagle sits motionless and silent in the dense canopy of dune forest, searching attentively for an unsuspecting victim. This makes them tough to see, unless one is lucky to find one perched atop a telephone pole in the forest staking out the road as they often do!

4. Livingstone’s turaco

One of the most beautiful inhabitants of Dune forests in Zululand, St Lucia is the best place in the country to search for this localised and shy resident. Their Zulu name ‘Igwalagwala’ which means ‘coward’ describes perfectly why the Livingstone’s turaco can be difficult to get a good sight of. They hop nervously along branches in the dense, gloomy canopy of the forest and often the only view birders get is the vivid flash of their red flight feathers as they fly away. Frugivores, they are best searched for in fruiting trees, particularly Wild plum, Cape Ash, Fig and Tassel-berry. 

5. Rudd’s apalis

Another very localised species found in Dune forest and Forest edge around St Lucia. These territorial and very vocal birds are fond of dense tangles and Acacia thickets within the forest. Real ‘busy-bodies’ they hardly ever seem to pause, appearing for a brief second before ducking into dense cover again. Interestingly, they are often in the presence of Yellow-breasted apalis so if you see the Yellow-breasted keep your eyes peeled for Rudd’s (or visa versa!)

6. Narina trogon

Arguably the most beautiful bird in the forest, Narina trogon are also one of the most difficult to find. Although quite widely distributed in forests along the coast and escarpments within South Africa, St Lucia is most certainly one of the best places to see this highly sought-after species. ‘Perch-and-sally’ predators, Narina trogons sit motionless and silent for long periods until they spot potential prey such as Cicadas, Katydids or chameleons- which they pursue for a few short seconds before perching again. These hunting habits mean trogons do not move very much and are therefore difficult to spot in the dense foliage of the forest. They also have a tendency to present their green camouflaged back to potential threats- such as humans. One of the best times to search for Narina trogon is early Spring when males form ‘floating leks ’- a group of males calling and aerially chasing each other with the intention of attracting females for courtship.

7. Mangrove Kingfisher

A winter visitor to St Lucia, the South African population of this rare and localised bird is estimated at less than 400 individuals. The South African population moves between the Eastern Cape (where it breeds in summer) and KwaZulu-Natal- with St Lucia estuary being one of the main overwintering sites. As the name suggests, this beautiful kingfisher favours dense stands of lagoon hibiscus and mangrove lining estuaries. Anyone who has ever birded this habitat will probably agree it is one of the toughest…squelching mud, plenty of biting mosquitoes, impenetrable thickets make for tough going! When the Mangrove kingfisher first arrive in St Lucia in early winter they are very vocal which helps locate them more easily. After this luck, perseverance and dedicated searching are required to find them!

8. Buff-spotted flufftail

Ridiculously secretive and nervous, Buff-spotted flufftail inhabit dense thickets and undergrowth in the gloomy forest understory. They avoid clearings and more exposed areas at all costs unless they are darting from one forest patch to another or sometimes (if one is really lucky) they can’t resist the temptation to have a bathe in an exposed puddle after the rains. Their nervous and furtive habits combined with their tiny size and preference for impenetrable thickets make them a serious challenge to find. In the summer months their eery and far-carrying territorial advertisement calls can be heard throughout the forest during early mornings, late afternoons and night. Amazingly these advertisement calls carry up to 1km in the forest! Good luck in trying to trace the bird by its call…. They have the amazing ability to project their ‘voice’ giving the false impression that they are nearer than they actually are. Similar to the pot of gold at the base of a rainbow that can never be reached!

9. Green twinspot ​

Discreet and nomadic, these tiny birds are renowned as being one of the toughest species to find. They inhabit forest and forest edge around St Lucia. Their faint calls are only heard at close range so locating these birds by sound is more difficult than other forest species. Their nomadic habits (according to food availability) also make them difficult to pinpoint. Unlike a lot of the other small seed eaters they also spend alot of time higher up in the canopy where they are near impossible to see. Puddles of water in forest (on hot days) and forest clearings with seeding grass are a good place to search.

10. Swamp nightjar

The swamp nightjar (previously known as the Natal nightjar) occurs exclusively in the coastal grasslands and wetlands of Zululand into Mozambique. St Lucia and the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park are the best place to see this very localised South African species. Near impossible to see by day due to their habit of resting in dense stands of Lala palm/ Wild date palm, they are best searched for at night when the orange glow of their eyes or beautiful call alerts one to their presence. Typical for nightjars, they are crepuscular hunters and can be seen hawking insects over the wetlands and grasslands at dusk or on moonlit evenings.