Photo: Southern Ground Hornbill, Clay Harrison/Audubon Photography Awards
Nick Appleton
I’m a high school junior and relative newcomer to birdwatching, but I’m already hooked. I started birdwatching during my freshman year but was lucky enough to be living then in Zimbabwe, home to hundreds of species of birds, ranging from the tiniest sunbirds to the flightless guinea fowl and several species of elusive turacos. My father’s retirement returned the family to the DC area, and I was pleased to find NVBA birdwalks and classes that will help me learn the local birds.
The diversity of birds in Zimbabwe is largely due to the country's varied terrain and climate. On the northern boundary of the country lies the Zambezi River, home to Victoria Falls, and a wealth of wildlife, including the African Fish Eagle, Zimbabwe's national bird. Known for its piercing cry, sometimes deemed as the “sound of Africa,” this powerful eagle is an opportunistic hunter usually feeding on fish and scavenging when necessary.
African Fish Eagle, Marian Herz/Audubon Photography Awards
Lilac-breasted Roller, Judy LaNier/Audubon Photography Awards
Equally captivating and ever prettier is the Lilac-breasted Roller. The bird is known for its colorful plumage and as its acrobatic displays. The roller typically eats small bugs and animals and can often be found perched among the tall termite mounds that litter the river beds along the Zambezi. This is one of my personal favorites as they have a very distinct look and a wide variety of colors.
A particularly interesting native of the region is the Southern Ground Hornbill. As the largest member of the hornbill species this massive bird is quite recognizable along the river with its big black frame and distinct red face. A formidable predator, the hornbill feeds upon anything that moves, from bugs to snails, frogs, and small mammals. The Southern Red-Billed Hornbill also lives in this region and is more or less famous because it is the same species of hornbill as Zazu in The Lion King.
Southern Ground Hornbill, Clay Harrison/Audubon Photography Awards
Long-crested Eagle, Loi Nguyen/Audubon Photography Awards
The Chimanimani National Park in the mountainous region in the east of the country is home to two of my favorite Zimbabwean birds, the Long-crested Eagle and the Half-collared Kingfisher. The Long-crested Eagle, which is relatively small for an eagle, has a distinctive crest. The bird is widely distributed. I saw them in Chimanimani, but we even had a family of Long-crested Eagles living in our backyard in Harare. Some African kingfishers are among the tiniest birds in the country, but like the Lilac-breasted Roller, many species are famous for their vibrant colors. My personal favorite, the Half-collared Kingfisher, is bright cobalt blue on its back, with a buffy undercarriage.
I look forward to learning more about northern Virginia’s resident and migrating birdlife.