Birds to See in South Africa in November
103 bird species on our list for South Africa are recorded regularly in November
Of these, the most often recorded are Egyptian Goose, Barn Swallow, Helmeted Guineafowl, Southern Masked Weaver and Pied Crow. New this month: Red-backed Shrike, Hobby, Golden Oriole and European Honey-buzzard and 4 more.
On the move in November
GBIF · NovArriving
At their peak
Lesser Striped SwallowBusiest month of the year · Jul–May
GreenshankBusiest month of the year · All year
Common SandpiperBusiest month of the year · Jul–Apr
Little StintBusiest month of the year · Aug–Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitBusiest month of the year · All year
Damara TernBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
From South Africa’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 103 birds in November
103 birds
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentCommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Nov
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.05% in Nov
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentCommon53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Nov
Southern Masked WeaverPloceus velatusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Nov
Pied CrowCorvus albusResidentCommon46–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Nov
Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilisResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Nov
Cape SparrowPasser melanurusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Nov
Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitensResidentCommon25–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Nov
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Nov
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Nov
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Nov- Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinicaSummer visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.54% in Nov
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Nov
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Nov
European Bee-eaterMerops apiasterSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.43% in Nov
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Nov
Spur-winged GoosePlectropterus gambensisResidentUncommon75–115 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Nov
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Nov
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Nov
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorCommon51–57 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.34% in Nov
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentUncommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Nov
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Nov
African JacanaActophilornis africanusResidentUncommon23–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Nov
Magpie ShrikeUrolestes melanoleucusResidentUncommon35–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Nov
Common OstrichStruthio camelusResidentUncommon210–275 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Nov
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Nov- GreenshankTringa nebulariaSummer visitorUncommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Nov
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Nov
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Nov
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.20% in Nov
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentUncommon120–145 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Nov- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.18% in Nov
- Little StintCalidris minutaSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.17% in Nov
Purple HeronArdea purpureaResidentUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Nov
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melbaResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Nov
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Nov
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Nov
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Nov
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Nov
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Nov
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Nov
Common TernSterna hirundoResidentUncommon31–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Nov
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Nov
African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorusResidentUncommon44–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Nov
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Nov
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Nov
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSummer visitorUncommon18–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Nov
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentUncommon38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Nov
RuffCalidris pugnaxSummer visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Nov
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Nov
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusResidentUncommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Nov
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Nov
SecretarybirdSagittarius serpentariusResidentUncommon112–150 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Nov
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Nov
Lanner FalconFalco biarmicusResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Nov
African PenguinSpheniscus demersusResidentUncommon60–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Nov
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Nov
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Nov
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Nov
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Nov
Crowned EagleStephanoaetus coronatusResidentRare80–99 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Nov- Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorRare37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Nov
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentUncommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Nov
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Nov
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorResidentUncommon45–53 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Nov
Little BitternIxobrychus minutusResidentRare33–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Nov
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Nov
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentRare14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Nov
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentRare33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Nov
Pale-winged StarlingOnychognathus nabouroupResidentRare25–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Nov
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Nov
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.02% in Nov
Golden OrioleOriolus oriolusSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Nov
White-chinned PetrelProcellaria aequinoctialisResidentUncommon50–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Nov
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusSummer visitorRare20–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Nov
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentRare50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Nov
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Nov
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentRare50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Nov
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Nov
White-bellied BustardEupodotis senegalensisResidentRare48–61 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Nov
Sabine's GullXema sabiniSummer visitorRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Nov
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisResidentRare43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Nov- Damara TernSternula balaenarumSummer visitorRare22–24 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Nov
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorRare14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.01% in Nov
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorRare28–35 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Nov
African Pygmy-falconPolihierax semitorquatusResidentRare19–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Nov
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Nov
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Nov
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Nov
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusSummer visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Nov
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorRare14–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Nov
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Nov
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorRare33–39 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.00% in Nov
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorRare18–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Nov
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorRare40–45 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.00% in Nov
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.00% in Nov
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorRare24–28 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Nov
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSummer visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Nov
ChukarAlectoris chukarPassage migrantRare32–38 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.00% in Nov
CuckooCuculus canorusSummer visitorRare32–34 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Nov
Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargusSummer visitorRare43–47 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Nov
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataPassage migrantRare66–84 cmRegularly Nov · 0.00% in Nov
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantRare48–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Nov
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made