Birds of Kolwezi

Kolwezi is situated in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The area would have historically supported vast tracts of rich Miombo woodland. However, Kolwezi happens to host one the worlds greatest Copper deposits and has therefore hosted a large human population for some time. Most of the original habitat surrounding the town of Kolwezi has borne the brunt of mining, seasons of subsistence agriculture and uncontrolled burning resulting in a modified grassland and scrub dominated by generalist species. There are of course small relict patches of woodland, forest and wetland which still offer some excitement to birders.

Most of the remaining vegetation hugs the numerous termite mounds, charactristic of the region. These biological islands support a healthy number of species including White-browed Robin Chat, Speckled Mousebird, Schalow's Turaco, Orange-winged Pytilia, White-winged Black Tit and the striking Black-collared Bulbul. Scrubby grassland inbetween the termite mounds is home to Red-necked Francolin, Short-winged Cisticola, Red-cheeked Cordonbleau, Flappet Lark, Black-faced Canary and the ubiquitous Black-crowned Tchagra.


Dambos (flooded grasslands) are wet throughout the year and often intensively farmed. However even some of the most intensely farmed dambos host Red-chested Flufftail, Fullenborne's Longclaw, Broad-tailed Warbler, Black Coucal, Black-chinned Quail Finch and Marsh Widow. African Marsh Harriers are common. The edges of larger dambos and rivers offer suitable habitat for Yellow-throated Leaflove, Coppery Sunbird and African Yellow Warbler. Lesser Swamp and Little Rush Warblers and Chirping Cisticola call from dense reedbeds adjacent to modified aquatic habitat. Quiet open water with suitable vegetation support both Lesser and African Jacana, Allen's Gallinule and Purple Swamphen while Angola Swallows swoop down through open culverts. The mighty Lualaba River (start of the Congo) passes immediately to the north of Kolwezi. Although a bit overfished it still holds small numbers of hippo and crocodile. All of the regular open water suspects such as Grey-headed Gull and Osprey, and a diverse array of Herons and Egrets are present.

Remnant patches of Mushito (swamp forest) harbour African Thrush, Common Wattle Eye, White-chinned Prinia, Little Greenbul, Olive Woodpecker and Superb Starling. Relict patches of miombo woodland are home to typical mixed flock species such as Rufous-bellied Tit, Violet-backed Sunbird, Green-capped Eromomela, Red-capped Crombec and Yellow-bellied Hyliota.

Despite the degraded nature of the area, large raptors are suprisingly well represented in Marial Eagle, Bateluer, Long-crested Eagle, Western-banded, Brown and Black-breasted Snake Eagle and Gymnogene. The presence of these large raptors gives an indication of what lies beyond the susbistence agriculture and stunted miombo.

Kolwezi Migrants - Arrivals and Departures

The following is a list of dates (first and last) that some migratory species were recorded in Kolwezi in 2009. This list will be updated as more dates become available:

Black Kite
Last Date: 15-03-09 - Numerous birds flying over site
First Date: 05-07-09 - Single bird flying over Kolwezi in the evening

African Crake
Last Date: 09-05-09 - Single bird walking across grassy track

Black Coucal
Last Date: 04-04-09 - Bird calling from Dambo

Common Swift
First Date: 20-09-09- Large flocks seen over the Lualaba River. Coincides with the first rain of the season


European Bee Eater
Last Date: 05-04-09 - Small group calling and flying over site
First Date: 30-08-09 - Small group calling and flying over site

Red-throated Cliff Swallow
First Date: 15-05-09 - Small group feeding above dam on site

Barn Swallow
Last Date: 04-04-09 - Birds on wire above Kakifuluwe River
First Date: 22-09-09 - Birds arrive in force at Kakifuluwe River

Sand Martin
First Date: 21-09-09 - Three birds appear with Barn Swallows on the Kakifuluwe River

Hosue Martin
First Date: 21-09-09 - A single bird appears with Barn Swallows on the Kakifuluwe River

Willow Warbler
Last Date: 22-03-09 - Bird feeding on site

Great Reed Warbler
Last Date: 30-03-09 - Bird calling on site

Spotted Flycatcher
Last Date: 04-05-09 - Bird feeding on site

Capped Wheatear
First Date: 14-05-09 - Eight Capped Wheatear appear on site

Red-backed Shrike
Last Date: 05-04-09 – Apart from three birds which spent one day in camp in early April, Red-backed Shrike was not recorded in Kolwezi.

Lesser-Grey Shrike
Last Date: 05-04-09 - Apart from two birds which spent the day in camp in early April, I have not recorded Lesser Grey Shrike in Kolwezi.

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
First Date: 30-03-2009 - Calling erupts across site

Woodlands North West of Kolwezi

Rebecca and I headed out north west of Kolwezi for a bit of birding, relaxing and exploration. We followed the main road westwards out of Kolwezi and then north past the Kanzenze turnoff. Soon after the 50 km peg, we pulled off into some interesting woodland, parked the car and had a look around. The original flora of this area would have been a rich mosaic of Evergreen Forest and Miombo Woodland. The forest canopy (of perhaps only a few years ago) would have stretched over a much larger area. However, today it is being logged at an alarming rate and has been reduced to a few relict patches. The logging is mostly of a subsistence nature and has left numerous roads which facilitate access for birders too. The difficult part is to find the patches as wherever there is a road, there is no longer a forest. More worrying are the rampant fires started by local farmers which further degrade the forest. Despite the logging and disturbance, the area still supports some interesting birdlife. Typical Zambeizan species dominate the site, but interestingly, there are still elements of the Guinea Congo forests as well.

It was just after 7 a.m. when we arrived and as we turned off the engine, we realised that a large group of Crested Guineafowl were feeding noisily in the scrub right next to the car. After they had moved away (and we still had not managed a great sighting), we ventured out of the car and further along the path on foot. We arrived at a small fragmented patch of forest and were met by a small flock of Cabanis's Greenbul and a pair of Chestnut Wattle-eye. In some of the denser thicket, a Red-tailed Bristlebill and African Broadbill called. Numerous Large False Mopane (Guibourtia coleasperma) were in full seed attracting birds and decorating the pathway. The canopy produced a very shy flash of red in the form of a Shallow's Turaco and a small group of Buff-throated Apalis. Other species in a mixed flock included Dark-backed Weaver, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Brubru, Black-backed Puffback, African Golden Oriole, Olive Sunbird, Honeyguide Greenbul and the ubiquitous Little Greenbul. High above a Western Banded Snake Eagle started to call. An African Goshawk caused quite a bit of stress while a distant Western Bronze-naped Pigeon called.

Leaving the forest patch we walked back into the woodland. This time of year, the woodland can be very quiet unless you chance upon a mixed flock working their way through the canopy. It was not long before we heard the distinctive call and then flyby of a Thick-billed Cuckoo, that was followed by a feeding group of Blue-Grey Flycatcher and a pair of Margaret's Batis.

In the next few hours we encountered a few mixed flocks which were typically dominated by species such as Green-capped and Black-throated Eremomela, Yellow White-Eye, Chin-spot Batis, Rufous-bellied Tit, Cabanis's Bunting, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Red-capped Crombec, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike and Pale-billed and Crowned Hornbills. Other species of interest included Spotted Creeper, Bohm's and Dusky Flycatchers, Pale Wren Warbler, Violet-backed Sunbird, Green-backed Woodpecker, Purple-banded Sunbird and Scimitarbill. By now the 'moisture flies' were finding us quite attractive in their thousands and we had little choice but to head back to the sanctuary of the car.

It was now hot and bird movement was slow. We decided to head back to Kolwezi. Stopping at an attractive bit of grassland we managed to find a small group of Tinkling Cisticola, a Flappet Lark a few flocks of Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah (in attractive 'dress code') and an African Marsh Harrier. The route home produced a magnificent Bateleur and a flash of a Shikra.


All in all an excellent day in the woodlands north west of Kolwezi.