© Trevor Hardaker
The BirdLife South Africa National List and Rarities Committee is tasked with the evaluation of records of birds which would constitute national rarities anywhere in South Africa. Additionally, in response to ever-changing taxonomies, the Committee is charged with maintaining and selecting bird names that best reflect the interests of the South African birding community. The Committee also works closely with the South African Names for South African (SANSAB) working group, to work towards a South African bird list which records the cultural, linguistic, and biological diversity of South Africa’s national heritage.
Why do we do it?
Birding largely involves keeping a list of birds encountered. This Committee ensures coordination of the vetting and addition of new species found in South Africa to a national checklist (maintained and published annually by the Committee). The Committee also ensures that taxonomic changes are reflected in the national checklist and, where possible, familiar and beloved common South African names for birds reflect our birding community’s best interests.
The Committee is coordinated by BirdLife South Africa and made up of volunteer members from taxonomists to professional bird guides and experts. We are deeply grateful to the members of the Committee for volunteering their time and expertise to ensuring our list stays accurate and current.
For further information, please contact us here.
When a birder in South Africa records a species not previously seen in the country, or one so rare that it requires verification, the Committee reviews the submission. Volunteer experts independently assess the written description, photographs and other evidence against the species’ known identification, distribution and behaviour, voting without knowledge of one another’s assessments. Where disagreement is significant or a case is particularly complex, the record is re-circulated for further discussion before a final decision is made.
Accepted records are added to the official Checklist of Birds in South Africa, published and updated annually by BirdLife South Africa with support from Birding Ecotours and Duram Paints. The Committee also monitors global taxonomic developments, particularly the unified AviList taxonomy, which underpins the checklist. It assesses proposed common name changes and species splits or lumps, adopting those appropriate for the South African list while seeking to retain names that reflect the interests and heritage of the South African birding community.
BirdLife South Africa’s official checklist is generously supported by Birding Ecotours and Duram Smart Paint
If you have observed a bird in South Africa that you believe may be a national rarity, please submit a record to the Committee as soon as possible. If you use BirdLasser or Bindo, your record is automatically received by the National Rarities Committee when you submit your Full Protocol card to SABAP2.
If you are not using SABAP2, complete the official National Rarities Form or submit your record via the online form below. Include a detailed description, the date and location, details of other observers, and supporting photographs where available. If you would like your name or the site to remain confidential, please indicate this when submitting.
Your record will then be forwarded to the Committee for adjudication. For enquiries, contact us here.
The BirdLife South Africa Checklist of Birds in South Africa provides the current official list of the country’s bird species, updated with the latest accepted records and taxonomy.
BirdLife South Africa’s official checklist is generously supported by Birding Ecotours and Duram Smart Paint
