The Cape Central Valley is home to the Langeberg municipal region and covers an area of 4,518 square kilometres (1,744 sq mi) in the Breede River Valley and the west end of the Little Karoo.
Providing an unparalleled diverse habitat for birds, the life-giving Breede River runs through the valley, surrounded by the majestic Langeberg and Riviersonderend mountains with the Koega bordering the north. Together with the Breede Valley, Drakenstein, Stellenbosch and Witzenberg local municipalities, it forms the Cape Winelands District Municipality.
The Cape Winelands District municipal region is internationally renowned as a top tourist destination. Conservation International has proclaimed just two botanical Biodiversity Hotspots in Southern Africa, the Cape Floral Kingdom and the Succulent Karoo, both of which are found in the Cape Central Valley.
The Cape Floral Kingdom and the Succulent Karoo both boast spectacular landscapes, beautiful wine estates and acclaimed wines, colourful people, stupendous mountain passes — the list goes on. One of the region’s little-known assets is the diversity of bird species found here.

Hotbed of Endemic and Near-Endemic Bird Species

 

The huge number of endemic species found in the Western Cape and the Langeberg region, in particular, is astounding.
Endemism refers to species that are restricted to a certain region and that can be found nowhere else in the world. Southern Africa is fortunate to have high levels of endemism in all forms of life, and South Africa is the most biologically megadiverse country in Africa.

Amazingly, at least 56 of Southern Africa’s 94 endemic bird species and 22 of the 61 near-endemic species are found in the Langeberg region. With these 78 species alone, this relatively small region boasts more endemic birds than most countries have to offer.
Several exciting and often endemic bird species are found in the Cape Floral Kingdom habitat type and can be tracked down relatively easily in several different localities spread throughout the Langeberg region.

Most of these birding destinations are readily accessible and often feature dramatic Fynbos and mountain landscapes. Top destinations for these “fynbos specials” include the Dassieshoek Nature Reserve at Robertson, applicable habitats in the Rooiberg conservancy, the Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve near McGregor, the Fish Eagle hiking trail at Van Loveren Family Vineyards, the Montagu Mountain Reserve, and several privately owned properties throughout the region. Entrance to these reserves is often free or available at a minimal cost.

The endemic birds associated with these fynbos habitats are the SOUTHERN BLACK KORHAAN,
PROTEA SEEDEATER, CAPE SISKIN, CAPE SUGARBIRD, ORANGE-BREASTED SUNBIRD, VICTORIN’S WARBLER and CAPE ROCKJUMPER.

The crowning glory of bird-watching opportunities in the Langeberg region, however, relates to the large number of endemic and near-endemic species usually associated with arid Karoo habitats and landscapes.

The popular destinations for local and international birders to look for these species are the Karoo National Park and the Tankwa Karoo, but pristine natural habitats in the Langeberg region offer several of these species in much closer proximity to Cape Town and the Overberg.

Here the ANT-EATING, KAROO and SICKLE-WINGED CHATS, KAROO EREMOMELA, KAROO, KAROO LONG-BILLED and SPIKE-HEELED LARKS and NAMAQUA SANDGROUSE, as well as the NAMAQUA and RUFOUS-EARED WARBLERS serve as excellent examples.

Species that prefer more mountainous and hilly habitats include JACKAL BUZZARD, GREY-WINGED FRANCOLIN, CAPE ROCKJUMPER, CAPE and SENTINEL ROCK-THRUSHES and GROUND WOODPECKER.
Look for these species at locations scattered throughout the magnificent Langeberg Mountain range.

Endemics or near-endemics attracted to forests or thickets include CAPE and PRIRIT BATIS, SOUTHERN BOUBOU, OLIVE BUSH SHRIKE, FOREST BUZZARD, FAIRY FLYCATCHER, CAPE PENDULINE-TIT, KAROO PRINIA, SOUTHERN TCHAGRA and KNYSNA WOODPECKER.

Many birders are amazed to find that several fairly common species often found in gardens throughout the region are also endemic or near-endemic. These include species such as the BOKMAKIERIE, CAPE BULBUL, FISCAL FLYCATCHER, CAPE SPARROW, CAPE SPURFOWL, SOUTHERN DOUBLE-COLLARED SUNBIRD, SWEE WAXBILL, CAPE WEAVER and CAPE WHITE-EYE. And then other
species such as GREY-BACKED CISTICOLA, CAPE GRASSBIRD, BLACK HARRIER, CAPE LONGCLAW, SOUTH AFRICAN SHELDUCK and CAPE SHOVELER have not even been mentioned yet. To crown it all, this list is by no means comprehensive.

The species mentioned are all sought after by birders from other provinces and countries.
Several other species that are resident throughout the year, rare and vagrant species that are recorded regularly, and a range of summer migrants also attract huge interest in birding circles.

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This bird finder, with text by Anton Odendal on behalf of BirdLife Overberg and sponsored by the Cape Winelands District Municipality, serves as an introductory overview to assist visitors in locating some of the most popular birds of the region, and describes locations where they could potentially be found.

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