![Namibia’s 15 key birds](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/13.-Shrike-White-tailed-Erongo-Mountains-Namibia-AR-105.jpg)
(This article first appeared on 10000birds.com)
Namibia is politically stable and a safe country to visit offering spectacular scenery, untouched wildernesses, vast game reserves, superb wildlife and fascinating cultural experiences. It has the second lowest population density (6.6 people per sq mi) of any country in the world (Mongolia has the lowest). Namibia’s 2,1 million people are spread over an incredible 318,696 sq mi (nearly 20% larger land area than Texas). The main reason for this low population density is the fact that Namibia is an extremely arid country, containing not only the world’s oldest desert, the Namib, but also vast areas of semi-desert and dry savanna. Only in the far northern border regions with Angola and Zambia, where the mighty Okavango and Zambezi Rivers flow, is the country home to higher population densities. These wide open spaces have meant that Namibia still supports large volumes of wildlife, not only in its famous and expansive game reserves, but even on unprotected land. For instance, Namibia boasts the largest population of Cheetah in the world, many of which roam land that is privately owned. Over 700 bird species occur in Namibia, many of them range-restricted and highly desirable southern arid zone species.
![Spreetshoogte Pass is an example of one of Namibia’s numerous scenic wonders Spreetshoogte Pass is an example of one of Namibia’s numerous scenic wonders](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1.-spreegshoogte-pass-sunset-namibia-ar-11.jpg)
Due to the unique Namib Desert and the high central plateau, numerous birds and other forms of flora and fauna are endemic to this region. However Namibia only has one true endemic bird, the Dune Lark, due to the fact that these specialized habitats just stretch over into remote southern Angola. However, Namibia also boasts 14 near-endemics, whose ranges are almost entirely restricted to this country and these 15 special birds are the focus of this blogpost.
Hartlaub’s Francolin
![A male Hartlaub’s Francolin scurries across granite boulders in the Erongo Mountains of central Namibia A male Hartlaub’s Francolin scurries across granite boulders in the Erongo Mountains of central Namibia](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2.-Francolin-Hartlaubs-Erongo-Mountains-Namibia-AR-22.jpg)
Rüppell’s Bustard
![A family group of Rüppell’s Bustards uttering their croaking territorial calls A family group of Rüppell’s Bustards uttering their croaking territorial calls](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/3.-bustard-rueppells-north-of-uis-namibia-ar-174.jpg)
Rosy-faced Lovebird
![A male Rosy-faced Lovebird poses on a branch in the Erongo Mountains A male Rosy-faced Lovebird poses on a branch in the Erongo Mountains](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/4.-Lovebird-Rosy-faced-Erongo-Mountains-Namibia-AR-16.jpg)
Rüppell’s Parrot
![A Rüppell’s Parrot perched in an Acacia tree near a dry riverbed in Omaruru, central Namibia A Rüppell’s Parrot perched in an Acacia tree near a dry riverbed in Omaruru, central Namibia](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/5.-Parrot-Rueppells-Omaruru-Namibia-AR-25.jpg)
Monteiro’s Hornbill
![The attractive Monteiro’s Hornbill usually feeds on the ground and is very noticeable in flight due to its striking white wings The attractive Monteiro’s Hornbill usually feeds on the ground and is very noticeable in flight due to its striking white wings](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/6.-Hornbill-Monteiros-ML.jpg)
Damara Hornbill
![A calling Damara Hornbill from the Erongo Mountains in central Namibia A calling Damara Hornbill from the Erongo Mountains in central Namibia](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/7.-hornbill-damara-red-billed-erongo-mountains-namibia-ar-24.jpg)
Barlow’s Lark
![An uncommon photo of a difficult and very localized bird, Barlow’s Lark An uncommon photo of a difficult and very localized bird, Barlow’s Lark](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/8.-Lark-Barlows-1-1-KV.jpg)
Dune Lark
![Namibia’s only true endemic, the lovely Dune Lark whose coloration matches that of the sandy riverbeds and surrounding dunes where it occurs Namibia’s only true endemic, the lovely Dune Lark whose coloration matches that of the sandy riverbeds and surrounding dunes where it occurs](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/9.-Lark-Dune-1-ML.jpg)
Benguella Lark
![A Benguella Lark foraging for grubs in the desert north of Brandberg in central Namibia A Benguella Lark foraging for grubs in the desert north of Brandberg in central Namibia](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/10-lark-benguela-long-billed-north-of-uis-namibia-ar-70.jpg)
Gray’s Lark
![The pale Gray’s Lark’s preferred habitat are the open gravel plains of the Namib Desert The pale Gray’s Lark’s preferred habitat are the open gravel plains of the Namib Desert](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/11.-lark-greys-henties-bay-road-namibia-ar-35.jpg)
Herero Chat
![The Herero Chat can be a hard bird to find due to its inconspicuous behavior combined with a scattered, low density The Herero Chat can be a hard bird to find due to its inconspicuous behavior combined with a scattered, low density](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/12.-Chat-Herero-4-ML.jpg)
White-tailed Shrike
![The delightful White-tailed Shrike The delightful White-tailed Shrike](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/13.-Shrike-White-tailed-Erongo-Mountains-Namibia-AR-105.jpg)
Rockrunner
![A Rockrunner in action sprinting across its home range A Rockrunner in action sprinting across its home range](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/14.-rockrunner-namibgrens-namibia-ar-25.jpg)
Bare-cheeked Babbler
![The attractive Bare-cheeked Babbler photographed near Etosha National Park. The attractive Bare-cheeked Babbler photographed near Etosha National Park.](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/15.-babbler-bare-cheeked-anderssons-camp-namibia-ar-10.jpg)
Carp’s Tit
![Carp’s Tit, a species of dry woodlands of central and northern Namibia Carp’s Tit, a species of dry woodlands of central and northern Namibia](https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/16.-Tit-Carps-Black-2-ML-ML.jpg)