Etosha is an excellent birding destination, recording over 340 species. The variety comes from the diversity of habitats: the pan edges attract waders and flamingos, the mopane woodland supports raptors and rollers, and the scrub around the rest camps is full of smaller species. Kori bustard — the world's heaviest flying bird — is common in the open grasslands, along with ostrich, secretary bird, and various hornbills.
The best birding is in the summer months (November to February), when migratory species arrive from the north and the pan may hold water. But the dry season waterhole approach works for birds too — eagles and vultures often congregate around kills, and the open ground around waterholes is rich with smaller ground birds. Birders wanting raptors should focus on the road between Okaukuejo and Halali, which passes through some of the best habitat.