10 Birds to Spot on Birding Safari in East Africa : While East Africa is primarily recognized as the best safari destination for the annual great wildebeest migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, the big five in Ngorongoro Crater, hiking safaris in Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and Mount Rwenzori, beach safaris in Zanzibar Island, and mountain gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda’s Volcano National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, On the continent, there are believed to be 2,500 different bird species, some of which call Africa “home” permanently and others which merely travel through on major migratory routes.
The best locations for birding safaris may be found throughout east Africa, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and the D.R.C. What are the most common birds you may expect to observe in East Africa when on a birding safari? This post will introduce 10 bird species, ranging from enormous flightless birds to nocturnal dwellers, that you will undoubtedly encounter and spot on your birdwatching tour in East Africa.
- The common ostrich (Struthio camelus)
The ostrich is the world’s largest living bird, yet because of its enormous size, it is unable to fly. In spite of this, they can travel at top speeds of 70 kilometres per hour on land. They lay the biggest eggs of any bird in existence today and utilize their strong legs to kick predators. Ostriches are a common sight in the grasslands and savannah of the Serengeti and Maasai Mara in East Africa, where they dwell in migratory flocks of five to fifty birds.
- Grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum)
These impressive birds, sometimes known as African crowned cranes, are the national bird of Uganda and may be found all over Eastern and Southern Africa. They are easily recognized by their stiff golden feathered helmet, bright red throat pouch, and lengthy legs that are made for wading over tall grass. Near rivers and lakes, dry savannah, marshes, and grassy flatlands are where they are most frequently seen. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of their spectacular mating dance, which includes plenty of bowing, hopping, and spreading their wings out to their full two-meter span.
- Flamingo
Both greater (Phoenicopterus roseus) and lesser (Phoeniconaias minor) flamingo species can be found in East Africa. Both fish in shallow lakes, digging through the mud with their bills to scavenge for tiny crustaceans and plankton. One of the most photogenic birds in East Africa, especially when seen in groups, they get their pink hue from the shellfish that make up their food. The number of flamingos at Kenya’s Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, and Lake Elementaita can range from hundreds to thousands, depending on the lake’s conditions. Other best place to see flamingos in East Africa is Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National park and Lake Natron located in Ngorongoro conservational area.
- The African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)
The African fish eagle is a strong predator that may be found all over sub-Saharan Africa. It is also the national bird of Zambia and Namibia. It has a characteristic hook-shaped beak with barbs on the bottom to stop slippery fish from slipping off, and a hook-shaped foot. With a wingspan that may reach 2.4 meters and eyesight that is ten times stronger than a human, the African fish eagle is one of the biggest eagles on the continent. Around Lake Victoria, which spans Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, is one of the greatest spots to see these recognizable birds.
- Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)
The Kori bustard, one of Africa’s largest flying birds, spends a lot of time on the ground and builds its eggs in shallow hollows. In contrast to most birds, it often needs dust baths to get rid of parasites because it lacks a preening gland to keep its feathers healthy. Males have a wingspan of up to 2.75 meters and can weigh up to 18 kilos. Kori bustard sightings are frequent in Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, as well as Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia. They have been observed pursuing prey that has been startled by zebra hooves by following herds of the animals over wide-open savannahs.
- Helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)
Although they are native to Africa, these appealing ground-dwelling birds have been domesticated and exported to countries as far afield as Australia and the West Indies. Helmeted guinea hens are coveted for their meat and eggs and have a round body covered in spotted black and white feathers. Large flocks of them frequently trail herds of zebras and antelopes in sub-Saharan Africa’s broad grasslands and savannah, 10 Birds to Spot on Birding Safari in East Africa.
- Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
The pied kingfisher, a stunning white and black bird with a wide distribution throughout East Africa, forages for tiny fish and aquatic insects near the lakes and rivers where it resides. They are highly noisy, which makes them easy to notice, and were first described by the Swedish taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Pied kingfishers can travel farther across water than other kingfisher species because they are adept at eating their meals in mid-flight. On a boat safari, where you can get a good glimpse of the mud nests they erect on the riverbanks, you have the best chance of seeing them.
- Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus)
The lilac-breasted roller, one of the loveliest birds in East Africa due to its vivid coloring, has been named the national bird of Kenya. They are well-known for their aerial acrobatics, hence the term “roller,” and during the breeding season, males can frequently be seen diving and swooping to entice females. In open forest or bushy savannah, where they gather in pairs on tree branches to search for insects and beetles, lilac-breasted rollers can be found across East Africa.
- The African wood owl (Strix woodfordii)
In Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, and Uganda, African wood owls live in forests and woodland areas exclusively at night. They occasionally catch small reptiles and mammals, but their primary diet consists of moths, grasshoppers, and beetles. Although they are beautiful birds with an eerie sound, their conservation is occasionally threatened since in some African tribes they are seen as bringing ill luck.
- Saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis)
The sub-Saharan region of Africa is home to these huge wading birds, which are also found in some areas of South Africa and in the countries of Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. The highest storks in the world can reach a height of 1.5 meters. In addition to having a yellow and red patch on their chest that is utilized to transfer heat to eggs during the breeding season, Saddle-billed Storks are named for their red and black beaks. They typically hang out near areas of water, where they eat fish, frogs, and crabs.
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