Birds of Tanzania - A Traveler's Guide
Tanzania, the land of national parks and game reserves, is an ornithophile paradise. Due to unspoiled wilderness and vast plain lands, Tanzania is home to nearly 1200 bird species of which 34 bird species are endemic (species restricted to a small geographic area). Wherever you go in Tanzania, the fluttering of wings and birds chirping will be constant. The increase in ornithological research in the past few decades has resulted in the vast availability of information and resources about the birds of Tanzania.
Read this article to learn more about Tanzania's birds, the best time for birdwatching, and everything else for ornithophiles.
Best Time and Places for Birdwatching in Tanzania
Tanzania is suitable for travelers year-round. The birdlife of Tanzania is good to visit throughout the year due to the different geographical elevations and micro-climates. Tanzania majorly experiences two seasons, the dry and rainy season. The rainy season starts in early March and continues to late May.
Generally, the best time to visit Tanzania for birdwatching is from November to early April. During this season, along with the native Tanzanian birds, ornithophiles can also see diverse migratory birds from Europe and northern Africa. This is the nesting and breeding season for the resident birds in Tanzania.
Some of the top places to go for birdwatching in Tanzania are:
1. Arusha National Park
In North-Eastern Tanzania, Arusha National Park is home to vast grassy hills surrounded by the Momella lakes. Along with the shallows and the surrounding grasslands, the waters of the Momella lakes host a diverse range of birds. Arusha National Park overall hosts around 400 bird species, including endemic, forest, aquatic, and migratory birds.
The most common birds found in this national park are the Greater Pink Flamingo, Narina Trogon, Spur-Winged Goose, Red-Fronted Parrot, African Fish Eagle, Shaggy Waterbucks, and many more. The best way for birdwatching in Arusha is during game drives, climbing Mount Meru, canoeing in the lake, or taking a nature walk.
2. Serengeti National Park
Probably the most famous national park, Serengeti National Park is located in Northern Tanzania. The national park is home to one of the world's oldest ecosystems. It is famous for its abundant wildlife viewing and the great wildebeest migration. But apart from the great migration and many other big mammals, the national park is also a paradise for bird lovers hosting nearly 500 bird species, including a few endemic species only found in the Serengeti.
Some of the Serengeti's most commonly found species are Grey-Breasted Spurfowls, Grey Crested Helmet Shrikes, Black-Headed Honoleks, Usambara Barbets, and Fischer's Lovebirds, among others.
Also read: Why Is Serengeti National Park so Important?
3. Tarangire National Park
One of the lesser-known national parks, Tarangire National Park, rivals the Serengeti National Park for its diverse wildlife habitats. Tarangire National Park is best suited for travelers who love to travel among a smaller crowd. The best time to travel is during the dry seasons when the only water source is the Tarangire River flowing through the national park. You can catch a lot of birds around the Tarangire River. Home to around 500 different species of birds, including endemic, near-endemic, migratory, and aquatic birds, Tarangire National Park is one the most favored spots for birdwatching.
Some commonly found species are the Vulturine Guineafowl, African Gray Flycatcher, Rufous Tailed Weaver, Pink Breasted Lark, Slate Colored Boubou, Ostrich, and Great White Pelican, among others.
4. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Together, the Ngorongoro highlands and the Ngorongoro crater are beautiful places for birdwatching, being home to more than 500 species. Along with the native birds, ornithophiles can also find many migratory birds in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The migration from Europe and Asia occurs between September and April. Throughout the different seasons, you will see diverse species of birds in the Ngorongoro area.
The main migratory birds are the European Bee-Eater, Lesser Kestrel, European Roller, Caspian Lapwing, and the Pallid Harrier. The nests of Ostriches, Secretary Birds, and Kori Bustards on the sand tracks around the crater are easily distinguished. Other species you can find are the Northern Anteater Chat, Capped Whater, Fischer's Sparrow Lark, Rufous-Tailed Weaver, Superb Starling, and Grassland Pipi.
5. Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is the smallest national park at the base of the Great Rift Valley, alongside the famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti. The main highlight of birdwatching in Lake Manyara is the flamingos. At certain times, the flamingos cover two-thirds of the whole lake and are a beautiful sight to capture. Besides the famous flamingos, Lake Manyara also hosts more than 400 bird species, including aquatic, prey, and migratory birds.
The most common species in and around the lake are the Pink-Backed Pelican, Pied Kingfisher, Saddle Billed Stork, Grey Crowned Crane, Narina Trogon, and the Silvery Cheeked Hornbill, among others.
These are the top birdwatching places in Tanzania. But Tanzania's birdwatching experience is not limited to only these places. You can visit a few more places to have a good birdwatching experience: Lake Victoria, Nyerere National Park, Udzungwa Range National Park, and Amani Nature Reserve.
Must-See Birds Found in Tanzania
Secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius)
Famously known as the “killer bird of Africa”, secretary birds are the most iconic birds found in Tanzania. The name secretary came from the physical resemblance of the bird with the 1800s official secretaries. They are born hunters and can run up to 18 miles per day to hunt their prey. The bird's long legs are used for stomping while hunting. The physical features of the birds are:
Long legs
Height: up to 1.3m tall
Weight: 5 to 9 pounds
Eagle-like head with a hooked beak
Thick visible feathers around their eyes
Wide toes with curved talons
Masai Ostrich (Struthio camelus massaicus)
Among the four species of ostrich found in the African sub-continent, the Masai Ostriches are predominantly in Tanzania. This large bird of Tanzania cannot fly but can run up to a speed of 70 km/h making them the fastest land bird. They feed on leaves, fruits, flowers, and insects. They are known to make loud booming sounds along with whistles and snorts when a predator is near. The physical features of the birds are:
Height: 2 to 2.9m tall
Weight: 60 to 145 kg
Long eyelashes along with large eyes
Females are smaller in size
Females have degenerated feathers on their bodies
Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)
The largest flying bird is predominantly distributed throughout eastern and southern Africa. They can weigh up to 18 kg and grow up to 120 cm tall. The bird's physical features are a long neck and yellow legs, beaks, and feet. The identifying grey marking without white spots is present under their wings. The tail has black and white bands. The male and juvenile Kori Bustards are distinguished by a dark mantle and shorter head crest.
Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri)
The southern ground hornbill, the largest hornbill species globally, is solely found in Africa. They are of the "big six" birds of Africa. Their natural habitats are both the savannah and the woodlands. The southern hornbills are hunters and hunt insects to small animals, mainly on the ground. They live between 50 to 60 years. The color of their throat can distinguish the male and female ground hornbills - the male throat color is pure red, whereas the color of the female throat is a deep, violet-blue.
Flamingos (Phoenicopterus)
Out of the six species of flamingos in the world, two species - the lesser and greater flamingo - are found in Africa. The sight of thousands of flamingos moving in a flock is a fan favorite for bird lovers. The most distinguishing feature between these two species is their height. The greater flamingo is the biggest among all the flamingo species and grows up to 150 cm tall. In contrast, the lesser flamingo only weighs up to 2.7 kg and grows up to 90 cm. The most striking physical feature of flamingos is their tall neck and thin legs. The plumage color is pin for both lesser and greater flamingos.
Due to their habitat preferences in shallow lakes and wetlands, the best places to spot flamingos in Tanzania are places like Lake Momella and Lake Natron.
Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer)
Tanzania hosts eight species of storks, including migratory species. The most common species of stork is the Marabou Stork. They are the largest stork and can stand up to 5 feet tall. The most striking physical feature of the stork family birds is the lack of feathers around their neck and head. Marabou Storks are usually gray and white in color, with a pinkish neck and head and a reddish throat pouch. They are mainly found in flocks except during their breeding season.
Lilac-Breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus)
This bird of the Roller family is famous across Sub-Saharan Africa, and is Kenya’s national bird. It is called ‘Kambu’ in Swahili. It has an acrobatic flight display which includes side-to-side rolling - hence the name. The bright plumage and the brightly colored tail make this bird stand out and very popular, even among non-ornithophilic visitors. They are territorial birds and fierce protectors of their nests. They lay 2-4 white eggs, and both parents incubate them for 22-24 days. This brightly colored bird has a greenish head, a blue belly, and lilac and bright wing and tail feathers.
Lilac-breasted rollers mainly feed on insects like beetles and grasshoppers, but occasionally also small rodents or reptiles like lizards and chameleons. They have also been observed feeding on tiny snakes in the Serengeti. Lilacs are frequently seen soaring high in the sky, then diving and flying in loops before perching on tree tops.
Vitelline Masked Weaver (Ploceus vitellinus)
Belonging to the "small birds" of Tanzania, the masked weavers are predominantly found in southwestern Tanzania. The presence of a chunky bill characterizes the Vitelline Weaver. The male breeders have a dark bill, red-eye and yellow plumage. They are comparatively brighter in color than non-breeding males, females, and juveniles. Another striking characteristic of weavers is their intricate technique of nest making. They are famous for their elaborate ball-shaped nests.
Wrapping up
Birdwatching in Tanzania can create some of the best memories for you. The passion for birdwatching can bring bird enthusiasts together. The various national parks, lakes, and volcano craters develop a variety of micro-climates for wildlife to flourish. So, If you’re considering a solo, family, or honeymoon trip, have us plan a distinguished and personalized safari for you, so you can traverse Tanzania to capture some of the best endemic and native birds.