Overview
Tanzania bird watching boasts a large number of unusual and endemic bird species, and a list which nearly exceeds that of neighboring Kenya and almost equals Uganda.
The country is truly a bird watcher's paradise: Bird Watching in Tanzania is diverse and spectacular, over 1000 bird species has been recorded from water birds, forest birds, savannah birds to sea-birds.
Below are a few of the major bird species found in country. If you are an ornithologist, you
will also enjoy watching plentiful water birds including the African
skimmer, kingfishers, goliath heron, and the rarely seen Pel's
fishing owl. (see Tanzania Bird Checklist)
Bee-eater:
This specie is very colorful and nice to watch, usually
perched on fences and trees. They feed on bees and wasps.
There are about 4 types of bee-eaters commonly seen in
Tanzania, they differentiate themselves by colors and size.
commonly found in , Highland forests, Usambara,
Coastal areas and Southern Tanzania.
Crowned-Crane: a graceful, long legged bird, it looks like a stork and
heron. Cranes are grassland dwelling birds. They are widely
distributed in swamps, lake shores and grassland, commonly
seen in pairs, small parties and flocks. harbour so many Carnes.
Fish Eagles are usually seen on the trees near the water
bodies. Skilled at fish catching. Excellent place to see
them: , near river banks has spectacular view of these birds.
Hoopee is a beautiful bird, commonly feeds on the ground. usually
seen in small noisy flocks. Common in the northern Tanzania
National parks
reserve: , , and . Other
birds: Fischer's lovebird, grey-rumped spur fowl and
babbler-like rufous-tailed weaver.
Marabou stork,
a scavenger normally seen with other vultures sharing a
carcass. It has huge beak and the deep pink pouch swinging
on the neck. Commonly see in almost all national parks and
game reserves around the country.
Ostrich: The largest bird in the world. It is the most well-known
bird, Ostrich is flightless. Mostly found in the northern
plain, that is in and the , but can also be found in in the South.
Parrots are forest dwelling birds. Although they have been
documented in the mountain forest of and ,
they are all over eastern arc mountains, especially Usambara and . Western forests such as the and the .
Secretary birds: Unusual looking bird of prey found on the , , and . It has a quill-like feather on its head,
and it is so pompous when it stride. Secretary birds rarely
fly and do so when absolutely necessary.
Other birds: Vorreaux's eagle owl, crested cranes,
hornbill, whydahs, flycatchers, guinea fowl, woodpeckers,
weavers, cattle egret and many types of vultures and scavengers;
are all seen in Tanzania
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