Birds of Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Birds of Serengeti National Park Tanzania

Birds of Serengeti National Park – Discover the avian treasures of the Serengeti National Park, where over 500 bird species gracefully navigate the skies, creating a mesmerizing spectacle for birdwatching enthusiasts. Nestled within the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, recognized as one of Africa’s Endemic Bird Areas, this vast wilderness hosts five bird species found nowhere else, marking it as a crucial habitat for the conservation of restricted-range bird species.

Endemics and Specials: Rare Finds in Serengeti’s Realm

Within the restricted ranges of the Serengeti, spotting unique avian species is a thrilling adventure. The grey-breasted spurfowl, a common resident in the Seronera area, shares the stage with Fischer’s lovebird gatherings in woodland areas. Another captivating sight is the rufous-tailed weaver, holding its place in a genus of its own. The exclusive club of endemics includes the Usambiro barbet and the grey-crested helmet-shrike. During the migration season from November to April, the skies welcome migratory birds, enhancing the diversity of this avian haven.

A Comprehensive Bird List: Serengeti’s Avian Tapestry Unveiled

Slate-Coloured Boubou, Tropical Boubou, Black-backed Puff-back, Black-headed Tchagra, Sulphur-breasted Bush Shrike, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, White-breasted Tit, Red-throated Tit, African Penduline Tit, Black-Headed Oriole, Cape Rook, White-naped Raven, Wattled Starling, Violet-backed Starling, Blue-eared Glossy Starling, Ruppell’s Long-Tailed Starling, Ashy Starling, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Superb Starling, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Red-billed Oxpecker, Malachite Sunbird, Bronzy Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird (Black-bellied Race), Golden-winged Sunbird, Little Purple-banded Sunbird, Maricoa Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Green-headed Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Violet-backed Sunbird, Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird, Buffalo Weaver, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Grey-headed Social Weaver, Rufous Sparrow, Swahili Sparrow, Chestnut Sparrow, Yellow-spotted Petronia, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Masked Weaver, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Chestnut Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Grosbeak Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Red-headed Quelea, Cardinal Quelea, Black-winged Bishop, Black-Bishop, Yellow-Bishop, Fan-tailed Widow-bird, Yellow-mantled Widow-bird, White-winged Widow-bird, Bronze Mannikin, Black and White Mannikin, Grey-headed Silverbill, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Cut-throat Quail Finch, Green-winged Pytilia, African Fire Finch, Jameson’s Fire Finch, Red-billed Fire Finch, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, WaxbillBlack-cheeked Waxbill, Red-cheeked Cordonbleu, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Purple Grenadier, Indigo-bird, Pin-Tailed Whydah, Steel-blue Whydah, Fischer’s Straw-tailed Whydah, Paradise-Whydah, Yellow Fronted Canary, White-bellied Canary, Brimstone Canary, Streaky Seed-eater, Golden-breasted Bunting, Cinnamon-Breasted Rock Bunting, Masai-Ostrich, Great-crested Grebe, Little-Grebe, Long-tailed Cormorant, African Darter, White-backed Pelican, Pink-Backed Pelican, Black-headed Heron, Goliath Heron, Great White Egret, Yellow-billed Egret, Little Egret, Buff-backed Heron/Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Green-backed Heron, Little-bittern, Hamerkop, White Stork, European-Black Stork, Wooly-Necked Stork, Abdim’s Stork, Open-bill Stork, Saddle-bill Stork, Marabou Stork, Wood Ibis or Yellow-billed Stork, Sacred Ibis, Hadada Ibis, African Spoonbill, Greater-Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Maccoa-Duck, African-Pochard, Yellow-billed Duck, African Black Duck, Garganey Teal, Cape Wigeon, Hottentot Teal, Red-billed Duck, White-faced Tree Duck, Fulvous Tree Duck, Knob-billed Duck, Egyptian Goose, Spur-Winged Goose, Secretary Bird, Ruppell’s Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Speckled Pigeon, Red-eyed Dove, Mourning Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, Namaqua Dove, Tambourine Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Green-pigeon, European-Cuckoo, African-Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Black and White Cuckoo, Emerald Cuckoo, Didric-Cuckoo, Klaas’ Cuckoo, Black Coucal, White-Browed Coucal, Schalow’s Turaco, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Brown Parrot, Fischer’s Lovebird, European Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller, Broad-billed Roller, Pied Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Pygmy Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Madagascar Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater, Little Bee-eater, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Black and White-casqued Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Red-billed Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Ground Hornbill, European Hoopoe, African Hoopoe, Green Wood Hoopoe, Violet Wood Hoopoe, Scimitar Bill, Nubian/Lappet-faced Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Hooded Vulture, Lanner, European Hobby, Greater or White-eyed Kestrel, European Kestrel, African Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Pygmy Falcon, European Black Kite, African Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Bat Hawk, Verreaux’s Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, African Hawk Eagle, Ayres’ Hawk Eagle, Martial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Brown Harrrier Eagle, Black-chested Harrier Eagle, Bateleur, African Fish Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Augur Buzzard, Little Sparrow Hawk, Shikra, Gabar Goshawk, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Montagu’s Harrier, Pallid Harrier, European Marsh Harrier, Harrier Hawk, Coqui Francolin, Crested Francolin, Shelley’s Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Cape Quail, Harlequin Quail, Helmeted Guinea-fowl, Crested Guinea-fowl, Abyssinian Scimitar-bill, Barn Owl, African Marsh Owl, African Wood Owl, African Scops Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Barred Owlet, Spotted Eagle Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, European Nightjar, Dusky Nightjar, Pennant-wing Nightjar, Long-tailed Nightjar, Speckled Mousebird, Blue-naped Mousebird, Narina’s Trogon, Double-toothed Barbet, White-headed Barbet, Spotted-flanked Barbet, Red-fronted Barbet, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Greater-Honeyguide, Lesser Honeyguide, Wahlberg’s Honeyguide, Nubian Woodpecker, Little Spotted Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Bearded Woodpecker, Grey Woodpecker, Mottled Swift, Little Swift, White-rumped Swift, Horus Swift, Palm Swift, Rufous-naped Lark, Flappet Lark, Fawn-coloured Lark, Fischer’s Sparrow Lark, Red-Capped Lark, Short-tailed Lark, African Pied Wagtail, Blue-headed Wagtail and Races, Sandy Plain-backed Pipit, Richard’s Pipit, Little Tawny Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Striped Pipit, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Arrow-marked Babbler, Black-lored Babbler, Rufous Chatterer, Yellow-vented Bulbul, European Spotted Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, African Crake, Black Crake, Crowned Crane, Kori Bustard, Jackson’s Bustard, White-bellied Bustard, Black-bellied Bustard, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Spotted Stone Curlew, Water Dikkop, African Jacana, Ringed Plover, Chestnut-banded Sand Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover, Three-banded Plover, Caspian Plover, Crowned Plover, Senegal Plover, Black-winged Plover, Blacksmith Plover, Brown-chested Wattled Plover, African Wattled Plover, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Painted Snipe, European Common Snipe, Great Snipe, African Snipe, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Green Shank, Curlew, Temminck’s Courser, Two-banded Courser, Heuglin’s Courser, Bronze-winged Courser, Grey-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Black Tern, African Skimmer, Button Quail, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Ashy Flycatcher, Pale Flycatcher, Grey Flycatcher, South African Black Flycatcher, Silverbird, Chin-spot Flycatcher, European Rock Thrush, Paradise Flycatcher, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, European Common Wheatear, Capped Wheatear, Cliff Chat, Sooty Chat, White-browed Robin Chat, Red-backed Scrub Robin, White-throated Robin, Garden Warbler, Blackcap Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, European Sedge Warbler, European Willow Warbler, Black-breasted Apalis, Fan-tailed Warbler, Buff-bellied Warbler, Red-faced Crombec, Banded Tit-warbler, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, Rattling Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola, Tiny Cisticola, Winding Cisticola, Tawny-flanked Prinia, African Moustached Warbler, European Swallow, Angola Swallow, Wire-tailed Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Mosque Swallow, Striped Swallow, Banded Martin, African Rock Martin, Black Rough-wing Swallow, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Drongo, Straight-crested Helmet Shrike, White-crowned Shrike, Northern Brubru, Grey-backed Fiscal, Lesser Grey Shrike, Fiscal Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Red-tailed Shrike, Magpie Shrike, Black-headed Gonolek.

Best Time to Soar into Serengeti’s Birdwatching Bliss

For avid birdwatchers, the Serengeti offers a year-round avian spectacle. However, the prime time for birdwatching is from November to April, when European and North African migratory birds join resident species during nesting. This period showcases birds in their vibrant breeding plumage, enhancing the birdwatching experience. If you’re planning a wildlife expedition, the Dry season from June to October is optimal for watching both birds and the diverse wildlife that calls Serengeti National Park home. Contact us to tailor your birdwatching adventure in the heart of Tanzania’s natural wonders.