Birds of masai mara national reserve
Birds of masai mara national reserve
Birds of masai mara national reserve: Masai mara is Africa’s famous and spectacular national reserve situated in rift valley province of Kenya on the southern border of Kenya and Tanzania, Masai mara national reserve is a re-known habitant for a high population of wildlife such as lions, leopards, cheetahs and elephant. Masai mara national reserve experiences the exceptional world’s spectacle that is the annual migration of wildebeests which is very interesting to look at.
Masai mara national reserve is not only a great habitant for animals, it is also a habitant for birds hosting more than 500 bird species. Masai mara national reserve hosts a big population of birds including endemic species, near endemic species, savannah species and forested species and for easy identification these birds have been grouped and specified according to their species as listed below.
OSTRICH
Common Ostrich Struthio camelus
Grebes
Grebes’ species in Masai mara national reserve include Little Grebe
Pelicans, cormorants & darter
Pelicans, cormorants and darter species in Masai mara national reserve include Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant, African Darter
Herons, egrets and bitterns
Herons, egrets and bitterns species in Masai mara national reserve include Little Bittern, Dwarf Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Common Squacco-Heron, Rufous-bellied Heron, Striated (Green-backed) Heron, Intermediate (Yellow-billed) Egret, Great (White) Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Goliath Heron and Black-headed Heron
Hammerkop and shoebill
Hammerkop and shoebill species in Masai mara national reserve include Hammerkop
Storks
Storks species in Masai mara national reserve include Little White Stork, Black Stork , Abdim’s (White Bellied) Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, Marabou Stork, African Open bill Stork, Yellow-billed Stork
Ibises and spoonbill
Ibises and spoonbill species in Masai mara national reserve include Sacred Ibis, Hadeda Ibis, Glossy Ibis and African Spoonbill
Ducks and geese
Ducks and geese species in Masai mara national reserve include White-faced Whistling-Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Egyptian Goose, Comb (Knob-billed) Duck, Northern Pintail, Red-billed Teal and Hottentot Teal
Secretary bird
Secretary bird species in Masai mara national reserve include Secretary bird
Vultures
Vultures’ species in Masai mara national reserve include African White-backed Vulture, Ruppell’s Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Hooded Vulture
Eagles, kites, harriers and hawks
Eagles, kites, harriers and hawks species in Masai mara national reserve include African fish-eagle, lesser spotted eagle, tawny eagle, steppe eagle, Wahlberg’s eagle, Verreaux’s eagle, African hawk-eagle, booted eagle, long-crested eagle, martial eagle, crowned-eagle, black-chested snake-eagle, short-toed eagle, brown snake-eagle, western banded snake-eagle, Bateleur, black-winged kite, black kite, European honey-buzzard, African cuckoo-hawk, bat hawk, African harrier-hawk, pallid harrier, Montagu’s harrier, African marsh harrier, Eurasian marsh harrier, Gabar goshawk, African goshawk, little sparrow hawk, black sparrow hawk, lizard buzzard, common buzzard and augur buzzard.
Falcons and kestrels
Falcons and kestrels species in Masai mara national reserve include lanner falcon, peregrine falcon, Eurasian hobby, grey kestrel, lesser kestrel, common kestrel and amur falcon.
Quails, buttonquails, francolins and Guinea fowl
Quails, buttonquails, francolins and guinea fowl species in Masai mara national reserve include common quail, harlequin quail, common buttonquail, coqui francolin, Shelley’s francolin, scaly francolin, red-necked spurfowl, crested francolin and helmeted guinea fowl
Rails, crakes, moorhens and coot
Rails, crakes, moorhens and coot species in Masai mara national reserve include African rail, African crake, spotted crake, Baillon’s crake, corn crake, black crake, common moorhen and African purple swamp hen
Cranes and bustards
Cranes and bustards species in Masai mara national reserve include grey crowned crane, Kori bustard, white-bellied bustard and black-bellied
Jacana and stilt
Jacana and stilt species in Masai mara national reserve include African jacana and black-winged stilt
Thick-knees
Thick-knees species in Masai mara national reserve include Water thick-knee and spotted thick-knee
Coursers
Coursers’ species in Masai mara national reserve include three-banded courser and Temminck’s courser
Plovers, lapwings and painted snipe
Plovers, lapwings and painted snipe species in Masai mara national reserve include ringed plover, Kittlitz’s plover, three-banded plover, Caspian plover, blacksmith lapwing, spur-winged lapwing, Senegal lapwing, black-winged lapwing, crowned lapwing, African wattled lapwing and greater painted snipe
Sandpipers and relatives
Sandpipers and relatives species in Masai mara national reserve include Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper and Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper
Terns
Terns’ species in Masai mara national reserve include Gull-billed Tern, Sterna and White-winged Tern
Pigeons and doves
Pigeons and doves species in Masai mara national reserve include African Green Pigeon, Tambourine Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Namaqua Dove, African Olive Pigeon, Speckled (Rock) Pigeon, Red-eyed Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Dusky Turtle Dove and Laughing Dove
Parrots
Parrots species in Masai mara national reserve include Meyer’s Parrot
Turacos
Turaco species in Masai mara national reserve include Ross’ Turaco, Schawlow’s Turaco, Bare-faced Go-away-bird and Eastern Grey Plantain-eater
Cuckoos and coucals
Cuckoos and coucal species in Masai mara national reserve include Jacobin Cuckoo, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, African Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Diderick Cuckoo, White-browed Coucal and Black Coucal
Owls
Owl species in Masai mara national reserve include Little Barn Owl, Spotted Eagle-Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, African Wood-Owl and Marsh Owl
Nightjars
Night jars species in Masai mara national reserve include Montane Nightjar, Eurasian Nightjar, Square-tailed Nightjar, Dusky Nightjar, Swamp Nightjar and Pennant-winged Nightjar
SWIFTS
Swift species in Masai mara national reserve include African Palm Swift, Common Swift, African Black Swift, Horus Swift, Nyanza Swift, Mottled Swift, Alpine Swift, White-rumped Swift and Little Swift
Mouse birds
Mouse bird species in Masai mara national reserve include Speckled Mouse bird and Blue-naped Mouse bird
Trogons
Trogons species in Masai mara national reserve include only Narina Trogon
Kingfishers
Kingfisher species in Masai mara national reserve include Grey-headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher and Pied Kingfisher
Bee-eaters
Bee-eaters species in Masai mara national reserve in European Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater, White-fronted Bee-eater, Little Bee-eater and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
Rollers
Rollers species in Masai mara national reserve include European Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller and Broad-billed Roller
Hoopoe and wood hoopoes
Hoopoe and wood hoopoes species in Masai mara national reserve include African Hoopoe, Green Wood Hoopoe, Common Scimitar bill and Abyssinian Scimitar bill.
Hornbills
Horn bills species in Masai mara national reserve include Southern Ground Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill and Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
Barbets and Tinker birds
Barbets and Tinker bird species in Masai mara national reserve include Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Spot-flanked Barbet, White-headed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet and Usambiro Barbet.
Honey guides
Honey guides species in Masai mara national reserve include Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Greater Honeyguide and Lesser Honeyguide
Woodpeckers and wryneck
Woodpeckers and wryneck species in Masai mara national reserve include Rufous-necked Wryneck, Nubian Woodpecker, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Bearded Woodpecker and Grey Woodpecker
Larks & sparrow-larks
Larks and sparrow larks species in Masai mara national reserve include White-tailed Lark, Rufous-naped Lark, Flappet Lark, Fawn-coloured Lark, Red-capped Lark and Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark
Swallows and martins
Swallows and martins found in Masai mara national reserve include Banded Martin, Brown-throated Sand Martin, Common House Martin and Grey-rumped Swallow
Best time for bird watching
Bird watching safari in Masai mara national park is possible throughout the year but for a great birding experience the best and perfect time to visit the reserve for bird watching is in the period of November to April when there is migratory bird species in the park and June to October when the reserve experiences dry season and the grassland is short offering you uninterrupted views of the colorful birds.
