Birds

In this page you will find small description about each bird, I have observed so far in Tanzania. To see large size image stream of my birds collection click here.

Common Name: Red-billed Hornbill
Scientific Name: Tockus erythrohynchus
Identification: De-curved red bill, whiter face and neck
Habitat: Pairs and family parties or some times flocks in dry bush and wood lands up to 1400m.
Feeding: This species is omnivorous, taking insects, fruit and seeds
Location: Tharangeri National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Grey-headed Kingfisher
Scientific Name : Halcyon Ieucocephala 
Identification: Pale grey head, black upper back. Red bill.  Bright blue lower back, wings and tail.
Habitat: Woodlands, bush and cultivation from sea-level to 2200m, Often near water.
Feeding:
Location: Tharangeri National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Rufous-tailed Weaver
Scientific Name : Histugops ruficaudus
Identification: Entirely mottled grey brown, with pale blue eyes and dark a rufous  dark-centered tail
Habitat: Very common from 1100-2000m 
Feeding: 
Location: Ngoronor Crater
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Fork-Tailed Drongo
Scientific Name : Dicrurus adsimillis
Identification: Glossy back with  a deep forked tail.
Habitat: single and pairs are common wide spread at forest edge, in open wooded country, semi-arid bush and cultivated areas from sea-level to 2200m
Feeding:
Location: Serengeti National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name:White-necked Raven
Scientific Name : Corvus albicollis
Identification: broad white collar
Habitat: Pairs and small flocks prefer vicinity of cliffs and mountains
Feeding: 
Location: Ngorongoro Crater
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Black Shouldered Kite
Scientific Name : Elanus caerules
Identification: A whitish hawk with grey back and wings. Contrasting black shoulders and short white tail.
Habitat: Singles, pairs and occational groups in a wide range of moister open bushed and wooded grass land from sea-level to 3000m.
Feeding: mice
Location: Ngorongoro Crater
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Usambiro Barbet
Scientific Name: Trachyphonus usambiro
Identification: Dark grey bill, suffused greenish tone to the head and a heavier blackish spotted breast band.
Habitat: Pairs and family parties widespread and common in bushed and wooded gras lands.
Feeding:
Location: Serengeti National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name:Red and yellow Barbet
Scientific Name : Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Identification: Bright read bill, red-face and striking white comma, and a much plainer yellow breast.
Habitat: Pairs and family parties are widespread and locally common in dry busy and woodland with termite mountains below 2100m.
Feeding: 
Location: Tharangeri National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Black Necked Weaver
Scientific Name : Ploceus nigiricollis
Identification: Narrow black line throat patch contrasting with a yellow or orange-yellow head and underparts.
Habitat: Single birds and pairs occur in variety or habitats from sea-leave to 1500m
Feeding:
Location: Serengeti National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Black headed Heron
Scientific Name : Ardea melanocephala
Identification: Black head and hind neck contrast markedly with thick white throat and fore neck.
Habitat: Singe and flocks widespread and common resident in a wide range or wetland from coastal lagoons to lake and rivers islands.
Feeding:
Location: Serengeti National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Little Egret
Scientific Name : Egretta garzetta
Identification: Slender black bill, black legs and bright yellow feet.
Habitat: Single and small groups are common and widespread in fresh and alkaline wetland.
Feeding:
Location: Tharangeri National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Black Egret
Scientific Name: Egretta ardesiaca
Identification: Entirely plain slaty-black with a ragged short crest, black bill and black legs with orange yellow feet.
Habitat: Singles and small flocks. Marshy lake fringes and also tidal flats.
Feeding:
Location: Mlingotini Village, Bagamoyo.
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: White-headed Lapwing
Scientific Name: Vanellus albiceps
Identification: Grey headed lapwing with white crown stripe. Long dangling yellow wattle at sides of bill.
Habitat: Pairs and small parties are locally common along permanent rivers with sandbars.
Feeding:
Location: Selous Game Reserve
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Blacksmith Lapwing
Scientific Name: Vanellus armatus
Identification: White skull cap set off against a black face and breast.
Habitat: Pairs families and small parties. Largely resident around most highlands and fresh and alkaline water in Kenya and Tanzania.
Feeding:
Location: Serengeti National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Water Thick-knee
Scientific Name: Burhinus vermiculatus
Identification:
Habitat:
Feeding:
Location: Mbudia Island
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Common Ostrich (Female)
Scientific Name : Struthio camelus
Identification: Largely brown, dull pinkish-brown or brown legs
Habitat: Small groups and occasionally flock in drier grass land bushed and wooded grass lands main below 2000m.
Feeding:
Location: Ngorongor Crater
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Common Ostrich (Male)
Scientific Name: Struthio camelus
Identification: Blackish body feathering, white wings and tail. Pink neck and legs. Brown eyes.
Habitat: Small groups and occasionally flock in drier grass land bushed and wooded grass lands main below 2000m.
Feeding:
Location: Ngorongoro Crater
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Hildebrandt's Starling
Scientific Name : Lamprotornis hilderbrandit
Identification: Red eye and generally darer-toned than superb startling.
Habitat:  Esast africa endimic. Pairs and small flocks are common in open woodland and bush country from 500-2200m.
Feeding:
Location: Serengeti National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Abyssinian Roller
Scientific Name : Caracias abyssinica
Identification: Roufous-brown back and very long outer-tail streamers
Habitat: Single and less often small groups are common, local resident and less common wanderers in semi-arid bush and woodland below 1000m.
Feeding:
Location: Ngorongoro Crater
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Abyssinian Roller
Scientific Name : Caracias abyssinica
Identification: Roufous-brown back and very long outer-tail streamers
Habitat: Single and less often small groups are common, local resident and less common wanderers in semi-arid bush and woodland below 1000m.
Feeding:
Location: Ngorongoro Crater
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Lilac-breasted Roller
Scientific Name : Coracias caudatus
Identification: Light olive chestnut back, dark blue wing-coverts and deep blue underparts.
Habitat: Pairs are wide spreed and common in open bush country, wooded grass lands, grass lands and cultivation from sea level to 2000m.
Feeding:
Location: Selous Game Reserve
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Red-Necked Spur-fowl
Scientific Name : Francolinus afer
Identification: Skin arround eyes. throat and legs all red.
Habitat: Pairs and family groups and occupationally flocks are typical of shallower great rift valley soda lakes and more rarely to nearby fresh water.
Feeding:
Location: Serengeti National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Cape teal
Scientific Name : Anas capensis
Identification: Motted pale grey duck with pink bill.
Habitat: Pairs, family groups and occasionally flocks are typical of shallower Great Rift Valley soda lakes and rarely to nearby freshwater.
Feeding:
Location: Serengeti National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Kori Bustard
Scientific Name: Ardeotis kori
Identification: Crested head and extensive black and white patterning at bend of closed wings distinctive.
Habitat: Single and small groups are wide spread. Grass lands from 700-2000m
Feeding:
Location:
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

 

Common Name: Madagascar Bee-eater
Scientific Name: Merops superciliosus
Identification: Smoky olive-brown cap. White borders to the eye-mask and a dull brick-red throat.
Habitat: Small flocks. Visitors from south, mainly from April to September. Bellow 1500m in bushed and wooded country. Often near to water
Feeding:
Location: Mlingotini Village, Bagamoyo.
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Common Bulbul

Scientific Name: Pycnonotus barbatus

Identification: Slim brownish bird with an almsot balck head (which may shown slight crest). Pale belly and bright yellow vent.

Habitat: Extremely common and widespread in virtually all habitats through the region from sea level to 3000m.

Feeding:
Location: Mlingotini Village, Bagamoyo.

Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Speckle-fronted Weaver
Scientific Name: Sporopipes frontalis
Identification: Fore-crown black speckled with white, nape chestnut, smalar striip black.
Habitat: Small flocks. wooded grassland and semi-arid areas with bush covers from 400-2000m.
Feeding:
Location: Ngorongoro Crater
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: White-headed Buffalo-weaver
Scientific Name: Dinemellia dinemelli
Identification: White head, bright orange-red rump and large bold & distinctive white wings patches.
Habitat: Common in African bush country and wooded grasslands from sea level to 1400m.
Feeding:
Location: Serengeti National Park
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: Spotted Flycatcher
Scientific Name: Muscicapa striata
Identification: Grey yellow. Black bill.
Habitat: Occur in any habitat from sea level to 3000m.
Feeding:
Location: Mlingotini Village, Bagamoyo.
Reference: Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Common Name: House Sparrow

Scientific Name: Passer domesticus

Identification: Large rounded head, a short tail, and a stout bill. The plumage of the House Sparrow is mostly different shades of grey and brown

Habitat: House Sparrows have lived around humans for centuries. Look for them on city streets, taking handouts in parks and zoos, or cheeping from a perch on your roof or trees in your yard. House Sparrows are absent from undisturbed forests and grasslands, but they’re common in countryside around farmsteads.

Feeding: Mostly feeds on the seeds of grains and weeds, but it is opportunistic and adaptable, and eats whatever foods are available.

Location: Oyster Bay, Tanzania

Reference: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_sparrow/id