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Birds in Africa

I'm told there are over 1,100 species of birds in East Africa and I intend to see as many of them as possible!  Generally speaking those I've seen so far have such beautiful colouring that I can't resist trying to capture them on film and share the sightings with you.

African Fish Eagle

African Fish Eagle

Tai Mlasamaki

Size 70cm
The African fish eagle feeds mainly on fish (as you'd expect!)

Photo: Lake Naivasha

African Goshawk

African Goshawk

Kipanga Misitu

Size 40cm
Diet consists of small birds and small mammals (rodents and bats), small reptiles, toads, and insects.

Photo: Manda Island

African Paradise Flycatcher

African Paradise Flycatcher

Chechele Mwekundu

Size 30cm
Feeds on insects only

Photo: Lake Baringo

African Pied Wagtail

African Pied Wagtail

Kilwiluwi-Majumba

Size 18cm
Mainly feeds on insects but also on other invertebrates, grass seeds, tadpoles, small fish and scraps of human food.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

African Spoonbill

African Spoonbill

Korongo Domomwiko-Afrika

Size 91cm
Feeds on a variety of different foods, including small fish, snails, insects, shrimp, crabs, and some plants.

Photo: Aberdare National Park

African Yellow White-eye

African Yellow White-eye

Kinegenenge Manjano

Size 10cm
Diet mainly consists of insects; caterpillars, aphids and termite alates, supplemented with some fruit including those of figs and the cabbage tree.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Baglafecht Weaver

Baglafecht Weaver

Kwera Usomweusi

Size 15cm
Feeds mainly on insects, and also on seeds and plant matter, including fruit.

Photo: Birdbath @ Kenana Cottage

Black Crake

Black Crake

Kiluwiri Mweusi

Size 20cm
Black Crake eats a wide range of invertebrates, small fish, frogs and seeds.

Photo: Nairobi

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Kitwitwi Kichwacheupe

Size 38cm
A wading bird which feeds on insects and molluscs.

Photo: Lake Nakuru

Blacksmith Plover

Blacksmith Plover

Ndoero-Mweusi

Size 30cm
Diet consists of small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, which includes insects, worms, dragonfly nymphs, other insects and their larvae, beetles and ants.

Photo: Lake Naivasha

Bronze Sunbird (male)

Bronze Sunbird (male)

Neli Kilima

Size 23cm
Feeds largely on nectar, but will also eat insects and spiders.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Cape Robin Chat

Cape Robin Chat

Kurumbiz Tumbojeupe

Size 17cm
Forages for fruit and seeds plucked from plants or eaten on the ground.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Collared Sunbird

Collared Sunbird

Chozi-Mfuku

Size 10cm
Usually in pairs. Feeds largely on nectar, although they will also take insects.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Common Bulbul

Common Bulbul

Sholwe

Size 18cm
Diet: Common bulbuls are omnivores, eating various wild and cultivated fruits, flowers, termites, and other insects, in addition to small lizards.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Common Drongo

Common Drongo

Mlamba Mkiapanda

Size 25cm
Feed on bees, beetles, and wasps. Leaving their perches, they hunt small lizards and fish and steal the eggs and chicks from the nests of other species.

Photo: Lake Dlmenteita

Common Ostrich

Common Ostrich

Mbuni Masai

Size 2.5m
Generally eat plants, roots, and seeds but will also eat insects and lizards

Photo: Nairobi National Park

Common Ringed Plover

Common Ringed Plover

Ndoero Mkufumweusi

Size 19cm
Feeds on insects, crustaceans and worms.

Photo: Zanzibar

Common Waxbill

Common Waxbill

Nijiri

Size 10cm
Feeds mainly on grass seeds but insects are also eaten.

Photo: Kenana Farm

Crowned Hornbill

Crowned Hornbill

Kwembe

Size 54cm
Diet: variety of forest and woodland habitats. It eats a wide range of small animals, such as termite alates, chameleons and millipedes, and plant products, such as fruit, seeds and nuts.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Crowned Plover

Crowned Plover

Ndoero-Kibandiko

Size 28cm
Feeds on a wide variety of insects, but mostly ants and termites. These insects are often extracted from the dung of large mammals, in this case giraffe.

Photo: Swara Plains Conservancy

Double-toothed Barbet

Double-toothed Barbet

Size 25cm
Feeds on winged ants or termites while in flight. They also eat fruits: figs, papayas and avocados.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird

Size 12cm
Also known as the Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird. Feeds on insects, spiders and nectar.

Photo: Lake Baringo

Fischer's Lovebird

Fischer's Lovebird

Kwaru Manjano

Size 14cm
Feeds largely on seeds and occasionally on fallen berries and fruits.

Photo: Lake Elmenteita

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Kigong'ota-Mnubi

Size 18cm
Feeds on ants and termites, but also takes millipedes, wood-boring larvae and leaf-feeding moth larvae.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Great Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Mnandi Kifuacheupe

Size 100cm
Feeds on wrasses, flathead and common soles.

Photo: Lake Nakuru

Great White Egret

Great White Egret

Korongo Msuka

Size 92cm
Feeds on fish, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally small reptiles and insects.

Photo: Lake Nakuru

Great White Pelican

Great White Pelican

Mwari Mweupe

Size 180cm
Feeds mainly on cichlids, including many species in the Haplochromis and Tilapia.

Photo: Lake Nakuru

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Kuzi Machonjano

Size 23cm
Feeds on a wide range of invertebrates seeds and berries, especially figs, but its diet is mainly insects from the ground.

Photo: Lake Nakuru

Greater Honeyguide

Greater Honeyguide

Kiongozi Mkubwa

Size 20cm
An immature Greater Honeyguide. Feeds primarily on the contents of bee colonies: bee eggs, larvae and pupae; waxworms; and beeswax.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Green Wood Hoope

Green Wood Hoope

Gegemela Domojekundu

Size 41cm
It is an insect-eating species and feeds mainly on the ground, termite mounds, or on tree trunks.

Photo: Zanzibar

Green-backed Heron

Green-backed Heron

Korongo

Size 44cm
Green Herons eat mainly small fish. They also feed on insects, spiders, crustaceans, snails, amphibians, reptiles, and rodents.

Photo: Lake Baringo

Grey Crowned Crane

Grey Crowned Crane

Korongo-Taji

Size 102cm
Forages for plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs, worms, snakes, small fish and the eggs of aquatic animals.

Photo: Chemususu Dam

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Korongo-Kisiwa

Size 100cm
Feeds on fish, amphibians, small mammals, and insects are taken in shallow water with the it's long bill.

Photo: Lake Naivasha

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Kichi Tumbojekundu

Size 20cm
Feeds on a variety of insects, frogs and fish.

Photo: Lake Baringo

Hadada Ibis

Hadada Ibis

Kwarara

Size 90cm
Feed on insects, millipedes and earthworms. They also eat larger insects, such as crickets, and also spiders and small lizards.

Photo: Lake Naivasha

Hamerkop

Hamerkop

Fundichuma

Size 56cm
Diet is largely comprised of amphibians, especially frogs and tadpoles, and small fish. They also eat worms, insects and crustaceans such as shrimp.

Photo: Lake Naivasha

Helmeted Guineafowl

Helmeted Guineafowl

Kanga

Size 64cm
Diet consists of a variety of animal and plant food; these birds eat seeds, fruits, greens, snails, spiders, worms and insects, frogs, lizards, small snakes, and small mammals.

Photo: Camp Carnelly's Lake Naivasha

Jackson's Hornbill

Jackson's Hornbill

Tockus jacksoni

Size 51cm
Feeds on fruit, insects and small animals. It feeds mainly on the ground.

Photo: Lake Baringo

Lesser Flamingo

Lesser Flamingo

Heroe Mdogo

Size 81cm
Feeds on blue-green algae from top layer of water.

Photo: Lake Nakuru

Little Egret

Little Egret

Korongo-Pwani

Size 65cm
Mainly feeds on fish, but amphibians, small reptiles, mammals and birds are also eaten, as well as crustaceans, molluscs, insects, spiders and worms.

Photo: Lake Naivasha

Marabou Stork

Marabou Stork

Korongo Marabou

Size 152cm
They eat a wide variety of foods including carrion and food waste left by people. They are often seen foraging at rubbish dumps and abattoirs. They also prey on a broad range of animals including fish, insects, frogs, lizards, snakes, rats, mice and birds.

Photo: Near a fish market Lake Naivasha

Marico Sunbird

Marico Sunbird

Chozi-Mariko

Size 13cm
Feeds on many types of insects and spiders.

Photo: West Usambara Mountains

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

Kinega Mwekundu

Size 38cm
Their diet is made up primarily of bees and other flying insects, such as flying ants, grasshoppers and locusts.

Photo: Lake Baringo

Pied Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

Kichi Mtlili

Size 25cm
Feeds mainly on fish, although it will eat crustaceans and large aquatic insects.

Photo: Lake Baringo

Purple Grenadier

Purple Grenadier

Njiri Mkiamrefu

Size 13cm
Feeds on grass seeds, insects (mealworms, termites, small spiders, white worms, aphids, ant pupae), egg food, green food

Photo: Lake Elmenteita

Red Billed Oxpecker

Red Billed Oxpecker

Askari wa Kifaru

Size 18cm
Diet consists mainly of ticks, but also includes other parasites such as blood-sucking flies, fleas and lice.

Photo: The Ark, Aberdare National Park

Red-billed Firefinch

Red-billed Firefinch

Bwerenda Domojekundu

Size 10cm
A tiny, shy bird. Feeds mainly on grain and other seeds.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Red-cheeked Cordonbleu

Red-cheeked Cordonbleu

Nijri Buluu Shavujekundu

Size 12cm
A tiny, skittish bird which feeds principally on grass seeds, but also on millet and other small seeds. Obviously loving the poppy seeds from our leftover sourdough crumbs.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Red-rumped Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

Mbayuwayu Kiunochekundu

Size 18cm
Swoop on insects while airborne.

Photo: Aberdare National Park

Reed Cormorant

Reed Cormorant

Mnandi Mkiamrefu

Size 56cm
Feeds on slow-moving fish such as mormyrids, catfishes, and cichlids. It will also eat soles, frogs, aquatic invertebrates, and small birds.

Photo: Lake Nakuru

Rüppell's Starling

Rüppell's Starling

Kuzi Bawazambarau

Size 36cm
Sometimes also known as Long-tailed Starling. They feed on fruit and insects and collects food scraps at camp sites.

Photo: Lake Baringo

Rüppell's Vulture

Rüppell's Vulture

Tumbusi-Mbuga

Size 107cm
A scavenger! Rüppell's griffon vultures feed exclusively on carrion.

Photo: Swara Plains Conservancy

Sacred Ibis

Sacred Ibis

Kwarara Mweupe

Size 82cm
Feeds mainly on insects, worms, crustaceans, molluscs and other invertebrates, as well as various fish, frogs, reptiles and small mammals.

Photo: Lake Naivasha

Saddle Billed Stork

Saddle Billed Stork

Korongo Domoganzi

Size 150cm
Feeds mainly on fish, frogs and crabs, but also on small birds and reptiles.

Photo: Lake Nakuru

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chozi-Gunda

Size 15cm
Feeds on nectar, insects and spiders. This sunbird favours nectar from aloes and will feed by either perching or hovering.

Photo: Pemba Island, Tanzania

Secretarybird

Secretarybird

Karani Ndege-Kilemba

Size 150cm
Largely terrestrial, hunting prey on foot. Adults hunt in pairs. Prey consists of insects such as locusts and beetles, mammals ranging in size from mice to hares and mongoose, crabs, lizards, snakes, tortoises, small birds and bird eggs.

Photo: Aberdare National Park

Speckled Mousebird

Speckled Mousebird

Pasa Mchirizi

Size 33cm
Feeds on on fruits, berries, leaves, seeds and nectar.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Speckled Pigeon

Speckled Pigeon

Njiwa-Madoa

Size 41cm
Diet is mainly made up of seeds - main crops consumed are maize, wheat and sorghum.

Photo: Kenana Farm

Spur-winged Plover

Spur-winged Plover

Ndoero Kizibaocheusi

Size 27cm
Feed mainly on earthworms and insects and their larvae, crustaceans and molluscs and also seeds and leaves.

Photo: Crescent Island

Stout Cisticola

Stout Cisticola

Kidenenda-Kinene

Size 14cm
Feed on insects and also take berries and nectar/pollen.

Photo: Kenana Farm

Superb Starling

Superb Starling

Kwezi-Maradadi

Size 18cm
Feeds on insects (grasshoppers, beetles, termites, ants and flies) and worms, but also on grains, fruits and small berries.

Photo: Lake Nakuru Lodge

Variable Sunbird

Variable Sunbird

Chozi Tumbonjano

Size 9cm
Feed largely on nectar, although they will also eat insects.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Variable Sunbird (female)

Variable Sunbird (female)

Chozi Tumbonjano

Size 9cm
Feed largely on nectar, although they will also eat insects.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Kokoko

Size 51cm
Diet consists of rabbits, mongoose, and plenty of types of small game.

Photo: Lake Baringo

Village Weaver

Village Weaver

Kwera Nguya

Size 17cm
Feeds on seeds and insects. Chicks are fed on insects until fledging. They will also eat a small amount of fruit.

Photo: Alastair's Place, Nairobi

Wattled Starling

Wattled Starling

Kiongozi Mkubwa

Size 21cm
A non-breeding Wattled Starling. Feeds on a wide range of invertebrates seeds and berries, but its diet is mainly insects including many locusts

Photo: Lake Elmenteita

White-breasted Cormorant

White-breasted Cormorant

Size 100cm
Feeds on amphibians, crustaceans, mollusks, and sometimes other bird nestlings.

Photo: Lake Naivasha

White-browed Robin-Chat

White-browed Robin-Chat

Kurumbiza Mchirizimweupe

Size 20cm
Feeds mostly feed on insects, such as beetles, wasps, ants, moths, caterpillars, termites, crickets and flies; as well as spiders and centipedes. But also happy to eat our breakfast leftovers.

Photo: Kenana Cottage

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Korobindo Mchirizimweupe

Size 17cm
Feeds on insects and seeds. Insects include termites, weevils, tenebrionid beetles, ants, caterpillars and small moths. Their nests have two holes, one of which the female closes when breeding.

Photo: Lake Baringo

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

Chechele Machomeupe

Size 15cm
Feeds mostly by picking up insects from the ground or small, ripe berries.

Photo: Manda Island

White-fronted Bee-eater

White-fronted Bee-eater

Kinega Usomweupe

Size 23cm
Feeds primarily on bees, but they also eat other flying insects depending on the season.

Photo: Kenana Farm

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Kitwiwi-Miti

Size 20cm
Feeds mainly on aquatic insects and their larvae and molluscs in moist or dry mud.

Photo: Lake Nakuru

Yellow Billed Stork

Yellow Billed Stork

Korongo Domojano

Size 105cm
Feed mainly on small, freshwater fish of about 60-100mm length and maximum 150g which they swallow whole. They also feed on crustaceans, worms, aquatic insects, frogs and occasionally small mammals and birds.

Photo: Lake Nakuru

© 2022 by Sarah Bennett

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