Birds of Serengeti

The variety of birds that can be seen in Serengeti National Park is enormous — more than 500 bird species, some resident and some migratory.

What is even more exciting is the range of sizes and diversity of species. You can see tiny birds such as finches and sunbirds alongside the largest bird of all — the ostrich. The region is a paradise for amateur and professional birdwatchers, as well as photographers who enjoy capturing colorful birds in their natural habitat.

The following list does not attempt to present all species, but rather those you are reasonably likely to encounter during a safari, and which we thought you might enjoy learning more about.

Lilac-breasted Roller

The roller is known for its aerial acrobatics, hence its English name “roller.” The lilac-breasted roller is often seen perched on the tip of an exposed branch or thorn bush, searching for flying insects or small reptiles for its next meal.

It is extremely colorful — with a greenish-blue head, yellowish back, blue wing edges, and dark wing tips. Its tail is long and slender, blue above with a dark tip. Its throat is lilac, its belly bluish, and beneath its thin black beak one can see a small white “beard.” Its eyes are black with a dark stripe extending from them, while the feathers beneath the eyes are reddish-orange.

It nests in hollow tree trunks, where the female lays 2–4 eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them. During nesting season, the pair becomes highly aggressive toward birds and snakes approaching the nest.

Without doubt, this is one of the most beautiful birds and a favorite among photographers.

Superb Starling

We are familiar with the common starling, whose dark feathers are speckled with white. In Tanzania, however, you will encounter several starling species that are truly breathtaking — the superb starling being one of them.

It measures about 19 cm in length and has a thin black beak. True to its name, it displays glossy blue plumage, a reddish belly, and a thin white band separating the belly from the blue chest. Its head is black, and a white ring surrounds the eye.

It feeds mainly on insects such as beetles, termites, ants, and grasshoppers, as well as worms, fruits, and berries. It is often seen hopping around near people searching for crumbs.

During breeding season, the female lays 3–4 eggs, which both parents incubate for about 12 days. Together they care for the chicks until independence.

Southern Masked Weaver

The weavers are a family containing several species, characterized mainly by the way they build their nests. The male weaves long grasses and leaves into a teardrop-shaped nest, with the wider lower section serving as the entrance from underneath.

In this species, the male stands out with bright yellow plumage and a black “mask” covering the head. The wings and tail contain darker feathers. The iris is yellow with a black pupil, and the beak is thin and black.

During courtship season, the male works tirelessly on his nest to attract females interested in nesting there. He continues building additional nests, demonstrating his construction skills until he finds a mate.

The nest is usually built on a thorny acacia tree, which, together with the upside-down entrance, makes it difficult for predators such as snakes or other birds to steal the eggs or chicks.

Little Bee-eater

Several species of bee-eaters can be seen in Tanzania, all with spectacular colors. The little bee-eater is a small bird, about 17 cm long, predominantly green from the crown to the tail. Its belly and chest are golden, separated by a black stripe. It has a thin black beak, red eyes, a black line beneath the eyes, and a turquoise line above them.

It feeds on flying insects, especially bees, which it catches mid-flight. If the prey has a stinger, such as a bee or wasp, the bee-eater strikes the insect against a hard surface until the stinger is removed.

The little bee-eater nests in sandy riverbanks, digging a tunnel where the female lays 4–6 eggs. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs.

Because its colors resemble those of the Tanzanian flag — green, blue, yellow, and black — many consider it the unofficial national bird of Tanzania.

Malachite Kingfisher

Tiny (about 13 cm long) and colorful, this is one of the most beautiful kingfishers. Its back is a brilliant blue-violet, its chest reddish-brown, and its long beak bright red. Its head is decorated with blue and turquoise feathers, with white feathers at the throat and crown tips.

It often perches among reeds near water, staring intently into the water below until spotting a fish, then diving to catch it. It returns to its perch holding the fish crosswise before swallowing it headfirst. It nests in burrows dug into sandy riverbanks.

Red-billed Hornbill

Hornbills are characterized by their large curved bills, and the red-billed hornbill indeed has a striking bright red bill. Its plumage is black and white, with a slightly fluffy head, white belly, and long black tail. It measures about 42 cm in length and feeds on insects, fruits, and seeds.

Its call is loud and can be heard from afar as it “converses” with others or with its mate. The pair nests inside a hollow tree trunk. After the female lays her eggs, the male seals the entrance with mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow slit through which he feeds the female and later the chicks.

When one of the chicks is ready to leave the nest, the parents break open the seal. If younger chicks remain inside, the nest is sealed again.

Saddle-billed Stork

One of the most beautiful birds, certainly among the storks. It stands about 1.5 meters tall, with a black neck and a long bright red bill. Near the base of the bill is a thick black band, and above it sits a yellow “saddle.” Its belly is white, while the wings and tail are black. The legs are thin and black with red joints.

The female has a yellow eye ring, while the male’s is dark brown, and he also has two yellow wattles on the neck. In flight, it is an impressive sight, with a wingspan reaching 2.7 meters. Saddle-billed storks are monogamous, and pairs are often seen flying together above wetlands.

Grey Crowned Crane

A magnificent bird standing about one meter tall with a wingspan of nearly two meters. Most of its body is covered in shades of gray, with a lighter gray neck, darker gray wings and back, and white wing tips adorned with long golden feathers.

Its cheeks are white, the crown black, topped with a golden “crown” of stiff feathers. The beak is relatively short and gray, with two red throat pouches beneath it, and the legs are black.

During courtship, the pair performs a dance, bowing to each other and leaping into the air. Grey crowned cranes prefer moving in flocks, and groups of 30 or more can often be seen walking through fields searching for seeds, grains, insects, frogs, worms, snakes, small fish, and more.

This is the national bird of Uganda and is widespread across East Africa, though its habitat is increasingly threatened.

Secretarybird

The secretarybird gets its name from its black-and-white plumage and long tail feathers, which resemble the formal attire of old-time clerks. It is a bird of prey with upright head feathers, red-yellow facial skin around the eyes, and a large hooked beak.

Unlike most raptors that hunt from the air, the secretarybird hunts on foot. It specializes in catching snakes and is equipped with long legs and sharp talons for the task.

Standing about 1.3 meters tall, it is usually seen in pairs walking through grasslands searching for prey such as lizards, snakes, birds, bird eggs, and even rabbits. It kills prey using its beak or by striking with its powerful talons.

When confronting a snake, the secretarybird spreads its long tail feathers against the ground, causing the snake to strike the feathers instead of its legs, then attacks and kills the snake.

Tawny Eagle

One of the most impressive birds of prey frequently seen in the savannas. It measures about 70 cm in length, with a wingspan reaching around 1.9 meters. Its plumage is brown in varying shades from light to dark.

Its beak is large, black, and hooked, with a yellow base extending beneath the eye, and its legs are also yellow. It hunts small mammals, birds, reptiles, and will even steal food from other raptors.

Bateleur

Also known as the “clown eagle” because of its red face and slightly rocking flight. The French word “bateleur” means “street performer” or “tightrope walker,” referring to its balancing motion while flying.

It measures about 70 cm in length with a wingspan of up to 1.86 meters. Its head, chest, wing tips, and very short tail are black; the upper wings are gray and the back golden-brown. The beak is yellow with a black tip.

Its preferred prey is pigeons, though it also feeds on carrion.

Breeding season occurs between December and March. Bateleurs are monogamous and remain together for life. They build nests high in trees, where the female lays a single egg and incubates it alone for 42–43 days. The pair continues using the same nest for years.

Martial Eagle

This is the largest eagle in Africa, with a wingspan reaching up to 2.6 meters and weighing as much as 6 kg, making it the fifth-heaviest eagle in the world.

The upper body is dark brown, while the chest and legs are white with brown spotting. Its beak is large and black, the eyes are large and yellow, and the tail is relatively short for its size. Its eyesight is three times sharper than that of humans, allowing it to spot prey from great distances.

Usually, the female is larger and more heavily spotted than the male.

It feeds on whatever is available in its habitat, including waterfowl, mongooses, hyraxes, and even small antelopes.

The martial eagle reproduces very slowly, laying only one egg every two years. The nest is enormous — 1.5–2 meters wide — built from branches and sticks. Chicks remain dependent on their parents for 6–12 months.

White-backed Vulture

Like all vultures, it feeds on carrion, which is why its head and neck are nearly bare. Its back feathers are pale, giving it its name, and its large powerful beak and excellent eyesight help it locate carcasses from high above.

It measures 78–98 cm in length, with a wingspan reaching 2.25 meters.

Vultures play a vital ecological role by preventing the spread of diseases and epidemics. In recent years, however, their numbers have declined sharply, and the species is now endangered.

The reasons for their decline are numerous, including habitat loss and reduced food availability. In some regions, vultures are hunted for use in traditional rituals, while illegal poachers leave poisoned carcasses to kill vultures and prevent them from revealing freshly poached elephants or rhinos.