Birds of Serengeti National Park : Serengeti is best known for magical wildlife safaris in Africa. Yet, this wonderful park is home to over 500 bird species across the wilderness. Probably, you are not a fan of watching birds. You will be one after seeing what Serengeti has for you. Here are a few birds you may encounter on your next adventure.
Grey-breasted spurfowl
The Grey-breasted spurfowl is an amazing bird restricted within the Serengeti. Its size is medium, with striking plumage. Males are grey with black-tipped tails, while females are usually brown with a striated appearance.
These birds usually stay in pairs or small groups pecking for insects, seeds, and berries on the ground. Due to their cryptic coloring, they can be camouflaged in the dry grassy savannas of the Serengeti. Therefore, it may be hard to spot them.
Fischer’s lovebird
The Fischer’s Lovebird is a small, colorful parrot native to the Serengeti region. Males are bright green with a bright red forehead and a blue rump. Females are duller greens in color with less bright red foreheads. These birds are very social and usually form big flocks. Primarily seed eaters, they also feed on fruits and berries.
Fischer’s Lovebirds are quite playful and well-known for their strong pair bond. They are commonly seen flying across the sun in pairs or smaller groups, with bright colors flashing across.
Rufous-tailed weaver
The Rufous-Tailed Weaver is a tiny, social bird quite common in the Serengeti. Males striking black and yellow, with a distinctive rufous-color tail. Females are browner and more subdued. They are great weavers. Their intricate nests usually hang from branches.
They are often found in big colonies with hundreds of nests hanging from one tree. Rufous-tailed weavers eat mainly seeds but also eat insects. They are great to see with their cheerful calls and great acrobatic flight displays.
Usambiro barbet
This colorful Usambiro barbet is endemic to the Serengeti region. Males are bright green with a red forehead. These birds have loud and clear calls reverberating through woodlands in the Serengeti. However, they are pollinators. They also contribute to seed dispersal for some plant species.
Grey-crested helmet-shrike
The grey-crested helmet-shrike belongs to that league of birds that commands attention with their striking look. They are carnivorous, preying upon insects, small mammals, and reptiles.
These birds are very aggressive. Loud calls and aggressive displays defend the territory. It is a solitary bird, although a loose aggregation may happen in the breeding season.
Kori Bustard
Kori Bustards are the world’s heaviest flying birds. They prefer grasslands and open savannas. Its plumage ranges from brown to gray. The wings bear a rather peculiar black-and-white pattern.
Kori Bustards are omnivorous, feeding on insects, seeds, and small vertebrates. They perform a striking form of courtship display. They are also known to execute a series of bows and struts.
Ostrich
This is the largest living bird. It is common in the Serengeti. Long legs with powerful running give it strides, making it one of the fastest land animals. The ostrich is an herbivore, feeding on plants, seeds, and insects.
Other distinctive features include long necks, powerful legs, and feathers with unique structures. Very often, ostriches live in groups; this has the advantage of providing collective vigilance against predators.
African fish eagle
The African fish eagle is a huge, strong raptor, commonly seen in Serengeti soaring over water bodies. It has a white head and a dark brown body.
As suggested by the name, its main diet consists of fish, although on any occasion, it may take whatever comes along, including waterbirds and small mammals. It is an African symbol and is commonly used in the country’s national emblems.
Secretary bird
The Secretary bird is a very weird raptor. It appears quite different from any other raptor. It has long and slender legs. Still, wondering about the name of this bird? We have you covered. On the back of the head, there is a topknot of long feathers that are like quill pens, from which it derived its name.
Mainly a ground-dwelling bird that feeds on snakes, lizards, insects, and small mammals. Secretary bird has powerful kicks, which it uses in subduing its prey.
Lilac-breasted roller
The lilac-breasted roller is an awesomely beautiful bird simply because of the striking color of its plumage. While the males are always bright blue and turquoise, the females are brown and are less colorful.
They will always perch up on trees or even power lines, surveying the ground below for prey. They feed on insects, lizards, and other small mammals. They are the favorite birds of any keen ornithologist because of their spectacular look and agile flight.
Waterbirds
Serengeti National Park has lakes, rivers, and wetlands that are shelters for several aquatic bird species. They include ducks, geese, and flamingos. These birds have webbed feet adapted for swimming and bills adapted to feed in the water. They play a vital role in ensuring water quality and maintaining insect populations.
Raptors
Raptors are birds adapted to hunting. In Serengeti, eagles, hawks, and vultures are common raptors. Eagles and hawks are strong predators that go as far as to bring down big prey. Vultures scavenge largely to clean up the environment in any ecosystem.
Final thoughts
Serengeti is full of wonders. From stunning birdlife, wildebeest migration, and the Big Five to breathtaking plains, Serengeti is truly a gem for everyone. If you want to enjoy an unforgettable experience in the alluring destination, book a safari with Explore African Safaris.
