subject: Birding Safaris By Tourists Flight Into East Africa National Parks & Games Reserves [print this page] Birding Safaris By Tourists Flight Into East Africa National Parks & Games Reserves
We have over 2000 species of birds found within East Africa National Parks and Game Reserves .East Africa comprises of five states namely, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
The National Parks and Game Reserves of Kenya are Maasai Mara,Samburu,Shaba,Meru,Amboseli,Tsavo,Kakamega Forests, Mount Kenya,Nanyuki,Lewa Downs,Abardares,Mfangano Island,Rusinga Island, Snake Marine Park Malindi,Wazini Island,Kiwayu,Lamu among others. You can reach these National parks and game reserves by private charter and scheduled flights. We have some areas that scheduled flights are not operated and the substitute is private charter flights.
In Tanzania there are national parks and game reserves as follows, Serengeti, Seronera, Lake Manyara, Grumeti, Kleins Camp, Selous, and Ruaha, Mahale and Lobo and many others. There are charter companies providing both scheduled and private charter flights to these areas.
In Uganda there are national parks and game reserves as follows, Bwindi, Fort Portal, Lake Albert, Murchisson falls, Karuma Falls and Kabalega Falls among others. We only have charter flights to these destinations. In Rwanda and Burundi you will find many national parks and game reserves and only with private charter flights which you can use to visit.
In the national parks and game reserves the tourists will be able to see birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, amphibians, flowers and trees which are found in different locations. We will talk on a few birds that are found in East Africa that is Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi by describing them as below,
Jackson's Widowbird
A species of highland regions at elevations over 1,500m in western and central Kenya and northern Tanzania .The male in breeding plumage has a long decurved tail and almost entirely black feathering, the only exceptions being a yellow/ brown shoulder patch and the flight feathers having brown edges. Males are often seen displaying, leaping several feet into the air from deep grass. The female has the upper feathering dark brown boldly edged and streaked with buff. The underside is buff with darker streaking on the breast and flanks. In non-breeding plumage the male is similar to the female but is generally browner. The eyes are dark brown, the bill of the breeding male is blue/grey, and the bill of the female is yellow/grey. The legs and feet are black. Breading make 36cm, female 14cm.
Red-Winged Starling
Distributed over much of the region, favouring hillsides, rocky outcrops and gorges, woodlands and, in some areas, towns and cities. A large starling with a long tail, the male has glossy violet blue/black plumage with a race of green on the cheeks. The primary flight feathers are rich chestnut tipped with black, the chestnut being most prominent when the bird is in flight. The plumage of the female is similar to that of the male but the head, neck, chin, throat and upper breast are washed with dark grey and heavily streaked with black. They mate for life and, during the breeding season flocks of several hundred have been recorded. The eyes are dark red/brown, the bill, legs and feet are black.
Bristle- Crowned Starling
A bird mainly encountered in northern Kenya and north eastern Uganda ,where they inhabit rocky hill sides and gorges as well as lake and riverside forests and woodlands. A large starling with a very long, graduated tail. The male has glossy blue/black plumage with a wash of violet on the head and neck. A patch of raised, bristle-like feathers are present on the forehead, noticeable even at a considerable distance. The primary flight feathers are rich chestnut tipped with black, the chestnut being much more apparent in flight than when perched at rest. The female resembles the male but has a faint wash of grey on the head and neck. The eyes are deep red, the slightly decurved bill is black and the legs and feet are blackish.
Greater Blue-Eared Starling
A common and well-distributed species throughout the region, inhabiting woodlands, lightly wooded savannahs, cultivated farmland and city parks and gardens. A robust starling with wonderful iridescent plumage, the colours of which change constantly as the bird alters position in strong plumage, the colours of which change constantly as the bird alters position in strong sunlight. The entire plumage is rich metallic blue/green, the crown, ear coverts, belly and under parts showing darker iridescent blue. The shoulders of the wings often show a violet patches and the tips of the wing coverts and the secondary flight feathers are boldly tipped with black. The eyes are golden yellow, the bill, legs and feet are black.
Rupp ell's Long-Tailed Starling
A common and conspicuous bird over much of the region in areas of open savannah bush, scrub, cultivated farmland and human habitations. They are often common and very tame in the grounds of safari lodges and hotels. They are usually encountered in pairs or small parties. A large long-tailed Starling with striking iridescent plumage when viewed in bright sunlight, usually when seen in poor light the entire plumage appears black. The head, neck, chin and throat are glossy black with a flush of metallic bronze. The nape, breast, belly, underparts and tail are metallic violet blue. The wing coverts and primary and secondary flight feathers are rich metallic green. Immature birds are duller than adults. The eyes are pale creamy-white, the bill, legs and feet are black. The sexes are a like.
Golden Palm Weaver
A common species in coastal regions as well as inland in Eastern Kenya and north-eastern Tanzania. The male has the head, neck, chin, throat and upper breast bright orange/yellow, the remainder of the plumage being bright yellow. The primary and secondary wing feathers and the tail are dark brown broadly edged with yellow. The female is yellow below the upper plumage being yellow washed with olive and finely streaked with olive-brown. The eyes are dark brown, the bill is black in the male and yellow/grey in the female, the legs and feet are flesh pink.
Black-Capped Social Weaver
As its name suggests this is a very social species, nesting in largecolonies in acacia trees. They inhabit dry, open bush country and are particularly common in Samburu Game Reserve in Kenya. The head is black while the nape, back and wings are pale brown. The chin, throat, breast and under parts are white with black streaks along the sides of the breast and flanks. A black streak also extends from the base of the breast through the belly. The tail is black, the eyes are rich red, the bill is pale yellow and the legs and feet are pale brown. Juvenile birds lack the black markings of the adults and have dark brown eyes. The sexes are alike.
Rofous-Tailed Weaver
A species that occurs locally, mainly in northern Tanzania, being very common in areas of the Serengeti, particularly around Ndutu and Naabi Hill. A large weaver with the feathers of the head, mantle, back and wing coverts dark brown boldly edged with buff/grey. The chin, throat, breast, belly and flanks are grey/buff streaked and spotted with dark brown. The primary and secondary flight feathers are dark brown and chestnut narrowly edged with buff. The central tail feathers are dark brown; the outer feathers are rich chestnut. The eyes are very pale blue, the bill is black and the legs and feet are grayish/black. The sexes are a like.
We have just mentioned a few of the species of birds which can be seen in East Africa. These birds can be found in rain forests, hills, rivers, lakes, woodlands, scrubs, swamps, marshes as their habitat. When having your tour to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and East Africa for your birding safaris you are encouraged to engage a bird specialist so that you will be able to differentiate these species.
