The Birds of Tanzania. Tanzania is home to some of the world’s most beautiful, interesting, and one-of-a-kind birds. Most people come to Tanzania to see the “Big Five” animals or the “Great Wildebeest Migration.” But after seeing pictures of all the amazing birds that live in Tanzania, their dreams will surely grow.

Seeing these beautiful birds, both big and small, in their natural environment is something you’ll never forget. We asked our guides to the birds of Tanzania for their advice and came up with a list of the top 10 birds of Tanzania. Pour yourself a cup of tea, settle down, and enjoy!

Tanzania is a bird lover’s dream.

It is not known for sure how many bird species live in Tanzania, but it is thought that there are about 1,000 kinds. Kenya has birds that people haven’t seen in years. Others can be seen everywhere. That’s where our guides to the birds of Tanzania can help you on your Tanzania tour!

In Tanzania, you can see these 10 birds.

The Rufous-tailed Weaver lives in Serengeti National Park.

The rufous-tailed weaver is about 20 to 22 centimeters long and has chestnut-colored feathers with dark spots on them. It might not be the most colorful bird. It is, however, one of a kind because it is only found in Tanzania. This beautiful bird can only be found in this one place on Earth. Male birds build their nests from July to February, which is breeding season. They often do this in the famous baobab trees in Serengeti National Park.

Hornbill with a silvery face – Lake Manyara National Park

The silver-cheeked hornbill has a very easygoing lifestyle and only breeds with one partner each year. Not surprisingly, you might see more than 100 hornbills at the same time. This is because they often eat with other couples in fruit trees. You can tell the difference between a male and a female hornbill by looking at their beaks, which is a fun fact that will please your fellow adventurers. The males have a long casque that covers their whole beak, while the females’ is much shorter. This is a great way to get great shots of birds in Tanzania.

Serengeti National Park is home to the Fisher’s lovebird.

The small Fisher’s lovebird is one of the smallest birds in Tanzania. Its bright green and orange feathers make it easy to spot, even though it is only 14 centimeters long. As their name suggests, these parrots are very serious about their relationships. They only have one partner and stay with them their whole lives. They also know how to look gender-neutral: if you look at their feathers, you can’t tell if it’s a man or a female.

The Tawny Eagle lives in Tarangire National Park.

From one of Tanzania’s tiniest finches to a big bird of prey, here are the top 10 birds of Tanzania. The Tawney eagle can fly up to 190 centimeters wide. The Afrikaans name for this bird of prey is “roofarend,” which translates to “robber eagle.” This bird from Tanzania eats dead animals and is known to be very mean when it steals food from other birds. This is called kleptoparasitism. So be careful!

Lake Manyara National Park has a black heron.

The pitch-black black heron is a very smart bird that grows to be 42 to 66 centimeters long. When it wants to catch fish, it walks into shallow water, bends its head, and spreads its wings out over its body to make a veil. He can see what’s going on underwater better and catch fish more easily this way. The heron will sometimes hang out with the African holy ibis as well. That’s when the black heron swoops in and takes the fish. The ibis moves the fish around in the water. When you’re busy, get fast food!

The Tarangire National Park has a red and yellow barbet.

One of the nicest birds in Tanzania is the red and yellow barbet. They are known for having beautiful, loud voices, and their music has a great beat to it. Other birds’ calls can be heard along with their beautiful songs, which often last for two minutes. This big stage also needs a beautiful outfit. The red and yellow barbet is perfect for that because it has a red head, a yellow chest, and black wings with white spots. It doesn’t matter that a red and yellow barbet’s wings are only about 10 centimeters long because it has so many good traits!

Pink Flamingos in Arusha National Park

We all know that female birds will sometimes choose their mate based on very specific things, like who can dance the strangest or build the most beautiful nest. Flocks of flamingos live in Arusha National Park and are one of them. When they are ready to mate, the males gather in large groups. They flap their wings, turn their heads, and sing all at the same time. The pairs find each other after the show and end up staying together for life. If you’re lucky enough to see them do this beautiful breeding dance, you will have one of the most beautiful and unique pictures of birds in Tanzania.

The Golden-breasted Starling lives in Mkomazi National Park.

Keep an eye out for the golden-breasted starling while you’re on tour in Mkomazi National Park. It’s not hard to miss this bird because of its beautiful feathers. The bird’s top body is a mix of blue, green, and purple colors that shimmer. This starling has a golden-yellow belly and a very long tail. Take a luxury tour through Tanzania and ask your birds of Tanzania guide how to spot the different kinds of birds that live there.

The Pel’s fishing owl lives in Ruaha National Park.

Africa is the only place you can find the Pel’s fishing owl. You have to be very lucky, though, to see one. Because Pel’s fishing owls are nocturnal, they can only hunt at night, dawn, and dusk. Its reddish-brown feathers also help it fit in well with the trees, where it spends most of the day with its mate. That being said, you might see the owl during the day if it doesn’t find enough food at night. Don’t close your eyes!

Henareef

The ostrich is the world’s biggest bird, so it has to be on our list of the top 10 Kenyan birds. There is a lot to say about this beautiful bird, but these are our favorites:

Oh no, the ostrich can’t fly.

Three bellies make it funny.

It can run fast up to 70 km/h.

They are black and white on the males and brown-gray on the females.
As long as it has long legs and a forward kick, it should be able to kill a lion or even a person.
Ostriches don’t hide their heads in the sand like most people think they do.
Their mating process is very difficult, and the males have to give it their all to win a female. Watch the great David Attenborough explain this below.

Our best tips for a birding safari

Can’t wait to get in the 4×4 and go on your own bird watching tour? Come on our 10-day tour that takes you to all of the bird-rich northern national parks, from Tarangire and Lake Manyara to the famous Serengeti and the stunning Ngorongoro Crater.

Additionally, the Manyara Best View Lodge might be a good place to stay. It is close to the Great Escarpment and a wildlife refuge, and it provides the warmth you need after an exciting day of animal viewing.

Have questions about our bird tours in Africa?

Our birds of Tanzania field guides are not only very knowledgeable about the Big Five and Tanzania’s amazing wildlife, but they are also very good at identifying hundreds of different kinds of beautiful birds.

Would you like to know how to plan the best trip so that you can take as many pictures of birds in Tanzania as possible? If you go to Tanzania to see the lions, you might remember the red-and-yellow barbet when you leave. Get in touch with the Tanzania Zanzibar Safari team to begin making plans for your ideal bird tour in Tanzania.