Bird list of Samburu National Reserve

Bird list of Samburu National Reserve : Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve is among the most spectacular places to go birdwatching in kenya . It birding safari in Kenya destination with over 450 species reported, the reserve provides an exceptional birdwatching experience. Notable endemic and arid specialists like the Somali ostrich, vulturine guineafowl, Hunter’s sunbird, and William’s lark are among the prized species.

Abdim’s stork

The white-bellied stork, often called Abdim’s stork, is the smallest stork species. Its feet and knees are red, its lengthy legs are grey, and its beak is grey. During breeding season, it has blue skin near the beak and red skin in front of the eye. Throughout its vast habitat, this species is ubiquitous and widespread, and it is easily seen in various areas of Kenya’s Samburu Game Reserve.

The African darter

The African darter is a large, slender aquatic bird with a length of approximately 80 cm, which includes its long, rounded tail. Often, only the neck of these cormorant-like birds is above the water when they swim. They pierce their slippery fish prey with their incredibly long and keen beaks. They are native to tropical sub-Saharan Africa, and you can usually find them in or close to fresh and/or saltwater bodies. These birds are mostly found in Kenya’s Lake Baringo, Samburu, and Masai Mara Game Reserves.

African Grey Hornbill

The lesser hornbill species in the hornbill family is the African grey hornbill. It is a frequent resident breeder that is found over most of Sub-Saharan Africa. The primary foods of these hornbills are fruit, insects, and reptiles. Usually, they graze in trees.

African Fish eagles

The African fish eagle is a huge species of eagle that may be found all over sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in areas with large open water bodies and plenty of food sources. With a mainly brown body, a white head, and enormous, strong, black wings, the adult is highly identifiable. Except for the yellow featherless face, the head, breast, and tail are all snow white. These birds are usually found in Kenya’s Lake Naivasha and Lake Baringo. In certain areas of Samburu National Game Reserve, they are also visible.

The African Harrier-hawk

The African Harrier-Hawk is a raptor of medium size. The head, breast, and upper body are light grey in colour. There is delicate dark striping on the white belly. The large, pale grey wings have a black trailing edge that is thinly trimmed with white. There is a single, wide white stripe on the black tail. The sexes are similar, but in young birds, dark brown replaces black and pale brown substitutes grey. It is found in urban areas, tree plantations, and natural woodlands. The Masai Mara Game Reserve, Samburu, and Lake Nakuru National Park are the best locations to see this species.

African Openbill Stork

The Ciconiidae family of storks includes the african openbill species. It is a stork, 80–94 cm in length and 1–1.3 kg in weight. The mature bird’s plumage is primarily dark, with patches of glossy green, brown, and purple on the breast and mantle. It has a noticeably big, brownish bill. Grey is the eye, and black are the legs. The juvenile’s feathers have regions of pale tipping and are more dull and brown in colour. Freshwater mussels and aquatic snails are the main sources of food for African openbills.

African Spoonbill

The African Spoonbill is a wading bird with long legs. Apart from its red face, bill, and legs, its body is mostly white. This bird’s distinctive spoon-shaped bill makes it easy to identify. The appearance of the male and female birds is similar. The primary foods consumed by African Spoonbills are fish and aquatic invertebrates, including insects, larvae, mollusks, and crustaceans or shellfish. These birds are frequently found in a number of southern African nations, and they can be seen in Kenya’s Samburu National Game Reserve along the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River.

The African White -backed vulture

The Old World African White-backed vulture is the most common big vulture in Africa. The other plumage of the white-backed vultures is a variety of grey colours, and they have a collar of white feathers at the top of their back that surrounds a grey neck. Animal corpses and broken bones are their main sources of food. White-backed African vultures are nocturnal and very gregarious birds. They are present in every national park and reserve in East Africa, including Kenya’s Samburu Game Reserve.

The Bateleur

The Bateleur, or Terathopius ecaudatus, is a colourful, medium-sized species of eagle with short tails. The snake eagles are its nearest cousins. This eagle has a wide home range and is a solitary species that nests in trees. The bateleur is a diurnal animal that forages across a vast area (55–200 km2) and hunts over an area of about 650 km2 each day. Bateleurs are both hunters and scavengers; they will hunt down other animals and consume carrion. Throughout the Kenyan Samburu National Reserve, bateleurs—which are native to Africa—may be seen.

The Black Chested snake eagle

The name “Black Chested Snake Eagle” refers to a huge African predatory bird of prey that may be clearly recognised by its dark brown head and chest. It is a somewhat migratory species, with large numbers appearing to be year-round residents in eastern and southern Africa. Though not very frequently sighted, it is common in Kenya’s desert, semi-arid savanna, and moderately forested areas. It consumes bats and lizards in addition to snakes.

Black- headed heron

Dark-headed The heron is a huge wading bird with a wingspan of 150 cm and a height of 85 cm. It belongs to the family Heron. The majority of its plumage is grey above and a lighter grey below. Its bill is strong and dark. Usually during the rainy season, this species forms colonies in trees, reedbeds, or cliffs to reproduce. It nests two or four eggs in a large, thick stick nest. It frequently uses its large, sharp bill to spear fish or frogs while it feeds in shallow water. Along with hunting far from bodies of water, it will also take down birds, small mammals, and large insects. Throughout much of Africa south of the Sahara, these birds are numerous and widespread. They can be seen at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve.

Black shouldered kite

The black-shouldered kite, also called the black-winged kite, is a tiny, diurnal predatory bird belonging to the Accipitridae family. With its long wings, white, grey, and black plumage, and its owl-like, forward-facing eyes with red irises, this kite is easily recognisable. They exhibit nomadism in reaction to weather and food availability, but they are not migratory. Open grasslands are home to Black Winged Kites, which can be seen in Kenya national park of Samburu, Masai Mara, and others.

The Somali Ostrich

The big, flightless Somali ostrich, also called the blue-necked ostrich, is a resident of the Horn of Africa. The Somali ostrich shares many characteristics with other ostriches, however its neck and thighs have blue skin instead of pink, which brightens on the male during mating season. The tail feathers are white, and the neck does not have the usual broad white ring. In comparison to other female ostriches, the females have significantly larger plumage and are browner in colour. These birds are primarily found in Kenya’s northern regions, particularly in the Samburu region.

Other birds found in Samburu National Reserve are; Rufous Naped Lark, The common Ostrich, Ruppell’s Vulture, Secretary bird, Southern Ground Hornbill, Southern Masked Weaver, Speckled Mousebird, Spotted Thick Knee, Striped Kingfisher, Superb Starling ,Vulturine Guineafowl , Martial Eagle, Marabou Stork, Lilac Breasted Roller, Lappet Faced Vulture, Kori Bustard, Hadeda Ibis and many more.