What is the largest bird in Kenya?

What is the largest bird in Kenya?  Kenya is a country in East African region , this region  has  about 1,290 species of birds that have been identified. There are roughly 10,000 species of birds in the world. This indicates that, despite its relatively small size, the region is home to about 13% of all birds worldwide. The remarkable variety and multiplicity of bird species in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania captivate birdwatchers. However, any beginner bird viewer may find it intimidating to distinguish between the hundreds of distinct bird species.

Ostrich

The largest bird in the world is the common ostrich which is found all over Africa. It is found in nations in North, South, and East Africa, including Tunisia, Egypt, and Morocco. Ostrich are primarily found in savannah and grassland areas all over Africa. They are widespread in areas like Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The largest bird on two legs, the ostrich can run up to 17 feet in a single stride and can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. It is the quickest bird on two legs. Their powerful legs, which they employed as defensive weapons, are strong enough to take down a lion. The largest bird in the world, the ostrich lays enormous eggs that are comparable in size to the eggs of two dozen chickens. Although ostriches can be seen wandering alone, they prefer to walk in pairs. During the breeding season, they congregate in groups consisting of one dominant male and up to seven females.

Flamingos

These pink birds breed close to salty lakes and are restricted to specific areas. Their breeding grounds are found in Lake Natron in Tanzania, Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, and Lake Elementaita in Kenya, among other lakes in Africa. Africa is home to two out of the six species of Flamingos. Using their special bills, the Flamingos scrape up dirt from the lakebed and filter out tiny crustaceans and plankton for food.  The small pink shrimp that flamingos eat is what gives them their pink colour. When migrating at night, flamingos like to fly in clear skies with good tailwinds.

Helmeted Guinea fowl

The Helmeted Guinea fowl is a huge bird with a height of 53 to 58 cm, a tiny head, and a round body that weighs approximately 1.3 kg. Within the guinea fowl bird family, it is the most well-known species. Its body plumage is grey-black in colour. Dotted with white feathers. Similar to other species of Guinea fowl, they have a bare skin with shades of blue, red, or black, and a featherless head adorned with a dull yellow or reddish bony bump. They can be found in savannah or farmland, which are warm, dry, and covered with bushes and trees.

Grey Crowned crane

A bird that may reach a height of three feet and a wingspan of almost seven feet, it is also known as the Crested crane. One of the most distinct and simple to identify birds in Africa, it has a bright red neck pouch, blue eyes, gold feathers, and a white face. It’s one of the two varieties of cranes that have tree roosting capabilities. The intricate courtship dance of Grey Crowned Cranes involves leaping, hopping, bending, and spreading their wings. These are not limited to the mating season; they can be done at any time of the year.The bird can be found in many locations in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, where it is the national bird and is featured in the middle of the flag of the country. The current threat to the existence of Grey Crowned Cranes is in extinction. This is because farmers consider them an annoyance.

Saddle-billed stork

The great marabou stork is not as tall as the saddle-billed stork, which stands at almost five feet tall. It has a vivid yellow frontal shield, dazzling red stripes, and a multi-coloured beak. Its breast also has an odd reddish-yellow patch. Known as the “brood patch,” this exposed skin area contains a large number of blood capillaries that are used to facilitate the easy transfer of body heat between the mother and the egg during mating season. In contrast to marabou storks which reside in established colonies, saddle-billed storks live alone or in pairs. The current threat to the existence of Grey Crowned Cranes  extinction are the farmers. This is because the farmers consider them as nuisance.  Sleek-billed stork can be found in East Africa Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as well as Sub-Saharan Africa.

Weaver and Allies

It is their  beautiful nests that members of this species construct that give the source of the name “weaver birds.” The majority of Ploceidae live in the Old World, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous publications place the two groups of birds in the Ploceidae family, Sparrows and Whydahs are not members of the Weavers and Allies family. East Africa is home to about sixty species of weavers and their associates, which include widowbirds, queleas, and bishops.

Allies and Cisticolas

Allies and Cisticolas resemble warblers. This family has more than 150 species worldwide and sometimes the easiest way to identify them is through their songs. Despite their modest size, they can be distinguished from allies and weavers due to their sole dietary preference for insects. In the grasslands and scrublands of East Africa, the family is found nearly . Allies and Cisticolas resemble warblers. The family has more than 150 species worldwide and sometimes the easiest way to identify them is through their sounds and songs. Despite their modest size, they can be distinguished from allies and weavers due to their sole dietary preference for insects.

Sparrows

These Little birds are called sparrows and they primarily consume seeds and insects occasionally. they are accustomed to living in cities and because of that sparrows are among the most frequent sighted birds. It is difficult to tell some weavers from sparrows in many situations. Ten of the swallows found in East Africa are listed and they include; Parrot of the chestnut (Passer eminibey) Passer domesticus, the house sparrow,  which was brought to the East African. Passer rufocinctus, the Kenya rufous sparrow Gray-headed sparrow in the north (Passer griseus) Passer gongonensis, the parrot-billed sparrow, The rufous sparrow of Shelley (Passer shelleyi) ,Passer castanopterus, the Somali sparrow Spurrow of Swahili (Passer suahelicus), Passer swainsonii a type of Swainson’s sparrow Bush sparrow with yellow spots (Gymnoris pyrgita).

Indigobirds and Whydahs

The term “indigobird” refers to a group of birds whose plumage is primarily black or indigo. Every species is a parasite on the brood. Indicating that they raise their young by relying on other birds. The young of the viduidae family of birds are frequently raised by estrildid finches. East Africa is home to at least nine members of the viduidae family, including the recently arrived Cuckoo Finch. Whydah, the broad-tailed paradise (Vidua obtuse) Cuckoo Finch (Anomalospiza imberbis)/Cuckoo Weaver/Parasitic Weaver Whydah, or Eastern Paradise (Vidua paradisaea) Vidua macroura, the pin-tailed whydah Vidua purpurascens, the purple indigobird Whydah in steel blue (Vidua hypocherina) Whydah with a straw tail (Vidua fischeri) Indigobird Variable (Vidua funereal) The village bluebird, or Vidua chalybeate