african birds

African Birds

Here are some of the birds we saw on our overland safari through 10 countries (and venturing into two more) in central and southern Africa.
The 10 countries were Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
The 2 we visited very briefly were Zambia and Angola.
It was an an amazing experience.
I am not a birder so some of my identifications are somewhat tentative. If you find something amiss please send email to let me know.

For more of our African adventure go here.

Lilac-breasted Roller, Coracias caudatus

Pale Chanting Goshawk, Melierax canorus

Lappet-faced Vulture or Nubian Vulture, Torgos tracheliotos

White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus

Brown Snake Eagle, Circaetus cinereus

African Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer

Immature African Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer I'm not at all sure of this identification

Tawny Eagle, Aquila rapax

Long-crested Eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis

Martial Eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus

And two eagles that I couldn't identify, possibly a Tawny and a Brown Snake eagle

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Common Ostrich,, Struthio camelus

Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus

Saddle-billed Stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

African Openbill stork, Anastomus lamelligerus

Yellow-billed Stork, Mycteria ibis There is a lot more red on the head of this one than most of the pictures I find online but it is the only identification that is even close.
The second picture may be one too.

Abdim's Stork,, Ciconia abdimii also known as White-bellied Stork

Goliath Heron, Ardea goliath

Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias

Black-headed Heron, Ardea melanocephala

Blacksmith Plover, Vanellus armatus also known as Blacksmith Lapwing

Yellow-billed Egret, Mesophoyx intermedia or Intermediate Egret or Median Egret

Little Egret, Egretta garzetta

Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus and Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea

Greater Flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus and White-breasted Cormorant, Phalacrocorax lucidus

Great White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus

African Darter, Anhinga rufa or Snakebird The first is a female the rest are males

Reed Cormorant, Microcarbo africanus, also known as the Long-tailed Cormorant

Little Egret, Egretta garzetta and Reed Cormorant, Microcarbo africanus

White-breasted Cormorant, Phalacrocorax lucidus

Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo on the wing

Cape Gull, Larus, dominicanus, vetula, also known as the Kelp Gull and Dominican Gull in other parts of the world

African Skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris

Black-winged Stilt, Common Stilt, or Pied Stilt , Himantopus himantopus

Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus

Hadeda Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash

Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus or Hadeda Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash

This one has me stumped.
The curved dark beak, gray legs, and white head don't seem to come together on any bird I have found.
I would appreciate a note if you can identify it.

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Tockus leucomelas

Southern Ground Hornbill, Bucorvus cafer or,Bucorvus leadbeateri This juvenile in a tree may never have been told it is a Ground Hornbill.

Ground hornbill, Bucorvinae OK, you can't see the red on its head and neck that identify this one but I was getting the camera turned on it was disappearing into the underbrush.

Egyptian Geese, Alopochen aegyptiacus and goslings

Spur-winged Goose, Plectropterus gambensis

White-faced Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna viduata

Red-billed Teal, Anas erythrorhyncha

And another duck that I can't identify. Any help appreciated.

Grey Crowned Crane, Balearica regulorum

Secretary Bird, Sagittarius serpentarius

Kori Bustard, Ardeotis kori

White-bellied Bustard or White-bellied Korhaan, Eupodotis senegalensis

Northern Black Korhaan or White-quilled Bustard, Afrotis afraoides

Helmeted Guineafowl, Numida meleagris

Coqui Francolin, Peliperdix coqui

Swainson's Spurfowl or Swainson's Francolin, Pternistis swainsonii

Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis

Giant Kingfisher, Megaceryle maxima

female	male

Malachite Kingfisher, Alcedo cristata

Common Scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus cyanomelas Maybe a sunbird???

Superb Starling, Lamprotornis superbus

Cape Glossy Starling, Lamprotornis nitens

Burchell's Glossy-starling, Lamprotornis australis

Pale-winged Starling, Onychognathus nabouroup

Red-winged Starling, Onychognathus morio

African Hoopoe Upupa africana

Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta

Magpie Shrike, Urolestes melanoleucus, also known as the African Long-tailed Shrike

Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Buphagus africanus

Black-headed Weaver, Ploceus melanocephalus, also known as the Yellow-backed Weaver

House Crow, Corvus splendens, also known as the Colombo Crow

Laughing Dove, Spilopelia senegalensis

Mourning Collared Dove, Streptopelia decipiens

White-backed Mousebird, Colius colius

African Pied Wagtail, Motacilla aguimp

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Plocepasser mahali

A communal bird nest in Uganda. This is well north of the Sociable Weavers range so I haven't been able to identify of the birds who made it.

These sociable weaver bird nests were much further south, where they are supposed to be in Namibia.

Here are some sociable weavers at sunset with a rainbow behind them.

Two squatters who have taken up residence in part of a nest.

Another interesting nest. I have no idea who made it.

Are these sunbirds? If so what kind.

Now lots more that I haven't identified yet, even tentatively.
Like before, if you can help drop a line. Thanks!

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Some raptors that may or may not be ones I have identified at the top of the page.

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Some more birds on the wing

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Flocks
Geese near the Etosha pan.

and smaller birds, possibly gulls, the same place.

White-breasted Cormorants

Egrets

Marabou storks and a large egret

No mistaking Crowned cranes

Strange birds we saw at Spitzkoppe in Namibia

Thank you Andria, Marielle, and Willeke for sharing your pictures.

For more of our African adventure go here.

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