Tanzania is an incredible birding destination. It has one of the largest species lists of any African country: over 1,100 birds have been recorded, of which more than 800 are resident and nearly 200 are regular migrants. About 40 endemic species are recognized (some are controversial splits). Some endemics easily seen in the Northern circuit include ashy starling, yellow-collared and Fischer’s lovebird and grey-breasted spurfowl. Most other national endemics are restricted to the Eastern Arc Mountains, the country’s most important birding area. Migrants are present from November to April.
Endemic & Near-endemic Birds
(E) endemic = only lives in Tanzania(NE) near-endemic = lives in Tanzania and neighboring countries
- Ashy starling (E)
- Banded green sunbird (E)
- Beesley’s lark (E)
- Fischer’s lovebird (E)
- Grey-breasted spurfowl (E)
- Grey-crested helmet-shrike (NE)
- Hartlaub’s turaco (NE)
- Hildebrandt’s starling (NE)
- Iringa akalat (E)
- Kilombero cisticola (E)
- Kilombero weaver (E)
- Loveridge’s sunbird (E)
- Montane tiny greenbul (E)
- Moreau’s sunbird (E)
- Mrs Moreau’s warbler (E)
- Pemba green pigeon (E)
- Pemba scops owl (E)
- Pemba sunbird (E)
- Pemba white-eye (E)
- Reichenow’s batis (E)
- Ruaha chat (E)
- Rubeho akalat (E)
- Rubeho double-collared sunbird (E)
- Rubeho forest partridge (E)
- Rufous-tailed weaver (E)
- Rufous-winged sunbird (E)
- South Pare white-eye (E)
- Tanzania broad-ringed white-eye (E)
- Tanzania seedeater (E)
- Tanzanian red-billed hornbill (E)
- Udzungwa forest partridge (E)
- Uhehe fiscal (E)
- Uluguru bush-shrike (E)
- Uluguru greenbul (E)
- Usambara akalat (E)
- Usambara double-collared sunbird (E)
- Usambara eagle owl (E)
- Usambara hyliota (E)
- Usambara nightjar (E)
- Usambara thrush (E)
- Usambara weaver (E)
- White-tailed cisticola (E)
- Yellow-collared lovebird (E)
- Yellow-throated mountain greenbul (E)
Other Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- Abbott’s starling
- African tailorbird
- Amani sunbird
- Athi short-toed lark
- Bar-tailed trogon
- Black-lored cisticola
- Böhm’s spinetail
- Broad-tailed paradise whydah
- Brown-breasted barbet
- Brown-necked parrot
- Chestnut-fronted helmet-shrike
- Dappled mountain-robin
- Fischer’s turaco
- Friedmann’s lark
- Fülleborn’s boubou
- Golden-breasted starling
- Green tinkerbird
- Green-headed oriole
- Karamoja apalis
- Kenrick’s starling
- Kungwe apalis
- Lappet-faced vulture
- Livingstone’s flycatcher
- Long-billed tailorbird
- Long-tailed fiscal
- Marsh tchagra
- Montane marsh widowbird
- Pale-billed hornbill
- Pallid honeyguide
- Red-faced barbet
- Red-throated tit
- Schalow’s wheatear
- Sharpe’s akalat
- Sokoke pipit
- Sokoke scops owl
- Spot-throat
- Stripe-faced greenbul
- Swynnerton’s robin
- Tanzania masked weaver
- Taveta golden weaver
- White-headed mousebird
Best Time for Bird Watching
The birdlife in Tanzania is good year-round but at its best from November to April when Palearctic and intra-African migratory birds are present. At this time, many resident bird species are in breeding plumage and nesting. The migratory period occurs during the Wet season (November to May), which is also the hottest time of the year. The coastal region, especially, can get uncomfortably hot. The wettest months are March to May, when part of the country experiences daily rainfall. For wildlife viewing, the Dry season (June to October) is better.
Best Parks for Birding Includes Birding Rating
Although you’ll have to go off the beaten track to find most of the national endemic and near-endemic birds, all the popular wildlife destinations offer great birding opportunities. Specials can be found pretty much everywhere you go. The often-overlooked Arusha National Park has a large diversity of habitats that host an incredible list of 400 species in a small area. Lake Manyara National Park offers a good variety of waterbirds and Tarangire National Park harbors several dry-country specials.
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Arusha NP
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Tarangire NP
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Lake Manyara NP
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Ruaha NP
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Serengeti NP
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Ngorongoro Crater
Recommended Birding Books
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Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi
Only field guide with complete Tanzania coverage; a must.
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eGuide to Birds of East Africa (app)
The app version of the above book is comprehensive for Tanzania.
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Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania
Complete for the north but omits birds found farther south.
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East Africa Birds – A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species in Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda
Of limited use with only 140 species described.
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Pocket Guide: Birds of East Africa
Kenya-centric beginner’s guide has fewer than 300 species.