​Birds – Meru NP

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

With almost 450 species recorded, Meru National Park is an excellent birding destination. Northern Kenya specials include the impressive Somali ostrich, boldly marked rosy-patched bush-shrike and vivid vulturine guineafowl. Meru is possibly the only place where vulturine guineafowl occurs alongside both crested and helmeted guineafowl. The noisy yellow-necked spurfowl is very common, and the sought-after Hinde’s pied babbler can sometimes be spotted as well. The park’s larger rivers offer the right habitat for Pel’s fishing-owl, African finfoot and golden palm weaver.

Notable Birds in Meru NP
› ‹
Eastern chanting goshawk
Common
Long-tailed fiscal
Common
Northern red-billed hornbill
Common
Somali ostrich
Occasional
Yellow-necked spurfowl
Locally common

Birding Rating

Birding Specials –Treats for Avid Birders

(E) endemic = only lives in Kenya

Facts & Figures

Birds in Meru NP
Bird Species
450
Migratory Birds
Nov to Apr

Best Time for Bird Watching

Meru offers good bird watching throughout the year, but the best time is from November to April when the migrants from Europe and North Africa are present. This coincides with the breeding season when many species are nesting. Although good for birding, November and April tend to be very wet and are less productive times for general wildlife viewing, so December to March can be a better time.

Want To Visit Meru NP?

12 Meru Safaris

Birding Rating

Facts & Figures

Birds in Meru NP
Bird Species
450
Migratory Birds
Nov to Apr