Birds of Masai Mara - Kenya

All-Year Birdwatching Delight

Gaze skyward to witness bateleurs soaring above the grassy plains and observe the savannah for the six vulture species scavenging animal carcasses. Regardless of when you visit the Masai Mara, you’re sure to encounter some remarkable feathered companions. The prime birdwatching season is from November to April, coinciding with the arrival of migratory birds from Europe and Northern Africa. This period aligns with the rainy season, when many birds don their ‘breeding’ plumage.

Grasslands Birds of Masai Mara

The grasslands are inhabited by turkey-sized Southern Ground Hornbills, Secretary Birds, Kori Bustards, lively Crowned Plovers, teeny tiny sunbirds, and flocks of White Storks. The swamplands are home to stunning flocks of Crowned Cranes, Saddle-Billed Storks, Yellow-Billed Storks, tiny pygmy kingfisher, and Sacred Ibis. This area is also ideal for spotting the Goliath Heron, Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, and Great White Egret. Musiara Marsh in the Masai Mara is a prime birdwatching spot, known as the only location in Kenya where the Rufous-bellied Heron breeds and where the endangered Madagascar Squacco Heron can be seen from October to May.

River Birds of Masai Mara

Venture to the Mara River to find any of the seven species of kingfishers, ranging from the Giant Kingfisher to the diminutive Pygmy Kingfisher. The riverbank forests host the vibrant Ross’s Turaco and Schalow’s Turaco. Among the Mara’s most impressive avians are the birds of prey, from the formidable Martial Eagle, which preys on young impala and dikdik, to the tiny Pygmy Falcon. Yet, the most iconic raptor is the Bateleur, martial eagle whose graceful flight across the clear African skies is unforgettable.

Near Endemic Bird Species List

The following bird list also includes all known endemic bird species (E) to Kenya and near-endemic bird species (NE) prevalent in the region.

• Abdim’s Stork

• African finfoot

• African wood owl

• Ayres’s hawk eagle

• Cinnamon-breasted bunting

• Denham’s bustard

• Giant kingfisher

• Grey-crested helmet-shrike (NE)

• Grey penduline tit

• Hildebrandt’s starling

• Jackson’s widowbird

• Lazy cisticola

• Ostrich

• Purple grenadier

• Red-throated tit

• Ross’s turaco

• Rosy-throated longclaw

• Rufous-bellied heron

• Rufous-throated wryneck

• Saddle-billed stork

• Schalow’s turaco

• Secretary bird

• Silverbird

• Southern ground hornbill

• Swahili sparrow

• Tabora cisticola

• Temminck’s courser

• Trilling cisticola

• Usambiro barbet (NE)

• White-bellied go-away bird

• Woolly-necked stork

• Yellow-mantled widowbird

• Yellow-throated sandgrouse