Tanzania Birdwatching Safari: 10 Birds to See; Tanzania is definitely one of the best places for birdwatching in Africa, no doubt about it. Actually, it has more than 1,100 different bird species living there. There are quite a few migratory species that travel along the East African flyway every year, but interestingly, more than 30 of them are unique to the country itself. A birdwatching safari in Tanzania is such a rewarding experience!

Every year, travelers come here to check out the country’s well-known wilderness spots, like Serengeti National Park and Ruaha National Park. But don’t forget about the amazing birdwatching opportunities in places like the Usambara Mountains, the Kilimanjaro region, and the secluded Mahale Mountains.

If you’re really into birdwatching, you can join local tour operators for some awesome birding safaris. But you know, even if big game is more your thing, you might be surprised at how enjoyable birdwatching can actually be. Get ready to be thrilled about your African adventure! Here are 10 birds you’re likely to see on safari in Tanzania.

  1. African Fish Eagle, also known as Haliaeetus vocifer

Tanzania Birdwatching Safari: 10 Birds to See

A flying fish Eagle

The African fish eagle is hard to miss with its bold and commanding look. You can spot it across much of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in areas rich in water and fish. It’s pretty iconic, being the national bird of Namibia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.

This bird really stands out with its unique white head and breast, paired with a dark brown body and wings that create a striking contrast. It grabs unsuspecting fish from the water with its massive talons and tears them apart with its striking yellow, hooked beak. The yellow eyes are just so striking, really tying everything together and making this bird of prey quite the impressive sight. The eyes definitely have a purpose, you know.

The eagle’s sharp eyesight helps it see prey from far away, which is super important for pulling off those surprise attacks. These eagles team up in monogamous pairs and stick together for life. These birds create big stick nests high up in tall trees close to water and tend to use the same nest over and over each year. Female birds usually lay one to three eggs, and both parents share the responsibility of incubating them and looking after their little ones. At some point, the parents will nudge the young eagles out of the nest when it’s time for them to start their own journey in life.

2. Lilac-Breasted Roller, also known as Coracias caudatus

The lilac-breasted roller is a pretty well-known bird, and it’s probably best recognized for its stunning plumage that showcases a vibrant mix of colors. It has a throat and breast that are lilac-colored, a belly that’s turquoise, and a back that’s cobalt blue. The wings show off vibrant patches of blue, black, and green, and the tail feathers are long and taper down, finishing with elegant streamers.

The eyes have this delicate white ring around them, and the bill is nice and sturdy, all black. Even though they’re not the biggest birds out there, you can spot them pretty easily, especially hanging out on power lines or perched on dead trees. On the flip side, you could spot their amazing flight tricks, like chasing after insects and swooping down to catch them mid-air.

They can be pretty fierce and aggressive, often slamming their prey against hard surfaces to break it down into easier bites. You know, lilac-breasted rollers usually hang out alone or in pairs when they’re breeding. But if there’s plenty of food around, you might spot them coming together in larger groups. They create these cup-shaped nests in tree cavities or holes, and the female usually lays a clutch of two to four eggs there. Once the eggs hatch, parents take turns incubating and feeding the little ones.

3. Superb Starling, also known as Lamprotornis superbus

Starlings show off a variety of colors. Some birds can be a bit boring, but others, like the superb starling, really catch your eye and stand out from the rest. This bird has such colorful and shiny feathers! Its back, head, and tail are glossy, while the wings pop with bright blue. Plus, it has this unique orange-brown chest and belly that really stand out. Its eyes are a pale yellow, and it has a black bill. Males and females look pretty similar in color, but you’ll usually find that the males have a bit brighter plumage.

Superb starlings can be spotted in various places like open woodlands, savannahs, scrublands, grasslands, and even agricultural areas, but they really don’t like high humidity. Even so, these birds are pretty adaptable and do well in both wild and rural areas. You’ll usually see them hanging out in small to medium-sized groups. They’re a really sociable bunch, and you can often catch them putting on aerial displays, especially when it’s breeding season.

Between October and December, you’ll find superb starlings teaming up in monogamous pairs. They get busy building these cute cup-shaped nests in trees, shrubs, or even in man-made structures. The female lays a bunch of two to five eggs, and then both parents share the responsibility of incubating and looking after the chicks once they hatch. Plus, since they’re super social, other flock members pitch in to help raise the little ones!

4. Yellow-Billed Hornbill, also known as Tockus flavirostris

You might think this is the same bird that you see all over southern Africa. So, here’s the thing: the Eastern yellow-billed hornbill is a bit different from its close relative, the southern yellow-billed hornbill. Instead of having pink skin around its pale yellow eyes, it sports black skin. Pretty interesting, right? It mostly features black and white feathers, with a black body, wings, and tail, while the underparts and primary flight feathers are white. One of the standout features is its big yellow bill, which is long, curves down, and has a bit of a flattened shape. The bill is really huge, and it actually impacts the bird’s ability to see around it.

You can spot the Eastern yellow-billed hornbill in savannahs, but they also hang out in woodlands, scrublands, and thornveld. You’ll easily spot them—they often settle on high branches, gliding gracefully from tree to tree. Even though a lot of folks like to keep to themselves, you can spot them hanging out in small family groups made up of a breeding pair and their kids.

These birds are cavity-nesters, which means they like to use natural tree hollows or spots left behind by other birds. They usually breed during the dry season, from June to November. So, during this time, the female seals herself up in the nest with some mud, just leaving a little opening for the male to pass her food through. She sticks around until the chicks are about halfway grown before she heads out of the nest. Once she breaks through the mud wall, the chicks just go ahead and rebuild it all over again.

5. Grey Crowned Crane, also known as Balearica regulorum

The grey crowned crane is a really iconic bird from East Africa and is actually the national bird of Uganda, which is right next to Tanzania on the west side. It’s truly a masterpiece, featuring a tall, slender body, long legs, and an elegant neck. This bird is truly one of a kind, and you can easily spot it by its unique crown of golden feathers. The rest of its feathers are mostly grey, featuring a white upper neck and chest, along with an inflatable red throat sac and a black-and-white striped lower neck.

You can spot this species of crane in all sorts of wetland and grassland places, like marshes, savannahs, wet meadows, and even in cultivated areas. You’ll usually spot it close to rivers, lakes, and swamps, where there’s plenty of food and safe spots to roost. You usually see these cranes hanging out in pairs or small family groups, but it’s not too surprising to spot larger flocks with as many as 150 birds!

Grey crowned cranes are pretty amazing dancers! They put on some elaborate courtship displays, like leaping, bowing, and calling, all to attract their mates and strengthen those bonds between monogamous couples. The golden crown really stands out here: when it’s on display, the crown feathers lift up into a majestic crest. Did you know that the grey crowned crane is one of only two crane species that can actually roost in trees? It’s all thanks to a unique hind toe they have!

6.  Marabou Stork, also known as Leptoptilos crumenifer

Not every bird in Africa is beautiful. Some birds, like the marabou stork, are all about practicality rather than style. It’s a really big bird, weighing as much as 9 kg, with a bare, pinkish, scaly head and neck that’s perfect for scavenging. The head is pretty big and wrinkly, featuring a hefty bill that’s long, wide, and has a slight curve to it. Its feathers are mostly white, but you’ll notice black flight feathers on its wings and tail. It features a noticeable pink gular sac that dangles from its neck.

Besides its bare head that keeps it clean while scavenging carcasses, another standout feature is its amazing wingspan. Some researchers think it might have the biggest wingspan of any bird, with some unverified reports claiming one individual had a wingspan of over 4 meters. You’ll often see marabous just hanging out, spreading their wings in the sun. People think this helps them keep their body temperature in check throughout the day. When you fold them up, the wings kind of resemble a dark cloak, which is why they’re called the “undertaker bird.”

The marabou stork really likes a variety of places to hang out, such as wetlands, rivers, lakes, marshes, grasslands, and even urban spots like waste dumps. They often spend their time searching for food on the ground or in shallow water, where they look for live prey like fish, amphibians, reptiles, and insects.

In Tanzania, you can usually spot them hanging around fresh kills, patiently waiting for the bigger predators to finish their meal before swooping in to clean up the leftovers, kind of like vultures do. This type of stork likes to breed in groups, which means they come together in big colonies to nest, often hanging out with other waterbird species. They create big stick nests in trees, on cliffs, or even in man-made structures, and that’s where the female lays a couple of eggs, usually two to three. The parents switch off taking care of the eggs and looking after the chicks once they’re hatched.

7. Helmeted Guineafowl, also known as Numida meleagris

You can’t miss the distinctive call of the helmeted guineafowl; it’s one of the most recognizable sounds across sub-Saharan Africa. That’s because they’re everywhere, hanging out in all sorts of places, even in cities. This social bird has a round body dressed in dark grey feathers with white spots, which gives it a speckled look. The face is pretty much bare, but there are these blue and red skin patches around the eyes and on the throat.

The bill is short and sturdy, and the legs are really good for running, even on bumpy ground. The bird has this cool bony casque, kind of like a helmet, that it raises when it’s showing off or feeling a bit scared. That’s usually when you’ll catch its call, especially if there are little chicks scurrying about.

In Tanzania, you’re probably going to see one of two types of guineafowl: Reichenow’s helmeted guineafowl, known for its tall, orangey crest, or the tufted guineafowl, which sports a striking electric blue face. Helmeted guineafowl are known to be monogamous, and they typically form pairs during the breeding season, which runs from February to July. During this time, they’ll create shallow nests on the ground, hiding them among the plants. During the nonbreeding season, they usually munch on more plant stuff, but when it’s time to reproduce, they switch things up and go for insects to get that extra protein they need.

8. African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus)

Have you ever spotted a bird walking on water? So, the African jacana has these really long toes and claws that help it walk on water plants without causing any splashes. Its feathers are mostly brown and buff, and it has a black head, neck, and upper breast. So, its wings are mainly black with some white patches, and the underside is white with black stripes. When it’s breeding season, the adult males show off their eye-catching chestnut-colored wings and a bigger frontal shield on their foreheads. They really put these features to use during their bold territorial displays.

The African jacana can be found in different wetland areas throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They love marshes, swamps, shallow lakes, rivers, streams, and even flooded grasslands, especially in Tanzania. It tends to prefer spots that have lots of floating plants, like water lilies, reeds, and grasses. With its specialized feet, it moves along the surface, and you might easily think it’s actually walking on water.

African jacanas are pretty interesting because they’re polyandrous, which means the females have multiple mates in their territory. This isn’t just about “playing the field” – since these birds thrive in nutrient-rich environments, females are able to lay several eggs that hatch pretty quickly. The female takes care of all the laying, while a single male handles the incubation of clutches that usually have three to four eggs. He looks after the little chicks, even though they can swim pretty soon after they hatch.

9. White-Backed Vulture, also known as Gyps africanus

So, you know the white-backed vulture? It’s actually the most common vulture species in Africa, but here’s the catch: it’s critically endangered. This is mainly due to habitat loss, poisoning, and a bunch of other problems caused by humans. BirdLife International reports that the total population has dropped by about 89% over three generations. Even so, the white-backed vulture is still one of Tanzania’s most iconic birds.

It’s huge, with wings that can stretch up to 2.25 meters, and a big, hooked beak that easily handles carcasses. Its body is mostly dark brown, and it has a white or creamy-white back and rump, which is how it got its name. Pale feathers on the head and neck contrast with the dark body feathers.

White-backed vultures like to hang out in different open spaces, such as savannahs, grasslands, woodlands, and scrublands. These spots give them a great view to spot any scavenging opportunities from the sky. You’ll usually spot them in places where there are plenty of large mammals around, like national parks, game reserves, and areas with a lot of livestock farming. These birds are super social and you’ll often spot them hanging out in big groups, especially where food is around. With their big wings, they can ride thermals and glide for hours while looking for something to eat. This also helps them keep track of migrating mammals, particularly during the Great Migration.

This type of vulture sticks to one partner and builds lasting relationships. It usually nests in groups, with several pairs breeding near one another. High in trees or on cliffs, a nest is a large platform made of sticks and branches. The female lays one egg, and both parents share the responsibility of incubating it for about fifty to sixty days. After hatching, the chick eats regurgitated food from both parents and takes off after three to four months.

10. Southern Ground Hornbill, also known as Bucorvus leadbeateri

Just like the marabou stork, the southern ground hornbill is one intimidating bird. Did you know it’s one of the biggest hornbill species out there? Adults can grow to about 1.29 meters long and weigh as much as 7.7 kilograms! What really makes it scary, though, is that intense stare. It has big eyes with clear irises that pop against its bright red skin. And even though it has noticeable eyelashes, they don’t really help it come across as any friendlier.

It’s mostly got black feathers, with white primary feathers on the wings. It has a bulbous red throat patch and bare blue or violet skin around its eyes and throat. The bird has a long, heavy bill that curves down and a bony casque, usually larger in males. They’re often spotted in open areas such as savannahs, grasslands, woodlands, and scrublands. For safe roosting and nesting, they prefer areas with trees and thorny bushes.

Even though they’re called southern ground hornbills, these birds can actually fly. But you’ll mostly find them strolling around and searching for food on the ground. These birds are social and form small families with a breeding pair and their young. They use loud, booming calls to stay in touch with each other and mark their territory.

Southern ground hornbills stick together for the long haul and are all about those lasting pair bonds. Just like a lot of other hornbills, they find their homes in natural spots like hollow trees or rock crevices. The female usually lays between one and three eggs there. The parents switch off incubating the eggs and looking after the chicks once they hatch.

Tanzania’s vibrant birdlife and stunning landscapes offer plenty of chances to see a variety of species. Chat with an Engagi Safaris expert today to plan your dream luxury, tailor-made birdwatching safari in Tanzania.