As usual, northern Tanzania was an extravaganza of birding set against the wildest of possible backdrops, the expansive Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. As a wilderness experience, the mammals of northern Tanzania are hard to beat. Amongst the mammal highlights were 16 Cheetah and three leopard, as well as omnipresent lion prides and hoardes of ungulates. The birding yielded 425 species. Although the wildlife spectacle of the Serengeti takes precedence, the birding highlight was the enigmatic and elusive Spot-throat Modulatrix that sung so close but gave only fleeting views. We also had prolonged views of other Eastern Arc specialities including an obliging pair of globally Endangered Usambara Weavers, three Usambara Nightjars, African Tailorbird and a feast of sunbirds in the East Usambaras including the globally threatened Amani and Banded sunbirds. Other sunbirds included Uluguru Violet-backed and Plain-backed as well as Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike and Green-headed Oriole in the Amani-Sigi lowland forests.

The northern parks yielded the regular raptor feast, with the predators being followed by their attendant vultures and scavenging eagles. The rift is also unforgettable for the flamingo flocks with paint the salt waters pink. Highlights on Kilimanjaro included dapper Golden-winged Sunbirds and Bar-tailed Trogon, while the arid savannas of the Tsavo Corridor provided us with spectacular looks at Rosy-patch Bush Shrike, Pygmy Batis and flocks of Orange-bellied Parrot. The Usambara forests also yielded cracking views of Fasciated Snake Eagle, Kretchmer’s Longbill and both Hartlaub’s and Fisher’s Turacos, not to mention several bulbul species. We finished off with a wader feast in Tanga, gripping Terek Sandpiper before completing the trip.

BIRD LIST

The list generally follows: Clements, James F. 2000. Birds of the World: A Checklist. Fifth Edition. Vista, CA: Ibis Publishing Co.
 

Ostrich	Struthio camelus
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
Great White Pelican	Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pink-backed Pelican	Pelecanus rufescens
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo
Long-tailed Cormorant	Phalacrocorax africanus
Darter	Anhinga melanogaster
Gray Heron	Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Heron	Ardea melanocephala
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret	Egretta intermedia
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
Dimorphic Egret	Egretta dimorpha
Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides
Madagascar Pond-Heron	Ardeola idae
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Striated Heron	Butorides striatus
Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta
Yellow-billed Stork	Mycteria ibis
African Openbill	Anastomus lamelligerus
Woolly-necked Stork	Ciconia episcopus
Saddle-billed Stork	Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Marabou Stork	Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Sacred Ibis	Threskiornis aethiopicus
Hadada Ibis	Bostrychia hagedash
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus
African Spoonbill	Platalea alba
Greater Flamingo	Phoenicopterus ruber
Lesser Flamingo	Phoenicopterus minor
White-faced Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna viduata
Egyptian Goose	Alopochen aegyptiacus
Spur-winged Goose	Plectropterus gambensis
Cape Teal	Anas capensis
Yellow-billed Duck	Anas undulata
Red-billed Duck	Anas erythrorhyncha
Hottentot Teal	Anas hottentota
Black-shouldered Kite	Elanus caeruleus
Black Kite	Milvus migrans
African Fish-Eagle	Haliaeetus vocifer
Palm-nut Vulture	Gypohierax angolensis
White-backed Vulture	Gyps africanus
Rueppell's Griffon	Gyps rueppellii
Lappet-faced Vulture	Torgos tracheliotus
White-headed Vulture	Trigonoceps occipitalis
Black-breasted Snake-Eagle	Circaetus pectoralis
Brown Snake-Eagle	Circaetus cinereus
Fasciated Snake-Eagle	Circaetus fasciolatus
Bateleur	Terathopius ecaudatus
African Harrier-Hawk	Polyboroides typus
Lizard Buzzard	Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Eastern Chanting-Goshawk	Melierax poliopterus
Gabar Goshawk	Micronisus gabar
African Goshawk	Accipiter tachiro
Shikra	Accipiter badius
Little Sparrowhawk	Accipiter minullus
Eurasian Buzzard	Buteo buteo
Mountain Buzzard	Buteo oreophilus
Augur Buzzard	Buteo augur
Tawny Eagle	Aquila rapax
Steppe Eagle	Aquila nipalensis
Wahlberg's Eagle	Aquila wahlbergi
Verreaux's Eagle	Aquila verreauxii
Ayres' Hawk-Eagle	Hieraaetus ayresii
Martial Eagle	Polemaetus bellicosus
Long-crested Eagle	Lophaetus occipitalis
Crowned Hawk-Eagle	Stephanoaetus coronatus
Pygmy Falcon	Polihierax semitorquatus
Greater Kestrel	Falco rupicoloides
Lanner Falcon	Falco biarmicus
Coqui Francolin	Francolinus coqui
Crested Francolin	Francolinus sephaena
Hildebrandt's Francolin	Francolinus hildebrandti
Yellow-necked Francolin	Francolinus leucoscepus
E Gray-breasted Francolin	Francolinus rufopictus
Red-necked Francolin	Francolinus afer
Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix
Helmeted Guineafowl	Numida meleagris
Gray Crowned-Crane	Balearica regulorum
Wattled Crane	Bugeranus carunculatus
Black Crake	Amaurornis flavirostris
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Kori Bustard	Ardeotis kori
White-bellied Bustard	Eupodotis senegalensis
Black-bellied Bustard	Lissotis melanogaster
Lesser Jacana	Microparra capensis
African Jacana	Actophilornis africanus
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus
Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta
Water Thick-knee	Burhinus vermiculatus
Double-banded Courser	Smutsornis africanus
Collared Pratincole	Glareola pratincola
Long-toed Lapwing	Vanellus crassirostris
Blacksmith Plover	Vanellus armatus
Spur-winged Plover	Vanellus spinosus
Senegal Lapwing	Vanellus lugubris
Black-winged Lapwing	Vanellus melanopterus
Crowned Lapwing	Vanellus coronatus
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola
Common Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula
Kittlitz's Plover	Charadrius pecuarius
Three-banded Plover	Charadrius tricollaris
White-fronted Plover	Charadrius marginatus
Chestnut-banded Plover	Charadrius pallidus
Greater Sandplover	Charadrius leschenaultii
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata
Marsh Sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola
Terek Sandpiper	Xenus cinereus
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Little Stint	Calidris minuta
Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea
Ruff	Philomachus pugnax
Gray-headed Gull	Larus cirrocephalus
Gull-billed Tern	Sterna nilotica
White-winged Tern	Chlidonias leucopterus
African Skimmer	Rynchops flavirostris
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse	Pterocles exustus
Yellow-throated Sandgrouse	Pterocles gutturalis
Black-faced Sandgrouse	Pterocles decoratus
Rock Dove	Columba livia
Speckled Pigeon	Columba guinea
Rameron Pigeon	Columba arquatrix
Delegorgue's Pigeon	Columba delegorguei
Dusky Turtle-Dove	Streptopelia lugens
African Mourning Dove	Streptopelia decipiens
Red-eyed Dove	Streptopelia semitorquata
Ring-necked Dove	Streptopelia capicola
Laughing Dove	Streptopelia senegalensis
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove	Turtur chalcospilos
Blue-spotted Wood-Dove	Turtur afer
Tambourine Dove	Turtur tympanistria
Namaqua Dove	Oena capensis
African Green-Pigeon	Treron calva
Fischer's Lovebird	Agapornis fischeri
Yellow-collared Lovebird	Agapornis personatus
Red-bellied Parrot	Poicephalus rufiventris
Fischer's Turaco	Tauraco fischeri
Hartlaub's Turaco	Tauraco hartlaubi
Ross' Turaco	Musophaga rossae
Bare-faced Go-away-bird	Corythaixoides personatus
White-bellied Go-away-bird	Corythaixoides leucogaster
Red-chested Cuckoo	Cuculus solitarius
African Cuckoo	Cuculus gularis
Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo	Cercococcyx montanus
Klaas' Cuckoo	Chrysococcyx klaas
Yellowbill	Ceuthmochares aereus
Black Coucal	Centropus grillii
White-browed Coucal	Centropus superciliosus
Spotted Eagle-Owl	Bubo africanus
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl	Bubo lacteus
Pearl-spotted Owlet	Glaucidium perlatum
Usambara Nightjar	Caprimulgus usambarae
Mottled Spinetail	Telacanthura ussheri
African Palm-Swift	Cypsiurus parvus
Alpine Swift	Tachymarptis melba
Mottled Swift	Tachymarptis aequatorialis
African Swift	Apus barbatus
Little Swift	Apus affinis
Speckled Mousebird	Colius striatus
White-headed Mousebird	Colius leucocephalus
Blue-naped Mousebird	Urocolius macrourus
Bar-tailed Trogon	Apaloderma vittatum
Malachite Kingfisher	Alcedo cristata
Gray-headed Kingfisher	Halcyon leucocephala
Woodland Kingfisher	Halcyon senegalensis
Brown-hooded Kingfisher	Halcyon albiventris
Pied Kingfisher	Ceryle rudis
Little Bee-eater	Merops pusillus
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater	Merops oreobates
Madagascar Bee-eater	Merops superciliosus
Lilac-breasted Roller	Coracias caudata
Rufous-crowned Roller	Coracias naevia
Broad-billed Roller	Eurystomus glaucurus
Eurasian Hoopoe	Upupa epops
Abyssinian Scimitar-bill	Rhinopomastus minor
Red-billed Hornbill	Tockus erythrorhynchus
Von der Decken's Hornbill	Tockus deckeni
Crowned Hornbill	Tockus alboterminatus
African Gray Hornbill	Tockus nasutus
Trumpeter Hornbill	Ceratogymna bucinator
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill	Ceratogymna brevis
Southern Ground-Hornbill	Bucorvus leadbeateri
White-eared Barbet	Stactolaema leucotis
Green Barbet	Stactolaema olivacea
Moustached Tinkerbird	Pogoniulus leucomystax
Red-fronted Tinkerbird	Pogoniulus pusillus
Red-fronted Barbet	Tricholaema diademata
Spot-flanked Barbet	Tricholaema lachrymosa
Black-throated Barbet	Tricholaema melanocephala
Brown-breasted Barbet	Lybius melanopterus
Red-and-yellow Barbet	Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
D'Arnaud's Barbet	Trachyphonus darnaudii
Usambiro Barbet	Trachyphonus usambiro
Scaly-throated Honeyguide	Indicator variegatus
Least Honeyguide	Indicator exilis
Nubian Woodpecker	Campethera nubica
Mombasa Woodpecker	Campethera mombassica
Green-backed Woodpecker	Campethera cailliautii
Cardinal Woodpecker	Dendropicos fuscescens
Gray Woodpecker	Dendropicos goertae
Brown-backed Woodpecker	Dendropicos obsoletus
African Broadbill	Smithornis capensis
White-tailed Lark	Mirafra albicauda
Rufous-naped Lark	Mirafra africana
Pink-breasted Lark	Mirafra poecilosterna
Fischer's Sparrow-Lark	Eremopterix leucopareia
Red-capped Lark	Calandrella cinerea
Short-tailed Lark	Pseudalaemon fremantlii
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia
Rock Martin	Hirundo fuligula
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Ethiopian Swallow	Hirundo aethiopica
Wire-tailed Swallow	Hirundo smithii
Lesser Striped-Swallow	Hirundo abyssinica
Rufous-chested Swallow	Hirundo semirufa
Mosque Swallow	Hirundo senegalensis
Red-rumped Swallow	Hirundo daurica
Black Sawwing	Psalidoprocne holomelas
African Pied Wagtail	Motacilla aguimp
Mountain Wagtail	Motacilla clara
Rosy-throated Longclaw	Macronyx ameliae
Pangani Longclaw	Macronyx aurantiigula
African Pipit	Anthus cinnamomeus
Long-billed Pipit	Anthus similis
Bush Pipit	Anthus caffer
Gray Cuckoo-shrike	Coracina caesia
Black Cuckoo-shrike	Campephaga flava
Common Bulbul	Pycnonotus barbatus
Shelley's Greenbul	Andropadus masukuensis
Little Greenbul	Andropadus virens
Sombre Greenbul	Andropadus importunus
Eastern Mountain-Greenbul	Andropadus nigriceps
Stripe-cheeked Bulbul	Andropadus milanjensis
Yellow-bellied Greenbul	Chlorocichla flaviventris
Placid Greenbul	Phyllastrephus placidus
Northern Brownbul	Phyllastrephus strepitans
Gray-olive Greenbul	Phyllastrephus cerviniventris
Yellow-streaked Bulbul	Phyllastrephus flavostriatus
Olive Thrush	Turdus olivaceus
African Bare-eyed Thrush	Turdus tephronotus
Red-faced Cisticola	Cisticola erythrops
Singing Cisticola	Cisticola cantans
Rattling Cisticola	Cisticola chiniana
Winding Cisticola	Cisticola galactotes
Stout Cisticola	Cisticola robustus
Croaking Cisticola	Cisticola natalensis
Tabora Cisticola	Cisticola angusticaudus
Zitting Cisticola	Cisticola juncidis
Pectoral-patch Cisticola	Cisticola brunnescens
Tawny-flanked Prinia	Prinia subflava
Bar-throated Apalis	Apalis thoracica
Yellow-breasted Apalis	Apalis flavida
Black-headed Apalis	Apalis melanocephala
Gray Apalis	Apalis cinerea
Red-fronted Warbler	Urorhipis rufifrons
Green-backed Camaroptera	Camaroptera brachyura
Gray Wren-Warbler	Calamonastes simplex
African Bush-Warbler	Bradypterus baboecala
Cameroon Scrub-Warbler	Bradypterus lopezi
Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler	Bradypterus cinnamomeus
African Reed-Warbler	Acrocephalus baeticatus
Lesser Swamp-Warbler	Acrocephalus gracilirostris
African Yellow Warbler	Chloropeta natalensis
African Tailorbird	Orthotomus metopias
Red-faced Crombec	Sylvietta whytii
Kretschmer's Longbill	Macrosphenus kretschmeri
Yellow-throated Wood-Warbler	Phylloscopus ruficapillus
Brown Woodland-Warbler	Phylloscopus umbrovirens
Banded Warbler	Parisoma boehmi
Silverbird	Empidornis semipartitus
Pale Flycatcher	Bradornis pallidus
African Gray Flycatcher	Bradornis microrhynchus
White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher	Melaenornis fischeri
Southern Black-Flycatcher	Melaenornis pammelaina
Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata
African Dusky Flycatcher	Muscicapa adusta
Ashy Flycatcher	Muscicapa caerulescens
White-starred Robin	Pogonocichla stellata
Swynnerton's Robin	Swynnertonia swynnertoni
Cape Robin-Chat	Cossypha caffra
Rueppell's Robin-Chat	Cossypha semirufa
White-browed Robin-Chat	Cossypha heuglini
Spotted Morning-Thrush	Cichladusa guttata
Red-backed Scrub-Robin	Cercotrichas leucophrys
African Stonechat	Saxicola torquata
Pied Wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka
Capped Wheatear	Oenanthe pileata
Northern Anteater-Chat	Myrmecocichla aethiops
Mocking Cliff-Chat	Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
Black-throated Wattle-eye	Platysteira peltata
Chinspot Batis	Batis molitor
Pale Batis	Batis soror
Pygmy Batis	Batis perkeo
White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher	Elminia albicauda
White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher	Elminia albonotata
African Crested-Flycatcher	Trochocercus cyanomelas
African Paradise-Flycatcher	Terpsiphone viridis
Spot-throat	Modulatrix stictigula
African Hill Babbler	Illadopsis abyssinica
Scaly Chatterer	Turdoides aylmeri
Black-lored Babbler	Turdoides melanops
Arrow-marked Babbler	Turdoides jardineii
Red-throated Tit	Melaniparus fringillinus
Plain-backed Sunbird	Anthreptes reichenowi
Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird	Anthreptes orientalis
Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird	Anthreptes neglectus
E Banded Sunbird	Anthreptes rubritorques
Collared Sunbird	Hedydipna collaris
Amani Sunbird	Hedydipna pallidigaster
Western Olive-Sunbird	Cyanomitra obscura
Amethyst Sunbird	Chalcomitra amethystina
Scarlet-chested Sunbird	Chalcomitra senegalensis
Hunter's Sunbird	Chalcomitra hunteri
Bronze Sunbird	Nectarinia kilimensis
Golden-winged Sunbird	Nectarinia reichenowi
Eastern Double-collared Sunbird	Cinnyris mediocris
Beautiful Sunbird	Cinnyris pulchellus
Purple-banded Sunbird	Cinnyris bifasciatus
Variable Sunbird	Cinnyris venustus
African Yellow White-eye	Zosterops senegalensis
Broad-ringed White-eye	Zosterops poliogaster
White-breasted White-eye	Zosterops abyssinicus
Green-headed Oriole	Oriolus chlorocephalus
African Black-headed Oriole	Oriolus larvatus
Gray-backed Fiscal	Lanius excubitoroides
Long-tailed Fiscal	Lanius cabanisi
Taita Fiscal	Lanius dorsalis
Common Fiscal	Lanius collaris
Magpie Shrike	Corvinella melanoleuca
White-rumped Shrike	Eurocephalus rueppelli
Brubru	Nilaus afer
Black-backed Puffback	Dryoscopus cubla
Black-crowned Tchagra	Tchagra senegala
Brown-crowned Tchagra	Tchagra australis
Tropical Boubou	Laniarius aethiopicus
Slate-colored Boubou	Laniarius funebris
Rosy-patched Bushshrike	Rhodophoneus cruentus
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike	Telophorus sulfureopectus
Black-fronted Bushshrike	Telophorus nigrifrons
Gray-headed Bushshrike	Malaconotus blanchoti
White Helmetshrike	Prionops plumatus
Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike	Prionops scopifrons
Square-tailed Drongo	Dicrurus ludwigii
Fork-tailed Drongo	Dicrurus adsimilis
House Crow	Corvus splendens
Cape Crow	Corvus capensis
Pied Crow	Corvus albus
White-necked Raven	Corvus albicollis
Wattled Starling	Creatophora cinerea
Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling	Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Rueppell's Glossy-Starling	Lamprotornis purpuropterus
Black-bellied Glossy-Starling	Lamprotornis corruscus
Superb Starling	Lamprotornis superbus
Hildebrandt's Starling	Lamprotornis hildebrandti
Violet-backed Starling	Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Ashy Starling	Spreo unicolor
Red-winged Starling	Onychognathus morio
Waller's Starling	Onychognathus walleri
Kenrick's Starling	Poeoptera kenricki
Sharpe's Starling	Pholia sharpii
Red-billed Oxpecker	Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Yellow-billed Oxpecker	Buphagus africanus
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus
Rufous Sparrow	Passer motitensis
Gray-headed Sparrow	Passer griseus
Parrot-billed Sparrow	Passer gongonensis
Yellow-spotted Petronia	Petronia pyrgita
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver	Bubalornis niger
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver	Dinemellia dinemelli
Speckle-fronted Weaver	Sporopipes frontalis
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver	Plocepasser mahali
E Rufous-tailed Weaver	Histurgops ruficauda
Gray-headed Social-Weaver	Pseudonigrita arnaudi
Baglafecht Weaver	Ploceus baglafecht
Lesser Masked-Weaver	Ploceus intermedius
Spectacled Weaver	Ploceus ocularis
Black-necked Weaver	Ploceus nigricollis
African Golden-Weaver	Ploceus subaureus
Taveta Golden-Weaver	Ploceus castaneiceps
African Masked-Weaver	Ploceus velatus
Village Weaver	Ploceus cucullatus
Chestnut Weaver	Ploceus rubiginosus
Forest Weaver	Ploceus bicolor
E Usambara Weaver	Ploceus nicolli
Red-headed Weaver	Anaplectes rubriceps
Red-billed Quelea	Quelea quelea
Black-winged Bishop	Euplectes hordeaceus
Zanzibar Bishop	Euplectes nigroventris
Yellow Bishop	Euplectes capensis
Fan-tailed Widowbird	Euplectes axillaris
White-winged Widowbird	Euplectes albonotatus
Red-collared Widowbird	Euplectes ardens
Green-winged Pytilia	Pytilia melba
Red-faced Crimson-wing	Cryptospiza reichenovii
Abyssinian Crimson-wing	Cryptospiza salvadorii
Peters' Twinspot	Hypargos niveoguttatus
Red-billed Firefinch	Lagonosticta senegala
Jameson's Firefinch	Lagonosticta rhodopareia
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu	Uraeginthus bengalus
Blue-capped Cordonbleu	Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
Purple Grenadier	Uraeginthus ianthinogaster
Yellow-bellied Waxbill	Estrilda quartinia
Crimson-rumped Waxbill	Estrilda rhodopyga
Black-cheeked Waxbill	Estrilda erythronotos
African Silverbill	Lonchura cantans
Gray-headed Silverbill	Lonchura griseicapilla
Bronze Mannikin	Lonchura cucullata
Black-and-white Mannikin	Lonchura bicolor
Village Indigobird	Vidua chalybeata
Straw-tailed Whydah	Vidua fischeri
Pin-tailed Whydah	Vidua macroura
Eastern Paradise-Whydah	Vidua paradisaea
Cape Canary	Serinus canicollis
African Citril	Serinus citrinelloides
Yellow-fronted Canary	Serinus mozambicus
Southern Grosbeak-Canary	Serinus buchanani
White-bellied Canary	Serinus dorsostriatus
Streaky Seedeater	Serinus striolatus
Yellow-rumped Seedeater	Serinus xanthopygeus
Golden-breasted Bunting	Emberiza flaviventris
Somali Bunting	Emberiza poliopleura