↑KENYA">
KENYA↑

DESCRIPTION">
SPECIALTIES

SAMBURU, BUFFALO SPRINGS, SHABA

KENYA
LOCALE

Area (ha):53,500
Altitude (m):1000
# Species*:307
# Excl Vagrants*:306
# Endemics*:1
# Near Endemics*:4
Species/100 ha*:0.6
*Based on partial or incomplete data.
Habitat: Semi-arid Grassland, riverine forest, woodland

BIRD CHECKLIST

The table below lists species recorded at this locale but does not indicate frequency of occurrence there. It does indicate whether each species is globally threatened or endangered according to the IUCN and also whether it is migratory, very rare, or accidental in the country. The list is based on available data and may be incomplete.*

color codes

 
Ostriches: Struthionidae

1Common OstrichStruthio camelus
2Somali OstrichStruthio molybdophanes

 
Ducks: Anatidae

3Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca

 
Guineafowl: Numididae

4Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagris
5Vulturine GuineafowlAcryllium vulturinum

 
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies: Phasianidae

6Crested FrancolinOrtygornis sephaena
7Coqui FrancolinCampocolinus coqui
8Yellow-necked SpurfowlPternistis leucoscepus

 
Grebes: Podicipedidae

9Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis

 
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae

10Speckled PigeonColumba guinea
11Mourning Collared-DoveStreptopelia decipiens
12Red-eyed DoveStreptopelia semitorquata
13Ring-necked DoveStreptopelia capicola
14Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
15Emerald-spotted Wood-DoveTurtur chalcospilos
16Namaqua DoveOena capensis

 
Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae

17Chestnut-bellied SandgrousePterocles exustus
18Black-faced SandgrousePterocles decoratus
19Lichtenstein's SandgrousePterocles lichtensteinii

 
Bustards: Otididae

20Kori BustardArdeotis kori
21White-bellied BustardEupodotis senegalensis
22Buff-crested BustardEupodotis gindiana
23Black-bellied BustardLissotis melanogaster

 
Turacos: Musophagidae

24Bare-faced Go-away-birdCorythaixoides personatus
25White-bellied Go-away-birdCorythaixoides leucogaster

 
Cuckoos: Cuculidae

26Red-chested CuckooCuculus solitarius
27African CuckooCuculus gularis
28White-browed CoucalCentropus superciliosus
29Klaas's CuckooChrysococcyx klaas

 
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae

30Sombre NightjarCaprimulgus fraenatus
31Donaldson-Smith's NightjarCaprimulgus donaldsoni
32Slender-tailed NightjarCaprimulgus clarus

 
Swifts: Apodidae

33Mottled SwiftApus aequatorialis
34Little SwiftApus affinis
35African Palm SwiftCypsiurus parvus

 
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae

36Black CrakeZapornia flavirostra

 
Cranes: Gruidae

37Gray Crowned-CraneBalearica regulorum

 
Thick-knees: Burhinidae

38Water Thick-kneeBurhinus vermiculatus
39Spotted Thick-kneeBurhinus capensis

 
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae

40Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus

 
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae

41Blacksmith LapwingVanellus armatus
42Spur-winged LapwingVanellus spinosus
43Crowned LapwingVanellus coronatus
44Three-banded PloverCharadrius tricollaris

 
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae

45/Common Sandpiper/Actitis hypoleucos
46/Green Sandpiper/Tringa ochropus
47/Common Greenshank/Tringa nebularia
48/Wood Sandpiper/Tringa glareola

 
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae

49Somali CourserCursorius somalensis
50Temminck's CourserCursorius temminckii
51Double-banded CourserSmutsornis africanus
52Three-banded CourserRhinoptilus cinctus

 
Storks: Ciconiidae

53African OpenbillAnastomus lamelligerus
54/Black Stork/Ciconia nigra
55#Abdim's Stork#Ciconia abdimii
56Marabou StorkLeptoptilos crumenifer
57Yellow-billed StorkMycteria ibis

 
Anhingas: Anhingidae

58African DarterAnhinga rufa

 
Cormorants and Shags: Phalacrocoracidae

59Long-tailed CormorantMicrocarbo africanus

 
Hamerkop: Scopidae

60HamerkopScopus umbretta

 
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae

61Gray HeronArdea cinerea
62Black-headed HeronArdea melanocephala
63Goliath HeronArdea goliath
64Great EgretArdea alba
65Little EgretEgretta garzetta
66Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
67Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
68Striated HeronButorides striata
69Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax

 
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae

70African Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus
71Hadada IbisBostrychia hagedash

 
Secretary-bird: Sagittariidae

72SecretarybirdSagittarius serpentarius

 
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae

73Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
74(Scissor-tailed Kite)Chelictinia riocourii
75African Harrier-HawkPolyboroides typus
76Palm-nut VultureGypohierax angolensis
77Egyptian VultureNeophron percnopterus
78White-headed VultureTrigonoceps occipitalis
79Lappet-faced VultureTorgos tracheliotos
80Hooded VultureNecrosyrtes monachus
81White-backed VultureGyps africanus
82Rueppell's GriffonGyps rueppelli
83BateleurTerathopius ecaudatus
84Black-chested Snake-EagleCircaetus pectoralis
85Brown Snake-EagleCircaetus cinereus
86Martial EaglePolemaetus bellicosus
87Long-crested EagleLophaetus occipitalis
88/Lesser Spotted Eagle/Clanga pomarina
89Wahlberg's EagleHieraaetus wahlbergi
90/Booted Eagle/Hieraaetus pennatus
91Tawny EagleAquila rapax
92Verreaux's EagleAquila verreauxii
93Eastern Chanting-GoshawkMelierax poliopterus
94Gabar GoshawkMicronisus gabar
95/Eurasian Marsh-Harrier/Circus aeruginosus
96/Pallid Harrier/Circus macrourus
97Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
98ShikraAccipiter badius
99Little SparrowhawkAccipiter minullus
100/Black Kite/Milvus migrans
101African Fish-EagleHaliaeetus vocifer
102|Common Buzzard|Buteo buteo
103Augur BuzzardButeo augur

 
Owls: Strigidae

104African Scops-OwlOtus senegalensis
105Verreaux's Eagle-OwlKetupa lacteus
106Pearl-spotted OwletGlaucidium perlatum

 
Mousebirds: Coliidae

107Speckled MousebirdColius striatus
108White-headed MousebirdColius leucocephalus
109Blue-naped MousebirdUrocolius macrourus

 
Trogons: Trogonidae

110Narina TrogonApaloderma narina

 
Hoopoes: Upupidae

111/Eurasian Hoopoe/Upupa epops
112African Hoopoe**Upupa africana

 
Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills: Phoeniculidae

113Green WoodhoopoePhoeniculus purpureus
114Violet WoodhoopoePhoeniculus damarensis
115Abyssinian ScimitarbillRhinopomastus minor

 
Hornbills: Bucerotidae

116African Gray HornbillLophoceros nasutus
117Northern Red-billed HornbillTockus erythrorhynchus
118Eastern Yellow-billed HornbillTockus flavirostris
119Von der Decken's HornbillTockus deckeni

 
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

120Malachite KingfisherCorythornis cristatus
121African Pygmy KingfisherIspidina picta
122Gray-headed KingfisherHalcyon leucocephala

 
Bee-eaters: Meropidae

123Little Bee-eaterMerops pusillus
124Somali Bee-eaterMerops revoilii
125/White-throated Bee-eater/Merops albicollis
126/Blue-cheeked Bee-eater/Merops persicus
127|European Bee-eater|Merops apiaster

 
Rollers: Coraciidae

128/European Roller/Coracias garrulus
129Lilac-breasted RollerCoracias caudatus
130Rufous-crowned RollerCoracias naevius
131Broad-billed RollerEurystomus glaucurus

 
African Barbets: Lybiidae

132Red-and-yellow BarbetTrachyphonus erythrocephalus
133D'Arnaud's BarbetTrachyphonus darnaudii
134Red-fronted BarbetTricholaema diademata
135Black-throated BarbetTricholaema melanocephala

 
Honeyguides: Indicatoridae

136Lesser HoneyguideIndicator minor

 
Woodpeckers: Picidae

137/Eurasian Wryneck/Jynx torquilla
138Cardinal WoodpeckerChloropicus fuscescens
139Bearded WoodpeckerChloropicus namaquus
140Nubian WoodpeckerCampethera nubica

 
Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae

141Pygmy FalconPolihierax semitorquatus
142/Eurasian Kestrel/Falco tinnunculus
143|Sooty Falcon|Falco concolor
144/Eurasian Hobby/Falco subbuteo
145Lanner FalconFalco biarmicus
146Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
147Taita FalconFalco fasciinucha

 
Parrots: Psittaculidae

148Fischer's LovebirdAgapornis fischeri

 
Parrots: Psittacidae

149Meyer's ParrotPoicephalus meyeri
150Red-bellied ParrotPoicephalus rufiventris

 
Old World Orioles: Oriolidae

151/Eurasian Golden Oriole/Oriolus oriolus

 
Wattle-eyes and Batises: Platysteiridae

152Chinspot BatisBatis molitor
153Pygmy BatisBatis perkeo

 
Bushshrikes: Malaconotidae

154BrubruNilaus afer
155Northern PuffbackDryoscopus gambensis
156Pringle's PuffbackDryoscopus pringlii
157Three-streaked TchagraTchagra jamesi
158Tropical BoubouLaniarius major
159Slate-colored BoubouLaniarius funebris
160Rosy-patched BushshrikeRhodophoneus cruentus
161Sulphur-breasted BushshrikeTelophorus sulfureopectus
162Gray-headed BushshrikeMalaconotus blanchoti

 
Drongos: Dicruridae

163Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilis

 
Shrikes: Laniidae

164/Isabelline Shrike/Lanius isabellinus
165Long-tailed FiscalLanius cabanisi
166Taita FiscalLanius dorsalis
167Northern FiscalLanius humeralis
168Woodchat ShrikeLanius senator
169White-rumped ShrikeEurocephalus ruppelli

 
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae

170Cape CrowCorvus capensis
171Pied CrowCorvus albus
172Fan-tailed RavenCorvus rhipidurus

 
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice: Paridae

173Somali TitMelaniparus thruppi

 
Penduline-Tits: Remizidae

174Mouse-colored Penduline-TitAnthoscopus musculus

 
Larks: Alaudidae

175Chestnut-headed Sparrow-LarkEremopterix signatus
176Fischer's Sparrow-LarkEremopterix leucopareia
177Pink-breasted LarkCalendulauda poecilosterna
178Fawn-colored LarkCalendulauda africanoides
179Horsfield's BushlarkMirafra javanica
180Williams's LarkMirafra williamsi
181Red-winged LarkMirafra hypermetra
182Red-capped LarkCalandrella cinerea
183Somali Short-toed LarkAlaudala somalica

 
African Warblers: Macrosphenidae

184Northern CrombecSylvietta brachyura
185Red-faced CrombecSylvietta whytii
186Somali CrombecSylvietta isabellina

 
Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae

187Yellow-vented EremomelaEremomela flavicrissalis
188Yellow-bellied EremomelaEremomela icteropygialis
189Gray Wren-WarblerCalamonastes simplex
190Gray-backed Camaroptera**Camaroptera brevicaudata
191Brown-tailed Apalis**Apalis viridiceps
192Tawny-flanked PriniaPrinia subflava
193Pale PriniaPrinia somalica
194Red-fronted WarblerPrinia rufifrons
195Ashy CisticolaCisticola cinereolus
196Stout CisticolaCisticola robustus
197Tiny CisticolaCisticola nana
198Desert CisticolaCisticola aridulus

 
Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae

199/Upcher's Warbler/Hippolais languida
200|Olive-tree Warbler|Hippolais olivetorum
201/Basra Reed Warbler/Acrocephalus griseldis
202Lesser Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus gracilirostris

 
Swallows: Hirundinidae

203Rock MartinPtyonoprogne fuligula
204Ethiopian SwallowHirundo aethiopica
205Wire-tailed SwallowHirundo smithii
206Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinica
207/Common House-Martin/Delichon urbicum

 
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae

208Northern BrownbulPhyllastrephus strepitans
209Common BulbulPycnonotus barbatus

 
Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies: Sylviidae

210Banded ParisomaCurruca boehmi

 
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae

211Pale White-eyeZosterops abyssinicus

 
Laughingthrushes and Allies: Leiothrichidae

212Rufous ChattererArgya rubiginosa

 
Oxpeckers: Buphagidae

213Red-billed OxpeckerBuphagus erythrorynchus

 
Starlings: Sturnidae

214Wattled StarlingCreatophora cinerea
215Violet-backed StarlingCinnyricinclus leucogaster
216Bristle-crowned StarlingOnychognathus salvadorii
217Magpie StarlingSpeculipastor bicolor
218Black-bellied StarlingNotopholia corusca
219Hildebrandt's StarlingLamprotornis hildebrandti
220Golden-breasted StarlingLamprotornis regius
221Superb StarlingLamprotornis superbus
222Fischer's StarlingLamprotornis fischeri

 
Thrushes and Allies: Turdidae

223African Bare-eyed ThrushTurdus tephronotus

 
Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae

224|Spotted Flycatcher|Muscicapa striata
225Gambaga FlycatcherMuscicapa gambagae
226African Gray FlycatcherBradornis microrhynchus
227Pale FlycatcherAgricola pallidus
228Southern Black-FlycatcherMelaenornis pammelaina
229/Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin/Cercotrichas galactotes
230Red-backed Scrub-RobinCercotrichas leucophrys
231White-browed Robin-ChatCossypha heuglini
232Spotted Morning-ThrushCichladusa guttata
233White-starred RobinPogonocichla stellata
234/White-throated Robin/Irania gutturalis
235/Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush/Monticola saxatilis
236African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
237Northern Anteater-ChatMyrmecocichla aethiops
238/Northern Wheatear/Oenanthe oenanthe
239/Isabelline Wheatear/Oenanthe isabellina
240/Pied Wheatear/Oenanthe pleschanka
241Brown-tailed ChatOenanthe scotocerca

 
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae

242Eastern Violet-backed SunbirdAnthreptes orientalis
243Hunter's SunbirdChalcomitra hunteri
244Bronze SunbirdNectarinia kilimensis
245Eastern Double-collared SunbirdCinnyris mediocris
246Beautiful SunbirdCinnyris pulchellus
247Black-bellied SunbirdCinnyris nectarinioides
248Purple-banded SunbirdCinnyris bifasciatus
249Shining SunbirdCinnyris habessinicus
250Variable SunbirdCinnyris venustus

 
Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae

251Red-billed Buffalo-WeaverBubalornis niger
252White-headed Buffalo-WeaverDinemellia dinemelli
253Speckle-fronted WeaverSporopipes frontalis
254White-browed Sparrow-WeaverPlocepasser mahali
255Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-WeaverPlocepasser donaldsoni
256Gray-headed Social-WeaverPseudonigrita arnaudi
257Black-capped Social-WeaverPseudonigrita cabanisi
258Red-headed WeaverAnaplectes rubriceps
259Little WeaverPloceus luteolus
260Golden Palm WeaverPloceus bojeri
261Lesser Masked-WeaverPloceus intermedius
262Vitelline Masked-WeaverPloceus vitellinus
263Speke's WeaverPloceus spekei
264Black-headed WeaverPloceus melanocephalus
265<Chestnut Weaver>Ploceus rubiginosus
266<Red-billed Quelea>Quelea quelea
267<Fire-fronted Bishop>Euplectes diadematus
268Yellow BishopEuplectes capensis
269White-winged WidowbirdEuplectes albonotatus
270Long-tailed WidowbirdEuplectes progne
271Jackson's WidowbirdEuplectes jacksoni

 
Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae

272African SilverbillEuodice cantans
273Gray-headed NegritaNigrita canicapillus
274Black-cheeked WaxbillBrunhilda charmosyna
275Crimson-rumped WaxbillEstrilda rhodopyga
276QuailfinchOrtygospiza atricollis
277<Cut-throat>Amadina fasciata
278Purple GrenadierGranatina ianthinogaster
279Gray-headed SilverbillOdontospiza griseicapilla
280Red-cheeked CordonbleuUraeginthus bengalus
281Blue-capped CordonbleuUraeginthus cyanocephalus
282Green-winged PytiliaPytilia melba
283Orange-winged PytiliaPytilia afra
284Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala
285African FirefinchLagonosticta rubricata
286Jameson's FirefinchLagonosticta rhodopareia

 
Indigobirds: Viduidae

287Pin-tailed WhydahVidua macroura
288Eastern Paradise-WhydahVidua paradisaea
289Steel-blue WhydahVidua hypocherina
290Straw-tailed WhydahVidua fischeri

 
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae

291House SparrowPasser domesticus
292Somali SparrowPasser castanopterus
293Kenya Rufous SparrowPasser rufocinctus
294Northern Gray-headed SparrowPasser griseus
295Parrot-billed SparrowPasser gongonensis
296Chestnut SparrowPasser eminibey
297Yellow-spotted Bush SparrowGymnornis pyrgita

 
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae

298/Western Yellow Wagtail/Motacilla flava
299African Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimp
300Plain-backed PipitAnthus leucophrys
301Golden PipitTmetothylacus tenellus
302Yellow-throated LongclawMacronyx croceus

 
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies: Fringillidae

303White-bellied CanaryCrithagra dorsostriatus
304Brimstone CanaryCrithagra sulphuratus
305Yellow-crowned CanarySerinus flavivertex

 
Old World Buntings: Emberizidae

306Golden-breasted BuntingEmberiza flaviventris
307Somali BuntingEmberiza poliopleura

 *Nomenclature and taxonomic affinities are based on Clements 6th Edition published 2007 with updates through 2021 maintained by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, which relies largely on the AOU and SACC nomenclature committees. IUCN status may reflect splits not currently recognized by Clements.
**Species not accepted by Clements, AOU, or SACC that we recognize based on the IOC, field observations along with geographical separation, consensus opinions of field guide authors, and other sources. These species are potential splits in future Clements updates.

OTHER LOCALES

PRESENCE CODES

CodeDescription##
//Boreal Visitor30
\\Austral Visitor0
||Transient5
##Non-breeding Dispersal1
<>Erratic/Irregular4
()Breeding Season Only1
{}Casual/Vagrant0
[]Accidental0

STATUS CODES

CodeDescription##
NTNear Threatened5
VVulnerable5
ENEndangered7
CRCritically Endangered4

Species counts in code tables depend on completeness of the data. For some countries or locales, data may not include all species or information on species presence may be incomplete.