Katavi National Park Bird Checklist

Katavi National Park Bird Checklist

Katavi National Park bird checklist is the complete bird checklist as it stands this November 2025. Katavi National Park is one of the still wild and unfrequently visited Tanzania national parks that travelers can visit and be amazed by its sheer wilderness and beauty, away from the crowds. Katavi National Park Tanzania is a great Tanzania wildlife safari destination that offers travelers with a number of animals to see including elephants, giraffes, buffalos, occasional wild dogs and so much more.

Birds in Katavi National Park are abundant, making bird watching safaris here one of the best. While on a Tanzania safari in Katavi National Park, below is a complete list of Katavi National Park bird checklist that you

Katavi National Park Bird Checklist
Mourning Collared Dove
ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata
Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma
African Black Duck Anas sparsa
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus
GALLIFORMES: Numididae
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
Harlequin Quail Coturnix delegorguei
Hildebrandt’s Francolin Pternistis hildebrandti
Grey-breasted Spurfowl Pternistis rufopictus Endemic (country/region)
Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer
Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena
Shelley’s Francolin Scleroptila shelleyi
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea
Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens
Mourning Collared Dove Streptopelia decipiens
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
African Green Pigeon Treron calvus
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos
Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer
PTEROCLIFORMES: Pteroclidae
Yellow-throated Sandgrouse Pterocles gutturalis
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae
Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis
Mozambique Nightjar Caprimulgus fossii
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae
African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
Horus Swift Apus horus
Little Swift Apus affinis
Nyanza Swift Apus niansae
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Coppery-tailed Coucal Centropus cupreicaudus
White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus
African Black Coucal Centropus grillii
Yellowbill Ceuthmochares aereus
Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
Levaillant’s Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius
Thick-billed Cuckoo Pachycoccyx audeberti
Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus
Diederick Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius
Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
Black Crake Zapornia flavirostra
GRUIFORMES: Gruidae
Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum Endangered
Wattled Crane Grus carunculata Vulnerable
OTIDIFORMES: Otididae
Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster
Hartlaub’s Bustard Lissotis hartlaubii
White-bellied Bustard Eupodotis senegalensis
MUSOPHAGIFORMES: Musophagidae
White-bellied Go-away-bird Criniferoides leucogaster
Bare-faced Go-away-bird Corythaixoides personatus
Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor
Purple-crested Turaco Gallirex porphyreolophus
Schalow’s Turaco Tauraco schalowi
Ross’s Turaco Tauraco rossae
PELECANIFORMES: Ciconiidae
Marabou Leptoptilos crumenifer
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus
Abdim’s Stork Ciconia abdimii
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
European White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Saddle-bill Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
PELECANIFORMES: Scopidae
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
White-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Striated Heron Butorides striata
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Great Egret Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia
Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
African Spoonbill Platalea alba
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
PELECANIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae
Long-tailed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
PELECANIFORMES: Anhingidae
African Darter Anhinga rufa
CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae
Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus
Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis
CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae
Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris
Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus
Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus
White-headed Lapwing Vanellus albiceps
Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus
African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus
CHARADRIIFORMES: Rostratulidae
Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae
African Jacana Actophilornis africanus
Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae
Ruff Calidris pugnax
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
African Cuckoo Hawk Aviceda cuculoides
African Harrier Hawk Polyboroides typus
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus Endangered
Black-chested Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis
Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus
Western Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus cinerascens
White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis Critically endangered
Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus Critically endangered
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus Critically endangered
Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppelli Critically endangered
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos Endangered
Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus Near-threatened
Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus Endangered
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax Vulnerable
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Endangered
Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii
African Hawk Eagle Aquila spilogaster
Wahlberg’s Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi
Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus Near-threatened
Shikra Accipiter badius
Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus
Ovambo Sparrowhawk Accipiter ovampensis
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
Eurasian Buzzard Buteo buteo
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae
Common Barn Owl Tyto alba
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum
African Barred Owlet Glaucidium capense
African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis
Marsh Owl Asio capensis
Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus
Verreaux’s Eagle Owl Bubo lacteus
COLIIFORMES: Coliidae
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus
TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae
Narina’s Trogon Apaloderma narina
BUCEROTIFORMES: Bucerotidae
Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri Vulnerable
Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus
African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus
Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus
Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator
BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae
Common Hoopoe Upupa epops
BUCEROTIFORMES: Phoeniculidae
Green Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus
White-headed Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus bollei
Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
PICIFORMES: Indicatoridae
Green-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus zambesiae
Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator
PICIFORMES: Picidae
Bennett’s Woodpecker Campethera bennettii
Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica
Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens
Bearded Woodpecker Chloropicus namaquus
PICIFORMES: Ramphastidae
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii
Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus
CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae
White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides
Southern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicoides
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
Böhm’s Bee-eater Merops boehmi
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae
Rufous-crowned Roller Coracias naevius
Racquet-tailed Roller Coracias spatulatus
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus
European Roller Coracias garrulus
Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta
African Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris
Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus
Dickinson’s Kestrel Falco dickinsoni
Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera
Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor Vulnerable
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
African Hobby Falco cuvierii
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae
Brown-necked Parrot Poicephalus robustus
Brown Parrot Poicephalus meyeri
PASSERIFORMES: Pittidae
African Pitta Pitta angolensis
PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae
White-breasted Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris pectoralis
PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae
Eastern Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus
African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus
PASSERIFORMES: Platysteiridae
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor
Black-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira peltata
PASSERIFORMES: Vangidae
White-crested Helmet-shrike Prionops plumatus
Retz’s Helmet-shrike Prionops retzii
PASSERIFORMES: Malaconotidae
Grey-headed Bush-shrike Malaconotus blanchoti
Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis
Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus
Brubru Nilaus afer
Orange-breasted Bush-shrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus
Slate-coloured Boubou Laniarius funebris
Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus
PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae
Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae
Magpie Shrike Urolestes melanoleucus
White-rumped Shrike Eurocephalus ruppelli
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
Turkestan Shrike Lanius phoenicuroides
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor
Grey-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides
Southern Fiscal Lanius collaris
Northern Fiscal Lanius humeralis
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis
Pied Crow Corvus albus
House Crow Corvus splendens Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae
African Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris
Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
Bronzy Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis
Miombo Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris manoensis
Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus
Mariqua Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis
Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus
Tsavo Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris tsavoensis
Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus
Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus
PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae
White-headed Buffalo Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli
White-browed Sparrow Weaver Plocepasser mahali
Grey-headed Social Weaver Pseudonigrita arnaudi
Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
Cardinal Quelea Quelea cardinalis
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea
Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer
Black-winged Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis
Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura
White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus
Hartlaub’s Widowbird Euplectes hartlaubi
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht
Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis
Holub’s Weaver Ploceus xanthops
Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Vieillot’s Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus
Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus
Golden-backed Weaver Ploceus jacksoni
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps
PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae
Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala
African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata
Orange-winged Pytilia Pytilia afra
Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba
Blue-breasted Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus angolensis
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus
Blue-capped Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullata
Black-and-white Mannikin Spermestes bicolor
PASSERIFORMES: Viduidae
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
Eastern Paradise Whydah Vidua paradisaea
Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah Vidua obtusa
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Introduced species
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus
Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow Gymnoris superciliaris
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
Fülleborn’s Longclaw Macronyx fuelleborni
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis
African Wagtail Motacilla aguimp
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica
PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae
Golden-breasted Bunting Fringillaria flaviventris
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Fringillaria tahapisi
PASSERIFORMES: Hyliotidae
Yellow-bellied Hyliota Hyliota flavigaster
PASSERIFORMES: Paridae
White-bellied Tit Melaniparus albiventris
Northern Black Tit Melaniparus leucomelas
Miombo Tit Melaniparus griseiventris
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae
Fischer’s Sparrow Lark Eremopterix leucopareia
Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea
PASSERIFORMES: Macrosphenidae
Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii
Moustached Grass Warbler Melocichla mentalis
PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae
Green-capped Eremomela Eremomela scotops
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana
Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais
Winding Cisticola Cisticola galactotes
Stout Cisticola Cisticola robustus
Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis
Short-winged Cisticola Cisticola brachypterus
Long-tailed Cisticola Cisticola angusticauda
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Wing-snapping Cisticola Cisticola ayresii
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava
PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae
Fan-tailed Grassbird Schoenicola brevirostris
PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Common Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga
White-headed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne albiceps
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera
Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica
Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Angolan Swallow Hirundo angolensis
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae
Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus
Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris
Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus terrestris
Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus
PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
PASSERIFORMES: Leiothrichidae
Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpei
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii
Northern Pied Babbler Turdoides hypoleuca
PASSERIFORMES: Buphagidae
Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio
Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus
Lesser Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chloropterus
Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Amethyst Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae
Miombo Bearded Scrub Robin Cercotrichas barbata
White-browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens
Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus
African Grey Flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus
Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina
White-browed Robin Chat Cossypha heuglini
Red-capped Robin Chat Cossypha natalensis
Collared Palm Thrush Cichladusa arquata
Sooty Chat Myrmecocichla nigra
Arnott’s Chat Myrmecocichla arnotti
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana

To be able to spot the different birds in Katavi National Park, even from a far, carrying a pair of binoculars is very important. Having a local Tanzania safari guide familiar with the area gives you an advantage of seeing much more that there is while on a Tanzania wildlife safari.

Reach out to us to help you plan your ultimate Tanzania wildlife safari in not only Katavi National Park but also the beautiful Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania, Serengeti National Park, Nyerere National Park and beyond; Tanzania birding safari to take you places to explore so much that destination Tanzania has to offer.

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