Ngorongoro Crater Rim Bird Checklist

Ngorongoro Crater Rim Bird Checklist

The Ngorongoro Crater rim is the very edge of the collapsed volcano in northern Tanzania, offering amazing views of not only the crater floor but is also a great area to spot wildlife including birds. While at the Ngorongoro crater rim, travelers on a Tanzania safari here can enjoy a guided walking safari, which gives a chance to come up close with nature as well as bird watching.

With over 300 birds recorded in the Ngorongoro crater rim, the below Ngorongoro Crater Rim bird checklist is a guide to have that you are able to tick off the different species spotted while on your Tanzania birding safari in the area.

Ostriches: Struthionidae
1 Common Ostrich Struthio camelus

Ducks: Anatidae
2 White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata
3 Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
4 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
5 Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
6 &African Pygmy-Goosel Nettapus auritus
7 Blue-billed Teal Spatula hottentota
8 African Black Duck Anas sparsa
9 Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha

Guineafowl: Numididae
10 Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
11 Eastern Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies: Phasianidae
12 Crested Francolin Ortygornis sephaena
13 (Common Quail) Coturnix coturnix
14 Scaly Spurfowl Pternistis squamatus
15 Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl Pternistis hildebrandti
16 Yellow-necked Spurfowl Pternistis leucoscepus
17 Gray-breasted Spurfowl Pternistis rufopictus
18 Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer

Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae
19 Rock Pigeon Columba livia
20 Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea
21 Rameron Pigeon Columba arquatrix
22 Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba delegorguei
23 Lemon Dove Aplopelia larvata
24 Dusky Turtle-Dove Streptopelia lugens
25 Mourning Collared-Dove Streptopelia decipiens
26 Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
27 Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola
28 Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
29 Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos
30 Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria
31 Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
32 African Green-Pigeon Treron calvus

Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae
33 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus

Bustards: Otididae
34 Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori
35 White-bellied Bustard Eupodotis senegalensis
36 Buff-crested Bustard Lophotis gindiana
37 Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster
38 Hartlaub’s Bustard Lissotis hartlaubii

Turacos: Musophagidae
39 Bare-faced Go-away-bird Crinifer personatus
40 White-bellied Go-away-bird Crinifer leucogaster
41 Schalow’s Turaco Tauraco schalowi
42 Hartlaub’s Turaco Tauraco hartlaubi

Cuckoos: Cuculidae
43 Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius
44 Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus
45 African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis
46 White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus
47 Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
48 Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
49 African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus
50 Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius

Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae
51 Montane Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus

Swifts: Apodidae
52 Scarce Swift Schoutedenapus myoptilus
53 Mottled Swift Tachymarptis aequatorialis
54 |Common Swift| Apus apus
55 Nyanza Swift Apus niansae
56 African Swift Apus barbatus
57 Little Swift Apus affinis
58 (Horus Swift) Apus horus
59 White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
60 African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae
61 (African Crake) Crecopsis egregia
62 Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
63 Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata
64 Black Crake Zapornia flavirostra

Cranes: Gruidae
65 Gray Crowned-Crane Balearica regulorum

Thick-knees: Burhinidae
66 Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis

Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae
67 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
68 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae
69 Three-banded Plover Thinornis tricollaris
70 Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris
71 Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus
72 Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus
73 Black-winged Lapwing Vanellus melanopterus
74 Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus

Jacanas: Jacanidae
75 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus

Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae
76 /Marsh Sandpiper/ Tringa stagnatilis
77 /Wood Sandpiper/ Tringa glareola
78 /Common Greenshank/ Tringa nebularia
79 /Little Stint/ Calidris minuta

Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae
80 Three-banded Courser Rhinoptilus cinctus
81 Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae
82 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida

Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae
83 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
84 &Lesser Flamingol Phoenicoparrus minor

Grebes: Podicipedidae
85 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Storks: Ciconiidae
86 /Abdim’s Stork/ Ciconia abdimii
87 /White Stork/ Ciconia ciconia
88 Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
89 Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer
90 Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis

Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae
91 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
92 African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
93 African Spoonbill Platalea alba

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae
94 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
95 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
96 Western Cattle-Egret Bubulcus ibis
97 Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
98 Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala

Hamerkop: Scopidae
99 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta

Shoebill: Balaenicipitidae
100 Shoebill Balaeniceps rex

Pelicans: Pelecanidae
101 Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
102 Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens

Secretary-bird: Sagittariidae
103 Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae
104 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
105 African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus
106 /European Honey-buzzard/ Pernis apivorus
107 White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis
108 Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos
109 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
110 White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus
111 Rueppell’s Griffon Gyps rueppelli
112 Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
113 Black-chested Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis
114 Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinereus
115 Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus
116 Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus
117 Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
118 Wahlberg’s Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi
119 /Booted Eagle/ Hieraaetus pennatus
120 Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle Hieraaetus ayresii
121 Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
122 Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii
123 African Hawk-Eagle Aquila spilogaster
124 Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus
125 Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
126 Eastern Chanting-Goshawk Melierax poliopterus
127 African Goshawk Aerospiza toussenelii
128 Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk Accipiter rufiventris
129 Black Goshawk Astur melanoleucus
130 Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus
131 /Black Kite/ Milvus migrans
132 African Fish-Eagle Icthyophaga vocifer
133 |Common Buzzard| Buteo buteo
134 Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus
135 Augur Buzzard Buteo augur

Mousebirds: Coliidae
136 Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
137 White-headed Mousebird Colius leucocephalus
138 Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus

Hoopoes: Upupidae
139 /Common Hoopoe/ Upupa epops

Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills: Phoeniculidae
140 Abyssinian Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus minor

Hornbills: Bucerotidae
141 Southern Ground-Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri
142 African Gray Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus
143 Northern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus
144 Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill Tockus ruahae
145 Von der Decken’s Hornbill Tockus deckeni
146 Silvery-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes brevis

Bee-eaters: Meropidae
147 White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides
148 Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
149 Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates
150 /White-throated Bee-eater/ Merops albicollis
151 |European Bee-eater| Merops apiaster

Kingfishers: Alcedinidae
152 Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis

Rollers: Coraciidae
153 /European Roller/ Coracias garrulus
154 Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus
155 Purple Roller Coracias naevius
156 Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus

African Barbets: Lybiidae
157 D’Arnaud’s Barbet Trachyphonus darnaudii
158 Moustached Tinkerbird Pogoniulus leucomystax
159 Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus uropygialis
160 Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lacrymosa

Honeyguides: Indicatoridae
161 Green-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus zambesiae
162 Pallid Honeyguide Indicator meliphilus
163 Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor
164 Scaly-throated Honeyguide Indicator variegatus

Woodpeckers: Picidae
165 Bearded Woodpecker Chloropicus namaquus
166 Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens
167 Brown-backed Woodpecker Dendropicos obsoletus
168 Mountain Gray Woodpecker Dendropicos spodocephalus

Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae
169 /Lesser Kestrel/ Falco naumanni
170 /Eurasian Kestrel/ Falco tinnunculus
171 Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides
172 /Eurasian Hobby/ Falco subbuteo
173 African Hobby Falco cuvierii
174 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Parrots: Psittaculidae
175 Fischer’s Lovebird Agapornis fischeri
176 Yellow-collared Lovebird Agapornis personatus

Parrots: Psittacidae
177 Red-fronted Parrot Poicephalus gulielmi

Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae
178 Gray Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesia
179 Purple-throated Cuckooshrike Campephaga quiscalina

Old World Orioles: Oriolidae
180 African Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus

Wattle-eyes and Batises: Platysteiridae
181 Black-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira peltata
182 Chinspot Batis Batis molitor

Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Vangidae
183 White-crested Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus

Bushshrikes: Malaconotidae
184 Brubru Nilaus afer
185 Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla
186 Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus
187 Tropical Boubou Laniarius major
188 Slate-colored Boubou Laniarius funebris
189 Black-fronted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus nigrifrons
190 Gray-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti

Drongos: Dicruridae
191 Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis

Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae
192 African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis

Shrikes: Laniidae
193 Magpie Shrike Urolestes melanoleuca
194 /Isabelline Shrike/ Lanius isabellinus
195 Gray-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides
196 Long-tailed Fiscal Lanius cabanisi
197 Taita Fiscal Lanius dorsalis
198 Northern Fiscal Lanius humeralis
199 White-rumped Shrike Eurocephalus ruppelli

Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae
200 Cape Crow Corvus capensis
201 Pied Crow Corvus albus
202 White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis

Fairy Flycatchers: Stenostiridae
203 White-tailed Blue Flycatcher Elminia albicauda

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice: Paridae
204 Red-throated Tit Melaniparus fringillinus

Larks: Alaudidae
205 Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix leucopareia
206 Rufous-naped Lark Corypha africana
207 Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea

African Warblers: Macrosphenidae
208 Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii

Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae
209 Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
210 Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella
211 Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica
212 Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
213 Black-headed Apalis Apalis melanocephala
214 Gray Apalis Apalis cinerea
215 Brown-headed Apalis Apalis alticola
216 Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava
217 Gray-capped Warbler Eminia lepida
218 Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops
219 Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans
220 Hunter’s Cisticola Cisticola hunteri
221 Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana
222 Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais
223 Winding Cisticola Cisticola marginatus
224 Stout Cisticola Cisticola robustus
225 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
226 Pectoral-patch Cisticola Cisticola brunnescens

Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae
227 African Yellow-Warbler Iduna natalensis
228 Mountain Yellow-Warbler Iduna similis
229 Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Grassbirds and Allies: Locustellidae
230 Fan-tailed Grassbird Catriscus brevirostris
231 Evergreen-forest Warbler Bradypterus lopezi
232 Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus

Swallows: Hirundinidae
233 Black Sawwing Psalidoprocne pristoptera
234 Gray-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga
235 Banded Martin Neophedina cincta
236 /Bank Swallow/ Riparia riparia
237 Southern Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula
238 /Barn Swallow/ Hirundo rustica
239 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
240 /Western House-Martin/ Delichon urbicum
241 African Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis melanocrissus
242 Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica
243 Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis

Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae
244 Black-headed Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps
245 Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus

Leaf Warblers: Phylloscopidae
246 /Willow Warbler/ Phylloscopus trochilus
247 Brown Woodland-Warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens

Sylviid Warblers and Allies: Sylviidae
248 /Eurasian Blackcap/ Sylvia atricapilla
249 African Hill Babbler Sylvia abyssinica
250 Banded Parisoma Curruca boehmi
251 Brown Parisoma Curruca lugens
252 /Greater Whitethroat/ Curruca communis

White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae
253 Mbulu White-eye Zosterops mbuluensis
254 Kilimanjaro White-eye Zosterops eurycricotus

Laughingthrushes and Allies: Leiothrichidae
255 Rufous Chatterer Argya rubiginosa
256 Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii
257 Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpei

Oxpeckers: Buphagidae
258 Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythroryncha
259 Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus

Starlings: Sturnidae
260 Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea
261 Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
262 Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio
263 Waller’s Starling Onychognathus walleri
264 Sharpe’s Starling Pholia sharpii
265 Kenrick’s Starling Poeoptera kenricki
266 Hildebrandt’s Starling Lamprotornis hildebrandti
267 Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus

Thrushes and Allies: Turdidae
268 African Bare-eyed Thrush Turdus tephronotus
269 Abyssinian Thrush Turdus abyssinicus

Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae
270 African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta
271 |Spotted Flycatcher| Muscicapa striata
272 African Gray Flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus
273 Gray Tit-Flycatcher Fraseria plumbeus
274 Ashy Flycatcher Fraseria caerulescens
275 White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri
276 White-browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys
277 Cape Robin-Chat Dessonornis caffra
278 Rueppell’s Robin-Chat Cossypha semirufa
279 White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini
280 Spotted Morning-Thrush Cichladusa guttata
281 White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata
282 /Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush/ Monticola saxatilis
283 /Whinchat/ Saxicola rubetra
284 African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
285 Northern Anteater-Chat Myrmecocichla aethiops
286 /Northern Wheatear/ Oenanthe oenanthe
287 Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata
288 /Isabelline Wheatear/ Oenanthe isabellina
289 /Pied Wheatear/ Oenanthe pleschanka
290 Abyssinian Wheatear Oenanthe lugubris

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae
291 Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes orientalis
292 Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris
293 Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis
294 Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea
295 Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina
296 Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
297 Tacazze Sunbird Nectarinia tacazze
298 Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis
299 Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa
300 Golden-winged Sunbird Drepanorhynchus reichenowi
301 Eastern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris mediocris
302 Gorgeous Sunbird Cinnyris melanogastrus
303 Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis
304 Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus

Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae
305 Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger
306 White-headed Buffalo-Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli
307 Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis
308 Rufous-tailed Weaver Histurgops ruficauda
309 Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps
310 Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht
311 Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis
312 Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis
313 Lesser Masked-Weaver Ploceus intermedius
314 Vitelline Masked-Weaver Ploceus vitellinus
315 Speke’s Weaver Ploceus spekei
316 Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
317 &Golden-backed Weaverl Ploceus jacksoni
318 &Red-billed Queleal Quelea quelea
319 Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix
320 Black-winged Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
321 Black Bishop Euplectes gierowii
322 Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis
323 Red-cowled Widowbird Euplectes laticauda
324 Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris
325 Jackson’s Widowbird Euplectes jacksoni
326 Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons

Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae
327 Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullata
328 African Silverbill Euodice cantans
329 Yellow-bellied Waxbill Coccopygia quartinia
330 Abyssinian Crimsonwing Cryptospiza salvadorii
331 Gray-headed Nigrita Nigrita canicapillus
332 Black-faced Waxbill Brunhilda erythronotos
333 Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
334 &Cut-throatl Amadina fasciata
335 Purple Grenadier Granatina ianthinogaster
336 Red-cheeked Cordonbleu Uraeginthus bengalus
337 Blue-capped Cordonbleu Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
338 Red-throated Twinspot Hypargos niveoguttatus
339 Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala

Indigobirds: Viduidae
340 Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
341 Eastern Paradise-Whydah Vidua paradisaea
342 Straw-tailed Whydah Vidua fischeri
343 Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata

Old World Sparrows: Passeridae
344 House Sparrow Passer domesticus
345 Kenya Rufous Sparrow Passer rufocinctus
346 Northern Gray-headed Sparrow Passer griseus
347 Swahili Sparrow Passer suahelicus
348 Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow Gymnornis pyrgita

Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae
349 Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara
350 /Western Yellow Wagtail/ Motacilla flava
351 African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp
352 African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus
353 Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys
354 Striped Pipit Anthus lineiventris
355 /Tree Pipit/ Anthus trivialis
356 /Red-throated Pipit/ Anthus cervinus
357 Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
358 Pangani Longclaw Macronyx aurantiigula
359 Rosy-throated Longclaw Macronyx ameliae

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies: Fringillidae
360 Oriole Finch Linurgus olivaceus
361 Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambicus
362 Southern Citril Crithagra hypostictus
363 Reichenow’s Seedeater Crithagra reichenowi
364 White-bellied Canary Crithagra dorsostriatus
365 Southern Grosbeak-Canary Crithagra buchanani
366 Streaky Seedeater Crithagra striolatus
367 Thick-billed Seedeater Crithagra burtoni
368 Yellow-crowned Canary Serinus flavivertex

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