A SUPERB SELECTION
From the moment the day wakes until the sun has made her departure, birdsong can be heard across the Maasai Mara. Due to the wide variety of habitats more than 470 bird species have been recorded inside the reserve; from the oversized ostrich to the superb starling.
Below is a complete list of birds, resident and migrant, that can be found in the Maasai Mara. Click on the name to find out more about that bird on Wikipedia.
Maasai Mara Bird Checklist
OSTRICH::
| Common Ostrich | Struthio camelus |
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GREBES::
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus capensis |
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PELICANS, CORMORANTS & DARTER::
| Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant | Phalacrocorax africanus |
| African Darter | Anhinga rufa |
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HERONS, EGRETS & BITTERNS::
| Little Bittern | Ixobrychus minutus |
| Dwarf Bittern | Ixobrychus sturmii |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycitorax |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta |
| Common Squacco-Heron | Ardeola ralloides |
| Rufous-bellied Heron | Ardeola rufiventris |
| Striated (Green-backed) Heron | Butorides striatus |
| Intermediate (Yellow-billed) Egret | Mesophoyx intermedia |
| Great (White) Egret | Casmerodius albus |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea |
| Purple Heron | Ardea purpurea |
| Goliath Heron | Ardea goliath |
| Black-headed Heron | Ardea melanocephala |
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HAMERKOP & SHOEBILL::
| Hamerkop | Scopus umbretta |
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STORKS::
| White Stork | Ciconia ciconia |
| Black Stork | Ciconia nigra |
| Abdim’s (White Bellied) Stork | Ciconia abdimii |
| Woolly-necked Stork | Ciconia episcopus |
| Saddle-billed Stork | Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis |
| Marabou Stork | Leptopilos crumeniferus |
| African Openbill Stork | Anastomus lamelligerus |
| Yellow-billed Stork | Mycteris ibis |
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IBISES & SPOONBILL::
| Sacred Ibis | Threskiornis aethiopicus |
| Hadeda Ibis | Bostrychia hagedash |
| Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus |
| African Spoonbill | Platalea alba |
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DUCKS & GEESE::
| White-faced Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna viduata |
| Spur-winged Goose | Plectropterus gambensis |
| Egyptian Goose | Alopochen aegyptiacus |
| Comb (Knob-billed) Duck | Sarkidiornis melanotus |
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta |
| Red-billed Teal | Anas erythrorhyncha |
| Hottentot Teal | Anas bottentota |
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SECRETARYBIRD::
| Secretarybird | Sagittaruis serpentaruis |
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VULTURES::
| African White-backed Vulture | Gyps africanus |
| Rüppell’s Vulture | Gyps rueppellii |
| Lappet-faced Vulture | Torgos tracheliotus |
| White-headed Vulture | Trigonoceps occipitalis |
| Egyptian Vulture | Neophron percnopterus |
| Hooded Vulture | Necrosyrtes monachus |
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EAGLES, KITES, HARRIERS, HAWKS & RELATIVES::
| African Fish-Eagle | Haliaeetus vocifer |
| Lesser Spotted Eagle | Aquila pomarina |
| Tawny Eagle | Aquila rapax |
| Steppe Eagle | Aquila nipalensis |
| Wahlberg’s Eagle | Aquila wahlbergi |
| Verreaux’s Eagle | Aquila verreauxii |
| African Hawk-Eagle | Hieraaetus spilogaster |
| Booted Eagle | Hieraatus pennatus |
| Long-crested Eagle | Lophaetus occipitalis |
| Martial Eagle | Polemaetus bellicosus |
| Crowned-Eagle | Stephanoaetus coronatus |
| Black-chested Snake-Eagle | Circaetus pectoralis |
| Short-toed Eagle | Circaetus gallicus |
| Brown Snake-Eagle | Circaetus cinerus |
| Western Banded Snake-Eagle | Circaetus cinerascens |
| Bateleur | Terathopius ecaudatus |
| Black-winged Kite | Elanus caeruleus |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans |
| European Honey-Buzzard | Pernis apivorus |
| African Cuckoo-Hawk | Aviceda cuculoides |
| Bat Hawk | Macheiramphus alcinus |
| African Harrier-Hawk | Polyboroides typus |
| Pallid Harrier | Circus macrourus |
| Montagu’s Harrier | Circus pygargus |
| African Marsh Harrier | Circu ranivorus |
| Eurasian Marsh Harrier | Circus aeruginosus |
| Gabar Goshawk | Micronisus gabar |
| African Goshawk | Accipiter tachiro |
| Little Sparrowhawk | Accipiter minullus |
| Black Sparrowhawk | Accipiter melanoleucus |
| Lizard Buzzard | Kaupifalco monogrammicus |
| Common Buzzard | Buteo buteo |
| Augur Buzzard | Buteo auger |
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FALCONS & KESTRELS::
| Lanner Falcon | Falco biarmicus |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus |
| Eurasian Hobby | Falco subbuteo |
| Grey Kestrel | Falco ardosiaceus |
| Lesser Kestrel | Falco naumanni |
| Common Kestrel | Falco tinnunculatus |
| Amur Falcon | Falco amurensis |
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QUAILS, BUTTONQUAILS, FRANCOLINS & GUINEAFOWL::
| Common Quail | Coturnix coturnix |
| Harlequin Quail | Coturnix delegorguei |
| Common Buttonquail | Turnix sylvatica |
| Coqui Francolin | Francolinus coqui |
| Shelley’s Francolin | Scleroptila shelleyi |
| Scaly Francolin | Francolinus squamatus |
| Red-necked Spurfowl | Francolinus afer |
| Crested Francolin | Dendroperdix sephaena |
| Helmeted Guineafowl | Numida meleagris |
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RAILS, CRAKES, MOORHENS & COOT::
| African Rail | Rallus caerulescens |
| African Crake | Crex egregia |
| Spotted Crake | Porzana porzana |
| Baillon’s Crake | Porzana pusilla |
| Corn Crake | Crex crex |
| Black Crake | Amauronis flavirostris |
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus |
| African Purple Swamphen | Porphyrio porphyrio |
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CRANES & BUSTARDS::
| Grey Crowned Crane | Balearica regulorum |
| Kori Bustard | Ardeotis kori |
| White-bellied Bustard | Eupodotis senegalensis |
| Black-bellied Bustard | Eupodotis melanogaster |
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JACANA & STILT::
| African Jacana | Actophilornis africanus |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus |
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THICK-KNEES::
| Water Thick-knee | Burhinus vermiculatus |
| Spotted Thick-knee | Burhinus capensis |
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COURSERS::
| Three-banded Courser | Rhinoptilus cinctus |
| Temminck’s Courser | Cursorius temmincki |
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PLOVERS, LAPWINGS & PAINTED SNIPE::
| Ringed Plover | Charadrius hiaticula |
| Kittlitz’s Plover | Charadrius pecuarius |
| Three-banded Plover | Charadrius tricollaris |
| Caspian Plover | Charadrius asiaticus |
| Blacksmith Lapwing | Vanellus spinosus |
| Spur-winged Lapwing | Vanellus spinosus |
| Senegal Lapwing | Vanellus lugubris |
| Black-winged Lapwing | Vanellus melanopterus |
| Crowned Lapwing | Vanellus coronatus |
| African Wattled Lapwing | Vanellus crassirostris |
| Greater Painted Snipe | Rostratula benghalensis |
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SANDPIPERS & RELATIVES::
| Little Stint | Calidris minuta |
| Curlew Sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea |
| Ruff | Philomachus pugnax |
| Spotted Redshank | Tringa erythropus |
| Common Redshank | Tringa totanus |
| Marsh Sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis |
| Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia |
| Green Sandpiper | Tringa ochropus |
| Wood Sandpiper | Tringa glareola |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos |
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TERNS::
| Gull-billed Tern | Sterna nilotica |
| White-winged Tern | Chlidonias leucopterus |
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PIGEONS & DOVES::
| African Green Pigeon | Treron calva |
| Tambourine Dove | Turtur tympanistria |
| Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove | Turtur chalcospilos |
| Blue-spotted Wood-Dove | Turtur afer |
| Namaqua Dove | Oena capensis |
| African Olive Pigeon | Columba arquatrix |
| Speckled (Rock) Pigeon | Columba guinea |
| Red-eyed Dove | Streptopelia semitorquata |
| Ring-necked Dove | Streptopelia capicola |
| Dusky Turtle Dove | Streptopelia lugens |
| Laughing Dove | Streptopelia senegalensis |
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PARROTS::
| Meyer’s Parrot | Poicephalus meyeri |
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TURACOS::
| Ross’s Turaco | Musophaga rossae |
| Schalow’s Turaco | Tauraco schalowi |
| Bare-faced Go-away-bird | Corythaixoides personata |
| Eastern Grey Plantain-eater | Crinifer zonurus |
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CUCKOOS & COUCALS::
| Jacobin Cuckoo | Oxylophus jacobinus |
| Levaillant’s Cuckoo | Oxylophus levaillantii |
| Great Spotted Cuckoo | Clamator glandarius |
| Black Cuckoo | Cuculus clamosus |
| Red-chested Cuckoo | Cuculus solitarius |
| Common Cuckoo | Cuculus canorus |
| African Cuckoo | Cuculus gularis |
| African Emerald Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx cypreus |
| Klaas’s Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx klaas |
| Diderick Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx caprius |
| White-browed Coucal | Centropus superciliosus |
| Black Coucal | Centropus grillii |
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OWLS::
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba |
| Spotted Eagle-Owl | Bubo africanus |
| Verreaux’s Eagle Owl | Bubo lacteus |
| Pel’s Fishing Owl | Scotopelia peli |
| Pearl-spotted Owlet | Glaucidium perlatum |
| African Wood-Owl | Strix woodfordii |
| Marsh Owl | Asio capensis |
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NIGHTJARS::
| Montane Nightjar | Caprimulgus poliocephalus |
| Eurasian Nightjar | Caprimulgus europaeus |
| Square-tailed Nightjar | Caprimulgus clarus |
| Dusky Nightjar | Caprimulgus fraenatus |
| Swamp Nightjar | Caprimulgus natalensis |
| Pennant-winged Nightjar | Macrodipterys vexillarius |
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SWIFTS::
| African Palm Swift | Apus parvus |
| Common Swift | Apus apus |
| African Black Swift | Apus barbatus |
| Horus Swift | Apus horus |
| Nyanza Swift | Apus niansae |
| Mottled Swift | Apus aequatorialis |
| Alpine Swift | Apus melba |
| White-rumped Swift | Apus caffer |
| Little Swift | Apus affinis |
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MOUSEBIRDS::
| Speckled Mousebird | Colius Striatus |
| Blue-naped Mousebird | Urocolius macrourus |
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TROGONS::
| Narina Trogon | Apaloderma narina |
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KINGFISHERS::
| Grey-headed Kingfisher | Halcyon leucocephala |
| Woodland Kingfisher | Halcyon senegalensis |
| Striped Kingfisher | Halcyon chelicuti |
| Malachite Kingfisher | Alcedo cristata |
| African Pygmy Kingfisher | Ispidina picta |
| Giant Kingfisher | Megaceryle maxima |
| Pied Kingfisher | Ceryle rudis |
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BEE-EATERS::
| European Bee-eater | Merops apiaster |
| White-throated Bee-eater | Merops albicollis |
| White-fronted Bee-eater | Merops bullockoides |
| Little Bee-eater | Merops pusillus |
| Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater | Merops oreobates |
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ROLLERS::
| European Roller | Coracias garrulus |
| Lilac-breasted Roller | Coracias caudata |
| Broad-billed Roller | Eurystomus glaucurus |
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HOOPOE & WOODHOOPOES::
| African Hoopoe | Upupa africana |
| Green Wood Hoopoe | Phoeniculus purpureus |
| Common Scimitarbill | Rhinopomastus cyanomelas |
| Abyssinian Scimitarbill | Rhinopomastus cabanisi |
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HORNBILLS::
| Southern Ground Hornbill | Bucorvus leadbeateri |
| Von der Decken’s Hornbill | Tockus deckeni |
| Crowned Hornbill | Tockus alboterminatus |
| African Grey Hornbill | Tockus nasutus |
| Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill | Bycanistes brevis |
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BARBETS & TINKERBIRDS::
| Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird | Pogoniulus bilineatus |
| Red-fronted Tinkerbird | Tricholaema diademata |
| Spot-flanked Barbet | Tricholaema diademata |
| White-headed Barbet | Lubius leucocephalus |
| Double-toothed Barbet | Lubius bidentatus |
| Usambiro Barbet | Trachyphonus usambiro |
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HONEYGUIDES::
| Scaly-throated Honeyguide | Indicator variegatus |
| Greater Honeyguide | Indicator indicator |
| Lesser Honeyguide | Indicator minor |
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WOODPECKERS & WRYNECK::
| Rufous-necked Wryneck | Jynx ruficollis |
| Nubian Woodpecker | Campethera nubica |
| Golden-tailed Woodpecker | Campethera abingoni |
| Cardinal Woodpecker | Dendropicos fuscescens |
| Bearded Woodpecker | Dendropicos namaquus |
| Grey Woodpecker | Dendropicos goertae |
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LARKS & SPARROW-LARKS::
| White-tailed Lark | Mirafra albicauda |
| Rufous-naped Lark | Mirafra africana |
| Flappet Lark | Mirafra rufocinnamomea |
| Fawn-coloured Lark | Mirafra africanoides |
| Red-capped Lark | Calandrella cinerea |
| Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark | Eremopterix leucopareia |
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SWALLOWS & MARTINS::
| Banded Martin | Riparia cincta |
| Brown-throated Sand Martin | Riparia paludicola |
| Common House Martin | Delichon urbica |
| Grey-rumped Swallow | Pseudhirundo griseopyga |
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