​Birds – Aberdare NP

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

The forests and moorlands of Aberdare NP are a birder’s paradise – more than 290 species have been recorded. The striking Hartlaub’s turaco is just one of the interesting visitors at the bird feeding platforms at the tree hotels. The indistinct Aberdare cisticola is endemic, and therefore unique, to the region and can be found at higher altitudes. Several interesting sunbirds are found in the park including the rare scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird which can be found on the mountain peaks.

Notable Birds in Aberdare NP
› ‹
African thrush
Common
Baglafecht weaver
Locally common
Crowned hornbill
Common
Greater blue-eared starling
Common
Hartlaub's turaco
Locally common

Birding Rating

Birding Specials –Treats for Avid Birders

(E) endemic = only lives in Kenya
(NE) near-endemic = also lives in neighboring countries

Facts & Figures

Birds in Aberdare NP
Bird Species
290+
Migratory Birds
Nov to Apr

Best Time for Bird Watching

Aberdare NP offers good bird watching throughout the year, but the best time is from November to April when the migrants from Europe and north Africa are present. This partly coincides with the Wet season when many species can be seen in breeding plumage as they are nesting. Most of the forest and moorland specials are however resident throughout the year, so the drier months (from June to September and December to February) might be a good compromise for bird watching and forest hiking.

Want To Visit Aberdare NP?

Birding Rating

Facts & Figures

Birds in Aberdare NP
Bird Species
290+
Migratory Birds
Nov to Apr