Masai Mara National Reserve is a world-class birding destination, with a checklist of more than 500 species. It’s an excellent place to see savannah species, including heavyweights such as common ostrich, southern ground hornbill, Kori bustard and the very localized Denham’s bustard. Raptors are also well represented, with more than 55 species recorded. Bateleurs and other eagles soar above the grassy plains, while up to six species of vulture might be seen circling, roosting or feeding at kills. Migratory birds are present from November to April.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
(NE) near-endemic = lives in Kenya and neighboring countries- Abdim’s stork
- African finfoot
- African wood owl
- Ayres’s hawk-eagle
- Bateleur
- Cinnamon-breasted bunting
- Common ostrich
- Denham’s bustard
- Giant kingfisher
- Grey penduline tit
- Grey-crested helmet-shrike (NE)
- Hildebrandt’s starling
- Jackson’s widowbird
- Kori bustard
- Lazy cisticola
- Purple grenadier
- Red-throated tit
- Ross’s turaco
- Rosy-throated longclaw
- Rufous-bellied heron
- Rufous-necked wryneck
- Saddle-billed stork
- Schalow’s turaco
- Secretary bird
- Silverbird
- Southern ground hornbill
- Swahili sparrow
- Tabora cisticola
- Temminck’s courser
- Trilling cisticola
- Usambiro barbet (NE)
- White-bellied go-away-bird
- Woolly-necked stork
- Yellow-mantled widowbird
- Yellow-throated sandgrouse
Best Time for Bird Watching
The Masai Mara offers good bird watching throughout the year, but the best time is from November to April when migrants from Europe and North Africa arrive. This coincides with the Wet season (November to May), when many species can be seen in breeding plumage. June to October is the Dry season and tends to be best for general wildlife viewing.