Ngorongoro Crater

Birds

Both the Ngorongoro highlands and the crater offer excellent birding, with over 500 species recorded. Birdlife in the highland forest is rich and interesting. Among the birds to be seen are white-eyed slaty flycatcher and Livingstone turaco. A number of specialized grassland birds are resident in the crater. Most noticeable are ostrich, kori bustard, crowned crane and the secretary bird. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Notable Birds in Ngorongoro

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Black kite
Common

Birding Rating

Expert Rating

4.1/5 14 Birding Reviews

User Rating

4.1/5 171 Birding Reviews

Birding Specials –Treats for Avid Birders

(E) = endemic to Tanzania & (NE) = near-endemic to Tanzania

African spoonbill
Augur buzzard
Capped wheatear
Eastern double-collared sunbird
Egyptian vulture
Fan-tailed widowbird
Greater flamingo
Hartlaub's turaco (NE)
Hildebrandt’s francolin
Hildebrandt’s starling
Jackson’s widowbird (NE)
Kenya rufous sparrow

Kori bustard
Livingstone’s turaco
Namaqua dove
Northern anteater chat
Red-and-yellow barbet
Rosy-throated longclaw
Rufous-tailed weaver (E)
Scarlet-chested sunbird
Schalow’s wheatear
Speke’s weaver
Verreaux’s eagle
White-eyed slaty flycatcher

Best Time for Bird Watching

Although birdlife is generally good throughout the year, from November to April migratory birds from Europe and northern Africa are present, and many resident birds are in breeding plumage. This makes it the best time for bird watching. The best time to watch wildlife is during the Dry season, which is June to October.

Best Parks for Birding –Including Birding Rating

All the well-known safari parks offer good birding opportunities, and specials can be found pretty much everywhere you go. The often-overlooked Arusha National Park has an amazing diversity of habitats that host an incredible list of 400 species in a small area. Lake Manyara offers a good variety of waterbirds.