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Birds – Shaba NR

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.
Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba national reserves have recorded over 390 bird species. The dry, open country offers very rewarding birding opportunities. The area holds a number of northeast African, dry-country species that are also found in Ethiopia and Somalia. If bird watching is your main interest, Shaba is a great choice. The reserve has very little tourist traffic compared to Buffalo Springs and Samburu, which have higher mammal densities.
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Birding Specials –Treats for Avid Birders
- Acacia tit
- African palm swift
- Ashy cisticola
- Bare-eyed thrush
- Black-bellied sunbird
- Black-capped social weaver
- Brown-tailed rock chat
- Chestnut-headed sparrow lark
- Chestnut weaver
- Donaldson-Smith’s sparrow-weaver
- Fischer’s starling
- Golden pipit
- Golden-breasted starling
- Greater kestrel
- Grey wren-warbler
- Hunter’s sunbird
- Lanner falcon
- Mariqua sunbird
- Northern brownbul
- Palm-nut vulture
- Pink-breasted lark
- Pygmy batis
- Red-bellied parrot
- Red-necked falcon
- Red-winged lark
- Reichenow’s seedeater
- Rosy-patched bush-shrike
- Secretary bird
- Singing bush lark
- Somali bee-eater
- Somali ostrich
- Spotted palm-thrush
- Von der Decken’s hornbill
- Vulturine guineafowl
- White-headed mousebird
- Yellow-vented eremomela
Facts & Figures
Bird Species
390+
Migratory Birds
Nov to Apr
Best Time for Bird Watching
Shaba is a bird-watcher’s paradise throughout the year. Unusual dry-country specials are often resident and can be spotted at any time. Migratory birds swoop in from November to April. November and April are the peak periods for rainfall – good to keep in mind if you’re planning a bird-watching trip.
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