Tarangire National Park is a great bird-watching site with more than 500 species recorded. The park harbors several dry-country species at the extremity of their range, such as the northern pied babbler and vulturine guineafowl. Serious bird-lovers should also keep an eye open for flocks of the dazzlingly colorful yellow-collared lovebird and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling. These three are all restricted to the dry of north-central Tanzania. Migratory birds are present from November to April.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
(E) endemic = only lives in Tanzania(NE) near-endemic = lives in Tanzania and neighboring countries
- African grey flycatcher
- Ashy starling (E)
- Bare-faced go-away-bird
- Common ostrich
- Donaldson Smith’s nightjar
- Great white pelican
- Mouse-coloured penduline tit
- Northern pied babbler (NE)
- Northern white-crowned shrike
- Pink-breasted lark
- Rufous-tailed weaver (E)
- Slate-coloured boubou
- Von der Decken’s hornbill
- Vulturine guineafowl
- Yellow-collared lovebird (E)
Best Time for Bird Watching
Birdlife is plentiful all year round, but bird watching is at its best when the Palearctic and intra-African migratory birds are present (November to April). Many resident birds are nesting during this same time, so it is easy to spot birds in their breeding plumage. Wildlife viewing is best from July to November.