Majestic Birds of Africa

African Fish Eagles

Eagles are among the most dominant birds of prey on Earth and Africa is home to a variety of these feathered predators. African fish eagles have distinctive chestnut and white feathers. These birds can be seen all over sub-Saharan Africa, the Fish Eagle is the national bird of both Zambia and Namibia, and can readily be seen around perched high in a tree around a river, dam or lake.

African Masked Weavers

These birds can be found across Southern Africa, and live in a variety of habitats from savanna and grassland to woodland and wetlands, and even in semi-desert areas. They are recognizable by their bright plumage. African masked weavers have intricate nest-building techniques, making nests woven from reed, grass, or palm in trees or reeds, often over water. Once built, the female bird lines the nest with soft grass and feathers.

African Penguins

African penguins are flightless birds that are known as jackass penguins due to their high, donkey-like call. They are found only found in the south of the continent, in South Africa and Namibia specifically. The best place to see these endangered birds is in Cape Town at either Foxy or Boulders Beach, not far from the city center.

Common Ostriches (Pictured above)

Ostriches are huge, flightless birds and among the most iconic species on Earth. Common ostriches are widespread throughout Africa, from South Africa all the way up to Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia in the north. Since they don't fly they are the fastest birds on two legs, reaching speeds of over 70 km/hour, covering around 5 metres in a single stride.Armed with dinosaur like talons, their lanky legs can also be mighty weapons, able to kill a would-be predator with a single kick. They generally spend winter periods living solitary or in pairs and come together to form large flocks during the mating season.

Dune Larks

Dune larks live in the Namib Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. They're unique to Namibia and can’t be found anywhere else. They love the dry riverbeds between the dunes, not the dunes themselves. Their coloring camouflages them in the desert.

Flamingos

Flamingos with their bright pink coloring are among the most recognizable birds in the world and a prominent species in Africa. Their known for their tendency to stand on one leg and are a lanky species with the longest neck and legs of any bird, proportionate to their size. There are 2 different flamingo species native to Africa: the lesser and greater flamingo respectively. Flamingos dine on small crustaceans, plankton and shrimp. Generally flamingo herds are found in and around salt lakes and some of the most notable places to find them are: Lake Nakuru in Kenya, Kamfers Dam in South Africa and Lake Natron in Tanzania.

Grey Crowned Cranes

Crested Cranes or Grey Crowned Cranes, reach a height of almost 1 metre, with a wingspan of around double that. These birds are widespread throughout southern and east Africa, often seen in South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. The Grey Crowned Crane is the national bird of uganda and the center piece of the national flag. They are among the easiest African birds to identify due to their attractive crown of bright gold feathers, blue eyes, white face, and bright red throat pouch. Like several other bird species, these cranes have an elegant mating dance characterized by various hopping, twisting, jumping and wing movements.

Kori Bustards

Kori bustards are giant African savanna birds and one of the largest flying birds in Africa. These birds live on the ground most of the time. They fly only to get away from predators. They live in southern and eastern Africa’s grasslands and savannas. The birds eat insects, small animals, and plants.

Lilac-Breasted Rollers

Lilac-breasted rollers not only have an interesting name they are the mot commonly spotted birds on safari in Southern Africa. Their easily spotted due to their bright lilac breasts and propensity for perching on tree branches.They can be seen across eastern and southern Africa inhabiting bushy savannah and open woodland. The birds enjoy insects and beetles.

Marabou Stork

Marabou storks are also referred to as undertakes due to their appearance. They are characterized by a lanky, curved posture, evil-looking features and cloak-like wings. Marabou Storks have a feather-less heads and necks which protect against the build up of bacteria. They can be seen while on safari in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania or Uganda.

Red-Throated Bee-Eaters

With 26 different types of bee-eater on the continent, the red-throated bee-eaters are among the most popular birds in Africa. These birds can be seen in the tropical regions of Cameroon, Ethiopia, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Senegal, and Uganda. They have colorful plumage and long, sharp beaks. These birds prey on wasps and bees. To avoid a painful sting, the bee-eater grabs its prey by the wing and rubs or strikes the insect against a hard surface. This causes it to secrete all its venom.

Rosy-Faced Lovebirds

Rosy-Faced Lovebirds are a social species that live in large flocks. They are easily identified by their bright green bodies, blue rumps and pink feathers near their faces. Lovebirds build extremely strong bonds with a single mate and often stick together for the duration of their lives. Lovebirds still thrive in the wild and there are about nine different species in Africa occupying a variety of habitats like the dry southwest and the Namib desert.

Shoebills

Shoebills are among the most prehistoric looking birds in the world. They are huge birds. Unfortunately, only between 5,000 and 8,000 of these incredible birds left in Africa, most commonly found throughout east and central Africa. They are a solitary species, which moves alone through muddy swamps and wetlands, preying on snakes, fish, and frogs. They are known to remain still for hours on end, waiting patiently for a prey item to cross its path.

Sunbirds

Sunbirds in Africa are equivalent to hummingbirds. They hve lengthy, curving beaks that help them reach deep into flowers to extrct nectar. There are approximately 80 sub-species of sunbirds in Africa, with the most commonly seen being the Collared Sunbird and Southern Double-collared Sunbird. Your best chance of seeing a sunbird is in around tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, where they frequent flowered areas.

Vultures

Vultures are large strong birds who scavenge on the flesh and bones of carcasses left by large predators. They have an incredible sense of sight and smell, vultures are often able to seek out carcasses from over a mile away and are readily seen circling the skies in numbers, waiting for the most opportune time to approach. Once on the ground, a large group of vultures can strip a buffalo carcass in a matter of hours. Today all species are endangered due to habitat destruction and human conflict, however they can readily be seen in national parks through Southern and East Africa.