Of Tanzania’s total of over 1,100 species of birds, Kagera Region in north western of Tanzania has around 450 different species of birds. The following is a checklist of birds of Tanzania as per the selection collected by Edgardo Kabulwa Welelo for his fellow countrymen, Tanzanians and overseas visitors around the world (edgardowelelo @yahoo.com).
AFRICAN WHITE - BACKED VULTURE (Gyps africanus)
Kiswahili name; Tumbusi Mgongo Mweupe
- Distribution / Range of African White – Backed Vulture in Africa;
- Zululand, northern Cape and Transvaal northwards through Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Northern Namibia to East and West Africa.
- Size:
- Length about 1 m
- Wingspan about 2, 2m
- Weight about 5 kg
- Identification pointers of White – Backed Vulture;
- Smaller than similar cape vulture; adults have conspicuous white back.
- Habitat;
- Savanna
- Status;
- Breeding resident; commonest vulture in Southern Africa.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Gregarious while foraging, breeding and roosting; often in hundreds at carcasses.
- Breeding /Reproduction;
- Nest of sticks on tree – top; colonies of 5 – 20 pairs in neighboring trees; breeds in winter; lays 1 egg, white, 89 x 66 mm; incubation about 56 days; nestling period about 126 days; both sexes share duties.
- Food / Diet;
- Carrion
- Voice;
- Noisy while feeding; hissing and squealing.
EGYPTIAN VULTURE (Neophron percnopterus)
Kiswahili name; Tumbusi Mweupe
- Distribution / Range of Egyptian Vulture in Africa
- Once widespread in Southern Africa, now only in Transkei and northern Namibia; In Angola, East, west and North Africa and Southern Europe to Middle East.
- Size;
- Length about 0,7m
- Wingspan about 1, 6m
- Weight about 2 kg
- Identification pointers of Egyptian vulture;
- Adult all white except for black primaries and secondaries, and bare yellow face; Immature all brown; wedge – shaped tail distinctive.
- Habitat;
- Semi – arid country with cliffs.
- Status;
- Rare vagrant
- Habits / Lifestyle Behavior;
- Solitary or in pairs, gregarious where common; usually seen on the wing or scavenging at carcasses.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Nest of sticks placed on ledge of cliff; lays 2 eggs, white with blotches; 66 x 50 mm; Incubation about 42 days; nestling period about 77 days; both sexes share duties;
- Food / Diet;
- Carrion and refuse.
- Voice;
- Seldom calls; utters mewing and whistling sounds.
LAPPET – FACED VULTURE (Torgos tracheliotus)
Other names; Black Vulture.
- Kiswahili name; Tumbusi Kichwa Kikubwa
- Distribution / Range of Lappet – Faced Vulture / Black Vulture in Africa;
- Zululand, Northern Cape, Transvaal and Namibia northwards through Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to East and West Africa.
- Size;
- Length about 1 m
- Wingspan about 2, 6 m
- Weight about 7 kg
- Identification pointers of Lappet – Faced Vulture;
- Large; Mainly black, with white leggings, ruff and underwing stripe; adult has bare loose – skinned red face (Lappet).
- Habitat;
- Desert and arid Savanna
- Status;
- Scarce, local breeding resident; vagrants occur widely
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary or in small groups; usually seen soaring or at carcasses.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Large nest of sticks on tree – top; sometimes loosely colonial; breeds in winter; Lays 1 egg, white, often blotched, 93 x71 mm; incubation about 56 days; nestling period about 126 days; both sexes share duties.
- Food / Diet;
- Carrion; May kill small animals.
- Voice;
- Seldom heard; occasionally yelps.
HOODED VULTURE (Necrosyrtes monachus)
Kiswahili name; Tumbusi Mdogo.
- Distribution / Range of Hooded Vulture in Africa.
- Northern Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, eastern Transvaal, Mozambique; Mainly in large reserves. Also in Central, East and West Africa.
- Size;
- Length about 0,7m
- Wingspan about 1,7m
- Weight about 2 kg.
- Identification pointers of Hooded Vulture;
- Adult and young uniform dark brown; adult has downy white head; face can flush red.
- Habitat;
- Status;
- Breeding resident; Locally common.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary, in pairs, or in occasionally in groups; usually seen at carcasses, perched in trees or in flight.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Nest of sticks in fork of leafy tree; lays 1 egg, white, sometimes blotched, 73 x 54 mm; incubation about 51 days; nestling period about 110 days; both sexes share duties.
- Food / Diet;
- Carrion and refuse
- Voice;
Seldom calls; utters squeals at carcasses.
PALM NUT VULTURE (Gypohierax angolensis)
Other names; Vulturine Fish Eagle.
- Distribution / Range of Palm Nut Vulture in Africa;
- Zululand (at two localities), northwards along Mozambique coast; also northern Botswana and Namibia; extends to East and West Africa.
- Size;
- Length about 0, 6m
- Wingspan about 1, 4m
- Weight about 1, 5 kg
- Identification pointers of Palm Nut vulture;
- Adult wholly white except for black secondaries and tail (which is white – tipped), red skin on face; immature uniform brown.
- Habitat;
- Always associated with Raffia or Oil Palms, including those artificially established.
- Status;
- Very localized breeding resident; rare vagrant elsewhere
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary, in pairs, or in flocks farther north in Africa; feeds, roosts and nests in palm trees; scavenges on coast.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Nest of sticks, usually in palm crown; breeds in winter; lays 1 egg, white blotched with brown;
71 x 54 mm; little else known of breeding habits.
- Food / Diet;
- Mainly fruit and husks of palms; also fish, insects, carrion
- Voice;
- Seldom calls; repeated cawing “Kwuk”
BEARDED VULTURE (Gypaetus barbatus)
Other names; Lammergeier
- Distribution / Range of Brearded Vulture in Africa;
- In Southern Africa restricted to Lesotho highlands and adjacent areas; also in East Africa, southern and eastern Europe and
- Size;
- Length about 1, 1m
- Wingspan about 2, 5m
- Weight about 6 kg.
- Identification pointers of Bearded Vulture;
- Very large; Long dark wings, dark wedge shaped tail; ginger underparts; white head with black mask.
- Habitat;
- Status;
- Breeding resident; scarce.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Adults in pairs; immatures sometimes in groups; scavenges for carcasses from the air.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Nest built in pothole or on ledge on high cliff; breeds in winter; lays 2 eggs, white, blotched and streaked brown, 86 x 65 mm; Incubation about 57 days; nestling period 110 – 122 days; both sexes share duties.
- Food / Diet;
- Carrion, mostly domestic animals
- Voice;
- Seldom calls; a weak scream.
SECRETARY BIRD (Sagittarius serpentarius)
Kiswahili name; Ndege Karani / Ndege – Kilemba
- Distribution / Range of Secretary Bird in Africa;
- Throughout Southern Africa except for most arid areas in west; extends north through Africa to edge of Sahara Desert.
- Size;
- Length about 1, 3m
- Wingspan about 2m
- Weight about 4 kg.
- Identification pointers of Secretary Bird;
- Unlikely to be mistaken for any other bird of prey; crane – like on the ground, eagle – like in flight, except for long tail.
- Habitat;
- Grassland, savanna and scrub.
- Status;
- Breeding resident with local movements; fairly common.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Usually in pairs; hunts by walking on the ground; roosts at night on tree – tops; sometimes soars.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Nest a large platform of sticks on tree top; breed in any month; lays 1-3 eggs, white, 78 x 56 mm; incubation period about 42 days; nestling period about 82 days (variable); female incubates mostly, fed by male.
- Food / Diet.
- Insects, rodents, Lizards, snakes, bird’s eggs.
- Voice;
- Seldom calls; a harsh croak.
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Other names; Fish Hawk, Visvalk
- Kiswahili name; Koho
- Distribution / Range of Osprey in Africa
- Virtually world – wide in distribution, a non – breeding migrant to Africa from Europe ranging to Southern Cape; may occur in any suitable habitat.
- Size;
- Length about 0, 6m
- Wingspan about 1, 6m
- Weight about 1, 5 kg
- Identification pointers of Osprey;
- Above dark brown, below white; has white crown and black mask through eye; barred underwing and tail with black carpal joint.
- Habitat;
- Lakes, dams, pans, estuaries.
- Status;
- A non – breeding visitor (August to May), some over winter and occasionally breed; scarce.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary; seen perching around and flying about waterbodies; hovers.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Nest of sticks in tall tree near water; breeds in early summer; lays 2 eggs, white blotched with red, 61 x 44 mm; incubation about 37 days; nestling period about 55 days; both sexes share duties.
- Food / Diet;
- Fish
- voice;
- seldom heard; a plaintive whistle
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Other names; African Peregrine, Swerfvalk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi – Kipanga
- Distribution /Range of Peregrine Falcon in Africa;
- Throughout Southern Africa but breeding birds more restricted; different races / subspecies occur in most parts of the world.
- Size;
- Length about 0,35m
- Wingspan about 0,9m
- Weight about 0,6 kg
- Identification pointers of Peregrine Falcon;
- Slate grey above, with black head and moustache stripes, white front finely barred with black on the belly; immature brown above, with black head and streaked front.
- Habitat;
- Hunts anywhere but confined while breeding to mountains and ravines with cliffs.
- Status;
- Breeding resident (African race), non - breeding migrant (European race); both scarce.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary, or in pairs while breeding; hunts by high – speed stoops on prey; perches on cliffs and in tall dead trees.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- No nest built; lays on cliff ledge, usually overhung; breeds in early summer; lays 3 eggs, buffy brown, 51 x 41 mm; incubation about 30 days; nestling period about 40 days; incubation mainly by female.
- Food / Diet;
- Mostly birds, especially doves and pigeons.
- Voice;
- Raucous, repeated ‘Kack’ alarm call; whining ‘waaik’ begging call.
LANNER FALCON (Falcon biarmicus)
Other names; Lanner, Edelvalk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi – Kipara
- Distribution / Range of Lanner Falcon in Africa;
- Throughout Southern Africa; ranges to North Africa and Middle East.
- Size;
- Length about 0,4m
- Wingspan about 1 m
- Weight about 0, 6 kg
- Identification pointers of Lanner Falcon;
- Slate grey above, with black head and moustache stripes, rufous crown and buffy front; immature brown above, rufous crown, white front streaked with dark brown.
- Habitat;
- Diverse – flat or Mountainous country in arid or wet environments.
- Status;
- Breeding resident; common.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary, or in pairs while breeding; hunts by stooping on aerial prey, by pursuit and from perches.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- No nest built; lays on cliff ledge or old stick nest of crow or raptor; breeds in late winter to spring; lays 2 – 5 eggs, brownish, 52 x41 mm; incubation about 32 days; nestling period about 42 days; sexes share duties.
- Food / Diet;
- Mainly birds, especially pigeons; also rodents and lizards.
- Voice;
- Raucous, repeated “Kack” alarm; also whining.
EUROPEAN HOBBY (Falco subbuteo)
Other names; Hobby Falcon, European Boom Valk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi – Ulaya
- Distribution / Range of European Hobby in Africa;
- Natal northwards and across to central and northern Namibia; winters in Africa south of Equator; breeds in
- Size;
- Length about 0, 3m.
- Wingspan about 0, 9m
- Weight about 0, 2 kg
- Identification pointers of European Hobby;
- Head, Moustache stripes and upperparts blackish; front white, heavily streaked black; thighs and vent rufous; immature lacks rufous vent.
- Habitat;
- Diverse – grassland, savanna, forest edge; often near water.
- Status;
- Non – breeding migrant (October to March); scarce to locally common.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary in winter quarters, occasionally scattered birds together; hunts by aerial pursuit, especially at dusk.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Does not breed in Southern Africa.
- Food / Diet;
- Insects, small birds, bats.
- Voice;
- Silent in wintering grounds; a shrill, repeated “Kew” in Europe.
AFRICAN HOBBY (Falco cuvieri)
Other names; African Hobby Falcon, Afrikaanse Boomvalk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi Afirika
- Distribution / Range of African Hobby in Africa;
- Northern Transvaal northwards to Zimbabwe, northern Botswana and northern Namibia; Vagrants to eastern cape; ranges to central and west Africa.
- Size;
- Length about 0, 3m
- Wingspan about 0, 9m
- Weight about 0, 2 kg.
- Identification pointers of African Hobby;
- Head, Moustache stripes and upperparts blackish; front warm rufous, finely streaked with black; immature has more heavily streaked front.
- Habitat;
- Tropical savanna, forest clearings, riverine fringe
- Status;
- Breeding visitor (October to March); rare
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary, or in pairs when breeding; hunts by aerial pursuit, especially at dusk.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- No nest built; lays on old crow or raptor stick nest in tree; breeds in early summer; lays 3 eggs, buffy brown, 39 x 31 mm; Little else known of breeding habits.
- Food / Diet;
- Insects, small birds, bats
- Voice;
- A shrill, repeated ‘Kik’
TAITA FALCON (Falco fasciinucha)
Other names; Teita Falcon, Taita Valk
- Distribution / Range of Taita Falcon in Africa;
- Northern and eastern Zimbabwe; ranges northwards discontinuously to
- Size;
- Length about 0, 3m.
- Wingspan about 0, 6m
- Weight about 0, 25 kg
- Identification pointers of Taita Falcon;
- Slate – grey above, black head with rufous nuchal patches, white throat, rufous front; immature browner.
- Habitat;
- Cliffs overlooking or surrounded by mature woodland.
- Status;
- Breeding resident; rare and localized
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary or in pairs; lives on cliffs; hunts by high – speed stoops on aerial prey.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- No nest built; lays in pothole on cliff; breeds in early summer; lays 3 – 4 eggs, brown, 43 x 35 mm; incubation about 26 days; nestling period 35 days; incubation mainly by female.
- Food / Diet;
- Mostly small birds; also insects;
- Voice;
- Noisy, repeated ‘Kek’ alarm call
RED NECKED FALCON (Falco chicquera)
Other names; Rufous necked falcon, Rooinek valk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi – Shingo Nyekundu.
- Distribution / Range of Red – Necked Falcon in Africa;
- Namibia, Botswana, Northern Cape; a second race ranges from Mozambique to East Africa.
- Size;
- Length about 0, 3m
- Wingspan about 0,6m
- Weight about 0, 2 kg
- Identification pointers of Red – Necked Falcon;
- Blue – grey above, barred black; rufous head, black moustache stripe; from white, washed buff on chest and barred black on belly; immature has brown head.
- Habitat;
- Semi – arid or arid thorn veld; open palm savanna in Zambia.
- Status;
- Breeding resident and nomad; rare to locally common.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary, or in pairs while breeding; hunts by aerial pursuit; perches in tree canopies.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- No nest built; lays on old crow or raptor stick nest in tree; breeds in early summer; lays 3 – 4 eggs, brownish, 44 x33 mm; incubation about 33 days; nestling period about 35 days; female incubates, fed by male.
- Food / Diet;
- Mainly small birds, occasionally lizards or rodents.
- Voice;
- High – pitched, rasping ‘yak, yak, yak.
ELEONORA’S FALCON (Falco eleonorae)
Other names; Eleonoravalk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi – Shavu Jeupe
- Distribution / Range of Eleonora’s Falcon in Africa;
- Vagrant to Mozambique coastal belt; normally over winters in Madagascar and breeds on some Mediterranean islands.
- Size;
- Length about 0, 4m
- Wingspan about 1, 2m
- Weight about 0, 37 kg.
- Identification pointers of Eleonora’s Falcon;
- Head, moustache stripe, upperparts sooty brown; throat and cheek white; front rufous, streaked with black; rare dark phase is entirely sooty brown.
- Habitat;
- Tropical savanna.
- Status;
- Non – breeding vagrant; rare
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary or in groups; hunts insects and small birds by aerial pursuit
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Does not breed in Southern Africa.
- Food / Diet;
- Insects in wintering grounds; small birds while breeding.
- Voice;
- Silent in wintering grounds; a shrill, repeated “Ki” in breeding areas.
SOOTY FALCON (Falco concolor)
- Other names; Roetvalk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi – Mweusi
- Distribution / Range of Sooty Falcon in Africa;
- Natal coast, Zululand, Mozambique (regular); vagrants elsewhere; over winters mainly in Madagascar; breeds in North Africa and Middle East.
- Size;
- Length about 0, 35m
- Wingspan about 1 m
- Weight about 0, 32 kg.
- Identification pointers of Sooty Falcon;
- Whole slate – grey with yellow bare parts; slimmer and longer – winged than Grey kestrel.
- Habitat;
- Tall trees bordering on clearings; often near water
- Status;
- Non – breeding visitor (December to March); rare.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary or in small groups; perches high up; hunts by aerial pursuit, especially at dusk.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Does not breed in Southern Africa.
- Voice;
- Silent in wintering grounds; a shrill, repeated “Kilik” in breeding area.
GREY KESTREL (Falco ardosiaceus)
- Other names; Donker Grysvalk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi – Kijivu
- Distribution / Range of Grey kestrel in Africa;
- Northern Namibia; ranges northwards through central and west Africa
- Size;
- Length about 0, 3m
- Wingspan about 0, 7m
- Weight about 0, 24 kg
- Identification pointers of Grey Kestrel;
- Wholly slate – grey except for bare parts which are yellow; wings faintly barred; sexes and immature alike.
- Habitat;
- Tropical savanna and forest clearings
- Status;
- Resident? Scarce to rare.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary or in pairs; hunts from perches, taking prey on the ground.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Not recorded in Southern Africa; nests inside Hamerkop nests elsewhere; lays 3 – 5 eggs, brownish, 41 x 33 mm; little else known of breeding habits
- Food / Diet;
- Lizards, rodents, small birds, insects.
- Voice;
- Shrill, repeated “Keek”
ROCK KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)
- Other names; Kestrel / Common kestrel / Rooivalk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi Miamba
- Distribution / Range of Rock Kestrel in Africa;
- Throughout Southern Africa; other races occur elsewhere in Africa and in Europe and
- Size;
- Length about 0, 3m
- wingspan about 0, 7m
- weight about 0, 2 kg
- Identification pointers of Rock Kestrel;
- Rufous body and wings spotted and streaked black; grey head and tail which has black terminal bar, tipped white; yellow bare parts.
- Habitat;
- Grassland, scrub and savanna, especially where cliffs occur.
- Status;
- Breeding resident with local movements; common
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Solitary or in pairs; hunts by hovering or from perches, often alongside roads.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- No nest built; lays in pothole on cliff or on old nest of crow; breeds in early summer; lays 3 – 4 eggs, warm brown, 39 x 33 mm; incubation about 30 days; nestling period about 35 days; incubation mainly by female.
- Food / Diet;
- Insects, rodents, lizards, small birds
- Voice;
- Shrill, repeated “Kee”; also “Kik – Kik – Kik---- alarm call, and Melodious trill
LESSER KESTREL (Falco naumanni)
- Other names; Kleinrooivalk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi Mdogo
- Distribution / Range of Lesser Kestrel in Africa;
- Most of Southern Africa except arid west and eastern littoral; winters throughout Africa and breeds in palearctic
- Size;
- Length about 0, 3m
- Wingspan about 0, 6m
- Weight about 0, 13 kg
- Identification pointers of Lesser Kestrel;
- Males rufous above with grey head and tail, buff below, lightly spotted; black terminal tail bar; female and immature pale brown streaked with darker brown.
- Habitat;
- Grassland and open savanna
- Status;
- Non – breeding migrant (November to March); common.
- Habits / Lifestyle / Behavior;
- Gregarious; hunts during day in small flocks and roosts at night in trees in large flocks. Hunts from perches and by hovering.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- Does not breed in Southern Africa
- Food /Diet;
- Insects, especially grasshoppers and locusts.
- Voice;
- Silent, except at roosts; a shrill twittering.
GREATER KESTREL (Falco rupicoloides)
- Other names; White – Eyed Kestrel / Grootrooi valk
- Kiswahili name; Kozi Macho Meupe / Kozi Mkubwa
- Distribution /Range of Greater kestrel in Africa
- Namibia, Botswana, Cape interior to western Zimbabwe, Transvaal, Orange Free State and Northern Natal; ranges discontinuously to north – east Africa.
- Size;
- Length about 0, 35m
- Wingspan about 0, 9m
- Weight about 0, 25 kg
- Identification pointer of Greater Kestrel
- Sandy – brown barred above and streaked below with black; tail grey with black bars; eye white in adult, but brown in immature
- Habitat;
- Desert, semi – arid savanna,
- Status;
- Breeding resident with local movements; common.
- Habits;
- Solitary or in pairs; hunts from perches and by hovering.
- Breeding / Reproduction;
- No nest built; lays in old stick nest of crow or raptor in trees; breeds in early summer; lays 3 – 5 eggs, brownish buff, 42 x 34 mm; incubation, by female, about 32 days; nestling period 30 days.
- Food / Diet;
- Insects, rodents, lizards, small birds.
- Voice;
- A trilling, repeated “Kwirr”