Mara Birds Species

Abdim’s stork also known as white-bellied stork, is the smallest of all storks. It has grey long legs, red knees and feet, and a grey bill. It has red facial skin next to the eye and, during the breeding season, it has blue skin near the bill. This species is widespread and common throughout its large range and can easily be seen in some parts of Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

The African Darters are large, slim water birds that measure about 80 cm in length, including their long, rounded tails. These cormorant-like birds often swim with only the neck above water. They have very long and sharp beaks, which they use to spear their slippery fish prey. They are endemic to tropical sub-Saharan Africa, where they are typically found in or near bodies of both saline and fresh water. In Kenya you’ll mostly find these birds in Lake Baringo and Masai Mara Game Reserve.

The African grey hornbill is the smaller hornbill species of the hornbill family. It is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of Sub-Saharan Africa. These hornbills mostly feed on insects, fruit and reptiles. They typically forage in trees.

African fish eagle is a large species of eagle that is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water occur that have an abundant food supply. The adult is very distinctive in appearance with a mostly brown body with a white head and large, powerful, black wings. The head, breast, and tail of are snow white, with the exception of the featherless face, which is yellow. In Kenya you’ll mostly find these birds in Lake Baringo and Masai Mara Game Reserve.

African Harrier-Hawk is a medium-sized raptor. The upperparts, head and breast are pale grey. The belly is white with fine dark barring. The broad wings are pale grey with a black trailing edge fringed with a narrow white line. The tail is black with a single broad white band. Sexes are similar, but young birds have pale brown instead grey, and dark brown replacing black. It can be found in natural woodland, tree plantations and urban areas. Best places to spot this bird is Lake Nakuru National Park and Masai Mara Game Reserve.