Kenya is home to over 10% of the planet's bird species. In total, more than 1,100 species have been recorded there. It is also the second country in Africa with the most birds and ranks first in Africa for avian richness. As you can see, Kenya is among the world's best birdwatching destinations. Discover the main birds to see in Kenya.

Did you know?

Kenya is among the countries in the world where you can observe the most bird species in a single day. The country even held the world record for observing the most birds in just 24 hours from 1986 to 2014!

The different bird species you can observe during a birdwatching safari in Kenya

More than 1,100 birds have been recorded in Kenyan territory, including resident birds year-round as well as migratory birds (Euro-Asian migrants and intra-African migrants).

Because it is impossible to list them all, here is a non-exhaustive list of all the major bird families you can encounter during a stay in Kenya:

Large waders, rallids and anatids species to see in Kenya

• The Greater Flamingo,

• The Lesser Flamingo,

• The Goliath Heron,

• The Black-headed Heron,

• The Hamerkop,

• The Yellow-billed Stork,

• The African Marabou,

• The African Spoonbill,

• The Saddle-billed Stork,

• The African Spoonbill,

• The Black Crowned-Crane,

• The Grey Crowned-Crane,

• The Allen's Gallinule,

• The Red-knobbed Coot

• The African Rail,

• The White-faced Whistling-Duck (or Black Duck)...

Raptors, owls, nightjars and swifts species to see in Kenya

• The Lappet-faced Vulture,

• The Rüppell's Vulture,

• The White-headed Vulture,

• The Secretarybird,

• The African Fish Eagle,

• The Martial Eagle,

• The Wahlberg's Eagle,

• The Verreaux's Eagle,

• The Crowned Eagle,

• The Black-breasted Snake Eagle,

• The African Fish Eagle,

• The Augur Buzzard,

• The Shikra,

• The Gabar Goshawk,

• The Lanner Falcon,

• The Eurasian Hobby,

• The Pearl-spotted Owlet,

• The Verreaux's Eagle-Owl,

• The Spotted Eagle-Owl,

• The White-faced Scops Owl,

• The Sokoke Scops Owl

• The Pearl-spotted Owlet,

• The Speckled Nightjar...

Kingfishers and kites, Bee-eaters, Rollers, Hornbills species to see in Kenya  

• The Belted Kingfisher,

• The African Pygmy Kingfisher,

• The Giant Kingfisher,

• The Pied Kingfisher,

• The African Shrike,

• The White-throated Bee-eater,

• The Carmine Bee-eater,

• The White-fronted Bee-eater,

• The Little Bee-eater,

• The Mountain Bee-eater,

• The Blue-headed Bee-eater,

• The Böhm's Bee-eater,

• The Lilac-breasted Roller,

• The Hoopoe,

• The Eastern Nicator,

• The Green Wood-Hoopoe,

• The Southern Ground-Hornbill,

• The Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill,

• The Red-billed Hornbill,

• The Yellow-billed Hornbill,

• The Jackson's Hornbill,

• The Hemprich's Hornbill,

• The Crowned Hornbill,

• The Black Hornbill...

Wader species to see in Kenya  

• The African Jacana,

• The Painted Snipe,

• The Spotted Thick-knee,

• The Pearl-breasted Thick-knee,

• The Temminck's Courser,

• The Black-headed Lapwing,

• The Crowned Lapwing,

• The Grassland Pipit,

• The Three-banded Plover,

• The Little Ringed Plover,

• The Collared Pratincole...

Columbids species to see in Kenya

• The Green Pigeon,

• The Rameron Pigeon,

• The Speckled Pigeon,

• The Tambourine Dove,

• The Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove,

• The Cape Turtle-Dove,

• The Laughing Dove,

• The Mourning Dove,

• The Rose-breasted Dove,

• The Ring-necked Dove,

• The Amethyst Dove...

Parrots, Turacos, Cuckoos, Trogons species to see in Kenya

• The Meyer's Parrot,

• The Giant Turaco,

• The Hartlaub's Turaco,

• The Fischer's Turaco,

• The Jacobin Cuckoo,

• The Solitary Cuckoo,

• The African Cuckoo,

• The Klaas's Cuckoo,

• The Didric Cuckoo,

• The White-browed Coucal,

• The Narina Trogon,

• The Speckled Mousebird,

• The White-headed Mousebird...

Piciformes, Barbets and Honeyguide species to see in Kenya

• The Nubian Woodpecker,

• The Cardinal Woodpecker,

• The Spotted Barbet,

• The Goertan Woodpecker,

• The Red-fronted Barbet,

• The Arnaud's Barbet,

• The Red-headed Barbet,

• The White-headed Barbet,

• The Black Barbet,

• The Black-headed Barbet,

• The Crested Barbet,

• The Greater Honeyguide,

• The Lesser Honeyguide,

• The Scaly-throated Honeyguide,

• The Wahlberg's Honeyguide...

Passerines species to see in Kenya

• The Barn Swallow,

• The Blackcap,

• The Grey Wagtail,

• The Willow Warbler,

• The Pied Crow,

• The Malachite Sunbird,

• The White-browed Robin-Chat...

What are Kenya's endemic birds?

Kenya has around ten endemic or quasi-endemic birds (living in neighboring countries) of which here are the main ones:

• The Tara River Cisticola,

• The Jackson's Francolin,

• The Aberdare Cisticola,

• The Hinde's Babbler,

• The William's Lark,

• The Sharpe's Long-claw,

• The Clarke's Weaver,

• The Teita Thrush…

Spotlight on 10 remarkable birds to see in Kenya

To give you an idea of what awaits you during a birdwatching safari, we present 10 remarkable birds to observe in Kenya:

1. The Superb Starling

The Superb Starling is a striking bird in its beauty due to its colors. It is characterized by an iridescent blue-green plumage on the breast, wings and tail and russet-brown plumage with a white belly band. It is found mainly in open forests, savannas and grasslands. It is also occasionally spotted in some Kenyan cities.

2. The Black Crowned-Crane

With its large size and elegant plumage, the Black Crowned-Crane does not go unnoticed. This large wader measures about 1 m tall with a wingspan of 2 m. Its plumage is essentially grey with white wings and its black head is crowned with a crest of golden feathers giving the impression it wears a crown. The Black Crowned-Crane is particularly renowned for its courtship display rituals where it chains together dance steps, jumps and bows. You can see it in wetlands, grasslands and cultivated areas.

3. The Secretarybird

The Secretarybird is a raptor renowned for its striking appearance. Perched on long legs, it has black, grey and white plumage and a crest of feathers forming a loose tuft behind the head. It is known as an excellent hunter, stamping on its prey, notably snakes and rodents. You can observe it in open grasslands, savannas and steppes.

4. The Lilac-breasted Roller

The Lilac-breasted Roller is among the most photographed birds in Kenya. And for good reason, no fewer than 8 colors are visible in its plumage: lilac-violet (which gives it its name), shades of azure-blue and turquoise, brown and chestnut... These are birds renowned for their agility, capable of performing somersaults in mid-flight (hence their name "roller" in English). You can see them in open forests, savannas and grasslands.

5. The Lesser Flamingo

Flamingos are among the most sought-after birds during a trip to Kenya. But they are not the only flamingos inhabiting the country's lakes. Indeed, there are also numerous colonies of Lesser Flamingos. The difference between the two species? As its name suggests, the Lesser Flamingo is slightly smaller than its cousin. It is also generally pinker and is recognized by its entirely brownish bill and more extensive coloring. It is found mainly in the lakes of the Great Rift Valleynotably Lake Nakuruthe Elementaita Lake and Lake Bogoria.

6. The Sokoke Scops Owl

The Sokoke Scops Owl is a diurnal raptor characterized by dark brown, greyish-brown and tawny plumage. The Sokoke Scops Owl lives in a very restricted area in Kenya and Tanzania, particularly in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest near the town of Watamuin southeast Kenya and northeast Tanzania. Unfortunately, this species is classified as vulnerable. In other words, you need to be very lucky to see it.

7. The Malachite Sunbird

The Malachite Sunbird is a passerine species renowned for its sublime colors. The male has iridescent green plumage. During breeding season, males perform impressive courtship displays: flying high before diving vertically toward the female. This bird feeds mainly on flower nectar and insects. You can observe it in the Kenyan highlands, essentially in alpine grasslands, brushy moorlands and forest edges.

8. The Southern Ground-Hornbill

Also known as the Southern Ground-Hornbill, the Southern Ground-Hornbill is characterized by a large bill, black plumage and bright red patches on the face and throat. Reaching up to 129 cm long and weighing 6.2 kg, it is the largest of all hornbill species. Its peculiarity? It is a cooperative breeder, meaning each breeding pair is always helped by at least two other birds. It is an amusing bird to observe in the savannas, forests and grasslands of Kenya's reserves and national parks.

9. The Carmine Bee-eater

As its name suggests, the Carmine Bee-eater is characterized by carmine-red plumage over much of its body and blue-green coloring on the forehead. It is also distinguished by its long pointed tail and black facial mask. It lives in colonies that can reach thousands of individuals, offering a striking spectacle when they gather on the same tree or when they take flight. It is found particularly near rivers where it digs horizontal tunnels in the banks for protection from predators.

10. The Vulturine Guineafowl

With its cobalt-blue, lilac, black and white plumage, the Vulturine Guineafowl is the most colorful of its species. It is also the largest of all guineafowl and, unlike all others, it has no feathers on its head. It gets its name "vulturine" due to the resemblance of its head and neck to those of vultures. It can be observed in groups in semi-arid savannas and grasslands where it finds wild seeds and insects to feed on.

Are you unsure where to go to observe Kenya's birds? We sharethe best places for a birdwatching safari in Kenya.