Ngorongoro Crater bird checklist: Home to over 270 birds and other wildlife such as; the big five animals which are seen as one of the top attractions including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and Rhinos, Ngorongoro crater is one of the best safari birding destinations located in the Northern region of Tanzania.

Ngorongoro Crater bird checklist

Ngorongoro Crater covers a total surface area of about 8,292 square kilometers and was established in 1959, with numerous vegetation such as; savanna grasslands, woodlands, forests, and alkaline lakes which all act as good natural habitats for many wildlife species and birds.

Ngorongoro Crater bird checklist
Ngorongoro Crater bird checklist

Ngorongoro Crater bird checklist: Below is a list of some of the birds found within Ngorongoro crater.

Ostriches: Struthionidae

Common Ostrich

Ducks: Anatidae

White-faced Whistling-Duck

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

White-backed Duck

Knob-billed Duck

Egyptian Goose

Spur-winged Goose

African Pygmy-Goose

Garganey

Blue-billed Teal

Northern Shoveler

Eurasian Wigeon

African Black Duck

Yellow-billed Duck

Cape Teal

Red-billed Duck

Northern Pintail

Eurasian Teal

Southern Pochard

Maccoa Duck

Guineafowl: Numididae

Helmeted Guineafowl

Eastern Crested Guineafowl

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies: Phasianidae

Crested Francolin

Coqui Francolin

Shelley’s Francolin

(Common Quail)

Harlequin Quail

Scaly Spurfowl

Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl

Yellow-necked Spurfowl

Gray-breasted Spurfowl

Red-necked Spurfowl

Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae

Greater Flamingo

Lesser Flamingo

Grebes: Podicipedidae

Little Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Eared Grebe

Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae

Rock Pigeon

Speckled Pigeon

Rameron Pigeon

Delegorgue’s Pigeon

Lemon Dove

Dusky Turtle-Dove

Mourning Collared-Dove

Red-eyed Dove

Ring-necked Dove

Laughing Dove

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Tambourine Dove

Namaqua Dove

African Green-Pigeon

Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse

Black-faced Sandgrouse

Bustards: Otididae

Kori Bustard

White-bellied Bustard

Buff-crested Bustard

Black-bellied Bustard

Hartlaub’s Bustard

Turacos: Musophagidae

Schalow’s Turaco

Hartlaub’s Turaco

Purple-crested Turaco

Bare-faced Go-away-bird

White-bellied Go-away-bird

Cuckoos: Cuculidae

Red-chested Cuckoo

Black Cuckoo

Common Cuckoo

African Cuckoo

Black Coucal

White-browed Coucal

Pied Cuckoo

Levaillant’s Cuckoo

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Klaas’s Cuckoo

African Emerald Cuckoo

Dideric Cuckoo

Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae

Eurasian Nightjar

Montane Nightjar

Freckled Nightjar

Slender-tailed Nightjar

Swifts: Apodidae

Mottled Spinetail

Scarce Swift

Alpine Swift

Mottled Swift

Common Swift

Nyanza Swift

African Swift

Little Swift

(Horus Swift)

White-rumped Swift

African Palm Swift

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae

African Rail

(African Crake)

Lesser Moorhen

Eurasian Moorhen

Red-knobbed Coot

Allen’s Gallinule

African Swamphen

Black Crake

Cranes: Gruidae

Gray Crowned-Crane

Thick-knees: Burhinidae

Water Thick-knee

Spotted Thick-knee

Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae

Black-winged Stilt

Pied Avocet

Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae

Black-bellied Plover

Long-toed Lapwing

Blacksmith Lapwing

Spur-winged Lapwing

Senegal Lapwing

Black-winged Lapwing

Crowned Lapwing

Wattled Lapwing

Lesser Sand-Plover

Caspian Plover

Kittlitz’s Plover

Common Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Three-banded Plover

Chestnut-banded Plover

Painted-Snipes: Rostratulidae

Greater Painted-Snipe

Jacanas: Jacanidae

African Jacana

Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae

Whimbrel

Eurasian Curlew

Black-tailed Godwit

Ruff

Curlew Sandpiper

Temminck’s Stint

Sanderling

Little Stint

Terek Sandpiper

Common Snipe

African Snipe

Common Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Spotted Redshank

Common Greenshank

Marsh Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Buttonquail: Turnicidae

Small Buttonquail

Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae

Temminck’s Courser

Double-banded Courser

Three-banded Courser

Bronze-winged Courser

Collared Pratincole

Black-winged Pratincole

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae

Gray-hooded Gull

Black-headed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Gull-billed Tern

White-winged Tern

Whiskered Tern

African Skimmer

Storks: Ciconiidae

African Openbill

Black Stork

Abdim’s Stork

African Woolly-necked Stork

White Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Marabou Stork

Yellow-billed Stork

Anhingas: Anhingidae

African Darter

Cormorants and Shags: Phalacrocoracidae

Long-tailed Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Pelicans: Pelecanidae

Great White Pelican

Pink-backed Pelican

Shoebill: Balaenicipitidae

Shoebill

Hamerkop: Scopidae

Hamerkop

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae

Little Bittern

Dwarf Bittern

Gray Heron

Black-headed Heron

Goliath Heron

Purple Heron

Great Egret

Intermediate Egret

Little Egret

Black Heron

Cattle Egret

Squacco Heron

Malagasy Pond-Heron

Rufous-bellied Heron

Striated Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

White-backed Night-Heron

Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae

Glossy Ibis

African Sacred Ibis

Hadada Ibis

African Spoonbill

Secretary-bird: Sagittariidae

Secretarybird

Osprey: Pandionidae

Osprey

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae

Black-winged Kite

African Harrier-Hawk

Palm-nut Vulture

Bearded Vulture

Egyptian Vulture

European Honey-buzzard

African Cuckoo-Hawk

White-headed Vulture

Lappet-faced Vulture

Hooded Vulture

White-backed Vulture

Rueppell’s Griffon

Bateleur

Black-chested Snake-Eagle

Brown Snake-Eagle

Banded Snake-Eagle

Crowned Eagle

Martial Eagle

Long-crested Eagle

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Wahlberg’s Eagle

Booted Eagle

Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle

Tawny Eagle

Steppe Eagle

Imperial Eagle

Verreaux’s Eagle

African Hawk-Eagle

Lizard Buzzard

Dark Chanting-Goshawk

Eastern Chanting-Goshawk

Gabar Goshawk

Grasshopper Buzzard

Eurasian Marsh-Harrier

African Marsh-Harrier

Pallid Harrier

Montagu’s Harrier

African Goshawk

Shikra

Little Sparrowhawk

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk

Black Goshawk

Black Kite

African Fish-Eagle

Common Buzzard

Mountain Buzzard

Long-legged Buzzard

Augur Buzzard

Barn-Owls: Tytonidae

Barn Owl

Owls: Strigidae

African Scops-Owl

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl

Pearl-spotted Owlet

African Wood-Owl

Marsh Owl

Mousebirds: Coliidae

Speckled Mousebird

White-headed Mousebird

Blue-naped Mousebird

Trogons: Trogonidae

Narina Trogon

Bar-tailed Trogon

Hoopoes: Upupidae

Eurasian Hoopoe

Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills: Phoeniculidae

Green Woodhoopoe

White-headed Woodhoopoe

Common Scimitarbill

Abyssinian Scimitarbill

Hornbills: Bucerotidae

Southern Ground-Hornbill

Crowned Hornbill

African Gray Hornbill

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill

Von der Decken’s Hornbill

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Trumpeter Hornbill

Kingfishers: Alcedinidae

Malachite Kingfisher

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Gray-headed Kingfisher

Woodland Kingfisher

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Striped Kingfisher

Giant Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

Bee-eaters: Meropidae

White-fronted Bee-eater

Little Bee-eater

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

White-throated Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Madagascar Bee-eater

European Bee-eater

Rollers: Coraciidae

European Roller

Lilac-breasted Roller

Rufous-crowned Roller

Broad-billed Roller

African Barbets: Lybiidae

Red-and-yellow Barbet

D’Arnaud’s Barbet

White-eared Barbet

Moustached Tinkerbird

Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Red-fronted Barbet

Spot-flanked Barbet

Black-throated Barbet

White-headed Barbet

Honeyguides: Indicatoridae

Green-backed Honeyguide

Wahlberg’s Honeyguide

Pallid Honeyguide

Lesser Honeyguide

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Greater Honeyguide

Woodpeckers: Picidae

Cardinal Woodpecker

Bearded Woodpecker

Brown-backed Woodpecker

African Gray Woodpecker

Mountain Gray Woodpecker

Nubian Woodpecker

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae

Pygmy Falcon

Lesser Kestrel

Eurasian Kestrel

Greater Kestrel

Gray Kestrel

Red-necked Falcon

Amur Falcon

Sooty Falcon

Eurasian Hobby

African Hobby

Lanner Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Parrots: Psittaculidae

Fischer’s Lovebird

Yellow-collared Lovebird

Parrots: Psittacidae

Red-fronted Parrot

Meyer’s Parrot

Red-bellied Parrot

Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae

Gray Cuckooshrike

Black Cuckooshrike

Purple-throated Cuckooshrike

Old World Orioles: Oriolidae

Eurasian Golden Oriole

African Golden Oriole

African Black-headed Oriole

Wattle-eyes and Batises: Platysteiridae

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Chinspot Batis

Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Vangidae

White Helmetshrike

Retz’s Helmetshrike

Bushshrikes: Malaconotidae

Brubru

Black-backed Puffback

Black-crowned Tchagra

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tropical Boubou

Slate-colored Boubou

Rosy-patched Bushshrike

Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike

Black-fronted Bushshrike

Gray-headed Bushshrike

Drongos: Dicruridae

Fork-tailed Drongo

Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae

African Paradise-Flycatcher

Shrikes: Laniidae

Red-backed Shrike

Isabelline Shrike

Lesser Gray Shrike

Gray-backed Fiscal

Long-tailed Fiscal

Magpie Shrike

Taita Fiscal

Northern Fiscal

White-rumped Shrike

Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae

Cape Crow

Pied Crow

White-necked Raven

Fairy Flycatchers: Stenostiridae

White-tailed Blue Flycatcher

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice: Paridae

White-bellied Tit

Red-throated Tit

Larks: Alaudidae

Beesley’s Lark

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark

Pink-breasted Lark

Fawn-colored Lark

White-tailed Lark

Red-winged Lark

Rufous-naped Lark

Flappet Lark

Red-capped Lark

Short-tailed Lark

Somali Short-toed Lark

African Warblers: Macrosphenidae

Northern Crombec

Red-faced Crombec

Moustached Grass-Warbler

Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Green-backed Camaroptera

Buff-bellied Warbler

Bar-throated Apalis

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Black-headed Apalis

Gray Apalis

Brown-headed Apalis

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Red-fronted Warbler

Gray-capped Warbler

Red-faced Cisticola

Singing Cisticola

Trilling Cisticola

Hunter’s Cisticola

Rattling Cisticola

Wailing Cisticola

Winding Cisticola

Stout Cisticola

Croaking Cisticola

Tabora Cisticola

Siffling Cisticola

Tiny Cisticola

Zitting Cisticola

Desert Cisticola

Pectoral-patch Cisticola

Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

African Yellow-Warbler

Mountain Yellow-Warbler

Olive-tree Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Marsh Warbler

Common Reed Warbler

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Great Reed Warbler

Grassbirds and Allies: Locustellidae

Fan-tailed Grassbird

Evergreen-forest Warbler

Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler

Swallows: Hirundinidae

Plain Martin

Bank Swallow

Banded Martin

Rock Martin

Barn Swallow

Wire-tailed Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

Lesser Striped Swallow

Mosque Swallow

Common House-Martin

White-headed Sawwing

Black Sawwing

Gray-rumped Swallow

Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae

Eastern Mountain Greenbul

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Northern Brownbul

Cabanis’s Greenbul

Common Bulbul

Leaf Warblers: Phylloscopidae

Willow Warbler

Brown Woodland-Warbler

Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies: Sylviidae

Eurasian Blackcap

Garden Warbler

African Hill Babbler

Banded Parisoma

Brown Parisoma

Greater Whitethroat

White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae

Pale White-eye

Mbulu White-eye

Kilimanjaro White-eye

Laughingthrushes and Allies: Leiothrichidae

Rufous Chatterer

Scaly Chatterer

Arrow-marked Babbler

Black-lored Babbler

Northern Pied-Babbler

Oxpeckers: Buphagidae

Red-billed Oxpecker

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Starlings: Sturnidae

Wattled Starling

Violet-backed Starling

Red-winged Starling

Waller’s Starling

Sharpe’s Starling

Kenrick’s Starling

Hildebrandt’s Starling

Rueppell’s Starling

Ashy Starling

Superb Starling

Fischer’s Starling

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Thrushes and Allies: Turdidae

Abyssinian Ground-Thrush

Abyssinian Thrush

African Bare-eyed Thrush

Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae

African Dusky Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

African Gray Flycatcher

Pale Flycatcher

Gray Tit-Flycatcher

Ashy Flycatcher

Silverbird

Southern Black-Flycatcher

White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher

Red-backed Scrub-Robin

Cape Robin-Chat

Rueppell’s Robin-Chat

White-browed Robin-Chat

Red-capped Robin-Chat

Collared Palm-Thrush

Spotted Morning-Thrush

White-starred Robin

White-throated Robin

Thrush Nightingale

Little Rock-Thrush

Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush

Whinchat

African Stonechat

Moorland Chat

Mocking Cliff-Chat

Northern Anteater-Chat

Northern Wheatear

Capped Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear

Pied Wheatear

Familiar Chat

Abyssinian Wheatear

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird

Collared Sunbird

Green-headed Sunbird

Olive Sunbird

Amethyst Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Tacazze Sunbird

Bronze Sunbird

Malachite Sunbird

Golden-winged Sunbird

Eastern Double-collared Sunbird

Beautiful Sunbird

Mariqua Sunbird

Variable Sunbird

Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver

White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

Speckle-fronted Weaver

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Rufous-tailed Weaver

Gray-headed Social-Weaver

Black-capped Social-Weaver

Red-headed Weaver

Baglafecht Weaver

Little Weaver

Black-necked Weaver

Spectacled Weaver

Holub’s Golden-Weaver

Taveta Golden-Weaver

Lesser Masked-Weaver

Vitelline Masked-Weaver

Speke’s Weaver

Village Weaver

Golden-backed Weaver

Chestnut Weaver

Cardinal Quelea

Red-billed Quelea

Southern Red Bishop

Black-winged Bishop

Black Bishop

Yellow-crowned Bishop

Yellow Bishop

White-winged Widowbird

Red-cowled Widowbird

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Jackson’s Widowbird

Grosbeak Weaver

Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae

Bronze Mannikin

Black-and-white Mannikin

African Silverbill

Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Zebra Waxbill

Abyssinian Crimsonwing

Red-faced Crimsonwing

Gray-headed Nigrita

Black-faced Waxbill

Common Waxbill

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Quailfinch

Cut-throat

Purple Grenadier

Gray-headed Silverbill

Red-cheeked Cordonbleu

Blue-capped Cordonbleu

Green-winged Pytilia

Peters’s Twinspot

Red-billed Firefinch

African Firefinch

Jameson’s Firefinch

Indigobirds: Viduidae

Pin-tailed Whydah

Eastern Paradise-Whydah

Steel-blue Whydah

Straw-tailed Whydah

Village Indigobird

Variable Indigobird

Parasitic Weaver

Old World Sparrows: Passeridae

House Sparrow

Kenya Rufous Sparrow

Northern Gray-headed Sparrow

Swahili Sparrow

Chestnut Sparrow

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow

Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae

Mountain Wagtail

Gray Wagtail

Western Yellow Wagtail

African Pied Wagtail

White Wagtail

African Pipit

Long-billed Pipit

Plain-backed Pipit

Striped Pipit

Tree Pipit

Red-throated Pipit

Bush Pipit

Golden Pipit

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Pangani Longclaw

Rosy-throated Longclaw

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies: Fringillidae

Oriole Finch

Yellow-fronted Canary

Southern Citril

Reichenow’s Seedeater

White-bellied Canary

Southern Grosbeak-Canary

Brimstone Canary

Streaky Seedeater

Thick-billed Seedeater

Yellow-crowned Canary

Old World Buntings: Emberizidae

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Golden-breasted Bunting

This concludes the Ngorongoro Crater bird checklist

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Ngorongoro Crater bird checklist

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