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 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: 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
