Birds of the Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Over 1,100 species of birds in all of Africa Third largest amount of species in the world About 520 of those species are found Tanzania Had to narrow focus somehow: Chose birds based off of abundance and residency of the Serengeti & Ngorongora Crater Early and late daylight hours are the best time to observe

Flamingos courtesy of Beth Two species inhabit crater: Greater (36-50 in) and Lesser flamingos (31-36 in) and a generally a non-migratory bird Commonly found on and around the saline lakes but in largest numbers at Empakaai Crater Lake. Filter feeders of plankton. Use their long, webbed feet to stir up bottom of shallow lakes, sucking up mud with curved beaks. Then they expel the water and eat the plankton, tiny fish, and shrimp inside. Pairs of flamingos take turns incubating their single egg (like many penguins do) and in years of drought or when food is scarce they will skip breeding Young flamingos are grey in color for two years in this time the store the pigment canthaxanthin in their liver and then deposit it when they grow adult feathers. Flamingos will molt their feathers every six months-every two years. Molted feathers will loose their pink color.

Common Ostrich The ostrich is the worlds largest bird Only found in Central Africa Habitat consists of Grasslands of all types Hatched from a football sized egg (largest size egg in the world) They cannot fly, however, they can reach speeds up to 70 km/h to escape predators (fastest of any land bird) If Ostrich is black and white it is of the male species Average Male stands about 2.4 m tall (8 ft) and weights about 135 Kg (300 lbs) Female birds are usually greyish brown & white in color Feed on large seeds, insects, grass, fruit & flowers Lives in groups anywhere from 5-50 birds Known predators: cheetahs, lions, leopards, & hyenas wildlife___birds.html

Raptors Raptor is defined as bird of prey There are over 35 different types of birds that fall under the Raptor category Two of the most commonly found raptors found in Tanzania are the Montagus Harrier & the Bateleur. Bateleur: – Known as the Zimbabwe Bird because it is their national emblem – A common resident of Africa – Bateleur pair for life – Male species are colorful, Females are larger and roughly the same coloring Montagus Harrier: – Of the Harrier family, easily confused with others of the same family – Migratory bird of prey – Named after British Naturalist George Montagu A Bateleur about to catch its prey. venues.com/wildlife/graphics/bateleur-01.jpg A Montagus Harrier

Vultures Vultures are birds that are known scavengers There are about 10 different types of Vultures found in Tanzania, the two listed below are the most common residents of Tanzania African White-backed Vulture: – Typical vulture with short tail feathers – Broad wings (6-7 ft. wingspan) – Only down feathers on the head and neck – Feeds on carcasses of animals – Medium sized Ruppells Vulture – Current population of 30,000 is in decline due to loss of habitat and other pressures – Confirmed as the highest flying bird! – Wingspan ( ft.) – Much larger than the African White-backed Vulture African White-Backed Vulture Ruppells Vulture

Larks Fischers Sparrow Lark – Habitat is subtropical-tropical dry lowland grasslands – Much like a finch Rufous-naped Lark: – Much like the Fischers Sparrow its habitat is dry savannah and tropical lowland grasslands Rufous-naped Lark (left) naped_Lark_(Mirafra_africana),_adult.jpg Fischers Sparrow Lark (above) scher039s-sparrow-lark- eremopterix-leucopareia/adult- male-0

Game Birds Grey-breasted Spurfowl – Only found in Tanzania – Population for this bird also decreasing due to loss of habitation – Not a migratory bird – Habitat: Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded Grassland Harlequin Quail – Also native resident – Life span: up to about 5 years – Diet: plants, shoots, mealworms, small invertebrates Grey-breasted Spurfowl (above) s?q=Grey-breasted+Spurfowl Harlequin Quail (left) Harlequin_Quail

Geese Egyptian Goose – Considered sacred among the Egyptians and appeared in their artwork – The male and female species are identical – This particular species are said to swim well – Diet: seeds, leaves, grasses, and plant stems – Territorially aggressive ***there are no other geese that are residents of the area*** Egyptian Goose (above) Egyptian_Goose

Bustards White-bellied Bustard (right) – This particular species is usually found in pairs or groups – Rather small – about inches long – All are brown above and white on the breast Kori Bustard (below) – Much larger Bustard – Said to be the heaviest bird capable of flight – Common in the Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater White-bellied Bustard e-bellied_Bustard Kori Bustard (left) Bustard

References Koch & Wolf. Ostrich. 4/29/ Bateleur. Wikipedia. 5/5/ Montagus Harrier. Wikipedia. 5/5/ Fischers Sparrow Lark. Wikipedia. 5/8/ Grey Breasted Spurfowl.Birdlife International. 5/8/ id=177 Heldquin Quail. Cotournix Corner. 5/9/ on=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=72 Bustards. Wikipedia. 5/8/