Birding in Maasai Mara is one of the popular activities for visitors who enjoy watching birds during a safari. The Masai Mara National Reserve is well known for its large number of bird species. It has a bird count of about 500 species, which makes it a good place for bird watching in Kenya.
Bird Species in Masai Mara
Birding in Maasai Mara gives you a chance to see many types of birds in one place. There are about 47 bird of prey recorded in the reserve. These include eagles, hawks, and other hunting birds.
The world’s largest bird, the ostrich, can also be seen in the Masai Mara National Reserve. It is easy to spot in open grassland areas during game drives.
Special Birds in Maasai Mara
Some of the special birds seen during birding in Maasai Mara include African finfoot, African wood owl, Ayres’s hawk eagle, Purple grenadier, Red throated tit, Ross’s turaco, Rosy throated longclaw, Rufous bellied heron, Cinnamon breasted bunting, Denham’s bustard, Temminck’s courser, Trilling cisticola, Usambiro barbet, White bellied go away bird, Woolly necked stork, Yellow mantled widowbird, Giant kingfisher, Grey crested helmet shrike, Grey penduline tit, Hildebrandt’s starling, Jackson’s widowbird, Lazy cisticola, Ostrich, Rufous throated wryneck, Saddle billed stork, Schalow’s turaco, Secretary bird, Silverbird, Southern ground hornbill, Swahili sparrow, Tabora cisticola and Yellow throated sandgrouse.
These birds can be seen in different habitats such as rivers, grasslands, and wooded areas within the reserve.
Best Time for Birding in Maasai Mara
Birding in Maasai Mara can be done throughout the year. However, the best time is during the wet season when more birds are active and easier to find.
During this time, some migratory birds are also present, which increases the number of species you can see.
Birding Experience in Maasai Mara
Birding in Maasai Mara can be done during game drives or guided walks. Early morning is usually the best time because birds are more active.
Visitors are encouraged to carry binoculars and cameras to enjoy the experience better.
Birding in Maasai Mara offers a good chance to see many bird species in one Kenya safari. With about 500 recorded species, it is one of the best bird watching destinations in Kenya.
