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Birds Worth Watching In The Serengeti

The Serengeti is famous mostly for animals that are large in size, weight or herds - predators like the regal lion, large animals like the majestic elephant, or amazing natural phenomena like the migration of the wildebeest.

For bird-watching enthusiasts, however, a Serengeti National Park safari is an exciting opportunity to grab binoculars and cameras, and head out into the wilderness. There are a few birds to be found here that are not easy to find elsewhere in the world, especially in their natural habitats.

Some of these birds are:

1. The ostrich. The tallest, largest and among the most majestic of birds, the ostrich is found to roam free and solitary on the grasslands of the Serengeti. Standing at nearly 6 feet high and weighing nearly 150 kilograms, this flightless bird is prized in the wild for its beauty, and in domestic areas for its meat, feathers and leather. The male ostriches usually have black plumage, with white (vestigial) flight feathers and tail feathers. Females and males that are yet to attain maturity have grayish-brown plumage.

2. The marabou stork. This bird, found in swamps as well as deserts, is also called the "undertaker bird" for its cloaked-skeleton appearance and perhaps for its scavenging habits. Nearly 5 feet tall and weighing 9 kilograms, the bird also has the joint largest wingspan of any land bird - a staggering 3.2 meters. The appearance of the marabou stork is distinctive, with dark plumage on wings and back, soft white chest feathers and a bald head. The bird also has bald legs, and a huge bill with a neck ruff and pink gular sack beneath it. You may also picture the marabou in flight, with its neck tucked into its body and legs folded beneath it.

3. The secretary bird. If you picture an eagle on stilts, you will have a fairly accurate description of what this bird looks like. Standing in at about 4 feet tall, the secretary bird has an eagle's head - with quill-like crest feathers - with rounded wings and a crane's legs. Adult specimens of this bird of prey have a red featherless face, black outer feathers, and inner feathers that are grey or occasionally white. The bird's elongated legs, long tail and 2 meter wingspan make it the longest, tallest daytime bird of prey in the world.

4. The Kori bustard. Along with the Great Bustard, the Kori bustard is the heaviest flying bird in the world. Found in large numbers throughout Africa, this bird has grey feathers that enable it to camouflage almost perfectly in the grasslands, with black crest feathers and yellow legs. Standing at 60-90 cm high and over 100 cm long, the male Kori Bustard is indeed a magnificent specimen. Females are usually lighter than males - averaging 5.7 kilograms as opposed to 12.4 - as well as about 20cm shorter. The sight of the Kori Bustard with a bee-eater (another small bird) wandering on its back is a rather cute example of symbiosis, with the smaller bird thriving on the various insects that fall onto the bustard's back during its voyage across the grasslands.

So arm yourself with a quality pair of binoculars, an SLR and a few hours in the dawn. The thrill of seeing these birds as they move about in full ownership of the Serengeti is one that you will not get anywhere else.

About the Author

Wild Things Tanzania Safaris Design your own Tanzania Safari to suit your interests and budget. Specialists for Selous, Ruaha, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro and cultural safaris.

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