Engikaret Lark Plains Bird Checklist : Engikaret Lake Plains is probably the most famous birding spot in East Africa famous for its endemic beeslys’s lark and other dry country specials, the plains are located in the North of Arusha – The Tanzania safari capital and it is approximately 45 kilometers of drive from the city center.
Engikaret Lake Plains supports a large number of passerines, raptors and a few ground dwelling birds, bird species in the plains recorded in the plains are over 388 species including 3 endemics, 9 near endemics, globally threatened or endangered and migratory species.
Ostriches: Struthionidae
Common Ostrich Struthio camelus
Ducks: Anatidae
White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
Guineafowl: Numididae
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies: Phasianidae
Crested Francolin Ortygornis sephaena
Shelley’s Francolin Scleroptera shelleyi
Harlequin Quail Coturnix delegorguei
Scaly Spurfowl Pternistis squamatus
Yellow-necked Spurfowl Pternistis leucoscepus
Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer
Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
<Lesser Flamingo> Phoenicoparrus minor
Grebes: Podicipedidae
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae
Rock Pigeon Columba livia
Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea
Mourning Collared-Dove Streptopelia decipiens
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola
Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos
Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria
Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
Sandgrouse: Pteroclidae
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus
Yellow-throated Sandgrouse Pterocles gutturalis
Black-faced Sandgrouse Pterocles decoratus
Bustards: Otididae
Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori
White-bellied Bustard Eupodotis senegalensis
Buff-crested Bustard Eupodotis gindiana
Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster
Turacos: Musophagidae
Bare-faced Go-away-bird Corythaixoides personatus
White-bellied Go-away-bird Corythaixoides leucogaster
Cuckoos: Cuculidae
Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius
Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus
/Common Cuckoo/ Cuculus canorus
African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis
White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus
Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
/Great Spotted Cuckoo/ Clamator glandarius
Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
Nightjars and Allies: Caprimulgidae
Donaldson-Smith’s Nightjar Caprimulgus donaldsoni
Slender-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus clarus
Square-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus fossii
Swifts: Apodidae
Mottled Spinetail Telacanthura ussheri
Alpine Swift Apus melba
Mottled Swift Apus aequatorialis
|Common Swift| Apus apus
Nyanza Swift Apus niansae
African Swift Apus barbatus
Little Swift Apus affinis
(Horus Swift) Apus horus
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus
Flufftails: Sarothruridae
Buff-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans
Cranes: Gruidae
Gray Crowned-Crane Balearica regulorum
Thick-knees: Burhinidae
Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae
Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus
Black-winged Lapwing Vanellus melanopterus
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus
Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus
/Caspian Plover/ Charadrius asiaticus
Kittlitz’s Plover Charadrius pecuarius
Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris
Sandpipers and Allies: Scolopacidae
/Ruff/ Calidris pugnax
/Little Stint/ Calidris minuta
/Common Greenshank/ Tringa nebularia
/Wood Sandpiper/ Tringa glareola
Pratincoles and Coursers: Glareolidae
Temminck’s Courser Cursorius temminckii
Double-banded Courser Smutsornis africanus
Three-banded Courser Rhinoptilus cinctus
Storks: Ciconiidae
/Black Stork/ Ciconia nigra
/Abdim’s Stork/ Ciconia abdimii
/White Stork/ Ciconia ciconia
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
Cormorants and Shags: Phalacrocoracidae
Long-tailed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus
Shoebill: Balaenicipitidae
Shoebill Balaeniceps rex
Hamerkop: Scopidae
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Ardeidae
Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
Great Egret Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash
African Spoonbill Platalea alba
Secretary-bird: Sagittariidae
Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Accipitridae
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus
Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus
/European Honey-buzzard/ Pernis apivorus
White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus
Rueppell’s Griffon Gyps rueppelli
Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
Black-chested Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis
Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinereus
Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus
/Lesser Spotted Eagle/ Clanga pomarina
Wahlberg’s Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi
/Booted Eagle/ Hieraaetus pennatus
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
/Steppe Eagle/ Aquila nipalensis
African Hawk-Eagle Aquila spilogaster
Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Dark Chanting-Goshawk Melierax metabates
Eastern Chanting-Goshawk Melierax poliopterus
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
/Pallid Harrier/ Circus macrourus
Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus
Shikra Accipiter badius
Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus
/Black Kite/ Milvus migrans
African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
|Common Buzzard| Buteo buteo
/Long-legged Buzzard/ Buteo rufinus
Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
Barn-Owls: Tytonidae
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Owls: Strigidae
African Scops-Owl Otus senegalensis
Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus
Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum
Marsh Owl Asio capensis
Mousebirds: Coliidae
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
White-headed Mousebird Colius leucocephalus
Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus
Hoopoes: Upupidae
/Eurasian Hoopoe/ Upupa epops
Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills: Phoeniculidae
Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
Abyssinian Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus minor
Hornbills: Bucerotidae
African Gray Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus
Northern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus
Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill Tockus ruahae
Von der Decken’s Hornbill Tockus deckeni
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes brevis
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae
Gray-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris
Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Bee-eaters: Meropidae
White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
/White-throated Bee-eater/ Merops albicollis
/Blue-cheeked Bee-eater/ Merops persicus
\Madagascar Bee-eater\ Merops superciliosus
|European Bee-eater| Merops apiaster
Rollers: Coraciidae
/European Roller/ Coracias garrulus
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus
Rufous-crowned Roller Coracias naevius
Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus
African Barbets: Lybiidae
Red-and-yellow Barbet Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
D’Arnaud’s Barbet Trachyphonus darnaudii
White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis
Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus
Red-fronted Barbet Tricholaema diademata
Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lacrymosa
Black-throated Barbet Tricholaema melanocephala
White-headed Barbet Lybius leucocephalus
Brown-breasted Barbet Lybius melanopterus
Honeyguides: Indicatoridae
Wahlberg’s Honeyguide Prodotiscus regulus
Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor
Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator
Woodpeckers: Picidae
Cardinal Woodpecker Chloropicus fuscescens
Bearded Woodpecker Chloropicus namaquus
African Gray Woodpecker Chloropicus goertae
Mountain Gray Woodpecker Chloropicus spodocephalus
Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica
Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae
Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus
/Lesser Kestrel/ Falco naumanni
/Eurasian Kestrel/ Falco tinnunculus
Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides
Fox Kestrel Falco alopex
Gray Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus
|Amur Falcon| Falco amurensis
/Eurasian Hobby/ Falco subbuteo
African Hobby Falco cuvierii
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
Parrots: Psittaculidae
Fischer’s Lovebird Agapornis fischeri
Yellow-collared Lovebird Agapornis personatus
Parrots: Psittacidae
Red-bellied Parrot Poicephalus rufiventris
Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae
Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava
Old World Orioles: Oriolidae
African Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus
Wattle-eyes and Batises: Platysteiridae
Black-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira peltata
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor
Pygmy Batis Batis perkeo
Bushshrikes: Malaconotidae
Brubru Nilaus afer
Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla
Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis
Tropical Boubou Laniarius major
Slate-colored Boubou Laniarius funebris
Rosy-patched Bushshrike Rhodophoneus cruentus
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike Telophorus sulfureopectus
Gray-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti
Drongos: Dicruridae
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae
African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
Shrikes: Laniidae
/Red-backed Shrike/ Lanius collurio
/Isabelline Shrike/ Lanius isabellinus
|Lesser Gray Shrike| Lanius minor
Gray-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides
Long-tailed Fiscal Lanius cabanisi
Magpie Shrike Lanius melanoleuca
Taita Fiscal Lanius dorsalis
Northern Fiscal Lanius humeralis
White-rumped Shrike Eurocephalus ruppelli
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Corvidae
Cape Crow Corvus capensis
Pied Crow Corvus albus
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis
Fairy Flycatchers: Stenostiridae
White-tailed Blue Flycatcher Elminia albicauda
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice: Paridae
Red-throated Tit Melaniparus fringillinus
Penduline-Tits: Remizidae
Mouse-colored Penduline-Tit Anthoscopus musculus
African Penduline-Tit Anthoscopus caroli
Larks: Alaudidae
Beesley’s Lark** Chersomanes beesleyi
Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix leucopareia
Pink-breasted Lark Calendulauda poecilosterna
Fawn-colored Lark Calendulauda africanoides
Horsfield’s Bushlark Mirafra javanica
White-tailed Lark Mirafra albicauda
Red-winged Lark Mirafra hypermetra
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana
Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea
Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea
<Short-tailed Lark> Pseudalaemon fremantlii
Somali Short-toed Lark Alaudala somalica
African Warblers: Macrosphenidae
Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura
Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii
Somali Crombec Sylvietta isabellina
Cisticolas and Allies: Cisticolidae
Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis
Gray Wren-Warbler Calamonastes simplex
Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava
Red-fronted Warbler Prinia rufifrons
Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops
Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans
Trilling Cisticola Cisticola woosnami
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana
Ashy Cisticola Cisticola cinereolus
Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais
Winding Cisticola Cisticola marginatus
Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis
Tiny Cisticola Cisticola nana
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus
Pectoral-patch Cisticola Cisticola brunnescens
Reed Warblers and Allies: Acrocephalidae
/Eastern Olivaceous Warbler/ Iduna pallida
/Upcher’s Warbler/ Hippolais languida
Swallows: Hirundinidae
Plain Martin Riparia paludicola
/Bank Swallow/ Riparia riparia
Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula
/Barn Swallow/ Hirundo rustica
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica
Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis
/Common House-Martin/ Delichon urbicum
Black Sawwing Psalidoprocne pristoptera
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae
Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus
Leaf Warblers: Phylloscopidae
/Willow Warbler/ Phylloscopus trochilus
Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies: Sylviidae
/Barred Warbler/ Curruca nisoria
Banded Parisoma Curruca boehmi
/Greater Whitethroat/ Curruca communis
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies: Zosteropidae
Pale White-eye Zosterops flavilateralis
Laughingthrushes and Allies: Leiothrichidae
Rufous Chatterer Argya rubiginosa
Scaly Chatterer Argya aylmeri
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii
Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpei
Northern Pied-Babbler Turdoides hypoleuca
Oxpeckers: Buphagidae
Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorynchus
Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus
Starlings: Sturnidae
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio
Hildebrandt’s Starling Lamprotornis hildebrandti
Ashy Starling Lamprotornis unicolor
Golden-breasted Starling Lamprotornis regius
Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus
Fischer’s Starling Lamprotornis fischeri
Thrushes and Allies: Turdidae
African Bare-eyed Thrush Turdus tephronotus
Old World Flycatchers: Muscicapidae
African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta
|Spotted Flycatcher| Muscicapa striata
African Gray Flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus
Pale Flycatcher Agricola pallidus
Ashy Flycatcher Fraseria caerulescens
Silverbird Melaenornis semipartitus
Southern Black-Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina
White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri
Red-backed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys
Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra
White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini
Collared Palm-Thrush Cichladusa arquata
Spotted Morning-Thrush Cichladusa guttata
/White-throated Robin/ Irania gutturalis
Little Rock-Thrush Monticola rufocinereus
/Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush/ Monticola saxatilis
/Whinchat/ Saxicola rubetra
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
Northern Anteater-Chat Myrmecocichla aethiops
/Northern Wheatear/ Oenanthe oenanthe
Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata
/Isabelline Wheatear/ Oenanthe isabellina
/Pied Wheatear/ Oenanthe pleschanka
Abyssinian Wheatear Oenanthe lugubris
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae
Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes orientalis
Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis
Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus
Mariqua Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis
Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus
Weavers and Allies: Ploceidae
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli
Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali
Rufous-tailed Weaver Histurgops ruficauda
Gray-headed Social-Weaver Pseudonigrita arnaudi
Black-capped Social-Weaver Pseudonigrita cabanisi
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht
Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis
Taveta Golden-Weaver Ploceus castaneiceps
Lesser Masked-Weaver Ploceus intermedius
Vitelline Masked-Weaver Ploceus vitellinus
Speke’s Weaver Ploceus spekei
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
<Golden-backed Weaver> Ploceus jacksoni
<Chestnut Weaver> Ploceus rubiginosus
<Cardinal Quelea> Quelea cardinalis
<Red-billed Quelea> Quelea quelea
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix
<Yellow-crowned Bishop> Euplectes afer
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis
White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus
Red-cowled Widowbird Euplectes laticauda
Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
Waxbills and Allies: Estrildidae
Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullata
African Silverbill Euodice cantans
Black-faced Waxbill Brunhilda erythronotos
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga
<Cut-throat> Amadina fasciata
Purple Grenadier Granatina ianthinogaster
Gray-headed Silverbill Odontospiza griseicapilla
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu Uraeginthus bengalus
Blue-capped Cordonbleu Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba
Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala
African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata
Indigobirds: Viduidae
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
Eastern Paradise-Whydah Vidua paradisaea
Steel-blue Whydah Vidua hypocherina
Straw-tailed Whydah Vidua fischeri
Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata
Variable Indigobird Vidua funerea
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Kenya Rufous Sparrow Passer rufocinctus
Northern Gray-headed Sparrow Passer griseus
Swahili Sparrow Passer suahelicus
Chestnut Sparrow Passer eminibey
Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow Gymnornis pyrgita
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae
/Western Yellow Wagtail/ Motacilla flava
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis
Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys
/Tree Pipit/ Anthus trivialis
Bush Pipit Anthus caffer
Golden Pipit Tmetothylacus tenellus
Pangani Longclaw Macronyx aurantiigula
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies: Fringillidae
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambicus
Southern Citril Crithagra hypostictus
Reichenow’s Seedeater Crithagra reichenowi
White-bellied Canary Crithagra dorsostriatus
Southern Grosbeak-Canary Crithagra buchanani
Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphuratus
Streaky Seedeater Crithagra striolatus
Yellow-crowned Canary Serinus flavivertex
Old World Buntings: Emberizidae
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi
Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris
Somali Bunting Emberiza poliopleura
