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

Engikaret Lark Plains Bird Checklist
African Palm Swift

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

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