All you need to Know about Birding in Kenya

Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Crinifer zonurus,is a huge Turaco found mostly in areas around Lake Victoria and its environs.It is a relatively common and noticeable bird,and unlike their forest counterparts,they lark radiant co lours.Their plumage is overall grey above spotted with brown. The head, erectile crest, neck, and breast are brown streaked with silver. The underparts are whitish, and heavily streaked with brown.Eastern Grey Plantain-eaters have a thick bright yellow bill and show a white wing bar in flight.

In Kenya it is a very easy bird to see around Kisumu city at the shores of Lake Victoria,Ahero rice plantations,Busia,Homabay,Kongolai valley and Migori.

Nightjars are largely nocturnal family. They look like owls, with large heads and eyes and a cryptic plumage. The family name caprimulgidae was given to them after some superstitious belief that because of their wide mouths, the birds suckled goats.

In Kenya we have 13 different species of Nightjars, wide spread in different habitats across the country. The photo appearing above was taken at a rocky countryside of Lake Baringo. Most species are nocturnal or active at dusk, and are solitary and retiring . They concentrate their foraging bouts during twilight hours.

By day, they roots on exposed grounds or rocks, in leaf litter, or on branches. When roosting , they adopt a horizontal posture, in contrast to owls.

Nightjars have very large eyes, adopted to low light condition. They eye have a tapetum, a reflective membrane that increases the amount of light entering the eyeball. Its presence causes reflective “eye-shine” when the eye are illuminated by artificial light.

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Tag: All you need to Know about Birding in Kenya

Eastern Grey Plantain-eater,the dominant Turaco around the Lake Region of East Africa.

The Cryptic Slender-tailed Nightjar at the Rocky Cliffs of Lake Baringo!