Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi

641 Pages·2020·191.436 MB·English

by  Terry Stevenson, John Fanshawe

Birds of
EAST AFRICA
Kenya Tanzania Uganda Rwanda Burundi
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Dedicated to
Jane, Jay & Amory
Clare, Jack & Holly
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HELM FIELD GUIDES
Dedicated to
Jane, Jay & Amory
Birds of
Clare, Jack & Holly
EAST AFRICA
Kenya Tanzania Uganda Rwanda Burundi
Second Edition
Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe
Illustrated by
John Gale and Brian Small
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HELM
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP, UK
BLOOMSBURY, HELM and the Helm logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
First published in Great Britain 2020
This electronic edition published in 2020 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Copyright © Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe, 2020
Illustrations © Brian Small and John Gale, 2020
The authors have asserted their right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988,
to be identified as Authors of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
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without prior permission in writing from the publishers.
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to in this book. All internet addresses given in this book were correct at the time of going to press.
The authors and publisher regret any inconvenience caused if addresses have changed or sites have
ceased to exist, but can accept no responsibility for any such changes.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication data has been applied for.
ISBN: PB: 978-1-4081-5736-7
HB: 978-1-4729-8431-9
ePub: 978-1-4729-7330-6
ePDF: 978-1-4729-8662-7
Design by Julie Dando
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CONTENTS
Plate Page
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 9
INTRODUCTION 11
Landscapes 11
Seasonality 11
Sites 13
Species 14
SPECIES ACCOUNTS AND PLATES 16
Abbreviations 17
Bird topography 17
MAPS 19
CONSERVATION, CITIZEN SCIENCE AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 19
ADDITIONAL READING 20
SPECIES ACCOUNTS AND PLATES 21
Ostriches STRUTHIONIDAE 1 22
Albatrosses DIOMEDEIDAE 2 24
Petrels and shearwaters PROCELLARIIDAE 2–3 24–26
Southern Storm-petrels OCEANITIDAE 4 28
Northern Storm-petrels HYDROBATIDAE 4 28
Boobies SULIDAE 5 30
Tropicbirds PHAETHONTIDAE 6 32
Frigatebirds FREGATIDAE 6 32
Pelicans PELECANIDAE 7 34
Grebes PODICIPEDIDAE 7 34
Cormorants PHALACROCORACIDAE 8 36
Darters ANHINGIDAE 8 36
Finfoots HELIORNITHIDAE 8 36
Bitterns, herons and egrets ARDEIDAE 9–12 38–44
Hamerkop SCOPIDAE 13 46
Storks CICONIIDAE 13–15 46–50
Shoebill BALAENICIPITIDAE 15 50
Ibises and spoonbills THRESKIORNITHIDAE 16–17 52–54
Flamingos PHOENICOPTERIDAE 17 54
Ducks and geese ANATIDAE 18–23 56–66
Secretarybird SAGITTARIIDAE 24 68
Osprey PANDIONIDAE 25 70
Hawks, vultures, buzzards and eagles ACCIPITRIDAE 24–40, 42 68–100, 104
Falcons FALCONIDAE 41–45 102–110
Guineafowl NUMIDIDAE 46 112
Stone Partridge and allies ODONTOPHORIDAE 47, 50 114, 120
Quails and francolins PHASIANIDAE 47–51 114–122
Buttonquails and quail-plover TURNICIDAE 51 122
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Rails, crakes and gallinules RALLIDAE 52–55 124–130
Jacanas JACANIDAE 55 130
Cranes GRUIDAE 56 132
Bustards OTIDIDAE 57–58 134–136
Stilts and avocets RECURVIROSTRIDAE 59 138
Crab-plover DROMADIDAE 59 138
Oystercatchers HAEMATOPODIDAE 59 138
Painted-snipes ROSTRATULIDAE 59 138
Thick-knees BURHINIDAE 60 140
Coursers and pratincoles GLAREOLIDAE 61–62 142–144
Egyptian-plover PLUVIANIDAE 62 144
Plovers and lapwings CHARADRIIDAE 63–67 146–154
Sandpipers and allies SCOLOPACIDAE 67–73 154–166
Skuas STERCORARIIDAE 74 168
Gulls, terns and skimmers LARIDAE 75–81 170–182
Sandgrouse PTEROCLIDA 82 184
Pigeons and doves COLUMBIDAE 83–87 186–194
Parrots and lovebirds PSITTACIDAE 88–90 196–200
Turacos and go-away-birds MUSOPHAGIDAE 91–93 202–206
Cuckoos, coucals and yellowbills CUCULIDAE 94–98 208–216
Barn owls TYTONIDAE 99 218
Typical Owls STRIGIDAE 99–102 218–224
Nightjars CAPRIMULGIDAE 103–106 226–232
Swifts APODIDAE 107–109 234–238
Mousebirds COLIIDAE 110 240
Trogons TROGONIDAE 110 240
Kingfishers ALCEDINIDAE 111–113 242–246
Bee-eaters MEROPIDAE 114–117 248–254
Rollers CORACIIDAE 117–118 254–256
Woodhoopoes and scimitarbills PHOENICULIDAE 119–120 258–260
Hoopoes UPUPIDAE 120 260
Hornbills and ground-hornbills BUCEROTIDAE 121–125 262–270
African barbets and tinkerbirds LYBIIDAE 126–131 272–282
Honeyguides INDICATORIDAE 132–134 284–288
Woodpeckers, wrynecks and piculets PICIDAE 134–138 288–296
African Broadbills CALYPTOMENIDAE 139 298
Typical Broadbills EURYLAIMIDAE 139 298
Pittas PITTIDAE 139 298
Larks ALAUDIDAE 140–144 300–308
Swallows and martins HIRUNDINIDAE 145–148 310–316
Wagtails, pipits and longclaws MOTACILLIDAE 149–153 318–326
Cuckooshrikes CAMPEPHAGIDAE 154–155 328–330
Nicators NICATORIDAE 155 330
Bulbuls and greenbuls PYCNONOTIDAE 156–163 332–346
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Old World robins MUSCICAPIDAE 164–168 348–356
Thrushes TURDIDAE 169–172 358–364
Old World chats MUSCICAPIDAE 172–178 364–376
Spot-throat and allies MODULATRICIDAE 171 362
Reed warblers and allies ACROCEPHALIDAE 179–181, 183 378–382, 386
Grasshopper warblers and allies LOCUSTELLIDAE 181–182, 191 382–384, 402
Old World warblers SYLVIIDAE 184, 191, 216 388, 402, 452
Leaf warblers PHYLLOSCOPIDAE 185–186 390–392
Bush warblers and allies SCOTOCERCIDAE 186, 215, 220 392, 450, 460
Crombecs and allies MACROSPHENIDAE 187–188, 191 394–396, 402
Cisticolas and allies CISTICOLIDAE 189–204 398–428
Hyliotas HYLIOTIDAE 190 400
Old World flycatchers MUSCICAPIDAE 205–209, 213 430–438, 446
Batises and wattle-eyes PLATYSTEIRIDAE 210–212 440–444
Shrike-flycatchers VANGIDAE 211 442
Monarch-flycatchers MONARCHIDAE 213–214 446–448
Fairy-flycatchers and allies STENOSTIRIDAE 214–215 448–450
Ground babblers PELLORNEIDAE 216 452
Babblers and allies LEIOTRICHIDAE 217–218 454–456
Tits PARIDAE 219–220 458–460
Spotted creepers SITTIDAE 220 460
Penduline-tits REMIZIDAE 221 462
White-eyes ZOSTEROPIDAE 221–222 462–464
Sunbirds NECTARINIIDAE 223–233 466–486
Shrikes LANIIDAE 234–236, 243 488–492, 506
Bushshrikes and allies MALACONOTIDAE 237–242 494–504
Helmetshrikes VANGIDAE 243 506
Drongos DICRURIDAE 244 508
Crows and allies CORVIDAE 244–245 508–510
Orioles ORIOLIDAE 246–247 512–514
Oxpeckers BUPHAGIDAE 247 514
Starlings STURNIDAE 248–253 516–526
Old World sparrows PASSERIDAE 254–255 528–530
Weavers and allies PLOCEIDAE 254, 256–271 528, 532–562
Waxbills and allies ESTRILDIDAE 272–282 564–584
Whydahs and indigobirds VIDUIDAE 283–284 586–588
Canaries, seedeaters and allies FRINGILLIDAE 266, 285–288 552, 590–596
Buntings EMBERIZIDAE 288–289 596–598
VAGRANTS 601
Appendix 1: Endemic bird species in East Africa 605
Appendix 2: Threatened bird species in East Africa 609
Appendix 3: Important Bird Areas in East Africa 612
INDEX 617
QUICK INDEX TO THE MAIN GROUPS OF BIRDS 640
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Numerous people have contributed to this book. We would like to start with two. The late Phoebe Snetsinger
had, at the time of her death, seen more species of birds in the world than any other person. Her spirit and
commitment to global birding was an inspiration to all who knew her. David Ngala’s passion for the forest beside
which he was born, Arabuko-Sokoke, means future generations of birders are more likely to be able to enjoy
unique birds like Sokoke Pipit and Sokoke Scops-Owl.
The artists who have provided the plates for this field guide, John Gale and Brian Small, have worked
extraordinarily hard to ensure that they are accurate; we owe them an immeasurable debt of gratitude.
We must give a special mention to our friend, Brian Finch, who in the latter stages of the first edition came
on board and worked tirelessly on our voice sections.
Special thanks are also due to our patient colleagues: Rose Ann Rowlett, Richard Webster, John Coons
and all of the team at Field Guides Inc.; Elizabeth Allen, Gary Allport, Julius Arinaitwe, Mark Balman, Leon
Bennun, Stu Butchart, Dave Capper, Nigel Collar, Richard Grimmett, Frank Hawkins, Kiragu Mwangi, Paul Kariuki
Ndanganga, Mike Rands, Sue Shutes, Martin Sneary, Alison Stattersfield, David Thomas, Hazell Thompson, and
all the team at BirdLife International and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative; Paul Matiku, Paul Gacheru,
Solomon Mwangi, Oliver Nasirwa, Peter Njoroge, Shriti Rajani, Edward Waiyaki, and all the staff and volunteers
at Nature Kenya and in the National Museums of Kenya; Anthony Kuria of the Tropical Biology Association;
Alex Mwalimu, Wellington Kombe, Francis Charo, and all the members of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Guides
Association; Robert Pryˆs-Jones, Mark Adams and Peter Colston at the Natural History Museum, Tring; Colin
Jackson, Sidney Shema, and others at Kenya Bird Map; Marshall Iliff and James Bradley at eBird; and Denis
Lepage, creator and co-ordinator of Avibase.
Many, many others have also provided advice, support and encouragement at various stages, and we
apologise for anyone inadvertently missed from this list: Barbie Allen, Ken Arber, Norman Arlott, Graeme
Backhurst, the late Liz Baker, Neil Baker, Keith Barnes, Mark Beaman, Simon Blyth, the late Markus Borner, Nik
Borrow, Rob Brett, Paul Buckley, the late Margaret Carswell, Clide Carter, Gail & Doug Cheeseman, Ntoyinkima
Claver, Gary Claydon, Callan Cohen, Norbert Cordeiro, the late Miles Coverdale, John Croxall, Harvey Croze and
Cristina Boelcke, Tim Dee, Bob Dowsett, Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire, David Fisher, Lincoln Fishpool, Jon Fjeldså,
the late Pat & Mona Frere, the late Robin Fuggles-Couchman, the late Alec Forbes-Watson, Fay Gale, Paul Gale,
Yves Gaugris, Martin Gebauer, Nathan & Cecilia Gichuki, Deborah Goodhart, the late Roy Gregory, the late Jenny
Horne, Nigel Hunter, Hussein adan Isack, Colin Jackson, Sam Kanyamibwa, Martin Kelsey, Adam Scott Kennedy,
Guy Kirwan, the late Jeannie Knocker, Margaret Kullander, Leo Kunkel, Lala Kunkel, Mike Langman, Chris Lear,
Adrian Lewis, David Macdonald, Duncan Macdonald, Clair Mathews, Duncan McCrae, the late Roland McVicker,
Alia Moller, David Moyer, Catherine Ngarachu, Fleur Ng’weno, the late Jimmy Onslow, Craig Packer, Robert
Payne, the late David Pearson, Derek Pomeroy, Tony Potterton, Richard Porter, Anne Pusey, Richard Ranft, Jake
Reynolds, Dave Richards, Andy Roberts, Jamie Roberts, Ann & Ian Robertson, Iain Robertson, the late Alan Root,
Jonathan Roussow, Jonathan Scott, Lester Short, the late Barbara Simpson, Ian Sinclair, Janet Small, the late
Chum van Someren, Claire Spottiswoode, the late Bob Sternsjedt, Neil Stronach, Chris Thouless, Don Turner,
Herbert Tushabe, Lucy Vigne, John Wheeler, Tom Whiley, Liz Wily, Jean Pierre Vande weghe, Gael Vande weghe,
Washington Wachira, the late Martin Woodcock, and Dale Zimmerman.
At T. & A. D. Poyser, publishers of the first editon of this guide, tremendous back-up was provided by a team
that included Sam Fallon, Sutapas Bhattacharya and our former editor Andrew Richford. Andy commissioned
the first edition and provided unwavering support throughout. For the second edition, our publisher, Jim Martin,
and his editorial team at Bloomsbury including Jenny Campbell, have provided core support in bringing the book
to fruition. Our friend, Nigel Redman has made a major contribution to proofing this edition, and we owe an
immense debt of gratitude to our designer, Julie Dando, whose work on field guides is simply brilliant.
Finally, this book is still dedicated to our long-suffering families, particularly to our partners, Jane Roberts
and Clare FitzGibbon, and to our parents, Marjorie and the late Bill Stevenson, and the late Peter and Clemency
Fanshawe.
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