| Passeriformes |
| Birds are a very large family of animals, so many, that they are broken down into groups by order, according to the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy- a new and increasingly approved taxonomy based on DNA analysis, as opposed to the older taxonomy, which was more based on appearance, geography, and behavior. |
| White-Browed Robin-Chat |
|
Species:
Cossypha heuglini Length: 7-8" (18-20cm) |
| Serengeti | |
| The White-Browed Robin-Chat is an insectivorous bird, formerly thought to be a thrush. Now it's grouped in with the flycatchers. This little fellow was in a tree outside our tent at Kirawira in the Western Arm of the Serengeti. The White-Browed Robin-Chat is the most common of the Robin-Chats. |
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| Superb Starling |
|
Species:
Lamprotornis superbus Length: 7-7.5" (17-18cm) |
| Serengeti | ||
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We saw Superb Starlings everywhere in Northern Tanzania. They
are brightly iridescent (more so in bright sunlight) and beautiful.
They are the most common of the starlings. The differentiator of a Superb Starling from other similar starlings is the white stripe on the breast and the strikingly white eyes. |
| Here are some side views of some Superb Starlings. |  |
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| Red-Billed Buffalo-Weaver |
|
Species:
Bubalornis niger intermedius Length: 8.5-9" (21-23cm) |
| Serengeti | |
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The Red-Billed Buffalo Weaver is a member of the seed-eating Weaver
family. Most weavers built elaborately woven nests except for
buffalo-weavers, which build massive, thorny stick nests over a meter
long, sometimes with a woven nest inside. These birds are noisy and gregarious. We saw this one in the Naabi area in the south end of the Serengeti. |
| Parasitic Weaver |
|
Species:
Anomalospiza imberbis Length: 4.5" (11cm) |
| Ngorongoro | |
| The Parasitic Weaver, or Cuckoo Finch looks similar to a canary. Weavers are seed-eaters, and they spend a lot of time on the ground foraging for food. |
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| Rufous-Tailed Weaver |
|
Species:
Histurgops Ruficaudus Length: 8-8.5" (20-21cm) |
| Ngorongoro | |
| The Rufous-Tailed Weaver is another seed-eating bird that builds messy woven grass nests in acacia trees. It feeds on the ground, frequently with starlings, and is noisy and gregarious. |
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| Fan-Tailed Widowbird |
|
Species:
Euplectes axillaris Length: 6" (15cm) |
| Ngorongoro | |
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The Fan-Tailed Widowbird has broad wings, and a short tail. Tends to prefer marshy sites, which is where we saw this one- at Ngoitokitok Springs inside Ngorongoro Crater. This is a breeding male, according to the books, due to it's coloration (mostly black with red spot, and blue-gray bill). |
