Birding in Ethiopia  Click here to find out more Bird Checklist of Ethiopia [880 Species]


This part includes; birding spots [hot spots], Endemic birds list, bird lists of Ethiopia

The great variety of natural environment , climate and altitude difference makes Ethiopia a very unique place for birding. Afro alpine, vegetation, bushes, grass land, forests and lakes and wet land as well as dry desert land escape and mild climate highland plateau – Ethiopia has all that Africa has to offer.

ORGANIZE A TRIP
HOST ETHIOPIA TOUR has unequal experience to organize this trip.
- With 4WD Toyota land cruiser differing in model depend on price
- Escourt BIRD guide and/or driver guide, escort cook, will accompany…AS ETHIOPIA HAS IN GENERAL LIMITED CERTIFIED BIRD GUIDES less probability to accompany by professionals, but our guides knows very well the hot spots to see endemics and also other bird species.

- Camping gear [except sleeping bag , cooking materials will be supplied
- Our optional itineraries touches most hot spots but we work seriously with tailor made packages to meet client specific interest and also we advise to make combined packages to use cost and time effectively.

Ethiopia also benefits from the incredible variety of Africa’s bird life as well as the presence of species which have migrated from Europe.

Of the ten bird families endemic to the African mainland, eight are represented in Ethiopia.
More than 880 bird species are found in Ethiopia, of which 16 are endemic. A further 14 species are shared with, which was part of Ethiopia until 1991. Ethiopia’s diverse habitats, highlands, lowlands, forests, lakes, wetlands and riverine systems provide sites for wintering or passage birds.
Important Bird Areas of Ethiopia, published by the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society, provides a list of 69 sites, spread throughout the country, with much work in identifying and classifying new sites still to be done.

Most bird watching sites are in the south of the country northern vicinity of Addis Ababa. An itinerary in search of all of Ethiopia’s endemic birds would take a minimum of 3 weeks, but shorter tour of about 10-15 days which would guarantee seeing most of the endemics and several hundred other species could be seen.

MAJOR BIRD SITES/ HOT SPOTS
Most bird watching itineraries are in the south of the country – an itinerary in search of all of Ethiopia’s endemic birds would take in Debre Libanos, north of Addis Ababa, the Jemma River valley, the escarpment north west of Addis Ababa, around Debre Berhan and Ankober and the descent to Melka Jedbu, the Awash National Park, the Rift Valley Lakes, Wondo Genet, Bale and the road south through the Harenna forest to Negele, the area near the border with Somalia near Bogol Manyo, west from there to Yabello, Konso and Fejej and Nech Sar National Park. This would take a minimum of 3 weeks, but shorter tours of about 10 days which would guarantee seeing most of the endemics and several hundred other species could be set up covering Awash National Park, the Rift Valley Lakes and the Bale Mountains.

AWASH NATIONAL PARK
Over four hundred species are recorded for the park: (The check list is available at the museum at park Head quarters). They range from the great ostrich, frequently and easily observed, and the less common Secretary Bird and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, to the flashes of brilliant pink which are the Carmine Bee-eaters, and the Abyssinian Roller with turquoise and purple, wings. And between these two extremes, birds of the riverine forest, Coucal, Turaco, Go-away Birds; birds of prey; and birds of the savannah.

ABIYATTA SHALLA NATIONAL PARK
The water of Lake Abiyatta is alkaline and among the birds attracted to feed on the algae are greater and lesser flamingoes and white pelicans, white-necked cormorants, herons, storks, fish eagles, spoonbills, ibises, ducks, gulls and terns. Surrounding woodland contains trogons, turacos and weaver birds. In the northern hemisphere winter the lake is host to migratory ducks and waders from Europe and Asia. Lake Shala is particularly famous for its colony of great white pelicans, (about 15,000 pairs), ibises, Abdimi's storks, and the white-necked cormorant. The lakes are important breeding grounds for several species of birds, especially the pelicans.

BALE NATIONAL PARK
The Bale Mountains possess many habitats rich in birds, particularly the Harenna Forest which has been little studied. More than one hundred and sixty species of birds are known from the Park area, but their number is certain to be added to considerably in the future. Since the Bale Mountains are isolated from other similar habitats in Africa by low and dry areas, many endemic species are found. At least twenty-three species of birds are known to be endemic to Ethiopia. No less than fourteen of these species are known to occur in the Bale Mountains National Park area, and several are easily seen every day.

Amongst the endemics, the more commonly seen only are mentioned here. The Blue-winged Goose and Rouget's Rail are found near any water be it stream or high mountain lake, at all altitudes. The noisy Wattled Ibis occurs in most muddy places busily probing for food with its long curved bill. Large numbers roost on high, cliffs in the mountains every night. The beautiful Spot-breasted Plover is found in large numbers in the wet season on the Sanetti Plateau, and large flocks of the White-collared Pigeon feed on the ground here at the same period. The weird-Iooking Thick-billed Raven is a denizen of most villages, and usually finds your camp at any altitude. The colourful little green and red Black-winged Love-birds are seen in large numbers in the forest areas, while the larger Yellow-fronted Parrot is less often seen in the same habitat. The strident ringing calls of the shy Abyssinian Catbird betray its presence in forest. Close observation in the Gaysay grasslands and beside the main road will reveal the Abyssinian Long claw -a drab little bird, but with a smart yellow bib. The high plateau is characterized by large flocks of the little black and yellow Black-headed Siskin.

The Bale Mountains, rich in streams and little Alpine lakes, provide food and security for unusual water birds such as the Ruddy Shelduck and the tall elegant Wattled Crane. Many European ducks and waders pass the dry season in the mountains, before returning to Europe, as do several birds of prey such as the Steppe Eagle and Kestrel. Probably the most common and friendly bird at all altitudes is the little drab but cheery Mountain Chat - puffed up like a round feathered ball in the icy dawn, hopping from tussock to tussock as he investigates you. One of the largest and most spectacular birds is the Lammergeier also called the Bearded Vulture or Bone-breaker. This enormous bird with its over-two-metre wingspan is often seen soaring alone over suitably high cliffs and rock outcrops, while splintered bone fragments, even on the top of Tullu Deemtu and Mt. Batu tell of its presence. Wherever you go in Bale there are birds to watch, and generally unusual ones to add considerably to your experience of this wonderful area.

RIFT VALLEY LAKES
The Rift Valley, punctuated by several large lakes, offers few endemics but very diverse and enjoyable woodland birding. Some of the several excellent birding sites here are Lake Langano, Awash National Park and Nechisar National Park, offering amongst many others such great birds as African Swallow-tailed Kite Chelictinia riocourii, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus and Arabian Bustard Ardeotis arabs.

Ethiopia's endemic species of birds LIST
• Abyssinian catbird (Parophasma galinieri)
• Abyssinian Salty flycatcher
• Abyssinian longclaw (Macronyx flavicollis)
• Abyssinian Woodpecker (Dendropicos abyssinicus)
• Abyssinian Bush-crow (Zavattariornis stresemanni)
• Ankober Serin (Serinus ankoberensis)
• Black-headed Siskin (Serinus nigriceps)
• Black-winged Lovebird
• Blue-winged Goose
• Degodi lark (Mirafra degodiensis)
• Harwood’s francolin (Francolinus hardwoodi)
• Nechisar nightjar (Caprimulgus nechisarensis)
• Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco (Tauraco ruspolii)
• Salvadori’s serin (Serinus xantholaema)
• Sidamo Long-clawd Lark (Heteromirafra sidamoensis)
• Spot-breasted Lapwing (Vanellus melanocephalus)
• Thick-billed Raven
• White-collard Pigeon
• Wattled ibis
• White-throated Serin
• White-tailed swallow (Hirundo megaensis)
• Yellow-fronted parrot (Poicephalus flavifrons)
• Yellow-throated serin (Serinus flavigula)

Click here to find out more Bird Checklist of Ethiopia [880 Species]

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Testimonies

“More interesting to stay longer in Omorate
Omorate tribal village and at Turkana lake , which is less touristy. Guide: very positive, attentive, considerate and helpful. Very efficient, dependable. Good attention to detail. We were well taken care. We would highly recommend Host Ethiopia Tour....”

Tourist From Australia

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