Birds of Karura Forest have always attracted birdwatching enthusiasts from all around the world. Karura Forest is a beautiful and diverse ecosystem located in Nairobi, Kenya. It is home to over 250 species of birds. Hence, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise. This magical destination is a must-visit for nature lovers and those who enjoy birdwatching. The forest offers many attractions, making it one of the best birdwatching spots in Nairobi. In this guide, we will walk you through the beauty and attractions of Karura Forest and introduce you to some of the amazing bird species that dwell there.
A Haven for Birdwatchers
Karura Forest is a 1041-hectare tropical paradise located in Nairobi, Kenya. It’s a spot plentiful with birds which makes it ideal for birdwatching. Within the forest are several peaceful walking and cycling trails, perfect for nature enthusiasts to explore. You may also enjoy River gazing in the Ruaka River and Karura waterfalls chasing. As you wander along the trails, you will encounter some of the most beautiful and unique bird species.
Must-See Attractions in Karura Forest
Apart from the enchanting birds of Karura Forest, the area offers its visitors numerous other attractions. Here are a few of the must-see spots:
- Karura Waterfalls – It’s impossible not to feel relaxed with the sounds of waterfalls in the lush surroundings. You’ll find a couple of stunning waterfalls within the forest.
- Mau Mau Caves – The forest is also home to ancient caves that were once hideouts during the Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya.
In addition to these attractions, birdwatching tour packages are available that will enhance your experience and make your trip unforgettable.
Common Bird Species Found in Karura Forest
Here is a list of some of the most common and rare bird species that can be seen in Karura Forest:
- Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
- African Paradise Flycatcher
- African Green Pigeon
- White-browed Robin-chat
- Tropical Boubou
- African Harrier-hawk
- Black Cuckooshrike
- Black-headed Oriole
- Augur Buzzard
- White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher
These are just a few examples of the wonderful birds of Karura Forest that await your visit. So, if you’re a birdwatching enthusiast or a nature lover, pack your bags and head over to Karura Forest, one of the best birdwatching spots in Nairobi, for an incredible experience.
Birds of Karura Forest, Nairobi Kenya
- Hartlaub’s Turaco
- Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
- Black Cuckooshrike
- Northern Fiscal
- Green-backed Camaroptera
- Yellow-breasted Apalis
- Red-faced Cisticola
- Singing Cisticola
- Highland Rush Warbler
- Rock Martin
- Lesser Striped Swallow
- Black Sawwing
- Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
- Common Bulbul
- Pale White-eye
- Rüppell’s Robin-Chat
- Baglafecht Weaver
- Village Weaver
- Bronze Mannikin
- Black-and-white Mannikin
- Red-billed Firefinch
- Streaky Seedeater
- White-backed Duck
- Yellow-billed Duck
- Tambourine Dove
- African Emerald Cuckoo
- Black Crake
- Gray Heron
- Black Kite
- Speckled Mousebird
More species of Birds in Karura
- Narina Trogon
- Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
- Chinspot Batis
- Black-backed Puffback
- Tropical Boubou
- African Paradise-Flycatcher
- Pied Crow
- Cabanis’s Greenbul
- Kikuyu White-eye
- Abyssinian Thrush
- Collared Sunbird
- Amethyst Sunbird
- Bronze Sunbird
- Spectacled Weaver
- Grosbeak Weaver
- Brown-chested Alethe
- Mountain Wagtail
- African Pied Wagtail
- Little Grebe
- Dusky Turtle-Dove
- Little Swift
- Eurasian Moorhen
- African Jacana
- White-bellied Tit
- Gray-capped Warbler
- African Dusky Flycatcher
- White-starred Robin
- Variable Sunbird
- Yellow Bishop
- White-winged Widowbird
- Golden-breasted Bunting
- Red-eyed Dove
- Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
- Red-chested Cuckoo
- Crowned Eagle
- Northern Yellow White-eye
- Egyptian Goose
- White-browed Coucal
- Marabou Stork
- Hadada Ibis
- Spot-flanked Barbet
- White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher
- Northern Double-collared Sunbird
- Holub’s Golden-Weaver
- Speke’s Weaver
- African Citril
- African Palm Swift
- Wire-tailed Swallow
- Red-rumped Swallow
- Augur Buzzard
- Rock Pigeon
- Klaas’s Cuckoo
- European Honey-buzzard
- Long-crested Eagle
- Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle
- African Fish-Eagle
- Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
- Winding Cisticola
- African Yellow-Warbler
- Lesser Swamp Warbler
- Slender-billed Greenbul
- White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
- Brimstone Canary
- Hamerkop
- African Goshawk
- Tawny-flanked Prinia
- Plain Martin
- Brown-backed Scrub-Robin
- Common Waxbill
- Common Buzzard
- Montane Nightjar
- Black-headed Heron
- White-headed Barbet
- Black-throated Wattle-eye
- Gray Apalis
- Common Reed Warbler
- Willow Warbler
- Greater Whitethroat
- White-rumped Swift
- Cape Robin-Chat
- African Sacred Ibis
- Cape Wagtail
- Common Sandpiper
- Great Egret
- Common Swift
- Little Sparrowhawk
- Long-tailed Fiscal
- Barn Swallow
- Black Goshawk
- Eurasian Blackcap
- Green-backed Honeyguide
- Green-backed Twinspot
- African Pygmy Kingfisher
- Pale Flycatcher
- Superb Starling
- Black-headed Apalis
- Long-tailed Cormorant
- African Harrier-Hawk
- Brown-backed Woodpecker
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Kenya Rufous Sparrow
- Reichenow’s Seedeater
- Garden Warbler
- Green Sandpiper
- Cattle Egret
- Brown Parisoma
- Gray Crowned-Crane
- White-faced Whistling-Duck
- Green-headed Sunbird
- Yellow-crowned Canary
- African Firefinch
- Southern Black-Flycatcher
- Gray-headed Kingfisher
- Black-winged Kite
- Malachite Kingfisher
- Lemon Dove
- Little Egret
- Brown-crowned Tchagra
- Yellow-billed Stork
- Intermediate Egret
- African Black-headed Oriole
- Chestnut Weaver
- Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
- African Darter
- Brown-hooded Kingfisher
- African Black Duck
- Village Indigobird
- Levaillant’s Cuckoo
- Common Cuckoo
- Great Reed Warbler
- European Bee-eater
- Lesser Honeyguide
- Rattling Cisticola
- Golden-winged Sunbird
- Cardinal Woodpecker
- Common House-Martin
- African Swamphen
- Black-chested Snake-Eagle
- Red-cheeked Cordon bleu
- Parrot-billed Sparrow
- African Swift
- Gray-olive Greenbul
- Northern Pied-Babbler
- Wood Sandpiper
- Marsh Sandpiper
- Red-faced Crombec
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird
- Buff-bellied Warbler
- Pied Kingfisher
- Wattled Starling
- Cape Crow
- Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
- Common Nightingale
- Thrush Nightingale
- Common Greenshank
- Red-backed Shrike
- Tree Pipit
- Ovambo Sparrowhawk
- Three-banded Plover
- Stout Cisticola
- Black-collared Apalis
- Yellow-bellied Greenbul
- Giant Kingfisher
- Striated Heron
- Lesser Moorhen
- Purple Grenadier
- Jackson’s Widowbird
- White-throated Robin
- Pin-tailed Whydah
- Isabelline Shrike
- Great Cormorant
- Red-tailed Shrike
- Rufous-naped Lark
- House Sparrow
- Yellow-bellied Waxbill
- Namaqua Dove
- Red-chested Flufftail
- Gray Cuckooshrike
- Red-cowled Widowbird
- Blue-billed Teal
- European Roller
- Mottled Swift
- White Stork
- Squacco Heron
- Eurasian Marsh-Harrier
- Marsh Warbler
- Shikra
- Thick-billed Seedeater
- African Cuckoo-Hawk
- Tawny Eagle
- Greater Honeyguide
- Red-knobbed Coot
- Violet-backed Starling
- Rufous-necked Wryneck
- Booted Eagle
- Beautiful Sunbird
- Western Yellow Wagtail
- African Green-Pigeon
- Bank Swallow
- Pied Cuckoo
- Great White Pelican
- Spur-winged Goose
- African Spoonbill
- Crimson-rumped Waxbill
- Moustached Tinkerbird
- Malagasy Pond-Heron
- Sedge Warbler
- Black-crowned Night-Heron
- Little Bittern
- Wahlberg’s Honeyguide
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck
- African Rail
- Sombre Greenbul
- Eurasian Hobby
- Dideric Cuckoo
- Purple Heron
- Red-billed Duck
- Red-fronted Tinkerbird
- Peregrine Falcon
- African Wood-Owl
- Harlequin Quail
- Gray-headed Nigrita
- Tullberg’s Woodpecker
- Fork-tailed Drongo
Listing courtesy of eBird
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