Deepak Rajanna

Male Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

This male was trying to woo his mate. He eventually went on to score.

Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius)

The theory is that this bird gets its name from the unique quills that make it look like a secretary of old with quill pens tucked behind his/her ears. Nasibu, my guide, had a more sexist explanation, something do with long legs and mini-skirts that I don't completely buy.

Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus)

This brightly coloured, gregarious bird doesn't seem to be afraid of people at all. They were present in all the picnic sites inside the national parks.

Purple Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis purpureus)

Another fairly common member of the starling family.

Hildebrandt's Starling (Lamprotornis hildebrandti)

Looks similar to the Superb Starling, but the red irises are a giveaway.

Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)

Said to be the heaviest bird -average male weighs 12kgs-capable of flight.

White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis)

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)

Yet another old-world vulture. This one was waiting for a hyena to finish his mail so that it could then clean up the scraps.

African Pygmy Falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus)

At a little over 19 cm, this is one of the smallest raptors I've seen.

Eastern Chanting Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus)

African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)

Venerated in ancient Egypt as the symbol of the god Thoth.

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)

Von der Decken's Hornbill (Tockus deckeni)

Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvinae leadbeateri)

Wish I could take a better picture of this ground dwelling hornbill. Its mate is blurred in the background.

Rufous-tailed Weaver (Histurgops ruficaudus)

Yet another species that's comfortable around humans. This couple was shot in the Naabi hill inside Serengeti.

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (Bubalornis niger)

Seemed to be picking something out of the big pile of elephant dung.

White-headed Buffalo Weaver (Dinemellia dinemelli)

This one was competing with the starlings in picking up scraps from the picnic area.

Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis)

Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)

Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)

Gets its name from its call which sounds like a blacksmith striking metal.

Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus)

Fischer's Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri)

This bird, I think, deserves a better name.

White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus)

Temminck's Courser (Cursorius temminckii)

Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola)

Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis)

Very similar in appearance to the Black Drongo of our country.

Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus)

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)

Coqui Francolin (Francolinus coqui)

Magpie Shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus)

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)

A fairly common bird in this part of the world. My guide, Nas, tells me that their meat is very tasty.

Kenya Rufous Sparrow (Passer rufocinctus)

Distinguishable from the house sparrow by the rufous coloration o its supercilium and around its ears.