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COLIIDAE
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus: Common and widespread.
White-headed Mousebird Colius leucocephalus: Just a single at Samburu.
Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus: A dry country species which was particularly common
in Samburu/Buffalo Springs and in the Baringo area.
TROGONIDAE
Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina: One bird seen on the journey down from Mountain Lodge.
ALCEDINIDAE
Grey-headed Kingfisher (Chestnut-bellied Kingfisher) Halcyon leucocephala: Showy and colourful;
particularly common at Samburu/Buffalo Springs.
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris: One at Thika, at the edge of its range here.
Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti: Several sightings in Nairobi NP, Nakuru and the Mara
Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata: A tiny jewel which always delights.
African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picata: Just a single scoped at Baringo.
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima: One performed well at Thika.
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis: Several sightings, notably 20 at Baringo.
MEROPIDAE
Madagascar Bee-eater Merops superciliosus: About 20 at Lake Baringo.
White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis: Several small flocks in the Baringo area.
White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides: Surprisingly, just a single roadside bird between
Nakuru and Baringo.
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus: Widespread in dry country.
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates: A brightly coloured highland species.
Somali Bee-eater Merops revoilii: Just three birds at Buffalo Springs. More sombrely coloured than the
rest but still rather special.
CORACIIDAE
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudata: A gorgeous roller; always good for a stop!
Rufous-crowned Roller Coracias naevia: Three singles, at Nakuru and Baringo.
UPUPIDAE
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops: One early migrant (?) seen at Baringo. This bird may have been of
the race waibeli (which also shows the white bar on the primaries).
African Hoopoe Upupa africana. Common at Nakuru; a few others also seen. This species shows allblack
primaries.
PHOENICULIDAE
White-headed Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus bollei: Two groups seen at Mountain Lodge.
Green Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus: Garrulous family groups on several occasions.
Violet Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus damarensis: Seen well on several occasions at Samburu, but this
poorly differentiated form may well be lumped in Green Wood-hoopoe in future.
Abyssinian Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus minor: Several sightings of singles or pairs, in Samburu and
the Mara.
BUCEROTIDAE
Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri: Four seen by the roadside on the way back from the
Mara – what a sight!
Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus: The common dry country hornbill, mostly in
Samburu/Buffalo Springs.
10 Birdquest: The Best of Kenya 2005