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Brown-crowned Tchagra (Brown-headed Tchagra) Tchagra australis: Several at Nakuru and in the
Mara.
Three-streaked Tchagra Tchagra jamesi: Four birds seen at Buffalo Springs.
Sulphur-breasted Bush Shrike Malaconotus sulfureopectus: Several sightings, mainly of single birds.
Grey-headed Bush Shrike Malaconotus blanchoti: Two singles seen at Samburu.
Rosy-patched Bush Shrike Rhodophoneus cruentus: After a slow start, we managed to see eight of
these beautiful birds at Buffalo Springs, with several others heard.
Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus: A common black-and-white bird with a memorable voice.
Slate-coloured Boubou Laniarius funebris: The most sombre of the group; particularly common at
Buffalo Springs/Samburu; also at Siana Springs.
Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla: Widespread in small numbers.
CAMPEPHAGIDAE
Black Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga flava: One in the Mara and two more at Siana Springs.
Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga quiscalina: A pair on the way down from Mountain
Lodge was a welcome addition to the list.
Grey Cuckoo-shrike Coracina caesia: One at the same stop as the Purple-throated.
DICRURIDAE
Common Drongo (Fork-tailed Drongo) Dicrurus adsimilis: Common and widespread.
ORIOLIDAE
Black-headed Oriole (African Black-headed Oriole) Oriolus larvatus: A low altitude species; most
frequent at Nakuru and Baringo.
Montane Oriole Oriolus percivali: Several at Mountain Lodge as usual.
CORVIDAE
Pied Crow Corvus albus: Common.
White-naped Raven Corvus albicollis: A pair on the Oloololo escarpment in the Mara.
Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus: Fairly common in the drier, more arid north.
Cape Rook Corvus capensis: A high grassland species.
STURNIDAE
Kenrick’s Starling Poeoptera kenricki: Six seen well at Mountain Lodge.
Stuhlmann’s Starling Poeoptera stuhlmanni: Six birds seen in the botanical gardens near Kericho.
Waller’s Starling Onychognathus walleri: A total of 12 at Mountain Lodge, including some on the
journey down.
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio: A few seen in towns.
Slender-billed Starling Onychognathus tenuirostris: A total of 17 seen at Thomson’s Falls.
Bristle-crowned Starling Onychognathus salvadorii: Two singles seen at Samburu, but about 20 at
Baringo, both at the cliffs and in the gardens.
Blue-eared Starling (Greater Blue-eared Starling) Lamprotornis chalybaeus: Widespread.
Rüppell’s Long-tailed Starling Lamprotornis purpuropterus: Widespread.
Hildebrandt’s Starling Lamprotornis hildebrandti: Fairly frequent in the Mara and Siana Springs in
small numbers.
Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus: Simply superb and very common.
Golden-breasted Starling Cosmopsarus regius: Surely the most glorious starling of all; this year we
saw it frequently and well in Samburu, with up to a dozen per day.
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster: Small numbers in several places including Nairobi
NP, Thika and the Mara.
Abbott’s Starling Cinnyricinclus femoralis: A pair of these rare starlings was attending a presumed nest
hole in a tree directly opposite Mountain Lodge.
16 Birdquest: The Best of Kenya 2005