Kenana Farm sits up on the western wall of the Great Rift Valley, backing onto the water laden and forested Mau highlands, with stunning views to the north that drop away to Kenya’s northern drylands and desert. This geographical and climatological ecotone creates an unbelievable wealth of birdlife in the area. Forest species escape from the wet and cold mountain, just as dry-land species come up to escape the parching droughts of lower altitudes.

The Great Rift Valley also serves as a navigational highway for bird species escaping winters for both Northern and Southern hemispheres. The narrowest part of this trans-continental geological feature, just 40km wide, funnels all these avian migrants into this area.

The list below covers a record of 250 bird species seen on and around the farm by a small group of birdwatchers since 2010:

 

Checklist of the Birds around Kenana, Njoro
2335m / 7650ft above sea level

Compiled with help from:
Linda Brown, Neil Cohen, Nigel Hunter, Ketan Jarath,
Andrew Nightingale, Patricia Nightingale, Gad Njenga, Wilson Tiren

Key to the Abbreviations / Symbols used:
(am) migrant from the Afrotropical region
(mm) migrant from the Malagasy region
(om) migrant from the Oriental region
(pm) migrant from the Palearctic region

When these letters are in lower case, migrants of that category may occur alongside resident, non-migratory individuals or individuals of one of the other migrant categories.

Numididae: Guineafowl
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
Crested Guineafowl Numida pucherani

Phasianidae: Quails, Francolins, Spurfowl & allies
Yellow-necked Spurfowl Francolinus leucoscepus
Coqui Francolin Francolinus coqui
Common Quail Colurnix coturnix
Harlequin Quail Coturnix delegorguei A

Anatidae: Grebes, Ducks & Geese
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegvpiiaca
Spur-winged Goose Plectopterus gambensis
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegvpiiaca
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata
White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata
African Black Duck Anas sparsa
Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos

Rallidae: Rails, Crakes & Gallinules
Black Crake Zaporina flavirostra
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Red Knobbed Coot Fulica cristata

Phoenicopteridae: Flamingos
Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor (am)

Ciconiidae: Storks
Yellow-billed Stork Mycleria ibis (am)
African Open-billed Stork Anastomus lamelligerus (am)
Wooly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
Black Stork Ciconia nigra (pm)
Abdims Stork Ciconia abdimii (am)
White Stork Ciconia ciconia PM
Marabou Stork Lepioptilos cumen

Threskiornithidae: Ibises & Spoonbills
Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash
African Spoonbill Platalea alba

Ardeidae: Herons, Egrets & Bitterns
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorczr nycticorax (am. pm)
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides (mm)
Striated Heron Butorides striata
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Madagascar Pond Heron Ardeola idae
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
Great White Egret Ardea alba
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Yellow-billed Egret Ardea brachyrhyncha

Scopidae: Hamerkop
Hamerkop Scopus umbrella

Pelecanidae: Pelicans
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrolalus

Phalacrocoracidae: Cormorants
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Reed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus

Falconidae: Falcons
African Hobby Falco cuvierii
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmacus
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus (pm)

Accipitridae: Diurnal Birds of Prey other than Falcons
Secretary Bird Sagittarius serpenturius
Eurasian Honey Buzzard Pernis apiporus PM
African Black-shouldered Kite Elanus cueruleus
Black Kite (Yellow-billed) Milvus nugrans (am / pm)
African Fish Eagle Haliaeeius vocifer
Black-chested Snake Eagle Circaetus pecloralis
Western-banded Snake Eagle Circaetus cinerascens
Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus
African Marsh Harrier Circus ramvorus
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus (pm)
Montagues Harrier Circus pyargus (pm)
African Harrier Hawk (Gymnogene) Polyboroides typus
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
African Goshawk Accipiter iachiro
Shikra Accipiter badius
Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Great Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucas
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo (pm)
Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus (pm)
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis (pm)
Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus
Verreauxs Eagle Aquila verreauxii
Wahlbergs Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi (am / pm)
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis

Otididae: Bustards
Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster

Heliornithidae: Finfoots
African Finfoot Podica senegalensis

Gruidae: Cranes
Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum

Recurvirostridae: Stilts
Black Winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Turnicidae: Buttonquails
Common Buttonquail Turnix sylvaticuss

Charadriidae: Lapwings
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armalus
Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris
Black-winged Lapwing Vanellus melanopterus
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus
Three-banded Lapwing Charadrius tricollaris
Ringed Lapwing Charadrius hiaticula (pm)

Scolopacidae: Sandpipers & relatives
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus (pm)
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos (pm)
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola (pm)
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (pm)
African Snipe Gallinago nigripennis

Laridae: Gulls
Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus

Columbidae: Pigeons & Doves
Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea
Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens
African Mourning Dove Streptopelia decipiens
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos
Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria
Namaqua Dove Lena capensis
African Green Pigeon Treron calvus

Psittacidae: Lovebirds & Parrots
Hybrid Lovebird Agapornis fischeri x personalus
Meyer’s (Brown) Parrot Poicephalus meyeri

Musophagidae: Turacos
Hartlaub’s Turaco Tauraco hartlaubi
Ross’s Turaco Musophaga rossae

Cuculidae: Cuckoos & Coucals
Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus (am pm om)
Levalliants Cuckoo Clamator lavalliantii (am pm om)
African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis
Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius (am)
Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus

Tytonidae: Barn Owls
Grass Owl Tylo capensis
Barn Owl Tylo alba

Strigidae: Typical Owls
African Scops Owl Olus senegalensis
Northern White-faced Scops Owl Ptilopsis leucoiis
Mackinders Eagle Owl Bubo capensis mackinderi
Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus
Verreaux’s Eagle Owl Bubo lacteus

Caprimulgidae: Nightjars
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
Freckled Nightjar Caprimulgus tristigma
Montane Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus
Pennant-winged Nightjar Caprimulgus vexillarius

Apodidae: Swifts
Common (Eurasian) Swift Apus apus PM
Nyanza Swift Apus niansae
African Black Swift Apus barbatus
Little Swift Apus affinis
Mottled Spinetail Telacanthura ussheri
Horus Swift Apus horus
African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer

Coraciidae: Rollers
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus
Purple Roller Coracias naevius
European Roller Coracias garrulus (pm)
Broad-billed Roller Euryslomus glaucurus (am, mm)

Coliidae: Mousebirds
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus

Alcedinidae: Kingfishers
Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala (am)
Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus
Giant Kingfisher Megacecyle maxima
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

Meropidae: Bee-eaters
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates
White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides
Eurasian Bee-eater Merops apiaster (pm)

Upupidae: Hoopoe
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops epops (pm)
African Hoopoe Upupa epops africana (am)

Phoeniculidae: Wood-hoopoes
Green Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus
Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Bucerotidae: Hornbills
Crowned Hornbill Tockus albolerminalus
Black & White Casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus

Capitonidae: Barbets & Tinkerbirds
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus hilineatus
Moustached Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus leucomystax
Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus
DÁrnaud’s Barbet Trachyphonus darnaudii
Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lachrymosa
Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus

Indicatoridae: Honeyguides & Honeybirds
Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor
Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator
Scaly-throated Honeyguide Indicator variegatus
Green-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus zambesiae
Brown-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus regulus

Picidae: Wrynecks & Woodpeckers
Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni
Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicus fuscescens
Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicus namaquus
Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica
African Grey Woodpecker Dendropicus goerlae

Platysteiridae: Batises, Wattle-eyes & relatives
Black Throated Wattle-eye Platysteria peltata
Chin-spot Batis Batis molitor

Malaconotidae: Helmetshrikes, Bushshrikes, Tchagras & Puffbacks
Grey-headed Bushshrike Chlorophoneus blanchoti
Black-fronted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus nigrifrons
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopeclus
Black-crowned Tcharga Tcharga senegalus
Brown-crowned Tcharga Tcharga australis
Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis
Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla
Slate-coloured Boubou Laniarius funebris
Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus

Campephagidae: Cuckooshrikes
Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava

Laniidae: Shrikes
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio PM
Long-tailed Fiscal Lanius cabanisi
Grey-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus (pm)
Mackinnons Shrike Lanius mackinnoni

Oriolidae: Orioles
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus
Montane Oriole Oriolus percivali

Dicruridae: Drongos
Common Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis

Monarchidae: Monarch Flycatchers
African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
African Blue Flycatcher Elmima longicauda

Pellorneidae: Chatterers & Babblers
Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpei
Rufous Chatterer Argya rubignosa

Corvidae: Crows & allies
Pied Crow Corvus albus
Cape Rook Corvus capensis

Paridae: Tits
White-bellied Tit Parus albiventris

Hirundinidae: Saw-wings, Swallows & Martins
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera
Plain Martin Riparia paludicola (am)
Banded Martin Riparia riperia
Barn (Eurasian) Swallow Hirundo rustica PM
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligulu
Common House Martin Delichon urbicum PM
Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis
Angola Swallow Hirundo angolensis
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica

Alaudidae: Larks
Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea
Rufous-naped Lark Mirajha africana

Cisticolidae: Cisticolas and allies
Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans
Hunters Cisticola Cisticola hunter
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana
Winding Cisticola Cisticola galaclofes
Stout Cisticola Cisticola robustus
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia sulflava
Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema
Black-collared Apalis Oreolais pulcher
Grey-capped Warbler Eminia lepida
Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyuran

Pycnonotidae: Bulbuls
Yellow-whiskered Greenbul Eurillas latirostris
Common Bulbul Pycnonolus barbatus

Sylviidae: Old World Warblers
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus (pm)
Cinnamon Bracken Warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus
Little Rush Warbler Bradypterus baboecala
Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris
Mountain Yellow Warbler Iduna similis
Pectoral Patch Cisticola Cisticola brunnescens
Red-faced Crombec Sylvieita whytii
Eurasian Blackcap Warbler Sylvia atricapilla (pm)
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin (pm)
Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria (pm)
Brown Parisoma Sylvia lugens

Zosteropidae: White-eyes
Northern Yellow White-eye Zosierops senegalensis
Kikuyu (Montane) White-eye Zosierops kikuyuensis

Sturnidae: Starlings & Oxpeckers
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea (am)
Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Lesser Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chloroplerus
Superb Starling Lamprotornis superhus
Hildebrandt’s Starling Lamprotornis hildebrandti
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus mono
Slender-billed Starling Onychognathus tenuirosiris
Red Billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus

Turdidae: Thrushes
Abyssinian Thrush Turdus abyssinicus
African Thrush Turdus pelios
Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus
Little Rock Thrush Monticola rufocinereus

Muscicapidae: Chats, Wheatears & Old World Flycatchers
Cape Robin Chat Cossypha cafta
White-browed Robin Chat Cossypha heuglini
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra (pm)
Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka 
Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe (pm)
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
Northern Anteater Chat Myrmecocichla aethiops
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata (pm)
White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher Alelaenornis fischeri
Silverbird Empidornis sennpartilus
African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta

Nectariniidae: Sunbirds
Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis
Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
Tacazze Sunbird Nectarinia tacazze
Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis
Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa
Golden-winged Sunbird Drepanorhynchus reichenowi
Eastern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris mediocris
Northern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris reichenowi
Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyrus pulchellus
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris
Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venusfus

Passeridae: Sparrow Weavers, Old World Sparrows & Petronias
White-browed Sparrow Weaver Plocepasser mahali
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Kenya Rufous Sparrow Passer rufocinctus
Grey-headed (Swahili) Sparrow Passer griseus
Chestnut Sparrow Passer eminihey

Ploceidae: Weavers, Bishops & Widowbirds
Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht
Black-headed (Village) Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Brown Capped Weaver Ploceus insignis
Holubs Golden Weaver Ploceus xanthops
Speke’s Weaver Ploceus spekei
Golden-backed Weaver Ploceus jacksoni
Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis
Chestnut Weaver Ploceus rubiginosus (am)
Cardinal Quelea Qulea cardinalis
Red-billed Quelea Qulea quelea
Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanis
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis
White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albanotatus
Red-collared Widowbird Euplecles ardeni
Jackson’s Widowbird Euplectes jacksoni

Estrildidae: Waxbills
Black-crowned Waxbill Estrilda nonnula
Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga
Yellow-bellied Waxbill Coccopygia quartinia
Grey-headed Nigrita Nigrita canicapillus
Abyssinian Crimsonwing Cryptospiza salvadorii
African Quailfinch Ortygospiza africollis
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus
Purple Grenadier Granazina ianthinogaster
Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticla senegala
African Firefinch Lagonosticla rubricata
Orange-breasted (Zebra) Waxbill Amandava sueflava
Bronze Mannikin Spermesles cucullcuus
Grey-headed Silverbill Odontospiza griseicapilla

Viduidae: Parasitic Weaver, Indigobirds & Whydahs
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeala

Motacillidae: Wagtails, Longclaws & Pipits
Yellow Wagtail Molacilla flava PM
Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis
African Pied Wagtail Molacilla aguimp
Sharpe’s Longclaw Macronyx sharpei
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
African Pipit Amhus cinnamomeus
Tree Pipit Anlhus trivialis

Fringillidae: Canaries, Citrils, Seedeaters & relatives
Yellow-crowned Canary Serinus flaviverlex
African Citril Crithagra citrinelloides
Reichenow’s (Yellow-rumped) Seedeater Crithagra reichenowi
Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurala
Ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana (pm)
Thick-billed seedeater Crithagra burtoni
Streaky Seedeater Crithagra strioluta