Most people come to Kenya for the big mammals, and then fall for the birds. Colourful, bold and often easy to see, they bring a game drive to life between the bigger sightings. The Maasai Mara alone has more than 500 bird species recorded.
Lilac-breasted roller
This is the bird many guests photograph first, and it is unofficially considered Kenya’s national bird. It is about 36 to 38 centimetres long including tail streamers, and it weighs around 104 grams. It perches high in open woodland and savanna, scans for prey, then swoops down to catch insects, spiders, scorpions and small lizards. In the breeding season males perform dramatic dives with harsh calls.
Secretary bird
Standing around 1.3 metres tall, this raptor hunts on foot. It stamps through grass to flush prey. It is now endangered, so every sighting is special. Read more in birds of prey in Kenya.
Martial eagle
A powerful eagle that soars high and stoops on prey. It is also listed as endangered.
How to enjoy birds on safari
- Bring binoculars and ask your guide to pause for birds.
- Look at fence posts, dead branches and termite mounds, where birds like to perch.
- Go early in the morning, when many birds are active.
- Be patient and let the bird settle before you move.
Photography
A long lens helps with small birds. See camera gear for Kenya and photography tips.
Plan a birding trip
If birds are your priority, tell us and we will plan accordingly. See also when to go.
More about the lilac-breasted roller
The lilac-breasted roller is unofficially considered the national bird of Kenya. It watches for prey from a high perch, sometimes on top of a large herbivore, then swoops down to grab insects, spiders, scorpions, small lizards and even snakes. Its courtship display is a rolling flight: it climbs, tips forward, then tumbles left and right while calling. Rollers nest in natural tree holes or in the side of a termite mound. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.
More about the secretary bird
The secretary bird stands up to about 1.3 metres tall with a wingspan of 1.9 to 2.1 metres. It hunts on foot, stamping on the grass to flush out prey, then chases and strikes it with its feet. Insects are its most frequent prey, though small vertebrates, snakes included, often make up most of its food by weight. It does not eat carrion. The IUCN listed it as Vulnerable in 2016 and as Endangered in 2020 after a rapid decline across its range.
More about the martial eagle
The martial eagle is about 78 to 96 centimetres long with a wingspan of 188 to 240 centimetres, and it ties with the golden eagle as the heaviest African eagle. It hunts mostly from high soaring flight and can spot prey from 5 to 6 kilometres away. Prey includes monitor lizards, guineafowl and small antelope such as dik-diks. Home ranges average 125 to 150 square kilometres in eastern and southern Africa, so you are unlikely to see more than a pair. The IUCN classifies it as Endangered.
Additional detail added 5 November 2026 from Wikipedia’s entries for the lilac-breasted roller, secretarybird and martial eagle (secondary sources).
Frequently asked questions
What is Kenya’s national bird?
The lilac-breasted roller is unofficially considered Kenya’s national bird.
How many birds live in the Mara?
More than 500 species have been recorded.
What does the lilac-breasted roller eat?
Mainly insects, spiders, scorpions and small lizards, caught after swooping from a perch.
Do I need binoculars?
They help a lot, especially for small or distant birds.
What is Kenya’s national bird?
The lilac-breasted roller is unofficially considered the national bird of Kenya.
Does the secretary bird eat snakes?
Yes. Snakes are locally important in its diet, though insects are its most frequent prey. It hunts by stamping on the grass to flush out prey.
How rare is the martial eagle?
The IUCN classifies it as Endangered, and each pair needs a large home range.
Want help planning? Talk to our team and tell us your dates, who is travelling and what you would like to see.
Facts checked on 5 November 2026 from Wikipedia’s lilac-breasted roller, secretary bird and Maasai Mara entries (secondary sources).
