# World Bird Families#Afrotropic

milestone 35 | Tanzania 2021 | family 234/250

Cleanup Afrotropic at East Usambara Mountains

Project progress - Bird Families of the World 234/250
94%

My main reason of joining the first legs of “Tanzanian Endemics Cleanup” expedition, which includes my friends Noam Shany, Dubi Shapiro and Philip Johnson, was one bird. Dapple-throat and Allies (Modulatricidae) is the most elusive and desired bird family endemic to Afrotropic, and out of its three cryptic members, Spot-throat is the easiest. While birding on West Usambara forest trails in Magamba, the bird calls can be heard in a few places, but seeing it, nevertheless taking a photo, requires efforts and some luck. So, on the first day the status was “heard only”, on the second day we succeed to have a rapid look on it silhouette while it was flying shortly between two close bushes. Luckily, on the third day, we were able to get this photo. More endemics from Magamba like Usambara Weaver mentioned on the trip list.

234. Family #221: Dapple-throat and Allies (Modulatricidae) |  Spot-throat

Other East Arc Mountain forests places visited: South Pare Mountain for South Pare White-eye and East Usambara (Amani) for birds like Usambara Eagle Owl, Usambara Hyliota, Green-headed Oriole and few others.

Back to Arusha area, I visited Lark Planes with Beesley’s Lark as key species, Mererani road and Kiligolf.  

White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata Lushoto -> Maheze
African Black Duck Anas sparsa Lushoto
Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha Lushoto -> Maheze
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris KiliGolf
Crested Francolin Francolinus sephaena Merarani road
African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus Same -> Lushoto
Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus Same -> Lushoto
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta near Kilimanjaro Airport
Gray Heron Ardea cinerea KiliGolf
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala near Kilimanjaro Airport
Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia Same -> Lushoto
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Same -> Lushoto
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis KiliGolf
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Lushoto -> Maheze
Striated Heron Butorides striata KiliGolf
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Lushoto -> Maheze
Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Lushoto -> Maheze
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash Same -> Lushoto
African Spoonbill Platalea alba KiliGolf
African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus Mambo View Point
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis Amani – Derem Trail
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus Lark Plains
Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinereus Merarani road
Banded Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinerascens Emau Hill Trail (East Usambara) Southerm B.S.E
Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus Maheze -> Amani
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis Same -> South Pare Mountains
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax near Kilimanjaro Airport
Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus Lushoto -> Maheze
Eastern Chanting-Goshawk Melierax poliopterus near Kilimanjaro Airport
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar KiliGolf
African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro KiliGolf
Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus Amani – Gumbo Trail
Black Goshawk Accipiter melanoleucus Magamba
African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer KiliGolf
Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus Lushoto -> Magamba ssp. debilis
Augur Buzzard Buteo augur KIA -> Same
Buff-crested Bustard Eupodotis gindiana Merarani road
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Lushoto -> Maheze
Blacksmith Plover Vanellus armatus Same -> Lushoto
Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus Same -> Lushoto
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus near Kilimanjaro Airport
Three-banded Courser
Rhinoptilus cinctus Merarani road. aka Heuglin’s Courser
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse  Pterocles exustus Lark Plains
Black-faced Sandgrouse
Pterocles decoratus /p Merarani road
Rock Pigeon Columba livia Same -> South Pare Mountains
Delegorgue’s Pigeon Columba delegorguei Amani – Gumbo Trail
Mourning Collared-Dove Streptopelia decipiens near Kilimanjaro Airport
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata @OLDONYOSAMBU
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola Merarani road
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis near Kilimanjaro Airport
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos Merarani road
Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria Magamba (West Uluguru)
Namaqua Dove Oena capensis Anthony’s Spot
African Green-Pigeon Treron calvus Same -> Lushoto
Fischer’s Turaco Tauraco fischeri Emau Hill Trail (East Usambara)
Hartlaub’s Turaco Tauraco hartlaubi Lushoto -> Magamba
White-bellied Go-away-bird Corythaixoides leucogaster Merarani road
Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas Merarani road
White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus Amani Reserve (East Usambara)
Usambara Eagle-Owl
Bubo vosseleri Amani Reserve, Turaco Trake (East Usambara)
African Wood-Owl Strix woodfordii Magamba
African Swift Apus barbatus Mambo View Point
Little Swift Apus affinis Same -> Lushoto
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer KiliGolf
African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus parvus Same -> South Pare Mountains
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus KIA -> Same
White-headed Mousebird Colius leucocephalus Same -> South Pare Mountains
Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus Same -> South Pare Mountains
Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus Same -> Lushoto
Gray-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala Amani – lowlands
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris KIA -> Same
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maximus KiliGolf
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis KiliGolf
White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides @OLDONYOSAMBU
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus near Kilimanjaro Airport
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates Magamba (West Uluguru)
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus near Kilimanjaro Airport
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Lark Plains * africana (African)
Abyssinian Scimitar-bill Rhinopomastus minor Merarani road
Northern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus Lark Plains
Von der Decken’s Hornbill Tockus deckeni Merarani road
Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus Same -> South Pare Mountains
African Gray Hornbill Tockus nasutus KiliGolf
Trumpeter Hornbill Ceratogymna bucinator Amani Reserve (East Usambara)
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
Ceratogymna brevis Same -> Lushoto
Red-and-yellow Barbet Trachyphonus erythrocephalus Lark Plains
D’Arnaud’s Barbet Trachyphonus darnaudii Anthony’s Spot
White-eared Barbet
Stactolaema leucotis Same -> South Pare Mountains
Green Barbet Stactolaema olivacea Kimbo Trail (East Usambara)
Moustached Tinkerbird Pogoniulus leucomystax Amani Reserve (East Usambara). aka Green-backed Honeybird
Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus Merarani road
Red-fronted Barbet
Tricholaema diademata /p Lark Plains
Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lacrymosa KiliGolf
Black-throated Barbet Tricholaema melanocephala Merarani road
Brown-breasted Barbet Lybius melanopterus KiliGolf
Green-backed Honeyguide Prodotiscus zambesiae Amani Reserve (East Usambara). aka Green-backed Honeybird
Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor Lushoto -> Magamba
Greater Honeyguide
Indicator indicator @OLDONYOSAMBU
Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica @OLDONYOSAMBU
Mombasa Woodpecker Campethera mombassica Kimbo Trail (East Usambara)
Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens Amani Reserve, Turaco Trake (East Usambara)
Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus Lushoto -> Magamba
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus @OLDONYOSAMBU * rupicolus (Rock)
Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides Lark Plains
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus @OLDONYOSAMBU
Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha Mambo View Point
Fischer’s Lovebird Agapornis fischeri @OLDONYOSAMBU
Yellow-collared Lovebird Agapornis personatus KiliGolf
Red-bellied Parrot Poicephalus rufiventris Merarani road
African Broadbill Smithornis capensis Amani – Mbopole Trail
Short-tailed Batis Batis mixta Lushoto -> Magamba
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor @OLDONYOSAMBU
Pale Batis Batis soror Kimbo Trail (East Usambara)
Pygmy Batis Batis perkeo Merarani road
Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike Prionops scopifrons Kimbo Trail (East Usambara)
Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher Bias musicus Amani – Derem Trail
Brubru Nilaus afer Lark Plains
Pringle’s Puffback Dryoscopus pringlii Merarani road
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis Amani – Site 17
Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus KiliGolf
Zanzibar Boubou Laniarius sublacteus Amani – Derem Trail. aka East Coast Boubou
Slate-colored Boubou Laniarius funebris Anthony’s Spot
Fuelleborn’s Boubou Laniarius fuelleborni Magamba
Rosy-patched Bushshrike Rhodophoneus cruentus Merarani road
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike Telophorus sulfureopectus KiliGolf
Black-fronted Bushshrike  Telophorus nigrifrons /p Lushoto -> Magamba
Gray Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia Kimbo Trail (East Usambara)
Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava Amani – Derem Trail
Long-tailed Fiscal Lanius cabanisi near Kilimanjaro Airport
Taita Fiscal  Lanius dorsalis near Kilimanjaro Airport
Southern Fiscal Lanius collaris Lushoto -> Magamba ssp. debilis
Magpie Shrike Corvinella melanoleuca near Kilimanjaro Airport
White-rumped Shrike Eurocephalus rueppelli Merarani road.aka Northern white-crowned shrike
African Golden Oriole
Oriolus auratus /p Maheze -> Amani
Green-headed Oriole
Oriolus chlorocephalus /p Kimbo Trail (East Usambara)
African Black-headed Oriole
Oriolus larvatus Same -> Lushoto
Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii Emau Hill Trail (East Usambara)
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis KiliGolf
African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis Same -> Lushoto
Pied Crow Corvus albus near Kilimanjaro Airport
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis Lushoto -> Magamba ssp. debilis
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana Lark Plains
Pink-breasted Lark
Calendulauda poecilosterna Merarani road
Foxy Lark
Calendulauda alopex Lark Plains
Beesley’s Lark
Chersomanes beesleyi /p Lark Plains
Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix leucopareia near Kilimanjaro Airport
Red-capped Lark
Calandrella cinerea Lark Plains
Somali Short-toed Lark
Calandrella somalica Lark Plains. aka Athi Lark
Short-tailed Lark Pseudalaemon fremantlii Lark Plains
Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola Merarani road. aka Plain Martin
Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula near Kilimanjaro Airport
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii KiliGolf
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Merarani road
Lesser Striped-Swallow Cecropis abyssinica near Kilimanjaro Airport
Black Sawwing Psalidoprocne pristoptera Same -> South Pare Mountains
White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher Elminia albonotata Lushoto -> Magamba
Red-throated Tit
Melaniparus fringillinus Lark Plains
Mouse-colored Penduline-Tit
Anthoscopus musculus /p Lark Plains
Shelley’s Greenbul Arizelocichla masukuensis Amani – Gumbo Trail
Little Greenbul Eurillas virens Magamba (West Uluguru)
Northern Brownbul Phyllastrephus strepitans KiliGolf
Yellow-streaked Greenbul Phyllastrephus flavostriatus Lushoto -> Magamba
Tiny Greenbul Phyllastrephus debilis Lushoto -> Magamba ssp. debilis (Montane)
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor KIA -> Same
Northern Crombec
Sylvietta brachyura Lark Plains
Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii Lark Plains
Kretschmer’s Longbill Macrosphenus kretschmeri Amani Reserve, Turaco Trake (East Usambara)
Yellow Flycatcher Erythrocercus holochlorus Maheze -> Amani
Yellow-throated Wood-Warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla Lushoto -> Magamba
African Yellow-Warbler
Iduna natalensis KiliGolf. aka Dark-capped Yellow Warbler
African Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus Amani Reserve, Turaco Trake (East Usambara)
Evergreen-forest Warbler Bradypterus lopezi Magamba (West Uluguru)
Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus Magamba (West Uluguru)
Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica Lushoto -> Magamba
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida Merarani road
Black-headed Apalis Apalis melanocephala Amani – Mbopole Trail
Red-fronted Warbler Urorhipis rufifrons Anthony’s Spot. Aka Red-fronted Prinia
Gray Wren-Warbler Calamonastes simplex Anthony’s Spot
African Tailorbird
Artisornis metopias Lushoto -> Magamba. aka Red-capped Forest-Warbler
Long-billed Tailorbird
Artisornis moreaui Emau Hill Trail (East Usambara)
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana Same -> South Pare Mountains
Ashy Cisticola Cisticola cinereolus Lark Plains
Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais @OLDONYOSAMBU * distinctus (Lyne’s)
Coastal Cisticola Cisticola haematocephalus Maheze -> Amani
Winding Cisticola  Cisticola galactotes Same -> Lushoto
Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus Lark Plains
Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella Merarani road
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava Mambo View Point
Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis Mirerani road
Banded Warbler
Sylvia boehmi Merarani road. aka Banded Parisoma
Pale White-eye Zosterops flavilateralis Mambo View Point
South Pare White-eye
Zosterops winifredae /p Same -> South Pare Mountains
Spot-throat
Modulatrix stictigula Magamba
Usambara Hyliota Hyliota usambarae Kimbo Trail (East Usambara)
Grayish Flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus Same -> South Pare Mountains
Southern Black-Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina Same -> South Pare Mountains
Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens Amani – Gumbo Trail
Red-backed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys KiliGolf. aka White-browed SR
Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra Mambo View Point
White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini Amani Reserve, Turaco Trake (East Usambara)
Spotted Morning-Thrush Cichladusa guttata KiliGolf
White-chested Alethe Pseudalethe fuelleborni Magamba
Sharpe’s Akalat Sheppardia sharpei Amani – Mbopole Trail
Usambara Akalat Sheppardia montana Lushoto -> Magamba
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus Mambo View Point
Schalow’s Wheatear Oenanthe lugubris @OLDONYOSAMBU. aka Abyssinian Wheatear
Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata near Kilimanjaro Airport
Red-tailed Ant-Thrush Neocossyphus rufus Kimbo Trail (East Usambara)
Usambara Thrush Turdus roehli Lushoto -> Magamba
African Bare-eyed Thrush Turdus tephronotus Lark Plains
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea near Kilimanjaro Airport
Black-bellied Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis corruscus Emau Hill Trail (East Usambara)
Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus near Kilimanjaro Airport
Hildebrandt’s Starling Lamprotornis hildebrandti @OLDONYOSAMBU
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster KiliGolf
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio KiliGolf
Waller’s Starling Onychognathus walleri Magamba
Kenrick’s Starling Poeoptera kenricki Amani Reserve (East Usambara)
Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus near Kilimanjaro Airport
Kenya Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes orientalis Merarani road
Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes neglectus Amani – lowlands
Banded Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques Amani – Mbopole Trail. aka Banded Green Sunbird
Amani Sunbird Hedydipna pallidigaster Emau Hill Trail (East Usambara)
Eastern Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea Emau Hill Trail (East Usambara)
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis KiliGolf
Hunter’s Sunbird Chalcomitra hunteri Merarani road
Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa Mambo View Point
Usambara Double-collared Sunbird
Cinnyris usambaricus Lushoto -> Magamba
Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus Same -> South Pare Mountains
Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus Emau Hill Trail (East Usambara) Southerm B.S.B
Tsavo Sunbird Cinnyris tsavoensis Merarani road
Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus Mambo View Point
Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara Amani – Gumbo Trail
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp near Kilimanjaro Airport
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus Lark Plains
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis @OLDONYOSAMBU
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi @OLDONYOSAMBU
Cabanis’s Bunting Emberiza cabanisi Amani Reserve, Turaco Trake (East Usambara)
Southern Citril Serinus hypostictus Mambo View Point
Reichenow’s Seedeater Serinus reichenowi Merarani road
White-bellied Canary Serinus dorsostriatus Merarani road
Southern Grosbeak-Canary Serinus buchanani Anthony’s Spot
Streaky Seedeater Serinus striolatus Mambo View Point
House Sparrow Passer domesticus KIA -> Same
Kenya Rufous Sparrow Passer rufocinctus Lark Plains
Northern Gray-headed Sparrow Passer griseus Mambo View Point
Parrot-billed Sparrow Passer gongonensis Merarani road
Chestnut Sparrow Passer eminibey KIA -> Same
Yellow-spotted Petronia Petronia pyrgita Merarani road. aka Y.T Bush-Sparrow
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger near Kilimanjaro Airport
Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis Merarani road
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali KIA -> Same
Rufous-tailed Weaver Histurgops ruficauda near Kilimanjaro Airport
Gray-headed Social-Weaver Pseudonigrita arnaudi Lark Plains
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps Merarani road
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht Lushoto -> Magamba
Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis Amani – Derem Trail
Taveta Golden-Weaver Ploceus castaneiceps Same -> Lushoto
Vitelline Masked-Weaver Ploceus vitellinus Merarani road
Golden-backed Weaver Ploceus jacksoni Anthony’s Spot
Chestnut Weaver Ploceus rubiginosus KiliGolf
Usambara Weaver
Ploceus nicolli Magamba
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea Anthony’s Spot
Black-winged Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus Lushoto -> Maheze
Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons Lushoto -> Maheze
Yellow-bellied Waxbill Coccopygia quartinia Lushoto -> Magamba
Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga @OLDONYOSAMBU
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild Amani – Site 17
Black-faced Waxbill Estrilda nigriloris Lark Plains
Black-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda erythronotos Same -> South Pare Mountains. aka Black-faced Waxbill
Blue-capped Cordonbleu Uraeginthus cyanocephalus Anthony’s Spot
Purple Grenadier Granatina ianthinogaster Anthony’s Spot
Peters’s Twinspot Hypargos niveoguttatus Maheze -> Amani
Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba Anthony’s Spot
Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala @OLDONYOSAMBU
African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata KiliGolf
Cut-throat Amadina fasciata near Kilimanjaro Airport
Gray-headed Silverbill Odontospiza griseicapilla Merarani road
Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullatus KiliGolf
Black-and-white Mannikin Spermestes bicolor Maheze -> Amani *2 nigriceps/woltersi (Red-backed)
Straw-tailed Whydah Vidua fischeri Same -> South Pare Mountains
Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata near Kilimanjaro Airport
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