Tour of the week

Birdwatching in Ethiopia

Due to its high diversity of eco-systems with different habitat, Ethiopia has some of the richest bird life in Africa with 863 species registered so far, representing about 9.5% of the worlds and 39% of Africa's birds. Ethiopia has thirty one endemic birds plus many range-restricted birds which only occur in neighboring Kenya and Somalia. Ethiopia's diverse habitats are also serving as a wintering ground for large numbers of Asian and European migrants via the Red Sea loop to pass to the mainland of Africa. Although the migration of birds takes place from October to May, it reaches its peak from the months of January to April.

"Sofomar Cave(lower Bale region) - Home to Bristle-crowned Starling and Salvadori's Seed-eater"

It is not a coincidence that Ethiopia is rich in birds because of the diversity in habitat over a vast altitude range. Though there are birds that can be found in other African countries, many bird species are adapted to live in different environments with their own specific geographical features and subsequently specified flora and fauna. Because of the fact that the Ethiopian highlands and the rift system form an "Island" with a relatively cool climate, compared with the neighboring countries, there is totally different and unique bird life; and this result in a good number of species that are found nowhere else.

"Debrebirhan Highland - Home to Ankober Serin."

Apart from the scenic mountain areas, there are many highland and rift valley lakes which offer a lot of water birds. In the north-west highlands, Lake Tana which is the largest in the country with an average area of about 3600sq. Km, and the Rift Valley Lakes like Chamo, Abaya, Awassa, Shalla, Abijata, Langano and Ziway have some of the best birding sites in the country. In the south-western lowlands, especially Gibe, Mago and Omo valleys and in the south-eastern Borena region of Nagele, Yabello and Arero areas exclusively support the charismatic Stresemann's Bush-crow, White-tailed Swallow, Ruspoli's Turaco, Sidamo and Digodi Larks.