Birds

Resident of swampy areas, high perched, colored a rich red, the Cassin's malimbe (Malimbus cassini) is a talented architect, building long tubular nests with plant fibers.

Discreet, found on the banks of rivers cluttered with vegetation, the finfoot (Podica senegalensis) has a body similar to a duck but topped by a long flexible neck and an elegant bright beak, orange in the female, red in the male.

The African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) is wide-spread across sub-Saharan Africa, easily distinguishable by its loud calls. It nests and lives near calm waters, swamps, lakes. It feeds on fish, but also on carrion when prey is scarce.

The great blue turaco (Corythaeola cristata) is a wonderful, large, unmistakable bird, because of its black crest and brightly colored beak. They feed on leaves and fruits, and can be seen roaming on the ground looking for insects. They are gregarious, and can be found in group of up to seven individuals. They are also highly conspicuous due to the very particular, very loud calls that they emit.

The iconic grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) is the largest of African parrots, and possesses uniquely complex vocal and cognitive skills. They roost in large, noisy groups, and form life-long mating pairs. Due to their cognitive skills, African grays became popular pets, which led to their decline in the wild. It is estimated that 21% of the wild population is being harvested annually to feed the pet trade.

It looks as if it is floating when the palm vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) hovers silently, showing the beautiful contrast of its black and white feathers. It can be mistaken in flight with an African fish eagle, but it is recognizable by the different color pattern and the red facial skin. It consumes the fruits of the oil palm that gives it its name.

This small bird whose genus spans Africa and Asia is characterized by its long tail streamers, its rufous plumage and its bluish head and bill. Paradise-flycatchers (Terpsiphone rufiventer) are particularly graceful bird that feed on insects, as their name suggests.

The plumed guineafowl (Guttera plumifera) is endemic to the primary rainforests of Central Africa. It resembles the crested guineafowl, found in open forests and savanna-forest mosaic areas, but differs from it by its grey-blue face, its wattles, and its more prominent crest.

With subtle colors ranging from olive green to yellow, this unusual shrike-like bird likes lush forests. Its surprisingly loud song is the best way to spot it.

A number of different hornbill species inhabit the forests of NNNP. These birds come in a variety of sizes and colors but they all are easily recognizable by their large, odd-looking curved bills, that may be adorned by a casque. Besides their looking, hornbills also cannot go unnoticed due to their particularly noisy flight. Hornbills eat a wide variety of fruits, but also insects and small vertebrates. The white-crested hornbill (Horizocerus albocristatus cassini), depicted in the picture, can be seen following monkeys to feed on insects disturbed by primates’ movements in the canopy.