African Pied Kingfishers

The Pied Kingfisher is water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Its black and white plumage, crest and the habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish make it distinctive. Males have a double band across the breast while females have a single gorget that is often broken in the middle. They are usually found in pairs or small family parties. When perched, they often bob their head and flick up their tail (from Wikipedia).

This kingfisher was spotted along the shores of Lake Victoria in Musoma, Mara, Tanzania

 A kingfisher on a fishing boat at the shores of Lake Victoria in Musoma, Mara, Tanzania

 A kingfisher's family???

A red eyed dove (left) and a pied kingfisher (right) on a tree branch along the shores of Lake Victoria in Musoma, Mara, Tanzania

House Sparrows

Sparrows are very common birds n Tanzania. I have seen them in every region I go. Male House Sparrows are brightly colored birds with gray heads, white cheeks, a black bib, and rufous neck . Females are a plain buffy-brown overall with dingy gray-brown underparts. Their backs are noticeably striped with buff, black, and brown.

A House Sparrow

 A house sparrow photograph taken on the shores of Lake Victoria in  Musoma, Tanzania