Birdwatching in Uganda
With 1,063 of the 2,250 bird species recorded on the African continent, Uganda is the richest birding destination in Africa and considering the number of bird species per square kilometre, the tenth worldwide. Uganda’s birds have no shortage of habitats to inhabit; the dense tropical rainforests of the Albertine Rift Valley, the montane forests, the scenic shores of the Great Lakes, crater lakes and River Nile, the vast swamps and wetlands, and even the semi-arid desert plains of the northeast in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Uganda has only 2 endemic birds, the Fox Weaver and the Stuhlmann’s Double-collared sunbird. However, 23 Albertine endemics can be seen in Uganda.
Uganda has over 30 developed IBA’s and the local birding community continues to identify new ones across the country. The most memorable may be Bwindi, which was voted ‘Africa’s top birding site’ in 2014. But just as impressive are the ‘Royal Mile’ in Murchison, and Queen Elizabeth National Park that is home to over 600 species – the largest concentration of any park in Uganda.
Lake Mburo has different habitats that harbour different species of birds, making it a great place for bird watching. The Woodland, savanna grassland, papyrus swamps and lakes all have a variety of birds living in them and some of key bird species found in this are:
Red-faced Barbet,
Crested Barbet,
Black-collared Barbert,
Double-toothed Barbert,
Long tailed - cisisticola (Tabora)
Coqui Francolin,
White- headed vulture,
African finfoot,
African fish-Eagle,
Giant kingfisher,
Shinning blue kingfisher,
Blue- naped mousebird,
Ross's Turoco,
Red-faced crombec,
Bateleur Eagle,
African Hawk-Eagle,
Tawny Eagle,
Augur Buzzard,
White-faced whistling -Duck,
Palm-nut vulture,
African White-backed vulture,
Botanical Gardens
Comming Soon
Bwindi is the home of all the 24 Albertine Rift endemics and ticking as many as possible off your list is a once in a lifetime challenge.
Some of the prized sightings are
African Green Broadbill,
Purple breasted sunbird,
Regal sunbird,
Shelley's Crimson wing,
Stripe breasted Tit,
Grauer's Warbler,
Grauet's Rush warbler,
Dwarf Honey-guide,
Strange weaver,
Rwenzori Batis,
Rwenzori double collared sunbird,
Chapin's flycatcher,
Red-throated Alethe,
Archer's Robinchat,
Kivu Ground-Thrush,
Red faced woodland warbler,
Short-tailed warbler,
Collared Apalis,
Mountain Masked Apalis,
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Coming Soon
Birdwatching in this part of Uganda is predominately in different types of forest ( evergreen & deciduous ) as well as swamps and grassland
There have been over 340 birds species recorded here the highlights of which are losed below:
Nahan’s Francolin, an endangered species found in three other forest reserves,
the Forest Ground-thrush recorded in only two other IBAs.
Yellow-spotted Nictor,
Yellow-ramped Tinkerbird,
Speckled Tinkerbird,
Little Greenbul,
Superb Sunbird,
African Pitta,
White-thighed Hornbill,
Grey-winged Robin,
Blue-shouldered Robin-chat,
Yellow-spotted Barbet,
Black-billed Turacco,
White-naped Pigeon,
Green-breasted Pitta,
Purple-headed Starling,
Red-chested Flufftail,
Joyful Greenbul,
Birdwatching in this park allows you so view birds that live in forests, woodlands, savannah grass lands, rivers and the papyrus swamps. Birdwatching can be done in the park, on trails adjacent to the park and cruising on a boat on the River Nile towards Murchison Falls itself or around the Nile Delta. Look out for the:
African Harrier-hawk,
Dark Chanting Goshawk,
Black-headed Lapwing,
Senegal Coucal,
African Palm Swift,
Blue-breasted Kingfisher,
Abyssinian Roller,
Abyssinian Ground-hornbill,
Black-billed Barbet,
Foxy Cisticola,
Spotted Palm-thrush,
The Royal Mile which is also a great place for birdwatching is located in Budongo Forest and is a great place to visit either before or after going to the park so see such birds as:
White-thighed Hornbill,
Forest Robin, Grey
Puvel’s Illadopsis,
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Coming Soon
Mabamba Swamp
Mabamba Swamp is around an hour away from Entebee on the shores of Lake Victoria. This expanse of marsh land is recognised as an Important Birding Area ( IBA ) due to is diversity of birds species with over 260 species alone found here, presence migratory birds and the Shoebill Stork. Other birds that can be found in the area are:
African Pygmy Goose,
Black Crake,
Reed Cormorant,
African and Lesser Jacanas,
Long-toed Lapwing,
Hadada Ibis,
Blue-headed Coucal,
Malachite Kingfisher,
Papyrus Gonolek,
Swamp Flycatcher.
Mount Elgon National Park
Coming Soon
The montane forest of this region make for truly spectacular birdwatching. As this region is part of the wider Albertine Rift Valley, many birdwatcher come here to try a view on the fo the 24 Alberitne endemic species 18 of which can be found here. Some of the birds of note are:
Rwenzori Turaco,
Bamboo Warbler,
Golden-winged Sunbird,
Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird
Stuhlmann’s Double-collared Olive-back.
The proximity to the Democratic Republic of Congo also means that birds that originate from forests in that country can also be seen here.
Semliki National Park is located in western Uganda on the border with Democratic Republic of Congo, therefore due to the landscape and topography of this are there area there are some bird species that you only find in this park as well as bird species of Congo origin. These include:
Piping Hornbill,
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill,
Black Dwarf Hornbill,
White-crested Hornbill,
White-thighed Hornbill,
Western Green Tinkerbird,
Grey-throated Barbert,
Spotted Honeyguide,
Africa piculet,
Fine-banded woodpecker,
Greens tailed Bristelbill,
Equatorial Akalat,
Forest Robin,
Red-throated Alethe,
white-bellied Robin-chat,
Green Hylia, Green Crombec,
Rufous- Crowned Eremomela,
Yellow-bellied Hyliota,
Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye,
Stripe-breasted Tit,
Mabira Forest
Coming Soon
Other Birding Areas
Coming Soon
