Birding in Uganda
Birding in Uganda is one of the key tourism activities that travelers engage in the different tourist destinations in the country and mostly the parks. Birds are some of the fascinating creatures that attract a great number of tourists in different destinations in the world. In Africa, Uganda, the Pearl of Africa offers some of the remarkable birding opportunities for the birders. Uganda is filled with spectacular places that offer insights into the different bird species. This is because Uganda is home to more than 1000 bird species living in the best bird watching sites in Africa.
The pearl of Africa has different bird destinations that make it a birders paradise at the continent of Africa. Most of the bird species you will find in Uganda are endemic birds of the savannah environment, montane and semi-arid habitats plus water. The various national parks in Uganda are actually the biggest habitats of the different bird species making Uganda a number one spot for bird safaris at the continent of Africa.
The best Ugandan bird species you shouldn’t miss out
Uganda is filled with over 1000 bird species and the some of the best you should not miss out include the following;
Shoebill: A huge and prehistoric-looking bird, the shoe bill is a fascinating bird to spot, whether it is in fight or stalking prey. Tourists need to go for boat excursions in order to have the opportunity to spot them in the waters.
Shelley’s Crimsonwing: The Shelley’s Crimsonwing lives in the Albertine Rift within a thin strip of mountains and volcanoes at the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Shelley’s Crimsonwing is undoubtedly one of the world’s rarest birds and if you get to see one, then you will get a magical experience with them.
African Green Broadbill: Found only in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the Ruhija sector of the park, the African Green Broadbill is an Albertine Rift endemic bird and you have to down trek to Mubindi swamp to have a glimpse of this fascinating bird.
Great Blue Turaco and White-crested Turaco: These are some of the largest birds you will encounter in the wild. These exquisite birds are actively hunted as their meat and feathers are highly sought after commodities. Tourists always have the opportunity to see them when they come to Uganda.
Standard-winged Nightjar: Both species of the winged Nightjar are quite a challenge to distinguish however spotting is the most magical thing to do. The adult breeding males of both species have fascinating elongated primary feathers and they are good to watch during flight and at rest. Many are situated at Murchison Falls National Park and tourists have to get to that area to experience more of these birds.
Doherty’s Bushshrike: The Doherty’s Bushshrike is a very common bird that you will get to see when visiting Uganda. Its population has increased over time and the Doherty’s Bushshrike is a brightly colored bird mainly found in the subtropical montane forests and moist shrub-lands.
Short-tailed Warbler: These fascinating birds can be spotted in the dense tropic forests of western Uganda, in the Democratic republic of Congo and Rwanda. Those under the activity of forest walks can spot them as they move through the trails of the jungle.
Different sites for bird watching in Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park: Situated in the western part of Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the famously visited national parks because of its splendid landscape and a rich bio-diversity filled with a great number of wildlife and natural sites such as the crater lakes, the savannah grassland, and the tropic forest. Tourists can view the flora and fauna during game drives and in the aerial view of the park using the chartered planes in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to about 550 bird species that have been recorded over time.
Some of the bird species you will find in Queen Elizabeth National Park include; the malachite, Collard Pranticles, papyrus canary, Verreaux’s eagle-owl, Martial Eagle, White-winged Warbler, thin-tailed Nightjars, papyrus canary, gray woodpecker, hairy breasted Barbet, Green Hylia, speckled Tinkerbird, Black African Emerald Cuckoos and some of the aquatic birds include the spur-winged Plovers, squacco heron, fish eagle, and Pied kingfishers among others.
Lake Mburo National Park: Lake Mburo National Park is situated in the south of Uganda and has a diverse ecosystem which includes the landscape and the wildlife such as the zebras, giant bushbaby, impalas, hyenas, elands, and leopards. The national park has 325 recorded bird species and it is one of the bird lovers’ paradise in Uganda. Some of the birds in Lake Mburo National Park include crowned Plovers, Wattled Lapwing, Southern Red Bishop, Variable Sunbird, African harrier-hawk, Black-headed Weaver, grey capped warbler, etc
Lake Bunyonyi: As the name states “the place of many little birds”, Lake Bunyonyi is filled with a variety of bird species, over 200 bird species can be viewed at Lake Bunyonyi. Nyombi swamp is home to a great number of them and all you need is a boat ride to the place to have a spectacular view of the birds. The birds include the local birds such as Grey Crowned Crane, Herons, the levillant cuckoo, Harrier hawk white tailed blue Monard, and the cardinal woodpecker among others and those that come from Europe when it is winter days in Europe.
Kibale Forest National Park: Around 350 bird species are found in Kibale Forest National Park and some of these are nested near the Ndali Kasenda crater Lakes giving the visitors a beautiful view of these birds making pleasant sounds in their different body colors and characters. Some of the birds you get to see in Ndale Kasenda crater lakes include; Western Tinkerbird, Papyrus Gonolek, and Great Blue Turaco among others.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: One can go for bird watching in the different regions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park such as Ruhija, Buhoma area, Ivi trail and the bird species you find include Bee-eaters, tinker birds, woodpeckers, barbets, honeyguides, apalises, greenbuls, swallows, chats, shrikes, starlings window birds aptors, larks, olive thrush, dusky twin spot, red-throated wryneck, yellow bishop, tambourine dove, and cisticolas.
Best time to visit the birds
Bird watching can be done all year round however for the finest timing for the birds are during the months of December up to February. To have an extensive bird experience in the pearl of Africa, you are advised to book more than 2 days of bird safari. The bird watching activity is best done in the morning hours and the evening hours.
Conclusion
In general, birding in Uganda is one of the stunning experiences a bird lover should encounter because the pearl of Africa is among the best destinations in the world and Africa in particular. Those that have traveled to Uganda can have gotten the opportunity to view the rarest birds in the world only visible in Uganda.
