Birding and Bird Watching in Uganda

Bird Watching in Uganda

Uganda is an equatorial country of astonishing contrasts, no other area in Africa can match Uganda’s amazing diversity of habitats, and this richness is reflected in its incredible bird list of over 1,061 species, making 50% of Africa’s bird species. Such a huge bird list is contained within a small territory of only 90041 square miles (about the size of Britain), hence one of the highest concentration of birds per square kilometers in Africa. Bird watching in Uganda rewards with so many bird sightings by covering just a small area or even birding for a small time period.

Amongst these are many highly sought-after birds, such as the unique Shoebill and the numerous endemics of the Albertine Rift Valley. The huge bird list is even more remarkable given the small size of the country making it, arguably, the richest African birding destination.

Shoebill birding in UgandaShoebill

The incredible diversity of habitats that no other area in Africa can match is the reason Uganda harbors such a huge diversity of birds, and collects so many migrant birds during the year. Uganda lies in a unique position where she shares Africa’s major ecological zones that each has associated bird species, including a number that are range restricted.

Uganda’s Bird Watching Spots

Uganda has up to 34 Important Bird Areas (IBA) many of which have been developed for  birding activities. The birding community in Uganda continues to identify a number of other bird-rich spots across the country and establishing birding trails there. At most of the spots there are local bird guides that have been well trained and can identify all the site’s resident species.

On a single successful bird watching safari in Uganda, you can spot upto 582 species in total and besides the incredible Shoebill, you get to see plenty of rare/uncommon species.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – where you’ll find the Ruwenzori Turaco, Archer’s Ground Robin and best of all, the rare Shelley’s Crimsonwing. You’ll be able to see the range-restricted Red-faced Barbet and Tabora Cisticola at Lake Mburo, also observed Brown-chested Lapwings.

Ruwenzori-Turaco Mgahinga BirdingRuwenzori Turaco Ruwenzorornis johnstoni

Near Lake Bunyonyi – You can see both Papyrus Canary and Papyrus Yellow Warbler.

Highlights in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where many but the observation of 2 Grauer’s Broadbills along the Mubwindi Swamp trail stands out, as is the unexpected encounter of a family group of gorilla’s along the main trail at Buhoma.

Semliki National Paek – You can observed Long-tailed Hawk, Grant’s Bluebill and Lowland Sooty Boubou.

Highlight at Kibale Forest displaying Green-breasted Pitta and at Murchison Falls the Heuglin’s Francolin, Dusky Babbler and Puvel’s Illadopsis.

In Budongo Nahan’s Francolin, Ituri Batis and Uganda Woodland Warbler were our best observations.

Mabira Forest where you can have views of Forest Wood-Hoopoes and Weyn’s Weaver.

Memorable is also the observation of a pair of Ruaha Chat near Morole in South Uganda, which is apparently a new bird for the country.

In retrospect, you can plan to camp along the Kirumia Trail in Semliki N.P. for one night to increase your chances of observing some of the more difficult species of this area. If one has more time I would extend the trip with a visit to the area around Lake Bisini and a visit to the far north, Kidepo N.P. This would really be the ultimate trip to Uganda.

Albertine Owlet

Ultimately, you can observe 27 – 31 possible endemics and of all those, the 4 are rare to very rare.

Albertine Rift Endemic Birds Possible in Uganda

  1. Handsome Francolin Francolinus nobilis
  2. Ruwenzori Turaco Ruwenzorornis johnstoni
  3. Albertine Owlet Rwanda – very rare
  4. Ruwenzori Nightjar Caprimulgus ruwenzori
  5. Dwarf Honeyguide Indicator meliphilus
  6. African Green (Grauer’s) Broadbill Pseudocalptomena graueri
  7. Archer’s Robin Chat Cossypha archeri
  8. Red-troated Alethe Alethe poliophrys
  9. Kivu Ground Thrush Zoothera tanganjicae
  10. Oberlander’s ground Thrush Zoothera oberlaenderi
  11. Chapin’s Flycatcher Muscicapa lendu
  12. Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher Melaeornis ardesiascus
  13. Red-faced Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus laetus
  14. Grauer’s Swamp Warbler Bradypterus graueri
  15. Mountain Masked Apalis Apalis binotata
  16. Ruwenzori Apalis Apalis ruwenzori
  17. Kungwe Apalis Apalis Rwanda
  18. Red-collared Mountain-Babbler Rwanda
  19. Grauer’s Warbler Graueria vittata
  20. Willard’s Sooty Boubou Laniarius
  21. Short-tailed (Neumann’s) Warbler Hemitesia neumanni
  22. Stripe-breasted Tit Malaniparus fasciiventer
  23. Ruwenzori Batis Batis diops
  24. Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae
  25. Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris stuhlmanni
  26. Regal Sunbird Cinnyris regius
  27. Purple-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia purpureiventris
  28. Rockefellers’s Sunbird Rwanda – very rare
  29. Strange Weaver Ploceus alienus
  30. Dusky Crimsonwing Cryptospiza jacksoni
  31. Shelley’s Crimsonwing Cryptospiza shelleyi

Small Group Uganda Safaris

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Classic Africa Safari In Uganda - Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Game
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Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Tour
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Uganda Culture Experience Tour
  • Culture
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