Bird watching in Uganda, Despite Uganda having a record of 1040 bird species, birding safaris are not common. Uganda is commonly known for gorilla tracking safaris and Most visitors disguise tracking gorillas when the main interest is birds and this limits them to explore as many birding places as they can.
Most of the safari destinations have more than 500 bird species and on luck, day visitors are able to spot more than 50 bird species on their checklist. Some of these birds include endemics, aquatic and migratory birds usually spotted in various destinations such as Bwindi, Rwenzori mountains, Lake Mburo national park, and other few places listed below.
Birding in Uganda is a year-round all-around activity however it is best done during the rainy season especially in the morning and evening time in several birding sites. Rain season is during March, April, and May during nesting and November is the best season to watch migratory birds.
Most birding places in Uganda include;
Mabamba island in Entebbe is an exquisite birding place with a registered number of over 300 bird species which include 7 restricted to Uganda and 12 restricted species on Lake Victoria, Bird watching in Uganda, among them are migratory birds too. The swamp is inhabited by the rare shoebill stock which usually hides beneath the papyrus swamp, visitors take a local boat ride to the island to spot this rare species. Among other bird species on mabamba island include intermediate egret, African purple swamphen, winding cisticola, white-faced whistling bird, squaco heron, lesser jacana, malachite kingfisher Angola swallows, African water rail, common moorhen, Goliath heron, African jacana, African pygmy goose, blue breasted bee-eater, swamp flycatcher, pallid harrier, papyrus Gonolek, white-winged warbler, hammertoes, common waxbill, fan-tailed widow bird, long-tailed lapwing, African pied wagtail among others.
Queen Elizabeth national park is yet another exciting birding destination, the park alone inhabits various tourist spots with different bird species.
Prominent birds usually spotted are Grey-headed kingfisher, papyrus gonolek, Papyrus Canary, black bee-eater, squacco heron, African fish eagle, swamp fly-catcher, black-ramped buttonquail, papyrus canary, long-tailed cormorants, Martial Eagle, winged terns, White-winged Warbler, shoebill, African skimmer, Bird watching in Uganda, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, There are also aquatic birds such pied kingfisher, Fish eagle, White-faced Whistling, Spur-winged Plovers, Squacco Heron, Pink, and white-backed Pelicans, Long-tailed Cormorants among other along kazinga channel while on the boat cruise.
A nature walk in kyambura gorge has diverse forest bird species such as grey woodpeckers, tinker birds, hairy breasted barber, great blue turaco, African finfoot.
Murchison Falls national park, the largest protected national park is not only abundant with wildlife but also over 400 bird species. Its possible to spot the rare endemic shoebill stork on the Nile delta mid-morning while on a boat cruise. Most notable birds in Murchison include saddle-billed stork, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Black-headed lamp wing, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Yellow-fronted tinker bird, Long-tailed Nightjar bird, silver bird, Martial Eagle, Pied kingfisher, Malachite kingfisher, Blue-headed coucal, Senegal Thick-Knee, weaver bird, Red-winged Grey Warbler and many others.
Kibale Forest National park, Other than the famous chimpanzee and other 12 primate species, Kibale forest national park is a haven for birders with over 350 bird species spotted around Bigodi wetland sanctuary and within the park. Some of the common birds are Black bee-eater, great blue turaco, white napped pigeon, crowned eagle, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, red-chested owlet, Yellow-throated Nicator, Tiny Sunbird, green breasted pitta, White-spotted Flufftail, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Black Bishop, Brown-backed Scrub-robin. These birds are usually spotted along guided nature trails.
Semiliki national park is a spectacular birding site with a total of 441 bird species including 5 endemic species of the Albertine ecosystem Species. Notable birds to look out including Lemon-bellied Crombec, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Piping Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, African Piculet, White-throated Blue Swallow, Yellow-throated Nicator, Leaf-love, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Crested Malimbe, Red-bellied Malimbe, Blue-billed malimbe, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch and many others.
Bwindi forest national park has over 320 bird species including 14 rare species not found anywhere else and 27 endemics of the Albertine rift valley. Some of the most notable birds in Bwindi are, crowned hornbill, African green pigeon, African harrier hawk, Ruwenzori turaco, Giant kingfisher, Ruwenzori apalis, African broadbill, Blue-headed sunbird, Black-billed turaco, Black-faced warbler and Regal sunbird among many others.
