Birding In Uganda

Birding In Uganda

Uganda is a habitat to incredible birds including foreign migrants that fly from as far as Europe during the winter season.  Birding opportunities range from easy water bird sightings to carefully searching the forests to identify the birds. Birding in Uganda is common to places like

Bwindi forest National Park

This forest is a renowned gorilla habitat but also home to numerous birds including about 23 species of the 24 species of the albertine endemics. In Ruhija gorilla trekking area, keen birders can identify variety of birds physically, by voice and feathers dropped.

Some of the birds that may be seen include Dusky-blue-blue flycatcher, African hill babler, white-napped raven, black billed weaver, Mountain buzzed, Handsome, Grey cukoo-shrink, Toro olive-greenbul, African wood-owl, Black bee-eater, Handsome francolin, bronze-napped pigeon, Grauer’s rush-wabler, short-tailed wabler ant-thrush, red faced woodland-wabler, Grey headed sun bird, Olive thrush, Stuhmann’s starling, Narrow-tailed starling, Yellow eyed black-flycatcher, Band prinia, Black throated Apalis to mention but a few.

During gorilla tracking, keen birders have a double opportunity to see the gorillas and identify a variety of birds that roam in the forest. During the trek, you may request to stop and have a clear photo of some of the rare birds.

Kibale forest National Park

Kibale is a tropical forest but a host to several birds that find food and shelter in the large leaves and cool tree branches.

Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is the main birding spot for this forest and home to unique birds like the shoebill stork, black-rumped button-quil, papyrus gonolek, African fish eagle, Pel’s fishing owl, black bee eater, rufus-bellied heron, great blue turaco, black and white casqued hornbill, African finfoot, the scarce grey headed Olive-back, Green-backed Twin spot, scaly Francolin, black-crowned Waxbills to mention but a few.   From the observation tower and on the boardwalk one has the opportunity of identifying several birds.

Queen Elizabeth National park

Although Queen Elizabeth National park is rich with wildlife, birding is another incredible activity to enjoy. The Maramagambo forest and the shores of Kazinga channel are frequented by flocks of birds both local and foreign migrant birds that fly from as far as Europe during the winter season.

Some of the birds include Greater and lesser flamingos, Egyptian geese, black-rumped button-quail, great blue turaco, black and white casqued hornbill, shoe bill, Black Bee-eater, Grey-headed kingfisher, Red-chested Sunbird Slender-billed, yellow-backed and lesser Masked Canary, African Skimmer, Papyrus Gonolek, African Jacana, Water Thick-nee, Malachite and Pied Kingfisher to mention but a few.

The scenic Crater area lies north of the Katwe road and a good place to search for wide spread grass land species such as common Buttonquail, Croaking Cisticola, Broad-tailed Wabler and Marsh Tchagra. Spectacular number of migrant harriers including pallid, Montagu’s and European Marsh, Quarter the damp grasslands from November to March and May be seen in the evening at their roost in the shallow depression west of the road to baboon Cliffs, 7.5 km from the Kabatoro gate.

Mgahinga National park

This thick forested park is home to numerous primates including the mountain gorillas however, birding is so fantastic in the park. The park host some of the most spectacular birds but majority can be seen on the Gorge Trail which loops half way up Mountain Sabyinyo traverses a variety of montane habitats and takes 3-4 hours to complete. Some of these birds include the scarce Rwenzori Turaco, Lagden’s  Bush-shrine, Scalet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Alpine Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Malachite Sunbird, Montane Double collared Sunbird.

Semliki National park

This remote and beautiful wildlife reserve lies on the southern shore of Lake Albert and mosaic of different habitat with some excellent birding opportunity. Some of the common birds include African Moustached Warbler, Green Wood-hoopoe, Red-necked Falcon, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Black-chinned Quail-Finch, African scops owl, Pearl-spotted owlet, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, African White-tailed, Standard-winged and pennant-winged nightjars, Crested Francolin, Helment Guineafowl to mention but a few.

Mabira Forest

Lying astride highway to the eastern part of Uganda less than an hour’s drive from Kampala. Mabira Forest supports over 300 bird species, many of which are difficulty to see elsewhere in Uganda. An excellent trail network allows access.

Flowering trees are inviting to the sunbirds like the superb Sunbirds, Blue Throated Brown, Green Thoroated and olive bellied, Forest Robin, Grey- crowned Negrofinch, African Blue Flycatcher, Speckle-breasted Woodpecker.

Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens avails you a chance to do birding in an attractive environment very close to Kampala the capital of Uganda and Entebbe International Airport. Great Blue and Ross’s Turacco, Klaa’s Diederik Cucooks, Woodland Kingfisher Black and white casqued Hornbill, African Fish Eagle

Mpanga Forest

Mpanga forest is stunning patch of remnant medium-altitudinal evergreen and swamp forest that lies 37 km from the round about in Natete along Masaka Road. A number of birds live in the forest like Joyful Greenbul, Weyn’s Weaver, Purple-throated Cuckoo Shrike, Pied Hornbill, Sooty Boubou, Green Longbill, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle to mention but afew.