Visit Uganda For Bird Watching and primates safaris; Uganda is a birding paradise with a massive bird list of more than 1072 recorded bird species making up to 50% of the African bird species and 11% of the world species. The huge bird list is contained within a small territory of only 90041 square miles, hence having one of the highest concentrations of birds per square kilometers in Africa. Birding in Uganda rewards with easy spotting of many covering just a small area or birding for a short period of time.
The incredible diversity of habitats that no longer find in any area in Africa can match with the reason why Uganda harbors such a huge diversity of birds and collects so many migrant birds during the year around. Uganda lies in position where she shares Africa’s major ecological zones and each has associated bird species, including that are range restricted.
The country’s compact size, almost the like that of Britain, allows high concentration of bird species within its diverse habitats such as wetlands, rainforests, mountainous and savannahs.
The country encompasses several Important Bird Areas (IBAs) that are specifically developed for bird watching and conservation efforts. Local guide trained in bird identification enhance the experience by helping visitors to spot both common and rare species.
The birding hotspot in Uganda include; Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, which is the place where the endemic species are, Mabamba bay wetland, this is known for sighting of the elusive shoebill stork. Bird watching safaris in Uganda offer various experiences tailored to different interests. Visitors can engage in nature walks in the lush forests, embark on game drives in savannah parks or boat cruises on lakes and rivers.
Uganda’s combination of diverse habitats rich biodiversity and knowledgeable local guides make it an exceptional destination for bird watching safaris.
These are the Top Bird Watching Destinations in Uganda;
Mabamba bay wetland, the best place to spot shoebill stork in Africa
Lutembe bay wetland
Makanaga wetland, another hotspot for shoebill stork and other wetland bird species
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
Kibale forest national park
Semuliki national park
Lake Mburo national park
Queen Elizabeth national park
Rwenzori mountains national park
Kidepo valley national park
Budongo forest
Mpanga forest
Murchison falls national park
Mabira forest
Though the forest which is under restoration Kampala where someone wanting to see a variety of local birds can go birding comfortably.
The top ten bird species birder interested when on a birding safari in Uganda;
- The Shoebill stork; this is found in Mabamba wetlands, Murchison falls at the delta, Semuliki national park and Ziwa rhino sanctuary, one of the few indefinable and uncommon bird species sited. It is a large bird with a whale head and can mostly be seen in marshy areas, the adults feathers are medium blue-grey in color, while the juveniles are a bit browner.
- African green Broadbill; its an endangered species globally and is often identified as the Grauers Broadbill. It lives mostly in tropical forests and they have a light green shade to their feathers, a blue throat with a small bill.
- The green Breasted pita; they are hard to spot but are found in the tropical forests soggy lowlands. Its throat is encircled with a black line, and its breast is green in color.
- The Great Blue Toraco; they are large birds often hunted for their meat and feathers, they are also poor at flying and thus end up soaring for shorter distances
- The Short-tailed Warber; this is a little bird with a unique striped outline and a very short tail has a broad arch of hair above each grayish-brown eye and while the front of its eyes are dull green and white.
- The Black Breasted barbet; they have a big heads and a hefty bill that is fringed with hackles. They also solitary birds that classically shell in the tree openings, they feed on fruit, insects, and small reptiles, usually the females lay 2 to 4 eggs and both birds then incubate them for a period of 15days.
- The Doherty’s Bush shrike; they can be heard to see and sometimes most people never seen, they are green with a cheerful red and forehead, a light yellow and lemon-like middle with a black tail, a broad black-breasted band , the younger birds have a pale green color and striped green and yellow underparts.
- The Bar-tailed trogon; they live in forests; they have yellow feet and a bill and a far-reaching long tail. Females have brown heads and light cinnamon throat and breast, while the males have blue-black heads , two orange and yellow patches below the eyes that are of bare skin, luminous colors of green and violet on their upper breast.
- 9. The standard-winged Nightjar; they are usually identified with flying foxes (fruit bats), they also keep hidden away during day time by using their brown mottled plumage, their feathers can stretch 38cm long, and they also soar at sundown into the late evenings.
- Shelley’s Crimson-wing; these are rarely sighted, their bills are bright red, the females have olive heads and red mantle, while the males have their backs, face and crown all covered in bright red.
Albertine Rift Endemic Birds Species in Uganda:
These are one of the Albertine Rift Endemic bird’s species to watch on your birding trip/safari in Uganda;
Red-throated Albethe, Red-faced Woodland warbler, African Green Broadbill, Fox’s Weaver, Blue-headed Sunbird, Short tailed Warber, Handsome Francolin, Karamoja Apalis, Rwenzori Toraco, Collared Apalis, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Toraco, Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Kivu Ground Thrush, Dusky Crimson Wing, Dwarfs Honey Guide, Archers Robin-chat, Mountain Masked Apalis, Grauers Warbler, Grauers Rush Warbler, Stripe-breasted Tit, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Strange Weaver, Chapin’s Flycatcher.
The Bird Species Which are Simple to Spot are;
Red-headed Bluebill
African Emerald Cuckoo
African Blue plus White-tailed Blue Flycatcher
Common Bulbul
Common Waxbill
Pied Crow
Barn Swallow
Rappels Starling
Black Headed Weaver
Common Buzzard
Marabou Stork
Cattle Egret.