Birds in Uganda
Dubbed a birdwatcher’s paradise, Uganda is home to 1,065 species of birds. Around 60% of these birds inhabit national parks. The remaining species are found in forests, wetlands, semiarid sites, grasslands, and farmland.
Uganda’s Bird List
The variety of birds in Uganda is impressive. The country boasts numerous species, including:
- Ostriches, guineafowl, ducks, waterfowl, and geese.
- Pheasants, allies, grouse, New World quail, grebes, and flamingos.
- Pigeons, doves, turacos, bustards, and cuckoos.
- Swifts, nightjars, flufftails, rails, coots, and gallinules.
- Cranes, finfoots, Egyptian plovers, thick-knees, and oystercatchers.
- Storks, gulls, terns, skuas, jaegers, and shoebills.
- Herons, egrets, bitterns, ibises, spoonbills, and hamerkops.
- Eagles, hawks, falcons, caracaras, owls, and secretary birds.
- Kingfishers, bee-eaters, hornbills, hoopoes, and trogons.
- Flycatchers, warblers, starlings, sunbirds, and weavers.
The list of Uganda’s birds is nearly endless!
Prime Birdwatching Destinations
Birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Over 600 species inhabit Queen Elizabeth National Park, making it Uganda’s most visited birdwatching destination. The park hosts water birds, woodland and forest species, raptors, and migratory birds.
Key Species: Greater and Lesser Flamingos, African Skimmer, Martial Eagle, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, and the Shoebill.
Key Birding Sites: Mweya Peninsula, Kazinga Channel, Maramagambo Forest, Kasenyi Area, Ishasha Sector, Katunguru Bridge, Lake Kikorongo, and Katwe.
Birds in Murchison Falls National Park
The Shoebill is Murchison Falls National Park’s star attraction. The park is also home to waterbirds, savannah forest birds, and Albertine Rift endemics.
Key Species: Secretary Bird, Marabou Stork, Widow Bird, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and Black-bellied Bustard.
Key Birding Sites: Thickets and woodlands along the Nile River, where bee-eaters, woodpeckers, and kingfishers thrive.
Birds in Rwenzori Mountains National Park
More than 217 species live in the inhospitable Rwenzori Mountains.
Key Species: Robins, bee-eaters, barbets, sunbirds, Rwenzori Turaco, Black Eagle, Long-eared Owl, swifts, and vultures.
Birds in Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano on the Uganda-Kenya border, is a prime birding destination.
Key Species: White-chinned Prinia, Chinspot Batis, Chubb’s Cisticola, African Blue Flycatcher, and Tacazze Sunbird.
Semuliki: The True Bird Haven
Semuliki National Park is an unmatched haven for forest birds, offering a unique birding experience.
Key Species: Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Great Blue and Ross’ Turacos, and Yellow-throated Nicator.
Key Birding Sites: Kirumia River, Sempaya, Ntandi, the forest, and Lake Albert.
Birds in Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo is known for its diverse bird population, including the rare red-faced barbet.
Key Species: Bateleur, Rufous-bellied Heron, Brown-chested Lapwing, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, and Ross’s Turaco.
Key Birding Sites: Salt licks, Miriti Valley, Rubanga Forest, and swampy valleys of Miriti and Warukiri.
Birds in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo is home to several rare bird species found nowhere else in Uganda.
Key Species: Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Abyssinian Roller, and Clapperton’s Francolin.
Key Birding Sites: Apoka Rest Camp, Namamukweny Valleys, and Narus fringes.
Birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi is famous for gorillas but also hosts 350 bird species, including 23 endemics.
Key Species: Common Bulbul, African Emerald Cuckoo, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, and Red-headed Bluebill.
Key Birding Sites: Main trail, bamboo zone, Buhoma Waterfall Trail, and Mubwindi Swamp in Ruhija.
Birds in Kibale Forest National Park
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is Kibale’s top birding spot.
Key Species: Papyrus Canary, Papyrus Gonolek, White-collared Oliveback, and White-winged Warbler.
Key Birding Sites: Boardwalk trails and viewing platforms.
Birds in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga is another rich birding area in Uganda.
Key Species: Cape Robin Chat, Dusky Turtle Dove, Kivu Ground Thrush, Regal Sunbird, and Black-headed Waxbill.
Key Birding Sites: Gorge Trail, bamboo belt, tall montane forest, and Uganda-Congo border.
Uganda is an exceptional birdwatching destination, offering diverse habitats and rare species to explore. A visit to any of these parks guarantees an unforgettable birding experience!
For more information about birding tours, visit Yaneta Safaris. Additionally, check out eBird and BirdLife International for global birding insights.