Uganda Birding Safaris: Uganda is well-known for its beautiful climate, wildlife, and welcoming people. Most Uganda safari visitors combine birding with sightseeing and wildlife viewing. Although birding is not as extensively developed or advertised as gorilla trekking, Uganda is regarded as one of the best destinations in the world for birding safaris. In Uganda, around 1035 bird species have been catalogued, and over 30 birding locations have been designated. Every year, thousands of bird enthusiasts flock to see endemic species such as Stuhlmann’s Sunbird, Fox’s Weaver, and Great Shoebill. Surprisingly, this small landlocked country boasts more birds per square kilometer than any other country on the continent. This means that tourists to Uganda will be rewarded with numerous bird sightings without having to go long distances or deep into the bush. They are actually visible from the airport in Entebbe, across the capital Kampala, outside your hotel room, and as you go around. To understand how blessed Uganda is by nature, you must visit one of the major birding sites located in the country’s stunning and spectacular landscape.
The country’s high density of bird species per square kilometer can be linked to two factors:
- Geographic location near the equator, the Tropics, and the Albertine Rift Valley. Areas near the equator are endowed with fresh water lakes, rivers, huge swamps, and rain forests, and Uganda is no exception. Many bird species use these natural features as homes and breeding grounds.
- Diversity of Habitats: Uganda has a unique and vast range of habitats for various bird species many of which are native to the country. They range from the big lakes/rivers, rain forests, the great East African rift valley, mountains, and semi-arid areas in the northern half of the country. Local and migratory birds use these environments for breeding, feeding, and gathering.
Uganda’s top bird species
The Shoebill stork, African Green Broadbill, Black Bee-eater, Brown chested pullover, Brown-chested Lapwing, Green-breasted Pitta, Jahan’s Francolin, Jameson’s Antpecker, Karamoja Apalis, Purcell’s illadopsis, Puvel’s Illadopsis, Nahans francolin, Red fronted anti pecker, and Rwenzori Tura Among the many species seen on bird watching safaris are the African Harrier hawk, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Crowned hornbill, Giant kingfisher, Goliath Heron, Green pigeon, Martial Eagle, Mountain greenbul, the Secretary Bird, Shelley’s crimsonwing, Short-tailed warbler, African Darter, Grey crested crane, Western green tinkerbird, and Yellow-billed Stork among others.
Uganda Birding Safaris Birding Areas
Uganda’s beautiful national parks and reserves are the ideal places to see birds. Bird sanctuaries remain relatively undisturbed in these national parks and reserves, ensuring an astonishing density of bird species. Because of Uganda’s incredible diversity of fauna and vegetation, watching birds while seeking for other wildlife species is more rewarding.
The Budongo Forest:
Budongo forest is located within the famous Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s most popular tourist sites. The forest is well-known for chimp trekking, but it is also one of the best spots in Uganda to go birdwatching. Several bird species, including the African Dwarf Kingfisher, African Pied Hornbill, Banded Snake-eagle, Black Bishop, Black-bellied Fire sparrow, Black-capped Apalis, Brown Twin sport, Brown-backed Scrub-robin, Cameroon Sombre Green bull, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, live in the forest. Crowned Eagle, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Fire-crested Alethe, Forest Flycatcherand, Forest Francolin, Green Hylia, Ituri Batis are some of the birds found in the forest. Among the other species are the Lemon-bellied Crombec, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Red-tailed Antthrush, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Slender-billed Green bull, Spotted Green bull, White-thighed Hornbill, Yellow and Grey Longbills, Yellow-billed Barbet, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, and Yellow-spotted Barbet.
Mabamba Swamp
In Uganda, the Mabamba Swamp is an excellent location for bird watching. The Mabamba Bay Wetland Swamp is home to a variety of birds including the Black-billed Turaco, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Fire-crested Althea, Grey Parrot, Hair-breasted Barbet, Lemon Dove, Olive Green bull, Snowy-headed Robin-chat, Sooty Boubou, Wayne’s Weaver, White-spotted Fluff
Bigodi wetland
The Black-billed Turaco, Black-faced Rufus Warbler, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Blue-headed Coucal, Scaly-throated-Honey guide, and White spotted crake can all be found in this large bird sanctuary.
Kidepo Valley National park.
It is home to some of Uganda’s rarest species, including the Black-breasted Barbet and the Karamoja Apalis. Kidepo has over 450 species, second only to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Other birds to look out for are the Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Superb Starling, Silverbird, and Crimson-rumped Waxbill, among many others.
Other noteworthy birding locations in Uganda are Mpanga Forest Reserve, Mabira Forest Reserve, and Semuliki National Park.
