Uganda Birding: Birdwatching Tours, Bird Species & Destinations

Uganda Birding: Birdwatching Tours, Bird Species & Destinations. Uganda Birding Safaris: Best Destinations for Birdwatching in Uganda.

One of the many reasons why Uganda is a birder’s delight is the incredible variety of bird species found there. The many bird-rich territories that are often difficult to reach in other countries are easy to concede to.

There are more than 1,066 bird species in Uganda, making it one of the best places in the world to go birdwatching. This number represents around half of Africa’s bird species and eleven percent of the world’s total. Birds of all kinds, both year-round and those passing through, find refuge in Uganda thanks to the country’s diverse ecosystems. The country’s varied habitats—including rainforests, savannahs, marshes, and mountainous regions—are home to a high concentration of bird species, because to its tiny size, which is about the same as Britain’s.

An important factor in the survival of Uganda’s enormous bird population is the country’s unparalleled variety of habitats. Several areas across the nation have been designated as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) for the express purpose of promoting birding and conservation. Birding tours are much more enjoyable with the assistance of local guides who have received specialized training in bird identification.

Albertine Rift Endemic Bird Species in Uganda

Be on the lookout for these rare and endangered bird species while birdwatching in Uganda’s Albertine Rift:

Fox’s Weaver, Blue-headed Sunbird, Short-tailed Warbler, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Turaco, Red-throated Alethe, African Green Broadbill, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Collared Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Dwarf Honeyguide, Grauer’s Warbler, Dusky Crimson wing, Rwenzori Batis, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Shelley’s Crimson-wing, Stripe-breasted Tit, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Kivu Ground Thrush, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Strange Weaver, Chapin’s Flycatcher.

Common Bulbuls, African Emerald Cuckoos, African Blue and White-tailed Blue Flycatchers, and Red-headed Bluebills are among more easily spotted species.

Top Birds To Watch on a Birding Safari in Uganda

For birdwatchers visiting Uganda on a safari, these are the ten most sought-after bird species.

The Shoebill: One of the few cryptic and rare bird species identified, this one can be found in Murchison Falls or Mabamba Island. It is common to encounter this huge bird, which has a whale-like beak, in wetland habitats. In contrast to the slightly browner plumage of the juveniles, the adult plumage is a medium blue-grey.

The Great Blue Turaco: Both their flesh and feathers make these huge birds excellent targets for hunters. They can only soar for lesser distances because they aren’t very good pilots either.

Shelley’s Crimson-wing: You almost seldom see one of them. They have crimson bills. In contrast to the vivid red covering on males’ backs, faces, and crowns, females’ heads are olive and their mantles are red.

The Standard-winged Nightjar: They are commonly mistaken for fruit bats, which are a kind of flying fox. Using their dark speckled plumage, they conceal themselves when resting or throughout the day. At sunset and into the late evenings, you may see them soaring through the sky with feathers that can reach a length of 38 cm.

The Short-tailed Warbler: It is commonly known as the Neumann’s Warbler. The little bird features a small tail, a wide arch of hair above each greyish-brown eye, and a huge head with distinctive stripes. The front of each eye is dull green and white.

The African Green Broadbill: Often called the Grauer’s Broadbill, this bird is in risk of extinction on a global scale. Tropical forests are its primary habitat. Their feathers are a pale greenish-blue, and they have a tiny bill and a blue throat.

The Green-breasted Pitta: They inhabit the damp lowlands of tropical woods and are notoriously difficult to see. It has a green breast and a black stripe across its neck.

The Doherty’s Bushshrike: Though they remain unseen, their voices carry. A wide black-breasted band runs across their chest, and they have a verdant body with a bright red forehead and throat, a lemon-like yellow center, and a black tail. A pale green plumage and yellow and green stripes cover the undersides of the young birds.

The Bar-tailed Trogon: Their habitat is woodlands. A bill, a long tail, and golden feet characterize these creatures. While males are dazzling green-blue and violet on top of their breasts and have blue-black heads, females are brown with a light cinnamon throat and breast. Below their eyes, there are two bare patches of skin that can be either orange or yellow.

The Black-breasted Barbet: Their large beaks are adorned with a ring of hackles, and they sport large heads to match. Traditional shelling sites for these solitary birds are holes in trees. Insects, fruit, and small reptiles make up their diet. The female lays clutches of 2–4 eggs, which are subsequently incubated for 13–15 days by both parents.

Some birds can only be found in some areas; however, Uganda is blessed with many birding spots where bird lovers can enjoy a birding trip and look out for these beautiful species. A skilled bird watcher can identify more than 100 species in just a single day. Starting early offers the finest opportunity of finding remarkable, beautiful species.

Birding enthusiasts can enjoy a vacation to Uganda and keep an eye out for these stunning creatures, since many of these birds are endemic to the country. On a good day, an expert bird watcher can spot over a hundred different kinds of birds. The best chance of discovering amazing, lovely species is to begin early in the day.