SOME OF UGANDA’S IMPORTANT BIRD WATCHING AREAS

Bird watching can be done throughout the country. But due to birds’ habitat specifications, some areas have been identified more important than others in terms of species richness.

The birding areas include most of the country’s protected areas (National parks, Wildlife Reserves, Central forests and wetlands) and other natural habitats of avifauna significance. However, the birding areas being distant, enough time is required to achieve best results. A period of 3-4 weeks time is suggested appropriate to any serious birder for this wonderful and rewarding trip.

Murchison Falls National Park.

This area represents phoenix – palm Savannah with thicket/thorn bush, riparian forest, and papyrus swamp and reed bed along the mighty Nile River.  It’s quite diverse with lots of superb birds of over 450-recorded species and birding can be best done in January – March period.

Restricted range birds in the area include, the White – rumped Seedeater, Bar – breasted fire finch, Red – necked Buzzard and the Black crowned crake, Common Whitethroat, Rofous –rumped Lark, Egyptian Plover, Senegal Thick – knee, Parasitic Weaver and Black – faced Cisticola. A major highlight in this area is surely the rare Shoebill stork found in high numbers than else where in Uganda.

 Kidepo Valley National Park.

Found in Karamoja region in Northern Uganda, the area represents dry semi – arid Savannah with lush grasslands and a seasonal flowing river and small wetlands. Boasts of over 475 recorded bird species, a total only second to that of Queen Elizabeth National Park..

This unique area has over 30 bird species found no where else in Uganda, such as the Karamoja Apalis, Black – breasted and Red – fronted Barbets, Black – faced Waxbills, Golden Pipit, the Common Ostrich, Rose – ringed Parakeet, Pygmy Batis and many others. The area is also home to Montane Nightjar, an Albertine Rift Endemic. Bird watchers reaching this area have an additional opportunity to see Africa’s
Sought after cats (the Cheetah, Caracal, & Bat – eared Fox).

 Lake Mburo National Park.

The area is one of the unique bird watching areas in western Uganda. Demonstrates the Akagera savannah system that represents the unique Serengeti Savannahs of Tanzania, which consist of dry thorn bush/ Savannah with papyrus wetlands and open water.

It has over 315 recorded bird species and in most cases, the only area in Uganda to see Southern Savannah species like Red – faced and Black – collared Barbets. Other restricted range species in this area include, Coqui Francolin, Red- winged Grey Warbler, Black- throated seedeater, Green Capped Eremomela and the Red – tailed Chat.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

This Protected Area offers one of the best Montane forest birding in Africa and is a key birding destination for every bird watcher coming to Uganda. It represents a medium altitude (moist ever green) forest, Montane forest with patches of Bamboo and Montane marshes at 1190 – 2607 metres above sea level.

The Park offers over 350-recorded species of birds with many attractive and globally threatened birds like African – Green Broadbill and Shelley’s Crimsonwing. It holds 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift Endemic birds (the highest concentration in an area). This was possibly due being an area of refugee during the Pleistocene time when climatic conditions elsewhere became unfavourable.

About 9 species of special birds can only be found in this area to the rest of Uganda. These specialities are, the Brown – necked Parrot, Fraser’s Eagle Owl, Yellow Sreaked Greenbul, White – bellied Robin Chat, Yellow – eyed Black Flycatcher, Dusky Twinspot, Grauer’s Warbler among others. Bwindi is the only area in East Africa with the highest number of the endangered Mountain Gorillas.

 Mount Elgon National Park.

Elgon is a mixed montane forest with an Afro – Alpine zone altitude ranging from 1460 – 4320 metres above sea level. 

The area holds over 300 recorded bird species, of which ten (10) are localised in the area through out Uganda. These species include, the Black – collared Apalis, Moustached Green Tinkerbird, Moorland Francolin, Spotted Creeper, Alpine Chat, Hartlaub`s Marsh Widowbird, Hunters Cisticola, Jackson’s Francolin and Red – throated Wryneck and Cape Rook. Mount Elgon also offers 2 (Montane Masked Apalis & Montane Nightjar) of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift Endemics.

 Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

This thrilling “Mountains of the moon” area is located in western Uganda on DR – Congo border. It mainly consists of Montane forest with bamboo on the lower slopes, heath, Afro – Alpine zone with some attractive snow covered peaks in the centre of Equatorial Africa. 

It is famous for over 217 - recorded bird species. 18 of these are Albertine Rift Endemics such as Rwenzori Turaco, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Handsome Francolin, Kivu Ground Thrush, Ruwenzori Batis and Stripe Breasted Tit. Other rare and attractive highland birds of interest includes, Bamboo Warbler, Golden – winged Sunbird, Scarlet – tufted Malachite Sunbird and Stuhlmann’s double – collared Sunbird

Birding in the Rwenzori area can be extremely rewarding as it offers the only opportunity in Uganda to find the rare African Long – eared Owl and lots of Chameleons such as the three horned.

 Semuliki National Park

The area is a unique moist semi – deciduous lowland forest with parches of palm swamp and aquatic habitat. Semuliki Forest is the only East Africa’s eastern arm of the great Ituri forests that stretch across DR – Congo to river Zaire and lies within the Albertine Rift Valley (area of Refugee during the Pleistocene period) at 670 - 760 metres above sea level.

The area holds over 400 species of birds and is one of the richest areas for forest birds in the entire Africa, largely because of its high concentration of Central African species uncommon else where in East Africa. The area holds over131 of the 144 bird species found in Guinea – Congo forests and one Albertine Rift Endemic (the Dwarf Honeyguide).
Not surprisingly, this area has been named by many enthusiastic birders as Uganda’s “Bird haven and Hornbill City” just because of its lowland specialities and numerous Hornbill species.

This lowland forest holds over 30 birds found nowhere else in East Africa. Some of these Africa’s most attractive and sought after birds include, the Black – wattled Casqued Hornbill, Nkulengu Rail, Lyre – tailed Honeyguide, Congo Serpent Eagle, Long – tailed Hawk, White Crested Hornbill, Black & Red - billed Dwarf Hornbills, African Piculet, Spot – breasted Ibis, White – throated Blue Swallow and many others.   

However, being outstandingly rich and internationally recognised, many enthusiastic birders have made this Park as a must visit birding destination in Uganda.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The area is found in the extreme South - western Uganda and consists of   mixed highland/Montane forest, Bamboo forest, Giant heath and Afro – Alpine Moorland vegetation from 2300 – 4127 metres above sea level.

Though small in size, is probably the most scenic, as it consists of the three Bufumbira Volcanic Mountains of Mgahinga, Muhavura and Sabinyo on the boundary with Rwanda and DR – Congo.

Over 150 birds have been recorded in this area. Of these, 16 are Albertine Rift Endemics while others are among Uganda’s scarce species such as Rwenzori Turaco, Lagden´s Bush – Shrike, Scarlet – tufted Malachite Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Greater double – collared sunbird and Black-headed Waxbill.

This birding destination is the only site in Uganda with Golden Monkeys and second to Bwindi Impenetrable for Mountain Gorillas.

 Kibale National Park.

This site consists of an extensive medium altitude to highland forest with mixed vegetation grassland that offers excellent forest birding from altitudes 920 – 1590 metres above sea level.

Over 335 birds are recorded in this area and include some of Uganda’s rare species such as the Bar – tailed Trogon, Red – faced Crimson wing, Fine – banded Woodpecker, Red –bellied Malimbe, Tiny Sunbird, Montane Oriole, Petit’s Cuckoo Shrike and White – bellied Crested Flycatcher.

This site is famous for African Pitta and Uganda’s second Endemic species the Kibale Ground Thrush. It also holds three of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift Endemics; Collared Apalis, Blue- headed Sunbird and Purple- breasted Sunbird.

Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This spectacular birding site is Uganda’s most scenic and popular for bird watchers. It lies in the Great Western Rift Valley from 900 – 1845 metres above sea level.

Vegetation represents medium altitude moist semi – deciduous forests, riparian forests, Thicket scrub Savannah, Acacia woodland, Salt Lake and diverse wetland habitats that includes Papyrus Swamps, Reed bed, Rivers, Fresh water Lakes, open wet mud and grasslands.

The site is significantly the only single area in Uganda and probably in Africa with the highest record of nearly 600 bird species. Some of these special birds (18 species) are not found else where in Uganda such the Greater Flamingo, Common Pochard, Broad – tailed Paradise Whydah, River Warbler, Kentish Plover, Broad – billed Sandpiper, Bar – tailed Godwit, Red Shank, Black – necked Grebe, Red – billed Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler and Short – tailed Pipit. One Albertine Rift Endemic species (Chapin’s Flycatcher) is found in this area.

This birding site is also known for the endangered and majestic Shoe - billed Stork and famous Kazinga Channel for fantastic Palaearctic migrants. Due to this, December-February is suggested for best birding. Birding in this area offers opportunities for possible viewing of the famous Climbing Lions of Ishasha.

Uganda’s increasingly high bird diversity cannot be over emphasised. All expected from an enthusiastic bird watcher in Uganda is an overwhelmingly unexpected stunning long list of “lifer” Birds.