Uganda Birding Sites

Birding sites in Uganda

Africa is has spectacular bird with Uganda having the most fascinating birds in the world. On average recorded species in Africa is around 2300 species, with Uganda having over 1500.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

This forest is one of the richest habitats in Uganda with bird specie of 350:  90% of all Albertine rift endemic specie which are barely seen in any other part of East Africa. Experienced bird watchers may be able to identify a little more than100 species in a day! Among the birds found in Bwindi are the globally threatened species such as African Green Broadbill and Shelley’s Crimsonwing, plus others such as Kivu Ground-thrush, Dwarf Honey guide, Oberlaender’s Ground-thrush, Lagden’s Bush-shrike and Chapin’s Flycatcher. The area lies in the rugged Kigezi Highlands near the borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Murchison (Kabalega) Falls NP, Uganda

Murchison Falls is found in the Albert Nile corridor is Uganda’s lowest area (612m )at Delta Point. Murchison falls is home to a diversity of flora and fauna which consists of 450 bird species.  This park is the best place in the world to see the Shoebill - an incredible stork-like bird with an enormous boat-shaped beak. A launch makes regular trips 11km upstream to the spectacular waterfalls where the Nile is forced through a gap merely 10m wide. Below the fall, there is a narrow strip of papyrus on both banks and two pairs of Shoebill regularly inhabit this area. There are plenty of other birds to see including Rock Pratincole, and away from the river there is lush forest and river plains. Due to its size and a range of habitats the park hosts eight globally threatened species of birds with the shoebill being the most important tourist attraction in the park. Its overall diversity is reflected in having 14 of the 22 Sudan and Guinea species, 7 of the 12 Lake Victoria species, 11 of 144 Guinea Congo Forest species, 6 of the 87 Afro tropical Highland species and 3 of 32 Somali-Masai biome species.

Some of the rare bird species which you may see include the Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Roller, Ground Hornbill, Pied Kingfishers, Red Throated Bee eaters, Goliath Heron, Saddle-billed stork, Sacred Ibis, Fulvous Whistling duck, Black-headed and Long-toed Lapwing. Other interesting birds include, the Little Bittern, Red-necked falcon, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Vinaceous Dove and Grosbeak Weaver.

Budongo forest reserve.

Budongo Central Forest Reserve is the largest surviving natural forest in Uganda with a total surface area of 825sq.km. Budongo lies on the escarpment north-east of the Albertine Rift Valley to the south of Murchison falls and protecting the largest natural area in East Africa. Budongo Forest is the largest Mahogany forest in east Africa. It is a home to over 350 species of birds which include the African Dwarf Kingfisher, Crowned Eagle, Olive Cameroptera, Yellow and Grey Longbills, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher; Red tailed Thrush, Lesser-masked Weaver and Shikra. It also has the Fox’s Cisticola, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Black-billed Barbet and the Grey-headed Oliveback. Other interesting birds include Sabine’s spine tail, Cassin hawk eagle, Cassin’s spine tail (rare), Pygmy crakes, Ituri batis, , Brown twin spot, Cameroon somber, Crowned eagle, White spotted fluff tail, Yellow crested woodpecker, Forest robin, Little green sunbird, Grey headed sunbird, Pulvus illadopsis.

Kibaale Forest National Park

Although Kibaale Forest is a great concentration harbor of a variety of primates; it also boasts of 339 bird specie which include  81 species of the Guinea-Congo forest biome, 32 species of the Afro tropical Highland biome,the Bar-tailed trogon, Fine-branded Woodpecker, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher and red-faced Crimson-wing; each found in only two other Important Bird Areas. The park also has five of the 24 Albertine Rift Mountains restricted-range species in Uganda, and five of the 12 Ugandan species of the Lake Victoria biome.

Semuliki Wildlife Reserve

Bwamba forest as its locally refered lies in the Albertine rift Valley, northwest of the Rwenzori Mountains .Semliki is an extension of the Congo-basin vegetation in Uganda offers a mosaic, tall-grass woodland, Acacia savanna grassland with extensive patches of Borassus , grassland with scattered thorn thickets and wet-lands adjacent to Lake Albert and its tributaries. Its different habitats offer an excellent birding opportunity. It is a special interest to ornithologists for sightings of the enigmatic, swamp-dwelling shoebill, the Congo Serpent Eagle, Black-throated Coucal, Grey-throated Rail, Nkulengu Rail, Long-tailed Hawk, Spot-breasted Ibis, Capuchin Babbler, Yellow-throated Nicator, Northern Bearded Scrub Robin, Red-chested Owlet, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird and the Quail-Finch, African pygmy Goose, Red-necked Falcon, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Black-billed Barbet, Piapiac, Leaflove, Black-chinned, Quail-Finch.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The park has got various habitats ranging from the grassland, woodland, moist tropical forest and wetlands, including both fresh water and lakes and saline crater lakes. These habitats are a home of over 610 specie; the highest Uganda and possibly the highest biodiversity biome on the African continent. It is a home  of 12 out of the 28 species of globally threatened birds specie namely the Corncrake, Blue Swallow and Chapin’s Flycatcher. Also 70 out of 144 species from Guinea-Congo Forest biome and nine out of 12 species from Lake Victoria Basin biome but only seven out of 87 species from Afro tropical Highlands biome. Other bird specie include Great White Pelicans (maximum 1800 birds at Kasenyi crater), Gull-billed Terns (maximum 1200 on Kazinga Channel and 780 at Lake Munyanyange), African Skimmer (maximum 650 at Kazinga channel), Caspian Plovers Charadrius asiaticus on Lake George at Shoebill swamp. Munyanyange crater is an important site for a wide range of migrant waders including the highest national record for Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta (100) and significant numbers of Black-backed Gull and five species of ducks. The common bird species in the park include the Martial Eagle, Black-rumped Buttonquail, African Skimmer, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, White-tailed Lark, Papyrus Gonolek and Papyrus Canary.

Mgahinga National park

Uganda’s smallest but most scenic National park, situated at the extreme south-western corner. The vegetation in this park consists of the bamboo forest zone, montane forest belt and top most alpine moorland vegetation which is a home to over 115 bird species. Four globally threatened and 39 Afro tropical Highland biome species are known. Three of the threatened species, and others such as Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, can be spotted in the park. The wetland close to the DRC is an area, where ibis, speckled mouse bird and fire flinch are found. Other scarce highland species include the Rwenzori Turaco, Red faced Woodland and Mountain Yellow Warblers, Mountain Masked Apalis, Northern Double-collared Sunbird and the Alpine Chat. The park has 14 of 24 Albertine Rift restricted range species. Other interesting species such as Handsome Francolin, Archer’s Robin Chat, Rwenzori Batis and Stripe-Breasted Tit are found in only a few other places.

Mabamba Bay

Apart from Murchison Falls National Park, Mabamba bay is the only place and site ( so far rated as the best in Africa and/or the whole world) where the elusive Shoebill can be spotted at any one time of the day. Recently, Mabamba has become one of the strong holds for the migrant Blue Swallow with over 100 individuals recorded every year. Mabamba has been surveyed in recent years and now boosts of over 260 species with one day’s record of 157 species.

Located in Mpigi district, which is very close to Kampala city, Mabamba dominated by Miscanthus and Cyperus specie with are small patches of Nympea caerulea in a narrow open water channel. Most of the vegetation here is basically  papyrus, which certainly is favorable for  the elusive Shoebill, the migrant Blue Swallow with over 100 individuals recorded every year, the Pallid Harrier, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Gonolek Grey- headed Gulls, Goliath Herons, Spur-winged and Pygmy Geese and flocks of migratory species like Gull-billed Terns, White-winged Black Terns and Whisked Terns. Mabamba however has the status of unprotected area with bird categories, globally threatened species and Lake Victoria Basin biome species.

Lutembe Bay

Located on the northern shores of Lake Victoria; Lutembe bay  is graced with a mosaic of papyrus vegetation and merges with forest remnants to the north and a recently cleared horticultural farm to the northwest on the landward side. The bay regularly supports 20,000 - 50,000 roosting water birds, sometimes many more between October and February; when there are palaearctic migrants. Clearly Lutembe bay is one of the most important migratory stopover sites in the Lake Victoria basin and a major roost site for many species, including large congregations of migrant waders. Birding here is done on a hand paddled Canoe

Lutembe has recently been gazetted as Conventional Wetland of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat supporting over 100 species of birds which include the Papyrus Yellow Warbler, the Papyrus Gonolek, the Greater Cormorant, Gull billed Tern. During winter hers like birds include the Grey-headed gull, Slender-billed gull and White-winged black terns migrate from Europe in their thousands, making a visit to this place a thrilling adventure.. The bay and its associated swamps are important for the surrounding communities as a source of raw materials for local crafts, building, water for domestic use and probably more importantly fish as food and income.

Entebbe Botanical Gardens

Established in 1998, the Botanical Gardens are situated on the northern shores of Lake Victoria virtually on the equator. The gardens house a collection of species of plants of the tropical, sub-tropical and temperate zones, besides several shrubs and other plants regenerated naturally over the years. The habitat has attracted a diverse array of birds, 309 birds of which 199 are indigenous species namely the Palm Nut Vulture and African Grey Parrot are resident, whilst Bat Hawk is often seen over the gardens at sunset, the Ruff, Wood, Common, Marsh Sandpipers, Common Green Shank, Long-tailed and Great Cormorants, Madagascar Bee-eater, Green Crombec, Orange weaver, Golden and Yellow backed weavers, Superb sunbird, Bare faced go-away-bird, Ross's and Great blue Turacos, Grey and Brown Parrots, Palm Swift, Little Swift, Entebbe Weaver (an endemic to Uganda that was recorded at the site only once), White spotted Fluftail. Botanical The birds can easily be spotted while relaxing at the Beach Hotel patio bar. Naturally there are loads of exotic plants and trees; the gardens are also a home of the Black and White Colubus and Vervet Monkeys. Motor rallying, is one of those activities that one can enjoy apart from birding in Entebbe.

Zika Forest

This small central forest reserve with mature trees such as the ficus, macaranga and mvule, undergrowth with a thick canopy is located along Entebbe road. This forest is a breeding ground of Grey Parrots, butterflies and a noisy troop of red-tailed and colobus monkeys inhabit in Uganda. There has been complimented by construction of the scenery/bird viewing tower and variety of trails have been established in the forest for nature walks. Zika Forest is a gazetted Forest Reserve supported by the Netherlands Committee for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, in Switzerland (IUCN) and maintained by the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, and the Uganda Wildlife Society in Kampala.

Mabira Birding Forest

Another one of the surviving natural Forest of Uganda, with an area of 306 sq km; the Forest is a Natural Habitat of 312 species of trees including the endangered Cordia Millenii, Mililia Exclesa.the Warbhugia Ugandanesis which has medicinal properties and is known to cure over forty ailments, animals and supports over 300 bird species most of which are endemic to only Mabira, The flowering trees in the clearing attract a variety of sun birds and rare birds like the Grey and Yellow Longbill, Purple Throated Cuckoo-Shrike, Tit Hylia, Fire Crested Alethe, Olive Green Cameroptera, Blue Shouldered Robinchat. Other interesting birds include the Yellow whiskered Greenbul, Leaf love, Toro Olive  Greenbul, Buff spotted and Yellow Crested Woodpecker, White spotted Fluff tail, Red headed Blue Bill, Yellow spotted Barbet, Grey throated Barbet, Forest Robin, Yellow Rumped Tinker bird, Yellow Throated Tinker bird, Blue Breasted Kingfisher, African Pygmy, Shining blue, Woodland Kingfishers, Jameson’s Wattle Eye, Red tailed Ant Thrush, Chin spot Batis, Chestnut Wattle Eye, Yellow mantled, Black Billed, Weyn's Weavers, Violet backed Starling, Red headed Malimbe, Purple headed Starling, and many more attractive species. The European Honey Buzzard is a good winter visitor to this area. 

An excellent Trail System allows access to both undisturbed primary and good secondary forest; Managed by the Forestry department with input from local community. The revenue generated from eco tourism is shared between the forestry department and the local community. Other activities in the Forest Reserve include Forest Walks with over 68km of well developed Trail length, Mountain Biking, Bird Watching, Environmental Education and Research, Camping and Picnics, Primate Watching, Butterfly Identification and general Forest Exploration.

BIRDING AT NABUGABO ISLAND

Lake Nbugabo is a shallow freshwater lake of about 8 by 5 km, and extensive swamps and small forests to the north, east and south, where the Sango Bay adjoins. There is a belt of depleted tropical forest along much of the western shore and sandy shores along the windward, northwestern shoreline. Similar forests exist along the eastern sandbank some of which are gazetted Forest Reserves. This group of lakes has been isolated from Lake Victoria for about 3,700 years, during which time the cichlid fauna has undergone speciation. The bay covers a total area of 22,000ha with its location in Masaka there are also some endemic and carnivores plant species. Nabugabo Island contains Blue sallow, Shoebill,and a refugium to endemic fishes of Lake Viictoria.  Lake Nabugabo is a popular resort, especially at weekends and public holidays.

Sango Bay-Musambwa Island-Kagera Wetland System (SAMUKA).

Located on shores of Lake Victoria Masaka, Rakai District , Sango Bay has  a   mosaic of wetland types with the biggest tract of swamp forest, papyrus swamps, herbaceous swamps interspersed with palms and seasonally flooded grasslands, sandy, rocky and forest shores, and three rocky islets about 3 km offshore in Uganda. The vegetation supports the biggest breeding population of Grey-headed Gulls in Africa and 75% of the total global population of the Blue Swallow with a unique mosaic forest containing 30 endemic flora, restricted subspecies/ globally endangered mammals such as priatemate, elephant’s sitatunga Black and White Colobus Monkey and a subspecies of the Blue Monkey.

It is a source of fish to the people of the area, of medicinal plants, of grazing and of raw materials for building and making crafts including luxurious sofa chairs and mattresses. However, as overexploitation of resources and grazing depletes the rest of the landscape, forest reserves become the immediate retreat for the surrounding communities. The site also contains Stone Age artifacts, internationally known as the Sangoan industry, which dates to about 200,000 years ago.

LAKE NAKUWA WETLAND SYSTEM.

Located in Kyoga basin of Kamuli, Parisa, Soroti district. It is also said to be a permanent Wetland associated with a number of satellite lakes and a swamp system dominated by dense papyrus, broken in parts by pools of water-forming sudds (clumps of floating papyrus). The lake supports, the Sitatunga, the Nile crocodile, diverse cichlid species assemblage and are a haven for a number of non-cichlid species no longer found in the large lakes of Kyoga and Victoria.

Lake Nakuwa prevents flooding, instrumental for water purification and groundwater recharge.  There are It 200 indegenous fish species rare in Lake Victoria as well as livelihood for the local communities though offering employment to a number of fishermen.  It is probably one of the remaining pristine wetland areas in Uganda due to its remoteness and sparse population in the immediate catchment, and it offers employment to a number of fishermen.

 LAKE BISINA WETLAND SYSTEM

Lake Bisina is a shallow fresh water lake, which covers an area of about 192 km2, and is some 32 km long by 6 km wide, with a thin strip of fringing papyrus swamp. Location in Katakwi, Soroti,  Kumi district.   Important Bird Area supports the Fox`s weaver the only endemic bird for Uganda and other threatened species such as Shoebills, also important as a refuge for fish species that have gone extinct in the main Ugandan lakes such as Lakes Victoria and Kyoga. The lake is very important for the surrounding communities in terms of fishing, transport, and supply of water for domestic use and livestock. It is especially critical during times of famine, e.g., a rhizome of the Nymphea genus is used as food during droughts.

LAKE OPETA WETLAND SYSTEM.

This wet land is located in Nakapiripirit, Sironko, Katakwi, Kumi coering total 68,912 ha. This is one of the  wetland marshes that has remained intact in Uganda. It is predominantly an extensive swamp of Vossia cuspidata to in Uganda the east and south graduating into dry Hyparrhenia grassland savannas and it is one of the remaiing intact and probably most importrant wet landmarshes in Uganda.

 The wetland is of great importance for the conservation of birds, and Fox's weaver and other threatened bird species of Uganda's only endemic bird. The site is also important as a refuge for fish species that have gone extinct in the main lakes, including Lakes Victoria and Kyogan and arefugium for Uganda endemic fishes and refuge of the normadic Karamajongo people and their herds of cattle during the dry seasons.

It serves as a source of fish protein at both subsistence and commercial level, and cultivation (maize, millet and plantain) is carried out in the catchment. Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve has potential for big game viewing and birdwatching, but because of the insecurity, tourism development has been minimal and the reserve does not generate any revenue.

Kidepo National Game Park

The park is located in the horn of Uganda, a semi arid and rugged terrain with a shrub savanna. A huge latitudinal range and correspondingly wide climatic conditions have evolved an extremely diverse flora. The open tree Savannah vegetation in the park varies much in structure and composition. The high place dominates some of the Mountain forest, while areas along the Lorupei River support dense Acacia geradi forest. The flora and fauna of the park are more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. The landscape throughout the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions 

 As a result, a variety of 77 animal species which can not be found in any part of Uganda. The park is also home to 475 bird specie; some of East Africa’s rarest and most sought-after birds such as Black-breasted Barbet and Karamoja Apalis, the Yellow-billed Shrike and the attractive Silverbird, Nubian woodpecker, Mosque swallow, Vinaceous Dove, Ruppell’s and superb sterling, Hoopoe, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Red-cheeked Cordon bleu, and Yellow-rumped seedeater. Around the airstrip one can spot Singing Bushlark, black-bellied Bustard, Harlequin Quail, Common Buttonquail, Black-headed Plover, Flappet Larks and Croaking Cisticola and the ostrich and the Kori bustard which are principally associated with arid regions. 

The open tree Savannah vegetation in the park varies much in structure and composition. The high place dominates some of the Mountain forest, while areas along the Lorupei River support dense Acacia geradi forest. The flora and fauna of the park are more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. The landscape throughout the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions.

Birding in Tips Africa

Unfortunately, most forest birds are very secretive, and you will find it difficult to get even a glimpse of them in the dense undergrowth in the forests, let alone a clear enough look to identify the birds, It will take 15 minutes  to identify one specie. It is therefore advisable to get good bird identification guides. Uganda/ Africa has  quite a number of bird books with excellent illustrations, so to travel there without a bird book is pointless. Abeam Safaris has the best trained guide you can help you identify most of the birds.

Identifying bird calls will still be a challenge, because there are many bird sound with similar songs, you would need CDs and cassettes that would make the task easier.

 Using these recordings to attract a bird to you should only be undertaken in moderation to avoid unnecessary disturbance. A wide selection of recordings can be seen at www.wildsounds.com. There is plenty of site information on the web. Use a search engine such as http://www.google.com to search the Internet for trip reports and other bird data. 

Also in many African countries there are local birdwatchers that will help you to find the birds. Some of these do this for a living while others do so voluntarily. Using a local guide will get you a bigger list - and quicker!

Finally - give yourself enough time! There are many places where you can see 100 species before breakfast - but be prepared to wait much longer for those hard-to-see forest skulkers.