Best Places for Bird Watching in Uganda

Uganda is one of the best places in the world for bird watching. Uganda is home to over 1000 bird species which include Albertine endemics and various migratory bird species. Best Places for Bird watching in Uganda, Birds in Uganda can be spotted in various vegetation areas and habitats ranging from montane forests to wetlands and swamps, agricultural farmlands, lakes, and savannahs. Birders have an opportunity to see various birds depending on their chosen bird lists. On a Uganda birding safari, you will also have an opportunity to see other wildlife including primates and all the Big 5 animals depending on your itinerary.

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Best Places for Bird watching in Uganda

Mabamba Swamp

Mabamba Swamp is located on Lake Victoria it is one of the best places to see the shoebill in Uganda and East Africa. Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater body lake in Africa home to over 260 bird species. Bird species at Mabamba Swamp include the Shoebill, papyrus gonolek, swamp flycatcher, pigmy goose, lesser jacana, white-winged warbler, pallid harrier, Viellot’s weaver, grosbeak weaver, blue swallow, palm-nut vulture, black-headed weaver, northern brown-throated weaver, Clarke’s weaver and Carruther’s cisticola.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is one of the best places in Uganda for birding, it is home to 350 bird species including 23 endemics such as the Blue-headed Sunbird and the Short-tailed Warbler as well as the seven bird species listed in the IUCN Red Data Book that includes the Dwarf Honeyguide, African Green Broadbill, Kivu Ground Thrush, Forest Ground Thrush, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Chapin’s Flycatcher and Shelley’s Crinson. Best birding spts in the park include the main trail, the Mubwindi Swamp trail in Ruhija, the Buhoma waterfall trail and within the forest during gorilla tracking

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is an evergreen forest whole mammal fauna is dominated by primates and a unique bird life. Birding watching in Kibale is best done at Bigodi wetland walk sanctuary and within the park. The park is home to over 325 bird species, including 6 that are endemic to the Albertine rift region. Among the bird species to look out for include Brown-chested Alethe, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Little Greenbul, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Black bee-eater, African pitta, Black-eared Ground-thrush and Abyssinian ground thrush.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is the first Uganda’s protected area to be gazette as a National Park in 1952. The park eco systems range from savannah grassland, woodland, tropical rainforests, rivers and swamps. The park is home to over 450 bird species which include Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, March Tchagra, Singing Cisticola, Cliff Chat, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Crested Francolin, Northern and Black-winged Red Bishops, Namaqua dove, Green-Winged Pytilia, Black-bellied Firefinch and Black-faced Waxbill.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is another birdwatcher’s haven, with about 600 bird species. Best spot for bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park is Kazinga Channel. Bird species include Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Shoebill, Black Bee-eater, Caruthers’s Cisticola, Terek Sandpiper, northern black flycatcher, black-headed gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Martial Eagle, African Skimmer and Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl. Other areas of birding in the park include Mweya peninsular, Kasenyi plains, Kyambura Gorge and Ishasha sector. You will as well have an opportunity to see various wildlife including all the big 4 animals, hippos and Chimpanzees.

Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is known as the birder’s haven, it is home to unique bird life with 447 bird species recorded 216 being true forest birds that include Sassi’s Olive Greenbul and White-crested Hornbill. The bird species to look out for in Semuliki National Park include African piculet, long-tailed hawk, swamp palm bulbul, the Congo serpent-eagle, black dwarf hornbill, Nkulengu rail, piping hornbill, Maxwell’s black weaver, dwarf honeyguide, white-crested hornbill, red-billed dwarf hornbill, lyre-tailed honeyguide, black-wattled hornbill, blue-billed malimbe, yellow-throated cuckoo yellow-throated nicator and capuchin babbler orange weaver.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a world heritage site whose vegetation covers ranges from tropical rainforest through alpine meadows to snow. The park is home to over 217 bird species including 19 endemic bird species which include the Rwenzori Turaco and the Blue-headed sunbird.  Bird species to see at Rwenzori Mountains National Park include Rwenzori turaco, Archers’ robin-chat, blue-headed, long-eared owl, Lagden’s bush-shrike and golden-winged sunbird, bearded vulture, slender-billed starling, cinnamon-chested bee-eater and white-starred robin.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park has diverse habitats of open savannas, dry savannas, lakes, swamps, rocky outcrops, forests, woodlands, thickets and dry hill sides these provide suitable habitat for 325 bird species. The best spots for bird watching are near the lake swamps at Warukiri and Rwongo. Notable bird species to see at Lake Mburo National Park include red-faces barbet, brown parrot, Nubian woodpecker, barefaced go-away bird, papyrus canary, papyrus gonolek, black-billed barbet, African Finfoot blue-napped mouse bird and the Shoebill.

Budongo Forest

Budongo Forest is located close to Murchison Falls National Park. It has two main sections for birding watching which include Kaniyo Pabidi and the Royal Mile. Budongo forest is home to 360 bird species and primates including Monkeys baboons and Chimpanzees. Birding in Budongo is done at the Royal Mile the former leisure spot for the traditional King. Bird species at the royal mile include White-thighed and Black-and-white-casqued Hornbills, Yellow-spotted and Yellow-billed Barbets, Western Black-headed Oriole, along with Red-tailed and Blue Monkeys. Overhead, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Buff-throated Apalis, Sabine’s and Cassin’s Spinetails soar over the clearings, Red-tailed Ant-Thrushes skulk in the shadows and both White-breasted, as do Red-tailed Bristlebill, Scaly-breasted, Pale-breasted and Brown Illadopsis.

Greenbuls are always a challenge and include Cameroon Sombre, Slender-billed, Honeyguide and Spotted Greenbul, whilst other regular species are Speckled Tinkerbird, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Green Crombec, Rufous-crowned Eremomela and Grey-headed Negro finches. Lower down we should see African Dwarf Kingfishers, White-spotted Flufftails and the elusive Nahan’s Francolin, believed to be one of the most handsome of all Ugandan birds. Other bird species here include Yellow-spotted Barbet, Great Sparrowhawk, Tambourine Dove, Grey Parrot, African Emerald and Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoos, Yellow bill, Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, Crested Guinea fowl, White-throated Bee-eater, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Dusky Tit, western Nicator, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Forest Robin, Black-throated and Black-capped Apalis.

What is the best time for bird watching in Uganda?

Birding in Uganda is done throughout the year and the best time is during the wetter months of March, April, May, September, October and November) are usually recommended for birding as most birds breed during this time and are more active and vocal this makes spotting them easy.

Why book with Eco Adventure Safaris your Bird watching Safari in Uganda?

Eco Adventure Safaris Limited offers gorilla trekking and birding safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. We combine gorilla trekking safaris with eco-friendly and unforgettable high-end adventure and wildlife safaris that help preserve biodiversity, conserve wildlife, and uplift local communities, these include chimpanzee trekking, Big 5 safaris and game viewing, Mountain Hiking, Boat cruises excursions, and Cultural encounters to give you a memorable and best African Safari experience including popular and great African safari destinations Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana and Namibia. Contact us here for Bird watching Safari packages in Uganda and our dedicated safari consultants will help you plan your safari smoothly.