Bird watching in Uganda

Uganda is famously known as a birding paradise since it harbors over half of the bird species found in Africa which makes it the best birding destination in Africa and the world as a whole. Around Kampala which is the capital city of Uganda, one can find over 300 species of birds in just one day. These mostly migrate from the shores of Lake Victoria, source of the Nile and from the Albertine Rift. The pearl of Africa has got only one endemic bird species called the Fox’s Weaver and many other Albertine endemic species that are found in different parts of the country.

Among the many countries best known for watching birds by the birders all around the globe and in Africa to be specific, Uganda possibly takes the lead not because of the serenity that strikes you when you have a glimpse of the nature it holds but because first and foremost it has an odd number of bird species that are documented within its boundaries also because it provides easy admittance to the numerous bird-rich territories that are complicated to get to in other places. There is a massive number of the bird species that totals to about 1,061 that is recorded in Uganda and among these, only two species are endemic and a common sight while the four other kinds are an infrequent and or accidental species of birds.

Bird species in Uganda
Uganda is known to be Africa’s leading birding haven with over 1000 species recorded. A number of these birds survive only in the tropical forests, many with uncommon sightings that are said to be “mythological. It is also assumed that several birds that live in secluded areas in Uganda may barely be classified hitherto. Here is a list of the top 10 bird species that a lot of birders pick interest in while on their Birding tour in Uganda.

The Shoebill.
The African Green Broadbill.
The Green-breasted Pitta.
The Great Blue Turaco.
The Shelley’s Crimson wing
The Standard-winged Nightjar.
The Short-tailed Warbler.
The Doherty’s Bush shrike.

The Bar-tailed Trogon.
The Black-breasted Barbet.

 

Places where to do Bird watching from

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest,

Lake Mburo National Park,

Lutembe Bay,

Murchison Falls,

Semuliki National Park

Mabamba Island (mostly for Shoebill