Birding / Bird Watching in Uganda – birding safaris in Uganda

Birding/bird watching in Uganda is one of the top tourist activities in the country. Uganda hosts about 50% of Africa’s bird species and 11% of the world’s total bird species. There are over 1,070 different bird species that have been sighted within the boundaries of Uganda with lots of endemic species. The Fox’s Weaver is Uganda’s endemic bird found in the Eastern region.

Uganda’s bird species include; forest, woodland, water, and savannah bird species making it an unmatched African bird-watching destination. Some of the rare and endemics can be spotted in various bird-watching sites across the country. Book your Birding safari with Acacia Safaris Limited and experience the country’s diversity.

Some of the bird species in Uganda

Here are some of the bird species you should expect to tick on your bird checklist,

The 25 Albertine Rift Endemic birds include;

· Handsome Francolin

· Shelley’s Crimson-wing

· Rwenzori Turaco

· Willard’s Sooty Boubou

· Grauer’s Warbler

· Neumann’s Warbler

· Stripe-breasted Tit

· Grauer’s Broadbill

· Red-throated Alethe

· Dwarf Honeyguide

· Black-faced Apalis

· Rwenzori Apalis

· Grauer’s Swamp Warbler

· Red-faced Woodland Warbler

· Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher

· Rwenzori Batis

· Purple-breasted Sunbird

· Regal Sunbird

· Strange Weaver

· Dusky Crimson-wing

· Archer’s Robin-chat

· Blue-headed Sunbird

· Yellow-crested Helmet Shrike

· African Green Broadbill

· Stuhlmann’s Sunbird

Other birds that you will spot during Uganda birding safaris include; Marabou storks, Long Crested Eagle, Black Bee-Eater, African Spoonbill, Knob-billed duck Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Chocolate Backed Kingfisher, Saddle-billed Stork, Green-Breasted Pitta, Helmeted guineafowl, Vulturine guineafowl, Standard-Winged Nightjar, Karamoja Apalis, Black Breasted Barbet, Rock pigeon, Bruce’s green-pigeon, African green-pigeon, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-backed duck, stone partridge, Nahan’s Francolin, and many more.

Best spots for birding in Uganda

The best places for birding in Uganda include Bwindi Forest, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Semliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Mabamba Wetland for the shoebill stork

Best time for bird watching in Uganda

Generally, the best time for birding safari in Uganda is during the months of late May to September when the rains are less. Migrant birds are present in the country from November to April. If your interest is resident birds, then Uganda bird-watching tours are good all year round.