Birding / Bird Watching in Uganda – birding safaris in Uganda

Birding/bird watching in Uganda is one of the top tourist activities in the country being the fact that the country is host to about 50% of Africa’s bird species and 11% of the world’s total. Over 1,070 bird species are confirmed to be in the boundaries of Uganda with lots of endemic species that are found only in Uganda. The Fox’s Weaver is Uganda’s endemic bird found in the Eastern region of the country specifically in the districts of Kumi and Soroti within wetland marshes.

There several bird species in Uganda that include forest, woodland, water and savannah bird species making it an unmatched Africa bird-watching destination. Though there several bird-watching spots that are recommended for Bird watching tours, in Uganda you cannot miss out on spotting a bird at least at every kilometer of your travel.

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 seen on 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 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.