Uganda Birding Experience
Birding in Uganda: A birdwatcher’s paradise, Uganda is home to more than 1073 species of birds, representing 50% of all bird species in Africa and 11% of all species worldwide.
One of the highest concentrations of birds per square kilometer in Africa is found in this little area, which is about 90041 square miles in size (roughly the size of Britain). Birdwatching in Uganda happens in a short amount of time. Ugandan birding rewards you with multiple sightings of numerous birds.
Best birding spots in Uganda: Uganda is home to an enormous variety of birds and attracts a large number of migrant birds throughout the year because of its extraordinary diversity of habitats, which no other region in Africa can match. Uganda birding tours: Uganda is in a unique situation since, except for the sea, it shares all of Africa’s major ecological zones with their associated bird species, many of which have restricted geographic ranges.
Top Ugandan birding spots: Birding in Uganda
Uganda has 34 Important Bird Areas (IBA) for birding excursions and tours, with local site guides trained in bird identification. The Ugandan birding community continues to discover new birding locations and establish trails.
The following is a list of the best places in Uganda to go bird watching:
Birding safaris in Uganda: According to the African Bird Club, Africa’s top birding destinations are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mabamba Bay Wetland, the Entebbe Peninsula, and Lutembe Bay Wetland, a birding hotspot close to Kampala and Entebbe. Another Shoebill location with excellent wetland birding is the Makanaga wetland.
Lazarus Forest at Bethany Land Institute is an undiscovered birding treasure. Despite the focus being on the forest that is being restored, the surrounding bushland, marsh, garden, and woods make this a unique location close to Kampala where someone looking to observe a variety of local birds may go birding peacefully.
National Parks
Uganda offers a variety of birding spots, including Kibale Forest, Rwenzori Mountains, Kidepo Valley, Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Semuliki, Budongo Forest – The Royal Mile Trail, Busingiro, Murchison Falls National Park, Mabira Forest Reserve, and Mpanga Forest Reserve..
Birding in Uganda: the top ten Ugandan birds (those most sought-after on birding expeditions there)
- Shoebill,
- Green Breasted Pitta,
- Rwenzori Turaco,
- African Green Broadbill,
- Brown-chested Lapwing,
- Jameson’s Antpecker,
- Nahan’s Francolin,
- Black Bee-eater,
- Karamoja Apalis,
- Puvel’s Illadopsis
When in Uganda is the best time to go on a birding?
Birding in Uganda: You can go bird watching in Uganda at any time of the year, depending on your interests. However, you should be aware that there are intra-African migrants that migrate vertically from southern Africa, with early arrivals in Uganda beginning in July and continuing through August and September.
Uganda offers birding tours from June to September, with July and August being the best months. The Grauer’s Broadbill, a specialized bird, lay eggs in late May.
More birds of intrigue for avid birders in Uganda
We look for the African Green Broadbill in Mubwindi Swamp in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where it can be easily seen when nesting. The best birding spots in Uganda: When it’s not nesting, however, we can often spot it in mixed flocks gleaning for insects thanks to our knowledge and experience with its high-pitched hissing and rhythmic call.
The stunning Green-breasted Pitta, which starts its hunt as early as 6:00 to get it while still making the displaying call, can also be reliably located at this time of year. Although it typically displays between 6:15 and 7:15 am, I have occasionally heard it around 10:45 am, mostly in March and April.
Although the aforementioned months appear to be the best for birding in Uganda, December, January, and February are also generally good months because of the dry weather and the trees’ natural shading leaves to offer easy sightings for some high canopy dwelling species like the small rare Ituri Batis, the constantly moving while calling Uganda Woodland Warbler among others.
Time to visit especially Kidepo National park to see it’s endemic birds
Birding in Uganda: This is an excellent time to visit Uganda and witness the country’s only endemic species, like the Fox’s Weaver. Additionally, it is the perfect time to explore Kidepo Valley National Park and witness the Stone Partridges, as well as the massive and spectacular ivory-billed Black-breasted Barbet. The park is also home to various birds such as the Hartlaubs, Buff Crested, White-bellied Bustards, and Karamoja Apalis. Moreover, the northern tropics’ Grasshopper Buzzard and nomadic gregarious Abdim’s Stork are also present during this time of the year.
Uganda Birding safaris are ultimately a must experience!