Migrant Birds of Uganda:

Are you ready to embark on an avian adventure to see the migrant birds of Uganda? Uganda, often celebrated for its majestic wildlife and stunning landscapes, also plays host to a remarkable array of migrant birds. From the shimmering shores of Lake Victoria to the lush forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda offers birdwatchers a unique opportunity to witness the annual migrations of some of the world’s most captivating avian species. Join us as we delve into the captivating world of migrant birds of Uganda.

These are some of the Migrant Birds of Uganda:

1. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

• Migrant Season: White Storks typically arrive in Uganda during the months of September to March, seeking warmer climates to escape the harsh European winters.
• Key Features: With their distinctive black and white plumage and long, slender legs, White Storks are a sight to behold as they soar gracefully through the skies.

Common Swift (Apus apus)

• Migrant Season: Common Swifts make their journey to Uganda from April to September, filling the skies with their aerial acrobatics.
• Key Features: Known for their remarkable flying abilities, Common Swifts spend much of their lives in the air, only landing to nest during the breeding season.

Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

• Migrant Season: Yellow Wagtails are typically spotted in Uganda from October to April, adding vibrant splashes of color to the countryside.
• Key Features: Sporting bright yellow plumage and distinctive wagging tails, these migratory birds are a delight to observe as they forage for insects in grassy fields.

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

• Migrant Season: Northern Wheatears grace Uganda with their presence from September to April, making the most of the country’s diverse habitats.
• Key Features: With their striking black and white plumage and bold white eyebrow stripes, Northern Wheatears are easy to spot as they flit about in search of prey.

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

• Migrant Season: European Bee-eaters arrive in Uganda during the months of September to April, adding a splash of color to the landscape with their vibrant plumage.
• Key Features: These striking birds are known for their aerial prowess and their ability to catch insects on the wing, making them a fascinating sight to behold.

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

• Migrant Season: Steppe Eagles migrate to Uganda from September to April, where they can be spotted soaring high above the savannahs and grasslands.
• Key Features: With their impressive wingspans and powerful beaks, Steppe Eagles are formidable hunters, preying on small mammals and birds.

7. African Hobby (Falco cuvierii)

• Migrant Season: African Hobbies migrate to Uganda from September to April, where they can be seen darting through the skies with incredible speed.
• Key Features: With their sleek bodies and distinctive black facial markings, African Hobbies are skilled hunters, preying on small birds and insects.

8. Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

• Migrant Season: Spotted Flycatchers arrive in Uganda from September to April, where they can be found perched on branches or wires, waiting to snatch insects in mid-air.
• Key Features: Sporting subtle spotted plumage and a distinctive upright posture, Spotted Flycatchers are adept at catching flying insects with their quick, darting movements.

9. Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)

• Migrant Season: Marsh Warblers migrate to Uganda from October to April, where they inhabit marshy areas and wetlands, filling the air with their melodious songs.
• Key Features: With their olive-brown plumage and slender bills, Marsh Warblers are skilled singers, producing a variety of intricate calls and trills.

10. Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)

• Migrant Season: Wood Warblers can be spotted in Uganda from September to April, where they flit among the branches of forests and woodlands in search of insects.
• Key Features: With their vibrant green plumage and distinctive white eye-ring, Wood Warblers are a striking sight amidst the verdant foliage of Uganda’s forests.

Other Migrant Birds of Uganda:

11. Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

• Migrant Season: Red-backed Shrikes migrate to Uganda from September to April, where they can be seen perching on exposed branches and wires, scanning for prey.
• Key Features: Recognizable by their distinctive red-brown backs and hooked bills, Red-backed Shrikes are predatory birds that feed primarily on insects and small vertebrates.

Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin)

• Migrant Season: Garden Warblers arrive in Uganda from September to April, where they inhabit gardens, shrublands, and woodland edges, filling the air with their melodious songs.
• Key Features: With their plain brown plumage and subtle streaking, Garden Warblers may appear unassuming, but their beautiful vocalizations make them a joy to listen to.

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

• Migrant Season: Willow Warblers can be spotted in Uganda from September to April, where they forage for insects in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, gardens, and wetlands.
• Key Features: Sporting olive-green plumage and a pale underbelly, Willow Warblers are agile insectivores known for their distinctive descending song.

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)

• Migrant Season: Whinchats migrate to Uganda from September to April, where they can be found perched on fence posts and bushes in open grasslands and agricultural areas.
• Key Features: With their striking orange-buff breasts and bold white eye-stripes, Whinchats are charismatic migrants that add color to Uganda’s countryside during migration seasons.

15. Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)

• Migrant Season: Pied Flycatchers arrive in Uganda from September to April, where they can be spotted flitting among the branches of forests and woodlands, catching insects on the wing.
• Key Features: Distinguished by their black-and-white plumage and conspicuous white wing patches, Pied Flycatchers are agile aerial hunters with a melodious song.

16. Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

• Migrant Season: Whiskered Terns migrate to Uganda from September to April, where they can be seen skimming the surface of lakes, rivers, and wetlands in search of small fish and insects.
• Key Features: With their black caps, white underparts, and distinctive “whisker” markings, Whiskered Terns are elegant aerial hunters that are often seen in large flocks.

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

• Migrant Season: Wood Sandpipers arrive in Uganda from September to April, where they can be found wading in shallow waters and probing the mud for aquatic invertebrates.
• Key Features: With their mottled brown plumage and long, slender bills, Wood Sandpipers blend in seamlessly with their wetland habitats, making them sometimes challenging to spot.

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)

• Migrant Season: Black Terns migrate to Uganda from September to April, where they can be seen performing aerial displays over freshwater lakes and marshes, dipping and diving to catch insects.
• Key Features: With their sleek black plumage, silvery wings, and deeply forked tails, Black Terns are graceful fliers that are often mistaken for swallows at a distance.

More common Migratory birds of Uganda

21. Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)

• Migrant Season: Spotted Redshanks migrate to Uganda from September to April, where they can be seen foraging in shallow waters and mudflats along the shores of lakes and rivers.
• Key Features: With their long, slender bills and distinctive red legs, Spotted Redshanks are elegant waders that probe the substrate for aquatic invertebrates.

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

• Migrant Season: Common Sandpipers arrive in Uganda from September to April, where they can be found along the edges of freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams, bobbing their tails as they search for food.
• Key Features: With their brown-and-white plumage and distinctive white wing bars, Common Sandpipers are agile foragers that feed on a variety of aquatic invertebrates.

European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

• Migrant Season: European Honey Buzzards migrate to Uganda from September to April, where they can be seen soaring on thermal currents above forests and woodlands, scanning for prey.
• Key Features: With their broad wings and distinctive plumage, European Honey Buzzards are skilled raptors that feed primarily on the nests of bees and wasps.

26. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

• Migrant Season: Barn Swallows migrate to Uganda from September to April, where they can be seen darting gracefully through the air, often near water bodies and open fields.
• Key Features: With their distinctive forked tails and cobalt-blue plumage, Barn Swallows are agile insectivores known for their aerial acrobatics.

Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

• Migrant Season: Eurasian Reed Warblers arrive in Uganda from September to April, where they inhabit dense reedbeds and marshes, emitting their characteristic rattling song.
• Key Features: With their streaked brown plumage and long, slender bills, Eurasian Reed Warblers are skilled singers that are often heard more than seen.

Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)

• Migrant Season: Eurasian Hobbies migrate to Uganda from September to April, where they can be seen hunting dragonflies and small birds in open habitats.
• Key Features: With their sleek bodies and distinctive black facial markings, Eurasian Hobbies are agile hunters that often hunt on the wing.

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)

• Migrant Season: Sand Martins arrive in Uganda from September to April, where they can be seen nesting in colonies along riverbanks and cliffs, excavating burrows in the soil.
• Key Features: With their brown plumage and distinctive white underparts, Sand Martins are colonial breeders that feed on flying insects caught in mid-air.

Whether you’re an avid birdwatcher or simply appreciate the beauty of nature, exploring the migrant birds of Uganda is an experience not to be missed. From the graceful flight of the White Stork to the vibrant plumage of the European Bee-eater, each species brings its own unique charm to Uganda’s rich tapestry of wildlife. So pack your binoculars, lace up your hiking boots, and get ready to discover the wonders of Uganda’s avian migrants. Happy birdwatching!