Birds in Bwindi National Park – Birding on Uganda Safari
Birds in Bwindi National Park; Bwindi is one of the top birder’s itinerary on African Safari, though best famous for mountain gorillas but also offers some best montane forest ‘’mountain forest ‘’ birding in Africa. The park estimates over 360 bird species with 14 not recorded elsewhere in Uganda’s visited places. There are also 23 bird species are Albertine rift and 90% are Albertine rift endemic which include Neumann’s warbler and blue headed sunbirds. However, the migratory birds are present in the park from November to April.
Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable national park is an exciting and interesting recreation activity that tourists enjoy to recall and acts as an additional activity to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi. Best way to do it is to carry your binoculars and telescopes for easy sights.
Despite the fact, Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of the top birding sites in Africa. As in year 2011 the park was voted as Africa’s number one birding site which is a remarkable habitat for a variety of birds, with recorded bird species of 360 of which 90% are known to be Albertine rift endemic and 14% are not recorded elsewhere in Uganda and seven IUCN red data listed species of birds.
Best Time for Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest / Uganda Safari Tours
Birding –bird watching in Bwindi Impenetrable forest is all year around but best rewardable in the month of March and September. The month of June and July experiences the least rain while March and Mid-May has the most. The main nesting season appears in May and June when food is in abundant from late May through September. The migratory bird species are not significant part of Bwindi’s attraction to birders which are present from November to April.
List of birds to see in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on Uganda Birding Safari include the following ; African broadbill ,Black bee-eater ,Black-headed sunbird ,Cinnamon-chest bee-eater ,Black-faced warbler ,Black-faced rufous warbler ,Black billed turaco ,Yellow-streaked greenbul ,western green tinker bird ,Ruwenzori apalis ,Shelley’s crimson swing ,Purple-breasted sunbird ,Regal sunbird ,Neumann’s warbler ,Mountain masked apalis ,Olive-breasted greenbul ,Many colored bush shrike ,Red-headed blue ,white-tailed Blue Flycatchers ,Africa Emerald Cuckoo, Handsome francolin ,Grauer’s broadbill mentioned but few.
Birding in Bwindi take place along several main trails, the Buhoma waterfall Trail and along the bamboo zone as well as Mubwindi Swamp trail in Ruhija.
Fact, Uganda is renowned as a birding destination in Africa with huge variety of more than 1000 species of birds that bird lovers /enthusiasts can spot while on Uganda birding safaris. Number of national parks in Uganda accommodate a big number of birds that co-exist with other wildlife. Each safari destination in Uganda has got remarkable birdlife, which are inhabitant of water banks, savannah and rainforests. Just know that on your Uganda Safari you will never go back without seeing any bird species. Unlike primates and other wildlife safaris in Uganda, you don’t need to travel far to see the bird species because bird sighting is everywhere in Uganda, you will be excited at their beauty.
To any birder’s dream, the only away to enjoy proper birding is not one day, however we recommend you take more days on a Uganda Birding Safari Tours and get to recall variety of birds as many as you want for your memorable encounter.
What you need to carry for Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Essentials include; Comfortable hiking boots, Pack enough water and snacks, warm clothing, water proof bags to protect your gadgets as well as binoculars or telescopes.
Apart from Birding –Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda has got more beautiful birding sites of which are teeming with abundance of bird species thus making Uganda number one of the top birding destination in Africa. Other birding destinations in Uganda include; Mabamba Swamp, Kibale National Park with a number of forest birds including the Red –winged francolin, Red-chested flu tail, African pita among many others. Queen Elizabeth National Park host over 600 bird species in addition to the rich wildlife and Murchison Falls National park boosts about 370 bird species including the giant kingfisher, shoebill stork, bee eaters many more other species
