Uganda is Africa’s premier birding destination, with the list of birds found in the country topping 1 000! Many of these birds live only in these tropical forests, with rare sightings described as “mythical”, while it is believed that some of the birds living in the remote forests of Uganda may not yet be classified!
This beautiful country must be on any birder’s bucket list, and this is our list of the top 10 birds to see in Uganda.
1. Shoebill
The shoebill is endemic to Africa, and birders from around the globe flock to Uganda to catch a rare glimpse of this clumsy giant. For a long time, this bird was not protected, and its eggs were frequently stolen from nests until the Uganda Bird Guide Club’s efforts made it illegal to trap these birds and steal their eggs.
2. Green-breasted pitta
The green-breasted pitta is a difficult bird to find despite its relatively common status in central African countries. It lives well camouflaged in the lowland tropical forests, and photographing one of these little guys is a bird lover’s dream.
3. African green broadbill
The vivid colours of this eye-catching bird can be seen in only two places in the world: the Itombwe Mountains in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda’s Bwindi Forest. The species is declining due to habitat loss from forest clearing and degradation.
4. Great blue turaco
The great blue turaco and the white-crested turaco are among the largest and most exquisite birds found in Uganda. These birds are actively hunted for their meat and feathers, which are highly sought-after commodities.
5. Shelley’s crimsonwing
One of the world’s rarest birds, Shelley’s crimsonwing can be found on most bird-bucket lists. They live in a thin strip of mountains and volcanoes – known as the Albertine Rift – that borders Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photos of these beauties in the wild are almost non-existent – the only known images are of birds netted (and released) during biodiversity surveys.
6. Standard-winged nightjar
This picturesque bird is characterised by the central flight feathers that appear on the males during the breeding season. Raised vertically during display, it is a dream come true to see these birds during this short time span, when their feathers can stretch up to 38cm.
7. Short-tailed warbler
The short-tailed warbler is primarily found in Uganda’s forest undergrowth, while the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are also home to this camouflaged species.
8. Doherty’s bushshrike
Found in the subtropical montane forests and moist shrublands of central Africa, these brightly coloured birds are among the more common seen in Uganda. Thankfully, their population levels seem to be stable for the most part.
9. Bar-tailed trogon
This beautiful, medium-sized bird lives in high-altitude forests and has a wide range across central and southern Africa, though it is rarely seen.
10. Black-breasted barbet
The giant black-breasted barbet has been seen by very few people and is highly sought after by birdwatchers. Unfortunately, it tends to live in areas of human conflict, and so it is rarely seen by tourists. Uganda is one of the safest regions to catch a glimpse of this magnificent bird.
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