Top 10 birds in Uganda: 10 birds that you should not dare miss

The top 10 birds in Uganda are a must see for any traveler coming for a Uganda birding safari. Yes, these top 10 birds have stood out to be exceptional that you don’t dare miss. They are part of the 1080 bird species, which make Uganda a premier bird watching safari destination in Africa. Most of the avifaunal species to identify on Uganda birding safari are mostly tropical forest dwellers and birders get unique bird sightings. For birders on safari in Africa, consider Uganda your bucket-list birding destination and have lots of astonishing bird sights. The top 10 birds in Uganda include;

Shoebill

Shoebills make up the top 10 birds in Uganda any enthusiastic birder shouldn’t miss to sight on birding safari. They are endemic to Africa and they can be identified in various parts of Uganda especially in papyrus swamps. Shoebills (Balaeniceps rex) are rare and the most sought-after birds by birders on Uganda birding safari. They are also popular as whale head, whale headed stork or rather shoebill storks. They are big stork like birds and they take their name from their enormous shoe-shaped bills. They belong to order Ciconiformes. In Uganda, shoebill storks can be spotted on Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Mabamba, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda Wildlife Education Center and many more.

African green broadbill

This is one of the most attractive birds in Uganda and exists in only 2 places; the Itombwe Mountains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Southwestern Uganda. African green broadbills are classified as vulnerable as they are at high risk of getting extinct in the wild. They were first discovered in 1908 and they were not spotted for about 20 years.

Green breasted pitta

This is one of the rarest birds to find and it is mostly spotted in Central African states. Scientifically, it is known as pitta reichenowi and belongs to pittidae family which makes up one of the only 2 pitta species in African continent. Its plumage is same as to that of African pitta although its breast is green. In Uganda, the African green breasted pitta can be spotted on Uganda birding tour in Kibale Forest National Park.

Black breasted barbet (Lybius rolleti)

Black breasted barbets belong to Lybiidae family and they are among the most looked for birds by birders on Uganda birding safari. It is listed as a threatened species by IUCN.

Great blue turaco

The great blue turaco (corythaeola cristata) and white crested turaco feature among the top birds in Uganda. They are actively hunted for their meat and feathers. They belong to order of Cuculiformes and feature blue head and bluish-black crest on the fore crown and the crown. They are the biggest among the Musophagidae family and have length of 70 to 76cm and weight of 0.8 to 1.2kgs. In Uganda, the great blue turacos can be spotted in Bigodi Wetland and many other swamps.

Shelley’s crimsonwing

Shelley’s crimsonwing is one of the unique birds to identify on Uganda birding safari tour. Most of the Shelley’s crimsonwing birds exist in mountain and volcanoes areas especially along the Albertine rift valley areas bordering Uganda with Rwanda and DR Congo.

Doherty’s Bush shrike (telophorus dohertyi)

This is one of the colorful birds to sight on birding tour in Uganda. It belongs to malaconotidae family and comes with striking color, medium size and adults are green in color with a bright red forehead and throat.

Short-tailed warblers

These live mostly in forest undergrowth in Uganda and also exist in forests of Rwanda as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They come in small sizes of about 10 to 11cm and weigh about 11.3g.

Standard winged nightjars

Standard winged nightjars are among the top birds in Uganda birders shouldn’t miss to spot out on Uganda birding tour. They are characterized by the central flight feathers which appear during breeding season on the males. They stretch up to about 38cm long.

Bar tailed trogon (apaloderma vittatum)

This belongs to trogonidae family and not only do they exist in Uganda but also in various parts of African including DR Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Tanzania, Zambia and others. The bar tailed trogon come in medium size and range in high elevation areas in Central and Southern Africa. In average, they stretch up to 28cms long and have yellow bill and feet.

Book a Uganda birding safari today, visit the top 10 birds of Uganda and you will live to remember this magical experience.