The Birders’ Paradise, “Top 10 birds of Uganda”

Uganda, is well known for being Africa’s premier birding destination with the list of birds found in the country over 1 000 species! Many of these birds live only in these tropical forests with rare sightings being described as “mythical” while it is believed that some of the birds living in the remote forests of Uganda may not have been classified yet!

This beautiful country must be on any birders bucket list and this is our list of the top 10 birds to see in Uganda. Most Uganda birding safaris are incredibly organized and ready to give you ever lasting memory of the African wilderness that is not easy to forget soon.

1. Shoebill

The Shoebill also known as whale-headed stork is endemic to Africa and birders from around the globe flock to Uganda to catch a rare glimpse of this clumsy giant. Food items are regurgitated whole from the gullet straight into the bill of the young. Shoebills rarely raise more than one chick, but will hatch more For a long time this bird was not protected and its eggs where frequently stolen from nests until the Uganda Bird Guide Club’s efforts succeeded in making it illegal to trap these birds and steal their eggs.

 2. Green-breasted Pitta

The Green-breasted pitta is a species of bird in the Pittidae family. It is one of only two Pitta species in Africa, and is found in deep forest of the tropics. The Green-breasted Pitta is a difficult bird to find despite its relatively common status in the central African countries. It lives, well camouflaged, in the lowland tropical forests and photographing one of these little-guys is a bird lovers dream. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. In Uganda however, it occurs at altitudes between 1,100 and 1,400 metres.

3. African Green Broadbill

It is bright green with a blue throat and vent and a small bill, quite unlike those of other broadbills. Adults have finely black-streaked buff crowns and narrow black eye stripes. It occurs in tropical most montane forest. The vivid colors of this eye catching bird can only be seen in 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 loss of its habitat from forest clearing and degradation.

4. Great Blue Turaco

The Great Blue Turaco as well as the White-crested Turaco are some of the largest, most exquisite birds found in Uganda. These birds are actively hunted as their meat and feathers are highly sought after commodities. The Great Blue Turaco feeds primarily on fruits from numerous plants' species, but it also takes buds, shoots, leaves and flowers, and occasionally some insects. The feeding mostly takes place the whole day round and in the evening while the chicks are fed with regurgitated leaves.

5. Shelley’s Crimsonwing

Undoubtedly one of the world’s rarest birds, the 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. It inhabits the closed-canopy moist forest, often in lush valley bottoms near water, as well as low secondary growth at forest edges, forest clearings and glades dominated by large herbs, bamboo thickets and the upper forest/moorland ecotone. Photos of these beauties in the wild are almost non-existence.

6. Standard-winged Nightjar

This picturesque bird is characterized by the central flight feathers that appear during breeding season on the males. 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 in length. Like other nightjars, the standard-winged nightjar feeds on insects in flight, the huge gape opening wide for moths and beetles. It flies at dusk, most often at sundown, and can sometimes be seen with flying foxes. No nest is made; the two elongated and elliptical eggs are placed upon the bare ground.

7. Short-tailed Warbler

The Short-tailed Warbler can be found primarily in Uganda’s forest undergrowth while the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are also home to this camouflaged species. It has a large head with a distinctive striped pattern and a very short tail. The broad supercilium is grey-brown and present in front of the eye a dull greenish and white pattern. The Short-tailed Warbler can be found primarily 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

Doherty's bush-shrike is a skulking species which is more often heard than it is seen. It is a solitary, skulking species which quietly moves around in dense undergrowth. The loud whistling territorial call is heard in all months of the year. Found in the subtropical montane forests and moist shrub-lands of central Africa these brightly-coloured birds are one of the more common birds seen in Uganda and 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 large range throughout central and southern Africa although it is rarely seen.

10. Black-breasted Barbet

The giant Black-breasted Barbet has been seen by very few individuals and is highly sought after by bird watchers. Unfortunately it tends to live in areas of conflict and so it is rarely seen by tourists to this region with Uganda being one of the safest regions to possibly catch a glimpse of this magnificent bird. These mostly solitary birds eat a variety of fruits, including figs. They will also visit plantations and feed on cultivated fruit and vegetables. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed pits regurgitated later. They are believed to be important agents in seed dispersal.

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