Bird species in Bwindi gorilla park

Bwindi gorilla park is one of the best birding destinations in Uganda with over 360 bird species. The national park is home to 14 bird species that are endemic to the park and 24 bird species that are endemic to the Albertine region. Bwindi gorilla park is found in the southwestern part of Uganda next to Mgahinga national park which also harbors mountain gorillas. The national park covers an area of 331 sq. km which comprises of tropical rainforest and bamboo

Most of the tourists visit Bwindi gorilla park to encounter mountain gorillas but the park is also a good birding destination. Bwindi gorilla park harbors more than half of the mountain gorilla population in 4 sectors of the park. The national park has over 21 mountain gorilla families of which 2 are open for habituation purposes. Most of the travelers on a gorilla trekking or habituation safari in Bwindi gorilla park take part in the birding activities before or after encountering gorillas.

Most of the birding activities in Bwindi are done in Buhoma sector and Ruhija sector of the park for they have the best birding views. Birds in Bwindi gorilla park can be spotted on the best park trails like bamboo zone, Buhoma waterfall trail, and Mubwindi swamp trail. Encountering birds in Bwindi gorilla park is a guided activity led by armed ranger guides who know the best birding trails and can protect you from dangerous wild animals.

Bird species in Bwindi gorilla park

Grey crowned crane, pink-footed puff back, African wood-owl, waller’s starling, crested guinea fowl, barred long tailed cuckoo, African olive-pigeon, petit’s cuckoo-shrike, Rwenzori batis, blue spotted wood dove, tambourine dove, cassin’s flycatcher, ansorge’s greenbul, white-throated greenbul, snowy-crowned robin-chat, cape wagtail, mountain wagtail, yellow-fronted canary, dusky twin spot, yellow-fronted canary, European honey buzzard, archer’s robin-chat, mackinnon’s shrike, grey wagtail, jameson’s antpecker, African flycatcher-chat, hottentot teal, African golden breasted bunting, oriole finch, pin tailed whydah, grosbeak weaver, stuhlmanns starling, little grebe, red knobbed coot, toro olive greenbul, African goshawk, and grey-checked hornbill.

Thick-billed weaver in Bwindi Forest

More bird species in Bwindi gorilla park include broadbill, great blue turaco, African dusky flycatcher, Angolan swallow, zebra waxbill, common sand piper, brown-capped weaver, white-headed saw-wing, African hill babbler, African citril, shelley’s crimsonwing, blue headed sunbird, klaas’s cuckoo, African paradise flycatcher, luhder’s bush-shrike, magpie manikin, yellow streaked greenbul, purple breasted sunbird, many-coloured bush-shrike, olive-breasted greenbul, giant kingfisher, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Rwenzori nightjar, black bee-eater, carruthers cisticola, woolly necked stork, banded prinia, red chested fluff tail, willcocks honey guide, black swift, dwarf honeyguide, jameson’s antpecker, scarce swift, little grebe, cattle egret, red capped robin chat, doherty’s bush-shrike, marabou stork, lizard buzzard, shikra, green combec, scaly francolin, died erik cuckoo, and alpine swift.

Other notable bwindi gorilla bird species are speckled mouse bird, mottled swift, horus swift, cistchestnut throated apalis, white winged tit, western green tinkerbird, arrow marked babbler, icterine warbler, brown illadopsis, chapin’s flycatcher, ross’s turaco, oberlaenders ground thrush, wood houses anti pecker, hairly breasted barbet, western nector, white spotted fluff tail, brown chested alethe, marsh tchagra, sooty falcon, plain backed pipit, rock martin, helmeted guinea fowl, elliot’s wood pecker, African pygmy kingfisher, Eurasian hobby, afed pigeon, short-tailed warbler, copper sunbird, palm nut vulture, tit hylia, buff spotted wood pecker, ayres hawk eagle, black crake, buff spotted fluff tail, green hylia, fine banded woodpecker, singing cisticola, scaly throated honey guide, African hawk eagle, woolly necked stork, equatorial akalat, papyrus canary, bocages bush shrike, forest robin, and hadada ibis among others.

When to encounter Bwindi gorilla park birds?

Bird watching in Bwindi gorilla park can be done at any time of the year but there are times that are better than the rest. The best time to do birding in Bwindi gorilla park is when there is no heavy rainfall or too much sunshine. During such days, there are migratory bird species in the park as well as enough food for birds. The best months for Bwindi gorilla park birding are June to September and December to march. When the rainfall is little or not there at all, the birding trails are dry, the vegetation is short and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Birders can still encounter the birds of Bwindi gorilla park in the rainy season to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities. However during the rainy season, there is plenty of rainfall that blocks the migratory birds from coming to the park, the birding trails are muddy and slippery and the vegetation is very tall giving unclear views of birds. The rainy season in Bwindi gorilla park occurs from March to May and October to November.

What to park for a Birding safari to Bwindi forest

Packing list for bird watching in Bwindi gorilla park

Packing list for bird watching activities in Bwindi gorilla park includes waterproof hiking shoes, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, a pair of binoculars, a camera, a rain jacket, gardening gloves, insect repellents, a pen, notebook, voice recorder, birding book, backpack, energy-giving snacks, drinking water bottle, facemask and sanitizer.

Accommodation on a birding safari in Bwindi

Accommodation in Buhoma sector; Buhoma Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Ride 4 women Guest House, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Haven Lodge, and Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge.

Accommodation in Rushaga sector; Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, and Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge.

Accommodation in Nkuringo sector; Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Mutanda Eco Community Centre, N

shongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, and Virunga Campsite

Accommodation in Ruhija sector; Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, and Trekkers Tavern.