The birds of Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo valley national park is a bird watcher’s paradise with over 476 bird species to spot. With over 476 bird species some being endemic to the region and others rare, the area becomes one of the best for bird watching activities. Birds of Kidepo valley national park live in the trees, bushes, and wetlands around the park.

The birds o of Kidepo valley national park range from the biggest to the smallest birds. The national park has the largest bird in the world which is the ostrich and it has tiny birds like the sunbirds which are well spotted using a pair of binoculars. Birds of Kidepo national park are spotted at any time of the year soaring high above the grass and others are hidden in the savannah.

The number of bird species living in Kidepo valley national park does increase from 476 species to more from November to April. This is when the European and northern African migratory birds arrive in the park after escaping the harsh weather conditions in their areas. The period is also the rainy season in the park so most of the birds are seen in their breeding plumage.

To spot most of the bird species in Kidepo valley national park you need to take part in the birding activities. Birding exercises are specifically for seeing birds and maybe a few wildlife that you come across while looking for birds. There are birding trails within Kidepo valley national park which tourists use or areas they specifically visit for birding.

Birds of Kidepo valley national park are seen in the Narus valley, Apoka, and Namamukweny valley. Tourists move to these areas using safari vehicles and then leave them behind and move on foot through different walking trails with vegetation which are homes to a number of bird species. Bird watching along River Kidepo and River Narus will give opportunities of seeing water birds.

The birds of Kidepo valley national park

Karamoja apalis, ostrich, black coucal, Egyptian vulture, dark chanting goshawk, African mustached francolin, marsh tchagra, superb starlings, scarlet chested sunbird, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Ethiopian swallow, greater krestel, pygmy falcon, rose-ringed parakeet, clapperton’s francolin, white-bellied go-away bird, fox kestrel, and northern carmine bee-eater.

Other birds to see include Jackson’s hornbill, red-winged pytilia, African grey fly hoppe, golden pipit, steel blue whydah, rufous chatterer, purple grenadier, kori bustard, chestnut weaver, four-banded sand grouse, white crested turaco, bruce’s green pigeon, eastern violet backed sunbird, heuglin’s francolin, red-cheeked cordon bleu, hartlaub’s bustard, vinaceous dove, purple grenadier, red-winged lark, fan-tailed raven, singing bush lark, and violet tipped courser

Superb startling, clappertons francolin, secretary bird, white billed buffalo weaver, eastern pale chanting goshawk, hoopoe, fan-tailed raven, Egyptian vulture, orange winged pytilia, scarlet chested sunbird, clapper ton’s francolin, stone partridge, heuglin’s wheatears, foxy & red pate cisticolas, mouse-colored penduline tit, slate colored boubou, red-winged pytilias, brown rumped bunting, eastern pale chanting goshawk, red pate cisticola, bruce’s green pigeon, rupell’s sterling,

Dark chanting goshawk, kori bustard, red and yellow barbet, Abyssinian roller, D’Arnaud’s barbet, Verreaux’s eagle, northern carmine bee-eater, rufous chatterer, crimson rumped waxbill, broad-tailed warblers, red throated bee eaters, white crested turaco, purple herons, and standard winged nightjars among others.

What is the best time to see the birds of Kidepo valley national park?

Birds of Kidepo valley national park can be seen all year around but there are times better than others. The morning and evening hours from November to April are the best time to see the Kidepo valley national park birds. This is because migratory birds from Europe and North Africa are within the park and others are in the breeding season.

Other wildlife in Kidepo valley national park

Apart from birds, Kidepo valley national park is home to mammals and primates. The savannah-vegetated area is home to over 76 mammals and 5 primate species which can be seen during different park activities. The primates of Kidepo valley national park include blue monkeys, patas monkeys, bush babies, and olive baboons.

The mammals of Kidepo valley national park include side striped jackals, lions, cape buffaloes, giraffes, red buck, zebras, leopards, cheetahs, dik-dik, spotted hyenas, elephants, zebras, Nubian giraffes, lesser kudu, hartebeests, defassa waterbucks, klipspringers, elands, Uganda kobs, crocodiles, warthogs and ostriches among others.