Top 10 birds in Bwindi

Top 10 birds in Bwindi: Located in the southwestern part of Uganda, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is one of the best places for birding safari in the country. The national park is a bird watchers’ paradise with over 350 bird species of which 25 species are endangered to the Albertine rift region. Bwindi became famous for mountain gorillas trekking with the highest population of apes remaining in the world however it has more to offer than that. The national park is one of the recommended places for birding and here we are going to look at the top 10 birds in this park.

Top 10 birds in Bwindi

Kivu ground thrush: Kivu ground thrush is a species of birds that belongs to the family of Turdidae. Kivu ground thrush is considered to be a subspecies of the Abyssinian ground thrush. Kivu ground thrush lives in the Albertine rift areas in the tropical forest of Bwindi. This bird species can be seen at the waterfalls in the park especially in the morning when it’s searching for food.

Shelley’s Crimsonwing: This is one of the Top 10 birds in Bwindi you will see. It belongs to the family of estriildidae. Shelley’s Crimsonwing is only found in western Uganda and particularly in the Albertine rift area of Bwindi impenetrable forest where it’s rare. The male Shelley’s Crimsonwing has its back and face red, the wings and tail are black and the underparts are olive-yellow. The female Shelley’s Crimsonwing has an olive head and some red colors on the mantle.

Black bee-eater: Black bee-eater is a species of birds that belongs to the family of meropidae. The Black bee-eater lives in the African tropical rainforest and in Uganda it can be seen at the edges of Bwindi impenetrable forest. The Black bee-eater has a blue forehead, bright red throat, blue belly, pale blue eyebrow, and chest spots.

The doherty’s bushshrike: The doherty’s bushshrike is a species of birds that belongs to the family of malaconotidae. An adult doherty’s bushshrike is green with a broad red forehead and throat, they have a bright lemon yellow belly and a broad black breast band as well as a black tail. Young doherty’s bushshrike are pale green and have yellow-green underpants. The doherty’s bushshrike is one of the rare bird species in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and their breeding season is between April and July.

See the Grauer’s broadbill in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Grauer’s broadbill: On your birding safari to Bwindi the Grauer’s broadbill is another species of birds that you will encounter belonging to the family Eurylaimidae. Grauer’s broadbill is bright green with a blue throat and adults have black streaked buff crowns and narrow black eye stripes. Grauer’s broadbill lives in tropical rainforests of Albertine rift region. In Uganda, its found in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in areas of 2100 to 2200 meters above sea level.

Black-billed turaco: The black-billed turaco is a species of birds that belongs to the family of musophaagidae. The black-billed turaco is endemic to the sub sahara Africa and in Uganda, it’s a resident breeder in Bwindi impenetrable forest.

Regal sunbird: The regal sunbird is a species of birds that belongs to the family of nectariniidae. The regal sunbird is one of the species of birds that are endemic in the Albertine rift region of Uganda and Tanzania. One of the few places to see the regal sunbird is Bwindi impenetrable forest. A male regal sunbird has its upper parts and the head made of golden green color, wings and tail are dark while the breast and the belly are yellow. A female regal sunbird is yellow underparts and dull olive upper parts.

Montane oriole: Montane oriole is a species of birds that belong to the family oriolidae. This species of birds is found in the Albertine rift region in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. This species of birds has been considered to be subspecies of black-headed oriole or the black-winged oriole. Montane oriole birds feen on nectar and enjoy grapes.

Rwenzori nightjar: This is another subspecies of montane nightjars that you will spot on your birding safari to Bwindi and it belongs to the family of caprimulgidae. The male Rwenzori nightjar has blackish plumage, white spots on it’s four main primaries and the outer edge of the trail is white. The female Rwenzori nightjar has less white in its tail and buff-colored spots. The Rwenzori night jar can be seen in Uganda and in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. It’s a nocturnal bird feeding on moths and other large insects.