Bird Watching In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Most of the Uganda National Parks accommodate a large number of birds that co-exist with other wildlife. One of the best examples of this co-existence is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is popular for its mountain gorilla population.

It is a haven for a dense population of over 350 recorded bird species. Avid birders can’t get enough of Bwindi’s magnificent forest, which sprawls over steep hills.

The beauty of doing Bird Watching In Bwindi is that you may catch a sight of mountain gorillas and other wildlife which makes your Uganda Safari a memorable one.

Considered one of nature’s masterpieces, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers an intriguing insight into a remarkable tropical rainforest that is 25,000 years old. With its known biodiversity of trees, plants, butterflies, and birds, it is East Africa’s richest forest.

The park offers some of the best montane-forest (mountain-forest) bird watching in Africa. Here, you will find 23 bird species endemic to the Albertine Rift. Other birds live around water and Savannah.

Examples include Short-tailed Warbler and Blue-headed Sunbird. Bwindi is a preferred habitat for seven IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red data lists of threatened species. These are;

1.Common Bulbul

2.African Emerald Cuckoo

3.Red-headed Bluebill

4.African Blue

5.White-tailed Blue Flycatchers

River Ivi trail is the longest in the park and is recommended for bird lovers.

Bwindi Forest has 346 species of birds and contains 90% of all Albertine rift endemics. Experienced birdwatchers can spot 100 species of birds per day.

Visit Ruhija and Buhoma for good bird views. There are over 200 species of butterflies in Bwindi Forest national park. Tourists can visit Bwindi for Mountain Gorillas, and the place is also a bird watchers’ haven.

As you walk along Buhoma Waterfall Trail and Mubwindi Swamp trail, you will encounter a profusion of finches, warblers, and forest greenbuls. There are also rarities such as Bar-tailed trogon and Black bee-eater.

Other notables include;

>African broadbill

>Shelley’s crimson wing

>Purple-breasted sunbird

>Regal sunbird

>Grauer’s broadbill

>Handsome francolin

>Blue-headed sunbird

>Cinnamon-chested bee-eater

>Black-faced rufous warbler

>Rwenzori Apalis

>Yellow-streaked greenbul

>Mountain masked Apalis

As you crown your experience with a walk on the plains and plantations at the foot of Ruhija, you are likely to see a bird that is dear to all Ugandans, the grey crown crested crane, the national emblem.

What You Need To Go Bird Watching

Pack hiking boots for this bird-watching experience and water-proof bags for your gadgets. You might also need snacks and water to keep you refreshed. Don’t forget your binoculars.

Best Time To Visit

The breeding season from March to September presents the most remarkable birding experiences. The main nesting season is in May and June, with abundant food from late May through September. Migratory species though not a huge part of Bwindi’s attraction to birders, can best be seen from November to April.

Apart from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda Destinations has got plenty other birding spots all of which are teeming with vast species of birds, making Uganda one of the top bird watching destinations in Africa.

Book our 15 Days Exclusive Uganda Birding Tour or alternatively add a day dedicated to bird on top of your Uganda Gorilla Safari.