Home » Uganda Birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Birds of Bwindi Forest
Uganda Birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Birds of Bwindi Forest
There is a multitude of stunning Uganda Birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that you will enjoy on your Uganda birding safari!
From the tiny African Green Broadbill to the multi–colored Rwenzori Turaco, the Impenetrable forest shelters a massive 350 bird species. 14 of these are exclusive Birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi remarkably houses 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift Endemics. Such as the Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Regal Sunbird, Purple, and Breasted Sunbird.
The impenetrable forest is one of the best birding sites in Uganda for spontaneous observers and hard–core birders alike.
This park is home to endangered bird species such as Shelley’s Crimson, Chapin’s Fly Catcher, and Grauer’s Broadbill.
It also shelters 3 species that are the only surviving of their respective genera, namely Grauer’s Warbler, African Green Broadbill, and Short–tailed Warbler which are more closely affiliated with Asian than African species.
During a Uganda birding tour, earnest birders can spot about 100 Birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in one big birding day. And, the stunning African Green Broadbill is the most sought–after bird in Bwindi impenetrable forest.
The simplest species to spot are the Red Headed Bluebill, African Blue and African Emerald cuckoo, White Tailed Blue Fly Catchers, and the Common Bulbul.
Africa birding safaris in Bwindi go on throughout the year. However, March and September are peak months. Nesting is majorly in May. Migratory birds check in from November to April.
Uganda birding tours in Bwindi predominantly occur along the Buhoma Water Fall trail and the Bamboo zone. Mubwindi swamp trail in the Ruhija sector is the other excellent birding site in Uganda.
Additionally;
Visitors can expect to see primates like Mountain Gorillas, as well as enjoy the perfect jungle experience.
Essentially, Bwindi national park offers the ideal birding experience in Uganda. The other amazing birding places are Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kibale National Park.
The List Of The Most Sought-After Birds Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
1. African Green Broadbill 2. Rwenzori Turaco 3. Great Blue Turaco 4. Green Broadbill 5. Handsome Francolin 6. Black Collared Apalis 7. Mountain Masked Apalis 8. Blue-Headed Sunbird 9. Regal Sunbird 10. Dusky Crimson Wing 11. Shelley’s Crimson Wing 12. Western Nicator 13. Double-Toothed Barbet 14. Red-Fronted Barbet 15. White-Headed Barbet 16. Yellow-Rumped Tinker Bird 17. Red-Rumped Tinker Bird 18. Yellow-Fronted Tinker Bird 19. Red-Faced Barbet 20. Yellow-Spotted Barbet 21. Speckled Tinker Bird 22. Western Tinker Bird 23. Black Bee-Eater 24. Cinnamon-Chested Bee-Eater 25. Blue-Breasted Bee-Eater 26. Little Bee-Eater 27. White-Throated Bee-Eater 28. Bronze Sunbird 29. Red-Chested Sunbird 30. Scarlet-Chested Sunbird 31. Purple-Breasted Sunbird 32. Red-Throated Alethe 33. Lilac-Breasted Roller 34. European Roller 35. Broad-Billed Roller 36. Blue-Throated Roller 37. Mountain Yellow Warbler 38. Black-faced Warbler 39. Papyrus Gonolek 40. Black-Headed Gonolek 41. Kivu Ground Thrush 42. African Emerald Cuckoo 43. Pin-Tailed Whydah 44. Rwenzori Night Jar 45. The Red-Headed Bluebill 46. Neumann’s Warbler 47. Rwenzori Batis 48. Many-Colored Bush-Shrike 49. Doherty’s Bush-Shrike 50. Red-Faced Woodland Warbler | 51. Chapin’s Flycatcher 52. Yellow-Eyed Black Flycatcher 53. White-Tailed Blue Flycatcher 54. Archer’s Robin-Chat 55. Ross’s Turaco 56. Black-Billed Turaco 57. Malachite Kingfisher 58. Blue-Breasted Kingfisher 59. Grey-Headed Kingfisher 60. Woodland Kingfisher 61. Pied Kingfisher 62. Speckled Mousebird 63. Blue-Naped Mousebird 64. White-Throated Greenbul 65. Montane Oriole 66. Stripe-Breasted Tit 67. Yellow-Fronted Canary 68. African Broadbill 69. Fine-Banded Woodpecker 70. Helmeted Guinea Fowl 71. Blue-Headed Coucal 72. White-Browed Coucal 73. Zebra Waxbill 74. Black-Faced Rufous Warbler 75. Strange Weaver 76. Brown-Capped Weaver 77. Black-And-White-Casqued Hornbill 78. Crowned Hornbill 79. Bare-Faced Go-Away-Bird 80. Eastern Plantain-Eater 81. Black-Casqued Hornbill 82. White-Thighed Hornbill 83. White-Crested Hornbill 84. Piping Hornbill 85. Common Bulbul 86. Tropical Boubou 87. African Thrush 88. Abyssinian Thrush 89. Piapiac 90. African Black Duck 91. Narina Trogon 92. Bar-Tailed Trogon 93. Black Crake 94. African Olive Pigeon 95. African Green Pigeon 96. Afep Pigeon 97. Hammerkops 98. African Sacred Ibis 99. Ayre’s hawk-eagle 100. Cassin’s hawk-eagle |
The Most Popular Uganda Birds Of Bwindi In Their Respective Orders And Families
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the best birding sites in Uganda, loaded with an unmatched diversity of truly divine birds. Quite frankly, it’s checklist has no peer!
However, out of all this abundance of Uganda birds in Bwindi, some simply stand out. Surely, they are on every birder’s must-see list.
Below we explore these magnetic birds for you our ardent birders.
A. Order: Passeriformes:
A.i. Family: Eurylaimidae
African Green Broadbill
Also dubbed the Grauer’s broadbill, this African Green Broadbill is a monotopic charming bird.
It is endemic to Bwindi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Albertine Rift).
This species is the most sought-after bird in Bwindi. And it’s not hard to see why.
General Description
The Grauer’s Broadbill is a stunning dumpy green flycatcher-like bird with a buffy crown, a black eye stripe, and a powder-blue throat and vent.
Breeding
In general, this bird prefers to breed in the dry season. Some however may breed year-round.
Its nests are pear-shaped with a side opening. They build them from hanging from small branches and extend over open areas, often over water.
These birds are from 3 to 30 m above the ground (3 to 10 m on average).
The African Green Broadbills make nests from grass, twigs and leaves
Broadbills re-use nests from year to year.
Social Behaviour
There is little information about the social behaviour of Green broadbills.
It is difficult to notice them as they sit motionless within the canopy or just beneath it.
They tend to fly quickly to a new location when disturbed.
Their foliage-green coloring provides perfect camouflage.
Similar to other Broadbills, this bird is generally a resident species.
However, it can often travel to a different altitude as seasons change.
For example, in dry seasons sometimes move beyond their normal range when searching for food.
It is usually active in the morning and the evening.
Feeding
The African Green Broadbill is omnivorous. This implies that it forages on seeds, flowers, fruit, and some invertebrates.
- Habitat And Distribution
It’s a rare bird species, often alone or in pairs around 1760- 2500m altitude around the edges of clearings.
Be on the lookout for this beauty in the Mubwindi swamp of the Ruhija sector usually, early in the morning.
A.ii. Family: Calyptomenidae
Green Broadbill
This species is also known as the Lesser Green Broadbill,
General Description
This bird is about 17 cm long, plumaged in radiant green with a black ear patch.
It also has a widely gaped bill, circular head, short tail, and three black bars on each wing.
Its beak itself is fragile and almost hidden by the crest above it.
Both sexes are similar.
Social behaviour
It is often overlooked, as it sits stationary inside the canopy or just below, quickly flying to a new location if disturbed.
Its foliage-green color provides superb camouflage.
Feeding
The species feeds largely on soft figs.
This beautiful bird plays a crucial role in seed dispersing. Its feeding habits help distribute fig seeds around the forest floor.
Habitat And Distribution
The Green Broadbill lives in lower montane forests and broadleaved evergreen forests.
You will marvel at this beauty in the Buhoma sector along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
African Broadbill
This bird is also known as the Black–capped Broadbill or Delacour’s broadbill (Smithornis capensis).
General Description
It is a small, chunky, brown-and-white bird that shows a very broad bill when you see it from below.
People confuse it with Rufous-Sided And Gray-Headed Broadbills. However, it lacks Rufous on the breast.
Breeding
The African Broadbill lays 1-3 eggs, which only the female incubates solely for about 16-17 days.
Meanwhile the male keeps watch outside, signalling danger with a high-pitched call.
Social Behaviour
It is locally common though very shy and inconspicuous except when displaying.
The African Broadbill can be hard to see.
It is often usually motionless for long periods, perching upright on a low horizontal branch and calling sporadically.
Feeding
The African Broadbill feeds exclusively on invertebrates for which it forages on the ground, in the trees, and occasionally hawking them in flight.
Distribution and Habitat
This bird thrives in forests and thick woodland.
You can spot this bird while on your nature walk in the Buhoma region.
A.iii. Family: Cisticolidae
Black Collared Apalis
General Description
The Black-Collared Apalis is a slender, delightful, long-tailed bird with gray upperparts and mostly white underparts, a black chest band, and rufous flanks.
Breeding
It breeds mainly in December–March dry season, with a few nests in May–June on record.
Social Behavior
This bird is commonly in pairs or small groups, readily joining mixed flocks.
Feeding
Their diet comprises insects and invertebrates. These include caterpillars, grasshoppers, and mantids.
Habitat And Distribution
It lives in the understory and along the edges of montane forests.
You can catch a glimpse of it along the River Ivi trail.
Mountain Masked Apalis
The Mountain-Masked Apalis (Apalis personata), also known as the Black–Faced Apalis, is native to the Albertine Rift montane forests.
It was first described in 1902.
General description
It is a Black-hooded, Green-Backed Apalis with a white spot on the side of the neck.
It’s akin to Masked Apalis but has a mostly black head and a white dot rather than a stripe on the side of the neck.
Social Behaviour
This bird is usually in pairs, which will join mixed-species flocks, and is found at higher elevations.
The Mountain –Masked Apalis is an active species that prefers the upper half of the forest. Though it will occasionally feed lower.
It gives a rattling, repeated three–part call, and also a swift trill.
Habitat and Distribution
This bird lives in montane forests.
On your Uganda tour in Bwindi, You can see this bird on the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Black-faced Rufous Warbler
This is an unusual forest–dwelling bird.
General Description
Males are majorly rufous, and females are olive-gray. Both show a black face mask that continues down the center of the underparts.
Breeding
It happens between March–July and December–January.
These birds are probably monogamous.
Their nests are a bulky, ball-shaped structures with side entrances.
Social Behavior
It lurks in the thick undergrowth of a humid forest. This bird is solitary and territorial.
The male sings a long series of high, penetrating whistles that can sound like a truck backing up. The female responds with low “trr” calls.
Feeding
This bird’s diet is mainly small insects, including beetles, caterpillars, ants, and their eggs and millipedes.
Habitat and distribution
It lives in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
During a Uganda birding tour in Bwindi, you can see it in the Buhoma region with the help of our skilled local guide.
7. Green-backed Eremomela 8. Greencap Eremomela 9. Rufous-crowned Eremomela 10. White-chinned Prinia 11. Rwenzori Apalis 12. Green-backed Camaroptera 13. Yellow-browed Camaroptera 14. Olive-green Camaroptera 15. Buff-bellied Warbler 16. Black-capped Apalis 17. Black-throated Apalis 18. Black-faced Apalis | 19. Yellow-breasted Apalis 20. Buff-throated Apalis 21. Chestnut-throated Apalis 22. Gray Apalis 23. Tawny-flanked Prinia 24. Banded Prinia 25. Black-faced Rufous-Warbler 26. Gray-capped Warbler 27. Red-faced Cisticola 28. Singing Cisticola 29. Whistling Cisticola 30. Trilling Cisticola | 31. Chubb’s Cisticola 32. Rattling Cisticola 33. Winding Cisticola 34. Carruthers’s Cisticola 35. Stout Cisticola 36. Croaking Cisticola 37. Tabora Cisticola 38. Siffling Cisticola 39. Zitting Cisticola 40. Wing-snapping Cisticola
|
A.iv. Family: Nectariniidae
Blue-Headed Sunbird
- General Description
The Blue-Headed Sunbird is a charming, medium–sized sunbird with an iridescent blue head and breasts.
It has red eyes and yellow shoulder tufts that are usually hidden.
Both sexes are identical, though females are duller.
The male is similar to the male Green–headed Sunbird, but has a red eye and is darker overall.
Breeding
It lays eggs in January–May.
Territorial males face each other on treetops, calling each other.
Social Behavior
The Blue-headed sunbird song is a distinctive, high, up-and-down series that it can repeat for a long time.
Feeding
This sunbird takes nectar from flowers of trees and mistletoes while perched, also while hovering.
Habitat And Distribution
It is found in montane forests along the Albertine Rift, mainly in the canopy.
You can see this bird in the Mubwindi swamp area in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bronze Sunbird
General Description
The Bronze Sunbird is a beautiful medium-sized bird with a protracted, thin, well–curved bill.
Males have bronze–and–green iridescence but look black in most light.
Whereas the male has the undertones, the female however has a pale eyebrow and an added yellowish park below the belly with fine banding.
Male sunbirds don’t have any purple tones to the feathers which are found on female species.
Breeding
The male who often leaves after conception, plays a limited role during breeding process.
The female bears most of the responsibility.
Besides, it lays its eggs anytime from September to May but the peak of egg laying is between the months of October to December.
Bronze Sunbirds often lay 1 to 2 eggs.
After the eggs have hatched, the new chicks are fed and brooded primarily by the female for a period of 16 to 21 days.
Feeding
The bronzy sunbird feeds specifically on Nectar, Spiders, and Insects.
Habitat And Distribution
Though it’s not very common they can be best found near the rim of the Afromontane forest and mountain sides
They avoid populated areas and have adapted to most remote environments.
In Bwindi forest, you can spot this special bird while on nature walks along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Scarlet-Chested Sunbird
General Description
This is a large dark sunbird with an extensive decurved bill.
The male is a stunning, glossy velvet-black with a striking scarlet daub on the chest and an iridescent green crown and throat. The female is dark gray-brown and intensely banded underneath.
Breeding
These sunbirds are monogamous.
They build an untidy oval or pear-shaped nest of grass and leaves, often held together with spider’s webs, mid-canopy.
The female sunbird lays one to three eggs that are incubated for around 16 days.
Social Behavior
The Scarlet-chested sunbird gives a loud series of “tjip” and “teeeuw” notes.
The male will sing from the top of a tree, sticking out his chest, to declare his presence and territory. He defends his territory aggressively
Feeding
Singles and pairs occupy a broad variety of dry and moist savanna, parkland, and gardens, feeding on nectar and insects.
The male sunbird defends feeding territories against other males and conspecific females; also deters other sunbirds.
Habitat And Distribution
Scarlet-Chested sunbirds live in open woodland and thornveld. They also commonly visit parks and gardens.
This bird has adapted well to the changes in habitat caused by humans, as it is common in parks and well-wooded gardens.
You can spot this interesting species on nature walks along the River Ivi trail in Buhoma.
Red-Chested Sunbird
A Red-Chested Sunbird is slender, curve-billed sunbird in which males and females are very different.
General Description
Males are chiefly black and dark green, with a red band across the underparts and elongated central tail feathers.
Females are plain gray-brown above and pale with heavy dark patterns below.
Females are similar to female Marico Sunbirds.
You can identify it with the dark throat patch and less distinct pale eyebrows.
Akin to the Beautiful Sunbird, breeding males are separated by the lack of extensive yellow in their belly band and females by being more banded below.
Feeding
This bird forages generally in pairs on Nectar, insects, and spiders.
Habitat and Description
The Red-Chested Sunbird lives in a wide variety of moist habitats, including wetlands, savanna, scrub, woodland, and gardens.
On your birding safari in Bwindi, you can spot this beauty along the River trail within the Buhoma sector.
Purple-Breasted Sunbird
This is a long, slim medium-sized sunbird.
General Description
Breeding males show a batch of beautiful iridescent colors in good light and have a very long, thin tail year-round.
Females have dark faces and faded throats.
Females are separated by their more pointed tail and lack of faded eyebrows.
It is fairly similar to Bronze Sunbird. Males are separated by their protracted tail, and in breeding plumage by their purple tones.
- Social Behavior
The Purple-Breasted Sunbird has a distinctive vocalization which is a long, dry rattle, unlike the calls of most sunbirds.
Feeding
It feeds on insects and nectar.
Additionally, it favors flowers particularly of Symphonia globulifera, around which it defends feeding territories.
This bird forages singly or in small groups; also in mixed-specied flocks.
Habitat And Distribution
It is generally uncommon in montane forests along the Albertine Rift.
They’re usually uncommon however, with a skilled guide, you can spot them in the Buhoma region
Regal Sunbird
The Regal Sunbird is a small beautiful bird species.
General Description
The adult male head and upper parts are marked by an iridescent golden-green.
It has dark wings and a tail and a boldly-marked red and yellow breast and belly.
The adult female has dull olive upper parts, with yellowish, faintly streaked underparts.
Breeding
It lays eggs in an oval nest made of fibers and moss, lined with plant down and feathers, suspended 4–5 m up in bamboo trees.
Feeding
Regal sunbirds majorly eat nectar from flowers.
Habitat And Distribution
This spectacular bird is indigenous to the Albertine rift montane forests.
On your Uganda bird watching tour, you can spot this gem along the Buhoma River trail.
Tabled below are the other less prominent birds of Bwindi in the Nectariniidae family
47. Olive-bellied Sunbird 48. Tiny Sunbird 49. Stuhlmann’s Sunbird 50. Northern Double-collared Sunbird 51. Mariqua Sunbird 52. Purple-banded Sunbird 53. Orange-tufted Sunbird 54. Superb Sunbird 55. Variable Sunbird 56. Copper Sunbird | 57. Gray-headed Sunbird 58. Western Violet-backed Sunbird 59. Little Green Sunbird 60. Green Sunbird 61. Collared Sunbird 62. Green-headed Sunbird 63. Blue-throated Brown Sunbird 64. Olive Sunbird 65. Green-throated Sunbird 66. Malachite Sunbird 67. Golden-winged Sunbird |
A.v. Family: Estrildidae
Dusky Crimson wing
A Dusky Crimsonwing is a slim, dark member of the waxbill family.
General Description
The back and face are red, the wings and tail black, and the undersides dark gray. Males and females are similar, but males have more red on the face.
The juveniles lack red on the face.
It is similar in size and overall coloration to Dusky Twin spot but shows red on the face and none on the flanks.
Social Behavior
This inconspicuous bird is commonly found in pairs or small groups. Its call is a high-pitched “tsit.”
Feeding
This bird feeds on small seeds of grass, fallen on the ground; also beetles (Coleoptera), and small snails.
They forage mostly in pairs and small groups.
Habitat And Distribution
It lives in the Albertine Rift montane forest, including forest edge and glades.
You can spot this beauty in the Buhoma sector along the Buhoma waterfall trail or the Ivi river trail.
Shelley’s Crimsonwing
This is a largely rare bird, only being common in a few threatened forests. There is fears its faces extinction.
General Description
This is a brightly colored finch found at low levels. It is about 13 centimetres long.
The male Shelley’s Crimson-Wing has a shining red crown, face and back, with conflicting black wings and tail.
It is decorated with olive-yellow underparts with warmer tones on flanks and belly.
Feeding
Shelley’s Crimson Wing feeds on small seeds, notably of balsam (Impatiens), also insects.
It feeds on and close to the ground and mainly in pairs and small groups.
This bird is shy, elusive and it rarely shows up.
Habitat and Distribution
This spectacular bird lives in some parts of the Albertine Rift Mountains.
If you are lucky on the day, you can spot this stunner in Mubwindi swamp fringes in the Ruhija sector.
The table below shows the other not-so-popular birds of Bwindi in the Estrildidae family
70. Bronze Mannikin 71. Magpie Mannikin 72. Black-and-white Mannikin 73. Yellow-bellied Waxbill 74. Green-backed Twin spot 75. Red-faced Crimsonwing 76. Jameson’s Antpecker 77. White-breasted Nigrita 78. Chestnut-breasted Nigrita 79. Gray-headed Nigrita 80. Pale-fronted Nigrita 81. Black-crowned Waxbill 82. Kandt’s Waxbill 83. Fawn-breasted Waxbill | 84. Common Waxbill 85. Crimson-rumped Waxbill 86. Quailfinch 87. Zebra Waxbill 88. Red-cheeked Cordonbleu 89. Red-headed Bluebill 90. Black-bellied Seedcracker 91. Dusky Twin spot 92. Brown Twin spot 93. Red-billed Firefinch 94. African Firefinch 95. Black-bellied Firefinch 96. Bar-breasted Firefinch |
A.vi. Family: Nicatoridae
Western Nicator
General Description
A Western Nicator is a charming scarce bushshrike–like bird with pale underparts, olive-green upper parts with bold white spotting on the wings.
It has a very heavy hooked bill.
Watch out for its bright tail corners, which only clear in flight!
People confuse it with the Eastern Nicator, but their range is distinctive.
Also, comparable to the Yellow-throated Nicator, but larger, and has no bright yellow throat and a streak above the eye.
Feeding
Because of its secretive feeding habits in the understory and mid-level of the forest, it’s rarely spotted.
Habitat And Distribution
It thrives in rainforests, thickets, gallery forests, and in thick woodlands.
You can spot it in the prominent Buhoma sector.
A.vii. Family: Muscicapidae
Red-Throated Alethe
The Red-Throated Alethe is a spectacularly scarce species of bird in the family Muscicapidae, endemic to the Albertine rift montane forests.
General Description
This species is dark chunky robin-like with a bright brown back and tail, a grey chest, plus a white belly.
It has a grey eyebrow and a reddish throat. It’s a decently shy bird whose natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Though it’s akin to the Brown-Chested Alethe, you can identify it easily by its reddish throat.
Feeding
The Red-Throated Alethe forages on the ground in short rushes at invertebrates including insects such as beetles, flies, army ants, spiders, earthworms, and snails.
Habitat And Distribution
It lives in the montane forests.
With the help of a local skilled guide, you can spot it in the Buhoma region for example, along the Buhoma waterfall trail and Ivi river trail.
Chapin’s Flycatcher
The Chapin’s Flycatcher is the other beauty you stand a chance to spot in Bwindi.
This is a lovely scarce dull Flycatcher, endemic to Albertine rift montane forests.
General Description
This gorgeous bird has grey-brown plumage on the back and is fairly lighter below.
From a good view, a short pale line above the bill is visible.
Though a little similar to the African Dusky Flycatcher, it’s slightly larger and not streaked on the underparts.
You can identify it from other flycatchers by its plainness.
Social Behavior
It’s usually seen in the middle canopy of the forest.
Feeding
It feeds on insects
Habitat and Distribution
The natural habitat of this bird is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
This species is vulnerable and is threatened by habitat loss.
Look out for this bird in Buhoma.
Yellow-Eyed Black Flycatcher
General Description
A Yellow-Eyed Black Flycatcher is a lovely small and long-tailed black flycatcher with pale yellow eyes, restricted to the Albertine rift montane forests.
It’s distinctive from other similar blackbirds by its pale eye.
Feeding
This bird feeds on insects, including caterpillars and beetles.
Habitat And Distribution
This species is usually spotted singly or in pairs around forest edges, perched out on visible tree branches.
You can spot this bird with the help of our skilled local guide in the Buhoma area.
White-Tailed Blue Flycatcher
The White-Tailed Blue Flycatcher is the other stunner to spot in the impenetrable forest.
General Description
It is a colorful slim and slightly crested bird with a long striking tail that’s usually fanned.
This bird has a vivid blue back, pale grey underparts, plus a white outer tail.
It’s akin to an African blue flycatcher but, is easily identified by its white outer fanned tail.
Feeding
It feeds mostly on small invertebrates, including ants.
Habitat and Distribution
You can spot this bird in the Buhoma region while on nature walks.
Archer’s Robin-Chat
This bird is endemic to Albertine rift montane forests.
General Description
The Archer’s Robin-Chat is a beautiful fairly plain brown-and-orange robin chat with a white eyebrow and a dark face.
Contrary to a typical Robin Chat, its tail is entirely orange.
Though a bit similar to the White-Bellied Robin-Chat, it’s differentiated by the orange belly, much bolder white eyebrow plus an all-orange tail.
Feeding
This species feeds on insects, such as beetles, ants, termites, bugs, and caterpillars; small millipedes.
Habitat and Distribution
It is usually in the understory forest, usually near streams.
You can spot it within the Buhoma area with the help of our expert local guide.
In The Table Below Are The Other Ugandan Birds In Bwindi In The Family Muscicapidae Family
103. African Dusky Flycatcher 104. Yellow-footed Flycatcher 105. Spotted Flycatcher 106. Swamp Flycatcher 107. Cassin’s Flycatcher 108. Sooty Flycatcher 109. Dusky-blue Flycatcher 110. Pale Flycatcher 111. African Forest-Flycatcher 112. Gray-throated Tit-Flycatcher 113. Gray Tit-Flycatcher 114. Ashy Flycatcher 115. Northern Black-Flycatcher 116. White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher 117. Fire-crested Alethe 118. Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin 119. Brown-backed Scrub-Robin | 120. Red-backed Scrub-Robin 121. White-bellied Robin-Chat 122. Cape Robin-Chat 123. Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat 124. White-browed Robin-Chat 125. Red-capped Robin-Chat 126. Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat 127. Spotted Morning-Thrush 128. White-starred Robin 129. Brown-chested Alethe 130. Gray-winged Robin-Chat 131. Equatorial Akalat 132. Semi collared Flycatcher 133. Whinchat 134. African Stonechat 135. Sooty Chat |
A.viii. Family:Acrocephalidae
Mountain Yellow Warbler
General Description
Also dubbed the Mountain Flycatcher-Warbler, the Mountain Yellow Warbler is a lovely medium-sized, long-billed, and long-tailed warbler.
It holds an olive green back while its underparts are yellow.
These birds can be confused with the African Yellow-Warbler, however, in areas where they overlap.
It’s usually found in higher elevations, and distinguished by its olive–green, not a black cap.
Feeding
This species feeds on insects, especially flies. It often forages low down, but also in middle-level thickets and treetops.
Habitat And Distribution
The natural habitats of this bird are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.
On your Uganda birding trip in the Bwindi forest, you can spot it in the Buhoma sector in the bamboo zone.
A.ix. Family: Cettiidae
Black-Faced Warbler
A Black-faced Warbler is a beautiful colored and active small bird
General Description
The Black-Faced Warbler’s greenish-yellow wings and white underbelly are akin to other Warblers.
However, it’s distinguished by its grey head, black face, and bright yellow eyebrows and throat.
Feeding
This bird forages and rummages on the ground and through fallen leaves for insects, reptiles, and fruit.
This amazing bird mainly forages in the middle canopy.
Habitat And Distribution
It is usually spotted in hilly and montane forests.
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can spot it within the Buhoma sector.
A.x. Family: Malaconotidae
Papyrus Gonolek
The Papyrus Gonolek is a gorgeous bird limited generally to papyrus swamps.
This Papyrus Gonolek is rare and listed as Near Threatened.
General Description
It’s a territorial black and red medium-sized Bushshrike with a bright yellow crown. Its upper parts- the wings and tail are black excluding a broad white bar on the wings.
The breast and upper belly are vivid orange-crimson, and the lower belly is whitish.
Feeding
The Papyrus Gonolek majorly eats insects including; flies, beetles along with ants.
They supplement with fruit, snails, and seeds when available.
Habitat And Distribution
This bird has specialized habitat requirements, being limited to papyrus swamps.
It is estimated to be in a moderately rapid population decline caused by ongoing conversion and degradation.
On your birding tour in the Bwindi forest, you can spot it within the Mubwindi swamp in the Ruhija sector.
Black-Headed Gonolek
A Black-Headed Gonolek is a colorful bird that you will get to see during bird watching in Uganda’s Bwindi.
General Description
It’s a charming Bushshrike that easily stands out due to its beautiful red and black plumage.
It’s very similar to the Black-fronted Bushshrike however, they don’t overlap in range.
You can confuse it with the Papyrus Gonolek, however, it has an all-black head lacking a yellow crown.
Feeding
This bird feeds on insects, including Orthoptera and caterpillars. It supplements with some small fruits; some small lizards and bird eggs.
Social Behavior
It is generally shy and retiring but can become bold and conspicuous around Entebbe (Uganda).
This Gonolek forages alone and in pairs. It lurks in dense, shady vegetation, but is often inquisitive and responsive.
Habitat And Distribution
It commonly forages in dry savanna, tropical moist shrubs, and seasonally flooded lowland areas
On your Uganda birding tour in Bwindi national park, you can spot this beautiful bird on nature walks within the Buhoma region.
Many-Colored Bush-Shrike
General Description
The Many-Colored Bushshrike is a stunning shrike with several colors that change from the breast: black, yellow, orange, red, or buff.
Males have a black mask through the eye whereas females have a grey one.
Social Behavior
It often joins mixed-species feeding flocks. Its most common vocalization is a quiet, rising, two-part whistle.
Feeding
This beautiful bird often feeds on large insects. These include grasshoppers, mantises, stick insects, bugs, beetles, ants, bees, and small and large wasps, moths, and caterpillars.
Habitat and Distribution
The natural habitats of this bird are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
You can spot this spectacular bird during nature walks in the Buhoma Sector.
Doherty’s Bush-Shrike
Doherty’s Bush-Shrike is another beauty you will catch in Bwindi.
General Description
This charmer is adorned with a greenback and a dazzling red throat and forehead, a yellow belly, plus a black chest band.
Social Behavior
It is a solitary and skulking species that is more often heard than it is seen. It quietly moves around in dense undergrowth.
This bird’s loud whistling territorial call is loud in all months of the year.
Feeding
This shrike forages by searching dense undergrowth where it gleans from the vegetation and feeds on the ground on arthropods.
It sticks mainly to beetles and grasshoppers.
Habitat And Distribution
It’s usually seen in undergrowth forests.
While on your Uganda safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can spot this impressive bird along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Tropical Boubou
General Description
Also called the Bell Shrike, the Tropical Boubou is a medium-sized stunning black-and-white Bushshrike.
This species has white underparts while the upper parts and the tail are glossy blue blacks, excluding a white streak on the top of the wing.
The beaks and legs of this bird are black, while their feet are bluish-grey and have dark reddish brown irises.
Social Behavior
It is usually spotted in pairs.
Its vocalizations are complex and varied, with the normal song type being a synchronized duet.
Feeding
This species forages for invertebrates and small vertebrates in dense vegetation, and at times on the ground in the open.
Habitat And Distribution
This bird loves foraging in dense microhabitats within the forest, woodlands, thickets, and gardens.
As you undertake a Uganda birding safari in Bwindi, you can spot it during nature walks along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
The Table Below Shows The Less Prominent Ugandan Birds Of Bwindi In The Malaconotidae Family
143. Brubru 144. Northern Puffback 145. Pink-footed Puffback 146. Marsh Tchagra 147. Black-crowned Tchagra 148. Brown-crowned Tchagra 149. Lühder’s Bushshrike | 150. Slate-colored Boubou 151. Lowland Sooty Boubou 152. Willard’s Sooty Boubou 153. Albertine Boubou 154. Gray-green Bushshrike 155. Sulfur-breasted Bushshrike 156. Lagden’s Bushshrike 157. Gray-headed Bushshrike |
A.xi. Family: Turdidae
Kivu Ground Thrush
The Kivu Ground Thrush is a rare species considered a subspecies of the Abyssinian ground thrush.
General Description
Adults have a deep rufous orange on the head plus an unmistakable face with a colorful white eye ring.
They’ve less rufous on the breast and flanks while the upper parts are olive-brown except for the orange-brown rump and tail.
On a folded wing, it has two unique white wingbars from the tips to the coverts.
Habitat And Description
Kivu Ground Thrush is native to the Albertine Rift forests.
Habitat loss threatens this species.
Though it’s rare, you can spot it in Buhoma birding trails, usually in the early morning hours.
A.xii. Family: Viduidae
Pin-Tailed Whydah
General Description
The Pin-Tailed Whydah is a little attractive songbird with an exclusive pennant-like tail in breeding males.
You can easily distinguish males by their black back and crown, plus a very long black tail.
The wings of this bird are dark brown with white patches and have white underparts plus a short orange-pink bill.
Females are without a long tail extension, they’ve banded brown upperparts, and white underparts with buff flanks.
They also have a buff black face pattern but, they hold an orange-pink bill.
Breeding
This bird breeds in the summer months, at the same period as the parasitized species.
It does not build a nest.
The hen lays her white or creamy-white eggs in the host’s nest, within the same period as the host lays its eggs.
Feeding
The Pin-Tailed Whydah eats mainly seeds and insects. These birds forage in small groups with one long-tailed male and several females, and non-breeding Youngs.
This species forages on the ground by moving jerkily backward on tarsi and pecking quickly at the disturbed ground.
Habitat And Distribution
Its habitat is in a wide variety of shrubland habitats including agricultural fields, parks, and gardens.
You can spot this tiny bird in the Mubwindi swamp zone.
- Village Indigo Bird is the other bird in this family
A.xiii. Family: Estrildidae
The Red-Headed Bluebill
This is a beautiful common species, a member of the wax bill family.
The Red-Headed Bluebill (Spermophaga ruficapilla) is a common species distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa.
General Description
Males have a dark belly while females have a dotted one, and all sexes have a redhead plus a huge conical red and blue bill.
They’re usually spotted in pairs or small flocks, in areas with thick undergrowth occasionally along roads and paths.
These birds look like Grant’s Bluebill but, are identified by the all-red head. Males are akin to the male Black-Bellied Seed Cracker.
However, it has a black tail plus a red-and-blue rather than a plain blue bill.
Feeding
It eats Seeds, including those of legumes, morning glories, and spear grass also insects, including small beetles and termites.
The Redheaded Blue Bill breaks apart clumps of earth or termite nest with downward blows of the bill; lifts and moves dead leaves.
This species forages majorly in pairs and family groups; joins mixed-species feeding flocks.
Habitat And Distribution
It lives in forest undergrowth, damp areas in thickets, near streams, clearings and edge, also gallery forest, swamp-forest, coffee plantations; in Uganda, from lowlands to 2100 m.
You can spot it along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
The Table Down Has The List Of The Less Famous Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Passeriformes: And Family Estrildidae
162. Bronze Mannikin 163. Magpie Mannikin 164. Black-and-white Mannikin 165. Yellow-bellied Waxbill 166. Green-backed Twin spot 167. Dusky Crimsonwing 168. Red-faced Crimsonwing 169. Jameson’s Antpecker 170. White-breasted Nigrita 171. Chestnut-breasted Nigrita 172. Gray-headed Nigrita 173. Pale-fronted Nigrita 174. Black-crowned Waxbill 175. Kandt’s Waxbill | 176. Fawn-breasted Waxbill 177. Common Waxbill 178. Crimson-rumped Waxbill 179. Quailfinch 180. Zebra Waxbill 181. Red-cheeked Cordonbleu 182. Black-bellied Seed-cracker 183. Dusky Twin spot 184. Brown Twin spot 185. Red-billed Firefinch 186. African Firefinch 187. Black-bellied Firefinch 188. Bar-breasted Firefinch |
A.xiv. Family: Scotocercidae
Neumann’s Warbler
Also dubbed the Short-tailed Warbler, a Neumann’s Warbler is a lovely unusual small bird species endemic to the Albertine rift montane forests.
General Description
You can’t mistake this beautiful bird due to its marks: the bold black, white, and olive-green stripes on its large head.
It’s akin to Green Hylia but, it’s shorter-tailed.
Social Behavior
It is usually alone or in pairs; secretive and elusive.
Feeding
The Neumann’s Warbler food is largely unknown but includes beetles and presumably other small invertebrates.
Habitat And Distribution
It’s commonly seen in the middle canopy of montane forests, around thick and wet areas. For example along streams.
Despite its scarcity, you can spot it with the help of a skilled guide along the Buhoma waterfall and River Ivi trails.
A.xv. Family: Platysteiridae
Rwenzori Batis
General Description
The Rwenzori Batis is a radiant black and white Batis, endemic to the Albertine rift montane forests, inhabiting altitudes of 1,340- 3,300m.
It has a black broad chest streak plus a white slash across the wing. Males eyes are yellow while those of the females are orange.
It’s identical to Ituri batis but, found at higher elevations, and identified by its broader black band across the breast.
Feeding
Information about the breeding biology and habits of the Rwenzori Batis is scanty.
Social Behaviour
This species is shy, active, and constantly moving but tends to keep hidden in the foliage.
Feeding
The Rwenzori Batis feeds on insects mainly beetles recorded, once a caterpillar of 50 mm, and flies.
It often forages in mid-levels in undergrowth at 2–6 m (6.6–19.7 ft) above the ground and in the lower canopy of tall trees.
Habitat And Distribution
They’re mostly found in pairs, especially in the bamboo zone.
You can spot this stunning bird in the bamboo zone while on the Bamboo trail.
This Table Shows The Rest Of The Bird Of Bwindi In The Order Passeriformes And The Family Platysteiridae
191. Brown-throated Wattle-eye 192. Black-throated Wattle-eye 193. Chestnut Wattle-eye 194. Jameson’s Wattle-eye | 195. Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye 196. Chinspot Batis 197. Western Black-headed Batis 198. Ituri Batis |
A.xvi. Family: Phylloscopidae
Red-Faced Woodland Warbler
A Red-faced Woodland Warbler is a brilliant unique Woodland Warbler, endemic to Albertine rift montane forests.
General Description
This picturesque little warbler has green upper parts, a distinctive reddish face, and throat plus a white belly and rump.
Similar to other Woodland Warblers, it’s so active and always on a move.
It’s akin to the Brown Woodland Warbler, but lighter on the belly, with more red on the face and throat.
Social Behavior
Its distinctive song comprises higher and lower “spit” notes that are swiftly alternated in a sort of very loose trill.
Feeding
This species feeds on insects along with other invertebrates like beetles, bugs, and spiders.
The beautiful bird undertakes hunting in pairs but can at times connect with small feeding flocks
Habitat And Distribution
This bird lives in montane forests.
You can spot it while on nature walks in the Buhoma sector with the help of our expert local guide.
Tabled Below Are The Less Sought After Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Of Passeriformes, Family Phylloscopidae
200. Wood Warbler 201. Willow Warbler | 202. Brown Woodland-Warbler 203. Uganda Woodland-Warbler |
A.xvii. Family: Turdidae
African Thrush
The African thrush or West African thrush (Turdus pelios) is common in well-wooded areas over much of the western part of sub-Saharan Africa.
General Description
The African Thrush is a lovely common bird with grey upper parts and grey-brown underparts.
However, these change geographically from buff, grey, or rufous.
Keep an eye on their yellow bill across all ranges!
It is identical to the Abyssinian Thrush. However, it is mostly found in lower elevations and it’s generally paler, with a paler yellow bill.
Social Behavior
This bird is a resident (non-migratory).
This species is usually seen either singly or in pairs.
It is shy and retiring and likes to remain in cover, but will come out and gather at fruiting trees.
Feeding
These birds are omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, and berries.
Habitat And Distribution
It is found in a range of habitats such as forest edges, woodlands, and gardens.
In Bwindi forest, you can check it out on most trails in the Buhoma region such as the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Abyssinian Thrush
An Abyssinian Thrush is a beautiful dark bird usually found in montane habitats.
General Description
This bird has a bright rufous belly whereas the upper parts are darker. But, these can vary geographically. For example, a species in northern Tanzania is without the rufous belly.
Look out for its narrow eye-ring and a yellow-orange bill!
The Abyssinian Thrush is akin to the African Thrush. However, it’s usually found in higher altitudes, darker overall, and holds a darker orange-yellow bill.
Feeding
It eats a wide array of animal and vegetable foods.
Habitat And Distribution
It lives in montane habitats.
On your birding in Uganda’s Bwindi national park, you can spot this bird in the Buhoma sector with the help of our experienced local guide.
Tabled Below Are The Other Birds Of Bwindi Forest In The Order Passeriformes: Family, Turdidae
206. Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush 207. Red-tailed Ant-Thrush 208. White-tailed Ant-Thrush | 209. Black-eared Ground-Thrush 210. Oberländer’s Ground-Thrush 211. Abyssinian Ground-Thrush |
A.xviii. Family: Corvidae
Piapiac
This lovely African bird is the only member of the genus Ptilostomus.
The range of this bird is the tropical equatorial region of central Africa.
General Description
This charming little magpie-like bird holds a long narrowing tail and a chunky bill.
The adults have shiny black feathers with heavy black bills, legs, and feet and a purplish Irish having a bluish-purple outer ring. Juveniles have black-tipped pink bills.
Social Behavior
These birds feed in flocks of ten or more birds moving together on the ground.
Feeding
They eat insects and other invertebrates. They supplement this diet with some fruit especially the oily fruit of the oil palm.
Habitat and Distribution
Within this range, it prefers a more open country of cultivated land with fields and pasture and small associated towns and villages.
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, you can spot these lovely birds while on guided nature walks along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
The Following Are The Other Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Passeriformes: Family, Corvidae
Pied Crow
White-necked Raven
A.xviii. Family: Pycnonotidae
White-Throated Greenbul
This bird is also called the White-throated Bulbul.
General Description
This lovely songbird is a small and relatively long-billed Greenbul.
Its underparts are yellowish whereas the upper parts (back and wings) are grey-green.
Look out for the white throat, pale eyes, and grey face!
Social Behavior
It is commonly seen around forest edges singly or in multi-flock species flipping its wings and tail as it moves through the vegetation.
Habitat and Distribution
Subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests are their natural habitats.
In Bwindi, you can check it out along the Buhoma Waterfall Trail.
Common Bulbul
General Description
The Common Bulbul is a unique Thrush-sized brown bird with a darker face and throat.
Its belly is pale and the under tail is white or yellow in some species.
Social Behavior
The common Bulbul is a monogamous and conspicuous bird, which tends to sit at the top of a bush. Similar to other bulbuls they are active and noisy birds
It’s often seen in small flocks through a preening ceremony. You can’t miss this bird due to its noisy and repetitive powerful song.
It is a regular resident breeder in much of Africa.
Its flight is bouncing and woodpecker-like.
Feeding
This bird eats fruit, nectar, seeds, and insects.
Habitat and Distribution
The Common Bulbul lives in woodland, coastal bush, forest edges, riverine bush, montane scrub, and in mixed farming habitats.
Additionally, it is also found in exotic thickets, gardens, and parks.
You can catch sight of it on Uganda gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
This Table Indicates The Rest Of The Less Popular Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Passeriformes: Family Pycnonotidae
217. Slender-billed Greenbul 218. Red-tailed Bristle bill 219. Shelley’s Greenbul 220. Eastern Mountain Greenbul 221. Simple Greenbul 222. Joyful Greenbul 223. Honeyguide Greenbul 224. Yellow-throated Greenbul 225. Spotted Greenbul 226. Red-tailed Greenbul 227. Gray Greenbul | 228. Ansorge’s Greenbul 229. Plain Greenbul 230. Yellow-whiskered Greenbul 231. Little Greenbul 232. Leaf-love 233. Toro Olive-Greenbul 234. Cabanis’s Greenbul 235. Icterine Greenbul 236. Xavier’s Greenbul 237. Yellow-streaked Greenbul |
A.ixx. Family: Orioloidea
Montane Oriole
The Mountain Oriole is a beautiful bird species commonly found in tropical moist montane forests.
General Description
It has a unique yellow plumage, a black hood, plus a red bill.
They’re often seen in groups but, sometimes join other flocks of other bird species.
Feeding
This bird eats primarily Fruits. For example, Urera species; also invertebrates, e.g. caterpillars and hard-bodied insects, but in summer and fall eat fleshy fruits
Habitat And Distribution
The natural habitats of this bird are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
You can spot this bird on guided nature walks in the Buhoma region for example, along the Buhoma waterfall trail or River Ivi trail.
A.xx. Family: Paridae
Stripe-Breasted Tit
General Description
This bird is a typical beautiful tit with a black, white, and grey pattern.
The Stripe-Breasted Tit has a black hood. This hood continues as a dark stripe down the center of the underparts plus white edgings on much of the wing and the outer tail.
Social Behavior
These birds are usually in pairs or small groups, readily joining mixed-species flocks.
They give typical tit vocalizations such as the classic “dree di-di-di” call and other whistled and chatty calls.
Feeding
The diet of this bird is poorly known, but presumably includes small invertebrates and larvae; nestlings fed mainly with caterpillars.
Habitat And Distribution
This bird’s natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. And, is found in the middle and high-elevation humid forest of the Albertine Rift.
In Bwindi, be on the lookout for this bird in the Mubwindi swamp of the Ruhija region.
Listed Below Are The Less Popular Ugandan Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Passeriformes: Paridae
White-shouldered Black-Tit
White-winged Black-Tit
Dusky Tit
A.xxi. Family: Fringillidae
Yellow-Fronted Canary
A Yellow-Fronted Canary is a common beautiful bird in the finch family. These canaries are indigenous to much of sub-Saharan Africa.
General Description
Males are decorated with greenbacks, brown wings, and tails.
Their underparts, rump, and head are yellow with a grey crown and nape and a black malar stripe.
Females stand out by a weaker head marking and are duller.
Social Behavior
They are gregarious Seedeaters.
These birds are moderately territorial and forage alone or in small groups.
Yellow-Fronted Canary males sing frequently though out the day. The song is pleasant, fluid, and canary-like. Their call is a metallic “chip-chip“.
Feeding
Yellow-fronted canaries are primarily seed and insect predators.
Habitat And Distribution
This bird generally prefers savanna, especially Acacia, Burkea (Burkea africana), miombo (Brachystegia), and riverine woodland.
It additionally likes man-made habitats such as fallow cropland, parks, gardens, and edges of plantations.
They’re mostly seen in flocks with other species in grassy areas and bush areas.
Be on the lookout for them in the Buhoma sector on most birding trails.
The Table Below Shows The Rest Of The Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Passeriformes: Family Fringillidae
244. Oriole Finch 245. Yellow-fronted Canary 246. Western Citril 247. Black-throated Canary | 248. Reichenow’s Seedeater 249. Brimstone Canary 250. Streaky Seedeater 251. Thick-billed Seedeater |
A.xxii. Family: Estrildidae
Zebra Waxbill
General Description
Also known as the orange-breasted Waxbill, the Zebra Waxbill is a colorful little short-tailed sparrow-like bird.
It’s embellished with a reddish iris, orange breast, red bill plus dark olive-green plumage.
Males have a red rump, dark bars on the whitish flank, and a red eyebrow stripe.
On the other hand, females are duller and smaller than males and lack the male’s red eyebrow.
Breeding
They are often reliable breeders, but parenting skills and fertility rates vary.
Zebra Waxbills construct a huge, bulky nest which may be situated in a dense bush, or an open or closed nest box.
Wild pairs usually appropriate the abandoned nests of weavers and other birds.
Feeding
This bird’s diet consists mainly of seeds, insects, and shoots.
Slightly similar to the Quailfinch but, have yellow underparts and a red rump.
Habitat And Distribution
They’re found majorly in wetlands, often in small flocks.
Look out for this amazing bird in the Mubwindi swamp.
The Table Below Indicates The Less Popular Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Passeriformes: Family Estrildidae
253. Bronze Mannikin 254. Magpie Mannikin 255. Black-and-white Mannikin 256. Yellow-bellied Waxbill 257. Green-backed Twin spot 258. Dusky Crimsonwing 259. Red-faced Crimsonwing 260. Jameson’s Antpecker 261. White-breasted Nigrita 262. Chestnut-breasted Nigrita 263. Gray-headed Nigrita 264. Pale-fronted Nigrita 265. Black-crowned Waxbill | 266. Kandt’s Waxbill 267. Fawn-breasted Waxbill 268. Common Waxbill 269. Crimson-rumped Waxbill 270. Quailfinch 271. Red-cheeked Cordonbleu 272. Red-headed Bluebill 273. Black-bellied Seedcracker 274. Dusky Twinspot 275. Brown Twinspot 276. Red-billed Firefinch 277. African Firefinch 278. Black-bellied Firefinch 279. Bar-breasted Firefinch |
A.xxiii. Family: Ploceidae
Strange Weaver
The Strange Weaver is a lovely scarce bird species endemic to the Albertine rift montane forests.
General Description
This spectacular uncommon weaver has a black head, a dark olive-green back, plus a yellow belly.
The male strange weavers have a chestnut patch on the breast and in females, it extends onto the throat. It’s commonly confused with the Forest Weaver. However, you can identify it by its olive black back and by the chestnut on the breast.
Feeding
This weaver feeds on Insects, berries, and seeds.
Habitat and Distribution
This species is often seen in pairs in the understory creeping through thick vegetation.
You can see it in the Buhoma expanse with the help of our local senior guide.
Brown-Capped Weaver
A Brown-capped Weaver is a rare gorgeous black and yellow bird.
General Description
Whereas Males are brown-capped, females are black. All sexes have a striking yellow patch on the back.
It’s a little similar to the Preuss’s and Yellow-capped Weavers. Males are however separated by their brown caps, and females by their all-black heads.
Social Behavior
They’re found often in pairs and small groups, though sometimes can join other species.
This weaver is not very vocal, but its vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chit” notes and a sizzling, “radio static” song.
Feeding
This cute weaver feeds by creeping on tree limbs like a nuthatch.
Habitat and Distribution
Their natural habitat is montane forests.
You can check this bird out in the Buhoma sector of Uganda’s Bwindi.
This Table Shows The Rest Of The Ugandan Birds In Bwindi In The Order Passeriformes: Family Ploceidae
282. Red-bellied Malimbe 283. Crested Malimbe 284. Red-headed Malimbe 285. Red-headed Weaver 286. Baglafecht Weaver 287. Little Weaver 288. Slender-billed Weaver 289. Black-necked Weaver 290. Spectacled Weaver 291. Black-billed Weaver 292. Holub’s Golden-Weaver 293. Northern Brown-throated Weaver 294. Lesser Masked-Weaver 295. Vitelline Masked-Weaver 296. Heuglin’s Masked-Weaver 297. Vieillot’s Black Weaver 298. Village Weaver | 299. Weyns’s Weaver 300. Black-headed Weaver 301. Golden-backed Weaver 302. Yellow-mantled Weaver 303. Maxwell’s Black Weaver 304. Forest Weaver 305. Compact Weaver 306. Red-headed Quelea 307. Red-billed Quelea 308. Northern Red Bishop 309. Southern Red Bishop 310. Black Bishop 311. Yellow Bishop 312. White-winged Widowbird 313. Yellow-mantled Widowbird 314. Red-collared Widowbird 315. Fan-tailed Widowbird 316. Grosbeak Weaver |
B. Order; Musophagiformes:
B.i. Family; Musophagidae
Rwenzori Turaco
The Rwenzori Turaco is a dazzling multi-colored Ugandan bird in Bwindi
It is indigenous to the Albertine Rift montane forests.
General Description
The Rwenzori Turaco averages 43-46 cm beak to tail, and weighs around 232–247 g.
It has a brilliant green and violet blue plummage with red primaries that are conspicuous in flight.
These birds also have a short glossy green or purplish blue crest on hindcrown; nape dull crimson, chin and their throat is blue black.
It has a distinctive peachy-red patch on an otherwise green breast. The wings and tail are deep violet blue.
The shape of the bill is very unique with a rounded culmen rising to a narrow bony ridge between the eyes.
The eyelids are scarlet encircled by highly variable loral areas.
Breeding
The Rwenzori Turaco lays one or two dull grayish-white eggs in a nest that is little more than a small platform of sticks, generally 10-15 ft. above ground in a bamboo thicket.
Social Behavior
The Turaco behaves like a typical Turaco. It bounces through the trees and flies rarely with short bursts of wing beats and long glides.
This stunning bird can be found both in pairs and sometimes in small groups
The Rwenzori Turaco makes “kow” calls like other Turacos. However, it also makes odd squirrel-like scolding calls and a 3-part “laser-gun” call.
Feeding
It is a herbivorous bird whose diet consists of 92% fruit and 2.3% leaves.
Distribution And Habitat
The Rwenzori Turaco lives in montane forest and secondary growth.
With a bit of luck, you can spot this amazing bird in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi.
Great Blue Turaco
The Great Blue Turaco holds a place among the most beautiful birds in Uganda.
General Description
This Turaco is 70–76 cm in length with a mass of 800–1,231g.
You can’t mistake this stunner due to its amazing tall black crest, red-and-yellow bill, and the black bars at the end of the tail.
The Great Blue Turaco has grey-blue upper parts, a white chin, a yellow-green lower breast, and a yellow belly that darkens to chestnut brown posteriorly.
Breeding
Both sexes make a platform with dry sticks and placed in a tall tree, often near water.
Females lay 2 eggs and both parents incubate them for 29-31 days.
Both parents feed the chicks. They tend to leave the nest 6 weeks after hatching but stay with their parents for up to 3 months.
Feeding
The Great Blue Turaco is herbivorous and feeds mainly on fruits from several plant species. It also consumes buds, shoots, leaves and flowers, and some insects.
Social Behavior
These birds are gregarious and non–migratory. They thrive in groups of up to 10 individuals and several groups may assemble in one large tree.
Interestingly, these Great Blue Turacos are weak flyers. They are however strong climbers and can move nimbly on branches and through vegetation.
They are shy birds that rarely go to the ground.
Habitat and Distribution
It is commonly found within rainforests, gallery forests, and within lush secondary habitats.
On your birding safari in Uganda’s Bwindi, look out for this bird within the Buhoma sector on nature walks.
Ross’s Turaco
General Description
Also known as Lady Ross’s Turaco, this is a medium-sized bird, with a long tail and wide, circular wings.
These birds have three toes on each foot that point forward, while the fourth toe can be wheeled forward or backward. They are bluish–purple.
The females may have a greenish beak which males don’t.
Breeding
These birds form monogamous breeding pairs that share incubation and feeding duties.
They lay 2 to 3 eggs which hatch after about 25 days. They then spend another 4 to 7 weeks nesting with their parents before they fledge.
Social Behavior
It is non–migratory and local to the open woodlands, riverine forests, and humid forest edges.
The Ross’s Turacos occur in pairs or small groups but flock in feeding trees.
Feeding
Groups will feed majorly on wild or cultivated plants and fruits. They occasionally treat themselves to insects and snails.
Distribution
You can spot this beauty on your nature walk along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Black-Billed Turaco
The Black-Billed Turaco is a medium–sized bird, endemic to the rain and gallery forests of Central Africa.
General Description
The bird is 40 cm long; ranging in weight from 199–272 g.
Adults are similar to Green Turaco, distinguished by small all-black bill and rounded whitish crest.
Breeding
The female lays two eggs on a platform of twigs around 3 or 5 meters above the ground.
Both sexes defend a territory and share with incubation duties.
Social Behavior
The Black-Billed Turaco is a resident breeder
This bird behaves like a typical Turaco, bouncing through the trees, and flying occasionally with short bursts of wing beats and long glides.
Its call is a gruff, accelerating series of “kow” notes. It’s akin to Schalow’s and Guinea Turacos, but negligible overlap in range.
Feeding
These birds are strictly frugivorous.
Distribution And Habitat
This Turaco lives in the rainforests and gallery forests.
You can spot this beautiful Turaco on nature walks in the Buhoma sector and possibly along the River Ivi trail.
Bare-Faced Go-Away-Bird
This bird derives its name from its unusual “go-away” call.
General Description
It is a distinctive gray Turaco with a bushy crest and a mostly white head and breast.
Males and females are similar, other than the female’s green beak.
This bird is 48 cm long beak to tail, and weighs approximately 210 to 300 grams.
Breeding
Similar to other Turacos, the bare-faced go-away-bird lays two to three greenish-white eggs each mating season.
It often builds nests in tall acacia trees.
Social Behavior
It’s a largely sedentary bird throughout its range.
The calls are solitary hollow “khweow” and a ferocious series of cackles and whines given by multiple birds in chorus.
They are usually in small groups and are loud and vocal.
Feeding
This unique bird feeds on fruits, leaf buds, and seeds.
Habitat And Distribution
It is found in moist savanna, open woodland, shrubby cultivation, and gardens from 500 to 2000m.
In Bwindi impenetrable forest, you can’t miss it while on nature walks in the Buhoma region.
Eastern Plantain-Eater
General Description
The Eastern Plantain–Eater is 50 cm long, including a long tail, and weighs 392–737 g.
Their feathers are mainly grey above spotted with brown. The head, erectile crest, neck, and breast are brown banded with silver.
Its white bars in the outer wing and white sides to the tail are conspicuous in floppy flight.
The underparts are whitish and densely streaked with brown.
Breeding
This bird lays two or three eggs in a tree platform nest.
Social Behavior
They are resident breeders in open woodland habitats in tropical east Africa.
They are noisy and conspicuous in floppy flight. And are often in small groups.
Feeding
The Eastern Plantain –Eater feeds on fruit, especially figs, and other vegetable matter.
Habitat and Distribution
They live in savanna, woodland, shrubby cultivation, and gardens.
On your Uganda birding safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you will catch a glimpse of this lovely bird in the Buhoma sector.
C. Order: Galliformes
C.i. Family: Phasianidae Perdicinae
Handsome Francolin
General Description
The Handsome Francolin is a large, up to 35 cm long bird with a distinctive combination of red bare parts.
This includes a large patch of bare skin around the eye, and dark rufous on most of the underparts, with a greyer head and rump.
Breeding
The Handsome Francolin has a burrow type of nest made by both sexes.
Social Behavior
This bird is shy and elusive bird that’s more often heard than seen.
Feeding
It primarily feeds on seeds.
Habitat And Distribution
This terrestrial bird occurs in the montane forest and the high-altitude bamboo zone.
You can spot this bird while on nature walks in the Buhoma sector.
The Table Below Indicates The List Of The Rest Of The Ugandan Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Galliformes; Family, Phasianidae Perdicinae
324. Crested Francolin 325. Ring-necked Francolin 326. Blue Quail | 327. Handsome Spurfowl 328. Scaly Spurfowl 329. Red-necked Spurfowl |
C. ii. Family: Numididae
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
General Description
The Helmeted Guinea Fowl is a huge beautiful and small-headed, slaty-grey game bird. It is perfectly covered in a grey-black plumage spangled with white.
Akin to other Guinea fowls, it has a bare head, decorated with a dull yellow or reddish bony casque and bare skin with red, blue, or black hues.
Their wings are short and circular, and their tail is likewise short.
You can tell it apart from the Crested Guinea fowl due to its darker plumage and a crest on top of its head.
Breeding
This bird breeds in warm, fairly dry and open habitats with scattered shrubs and trees such as savanna or farmland.
It often breeds in or just after the rainy season.
The nest is well-hidden and largely unlined scrape.
A clutch is usually 6-12 eggs which the hen incubates for 26-28 days.
Social Behavior
They are noisy and gregarious birds. However, they are often inconspicuous when feeding among trees and scrub.
- Feeding
These birds are ground feeders. They spend their days in flocks, busily scratching in pursuit of their omnivorous diet of seeds, berries, worms, insects, and sometimes small mammals.
- Habitat And Distribution
It lives in warm, fairly dry, and open habitats with scattered shrubs and trees such as savanna or farmland.
You can encounter this bird on the River Ivi trail in the Buhoma sector.
- Western Crested Guinea fowl
D. Order: Piciformes
D.i. Family: Lybiidae
Double-Toothed Barbet
Also known as Lybius Bidentatus, this barbet is adorned with black and red coloring.
General Description
The bill of this beauty is large and off-white, and the skin around its eyes is yellow.
It is black on the top side of its body with a patch of white feathers on its back.
The breast of this barbet is red, with a white patch on its side.
Females and males have identical patterns, except that females have lines of black feathers on the white side patch.
The immatures of the species are duller; their plumage is dark grey.
Some of these species may go into gardens and forage for fruit.
It can be confused with the Black–Breasted Barbet or the Bearded Barbet.
Social Behavior
These truly spectacular birds can be found in pairs or small family groups with helpers; lone double-toothed barbets are rare. In flight, it’s ungraceful.
They have a large territory and roost communally.
The song of the Double-toothed Barbet is almost like a cat’s purr. Occasionally, pairs of Double-Toothed Barbets will sing together.
Feeding
Lybius Bidentatus feeds on fruits and insects. They look for food in foliage often staying below ten meters.
Usually, a double-toothed barbet will capture winged ants or termites while in flight.
Habitat and Distribution
These enchanting birds generally live in the understory of dense woodland. They thrive on the edges of the woods, riparian forests, and secondary forests.
On your birding safari in Uganda Bwindi forest, you can see it along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Red-Fronted Barbet
The Red-Fronted Barbet (Tricholaema Diademata) is a species of bird found in Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Tanzania.
General Description
These Barbets typically measure about 20 – 25 cm in length. They are thick-looking with large heads. They have heavy bill which is fringed with bristles.
Juveniles lack the red patch above the bill.
There is some geographical variation, mainly in the amount of spotting on the underparts.
It is akin to the Spot-flanked and Black-throated Barbets.
However, it can be easily separated by the lack of a black throat patch.
Breeding
The Red-Fronted Barbet typically nests in tree cavities.
The female usually lays between 2 to 4 eggs that are incubated for 13 – 15 days.
Both parents share nesting duties.
Social Behavior
This Red-Fronted Barbet makes a long, descending series of hoots and a nasal “yank” note.
They are largely solitary birds
Feeding
These birds eat a variety of fruits, including figs, and can visit plantations and feed on cultivated fruit and vegetables.
These barbets are believed to be important agents in seed dispersal.
Habitat And Distribution
This Barbet is found in dry woodland and savanna.
In the Bwindi forest, you can spot this bird while on nature walks within the Buhoma sector for example, along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
White-Headed Barbet
This is a thick, medium-sized black-and-white barbet.
General Description
It has a wide range of geographical variations in the distribution and extent of black and white in the plumage.
The tail of this nice-looking bird can be black or white, the wings can be all black or heavily white-spotted. Its underparts can be all-white or all-black with little white streaks.
Breeding
These birds typically nest in tree cavities. The female usually lays between 2 to 4 eggs that are incubated for 13 – 15 days.
Nesting responsibilities are shared by both parents
Feeding
They supplement their fruit diet with a wide range of insects including ants, cicadas, dragonflies, crickets, locusts, beetles, moths, mantids, as well as scorpions and centipedes.
Occasionally, they may also feed on lizards, frogs, and geckos.
Habitat and Distribution
The white-Headed Barbet is found locally, usually in the vicinity of fig trees.
This species lives in a variety of habitats including open savanna, gardens, lush woodland, and gallery forest.
In Bwindi national park, you can spot this bird while on nature walks in the Buhoma region for example, around River Ivi Buhoma Waterfall Trails.
Red-Faced Barbet
General Description
The Red-Faced Barbet is one of the smaller of the Lybius species at only 17 cm (6.7 in) in length.
This bird has red coloring on the side of the face and around the eye but is black on the dorsal side of the head.
Its whole body is black and its wings are banded with yellow.
Social Behavior
The Red-Faced barbet is sexually monomorphic, implying that both the males and females are largely similar in morphology, size, and behavior.
It utilizes duets to communicate with mates and other individuals. Duet singing is elaborately timed and can be quite complex.
Feeding
This bird’s diet has not been studied in detail. However, it includes arthropods such as caterpillars and adult insects and fruit such as berries and (at feeders) bananas.
Habitat And Distribution
Dry savanna, moist savanna, and arable land are its natural habitats.
During birding in Bwindi national park, you can catch a glimpse of this bird along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Yellow-Spotted Barbet
This is a unique well marked medium-sized Barbet.
General Description
This lovely bird is largely black with a red patch on the forehead, a pale yellow stripe behind the eye, and heavy yellow patterns on the back and belly.
The Yellow-Spotted Barbet is similar to Hairy-breasted Barbet. It is smaller overall with a smaller bill and a red forehead.
Social Behavior
This bird has two vocalizations: a very fast, hollow trill and a much slower and lower-pitched series of several hoots.
Feeding
This bird is Omnivorous feeding on seeds, fruit, and invertebrates.
Habitat And Distribution
It inhabits humid forests at low and middle elevations.
In Bwindi Impenetrable NP, you can spot this bird while on nature walks within the Buhoma sector with the help of our expert local guide.
Yellow-Rumped Tinkerbird
General Description
The Yellow-Rumped Tinkerbird is a small, handsome, black-and-white barbet.
This bird always shows bold white stripes on its face.
It is akin to Yellow-Throated Tinkerbird, but the facial patterns are white–not yellow.
The rump color changes geographically, from pale yellow to gold.
Breeding
Both males and females excavate the nest, which is a chamber in the underside of a dead branch.
The hen lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes.
There is little information about the development and care of the chicks.
Social Behavior
It is a Brood parasite. And has been recorded as the host of the Scaly-throated honey guide.
The vocalization varies geographically. In some areas, gives a slow series of several “poop” notes.
In others, gives a protracted and quicker series. On the coast of East Africa, gives a very fast-trilled series.
Feeding
This tinkerbird mainly eats fruit, with the remainder of its diet insects and nectar, foraging in the upper canopy of trees.
Habitat And Distribution
It largely prefers evergreen forests and thick woodland.
On your Uganda tour in Bwindi national park, you can spot it on nature walks within the Buhoma region.
Red-Rumped Tinkerbird
This Red-rumped Tinkerbird is the smallest of all African Barbets, averaging 7 g and 9 cm in length.
Similar to other African Barbets, they have large heads, and their heavy bill is fringed with bristles.
General Description
This beautiful bird has black upper parts that contrast with the yellow wing feather edging, yellowish underparts, and a yellowish mustache.
If it is seen at a right angle, this bird displays a vivid red rump.
This bird can be confused with the Yellow-Rumped and Yellow-Throated Tinkerbirds
However, its more yellowish underparts and the bright red rump can be used to identify it.
Breeding
This bird nests in holes bored into dead trees, branches, or stumps.
They often lay between 2 to 4 eggs that are incubated for 13–15 days.
Both parents share nesting duties.
Feeding
This species feeds mainly on fruits, including figs and undetermined insects, and spiders.
Habitat And Distribution
It’s usually spotted in tree canopy however, sometimes can descend lower near the ground in dense vegetation.
You can spot this species within the Buhoma region of the Bwindi forest.
Yellow-Fronted Tinkerbird
General Description
The Yellow-Fronted Tinker Bird is a little Barbet with heavily speckled and marbled upper parts and lemon-colored underparts.
This tiny bird also has a prominent yellow-gold patch on the forehead.
This bird can be mistaken for the Red-Fronted Tinker Bird, which holds a bright red “not a yellow-gold” forehead patch.
Breeding
This bird species usually nest in holes bored into dead trees, branches, or stumps.
The female usually lays between 2 to 3 eggs that are incubated for 13–15 days.
Both parents share nesting duties.
These birds may place sticky mistletoe seeds around the entrances of their nests, probably to deter predators.
Social Behavior
They are very aggressive towards other tinkerbirds and small barbets.
They can join mixed-species foraging flocks.
Feeding
The Yellow-Fronted Tinker Bird eats berries and fruit, particularly mistletoe, but also takes insects as it forages in deep cover.
They feed alone or in pairs.
Habitat And Distribution
These birds are largely seen in pairs within dry savannas, broadleaved woodlands, and montane forests, often in fruiting trees.
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can spot this on nature walks within the Buhoma sector with help of our experienced local guide.
Yellow-Throated Tinkerbird
A Yellow-Throated Tinkerbird is a pretty small barbet commonly found in forests, and forest edges.
General Description
Despite its name, its yellow throat is not usually obvious. This bird holds whitish underparts and black upper parts with a prominent white mustache.
When seen from above, this bird holds a small yellow rump.
Watch out for the yellowish throat that can be seen among western species.
However, you can recognize it by its bicolored appearance and yellowish throat among the western species.
Feeding
It feeds on a variety of fruit, and figs.
People mistake this beautiful bird for the Yellow-Rumped or the Red-Rumped Tinkerbird
Habitat And Distribution
This bird is found throughout the intra-tropical rainforest of Sub-Saharan Africa.
On your safari in Uganda’s impenetrable forest, you can spot this bird within the Buhoma region with the help of an experienced local guide.
Speckled Tinkerbird
General Description
A Speckled Tinker Bird is an unmistakable, large-billed Tinkerbird
This bird holds yellow-green below and olive-green above with speckled underparts and scalloped upper parts.
It is distinctive among tinkerbirds because of its lack of bold facial patterns.
Breeding
The speckled tinkerbird usually nests in holes bored into dead trees, branches, or stumps.
The female usually lays between 2 to 4 eggs that are incubated for 13–15 days.
Parents share the nesting responsibilities.
These birds may place sticky mistletoe seeds around the entrances of their nests, probably to deter predators.
Social Behavior
The vocalizations of this bird are a variable, diverse, song-like series of single to 6-part “tikikik” notes. It also makes a loud, typically tinkerbird-like “tok-tok-”
Feeding
This species forages on fruits and arthropods (mainly insects).
Habitat And Distribution
These birds live in forests and forest edges.
While bird watching in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, this bird can be spotted while on nature walks within the Buhoma sector for example along River Ivi and Buhoma waterfall trails.
Western Tinker Bird
A Western Tinkerbird is a lovely and unique African Barbet native to Central Africa. It thrives at altitudes from 900- 3,030m.
General Identification
This little Tinkerbird is identified by its yellow stripe along the back from the crown to the rump. It also has a white moustache stripe and strong yellow marks on the wings.
Breeding
These birds usually nest in holes bored into dead trees, branches, or stumps.
Females usually lay between 2 to 4 eggs that are incubated for 13–15 days.
Parents share nesting duties.
Western Tinkerbirds may place sticky mistletoe seeds around the entrances of their nests, probably to deter predators.
Feeding
It forages on wild fruit.
Habitat and Distribution
This tinkerbird is usually in montane forest in dense undergrowth, also edges, clearings, and riverine thickets.
You can spot it on nature walks along the 14km River Ivi trail.
The following are the less prominent Birds of Bwindi Uganda in the Lybiidae family
343. Yellow-billed Barbet 344. Crested Barbet 345. Gray-throated Barbet 346. Green Tinkerbird | 347. Red-rumped Tinkerbird 348. Hairy-breasted Barbet 349. Spot-flanked Barbet |
D.ii. Family: Picidae
Fine-Banded Woodpecker
General Description
A Fine-banded Woodpecker is a beautiful and chunky green-backed bird.
For those in the eastern range, their underparts and face are covered in fine barring
Whereas for those in the west, their face and breast are finely specked, with some larger black patterns on the lower belly.
Though a bit close to the fine-spotted woodpecker. They’re found in different habitats and lack a red or black stripe on the face, and lack barring in the wing and tail.
Habitat And Distribution
They live in montane forests.
As you undertake Uganda birding tours in Bwindi, you can spot this bird on nature walks in the Buhoma area.
E. Order :Coraciiformes:
E.i.Family: Meropidae
Black Bee-Eater
This Bee-eater is indigenous to the African tropical rain forests.
General Description
A Black Bee-eater is a colorful bird species It appears black from a distance.
However, in good light, it features a scarlet throat, blue eyebrows, blue belly, blue undertail, and chest spots.
Feeding
Black Bee-eaters largely eat flying insects, mostly bees and wasps, which are caught on the wing from an open perch.
Habitat And Distribution
This bird mostly dwells at the edges of rainforests and in secondary woodlands.
On your birding Uganda safari in the impenetrable forest, you can spot this bird along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Cinnamon-Chested Bee-Eater
The Cinnamon-Chested Bee-Eater is a medium-sized colorful bird with rich rufous underparts.
General Description
This bird has a vivid green head, upperparts, and tail.
The chin and throat of this species are yellow, separated by the black strike from the cinnamon-brown breast that darkens towards the belly.
Their tail base is yellow and has a white tip on the blackish tail if viewed from the front.
Though akin to the Little and Blue-breasted Bee-eaters, they’re much bigger and more richly colored below.
Breeding
The hen lays a total of about 5 white eggs, laying one every day.
Both parents share incubating as soon as the first egg is laid.
The males only incubate during the day sharing with females but at night, only the females incubate.
Social Behavior
This species is often seen in small groups resting high in visible places.
Feeding
The Cinnamon-Chested Bee-Eater feeds mainly on honeybees. It supplements with moths, butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, and other flying insects.
Habitat And Distribution
This species is adaptable and able to withstand the loss of its forest habitat.
Their habitat is typically wooded hillsides, forest edges, cedar forests, and clearings overgrown with bracken and elephant grass.
They also occupy gardens and plantations near humid forests; altitudinal limits 1300 m and 3000 m, commonest at 1800–2300 m.
You can spot them while on nature walks in the Buhoma and possibly in Ruhija neck.
Blue-Breasted Bee-Eater
General Description
A Blue-breasted Bee-eater is a beautiful bird decorated with a yellow throat, a greenback, and buffy underparts.
This species has a bright blue band color. However, this varies geographically, in some species it’s black.
This blue band can appear black in little light. While in flight, it shows a beautiful pattern of black bars and rufous patches on its wings and tail.
Though it’s akin to the Little bee-eater, you can identify it by its bigger size and a pale patch along the top and back of the yellow throat.
Breeding
There is less data about the breeding biology of this species.
However, it is a solitary nester, digging a tunnel from a hillside or small ridge where it lays 2–3 eggs.
Feeding
The blue-breasted bee eaters’ diet comprises an array of insect species.
However, a large part of their diet is made up of honey bee workers, flower bees, and Halictid bees.
They supplement their diet with flies, beetles, true bugs, grasshoppers, and butterflies.
Habitat and distribution
These beautiful birds are usually seen in moist and open habitats such as savannas and forest edges.
In Bwindi national park, you can spot this gem on nature walks within the Buhoma region.
Little Bee-Eater
General Description
A Little Bee-Eater is a handsome passerine bird you will enjoy on your birding tour in Bwindi.
Similar to all Bee-Eaters, this slim bird is beautifully adorned.
You can identify it by its yellow throat and black gorget.
This species has green upper parts and a rich brown upper breast that fades to yellowish-brown on the belly.
Its wings are green and brown, and the bill black.
Breeding
Contrary to most of the other bee-eater species, the Little Bee-eater is a solitary nester.
A couple pairs up and stays together year-round.
They breed, nest-build, hunt, and feed as with a pair.
But they will gather with other birds at night for both safety and warmth when they will sleep bunched closely together on a suitable leafy twig.
Social Behavior
Migration of this species is limited to seasonal movements depending on rainfall patterns.
It is a common and tame bird, familiar throughout its range.
These birds are usually seen singly or in pairs, usually in grassy savanna and wetland edges.
Feeding
They forage on insects, such as bees and wasps.
These birds often hunt from a low perch usually no more than a meter or so off the ground alongside bare ground.
Alternatively, they can hunt from high in a tree if feeding in open grassland.
Habitat And Distribution
These Bee Eaters are usually in grassy savanna and wetland edges.
You will enjoy catching a glimpse of this bird in the Buhoma sector.
White-Throated Bee-Eater
General Description
A White-Throated Bee-Eater is a green and black–capped lovely slim bee–eater with long central tail fluffs.
It has a bold white throat and an eyebrow that differentiates it from other Bee-eaters.
Social Behavior
This bird is migratory, wintering in a completely different habitat in the equatorial rain forests of Africa from southern Senegal to Uganda.
Feeding
These birds feed and roost communally. As the name hints, they largely eat insects, especially bees, wasps, and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch.
However, this species probably takes majorly flying ants and beetles.
Habitat And Distribution
This species is mostly spotted within arid savannas. However, they can be spotted in a range of environments such as moist savannas, and forest edges, often in groups.
While on your Uganda birding expedition in Bwindi, you can spot it within the Buhoma sector with the help of our expert local guide.
Listed in the table are the other birds of Bwindi in the Meropidae family
356. Red-throated Bee-eater 357. Swallow-tailed Bee-eater 358. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater | 359. Madagascar Bee-eater 360. European Bee-eater |
E.ii. Family: Coraciidae
Lilac-Breasted Roller
General Description
A Lilac-Breasted Roller is a gorgeous thick, and large-headed bird. It has a bright lilac breast spring-green crown plus, rusty cheeks.
While in flight, this bird puts on a show which includes, side-to-side rolling thus, its name.
Breeding
These birds make unlined nests in natural tree holes or termite hills.
Occasionally, they take over woodpecker’s or kingfisher’s nest holes.
Lilac-Breasted Rollers lay 2-4 white eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 22-24 days.
Social Behavior
These birds are commonly found in eastern and southern Africa. They are vagrants in the southern Arabian Peninsula.
They are usually spotted alone or in pairs, resting on visible tree tops.
Feeding
This species is carnivorous and feeds on grasshoppers, beetles, occasionally lizards, crabs, and small amphibians.
It takes prey from the ground.
Habitat And Distribution
This bird prefers largely open woodlands and savannas with treeless areas.
On your Uganda birding safari in Bwindi, you can spot it within the Buhoma sector with the help of our local senior guide.
European Roller
General Description
The European Roller is a stunning stocky bird in an almost bright blue overall, a vivid brown back, and a crow-like bill.
Social Behavior
This species is usually spotted in areas having scattered trees with wooded perches, mostly spotted singly or in small flocks, resting on tree branches.
Feeding
These birds are carnivores.
They feed on large insects, small reptiles, rodents, and even frogs. The fledglings mostly eat grasshoppers and bush crickets.
Habitat And Distribution
This lovely bird lives in a variety of habitats. However, it avoids treeless plains.
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, you can spot this while on nature walks within the Buhoma sector.
Broad-Billed Roller
The Broad-Billed Roller is another stunner in Bwindi.
This bird breeds across tropical Africa and Madagascar in all but the driest regions.
General Description
It is a small, dark rufous-cinnamon Roller with a bright yellow bill.
If you spot it in flight, this bird is akin to a small Falcon but, note its rolling flight.
If not keen, you can confuse it with the Blue-throated Roller which is smaller, holds a blue throat, and is browner under the tail.
Breeding
It mostly nests in unlined cavities in trees.
Feeding
The Broad-Billed Roller is a specialist predator, mainly eating swarming termites and ants as well as beetles and bugs.
Habitat And Distribution
It’s mostly seen in pairs, in savannas, broadleaved woodlands, riverine forests, and on rainforest edges resting on tall bare snags.
As you undertake the Uganda birding tour in the Bwindi impenetrable forest, you can spot this lovely bird along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Blue-Throated Roller
This Blue-Throated Roller is large-billed and commonly seen in primary and secondary forests.
General Description
This beautiful roller has a chestnut brown body, a bright blue throat patch, and a rich yellow bill. It also has a blue tail plus purplish blue wings.
You can easily confuse it with the Broad-Billed Roller, but, its blue throat and browner body ascertain it.
Social Behavior
This bird perches high up, either singly or in pairs, on bare branches, often at the very top of the canopy.
These birds often sit for long periods and sometimes make their shrill tattling calls.
When active they peddle insects in the air and aggressively defend their territory from other bird species.
Feeding
It feeds mostly on insects, taken in flight: 90% of diet ants.
Here’s a fun fact, this bird can eat around 700 insects.
Habitat And Distribution
This bird is usually found resting on branches in the canopy, especially along the riversides and giant emergent trees.
In Bwindi, you can spot this interesting bird along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
E.iii. Family: Alcedinidae
Giant Kingfisher
As its name hints, the Giant Kingfisher is the largest of the Kingfisher species in Africa (42- 46cm long).
General Description
You can easily spot it by its large bushy crest, large black bill, and fine white spots on the black upper parts.
Males have a chestnut breast streak while females have a white-dotted black breast band and a chestnut belly.
These birds are resident breeders over most of the continent of Africa south of the Sahara Desert other than the arid southwest.
Breeding
The Giant Kingfisher is a diurnal bird that is monogamous and a lone breeder.
Feeding
The Giant Kingfisher largely survives on fish but will take crabs, frogs, and small reptiles.
This bird species perches on a rock or branch overhanging the water where it scans for prey.
It then makes a steep or shallow dive to then disappear underwater to catch its prey, before returning swiftly to its perch.
This bird may also lurk over open water, as many Kingfisher species do.
Habitat And Distribution
Their habitat is anywhere with a water body with fish and perches from which to hunt, including rocky marine pools.
This giant is mostly spotted in pairs around fresh waters such as rivers, lakes and swamps, and mangroves.
On your Uganda birding safari adventure in Bwindi, you can spot it along Buhoma Waterfall Trail within the Buhoma region.
Malachite Kingfisher
General Description
The Malachite Kingfisher is decently small, about 13cm in length.
This fascinating bird holds a short black crest and bright blue upper parts
However, it stands out by its bright orange underparts.
You will notice the white patches on the throat and rear neck sides. It also has bright red legs and a reddish-orange bill.
Flight pattern
Its flight pattern is rapid, with the short, rounded wings whirring until they appear a mere blur. It often flies low over the water.
Feeding
These birds are experts at catching fish! This species sits static for quite a long time before diving into the water to snatch its prey.
They then fly down into the water to catch fish, prawns, crabs, and even insect larvae and frogs.
Habitat And Distribution
This Malachite Kingfisher is mostly seen in habitats with water, such as lakes, rivers, streams, and rice gardens.
In the Bwindi impenetrable forest, you can spot this bird on nature walks along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Blue-Breasted Kingfisher
General Description
This is a glaring blue, black, and white tree Kingfisher
Its standout feature is the blue-breasted chest.
Mature Blue-Breasted Kingfishers hold bright blue heads, back wing panels, and tails plus white underparts and black shoulders.
You should also note their red and black bills and the vivid red legs.
Though akin to the Woodland Kingfisher, it’s bigger. It also has a black patch on the back, blue breasts, and a black line behind the eye. This bird enjoys denser habitats.
Social Behavior
The Blue-Breasted Kingfisher is territorial but wary.
Feeding
It mainly hunts large insects, arthropods, fish, and frogs, but will also eat the fruit of the Oil Palm.
Habitat And Distribution
It is commonly found within the sub-canopy of rainforests.
This beauty is essentially resident but retreats from drier savanna areas to wetter habitats in the dry season.
While birding in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you are assured to spot it on guided nature walks within the Buhoma sector.
Grey-Headed Kingfisher
General Description
This Kingfisher species is a medium-sized striking bird with a lovely chestnut belly, an ashy-grey head, and breasts.
It has a sapphire blue tail, flight fluffs a bright pointed red bill.
Breeding
This bird breeds in riverbanks.
Social Behavior
It has complex movements and is a migrant in the southern part of its range.
Its call is a strident trilling “t-t-t-t-t-t-t”, although this can be weaker and less obtrusive than other kingfishers.
It also calls a repeated, squeaky “tsury, tsury”.
Feeding
It feeds mainly on insects, especially grasshoppers, occasionally eating small vertebrates.
Habitat and Distribution
The Grey-Headed Kingfisher occurs mainly in well-developed woodland, often near rivers or streams.
On your Uganda birding safari in Bwindi, you can catch it within the Buhoma region, along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Woodland Kingfisher
General Description
A Woodland Kingfisher is a dazzling electric-blue-backed bird with a bicolored bill that is red above and black below.
The majority of the Kingfishers in Africa have uniform red to orange bills (not bicolored),
The Blue-Breasted Kingfishers are recognized by their larger size, and pale-blue breast band, and enjoy denser lowland rainforests.
Feeding
Surprisingly, these Kingfishers don’t eat fish.
These birds could catch fish. However, their main diet comprises insects (especially grasshoppers), lizards, small birds (bronze mannikin and chicks of several birds), snakes, and frogs.
Social Behavior
This bird is essentially resident within 8° of the equator.
However, northern and southern populations are migratory, moving into the equatorial zone in the dry season.
This Kingfisher’s flight is rapid and direct. It is aggressively territorial, attacking intruders – including humans.
Habitat And Distribution
These birds are usually seen in pairs mostly within riverine forests, dry woodlands, and around forest edges.
You can spot this bird on most trails in the Buhoma region in Bwindi National park.
Pied Kingfisher
General Description
This Pied Kingfisher is a gorgeous bird you can easily recognize by its, black and white striped plumage. It’s also adorned with a short bushy crest and a silky dark bill.
The males are double streaked across the breast. While females feature a single gorget, usually broken in the middle.
Breeding
This bird’s breeding season is February to April.
Its nest is a hole excavated in a vertical mud bank about five feet above.
And, several birds may nest in the same vicinity. The usual clutch is three to six white eggs.
These kingfishers sometimes reproduce cooperatively, with young non-breeding birds from an earlier brood assisting parents or even unrelated older birds
Nest holes may sometimes be used for roosting.
Social Behavior
These birds are gregarious, tame, and conspicuous.
When it is perched, the pied kingfisher often bobs its heads up and down and will often raise its tail and flick it downwards.
This bird calls often with sharp chirruk chirruk notes.
Feeding
Its diet is mainly fish, although it will take crustaceans and large aquatic insects such as dragonfly larvae.
This species is often seen hovering over the water before diving bill-first into the water to catch its prey.
Hovering is exclusive to Pied Kingfishers. This bird can swallow small prey in flight and does not have to return to a perch like other fish-feeding kingfishers
Habitat And Distribution
They’re found in an array of habitats, especially around watersides, and are commonly spotted in small groups or pairs.
On your birding trip in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can spot it on most trails in the Buhoma region.
The Table Below Shows The Other Birds In Bwindi In The Order Coraciiformes: Family Alcedinidae
371. Shining-blue Kingfisher 372. African Pygmy Kingfisher 373. African Dwarf Kingfisher | 374. Gray-headed Kingfisher 375. Striped Kingfisher |
F. Order: Cuculiformes
F.i. Family: Cuculidae
African Emerald Cuckoo
The African Emerald Cuckoo is a beautiful species of cuckoo native to Africa.
This species is not in any immediate threat of decline.
General Description
Males have a striking green back and head with yellow breasts. While females are striped green and brown on their backs and have green and white on their breasts.
Breeding
They are diurnal and parasitic. They lay their eggs in the nest of an unsuspecting host bird so they never build their own nest.
Social Behavior
These birds are vocal, vicious, and non-sociable.
They are inconspicuous canopy-dwelling species that are usually located by call, a distinctive “pre-ty, geor-gio”
Feeding
This Cuckoo feeds mainly on insects like caterpillars and ants. It supplements with some fruit. This bird often forages in the middle and top layers of the canopy.
Habitat And Distribution
They are found in moist forests, from sea level up to fairly high elevations.
On your Uganda birding safari in the Bwindi impenetrable forest, you can spot it along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
The Table below Indicates the Rest of the Birds in Bwindi in the Order Cuculiformes And Family Cuculidae.
377. Black-throated Coucal 378. Senegal Coucal 379. Blue-headed Coucal 380. White-browed Coucal 381. Black Coucal 382. Blue Malkoha 383. Levaillant’s Cuckoo 384. Pied Cuckoo 385. Dideric Cuckoo | 386. Klaas’s Cuckoo 387. Yellow-throated Cuckoo 388. Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo 389. Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo 390. Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo 391. Black Cuckoo 392. Red-chested Cuckoo 393. African Cuckoo 394. Common Cuckoo |
F.ii. Family: Cuculidae
Blue-Headed Coucal
This species is native to tropical central Africa
General Description
The Blue-headed Coucal is a lovely massive bird with a hefty bill. The head of these birds normally appears black, but, it shows a blue shine.
Due to its outstanding size, you can’t mistake it in flight.
Though akin to the Coppery-tailed Coucal, they don’t overlap in range and it’s smaller, with a blue sheen on its head.
It is colored like Senegal Coucal, but, larger.
Feeding
This bird is a generalist carnivore. Its diet includes insects (mainly grasshoppers and beetles) and even snails, reptiles, amphibians, snakes, birds, and their eggs.
Habitat And Distribution
This bird is usually seen near water, commonly in marshes, swamps, and wet scrubs. However, can be seen in open areas sometimes.
In the Impenetrable forest, you can spot it on nature walks within the Ruhija sector- Mubwindi swamp expanse.
White-Browed Coucal
The White-Browed Coucal is distributed in sub-Saharan Africa.
General Description
Also known as the Lark-heeled Cuckoo, a White-browed Coucal is a beautiful bird.
It is adorned with a blackish crown and nape, white super cilium, a rufous-brown back, chestnut wings, a blackish rump, and a black tail.
The underparts of this Coucal are creamy-white, the eyes red, the bill black, and the legs and feet greyish-black or black.
Social Behaviour
It is famous for its bubbling call reminiscent of the sound of water being poured from a bottle.
This bird’s vocabulary is however more extensive and better known than most other African Coucal species.
Feeding
The White-Browed Coucal feeds on diverse animals, such as mammals, birds, and insects.
Habitat And Distribution
This bird thrives in areas with thick savannahs and woodlands.
While birding in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, look out for this beauty on most trails within the Buhoma sector.
Tabled Under Are The Less Sought After Ugandan Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Cuculiformes: Family Cuculidae
397. Black-throated Coucal 398. Senegal Coucal 399. Black Coucal 400. Blue Malkoha 401. Levaillant’s Cuckoo 402. Pied Cuckoo 403. Dideric Cuckoo 404. Klaas’s Cuckoo | 405. Yellow-throated Cuckoo 406. African Emerald Cuckoo 407. Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo 408. Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo 409. Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo 410. Black Cuckoo 411. Red-chested Cuckoo 412. African Cuckoo 413. Common Cuckoo |
G. Order: Caprimulgiformes
G.i. Family: Caprimulgidae
Rwenzori Nightjar
The Rwenzori Nightjar is another spectacular bird in Bwindi national park.
It is a unique nocturnal Albertine rift endemic bird.
General Description
It’s a darker Night Jar reaching a length of about 23cm.
This bird has a tawny, blackish, or chocolate brown-speckled plumage.
Males have white marks on their four main primaries and the outer edge of the tail is white.
Females have buff-colored dots on their primaries and less white on the tail.
Feeding
Similar to other Nightjars, it is nocturnal, feeding on moths and other large insects.
Habitat And Distribution
This species is mostly a forest bird, but is also found in plantations, cultivated areas near forests, and well-wooded urban areas.
It thrives at altitudes between about 1,000 and 3,350 m (3,300 and 11,000 ft)
With a bit of luck, you can encounter it on your bird watching in Uganda in the Buhoma sector.
H. Order: Coliiformes
H.i. Family Coliidae
Speckled Mousebird
This species is the commonest and, largest species of Mousebird.
This is the most widely distributed mousebird in Africa.
General Description
The Speckled Mousebird has brownish-grey plumage and a protracted scruffy tail.
You can differentiate it from other Mousebirds by its blackish face and grey-brown crest.
Social Behaviour
These are conspicuously social birds, feeding together and engaging in joint preening.
It performs limited daily movements, resting together instead moving.
They also go together to the ground to dust and bathe. And, sleep more than other birds species.
True to Mousebird fashion, it’s acrobatic, able to feed upside down.
Feeding
They are frugivorous which subsist on fruits, berries, leaves, seeds, and nectar, and are fairly strict in their choice of food from area to area.
Habitat And Distribution
This species prefers open bushveld habitats.
This bird is widespread in savanna and open woodlands, as well as areas with tangled thickets. It is a regular “backyard bird,” usually seen in urban areas that contain gardens and orchards.
In the Bwindi forest, you can see this bird while on nature walks within the Buhoma region and Ruhija sector.
Blue-Naped Mousebird
It derives the term “mousebird” from its habit of running along branches in a way that resembles the scurrying of a mouse.
General Description
A Blue-napped mouse bird is a radiant light grey bird with a long tail.
Adults have ash brown-greyish feathers, a crested head with a blue nape, and a black-and-red bill.
Immatures hold pinkish facial skin and greenish bills without a blue nape.
It’s easy to confuse this bird with the Red-faced Mousebird and the Specked Mousebird. However, look out for its blue nape.
Breeding
Both monogamous and polygynous pairings have been observed.
Males and females do incubate the eggs and raise the chicks together.
These Mousebirds may breed throughout the year.
Their nests are relatively large for birds of their size and are constructed by both sexes.
Hens can lay up to 7 eggs in a nest, but the average clutch consists of 3 – 4.
They incubate eggs for about 14 days.
Feeding
Similar to all members of the mousebird family, Blue-Naped Mousebirds majorly feed on fruits, berries, leaves, buds, flowers, nectar, and seeds.
Habitat And Description
These birds are commonly spotted in flocks of about 5 birds in arid savannas. However, also possible in woodlands.
This bird lives in the semi-desert and dry regions of eastern Africa
It is uncommon, however, you can spot it in the Buhoma region in Bwindi.
I.Order: Bucerotiformes
I.i. Family: Bucerotidae
Black-And-White-Casqued Hornbill
Also called the Grey-Cheeked Hornbill, the Black and White Casqued Hornbill is a massive black and white bird.
General Description
It has a huge blackish bill with a large casque on top.
Males hold larger black and white bills whereas females are smaller.
While in flight, it shows a broad white patch at the back of the wing and a black tail with white sides.
It’s close to the White-Thighed Hornbill. However, it holds a black center to the tail, black wingtips, and a darker bill and casque.
Breeding
This bird species is monogamous, often seen in pairs mostly in fruiting trees.
Feeding
The diet of this bird consists mainly of figs, fruits, insects, and small animals found in the trees.
Habitat And Distribution
This species lives in evergreen forests and savanna.
During your Uganda birding tour in Bwindi, you can see it in the Buhoma sector while on nature walks.
Crowned Hornbill
General Description
A Crowned Hornbill is a beautiful dark brown bird with a white belly and a vivid orange bill.
While in flight, this bird shows white corners on its tail. Both sexes are similar, however, males have a bigger casque on top of their bills.
Crowned Hornbills have a small overlap in range with other similar hornbills. You can identify them more by their yellow eyes.
Social Behaviour
This hornbill is a gregarious species, and these hornbills are often seen in small or large flocks. They roost at specific sites.
Feeding
It feeds on insects (often caught in flight), small rodents, small reptiles, eggs, seeds, and fruits. This hornbill species can be seen in flocks, usually in the dry season.
The Crowned Hornbill forages mainly in the tree canopy.
Habitat And Distribution
It is majorly found in lush woodlands, forests, and along the forest edge, usually in pairs.
In Bwindi national park, you can see it while on nature walks within the Buhoma sector.
Black-Casqued Hornbill
General Description
This Black-Casqued Hornbill is also known as the Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill.
The male Black-Casqued Hornbills hold a big black bill.
On the other hand, females hold smaller, paler bills and a brownish hood that shawls around their heads and neck.
You can identify them from other large hornbills by their long black tail with white tips.
Social Behaviour
The call of this Hornbill is a powerful nasal braying wha-owha-o wha-a-a-awwhaaaw that can be heard 2 km away.
Feeding
The bird majorly eats figs, fruits, insects, and small animals found in the trees.
Habitat and Distribution
It’s a massive black bird majorly found in rainforests, often found in the canopy of fruiting trees.
If lady luck is on your side, you can spot it within the Buhoma sector for example along the 7km River Ivi Trail.
White-Thighed Hornbill
The White-thighed Hornbill is an enormous bird mainly found in Central and West Africa, Uganda in particular.
General Description
It’s a massive canopy Hornbill with a white tail tip and a broad white outer wing with white patches inside the black forewing. It also has a white belly and vent, plus a pale bill.
It’s almost identical to the Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill,
However, it holds a lighter bill and white on the vent, rump, and tail tip, giving its tail, a black-streaked look.
Feeding
Fruits constitute about 92% of its diet. It supplements this diet with insects and the eggs and nestlings of other birds.
Habitat And Distribution
This Hornbill is commonly found in the canopy of fruiting trees.
On your Uganda birding safari in Bwindi, you can see this bird on guided nature walks in the Buhoma region.
White-Crested Hornbill
General Description
A White-crested Hornbill is a relatively tiny hornbill with a prominent tail, a black bill, and a white head with a distinctive crest.
Feeding
This species feeds on various fruits, lizards, arthropods, and larvae.
Habitat And Distribution
This stunning Hornbill largely forages in thick rainforests, thus barely spotted.
You will need a lot of luck to spot this bird in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park since it’s rare.
Piping Hornbill
The Piping Hornbill is a captivating black-and-white hornbill usually seen in humid woodlands.
General Description
It’s a medium-sized bird often seen flying crossing road cuts.
You won’t mistake this hornbill because of its pied appearance, with a black head, back, forewings, and centre tail feathers.
While in flight, its wings are uniquely bicolored.
It looks close to the African Pied Hornbill. However, it has more wide white flying feathers and a small bill and neck.
Feeding
The diet of the Piping Hornbill is primarily fruits. It supplements with insects.
Habitat And Distribution
This bird usually lives in humid woodlands
In Bwindi Uganda, you can spot this bird on guided nature walks within the Buhoma expanse.
Listed Below Are The Other Less Famous Hornbills In Bwindi
African Pied Hornbill
African Gray Hornbill
J. Order: Anseriformes:
J.i. Family: Anatidae
African Black Duck
This bird is mainly found in eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa.
General Description
Also called the Black River Duck, the African Black Duck is a gorgeous black duck with distinctive white patterns on its back.
It has a black bill, and orange legs and feet.
Look out for its purplish-blue speculum displayed while in flight!
You can easily distinguish it from the similar Yellow-billed Duck. Just simply look at its darker coloration, shorter neck, and dark, not vivid yellow, bill.
Feeding
African black ducks are omnivores.
They eat waterweeds and other aquatic vegetation, agricultural grain, fruits, and aquatic insects, and their larvae, crustaceans, larval amphibians, and fish spawn.
This bird forages usually at dawn and dusk mostly on insects and plants.
Habitat And Distribution
It’s a scarce resident that prefers most wooded and flowing rivers. However, it visits ponds too.
In Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, you can spot it within the Ruhija sector in the Mubwindi swamp.
Listed Below Are The Other Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Anseriformes: Family Anatidae
Knob-billed Duck
Egyptian Goose
Blue-billed Teal
Red-billed Duck
K. Order: Trogoniformes
K.i. Family: Trogonidae
Narina Trogon
The Narina Trogon is another charmer in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The Narina trogon is native to forests and woodlands of the Afrotropics.
General Description
This iridescent-metallic-green bird has a colorful red belly, a broad yellow bill, and a white under tail. Males have a green face and throat whereas females are dirty grey-brown.
Feeding
The diet of this bird consists mainly of insects and small invertebrates as well as rodents and small reptiles.
It rests still, watching for insect prey, before diving for it.
Social Behaviour
Its call is a grating, low repeated hoot, given by males only, in defending territory or attracting mates.
Habitat And Distribution
This beautiful bird is mostly seen in the canopy of riverine and lowland forests
In Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda, you can see it in the Buhoma region.
Bar-Tailed Trogon
This Trogon is resident to Central Africa.
General Description
The Bar-tailed Trogon is a radiant green-and-red bird with yellow feet and a bill. It has an intensely striped black and white under the tail.
You can distinguish this bird from other African trogons by its barred tail.
Breeding
Its breeding season occurs as the dry season ends at the rainy season begins (October and November).
Chicks are not known to mate or hold territories; however, there have been reports of them singing.
Social Behaviour
It is a quiet and inconspicuous bird of the mid-story.
This beauty is often detected by song: a series of 6-15 down-slurred “teew” notes that become louder as the series progresses.
Feeding
It primarily eats insects and fruits
Habitat and Distribution
The Bar-Tailed Trogon is found in moist montane forests, usually seen singly or in pairs.
Look out for this bird on the Buhoma waterfall trail in the Bwindi forest.
L. Order: Gruiformes:
L.i. Family: Rallidae
Black Crake
The Black Crake is another brilliant one on your Bwindi Uganda Birding menu.
The black crake is found in most of sub-Saharan Africa except in very arid areas.
General Description
It’s a cute little blackish waterbird with reddish eyes, a yellowish bill, and long pink-red legs and toes.
Immatures are browner and have duller legs and bills.
Social Behaviour
This bird undertakes some seasonal movements in those parts of its range that are subject to drought.
True to Crakes fashion, it also moves with its head lowered down.
Feeding
These birds are omnivores. They eat aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates like worms, crustaceans, mollusks, insect adults and larvae, tadpoles, and small frogs
- Habitat And Distribution
It’s usually seen along swamp edges and other water bodies especially in moist reed beds and other emergent vegetation to forage on.
On your Uganda birding safari in Bwindi, you can see this bird within the Mubwindi swamp.
The List Below Shows The Other Less Popular Birds Of Bwindi In The Order Gruiformes: Family Rallidae
- African Rail
- African Crake
- African Swamphen
M.Order: Columbiformes
M.i. Family: Columbidae
African Olive Pigeon
This African Olive Pigeon is also called the Rameron Pigeon.
This species is a resident breeder in much of eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape.
General Description
It’s a regular big brilliant dark Pigeon with maroon upper parts, and shoulders which are intensely spotted with white spots. The underparts are maroon too with white spots.
Watch out for its grey head, bright yellow bill, feet, and eye ring!
Generally, you can tell it apart from other Pigeons by its bright yellow bare parts.
Feeding
The diet of this Pigeon consists of fruit and berries.
They are mainly picked in the canopy. Alternatively, they will also descend for fallen fruit and take some insects and caterpillars.
This bird favours the fruit of a highly invasive plant, the bug weed.
Habitat and Distribution
These Pigeons are often found in forests, woodlands, and plantations, usually in small flocks, near fruiting trees.
In Bwindi impenetrable forest, you can check it out on most trails in the Buhoma region.
African Green Pigeon
The African Green Pigeon is a stunning bird you will spot in Bwindi.
It is distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa.
General Description
Adults have maroon patches on top of their wings and the immatures have olive color.
The upper parts of this Pigeon are greyish-green to yellowish-green and have yellow thighs.
Their bill and feet are red with the bill adorned with a white tip.
Social Behaviour
These pigeons may occur and breed in high densities but are prone to regular local movements.
Feeding
These birds majorly eat fruits, especially figs.
They’re mainly found in nomadic groups in fruiting trees.
Habitat and Distribution
As for their habitat, these pigeons inhabit riparian forest, woodland and savanna, where they associate with fruiting trees.
You can see this bird on a nature walk along the Buhoma waterfall trail.
Afep Pigeon
The Afep Pigeon (Grey Wood Pigeon) is also called the African Wood Pigeon.
General Description
This amazing Pigeon has generally a grey body and neck, darker grey wings, and a tail.
It has a buff-pink breast whereas the belly and throat are white.
Look out for its bare red skin around the eyes!
Social Behaviour
This bird is usually spotted singly or in small flocks mostly in flight or perched on dead trees.
Feeding
These pigeons mainly feed on grain and seeds.
Habitat And Distribution
It’s a beautiful grey Pigeon mostly seen in the equatorial rainforests of Africa.
While on your birding safari in Bwindi national park, you can spot this bird on nature walks within the Buhoma region.
The Table Below Shows The Less Sought After Birds In Bwindi In The Order Columbiformes: Family, Columbidae
439. Speckled Pigeon 440. Rameron Pigeon 441. Bronze-naped Pigeon 442. White-naped Pigeon 443. Lemon Dove 444. Dusky Turtle-Dove 445. Red-eyed Dove | 446. Ring-necked Dove 447. Vinaceous Dove 448. Laughing Dove 449. Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove 450. Blue-spotted Wood-Dove 451. Tambourine Dove 452. Namaqua Dove |
N. Order: Pelecaniformes:
N.i. Family: Scopidae
Hammerkops
This bird derives its name from the shape of its head which resembles a hammer.
Furthermore, it’s considered to be the closest relative of shoebills and pelicans.
Hammerkops are found in Africa, Madagascar, and Arabia.
General Description
Hammerkops are delightful dull brown, medium-sized water birds, standing about 56cm high.
Breeding
These birds are famous for their huge nests, several of which are built during the breeding season.
Social Behavior
Overall, this species is sedentary and often shows local movements.
- Feeding
The Hammerkops take a wide array of prey, majorly fish and amphibians. They supplement with shrimps, insects, and rodents are taken too.
Habitat And Distribution
They live in a wide variety of wetlands, including estuaries, lakesides, fish ponds, riverbanks, and rocky coasts.
You can look at this bird in the Mubwindi swamp of the Ruhija sector, north of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
N.ii. Family: Threskiornithidae
African Sacred Ibis
The African Sacred Ibis is the other beauty you will see in Bwindi.
This species breeds in Sub-Saharan Africa and south-eastern Iraq.
This bird is famous for its role in the religion of the Primeval Egyptians, where it was linked to the god Thoth.
General Description
You can easily recognize this amazing white ibis by its bald black head, thick curved black bill, and black legs. Also, watch out for its wings edged with black wingtips.
Social Behavior
Several populations are migrants with the rains.
Several South African birds migrate 1,500 km as far north as Zambia
While the African birds north of the equator migrate in the opposite direction.
Breeding
It ideally nests on trees in or near water.
Feeding
This species is an opportunistic carnivore that feeds in flocks. It feeds on mainly snails, aquatic invertebrates, and frogs.
Additionally, this Ibis also eats eggs and young birds, small reptiles, and mammals, and will scavenge as well.
Habitat And Distribution
The African Sacred Ibis thrives in marshy wetlands and mud flats, both inland and on the coast.
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can see this amazing Ibis within the Mubwindi swamp area.
Listed Down Are The Other Less Popular Ugandan Ibis Birds In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- African Sacred Ibis
- Hadada Ibis
- African Spoonbill
The Importance Of Uganda Birds In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Can you picture a world without birds? Well, Uganda birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park play a key conservation role to the ecosystem.
They are play a key role in;
- Ecological Contribution
- Scientific value
- Tourism
- Social cultural significance
- Research
- Ecological Contribution
Uganda birds in Bwindi forest are an essential part of the natural system.
- Birds are crucial pollinators and key for seed dispersal of many plants, especially native plants.
- These birds feed on a variety of insects, rodents, and other small animals, naturally keeping those populations in control. They thus ensure a proper balance in their ecosystem.
Scientific Value
Bird studies teach us about climate and the environment.
Furthermore, birds are also key to indicating environmental changes. Large, rapid bird declines point to an environmental problem that needs immediate attention.
2. Tourism
Birders spend money to enjoy these delightful birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National park. This revenue is key on conservation of this park and all its inhabitants.
3. Social Cultural Significance
Birds, across Africa are of great social cultural importance and, they are well regarded in various culture and life style.
Some birds are the subjects of many proverbs, riddles, stories and songs.
For instance, the Zulu in South Africa once wore turaco feathers headdresses. Also, similarly, king of Swaziland and Masai men in Kenya.
4. Birds Foster Research
The concentration of these unique and endemic birds in Bwindi helps in facilitating research.
Research is ongoing about the life of these birds. For example habitations, feeding, breeding, and distribution.
Top 5 Reasons Why You Must See Uganda Birds In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
It may not have the biggest checklist in the country, but Bwindi national park has an unparalleled richness of birds. It should not miss on every birder’s itinerary!
This impenetrable forest without a doubt offers some of the best montane-forest bird watching in Africa.
Here’s Why You Should Do An African Bird Watching Safari In Bwindi;
Bwindi has a Staggering Checklist Of Over 350 Bird Species
This UNESCO Heritage site has an estimated 350 bird species, with 14 not recorded anywhere else in Uganda.
In addition, it also provides shelter to migratory birds present from November to April
It is the Only Place With 23/24 Albertine Rift Endemics
Bwindi is home to 90% of all Albertine Rift endemics, including Neumann’s warbler and blue-headed sunbird. In other words, Bwindi is the only place with the highest number of these Albertine Rift bird species.
Bwindi is the Only Place With The African Green Broadbill
Bwindi is the only place in Uganda with the monotopic African Green Broadbill. This Grauer’s broadbill is a stunning dumpy green flycatcher-like bird with a buffy crown, a black eye stripe, and a powder-blue throat and vent.
You can Blend Uganda Gorilla Trekking With Bird Watching in Bwindi
For an ardent birder, who also loves primates, Bwindi gives you the rare opportunity to kill two birds at ago. Indeed, it doesn’t get any better than this.
You can combine Uganda bird watching with Gorilla safaris in Bwindi.
While you are in the Bwindi forest, you can check out the majestic Uganda gorillas. Additionally, you can spot other primates such as the captivating Uganda Chimpanzees.
You may also jump into monkeys like the adorable Black and White Colobus monkey.
Enjoy The Breathtaking Scenery Of Bwindi
Bwindi’s scenery is quite simply glorious.
The rugged landscape is an awe-inspiring wonderland. It is truly a “superlative natural Phenomenon” as UNESCO terms it.
You will enjoy catching the iconic Virunga ranges against the backdrop of a glorious skyline in a truly spectacular fashion.
The picturesque villages around it are also something to behold.
Bwindi has and continues to capture the eye of many a photographer.
You will get to enjoy checking out your favorite birds as well as this amazing scenery.
The Ultimate Expert Guide On Seeing Uganda Birds In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
For visitors interested in undertaking Uganda birding safaris in Bwindi, please have this list of essentials for a smooth and memorable experience.
- Appropriate Clothing
- Waterproof Pack/Field Bag
- Hiking Boots
- Field Guide Book
- A Good Camera
- A Pair Of Binoculars
- Bottled Mineral Water
- A Wide-Brimmed Hat
- Light Rain Jacket/ Poncho
- Flash Light
- Charger &Cables
- Toiletries
- Medication
Appropriate Clothing
Packing what to wear on any birding in Uganda is crucial.
The right dressing entails light-weight long-sleeved shirts and pants of neutral colors.
As you choose clothes for your birding safari in Bwindi, kindly consider your essentials based on the weather or season.
Water Proof Day Pack/Field Bag
You need to pack a waterproof day pack for carrying your birding essentials.
These include a camera, pair of binoculars and energy giving snacks, and other items that fit.
Please carry a light bag since Bwindi’s terrain is rugged and it may be inconveniencing if the bag is heavy.
Hiking Boots
You will need good and comfortable hiking rubber shoes to navigate through the famous impenetrable forest.
Field Guidebook
A Field guidebook is handy for your Uganda birding tour in Bwindi.
This is key in keeping the information got while birding, depending on the number of days you spend.
You can access a guidebook from the local bookstores in Uganda with help of your tour operator.
Alternatively, you can download the guidebook to avoid carrying extra items.
A Good Camera
Kindly carry your camera to capture numerous bird species for your future remembrance.
Your camera should have extra memory cards, batteries, and other accessories crucial for birding in Uganda’s Bwindi.
Ensure the camera you carry has a perfect blend of capability and portability with a super zoom for the low light places and weight.
A Pair Of Binoculars
During your Uganda birding tour in Bwindi, you might find too tiny species to be viewed when in flight or stuck in tree canopies. Binoculars are very useful here.
You can carry back up binoculars, just in case main ones are misplaced.
Bottled Mineral Water
As you embark on a Uganda birding safari, carry enough mineral water to keep you hydrated in Bwindi.
Birding in Bwindi takes place on nature walks which can be physically demanding. You need your water to keep going.
Wide–Brimmed Hat
You need to carry a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head against the sun.
This is because birding in Bwindi is done majorly during the dry like other birding sites in Uganda.
Light Rain Jacket/Poncho
Regardless of the season of your Uganda birding tour in the Bwindi forest, a rain jacket should never miss on your packing list.
The rain is just unpredictable and it can rain at any time!
Flashlight
Your flashlight will be handy during night walks to spot the nocturnal bird species. Besides, it helps in spotting bird species in dimly lit habitats.
Charger and Cables
Remember to carry chargers and cables for your camera, laptop, tablet or iPad, or mobile phone. If you can, carry some rechargeable batteries.
Toiletries
Ensure to carry items like lotions, toothpaste, toothbrush, hand sanitizer, and hair gels. You will need on your birding in Uganda’s Bwindi.
Medication
If you are taking any medication prior, it’s important to carry it when you’re going to Bwindi.
In fact, you can also carry anti-cold, cough, flu, malaria, and anti-diarrhoea medicines.
On the whole, Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks is an authentic birder’s haven! It should not miss any birders’ itinerary in Uganda.
As we noted in the beginning, On top of having a mouth-watering checklist, Bwindi is the only park to house 23 out the 24 Albertine Rift endemics.
You are guaranteed the perfect Uganda birding tour in this impenetrable forest.
The stunning African Green Broadbill is another of what this famed Gorilla haven offers.
Would you like to come for a birding safari in Bwindi?
We have got you covered. Reach out now!
Frequently Asked Questions About Uganda Birds In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
How Many Bird Species Are In Bwindi Forest?
According to UWA, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has an estimated 350 bird species, with 14 not recorded anywhere else in Uganda.
Please Note; several acclaimed birders have seen and recorded bird species above this number!
What Is The Most Popular Bird/Number 1 Bird In The Impenetrable Forest?
The African Green Broadbill is the most popular bird in Bwindi.
This Grauer’s broadbill is a stunning dumpy green flycatcher-like bird with a buffy crown, a black eye stripe, and a powder-blue throat and vent.
Bwindi is the birding site in Uganda where you can see this monotopic bird. It can be spotted in the Mubwindi swamp in the Ruhija sector.
How Many Of The Big 5 Birds Are In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Bwindi has 2 of the Big 5 birds. Namely; the Great Blue Turaco, and the Black and White Casqued Hornbill.
These birds can both be spotted in the Buhoma sector.
What Is The Best Season Of The Year To Spot Birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Birding in Uganda’s Bwindi is good year-round, but at its best in the dry season.
During this season, trails are dry, there are minimal chances of rainfall to inconvenience your bird-watching time.
June to august and December to February have the least rain while March to mid-May has the most.
Heavy rains might interfere with your activity.
The main nesting season is in May and June and food is abundant from late May through September.
If you are interested in seeing migratory birds, they are present from November to April.
What Is The Best Time Of The Day To See Birds In Bwindi National Park?
The ideal time to see birds in Bwindi is in the morning. The morning session is the best because birds are getting out to feed.
In the afternoon, they tend to shelter in their nests.