Species of Birds to see in Bwindi National Park

Species of Birds to See in Bwindi Forest: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found in southwestern Uganda, neighboring Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where gold meets silver. The park is a protected area managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority; it sits on an area of 331 sq km and is comprised of both the bamboo vegetation and the tropical rainforests, which makes it evergreen.

Bwindi Forest National Park is a popular birding destination in Uganda, accommodating over 360 species of birds. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest harbors 24 species of birds that are endemic to the Albertine region and 14 bird species that are endemic to the park.

Species of Birds to See in Bwindi Forest

Bwindi Gorilla Park is well known to be a home to the mountain gorillas, which have attracted huge numbers of travelers to this park. The park harbors more than half of the population of mountain gorillas that exist on planet Earth in the four sectors that include Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Rushaga gorilla trekking sectors.

More than 21 gorilla families have been habituated and are open for tracking, whereas 2 gorilla families are open for those travelers who would love to participate in the activity of gorilla habituation. Travelers who engage in gorilla tracking and habituation activities encounter different species of birds that are eye-catching.

Birding as an activity in the Impenetrable forests of Bwindi is carried out in the two sectors of Ruhija gorilla tracking sector and Buhoma gorilla tracking sector as they are proved to be the best birding spots. In Bwindi Forest, birding trails have been established to ease the activity and make it more fun. Such trails include the Buhoma waterfall birding trail, Mubwindi swamp birding trail, and bamboo birding trail. Birding in Bwindi Forest is a guided activity led by an armed ranger guide to protect clients from dangerous wild animals.

Species of Birds in Bwindi National Park

There are so many beautifull species of birds that are commonly spotted in the forests of Bwindi and these are

grey-checked hornbill, yellow-fronted canary, European honey buzzard, broadbill, great blue turaco, crested guinea fowl, zebra waxbill, blue-headed sunbird, Rwenzori batis, mackinnon’s shrike, African goshawk, scaly francolin, Lagden’s bush shrike, African flycatcher-chat, klaas’s cuckoo, Carruthers’s cisticola, Diedrich’s cuckoo, African dusky flycatcher, blue-spotted wood dove, dusky twin spot, grey-crowned crane, waller’s starling, marabou stork, giant kingfisher, cape wagtail, tambourine dove, Stuhlmann’s starling, purple-breasted sunbird, grey wagtail, red-knobbed coot, toro olive greenbul, lizard buzzard, bush-shrike, African wood-owl, little grebe, robin-chat, black swift, Willcocks’s honey guide,

Other Species of Birds to See in Bwindi Forest include

barred long-tailed cuckoo, African golden-breasted bunting, oriole finch, white-throated greenbul, grosbeak weaver, alpine swift, Doherty’s bush-shrike, green combec, Shelley’s crimsonwing, banded prinia, cattle egret, Archer’s Jameson’s antpecker, African olive-pigeon, mountain wagtail, Petit’s cuckoo-shrike, pint-tailed whydah, Cassin’s flycatcher, snowy-crowned robin-chat, African paradise flycatcher, black bee-eater, Ansorge’s greenbul, Luhder’s bush-shrike, Angolan swallow, Hottentot teal, pink-footed puffback, red-capped robin chat, Jameson’s antpecker, scarce swift, speckled mousebird, Rwenzori nightjar, yellow-streaked greenbul, brown illadopsis, Woodhouse’s antpecker, many-colored olive-breasted greenbul, red-chested flufftail, woolly-necked stork, dwarf honeyguide, African hill babbler, palm nut vulture, icterine warbler, papyrus canary, and buff-spotted woodpecker.

There are more notable bird species that birders will encounter on their birding safari to Bwindi Forest, which include the white-headed saw-wing, horus swift, western nectar, little grebe, mottled swift, magpie manikin, chestnut-throated apalis, sooty falcon, marsh tchagra, scaly-throated honey guide, forest robin, African citril, shikra, Chapin’s flycatcher, white-winged tit, common sandpiper, white-spotted flufftail, African pygmy kingfisher.

Species of Birds to See in Bwindi Forest are; Brown-capped weaver, Eurasian hobby, buff spotted fluff tail, hadada ibis, African hawk eagle, Oberlaender’s ground thrush, helmeted guinea fowl, fine banded woodpecker, , ayres hawk eagle, equatorial akalat, woolly necked stork, western green tinkerbird, brown chested alethe, copper sunbird, bocages bush shrike, short-tailed warbler, green hylia, singing cisticola, arrow marked babbler, elliot’s wood pecker, afed pigeon, ross’s turaco, tit hylia black crake, hairly breasted barbet, rock martin, plain backed pipit, and so much more.

Best Time for Birding safari in Bwindi National Park

Bwindi Gorilla Park can be visited anytime of year for birding safaris, although there are times that are more favorable compared to others. The dry months, when there are no heavy rains are regarded as the best time for birding in Bwindi National Park. During such days, migratory birds from European countries and other parts of the world can be spotted within the park, and there is always plenty of food for the birds. The dry months range from June to September and December to March.

During these months, the birding trails are dry, the vegetation is short, which creates clear views within the forest, and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Besides the dry months, birders can still visit Bwindi Gorilla Park in the rainy season for birding safaris to take advantage of discounts on lodging options. The rainy season brings a lot of rain, which prevents migratory birds from visiting the park. Additionally, the flora is quite tall, making it difficult to see the birds, and the birding trails are muddy and slick. The rainy season in Bwindi National Park occurs from March – May and October – November

What to park for a Birding safari to Bwindi Forest

The packing list for birdwatching activities in Bwindi Gorilla Park includes a birding book, a backpack, gardening gloves, long-sleeved shirts, a notebook, long-sleeved pants, voice recorder, a drinking water bottle, a pair of binoculars, insect repellents, a face mask and sanitizer, a rain jacket, energy-giving snacks, waterproof hiking shoes, a camera, and a pen.

Accommodation on a birding safari to Bwindi National Park

Bwindi has four sectors, which are all proved to be birding spots and each sector has accommodation facilities for tourists as below:

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

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

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