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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Birds

535 Bwindi Gorilla Tours

Expert

By Ariadne van Zandbergen

Ariadne and her husband form a team who author the Bradt guide to Uganda.

Bwindi should be on every birder’s itinerary. The park offers some of the best montane-forest (mountain-forest) bird watching in Africa. There are an estimated 350 bird species, with 14 not recorded anywhere else in Uganda. There are 23 birds endemic to the Albertine Rift (which is 90% of all Albertine Rift endemics) including Neumann's warbler and blue-headed sunbird. The main birding spots are along the Buhoma waterfall trail, the Mubwindi swamp trail and in the bamboo zone. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Notable Birds in Bwindi NP

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African green pigeon
Common

Birding Rating

Expert Rating

4.3/5 6 Birding Reviews

User Rating

4.0/5 49 Birding Reviews

Birding Specials –Treats for Avid Birders

(E) endemic = only lives in Uganda
(NE) near-endemic = also lives in neighboring countries

Best Time for Bird Watching

The birdlife in Bwindi is good year-round, but at its best in March and September. June and July have the least rain while March to mid-May has the most. Heavy rains might result in delays due to impassable roads and slippery hiking trails, which can limit your bird-watching time. The main nesting season is in May and June, with food being abundant from late May through September. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Best Parks for Birding –Includes Birding Rating

Murchison Falls is excellent for seeing a wide array of common birds and specials, including the sought-after shoebill. Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Park are the most accessible sites for Albertine Rift endemics, and Semuliki is the only place in East Africa to see many Guinea-Congo regional species.