More than 310 bird species have been recorded in Lake Mburo National Park. It is the best place in Uganda for acacia-dwellers such as the black-collared barbet and bare-faced go-away-bird, which occur here at the northern limit of their range. The secretive African finfoot and spectacular Ross’s turaco are often seen on boat trips. The swamps support papyrus specials such as papyrus gonolek, blue-headed coucal and shoebill (though the latter is an erratic presence). Migratory birds are present from November to April.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
(NE) near-endemic = lives in Uganda and neighboring countries- African finfoot
- Bare-faced go-away-bird
- Black-collared barbet
- Black-headed gonolek
- Blue-breasted kingfisher
- Blue-headed coucal
- Brown-chested lapwing
- Carruthers’s cisticola
- Greater painted-snipe
- Grey crowned crane
- Hairy-breasted barbet
- Lilac-breasted roller
- Mosque swallow
- Papyrus gonolek
- Papyrus yellow warbler
- Pennant-winged nightjar
- Pink-backed pelican
- Red-faced barbet (NE)
- Red-headed lovebird
- Ross’s turaco
- Rüppell’s starling
- Shoebill
- Southern ground hornbill
- Tabora cisticola
- White-winged swamp warbler
- Yellow-billed oxpecker
- Yellow-rumped tinkerbird
Best Time for Bird Watching
The birdlife in Lake Mburo is good year-round. June and July have the least rain, while March and April have the most rain. The heavy rains might result in delays due to impassable roads, which can limit your bird-watching time. Migratory birds are around from November to April.