Birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Discover Uganda’s Hidden Birding Gem
Birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: While gorilla trekking is the most thrilling safari experience in Bwindi, the national park also presents a wealth of opportunities for its visitors, including an exhilarating birding safari.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park boasts an impressive array of over 350 bird species, including 23 unique to the Albertine region, along with a variety of forest and migratory birds.
Why Bwindi Is a World-Class Birding Destination
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bwindi sits at the junction of East African savanna and West African rainforest, creating a rare mix of habitats that supports a rich diversity of life. The park’s altitudinal range from 1,160 to 2,607 meters creates microclimates that sustain both lowland and montane species, offering year-round birdwatching opportunities.
This makes birds in Bwindi not only plentiful but also highly varied, with everything from vibrant sunbirds to elusive forest specialists.
The national park is situated in the southwestern part of Uganda, right at the edge of the Albertine Rift, creating an ideal habitat for birding experiences due to the diverse array of trees that provide shelter for the birds.
Best Time to See Birds in Bwindi
While birding is good year-round, the best months are from March to May and September to November, when breeding activity peaks and migratory species are present. During these periods, birds are more vocal and visible, making identification easier.
Where to Go Birding in Bwindi
Top birding spots include:
- Buhoma Sector: Best for beginners and mixed forest edge species
- Ruhija Sector: A must for Albertine Rift endemics and montane species
- Mubwindi Swamp Trail: Arguably the park’s richest birding trail, where sightings of the African Green Broadbill are most likely
In this blog, explorers can discover various birds that inhabit the national park and can be confident that they will encounter some of these during their birding journey through the park.
Avian wonders in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Exploring the world of birds
Avian wonders in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- STRUTHIONIFORMES
- Common Ostrich
- Somali Ostrich
- ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
- White-faced Whistling-Duck
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck
- White-backed Duck
- Greater White-fronted Goose
- Blue-winged Goose
- Knob-billed Duck
- Hartlaub’s Duck
- Egyptian Goose, a creature that embodies the spirit of exploration and excitement.
- Ruddy Shelduck
- South African Shelduck
- Common Shelduck
- Spur-winged Goose
- African Pygmy-Goose
- Garganey Spatula
- Blue-billed Teal
- Cape Shoveler
- Northern Shoveler
- Gadwall
- Eurasian Wigeon, a bird that embodies the spirit of exploration and the thrill of the wild.
- African Black Duck
- Yellow-billed Duck
- Mallard
- Cape Teal – Anas capensis
- Red-billed Duck
- Northern Pintail
- Green-winged Teal
- Southern Pochard
- Common Pochard
- Ferruginous Duck
- Tufted Duck
- Maccoa Duck
- GALLIFORMES: Numididae
- Helmeted Guineafowl
- Vulturine Guineafowl
- Eastern Crested Guineafowl
- Western Crested Guineafowl
- Southern Crested Guineafowl
- GALLIFORMES: Odontophoridae
- Stone Partridge
- Nahan’s Partridge
- GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae
- Udzungwa Partridge
- Latham’s Francolin
- Crested Francolin
- Coqui Francolin
- White-throated Francolin
- Schlegel’s Francolin
- Ring-necked Francolin
- Red-winged Francolin
- Moorland Francolin
- Elgon Francolin
- Orange River Francolin
- Shelley’s Francolin
- Whyte’s Francolin
- Sand Partridge
- Blue Quail
- Common Quail
- Harlequin Quail
- Arabian Partridge
- Handsome Spurfowl
- Chestnut-naped Spurfowl
- Erckel’s Spurfowl
- Djibouti Spurfowl
- Jackson’s Spurfowl
- Red-billed Spurfowl
- Natal Spurfowl
- Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl
- Scaly Spurfowl
- Heuglin’s Spurfowl is a remarkable bird that embodies the spirit of exploration and excitement in the wild.
- Clapperton’s Spurfowl
- Harwood’s Spurfowl
- Swainson’s Spurfowl
- Yellow-necked Spurfowl
- Gray-breasted Spurfowl
- Red-necked Spurfowl
- PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Phoenicopteridae
- Majestic Flamingo
- Lesser Flamingo
- PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae
- Small Water Bird
- Majestic Crested Grebe
- Eared Grebe
- COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
- Rock Pigeon
- Speckled Pigeon
- White-collared Pigeon
- Somali Pigeon
- Afep Pigeon
- Rameron Pigeon
- Delegorgue’s Pigeon
- Bronze-naped Pigeon
- White-naped Pigeon
- Lemon Dove
- European Turtle-Dove
- Dusky Turtle-Dove, a creature that embodies the spirit of exploration and the thrill of the wild.
- Eurasian Collared-Dove
- African Collared-Dove
- White-winged Collared-Dove
- Mourning Collared-Dove
- Crimson-eyed Dove
- Ring-necked Dove
- Vinaceous Dove
- Joyful Dove
- Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
- Black-billed Wood-Dove
- Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
- Tambourine Dove
- Namaqua Dove
- Bruce’s Green-Pigeon
- Pemba Green-Pigeon
- African Green-Pigeon
- PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
- European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
- Wattled Starling
- Rosy Starling
- Common Myna
- Violet-backed Starling
- Slender-billed Starling
- Neumann’s Starling
- Red-winged Starling
- Chestnut-winged Starling
- Waller’s Starling
- Tristram’s Starling
- White-billed Starling
- Bristle-crowned Starling
- Somali Starling
- Chirping Starling
- White-collared Starling
- Magpie Starling
- Sharpe’s Starling
- Abbott’s Starling
- Narrow-tailed Starling
- Stuhlmann’s Starling
- Kenrick’s Starling
- Black-bellied Starling
- Purple-headed Starling
- Hildebrandt’s Starling
- Shelley’s Starling is a captivating tale that invites you to explore the wild and untamed. Each page brims with excitement and the promise of new experiences, drawing you into a world where every moment is filled with discovery and thrill.
- Burchell’s Starling
- Rüppell’s Starling
- Long-tailed Glossy Starling
- Meves’s Starling
- Ashy Starling
- Magnificent Starling
- Golden-breasted Starling
- Magnificent Starling
- Chestnut-bellied Starling
- African Pied Starling
- White-crowned Starling
- Fischer’s Starling
- Lesser Blue-eared Starling
- Sharp-tailed Starling
- Greater Blue-eared Starling
- Purple Starling
- Cape Starling
- Bronze-tailed Starling
- PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
- Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush
- Red-tailed Ant-Thrush
- White-tailed Ant-Thrush
- Spotted Ground-Thrush
- Black-eared Ground-Thrush
- Gray Ground-Thrush
- Oberländer’s Ground-Thrush
- Abyssinian Ground-Thrush
- Orange Ground-Thrush
- Ethiopian Thrush
- Groundscraper Thrush
- Melodious Bird
- Abyssinian Thrush
- Taita Thrush
- Usambara Thrush
- Eurasian Blackbird
- Somali Thrush
- African Bare-eyed Thrush
- Kurrichane Thrush
- Olive Thrush
- African Thrush
- Ring Ouzel
- PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae
- African Dusky Flycatcher
- Yellow-footed Flycatcher
- Spotted Flycatcher
- The Gambaga Flycatcher
- Swamp Flycatcher
- Cassin’s Flycatcher
- Böhm’s Flycatcher
- Sooty Flycatcher
- Dusky-blue Flycatcher
- Marico Flycatcher
- African Gray Flycatcher
- Pale Flycatcher
- African Forest-Flycatcher
- Gray-throated Tit-Flycatcher
- Gray Tit-Flycatcher
- Chapin’s Flycatcher
- Ashy Flycatcher
- Silverbird
- Fiscal Flycatcher
- Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher
- Northern Black-Flycatcher
- Southern Black-Flycatcher
- White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher
- Abyssinian Slaty-Flycatcher
- White-tailed Alethe
- Fire-crested Alethe
- Forest Scrub-Robin
- Brown Scrub-Robin, a creature that embodies the spirit of exploration and excitement in its every move.
- Bearded Scrub-Robin, a creature that embodies the spirit of exploration and the thrill of the wild.
- Miombo Scrub-Robin
- Black Scrub-Robin, a creature that embodies the spirit of exploration and the thrill of the wild.
- Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin
- Kalahari Scrub-Robin
- Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, a creature that embodies the spirit of exploration and the thrill of the wild.
- Red-backed Scrub-Robin
- White-bellied Robin-Chat
- Archer’s Robin-Chat
- Olive-flanked Robin-Chat
- Cape Robin-Chat
- White-throated Robin-Chat
- Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat
- Rüppell’s Robin-Chat
- White-browed Robin-Chat
- Red-capped Robin-Chat
- Robin-Chat adorned with a snowy crown
- White-crowned Robin-Chat
- Collared Palm-Thrush, a bird that embodies the spirit of exploration and discovery.
- Spotted Morning-Thrush
- Robin adorned with white stars
- Swynnerton’s Robin is a captivating tale that invites readers to embark on an exhilarating journey filled with unexpected twists and vibrant experiences.
- Brown-chested Alethe
- Red-throated Alethe
- Cholo Alethe
- White-chested Alethe
- Yellow-breasted Forest Robin
- Gray-winged Robin-Chat, a creature that embodies the spirit of exploration and excitement in the wild.
- Short-tailed Akalat
- Bocage’s Akalat
- Lowland Akalat
- Equatorial Akalat
- Sharpe’s Akalat
- East Coast Akalat
- Usambara Akalat
- Iringa Akalat
- Rubeho Akalat
- White-throated Robin
- Thrush Nightingale
- Common Nightingale
- Bluethroat
- Red-breasted Flycatcher
- Semicollared Flycatcher
- European Pied Flycatcher
- Collared Flycatcher
- Common Redstart
- White-winged Redstart
- Black Redstart
- Little Rock-Thrush
- Sentinel Rock-Thrush
- Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush
- Blue Rock-Thrush
- Miombo Rock-Thrush
- Cape Rock-Thrush
- White-winged Cliff-Chat
- Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
- European Stonechat
- Siberian Stonechat
- African Stonechat
- Moorland Chat, a delightful encounter waiting to unfold.
- Challenging Cliff-Chat
- Sooty Chat
- Northern Anteater-Chat
- Southern Anteater-Chat
- Mountain Wheatear
- Rüppell’s Chat
- Arnot’s Journey
- Northern Wheatear
- Capped Wheatear
- Buff-breasted Wheatear
- Rusty-breasted Wheatear
- Isabelline Wheatear
- Heuglin’s Wheatear
- Hooded Wheatear
- Desert Wheatear
- Western Black-eared Wheatear
- Cyprus Wheatear
- Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
- Pied Wheatear
- White-fronted Black-Chat
- Somali Wheatear
- Blackstart
- Exciting Conversation
- Exciting Rock Chat
- Brown-tailed Chat
- White-crowned Wheatear
- Abyssinian Wheatear
- Mourning Wheatear
- Kurdish Wheatear
- Persian Wheatear
- Boulder Chat
- PASSERIFORMES: Hypocoliidae
- Hypocolius
- PASSERIFORMES: Promeropidae
- Gurney’s Sugarbird
- PASSERIFORMES: Modulatricidae
- Spot-throat
- Dapple-throat
- Gray-chested Babbler
- PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae
- Fraser’s Sunbird
- Gray-headed Sunbird
- Plain-backed Sunbird
- Anchieta’s Sunbird
- Western Violet-backed Sunbird
- Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird
- Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird
- Little Green Sunbird
- Emerald Sunbird
- Banded Sunbird
- Collared Sunbird
- Pygmy Sunbird
- Nile Valley Sunbird
- Amani Sunbird
- Reichenbach’s Sunbird
- Emerald-crowned Sunbird
- Bannerman’s Sunbird
- Blue-throated Brown Sunbird
- Cameroon Sunbird
- Blue-headed Sunbird
- Olive Sunbird
- Mouse-hued Sunbird
- Green-throated Sunbird
- Amethyst Sunbird
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird
- Hunter’s Sunbird
- Purple-breasted Sunbird
- Tacazze Sunbird
- Bronze Sunbird
- Malachite Sunbird
- Red-tufted Sunbird
- Golden-winged Sunbird
- Olive-bellied Sunbird
- Little Sunbird
- Western Miombo Sunbird
- Eastern Miombo Sunbird
- Neergaard’s Sunbird
- Stuhlmann’s Sunbird
- Prigogine’s Sunbird
- Montane Double-collared Sunbird
- Northern Double-collared Sunbird
- Greater Double-collared Sunbird
- Majestic Sunbird
- Rockefeller’s Sunbird mediocris
- Usambara Double-collared Sunbird
- Forest Double-collared Sunbird
- Moreau’s Sunbird
- Loveridge’s Sunbird
- Stunning Sunbird
- Marico Sunbird
- Shelley’s Sunbird
- Red-chested Sunbird
- Black-bellied Sunbird
- Purple-banded Sunbird
- Tsavo Sunbird
- Violet-breasted Sunbird
- Pemba Sunbird
- Orange-tufted Sunbird
- Palestine Sunbird
- Radiant Sunbird
- Magnificent Sunbird
- Johanna’s Sunbird
- Incredible Sunbird
- Rufous-winged Sunbird
- Oustalet’s Sunbird
- White-breasted Sunbird
- Variable Sunbird
- Bates’s Sunbird
- Copper Sunbird
- PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae
- White-billed Buffalo-Weaver
- Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
- White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
- Speckle-fronted Weaver
- Scaly Explorer
- White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
- Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver
- Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver
- Donaldson Smith’s Sparrow-Weaver
- Rufous-tailed Weaver
- Gray-headed Social-Weaver
- Black-capped Social-Weaver
- Sociable Weaver
- Red-bellied Malimbe
- Blue-billed Malimbe
- Crested Malimbe
- Crimson-feathered Malimbe
- Crimson-feathered Artisan
- Crimson Spinner
- Bertram’s Weaver
- Baglafecht Weaver
- Little Explorer
- Slender-billed Weaver
- Black-necked Weaver
- Spectacled Weaver
- Black-billed Weaver
- Unusual Weaver
- Bocage’s Weaver
- African Golden-Weaver
- Holub’s Golden-Weaver
- Orange Weaver
- Golden Palm Explorer
- Taveta Golden-Weaver
- Southern Brown-throated Weaver
- Northern Brown-throated Weaver
- Kilombero Artisan
- Ruvu Weaver
- Northern Masked-Weaver
- Lesser Masked-Weaver
- Southern Masked-Weaver
- Vitelline Masked-Weaver
- Tanganyika Masked-Weaver
- Katanga Masked-Weaver
- Heuglin’s Masked-Weaver
- Rüppell’s Weaver
- Speke’s Weaver
- Fox’s Weaver
- Vieillot’s Black Weaver
- Village Explorer
- Weyns’s Tapestry
- Clarke’s Weaver
- Salvadori’s Weaver
- Black-headed Weaver
- Golden-backed Weaver
- Chestnut Weaver
- Cinnamon Weaver
- Golden-naped Weaver
- Yellow-mantled Weaver
- Maxwell’s Black Weaver
- Forest Explorer
- Brown-capped Weaver
- Olive-headed Weaver
- Usambara Explorer
- Bar-winged Weaver
- Compact Explorer
- Cardinal Quelea
- Crimson-feathered Quelea
- Red-billed Quelea
- Northern Red Bishop
- Southern Red Bishop
- Zanzibar Red Bishop
- Black-winged Bishop
- Dark Bishop
- Yellow-crowned Bishop
- Fire-fronted Bishop
- Yellow Bishop
- White-winged Widowbird
- Yellow-mantled Widowbird
- Red-cowled Widowbird
- Red-collared Widowbird
- Fan-tailed Widowbird
- Marsh Widowbird
- Buff-shouldered Widowbird
- Long-tailed Widowbird
- Jackson’s Widowbird
- Grosbeak Weaver
- PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae
- Gray-headed Silverbill
- Bronze Mannikin
- Magpie Mannikin
- Black-and-white Mannikin
- African Silverbill
- Indian Silverbill
- Java Sparrow
- White-collared Oliveback
- Yellow-bellied Waxbill
- Swee Waxbill
- Green-backed Twinspot
- Shelley’s Crimsonwing
- Dusky Crimsonwing
- Abyssinian Crimsonwing
- Crimsonwing with a vibrant hue
- Woodhouse’s Antpecker
- Jameson’s Antpecker
- White-breasted Nigrita
- Chestnut-breasted Nigrita
- Gray-headed Nigrita
- Pale-fronted Nigrita
- Black-faced Waxbill
- Black-cheeked Waxbill
- Black-tailed Waxbill
- Black-crowned Waxbill
- Black-headed Waxbill
- Kandt’s Waxbill
- Orange-cheeked Waxbill
- Fawn-breasted Waxbill
- Common Waxbill
- Black-rumped Waxbill
- Crimson-rumped Waxbill
- Quailfinch
- Locustfinch
- Intense
- Crimson-capped Sparrow
- Zebra Waxbill
- Purple Grenadier
- Violet-eared Waxbill
- Southern Cordon Bleu
- Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
- Blue-capped Cordonbleu
- Grant’s Bluebill
- Crimson-topped Bluebill
- Lesser Seedcracker
- Black-bellied Seedcracker
- Green-winged Pytilia
- Orange-winged Pytilia
- Red-winged Pytilia
- Red-billed Pytilia
- Dybowski’s Twinspot
- Dusky Twinspot
- Peters’s Twinspot
- Pink-throated Twinspot
- Brown Twinspot
- Red-billed Firefinch
- African Firefinch
- Jameson’s Firefinch
- Black-bellied Firefinch
- Bar-breasted Firefinch
- Brown Firefinch
- Black-faced Firefinch
- PASSERIFORMES: Viduidae
- Pin-tailed Whydah
- Sahel Paradise-Whydah
- Exclamatory Wonderland-Whydah
- Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah
- Eastern Paradise-Whydah
- Steel-blue Whydah, a creature that embodies the spirit of exploration and excitement.
- Straw-tailed Whydah
- Shaft-tailed Whydah
- Village Indigobird
- Wilson’s Indigobird
- Quailfinch Indigobird
- Jambandu Indigobird
- Baka Indigobird
- Cameroon Indigobird
- Indigobird of many forms
- Purple Indigobird
- Emerald Indigobird
- Intriguing Weaver
- PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
- House Sparrow
- Spanish Sparrow
- Somali Sparrow
- Kenya Rufous Sparrow
- Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow
- Kordofan Rufous Sparrow
- Cape Sparrow
- Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
- Swainson’s Sparrow
- Parrot-billed Sparrow
- Swahili Sparrow
- Southern Gray-headed Sparrow
- Desert Sparrow Passer simplex
- Eurasian Tree Sparrow
- Sudan Golden Sparrow
- Arabian Golden Sparrow
- Chestnut Sparrow Passer
- Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow
- Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow
- Sahel Bush Sparrow
- Pale Rockfinch
- White-winged Snowfinch
- PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
- Cape Wagtail
- Mountain Wagtail
- Gray Wagtail
- Western Yellow Wagtail
- Citrine Wagtail
- African Pied Wagtail
- White Wagtail
- African Pipit
- Mountain Pipit
- Woodland Pipit
- Long-billed Pipit
- Tawny Pipit
- Plain-backed Pipit
- Buffy Pipit
- Malindi Pipit
- Striped Pipit
- Tree Pipit Anthus
- Red-throated Pipit
- Short-tailed Pipit
- Bush Pipit
- Sokoke Pipit
- Golden Pipit
- Sharpe’s Longclaw
- Orange-throated Longclaw
- Yellow-throated Longclaw
- Fülleborn’s Longclaw
- Abyssinian Longclaw
- Pangani Longclaw
- Rosy-throated Longclaw
- Grimwood’s Longclaw
- PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae
- Trumpeter Finch
- Somali Grosbeak
- Oriole Finch
- White-rumped Seedeater
- Yellow-fronted Canary
- African Citril
- Western Citril
- Southern Citril
- Black-faced Canary
- Papyrus Canary
- Black-throated Canary
- Reichenow’s Seedeater
- Yellow-rumped Serin
- Lemon-breasted Seedeater
- White-bellied Canary
- Yellow-throated Serin
- Salvadori’s Serin
- Northern Grosbeak-Canary
- Southern Grosbeak-Canary
- Brimstone Canary
- Golden Songbird
- White-throated Canary
- Streaky Seedeater
- Yellow-browed Seedeater
- Thick-billed Seedeater
- Tanzania Seedeater
- Black-eared Seedeater
- West African Seedeater
- Streaky-headed Seedeater
- Reichard’s Seedeater
- Brown-rumped Seedeater
- Ankober Serin
- Eurasian Linnet
- Warsangli Linnet
- Yellow-crowned Canary
- Ethiopian Siskin
- PASSERIFORMES:
- Brown-rumped Bunting
- Rock Bunting
- Cinereous Bunting
- Ortolan Bunting
- Cretzschmar’s Bunting
- Cabanis’s Bunting
- Golden-breasted Bunting, a vibrant symbol of the wild, invites exploration and wonder.
- Somali Bunting
- Cape Bunting
- Lark-like Bunting
- Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
- Gosling’s Bunting
- Striolated Bunting
This wraps up the exploration of the birds in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
