Hotspots

There are few recent records. With a bird list of nearly 600 species in a small country, one would assume that birding could be done anywhere. The Important Bird Areas mentioned in Section 3 would probably make good areas to explore were it not for concerns about safety.

Bujumbura, the capital, is likely to be the first port of call for visitors. One correspondent has sent a list of species seen in and around Bujumbura in 2002 and a sample of these are shown by location. Garden Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis, African Harrier Hawk Polyboroides typus, African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus, White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides, Brown-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus regulus, White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini, Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis and Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus. Cercle Nautique Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia, Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata, Hartlaub's Babbler Turdoides hartlaubii and Holub's Golden Weaver Ploceus xanthops. Circle Hippique Hadeda Ibis Bostrychia hagedash, Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis and Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops. Rusizi African Openbill Stork Anastomus lamelligerus, White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata, White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus and African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris. Small Game Park bordering cattle feedlot at outskirts of the city Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus, Grey-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides and Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba.