Uganda

SUB-REGION
East Africa

SIZE
241,038 km²

BIRDS AND BIRDING

SPECIES
Diversity
Strongly Afrotropical avifauna
Approximately 1,060 recorded species (4th longest bird list of any country in the ABC region)

Endemics (E)
Fox’s Weaver (NT)

Near-endemics (NE)
Weyns’s Weaver

Proposed new species or splits not yet accepted by IOC
Crawshay’s Francolin
Archer’s Francolin (B2)
Schuett’s Spurfowl (B2)
Cranch’s Spurfowl (BT)
Black-shouldered Nightjar (B2)
Abyssinian Nightjar
Rwenzori Nightjar (B2)
Black-faced Go-away-bird
Eastern Black-billed Turaco (B2)
Neumann’s Coucal (BT)
Chestnut Owlet (1/2)
Eastern Piping Hornbill
Grey-headed Barbet (B2)
Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird
Eastern Yellow-spotted Barbet
Streaky-throated Barbet
Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet
Northern Olive Woodpecker
Grey-headed Parrot
East African Pitta
Albertine Bushshrike (BT)
Glossy-backed Drongo
Singing Bush Lark
Pale-throated Greenbul
African Reed Warbler
Rufous-crowned Cisticola
Mongalla Cisticola (BT)
Eastern Buff-throated Apalis
Tawny-breasted Camaroptera (BT)
Grey-caped Capuchin Babbler (BT)
Kivu Ground Thrush (B2)
Emin’s Weaver (B2)
Reichenow’s Weaver
Stuhlmann’s Weaver
Victoria Masked Weaver (E)
Black-fronted Red Bishop
Yellow-shouldered Widowbird (B2)
Black-faced Quailfinch
Black-chinned Quailfinch
Grey Firefinch

National bird
Grey Crowned Crane | Ngaali | Owalu (EN)

MAIN HABITATS
Swamps, montane forest, tropical forest, moist savanna, arid savanna

BIRD AREAS
Albertine Rift mountains Endemic Bird Area (EBA)
Eastern Zaïre lowlands EBA
Kenyan mountains EBA
North Ugandan swamps Secondary Area (SA)
Dry woodlands west of Lake Victoria SA
North-east Uganda SA
34 Important Bird Areas

BIRDING SITES
Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve for Fox’s Weaver
Mabamba Swamp for Weyns’s Weaver
Ruhiza, Buhoma and “The Neck” at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (NP), Mgahinga Gorilla NP and Rwenzori Mountains NP for Albertine Rift endemics and other montane forest species including African Black Duck, Scarce Swift, Alpine Swift (maximus), Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo (montanus), African Olive Pigeon, Dusky Turtle Dove, [Olive Ibis,] Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Mountain Buzzard, [Fraser’s Eagle-Owl,] Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Western Tinkerbird (hildamariae), Fine-banded Woodpecker, Elliot’s Woodpecker, Lagden’s Bushshrike, Pink-footed Puffback, Grey Cuckooshrike, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike, Mackinnon’s Shrike, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, White-necked Raven, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Kakamega Greenbul, Olive-breasted Greenbul, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul (olivaceogriseus), Black Saw-wing, Red-rumped Swallow, White-browed Crombec, Brown Woodland Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Bamboo Warbler, Evergreen Forest Warbler (barakae), Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Chubb’s Cisticola (chubbi), Black-faced Prinia, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Grey Apalis, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Grey-chested Babbler, Slender-billed Starling, Waller’s Starling, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Sharpe’s Starling, Abyssinian Ground Thrush (ESS ruwenzorii), Abysinnian Thrush, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, White-bellied Robin-Chat (rufescentior), Cape Robin-Chat, White-starred Robin, Bronzy Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, Golden-winged Sunbird, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Black-billed Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Red-faced Crimsonwing (ocularis), Mountain Wagtail, Oriole Finch (prigoginei), Thick-billed Seedeater, Streaky Seedeater (graueri) and Yellow-crowned Canary
Mount Elgon for Elgon Francolin and Jackson’s Spurfowl as well as Hartlaub’s Turaco, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, [Taita Falcon,] Moustached Tinkerbird, Pallid Honeyguide, Hunter’s Cisticola, Black-collared Apalis, African Hill Babbler, Brown Parisoma, African Spotted Creeper, Red-winged Starling, Abyssinian Ground Thrush (piaggiae), Moorland Chat, Tacazze Sunbird and Southern Citril
Kibale NP, Semuliki NP (Bwamba Forest), Budongo Forest and Mabira Forest for lowland forest species including Hartlaub’s Duck, Latham’s Francolin, Bates’s Nightjar, Cassin’s Spinetail, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Grey-throated Rail, Nkulengu Rail, Spot-breasted Ibis, Congo Serpent Eagle, Long-tailed Hawk, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Black-casqued Hornbill, Eastern Long-tailed Hornbill, African Dwarf Kingfisher, White-bellied Kingfisher, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Zenker’s Honeyguide, Spotted Honeyguide, [Lyre-tailed Honeyguide,] African Piculet, Gabon Woodpecker, Black-collared Lovebird, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, [Fiery-breasted Bushshrike,] Red-eyed Puffback, Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike, Black-winged Oriole, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Nicator, Spotted Greenbul, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Simple Greenbul, Eastern Bearded Greenbul, Xavier’s Greenbul, Icterine Greenbul, Red-tailed Leaflove, White-bibbed Swallow, Yellow Longbill, Grey Longbill, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Southern Hyliota, Chestnut-winged Starling, Grey Ground Thrush, Fraser’s Forest Flycatcher, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Lowland Akalat, Superb Sunbird, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed Malimbe, Red-bellied Malimbe, Crested Malimbe, Chestnut-breasted Nigrita, Pale-fronted Nigrita and Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Murchison Falls/Kabalega NP for moist savanna species and waterbirds including Long-tailed Nightjar, Standard-winged Nightjar, White-crested Turaco, Denham’s Bustard, Vinaceous Dove, Black-billed Wood Dove, Senegal Thick-knee, Black-headed Lapwing, White-crowned Lapwing, Rock Pratincole, Saddle-billed Stork, Grasshopper Buzzard, Greyish Eagle-Owl, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Black Scimitarbill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Red-throated Bee-eater, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Double-toothed Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Emin’s Shrike, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, White-shouldered Black Tit, Rufous-rumped Lark, Sun Lark, Northern Crombec, Black-backed Cisticola, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Bronze-tailed Starling, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Spotted Palm Thrush, White-fronted Black Chat, Pygmy Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Grey-headed Oliveback, Black-rumped Waxbill, Red-winged Pytilia, Bar-breasted Firefinch, White-rumped Seedeater, Brown-rumped Bunting and Cabanis’s Bunting
Queen Elizabeth NP for waterbirds including Lesser Flamingo and African Skimmer
Lake Mburo NP for African Finfoot, Southern Ground Hornbill, Black-collared Barbet, Crested Barbet, Brown-backed Honeybird, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Long-tailed Cisticola, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Green-capped Eremomela, Southern Black Flycatcher and Long-billed Pipit
Lake Saka and Lake Kigere for Great Crested Grebe
Karamoja for arid savanna species including Common Ostrich, Stone Partridge, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Nyanza Swift, White-bellied Go-away-bird, [Kori Bustard,] Buff-crested Bustard, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Three-banded Courser, Scissor-tailed Kite, Verreaux’s Eagle, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Northern White-faced Owl, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Abyssinian Roller, [African Green Bee-eater,] Black-throated Barbet, Red-and-yellow Barbet, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Pygmy Falcon, Fox Kestrel, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Grey-headed Batis, Pygmy Batis, Three-streaked Tchagra, Slate-coloured Boubou, Yellow-billed Shrike, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Taita Fiscal, Fan-tailed Raven, White-bellied Tit, Acacia Tit, Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, [Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark,] Pink-breasted Lark, Foxy Lark, Red-winged Lark (kidepoensis), Northern Brownbul, Rock-loving Cisticola, Boran Cisticola, Lynes’s Cisticola, [Tiny Cisticola,] Pale Prinia, Red-fronted Prinia, Brown-tailed Apalis, Karamoja Apalis (ESS karamojae), Grey Wren-Warbler, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Yellow-vented Eremomela, Rufous Chatterer, Superb Starling, Bristle-crowned Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, African Grey Flycatcher, Little Rock Thrush, Heuglin’s Wheatear, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Shining Sunbird, Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow, Chestnut Sparrow, Parrot-billed Sparrow, White-billed Buffalo Weaver, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Grey-capped Social Weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Steel-blue Whydah, Straw-tailed Whydah, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, African Silverbill, Black-cheeked Waxbill, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Cut-throat Finch, Purple Grenadier, Jameson’s Firefinch, Reichenow’s Seedeater and White-bellied Canary

TIMING (Jan, Jul–Aug)
Best when it is dry in the south (Dec–Feb, Jul–Sep) and wet in the north (Jul–Sep)
Green-breasted Pitta is best Jul–Aug
Afro-Palearctic migrants are present Oct–Mar
Avoid the main rains in the south (Mar–May, Oct–Nov)

RESOURCES
Apps
Birds of Africa (iOS or Android)
eGuide to Birds of East Africa

Field guides
Birds of East Africa by Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe (2020)
Birds of Eastern Africa by Ber Van Perlo (2009)
Birds of Uganda: a Perfect Safari Companion by Quentin Meunier & Sherry McKelvie (2015)
Pocket Guide Birds of East Africa by Dave Richards (2016)
Collins Traveller’s Guide to Wildlife of Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda by David Hosking & Martin Withers (2007) is a pocket-sized photographic guide covering over 475 commonly-seen species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, trees and flowers

Sounds
African Bird Sounds Vol 2: West and Central Africa by Claude Chappuis
100 Common Bird Calls in East Africa by Dave Richards & Brian Finch

Site guides
Where to Watch Birds in Uganda by Jonathan Rossouw & Marco Sacchi (1998)
Where to Watch Birds in World Cities by Paul Milne (2006) covers sites in and around Kampala and Entebbe
10,000 Birds’ How to Bird Murchison Falls by Mike Bergin (2019)

Atlases
African Bird Atlas Project
The Bird Atlas of Uganda by Margaret Carswell, Derek Pomeroy, Jake Reynolds & Herbert Tushabe (2005)

Further reading
The State of Uganda’s Birds: Indicators of Our Changing Environment compiled and edited by Achilles Byaruhanga, Dianah Nalwanga & Michael Opige Oduli (2014)
Uganda by Achilles Byaruhanga, Pantaleon Kasoma & Derek Pomeroy in Important Bird Areas in Africa and Associated Islands: Priority Sites for Conservation edited by Lincoln D C Fishpool & Michael I Evans (2001)
Birds of the Kampala Area by Margaret Carswell (1986) with an Update by NatureUganda (2012)
Towards Developing Sustainable, Biodiversity-Rich Agricultural Systems in Uganda by D E Chamberlain, R Katebaka, I Senfuma, D Pomeroy, D Nalwanga-Wabire, A Byaruhanga, P W Atkinson & J A Vickery (2009)
Uganda Wildlife Trafficking Assessment by Alessandra Rossi (2018)
Birds of East Africa: Their Habitat, Status and Distribution edited by P L Britton (1980)
The Breeding Seasons of East African Birds by L H Brown & P L Britton (1980)
Articles in Scopus, Journal of East African Natural History, Bull. ABC, The Naturalist (NatureUganda newsletter), African Skimmer, etc.

Websites
Birding Uganda
Uganda Bird Guides: Uganda Birding Information, Tips & Resources
UNESCO World Heritage List: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Venture Uganda

Facebook groups
Birds of Uganda

Blogs
Birding Uganda by Derek Kverno (2015-2017)
Bukoba Steve’s Uganda Birding Blog (2016-2017)
Some of Uganda’s Top Birding and Wildlife Sites by Harriet Kemigisha (2020)

ORGANISATIONS

NatureUganda is the BirdLife Partner in Uganda

The Ringing Scheme of Eastern Africa coordinates and promotes bird ringing (banding) throughout the East African region and beyond through issuing of rings to qualified ringers, curating ringing data and tracking ring recoveries

The East African Rarities Committee assesses records of new and very rare birds occurring in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi

Other bird or conservation organisations active in Uganda include –
Uganda Wildlife Society (UWS)
The Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST)
Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF)
Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC)
A Rocha Uganda
Endangered Wildlife Conservation Organisation (EWCO)
Pro-Biodiversity Conservationists in Uganda (PROBICOU)
Uganda Safari Guides Association
Uganda Bird Guides Club
Uganda Women Birders
Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT) 
Fort Portal Bird Guides Association
Village Bird Clubs – Kibale Forest
Musambwa Islands Joint Conservation Organisation (MIJCO)
Mabamba Wetland Eco-tourism Association (MWETA)
Lutembe Wetland Users Association (LWUA)
Katwe Tourism Information Centre (KATIC)
Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS)
NABU
Fauna & Flora International (FFI)
WWF Uganda
WCS Uganda

The Makerere University Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (MUIENR) in Kampala promotes the management of environmental and natural resources through training and research
Within MUIENR, the National Biodiversity Databank (NBDB) monitors the national biological resources in Uganda, including the country’s birds, and provides information to all those interested in the conservation and sustainable utilisation of these resources