Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park : The magical Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a mystical place of mists, hanging mosses and luxuriant vegetation. Bwindi is an actual rainforest at the junction of the plain and mountain forests, spreading across valleys and over a range steep ridges forming Albertine Rift Valley Eastern edge. Bwindi Forest is one of the most biologically rich rainforests in Africa.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is Africa’s number of birding spot boasting over 360 bird species recorded with 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics among which include the globally threatened species such as the Grauer’s Broadbill and the Shelley’s Crimsonwing.
The Albertine Rift endemics include; Archer’s Robin-Chat, Lagden’s Bush-shrike, Dusky Crimson-wing, Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Neumann’s Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Collared Apalis, Montane Masked Apalis, Kivu Ground Thrush, Red-throated Alethe, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Turaco, Yellow-crested Helmet Shrike, Handsome Francolin.
Other notable bird species in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park include Wood Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Evergreen Warbler, Turner’s Eremomela, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Buff-throated Apalis, African Pitta, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Cardinal Woodpecker, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Cassin’s Honeybird, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Collared Sunbird, Common Bulbul, Compact Weaver, Coppery Sunbird, Crowned Hornbill, Dark-backed Weaver, Dusky Crested Flycatcher, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Dusky Tit, Stripe-breasted Tit, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Red-headed Malimbe, Fork-tailed Drongo, Great Blue Turaco, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Green Crombec, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Brown Woodland Warbler, White-browed Crombec, Green Hylia, Green-headed Sunbird, Tiny Sunbird, Green-throated Sunbird, Grey Apalis, Grey-backed/Green-backed Camaroptera, Grey-headed Negrofinch, White-breasted Negrofinch, Grey-headed Sparrow, Grey-throated Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Honeyguide Greenbul, Klass’ Cuckoo, and many more forest species.
Birding Trails in Bwindi
The Main Trail – This is most popular trail in Bwindi where birders can spot various bird species like the Handsome Francolin, African Emerald Cuckoo and White-tailed Blue Flycatcher.
Bamboo Zone
At the higher elevations of Bwindi there is the bamboo zone which is the habitat of choice for the Handsome suprfowl, white-starred Robin, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Cinnamon-bracken Warbler and more.
Mubwindi Swamp
This swamp area of Bwindi is great for spotting the Grauer’s swamp (Rush) Warbler, African Water Rail and Red-Chested Flufftail among others.
Best time for birding in Uganda
Birding in Bwindi Forest Impenetrable National Park can be done all year round, however the best time to go is during from November to April when migratory bird species are present in the park.
November – April: Migratory birds are present in the park
December – February: this is the best time for birding, there are less rains
May – June: The food supply is abundant and it is the main nesting season
March – May: there are usually heavy rains and the hiking trails tend to be slippery. The mist may also be too much.
What you need for bird watching in Bwindi Forest Impenetrable National Park
On a birding safari in Bwindi Forest Impenetrable National Park carry the following items
- Comfortable hiking boots
- Pack enough water and snacks
- Warm clothing
- Water proof bags to protect your gadgets
- Binoculars or telescopes
Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Other Attractions in Bwindi Forest Impenetrable National Park
Butterflies
The pristine rainforests of Bwindi are home to approximately 300 species of butterflies including two endangered species of swallowtails, many species of reptiles and amphibians including one species of frog that may be new to science.
Mammals
In Bwindi there are 120 species of mammals including primate species of which seven are diurnal and about 30 forest elephants. This afro-montane forest has a dense understorey of fern vines, shrubs.
There is about 324 tree species have been recorded in Bwindi, 10 of which occur nowhere else in Uganda.