Birding in Kibale Forest National Park
Birding watching is one of the wonderful activities to partake in on your tour to Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest and Bigodi wetland sanctuary are top options for birding, situated in Western Uganda Kabarole district.
About 339 bird species have been identified in Kibale Forest National Park so far, but more are most likely to be added. The Green-breasted Pitta is one of the park’s most sought-after species, along with the Black-capped Waxbill, the Alpine Swift, the Barn Swallow, the African Emerald Cuckoo, and the African Green-pigeon. Black Bee-eater, Black Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Black and White Casqued Hornbill, Black and White Mannikin, Black and White Shrike-flycatcher, Black-billed Turaco, Black-billed Weaver, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, African Dusky Flycatcher, Black-headed Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, African Citril (Western Citril), Black-throated Apalis.
You will discover the rare and beautiful bird species through the forest trails with a guide and search for various bird species. On the way you may encounter forest primates such as the Chimpanzees, Monkeys among others.
Six bird species, including the Black-capped Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Dusky Crimson wing, Purple-breasted Sunbird, and Red-faced Woodland Warbler, are indigenous to the Albertine Rift area out of about 350 that have been reported in this national park.
At Kanyanchu, bird watching tours begin at 7 a.m.; reservations are advised. Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, White-collared Olive back, and Papyrus Canary are examples of rare species.
One shouldn’t miss visiting Bigodi wetland sanctuary situated on the Fringe of Kibale Forest. Birders who visit Kibale National Park have been rewarded with amazing bird species from this sanctuary and that’s why it’s known as Birder’s paradise. Different bird species can be spotted during guided walks along the board walk trails.
About 138 different bird species can be spotted at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary via guided tours along the boardwalk trail and viewing platforms. The Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Western Nicator, Grey-winged Robin-chat, White-tailed Ant-thrush, Brown-backed Scrub-robin, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, and Brown-throated Wattle-eye could be some of these. Among others, the magnificent sunbird, brown-crowned tchagra, bocage’s bush-shrike, black bishop, white-breasted negrofinch, and black-crowned waxbill.
Birding in Kibale National Park can be carried out anytime throughout the year but the greatest time is the wet season when there’s a lot of food and fruits in the forest. In this season you will be able to view the migratory, endemic and the common bird species that is best spotted in the dry season. The months of March through May and September through November are the finest for birdwatching. The major fruiting season lasts from June to September, and when food is plentiful throughout this time, birds can develop breeding plumage. From November through April, migratory birds can be seen.
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