Bird Species in Akagera National Park.
Akagera National Park is a premier birding destination in Rwanda, situated in the eastern region of the country. It is the only savannah park in Rwanda, and the best place to experience a classic African birding safari. Akagera National Park is the largest national park in the country, covering an area of about 1,122 square kilometers, named after the famous Akagera River, which flows along its eastern boundary and feeds various lakes like Ihema, Shakani, among others. It has various ecosystems, including savannah plains, lakes, swamps, and woodlands that provide a habitat to various wildlife and bird species. The park is home to over 480 bird species, including water birds, woodland species, migratory birds, savannah birds and those endemic to the park. It offers various ways of seeing birds, like during the game drives, boat cruises and nature walks. Bird enthusiasts will be able to see various bird species in Akagera National Park like, shoebill, African Openbill stork, Papyrus Gonolek, among others, on their birding checklist. If you are seeking a true birder’s haven, Akagera must be added to your bucket list, as it offers unique bird watching experiences.
Bird Species in Akagera National Park.
Ornithologists and bird lovers will find Akagera a paradise for bird watching with over 480 bird species that call this awesome park home, which include migratory birds, water birds acacia dwelling birds, and savannah bird species. The spots to spot include Osprey, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, shoe bill stork, Knob-billed Duck, Secretarybird, Red-faced Barbet, Egyptian Goose, African Pygmy-Goose, Red-billed Duck, Garganey, Blue-billed Teal, Helmeted Guineafowl, Crested Francolin, Ring-necked Francolin, Shelley’s Francolin, Coqui Francolin, Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl, Blue Quail, Red-necked Spurfowl, Red-winged Francolin, Dusky Turtle-Dove, Speckled Pigeon, Mourning Collared-Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Laughing Dove, Tambourine Dove, Red-eyed Dove, African Green-Pigeon, Denham’s Bustard, Black-bellied Bustard, White-crested Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Purple-crested Turaco, Eastern Plantain-eater, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Blue-headed Coucal, White-browed Coucal, Black Coucal, Blue Malkoha, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Pied Cuckoo, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, African Cuckoo, Madagascar Cuckoo, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Swamp Nightjar, Fiery-necked Nightjar, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Fiery-necked Nightjar, Freckled Nightjar, Common Swift, African Swift, Mottled Swift, Alpine Swift, Horus Swift, Red-chested Flufftail, African Crake, Lesser Moorhen, Corn Crake, Eurasian Moorhen,Striped Crake, Black Crake, Red-knobbed Coot, African Swamphen, African Finfoot, Gray Crowned-Crane, Water Thick-knee, Black-winged Stilt, Black-bellied Plover.
Others include Common Ringed Plover, Senegal Lapwing, Brown-chested Lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing, Greater Painted-Snipe, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Common Snipe, African Snipe, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Ruff, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Small Buttonquail, Bronze-winged Courser, Temminck’s Courser, Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Pratincole, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gray-hooded Gull, White-winged Tern, African Skimmer, Little Grebe, Saddle-billed Stork, African Darter, Great Cormorant, African Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Hadada Ibis, Little Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Rufous-bellied Heron, Little Egret, Black Heron, Dwarf Bittern, Western Cattle-Egret, Malagasy Pond-Heron, Malagasy Pond-Heron, Indian Pond-Heron, Goliath Heron, Purple Heron, Yellow-billed Egret, Hamerkop, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Bateleur, Hooded Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, European Honey-buzzard, Palm-nut Vulture, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Bat Hawk, Martial Eagle, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Booted Eagle, African Harrier-Hawk, Western Barn Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, African Barred Owlet, Spotted Eagle-Owl, Marsh Owl, Speckled Mousebird, Narina Trogon, Common Hoopoe, Green Woodhoopoe,Red-headed Weaver, African Gray Hornbill, White-throated Bee-eater, European Bee-eater, Little Bee-eater, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, African Pygmy Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Purple Roller, Broad-billed Roller, White-headed Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, Crested Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, African Gray Woodpecker, Red-throated Wryneck among others.
The best time to do birding in the park.
Visitors can see bird species in Akagera National Park at any time of the year, and the best time depends on visitors’ interests. The Park experiences two seasons, the dry and wet seasons, both provide exceptional birding experiences. Many birders prefer the wet season, which runs from October to November and March to May. It’s characterised by abundant rainfall, the park is muddy, and the vegetation cover is tall, making it challenging to penetrate the park. During this period, the park has sufficient food, and it’s the breeding period of most of the birds in the park, which makes it easy to spot them. It is this time of the year when migratory birds come to the park, running away from the harsh weather conditions in Europe and in search of food. However, birding can also be done during the dry season from June to September and December to February. During this season, the park receives little to no rainfall, and the tracks are dry, making it easy to penetrate them.
