Bird Species to see in Akagera National Park.
Visitors planning their birding trip to the park and wondering about the bird species to see in Akagera National Park. Look no further, this blog will list some of the bird species to encounter on your bird watching safari in the park. Akagera National Park is one of the best bird watching destinations in Rwanda, attracting thousands of visitors to experience the park’s diverse bird species. The park is situated in the northeastern region of Rwanda. It’s the largest national park in the country, covering an area of about 1,122 square kilometers.
It was named after the famous Akagera River that flows along its eastern boundary and feeds a system of scenic lakes and wetlands in the park. Akagera National Park is blessed by a unique ecosystem, including wetlands, lakes, savannah grasslands, and woodlands that provide a habitat to various birds and wildlife species. It’s home to over 480 bird species, such as woodland bird species, water birds, migratory birds and savannah bird species. Visitors in the park can see birds on game drives, boat cruises, and nature walks. If you are planning a birding safari in Rwanda, consider including Akagera National Park, as the park offers exceptional birding opportunities.
Bird Species to see in Akagera National Park.
- African Finfoot
- Denham’s Bustard
- Black-bellied Bustard
- White-crested Turaco
- Ross’s Turaco
- Secretary bird
- Osprey
- White-faced Whistling-Duck
- European Honey-buzzard
- Palm-nut Vulture
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck
- Shoe Bill Stork
- Knob-billed Duck
- Red-faced Barbet
- Egyptian Goose
- Red-winged Francolin
- Dusky Turtle-Dove
- Speckled Pigeon
- Mourning Collared-Dove
- Ring-necked Dove
- 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
- Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
- Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
- Laughing Dove
- Tambourine Dove
- Red-eyed Dove
- African Green-Pigeon
- 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
- Red-knobbed Coot
- African Swamphen
- Gray Crowned-Crane
- Water Thick-knee
- Black-winged Stilt
- Black-bellied Plover
- Common Ringed Plover
- Senegal Lapwing
- Brown-chested Lapwing
- Spur-winged Lapwing
- Greater Painted-Snipe
- 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
- 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
- Corn Crake
- Eurasian Moorhen
- Striped Crake
- Black Crake
- Lesser Jacana
- African Jacana
- Bar-tailed Godwit
The Best Time to do Birding.
Bird enthusiasts and nature lovers can visit the park at any time of the year, and the times to see bird species in Akagera National Park vary from individual’s preferences. The park experiences two seasons, the dry season and wet season, both provide equal chances of seeing birds. The dry season from June to September and December to February is characterised by little to no rainfall, the park is less muddy and slippery, making it easy to search the park. The vegetation cover is short and scattered, creating a clear view of various bird species. The wet season runs from March to May and October to November. During this season, the park receives enough rainfall, it’s muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate. However, this is the time of the year when migratory birds come to the park in search of good weather conditions and food.
