Bird-watching Checklist for Murchison Falls National Park.
Bird-watching checklist for Murchison Falls National Park is among the things that birders should carry on their birding Safari in the park. It helps birders to search for specific bird species that they are interested in observing and learning more about their behaviours. Birders should carry a birding checklist on their safari to make it more memorable. Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Uganda, known for its rich avian biodiversity. It has flourishing ecosystems such as the savannah grassland, riverine forests, woodlands, and swamps, which provide a habitat to various bird species that call this awesome park home.
Murchison Falls National Park hosts over 453 bird species, including the migratory birds, the Guinea-congo forest, the Ituri species, aquatic birds, and forest birds. The park has various sites which are suitable for spotting unique bird species, such as the Royal Mile, Kaniyo Pabidi, Budongo Forest, and areas around the Albert Delta have rich birdlife. Visitors can spot birds on game drives, nature walks, hiking, and boat cruises. Whether you’re a novice birder or an experienced ornithologist, Murchison Falls National Park offers excellent opportunities for bird watching safaris. If you are planning a birding safari in the Pearl of Africa, Murchison Falls National Park should be included on your bucket list, as it promises the best encounters.
Bird Watching Checklist for Murchison Falls National Park.
Kingfishers
- Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima)
- Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus)
- Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
- Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis)
- Grey-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala)
- Chocolate-backed Kingfisher (Halcyon badia)
- Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica)
- Striped Kingfisher (Halcyon chelicuti)
- Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris)
- Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
Bee-eaters
- Northern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus)
- Red-throated Bee-eater (Merops bulocki)
- Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus)
- White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides)
- Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)
- European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
- Red-fronted Bee-eater (Merops rubriceps)
- Black Bee-eater (Merops gularis)
- Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
Ground Birds
- Denham’s Bustard (Neotis denhami)
- White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis)
- Black-bellied Bustard (Lissotis melanogaster)
- Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)
- Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis afer)
- Heuglin’s Spurfowl (Pternistis icterorhynchus)
- Crested Francolin (Ortygornis sephaena)
- Yellow-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis leucoscepus)
- Scaly Spurfowl (Pternistis squamatus)
- Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus)
Waterfowl & Wetland Birds
- White-faced Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)
- Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)
- Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
- Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis)
- Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)
- Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)
- Western Crested Guineafowl (Guttera verreauxi)
- Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
- Rock Pratincole (Glareola nuchalis)
Pigeons & Doves
- Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
- Afep Pigeon (Columba unicincta)
- Mourning Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decipiens)
- Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)
- Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola)
- Vinaceous Dove (Streptopelia vinacea)
- Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)
- Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria)
- Blue-spotted Wood-Dove (Turtur afer)
- Black-billed Wood-Dove (Turtur abyssinicus)
Hornbills
- Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus)
- Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill (Bycanistes subcylindricus)
- White-thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis)
- Piping Hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator)
- Yellow-casqued Hornbill (Tockus flavirostris)
- Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus)
- White-cheeked Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)
- Black-casqued Hornbill (Ceratogymna atrata)
- Brown-cheeked Hornbill (Tockus multistratus)
- Pale-billed Hornbill (Tockus pallidirostris)
- White-cheeked Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)
- Black-casqued Hornbill (Ceratogymna atrata)
- Brown-cheeked Hornbill (Tockus multistratus)
- Pale-billed Hornbill (Tockus pallidirostris)
- Yellow-casqued Hornbill (Tockus flavirostris)
- Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus)
Owls
- African Scops Owl (Otus senegalensis)
- Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)
- White-faced Scops Owl (Otus leucotis)
- Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl (Bubo lacteus)
- Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus)
- Mottled Owl (Strix ocellata)
- Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
- Giant Eagle-Owl (Bubo lacteus)
- African Wood Owl (Strix woodfordii)
- Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis)
Vultures
- White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)
- Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture (Gyps rueppelli)
- Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)
- Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
- Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis)
- White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)
- Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)
- Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
- Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)
- Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Palearctic Migrants (Europe/Asia → Africa)
- European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
- Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
- Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
- Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
- Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
- Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
- Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
- Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca)
- Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
- Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)
Intra-African Migrants
- African Hobby (Falco cuvierii)
- Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
- Common Swift (Apus apus)
- Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) – rare visitor
- Red-throated Bee-eater (Merops bulocki)
- European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) – some overlap
- White Stork (Ciconia
- African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) – partial migration
Nightjars & Allies
- Standard-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus longipennis)
- Pennant-winged Nightjar (Macrodipteryx vexillarius)
- Long-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus climacurus)
- Freckled Nightjar (Caprimulgus tristigma)
