Birding Checklist in Murchison Falls National Park.
Birding Checklist in Murchison Falls National Park: Murchison Falls National Park is one of the top 7 best birding destinations in East Africa, with rich birdlife. The park is located in the northwestern region of Uganda, covering an area of 3893 square kilometres. It’s not only a haven for bird watching but also hosts the powerful waterfalls in the world, Murchison Falls, which attracts thousands of tourists globally. The park features diverse ecosystems like woodlands, riverine tropical forests, savannah lands, and wetlands, which provide a habitat to various wildlife species that call it home. The park hosts over 453 bird species, including Afro-tropical highlands, the Guinea–Congo biome, Ituri species, migratory birds, water birds, and more bird species in Murchison Falls National Park. There are various sites where you can spot various bird species in Murchison Falls National Park, including Budongo Forest, Kaniyo Pabidi, and Royal Mile, each offering unique species.
Birding Checklist in Murchison Falls National Park.
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)
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)
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)
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)
Nightjars & Allies
- Standard-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus longipennis)
- Pennant-winged Nightjar (Macrodipteryx vexillarius)
- Long-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus climacurus)
- Freckled Nightjar (Caprimulgus tristigma)
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
- Red-throated Bee-eater (Merops bulocki)
- European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) – some overlap
- White Stork (Ciconia
- African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) – partial migration
- African Hobby (Falco cuvierii)
- Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
- Common Swift (Apus apus)
- Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) – rare visitor
