Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most incredible safari activities it offers to bird enthusiasts and nature lovers visiting the park. This is one of the best birding destinations in East Africa, located in the southwestern region of Uganda. It was classified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International, making it one of the premier birding destinations in the country, with a unique array of bird species. The park is known for its diverse natural systems, including wetlands, savannah grasslands, woodlands and tropical forests, which provide a habitat for its rich birdlife.

Queen Elizabeth National Park hosts over 610 bird species, including aquatic birds, savannah birds, migratory birds, forest birds and the park’s endemic bird species, which attracts thousands of ornithologists to come and enjoy their melodic songs and calls. Queen Elizabeth National Park offers various birding sites, including Kazinga Channel for aquatic birds, Maramagambo Forest suitable for forest birds, Mweya Peninsula, Kyambura Gorge and Katwe area. All these sites provide an unforgettable birding experience.

Bird species in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Bird enthusiasts planning their birding safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park will indulge themselves in over 610 unique bird species that call this awesome park home. Some of the bird species to encounter on your birding safari include, Crested Francolin, Nahan’s Partridge, Crested Guineafowl, the elusive Shoebill Stork, Bateleur, Rock Pigeon, Speckled Pigeon, Afep Pigeon, Rameron Pigeon, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-eyed Dove, Mourning Collared-Dove, Black and white Casqued Hornbill, Blue-billed Teal, Blue-billed TealPied Avocet, White-backed Duck,  Black-bellied Plover, Knob-billed Duck, Egyptian Goose, Spur-winged Goose, African Pygmy-Goose, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Great Blue Turaco, Grey-crowned crane, Long-crested Eagle, Red-billed Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Helmeted Guineafowl, Western Coqui Francolin , Harlequin Quail, Common Quail, Blue Quail, Red-winged Francolin, Ring-necked Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, Scaly Spurfowl, Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl, Handsome Spurfowl , African Black Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Black-throated Coucal, Blue-headed Coucal, White-browed Coucal, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo,African Green-Pigeon, Black-bellied Bustard, Denham’s Bustard, Eastern Plantain-eater, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Rwenzori Turaco among others.

Birding Experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This is a guided activity led by an experienced park birder who helps visitors identify various bird species they might encounter by listening to their calls, sounds and gives more information about various bird species. Birding is best done in the evening or morning hours when birds are more active. Visitors will visit various birding sites depending on which bird species they are interested in seeing. Those who would love to see forest birds consider visiting Maramagambo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, savannah birds, Kasenyi Plains, an d Mwenya Peninsula. Visitors can spot birds through game drives, nature walks, a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, and hiking. All offer equal opportunities to explore the park’s rich bird life.

Best Time to go birding in the Park.

The Park can be visited throughout the year, and the best time to go birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park is the dry season that runs from December to February and June to September. During this period, the park is dry, and the birding trails are dry, which makes it easy to penetrate. The vegetation cover is short, creating a clear view of birds.

However, the park can be visited during the wet season, which runs from March to May and October to November. During this period, the park experiences enough rainfall, and the birding trails are muddy, making it challenging to penetrate them. This is when migratory birds come from Europe and Asia to the park in search of good weather conditions and food. This is the best time for budget travellers as most lodges and travel agencies tend to give discounts in this season.