Kibale’s Most Sought After Birds
Kibale’s Most Sought After Birds: Kibale is a unique destination popular for birding safaris due to its incredible bird species that inhabit its diverse habitats, including the dense forest, mashes, and wetland, among others. The park has over 372 species of birds including the most sought-after birds, endemics, forest and wetland birds.
What does the term sought-after-bird mean
The term “sought -after bird” generally refers to a species of bird that is rare, unique, desirable and highly demanded due to its distinctive qualities or characteristics such as unusual beauty, conservation status, among others.
Although, Kibale National Park is famous for chimpanzee trekking excursions, the park is also an incredibly productive for birdwatching. This has attracted attention of several birdwatchers and nature lovers to flock to Kibale for such an unforgettable experience.
What is considered the most Kibale’s Most Sought After Birds?
Like any other protected area, Kibale National Park is one of those unique destinations with unique and rare bird species. The highlight of the park is the striking Green-breasted Pitta
The Green-breasted Pitta is the most sought-after bird in Kibale National Park by travellers on Uganda birding safaris. In Africa, Kibale Forest National Park is the best birding site to spot this rare adorable bird species.
Some of Kibale’s Most Sought After Birds
The park has several bird species totalling to over 372 species, and all these seek refugee in this charming adventure park. However, some of the most sought-after birds of Kibale Forest National Park during Uganda birding safaris include:
Yellow-Throated Tinkerbird
Double-toothed Barbet
Green-breasted Pitta
Great-blue Turaco
African Pitta
Yellow-Fronted Tinkerbird
Black-faced Apalis
Black-billed Barbet
Red-Faced Barbet
Red-Rumped Tinkerbird
Red-Fronted Barbet
Abyssinian Ground Thrush
The park is also an ideal destination to spot the vibrant Great-blue Turaco, which breeds along the edges of the forest in the adjacent Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
Endemic bird species in Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park boasts four endemic bird species that can not be seen in any other Uganda’s protected areas. These include: Masked Apalis, Blue-headed Bee-eater, Cassine’s Spine Tail, and Nahan’s Francolin.
Where to see birds in Kibale National Park?
Travellers planning to carry out birding excursions in Kibale National Park should note that the top birding sites in the park include Kanyanchu Center, an expense that is rich in forest birds including the elusive Green -breasted Pitta.
Bigodi Wetland
Another top birding site is Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, an ideal site for birdwatching in Kibale National Park and Uganda at large. About 200 bird species call this wetland home including species like the Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Double Toothed Barbet, Yellow- rumped Tinker Bird, Western Nicator, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet, White-spotted Flufftail.
Sebitooli
Sebitooli is another unique site for birdwatching activities, that do attract birdwatchers and nature lovers to spot forest birds and wetland birds, among others. Therefore, travellers planning for an unforgettable birding safari in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, are advised to combine these tthree sites.
Best Season to spot birds in Kibale National Park
Birding in Kibale National Park can be done all year round. However, the ideal time for birding tours in Uganda is during the dry months of June- August and December- February. The dry season offers excellent birding excursions since the roads connecting to the park and trekking trails are always dry, short vegetation, with clear views of wildlife species
Despite Kibale National Park being a tropical rainforest, during these months it receives little rainfall, making the birding trails relatively drier and there are minimal chances of rainfall interference during the activity.
However, the park receives heavy rainfall during the wet season which occurs during March-May and September- November. During this time, the trekking trails get a little challenging and rain is usually an inconvenience factor.
Best time of the day to see birds in Kibale Forest National Park
Birdwatchers who are interested in birdwatching excursions in Kibale National Park should know that birds can be spotted all time of the year. However, according to ornithologists and expert birding guides in Uganda emphasises the morning session, which starts early in the morning.
This is because during the morning hours, birds are very active, coming out to feed”. In the afternoon they tend to rest under tree branches and canopies. Therefore, for a great and perfect birding experience in Kibale National Park, the morning session is the best option.
