Top Birds in Murchison Falls National Park
Bird enthusiasts planning a birding safari to Murchison Falls often ask about the top birds in Murchison Falls National Park, and this article will identify various bird species that visitors can spot on their bird watching safari in the park. It is situated in the northwestern region of Uganda and is one of the best bird watching destinations in the country. The park has various ecosystems like woodlands, savannah grasslands, and riverine tropical forests that provide a habitat to various bird species. It hosts over 453 bird species, including migratory birds, water birds, the Guinea-Congo biome, and forest birds. Murchison Falls has various sites specifically for bird watching, with unique bird species like, Royal Mile, Kaniyo Pabidi and the Albert Nile region.
Top Birds in Murchison Falls National Park
- Denham’s Bustard (Neotis denhami)
- White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis)
- Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus)
- Standard-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus longipennis)
- Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)
- Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola)
- Vinaceous Dove (Streptopelia vinacea)
- Chocolate-backed Kingfisher (Halcyon badia)
- Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica)
- Striped Kingfisher (Halcyon chelicuti)
- Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris)
- Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
- Northern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus)
- Red-throated Bee-eater (Merops bulocki)
- Mourning Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decipiens)
- Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
- Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)
- Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
- Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)
- Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria)
- Blue-spotted Wood-Dove (Turtur afer)
- Black-billed Wood-Dove (Turtur abyssinicus)
- White-cheeked Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)
- African Hobby (Falco cuvierii)
- Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
- Common Swift (Apus apus)
- Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) – rare visitor
- Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture (Gyps rueppelli)
- Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)
- Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
- Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis)
- 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-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)
- Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
- Afep Pigeon (Columba unicincta)
- 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)
- Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
- Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis)
- Grey-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala)
- 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)
- 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)
- White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)
- Pennant-winged Nightjar (Macrodipteryx vexillarius)
- Long-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus climacurus)
- Freckled Nightjar (Caprimulgus tristigma)
- 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)
- White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)
- Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)
- Pale-billed Hornbill (Tockus pallidirostris)
- European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) – some overlap
- White Stork (Ciconia
- African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) – partial migration
- Yellow-casqued Hornbill (Tockus flavirostris)
- Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus)
- Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima)
- Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus
- Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
- Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca)
- Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
- Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)
- Red-throated Bee-eater (Merops bulocki)
- 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)
