At almost every level, the sheer variety of bird species in Uganda can be daunting for first-timers to bird-watching in Africa and bird enthusiasts familiar with other parts of the continent. So we decided to help you with this Uganda birding beginner’s list that showcases 50 key birds resident in various parts of Uganda.
The list of 50 key birds you must watch in Uganda details some common or highly singular birds that are likely to impact first-time visitors (or, in some cases birders from elsewhere in Africa), whether or not they have any great prior interest in the study of birds.
Excluded from the birding list to keep things manageable are the 30-40 bird species whose Ugandan range is restricted to Semliki National Park, the country’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics, and the true weavers.
Even allowing for these omissions, Philip Briggs and Andrew Roberts in their Bradt Travel Guides, preference was given to more familiar, striking, or individualistic birds over the likes of greenbuls and cisticolas. For ease of reference, the plate number in Stevenson and Fanshawe’s Bird’s of East Africa book is provided at the end of each entry.