Though Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is most renowned for gorilla trekking, it is one of the best place to go birding in Uganda.
Bwindi impenetrable tropical rain forest is one of the very rich biodiversity areas in Africa. Rich in both fauna and flora, the bio-diversity of this ancient forest cannot easily be found elsewhere in the world. This park is known to shelter 120 mammals, primate species such as the rare and endangered mountain gorillas, baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
Birding Trails
The park has two prominent sites for birding. Many birders start their birding experience from the Buhoma side, an area with great opportunities to see various Albertine Rift endemics. The celebrity in this area is the Short-tailed Warbler that cannot easily be found elsewhere in Africa. Other activities within the Buhoma area include mountain biking and nature walks to waterfalls and parts of the forest.
The bamboo trail is another amazing trail to go birding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. A trek along this trail can trek for a 6 hour bamboo trail to Ruhija and leading to Rwamunyoni Peak. At 2,607m, the Rwamunyoni Peak is the highest point in the park and notable for good birding.
Also of interest to birders is the three-hour trail descending to Mubwindi swamp along which one could find the endemic and localized bird that include the African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s (African Green), Broadbill the beautiful regal sunbird and Archers Robin Chat. Mubwindi swamp at an elevated of 2050m/6725ft holds Dwarf Honey guide, Stripe breasted Tit, Rwenzori Apalis and African Hill Babbler sometimes treated as a separate species, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, the rare and localized Grauer’s scrub warbler and Caruthers’ Cisticola, including very difficult to see species Fraser’s eagle owl and Rwenzori double collared sunbird.
Other birds to come across on a birding tour in Bwindi Forest include the green broad bill, Grauer’s Rush warbler, Purple breasted, blue headed and Regal sun birds, Grauer’s Broadbills, Archers Robin Chat, eastern Mountain Green bul, Strange weaver, black headed waxbill, Barstuhlmanns starling, and luehders bush shrike and handsome Francolin Montane Nightjar. An insight to others travelers, birding experience to these sites is a guarantee.