UGANDA'S ENDANGERED GREEN BREASTED PITTA

Planning your birding safari to Uganda? Did you know that the Green breasted pitta is one of the only two pitta species in Africa?  A visit to Kibale Forest National Park one of the most exceptional primate capital of the world rewards bird lovers with magical birding encounters of life time! Credited for over 13 distinct primate species, Kibale National Park also offers refuge to over 350 distinct bird species in its juggle making it one of the best avian safari destinations in Africa. When you think about bird watching in Uganda, think not further than Kibale for you to look out for the rare Green breasted pitta. Scientifically referred as "pitta reichenowi," the endangered Green breasted pitta is undoubtedly the only second pitta species thriving in entire African continent. However, their distribution is also sighted within the subtropical and tropical rain forests in Central Africa Republic, Cameroon, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Amazingly, in Uganda the endangered Green breasted pitta lies between 1100 and 1400 meters. Whereas there are historical records of viewing it from Budongo and Mabira forest reserve, Kibale Forest National Park features as the only hotspot for you to look out for the pitta in the entire country. This bird species vocalizes at first during the summer months of June to August. If there are hard to find and most sought after avian species in Africa then you have a reason to visit Kibale National Park in Western Uganda for life time bird encounters especially as you search for this endangered bird species in the jungles. The Green breasted pitta features a plumage is similar to that of the African pitta with the breast green and the throat surrounded by a black line. The young ones have duller, darker plumage and a brownish olive breast. This specie belongs to the pittidae family.

THE RARE GREEN BREASTED PITTA

Kibale National Park is proud to be a home to the rare L’Hoests monkeys, the wild chimpanzees, the endangered Red colobus monkeys, Black and white colobus, playful Olive baboons, 4 wild felids, 70 mammal species and over 250 tree species which make up a forest where a large number of birds live. For life time birding safaris, visit Kibale National Park in wet season which occurs from March to May and September to November.

Besides the rare Green breasted pitta, Kibale National Park still offers more bird species for you to sight including the endangered Nahan’s francolin, Yellow spotted Nicator, Yellow ramped tinker bird, Little greenbul, Superb sunbird, Speckled tinker bird, white thighed hornbill, Grey winged robin, African pitta, Black billed Turaco, Purple headed starling, Purple breasted sun bird, White bellied crested flycatcher, Masked apalis, Scarlet tufted, Red chested fluftail, Joyful greenbul and many more.

In conclusion, the rare Green breasted pitta is one of the hardest birds to find not only in Kibale National Park but also across African continent. It is the second pitta specie in Africa and in Uganda it can be looked out in Kibale National Park. You can combine your chimpanzee trekking safaris and birding tours in the park and you will be rewarded with life time experiences.