UTC LISTS MORE THAN 1061 BIRD SPECIES IN UGANDA

The Uganda Tourism Center (UTC) lists more than 1061 bird species in Uganda making it an ideal bird watching safari destination in Africa. UTC is an independent tourism and holiday resource center in charge marketing Uganda as tourist destination across the world. Over 1061 distinct bird species were recorded in the UTC listing that was based on orders, families and species as well as common and scientific names.

Most of birding safaris in Uganda are conducted in the 10 national parks, wetlands, forests among other tourist sites. The bird species to identify on Uganda bird watching safari tour include;

Ostriches (Ostrich Struthio camelus)

Ostriches are not only the largest birds but also the fastest birds and animals in Africa. They are flightless bird native to Africa and they come with unique appearance, long necks, legs and capable of taking off at high gear.

Bitterns, herons and egrets

The family Ardeidae consists of bitterns, herons and egrets. Only 61 species of these birds exist worldwide and 17 species are all in Uganda including the Striated Heron (Butorides striata); Black-crowned Night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax); White-backed Night-heron (Gorsachius leuconotus); Dwarf Bittern (Ixobrychus sturmii); Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea); Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala0); Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath); Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea); Little Egret (Egretta garzetta); Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides); Madagascar Pond-Heron (Ardeola idae); Rufous-bellied Heron (Ardeola rufiventris); Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis); Great Egret (Ardea alba); Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca); Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia).

Shoe bill
The Shoebills are the most sought-after bird species by birders on Uganda birding safari tour. They in large sizes with shoe-like beaks

Ibises and spoonbills

The Threskiornithidae are a family of large terrestrial and wading birds that include the ibises and spoonbills. About 36 species still thrive worldwide, 7 of which are in Uganda and they include Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia); Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus); Spot-breasted Ibis (Bostrychia rara); Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash); Glossy Ibis; (Plegadis falcinellus); African Spoonbill (Platalea alba); Olive Ibis (Bostrychia olivacea).

Flamingos
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds with about 3-5 feet high and they thrive mostly in Western and Eastern Hemispheres. In the world, they remain only 6 species and 2 species exist in Uganda-the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus); Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor).

Shearwaters and petrels

The procellariids belong to main group of medium-sized ‘true petrels’ characterized by united nostrils with a medium septum and a long outer functional primary. Only 75 species thrive worldwide and 1 species is in Uganda that is Antarctic Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus).

Grebes

Grebes come in small to medium large size and mostly freshwater diving birds. They feature lobed toes and they are the best swimmers and divers. Worldwide, about 20 species of these unique birds do exist and 3 of them are in Uganda; including the great crested (Grebe Podiceps cristatus), little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Eared grebe (Podiceps nigricollis).

Pelicans
Pelicans are water dwellers with a unique pouch under the beak. Like other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they feature webbed feet with 4 toes. In the world, there are only 8 species and 2 species are in Uganda; the Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus); Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens).

Cormorants
Crocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large coastal, fish-eating sea-birds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage coloration differs with most of them having mainly dark plumage, some species being black and white, and a few being colorful. With only 38 species left on earth, 2 species of these are in Uganda that is Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo); Long-tailed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus).

Darters
Darters are also best known as “snake-birds” due to their long thin neck, that gives them snake-like appearance when swimming with their bodies submerged. The males consist of black and dark brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have a much paler plumage on the neck and underparts. Worldwide, only 4 species of these incredible birds are available and 1 species are in Uganda-the African Darter (Anhinga rufa).

Other bird species in Uganda include

•  Hammerkop (Scopus umbretta)
• Storks including Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis); African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus); Black Stork (Ciconia nigra); Abdim’s Stork (Ciconia abdimii); Woolly necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus); White Stork (Ciconia ciconia); Saddle-billed Stork; Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus). 
• Ducks geese and swans with 131 species remaining worldwide and 23 species in Uganda including the Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor); White-faced Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna viduata); White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus); Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus); Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis); Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos); Hartlaub’s Duck (Pteronetta hartlaubii); African Pygmy-goose (Nettapus auritus); African Black Duck (Anas sparsa); Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope); Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca); Cape Teal (Anas capensis); Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata); Northern Pintail (Anas acuta); Red-billed Duck (Anas erythrorhyncha); Hottentot Teal (Anas hottentota); Garganey Anas (querquedula); Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata); Southern Pochard (Netta erythrophthalma); Common Pochard (Aythya ferina); Ferruginous Pochard (Aythya nyroca); Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula); Maccoa Duck (Oxyura maccoa)

• Hawks, Kites and eagles
•  Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
•  Secretary birds
•  Caracaras and falcons
• Jacanas
• Oystercatchers
•  Thick knees
• Gulls
• Sandpipers and allies
•   Terns
• Plovers and lapwings
• Sandgrouse
• Pigeons and doves  
• African green breasted pitta
• African green broadbill
• Great Blue Turaco

WHY ARE CHIMPANZEES IN BWINDI NOT HABITUATED?

When you talk about Uganda safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, majority expect to see only mountain gorillas but the latter is not true. Unlike other mountain gorilla destinations, Bwindi National Park is by far the only park where the endangered mountain gorillas and the eastern chimpanzees share the same habitat. However, chimpanzees in Bwindi National Park are not habituated like it is a case with most of the tourist sites where chimpanzee tracking safaris are conducted in Uganda

CHIMPANZEES

Currently, Uganda is a home to over 5050 chimpanzees and about 400 of them are all confined within Buhoma and Nkuringo areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is believed that chimpanzees in Bwindi National Park are more visible than the rare mountain gorillas. Bwindi National Park is one of Uganda’s magical safari destination and it is set suitably in the southwestern districts of Kisoro, Kabale and Kanungu

Unlike other East African states, Uganda has several tourist sites with chimpanzees. Chimpanzee tracking safaris in Uganda are conducted in tourist destinations and they include among Kibale Forest National Park which is a home to over 1500 chimpanzees, Maramagambo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park. Because these tourist sites consist of a huge concentration of chimpanzees which makes it easier for researchers or trackers, conservationists to habituated most of them and also leave others in their natural status.

Bwindi National Park lies in high elevation compared to other sites with chimpanzees in Uganda. Kibale Forest National Park for instance straddles within the lowland forest and make it easier to habituate these unique creatures. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, habituating chimpanzees in highlands is very challenging. They roam and tracking them in the Bwindi’s jungles is really challenging unlike those in lowland areas like Kibale Forest National Park.

The reason why chimpanzees in Bwindi are not habituated can also be attributed to government priority. Government prefers every region to have variety of tourist attractions and this means habituating chimpanzees in Bwindi National Park may overshadow chimpanzee tracking adventures in other tourist sites like Kibale Forest National Park.

 

Some facts about chimpanzees

Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes) are some of the amazing and large primate species in the world. They share about 95 percent of their DNA with humans making them our closet relatives in the wild. They range in forest zones of Africa, especially Guinea, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Rwanda. If your plan is to see the wild chimpanzees then a visit to Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania should be a must.

In captivity, chimpanzees live up to 60 years and in the wild about 50 years. They weigh about 25 to 50kgs. Chimpanzees build new nests every day using tree branches, leaves and they live in communities, ranging from 30 to 80 individuals.

In summary, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park remains an exceptional destination for you to strike your imaginations with not only mountain gorillas but also variety of other primate species including chimpanzees.