Bird species in Queen Elizabeth National Park

With more than 600 recorded species, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Africa’s most birdy parks. This is an amazing population that accounts for almost half the bird species which are recorded in Uganda and a substantial proportion of bird species across the whole of Africa. The unique location of the park, where the savannah of East Africa comes into contact with the western rainforest, facilitates an ecologically rare and unique transitional zone, which is home to a whole host of resident and migratory birds.

The Shoebill is a prehistoric giant which ranks amongst the most sought-after birds on any birder’s wish list during a birding safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park. At times elusive, but there have been a few sightings in the marshes of the park, particularly in the vicinity of the Ishasha Sector and surrounding wetlands. The presence of this rare bird can be considered the highlight of any birding trip to Uganda.

The park has some outstanding birding spots, such as the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. There are great opportunities to see waterbirds up close from a boat cruise up and down the channel. Birders here will see things like the African Fish Eagle, Pink-backed Pelican, Great Cormorant, Malachite Kingfisher and many herons, storks and egrets. With its rich birding opportunities and spectacular surroundings, the Kazinga Channel is a major site to capture birds in photography, and nature enthusiasts are not to be disappointed either.

The Maramagambo forest, with its dense tropical environment in the southeast of the park, is yet another outstanding birding location. Birds that spend much of their time in forests, like the African Emerald Cuckoo, White-naped Pigeon and the striking Great Blue Turaco, love this forest habitat. On a walking safari tour, the guests see the birds up close and experience them like never before, appreciating their calls, nesting habits and the forest ecology once they are in.

Another popular birding area is the Mweya peninsula, which is the junction of the savannah and the channel. The open forest habitats in this area provide great opportunities for seeing open forest birds like the national bird of Uganda, the grey crowned crane, the martial eagle, the Abyssinian ground hornbill and various bee-eaters and sunbirds. Catching elephants, buffaloes and antelopes and counting the bird species seen is often a way to make a game drive even more special. Early morning game drives here often are a mix of birding and the animals, such as elephants, buffalo, and antelopes.

However, for birders with an interest in raptors, there’s no lack of it in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Birds of prey like the Bateleur, African Harrier-Hawk and Verreaux’s Eagle thrive in the park’s open plains and escarpments. When you see these majestic birds in flight over the savannah, it’s one of the greatest privileges of a birding safari.

The optimum season to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for birding is the wet season of 1820–2022, which is also rewarding thanks to some of the migratory birds that come in from Europe and northern Africa from November to April, further increasing the park’s impressive list of species. At this time of year, many birds have breeding plumage and vocalisations, featuring the songs or calls of many species.

Visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park are encouraged to go for a guided birding safari in the park. Local guides have much knowledge about the bird calls, habitat and migrations, which will enhance the possibility of seeing rare and elusive species. Some guides can also work with a spotting scope to quickly find birds and offer an educational and fun experience.

There are opportunities to do birding safaris in the park, which can be arranged so as to meet specific requirements and timetables. A few visitors go by land on just one day, visiting national parks to tour the local community conservancies; forest walks; and the boat tour to visit the Kazinga Channel and Mweya, respectively, or they go by land or boat for several days to visit the key national parks, including a forest walk, the boat tour to the Kazinga Channel, and the crater lake tour to Mweya, among others. Birding and standard wildlife safaris can be great packages for couples, families, photographers and serious birders alike, as they offer a complete experience.

Accommodation near Queen Elizabeth National Park ranges from five-star hotels and lodges to campsites, many of which are near the best birding spots. Many lodges are located around the Mweya Peninsula, providing bird-watching directly from the lodge, where the visitors can enjoy seeing kingfishers, hornbills and weaver birds upon waking each morning.

Conclusion,

A Queen Elizabeth National Park safari is not just a wildlife trip; it’s an experience of exploring one of Africa’s most bountiful environments. From exploring for the fabled shoebill to capturing photos of colourful kingfishers along the Kazinga Channel to enjoying forest birds’ songs at Maramagambo, there’s always something new to discover and admire. It’s no wonder that Queen Elizabeth National Park is a top birding hotspot in the world for an enthusiast of birds and nature lovers.