Uganda’s Top 5 Bird Species
1. Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex):
This prehistoric looking bird is very scarce but is sought out by many birders. It is a combination of both a pelican and a stork. It prefers to inhabit undisturbed swamps that are mostly associated with lungfish, its main meal, which it supplements with frogs. Although the female is smaller, bothBoth male and female look the same although the female is meant to be smaller. It can be seen in Mabamba swamps, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, the shores of Lake Victoria and other swamps.
2. African Green Broadbill (Pseudocalyptomena):
This is a beautiful leaf-green bird (Broadbill) with a pale blue throat, upper breast and vent. Its crown is buff-green with dark streaks. The young ones are duller with green vent. This species is endemic to montane forest in the Albertine Rift and very uncommon in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where it has only been recorded. At first, groups of 2-4 used to be seen in the upper levels of the forest undergrowth and in the lower canopy but now groups of up 14 birds have been recorded of recent. This species may join other mixed-species flocks, moving along branches as they feed. Its call is a high pitched hissing rhythmical series that sound like sii-sii-sii-siiiiiii, the last note falling slightly then raising, given while perched, flying or feeding in a group as a contact call.
3. Green-breasted Pitta (Pitta reichenowi):
This Pitta features shining colours, a whitish throat, green breast, red vent and sky-blue wing patches. It is a forest species that prefer staying in the interior and has been recorded in a good number of forests in western Uganda. It is known to call only at down and dusk and so not easily seen if you don’t know this, thus people think its uncommon.
4. African Finfoot (Podica senegalensis):
This is a blackish brown bird with white spots on the back, red bill and legs and a white line along the neck. Although it is a waterbird, it does not dive and so always feeding under over-hanging vegetation near the banks.
5. Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata):
This is a big and spectacular bird with ‘lipstick’. It is the only Turaco that does not show red in the wings as it flies. It has a yellow breast, chestnut vent, black tail band, yellow outer tail feathers and the rest of the body is blue. This is a common species in forests, and even urban areas that are well kept with good trees. One of their calls sound like water pouring from a gourd and when they start, they can go on for a very long period.