Bird Species in Lake Mburo National Park

Bird Species in Lake Mburo National Park: This park spans 370 km and is an excellent destination for birding safaris. More than 332 bird species, particularly those that inhabit acacias, can be found in the park’s stunning lakes, woods, and savannahs. It offers unique birdwatching opportunities because it is the only national park in Uganda that is a member of the Zambezian Biome. Visitors can see rare bird species that are specific to this region, such as the Red-faced Barbet and the shoebill stork. Important spots for birdwatching include the vicinity of Lake Mburo National Park, the Rubanga woodland, the Warukiri and Miriti wetlands, and nearby salt licks.

Bird species in Lake Mburo National Park

Shoebill Stork—Discover the Magic of Lake Mburo’s Birds

As you discover the magic of Lake Mburo’s birds, the shoebill stork is a distinctive and famous, huge, long-legged wading bird in Uganda. With grey feathers and a characteristic shoe-shaped bill, this huge bird is about 4.5 feet tall and weighs over 7 kilograms. Because it frequently inhabits sizable waterlogged areas such as marshes that are teeming with reeds and grasses, it has been dubbed “the king of the marshes”. This threatened bird can be seen along the Warukiri and Miriti swamps on a lucky day.

African Finfoot – Bird Species in Lake Mburo

The African finfoot is distinguished by its vivid orange legs and bill. Males have a grey throat, while females have a white throat, and it has a distinctive back with spots and bars. This bird, which has a long neck, a sharp beak, and lobed feet, dwells close to water. Its underside is usually light, though its plumage varies. The finfoot can climb trees well and exhibits behaviours resembling those of grebes, darters, cormorants, flufftails, and some rails. Its short, broad neck, along with its multicoloured beak and feet, sets it apart from the darters and cormorants. It is visible during escorted nature tours in the Rubanga forest.

Grey Crowned Crane—Discover the Magic of Lake Mburo’s Birds

With characteristics including long necks, a straight beak, and a raised hind toe, African Grey Crowned Cranes are a rare type of huge, long-legged bird. Their cheek patches are pink, red, and white, and they have a golden, feathery crown on top of their heads. They weigh between 3 and 4 kilograms and are about 1 metre tall. The golden-crested crane, sometimes referred to as the grey-crowned crane, is an important national bird of Uganda. Their preferred habitat is marshes, and they frequently forage in flocks or pairs. They can congregate in groups of thirty to one hundred fifty, and they roost in trees. Due to their ability to run quickly after hatching, their chicks are known as precocial.

African Fish Eagle

The majestic African fish eagle is a striking bird with black flight feathers and a white neck, chest, head, back, and short tail. It is found close to open seas in sub-Saharan Africa. Although it also consumes waterbirds, its primary food source is slippery fish, which it captures with its powerful talons and abrasive soles. The distinctive features of the eagle include its enormous black wings, white head, and primarily brown body. The female typically lives 16–24 years in the wild and is larger than the male. Its golden hook-shaped beak, dark brown eyes, and yellow feet set it apart. The eagle’s cry, which is heard on the banks of Lake Mburo and atop tall trees as one surveys the surroundings, is frequently connected to the spirit of Africa.

Papyrus Gonolek—Discover the Magic of Lake Mburo’s Birds

A rare bird, the Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) is found in Ugandan papyrus swamps, specifically those of Lake Mburo and Mabamba. This medium-sized bush shrike is rather noticeable and is around 18 cm (7 in) in length. The male and female birds have a white strip on their wings, a yellow crown, black upper portions, and vivid orange-crimson breasts and upper bellies. They have unique “chuwee” or “chonk” calls. A unique sight for birdwatchers, the Papyrus Gonolek, a member of the Malaconotidae family, is primarily observed in the Warukiri and Miriti marshes during birding tours in Lake Mburo National Park.

African Wattled Lapwing

The Senegal wattled plover, another name for the African wattled lapwing, is a big wading bird that inhabits burnt areas, fallow fields, and marshes. Its brown body, black crown, white forehead, and huge yellow facial wattles with red bases give it a distinctive appearance. It has long yellow legs and a white tail with a black tip. The bird spends time bathing and preening, travels slowly, and frequently freezes with one leg up. Its primary food sources include seeds and a variety of insects, including locusts, grasshoppers, dung beetles, crickets, and other aquatic insects. They are usually observed in pairs or small groups during nature walks near Lake Mburo or in the wetlands of Miriti and Warukiri.

Martial Eagle

The martial eagle is renowned for its formidable hunting abilities and is a top predator in its habitat. The word “warlike” in its name reflects its audacious nature. With a weight of 4.17 kg, this eagle is the biggest in Africa and has powerful feet that can break a man’s arm. It inhabits a region of around 26,000 km² in sub-Saharan Africa, where it thrives in environments with an abundance of food and space. It is the sole member of the genus Polemaetus and is considered an endangered species. The martial eagle’s underside is lighter with brown spots, and its back is covered with dark brown feathers. It can be observed both alone and in pairs, especially on broad plains where it preys on vertebrates such as birds and rodents. It can identify prey because of its exceptional vision.

Bare-faced Go-Away-Bird

A stunning member of the Musophagidae family, the bare-faced go-away bird is distinguished by its naked black face. Its head is white, its body is grey, and its crest is bushy. Usually seen in small groups, this bird inhabits moist savannas, forests, and bushes at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,200 metres, with 1,000 to 2,000 metres being the most common. Because of its alarm call, which sounds like “G’way!”, the name “Go-away” was given. Its distinctive features include a bare black face for eating fruit, a grey-and-white look, and other characteristics that distinguish it from similar bird species. The bird is frequently spotted when on nature walks close to salt licks.

The Ross’s Turaco – Discover the Magic of Lake Mburo’s Birds

With dimensions of 51 to 54 cm and a weight of 390 to 444 grams, Ross’s Turaco is the second largest variety of Turaco. It can be observed on nature paths in Rubanga Forest and is a forest bird species. Both sexes assist in the incubation of the eggs. Since no other bird can have both real red and green, turacos are special. The gregarious turacos of Lady Ross frequently travel in cacophonous herds. They have rotatable, flexible outer toes. Turacoverdin, a unique pigment, gives them the ability to produce pure green in their feathers. Frequently spotted close to the borders of forests, the Ross’s Turaco is a beautiful bird with a red crest, yellow face, and purple body.

Double-Toothed Barbet

The Double-toothed Barbet (Pogonornis bidentatus), typically found next to fig trees, inhabits a variety of environments, including gardens, woodlands, and the edges of forests. These birds mostly eat fruits and insects and are frequently spotted in small groups or pairs. They live in the forest understory and fly to catch insects like termites and winged ants. Additionally, they eat fruits including avocados, papayas, and figs. The double-toothed barbet is a chubby bird distinguished by its long neck, huge head, and distinctive red and black colours. It is distinguished by its large ivory-coloured bill and golden skin surrounding the eyes. In locations such as the Rubanga Forest in Lake Mburo Park, Uganda, these birds can be seen during birding tours.

Yellow-Breasted Apalis

Considering the bird species in Lake Mburo National Park, the Cisticolidae family includes the stunning yellow-breasted apalis. It features a white belly that might have a black strip separating it from the breast, a yellow breast, a grey face with a red eye, and green top portions. In woodlands and forest borders, these birds are typically found in pairs. They frequently join mixed groups to feed in the canopy, displaying tail movements while they do so. Both males and females are recognised by their characteristic buzzing cries. This species is not regarded as vulnerable and has a broad range. They can be seen in savannas and subtropical or tropical forests, especially on nature walks near Rubanga woodland.

Other birds include Tabola Cisticola, Black-billed Bustard, Blue-headed Coucal, Speckled Mousebird, Black Cuckoo, White-winged Warbler, Crowned Hornbill, Broad-billed Roller, Crested Barbet, White-throated Bee-eater, Red-fronted Barbet, Western Tinker Bird, Little Egret, Black Stork, Purple Heron, White-backed Night Heron, Woolly-necked Stork, Cattle Egret, Long-toed Lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing, Brown Parrot, Tawny Eagle, and Black Scimitar Bill, among others.