Bird Species to See in Lake Mburo National Park

Bird Species to See in Lake Mburo National Park: Uganda’s smallest savannah park, which spans 370 km² and is an excellent place for birding safaris, is home to over 332 bird species, predominantly acacia-dwelling birds. The park features beautiful landscapes, including swamp-fringed lakes, acacia woodlands, and open savannahs, creating a perfect habitat for birds. Notably, it is the only national park in Uganda within the Zambezian Biome, offering a unique birding experience.

Birders can find several sought-after species here, such as the threatened Shoebill Stork. Other birds in the park include the Papyrus Gonolek, Double-toothed Barbet, Grey Crowned Crane, African Finfoot, and Red-faced Barbet. Lake Mburo is special because it is the only place in Uganda to see the Red-faced Barbet, and visitors may also spot the African Finfoot while on a boat safari. Rubanga Forest, Miriti, and Warukiri wetlands are the major birding areas in Lake Mburo, together with the salt licks adjacent to wildlife and a landscape viewing platform.

Bird species in Lake Mburo National Park

Bare-faced Go-away-bird

Following the bird species to see in Lake Mburo National Park, this is one of the rare bird species with a vibrant and distinctive black bare face. It has a bushy crest, a white head, and a grey body. This bird typically lives in moist savannas, woodlands, and shrubs, often in small groups, at elevations between 500 m and 2,200 m, primarily 1,000‒2,000 m. The name “Go-away” comes from its alarm call, which sounds like “G’way!” Unlike similar species, it has a grey and white appearance, a bare black face for eating fruit, and specific features that set it apart. The bird can often be seen during nature walks near salt licks.

Red-Faced Barbet

A red-faced barbet is a colourful bird from the African barbet family, Lybiidae, known for its bright red face and eye markings, while the top of its head is black. It often appears in pairs or small groups, commonly found in woodlands and around viewing platforms near salt licks. It is similar to the black-billed barbet but does not have red on its throat.

Grey Crowned Crane

Following the bird species to see in Lake Mburo National Park, the African Grey Crowned Crane is a unique, large, long-legged bird species with distinctive features such as a long neck, straight bill, and an elevated hind toe. They have colourful markings, including pink, red, and white cheek patches and a golden feathery crown on their heads. They are about 1 metre tall and weigh between 3 and 4 kg. The grey crowned crane, also known as the golden crested crane, is significant as the national bird of Uganda. These birds prefer to live in wetlands and often feed in pairs or flocks. They roost in trees and can gather in large groups, ranging from 30 to 150. Their chicks are called precocial since they can run shortly after hatching. This unique Grey Crowned Crane represents Uganda as its National bird.

Shoebill Stork

Arguably, the Shoebill Stork is a unique and popular large, long-legged wading bird in Uganda, also known as the whale-headed or Shoebill stork. This large bird stands about 4.5 feet tall and weighs over 7 kg, with grey feathers and a distinctive shoe-shaped bill. It is often found in large water swamps filled with grasses and reeds, earning it the nickname “the king of the marshes”. On a lucky day, you can see this rare bird species along the Miriti and Warukiri Swamps.

Papyrus Gonolek

The Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) is a rare bird found in papyrus swamps in Uganda, particularly Lake Mburo and Mabamba wetlands. This medium-sized bush-shrike measures about 18 cm (7 in) long and has a striking appearance. Both male and female birds have a yellow crown, black upper parts, and bright orange-crimson on their breast and upper belly, with a white bar on their wings. They make distinctive “chonk” or “chuwee” calls. The Papyrus Gonolek, belonging to the Malaconotidae family, is mostly seen in the Warukiri and Miriti swamps during birding tours in Lake Mburo National Park, making it a special sight for birdwatchers.

African Finfoot

The African finfoot is a striking, duck-like bird known for its bright orange bill and legs. It has a unique back with spots and bars, a grey throat in males, and a white throat in females. This bird lives near water and has lobed feet, a long neck, and a sharp beak. Its plumage varies but is generally pale underneath. The finfoot displays behaviours similar to grebes, darters, cormorants, flufftails, and some rails and can climb trees well. It is distinguished from the darters and cormorants by its short, thick neck, as well as by its colourful bill and feet. In the Rubanga forest, it can be seen during escorted nature walks.

African Wattled Lapwing

The African wattled lapwing, also known as the Senegal wattled plover, is a large wading bird found in marshes, fallow fields, and burnt areas. It has a striking appearance with a brown body, black crown, white forehead, and large yellow facial wattles with red bases. Its tail is white with a black tip, and it has long yellow legs. The bird walks slowly, often freezes with one leg raised, and spends time preening and bathing. Its diet mainly consists of seeds and various insects such as crickets, dung beetles, grasshoppers, locusts, and other aquatic insects. During nature treks around Lake Mburo or in the wetlands of Miriti and Warukiri, they are typically seen in pairs or small groups.

Martial Eagle

Among the bird species to see in Lake Mburo National Park is the martial eagle, a top predator in its environment, known for its powerful hunting skills. Its name means “war-like”, reflecting its bold nature. This eagle is the largest in Africa, weighing about 4.17 kg, and can break a man’s arm with its strong feet. It lives in sub-Saharan Africa, thriving in areas with plenty of food and space, covering around 26,000 km². As an endangered species, it is the only member of its genus, Polemaetus. The martial eagle has dark brown feathers on its back and a lighter underbelly with brown blotches. It can be seen alone or in pairs, particularly in open plains where it swoops down on vertebrates like rats and birds. It has excellent eyesight, able to spot prey from 6 km away, and can be observed on nature walks.

Yellow-throated Tinkerbird

The Yellow-Throated Tinkerbird is a common bird species in Uganda, part of the African barbet family (Lybiidae). This small, plump bird has a large head and a heavy, hairy bill. Usually solitary, it is found in forests and along forest edges. It can sometimes be confused with the Red-rumped and Yellow-rumped tinkerbirds but is distinct in its bicoloured appearance and yellowish throat. It can be spotted in the Rubanga forest.

Double-toothed Barbet

The Double-toothed Barbet (Pogonornis bidentatus). The double-toothed barbet is usually found near fig trees and lives in various habitats like woodlands, gardens, and forest edges. These birds are often seen in pairs or small groups and mostly feed on fruits and insects. They dwell in the understory of thick woodlands and capture insects like winged ants and termites while flying. Their diet also includes fruits such as figs, papayas, and avocados. The double-toothed barbet is a plump bird known for its striking black and red colours, large head, and long neck. Its notable features include a big ivory-coloured bill and yellow skin around the eyes. These birds can be spotted during birding tours in places like Rubanga Forest in Lake Mburo Park, Uganda.

Yellow-Rumped Tinkerbird

Following Bird Species to see in Lake Mburo National Park, the Yellow-rumped Warbler is unique among warblers because it can digest the waxes in bayberries and wax myrtles. This ability allows it to winter further north than other warblers, reaching Newfoundland. Male Yellow-rumped Warblers often search for food higher in trees than females. They are small birds with striking black-and-white colouring and bold white facial stripes. Their rump colour varies from pale yellow to gold depending on the region. The yellow-rumped tinkerbird, similar in appearance but with different markings, can be seen in forests, particularly on nature walks in Rubanga forest during a tour in Uganda’s Mburo National Park.

Yellow-Breasted Apalis

The Yellow-breasted Apalis is a beautiful bird in the Cisticolidae family. It has green upper parts, a yellow breast, a grey face with a red eye, and a white belly that may have a black bar separating it from the breast. These birds are found in pairs in forest edges and woodlands and often join mixed flocks to feed in the canopy, showing tail movements as they move. They are known for their distinct buzzy call heard from both males and females. This species has a wide range and is not considered vulnerable. You can see them in subtropical or tropical forests and savannas, particularly around Rubanga forest on nature walks.

Other birds to see in Lake Mburo National Park

The vibrant Piapiac, African Crake, Pin-tailed Whydah, Emerald-spotted Woodland Dove, Pied Kingfisher, Green Pigeon, Yellow-billed Stork, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Malachite Kingfisher, Long-crested Eagle, Namaqua Dove, Saddle-billed Stork, great Cormorant, Goliath Heron, Abdim’s Stork, Black-breasted Snake Eagle, African Darter, Ring-necked Dove, African Openbill, Black-bellied Bustard, Papyrus Gonolek, Blue-headed Gonolek, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Swamp Nightjar, and many others.

What is the best time to visit Lake Mburo National Park?

Considering the bird Species to see in Lake Mburo National Park, the best times for birdwatching at Lake Mburo are January, February, June, and July due to less rain and better road conditions. Migrating birds arrive in November and leave by April. Wildlife is generally easy to see year-round, especially near lakes during the dry seasons of January to February and June to August. Wildlife watching remains good in the rainy seasons, but it’s recommended to avoid night drives near a full moon if you’re hoping to see a leopard. During nature treks around Lake Mburo or in the wetlands of Miriti and Warukiri, they are typically seen in pairs or small groups.