Birding is one of the main activities in Murchison Falls wildlife safari park. A diversity of birds have become residents to this park due to its diversity of vegetation, land scape and features. To bird lovers, this is perfect.
Birds viewed on a Murchison Falls field trip

Herons
These birds are found in wetlands and feed on fish, frogs and other aquatic species. Others like the Cattle Egret and Clack-headed Heron take large insects and are less tied to watery environments. Herons fly with their necks retracted, not outstretched and they have powder down, making them different from the other birds that they resemble, like the Ibises, storks and spoon bills. They are sometimes called the Egrets or Bitterns and are in the family of the Ardeidae and known as the Wading birds.

Bee-eaters
They live in burrows tunnelled into the side of sandy banks and they produce 2-9 eggs per clutch and are white in colour. They have monogamous families with bi-parental care of the young ones. They eat and feed on insects for example bees, wasps and hornets. They feed by removing the sting and hitting the insect on a hard surface. And they catch them in the air by sailies from an open perch.

Shoe Bill
Its name was derived from its massive shoe-shaped bill and lives on the Nile, below the Murchison Falls. Its a very large grey swamp-dweller and ranges from 1.2m (4 ft) tall, 5.6 Kg (12.3 lb) and 2.33m (7.7 ft) across the wings. The show bill nests on the ground, laying 2 eggs and feed on Lungfish and similar fish.

Cormorant
These are medium-to-large seabirds and the name was derived from a Latin one known as Corvus marinus, which means “Sea raven”. Their scientific genus name is Latinised from Phalakuos and Korax. Their skins are coloured with red, bright blue, yellow, orange and they become more brightly coloured in the breeding season. In the 16th Century, the Cormorants were related to ravens.

Their feet are four-toed and webbed, with long bill, thin and sharply hooked. They feed on small eels, water snakes and fish. They get their food by diving into the water where they propel themselves with their feet.

Fish Eagles
These stay near fresh water lakes, reservoirs or rivers and coast, at the mouths of rivers or lagoons. They breed during dry season when the water levels are low.
Fish Eagles are large birds, but the females are usually larger than the males in such a way that the females have wingspans of more than 2.4m (8 feet) and are distinctive with a large brown body and powerful black wings. The males have a wingspan of about 2m (6 feet). The breast, tail and head are snow white in colour, with the hook-shaped beak which is yellow in colour and a black tip.

Female fish eagle lays white eggs, but few are reddish speckles from the number of 1 to 3 eggs. The females do the incubation and lasts for 42 to 45 days, the male can come in when the female leaves to hunt. When the eggs hatch, the younger chicks will be killed by the eldest chick. These chicks feed themselves after 8 weeks and will begin to venture outside of the nest 2 weeks later. Meanwhile, the fish eagle feeds on the fish.

King Fishers
The habitats of the King fisher are in the woodland and in the wetland. Those that live in the wetland hunt for small fish, Cray fish, frogs and insects as their prey, by diving for them. While those that live in the woodland eat reptiles.
King fishers have short legs, heads, pointed sharp bills, large and stubby tails and they have three families which are Alcedinidae the river King fishers, Halcyonidae the tree King fishers and Cerylidae the water King fishers.
Uganda birding safaris and tours

Uganda is a true African birding destination, located across the equator. Uganda attracts
migratory birds from North and South hemisphere. Uganda is the richest country for birds in Africa. It has almost half of the species known on the African continent and over 10% of those recorded throughout the entire world. Over 1,000 species of birds have been recorded to exist in the country. Some of the exciting species you will view include birds of water and land shore, birds of shrub and woodland, forest birds and birds of the open plain.

Most of our National parks have a diversity of birds; however, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison falls, Bwindi Impenetrable and Semiliki National Parks are the most famous for birding.
If you are a bird lover, Uganda is the ideal destination that will make your dream come true. Our excellent guides will add flavour to your own experience on birds. Be our honoured guest.

Where to go for birdwatching and field trips
§ Queen Elizabeth national Park.
§ Murchison Falls National Park.
§ Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
§ Semiliki National Park.
§ Kibale National park.
§ Mabira Forest
§ Mabamba Wetland
§ Botanical Gardens
§ Lake Mburo
§ Bodongo Forest
§ Mgahinga Forest
§ Bigodi Swamp
§ Kampala

Check out more details on Birds in Uganda -Uganda bird list.