The Murchison Falls National Park is an important Bird Area (IBA) in Uganda with the main bird species being the elusive shoebill stork (listed under the vulnerable species under IUCN Red List), Uganda’s National Bird-The Grey Crowned Crane and the World’s largest Heron specie-the Goliath Heron. Do not visit this Park only for the game drives and launch cruise, but get to see some of the breathtaking bird species.
There are 460 bird species that call the park their home. The different vegetation zones/environments including the Savanna and Riverine/swamps that characterize this park also harbor unique bird species.
Birding Points
The Nile Banks
One of the interesting bird viewing point in this park is the Nile Banks where you will encounter remarkable species of birds including the Speckle-fronted Weaver, the African Jacana, African Quail-Finch, Black-billed Barbet, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Weaver Birds, Giant Kingfishers, Swamp Flycatcher, Piapiac, Silver bird, Black-headed Gonolek, Sandpipers, the Blue-headed Coucal, Malachite Kingfishers, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Denham’s Bustard, Red-throated Bee-eater, Pied Kingfisher, and Squacco Heron. You will also be able to sight the aquatic birds, the Albertine Rift Endemics and Savanna forest birds like the Open-billed Storks, the Widow Bird, Secretary Birds, Marabou Stork, Black-bellied Bustards and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill during boat/launch cruise and game drives.
Thickets and Woodlands
The thickets and woodlands near the River Nile harbor fascinating bird species such as the Flycatchers, the geese, Giant Kingfishers, Crombecs, Warblers, Shrikes, Swallow-tailed bee-eaters (mostly on the Nyamusika Cliffs), Hammerkop, Woodpeckers, Red-throated Bee-eaters (mostly found on the Nyamusika Cliffs), plovers, Grey heron, Malachite Kingfishers, Hornbills, ducks and Cuckoos.
Budongo Forest
The magnificent Budongo Forest which is also part of Murchison Falls national Park is a home to most forest birds, especially Busingiro and Kaniyo-Pabidi sections offer the most spectacular bird watching points. Some of the interesting bird species within Budongo forest include the tourists’ favorite-the ituri batis, the fascinating illadopses such as the Puvel’s Illadopsis, Nahan’ Francolin, skulking Alethe, Xavier’s greenbul, Black-shouldered nightjar, African Greenbuls, chocolate-backed kingfisher, crested francolin and the incredible Madagascar lesser cuckoo.
Budongo is a known birding zone within the Albertine Rift migration corridor. Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro together account for more than 360 recorded bird species.
Commonly sought species include the chocolate-backed kingfisher, Ituri batis, Puffal’s illadopsis, and yellow-footed flycatcher. Early morning hours (6:30 to 10:00 AM) produce the most vocal activity. Afternoon sessions are possible but less productive.
Guides equipped with call playback devices and scopes help locate high-canopy and skulking understorey species. The forest’s closed canopy often requires patient observation and short-distance stalking.
These excursions are enriching during the dry months of January to March and again from July to early September. Migrants appear between October and April.
Birding excursions may be booked through Budongo Eco Lodge, Nature Uganda, or licensed safari operators. They are not walk-in activities and require some planning.
Birding Hotspots
Kaniyo Pabidi Forest (Southern Budongo Sector)
Forest birding in Kaniyo Pabidi centres on understorey and canopy species. The habitat supports more than 360 recorded bird species, including several Albertine Rift endemics.
Priority species here include Puel’s illadopsis, Ituri batis, yellow-footed flycatcher, dusky long-tailed cuckoo, and chestnut-capped flycatcher. The chocolate-backed kingfisher is best seen between November and April.
Migrant activity peaks between October and March. Early morning hours (from 6:30 AM) offer higher calling rates and a better chance of visual identification.
Access is via Budongo Eco Lodge. Birders often request specialist guides trained by Nature Uganda or Bird Uganda Safaris.
Delta Mouth (Victoria Nile to Lake Albert Confluence)
The delta zone is the most significant birding site in the park. It lies where the Victoria Nile empties into Lake Albert. This is where the shoebill is most reliably seen.
Shoebill observations peak between January and March. These months coincide with the dry season and result in lower water levels, exposing lungfish and frogs—primary prey of the shoebill.
Other frequent sightings in the delta include papyrus gonolek, goliath heron, black crake, African jacana, and malachite kingfisher. The delta also attracts pied and giant kingfishers, African fish eagle, and African skimmer during the transitional seasons.
Access to the delta is by motorised boat, operated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority or authorised lodges such as Baker’s Lodge and Murchison River Lodge. The trip lasts approximately 3 to 5 hours.
Nyamsika Cliffs and Savannah Edges (Buligi Sector)
Nyamsika Cliffs rise above the northern riverbank and offer a reliable raptor viewing station. Species recorded include African fish eagle, palm-nut vulture, augur buzzard, and martial eagle.
The open savannah below supports lapwings, coursers, ground hornbills, and open-country pipits—migratory species such as European bee-eater and Eurasian roller transit the area in September and again in March.
This area is best accessed during morning game drives, particularly along the Queen’s Track and Albert Track zones.
Note: Vehicle disturbance often suppresses bird activity, so idling engines should be avoided. Binoculars with a strong field of view are essential due to long sightlines across the open grassland.
Paraa Riverbanks and Ferry Area
Though often overlooked, the riverbanks near Paraa offer consistent sightings of water-associated birds. These include African darter, long-tailed cormorant, spur-winged lapwing, grey-headed gull, and three-banded plover.
The Paraa Ferry landing area is an excellent early-morning site for watching reed cormorants hunt along the bank margins. Hippos in this area sometimes stir fish, attracting opportunistic feeding by kingfishers and herons.
This site offers casual birding opportunities without requiring a specialist itinerary, making it a good filler between scheduled drives or boat trips.
Popular Birds to See
Other notable bird species tourists are likely to encounter include the African Darter, Abdim’s stork, White-faced whistling duck, Saddle-billed Stork, ring-necked francolin, Yellow-billed Stork, Osprey, Dark chanting Goshawk, Vaseline masked weaver, Martial eagles, Hugli’s Francolin, Denham’s Bustard, Spotted thick-knee, Long-toed plover, Senegal thick-knee, yellow-bellied hyliota, Sacred Ibis, Rock pratincole, Black-headed plover, Black-billed wood dove, parasitic weaver, pennant-winged nightjar, Bar-breasted firefinch, Veracious Dove, Long-tailed Nightjar, Spur-winger geese, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Blue-naped moosebird, Giant Kingfisher, Heuglin’s masked weaver, White-browned Sparrow weaver, Pied Kingfisher, Verreaux’s Eagle owl, Malachite kingfishers, orange- winged pytilia, Brown-rumped bunting, Blue-napped Mousebird, Chestnut-crowned sparrow weaver, African crake, Swallow-tailed bee-eater, Marsh Tchagra, Red throated bee-eater, bronze-tailed glossy starling, Black Crake, standard winged nightjars, Northern Carmine bee-eater, Black scimitarbill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, black-backed Cisticola, Blue-naped moosebird, White-rumped seed-eater, Yellow fronted Tinkerbird, Black-billed barbets, White fronted black-chat, Silverbird, Piapiac, Speckle-fronted weaver, Speckle-breasted woodpecker, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Black-faced waxbill, Fawn-breasted waxbill, Sulphur-breasted bush shrike, Double-toothed Barbet, Black-lored babbler, Eastern grey Plantain-eater, Whistling Cisticola, Yellow-throated greenbul, Double-toothed barbet, Grey-headed Gondola, standard-winged nightjar, Black-headed Batis, Red-winged Grey warbler, Northern Crombec, Spotted morning thrush.
Practical Tips and Advice
Tourists who are planning to take a birding safari in Uganda are advised to carry binoculars, backpack, cameras and enough drinking water. The bets time to vist this beautiful National park for bird watching is the rainy season from March to May and September to November because it is the breeding season, hence you are likely to encounter large numbers of bird species.
How to Reach Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is found about 396 kilometers/5-6 hours drive from Kampala and is accessible by both air and road transport. The commonly used route to access this Park is Kampala-Masindi then to the Park through Kichumbayobo gate or Lake Albert side.
Besides the magnificent Murchison waterfalls and remarkable wildlife species including four of the Big Five animals (lions, leopards, elephants and Buffaloes), this Park is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and a home to over 460 bird species that make it a favorite bird watcher’s Paradise.