Birdwatching in Uganda

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Silverbirds and Shoebills

With the stable political situation and the continually improving facilities inside its 10 national parks, Uganda is rapidly positioning itself as one of Africa's premier birding destinations. In a three-week trip, an energetic and well-prepared birder might record over 500 species, while even the more relaxed visitor could expect to see in excess of 300.

To date, 1004 species have been recorded in Uganda - just 76 fewer than Kenya, which is more than twice its size; of other African countries, only Zaïre and Tanzania have more bird species and both are far larger.

The tremendous avian diversity can be attributed to Uganda's position at the crossroads between the savannas of the east and the tropical rainforests of the west, with the added attraction of major rivers, lakes and mountains.

Most travellers begin their exploration of Uganda at Entebbe and the nearby city of Kampala. After more than 20 years of political turmoil, peace has returned to these and other Ugandan towns, and a feeling of optimism prevails among the people. Although the temptation is to set off immediately to wilder places, these large towns have a good deal to fascinate and surprise the birdwatcher.

Kampala is remarkable for its large populations of Marabou Storks, Hooded Vultures and Black Kites, all of which consume anything edible in the streets and around the informal markets. Gazing out of our hotel room window upon hundreds of Marabous perched atop rusty rooftops, globeless street lights and church steeples, was an amazing sight.

These Frankensteins of the bird world are shadowed by Hooded Vultures which wander the sidewalks like carnivorous chickens, beating a retreat to the nearest street pole if approached too closely. Each evening, hundreds of these vultures gather to roost in the grounds of the city's Nile Hotel where, it is said, former dictators had countless people murdered and buried in shallow graves. It seems that the winged scavengers are faithful to their former feeding sites.

But on to brighter things. Walking through the gardens of any of the larger hotels, you can hardly avoid the boisterous gangs of Eastern Grey Plantain-eaters (a type of turaco), Common Bulbuls, African Thrushes, African Pied Wagtails or the gaudy Double-toothed Barbet. And in well-wooded gardens of Kampala's suburbs, the Grey Woodpecker, Great Blue Turaco and Variable Sunbird are among the many enticing species.

Taking a drink on the veranda of the popular Kabira Club with a pair of Vanga Flycatchers hawking insects over the lawn, and Black-and-white-casqued Hornbills jostling with exuberant Ross's Turacos over ripe figs - too close for viewing with binoculars - was our kind of birding!

Still, to make the most out of Uganda's birding opportunities you've got to put down your glass, pick up your binoculars, and hit the road. Although Uganda is not a large country, it takes time to get from one place to another as many of the roads are bad to horrendous, and become even worse after rain.

For birdwatchers who have the time, the clockwise circuit we followed, beginning in Entebbe and ending at Murchison Falls National Park, will get you to most of the important areas, including eight of the 10 national parks.

Leaving the hustle and bustle of Kampala behind, we drove south-west alongside the papyrus wetlands fringing the enormous Lake Victoria. Apart from the marshlands, every square inch of soil is cultivated here, with plots of matoke (a plantain or savoury banana which forms the staple diet), alongside pineapples, jack-fruit, mangoes and papaya. Some birds have adapted well to this modified environment, with the aforementioned turacos, Crowned Crane (Uganda's national bird), Black-headed Heron, Long-crested Eagle and Grey-backed Fiscal seemingly doing well.

Doing even better are the Pied Kingfishers which occur in astonishing numbers on the fringes of the wetlands. I estimated about 300 within three kilometres, lined up like swallows along the overhead wires!

Due west of Lake Victoria is the exquisite Lake Mburo, surrounded by the Lake Mburo National Park, a hilly area dominated by acacia trees. This is probably the best place in Uganda to see birds typical of Tanzanian thorn bush, such as Northern Black Tit and Bare-faced Go-away Bird (a turaco very similar to the Grey Lourie). Here too, we had our first meeting with Rüppell's Long-tailed Starling, a species which later assumed 'junk bird' status. A highlight was the male Pennant-winged Nightjar in extravagant breeding dress, dancing above the flickering flames of our campfire.

The papyrus-fringed shores of Lake Mburo are the habitat of the brilliantly coloured but elusive Papyrus Gonolek - a member of the bush shrike family. Blue-headed Coucal, Swamp Flycatcher and Northern Brown-throated Weaver are less retiring species of the papyrus beds.

Occupying the northern slopes of the famed Virunga volcanoes, the Mgahinga National Park is tucked into the extreme south-western corner of Uganda. Mountain gorillas are the main attraction here, with several families of the remaining 300 or so of the great apes comparatively safe on the Ugandan slopes of the mountains. Birds are nothing short of scarce in the misty, lichen-clad forests of the Virungas, but African Sooty Flycatcher, Regal Sunbird and the almost-mythical Rwenzori Turaco may be chanced upon.

Below the Virungas, the scenery in the heavily populated Kisoro district is picturesque, with terraced vegetable farms and thatched homesteads hugging the fertile slopes. Needless to say, indigenous vegetation has all but vanished and birds other than domestic fowl are in short supply. This makes it all the more surprising to discover the gem of Uganda's wildlife parks just 25 kilometres to the north.

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was established primarily to safeguard the only population of mountain gorillas outside of the Virungas, with another 300 or so of the endangered primates occurring here. As at Mgahinga, gorilla viewing is the most popular activity, with strictly controlled gorilla treks on a daily basis. Permits to track the gorillas are in such demand, however, that casual travellers will have to wait several days for even a slim chance of taking over a cancelled booking. Worse things could happen though - Bwindi is quite simply a birdwatcher's paradise!

Containing both lowland and montane forest in an altitudinal range between 1 160 and 2 650 metres, Bwindi has an extraordinary biodiversity, and is regarded as the richest forest in East Africa for trees, ferns, butterflies and birds. Of the 346 bird species recorded at Bwindi, eight occur nowhere else in East Africa and 23 of the 29 Albertine Rift endemics are resident. As with all forests, birdwatching can be difficult, at times very frustrating, but opportunities are enhanced at Bwindi by the broad pathways and hill slopes which afford good views into the canopy. An early morning walk with one of the local guides, many of whom are skilled field observers, will prove to be an unforgettable experience for even the most seasoned birder.

During one such walk, we enjoyed sightings of Black Bee-eater, Bar-tailed Trogon, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Equatorial Akalat, Lühder's Bush Shrike, Purple-breasted Sunbird and Black-faced Rufous Warbler, among others. Added to this were the minor diversions of a mountain gorilla silverback and his family nonchalantly crossing the path just metres ahead of us, a band of enchanting L'Hoest's monkeys, endless clouds of brilliant butterflies, and a treasure-house of botanical wonders.

For birders, the biggest prizes at Bwindi are the African Green Broadbill, Fraser's Eagle Owl and Grauer's Warbler, but one needs equal doses of determination, patience and luck to see these rarities. The checklist for the reserve suggests that serious birdwatchers will need no fewer than five days to cover the different habitats and maximize on the species seen. Sadly, we had no such time and it was with no small amount of frustration that we departed from this incredible forest and made our way 30 or so kilometres north to the Ishasha Gate of the Queen Elizabeth National Park - a trip that took us more than four hours.

In the southern sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, the forest is replaced by open savanna grassland, with isolated fig and acacia trees creating a true park-like setting. Bateleurs cut their soaring outlines in the sky, Olive Bee-eaters hawked insects above herds of kob and topi, and busy little flocks of Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu burst from the roadside.

Although there is a lovely campsite on the banks of the Ishasha River, we continued north to the reserve's headquarters at Mweya. A wide public road - better than any we had thus far experienced - cuts through the national park, but traffic is very light and the abundant buffalo, kob and warthog graze unconcernedly right up to the verge.

Mweya is set in the most magnificent location, on a steep peninsula jutting into Lake Edward and flanked by the Kazinga Channel. On a clear day, you may see the snow-capped peaks of the mighty Rwenzori Mountains to the north, but the haze of bushfires and an approaching thunderstorm denied us this view. Mweya consists of a sprawling lodge-cum-hotel, once the epitome of style but now in the none-too-soon throes of renovation. The rooftops of the hotel were decorated with watchful Marabous, and the trees outside with the woven nests of Yellow-backed, Black-headed and Slender-billed weavers. Blue-naped Mousebird, Angola Swallow and Red-chested Sunbird were conspicuous, and pairs of striking Black-headed Gonolek easily tracked down by their insistent duet calls.

The birding highlight of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the Kazinga Channel boat cruise which departs from Mweya and passes a fantastic assortment of waterbirds. Although most of the species will be familiar to southern African birders, it is the sheer quantity of birds, and the opportunity to approach them so closely, that make this a bird-watching feast. The channel also supports the densest concentration of hippos anywhere in Africa but, strangely, no crocodiles.

Other areas worth exploring at Queen Elizabeth are the craters north of the channel, the forested Chamburu Gorge and the marshlands surrounding Lake George. This flagship of Ugandan parks boasts an amazing total of 547 recorded species - one of the highest of any single protected area in the world - and the 24-hour record in listing competitions is 296 bird species!

Continuing north to the town of Kasese in the foothills of the Rwenzori, we soon realized why so many of the continent's great explorers had bypassed these fabled 'Mountains of the Moon'. Enshrouded in cloud, there was absolutely no hint that great icy peaks rising to 5 000 metres would loom above us should the sky miraculously clear. Well, it didn't and although we walked part of the hiking trail in the hope of a glimpse, the mountains and the wildlife they support remained a mystery to us. For birdwatchers, there are better places to spend one's time, although a number of specials such as Bearded Vulture, Red-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Mountain Illadopsis, Rwenzori Batis and Bamboo Warbler will certainly tempt the more dedicated.

About 60 kilometres farther north, Fort Portal is a small but frenetically busy town at the northern end of the Rwenzoris. Palmnut Vulture, Ross's Turaco, African Citril and Woodland Kingfisher in the hotel gardens whet our appetites for an exploration of the nearby Kibale Forest.

Kibale is a remnant of a huge forest which once covered much of western Uganda, and is home to nearly as many bird species as Bwindi. The forest is very dense, however, and the canopy so high that deep inside the forest the only realistic quarry are the terrestrial birds. We did however have close-up views of Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird and Olive Sunbird along the way. Two species of pitta - African and Green-breasted - occur at Kibale but when the sky darkened with the onset of rain and visibility in the forest decreased markedly, we doubted that this would be our day.

Little did we know that such gloomy conditions prompt pittas to call, and as we took a breather against the buttress of a gigantic fig tree, two male African Pittas uttered their strange frog-like call just a stone's throw away. We could hardly believe it, so we crept through the undergrowth in the direction of the calls, edging along as silently as we could. Suddenly, our guide stopped and excitedly urged us forward. He had one of the pittas in view as it launched itself in a cartwheel from its perch while calling. The second bird replied behind us.

Back? Or forward? We hesitated, and by the time we had crept up alongside, it had slipped away...

More time at Kibale would have provided us with opportunities of seeing birds such as Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Blue-throated Roller, White-headed Woodhoopoe, Yellow-billed Barbet, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Joyful Greenbul, Green Crombec, Jameson's Wattle-eye and Pink-footed Puffback - all reportedly quite common. Anyone planning a visit to Kibale should spend a minimum of two nights in the area, allowing for a couple of morning and afternoon forest walks.

Our next destination was the Semliki Valley on the western side of the Rwenzoris and on the border with Zaïre. This is a hard to get to and little visited area, but one of great interest to naturalists, as it is here that many lifeforms typical of the Congo Basin reach their easterly limit. Two conservation areas exist in the valley, with the Semliki Wildlife Reserve extending to the southern shores of Lake Albert, and the Semliki National Park incorporating part of the vast Ituri Forest and the remarkable Sempaya Hot Springs.

Lake Albert is well known for its population of Shoebill, and a boat we hired from the Ntoroko fishing village took us as close to one of these impressive stork-like birds as the mats of water hyacinth would allow. The Shoebill appears not to be one of the world's most energetic birds, being quite content to wait for as long as it takes for a fish to come within striking distance; its extraordinary bill is apparently used to excavate its preferred prey of lungfish from the mud.

The Semliki Wildlife Reserve is a wild and extremely beautiful area of tall grass, dotted with groves of Borassus palms and spreading tamarind trees. Seed-eating birds were particularly bountiful, with Black Bishop, Black-winged Red Bishop, Fawn-breasted Waxbill and Grey-crowned Negrofinch being of most interest. The riparian forest is home to Black-billed Barbet and Red-throated Bee-eater, as well as black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkey and chimpanzee.

The Semliki National Park is the place to go if you're keen to see a host of typical West African forest birds but, as there are only the most basic facilities, one has to be totally self-sufficient. Six species of hornbill - including the massive Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill and the bizarre White-crested Hornbill - occur nowhere else in Uganda and this is also the place to seek similarly localized species such as Hartlaub's Duck, Long-tailed Hawk, African Piculet, Ituri Batis and Fiery-breasted Bush Shrike. For those who enjoy a bit of a challenge, there are 21 species of cryptic bulbul/greenbul to be sorted out here!

The northern end of the 150 kilometre-long Lake Albert sees the Victoria Nile pouring in from the east to meet the Albert Nile, and together they embark on the great journey north to the Mediterranean. Uganda's largest reserve - the Murchison Falls National Park - is situated at this watery junction and incorporates a range of habitats to support some 450 bird species.

Shoebill are quite easily observed in the marsh at the top of Lake Albert, while out in the open savanna, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater and Sooty Ant-eater Chat are all common. We were especially taken with the cheeky Piapiac (a small, gregarious crow which rides on the backs of elephant and other mammals) and one of the prettiest of all flycatchers, the Silverbird.

In the denser vegetation around our base at the Nile Safari Camp alongside the Nile River, Dusky Flycatcher were typically confiding, but it was Beautiful Sunbird, Western Violet-backed Sunbird and Spotted Morning Thrush which caught the eye. Not to be missed, of course, are the Murchison Falls themselves, which sees the entire contents of the Victoria Nile thunder through a seven-metre gap in the low escarpment. White-headed Saw-wing, Wire-tailed Swallow and African Palm Swift swept in arcs above the spray, catching and consuming their insect prey.

The road from Murchison Falls south to Kampala is rather good once the town of Masindi has been reached, making it an easy day-trip. Back at the Kabira Club, we caught our breath before moving on to Entebbe and winging our way to the extreme north-eastern corner of Uganda and the Kidepo Valley National Park.

The roads in the far north of Uganda were not recommended at the time of our visit due to sporadic rebel activity, so a charter flight was our only option if we wanted to get to this almost forgotten but ornithologically intriguing park.

As it turned out, flying in to the park was the best way to experience the dramatic landscape of towering inselbergs and open savanna. Kidepo is a semi-arid region, and we had anticipated seeing Egyptian Vulture, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Standard-winged Nightjar and Abyssinian Roller, but, ironically, the rains had been so heavy during the past months that we could not gain vehicular access to the 'driest' part of the park. We were thus more or less restricted to the vicinity of the Apoka headquarters, but this proved to be more than worthwhile as Fan-tailed Raven, Vinaceous Dove, Superb Starling, Yellow-billed Shrike, Silverbird and Chestnut Weaver were in constant view at the camp, and a single Blue Swallow put in an appearance.

The marshes were crowded with hundreds, if not thousands, of buffaloes groomed by both Yellow-billed and Red-billed oxpeckers, and African Crake seemed to be everywhere. Black Coucal was abundant, with more than 30 prominently perched males counted in the Narus Marsh alone. An exploration of the rocky outcrops south of the camp aimed at finding White-crested Turaco and Black-breasted Barbet, but we had to settle for a glimpse of the white morph of the Paradise Flycatcher and the call of the Slate-coloured Boubou.

During our visit to Uganda, we were impressed with the wonderful scenery, well-managed national parks and excellent guides at Bwindi and Kibale but, perhaps most of all, by the friendly hard-working people whom we encountered. We will certainly return, and who knows, we may yet get those pittas!

WHEN TO GO?
Birdwatching is consistently good throughout the year. Uganda lies on the Equator and its climatic conditions vary little throughout the year, but the period between May and mid-September is comparatively dry. The equatorial climate is tempered by the elevated altitude of about 1 000 metres.

HOW TO GET THERE
There are twice-weekly flights from Johannesburg to Entebbe, but it is also possible to drive to Uganda via Kenya.

GETTING AROUND
There are many good hotels in Kampala and Entebbe, and comfortable ones in most smaller towns. Upmarket lodges exist in many of the national parks, where there is also more basic accommodation in the form of bandas (simple thatched rondavels) and campsites.

Uganda's rural roads are generally in poor shape, and a robust vehicle is recommended for long-distance driving. Car hire is expensive but there are several companies in Entebbe and Kampala which provide a driver along with the vehicle. A number of Kampala- and Entebbe-based tour companies specialize in organizing trips to the wildlife reserves, and this includes a vehicle and driver/guide - worthwhile if your budget allows. The least expensive way to get around between towns is by matatu (taxi), a mode of transport not ideal for the faint-hearted.

There are plenty of opportunities to travel by boat on the extensive lakes and rivers, and it is sometimes possible to hire boats from local fishermen. Organized cruises and ferries operate on the Nile River at Paraa, Lake Victoria, and elsewhere.

GENERAL SAFETY
Uganda has been peaceful and largely untroubled since current President Musseveni took control in 1986. However, the extreme north of the country is currently unsafe due to Sudanese-backed rebel activity.

Common sense rules regarding potentially dangerous large mammals apply in the national parks, where none of the lodges or campsites are fenced. Hippos are particularly abundant and it is not advisable to swim in rivers and lakes, or wander around camps after dark.

HEALTH ADVICE

Take health and traveler insurance before departing.
Although most of the country is above 1 000 metres, malaria is present, especially along the Nile River, so consult your doctor or pharmacist for suitable prophylactics. A yellow fever inoculation is required for entry.

It is advisable to stick to the widely available bottled water. If out in the bundu, boil all water or treat it with purifying tablets before use.

It is a good idea to carry a well-stocked first-aid kit when travelling overland. Emergency medical services, including repatriation, can be arranged. AIDS is a major problem.

COSTS
Traveling comfortably in Uganda is not cheap but the superb birdwatching, wildlife viewing and wonderful scenic attractions make it good value for money. The rate is approximately US$1 to 1 000 Ugandan Shillings.

FIELD GUIDES
The Illustrated Checklist to the Birds of Eastern Africa by Ber van Perlo (Collins) is indispensable as it illustrates and describes every species which may be seen in Uganda. The much more substantial Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania by Zimmerman, Turner and Pearson (Russel Friedman Books) features 85% of Uganda's birds and is an invaluable reference for tricky species but is rather heavy to be carried around. Not quite as useful is the Birds of East Africa by Williams and Arlott (Collins).

A very useful checklist to all the birds (and mammals) of Uganda's 10 national parks is available from the Uganda Tourism Board in Kampala and at some of the parks themselves.

Serious birders will want to carry a portable tape recorder to record and play back the calls of forest birds.

Bird species mentioned
(listed in the order in which they appear)
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Eastern Grey Plantain-eater Crinifer zonurus
Common (Black-eyed) Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus
African Thrush Turdus pelios
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp
Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus
Grey Woodpecker Dendropicus goertae
Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata
Variable (Yellow-bellied) Sunbird Nectarinia venusta
Vanga (Black-and-white) Flycatcher Bias musicus
Black-and-white-casqued (Grey-cheeked) Hornbill Ceratogymna subcylindricus
Ross's Turaco Musophaga rossae
Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
Grey-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Northern (Carp's) Black Tit Parus leucomelas
Bare-faced Go-away Bird Corythaixoides personata
Rüppell's Long-tailed Starling Lamprotornis purpuropterus
Pennant-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx vexillarius
Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri
Blue-headed Coucal Centropus monachus
Swamp Flycatcher Muscicapa aquatica
Northern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus castanops
African Sooty Flycatcher Muscicapa infuscata
Regal Sunbird Nectarinia regia
Rwenzori Turaco Tauraco johnstoni
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis
Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta
Equatorial Akalat Sheppardia aequatorialis
Lühder's Bush Shrike Laniarius luehderi
Purple-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia purpureiventris
Black-faced Rufous Warbler Bathmocercus rufus
African Green Broadbill Pseudocalyptomena graueri
Fraser's Eagle Owl Bufo poensis
Grauer's Warbler Graueria vittata
Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
Olive Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus
Yellow-backed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus
Black-headed (Spotted-backed) Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Slender-billed Weaver Ploceus pelzelni
Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus
Angola Swallow Hirundo angolensis
Red-chested Sunbird Nectarinia erythrocerca
Black-headed Gonolek Laniarius erythrogaster
Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus
Red-tufted Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia johnstoni
Mountain Illadopsis Illadopsis pyrrhopterum
Rwenzori Batis Batis diops
Bamboo Warbler Bradypterus alfredi
Palmnut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
African Citril Serinus citrinelloides
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Nectarinia cyanolaema
Olive Sunbird Nectarinia olivacea
African (Angola) Pitta Pitta angolensis
Green-breasted Pitta Pitta reichenowi
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis
White-headed Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus bollei
Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus purpuratus
Yellow-crested Woodpecker Dendropicos xantholophus
Joyful Greenbul Chlorocichla laetissima
Green Crombec Sylvietta virens
Jameson's Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia jamesoni
Pink-footed Puffback Dryoscopus angolensis
Shoebill Balaeniceps rex
Black Bishop Euplectes gierowii
Black-winged Red (Fire-crowned) Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
Fawn-breasted Waxbill Estrilda paludicola
Grey-crowned Negrofinch Nigrita canicapilla
Black-billed Barbet Lybius guifsobalito
Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bullocki
Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata
White-crested (Long-tailed) Hornbill Tropicranus albocristatus
Hartlaub's Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii
Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus
African Piculet Sasia africana
Ituri Batis Batis ituriensis
Fiery-breasted Bush Shrike Malaconotus cruentus
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus
Northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus
White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis
Sooty Ant-eater Chat Myrmecocichla nigra
Piapiac Ptilostomus afer
Silverbird Empidornis semipartitus
Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta
Beautiful Sunbird Nectarinia pulchella
Western Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes longuemarei
Spotted Morning Thrush Cichladusa guttata
White-headed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne albiceps
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus
Blue Fairy Flycatcher (Blue Monarch) Elminia longicauda
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Four-banded Sandgrouse Pterocles quadricinctus
Standard-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx longipennis
Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinica
Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus
Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea
Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus
Yellow-billed Shrike Corvinella corvina
Chestnut Weaver Ploceus rubiginosus
Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea
Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus
Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus
African Crake Crex egregia
Black Coucal Centropus grillii
White-crested Turaco Tauraco leucolophus
Black-breasted Barbet Lybius rolleti
Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
Slate-coloured Boubou Laniarius funebris