Looking for birds in Semuliki National Park or notable birds of Semuliki park, you are in the right place- with one of the best safari companies in tailoring remarkable Uganda birding safaris.

Are you wondering how many bird species are in semuliki national park? Well, Semuliki National Park hosts over 441 bird species and this is about 40% of Uganda birds and 66% of the forest bird species in Uganda. Unlike other birding destinations in Uganda & East Africa, Semuliki park is the only birding place to see the rare Congo Guinea biome bird species. This tropical rainforest park on the western border of Uganda & DR Congo is an eastern extension of the Ituri Forest of West Africa- Congo Basin.

The different bird species in Semuliki park are due to the great habitats in this 220km2 park. Among the biomes include rainforest, riverine forests, migratory birds, wetlands, and even grasslands, on the eastern part of the park.

Tourists on Uganda birding tours in Semuliki National Park– an ancient biodiverse tropical rainforest believed to have survived the last ice age, about 12 to 18,000 years ago. Some of the common bird species in Semuliki include; Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Yellow throated nicator, Blue-billed Malimbe, Maxwell’s black weaver, White throated blue swallow, Long tailed hawk, Black dwarf hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Swamp palm bulbul, Crested Malimbe, Red throated bee eater, Lemon bellied crombec, etc.

Most Uganda bird watching tours in Semuliki are done along the Kirumia Trail, Sempaya Nature Trail to Ntandi, as well as along the Semuliki River.  Semuliki bird watching expeditions can be done year-round but, since this park is a low-lying rainforest, some areas might flood in the wet season. Therefore, go birding in Semuliki park during dry months for a memorable birding experience in Uganda.

Semuliki National Park is one of the best parks to go for forest birding safaris in Uganda, never miss it on your bucket list.

The Notable Bird Species in Semuliki National Park

Below, we are to fully explore the common birds in Semuliki National Park- one of the best places to spot the country’s forest bird species.

1. Red-rumped Tinker Bird

The Red Rumped Tinkerbird is a gorgeous small barbet that lives in forests and the edges of forests. It looks big compared to other Tinkerbirds. This lovely bird holds a black upper body which stands out against the yellow edges of the wing feathers, the yellowish underside, and the yellowish mustache.

Shows a bright red rump when looked at from the right angle. When it’s not high up in the trees, it will sometimes come down and sing near the ground in thick plants. This species is sometimes confused with the Yellow-throated and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds. To tell them apart, listen to the Red-rumped Tinkerbird song and look at its bright red rump when you can see it. A song is a long string of “po, po, po” notes played at a rate of about two per second. It also makes shorter, faster trills that sound like those of other Tinkerbirds.

It’s hard to miss this bird along the Red Monkey Trail- the best trail to see Red tailed monkeys in Semliki National Park.

2. Nkulengu Rail

The Nkulengu Rail is a big brown Rail with a paler neck and face, red eyes and legs, and a brown bill with a whiter tip. It looks a lot like a Francolin, but keep an eye out for its short tail and shy behavior. Most of the time, but not always, it lives near water in thick lowland forests and mangroves.

This good-looking bird was given its name from the unique sounds it makes, “nku-nku-lengu.” Each call lasts about one second. Makes calls mostly at night, and sometimes for a long time. Lucky birders can find this Semuliki bird species while on Kirumia birding trail which takes you deep into the forest.

3. White Crested Hornbill Bird Species in Semuliki National Park

A White Crested Hornbill is a strange-looking hornbill with a white tail and a bushy, high white crest. From the head to the belly, the male is white. The female is mostly black, with a white crest. When the wings are in flight, the pale edges show.

In contrast to many other Hornbills in its range, it mostly hunts at lower levels in the forest, often going all the way down to the ground. Forages with groups of other bird species. It makes calm hooting coos that sound like owls.

As you look out for Semuliki National Park bird species, this bird can be spotted along Kirumia Trail.

4. Red Billed Dwarf Hornbill

The Red Billed Dwarf Hornbill is a small hornbill that lives in lowland forests and sings haunting songs that are hard to forget. Its dark red-brown feathers on its back, chest, and wings, as well as its blood-red bill, can be hard to see when it’s lit from behind in the subadult canopy.

This lovely bird shows a dark chest and head and a white belly from below. It can be easily identified by its call, which is a series of 10-15 swaying whistles that rise and fall in pitch over the course of 5–6 seconds. During bird watching tours in Semuliki, you can spot it alone or with a partner normally along the Red Monkey trail.

5. Black Wattled Hornbill

Black Wattled Hornbill is a huge black hornbill that lives in the rainforests of Africa. This gigantic Hornbill is often seen or heard eating on fruiting trees in the tree canopies. The male is big and black, and his bill is also big and black while the female bills are much smaller and lighter, and they have a brownish hood around their heads and necks.

This species’ long, black tail with a white tip makes it different from other big hornbills that live in the same area. Voice is a very loud wail that can be heard from many kilometers away.

Tourists on Uganda bird watching safaris in Semuliki can spot this giant hornbill along the Kirumia Trail & even the Red Monkey Trail.

6. Congo Serpent Eagle

The Congo Serpent Eagle is a forest eagle with a big head that is about average size. Its main food is snakes. In Semliki National Park, normally, this Eagle can be found at all heights, from the sky to very close to the ground. This species is unique in its range because it has a long tail with bands on it, a brown back with a rufous hind collar, a white breast, and bars on its sides.

Birds from the east have black spots on their throats, while birds from the west have white necks. It is often heard calling in the forest, making a long run of “HOW, how, HOW, how” sounds that sound like hornbills. In its range, it lives with the similarly shaped Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle. The Congo Serpent Eagles are smaller, have a black line down the middle of their throat, and hold a bigger head.

7. Piping Hornbill

A Pimping Hornbill is a beautiful medium-sized forest hornbill that is often seen flying over or passing road cuts. It stands out because it has a stark pied pattern on its head, back, forewings, and center tail feathers.

When this hornbill flies, its two-colored wings make it stand out. These birds look a lot like the African Pied Hornbill, but the Piping Hornbill has wider white flying feathers and a smaller bill and neck, which makes it look bigger. Calls include a fast string of laughing notes, “huhuhuhuhu,” and higher-pitched whistles that sound like pipes.

8. White Bellied Kingfisher Bird Species in Semuliki National Park

White Bellied Kingfisher is a very pretty small blue, rufous, and white Kingfisher. Take note of its white line that goes from the throat to the undertail and across the middle of the underside. Tourists bird watching in Semuliki park can spot it jungle near streams and pools. However, note that this lovely bird is secretive, lonely, and hard to find in general.

The call of this bird is a sharp “tshik,” which is often made while flying. Its white belly stripe makes it stand out from other kingfishers that look like it. It is also different from the Malachite Kingfisher because it lives in forests.

9. Blue Billed Malimbe

A Blue Billed Malimbe is a unique Malimbe that lives in lowland forests. This colorful bird likes lowland swamps with palm trees and places near water, usually in the understory. It is mostly shiny black but has a triangular red patch on its head and a pale gray-blue bill.

While on Uganda bird watching tours in Semuliki National Park, you can spot in groups or mixed-species bands, and sometimes with other Malimbe species. The Blue Billed Malimbe is the only Malimbe with a completely dark upper body, a red throat, and a black vent.

10.   African Piculet Bird Species in Semuliki National Park

People often mistake this tiny woodpecker for a Crombec rather than another type of Woodpecker. It lives in forests and even on the edges of forests. An African Piculet is a short bird with a round body, a big head, a short, thick bill, and a very short tail.

Its body is mostly gray, but the wings are greener. The ears are marked with white, and the eyes are marked with orange. Men have an orange face.  Its voice sounds weak and trills “si-si-si-si-si.”

You can find this Semuliki National Park bird species along the Kirumia birding trail.

11.     Yellow Throated Cuckoo

This is an African forest cuckoo with a greenback living in West and Central Africa. Males have a bright yellow throat and a belly with black and brown bars. Females don’t have a yellow throat but do have black and brown bars on their face, throat, and breast.

While bird watching in Semuliki, you can find this bird by its unique song, which is a series of 10 or more clear whistles that are given quickly and get faster before quickly fading. “Dwuit-tew” or “wait here” is an alternate word that is often missed.

Don’t confuse it with the African Emerald Cuckoo where males have yellow bellies and green heads, while females look more like they have black and white stripes on them.

12.   Blue-headed Crested-flycatcher-

This is a common flycatcher that lives in forests and forest edges. It looks like a crested flycatcher, but it acts more like a warbler, sitting on perches sideways and moving its tail around as it searches for food. On the male, the head, throat, back, wings, and tail are all shiny black. The belly is a light gray color. Females are mostly light gray, with darker spots on their back, wings, and tail. Her cap is black.

It’s bad to miss this Semuliki bird species along the Kirumia birding trail.

13.      Western Nicator Bird Species in Semuliki National Park

The Western Nicator is a unique bird that looks a lot like a Bushshrike. It has a heavy, hooked bill, is dark green above and pale below, and its wings are heavily spotted with bright white spots. Normally, its bright edges of the tail stand out when it’s flying.

These bird species mostly live in gallery forests, thickets, lush secondary habitats, and deep forests. Skulking and hiding, they generally stay in the tangled understory and mid-level plants. It looks a lot like the Eastern Nicator, but its range doesn’t cross with its. It looks a lot like the Yellow-throated Nicator, but it is bigger and doesn’t have a bright yellow throat or streak above the eye.

If you book your Uganda bird watching safari to Semuliki park, we have numerous experienced birding guides to help you spot it.

Other Notable Semuliki National Park Bird Species

1. Within Semuliki park, it’s rare to spot Albertine Rift endemic species, for instance, the Red-throated Alethe as some people have it!  Migratory bird species in Semuliki are present in from November-April and it’s easy to add Uganda bird watching safaris in Semuliki with other national parks in Uganda such as Kibale National Park & Queen Elizabeth Park.
2. It’s possible to spot the rare Shoebill in Semuliki park. Travelers can spot this amazing bird during a boat cruise on River Semuliki as it enters Lake Albert.
3. Partly, Semuliki park is covered by Congo basin Vegetation stretching from Lake Albert side to DRC. Be expectant to spot two restricted range species of birds; Congo Guinea bird species and even those found in East Africa.

The Best Birding Trails in Semuliki National Park

• Kirumia Trail Walk- 13km long taking you deep into the forest.
• Sempaya Nature Trail- 8km long, allows you even to explore Sempaya hot springs. Expect to see as well numerous primate species such as Red tailed monkeys, Black and white colobus monkeys, Olive Baboons, Grey cheeked mangabey, etc.

o   Nyaburogo Gorge Hike– It’s a 7km hike that takes you through savannah woodlands and a forest within a gorge.

Best Time to See Semuliki National Park Bird Species

Semuliki National Park is one of the national parks in Uganda that can be visited any season of the year! Therefore, birds in Semuliki National Park can be done all year round but dry months offer always the best bird watching experience. The dry months include- December-February and June- September are recommended as most birding trails are dry due to little rainfall in this forest.

March-May plus October-November are rainy months. Normally, this is the breeding season for most bird species and a great time to see species of bird in their breeding plumage.

What to Pack for a Uganda Birding Safari in Semuliki National Park?

Travelers coming to search for birds in Semuliki National Park should travel with the following for a notable bird watching experience:

• A field guidebook
• Insect repellent
• Binoculars
• A camera with extra batteries
• Simple field bag
• Friendly safari clothes
• Bottled water & energy giving snacks
• Light hiking boots
• Sun protection gear including sunglasses, sunscreens, and the sunhat
• Rain jacket
• A simple medical kit

If you have plans to undertake Uganda birding safaris in Semuliki National Park, let Prime Safaris & Tours Ltd tailor your trip. For a notable experience, we normally advise our clients to add Uganda chimpanzee tours in Kibale National Park or wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park on their birding expeditions in Semuliki.

Let’s go birding in Semuliki park together! If you have any inquiries about bird watching tours in Uganda, email our lovely & responsive team.