Birding Rwanda (Nyungwe)
Birding at Nyungwe Forest Reserve:
Since the days of Diane Fossey, Rwanda has been recognised as one of the best places to view gorillas, but few people know any more about the country than just this. Those that visit tend to hop across the north-western border with Uganda, to track gorillas in the Volcans National Park near Ruhengeri
With the exception of out-of-bounds sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the best birding in the Albertine Rift is to be had in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest Reserve. This beautiful and ancient tropical evergreen forest of Nyungwe is arguably the country’s most exciting hotspot for birders.
The excellent winding tarmac road that bisects the forest follows the crest of the mountains, creating one of the few places in the world that allows the birders to look directly into and even down on the rainforest canopy.
Birders can seek most of the resident Albertine Rift Endemics along the road including; the remarkable, ‘painted’ Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Mountain Black Boubou, Rwenzori Batis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Archer’s Robin-chat, the rare Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Neumann’s Warbler, the near-endemic Kungwe Apalis, the attractive Mountain Masked Apalis, and a cluster of colourful Sunbirds including Ruwenzori Double-collared, Purple-throated, Blue-headed and the stunning Regal Sunbird. Stripe-breasted Tit and Strange Weaver can also be seen. Nyungwe Forest is now the only site in which the sought-after Red-collared Mountain Babbler can safely be sought.
An extensive network of well maintained walking trails leads through the forest to various water falls and viewing points. Nyungwe does, however, deserve more time; anybody who wants to watch birds will need to two or more days there and dedicated birdwatcher might never wish to leave.
Nyungwe is the only safe site in the world where the spectacular Red-collared Babbler occurs. The following species have been recorded in Nyungwe:
- Rwenzori Turaco Ruwenzorornis johnstoni.
- Albertine Owlet Glaucidium albertinum
- Kungwe Apalis Apalis (rufogularis) argentea,
- Schouteden’s Swift Schoutedenapus schoutedeni
- Rockefeller’s Sunbird Cinnyris rockefelleri.
- Grauer’s Warbler Graueria vittata
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