Birding in Rwanda

Birding in Rwanda – Birding Safaris and tours

Rwanda has one of the highest bird counts on the continent despite being one of the smallest countries in Africa, at 26.338KMS. Include the high number of birding”specials” to be seen, and the primate experiences as a bonus, and its no wonder that most pundits rank it within the top five destinations for those seeking a rewarding birding experience.

Rwanda has at least 692 resident, visitors and occasional visiting bird species. An additional 5 locally extinct and another five are yet to be confirmed. This brings the total to a maximum of 702 species(Vande weghe,J.P&G. Vande weghe-2011 in press- Birds in Rwanda, RDB). And of these , there are atleast 12 birds known as Albertine Rift Endemics, a total higher than any country in Africa, other than DRC.

Landlocked and lying just south of the Equator, Rwanda has a diverse topography that has been shaped by the dynamics of one of Africa’s primary geological features, the Great Rift Valley. Tumultuous subterranean forces have over the last 50 million years contorted, raptured and seared the crust, giving rise to a hugely impressive array of volcanoes, lakes, mountain ranges and forests that define the landscapes of today. Collectively, they makeup the narrower and shorter Western Branch of the rift valley, or because Lake Albert is its first discernable feature, The Albertine Rift or Albertine Eco-Region.

The Albertine Eco-Region

Compromising a chain of mountains formed through upliftment and volcanic activity, the Albertine Eco-Region stretches across six countries and is regarded as the centre of the Afromontane habitat. It is also a belt of exceptional faunal and floral endemism: over 40 bird species, 34 mammals, 117 butterflies, 34 amphibians and 16 reptiles are to be found. It’s no wonder it’s the most celebrated destination of ecological importance.

Around Kigali

The Nyarutarama lake or “Lover’s Lake” bordering the Kigali Golf Course, is surrounded by a track which offers excellent nature walks and bird watching. This protected area covers 1460 kms with two lakes- Lake Mirayi in the south and Lake Rumira in the north. The wetlands are fed by the Nyabarongo River, a tributary of the nile, which empties into the Akagera River which in turn, flows into Lake Victoria.

Species with restricted distribution , present in Rwanda
Common name	Scientific name	Endemism	Status
Handsome Francolin	Pternistis nobilis	Albertine Rift	Common
Ruwenzori Turaco	Gallirex Johnstoni	Albertine Rift	Common
Ruwenzori Nightjar	Caprimulgus ruwenzori	Albertine Rift	Common at dawn and dusk
Albertine Owlet	Glaucidium albertinum	Albertine Rift	Very rare
Dwarf Honeyguide	Indicator pumilio	Albertine Rift	Rare
Kivu Ground Thrush	Geokichla tanganjicae	Albertine Rift	Rare unpredictable
Red-throated Alethe	Pseudalethe poliophrys	Albertine Rift	Common
Archer’s Ground Robin	Dessornis archeri	Albertine Rift	Common
Red- Collared Babbler	Kuperornis rufocinctus	Albertine Rift	Common
Ruwenzori Apallis	Oreolais ruwenzori	Albertine Rift	Common
Mountain Masked Apalis	Apalis personata	Albertine Rift	Common
Grauer’s Swamp Warbler	Bradypterus graueri	Albertine Rift	Common, in high altitude marshes
Grauer’s Warbler	Graueria vitaata	Albertine Rift	Common, hard to see
Neuman’s Warbler	Hemitesia neumanni	Albertine Rift	Common, hard to see
Red-faced Woodland Warbler	Seicercus laetus	Albertine Rift	Common
Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher	Melaenornis ardesiacus	Albertine Rift	Common
Ruwenzori Batis	Batis diops	Albertine Rift	Common
Stripe-breasted Tit	Parus fasciiventer	Albertine Rift	Common
Blue-headed Sunbird	Cyanomitra alinae	Albertine Rift	Common
Ruwenzori Double-Collared Sunbird	Cinnyris stuhlman	Albertine Rift	Common
Regal Sunbird	Cinnyris regius	Albertine Rift	Common
Rockefeller’s Sunbird	Cinnyris rockefelleri	Albertine Rift	Very rare
Purple-breasted Sunbird	Nectarinia purpureiventris	Albertine Rift	Common
Strange Weaver	Ploceus alienus	Albertine Rift	Common
Dusky Crimsonwing	Crystospiza jacksoni	Albertine Rift	Common
Shelley’s Crimsonwing	Cryptospiza shelleyi	Lake Victoria	Very rare
Congo Bay Owl	Phodilus prigoginei	Lake Victoria	To be confirmed
Papyrus Gonolek	Laniarius mufumbiri	Lake Victoria	Common, only in papyrus
Garruthers’s Cisticola	Cisticola carruthersi	Lake Victoria	Common, only in papyrus
White-winged Swamp Warbler	Bradypterus carpallis	Lake Victoria	Common, hard to see
Papyrus Yellow Warbler	Calamonastides gracilirostris	Lake Victoria	Rare, localized
Red- chested Sunbird	Cinnyris erythrocercus	Lake Victoria	Common
Papyrus Canary	Dendrospiza koliensis	Lake Victoria	Common, around papyrus
Brown-throated Weaver	Floceus castanops	Lake Victoria	Common
Red-faced Barbet	Lybius rubrifacies	Lake Victoria	Common
White-Collared Oliveback	Nesocharis ansorgei	Lake Victoria	Rare

Volcanoes National Park

To the west lies the Volcanoes National Park, which protects the Rwandan portion of the Virunga Mountains , a Transfrontier Conservation Area that includes protected areas in Uganda and the DRC. Forming a complex of mostly dormant volcanoes, it includes Rwanda’s highest point, Mount Karisimbi(4507m), and the two active ones, Mount Nyiragongo and Mount Nyamuragira. While more famous for its mountain gorillas and other primates, Volcanoes boasts almost 165 bird species, with 17 Endemic to the area.

Nyungwe National Park

The Nyugwe National Park is a tropical mountain rainforest and one of Rwanda’s main protected areas, lies on the south- western slopes of the highland region that forms the great divide between the Congo and Nile drainage systems. The park protects one of the region’s largest and oldest remaining patches of montane rainforest and is home to 310 species of birds.

Amongst them are the Regal Sunbird(Cinnyris regius), Red Collared Babbler(Kuperornis rufocinctus), Rwenzori Turaco (Gallirex Johnstoni), Handsome Spurfowl( Pternistis nobilis), Rwenzori Batis(Batis diops), Grauer’s Swamp –Warbler(Bradypterus graueri), Blue-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis), possibly the rarest of all endemic birds would be the Albertine Owlet (Glaucidium albertinium) known from only five records in the area.

The Akagera National Park

The Akagera National Park in the northeast still covers a sizeable chunk of savannah. A mix of rolling savannah. A mix of roliing grassland interspersed with broad-leafed and acacia woodland, these lower lying lands are dissected by the Akagera River.

The sought after species here would be; Red faced Barbet(Lybius rubrifacies), Sousa’s Shrike ( Lanius souzae), White-Collared Oliveback ( Nesocharis ansorgei), amongst others. The park has a mosaic of wetlands and lakes, along the course of the Akagera River and the eastern boundary.

Amidst the papyrus and reed beds some of the prized species to be found are; Carruthers’s Cisticola( Cisticola carruthersi), Papyrus Canary( Serinus koliensis) and more.

Wetlands and Marshes

Rwanda’s wetlands and marshes, covering just over 10% of the country, include Rugezi, the fourth of the main protected areas, as well as the other two locations, Akanyaru Wetlands and Nyabarongo Wetlands, that have been declared Important Birding Areas (IBA’s) by Birdlife International.

If there’s still timeon the schedule, the keenest of birders can still head to a number of forest reserves scattered around the country.

‘Any serious birding expedition should incorporate both the wetter forested and more mountainous western regions, the drier savannas of the east and the many wetland sand marshes” Ian Michler; Safari Operator, Specialist Guide and Photojournalist.