Kidepo Valley NP lies in the remote north-eastern tip of Uganda and is the country’s top birding hotspot protecting a plethora of unique habitats notably the Somali- Masai Biome that support a checklist of over 480 species. This unique checklist includes up to 23 species out 32 species unique to this dry-country and semi-arid habitat and rarely occurring anywhere else in Uganda!
Birding Habitats in Kidepo Valley NP
The 1442km2 Kidepo National Park is a true African wilderness protecting a unique diversity of habitats recognised as Important Bird Area. This habitat which is recognised as Somali Masai Biome is typical of Horn of Africa and exetends here at Kidepo Valley NP on its eastern range limit. The park’s plethora of habitats are characterised from savanna grasslands and woodlands, extensive wetlands, dry shrub thicket and bush-land interspersed with rocky outcrops. Kidepo Valley NP spans at altitudes of 914m-2750m hemmed in by lush mountain ranges and watered by two seasonal rivers systems that influence the local climate within this wilderness.
Special Highlights
Kidepo’s bird checklist include rare Ethiopian and greater horn of Africa species that are on their southern and easterly range limits. Among these, is an incredible collection of raptors including, Eastern-Chanting and Dark-Chanting Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon, Tawny Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Secretary Bird, Lesser, Fox and Greater Kestrels. Rare scavengers include the vulnerable listed Lappet-faced Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and occasional Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus).
Dry-bush and woodland species include, Karamoja Apalis also Uganda’s second endemic Superb, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Bristle-crowned and Magpie Starlings, Black-breasted Barbet, Pale Prinia, Pygmy Batis, Pygmy Sunbird, Yellow-billed Shrike, Clapperton’s and Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Rufous Chatterer, Parrot-billed Sparrow, Grey Wren Warbler, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, White-headed Buffalo Weaver and White-browed Sparrow-Weaver. Dry bush hornbills include Eastern Yellow-billed, Red-billed and Jackson’s Hornbill.
Other good birds include; Purple Grenadier, Taita Shrike, White-bellied Go-away bird, Abyssinian Roller, Three-Streaked Tchagra, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Grey-capped Social Weaver, Fan-tailed Raven, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Red-winged Lark, Namaqua Dove, Bruce’s Pigeon, Spotted-thick Knee and Three-banded Plover.
The grasslands around Kakaine tracks are hunted by the gigantic pairs of Abyssinian Hornbills, Denham’s, White-bellied, Buff-Bellied and Hartlaub’s Bustards and attract seasonal millions of Red-billed and cardinal Queleas. Harlequin Quail, Common Quail, African Crake frequent the wet grasslands.
The wetlands in Narus valley host African Jacana, Black Coucal, Winding Cisticola, Malachite Kingfisher and more.