Birdlife is prolific in the Volcanoes National Park, over 290 species have already been observed, of which about 20 are endemic to the high altitude forests of the Albertine Rift.
Large conspicuous, spectacular or heavy birds are more the exception than the rule. Many birds of the Virunga Forest are secretive creatures that will make their best to remain out of sight from observers. Watching birds in the Volcanoes National Park requires therefore some patience and/or practice to become productive. Very often, birds will reveal their presence more by their calls or songs. Most birds are not evenly active at any time of the day. Early morning hours and late afternoon are the best moments of the day to go and watch birds in the Virunga.
The dense vegetation of the forest gives birds ample opportunities for hiding. Observers need to remain quiet, in order to spot the slightest movement in the vegetation to locate birds. Some species tend to spend most of their life high up in the canopy of trees, while others prefer to stay more or less permanently in the undergrowth, near the forest floor. The best places for watching birds are these where forest patches and clearings mix with each other to create a mosaic, as the more open environment gives better opportunities for watching from a distance and the diversity of species is higher.
As was said, the Virunga forest is home to an impressive number of species and/or subspecies that are endemic to the high altitude forests of the Albertine Rift (of which the Virunga forest is part) this means that these birds cannot be found anywhere else in the world than in these few forests, which are true hotspots of biodiversity. The Ruwenzori Turaco, the Ruwenzori double-collard Sunbird, the Ruwenzori Batis, the strange weaver, the Dusky Crimson wing, the collared Apalis and the Archer’s Ground Robin are amongst these endemic species.
Turacos are probably the most spectacular birds to be observed in the Virunga forest. These typical forest dwelling birds are usually brightly coloured and the size of pigeons or even larger. The Ruwenzori Turaco is the speciality of the park. It is the largest Turaco species present, a beautiful dark blue and bright green bird. It is much more often heard than seen.
Raptors are quite common but the diversity of species is rather limited. The most typical raptors present in Volcanoes National Park are the mountain Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Augur Buzzard, the marital eagle, an endangered species, is also present.
Only a few species are really specialists of the very high altitudes and can only be potentially observed by these hikers who dare to venture on the highest volcano, Mt. Karisimbi. Amongst these birds of the Afro-alpine zone is the brown woodland Warbler.
Sunbirds are the true little flying gems of the Virunga, they dash through the forest or hover from flower to flower to feed on the rich nectar. Sipping it was their long and often curved beak, often serving so as important pollinate for the flowers. 15 species are known in the Virunga Forest, of which four are endemic subspecies.
BIRD CHECKLIST for Virunga Forest
The official list of the bird species in the Virunga Forest (Rwanda, Congo and Uganda) mentioned 258 species up to 2003 . The Virunga biodiversity Survey carried out by Karisoke Research Centre in 2004 added an additional 36 new species, which brought the official total up to 294 species recorded in the three contiguous protected areas. Not at all species are actually present in the Volcanoes National Park.
Podicipedidae : Bateleur Eagle
Little Grebe African Marsh Harrier
Ardeidae Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Black-headed Heron African Goshawk
Cattle Egret Little Sparrow hawk
Scopidae Rufous sparrow hawk
Hamerkop Great sparrow hawk
Ciconlidae Common buzzard
Abdim’s Stork Mountain buzzard
White Stork Augur buzzard
Threskornithidae Tawny Eagle
Hadada ibis Wahlberg’s Eagle
Anatidae Long-crested Eagle
White-beaked Duck Crowned Eagle
Egyptian Goose Martial Eagle
Spur-winged Goose Falconidae
Yellow-billed Duck Kestrel
African Black Duck Grey Kestrel
PintailAmur Falcon
Red-billed Tail Eurasian Hobby
Hottentot Teal African Hobby
Southern pochard Lanner Falcon
Maccoa Duck Peregrine
Accipitridae Phasianidae
Osprey Quail
Honey buzzard Red-winged Francolin
Bat Hawk Handsome Francolin
Black Kite Scaly Francolin
Hooded Vulture Red-necked Spur fowl
White-headed Vulture Gruidae
Harrier Hawk Grey-crowned Crane
Charadriidae: Didrick’s Cuckoo
Caspian plover
Yellow bill
Wattled plover White-browed coucal
Scolopacidae: Blue-headed coucal
Common snipe Strigidae:
African snipe African Wood owl
Curlew Spotted Eagle owl
Marsh sandpiper Long-eared Ow
Greenshank Caprimulgidae:
Green sandpiper Montane Nightjar
Wood sandpiper Rwenzori Nightjar
Common sandpiper Pennant-winged Nightjar
Ralidae: Apodidae:
Buff-spotted pygmy crake Scarce Swift
Black crake Palm Swift
Red-Knobbed Coot Black Swift
Columbidae: Eurasian Swift
Green pigeon White-rumped Swift
Tambourine Dove Little Swift
Blue-spotted Wood Dove Mottled Swift
Lemon Dove Alpine Swift
Olive pigeonColiidae:
Afep pigeonSpeckled mousebird
Speckled pigeon Trogonidae:
Red-eyed Dove Narina’s Trogon
Dusky Turtle Dove Meropidae:
Psittacidae: Little Bee-eater
Grey parrot Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
Brown-necked parrot Eurasian Bee-eater
Musophagidae: Coraciidae:
Blacked-billed Turaco Lilac-breasted Roller
Rwenzori Turaco Broad-billed roller
Ross’ Turaco Phoeniculidae:
Cuculidae: White-headed Wood Hopoe
Levaillant’s Bucerotidae:
Madagascar Lesser Cuckoo Crowned hornbill
Red-chested Cuckoo White-tighed hornbill
Black Cuckoo Black and white casqued hornbill
Eurasian Cuckoo Indicatoridae:
Olive-long tailed cuckoo Thick-billed Honeyguide
Barred long-tailed cuckoo Dwarf Honeyguide
Emerald cuckoo Capitonidae:
Klaas’ Grey-throated Barbet