MOST SOUGHT UGANDA BIRDS

Shoebill stork(Balaeniceps rex)

The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) also known as the whalebill, whale-headed stork or shoe-billed stork, is a very large long-legged wading bird. It derives its name from its enormous shoe-shaped bill. The shoebill is a tall bird, with a typical height range of 110 to 140 cm (43 to 55 in) and some specimens reaching as much as 152 cm (60 in). Length from tail to beak can range from 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in) and wingspan is 230 to 260 cm (7 ft 7 in to 8 ft 6 in). Weight has reportedly ranged from 4 to 7 kg (8.8 to 15.4 lb). A male will weigh on average around 5.6 kg (12 lb) and is larger than a typical female of 4.9 kg (11 lb).==

They eat big fish like lungfish, eels, and catfish, and also crazy stuff like Nile monitor lizards, snakes, and baby crocodiles and live to almost 36 years in the wild.

Green breasted pitta (Pitta reichenowi)

A spectacular short-tailed upright bird with a distinctive bottle-green breast, a black-and-buff head, a white throat, a scarlet belly, and shiny blue-spotted wings and rump. A scarce resident of dense lowland forest, usually skulking in pairs in leaf litter on the forest floor. Breeding birds call and display in the canopy. Most often found when giving a di-syllabic “brrr-rrrt” wing drum display as the male hops up, lasting less than a second; also gives a bell-like whistled “huuu” call.

Fox’s weaver (Ploceus spekeoides)

A chunky, short-tailed, long-billed weaver. Breeding males are mostly yellow with a black face mask, a pale eye, and a mostly black, yellow-streaked back. Females are much duller, brownish-olive overall and pale yellow below. Endemic to Uganda, in swamps within savanna. It is similar to Heuglin’s Masked-Weaver, but larger, and males have a darker back. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chek” notes and a squealing, sizzling “radio static” song.