Nyungwe National Park bird checklist is one to have as you embark on a Rwanda birding safari in the best birding destination in Rwanda. Nyungwe National Park is a stunning Rwanda birding destination with a diverse variety of birds of varied colors. Keen birders have a great opportunity to tick off a variety of bird species, most of which do not appear elsewhere. The Albertine Rift endemics are to be looked out for while bird watching in Nyungwe National Park, especially 3 of the unrecorded elsewhere birds on the eastern part of the Albertine Rift that is the Albertine Owlet, Re-collared Babbler, and the Rochefeller’s Sunbird.

As you enjoy Nyungwe National Park safari, below is a bird checklist you can follow;

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
White-faced Whistling-DuckDendrocygna viduata
Knob-billed DuckSarkidiornis melanotos
Spur-winged GoosePlectropterus gambensis
Blue-billed TealSpatula hottentota
African Black DuckAnas sparsa
Yellow-billed DuckAnas undulata
GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae
Red-winged FrancolinScleroptila levaillantii
Blue QuailSynoicus adansonii
Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
Harlequin QuailCoturnix delegorguei
Handsome SpurfowlPternistis nobilis
Scaly SpurfowlPternistis squamatus
PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Speckled PigeonColumba guinea
Afep PigeonColumba unicincta
Rameron PigeonColumba arquatrix
Lemon DoveAplopelia larvata
Dusky Turtle-DoveStreptopelia lugens
Mourning Collared-DoveStreptopelia decipiens
Red-eyed DoveStreptopelia semitorquata
Ring-necked DoveStreptopelia capicola
Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
Emerald-spotted Wood-DoveTurtur chalcospilos
Blue-spotted Wood-DoveTurtur afer
Tambourine DoveTurtur tympanistria
African Green-PigeonTreron calvus
MUSOPHAGIFORMES: Musophagidae
Great Blue TuracoCorythaeola cristata
Black-billed TuracoTauraco schuettii
Rwenzori TuracoGallirex johnstoni
Ross’s TuracoMusophaga rossae
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Blue-headed CoucalCentropus monachus
White-browed CoucalCentropus superciliosus
Blue MalkohaCeuthmochares aereus
Levaillant’s CuckooClamator levaillantii
Pied CuckooClamator jacobinus
Dideric CuckooChrysococcyx caprius
Klaas’s CuckooChrysococcyx klaas
African Emerald CuckooChrysococcyx cupreus
Barred Long-tailed CuckooCercococcyx montanus
Black CuckooCuculus clamosus
Red-chested CuckooCuculus solitarius
Common CuckooCuculus canorus
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae
Pennant-winged NightjarCaprimulgus vexillarius
Montane NightjarCaprimulgus poliocephalus
Square-tailed NightjarCaprimulgus fossii
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae
Scarce SwiftSchoutedenapus myoptilus
Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
Mottled SwiftTachymarptis aequatorialis
Common SwiftApus apus
African SwiftApus barbatus
Little SwiftApus affinis
Horus SwiftApus horus
White-rumped SwiftApus caffer
African Palm SwiftCypsiurus parvus
GRUIFORMES: Sarothruridae
Buff-spotted FlufftailSarothrura elegans
Red-chested FlufftailSarothrura rufa
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
African RailRallus caerulescens
Red-knobbed CootFulica cristata
Black CrakeZapornia flavirostra
GRUIFORMES: Gruidae
Gray Crowned-CraneBalearica regulorum
CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae
African OpenbillAnastomus lamelligerus
Abdim’s StorkCiconia abdimii
Marabou StorkLeptoptilos crumenifer
Yellow-billed StorkMycteria ibis
SULIFORMES: Anhingidae
African DarterAnhinga rufa
SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae
Long-tailed CormorantMicrocarbo africanus
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae
Great White PelicanPelecanus onocrotalus
Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescens
PELECANIFORMES: Scopidae
HamerkopScopus umbretta
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae
Little BitternIxobrychus minutus
Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
Little EgretEgretta garzetta
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
Great EgretArdea alba
Gray HeronArdea cinerea
Purple HeronArdea purpurea
Black-headed HeronArdea melanocephala
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
African Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus
Hadada IbisBostrychia hagedash
African SpoonbillPlatalea alba
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae
Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
African Harrier-HawkPolyboroides typus
Palm-nut VultureGypohierax angolensis
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
White-headed VultureTrigonoceps occipitalis
Hooded VultureNecrosyrtes monachus
Brown Snake-EagleCircaetus cinereus
Crowned EagleStephanoaetus coronatus
Long-crested EagleLophaetus occipitalis
Wahlberg’s EagleHieraaetus wahlbergi
Cassin’s Hawk-EagleAquila africana
African Hawk-EagleAquila spilogaster
Lizard BuzzardKaupifalco monogrammicus
African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorus
African GoshawkAccipiter tachiro
ShikraAccipiter badius
Little SparrowhawkAccipiter minullus
Ovambo SparrowhawkAccipiter ovampensis
Rufous-breasted SparrowhawkAccipiter rufiventris
Black GoshawkAccipiter melanoleucus
Black KiteMilvus migrans
African Fish-EagleIcthyophaga vocifer
Common BuzzardButeo buteo
Mountain BuzzardButeo oreophilus
Augur BuzzardButeo augur
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae
African Grass-OwlTyto capensis
Barn OwlTyto alba
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
Spotted Eagle-OwlBubo africanus
Fraser’s Eagle-OwlKetupa poensis
Verreaux’s Eagle-OwlKetupa lactea
Red-chested OwletGlaucidium tephronotum
Albertine OwletGlaucidium albertinum
African Wood-OwlStrix woodfordii
Abyssinian OwlAsio abyssinicusRare/Accidental
COLIIFORMES: Coliidae
Speckled MousebirdColius striatus
TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae
Narina TrogonApaloderma narina
Bar-tailed TrogonApaloderma vittatum
BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae
Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
BUCEROTIFORMES: Phoeniculidae
Green WoodhoopoePhoeniculus purpureus
White-headed WoodhoopoePhoeniculus bollei
Forest ScimitarbillRhinopomastus castaneiceps
BUCEROTIFORMES: Bucerotidae
Crowned HornbillLophoceros alboterminatus
Black-and-white-casqued HornbillBycanistes subcylindricus
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
Malachite KingfisherCorythornis cristatus
African Pygmy KingfisherIspidina picta
Gray-headed KingfisherHalcyon leucocephala
Woodland KingfisherHalcyon senegalensis
Giant KingfisherMegaceryle maxima
Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis
CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae
Little Bee-eaterMerops pusillus
Blue-breasted Bee-eaterMerops variegatus
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaterMerops oreobates
White-throated Bee-eaterMerops albicollis
European Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae
Broad-billed RollerEurystomus glaucurus
PICIFORMES: Lybiidae
Gray-throated BarbetGymnobucco bonapartei
Western TinkerbirdPogoniulus coryphaea
Yellow-rumped TinkerbirdPogoniulus bilineatus
Black-collared BarbetLybius torquatus
Double-toothed BarbetPogonornis bidentatus
PICIFORMES: Indicatoridae
Dwarf HoneyguideIndicator pumilio
Least HoneyguideIndicator exilis
Lesser HoneyguideIndicator minor
Scaly-throated HoneyguideIndicator variegatus
Greater HoneyguideIndicator indicator
PICIFORMES: Picidae
Rufous-necked WryneckJynx ruficollis
Elliot’s WoodpeckerDendropicos elliotii
Cardinal WoodpeckerDendropicos fuscescens
Olive WoodpeckerDendropicos griseocephalus
Fine-banded WoodpeckerCampethera taeniolaema
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
Eurasian KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Gray KestrelFalco ardosiaceus
Red-necked FalconFalco chicquera
Eurasian HobbyFalco subbuteo
African HobbyFalco cuvierii
Lanner FalconFalco biarmicus
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
PASSERIFORMES: Calyptomenidae
African BroadbillSmithornis capensis
PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae
Gray CuckooshrikeCoracina caesia
Black CuckooshrikeCampephaga flava
Petit’s CuckooshrikeCampephaga petiti
PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae
Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
African Golden OrioleOriolus auratus
African Black-headed OrioleOriolus larvatus
Black-tailed OrioleOriolus percivali
PASSERIFORMES: Platysteiridae
Brown-throated Wattle-eyePlatysteira cyanea
Yellow-bellied Wattle-eyePlatysteira concreta
Rwenzori BatisBatis diops
Chinspot BatisBatis molitor
PASSERIFORMES: Malaconotidae
Northern PuffbackDryoscopus gambensis
Pink-footed PuffbackDryoscopus angolensis
Black-crowned TchagraTchagra senegalus
Brown-crowned TchagraTchagra australis
Lühder’s BushshrikeLaniarius luehderi
Tropical BoubouLaniarius major
Black-headed GonolekLaniarius erythrogaster
Willard’s Sooty BoubouLaniarius willardi
Albertine BoubouLaniarius holomelas
Sulphur-breasted BushshrikeTelophorus sulfureopectus
Many-colored BushshrikeTelophorus multicolor
Doherty’s BushshrikeTelophorus dohertyi
Lagden’s BushshrikeMalaconotus lagdeni
Gray-headed BushshrikeMalaconotus blanchoti
PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae
Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilis
Velvet-mantled DrongoDicrurus modestus
PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae
African Crested FlycatcherTrochocercus cyanomelas
African Paradise-FlycatcherTerpsiphone viridis
PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae
Lesser Gray ShrikeLanius minor
Gray-backed FiscalLanius excubitoroides
Mackinnon’s ShrikeLanius mackinnoni
Northern FiscalLanius humeralis
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
Pied CrowCorvus albus
White-necked RavenCorvus albicollis
PASSERIFORMES: Hyliotidae
Violet-backed HyliotaHyliota violacea
PASSERIFORMES: Stenostiridae
White-tailed Blue FlycatcherElminia albicauda
White-bellied Crested FlycatcherElminia albiventris
White-tailed Crested FlycatcherElminia albonotata
PASSERIFORMES: Paridae
Dusky TitMelaniparus funereus
Stripe-breasted TitMelaniparus fasciiventer
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae
Dusky LarkPinarocorys nigricansRare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Macrosphenidae
White-browed CrombecSylvietta leucophrys
Red-faced CrombecSylvietta whytii
PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae
White-chinned PriniaSchistolais leucopogon
Rwenzori ApalisOreolais ruwenzorii
Green-backed CamaropteraCamaroptera brachyura
Black-throated ApalisApalis jacksoni
Black-faced ApalisApalis personata
Yellow-breasted ApalisApalis flavida
Kungwe ApalisApalis argentea
Chestnut-throated ApalisApalis porphyrolaema
Gray ApalisApalis cinerea
Tawny-flanked PriniaPrinia subflava
Banded PriniaPrinia bairdii
Black-faced Rufous-WarblerBathmocercus rufus
Gray-capped WarblerEminia lepida
Red-faced CisticolaCisticola erythrops
Singing CisticolaCisticola cantans
Chubb’s CisticolaCisticola chubbi
Winding CisticolaCisticola marginatus
Siffling CisticolaCisticola brachypterus
Wing-snapping CisticolaCisticola ayresii
PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae
Grauer’s WarblerGraueria vittata
African Yellow-WarblerIduna natalensis
Mountain Yellow-WarblerIduna similis
Icterine WarblerHippolais icterina
Lesser Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus gracilirostris
PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae
Evergreen-forest WarblerBradypterus lopezi
Cinnamon Bracken-WarblerBradypterus cinnamomeus
Grauer’s Swamp WarblerBradypterus graueri
Highland Rush WarblerBradypterus centralis
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
White-headed SawwingPsalidoprocne albiceps
Black SawwingPsalidoprocne pristoptera
Plain MartinRiparia paludicola
Bank SwallowRiparia riparia
Rock MartinPtyonoprogne fuligula
Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
Angola SwallowHirundo angolensis
Wire-tailed SwallowHirundo smithii
Western House-MartinDelichon urbicum
Red-rumped SwallowCecropis daurica
Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinica
Mosque SwallowCecropis senegalensis
PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae
Slender-billed GreenbulStelgidillas gracilirostris
Yellow-throated GreenbulAtimastillas flavicollis
Shelley’s GreenbulArizelocichla masukuensis
Eastern Mountain GreenbulArizelocichla nigriceps
Yellow-whiskered GreenbulEurillas latirostris
Plain GreenbulEurillas curvirostris
Yellow-streaked GreenbulPhyllastrephus flavostriatus
Cabanis’s GreenbulPhyllastrephus cabanisi
Common BulbulPycnonotus barbatus
PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrix
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
Brown Woodland-WarblerPhylloscopus umbrovirens
Red-faced Woodland-WarblerPhylloscopus laetus
PASSERIFORMES: Scotocercidae
Neumann’s WarblerHemitesia neumanni
PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae
Eurasian BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Rwenzori Hill BabblerSylvia atriceps
PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae
Green White-eyeZosterops stuhlmanni
PASSERIFORMES: Pellorneidae
Mountain IlladopsisIlladopsis pyrrhoptera
PASSERIFORMES: Leiothrichidae
Red-collared Mountain-BabblerTurdoides rufocinctus
Arrow-marked BabblerTurdoides jardineii
Black-lored BabblerTurdoides sharpei
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
Violet-backed StarlingCinnyricinclus leucogaster
Slender-billed StarlingOnychognathus tenuirostris
Waller’s StarlingOnychognathus walleri
Sharpe’s StarlingPholia sharpii
Stuhlmann’s StarlingPoeoptera stuhlmanni
Rüppell’s StarlingLamprotornis purpuroptera
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
White-tailed Ant-ThrushNeocossyphus poensis
Abyssinian Ground-ThrushGeokichla piaggiae
Abyssinian ThrushTurdus abyssinicus
African ThrushTurdus pelios
PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae
African Dusky FlycatcherMuscicapa adusta
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
Swamp FlycatcherMuscicapa aquatica
Pale FlycatcherAgricola pallidus
Gray Tit-FlycatcherFraseria plumbea
Ashy FlycatcherFraseria caerulescens
Yellow-eyed Black-FlycatcherMelaenornis ardesiacus
Southern Black-FlycatcherMelaenornis pammelaina
White-eyed Slaty-FlycatcherMelaenornis fischeri
White-bellied Robin-ChatCossyphicula roberti
Archer’s Robin-ChatCossypha archeri
Cape Robin-ChatCossypha caffra
White-browed Robin-ChatCossypha heuglini
Red-capped Robin-ChatCossypha natalensis
Snowy-crowned Robin-ChatCossypha niveicapilla
White-starred RobinPogonocichla stellata
Red-throated AletheChamaetylas poliophrys
Equatorial AkalatSheppardia aequatorialis
Miombo Rock-ThrushMonticola angolensis
African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
Sooty ChatMyrmecocichla nigra
Arnot’s ChatMyrmecocichla arnotti
Familiar ChatOenanthe familiaris
PASSERIFORMES: Modulatricidae
Gray-chested BabblerKakamega poliothorax
PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae
Collared SunbirdHedydipna collaris
Green-headed SunbirdCyanomitra verticalis
Blue-throated Brown SunbirdCyanomitra cyanolaema
Blue-headed SunbirdCyanomitra alinae
Olive SunbirdCyanomitra olivacea
Scarlet-chested SunbirdChalcomitra senegalensis
Purple-breasted SunbirdNectarinia purpureiventris
Bronze SunbirdNectarinia kilimensis
Malachite SunbirdNectarinia famosa
Olive-bellied SunbirdCinnyris chloropygius
Stuhlmann’s SunbirdCinnyris stuhlmanni
Northern Double-collared SunbirdCinnyris reichenowi
Regal SunbirdCinnyris regius
Rockefeller’s SunbirdCinnyris rockefelleri
Marico SunbirdCinnyris mariquensis
Red-chested SunbirdCinnyris erythrocercus
Purple-banded SunbirdCinnyris bifasciatus
Variable SunbirdCinnyris venustus
PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae
Red-headed WeaverAnaplectes rubriceps
Baglafecht WeaverPloceus baglafecht
Slender-billed WeaverPloceus pelzelni
Spectacled WeaverPloceus ocularis
Black-billed WeaverPloceus melanogaster
Strange WeaverPloceus alienus
Holub’s Golden-WeaverPloceus xanthops
Village WeaverPloceus cucullatus
Black-headed WeaverPloceus melanocephalus
Forest WeaverPloceus bicolor
Brown-capped WeaverPloceus insignis
Southern Red BishopEuplectes orix
Fan-tailed WidowbirdEuplectes axillaris
Grosbeak WeaverAmblyospiza albifrons
Nyungwe National Park Bird Checklist
Black-headed Weaver

PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae

Bronze MannikinSpermestes cucullata
Black-and-white MannikinSpermestes bicolor
White-collared OlivebackNesocharis ansorgei
Yellow-bellied WaxbillCoccopygia quartinia
Green-backed TwinspotMandingoa nitidula
Dusky CrimsonwingCryptospiza jacksoni
Abyssinian CrimsonwingCryptospiza salvadorii
Red-faced CrimsonwingCryptospiza reichenovii
White-breasted NigritaNigrita fusconotus
Gray-headed NigritaNigrita canicapillus
Black-crowned WaxbillEstrilda nonnula
Kandt’s WaxbillEstrilda kandti
Fawn-breasted WaxbillEstrilda paludicola
Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
Crimson-rumped WaxbillEstrilda rhodopyga
Red-cheeked CordonbleuUraeginthus bengalus
Red-headed BluebillSpermophaga ruficapilla
Dusky TwinspotEuschistospiza cinereovinacea
Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala
African FirefinchLagonosticta rubricata
PASSERIFORMES: Viduidae
Pin-tailed WhydahVidua macroura
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
House SparrowPasser domesticusIntroduced species
Northern Gray-headed SparrowPasser griseus
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
Cape WagtailMotacilla capensis
Mountain WagtailMotacilla clara
Gray WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
African Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimp
African PipitAnthus cinnamomeus
Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
Yellow-throated LongclawMacronyx croceus
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae
Oriole FinchLinurgus olivaceus
Yellow-fronted CanaryCrithagra mozambica
Western CitrilCrithagra frontalis
Brimstone CanaryCrithagra sulphurata
Streaky SeedeaterCrithagra striolata
Thick-billed SeedeaterCrithagra burtoni
Yellow-crowned CanarySerinus flavivertex
PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae
Golden-breasted BuntingEmberiza flaviventris

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