Bird List in Akagera National Park : Akagera national park is one of the great birding sites in rwanda, the park is also Central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last remaining refugee for savannah – adapted species in Rwanda. Akagera national park is found in the eastern Rwanda covering an area of 2500 square kilometers and is mainly dominated by savannah plains, the park is a great habitat for 500 bird species including 15 globally threatened species and 1 introduced species, to thrill while on Rwanda tour safari
Birds in Akagera national park are as follows.
ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
White-faced Whistling-Duck
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
White-backed Duck
Knob-billed Duck
Egyptian Goose
Spur-winged Goose
African Pygmy-Goose
Blue-billed Teal
Yellow-billed Duck
Red-billed Duck
GALLIFORMES: Numididae
Helmeted Guineafowl
GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae
Crested Francolin
Coqui Francolin
Ring-necked Francolin
Red-winged Francolin
Shelley’s Francolin
Blue Quail
Harlequin Quail
Hildebrandt’s Francolin
Scaly Francolin
Red-necked Francolin
PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae
Little Grebe
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Speckled Pigeon
Dusky Turtle-Dove
Mourning Collared-Dove
Red-eyed Dove
Ring-necked Dove
Laughing Dove
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
Tambourine Dove
Namaqua Dove
African Green-Pigeon
OTIDIFORMES: Otididae
Denham’s Bustard
Black-bellied Bustard
MUSOPHAGIFORMES: Musophagidae
White-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Ross’s Turaco
Bare-faced Go-away-bird
Eastern Plantain-eater
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Blue-headed Coucal
White-browed Coucal
Black Coucal
Blue Malkoha
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Levaillant’s Cuckoo
Pied Cuckoo
Thick-billed Cuckoo
Dideric Cuckoo
Klaas’s Cuckoo
African Emerald Cuckoo
Black Cuckoo
Red-chested Cuckoo
African Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae
Pennant-winged Nightjar
Eurasian Nightjar
Black-shouldered Nightjar
Swamp Nightjar
Freckled Nightjar
Square-tailed Nightjar
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae
Alpine Swift
Mottled Swift
Common Swift
African Swift
Little Swift
Horus Swift
White-rumped Swift
African Palm-Swift
GRUIFORMES: Sarothruridae
Red-chested Flufftail
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
African Rail
African Crake
Lesser Moorhen
Eurasian Moorhen
Red-knobbed Coot
African Swamphen
Striped Crake
Black Crake
Baillon’s Crake
GRUIFORMES: Heliornithidae
African Finfoot
GRUIFORMES: Gruidae
Gray Crowned-Crane
CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae
Water Thick-knee
CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae
Black-winged Stilt
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae
Black-bellied Plover
Long-toed Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Senegal Lapwing
Crowned Lapwing
Wattled Lapwing
Brown-chested Lapwing
Kittlitz’s Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Three-banded Plover
Forbes’s Plover
CHARADRIIFORMES: Rostratulidae
Greater Painted-Snipe
CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae
Lesser Jacana
African Jacana
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae
Ruff
Curlew Sandpiper
Temminck’s Stint
Little Stint
Common Snipe
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Spotted Redshank
Common Greenshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
CHARADRIIFORMES: Turnicidae
Small Buttonquail
CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae
Temminck’s Courser
Bronze-winged Courser
Collared Pratincole
Black-winged Pratincole
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae
Bird List in Akagera National Park
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Gull-billed Tern
White-winged Tern
CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae
African Openbill
Abdim’s Stork
Woolly-necked Stork
White Stork
Saddle-billed Stork
Marabou Stork
Yellow-billed Stork
SULIFORMES: Anhingidae
African Darter
SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae
Long-tailed Cormorant
Great Cormorant
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae
Bird List in Akagera National Park
Great White Pelican
Pink-backed Pelican
PELECANIFORMES: Balaenicipitidae
Shoebill
PELECANIFORMES: Scopidae
Hamerkop
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae
Little Bittern
Dwarf Bittern
Gray Heron
Black-headed Heron
Goliath Heron
Purple Heron
Great Egret
Intermediate Egret
Little Egret
Black Heron
Cattle Egret
Squacco Heron
Malagasy Pond-Heron
Rufous-bellied Heron
Striated Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White-backed Night-Heron
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae
Glossy Ibis
African Sacred Ibis
Hadada Ibis
African Spoonbill
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Sagittariidae
Secretarybird
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae
Osprey
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae
Black-winged Kite
African Harrier-Hawk
Palm-nut Vulture
European Honey-buzzard
African Cuckoo-Hawk
White-headed Vulture
Hooded Vulture
White-backed Vulture
Rüppell’s Griffon
Bateleur
Beaudouin’s Snake-Eagle
Black-chested Snake-Eagle
Brown Snake-Eagle
Banded Snake-Eagle
Bat Hawk
Crowned Eagle
Martial Eagle
Long-crested Eagle
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Wahlberg’s Eagle
Booted Eagle
Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Steppe Eagle
African Hawk-Eagle
Lizard Buzzard
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
Gabar Goshawk
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier
African Marsh-Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Montagu’s Harrier
African Goshawk
Shikra
Little Sparrowhawk
Ovambo Sparrowhawk
Black Goshawk
Black Kite
African Fish-Eagle
Common Buzzard
Augur Buzzard
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae
Barn Owl
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
African Scops-Owl
Southern White-faced Owl
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl
Pearl-spotted Owlet
African Wood-Owl
Marsh Owl
COLIIFORMES: Coliidae
Speckled Mousebird
Blue-naped Mousebird
TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae
Narina Trogon
BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae
Eurasian Hoopoe
BUCEROTIFORMES: Phoeniculidae
Green Woodhoopoe
Common Scimitarbill
BUCEROTIFORMES: Bucerotidae
Crowned Hornbill
African Gray Hornbill
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
Half-collared Kingfisher
Shining-blue Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Woodland Kingfisher
Striped Kingfisher
Giant Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae
Little Bee-eater
Blue-breasted Bee-eater
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
White-throated Bee-eater
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Madagascar Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
Southern Carmine Bee-eater
CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae
European Roller
Lilac-breasted Roller
Rufous-crowned Roller
Broad-billed Roller
PICIFORMES: Lybiidae
Crested Barbet
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
Spot-flanked Barbet
White-headed Barbet
Red-faced Barbet
Black-collared Barbet
Double-toothed Barbet
PICIFORMES: Indicatoridae
Lesser Honeyguide
Scaly-throated Honeyguide
Greater Honeyguide
PICIFORMES: Picidae
Rufous-necked Wryneck
Cardinal Woodpecker
Bearded Woodpecker
African Gray Woodpecker
Green-backed Woodpecker
Nubian Woodpecker
Bennett’s Woodpecker
Golden-tailed Woodpecker
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
Lesser Kestrel
Eurasian Kestrel
Gray Kestrel
Red-necked Falcon
Amur Falcon
Eleonora’s Falcon
Sooty Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
African Hobby
Lanner Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittaculidae
Red-headed Lovebird
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae
Meyer’s Parrot
PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae
Black Cuckooshrike
PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae
Eurasian Golden Oriole
African Golden Oriole
African Black-headed Oriole
PASSERIFORMES: Platysteiridae
Brown-throated Wattle-eye
Chinspot Batis
PASSERIFORMES: Vangidae
White Helmetshrike
PASSERIFORMES: Malaconotidae
Brubru
Northern Puffback
Black-backed Puffback
Marsh Tchagra
Black-crowned Tchagra
Brown-crowned Tchagra
Lühder’s Bushshrike
Tropical Boubou
Black-headed Gonolek
Papyrus Gonolek
Slate-colored Boubou
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
Gray-headed Bushshrike
PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae
Fork-tailed Drongo
PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae
African Crested-Flycatcher
African Paradise-Flycatcher
PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Gray Shrike
Gray-backed Fiscal
Mackinnon’s Shrike
Northern Fiscal
Souza’s Shrike
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
Piapiac
Pied Crow
White-necked Raven
PASSERIFORMES: Stenostiridae
White-tailed Blue Flycatcher
PASSERIFORMES: Paridae
White-winged Black-Tit
PASSERIFORMES: Remizidae
African Penduline-Tit
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae
Rufous-naped Lark
Flappet Lark
Red-capped Lark
PASSERIFORMES: Macrosphenidae
Red-faced Crombec
Moustached Grass-Warbler
PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae
Yellow-bellied Eremomela
Green-backed Eremomela Rare/Accidental
Greencap Eremomela
White-chinned Prinia
Miombo Wren-Warbler
Green-backed Camaroptera
Buff-bellied Warbler
Yellow-breasted Apalis
Gray Apalis
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Gray-capped Warbler
Red-faced Cisticola
Singing Cisticola
Trilling Cisticola
Chubb’s Cisticola
Winding Cisticola
Carruthers’s Cisticola
Stout Cisticola
Croaking Cisticola
Tabora Cisticola
Siffling Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola
Wing-snapping Cisticola
PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae
Eastern Olivaceous WarblerAfrican Yellow-Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed Warbler
African Reed Warbler
Lesser Swamp Warbler
Greater Swamp Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae
Fan-tailed GrassbirdWhite-winged Swamp WarblerHighland Rush Warbler
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
Bank Swallow
Banded Martin
Rock Martin
Barn Swallow
Angola Swallow
Wire-tailed Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Lesser Striped Swallow
Rufous-chested Swallow
Mosque Swallow
Common House-Martin
White-headed Sawwing
Gray-rumped Swallow
PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae
Shelley’s Greenbul
Yellow-throated Greenbul
Cabanis’s Greenbul
Common Bulbul
PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae
Wood Warbler
Willow Warbler
PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae
Eurasian Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Greater Whitethroat
PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae
Green White-eye
PASSERIFORMES: Leiothrichidae
Arrow-marked Babbler
Black-lored Babbler
PASSERIFORMES: Buphagidae
Red-billed Oxpecker
Yellow-billed Oxpecker
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
Wattled Starling
Violet-backed Starling
Rüppell’s Starling
Splendid Starling
Greater Blue-eared Starling
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
African Thrush
PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae
African Dusky Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher
Swamp Flycatcher
Pale Flycatcher
Gray Tit-Flycatcher
Ashy Flycatcher
Southern Black-Flycatcher
White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher
Brown-backed Scrub-Robin
Red-backed Scrub-Robin
Gray-winged Robin-Chat
White-browed Robin-Chat
Red-capped Robin-Chat
Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
Semicollared Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher
Common Redstart
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush
Whinchat
African Stonechat
Mocking Cliff-Chat
Sooty Chat
Ruaha Chat
Northern Wheatear
Capped Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Familiar Chat
PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae
Bird List in Akagera National Park
Collared Sunbird
Green-headed Sunbird
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Bronze Sunbird
Olive-bellied Sunbird
Mariqua Sunbird
Red-chested Sunbird
Purple-banded Sunbird
Variable Sunbird
Copper Sunbird
PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae
Red-headed Weaver
Baglafecht Weaver
Slender-billed Weaver
Black-necked Weaver
Spectacled Weaver
Black-billed Weaver
Holub’s Golden-Weaver
Northern Brown-throated Weaver
Lesser Masked-Weaver
Vieillot’s Weaver
Village Weaver
Black-headed Weaver
Compact Weaver
Cardinal Quelea
Red-headed Quelea
Red-billed Quelea
Southern Red Bishop
Black-winged Bishop
Yellow Bishop
White-winged Widowbird
Red-collared Widowbird
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Grosbeak Weaver
PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae
Bronze Mannikin
Black-and-white Mannikin
Green-backed Twinspot
Gray-headed Nigrita
Black-faced Waxbill
Black-crowned Waxbill
Fawn-breasted Waxbill
Common Waxbill
Crimson-rumped Waxbill
Quailfinch
Zebra Waxbill
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
Red-headed Bluebill
Green-winged Pytilia
Orange-winged Pytilia
Peters’s Twinspot
Red-billed Firefinch
African Firefinch
PASSERIFORMES: Viduidae
Pin-tailed Whydah
Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah Rare/Accidental
Eastern Paradise-Whydah Rare/Accidental
Village Indigobird
Parasitic Weaver
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
House Sparrow
Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
Cape Wagtail
Western Yellow Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
African Pipit
Long-billed Pipit
Plain-backed Pipit
Striped Pipit
Tree Pipit
Yellow-throated Longclaw
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae
Yellow-fronted Canary
Western Citril
Papyrus Canary
Black-throated Canary
Brimstone Canary
Streaky Seedeater
Thick-billed Seedeater
PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae
Cabanis’s Bunting
Golden-breasted Bunting
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Recommended Tours: 4 Days Akagera Safari & Lake Ihema Cruise | 7 Days Classic Rwanda Safari
Rwanda Travel Guide — The Land of a Thousand Hills
Rwanda — known as “Le Pays des Mille Collines” (The Land of a Thousand Hills) — is one of Africa’s most remarkable transformation stories. From the tragedy of the 1994 genocide to becoming one of the continent’s safest, cleanest, and fastest-growing economies in just three decades, Rwanda today is a model of reconciliation, conservation, and sustainable development.
For visitors, Rwanda offers mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, golden monkey encounters in the same Virunga forest, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest, savannah wildlife in Akagera National Park, and a deeply moving cultural and historical experience in Kigali. Despite being one of Africa’s smallest countries, Rwanda packs an extraordinary range of experiences within a few hours’ drive of the capital.
Rwanda’s Key Wildlife Destinations
- Volcanoes National Park: The jewel of Rwanda’s tourism, home to 13 habituated gorilla families in the Virunga volcanic mountains. Also excellent for golden monkey trekking, volcano hiking, and the Dian Fossey research trail.
- Nyungwe Forest National Park: One of Africa’s oldest and largest montane rainforests, home to chimpanzees, 13 primate species, and over 300 bird species. The Canopy Walk is one of East Africa’s most spectacular viewpoints.
- Akagera National Park: Rwanda’s only savannah park, bordering Tanzania. Successfully reintroduced lions (2015) and black rhinos (2017). Excellent for elephant, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, and waterbirds on Lake Ihema.
Kigali — Rwanda’s Capital City
Kigali is one of Africa’s most liveable and visitor-friendly capital cities. Clean, safe, and efficiently run, it offers excellent restaurants, vibrant arts and craft markets, world-class hotels, and some deeply important historical sites.
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a sobering but essential visit — one of the most thoughtfully presented memorials of any atrocity in the world. The Inema Arts Centre showcases Rwanda’s thriving contemporary art scene. Kimironko Market is the place for local produce, fabrics, and handicrafts. The Repore craft village near the airport offers high-quality, export-ready Rwandan artisanal products.
