At least 525 species are known from the park, reflecting the extremely wide diversity of habitat. These include 44 species of raptor, Balaeniceps rex and many Palearctic migrants, amongst which Falco naumanni, Gallinago media and Glareola nordmanni have been recorded.
The park represents the northern limit of distribution of a number of Zambezian biome species, including Lanius souzae, Myrmecocichla arnotti and Cisticola angusticauda. In addition, one species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome and seven of the Afrotropical Highlands biome also occur (see Table 3).
However, all these data need to be reviewed in the light of the recent reduction in size of the park, which means that some species are no longer likely to occur within it, e.g. species of gallery forests (e.g. Camaroptera chloronota, Cossypha cyanocampter) and montane forests (e.g. Illadopsis pyrrhoptera, Cisticola chubbi).
Some of the commonest bird species you will see on your safari in Rwanda include the gorgeous lilac-breasted roller, the grey hornbill, the crested barbet, heuglin’s robin-chat, black headed gonalek and ross’s turaco, among others.
Bird Habitats in Akagera National Park
Akagera park is located off-the-beaten-track close to the border of Rwanda and Tanzania. Its terrain mainly comprises of low altitude plains covered with grass and patches of forests. Also there several swamps plus small lakes following the winding course of Akagera River. All these offer a great habitat to the large number of bird species living in this park.
Bird List
Species |
Season |
Year |
| Ring-necked Francolin (Francolinus streptophorus) | resident | 1998 |
| Madagascar Pond-heron (Ardeola idae) | non-br (during br season) | |
| Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) | resident | |
| Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) | non-breeding | |
| White-spotted Flufftail (Sarothrura pulchra) | resident | 1998 |
| Black-shouldered Nightjar (Caprimulgus nigriscapularis) | resident | 1998 |
| Red-faced Barbet (Lybius rubrifacies) | resident | 1998 |
| Buff-spotted Woodpecker (Campethera nivosa) | resident | 1998 |
| Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) | resident | 1998 |
| Carruthers’s Cisticola (Cisticola carruthersi) | resident | 1998 |
| Olive-green Camaroptera (Camaroptera chloronota) | resident | 1998 |
| Leaf-love (Pyrrhurus scandens) | resident | 1998 |
| White-winged Scrub-warbler (Bradypterus carpalis) | resident | 1998 |
| Mountain Illadopsis (Illadopsis pyrrhoptera) | resident | 1998 |
| Sharpe’s Pied-babbler (Turdoides sharpei) | resident | 1998 |
| Green-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia rubescens) | resident | 1998 |
| Bronze Sunbird (Nectarinia kilimensis) | resident | 1998 |
| Red-chested Sunbird (Nectarinia erythrocerca) | resident | 1998 |
| Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus baglafecht) | resident | 1998 |
| Black-billed Weaver (Ploceus melanogaster) | resident | 1998 |
| Northern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus castanops) | resident | 1998 |
| White-collared Oliveback (Nesocharis ansorgei) | resident | 1998 |
| Swee Waxbill (Estrilda melanotis) | resident | 1998 |
| Western Citril (Serinus frontalis) | resident | 1998 |
| Thick-billed Seedeater (Serinus burtoni) | resident | 1998 |