DR Congo Ramsar wetland
Virunga National Park
172 bird species recorded; the most in October.
Ad Meskens · CC BY-SA 3.0
This month here
0 species in January.0 species in February.25 species in March.54 species in April.68 species in May.47 species in June.46 species in July.103 species in August.42 species in September.130 species in October.0 species in November.0 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
No records for this month.
No records for this month.
VU
NT
VU
NT
NT
NT
NT
No records for this month.
No records for this month.
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
172 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 172Speciesrecorded more than once
- 87Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 3ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 1,580Recordsopen records within 15 km
- 912 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 5Raptors
- 27Waders
- 8Gulls & seabirds
- 10Ducks & geese
- 21Herons, ibises & grebes
- 6Storks & cranes
- 59Songbirds
- 36Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 172 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors5 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- African Fish EagleHaliaeetus vocifer
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Palm-nut VultureGypohierax angolensis
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- White-backed VultureGyps africanusCR
Waders27 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Spur-winged LapwingVanellus spinosus
- African JacanaActophilornis africanus
- Water DikkopBurhinus vermiculatus
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- Long-toed LapwingVanellus crassirostris
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Greater Painted-snipeRostratula benghalensis
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Lesser Black-winged PloverVanellus lugubris
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Lesser JacanaMicroparra capensis
- African Wattled LapwingVanellus senegallus
- Kittlitz's PloverCharadrius pecuarius
- Temminck's CourserCursorius temminckii
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Senegal Thick-kneeBurhinus senegalensis
Gulls & seabirds8 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Grey-headed GullChroicocephalus cirrocephalus
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- African SkimmerRynchops flavirostris
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Ducks & geese10 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Red-billed TealAnas erythrorhyncha
- White-faced Whistling-duckDendrocygna viduata
- Fulvous Whistling-duckDendrocygna bicolor
- Blue-billed TealSpatula hottentota
- Southern PochardNetta erythrophthalma
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Knob-billed DuckSarkidiornis melanotos
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- White-backed DuckThalassornis leuconotus
Herons, ibises & grebes21 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- HamerkopScopus umbretta
- African Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus
- Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescens
- Goliath HeronArdea goliath
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- HadadaBostrychia hagedash
- Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
- Long-tailed CormorantMicrocarbo africanus
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- African SpoonbillPlatalea alba
- Striated HeronButorides striata
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Egretta intermediaEgretta intermedia
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Great White PelicanPelecanus onocrotalus
- Black HeronEgretta ardesiaca
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Black-headed HeronArdea melanocephala
- DarterAnhinga rufa
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Storks & cranes6 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- SaddlebillEphippiorhynchus senegalensisNT
- Yellow-billed StorkMycteria ibis
- Grey Crowned CraneBalearica regulorum
- Leptoptilos crumeniferLeptoptilos crumenifer
- Black Crowned CraneBalearica pavoninaVU
- Openbill StorkAnastomus lamelligerus
Songbirds59 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Village WeaverPloceus cucullatus
- Common BulbulPycnonotus barbatus
- Black-headed GonolekLaniarius erythrogaster
- Rüppell's StarlingLamprotornis purpuroptera
- Slender-billed WeaverPloceus pelzelni
- Swamp FlycatcherMuscicapa aquatica
- Bronze MannikinLonchura cucullata
- Angolan SwallowHirundo angolensis
- African Moustached WarblerMelocichla mentalis
- Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala
- Red-chested SunbirdCinnyris erythrocercus
- Black-headed WeaverPloceus melanocephalus
- Green-backed CamaropteraCamaroptera brachyura
- Crimson-rumped WaxbillEstrilda rhodopyga
- Arrow-marked BabblerTurdoides jardineii
- Red-billed QueleaQuelea quelea
- Red-shouldered WhydahEuplectes axillaris
- Yellow-throated LongclawMacronyx croceus
- Purple-banded SunbirdCinnyris bifasciatus
- Pin-tailed WhydahVidua macroura
- White-browed Robin-chatCossypha heuglini
- Motacilla aguimpMotacilla aguimp
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Pied CrowCorvus albus
- Red-faced CisticolaCisticola erythrops
- Copper SunbirdCinnyris cupreus
- Brimstone CanaryCrithagra sulphurata
- Lanius humeralisLanius humeralis
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Brown-crowned TchagraTchagra australis
- African Paradise-FlycatcherTerpsiphone viridis
- Yellow-billed OxpeckerBuphagus africanus
- Violet-backed StarlingCinnyricinclus leucogaster
- Scarlet-spectacled Wattle-eyePlatysteira cyanea
- Grey-throated FlycatcherMyioparus griseigularis
- Ashy FlycatcherMuscicapa caerulescens
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Snowy-headed Robin-ChatCossypha niveicapilla
- Tawny-flanked PriniaPrinia subflava
- Trilling CisticolaCisticola woosnami
- Chattering CisticolaCisticola anonymus
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Buff-bellied WarblerPhyllolais pulchella
- Black-and-white MuniaLonchura bicolor
- Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
- Fork-tailed DrongoDicrurus adsimilis
- Spectacled WeaverPloceus ocularis
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Northern Grey-headed SparrowPasser griseus
- Winding CisticolaCisticola marginatus
- Black-crowned TchagraTchagra senegalus
- Green-throated SunbirdChalcomitra rubescens
- Turdus peliosTurdus pelios
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- Grey-backed FiscalLanius excubitoroides
- Black-necked WeaverPloceus nigricollis
- Red BishopEuplectes orix
- Wire-tailed SwallowHirundo smithii
- Yellow-whiskered GreenbulEurillas latirostris
Other birds36 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Pied KingfisherCeryle rudis
- Speckled MousebirdColius striatus
- Black CrakeAmaurornis flavirostra
- Malachite KingfisherCorythornis cristatus
- White-browed CoucalCentropus superciliosus
- Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensis
- Diederik CuckooChrysococcyx caprius
- Olive Bee-eaterMerops superciliosus
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- Ring-necked DoveStreptopelia capicola
- Red-eyed DoveStreptopelia semitorquata
- African Pygmy KingfisherIspidina picta
- Grey-headed KingfisherHalcyon leucocephala
- Blue-spotted Wood-doveTurtur afer
- Mourning Collared DoveStreptopelia decipiens
- Red-headed LovebirdAgapornis pullarius
- Double-toothed BarbetLybius bidentatus
- African Green-pigeonTreron calvus
- Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagris
- Little Bee-eaterMerops pusillus
- Blue-breasted Bee-eaterMerops variegatus
- Nubian WoodpeckerCampethera nubica
- African Grey WoodpeckerDendropicos goertae
- Spot-flanked BarbetTricholaema lacrymosa
- Yellow-fronted TinkerbirdPogoniulus chrysoconus
- Blue MalkohaCeuthmochares aereus
- Lesser MoorhenGallinula angulata
- Broad-billed RollerEurystomus glaucurus
- Woodland KingfisherHalcyon senegalensis
- Tambourine DoveTurtur tympanistria
- Emerald-spotted DoveTurtur chalcospilos
- Red-chested CuckooCuculus solitarius
- Blue-headed Bee-eaterMerops muelleri
- White-throated Bee-eaterMerops albicollis
- Golden-backed WoodpeckerCampethera maculosa
- Blue-naped MousebirdUrocolius macrourus
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in October.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan27°/18°78 mm
- Feb28°/18°86 mm
- Mar27°/18°137 mm
- Apr26°/18°125 mm
- May26°/18°107 mm
- Jun26°/18°69 mm
- Jul26°/18°61 mm
- Aug26°/18°108 mm
- Sep26°/18°141 mm
- Oct25°/18°162 mm
- Nov25°/18°154 mm
- Dec26°/18°100 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Virunga National Park.
National park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Virunga National Park is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in DR Congo, 912 m above the sea.
172 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 1,580 open records.
The most recorded are the African Fish Eagle, the Egyptian Goose and the Spur-winged Lapwing.
0 species come for the summer, 76 for the winter and 11 only pass through.
3 are threatened worldwide, including Curlew Sandpiper, White-backed Vulture and Black Crowned Crane.
The most species are recorded in October.
Get there and watch
- Official informationAccess, hours and rules from those who manage the place.Official site↗
- Savannah Airstrip (KHX)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 33 km in a straight line
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- car parks within 3 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- campsites within 10 km
- places to stay within 10 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Virunga National Park.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Virunga National Park
DR Congo
- 68Birdyas Score
- 172Species
- 87Migrants
- 3Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q223589) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 1,580 open bird records within 15 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Darkskyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
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mountains
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Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
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Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
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Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit