Grauer’s broadbill, also called the African green broadbill, is one of Africa’s most sought-after birds: a small, bright green bird with a sky-blue throat and breast, found only in a few mountain forests of the Albertine Rift. In Uganda it lives only in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, mainly around Ruhija and the Mubwindi Swamp trail. It is listed as Vulnerable because its range is tiny and its forests are under pressure.
Grauer’s Broadbill Uganda: The Albertine Rift Endemic Facts
Appearance and habits
About 14 cm long, it is mostly leaf-green, with a pale blue throat and chest and a short, broad bill. It moves quietly through the middle and upper levels of montane forest in small groups, feeding on insects, seeds and fruit. Pairs build hanging, pouch-like nests of moss and plant fibre suspended from branches. Because it is small, green and quiet among leaves, it is easy to miss without an experienced guide who knows its call and favourite trees.
Where to see it
The classic site is the trail from Ruhija down to Mubwindi Swamp in Bwindi, a steep walk of several hours at around 2,000–2,500 metres. Local bird guides in Ruhija track the birds regularly and greatly improve the odds. Allow a full day and be prepared for a demanding hike. Outside Uganda, it occurs in a few highland forests in eastern Congo. See our guides to Albertine Rift endemics and the Ruhija sector.
Combining with gorillas
Ruhija is also a gorilla trekking sector, so birders can track the broadbill one day and gorillas the next; the permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guides to Bwindi’s birds and Uganda birding.
Frequently asked questions
Only in Bwindi, mainly on the Ruhija to Mubwindi Swamp trail.
Yes, both names refer to the same species.
It is listed as Vulnerable.
Yes, a local bird guide greatly improves your chances.
Distribution and Habitat
Grauer’s broadbill has one of the most restricted ranges of any African bird. It is endemic to the Albertine Rift and occurs only in montane forest in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, and in a limited area of eastern DRC. Within Bwindi it is most reliably found in the Ruhija sector and in forest around Buhoma, at altitudes between 1,700 and 2,300 metres, in the dense understorey of primary and slightly disturbed forest. The bird is sedentary and highly site-faithful, making it possible to find at known territories once those territories are established by experienced local guides.
Appearance and Behaviour
Grauer’s broadbill is a compact bird with a very broad, flat bill typical of the broadbill family. The male has a distinctive combination of warm brown upper parts, white streaked underparts, a black crown, and a brilliant blue throat patch visible in good light. The female is similar but duller. The bird is generally quiet and easy to overlook — it perches motionless in dense undergrowth and only moves occasionally to catch invertebrates from leaves or branches nearby. In the breeding season the male’s call — a distinctive churring trill — is the most reliable way to locate the species.
Conservation Status
Grauer’s broadbill is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to its restricted range and its dependence on intact montane forest. The Bwindi population is the most important in Uganda and one of the most accessible globally. Forest loss in DRC is the primary threat to the species overall.
Birding Tips
A specialist birding guide from Bwindi’s experienced pool of local guides is essential for finding Grauer’s broadbill. The Ruhija sector is generally the most productive; morning birding walks along the forest trails starting at first light give the best chance of a sighting. The bird is most detectable by call — arrive at Bwindi with the call recorded on a phone or field recording device to aid identification.
Grauer’s Broadbill: Subspecies and Taxonomy
Grauer’s broadbill (Pseudocalyptomena graueri) is sometimes placed in the genus Pseudocalyptomena to reflect its distinct phylogenetic position from the Asian broadbills — it is the sole African member of a broadbill lineage and its closest relatives are in Asia rather than Africa. This isolated position makes it of particular interest to biogeographers studying the historical connections between African and Asian forest faunas. The species was first described scientifically in 1908 by Rudolf Grauer, an Austrian collector who worked extensively in the Congo Basin and made several important specimens for European museum collections.
