Updated
The red-faced woodland warbler is a small, olive-green Albertine Rift endemic with a rusty-orange face and throat, found in the canopy of montane forest. In Uganda it occurs in Bwindi, especially around Ruhija, and in the Rwenzori Mountains and Mgahinga. It is restless and often joins mixed feeding flocks, so birders usually find it while scanning flocks moving through the treetops.
Red-Faced Woodland Warbler Uganda: Bwindi Endemic Guide
Identification and habits
It is about 11–12 cm long, bright olive-green above, pale below, with a warm rufous face that stands out in good light. It feeds on small insects picked from leaves and twigs high in the canopy, constantly moving, which makes it tricky to photograph. Its thin, high song is a useful clue. Like many Albertine Rift endemics, it depends on intact mountain forest.
Where to see it
The forest along the road and trails at Ruhija is the most reliable area, and it is also found on the Neck between Buhoma and Ruhija, in Mgahinga and in the Rwenzoris. Early mornings with a local bird guide give the best chance. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guides to Albertine Rift endemics, the stripe-breasted tit, Ruhija and Bwindi’s birds.
Frequently asked questions
At Ruhija and the Neck in Bwindi, in Mgahinga and the Rwenzoris.
Yes.
An olive-green warbler with a rusty-orange face and throat.
Scan mixed feeding flocks in the canopy with a bird guide.
