10 Endemic Birds You Can Only Spot in DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a birder’s paradise, boasting around 1,185 recorded bird species more than any other African country. Among these are about **21 species found nowhere else on Earth.

From a shy rainforest peafowl to an owl so elusive it’s practically a legend, here are 10 endemic birds you’ll only find in the wilds of DR Congo. Pack your binoculars and your sense of adventure!

1. Congo Peafowl: DRC’s Shy National Bird

Meet the Congo Peafowl (Afropavo congensis), known locally as “mbulu”. Unlike its flamboyant Asian cousins, this peacock is a bit more modest the males flash bronze-green and deep blue plumage, but you won’t catch them fanning giant tails.

They skulk in the undergrowth of central Congolese rainforests, monogamous homebodies rarely seen in large groups. Discovered in the 1930s (allegedly from a single feather in a hunter’s cap), the Congo Peafowl has become a national symbol of DRC. It even holds the title of DRC’s national bird, though spotting one in the dense jungle is a serious challenge. Birders consider it a holy grail; even camera traps get only rare cameos.

If you’re determined to glimpse a Congo Peafowl in the wild, head to Salonga National Park or the remote Lomako-Yokokora Forest in the Congo Basin the latter holds the highest recorded concentration of these peafowl.

Realistically, sightings are so scarce that many nature enthusiasts settle for learning about them through conservation programs.

Entry into Salonga or Lomako requires expedition-style prep; park guides cost around $20/day (~44,000 CDF) and you’ll need special permits and a boat to access Lomako’s flooded forests. But for the bragging rights of seeing the only African peacock, it’s worth the trek .

2. Itombwe Owl The Legendary “Ghost” Owl of Congo

The Itombwe Owl (Tyto prigoginei), also called the Congo Bay-Owl, is so elusive it borders on mythical. Endemic to the Itombwe Mountains of eastern DRC, this diminutive chestnut-colored owl went unseen by scientists for decades in fact, the last confirmed sighting was in 1996.

With only two individuals ever documented (one in 1951 and one netted and released in 1996), the Itombwe Owl has earned a reputation as a “ghost”. Birders around the world speak its name in hushed, reverent tones; finding it would be like discovering Bigfoot with feathers. It haunts the montane bamboo forests and high-altitude grasslands of Itombwe Nature Reserve, where its mournful whistle calls might be heard on moonless nights if you’re very, very lucky.

Visiting Itombwe is an adventure in itself. This newly protected reserve is off the beaten track – think no roads, no lodges, just dense forests and local villages. You’ll need to arrange a custom trek with local guides (budget at least $80 per day (~176,000 CDF) for guides/porters). The payoff? A chance to stand in the owl’s habitat under starry alpine skies. While the Itombwe Owl itself will likely remain unseen, you can take comfort in knowing you’re walking the same ridges as one of the world’s rarest birds.

The global birding community certainly hasn’t given up hope in 2025, enthusiasts ran fundraisers to finance new expeditions to find this owl (yes, they’re that obsessed) see it on Instagram. Even if you don’t spot the “ghost owl,” you’ll experience one of Africa’s most biodiverse mountains and maybe hear an otherworldly hoot in the dark.

3. Schouteden’s Swift: A High-Speed Mystery in the Itombwe Skies

High above the misty forests of Itombwe, Schouteden’s Swift (Schoutedenapus schoutedeni) slices through the air at breakneck speeds. This soot-brown swift is found only in DR Congo, zipping over the Albertine Rift highlands.

It’s named after a Belgian zoologist, but local birders mostly know it as “that darn mystery swift”. Why? Because it’s devilishly hard to spot or identify these birds spend their lives on the wing, often disappearing into clouds. For years, some feared Schouteden’s Swift might be as “lost” as the Itombwe owl.

But good news: Itombwe’s recent conservation surveys have recorded them again. In fact, during a 2023 expedition in Itombwe (the same one that famously snapped the first-ever photo of the helmetshrike), researchers noted swifts screeching overhead at dusk.

It seems the swift wasn’t about to pose for a portrait typical but at least we know it’s still on the wing.

To look for Schouteden’s Swift, you’ll need to camp out in Itombwe or nearby montane forests. By day, enjoy the chorus of colorful Albertine Rift birds; by evening, keep your eyes glued to the pink sky as swifts emerge to feed on insects. You might distinguish Schouteden’s from more common swifts by its slightly larger size and distinctive call (a sharp tseeu-tseeu).

There’s no tour that guarantees this sighting this is pure DIY adventure. Consider coordinating with conservation teams working in Itombwe; they sometimes allow keen birders to tag along. While you’re unlikely to get an Instagram-worthy photo (these guys are fast), just seeing one dart past is a thrill. Conservationists celebrated the swift’s continued presence in Itombwe a sign that protecting the reserve is paying off.

4. Prigogine’s Greenbul: The Lendu Plateau Songster

Drab, elusive, but utterly unique Prigogine’s Greenbul (Chlorocichla prigoginei) is a little olive-green bird found only on the Lendu Plateau in northeastern DRC. It’s named after Alexandre Prigogine, a prolific ornithologist who first documented many Congo endemics. This greenbul’s claim to fame isn’t its looks (it’s often described as “unremarkable” rude!).

Instead, it’s the location: the Lendu Plateau west of Lake Albert, a remote highland area carpeted in montane forest and bamboo. Here, at around 2,000 meters elevation, Prigogine’s Greenbuls flit about in the understory, giving harsh chack-chack calls.

They often join mixed flocks with other songbirds, so picking one out is tricky. Think of it as an Easter egg hunt where the eggs are constantly moving and camouflaged.

Birders who venture to Lendu Plateau are usually on a mission to find this bird (and its neighbor, the Bedford’s Flycatcher). There’s no national park infrastructure you’ll be hiring local guides in Ituri province and hiking into community forests.

A guide/translator might run about $50-60 a day (~110,000–132,000 CDF), and it’s polite to bring gifts or pay village fees for access.

The experience is rustic: homestays or tents, evening conversations by the fire (likely about that day’s bird tally), and dawn patrols to catch the greenbul’s dawn chorus. Don’t expect this wallflower of a bird to be splashed across your social media sightings are few and far between, and frankly, Prigogine’s Greenbul has zero interest in fame.

(When a group of international birders finally heard its call one misty morning, they practically did a happy dance though you won’t find that on Instagram!) Your best bet is to listen for its distinctive call and be ready with binoculars when something darts between the vines. It’s a true birder’s bird: subtle and satisfying for those in the know.

5. Bedford’s Paradise Flycatcher: A Jewel of the Ituri Forest

With a flash of steel-blue and a streamer-like tail, Bedford’s Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone bedfordi) brings a dash of glam to Congo’s forests. This striking flycatcher sports a glossy blue-black head and elegant long tail feathers trailing behind imagine a miniature bird-of-paradise doing cosplay as a monarch flycatcher. Bedford’s is endemic to eastern DRC, mainly in the Ituri region and the west side of the Albertine Rift.

In fact, it flits through the same Lendu Plateau forests as Prigogine’s Greenbul and also inhabits dense lowland forests west of the Itombwe and Kahuzi ranges. Despite its royal appearance (it’s literally named after the Duke of Bedford), this bird can be surprisingly furtive preferring shady understories where it hawks insects in mid-air acrobatic twists. Catching a glimpse of its 18 cm form (tail included) feels like spotting a flying ribbon in the gloom.

To see Bedford’s Paradise Flycatcher, plan a birding foray in Ituri (around Epulu or the Okapi Reserve’s fringes) or in transitional montane forests of South Kivu.

The Lendu Plateau is a known hotspot  local guides there are proud to point out the “oiseau avec longue queue” when they spot one. Patience is key: listen for its sharp tsip-tsip call and watch for that tail flicker among the vines. A good local guide (~$50/day, ~110,000 CDF as mentioned) will often know a favored territory of a breeding pair. Early morning or late afternoon light filtering through the canopy gives you the best chance to see its glossy plumage catch the sun.

This species isn’t globally famous (no Twitter trending topics here), but conservation social media has given it some love. One nature post even introduced Bedford’s alongside the Congo Peafowl as a “winged wonder” of DRC clearly, it has fans in the bird world see it on Instagram. When you finally spot that ribbon-like tail darting after a moth, you’ll understand why Bedford’s Flycatcher is a must-see endemic  it’s like finding a secret jewel in DRC’s crown.

6. Rockefeller’s Sunbird: Rainbow of the Rwenzori

Tiny, dazzling, and exclusive to DRC’s hills Rockefeller’s Sunbird (Cinnyris rockefelleri) is the *iridescent gem of the Congo. The males of this species are a sight to behold: an array of shimmering emerald, gold, and scarlet feathers, with a long curved bill perfect for sipping nectar.

Basically, imagine a hummingbird that raided a jewelry box. Rockefeller’s Sunbird flits around the Albertine Rift montane forests  especially in eastern Congo’s highlands like the Itombwe Massif and Kabobo Mountains. It’s named after American philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr., who funded an expedition that discovered it. (Yes, even billionaires couldn’t resist Congo’s bird bounty.)

Spotting this sunbird is no easy feat. You’ll need to trek into mountain forest clearings above 1,500m where flowering shrubs attract these nectar-feeders. They’ve been recorded in the Itombwe Mountains (yet another reason to go there) and sometimes on the fringes of Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega parks.

Your best strategy is to find a tree in bloom and patiently stake it out males will often return to favorite flowers, showing off their glossy colors in the sunlight. Given ongoing conflict and limited tourism infrastructure, birders often coordinate with research teams or visit adjacent countries’ parks. (Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains touch the sunbird’s range, but sightings on that side are extremely rare this is a DRC special).

The bird is near-threatened  its bamboo and forest habitat is being cleared for agriculture, which worries conservationists. In fact, a 2024 report noted locals were burning bamboo stands that house Rockefeller’s Sunbird a reminder that not all treasure glitters forever.

For now, if you manage to find this rainbow-colored sprite, consider yourself among a lucky few. It’s such a coveted sighting that hardcore birders might buy you a round at camp just to hear the tale. And while you probably won’t find many Instagram selfies with Rockefeller’s Sunbird (it’s way too fast for that), capturing a blurry photo of one is basically a Congolese birding merit badge. Keep your camera ready and your hopes high this living jewel is out there, dancing among the misty mountain flowers.

7. Lake Lufira Weaver: Masked Weaver of the Swamps

Down in the southeastern savannas of DRC, in swamps and wetlands fringed by papyrus, lives the Lake Lufira Weaver (Ploceus ruweti). This little bird might not have a glamorous name, but it sports a chic look think bright yellow plumage with a black “bandit” mask on its face.

Endemic to the Lufira Basin (mainly around Lake Lufira and marshes of Upemba National Park), it’s also called the Lufira Masked Weaver for obvious reasons. These weavers build intricate nests woven from grasses, often hanging over water to thwart predators.

In breeding season, the males gather in colonies and turn into tiny construction workers, each feverishly weaving and fluttering to impress the ladies. The air fills with their buzzy, wheezing song ending in a rapid “tat-tat” sound  not exactly melodic, but certainly enthusiastic!

For birders, a trip to find the Lake Lufira Weaver means venturing into one of DRC’s most off-the-grid parks. Upemba National Park, established in 1939, is a vast wilderness of lakes, rivers, and wetlands stunning but historically neglected. The good news: efforts are underway to revitalize Upemba, and wildlife is bouncing back.

To get there, you likely start from Lubumbashi and endure a day’s drive on rough roads. Park entrance fees are modest (around $15, ~33,000 CDF), and you can camp or stay at a basic research station. Hire a park ranger or local scout who knows the wetlands (≈ $20/day) to guide you to weaver colonies.

Early morning or late afternoon is best, when the birds are actively bobbing among the reeds. You might approach by canoe poling quietly through mirror-calm channels as fish eagles soar overhead. Suddenly, a splash of yellow erupts from the reeds: got ‘em! Watching these masked Romeos busily weave nests is pure joy for any nature lover.

Upemba’s conservation team is proud of their feathered residents and occasionally shares updates on the park’s recovery see it on Instagram for a peek into this corner of Congo’s wild. Between the rustic adventure, the backdrop of hippos snorting in nearby lakes, and the thrill of finding a true DRC endemic, visiting the Lake Lufira Weaver’s realm is a highlight for intrepid birders.

8. Grauer’s Cuckooshrike: The Phantom of the Forest Canopy

Not all endemic birds in DRC are showy – Grauer’s Cuckooshrike (Ceblepyris graueri) is a case in point. This slate-gray, medium-sized songbird is a master of blending in. Named after zoologist Rudolf Grauer, it dwells in the montane forests of eastern DRC, particularly west of Lake Edward in the lush forests bordering the Rwenzori Mountains. (Some reports suggest it might creep over the border into Uganda, but by and large it’s a Congolese homebody.)

Grauer’s Cuckooshrike sticks to the canopy, often in small family groups quietly foraging for insects and berries. It’s the kind of bird that even veteran birdwatchers might miss unless they’re specifically looking for it. No bright colors, no loud calls just a soft presence in the treetops. Think of it as the introverted cousin at the avian party.

Tracking down this “phantom” requires heading into the high-elevation forests of places like Virunga National Park (northern sector) or the forests of Ituri and North Kivu. One noted locality is the forests west of Lake Edward essentially the Congolese side of the Rwenzori foothills.

Due to security concerns, independent travel here is tricky; it’s best done as part of a research team or with heavy logistics. If you manage to arrange it, you’ll be hiking steep trails under towering trees draped in lichens. Keep your eyes up and binoculars ready a movement in the canopy could be a monkey, a turaco, or with luck, a pair of Grauer’s Cuckooshrikes silently flitting from branch to branch. Birding guides will tell you to listen for a very faint, scratchy song, but frankly in the buzz of a rainforest, it’s tough to discern.

9. Kabobo Apalis: Mountain Microbird

High on the isolated Kabobo Plateau by Lake Tanganyika lives a tiny warbler that few have ever seen: the Kabobo Apalis. Endemic to DRC’s Mount Kabobo area, this little grey-and-white bird was only discovered in the 1950s and remains something of a mystery.

At 11 cm small, the apalis flits about in montane thickets, quietly gleaning insects from leaves. It’s not flashy think a modest grey back, pale belly, and maybe a dash of rufous on the face. But what it lacks in looks it makes up in exclusivity: no other country can claim it. Even within DRC, it’s confined to the Misotshi-Kabogo highlands (recently designated a reserve).

This region was completely off-limits for decades due to civil unrest, meaning Kabobo Apalis lived its life with zero human fanfare just the way it likes it. Birders who’ve gone after it joke that it’s the “ghost of Kabobo”, always heard as a whispery trill but seldom seen clearly. Fun fact: the local Mbote people didn’t have a name for it until researchers explained their mission; then they coined one meaning “the little leaf-dweller”.

10. Chapin’s Babbler: Mountain Chorus Line

Named after James Chapin (the famed American ornithologist who also discovered the Congo Peafowl), Chapin’s Mountain Babbler is an Albertine Rift endemic that sings from the treetops of DRC and nowhere else. These babblers (also known simply as Chapin’s Babbler) are about 18 cm long, with soft brownish-grey plumage and a bit of a scruffy crest.

They aren’t brightly colored they prefer to keep a low profile as they scurry through montane forest canopies. What gives them away is their voice: Chapin’s Babblers live in social groups and belt out rollicking choruses of chatters and whistles, a true babbler cacophony. Imagine a barbershop quartet of birds, each member riffing off the other that’s a family of Chapin’s Babblers greeting a new day.

They dwell in DRC’s northeastern highlands, particularly the high forests of Mount Hoyo and the Lendu Plateau near Lake Albert.

Interestingly, they share these habitats with at least two other endemics on our list (Prigogine’s Greenbul and Bedford’s Flycatcher), almost as if Chapin planted a secret trove of birds up there for future explorers. Despite living near conflict zones historically, Chapin’s Babbler has persisted, and birders who reach its haunts often report the species as fairly confiding  curious about visitors and not too shy. Perhaps all that singing boosts their confidence?