Birding In Odzala
Lango

by Gaël R. Vande weghe

2015

Lango, just a few kilometers from Mboko along the Lango wetland system, is one of the most rewarding spots for birding in Odzala. Known for its elevated boardwalk and the famous Lango Bai, this area offers a very different experience from Mboko. The habitats here create unique interactions with birdlife, giving visitors fresh perspectives and encounters.

One of the most spectacular highlights at Lango Bai is the sight of massive bird congregations. Early in the morning, and sometimes throughout the day, Green Pigeons, Afep Pigeons, and Grey Parrots gather in astonishing numbers. Flocks can swell into the hundreds or even thousands right in front of the lodge. The result is a dramatic and unforgettable scene—birds filling the sky, their calls creating a constant chorus that leaves birdwatchers in awe.

The elevated boardwalk at Lango Lodge provides a rare advantage. Because of the steady human presence, many forest birds have become habituated, allowing for unusually close observation. This proximity makes it possible to spot species that would normally remain hidden deep in the forest. Within a 100-meter radius, guests can experience the bai, the lodge, and the surrounding forest—an intimate window into the region’s biodiversity. Whether it’s the dramatic pigeon and parrot gatherings at the bai, or the close encounters with habituated forest birds near the rooms and decks, Lango delivers one of the most immersive birding in Odzala experiences.

Here are a few bird species photographed while exploring Lango.

For more information: Odzala National Park

For more birding in Odzala: Part 1 and Part 3

 
Birding in Odzala

African Green PigeonTreron calvus

Birding in Odzala

Guinea TuracoTauraco persa

Birding in Odzala

Blue-breasted KingfisherHalcyon malimbicus

Birding in Odzala

Yellow-throated ThinkerbirdPogoniulus subsulphureus

Birding in Odzala

Red-rumped Thinkerbird – Pogoniulus atroflavus

Birding in Odzala

Speckled ThinkerbirdPogoniulus scolopaceus

Birding in Odzala

Spotted HoneyguideIndicator maculatus

Birding in Odzala

Green-backed WoodpeckerCampethera caillautii

Birding in Odzala

Lowland Sooty BoubouLaniarius leucorhynchus

Birding in Odzala

Plain Greenbul – Eurillas curvirostris

Birding in Odzala

Slender-billed Greenbul – Stelgidillas gracilirostris

Birding in Odzala

Icterine Greenbul – Phyllastrephus icterinus

Birding in Odzala

Swamp GreenbulThescelocichla leucopleura

Birding in Odzala

Eastern Bearded-GreenbulCriniger chloronotus

Birding in Odzala

White-browed Forest-Flycatcher – Fraseria cinerascens

Birding in Odzala

African Forest-FlycatcherFraseria ocreata

Birding in Odzala

Black-necked Wattle-eye – Platysteira chalybea

Birding in Odzala

Blue-headed Crested-Flycatcher – Trochocercus nitens

Birding in Odzala

Chattering Cisticola – Cisticola anonymus

Birding in Odzala

Green Crombec – Sylvietta virens

Birding in Odzala

Black-capped ApalisApalis nigriceps

Birding in Odzala

Olive-green CamaropteraCamaroptera chloronota

Birding in Odzala

Rufous-crowned Eremomela – Eremomela badiceps

Birding in Odzala

Olive SunbirdCyanomitra olivacea

Birding in Odzala

Tiny Sunbird – Cinnyris minullus

Birding in Odzala

Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi

Birding in Odzala

Blue-billed Malimbe Malimbus nitens

Birding in Odzala

Chestnut-breasted Nigrita Nigrita bicolor