• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2001

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered
Fulvous Whistling-duck Dendrocygna bicolor	LC	non-breeding	-	4,500 individuals	A4i
White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus	LC	resident	-	200 breeding pairs	A4i
White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus	LC	non-breeding	-	350 individuals	A4i
African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus	LC	resident	-	6,200-15,000 breeding pairs	A4i
African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus	LC	non-breeding	-	40,000 individuals	A4i
Burchell's Sandgrouse Pterocles burchelli	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Coppery-tailed Coucal Centropus cupreicaudus	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Corncrake Crex crex	LC	winter	-	present	A1
Lesser Moorhen Paragallinula angulata	LC	resident	-	1,000 breeding pairs	A4i
Lesser Moorhen Paragallinula angulata	LC	non-breeding	-	5,000 individuals	A4i
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus	VU	resident	-	100-500 breeding pairs	A1, A4i
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus	VU	non-breeding	-	1,000-2,000 individuals	A1, A4i
Marabou Leptoptilos crumenifer	LC	resident	-	300-400 breeding pairs	A4i
Marabou Leptoptilos crumenifer	LC	non-breeding	-	5,000 individuals	A4i
African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus	LC	non-breeding	-	1,000 individuals	A4i
African Woollyneck Ciconia microscelis	LC	resident	-	500 breeding pairs	A4i
Saddlebill Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis	LC	resident	-	100 breeding pairs	A4i
Saddlebill Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis	LC	non-breeding	-	1,500-2,000 individuals	A4i
African Spoonbill Platalea alba	LC	breeding	-	500 breeding pairs	A4i
White-backed Night-heron Calherodius leuconotus	LC	resident	-	85 breeding pairs	A4i
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax	LC	breeding	-	1,000 breeding pairs	A4i
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	resident	-	10,000 breeding pairs	A4i
Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris	LC	resident	-	200 breeding pairs	A4i
Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris	LC	non-breeding	-	500 individuals	A4i
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath	LC	resident	-	700 breeding pairs	A4i
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea	LC	resident	-	170 breeding pairs	A4i
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	resident	-	2,000 breeding pairs	A4i
Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca	LC	resident	-	500 breeding pairs	A4i
Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula	VU	resident	-	100-1,000 breeding pairs	A1, A4i
Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula	VU	non-breeding	-	2,000 individuals	A1, A4i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	resident	-	4,000 breeding pairs	A4i
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus	LC	non-breeding	-	2,000 individuals	A4i
African Darter Anhinga rufa	LC	resident	-	100 breeding pairs	A4i
African Darter Anhinga rufa	LC	non-breeding	-	300 individuals	A4i
Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis	LC	resident	-	200 breeding pairs	A4i
Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis	LC	non-breeding	-	500 individuals	A4i
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola	LC	resident	-	500 breeding pairs	A4i
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola	LC	non-breeding	-	1,000-1,600 individuals	A4i
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni	NT	winter	-	2,000 individuals	A1, A4i
African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris	LC	non-breeding	-	200 individuals	A1, A4i
African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris	LC	resident	-	100 breeding pairs	A1, A4i
Bradfield's Hornbill Lophoceros bradfieldi	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Racquet-tailed Roller Coracias spatulatus	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni	LC	winter	-	200-2,000 individuals	A1, A4ii
Dickinson's Kestrel Falco dickinsoni	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus	VU	winter	-	1,000 individuals	A4ii
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis	LC	winter	-	1,000 individuals	A4ii
Barred Wren-warbler Calamonastes fasciolatus	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Chirping Cisticola Cisticola pipiens	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica	LC	winter	-	3,000,000 individuals	A4ii
Black-faced Babbler Turdoides melanops	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Hartlaub's Babbler Turdoides hartlaubii	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Sharp-tailed Starling Lamprotornis acuticaudus	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Meves's Long-tailed Starling Lamprotornis mevesii	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Kalahari Scrub-robin Cercotrichas paena	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Arnot's Chat Myrmecocichla arnotti	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
White-breasted Sunbird Cinnyris talatala	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Brown Firefinch Lagonosticta nitidula	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	breeding	-	50,000-99,999 individuals	A4iii
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	non-breeding	-	100,000-499,999 individuals	A4iii

Note: This table presents the IBA criteria triggered and the species that triggered then at the time of assessment, the current IUCN Red List category may vary from that which was in place at that time.

For more information about the IBA assessment process and criteria please click here

Threats to the site (pressure)
Threat Level 1	Threat Level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	annual & perennial non-timber crops - shifting agriculture	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	annual & perennial non-timber crops - small-holder farming	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - agro-industry grazing, ranching or farmin	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Biological resource use	hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Biological resource use	hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - persecution/control	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Climate change and severe weather	storms and floods	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	mining and quarrying	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	work and other activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - named species	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	tourism and recreation areas	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Condition of key/trigger populations (state)
Scientific	Common	TargetPop	ActualPop	Units	Remaining	Result
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis	Saddlebill	23000	22563	unknown	99	favourable
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis	Saddlebill	10000	7643	unknown	77	near favourable
Platalea alba	African Spoonbill	5678	5234	mature individuals	93	favourable
Ardeola ralloides	Squacco Heron	23970	22563	mature individuals	95	favourable
Ardea goliath	Goliath Heron	34900	23760	individuals	69	unfavourable
Ardea alba	Great White Egret	23456	20562	unknown	88	near favourable
Pelecanus onocrotalus	Great White Pelican	30000	26754	mature individuals	90	near favourable

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation	Management Planning	Conservation Action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	high

For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Okavango Delta System	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	5,537,400	protected area contains site	5,300,000
Okavango Delta	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)	2,023,590	protected area overlaps with site	0
Okavango Delta	Wildlife Management Area	1,388,000	protected area contained by site	1,388,000
NG/9	Wildlife Management Area	838,800	protected area contained by site	838,800
NG/8	Wildlife Management Area	483,700	protected area contained by site	483,700
NG/7	Wildlife Management Area	291,800	protected area contained by site	291,800
NG/6	Wildlife Management Area	18,430	protected area contained by site	18,430
NG/41	Wildlife Management Area	217,700	protected area contained by site	220,825
NG/37	Wildlife Management Area	131,857	protected area contained by site	131,857
NG/36	Wildlife Management Area	8,890	protected area contained by site	8,890
NG/35	Wildlife Management Area	395,600	protected area contained by site	395,600
NG/34	Wildlife Management Area	85,900	protected area contained by site	85,621
NG/33	Wildlife Management Area	6,100	protected area contained by site	5,977
NG/32	Wildlife Management Area	122,200	protected area contained by site	122,334
NG/31	Wildlife Management Area	21,700	protected area overlaps with site	10,876
NG/30	Wildlife Management Area	95,000	protected area contained by site	93,720
NG/29	Wildlife Management Area	184,700	protected area contained by site	192,347
NG/28	Wildlife Management Area	482,999	protected area contained by site	482,999
NG/27B	Wildlife Management Area	15,800	protected area contained by site	15,341
NG/27A	Wildlife Management Area	24,500	protected area contained by site	25,064
NG/26	Wildlife Management Area	173,600	protected area contained by site	169,320
NG/25	Wildlife Management Area	60,200	protected area contained by site	61,701
NG/24	Wildlife Management Area	58,600	protected area contained by site	58,412
NG/23B	Wildlife Management Area	35,084	protected area contained by site	35,084
NG/23A	Wildlife Management Area	88,870	protected area contained by site	88,870
NG/22	Wildlife Management Area	57,100	protected area contained by site	61,011
NG/21	Wildlife Management Area	22,900	protected area contained by site	23,006
NG/20	Wildlife Management Area	164,700	protected area contained by site	164,459
NG/19	Wildlife Management Area	17,000	protected area contained by site	16,389
NG/18	Wildlife Management Area	1,744	protected area contained by site	179,536
NG/17	Wildlife Management Area	6,200	protected area contained by site	6,488
NG/13	Wildlife Management Area	293,800	protected area contained by site	286,683
NG/12	Wildlife Management Area	109,193	protected area contained by site	109,193
NG/11	Wildlife Management Area	456,231	protected area contained by site	456,231
NG/10	Wildlife Management Area	119,628	protected area contained by site	119,628
Moremi	Game Reserve	487,100	protected area overlaps with site	482,999

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Shrubland		-
Grassland		-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
hunting	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-
other	-

For further information about the land use classification please click here.

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2022) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Okavango Delta. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/06/2022.