Country/territory: Cape Verde
IBA criteria met: A1 (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1 hectares (0.01 km2)
Site description (2001 baseline)
The site consists of two mahogany Khaya senegalensis trees of moderate height, standing together on private farmland in a valley bottom, near the village of Banana, in eastern-central Santiago. The area is intensively farmed; mainly maize, beans and sugar-cane.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. This is one of only two known breeding sites for the endemic Ardea (purpurea) bournei (see site CV006). This colony was only discovered in 1991. In 1991–1993, there were c.20 nests but, due to their position in the crowns of the trees and the thick foliage, it was not possible to accurately determine the number occupied. In March 2000, eight adults and 10 juveniles were counted in the colony, and 13–15 nests were observed in December 2000. Acrocephalus brevipennis breeds in the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mahoganies at Banana, Ribeira Montanha, Ilha de Santiago (Cape Verde). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mahoganies-at-banana-ribeira-montanha-ilha-de-santiago-iba-cape-verde on 26/12/2024.