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

The site was identified as important in 1999 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s)	Population estimate at site	IBA criteria met
Sabine's Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Red-chested Owlet Glaucidium tephronotum	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Grey-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Blue-headed Bee-eater Merops muelleri	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus purpuratus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Eastern Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Cassin's Honeybird Prodotiscus insignis	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Buff-spotted Woodpecker Pardipicus nivosus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Brown-eared Woodpecker Pardipicus caroli	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Yellow-crested Woodpecker Dendropicos xantholophus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus	EN	resident	1999	present	A3
Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrynchus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Petit's Cuckooshrike Campephaga petiti	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Jameson's Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia jamesoni	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Chestnut Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia castanea	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Bocage's Bush-shrike Chlorophoneus bocagei	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Red-bellied Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Dusky Tit Melaniparus funereus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Turner's Eremomela Eremomela turneri	NT	resident	1999	present	A1, A3
Buff-throated Apalis Apalis rufogularis	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Tawny-breasted Camaroptera Camaroptera toroensis	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Red-tailed Bristlebill Bleda syndactylus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Grey Greenbul Eurillas gracilis	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Ansorge's Greenbul Eurillas ansorgei	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Plain Greenbul Eurillas curvirostris	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Toro Olive Greenbul Phyllastrephus hypochloris	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Uganda Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus budongoensis	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Green Hylia Hylia prasina	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Scaly-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis albipectus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
White-tailed Ant-thrush Neocossyphus poensis	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Chapin's Flycatcher Fraseria lendu	VU	resident	1999	present	A1, A2
Blue-shouldered Robin-chat Cossypha cyanocampter	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Grey-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes tephrolaemus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Green-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra rubescens	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Vieillot's Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis	LC	resident	1999	present	A3

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (1999).

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Habitat detail	Reference area (ha)	Actual area (ha)	Habitat quantity (% remaining)	Habitat quality (carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	Mid-altitude forest - transitional	0	0	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable
Forest	Mid-altitude forest - transitional	0	0	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable
Grassland	Grassland - secondary	0	0	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
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) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Biological resource use	logging & wood harvesting - intentional use: subsistence/small scale	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Climate change and severe weather	drought	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Energy production and mining	mining and quarrying	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	work and other activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Pollution	agricultural & forestry effluents - type unknown/unrecorded	likely in short term (within 4 years)	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Pollution	domestic & urban waste water - run-off	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	garbage & solid waste	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	housing and urban areas	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	tourism and recreation areas	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Transportation and service corridors	roads and railroads	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation	Management planning	Other conservation action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	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	medium

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Kakamega	Forest Reserve	17,838	protected area overlaps with site	17,838
Kakamega	National Reserve	4,470	protected area contained by site	4,468
Buyanga	Forest Reserve	3,857	protected area overlaps with site	0

The Local Conservation Groups listed below are working to support conservation at this IBA.

Name	Year formed
Kakamega Forest Guides Association	1995
KEEP	1995
Mureshi community Forest association	2007

For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please click here.

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Artificial/Terrestrial		-
Forest	Mid-altitude forest - transitional	-
Grassland	Grassland - secondary	-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
forestry	-
nature conservation and research	-

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kakamega forest. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kakamega-forest-iba-kenya on 30/09/2023.