UG005
Ruwenzori (Rwenzori) Mountains National Park


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2001 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Handsome Francolin Pternistis nobilis LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Dusky Turtle-dove Streptopelia lugens LC resident 1998 present A3
Montane Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus LC resident 1998 present A3
Montane Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Scarce Swift Schoutedenapus myoptilus LC resident 1998 present A3
Rwenzori Turaco Gallirex johnstoni LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
African Long-eared Owl Asio abyssinicus LC resident 1998 present A3
Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus NT resident 1998 present A3
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates LC resident 1998 present A3
Western Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus coryphaea LC resident 1998 present A3
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius LC resident 1998 present A3
Rwenzori Batis Batis diops LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Lagden's Bush-shrike Malaconotus lagdeni NT resident - present A1
Albertine Sooty Boubou Laniarius holomelas LC resident 1998 present A3
White-tailed Crested-flycatcher Elminia albonotata LC resident 1998 present A3
White-bellied Crested-flycatcher Elminia albiventris LC resident 1998 present A3
Stripe-breasted Tit Melaniparus fasciiventer LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
White-browed Crombec Sylvietta leucophrys LC resident 1998 present A3
Rwenzori Apalis Oreolais ruwenzorii LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Black-faced Apalis Apalis personata LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema LC resident 1998 present A3
Chubb's Cisticola Cisticola chubbi LC resident 1998 present A3
Mountain Yellow Warbler Iduna similis LC resident 1998 present A3
Bamboo Warbler Locustella alfredi LC resident 1998 present A3
Cinnamon Bracken-warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus LC resident 1998 present A3
Eastern Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps LC resident 1998 present A3
Joyful Greenbul Chlorocichla laetissima LC resident 1998 present A3
Brown Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens LC resident 1998 present A3
Red-faced Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus laetus LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Rwenzori Hill-babbler Sylvia atriceps LC resident 1998 present A3
Mountain Illadopsis Illadopsis pyrrhoptera LC resident 1998 present A3
Slender-billed Starling Onychognathus tenuirostris LC resident 1998 present A3
Waller's Starling Onychognathus walleri LC resident 1998 present A3
Sharpe's Starling Pholia sharpii LC resident 1998 present A3
Abyssinian Ground-thrush Geokichla piaggiae LC resident 1998 present A3
White-eyed Slaty-flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri LC resident 1998 present A3
Yellow-eyed Black-flycatcher Melaenornis ardesiacus LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Archer's Robin-chat Dessonornis archeri LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata LC resident 1998 present A3
Red-throated Alethe Chamaetylas poliophrys LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Equatorial Akalat Sheppardia aequatorialis LC resident 1998 present A3
Grey-chested Kakamega Kakamega poliothorax LC resident 1998 present A3
Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Purple-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia purpureiventris LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis LC resident 1998 present A3
Red-tufted Sunbird Nectarinia johnstoni LC resident 1998 present A3
Golden-winged Sunbird Drepanorhynchus reichenowi LC resident 1998 present A3
Northern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris reichenowi LC resident 1998 present A3
Regal Sunbird Cinnyris regius LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht LC resident 1998 present A3
Strange Weaver Ploceus alienus LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis LC resident 1998 present A3
Red-faced Crimsonwing Cryptospiza reichenovii LC resident 1998 present A3
Abyssinian Crimsonwing Cryptospiza salvadorii LC resident 1998 present A3
Dusky Crimsonwing Cryptospiza jacksoni LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Shelley's Crimsonwing Cryptospiza shelleyi EN resident 1998 present A1, A2, A3
Oriole Finch Linurgus olivaceus LC resident 1998 present A3
Yellow-browed Citril Crithagra frontalis LC resident 1998 present A3
Thick-billed Seedeater Crithagra burtoni LC resident 1998 present A3
Streaky Seedeater Crithagra striolata LC resident 1998 present A3

The current IUCN Red List category (shown above) may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2001).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2012 favourable low high
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat good

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 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable
Grassland 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable
Savanna 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - nomadic grazing happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Biological resource use gathering terrestrial plants - unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Biological resource use logging & wood harvesting - unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Natural system modifications fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other 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 conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Rwenzori Mountains Ramsar Site Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 99,500 protected area overlaps with site 0
Rwenzori Mountains National Park World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) 99,600 protected area overlaps with site 99,600
Rwenzori Mountains National Park 99,500 protected area overlaps with site 99,500

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Artificial/Terrestrial -
Unknown -
Savanna -
Grassland -
Forest -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
water management -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ruwenzori (Rwenzori) Mountains National Park. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ruwenzori-(rwenzori)-mountains-national-park-iba-uganda on 19/03/2024.