s084
Kontum plateau

Country/Territory Laos; Vietnam
Area 0 km2
Altitude 0 - 0 m
Priority -
Habitat loss -
Knowledge -

General characteristics

The mountainous region centred around the town of Kontum (or Contum) in Gia Lai-Con Tum and southern Quang Nam-Da Nang provinces of central Vietnam (see map, p. 450) supports at least three restricted-range species, the threatened Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata (classified as Vulnerable; also in EBAs 143 and 145 in Vietnam and 158 in Peninsular Malaysia), White-cheeked Laughingthrush Garrulax vassali (also in EBAs 143 and 145 in Vietnam and Secondary Area s083 in Laos) and Grey-faced Tit-babbler Macronous kelleyi (also in EBAs 143 and 144 in Vietnam and Secondary Area s083 in Laos). All three species were recorded there during brief surveys of two sites in 1988, including Kong Cha Rang Nature Reserve (Robson et al. 1989). In 1996, a survey of the highest mountain in this region, Ngoc Linh (2,598 m), discovered a new form of barwing Actinodura (which was common there), similar to Spectacled Barwing A. ramsayi, but possibly an undescribed species (J. C. Eames verbally 1996). This mountain lies within the Ngoc Linh nature reserve, and the nearby Kon Kai Kinh and Mom Ray nature reserves may also contain suitable habitat for the restricted-range birds (see IUCN 1992c).

Restricted-range species


Species IUCN Red List category
(Rheinardia ocellata) NR
Grey-faced Tit-babbler (Mixornis kelleyi) LC
(Napothera danjoui) NR
Black-hooded Laughingthrush (Garrulax milleti) LC
White-cheeked Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus vassali) LC
Yellow-billed Nuthatch (Sitta solangiae) NT

Important Bird & Biodiversity Areas (IBAs)
Country IBA Name IBA Book Code
Laos Dakchung Plateau LA015
Laos Dong Ampham LA012
Laos Phou Ahyon LA016
Laos Xe Sap LA010
Vietnam Kon Cha Rang VN025
Vietnam Kon Ka Kinh VN020
Vietnam Kon Plong VN049
Vietnam Lo Xo Pass VN046
Vietnam Ngoc Linh VN043

Threat and conservation


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Endemic Bird Area factsheet: Kontum plateau. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/eba/factsheet/383 on 23/11/2024.