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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala	NT	resident (2007)	unknown	A1
Ring-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas caribaea	VU	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A1, A2
Plain Pigeon Patagioenas inornata	NT	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A1
Crested Quail-Dove Geotrygon versicolor	NT	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A1, A2
Jamaican Mango Anthracothorax mango	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Vervain Hummingbird Mellisuga minima	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Red-billed Streamertail Trochilus polytmus	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo Coccyzus pluvialis	LC	resident (2001)	unknown	A2
Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo Coccyzus vetula	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Jamaican Owl Pseudoscops grammicus	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Jamaican Tody Todus todus	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Jamaican Woodpecker Melanerpes radiolatus	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Black-billed Amazon Amazona agilis	EN	resident (2000–2006)	15,000–19,000 unknown	A1, A2
Yellow-billed Amazon Amazona collaria	VU	resident (2000–2006)	10,000–16,000 unknown	A1, A2
Jamaican Becard Pachyramphus niger	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Large Jamaican Elaenia Elaenia fallax	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Small Jamaican Elaenia Myiopagis cotta	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Jamaican Pewee Contopus pallidus	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Sad Flycatcher Myiarchus barbirostris	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Rufous-tailed Flycatcher Myiarchus validus	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Stolid Flycatcher Myiarchus stolidus	LC	resident (2002–2005)	1 individuals	A2
Blue Mountain Vireo Vireo osburni	NT	resident (2002–2006)	6 individuals	A1, A2
Jamaican Vireo Vireo modestus	LC	resident (2002–2005)	18 individuals	A2
Jamaican Crow Corvus jamaicensis	NT	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Golden Swallow Tachycineta euchrysea	VU	resident (2007)	unknown	A1, A2
Rufous-throated Solitaire Myadestes genibarbis	LC	resident (2002–2005)	11 individuals	A2
White-eyed Thrush Turdus jamaicensis	LC	resident (2002–2005)	9 individuals	A2
White-chinned Thrush Turdus aurantius	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Jamaican Euphonia Euphonia jamaica	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Jamaican Oriole Icterus leucopteryx	LC	resident (2002–2005)	11 individuals	A2
Jamaican Blackbird Nesopsar nigerrimus	EN	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A1, A2
Arrowhead Warbler Setophaga pharetra	LC	resident (1998–2006)	4 individuals	A2
Jamaican Spindalis Spindalis nigricephala	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Orangequit Euneornis campestris	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2
Yellow-shouldered Grassquit Loxipasser anoxanthus	LC	resident (1998–2006)	unknown	A2

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2006) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	likely in short term (within 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	likely in short term (within 4 years)	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	No management plan exists but the management planning process has begun	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1950	Cockpit Country	Forest Reserve (VI)	34
1950	Hyde	Forest Reserve (VI)	1
1950	Chatsworth	Forest Reserve (VI)	1
1950	Bottom Hampden	Forest Reserve (VI)	<1
1950	Ruthven	Forest Reserve (VI)	<1
1950	Dromily 'A'	Forest Reserve (VI)	<1
1950	Dromily 'B'	Forest Reserve (VI)	<1
1955	Troy	Forest Reserve (VI)	1
1955	Peru Mountain	Forest Reserve (VI)	<1
1955	Cooks Bottom	Forest Reserve (VI)	<1
1955	Garlands	Forest Reserve (VI)	<1
1964	Windsor	Forest Reserve (VI)	1
1964	Stonehenge	Forest Reserve (VI)	1
1967	Forest Mountain	Forest Reserve (VI)	<1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	70
Other	25
Introduced vegetation	5

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	major (>10)
water management	major (>10)
nature conservation and research	major (>10)
rangeland/pastureland	minor (<10)
fisheries/aquaculture	minor (<10)
hunting	minor (<10)
forestry	minor (<10)
tourism/recreation	minor (<10)
other	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cockpit Country (Jamaica). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cockpit-country-iba-jamaica on 03/01/2025.