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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2001 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

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

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Black Guineafowl Agelastes niger	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Plumed Guineafowl Guttera plumifera	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Forest Francolin Peliperdix lathami	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Hartlaub's Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii	LC	resident (1999)	present	A1, A3
Afep Pigeon Columba unicincta	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba iriditorques	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Blue-headed Wood-dove Turtur brehmeri	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Bates's Nightjar Caprimulgus batesi	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Black Spinetail Telacanthura melanopygia	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Sabine's Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Cassin's Spinetail Neafrapus cassini	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Bates's Swift Apus batesi	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Gabon Coucal Centropus anselli	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Black-throated Coucal Centropus leucogaster	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Nkulengu Rail Himantornis haematopus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Grey-throated Rail Canirallus oculeus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Green Turaco Tauraco persa	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Yellow-billed Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Spot-breasted Ibis Bostrychia rara	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-crested Tiger-heron Tigriornis leucolopha	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Damara Tern Sternula balaenarum	LC	non-breeding (-)	present	A1
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus	LC	non-breeding (-)	3,000 individuals	A4i
Sjostedt's Owlet Glaucidium sjostedti	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Sandy Scops-owl Otus icterorhynchus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Maned Owl Jubula lettii	DD	resident (1999)	present	A3
Akun Eagle-owl Bubo leucostictus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Vermiculated Fishing-owl Scotopelia bouvieri	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Congo Serpent-eagle Dryotriorchis spectabilis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Cassin's Hawk-eagle Aquila africana	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk Accipiter castanilius	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Red-legged Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Bare-cheeked Trogon Apaloderma aequatoriale	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Lophoceros camurus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Eastern Dwarf Hornbill Horizocerus granti	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Congo Pied Hornbill Lophoceros fasciatus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-thighed Hornbill Bycanistes albotibialis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Eastern Piping Hornbill Bycanistes sharpii	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Eastern Long-tailed Hornbill Horizocerus cassini	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Black-headed Bee-eater Merops breweri	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Rosy Bee-eater Merops malimbicus	LC	breeding (1999)	present	A3
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Blue-headed Bee-eater Merops muelleri	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
African Dwarf-kingfisher Ispidina lecontei	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-bellied Kingfisher Corythornis leucogaster	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Eastern Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Bristle-nosed Barbet Gymnobucco peli	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus purpuratus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Cassin's Honeybird Prodotiscus insignis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Lyre-tailed Honeyguide Melichneutes robustus	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
Gabon Woodpecker Dendropicos gabonensis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus	EN	resident (1999)	present	A3
Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrynchus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Black-winged Oriole Oriolus nigripennis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Blue Cuckooshrike Cyanograucalus azureus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike Prionops rufiventris	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-spotted Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia tonsa	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Chestnut Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia castanea	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Fiery-breasted Bushshrike Malaconotus cruentus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Sabine's Puffback Dryoscopus sabini	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Red-eyed Puffback Dryoscopus senegalensis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Lowland Sooty Boubou Laniarius leucorhynchus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Shining Drongo Dicrurus atripennis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Western Crested-flycatcher Trochocercus nitens	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Rufous-vented Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone rufocinerea	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Red-bellied Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Grey-necked Rockfowl Picathartes oreas	NT	resident (1999)	present	A1, A2, A3
Violet-backed Hyliota Hyliota violacea	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Dusky Crested-flycatcher Elminia nigromitrata	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Forest Penduline-tit Anthoscopus flavifrons	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Western Nicator Nicator chloris	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Yellow-throated Nicator Nicator vireo	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Green Crombec Sylvietta virens	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Lemon-bellied Crombec Sylvietta denti	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Yellow Longbill Macrosphenus flavicans	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Grey Longbill Macrosphenus concolor	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Rufous-crowned Eremomela Eremomela badiceps	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Buff-throated Apalis Apalis rufogularis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Yellow-browed Camaroptera Camaroptera superciliaris	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Olive-green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Chattering Cisticola Cisticola anonymus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
African River Martin Pseudochelidon eurystomina	DD	breeding (1999)	present	A1, A3
Square-tailed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne nitens	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Forest Swallow Atronanus fuliginosus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A2, A3
White-bibbed Swallow Hirundo nigrita	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Golden Greenbul Calyptocichla serinus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Red-tailed Bristlebill Bleda syndactylus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Yellow-lored Bristlebill Bleda notatus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Swamp Palm Bulbul Thescelocichla leucopleura	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-tailed Greenbul Baeopogon clamans	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Simple Greenbul Chlorocichla simplex	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
Eastern Bearded Greenbul Criniger chloronotus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-bearded Greenbul Criniger ndussumensis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Xavier's Greenbul Phyllastrephus xavieri	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Leaf-love Pyrrhurus scandens	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Green Hylia Hylia prasina	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Tit-hylia Pholidornis rushiae	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Black-capped Illadopsis Illadopsis cleaveri	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Purple-headed Starling Hylopsar purpureiceps	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-tailed Ant-thrush Neocossyphus poensis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Rufous Flycatcher-thrush Stizorhina fraseri	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Fire-crested Alethe Alethe castanea	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Yellow-footed Flycatcher Muscicapa sethsmithi	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Cassin's Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Sooty Flycatcher Artomyias fuliginosa	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-browed Forest-flycatcher Fraseria cinerascens	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
African Forest-flycatcher Fraseria ocreata	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Grey-throated Tit-flycatcher Fraseria griseigularis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Olivaceous Flycatcher Fraseria olivascens	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Olive-backed Forest-robin Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus	NT	resident (1999)	present	A3
Lowland Akalat Sheppardia cyornithopsis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Fraser's Sunbird Deleornis fraseri	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Mouse-brown Sunbird Anthreptes gabonicus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Violet-tailed Sunbird Anthreptes aurantius	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Grey-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes tephrolaemus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Reichenbach's Sunbird Anabathmis reichenbachii	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Carmelite Sunbird Chalcomitra fuliginosa	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Green-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra rubescens	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Tiny Sunbird Cinnyris minullus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Johanna's Sunbird Cinnyris johannae	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Bates's Sunbird Cinnyris batesi	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Loango Weaver Ploceus subpersonatus	VU	resident (1999)	present	A1, A2, A3
Orange Weaver Ploceus aurantius	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Yellow-mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Maxwell's Black Weaver Ploceus albinucha	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Vieillot's Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Cassin's Malimbe Malimbus cassini	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Blue-billed Malimbe Malimbus nitens	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Red-bellied Malimbe Malimbus erythrogaster	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Western Bluebill Spermophaga haematina	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
White-breasted Nigrita Nigrita fusconotus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Chestnut-breasted Nigrita Nigrita bicolor	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Pale-fronted Nigrita Nigrita luteifrons	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Woodhouse's Antpecker Parmoptila woodhousei	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Long-legged Pipit Anthus pallidiventris	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2001. The most recent assessment (2001) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Energy production and mining	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1962	Moukalaba-Dougoua	Faunal Reserve (IV)	9
1966	Ngove-Ndogo	Hunting Area (IV)	22
1966	Iguela	Hunting Area (IV)	16

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	91
Grassland	3
Shrubland	1
Unknown	1
Wetlands (inland)	1

Land use	% of IBA
forestry	-
nature conservation and research	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gamba Protected Areas Complex (Gabon). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gamba-protected-areas-complex-iba-gabon on 20/01/2025.