Current view: Text account
Site description (2005 baseline):
Site location and context
A large an extremely rich mushitu just west of the Zambezi river, between Lukolwe and Luzu. Such forests are uncommon in this District and Mbulo is a particularly fine example. It is between 1 and 2 km long and as much as 0.5km wide in places. Much of the sorrounding habitat is thin Miombo, but to the north the mushitu is bordered by a small swampy stream. The Kamunoka plain ilies to the west and this grassland is included in the site.The general area is very sparsely populated and the forest very undisturbed. Further more, some local residents appear to have supertitious fears of the forest.
A wide range of mushitu species occur, many on the very edge of their range such as Cinnamon Dove, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Bannerman's Sunbird, Blue-mantled Flycatcher, Grey Apalis and Many-coloured Bush Shrike. Splendind Glossy Starlings occur in very large numbers during the breeding season from about August to November. Woollly-necked Storks appear to be regular and probably nest here as they have been found breeding nearby. Species more typical of forest edge and the sorrounding woodland include Anchieta's Barbet, Scaly-frnted Honeyguide and Little Sotted Wooddpecker. The plain supports many grassland species such as Natal Nightjar, Grimwoods Longclaw, Lesser Black-backed Cisticola and Parastic Weaver.
Non-bird biodiversity: Poorly known, although the flora is likely to have Guineo-Congolian elements.
The Hairy bat Myotis welwitschii has been recorded.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
The site has seen very little fieldwork so far.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mbulo Forest (Zambia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mbulo-forest-iba-zambia on 23/11/2024.
