LR004
Nimba mountains


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') at the site:
Species Red List1 Season Year(s) Size IBA criteria
White-breasted Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides VU resident 2000 present A1, A2, A3
Ahanta Spurfowl Pternistis ahantensis LC resident 1997 present A3
Forest Francolin Peliperdix lathami LC resident 1997 present A3
Hartlaub's Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii LC resident 1997 present A3
Afep Pigeon Columba unicincta LC resident 1997 present A3
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba iriditorques LC resident 1997 present A3
Blue-headed Wood-dove Turtur brehmeri LC resident 1997 present A3
Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus LC resident 1997 present A3
Black Spinetail Telacanthura melanopygia LC resident 1997 present A3
Sabine's Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini LC resident 1997 present A3
Cassin's Spinetail Neafrapus cassini LC resident 1997 present A3
Bates's Swift Apus batesi LC resident 1997 present A3
Black-throated Coucal Centropus leucogaster LC resident 1997 present A3
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx olivinus LC resident 1997 present A3
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi LC resident 1997 present A3
White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra LC resident 1997 present A3
Nkulengu Rail Himantornis haematopus LC resident 1997 present A3
Grey-throated Rail Canirallus oculeus LC resident 1997 present A3
Green Turaco Tauraco persa LC resident 1997 present A3
Yellow-billed Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus LC resident 1997 present A3
Spot-breasted Ibis Bostrychia rara LC resident 1997 present A3
White-crested Tiger-heron Tigriornis leucolopha LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-chested Owlet Glaucidium tephronotum LC resident 1997 present A3
Sandy Scops-owl Otus icterorhynchus LC resident 1997 present A3
Maned Owl Jubula lettii DD resident 1997 present A3
Shelley's Eagle-owl Bubo shelleyi VU resident 1997 present A3
Akun Eagle-owl Bubo leucostictus LC resident 1997 present A3
Fraser's Eagle-owl Bubo poensis LC resident 1997 present A3
Rufous Fishing-owl Scotopelia ussheri VU resident 1997 present A1, A2, A3
Congo Serpent-eagle Dryotriorchis spectabilis LC resident 1997 present A3
Cassin's Hawk-eagle Aquila africana LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-legged Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus LC resident 1997 present A3
Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus LC resident 1997 present A3
Western Long-tailed Hornbill Horizocerus albocristatus LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Lophoceros camurus LC resident 1997 present A3
Eastern Dwarf Hornbill Horizocerus granti LC resident 1997 present A3
West African Pied Hornbill Lophoceros semifasciatus LC resident 1997 present A3
Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata VU resident 1997 present A1, A3
Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata LC resident 1997 present A3
Brown-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes cylindricus VU resident 1997 present A1, A2, A3
Western Piping Hornbill Bycanistes fistulator LC resident 1997 present A3
Forest Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus castaneiceps LC resident 1997 present A3
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis LC resident 1997 present A3
Blue-moustached Bee-eater Merops mentalis NT resident 1997 present A3
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis LC resident 1997 present A3
African Dwarf-kingfisher Ispidina lecontei LC resident 1997 present A3
White-bellied Kingfisher Corythornis leucogaster LC resident 1997 present A3
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia LC resident 1997 present A3
Western Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus goffinii LC resident 1997 present A3
Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus LC resident 1997 present A3
Western Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon dowsetti LC resident 1997 present A3
Bristle-nosed Barbet Gymnobucco peli LC resident 1997 present A3
Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus LC resident 1997 present A3
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus LC resident 1997 present A3
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta LC resident 1997 present A3
Cassin's Honeybird Prodotiscus insignis LC resident 1997 present A3
Yellow-footed Honeyguide Melignomon eisentrauti NT resident 1997 present A1, A3
Willcocks's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi LC resident 1997 present A3
Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus LC resident 1997 present A3
Lyre-tailed Honeyguide Melichneutes robustus LC resident 1997 present A3
Melancholy Woodpecker Dendropicos lugubris LC resident 1997 present A3
Little Green Woodpecker Campethera maculosa LC resident 1997 present A3
Buff-spotted Woodpecker Pardipicus nivosus LC resident 1997 present A3
Brown-eared Woodpecker Pardipicus caroli LC resident 1997 present A3
Fire-bellied Woodpecker Dendropicos pyrrhogaster LC resident 1997 present A3
Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh EN resident 1997 present A3
Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis LC resident 1997 present A3
Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrynchus LC resident 1997 present A3
Black-winged Oriole Oriolus nigripennis LC resident 1997 present A3
Western Wattled Cuckooshrike Lobotos lobatus VU resident 1997 present A1, A2, A3
Blue Cuckooshrike Cyanograucalus azureus LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-billed Helmetshrike Prionops caniceps LC resident 1997 present A3
African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus LC resident 1997 present A3
West African Batis Batis occulta LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-cheeked Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia blissetti LC resident 1997 present A3
West African Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia hormophora LC resident 1997 present A3
Fiery-breasted Bushshrike Malaconotus cruentus LC resident 1997 present A3
Lagden's Bushshrike Malaconotus lagdeni NT resident 1997 present A1
Sabine's Puffback Dryoscopus sabini LC resident 1997 present A3
Lowland Sooty Boubou Laniarius leucorhynchus LC resident 1997 present A3
Shining Drongo Dicrurus atripennis LC resident 1997 present A3
Western Crested-flycatcher Trochocercus nitens LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-bellied Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer LC resident 1997 present A3
White-necked Rockfowl Picathartes gymnocephalus VU resident 2000 present A1, A2, A3
Violet-backed Hyliota Hyliota violacea LC resident 1997 present A3
Dusky Crested-flycatcher Elminia nigromitrata LC resident 1997 present A3
Dusky Tit Melaniparus funereus LC resident 1997 present A3
Forest Penduline-tit Anthoscopus flavifrons LC resident 1997 present A3
Western Nicator Nicator chloris LC resident 1997 present A3
Green Crombec Sylvietta virens LC resident 1997 present A3
Lemon-bellied Crombec Sylvietta denti LC resident 1997 present A3
Kemp's Longbill Macrosphenus kempi LC resident 1997 present A3
Grey Longbill Macrosphenus concolor LC resident 1997 present A3
Rufous-crowned Eremomela Eremomela badiceps LC resident 1997 present A3
Sierra Leone Prinia Schistolais leontica EN resident 1999 present A1, A2, A3
Black-capped Apalis Apalis nigriceps LC resident 1997 present A3
Sharpe's Apalis Apalis sharpii NT resident 1997 present A2, A3
Yellow-browed Camaroptera Camaroptera superciliaris LC resident 1997 present A3
Olive-green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota LC resident 1997 present A3
Black-headed Rufous-warbler Bathmocercus cerviniventris DD resident 1997 present A1, A2, A3
Square-tailed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne nitens LC resident 1997 present A3
Fanti Saw-wing Psalidoprocne obscura LC resident 1997 present A3
White-bibbed Swallow Hirundo nigrita LC resident 1997 present A3
Golden Greenbul Calyptocichla serinus LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-tailed Bristlebill Bleda syndactylus LC resident 1997 present A3
Green-tailed Bristlebill Bleda eximius NT resident 1997 present A1, A2, A3
Grey-headed Bristlebill Bleda canicapillus LC resident 1997 present A3
Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus LC resident 1997 present A3
Swamp Palm Bulbul Thescelocichla leucopleura LC resident 1997 present A3
Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator LC resident 1997 present A3
Simple Greenbul Chlorocichla simplex LC resident 1997 present A3
Grey Greenbul Eurillas gracilis LC resident 1997 present A3
Ansorge's Greenbul Eurillas ansorgei LC resident 1997 present A3
Plain Greenbul Eurillas curvirostris LC resident 1997 present A3
Western Bearded Greenbul Criniger barbatus LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus LC resident 1997 present A3
Yellow-bearded Greenbul Criniger olivaceus VU resident 1999 present A1, A2, A3
Baumann's Greenbul Phyllastrephus baumanni LC resident 1997 present A1, A3
White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis LC resident 1997 present A3
Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus LC resident 1997 present A3
Leaf-love Pyrrhurus scandens LC resident 1997 present A3
Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii LC resident 1997 present A3
Green Hylia Hylia prasina LC resident 1997 present A3
Tit-hylia Pholidornis rushiae LC resident 1997 present A3
Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens LC resident 1997 present A3
Black-capped Illadopsis Illadopsis cleaveri LC resident 1997 present A3
Puvel's Illadopsis Illadopsis puveli LC resident 1997 present A3
Rufous-winged Illadopsis Illadopsis rufescens NT resident 1997 present A1, A2, A3
Grey-hooded Capuchin Babbler Phyllanthus atripennis VU resident 1997 present A3
Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus LC resident 1997 present A3
Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris LC resident 1997 present A3
Copper-tailed Starling Hylopsar cupreocauda NT resident 1997 present A1, A2, A3
White-tailed Ant-thrush Neocossyphus poensis LC resident 1997 present A3
Finsch's Flycatcher-thrush Stizorhina finschi LC resident 1997 present A3
Grey Ground-thrush Geokichla princei LC resident 1997 present A3
White-tailed Alethe Alethe diademata LC resident 1997 present A3
Forest Scrub-robin Tychaedon leucosticta LC resident 1997 present A3
Little Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa epulata LC resident 1997 present A3
Cassin's Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini LC resident 1997 present A3
Ussher's Flycatcher Artomyias ussheri LC resident 1997 present A3
Dusky Blue Flycatcher Bradornis comitatus LC resident 1997 present A3
White-browed Forest-flycatcher Fraseria cinerascens LC resident 1997 present A3
African Forest-flycatcher Fraseria ocreata LC resident 1997 present A3
Grey-throated Tit-flycatcher Fraseria griseigularis LC resident 1997 present A3
Olivaceous Flycatcher Fraseria olivascens LC resident 1997 present A3
Nimba Flycatcher Melaenornis annamarulae VU resident 1998 present A1, A2, A3
Blue-shouldered Robin-chat Cossypha cyanocampter LC resident 1997 present A3
Orange-breasted Forest-robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax LC resident 1997 present A3
Lowland Akalat Sheppardia cyornithopsis LC resident 1997 present A3
Fraser's Sunbird Deleornis fraseri LC resident 1997 present A3
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi LC resident 1997 present A3
Yellow-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris LC resident 1997 present A3
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema LC resident 1997 present A3
Buff-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra adelberti LC resident 1997 present A3
Carmelite Sunbird Chalcomitra fuliginosa LC resident 1997 present A3
Tiny Sunbird Cinnyris minullus LC resident 1997 present A3
Johanna's Sunbird Cinnyris johannae LC resident 1997 present A3
Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus LC resident 1997 present A3
Yellow-mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor LC resident 1997 present A3
Maxwell's Black Weaver Ploceus albinucha LC resident 1997 present A3
Preuss's Weaver Ploceus preussi LC resident 1997 present A3
Chestnut-and-black Weaver Ploceus castaneofuscus LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-vented Malimbe Malimbus scutatus LC resident 1997 present A3
Blue-billed Malimbe Malimbus nitens LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis LC resident 1997 present A3
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus LC resident 1997 present A3
Western Bluebill Spermophaga haematina LC resident 1997 present A3
Crimson Seedcracker Pyrenestes sanguineus LC resident 1997 present A3
White-breasted Nigrita Nigrita fusconotus LC resident 1997 present A3
Chestnut-breasted Nigrita Nigrita bicolor LC resident 1997 present A3
Red-fronted Antpecker Parmoptila rubrifrons NT resident 1997 present A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2001) may differ.


IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2001. The most recent assessment (2024) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2024 unfavourable medium medium
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat good

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Energy production and mining happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) 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 medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1961 Nimba West National Park 52
2003 East Nimba Nature Reserve Nature Reserve 67

Local Conservation Groups

The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.

Name Year formed
Eat Nimba Nature Reserve Site Support Group 2005
For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please click here.

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Forest 90
Unknown 6
Artificial/Terrestrial 3
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use

Land use % of IBA
agriculture -
hunting -
nature conservation and research -
urban/industrial/transport -
water management -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Nimba mountains (Liberia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/nimba-mountains-iba-liberia on 22/11/2024.