LR004
Nimba mountains


IBA Justification

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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) 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
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
Western Long-tailed Hornbill Horizocerus albocristatus 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-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
Western Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus goffinii LC resident (1997) present A3
Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus 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
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
Melancholy Woodpecker Dendropicos lugubris 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

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 poor 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%) poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Energy production and mining happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Most of area (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 (management category) % coverage of IBA
1961 Nimba West National Park (-) 52

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 visit Spotlight on local empowerment.

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Forest 90
Unknown 6
Artificial/Terrestrial 3

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 22/12/2024.