Data Zone
Country/territory: Ethiopia
IBA criteria met: A1 (1996)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 650 hectares (6.50 km2)
Site description (2001 baseline)
Shek Husein is about 80 km north of Ginir. It is in a limestone gorge, but this is broader than that at Sof Omar (site ET052). The river running through the valley (a tributary of the Wabi Shebelle) is characterized by large boulders and pools. The vegetation comprises mixed Acacia and deciduous woodland, but overall the site is less heavily wooded than at Sof Omar. The area has been little visited by ornithologists in recent years because of security problems. However, it is one the most important Muslim shrines in the country and twice a year thousands of pilgrims make their way to the old settlement.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. This is an important site for Serinus xantholaema, most recently seen in 1990. The Somali–Masai biome species Cisticola bodessa is among the other birds recorded in the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Shek Husein (Ethiopia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/shek-husein-iba-ethiopia on 23/12/2024.