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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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.

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

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Handsome Spurfowl Pternistis nobilis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Afep Pigeon Columba unicincta	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba iriditorques	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Blue-headed Wood-dove Turtur brehmeri	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Bates's Nightjar Caprimulgus batesi	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Montane Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Sabine's Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Scarce Swift Schoutedenapus myoptilus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Bates's Swift Apus batesi	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Rwenzori Turaco Gallirex johnstoni	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Shoebill Balaeniceps rex	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1
Abyssinian Owl Asio abyssinicus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Fraser's Eagle-owl Bubo poensis	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Congo Serpent-eagle Dryotriorchis spectabilis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Cassin's Hawk-eagle Aquila africana	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk Accipiter castanilius	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus	NT	resident (2000)	present	A3
Bare-cheeked Trogon Apaloderma aequatoriale	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Lophoceros camurus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Western Dwarf Hornbill Horizocerus hartlaubi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Congo Pied Hornbill Lophoceros fasciatus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-thighed Hornbill Bycanistes albotibialis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Eastern Long-tailed Hornbill Horizocerus cassini	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Blue-headed Bee-eater Merops muelleri	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
African Dwarf-kingfisher Ispidina lecontei	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Eastern Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Sladen's Barbet Gymnobucco sladeni	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Western Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus coryphaea	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus purpuratus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Cassin's Honeybird Prodotiscus insignis	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Zenker's Honeyguide Melignomon zenkeri	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Dwarf Honeyguide Indicator pumilio	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A2, A3
Willcocks's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Lyre-tailed Honeyguide Melichneutes robustus	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Fine-banded Woodpecker Campethera taeniolaema	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Buff-spotted Woodpecker Pardipicus nivosus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Brown-eared Woodpecker Pardipicus caroli	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Yellow-crested Woodpecker Dendropicos xantholophus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Gabon Woodpecker Dendropicos gabonensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus	EN	resident (2000)	present	A3
Black-collared Lovebird Agapornis swindernianus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Green-breasted Pitta Pitta reichenowi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Grey-headed Broadbill Smithornis sharpei	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrynchus	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Mountain Oriole Oriolus percivali	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Grauer's Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris graueri	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A2, A3
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Petit's Cuckooshrike Campephaga petiti	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Yellow-crested Helmetshrike Prionops alberti	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Rwenzori Batis Batis diops	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Jameson's Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia jamesoni	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Chestnut Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia castanea	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Fiery-breasted Bushshrike Malaconotus cruentus	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri	NT	resident (2000)	present	A1, A3
Mountain Sooty Boubou Laniarius poensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Doherty's Bushshrike Telophorus dohertyi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Western Crested-flycatcher Trochocercus nitens	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Bedford's Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone bedfordi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A1, A3
Red-bellied Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Violet-backed Hyliota Hyliota violacea	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-tailed Crested-flycatcher Elminia albonotata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Dusky Tit Melaniparus funereus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Stripe-breasted Tit Melaniparus fasciiventer	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Western Nicator Nicator chloris	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Green Crombec Sylvietta virens	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
White-browed Crombec Sylvietta leucophrys	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Yellow Longbill Macrosphenus flavicans	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Grey Longbill Macrosphenus concolor	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Rufous-crowned Eremomela Eremomela badiceps	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Turner's Eremomela Eremomela turneri	NT	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Rwenzori Apalis Oreolais ruwenzorii	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Black-faced Apalis Apalis personata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Tawny-breasted Camaroptera Camaroptera toroensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Chubb's Cisticola Cisticola chubbi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Papyrus Yellow Warbler Calamonastides gracilirostris	VU	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Mountain Yellow Warbler Iduna similis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Grauer's Swamp-warbler Bradypterus graueri	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Cinnamon Bracken-warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Square-tailed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne nitens	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Eastern Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-tailed Bristlebill Bleda syndactylus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Swamp Palm Bulbul Thescelocichla leucopleura	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Joyful Greenbul Chlorocichla laetissima	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Simple Greenbul Chlorocichla simplex	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Shelley's Greenbul Arizelocichla masukuensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Grey Greenbul Eurillas gracilis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Plain Greenbul Eurillas curvirostris	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Xavier's Greenbul Phyllastrephus xavieri	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Toro Olive Greenbul Phyllastrephus hypochloris	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Brown Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-faced Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus laetus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Green Hylia Hylia prasina	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Rwenzori Hill-babbler Sylvia atriceps	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Mountain Illadopsis Illadopsis pyrrhoptera	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Scaly-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis albipectus	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Grey-caped Capuchin Babbler Phyllanthus bohndorffi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpei	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Slender-billed Starling Onychognathus tenuirostris	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Waller's Starling Onychognathus walleri	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Sharpe's Starling Pholia sharpii	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Stuhlmann's Starling Poeoptera stuhlmanni	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Purple-headed Starling Hylopsar purpureiceps	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
White-tailed Ant-thrush Neocossyphus poensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Rufous Flycatcher-thrush Stizorhina fraseri	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Abyssinian Ground-thrush Geokichla piaggiae	LC	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Abyssinian Ground-thrush Geokichla piaggiae	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Fire-crested Alethe Alethe castanea	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Little Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa epulata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Yellow-footed Flycatcher Muscicapa sethsmithi	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Dusky Blue Flycatcher Bradornis comitatus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
African Forest-flycatcher Fraseria ocreata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Olivaceous Flycatcher Fraseria olivascens	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-eyed Slaty-flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Archer's Robin-chat Dessonornis archeri	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-throated Alethe Chamaetylas poliophrys	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Blue-shouldered Robin-chat Cossypha cyanocampter	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Yellow-breasted Forest-robin Stiphrornis xanthogaster	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Equatorial Akalat Sheppardia aequatorialis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Grey-chested Kakamega Kakamega poliothorax	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Grey-headed Sunbird Deleornis axillaris	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Grey-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes tephrolaemus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Green-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra rubescens	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Purple-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia purpureiventris	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-tufted Sunbird Nectarinia johnstoni	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Northern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris reichenowi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Regal Sunbird Cinnyris regius	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Rockefeller's Sunbird Cinnyris rockefelleri	VU	resident (2000)	unknown	A2, A3
Red-chested Sunbird Cinnyris erythrocercus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Bates's Sunbird Cinnyris batesi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Strange Weaver Ploceus alienus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Black-billed Weaver Ploceus melanogaster	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Northern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus castanops	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Vieillot's Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Grant's Bluebill Spermophaga poliogenys	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-faced Crimsonwing Cryptospiza reichenovii	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Abyssinian Crimsonwing Cryptospiza salvadorii	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Dusky Crimsonwing Cryptospiza jacksoni	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Shelley's Crimsonwing Cryptospiza shelleyi	EN	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Yellow-bellied Waxbill Coccopygia quartinia	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-collared Oliveback Nesocharis ansorgei	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-breasted Nigrita Nigrita fusconotus	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Chestnut-breasted Nigrita Nigrita bicolor	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Pale-fronted Nigrita Nigrita luteifrons	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Oriole Finch Linurgus olivaceus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Yellow-browed Citril Crithagra frontalis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Papyrus Canary Crithagra koliensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Thick-billed Seedeater Crithagra burtoni	LC	resident (2000)	unknown	A3
Streaky Seedeater Crithagra striolata	LC	resident (2000)	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 (2020) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	poor (40–69%)	poor (40–69%)	very poor
Savanna	poor (40–69%)	moderate (70–90%)	very poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Geological events	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Climate change and severe weather	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (<4 years)	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Pollution	likely in short term (<4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Energy production and mining	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Transportation and service corridors	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Some of area covered (10–49%)	No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1925	Virunga	Parc National (II)	100
1979	Virunga National Park	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA)	100

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	64
Artificial/Terrestrial	11
Grassland	9
Wetlands (inland)	4
Savanna	3
Unknown	3
Shrubland	2

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
forestry	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Virunga National Park (Congo, The Democratic Republic of the). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/virunga-national-park-iba-congo-the-democratic-republic-of-the on 22/12/2024.