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close| Location | Zambia, North Western |
| Central coordinates | 22o 50.00' East 13o 13.00' South |
| IBA criteria | A1, A3 |
| Area | 500 ha |
| Altitude | 1,000 - 1,050m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2005 |
Ornithological information 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.
Site description 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.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos | - | - | - | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Lemon Dove Aplopelia larvata | - | - | - | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Anchieta's Barbet Stactolaema anchietae | - | - | - | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Black-backed Barbet Lybius minor | - | - | - | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| African Crested-flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas | - | - | - | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Rufous-bellied Tit Parus rufiventris | - | - | - | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Grey Apalis Apalis cinerea | - | - | - | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Cabanis's Greenbul Phyllastrephus cabanisi | - | - | - | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Red-capped Crombec Sylvietta ruficapilla | - | - | - | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyanus | - | - | - | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Bannerman's Sunbird Nectarinia bannermani | - | - | - | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Grimwood's Longclaw Macronyx grimwoodi | - | - | - | - | A3 | Data Deficient |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | major | |
| Grassland | 20% |
Other biodiversity Poorly known, although the flora is likely to have Guineo-Congolian elements. The Hairy bat Myotis welwitschii has been recorded.
Conservation response The site has seen very little fieldwork so far.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mbulo Forest. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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