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LR002
Wonegizi mountains
Location Liberia, Lofa
Central coordinates 9o 32.00' West  8o 10.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A2, A3
Area 20,235 ha
Altitude 500 - 1,145m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (Affiliate)



Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species.

Site description The Wonegizi mountains are situated in the north-west of the country against the international frontier with Guinea. The Wonegizi range, which includes the third-highest point in Liberia, is a southern spur of the Guinea Highlands and the site is contiguous with the Massif du Ziama Biosphere Reserve (GN016) in Guinea. The terrain is rugged with broad cliffs and rocky outcrops. The vegetation consists mainly of semi-deciduous forest, similar in composition to that found on the Wologizi mountains (LR001), some 50 km to the west. The sites spans a still largely intact transition from lowland rainforest to semi-montane Parinari-dominated forest at altitude.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Ahanta Francolin Francolinus ahantensis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spot-breasted Ibis Bostrychia rara resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-crested Tiger-heron Tigriornis leucolopha resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-thighed Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Cassin's Hawk-eagle Aquila africanus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Grey-throated Rail Canirallus oculeus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Afep Pigeon Columba unicincta resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba iriditorques resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Blue-headed Wood-dove Turtur brehmeri resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Not Recognised 
Guinea Turaco Tauraco persa resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-billed Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-throated Coucal Centropus leucogaster resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sandy Scops-owl Otus icterorhynchus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Akun Eagle-owl Bubo leucostictus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-chested Owlet Glaucidium tephronotum resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sabine's Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Cassin's Spinetail Neafrapus cassini resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Bates's Swift Apus batesi resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
African Dwarf-kingfisher Ceyx lecontei resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-bellied Kingfisher Alcedo leucogaster resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Merops muelleri resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Not Recognised 
Black Dwarf Hornbill Tockus hartlaubi resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Tockus camurus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
African Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-crested Hornbill Tropicranus albocristatus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Piping Hornbill Bycanistes fistulator resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Brown-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes cylindricus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Vulnerable 
Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Cassin's Honeyguide Prodotiscus insignis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Lyre-tailed Honeyguide Melichneutes robustus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Little Green Woodpecker Campethera maculosa resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Buff-spotted Woodpecker Campethera nivosa resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Brown-eared Woodpecker Campethera caroli resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Gabon Woodpecker Dendropicos gabonensis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Fire-bellied Woodpecker Thripias pyrrhogaster resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Chestnut Wattle-eye Platysteira castanea resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-cheeked Wattle-eye Platysteira blissetti resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Chestnut-bellied Helmet-shrike Prionops caniceps resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike Malaconotus cruentus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Large-billed Puffback Dryoscopus sabini resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sooty Boubou Laniarius leucorhynchus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Blue Cuckooshrike Coracina azurea resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrhynchus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-winged Oriole Oriolus nigripennis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Shining Drongo Dicrurus atripennis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Blue-headed Crested-flycatcher Trochocercus nitens resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-headed Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Dusky Crested-flycatcher Elminia nigromitrata resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-necked Picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Square-tailed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne nitens resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-capped Apalis Apalis nigriceps resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sharpe's Apalis Apalis sharpii resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-browed Camaroptera Camaroptera superciliaris resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Olive-green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Grey Greenbul Andropadus gracilis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Ansorge's Greenbul Andropadus ansorgei resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Golden Greenbul Calyptocichla serina resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Simple Greenbul Chlorocichla simplex resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Swamp Greenbul Thescelocichla leucopleura resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Leaf-love Pyrrhurus scandens resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Common Bristlebill Bleda syndactylus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Green-tailed Bristlebill Bleda eximius resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Near Threatened 
Grey-headed Bristlebill Bleda canicapillus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Bearded Bulbul Criniger barbatus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-tailed Bulbul Criniger calurus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-bearded Greenbul Criniger olivaceus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Yellow-spotted Nicator Nicator chloris resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-headed Rufous Warbler Bathmocercus cerviniventris resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Near Threatened 
Kemp's Longbill Macrosphenus kempi resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Grey Longbill Macrosphenus concolor resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Green Hylia Hylia prasina resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Rufous-crowned Eremomela Eremomela badiceps resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Green Crombec Sylvietta virens resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Lemon-bellied Crombec Sylvietta denti resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Blackcap Illadopsis Illadopsis cleaveri resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Rufous-winged Illadopsis Illadopsis rufescens resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Near Threatened 
Puvel's Illadopsis Illadopsis puveli resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Capuchin Babbler Phyllanthus atripennis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Copper-tailed Glossy-starling Lamprotornis cupreocauda resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Near Threatened 
Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-tailed Ant-thrush Neocossyphus poensis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Rufous Flycatcher-thrush Stizorhina fraseri resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Grey Ground-thrush Zoothera princei resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-tailed Alethe Alethe diademata resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Not Recognised 
Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Lowland Akalat Sheppardia cyornithopsis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Forest Scrub-robin Erythropygia leucosticta resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
African Forest Flycatcher Fraseria ocreata resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-browed Forest Flycatcher Fraseria cinerascens resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Ussher's Flycatcher Muscicapa ussheri resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Olivaceous Flycatcher Muscicapa olivascens resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Scarlet-tufted Sunbird Anthreptes fraseri resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Green Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Nectarinia cyanolaema resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Buff-throated Sunbird Nectarinia adelberti resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Tiny Sunbird Nectarinia minulla resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Johanna's Sunbird Nectarinia johannae resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Superb Sunbird Nectarinia superba resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Vieillot's Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Maxwell's Black Weaver Ploceus albinucha resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Preuss's Weaver Ploceus preussi resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-vented Malimbe Malimbus scutatus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Gray's Malimbe Malimbus nitens resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-fronted Antpecker Parmoptila rubrifrons resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Near Threatened 
Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch Nigrita bicolor resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Crimson Seedcracker Pyrenestes sanguineus resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Western Bluebill Spermophaga haematina resident  1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial)   22%
Unknown   44%
Forest   33%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
hunting -

Other biodiversity Mammals that have been recorded include Loxodonta africana (EN), Pan troglodytes (EN), Tragelaphus euryceros (LR/nt) and Cephalophus zebra (VU).

Management considerations An earlier proposal for the area to be designated a National Park was made again in 2000, but no action has yet been taken. The area remains unlogged, largely because of the terrain. However, prior to the civil war, attempts were being made to obtain a logging concession for the north-western side of Wonegizi. With the return of political stability the threat of logging is likely to be renewed. There are no villages within the proposed reserve, but many around its borders. Forest clearance for shifting cultivation is likely to be a problem. Other threats include the affects of the continuing instability in the area and in neighbouring parts of Sierra Leone and Guinea, as well as hunting.

References Gatter (1997), Kofron and Chapman (1995), Verschuren (1983).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Wonegizi mountains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife