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MZ015
Njesi plateau
Location Mozambique, Niassa
Central coordinates 35o 20.00' East  12o 45.00' South
IBA criteria A1, A2, A3
Area 30,000 ha
Altitude 1,300 - 1,800m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. The birdlife of the site is known only from one report, based on a single visit in 1945. Alethe choloensis, Modulatrix stictigula, Orthotomus moreaui and Orthotomus metopias are resident in the montane forest, while Dendropicos stierlingi and Ploceus olivaceiceps are resident in the Brachystegia woodland. One species of the East African Coast biome and three of the Zambezian biome have been recorded.

Site description The site consists of the northern arm of the Lichinga plateau and part of the adjoining plain. The habitat consists of montane grassland with forested gullies on the plateau, surrounded by Brachystegia woodland on the lower slopes and at the base.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Stierling's Woodpecker Dendropicos stierlingi resident  1945  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
White-tailed Crested-flycatcher Elminia albonotata resident  1945  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Stripe-cheeked Greenbul Andropadus milanjensis resident  1945  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Fischer's Greenbul Phyllastrephus fischeri resident  1945  -  -    Least Concern 
Long-billed Tailorbird Artisornis moreaui resident  1945  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Critically Endangered 
African Tailorbird Artisornis metopias resident  1945  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Least Concern 
Thyolo Alethe Alethe choloensis resident  1945  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Endangered 
Spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula resident  1945  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata resident  1945  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Miombo Rock-thrush Monticola angolensis resident  1945  -  -    Least Concern 
Olive-bellied Double-collared Sunbird Nectarinia fuelleborni resident  1945  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Olive-headed Weaver Ploceus olivaceiceps resident  1945  -  -    Near Threatened 
Red-faced Crimson-wing Cryptospiza reichenovii resident  1945  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland   19%
Forest   79%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
not utilised -

Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.

Management considerations The only account of the site dates from 1946. It is not known to what extent human activities have encroached on the natural habitats in the meantime. Further exploration is urgently needed to assess the current status of the site.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Njesi plateau. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

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