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Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 May 2019 | 11(7): 13850–13867

First assessment of bird diversity in the UNESCO Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve, southwestern Ethiopia: species richness, distribution and potential for avian conservation

^1,2,4,5Biodiversity Inventory for Conservation (BINCO) vzw, Walmersumstraat 44, 3380 Glabbeek, Belgium.

⁵5Plant Conservation and Population Biology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.

¹vanopstalmattias@gmail.com (corresponding author),²oosterlynckbernard@gmail.com, ³millionbelay@gmail.com, ⁴esse.erens@outlook.com,
⁵m.debeenhouwer@gmail.com

Abstract: The Sheka Zone in southwestern Ethiopia is covered by some of the largest remaining forests in the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot. Owing to the rich biodiversity and a high degree of endemism, it was declared as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2012 and is considered a Key Biodiversity Area. Detailed knowledge on species diversity and distribution in the reserve is, however, severely limited. From February to April 2016, an assessment of the bird diversity and distribution in the reserve was made for the first time through point count transects, camera-trap recordings and opportunistic observations. In total, 244 bird species were identified, of which 19% was only found within the reserve’s designated protected zones. Our study indicates a remarkable bird species richness across the different habitats in Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve and can be used as a baseline for future monitoring studies and conservation planning.

Keywords: Avifauna, Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, habitat occupation, Horn of Africa, inventory, IUCN.

Ethiopia is recognized among the 35 most biodiverse regions in the world and its biodiversity is renowned for its high percentage of endemism. The highlands in the southwest, where most of the larger forest tracts remain, are part of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot (Mittermeier et al. 2011). Natural habitats are highly diverse in this region, where the forest structure changes along a large elevation gradient (Friis 1992), with moist evergreen Afromontane rainforests presenting the dominant vegetation type, but also including bamboo forests and transitional rainforests leading down to semi-deciduous forests at lower altitudes. In most areas, the forests are interspersed with wetlands or, at higher altitude, moorlands. Ethiopian natural forests are however rapidly disappearing (Dessie & Kleman 2007; Reusing 2000), with approximately 11.4% or 12,499,000ha of total forest cover left (FAO 2015).

The Sheka Zone in southwestern Ethiopia still harbors some of the largest remaining Afromontane forests in the country (>100,000ha). Nevertheless, the combination of a rising population, ongoing land-allocation to agricultural investors and a lack of land-use planning are increasing pressure on the remaining natural habitats. As such, the deforestation rate within Sheka is one of the highest in Ethiopia, with severe impacts on local economy, culture and environment (Woldemariam & Fetene 2007). Sheka forest is considered a Key Biodiversity Area (Birdlife International 2017) and, in 2012, it was recognized by UNESCO as the Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve. This recognition has led to the zonation of the area into core-, buffer- and transition zones (Fig. 1). These are, respectively, devoted to long-term protection of intact forests (core zones), participatory forest management and low-intensity production (buffer zones), and sustainable human settlement and agriculture (transition zones) (Gole & Getaneh 2011). The forest furthermore provides an important refuge for the native genetic diversity of wild crop relatives with significant agricultural value. The most prominent example is the indigenous wild coffee Coffea arabica, which can still be found in reasonable densities in the broadleaf forest of Sheka, but also other wild crop relatives that are imperative for local food provisioning such as Enset or ‘False Banana’ Ensete ventricosum and Ethiopian Cardamom Aframomum corrorima. All combined, there are strong incentives to safeguard this forest also from an economic and agricultural perspective (De Beenhouwer et al. 2013; Aerts et al. 2015).

Biodiversity and conservation research has seen a recent increase in southwestern Ethiopia, mainly in relation to agroforestry (e.g., Hundera et al. 2013; Tadesse et al. 2014); however, biodiversity studies in remote forest regions such as Sheka have been very limited thus far, despite the recognition as a UNESCO biosphere reserve and strong ongoing habitat degradation. Detailed insights in the diversity, distribution and abundance of species in the area are hardly available. Likewise, information on the bird diversity in Sheka forest is very scarce, but limited research done in the broader region (e.g., Woldegeorgis & Wube 2012) provides clear indications for a large bird species diversity in remaining forest tracts of southwestern Ethiopia. Here, we present a first comprehensive inventory of the bird diversity in Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve, discuss our observations in relation to the delineated management zones, and highlight the biosphere reserve as an understudied yet highly valuable area for bird conservation and continued biodiversity studies.

From Masha (around 7.749⁰N & 35.471⁰E; ca. 2,250m), the largest village in the area and capital of the Sheka Zone, we surveyed a variety of core-, buffer- and transition zones across the three districts, or ‘woredas’, situated in the biosphere reserve (Masha, Anderacha and Yeki). Our field expeditions took place from 2 February 2016 until 30 April 2016, and nine different ‘kebeles’ (the smallest administrative division) were visited across the three woredas(Table 1). The humid highlands of southwestern Ethiopia are characterized by a short rainy season from March to April and a long rainy season from June to October, with an average temperature of 18.4°C and yearly precipitation of 1,783mm. Hence, our expeditions were carried out immediately prior to and during the short rainy season. Permission for the field work was granted by the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) at the national level, the head office of the Sheka Zone and by kebele leaders on the local administrative level. The study was part of a larger expedition to assess the biodiversity in the reserve.

Birds were identified using visual, vocal and camera trap observations. Photo and audio recordings were made to support identification. When recordings of certain species were lacking, only those with double observations were listed. Visual and vocal assessments were done during early morning point transect surveys and on an ad hoc basis in all locations visited throughout the expedition. Because the delineation between core and buffer zones was not always clear in the field, observations herein were collectively assigned to the ‘protected zones’ within the reserve. Assessments were carried out covering a wide variety of habitats. These were divided into seven categories for a provisional overview of species’ habitat occupation throughout the reserve (Table 2). Early morning point transect surveys consisted of six counts of 10 minutes, interspersed by five minutes of walking in a predetermined direction. All birds seen and/or heard within a perimeter of 25 meters around the observer were noted. In this way, a total of 74 point transect surveys were carried out, with one survey always restricted to the same habitat. Species identification was done using the Helm field guide ‘Birds of the Horn of Africa’ (Redman et al. 2011) as a main reference. Occasional unknown sounds were recorded and identified afterwards using the xeno-canto database (http://www.xeno-canto.org).

Camera trap monitoring was done with 16 camera traps in 28 different locations (see Fig. 1) for a total of approximately 510 camera trap days. Camera trap locations were selected based on their potential to monitor mammal diversity, but additional bird observations were made of crepuscular species and analysed as part of the present study.

We recorded a total of 244 bird species from 55 different families in the Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve (Table 3; Images 1–4). Of the species recorded in the reserve during our fieldwork, 47 species or 19% were only found in the designated protected zones. All other species were found across a variety of management zones. Of the 155 species identified during the point transect surveys, 16 species were observed across all studied habitats, of which Bradypterus cinnamomeus (89.2% of surveys), Turdus (olivaceus) abyssinicus (83.8%),and Zosterops poliogastrus kaffensis (78.4%) were the most common bird species identified during the surveys. Riverine forest was the most species-rich habitat sampled with on average 24.3 species sampled per survey, while bamboo forest was the least species rich habitat with an average of 13.4 species recorded per survey (Table 2). Based on our observations, the main habitat types used by each species are noted, except for the species encountered on migration, for which no habitats could be determined (Table 3).

Eleven bird species that were recorded during the surveys are considered threatened based on the IUCN Red List. With the notable exception of the recorded vultures, these observations largely stem from within the designated protected zones of the reserve. Details on these species and their identification are discussed below:

A smaller brown vulture, identified based on its naked pink head and whitish-grey ‘hooded’ hindneck and nape. It is common and still very abundant around settlements in the region, but rather rare in a variety of other habitats. Like the other African vultures listed below, it is severely threatened by a combination of factors, including land conversion, active persecution as well as secondary poisoning.

A rather large blackish vulture with contrasting white belly and large red-colored bill. Singles and pairs are uncommon but found to be widespread in a variety of habitats including settlements.

A typical vulture with a bright brown back, dark brown plumage, dark bill and down feathers on the neck. Seen in groups of up to 20 birds but also often in the presence of other vulture species. Common and widespread in a variety of habitats, most numerous around settlements.

This vulture is similar to Gyps africanus but easily distinguished based on its yellow bill and scaled appearance in adult birds caused by bright edges on dark feathers. Rather uncommon, but widespread and present in a variety of habitats including settlements.

A very large, dark brown vulture with a pink head that shows distinctive skin folds. Pairs and solitary birds were encountered only a limited number of times around smaller settlements and agricultural areas.

A large eagle with brown upper parts and blackish flight feathers, larger and darker than Aquila rapax. Observed and photographed on only one occasion while on migration northwards on 18 April 2016 above a highland moorland at Gandochi.

A very large brown eagle with white body underparts. Only one sighting in a wetland in the protected zone of Shato where a territorial pair was seen and heard in flight on 24 April 2016.

An unmistakable crane with predominantly black body plumage and a crown of golden feathers. Limited number of sightings on a single day during a wetland inventory around the town of Masha.

Easily recognised in flight from below, based on the black body plumage, black and white wings and chestnut tail. Observed only one time at Shato forest (south) and two times in highland moorland at Gandochi, where a male was photographed on 30 March 2016.

Large eagle with crest, giving the head a rather triangular appearance. Barred black and white from below, with chestnut underwing coverts. Widespread and common in the core forested areas, very rare elsewhere. Both juveniles and adults were seen and photographed on several occasions throughout the study.

A brown rail with white undertail coverts. Very common in highland wetlands, also common in Moorlands and along the Gebba river.

Several species that were found in the reserve during the monitoring occur only in a very restricted range in Ethiopia. Although these species are not considered threatened on the IUCN red list nor are endemic, their isolated distribution within Ethiopia and/or occurrence at the extremes of their distribution ranges deserves special conservation attention. Except for Cinnyris chloropygius, these species were exclusively found within the protected zones of the reserve.

Most common in forest interior, but also more open woodland types. Never seen, but regularly heard at night or early morning during the short rainy season. Sometimes, several males could be heard and were recorded giving a long and low hooting “whoooooooo” lasting approximately three seconds and repeated at intervals of approximately five seconds.

Adult males have a chestnut red head and chest with otherwise black plumage with narrow but striking white streaks. Adult males were observed two times during an inventory in a wetland around Shato when flushed from about 5m from the observers in a wet grassland.

Sound recorded at two different locations in highland bamboo forest were uncommon and localized. A rapid series of short notes all at the same pitch “chit-it chit-it chit-it”.

A striking blue kingfisher, distinguished from Halcyon senegalensis based on its blue breast-band and more extensive amount of black on its wings. Rare and secretive, but present around the largest rivers in the area. Often heard in wetland and riverine forest habitat in Shato forest, and one individual was photographed in lowland riverine forest near Tepi.

A small finch-like species. Males were recognised based on their black bill and yellow head and underparts. Only observed once in the largest wetland at the side of the Gebba River. A male was seen on 28 February 2018 for approximately 30 seconds sitting on top of a shrub at 15m from the observers during a wetland survey.

Males showed a metallic green head, breast and upper parts, a red breast-band and olive belly. Uncommon in open riverine woodland in the lowlands of Tepi, where one territorial male was seen actively foraging during a riverine forest survey by several observers.

Twelve of the bird species observed inside the reserve are considered endemic to the Horn of Africa. All of these endemic species were encountered regularly within suitable habitat. Details on species identification are listed below (except for Rougetius rougetii, already discussed above):

A dark ibis with white shoulder patches and a small wattle hanging from its throat. Common and abundant around highland wetlands and grasslands.

A large francolin with black forehead and creamy white belly. Uncommon but widespread in a variety of open woodland and forest edges, where often identified by its early morning call. On one occasion a large group (six birds) was seen in a tea plantation near the Gebba River.

A medium-sized green parrot, identified by the presence of yellow colouring on the head. Common in a wide variety of forest and woodland, rare around farmland.

A bright green lovebird with green rump and red forehead. Common in highland woodland, rather rare in a variety of other habitats.

A barbet with red forecrown and barred plumage. Rare in open highland forest but common in lowland forest areas near Tepi.

Small woodpecker with green back, heavily barred wings and bright red rump. Common in a variety of highland forest where identified and photographed on several occasions during the study.

A large, dark grey-brown highland flycatcher with conspicuous yellow eye. Very common around settlements and a wide variety of other highland habitats.

A cisticola with black and grey streaked mantle and rufous crown. Extremely common and abundant around wetland, highland moorland and big rivers.

A distinctive grey bird with whitish forehead and orange-red undertail coverts. Common in highland bamboo forest, where recorded in high densities in forest edges around moorlands, very rare elsewhere.

A large black-headed oriole with grey wing panel. Very common in a wide variety of highland habitats, not restricted to forests.

A large raven with white patch on nape and very large bill. Common and abundant around settlements and farmland, rare around wetlands and open forest and not recorded from the core zones.

This study highlights the importance of the Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve for globally threatened and Ethiopian endemic bird species, and in particular raptors and vultures. The results not only emphasize a high species richness in the reserve, but also indicate the importance of the proposed zonation, with increased control and protection, for bird conservation. Our findings are comparable to other recent ornithological studies in Ethiopia (e.g., Engelen et al. 2017; Rodrigues et al. 2018), showing a structurally diverse landscape, mostly in traditional low-intensity use, supporting a diverse range of bird species, and with undisturbed forest habitats and wetlands presenting a central refuge for vulnerable range-restricted and specialist bird species.

Our inventories were nevertheless confined to the short Ethiopian rainy season, as well as a subset of kebelesand transition-, buffer-, and core zones. Additional bird species, including seasonally present migrants, can undoubtedly be recorded during future studies in different periods and subregions. For instance, two endemic red-listed species, expected to occur in the reserve based on distribution maps, were not found (Macronyx flavicollis and Cyanochen cyanoptera). More extensive surveys, specifically during the long rainy season and in the vast moorlands in the eastern highlands of Anderacha woreda might still indicate their continued presence. In addition, point transect surveys were mainly conducted to map species diversity and distributions across habitats, but were inadequate to accurately characterize the relative abundance of species in the reserve. Thus, our study provides a first indication of bird species richness in Sheka forest, and is a baseline that needs complementary monitoring studies to provide more detailed insights in its species composition, population sizes and dynamics. Our study also showed the added value of camera trapping to record crepuscular species, with Pternistis squamatus and Zoothera piaggiae only being visually observed through camera trap observations.

The large elevation and climatic differences that are present in the reserve add up to a large habitat variation and exceptionally rich bird diversity, underlining the protected status assigned to Sheka forest and the urge to safeguard its habitats from ongoing degradation. Our observations furthermore emphasize the understudied nature of this remote biosphere reserve and the importance of continued biodiversity studies to inform conservation planning. The forests of Sheka provide innumerable services to local communities and many people are directly relying on forest resources for their subsistence. As a result, the forests have been sustained through a long tradition of natural resource management (Woldemariam & Fetene 2007), making Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve an ideal subject for directed long-term and community-based initiatives to conserve some of the largest remaining Afromontane rainforests.

Table 1. An overview of the locations visited in Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve
during the inventory, highlighting the central areas and field camps around
which search efforts were concentrated and their altitude as approximated by GPS readings.

Table 2.The studied habitat categories, including the number of point transect surveys conducted per habitat
and the average number of bird species recorded per survey. Surveys were not focussed on settlements (Se)
and grazing lands (Gr), which instead were assessed through opportunistic search efforts and camera trapping.

Table 3.Bird species identified within Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve, with IUCN conservation status (LC: Least Concern, NT: Near Threatened, VU: Vulnerable, EN: Endangered, CR: Critically Endangered), predominant habitat occupation (see Table 2, Mi: Migration), the identification method leading to species detection (OO: opportunistic observation; PT: point count transect observation; CT: camera trap observation), and main verification method (PH: photographic recording; AU: audio recording; DO: double observation). Species endemic to the Horn of Africa (Redman et al. 2011) are indicated with †. Species that were only observed in the protected zones are indicated with ‡. IUCN status according to https://www.iucnredlist.org, accessed on 29 September 2018.

	Species/family	Common name	IUCN	Habitat	Identification	Verification
	Podicipedidae (1)
1	Tachybaptus ruficollis	Little Grebe	LC	Rf, We	CT, OO, PT	PH
	Phalacrocoracidae (1)
2	Phalacrocorax africanus	Long-tailed Cormorant	LC	Rf	OO, PT	DO
	Anhingidae (1)
3	Anhinga rufa‡	African Darter	LC	Rf	OO, PT	PH
	Heliornithidae (1)
4	Podica senegalensis‡	African Finfoot	LC	Rf	OO, PT	DO
	Ardeidae (6)
5	Nycticorax nycticorax‡	Black-crowned Night Heron	LC	Rf	OO	DO
6	Bubulcus ibis	Cattle Egret	LC	Gr	OO, PT	DO
7	Ardeola ralloides‡	Squacco Heron	LC	Mi	OO	PH
8	Butorides striata‡	Striated Heron	LC	Rf	OO	DO
9	Ardea purpurea	Purple Heron	LC	Rf	OO, PT	DO
10	Ardea melanocephala	Black-headed Heron	LC	Rf, We	OO, PT	DO
	Ciconiidae (5)
11	Ciconia ciconia	White Stork	LC	Mi	OO	DO
12	Ciconia microscelis	African Woollyneck	LC	Rf, We, Gr	OO, PT	PH
13	Ciconia abdimii	Abdim's Stork	LC	Gr, Se	OO	PH
14	Anastomus lamelligerus	African Openbill	LC	Mi	OO	PH
15	Leptoptilos crumeniferus	Marabou Stork	LC	We, Se	OO	PH
	Threskiornithidae (2)
16	Bostrychia hagedash	Hadada Ibis	LC	We, Gr, Se	CT, OO, PT	PH
17	Bostrychia carunculata†	Wattled Ibis	LC	We, Gr	CT, OO, PT	PH
	Anatidae (5)
18	Plectropterus gambensis‡	Spur-winged Goose	LC	We	OO	DO
19	Alopochen aegyptiaca	Egyptian Goose	LC	We, Rf	OO, PT	DO
20	Anas undulata	Yellow-billed Duck	LC	Rf	PT	PH
21	Anas sparsa	African Black Duck	LC	Rf	OO	PH
22	Anas crecca‡	Eurasian Teal	LC	Mi	OO	DO
	Accipitridae (28)
23	Milvus migrans	Black Kite	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
24	Milvus (migrans) aegyptius	Yellow-billed Kite	LC	Gr, Se	CT, OO, PT	PH
25	Haliaeetus vocifer	African Fish-Eagle	LC	Rf	OO, PT	PH
26	Necrosyrtes monachus	Hooded Vulture	CR	Gr, Se	CT, PT	PH
27	Trigonoceps occipitalis	White-headed Vulture	CR	Gr, Se	PT	PH
28	Torgos tracheliotus	Lappet-faced Vulture	EN	Gr, Se	OO	PH
29	Gyps africanus	White-backed Vulture	CR	Gr, Se	OO	PH
30	Gyps rueppellii	Rüppell’s Vulture	CR	Gr, Se	OO	PH
31	Circaetus cinereus‡	Brown Snake-Eagle	LC	Br	OO	PH
32	Circaetus pectoralis‡	Black-chested Snake-eagle	LC	Br	OO	PH
33	Accipiter tachiro	African Goshawk	LC	Br	OO, PT	PH
34	Accipiter rufiventris	Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk	LC	Br	OO	PH
35	Accipiter minullus‡	Little Sparrowhawk	LC	Rf	OO	DO
36	Accipiter melanoleucus	Great Sparrowhawk	LC	Br	OO	PH
37	Aviceda cuculoides‡	African Cuckoo-Hawk	LC	Br	OO	PH
38	Polyboroides typus	African Harrier-Hawk	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
39	Pernis apivorus	European Honey-Buzzard	LC	Mi	OO	PH
40	Buteo augur	Augur Buzzard	LC	Gr, Br	OO, PT	PH
41	Buteo buteo	Common Buzzard	LC	Mi	OO, PT	PH
42	Buteo rufinus‡	Long-legged Buzzard	LC	Mi	OO	DO
43	Clanga pomarina‡	Lesser Spotted Eagle	LC	Mi	OO	PH
44	Aquila rapax	Tawny Eagle	LC	Gr	OO, PT	PH
45	Aquila nipalensis‡	Steppe Eagle	EN	Mi	OO	PH
46	Hieraaetus pennatus‡	Booted Eagle	LC	Mi	OO	DO
47	Hieraaetus ayresii	Ayres's Hawk-Eagle	LC	Br	OO	PH
48	Terathopius ecaudatus‡	Bateleur	NT	Gr	OO	PH
49	Lophaetus occipitalis	Long-crested Eagle	LC	Br, Gr	OO, PT	PH
50	Polemaetus bellicosus‡	Martial Eagle	VU	We	OO	PH
51	Stephanoaetus coronatus	African Crowned Eagle	NT	Br	OO	PH
	Falconidae (3)
52	Falco ardosiaceus‡	Grey Kestrel	LC	Gr	OO	PH
53	Falco cuvierii‡	African Hobby	LC	Rf	OO	PH
54	Falco subbuteo‡	Eurasian Hobby	LC	Mi	OO	DO
	Phasianidae (2)
55	Pternistis squamatus‡	Scaly Francolin	LC	Br	CT	PH
56	Pternistis castaneicollis†	Chestnut-naped Francolin	LC	Br, Gr	OO	AU
	Sarothruridae (2)
57	Sarothrura elegans‡	Buff-spotted Flufftail	LC	Br	OO	AU
58	Sarothrura rufa‡	Red-chested Flufftail	LC	We	OO, PT	DO
	Rallidae (4)
59	Amaurornis flavirostra	Black Crake	LC	Rf, We	OO, PT	PH
60	Rougetius rougetii†	Rouget’s Rail	NT	Rf, We, Mo	CT, OO, PT	PH
61	Rallus caerulescens	African Rail	LC	Rf, We	OO, PT	PH
62	Gallinula chloropus	Common Moorhen	LC	Rf	OO	DO
	Gruidae (1)
63	Balearica pavonina	Black Crowned Crane	VU	We	OO	DO
	Jacanidae (1)
64	Actophilornis africanus‡	African Jacana	LC	Rf	CT, OO	PH
	Scolopacidae (4)
65	Actitis hypoleucos	Common Sandpiper	LC	Rf, We	OO	DO
66	Tringa glareola‡	Wood Sandpiper	LC	We	OO	DO
67	Tringa ochropus	Green Sandpiper	LC	We	OO	DO
68	Gallinago nigripennis‡	African Snipe	LC	We	PT	DO
	Columbidae (10)
69	Treron calvus	African Green Pigeon	LC	Br	OO, PT	PH
70	Treron waalia	Bruce’s Pigeon	LC	Br	OO, PT	DO
71	Columba guinea	Speckled Pigeon	LC	Se	OO	DO
72	Columba arquatrix	African Olive Pigeon	LC	Br, Mo, Bf	OO, PT	PH
73	Turtur afer‡	Blue-spotted Wood Dove	LC	Br	OO, PT	DO
74	Turtur tympanistria	Tambourine Dove	LC	Br, Gr, Se	CT, PT	PH
75	Streptopelia vinacea	Vinaceous Dove	LC	Br, Gr	PT	DO
76	Streptopelia semitorquata	Red-eyed Dove	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
77	Streptopelia lugens ‡	Dusky Turtle Dove	LC	Br	PT	DO
78	Aplopelia larvata‡	Lemon Dove	LC	Br	CT, OO	PH
	Psittacidae (2)
79	Poicephalus flavifrons†	Yellow-fronted Parrot	LC	Br	PT	PH
80	Agapornis taranta†	Black-winged Lovebird	LC	Br	PT	PH
	Musophagidae (1)
81	Tauraco leucotis	White-cheeked Turaco	LC	Br, Bf	OO, PT	AU
	Cuculidae (7)
82	Cuculus canorus	Common Cuckoo	LC	Mi	OO	DO
83	Cuculus solitarius	Red-chested Cuckoo	LC	Br, Se	OO, PT	PH
84	Cuculus clamosus	Black Cuckoo	LC	Br	PT	AU
85	Chrysococcyx klaas	Klaas’s Cuckoo	LC	Br, Se	OO, PT	AU
86	Chrysococcyx cupreus	African Emerald Cuckoo	LC	Br, Se	PT	PH
87	Centropus senegalensis	Senegal Coucal	LC	Br	CT, OO, PT	PH
88	Centropus monachus	Blue-headed Coucal	LC	Rf, We, Mo	OO, PT	PH
	Strigidae (2)
89	Strix woodfordii	African Wood Owl	LC	Br	OO	AU
90	Bubo cinerascens	Greyish Eagle-Owl	LC	Br, Se	OO	DO
	Apodidae (3)
91	Tachymarptis melba	Alpine Swift	LC	Mi	OO, PT	DO
92	Apus apus	Common Swift	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
93	Apus niansae	Nyanza Swift	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
	Coliidae (1)
94	Colius striatus	Speckled Mousebird	LC	Se	CT, OO, PT	PH
	Trogonidae (1)
95	Apaloderma narina	Narina Trogon	LC	Br	PT	AU
	Alcedinidae (8)
96	Ceryle rudis	Pied Kingfisher	LC	Rf	OO, PT	PH
97	Megaceryle maxima	Giant Kingfisher	LC	Rf	PT	PH
98	Halcyon senegalensis	Woodland Kingfisher	LC	Rf, Br	PT	PH
99	Halcyon malimbica‡	Blue-breasted Kingfisher	LC	Rf	PT	PH
100	Halcyon chelicuti	Striped Kingfisher	LC	Br	OO	PH
101	Alcedo semitorquata‡	Half-collared Kingfisher	LC	Rf	OO, PT	PH
102	Corythornis cristatus	Malachite Kingfisher	LC	Rf	OO, PT	PH
103	Ispidina picta	Pygmy Kingfisher	LC	Rf, We	OO	PH
	Meropidae (4)
104	Merops pusillus	Little Bee-eater	LC	Gr	OO	DO
105	Merops (variegatus) lafresnayii	Blue-breasted Bee-eater	LC	Br, Gr	OO	PH
106	Merops apiaster	European Bee-eater	LC	Gr	PT	DO
107	Merops albicollis	White-throated Bee-eater	LC	Rf, Br	PT	PH
	Coraciidae (1)
108	Eurystomus glaucurus	Broad-billed Roller	LC	Rf	OO, PT	DO
	Bucerotidae (1)
109	Tockus alboterminatus	Crowned Hornbill	LC	Br	OO, PT	AU
	Bucorvidae (2)
110	Bycanistes brevis	Silvery-cheeked Hornbill	LC	Br	OO, PT	PH
111	Bucorvus abyssinicus	Abyssinian Ground-hornbill	LC	We, Gr	OO, PT	DO
	Lybiidae (4)
112	Pogoniulus chrysoconus	Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird	LC	Br	OO, PT	PH
113	Pogoniulus pusillus	Red-fronted Tinkerbird	LC	Br	PT	AU
114	Lybius bidentatus	Double-toothed Barbet	LC	Br	OO	PH
115	Lybius undatus†	Banded Barbet	LC	Br	OO	DO
	Indicatoridae (4)
116	Indicator indicator‡	Greater Honeyguide	LC	Rf	PT	PH
117	Indicator variegatus‡	Scaly-throated Honeyguide	LC	Rf	PT	AU
118	Indicator minor	Lesser Honeyguide	LC	Rf, Br	OO	AU
119	Prodotiscus zambesiae‡	Green-backed Honeybird	LC	Rf	OO	DO
	Picidae (5)
120	Jynx torquilla	Eurasian Wryneck	LC	Mi	OO	DO
121	Campethera nubica	Nubian Woodpecker	LC	Br	PT	DO
122	Dendropicos fuscescens	Cardinal Woodpecker	LC	Br	OO, PT	PH
123	Dendropicos abyssinicus†	Abyssinian Woodpecker	LC	Br	PT	PH
124	Dendropicos spodocephalus	Grey-headed Woodpecker	LC	Gr	OO	DO
	Hirundinidae (12)
125	Ptyonoprogne fuligula	Rock Martin	LC	Se	OO, PT	DO
126	Riparia paludicola schoensis	Plain Martin	LC	Gr	OO	DO
127	Delichon urbicum	Common House Martin	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
128	Cecropis daurica	Red-rumped Swallow	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
129	Cecropis senegalensis	Mosque Swallow	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
130	Cecropis abyssinica	Lesser Striped Swallow	LC	Gr	OO	DO
131	Pseudhirundo griseopyga	Grey-rumped Swallow	LC	Mi	OO	DO
132	Hirundo rustica	Barn Swallow	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
133	Hirundo lucida	Red-chested Swallow	LC	Gr	OO, PT	DO
134	Hirundo smithii	Wire-tailed Swallow	LC	Gr, Se	PT	PH
135	Hirundo aethiopica	Ethiopian Swallow	LC	Se	OO	DO
136	Psalidoprocne pristoptera	Black Saw-wing	LC	We, Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
	Motacillidae (9)
137	Motacilla flava (flava)	Yellow Wagtail	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
138	Motacilla aguimp	African Pied Wagtail	LC	Rf	CT, OO, PT	PH
139	Motacilla clara	Mountain Wagtail	LC	Rf	OO, PT	PH
140	Motacilla alba	White Wagtail	LC	Mi	OO	DO
141	Anthus cinnamomeus	Grassland Pipit	LC	We, Gr	CT, OO	PH
142	Anthus leucophrys omoensis	Plain-backed Pipit	LC	Gr	OO	PH
143	Anthus similis	Long-billed Pipit	LC	Gr	OO	PH
144	Anthus cervinus	Red-throated Pipit	LC	Mi	PT	PH
145	Anthus trivialis	Tree Pipit	LC	Mi	OO	DO
	Campephagidae (2)
146	Campephaga phoenicea	Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike	LC	Br	PT	PH
147	Coracina caesia	Grey Cuckooshrike	LC	Rf, Br	OO	DO
	Pycnonotidae (2)
148	Pycnonotus barbatus schoanus	Common Bulbul	LC	Br, Mo, Gr, Se	CT, OO, PT	PH
149	Atimastillas flavicollis	Yellow-throated Leaflove	LC	Br	PT	DO
	Muscicapidae (20)
150	Cossypha semirufa	Rüppell's Robin-Chat	LC	Br, Bf, Gr, Se	CT, OO, PT	PH
151	Cossypha heuglini	White-browed Robin-Chat	LC	Rf	OO	DO
152	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	Common Redstart	LC	Mi	OO, PT	DO
153	Saxicola (torquatus) albofasciatus	African Stonechat	LC	We, Gr	OO, PT	PH
154	Saxicola rubetra	Whinchat	LC	We, Gr	OO, PT	DO
155	Oenanthe oenanthe	Northern Wheatear	LC	Mi	OO	PH
156	Cercomela sordida	Moorland Chat	LC	We, Mo, Se	OO, PT	PH
157	Psophocichla litsitsirupa	Groundscraper Thrush	LC	Se	OO, PT	PH
158	Monticola saxatilis	Common Rock Thrush	LC	Mi	OO, PT	DO
159	Turdus (olivaceus) abyssinicus	African Mountain Thrush	LC	Br, Bf, Gr, Se	CT, PT	PH
160	Turdus pelios	African Thrush	LC	Gr, Se	OO	DO
161	Zoothera piaggiae	Abyssinian Ground Thrush	LC	Br	CT, PT	PH
162	Melaenornis chocolatinus†	Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
163	Melaenornis edolioides	Northern Black Flycatcher	LC	Gr, Se	OO	PH
164	Bradornis microrhynchus	African Grey Flycatcher	LC	Br	OO	DO
165	Bradornis pallidus	Pale Flycatcher	LC	Se	OO	DO
166	Muscicapa adusta	African Dusky Flycatcher	LC	Br, Mo, Bf, Se	PT	PH
167	Muscicapa striata	Spotted Flycatcher	LC	Mi	OO	DO
168	Terpsiphone viridis	African Paradise Flycatcher	LC	Br, Gr, Se	CT, OO, PT	PH
169	Myioparus plumbeus	Lead-coloured Flycatcher	LC	Br	PT	PH
	Locustellidae (6)
170	Bradypterus baboecala	Little Rush Warbler	LC	Rf, We	OO, PT	AU
171	Bradypterus cinnamomeus	Cinnamon Bracken Warbler	LC	Br, Mo, Bf	PT	PH
172	Bradypterus alfredi‡	Bamboo Warbler	LC	Bf	OO, PT	AU
173	Acrocephalus baeticatus‡	African Reed Warbler	LC	Rf	OO, PT	AU
174	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus‡	Sedge Warbler	LC	Mi	OO	DO
175	Chloropeta natalensis	African Yellow Warbler	LC	We, Gr	PT	PH
	Cisticolidae (8)
176	Camaroptera brevicaudata	Grey-backed Camaroptera	LC	Br, Mo	OO, PT	AU
177	Eremomela canescens‡	Green-backed Eremomela	LC	Br	OO	DO
178	Cisticola (galactotes) lugubris†	Ethiopian Cisticola	LC	Rf, We, Mo	OO, PT	PH
179	Cisticola erythrops	Red-faced Cisticola	LC	Rf	OO	DO
180	Cisticola cantans	Singing Cisticola	LC	Gr, Se	PT	DO
181	Prinia subflava	Tawny-flanked Prinia	LC	Gr, Se	PT	PH
182	Apalis flavida	Yellow-breasted Apalis	LC	Br, Gr, Se	PT	DO
	Phylloscopidae (3)
183	Phylloscopus trochilus	Willow Warbler	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
184	Phylloscopus collybita	Common Chiffchaff	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	AU
185	Phylloscopus umbrovirens	Brown Woodland Warbler	LC	Br, Mo, Bf	OO, PT	PH
	Sylviidae (5)
186	Sylvia atricapilla	Blackcap	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
187	Sylvia borin‡	Garden Warbler	LC	Mi	OO, PT	AU
188	Sylvia abyssinica	African Hill Babbler	LC	Br, Mo	OO, PT	PH
189	Turdoides leucopygia	White-rumped Babbler	LC	Br	OO, PT	PH
190	Parophasma galinieri†‡	Abyssinian Catbird	LC	Mo, Bf	OO, PT	AU
	Platysteiridae (2)
191	Batis erlangeri	Western Black-headed Batis	LC	Br	PT	AU
192	Platysteira cyanea	Brown-throated Wattle-eye	LC	Br	OO, PT	AU
	Zosteropidae (2)
193	Zosterops poliogastrus kaffensis	Montane White-eye	LC	Br, Bf	OO, PT	DO
194	Zosterops abyssinicus	Abyssinian White-eye	LC	Br	OO, PT	DO
	Nectariniidae (6)
195	Nectarinia tacazze	Tacazze Sunbird	LC	Br, Mo, Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
196	Cinnyris cupreus	Copper Sunbird	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
197	Cinnyris venustus fazoqlensis	Variable Sunbird	LC	Br, Gr, Se	PT	PH
198	Cinnyris chloropygius	Olive-bellied sunbird	LC	Rf	OO	DO
199	Chalcomitra senegalensis	Scarlet-chested Sunbird	LC	Br	PT	AU
200	Cyanomitra olivacea ragazzii	Olive Sunbird	LC	We, Br, Gr	PT	PH
	Laniidae (3)
201	Lanius humeralis	Northern Fiscal	LC	We, Gr, Se	PT	PH
202	Lanius excubitor leucopygos	Great Grey Shrike	LC	Mi	OO	DO
203	Lanius collurio/isabellinus‡	Red-backed/Isabelline Shrike	LC	Mi	PT	DO
	Malaconotidae (3)
204	Laniarius aethiopicus	Ethiopian Boubou	LC	Br, Gr, Se	CT, OO, PT	PH
205	Dryoscopus cubla	Northern Puffback	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	AU
206	Tchagra senegalus	Black-crowned Tchagra	LC	Br	OO	DO
	Oriolidae (3)
207	Oriolus oriolus‡	Eurasian Oriole	LC	Mi	OO, PT	PH
208	Oriolus larvatus rolleti	Black-headed Oriole	LC	Br	OO, PT	DO
209	Oriolus monacha†	Abyssinian Oriole	LC	Br, Bf	OO, PT	PH
	Corvidae (3)
210	Corvus capensis	Cape Crow	LC	Se	OO, PT	PH
211	Corvus rhipidurus	Fan-tailed Raven	LC	Se	OO	PH
212	Corvus crassirostris†	Thick-billed Raven	LC	Gr, Se	CT, OO, PT	PH
	Buphagidae (1)
213	Buphagus erythrorynchus	Red-billed Oxpecker	LC	Gr	OO	PH
	Sturnidae (8)
214	Poeoptera stuhlmanni	Stuhlmann's Starling	LC	Br	OO, PT	PH
215	Onychognathus morio	Red-winged Starling	LC	Br	OO	DO
216	Onychognathus tenuirostris	Slender-billed Starling	LC	Br, Gr	PT	DO
217	Lamprotornis chalybaeus	Greater Blue-eared Starling	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
218	Lamprotornis splendidus‡	Splendid Starling	LC	Rf, Br	OO, PT	DO
219	Lamprotornis purpuroptera	Rüppell's Starling	LC	Rf	OO, PT	AU
220	Pholia sharpii	Sharpe's Starling	LC	Br, Bf	OO, PT	PH
	Passeridae (1)
221	Passer swainsonii	Swainson's Sparrow	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
	Ploceidae (7)
222	Ploceus cucullatus abyssinicus	Village Weaver	LC	Se	OO, PT	DO
223	Ploceus ocularis	Spectacled Weaver	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
224	Ploceus nigricollis	Black-necked Weaver	LC	Br	OO	PH
225	Ploceus baglafecht	Baglafecht Weaver	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
226	Amblyospiza albifrons‡	Grosbeak Weaver	LC	Rf, We	PT	PH
227	Anaplectes rubriceps	Red-headed Weaver	LC	Br	OO	DO
	Viduidae (5)
228	Anomalospiza imberbis‡	Cuckoo Finch	LC	Rf, We	OO	DO
229	Euplectes axillaris‡	Fan-tailed Widowbird	LC	Rf, We	PT	DO
230	Euplectes albonotatus‡	White-winged Widowbird	LC	Rf, We	PT	DO
231	Vidua macroura	Pin-tailed Whydah	LC	Gr, Se	OO	DO
232	Vidua chalybeata	Village Indigobird	LC	Gr, Se	OO	PH
	Estrildidae (8)
233	Mandingoa nitidula	Green Twinspot	LC	Br	OO	DO
234	Cryptospiza salvadorii	Abyssinian Crimsonwing	LC	Br, Bf	PT	AU
235	Lagonosticta senegala	Red-billed Firefinch	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
236	Coccopygia quartinia	Yellow-bellied Waxbill	LC	Br, Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
237	Estrilda astrild peasei	Common Waxbill	LC	Gr, Se	CT, OO, PT	PH
238	Estrilda (Paludicola) ochrogaster	Abyssinian Waxbill	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	DO
239	Lonchura cucullata	Bronze Mannikin	LC	Gr, Se	OO	DO
240	Spermestes bicolor poensis	Black-and-white Mannikin	LC	Br, Gr	PT	PH
	Fringillidae (4)
241	Serinus mozambicus	Yellow-fronted Canary	LC	Gr	OO	DO
242	Serinus citrinelloides	African Citril	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
243	Serinus tristriatus	Brown-rumped Seedeater	LC	Gr, Se	OO, PT	PH
244	Serinus striolatus	Streaky Seedeater	LC	Gr, Se	PT	PH

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Woreda	Location/kebele	GPS	Altitude (m)
Masha	Masha	7.749⁰N & 35.471⁰E	2293
	Ateso	7.711⁰N & 35.450⁰E	2332
	Shato forest (north)	7.856⁰N & 35.506⁰E	1681
	Shato forest (south)	7.803⁰N & 35.551⁰E	1712
	Karina	7.859⁰N & 35.339⁰E	2176
	Atele	7.707⁰N & 35.407⁰E	2385
Anderacha	Gecha	7.562⁰N & 35.404⁰E	2231
	Gandochi	7.417⁰N & 35.425⁰E	2576
Yeki	Tepi (and Gilo River)	7.198⁰N & 35.425⁰E	1097

Habitat	Description	Surveys	No. of species, survey
Riverine forest (Rf)	Broadleaf forest and woodland along waterways.	9	24, 3
Wetland (We)	Open habitat, either permanently or seasonally saturated with water.	23	22, 3
Moorland (Mo)	Open habitat, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils.	8	16, 1
Broadleaf forest (Br)	Broadleaf forest and woodland.	22	22, 6
Bamboo forest (Bf)	Evergreen forest with bamboo as main vegetation type.	12	13, 4
Settlement (Se)	Villages and surroundings.	-	-
Grazing Land (Gr)	Grazing land and all other open areas except for wetland and moorland.	-	-