<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Distribution and biology of birds of prey species have been well-documented in most parts of the globe. Knowledge gaps are continuously shrinking due to more research, new technologies and increasing possibilities to reach remote areas. However, there are still some regions where data on birds of prey are scarce due to various reasons. Some parts of West Africa are such places, mostly because civil wars and the outbreak of Ebola prevented any kind of research. In the period 2015–2017, a butterfly research project in Nimba Mountains, Liberia offered opportunity to collect data also on birds of prey species. This article aims to provide a comprehensive list of birds of prey species in the area and compare it to other available historic and recent lists. In the frame of the project, 20 species were recorded. The results of comparing historic and recent records show that species of dry open habitats appeared and even settled in Nimba Mountains’ predominantly rainforest habitat. That suggests a habitat shift likely due to both climate change and human land transformation activities.</p>
</abstract>

Distribution and biology of birds of prey species have been well-documented in most parts of the globe. Knowledge gaps are continuously shrinking due to more research, new technologies and increasing possibilities to reach remote areas. However, there are still some regions where data on birds of prey are scarce due to various reasons. Some parts of West Africa are such places, mostly because civil wars and the outbreak of Ebola prevented any kind of research. In the period 2015–2017, a butterfly research project in Nimba Mountains, Liberia offered opportunity to collect data also on birds of prey species. This article aims to provide a comprehensive list of birds of prey species in the area and compare it to other available historic and recent lists. In the frame of the project, 20 species were recorded. The results of comparing historic and recent records show that species of dry open habitats appeared and even settled in Nimba Mountains’ predominantly rainforest habitat. That suggests a habitat shift likely due to both climate change and human land transformation activities.

Observations of birds of prey in Eastern Nimba Nature Reserve, Liberia between 2015 and 2017

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Distribution and biology of birds of prey species have been well-documented in most parts of the globe. Knowledge gaps are continuously shrinking due to more...

Observations of birds of prey in Eastern Nimba Nature Reserve, Liberia between 2015 and 2017

Published Online: Jun 09, 2023

Page range: 172 - 196

Received: Dec 22, 2022

Accepted: May 08, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2023-0012

Keywords
Liberia, Nimba Mountains, birds of prey, Eastern Nimba Nature Reserve

© 2023 Mátyás Prommer, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Observations of birds of prey in Eastern Nimba Nature Reserve, Liberia between 2015 and 2017

Published Online: Jun 09, 2023

Page range: 172 - 196

Received: Dec 22, 2022

Accepted: May 08, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2023-0012

KeywordsLiberia, Nimba Mountains, birds of prey, Eastern Nimba Nature Reserve

© 2023 Mátyás Prommer, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Liberia, Nimba Mountains, birds of prey, Eastern Nimba Nature Reserve