Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Coraciiformes > Meropidae > Merops > Merops pusillusMerops pusillus (Little Bee-eater)The little bee-eater (Merops pusillus) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It is resident in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It should not be confused with the little green bee-eater, Merops orientalis. Migration is limited to seasonal movements depending on rainfall patterns. Unlike most bee-eaters, these are solitary nesters, making a tunnel in sandy banks, or sometimes in the entrance to an Aardvark den. They lay 4 to 6 spherical white eggs. Both the male and the female take care of the eggs. These birds roost communally, lined up on a tree branch. |
Uniqueness Scale: Similiar (0) Unique (100) Uniqueness & Vulnerability Scale: Similiar & Secure (0) Unique & Vulnerable (100) ED Score: 6.36259 EDGE Score: 1.99641 |
Adult Weight [1] | 15 grams | Birth Weight [1] | 2.6 grams | ![](/img/transp.gif) | Diet [2] | Carnivore (Invertebrates) | Diet - Invertibrates [2] | 100 % | Forages - Canopy [2] | 20 % | Forages - Mid-High [2] | 20 % | Forages - Understory [2] | 60 % | ![](/img/transp.gif) | Clutch Size [5] | 5 | Fledging [3] | 24 days | Incubation [4] | 19 days |
|
Name |
Countries |
Ecozone |
Biome |
Species |
Report |
Climate |
Land Use |
Albertine Rift montane forests |
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi,Tanzania |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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Angolan Miombo woodlands |
Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
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|
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Angolan montane forest-grassland mosaic |
Angola |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
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Angolan Mopane woodlands |
Angola, Namibia |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
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Angolan Scarp savanna and woodlands |
Angola |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
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|
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Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests |
Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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|
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Cameroonian Highlands forests |
Cameroon, Nigeria |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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Central African mangroves |
Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial, Guinea, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Afrotropic |
Mangroves |
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|
|
Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands |
Tanzania, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Malawi |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
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|
|
Cross-Niger transition forests |
Nigeria |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests |
Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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|
|
Drakensberg montane grasslands, woodlands and forests |
South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
East African halophytics |
Tanzania |
Afrotropic |
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas |
|
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|
East African mangroves |
Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia |
Afrotropic |
Mangroves |
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East African montane forests |
Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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East African montane moorlands |
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
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East Saharan montane xeric woodlands |
Chad, Sudan |
Afrotropic |
Deserts and Xeric Shrublands |
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East Sudanian savanna |
Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
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|
Eastern Arc forests |
Tanzania, Kenya |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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Eastern Guinean forests |
Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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Eastern Miombo woodlands |
Tanzania, Mozambique |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
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|
Eastern Zimbabwe montane forest-grassland mosaic |
Zimbabwe, Mozambique |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
|
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Ethiopian montane forests |
Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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Ethiopian montane grasslands and woodlands |
Ethiopia, Eritrea |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
|
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Ethiopian montane moorlands |
Ethiopia |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
|
|
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Etosha Pan halophytics |
Namibia |
Afrotropic |
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas |
|
|
|
|
Guinean forest-savanna mosaic |
Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Guinean mangroves |
Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire |
Afrotropic |
Mangroves |
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|
|
|
Guinean montane forests |
Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
|
|
|
|
Highveld grasslands |
South Africa |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Inner Niger Delta flooded savanna |
Mali |
Afrotropic |
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas |
|
|
|
|
Itigi-Sumbu thicket |
Tanzania, Zambia |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea woodlands |
Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Kalahari xeric savanna |
Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
Afrotropic |
Deserts and Xeric Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
KwaZulu-Cape coastal forest mosaic |
South Africa |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
|
|
|
|
Lake Chad flooded savanna |
Nigeria, Chad, Niger |
Afrotropic |
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas |
|
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|
|
Mandara Plateau mosaic |
Cameroon, Nigeria |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
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Maputaland coastal forest mosaic |
Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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Maputaland-Pondoland bushland and thickets |
South Africa |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
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Masai xeric grasslands and shrublands |
Kenya |
Afrotropic |
Deserts and Xeric Shrublands |
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Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests |
Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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|
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Niger Delta swamp forests |
Nigeria |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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|
Nigerian lowland forests |
Nigeria, Benin |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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Northeastern Congolian lowland forests |
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Republic of the Congo |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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|
|
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Northern Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets |
Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Northern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic |
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Northern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic |
Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
|
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|
|
Northwestern Congolian lowland forests |
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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|
Rwenzori-Virunga montane moorlands |
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
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|
|
Saharan flooded grasslands |
Sudan |
Afrotropic |
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas |
|
|
|
|
Sahelian Acacia savanna |
Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
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|
|
Serengeti volcanic grasslands |
Tanzania |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
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|
|
Somali Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets |
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
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|
South Malawi montane forest-grassland mosaic |
Malawi, Mozambique |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
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Southern Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets |
Tanzania, Kenya |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
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|
Southern Africa bushveld |
Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
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Southern Africa mangroves |
South Africa, Mozambique |
Afrotropic |
Mangroves |
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Southern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic |
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
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|
|
Southern Miombo woodlands |
Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
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|
|
Southern Rift montane forest-grassland mosaic |
Malawi, Tanzania |
Afrotropic |
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Southern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic |
Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
|
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|
|
Victoria Basin forest-savanna mosaic |
Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
West Sudanian savanna |
Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, Nigeria |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Western Congolian forest-savanna mosaic |
Gabon, Congo, Democratic Rep of the Congo, Angola |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Western Guinean lowland forests |
Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
|
|
|
|
Western Zambezian grasslands |
Angola, Zambia |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Zambezian and Mopane woodlands |
South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Namibia, Malawi |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands |
Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands |
|
|
|
|
Zambezian coastal flooded savanna |
Mozambique |
Afrotropic |
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas |
|
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Zambezian Cryptosepalum dry forests |
Zambia |
Afrotropic |
Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests |
|
|
|
|
Zambezian flooded grasslands |
Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia |
Afrotropic |
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas |
|
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|
|
Zambezian halophytics |
Mozambique, Botswana |
Afrotropic |
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas |
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|
Name |
IUCN Category |
Area acres |
Location |
Species |
Website |
Climate |
Land Use |
Abuko Nature Reserve |
IV |
264 |
Gambia |
|
|
|
|
Amboseli National Park National Reserve |
II |
99624 |
Kenya |
|
|
|
|
Bamingui-Bangoran Conservation Area National Park |
II |
2783298 |
Central African Republic |
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|
|
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Banco National Park |
|
6492 |
Côte d'Ivoire |
|
|
|
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Bayhead Natural Heritage Site |
|
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Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
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|
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Bluff Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve |
IV |
114 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
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Chome Catchment Forest Reserve |
IV |
34897 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
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Gombe National Park |
II |
8799 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Hlane Royal National Park |
VI |
30892 |
Swaziland |
|
|
|
|
Hwange National Park |
II |
3651385 |
Zimbabwe |
|
|
|
|
Itala Game Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve |
II |
72822 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
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Kakamega Forest Reseve Forest Reserve |
|
44820 |
Kenya |
|
|
|
|
Katavi National Park |
II |
1054210 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve |
IV |
554 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Kibale National Park |
II |
196202 |
Uganda |
|
|
|
|
Kiunga Marine National Reserve |
VI |
60208 |
Kenya |
|
|
|
|
Kora National Park |
II |
409762 |
Kenya |
|
|
|
|
Krantzkloof Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve |
IV |
1452 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Kruger National Park |
II |
4718115 |
Mpumalanga, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve |
|
|
Mpumalanga, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Lake Manyara National Park |
II |
78767 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Lake Nakuru National Park |
II |
46472 |
Kenya |
|
|
|
|
Lapalala Wilderness Nature Reserve |
|
88958 |
Limpopo, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Liwonde National Park |
II |
116740 |
Malawi |
|
|
|
|
Longido Local Authority Forest Reserve |
|
5128 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Losiminguri Forest Reserve |
|
14815 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Mahale Mountains National Park |
II |
398414 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Malindi-Watamu Biosphere Reserve |
|
48433 |
Kenya |
|
|
|
|
Malolotja Nature Reserve |
IV |
42044 |
Swaziland |
|
|
|
|
Marakele National Park |
II |
163507 |
Limpopo, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Mariannwood Nature Reserve |
|
|
South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Minziro Forest Reserve |
|
76954 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Mlawula Nature Reserve |
IV |
46444 |
Swaziland |
|
|
|
|
Mont Nimba Strict Nature Reserve |
Ia |
11675 |
Côte d'Ivoire |
|
|
|
|
Nairobi National Park |
II |
16444 |
Kenya |
|
|
|
|
Ndimba Forest Reserve |
|
3102 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Nechisar National Park |
II |
256137 |
Ethiopia |
|
|
|
|
New Germany Nature Reserve |
|
272 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
North Park Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve |
IV |
104 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Northern Works |
|
|
South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Nylsvley Nature Reserve |
IV |
7698 |
Limpopo, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Pande Forest Reserve Game Reserve |
IV |
3094 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Parc National de la Comoe National Park |
II |
2902593 |
Côte d'Ivoire |
|
|
|
|
Parc National de Tai National Park |
II |
1085310 |
Côte d'Ivoire |
|
|
|
|
Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve |
|
25 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Queen Elizabeth National Park |
II |
522052 |
Uganda |
|
|
|
|
Reserve de la Biosphere de la Pendjari Biosphere Reserve |
|
217453 |
Benin |
|
|
|
|
Reserve de Moukalaba-Dougoua (Gamba Complex) Faunal Reserve |
IV |
266550 |
Gabon |
|
|
|
|
Reserve des Monts Doudou (Gamba Complex) Wildlife Management Area |
|
656901 |
Gabon |
|
|
|
|
Roosfontein Nature Reserve |
|
519 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Rubondo National Park |
II |
50330 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Serengeti-Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve |
|
5696026 |
Tanzania |
|
|
|
|
Shongweni Resources Reserve |
|
42008 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Silverglen Nature Reserve |
|
566 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
South Luangwa National Park |
II |
2220358 |
Zambia |
|
|
|
|
The W Region National Park |
II |
549843 |
Niger |
|
|
|
|
Treasure Beach Nature Reserve |
|
|
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Tsavo National Park |
II |
3232255 |
Kenya |
|
|
|
|
Umbogavango Nature Reserve |
|
89 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Umgeni River Provincial Nature Reserve |
|
2372 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Umhlanga Lagoon Provincial Nature Reserve |
|
95 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Virginia Bush Nature Reserve |
|
94 |
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Waterberg Biosphere Reserve |
|
1024427 |
Limpopo, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
Weenen Nature Reserve |
|
|
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa |
|
|
|
|
West Caprivi Game Reserve Game Park |
VI |
1448182 |
Namibia |
|
|
|
|
Name |
Location |
Endemic |
Species |
Website |
Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa |
Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania |
No |
|
|
Eastern Afromontane |
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zimbabwe |
No |
|
|
Guinean Forests of West Africa |
Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Togo |
No |
|
|
Horn of Africa |
Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Oman, Somalia, Yemen |
No |
|
|
Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany |
Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland |
No |
|
|
|
Attributes / relations provided by ♦ 1Terje Lislevand, Jordi Figuerola, and Tamás Székely. 2007. Avian body sizes in relation to fecundity, mating system, display behavior, and resource sharing. Ecology 88:1605 ♦ 2Hamish Wilman, Jonathan Belmaker, Jennifer Simpson, Carolina de la Rosa, Marcelo M. Rivadeneira, and Walter Jetz. 2014. EltonTraits 1.0: Species-level foraging attributes of the world's birds and mammals. Ecology 95:2027 ♦ 3Nathan P. Myhrvold, Elita Baldridge, Benjamin Chan, Dhileep Sivam, Daniel L. Freeman, and S. K. Morgan Ernest. 2015. An amniote life-history database to perform comparative analyses with birds, mammals, and reptiles. Ecology 96:3109 ♦ 4del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ♦ 5Jetz W, Sekercioglu CH, Böhning-Gaese K (2008) The Worldwide Variation in Avian Clutch Size across Species and Space PLoS Biol 6(12): e303. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060303 Ecoregions provided by World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF). WildFinder: Online database of species distributions, ver. 01.06 Wildfinder Database |
Species taxanomy provided by GBIF Secretariat (2022). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-06-13; License: CC BY 4.0
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