Notes on the ecology and conservation status of key bird species in Nilo and Nguu North Forest Reserves, Tanzania

Ornithological surveys were conducted in Tanzanian submontane forest at Nil o Forest Reserve in the East Usambaras and Nguu North Forest Reserve in the Nguu Mountains in July-September 1995. Information on the ecology of poorl y known bird species of conservation interest was collected and combined wi th previously published information to assess their conservation status. Si xteen species of conservation interest were recorded during fieldwork, incl uding five Vulnerable (Usambara Eagle Owl Bubo vosseleri, East Coast Akalat Sheppardia gunningi, Amani Sunbird Anthreptes pallidigaster, Banded Green Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques and Usambara Weaver Ploceus nicolli); three Near-threatened (Southern Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus fasciolatus, Fische r's Turaco Tauraco fischeri and Moreau's Sunbird Nectarinia moreaui); one r egionally Endangered (Southern Hyliota Hyliota australis); one regionally V ulnerable (Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes neglectus), two regiona lly Near-threatened (Lemon Dove Aplopelia lavata and Evergreen Forest Warbl er Bradypterus barratti); and 10 in total as restricted-range species (Fisc her's Turaco, Usambara Eagle Owl, Sharpe's Akalat Sheppardia sharpei, Red-c apped Forest Warbler Orthotomus metopias, Spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula , Amani Sunbird, Banded Green Sunbird, Moreau's Sunbird, Kenrick's Starling Poeoptera kenricki and Usambara Weaver). New information on the ecology of these species is presented in this paper. It is recommended that the conse rvation status of East Coast Akalat and Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird be ch anged to globally Near-threatened and regionally Near-threatened, respectiv ely. Should further work confirm that the Usambara race of Southern Hyliota deserves specific status it is strongly recommended that it be considered globally Endangered. All other species recorded should retain their current status and continue to be monitored. The Nguus represented a new locality for several species. Sharpe's Akalat, Spot-throat, Red-Capped Forest Warble r, otherwise widely distributed throughout the east Tanzania, were absent f rom the Nguus.