Hotspots

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus

Malanville, north Benin
Sudan-Guinea Savanna

Photo: Agnès Gianotti

The IBAs section should be consulted as well because it lists key birds which can be found in the Important Bird Areas and gives possible accommodation where known.

An area which is not an IBA but which the writer considers to be of interest for several reasons is around Dassa-Zoumé. The Auberge de Dassa which belongs to the same group as Auberge Grand Popo is a very suitable location for exploring interesting sites in the area. These include the range of inselbergs and rocky hills stretching along the main Cotonou-Parakou road. Cliff Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris has been recorded here. There has also been one tentative report of Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio, a species "strongly stenotopic to inselbergs and rocky outcroppings" that has been recorded in Nigeria. Confirmation of its presence would make a welcome addition to the Benin list. The area to the east of Dassa-Zoumé has some interesting bush, while the area to the north-west towards Savalou and beyond is also of interest and little investigated. It is possible to go from Savalou through Djougou to Natitingou on a reasonable secondary road.

Read also the ABC feature article on the Birds of Niaouli forest, southern Benin (van den AKKER, M. 2003).

Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus

Malanville, north Benin
Sudan-Guinea Savanna

Photo: Agnès Gianotti