Introduction

Sierra Leone Gola North

Gola Forest Reserve is the largest area of Upper Guinea rainforest in Sierra Leone

Photo: Andrew Hester

Sierra Leone has 626 bird species recorded in an area of similar size to Scotland. It is also one of the best places to see the enigmatic White-necked Picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus and perhaps to find the eponymous Sierra Leone Prinia Prinia leontica. The potential for birdwatchers is therefore high. A 10 year conflict and its aftermath has denied birdwatchers the opportunity to visit in the recent past, but this is slowly changing as peace and democracy take hold.

Sierra Leone is not for the feint hearted however and not only are facilities somewhat limited but basic infrastructure is generally in a poor condition. We hope that over the next few years the area will be developed responsibly allowing more people to experience this diverse west African country. It is however hard to imagine making a trip to the key birding areas without the services of a local guide.

The purpose of this document is to provide a summary of Sierra Leone and its birds for birders interested in the country and potentially planning a visit. The information has been put together from a number of sources and it is intended to add new information as it becomes available. As such, readers are welcome to submit contributions by e-mail to info@africanbirdclub.org. You should note that the names of birds used in this document are those of the African Bird Club checklist.