A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan

Malik Doka Morjan; Gift Simon Demaya; Baya Philip Brown; Shazali Abdallah Gordon; Isaac Seme Solomon

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12

Research Article |

| Peer-Reviewed

A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan

Malik Doka Morjan^*

, Gift Simon Demaya

, Baya Philip Brown, Shazali Abdallah Gordon, Isaac Seme Solomon

Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 11, Issue 4)

Received: 19 October 2026 Accepted: 31 October 2026 Published: 13 November 2026

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

This study was based on bird surveys of Nimule National Park (NNP), South Sudan. The surveys were conducted from May to August 2009, January to April 2010, and May 2010, and in subsequent years during January and February of 2024 and 2025, as well as in August 2026, covering both the wet and dry seasons. Attempts were made to sample all three (3) habitat types of NNP, which include riverine, grassland, and woodland savannah. The rationale of the study was to establish a checklist of birds for NNP and its surrounding environments. The line transect method using random sample points was adapted for recording all birds cited or heard during the surveys. We recorded 172 bird species during the study, of which 9 species are Afro-Palearctic song birds and 12 species of Palearctic waterbirds that breed in Europe/Asia and winter in Africa. At least 4 species are endangered and 1 species is critically endangered. A total of 81 species are likely new records that did not appear in previous studies. Based on our observations together with the previous two unpublished bird checklists, a cumulative total of 228 distinct bird species have so far been documented within the park territory and its immediate buffer zone. It is therefore believed that the recent increase in the number of birds encountered in the study area could be due to either migration or seasonal changes, during which the surveys were conducted. The findings from the bird surveys in Nimule National Park highlight a diverse avian community comprising 173 species, including significant numbers of Afro-Palearctic songbirds and Palearctic waterbirds. The identification of 81 likely new records underscores the ecological importance and dynamic nature of the park’s habitats. When combined with previous unpublished checklists, the cumulative total of 228 recorded species reflects both seasonal variations and migratory influxes. These results emphasize the need for continued monitoring to better understand temporal patterns and support conservation efforts within NNP and its surrounding environments.

Published in	International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 11, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12
Page(s)	157-166
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Avian Biodiversity, Bird Species Checklist, Nimule National Park, South Sudan, Bird Surveys, Migratory Birds, Palearctic Migrants

1. Introduction

Nimule National Park (NNP) is one of the oldest national parks in South Sudan, established in 1954. Ecologically, it is a rich park in terms of fauna and flora, with diverse bird species. The Park is located in Magwi County of the Imatong State in Eastern Equatoria, on the border with Uganda. It is bounded by the River Nile in the east, the Illingua Mountains in the west, and the South Sudan-Uganda border in the south of the country. It lies between the latitudes 30°45 and 30°30 North and longitudes 310°45 and 320°0 East.

The area size of NNP was earlier estimated to be approximately 250 Km²

[1, 4]

, but later increased to 410 Km²

[7]

by annexation of a buffer zone on the eastern side of the River Nile.

Except for Bird Life International Publications, the avifauna of NNP has been little documented. Even earlier studies conducted in the park, such as

[1, 8, 9]

, have largely concentrated on mammals and remained unpublished. Despite the fact that NNP is home for a diverse species of birds, few records of species have so far been acknowledged in the earlier studies, some of which are local resident species and others are migrants from Europe and North America.

Nimule National Park (NNP) in South Sudan represents a critical habitat characterized by diverse ecosystems, including riverine, grassland, and woodland savannah. Despite its ecological significance, comprehensive avian surveys in the park have been limited, leaving gaps in the understanding of its bird biodiversity

[12]

. This study aims to address this gap by conducting systematic bird surveys across multiple seasons and years, thereby capturing both resident and migratory species. Employing the line transect method with random sampling points, the research seeks to establish an updated and detailed checklist of bird species in NNP and its surrounding environments. Given the park’s location within a major migratory corridor, the study also explores seasonal variations and migration patterns, contributing valuable insights for conservation planning and biodiversity management in the region.

The number of bird species recorded in the study area has not progressed over the last four decades owing to protracted armed conflicts that have hampered research and field studies. Therefore, this study provides fresh records of bird species for the Nimule National Park and its surrounding areas, and provides baseline data for future conservation work, especially for the endangered species.

2. Materials and Methods

The study was conducted in the NNP and its adjoining buffer zone over multiple periods spanning from May to August 2009, and again during January to April and May of 2010. These intervals were strategically chosen to encompass both the wet and dry seasons, thereby capturing seasonal variations in the region’s avifauna. This timeframe also included critical migration periods, specifically winter and summer migrations, involving palearctic and Eurasian-African songbird species that visit the park. The inclusion of these diverse seasonal conditions and migration phases provided a comprehensive understanding of bird presence and behavior across temporal scales.

To extend the longitudinal scope of the research, the study was repeated in subsequent years during January and February 2024 and 2025, as well as in August 2026. These follow-up surveys aimed to monitor changes or trends in bird populations and migration patterns over time, allowing for the assessment of ecological dynamics and potential impacts of environmental changes within the park and its buffer zone. This repeated sampling approach strengthens the study’s ability to detect temporal shifts and contributes valuable data for long-term conservation planning. During the period 2011-2023, fieldwork was difficult because the country had entered a period of political instability following independence from Sudan, which was further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the study period, weekly visits were made to the study sites. We conducted the surveys using the line transect method

[2, 5, 6]

. We established 17 temporary line transects in total, with lengths of 1.5-2.5 km in the study area, depending on the terrain and width of the Nimule Park, which was wider at the southern boundary and narrower towards the north. Transects were laid across the three habitat types described by

[1, 8]

, as follows: Out of the total number of transects, 14 were walked inside the park across the various habitat types of NNP, i.e., wooded grasslands, bushed grasslands, and riverine woodlands, and three transects were laid in the buffer zone along the eastern bank of the River Nile. Transects were spaced from one another at a distance of 0.5 km and oriented in the east-west directions, starting from the river bank in the eastern boundary and ending at the foot of the Illingua hills in the western boundary of the park, traversing the vegetation zones therein. In the buffer zone, we laid the three transects on the north-south orientation because of the terrain. Along each transect, we set 25 sampling points at 100-meter spacing. We identified and recorded the bird species seen or heard along transects

[6]

. We conducted transect walks early in the morning and evening hours between 06: 00 am in the morning hours to 12: 00 noon; and from 03: 00-05: 30 pm. Observations for all bird species were made across the three habitat types of NNP and also in the buffer zone on the eastern bank of the River Nile.

To maintain consistent data comparability over the extended multi-year period between the historical baseline surveys (2009-2010) and the contemporary tracking era (2024-2026), uniformity in sampling protocols was strictly adhered to. The same 17 transect configurations, with 100-meter spacing increments and fixed time windows, were employed consistently throughout all years. During the August 2026 wet-season window, variations in seasonal access and local water levels were observed along the River Nile trail, attributed to unpredictable annual rainfall patterns. To address these variations while preserving data integrity, survey paths were confined to the predetermined transects, and data analysis concentrated on relative species presence and distribution within fixed habitat zones, rather than on absolute density metrics. Fieldwork was conducted under optimal weather conditions, avoiding rain, strong winds, and storms.

We subjected doubtful sightings of birds to prolonged observations and note-taking, and later referred to further identification processes using field guides, particularly

[11]

. We collated our observations with the species list of birds of Nimule National Park, which is one of the internationally Important Bird Areas (IBA)

[3]

. We strived to conduct fieldwork under favorable weather conditions with no rain and/or heavy winds and storms.

During the study period, most bird species were recorded in areas near the River Nile, where the riverine woodland habitat dominated, with a few observations made in the central and northern parts of the park, where steep trails descended from elevated hills.

3. Results and Discussions

A total of 172 species of birds were recorded between 2009 and 2026 ranged from small to medium and large sized avifauna. This makes the first ever publication of birds’ checklist from Nimule National in South Sudan. These include species that have also been reported for the NNP and its environs in previous unpublished studies

[1, 8]

. Of these, 151 birds were local residents and intra-African migrants in the NNP and its environs at the buffer zone, while the other 22 species were common Palearctic migrants most probably from Eurasia and North America. At least four species were endangered and one (Hooded vulture) was critically endangered

[14]

, based on current species-level assessments, particularly for the Hooded Vulture. The IUCN Red List defines Critically Endangered as an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, and current assessments should be cited at the species level

[13]

. Of the total number of species recorded, 26 were previously recorded by

[1, 8]

. Only 15 species or subspecies of our findings conformed to the species list of Birdlife International

[3]

In these surveys, most detections of birds were made along the River Nile, both inside the park and in the buffer zone at a distance within 0.5-1 km from the edge of the river. Birds in the NNP seem to concentrate in areas closer to the river than in other areas of the NNP, particularly deep in the middle and far western zones of the park. Not a surprise this also conforms to the fact that most birds do naturally associate well with areas or habitats closer to water sources. Accordingly, few sightings were made in the western parts of the park owing to the lack of streams and water sources.

The progress made in this study due to the length of the period of fieldwork and the overall objectives under which the studies were conducted compared to previous studies. However, the results of this study indicate a recent increase in species diversity and migratory birds in NNP and its environs. Taking previous studies as a baseline, this study presents at least 81 new species observations of birds in NNP and its environs that were not reported previously. The cumulative avian inventory for the Nimule eco-region now comprises 228 distinct species. This total includes the 147 bird species traditionally recognized in historical lists and unpublished checklists, along with the addition of 81 newly verified records. In conclusion, it is hoped that this updated checklist of bird species produced by this study, which will be the first published list, will serve as a baseline for future research on avifauna in NNP, thus contributing to a further understanding of the conservation needs of the bird populations in the Nimule National Park.

The checklist of bird species recorded in this study is presented in Table 1 below. The common Palearctic migrant bird species recorded in the study area are indicated by a double asterisk (**). Records of uncommon bird species for NNP and its environs are denoted by an asterisk (*) new species observations are denoted by a circle (). The rest are considered residents.

Table 1. Bird check list of Nimule National Park, South Sudan.

No.	Common name	Scientific name
1	White-faced Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna viduata (Linnaeus, 1766)
2	Fulvous Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna bicolor (Gmelin, 1789)
3	Vinaceous Dove	Streptopelia vinacea (Gmelin, 1789)
4	Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove	Turtur chalcospilos (Wagler, 1827)
5	Eastern Plantain-eater	Crinifer zonurus (Ruppell, 1827)
6	Great Spotted Cuckoo	Clamator glandarius (Linnaeus, 1758)
7	Alpine Swift**	Tachymarptis melba (Linnaeus, 1758)
8	Little Swift**	Apus affinis (Gray, 1780)
9	African Crake	Crecopsis egregia (Peters, 1854)
10	Black Crake	Zapornia flavirostra (Swainson, 1837)
11	Senegal Thick-knee	Burhinus senegalensis (Swainson, 1837)
12	African Wattled Lapwing	Vanellus senegallus (Linnaeus, 1766)
13	African Skimmer	Rynchops flavirostris (Vieillot, 1816)
14	Reed Cormorant	Microcarbo africanus (Gmelin, 1789)
15	Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758)
16	Blue-naped Mousebird	Urocolius macrourus (Linnaeus, 1766)
No.	Common name	Scientific name
17	Common Hoopoe	Upupa epops (Linnaeus, 1758)
18	African Gray Hornbill	Lophoceros nasutus (Linnaeus, 1766)
19	Red-throated Bee-eater	Merops bulocki (Vieillot, 1817)
20	Swallow-tailed Bee-eater	Merops hirundineus (Lichtenstein, 1793)
21	D'Arnaud's Barbet	Trachyphonus darnaudii (Pre’vost & Des Murs, 1847)
22	Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird	Pogoniulus bilineatus (Sundvall, 1850)
23	Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird	Pogoniulus uropygialis (Heuglin, 1862)
24	Black-breasted Barbet	Pogonornis rolleti (De Filippe, 1853)
25	Cardinal Woodpecker	Dendropicos fuscescens (Vieillot, 1818)
26	African Gray Woodpecker	Dendropicos goertae (Muller, PLS, 1776)
27	Nubian Woodpecker	Campethera nubica (Boddaert, 1783)
28	Gray Kestrel	Falco ardosiaceus (Vieillot, 1823)
29	Black Cuckooshrike	Campephaga flava (Vieillot, 1817)
30	Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike	Campephaga phoenicea (Latham, 1790)
31	Brown-crowned Tchagra	Tchagra australis (Smith, 1836)
32	Green-backed Camaroptera	Camaroptera brachyura (Vieillot, 1821)
33	Eurasian Blackcap**	Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1758)
34	Greater Whitethroat**	Curruca communis (Latham, 1767) (Latham, 1787)
35	Ruppell's Starling	Lamprotornis purpuroptera (Ruppel, 1845)
36	Superb Starling	Lamprotornis superbus (Ruppell, 1845)
37	Purple Starling	Lamprotornis purpureus (Statius Muller, 1776)
38	Western Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava (Linnaeus, 1758)
39	African Pipit	Anthus cinnamomeus (Rupell, 1840)
40	Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis (Linnaeus, 1758)
41	Gray-headed Kingfisher	Halcyon leucocephala (Statius Muller, 1776)
42	Common Reed Warbler**	Acrocephalus scirpaceus (Hermann, 1804)
43	Common Redstart**	Phoenicurus phoenicurus (Linnaeus, 1758)
44	Beautiful Sunbird	Cinnyris pulchellus (Linnaeus, 1766)
45	Common Greenshank**	Tringa nebularia (Gunnerus, 1767)
46	Dwarf Bittern	Botaurus sturmii (Wagler, 1827)
47	Little Bittern	Botaurus minutus (Linnaeus, 1766)
48	Great Egret**	Ardea alba (Linnaeus, 1758)
49	Hamerkop	Scopus umbrette (Gmelin, 1789)
50	Osprey**	Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758)
51	Hooded Vulture	Necrosyrtes monachus (Temmink, 1823)
52	Dark Chanting-Goshawk	Melierax metabates (Heuglin, 1861)
53	Greater Swamp Warbler	Acrocephalus rufescens (Sharpe & Bouvier, 1877)
54	Bruce's Green-Pigeon	Treron waalia (Meyer, 1793)
55	African Blue Flycatcher	Elminia longicauda (Swainson, 1838)
56	Gray-capped Warbler	Eminia lepida (Hartlaub, 1881)
57	Mountain Yellow-Warbler	Iduna similis (Richmond, 1897)
58	Sedge Warbler**	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (Linnaeus, 1758)
59	Swamp Flycatcher	Muscicapa aquatica (Heuglin, 1864)
60	Northern Double-collared Sunbird	Cinnyris reichenowi (Sharpe, 1891)
61	Common Sandpiper**	Actitis hypoleucos (Linnaeus, 1758)
No.	Common name	Scientific name
62	Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird	Pogoniulus chrysoconus (Temmink, 1832)
63	Black-Billed Barbet	Lybiu guifsobalalito (Hermann, 1783)
64	Bateleur	Terathopius ecaudatus (Daudin, 1800)
65	Little Bee-eater	Merops pusillus (Muller, 1776)
66	Northern Carmine Bee-eater	Merops nubicus (Gmelin, 1788)
67	Black-winked Bishop	Euplectes hordeaceus (Linnaeus, 1753)
68	Northern Red (orange) Bishop	Euplectes franciscanus (Isert, 1789)
69	Common Bulbul	Pycnonotus barbatus (Desfontaine, 1789)
70	Winding Cisticola	Cisticola marginatus (von Heuglin, 1869)
71	Red-cheeked CordonBleu	Uraeginthus bengalus (Linnaeus, 1766)
72	Long-tailed Cormorant	Phalacrocorax africanus (Gmelina, 1789)
73	White-breasted Cormorant	Phalacrocorax lucidus (Lichtenstein, 1823)
74	Senegal Coucal	Centropus senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
75	Grey Crowned Crane	Balearica regulorum (Bennett, 1834)
76	Pied Crow	Corvus albus (Müller, 1776)
77	African Mourning Dove	Streptopelia decipiens (Hartlaub & Finsch, 1870)
78	Cape Turtle (Ringed-Necked) Dove	Streptopelia capicola (Sundevall, 1857)
79	Laughing Dove	Streptopelia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
80	Red-eyed Dove	Streptopelia semitorquata (Rüppell, 1837)
81	Namaqua Dove	Oenaca pensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
82	African Darter	Anhinga rufa (Daudin, 1802)
83	African Fish-Eagle	Haliaeetus vocifer (Daudin, 1800)
84	Long Crested Eagle	Lophaetus occipitalis (Daudin, 1800)
85	Martial Eagle	Polemaetus bellicosus (Daudin, 1800)
86	Little Egret	Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766)
87	Greater White Egret	Ardea alba (Linnaeus, 1758)
88	Yellow-billed Egret	Egretta intermedia (Wagler, 1827)
89	Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758)
90	Spotted Flycatcher **	Muscicapa striata (Pallas, 1764)
91	Helmeted Guineafowl	Numida meleagris (Linnaeus, 1758)
92	White-billed Go-Away Bird	Corythaixoides leucogaster (Smith, 1833)
93	African Firefinch	Lagonosticta rubricate (Lichtenstein, 1823)
94	Red-billed Firefinch	Lagonosticta Senegala (Linnaeus, 1766)
95	African Pygmy Falcon	Polihierax semitorquatus (Smith, 1836)
96	African Paradise Flycatcher	Terpsiphone viridis (Müller, 1776)
97	Crested Francolin	Dendroperdix sephaena (Gmelin, 1789)
98	African Goshawk	Accipiter tachiro (Daudin, 1800)
99	Dark Chanting Goshawk	Melierax metabates (Heuglin, 1861)
100	Eastern Chanting Goshawk	Melicrax polipterus (Cabanis, 1868)
101	Gabar goshawk	Melierax gabar (Daudin, 1800)
102	Black-headed Gonolek	Laniarius erythrogaster (Cretzschmar, 1829)
103	Egyptian Goose	Alopochen aegyptiaca (Linnaeus, 1766)
104	Lesser Black-backed Gull **	Larus fuscus (Linnaeus, 1758)
105	Hamerkop	Scopus umbrette (Gmelin, 1789)
106	Pallid Harrier	Circus macrourus (African Bird Club Checklist 2004)
No.	Common name	Scientific name
107	Black-headed Heron	Ardea melanocephala (Vigors & Children, 1826)
108	Goliath Heron	Ardea goliath (Cretzschmar, 1827)
109	Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea (Linnaeus, 1766)
110	Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides (Scopoli, 1769)
111	African grey Hornbill	Tockus nasutus (Linnaeus, 1766)
112	Northern Red-billed Hornbill	Tokus erythrorhynchus (Temminck, 1823)
113	Green Wood Hoopoe	Phoeniculus purpureus (Miller, 1784)
114	Village Indigo Bird	Vidua chalybeate Müller, 1776)
115	African Sacred Ibis	Threskiornis aethiopicus (Latham, 1790)
116	Glossy Ibis	Plegadis facinellus (Linnaeus, 1766)
117	Hadada Ibis	Bostrychia hagedash (Latham, 1790)
118	African Jacana	Actophilornis afrianus (Gmelin, 1789)
119	African Pigmy-kingfisher	Ispidina picta (Boddaect, 1783)
120	Giant Kingfisher	Megaceryle maxima (Pallas, 1769)
121	Grey-Headed Kingfisher	Halcyon leucocephala (Müller, 1776)
122	Woodland Kingfisher	Halcyon senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
123	Malachite Kingfisher	(Alcedo cristata (Pallas, 1764)
124	Pied Kingfisher	Ceryle rudis (Linnaeus, 1758)
125	Black Kite**	Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783)
126	Grey Kestrel	Falco ardosiaceus (Vieillot, 1823)
127	Speckled Mouse Bird	Colius striatus (Gmelin, 1789)
128	Standard-winged Nightjar	Macrodipteryx longipennis (Shaw, 1796)
129	African Golden Oriole	Oriolus auratus (Vieillot, 1817)
130	Spotted Eagle Owl	Bubo Africana (Temminck, 1821)
131	Pink-backed Pelican	Pelecanus rufescens (Gmelin, 1789)
132	PiaPiac	Ptilostomus afer (Linnaeus, 1766)
133	African Green Pigion	Treron calvus (Temminck, 1808)
134	Speckled Pigeon	Columba guinea (Linnaeus, 1758)
135	African Wattled Plover	Vanellus senegallus (Linnaeus, 1766)
136	Spur-winged Plover	Vanellus spinosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
137	Common Ringed Plover **	Charadrius hiaticula (Linnaeus, 1758)
138	Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix (Linnaeus, 1758)
139	Cardinal Quelea	Quelea cardinalis (Hartlaub, 1880)
140	Red-billed Quelea	Quelea quelea (Linnaeus, 1758)
141	White-browed Robin-Chat	Cossypha heuglini (Hartlaub, 1866)
142	Abyssinian Roller	Coracias abyssinicus (Hermann, 1783)
143	Silver Bird	Empidormis semipartitus (Rueppell, 1840)
144	Lesser Grey Shrike	Lanius minor (Gmelin, 1788)
145	Woodchat Shrike **	Lanius senator (Linnaeus, 1758)
146	Northern Grey-headed Sparrow	Passer griseus (Vieillot, 1817)
147	Long-tailed Starling	Lamprotornis caudatus (Müller, 1776)
148	Wattled Starling	Creatophora cinereal (Meuschen, 1787)
149	Black-Winked Stilt**	Himantopus Himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758)
150	Little Stint**	Calidris minuta (Leisler, 1812)
151	Marabou Stork	Leptoptilos crumeniferus (Lesson, 1831)
No.	Common name	Scientific name
152	Saddle-billed Stork	Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis (Shaw, 1800)
153	White Stork**	Ciconia Ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758)
154	Scarlet-chested Sunbird	Chalcomitra senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
155	Lesser Stripped Swallow	Hirundo abyssinica (Guérin-Méneville, 1843)
156	African Palm Swift	Cypsiurus parvus (Lichtenstein, 1823)
157	Common Swift	Apus apus (Linnaeus, 1758)
158	African Pied Wagtail	Motacilla aguimp (Dumont, 1821)
159	Garden Warbler**	Sylvia borin (Boddaert, 1783)
160	Red-winged Grey Warbler	Drymocichla incana (Hartlaub, 1881)
161	Red-billed Buffalo Weaver	Bubalornis niger (Smith, 1936)
162	Red-headed Weaver	Anaplectes rubriceps (Sundevall, 1850)
163	Southern Masked Weaver	Ploceus velatus (Vieillot, 1819)
164	Village Weaver	Ploceus cucullatus (Müller, 1776)
165	Red-Collard Widowbird	Euplectes ardens (Boddaert, 1783)
166	Yellow-backed Widowbird	Euplectes macrourus (Gmelin, 1789).
167	Eastern Paradise Whydah	Vidua paradisaea (Linnaeus, 1758)
168	Pin-tailed Whydah	Vidua macroura (Pallas, 1764)
169	Whiskered Tern**	Chlidonias hybrida (Palas, 1811)
170	White-winged Tern **	Chlidonias leucopterus (Temmink, 1815)
171	European Bee-eater **	Merops apiaster (Linnaeus, 1758)
172	Common Nightingale **	Luscinia megarhynchosew (Brehm, 1831)

Download: Download full-size image

Figure 1. Map of the study area modified from Ngere 2013

[10]

Abbreviations

NNP	Nimule National Park
IBA	Important Bird Areas
IUCN	International Union for the Conservation of Nature

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Snowy Mountain Engineering Company, the Nimule National Park Staff, the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism and University of Juba for their field support. We also extend our thanks to all those who supported our fieldwork.

Author Contributions

Malik Doka Morjan: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Supervision, Writing – original draft

Gift Simon Demaya: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology

Baya Philip Brown: Data curation, Writing – original draft

Shazali Abdallah Gordon: Data curation

Isaac Seme Solomon: Data curation

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Abdullah, R. Y. (1987). Wildlife Research Report in Nimule Park, Directorate of Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Forces. Equatoria Region, Juba. File No. 31. E. 1/16. Unpublished Report.
[2]	Anderson, D. R., Laake, B. R., Crain., and K. Burnham. (1979). Guidelines for Line Transects Sampling of Biological Populations. Journal of Wildlife Management. Vol. 43: 70-87.
[3]	Birdlife International (2017) Important Bird Areas Factsheet: Nimule. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/02/2017.
[4]	Blower (1977). Wildlife Conservation and Management in The Southern Sudan; Project Findings and Recommendations. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
[5]	Buckland, S. T., Anderson, D. R., Burnham, K. P., Laake, J. L., Borchers, D. L. and Thomas, L. (2001). Introduction to Distance Sampling: Estimating Abundance of Biological Populations. Oxford University Press, New York.
[6]	Gregory, R. D., Gibbons, D. W. and Donald, P. F. (2004). Bird Census and survey techniques. Downloaded from http://www.books.google.comon 13/8/2013.
[7]	Hillman, J. C (1985). Wildlife Research in the Sudan in Relation to Conservation and Management, Khartoum, Sudan.
[8]	Kenyi, J. M., (1983). Wildlife Research Report on Nimule National Park. Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks Forces. Equatoria Region, Juba. File No. 31. E1/16, Unpublished Report.
[9]	Morjan, M. D., Ojoke, L. I., Nicholas, B. B. and Omoli, A. A. (2000). A pilot survey of Nimule National Park. New Sudan Wildlife Society, Boma, South Sudan. Un-publish ed Report.
[10]	Ngere, B. P. (2013). Population Status, Distribution and Trends of African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) in Nmule National Park. Unpublished MSc Dissertation, University of Eldoret, Kenya.
[11]	Sinclair, I. and Ryan, P. (2002). Birds of Africa South of the Sahara: A Comprehensive Field Guide. Random House Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa.
[12]	Demaya, G. S., Gordon, S. A., Lado, T. F., Luiselli, L., & Battisti, C. (2022). Are Afrotropical Protected Areas Effective in Increasing Waterbird Richness and Diversity? A Case Study from South Sudan (East Africa). In Diversity (Vol. 14, Issue 7, p. 554). https://doi.org/10.3390/d14070554
[13]	Le Roux, R. (2023). Conservation genetics of the Hooded vulture Necrosyrtes monachus. [University Of Kwazulu Natal]. https://doi.org/10.29086/10413/23203
[14]	IUCN, (2018). THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES 2018. International Union for Conservation of Nature. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T104651572A104651577.en Downloaded October 28, 2026.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Morjan, M. D., Demaya, G. S., Brown, B. P., Gordon, S. A., Solomon, I. S. (2026). A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 11(4), 157-166. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Morjan, M. D.; Demaya, G. S.; Brown, B. P.; Gordon, S. A.; Solomon, I. S. A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2026, 11(4), 157-166. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Morjan MD, Demaya GS, Brown BP, Gordon SA, Solomon IS. A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2026;11(4):157-166. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12,
  author = {Malik Doka Morjan and Gift Simon Demaya and Baya Philip Brown and Shazali Abdallah Gordon and Isaac Seme Solomon},
  title = {A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan},
  journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {157-166},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20261104.12},
  abstract = {This study was based on bird surveys of Nimule National Park (NNP), South Sudan. The surveys were conducted from May to August 2009, January to April 2010, and May 2010, and in subsequent years during January and February of 2024 and 2025, as well as in August 2026, covering both the wet and dry seasons. Attempts were made to sample all three (3) habitat types of NNP, which include riverine, grassland, and woodland savannah. The rationale of the study was to establish a checklist of birds for NNP and its surrounding environments. The line transect method using random sample points was adapted for recording all birds cited or heard during the surveys. We recorded 172 bird species during the study, of which 9 species are Afro-Palearctic song birds and 12 species of Palearctic waterbirds that breed in Europe/Asia and winter in Africa. At least 4 species are endangered and 1 species is critically endangered. A total of 81 species are likely new records that did not appear in previous studies. Based on our observations together with the previous two unpublished bird checklists, a cumulative total of 228 distinct bird species have so far been documented within the park territory and its immediate buffer zone. It is therefore believed that the recent increase in the number of birds encountered in the study area could be due to either migration or seasonal changes, during which the surveys were conducted. The findings from the bird surveys in Nimule National Park highlight a diverse avian community comprising 173 species, including significant numbers of Afro-Palearctic songbirds and Palearctic waterbirds. The identification of 81 likely new records underscores the ecological importance and dynamic nature of the park’s habitats. When combined with previous unpublished checklists, the cumulative total of 228 recorded species reflects both seasonal variations and migratory influxes. These results emphasize the need for continued monitoring to better understand temporal patterns and support conservation efforts within NNP and its surrounding environments.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY - JOUR
T1 - A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan
AU - Malik Doka Morjan
AU - Gift Simon Demaya
AU - Baya Philip Brown
AU - Shazali Abdallah Gordon
AU - Isaac Seme Solomon
Y1 - 2026/11/13
PY - 2026
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12
DO - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12
T2 - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JF - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JO - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
SP - 157
EP - 166
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2575-3061
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12
AB - This study was based on bird surveys of Nimule National Park (NNP), South Sudan. The surveys were conducted from May to August 2009, January to April 2010, and May 2010, and in subsequent years during January and February of 2024 and 2025, as well as in August 2026, covering both the wet and dry seasons. Attempts were made to sample all three (3) habitat types of NNP, which include riverine, grassland, and woodland savannah. The rationale of the study was to establish a checklist of birds for NNP and its surrounding environments. The line transect method using random sample points was adapted for recording all birds cited or heard during the surveys. We recorded 172 bird species during the study, of which 9 species are Afro-Palearctic song birds and 12 species of Palearctic waterbirds that breed in Europe/Asia and winter in Africa. At least 4 species are endangered and 1 species is critically endangered. A total of 81 species are likely new records that did not appear in previous studies. Based on our observations together with the previous two unpublished bird checklists, a cumulative total of 228 distinct bird species have so far been documented within the park territory and its immediate buffer zone. It is therefore believed that the recent increase in the number of birds encountered in the study area could be due to either migration or seasonal changes, during which the surveys were conducted. The findings from the bird surveys in Nimule National Park highlight a diverse avian community comprising 173 species, including significant numbers of Afro-Palearctic songbirds and Palearctic waterbirds. The identification of 81 likely new records underscores the ecological importance and dynamic nature of the park’s habitats. When combined with previous unpublished checklists, the cumulative total of 228 recorded species reflects both seasonal variations and migratory influxes. These results emphasize the need for continued monitoring to better understand temporal patterns and support conservation efforts within NNP and its surrounding environments.
VL - 11
IS - 4
ER -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Malik Doka Morjan

School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Juba, Juba, South Sudan

Biography: Malik Doka Morjan, Is a wildlife biologist and Associate Professor at the School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Juba, Juba, South Sudan. Obtained a PhD in Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, USA. He taught and worked extensively on wildlife conservation in South Sudan specially on the ungulate migrations. He won the National Geographic Emerging Explorers 2009 Award. Member of the IUCN’s African Elephant Specialists’ Group. His research interests include wildlife migrations, wildlife conservation issues in South Sudan, elephant conservation, avian conservation, human wildlife conflicts, impact of climate change on wildlife in South Sudan.

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2997-5042
Gift Simon Demaya

School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Juba, Juba, South Sudan

Biography: Gift Simon Demaya, Assistant Professor. School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Juba, Juba, South Sudan. He earned BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Science, University of Juba. MSc: Wildlife Management, Karatina University, Kenya. Currently a PhD Candidate University of Juba. Member IUCN African turtle and tortoises’ specialists Group. His research interests: Birds’ migration, fresh water turtle and Tortoises conservation, wildlife management, GIS and remote sensing applications in wildlife.

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4508-1206
Baya Philip Brown

Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, Juba, South Sudan

Biography: Baya Philip Brown, Wildlife Biologists. Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, Juba, South Sudan. Education: BSc (Hons): Wildlife Science, University of Juba, MSc: Wildlife Management, University of Eldoret, Kenya. He works in wildlife management at the Ministry.
Shazali Abdallah Gordon

School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Juba, Juba, South Sudan

Biography: Shazali Abdalla Gardon, Lecturer: School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Juba, South Sudan. BSc (Hons): Wildlife Science, University of Juba. MSc: Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. His interests include birds, small mammals, amphibians and vegetation ecology.
Isaac Seme Solomon

Nimule National Park, Nimule,South Sudan

Biography: Isaac Seme Solomon, Chief Park Warden, Nimule National Park, at the time of this study, now at the Head office of the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism. South Sudan. His interest include carnivore conservation and bushmeat crisis in South Sudan. Education: BSc (Hons): Wildlife Science, University of Juba. Pg. Dip: University of New Castle, UK.

Download PDF

Submit an Article

Figure 1

Figure 1. Map of the study area modified from Ngere 2013 [10].

Table 1

Table 1. Bird check list of Nimule National Park, South Sudan.

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Morjan, M. D., Demaya, G. S., Brown, B. P., Gordon, S. A., Solomon, I. S. (2026). A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 11(4), 157-166. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Morjan, M. D.; Demaya, G. S.; Brown, B. P.; Gordon, S. A.; Solomon, I. S. A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2026, 11(4), 157-166. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Morjan MD, Demaya GS, Brown BP, Gordon SA, Solomon IS. A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2026;11(4):157-166. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12,
  author = {Malik Doka Morjan and Gift Simon Demaya and Baya Philip Brown and Shazali Abdallah Gordon and Isaac Seme Solomon},
  title = {A Checklist of Birds of Nimule National Park, South Sudan},
  journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {157-166},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261104.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20261104.12},
  abstract = {This study was based on bird surveys of Nimule National Park (NNP), South Sudan. The surveys were conducted from May to August 2009, January to April 2010, and May 2010, and in subsequent years during January and February of 2024 and 2025, as well as in August 2026, covering both the wet and dry seasons. Attempts were made to sample all three (3) habitat types of NNP, which include riverine, grassland, and woodland savannah. The rationale of the study was to establish a checklist of birds for NNP and its surrounding environments. The line transect method using random sample points was adapted for recording all birds cited or heard during the surveys. We recorded 172 bird species during the study, of which 9 species are Afro-Palearctic song birds and 12 species of Palearctic waterbirds that breed in Europe/Asia and winter in Africa. At least 4 species are endangered and 1 species is critically endangered. A total of 81 species are likely new records that did not appear in previous studies. Based on our observations together with the previous two unpublished bird checklists, a cumulative total of 228 distinct bird species have so far been documented within the park territory and its immediate buffer zone. It is therefore believed that the recent increase in the number of birds encountered in the study area could be due to either migration or seasonal changes, during which the surveys were conducted. The findings from the bird surveys in Nimule National Park highlight a diverse avian community comprising 173 species, including significant numbers of Afro-Palearctic songbirds and Palearctic waterbirds. The identification of 81 likely new records underscores the ecological importance and dynamic nature of the park’s habitats. When combined with previous unpublished checklists, the cumulative total of 228 recorded species reflects both seasonal variations and migratory influxes. These results emphasize the need for continued monitoring to better understand temporal patterns and support conservation efforts within NNP and its surrounding environments.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download