Jackson’s widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni)

Species information

Videos and images

Threats

The montane grassland habitat of the Jackson’s widowbird is threatened by the spread and intensification of agriculture and livestock production. Pastoralists commonly start fires in the dry season to control ticks, and thereby temporarily destroy important habitat for the widowbird (5).

Conservation

In Tanzania, the Jackson’s widowbirds’ habitat is almost entirely protected in parks and reserves, such as Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In Kenya though, montane grasslands are not so well protected (5). There are no known specific conservation measures in place for Jackson’s widowbird at present.

Shell International, The Shell Foundation and The University of Queensland have been working with a number of natural World Heritage sites through UNESCO's "Enhancing Our Heritage" programme.