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  The Ibadan Malimbe (Malimbus ibadanensis) is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family. It is endemic to Nigeria. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. The Ibadan malimbe (Malimbus ibadanensis) is a rare species of bird in its specie
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The Ibadan Malimbe is classified as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Justification of Red List category. This species qualifies as Endangered because it probably has a very small population that is suspected to be declining. It’s very low numbers and small range imply negative factors whose impact on the species may be continuing. For example, it has a population size that ranges between 930-2900 and a population trend that is perpetually decreasing. Its extent of occurrence (breeding/resident): 7,600 km2. It is also endemic to Nigeria, where it is known only from the southwestern part of the country, including the city of Ibadan (in Oyo) which it is named after. It was first discovered in 1951 and was common at one point. Forest clearing made it rare. Occurrence and Rarity Though some argue that it is only found in Ibadan, and therefore, referred to as the Ibadan Malimbe Bord, other scientists argue that the name is just symbolical of where it is first found and not the rarity of the specie. An example is made with others such as the kotankan virus (first isolated from Kotankan) and Mokola virus (first Isolated from Mokola on Ibadan), which are named so because of their first occurrences and not a rarity. More so, scientists say that animal nomenclature may be done based on the location of first isolation or discovery. Thus, this bird was surely first discovered in Ibadan not that it can only be seen in Ibadan.
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The preceding submission can also be supported by the fact that the red-headed malimbe (Malimbus rubricollis) is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. Physical Characteristics The bird is about 20 centimetres long. The male is black with a redhead and breast. The female has smaller red areas. The bird forages in pairs or small groups, sometimes alongside the red-headed malimbe (Malimbus rubricollis). It lives in forest and woodland habitats, including degraded areas. A striking black-and-red forest malimbe. Male has a black face and a red crown, nape, neck, and breast; female similar, with a narrower breast band. Juvenile is duller, with an orange-brown head. A rare and very localized resident in southwest Nigeria, preferring the middle levels of primary and secondary lowland forest, farm bush, woodland, and occasionally gardens, often preferring openings and edges. Found in pairs and small groups; forages in flocks with other forest weavers, but does not cling to bark like other malimbes. Vocalizations are poorly known but include a high-pitched mix of swizzling and wheezing notes. Ibadan Malimbe lacks the red vent of Red-vented Malimbe. Reference  ebird.org thewebsiteofeverything.com Featured image: Cross River Gorilla  
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This article was first published on 4th February 2022

jeremiah

Jeremiah is a scholar and a poet. He has a keen eye for studying the world and is passionate about people. He tweets at @jeremiahaluwong.

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