10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2019

The Species per Square Mile Approach. While Colombia may have almost 2000 bird species, it is a huge country with, still, complicated long-distance travel logistics. On the other hand, small countries with relatively long bird lists offer higher species densities per square mile. And why 1000?

Gambia 237

Gambia Equatorial Guinea Species Rwanda 237

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2018

It divides countries into categories, where the next category has 200 more species. In some cases the data are outdated, e.g. Costa Rica has 900 and not 800 species, but I made no corrections, remaining faithful to the original map data. Shown as a list, it looks like this: Less than 200 bird species: Antarctica; oceanic islands.

Equatorial Guinea 193

Equatorial Guinea Costa Rica Central African Republic Guyana 193

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2012

They diverged at approximately the same time as the rockjumpers (two quite unique bird species endemic to Southern Africa and now in their own family), and as a result for a while were even placed in the same family. Forest cover in both species’ ranges is being destroyed at an unsustainable rate and these birds’ populations are dwindling.

Sierra Leone 266

Sierra Leone Ghana Equatorial Guinea Cameroon 266

10,000 Birds

JULY 28, 2022

The Congo Basin, second in size only to the Amazon, spans six countries: south-eastern Cameroon, portions of southern Central African Republic, the north and central Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo. million hectares of forest cover each year.

Central African Republic 286

Central African Republic Congo Gabon Gorillas 286

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2018

When you compare the species richness not per country, but per square kilometre, that is when you get a more realistic picture, and then those tiny tropical countries rightfully stand out in the spotlights. No, I am not talking of Brazil or Columbia, they are not just in the tropics but more importantly, they are officially huge.

Rwanda 211

Rwanda Equatorial Guinea El Salvador Costa Rica 211

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2011

Approximately 2,300 bird species inhabit Africa, however as impressive as that sounds, much smaller South America boasts nearly 1,000 species more. Madagascar’s mammals are equally remarkable; over 100 species of endearing lemurs and bizarre carnivores amongst them!

Papua New Guinea 217

Papua New Guinea Equatorial Guinea Madagascar Tanzania 217