The birds of Bela Vista, Maputo Province, Mozambique: a regionally important site for wetland bird conservation

Abstract

The waterbirds at Bela Vista wetlands, approximately 40 km south of Maputo, Mozambique, were surveyed monthly from May 2021 to February 2025. Overall, 252 bird species were observed, including 20 migrant waders and 70 other waterbird species. The site held eight species at levels exceeding 1% of the regional population: Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Chestnut-banded Plover (Anarynchus pallidus), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) Whiskered Tern (Childonais hybrida), Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor), Great (White-breasted) Cormorant (Phalacrocorax [carbo] lucidus) and Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus). Seven species listed as threatened or near threatened were seen: Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus), Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis), Lesser Flamingo and Martial Eagle (Polemateus bellicosus). Within the context of the far south of Mozambique, the site holds considerable numbers of Palearctic-breeding migrant waders, including Common Ringed Plovers (Charadrius hiaticula) (max. 2000), Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints (Calidris minuta) (both max. 3500). Bela Vista also hosts populations of Cape Shoveler (Spatula smithii) and Cape Teal (Anas capensis), which have small ranges in Mozambique. The site has no official protected status. It is recommended that the site be included in the buffer zone of the adjacent Maputo National Park (Key Biodiversity Area 6686).