A Clearer Look at Upemba’s Elusive Black-lored Waxbill: First Clearer Pictures

For decades, the Black-lored Waxbill (Estrilda nigriloris) remained one of the least-known birds of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Endemic to the Kamalondo Depression in southern DRC, the species was first described from specimens collected in 1927, followed by only a handful of records over the following decades. More than 70 years would pass without a confirmed record until its rediscovery in September 2023.

The story took another important step forward in 2025. Two additional observations – around 20 individuals at Mabwe and a single bird at Kiminunga – confirmed that the species continues to occur within the Kamalondo Depression. Most importantly, the observation at Mabwe produced the first high-quality photographs of the Black-lored Waxbill in the wild, finally giving researchers and conservationists a clearer view of this exceptionally elusive species.

The photographs were captured by researcher Manuel Weber (Biomonitoring Advisor, Upemba National Park) at Mabwe on 8 November 2025, during surveys of the wetland habitats of the Kamalondo Depression. The species was also recorded at Lake Kabwe during earlier surveys, but it was detected at only three of the 14 sites visited during the 2023 and 2025 surveys. This limited detection suggests that the species may have a patchy distribution, although more systematic surveys are needed to understand its true range and abundance.

 The research estimates that approximately 4,000 km² of herbaceous wetland habitat within the species’ wider range may be suitable for the Black-lored Waxbill. However, recurring fires are a significant concern. Satellite data indicate that 55% of this mapped habitat burned in 2024 and 64% in 2025, meaning that the extent of unburned potentially suitable habitat can seasonally fall below 2,000 km².

Other pressures – including papyrus harvesting, pollution and broader changes to the wetland ecosystem – also affect the habitat on which the species depends. The Black-lored Waxbill is currently classified as Data Deficient by BirdLife International and the IUCN Red List because of limited information about its population, distribution and habitat trends. The new observations and photographs therefore provide valuable evidence for future research and conservation planning.

For Upemba, the discovery is another reminder of how much remains to be understood within the park’s extraordinary wetlands. A bird that went unrecorded for more than seven decades is now not only being seen again, but photographed in its natural habitat. These new images bring the Black-lored Waxbill into clearer focus; and strengthen the case for continued research and protection of the unique wetland landscapes of the Kamalondo Depression.

Sometimes, the essence of conservation is in being able to see what was almost forgotten.