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No. 13 February 1998

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FORKTAfL

Journal of the Oriental Bird Club

1998

Forktail 13

OBC COUNCIL (1997)

Mike Blair

David Blakesley (Assistant Forktail Editor)

Richard Bosanquet (Membership Database)

Seb Buckton (Information Officer)

Richard Eden (Promotions Officer)

Nona Finch

Melanie Heath (Conservation Officer)

Tim Inskipp ( Forktail Editor)

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Peter Morris (Meetings Officer)

Adrian Pitches (Publicity Officer)

Colin Poole

Nigel Redman (Chairman)

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acting Sales Officer)

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EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

David Blakesley (Assistant Forktail Editor), Mike Crosby,

Tim Inskipp ( Forktail Editor), Adrian Long, Colin Poole,

Nigel Redman, Craig Robson, Richard Thomas (Bulletin

Editor)

The Oriental Bird Club has been established for

ornithologists throughout the world, both amateur

and professional, who share a common interest in the

region’s birds and wish to assist in their conservation.

The Club aims to:

♦ Encourage an interest in the birds of the Oriental

Region and their conservation

♦ Liaise with, and promote the work of, existing

regional societies

♦ Collate and publish material on Oriental birds

For further information please write to:

The Oriental Bird Club

do The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, U.K.

CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

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(Northern India and Pakistan), Andy Clements

(Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal), Mike Crosby (China),

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Kohler (Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand)

OBC REPRESENTATIVES

Alan McBride and Richard Noske (Australia);

Anisuzzaman Khan (Bangladesh);

Filip Verbelen (Belgium);

Tony Gaston (Canada);

Yao-kuangTan (China);

Jiri Mlikovsky (Czech Republic);

Morten Strange and Anders Prieme (Denmark);

Hannu Jannes (Finland);

Jean-Claude Porchier (France);

Axel Braunlich (Germany);

Geoff Carey and C. Y. Lam (Hong Kong);

Asad Rahmani and Bikram Grewal (India);

Rudyanto and Bas van Balen (Indonesia);

Chris Murphy (Ireland);

Carlo Violani (Italy);

Akira Hibi (Japan);

Jin- Young Park (Korea);

Allen Jeyarajasingam (Malaysia);

Bird Conservation Nepal, Secretary: Haris Rai (Nepal);

Jelle Scharringa (Netherlands);

Oystein Storkersen (Norway);

Ashiq Ahmad Khan and Aleem Ahmed Khan (Pakistan);

Bias R. Tabaranza, Jr. (Philippines);

Lim Kim Seng (Singapore);

Sareth Kotagama and Upali Ekanayake (Sri Lanka);

Per Alstrom (Sweden);

Beat Wartmann (Switzerland);

Philip Round and Uthai Treesucon (Thailand);

Robert Kennedy (USA);

Jonathan Eames and Nguyen Cu (Vietnam).

Forktail 13

1998

FORKTAIL

Number 13, 1998

CONTENTS

TIHt NATURAL

HISTORY MUSEUM

PURCHASED

TRING LIBRARY

F. R. LAMBERT

A new species of Gymnocrex from the Talaud Islands, Indonesia . 1

J. N. DYMOND

Birds in Vietnam in December 1993 and December 1994.

7

M. INDRAWAN, Y. MASALA and L. PESIK

Observations on the breeding behaviour of Sula Scrubfowl Megapodius bemsteinii in the Banggai Islands,

Sulawesi, Indonesia . 13

R. SANKARAN

An annotated list of the endemic avifauna of the Nicobar Islands .

17

R. T. CORLETT

Frugivory and seed dispersal by birds in Hong Kong shrubland . 23

R. S. KALSI

Birds of Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana, India . 29

J. W. DUCKWORTH, R. J. TIZARD, R. J. TIMMINS, R. M. THEWLIS, W. B. ROBICHAUD and T. D. EVANS

Bird records from Laos, October 1994-August 1995 . 33

T. D. EVANS and R. J. TIMMINS

Records of birds from Laos during January-July 1994

69

P. ALSTROM

Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex . 97

C. R. ROBSON, H. BUCK, D. S. FARROW, T. FISHER and B. F. KING

A birdwatching visit to the Chin Hills, West Burma (Myanmar), with notes from nearby areas . 109

Short notes

S. VAN BALEN

Hovering Cerulean Kingfishers Alcedo coerulescens . 121

S. VAN BALEN

More birds feeding on arils of acacia seeds . 121

N. C. MOORES, W. HOOGENDOORN, JIN HAN KIM and JIN YOUNG PARK

Unusual food item and declining numbers at only known regular wintering site of Relict Gull Lams relictus . 122

T. R. SHANKAR RAMAN

Aerial casque-butting in the Great Hornbill Buceros bicomis . 123

M. WALTERS

What is Psittacus bomeus Linnaeus? . 124

D. S. MELVILLE and G . J. CAREY

Syntopy of Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus and House Sparrow Passer domesticus in Inner Mongolia, China .... 125

j. kylAnpaA

Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata : a new species for Pakistan . 126

D. S. MELVILLE and LI YU-XIANG

Notes on winter birds at Shuangtaihekou National Nature Reserve, Liaoning Province, China . 126

M. WALTERS

The eggs of the Grey-crowned Prinia Prinia cinereocapilla . 128

HEM SAGAR BARAL

Finn’s Weaver Ploceus megarhynchus and Singing Bushlark Mirafra cantillans : two new species for Nepal . 129

A. KEMP and A. VAN ZYL

Co-operative breeding by Collared Falconets Microhierax caerulescens . 131

Guidelines for contributors

1998

Forktail 13

Editorial: Forktail 13

As you will note, the Editorial Committee of the OBC

has redesigned Forktail. We hope that you will

appreciate the new format, and find its layout pleasing,

and much easier to read. Many of the papers which

are published in Forktail contain necessarily lengthy

tables of data, which will be much easier to follow in

the new A4 format.

Forktail was first published in 1986, with Nigel

Collar appointed as editor. He was succeeded in

1991 by Tim Inskipp, who had acted as co-editor

for the previous 2 years. Since 1986, Forktail has

appeared annually, although in 1996 it fell behind

schedule; consequently the present issue, produced

for the 1997 membership, is actually being

published in February 1998. However, we are

pleased to report that Forktail is now back on

schedule, and will subsequently be published

annually in August; the 1998 edition, Forktail 14,

will be published in August 1998.

In the present issue we are delighted to feature the

publication of an important paper by Frank

Lambert, describing a new species of Gymnocrex

from the Talaud Islands, Indonesia, and to include

Martin Woodcock’s excellent painting of this new

species. Other papers of particular note in this issue

of Forktail are papers by Per Alstrom on the

taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex, and two

extensive papers on the birds of Laos, one by T.

D. Evans and R. J. Timmins, and the other by

William Duckworth and others.

We would also like to take this opportunity to

encourage readers to submit their work and

observations for consideration for publication in

Forktail. We will consider papers on any aspect of

the ornithology of the Oriental region, and

welcomes manuscripts from professional and

amateur ornithologists alike.

David Blakesley (Assistant Editor)

Tim Inskipp (Editor)

ISSN 0950-1746

© Oriental Bird Club 1998

Cover picture:

‘Long-tailed Scarlet Lory’ from a plate by George Edwards (see p. 124)

Plate 1. Talaud Rail Gymnocrex talaudensis painted from the holotype (Martin Woodcock).

Plate 2. Photographs of the live holotype of Gymnocrex

talaudensis in Beo, 6 September 1996 (F. R. Lambert).

Plate 4. Photograph of a live Gymnocrex plumb eiventris

taken in Papua New Guinea, December 1995 (Phil

Gregory). This individual appears to be brighter than

specimens in museum collections and other photographs

taken in New Guinea (see, for example, Gregory 1995).

Plate 3. Comparison of holotype of Gymnocrex

talaudensis (centre) with specimens of G.

plumbeiventris in the Natural History Museum,

Tring.

FORKTAIL 13 (1998): 1-6

A new species of Gymnocrex from the

Talaud Islands, Indonesia

FRANK R. LAMBERT

In August 1996, an unidentified rail, resembling the three described species of Gymnocrex , was encountered on

the Indonesian Island of Karakelong, which lies between the island of Mindanao (Philippines) and Sulawesi.

One specimen ol the bird was subsequently collected, after local people had trapped it for food. Comparison

with other species of Gymnocrex shows that this rail is a previously undescribed species, most closely related to

G. plumbeiventris of the Moluccas to New Guinea. The proposed name for this species is Gymnocrex talaudensis,

sp. nov., the Talaud Rail. It is a secretive but probably not rare inhabitant of wet grassland and rank vegetation

habitats at the edge of forest. Whilst it may also occur on the other islands in the Talaud archipelago, it is in all

likelihood endemic to the archipelago, and this, therefore, raises the conservation significance of these small

islands. It is not considered threatened at the present time, since Karakelong still has abundant suitable habitat

for the species, but the species should be classified as Data Deficient based on the criteria developed for the

IUCN Red List Categories.

INTRODUCTION

The genus Gymnocrex

Three species in the genus Gymnocrex have been previously

described. One is the Bare-eyed Rail G. plumbeiventris G.

R. Gray 1862, known from the north Moluccan islands of

Morotai, Bacan and Halmahera, and from New Guinea,

Misol, the Aru Islands, Karkar and New Ireland. It is

reported to inhabit the floor of forest as well as swamps

and wet grassy areas near lakes and rivers (White and Bruce

1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996). In New Guinea, this species

has been found from sea level to at least 2,000 m (P.

Gregory in litt.). The second species is the Intact Rail G.

intactus Sclater 1869, known from one specimen from the

Solomon Islands, which is probably conspecific with G.

plumbeiventris (Knox and Walters 1994). The third species

is the Blue-faced Rail G. rosenbergii Schlegel 1866, an

endemic of central and northern Sulawesi and the satellite

island of Peleng in the Banggai Archipelago (White and

Bruce 1986). This last species is a rarely observed and very

poorly known inhabitant of forest (Coomans de Ruiter

1947, Lambert 1989). Although Ripley (1977) included

both Gymnocrex and Aramides in the genus Eulabeomis,

many recent authors (e.g. White and Bruce 1986, Inskipp

et al. 1996) have followed Olsen (1973) who considered

that Gymnocrex was a distinct genus. Olsen (1973) based

this on the peculiarly shaped, sharply tapering bill, bare

orbital skin and short toes of Gymnocrex when compared

to Aramides. He also noted that there were differences in

the shape of the pelvis.

Discovery of the new Gymnocrex

Just after dawn on 15 August 1996, near Tarohan on

Karakelong Island in the Talaud archipelago, Indonesia

(Figure 1), Christian Mamengko and I had clear, but brief

and unaided, views of a distinctive rail walking casually

across a tarmac road in front of our vehicle. The bird then

entered rather short grass underneath some dispersed, small

cocoa trees, where it paused for about 30 seconds, some

10 m distant, before running off into wet grassland and

scrub at the edge of swampy forest. I followed the rail

immediately but the bird was not seen again, and nor was

it observed in the early morning of 16 August or on 2

September when I revisited the site.

Upon questioning (in Indonesian, by the author),

villagers on the island confirmed that there was a bird that

lived on the ground that had a ‘chocolate-red’ head, long

yellowish bill and white around the eye which was locally

known as the Tuu-a. This bird was reported to be extremely

shy but occasionally eaten by villagers, who caught it in

traps set for terrestrial birds, or using their dogs. It was

said to frequent very wet grassland and scrub at the edge

of forest, and one villager said that he had also observed it

in primary forest.

On 6 September 1996, a man was encountered in Beo,

selling various birds, which had apparently been caught

near his home village of Rainis. He had in his possession

several rallids, including one live specimen of the

unidentified Gymnocrex seen on 15 August (Plate 2). The

Gymnocrex was photographed but died within an hour.

After consultation with officers from the local office of the

Directorate of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation

(PHPA), this individual was made into a specimen.

Subsequent literature research indicated that the

unidentified Gymnocrex most closely resembles Bare-eyed

Rail Gymnocrex plumbeiventris. After examination of six

specimens of G. plumbeiventris from the Aru Islands, Misol

and New Guinea in the British Museum, as well as

photographs of three live birds from New Guinea, I

concluded that, based on significant differences in both

plumage and biometrics, and using the biological species

concept, that the Gymnocrex from Karakelong should be

considered a separate species.

9

F. R. LAMBERT

Forktail 13 (1998)

Figure 1. Map showing the Talaud Islands and places mentioned in the text.

The proposed name for this new species of rail is:

Gymnocrex talaudensis, sp. nov.

Talaud Rail

Holotype

Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense No. MZB 30.271,

Bogor, Indonesia, collected by Frank R. Lambert on 6

September 1996. The bird was obtained in Beo,

Karakelong Island, Talaud (4°14’N 126°47’E), from a

hunter who had trapped it near Rainis (4° 1 4’N 1 26°5 1 ’E)

at an altitude of less than 100 m. Unsexed, presumed to

be adult, based on brightness and texture of plumage and

bare part colours. See Plates 1-3.

DESCRIPTION OF HOLOTYPE

The bird is considered to be an adult, based on plumage

coloration and texture, and bright coloration of bare parts,

although it was not sexed. It was undergoing an extensive

moult, with feathers of the body, remiges and rectrices in

sheath, suggesting post-breeding plumage. Some feathers

were damaged during capture and transportation, with the

consequence that many of the flight feathers and the entire

tail are now missing (note that the colour of the tail is

therefore unknown, and that the shape and colour of the

tail in Plate 1 is based on G. plumb eiventris, which is

assumed to be similar in this respect).

(Where possible colour names and codes of swatches

contained in Smithe (1975) have been used in the

preparation of the plumage description. It is hoped that

this will aid future museum workers to make comparisons

without reference to the type specimen. In addition, it

provides some insurance against fading, or other

deterioration, in the skin.)

Head, neck and breast Chestnut (32), with a slight

maroon bloom; feathers of chin Sepia (219) (a dark brown

colour) with some Chestnut (32) on feather tips. Entire

mantle, back and upperwing-coverts bright Greenish-Olive

(49) with the distal third of mantle feathers iridescent,

forming a bright shining green (with blue-grey and green

elements depending on the light) patch across the mantle.

Feathers of rump more Olive-Brown (28), with uppertail-

coverts Sepia (119) (a blackish colour). Tail feathers

missing. Belly to undertail-coverts Sepia (119), like

uppertail-coverts. Most flight feathers missing, but those

present dull Tawny (38), becoming more Greenish-Olive

(49) on outer webs. Underwing-coverts Sepia (119) with

white tips of many feathers forming large white spots.

Iris bright red, surrounded by a large bare skin patch that

is pink anteriorly and silvery-white at the rear (the silver

colour disappeared after death). This patch is most

extensive behind the eye. Bill bright yellow with dusky distal

third and darker coloration around the large nares. Legs

yellow, becoming pinkish on the feet.

Measurements

See Table 1 for measurements of the holotype. The bill

of G. talaudensis is between 6.2% and 33.3% longer than

those of specimens of G. plumb eiventris (n = 25), while

the tarsus is between 13.3% and 29.4% longer than those

Forktail 13 (1998)

A new species of Gymnocrex from the Talaud Islands, Indonesia

3

Table 1. Bill and tarsus measurements of the four species of Gymnocrex

Museum data Measurements in mm

“‘Bill length is here measured as the distance from the corner of the gape (where the upper and lower mandible meets) to the bill tip (as

illustrated in Lambert and Woodcock 1996).

b Tarsi could not be accurately measured on mounted specimens.

Museum codes: BMNH - The Natural History Museum, Tring; NMNH Leiden - National Museum of Natural History, Leiden (measurements

made by Rene Dekker); AMNH - American Museum of Natural History, New York (measurements made by Paul Sweet); USNM - United States

National Museum (Smithsonian Institution), Washington (measurements made by Pamela Rasmussen). For collection locality of BMNH type

specimen from Misol (= Mysol), see Warren (1966). Sex: M - male, F - female, U - unsexed.

4

F. R. LAMBERT

Forktail 13 (1998)

of G. plumbeiventris (n = 23) for which measurements were

available (Table 1). The longest-billed specimen of G.

plumbeiventris , from Misol, has a bill length of 54.6 mm

compared with 58 mm for the G. talaudensis holotype; the

longest tarsus measurement for the former species was

60 mm, compared with 68 mm for the G. talaudensis

holotype. Even the relatively long-legged G. rosenbergii

apparently can have a shorter tarsus (Table 1). Wing

measurements are not compared because the wings of the

specimen of G. talaudensis are not complete, being both in

heavy moult and damaged during transportation to market

or during capture.

Diagnosis

Most similar to Gymnocrex plumbeiventris, and presumably

forming a superspecies with it, but differs significantly from

that species in biometrics, plumage pattern and coloration,

and bare part colour (Plates 1-4). Despite their allopatry,

these differences are of sufficient magnitude that treatment

of this new taxon as a full species is warranted. Firstly, the

entire pattern and colour of the upperparts differ, except

for the presence of blackish (i.e. Sepia 119) on the

uppertail-coverts, which is shared. The upperparts of

G. plumbeiventris are a dull ochraceous brown (closest to

Raw Umber 123), with a golden tinge in bright light, but

those of G. talaudensis are Greenish-Olive (49) with a

brighter, iridescent mantle. The pattern differs also, with

the rich colour of the head and neck extending onto the

mantle in G. plumbeiventris, but not in G. talaudensis, while

the area of dark Sepia on the uppertail-coverts is more

extensive in G. plumbeiventris, extending onto the lower

back. G. talaudensis has a deeper chestnut colour to the

head, neck and breast than G. plumbeiventris (which has a

colour closest to Brick Red 132A), even when compared

to the unusually bright bird shown in Plate 4. The belly to

undertail-coverts and tarsus feathers of G. plumbeiventris

are leaden grey or slaty (Dark Neutral Gray 83), becoming

blacker (Blackish Neutral Gray 82) towards the rear, while

this entire area is uniform Sepia (119) in G. talaudensis.

The pattern on the underparts also differs, with the rufous

breast of G. plumbeiventris usually neatly demarcated from

the slaty grey, while the pattern on G. talaudensis is

apparently much more ragged. Furthermore, the chin of

G. talaudensis is Sepia (219), while that of G. plumbeiventris

is pale rufous (Raw Umber 23). Finally, the few flight

feathers of G. talaudensis available for comparison with

those of G. plumbeiventris suggest that the former are more

olive, particularly on the outer webs.

The limited information available on bare-part colour of

G. plumbeiventris suggests that the bill is usually basally dull

yellow or greenish-yellow in colour, while that of the

specimen of G. talaudensis is a striking bright yellow for

the basal two-thirds of its length. However, it should be

noted that the unsexed type specimen of G. plumbeiventris,

collected by A. R. Wallace on Misol, still shows a distinct

bright yellow colour at the base of upper mandible,

suggesting that bill colour may vary according to sex or

season. Furthermore, the live G. plumbeiventris shown in

Plate 4 has extensive bright yellow on the basal half of the

bill.

The legs of the dried specimens of G. plumbeiventris in

BMNH are generally yellowish, becoming pinkish on the

feet. However, G. plumbeiventris clearly has pinkish-red to

scarlet legs in life (Ripley 1977, Beehler et al. 1986, del

Hoyo et al. 1996), as demonstrated by data on specimen

labels (see Table 1) and confirmed by three photographs

of birds from New Guinea (P. Gregory, pers. comm.; see

Plate 4). In life, the legs of G. talaudensis are yellow,

particularly the upper legs, but becoming yellowish-pink

on the feet.

Both G. plumbeiventris and G. talaudensis have a bare

patch of skin around the eye (a characteristic of the genus)

but, while this is reported to be pink in G. plumbeiventris,

that of G. talaudensis is anteriorly pink but broadly white at

the rear, giving the patch the appearance of being silvery-

white in the field. As far as can be judged, the bare eye -patch

of G. talaudensis is larger than that of G. plumbeiventris.

The iris colour of the G. talaudensis collected was bright

red, while that of G. plumbeiventris is most often reported

to be brown. One of the two photographs of live G.

plumbeiventris from New Guinea confirms this brown

coloration, although the iris colour of the brighter bird

shown in Plate 4 cannot be determined. Taylor and van

Perlo (in press) state that the iris colour of G. plumbeiventris

is red, red-brown or brown.

ETYMOLOGY

This species is named after the Talaud (=Talaut) Islands,

to which it is presumably endemic. Emphasizing the name

of this little-known archipelago will hopefully draw some

attention to its ornithological importance. There are several

endemic subspecies that have the trinominal talautense or

talautensis, but this is the first species that has been named

after the islands. The common name of G. talaudensis,

Talaud Rail also draws attention to this distribution.

DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT AND STATUS

Gymnocrex talaudensis is presently known only from

Karakelong, the largest island in the Talaud Archipelago,

which is situated between the island of Mindanao

(Philippines) and Sulawesi (see Figure 1). The topography

and vegetation of the island are briefly described by

Lambert (1997).

Based on the single brief observation, and discussion with

local rural people on Karakelong who might come into

contact with G. talaudensis, the species would appear to be

relatively widespread on the island and is reported to be

not uncommon in wet grassland habitats at the edge of

forest and rank vegetation. Many villagers knew this species

by its local name, Tuu-a, although in a couple of instances,

it was not clear if the name was being misapplied to another

terrestrial species. Nevertheless, most villagers questioned

mentioned the ‘chocolate’ or ‘chocolate-red’ ( coklat mera )

head and silvery-white eye-patch, which is here considered

as conclusive that they knew the species (it seems unlikely

that there is yet another undescribed rallid with a pale eye-

patch). A bus driver claimed that he regularly saw this

species cross the road, at the site where the individual was

observed on 1 5 August, but that he had not seen the bird

elsewhere on the island. However, it is possible that he

could have been seeing bush hens Amauromis also, since

they were present in this vicinity, on both sides of the road.

At this site there are wet roadside ditches with lush grass,

several nearby streams, two permanent marshy areas and,

perhaps also of importance, small remnant patches of forest

close to the road on both sides. Littoral swamp forest was

Forktail 13 (1998)

A new species of Gymnocrex from the Talaud Islands, Indonesia

5

also present some 1 50 m from the locality (which was itself

within 100 m of the sea). Local people associate G.

talandensis with long wet grass in swampy ground at the

forest edge. Indeed, in March 1997, F. Verbelen (in litt.)

briefly observed this species in a swampy area of rank

herbage and second growth near the forest edge, bordering

a small river just south of Beo.

Only one villager mentioned that this species occurred

in primary forest. The area where he claimed to have seen

the birds was some 6-8 km from the coast in tall primary

forest with a dense understory of saplings and herbs along

a shallow stream. His records could not be verified,

although it should be noted that at least two other rallids

were observed by the author in this area; one was tentatively

identified as Red-necked Crake Rallina tricolor, which has

a similarly coloured head, so the villager may have seen

these rather than G. talaudensis.

VOCALIZATIONS

A series of at least fifteen rapid, high-pitched peet-peet-peet

calls were heard when the Talaud Rail was observed on

15 August. Although it could not be ascertained

conclusively that these calls were made by G. talaudensis,

the calls seemed to be coming from the individual as it ran

off, and these calls rapidly became quieter. No tape

recordings were made.

FOOD

The stomach of the specimen collected contained small

fragments of snail shell and what appeared to be the

remains of a very small beetle.

DISCUSSION

Additional notes on plumage of Gymnocrex species

Examination of skins (in BMNH) and published

descriptions and paintings lead to the conclusion that the

head and breast of G. talaudensis is considerably darker and

richer in colour than that of G. plumbeiventris, and would

best be described as being deeper and darker chestnut

rather than the rusty or vinous-chestnut of the latter.

However, whilst two photographs of G. plumbeiventris from

New Guinea (taken by P. Gregory, in September 1993 and

September 1994; see also Gregory 1995) seem to confirm

this, a third, previously unpublished photograph (Plate 4),

taken in December 1995, shows a live G. plumbeiventris

that appears brighter than any other birds photographed,

illustrated or in the BMNH collection, with a darker, more

chestnut head and neck (though still not as dark, deep or

rich in colour as that of G. talaudensis), as well as extensive

bright yellow on the bill. Although photographs can be

unreliable in portraying colour and brightness, these

differences suggest, perhaps, that there is a distinctive

breeding plumage of G. plumbeiventris that may not be

represented by birds in collections (I have personally

examined only those in BMNH) or described in the

ornithological literature. It is therefore possible that the

G. plumbeiventris photographed in December 1995 may

refer to an individual in breeding plumage. The G.

talaudensis collected in September, although with similarly

very bright plumage, seems likely to have been in post¬

breeding plumage since it was undergoing extensive, heavy

moult.

The single specimen of Intact Rail G. intactus resembles

G. plumbeiventris, but ‘differs in that the brown of the neck

is darker and less chestnut with a slight maroon “bloom”,

the wings and back are slightly darker, and the belly very

slightly paler’ (Knox and Walters 1994).

While G. talaudensis differs in many respects from Blue¬

faced Rail G. rosenbergii of Sulawesi, direct comparison of

specimens in BMNH showed that the deep chestnut colour

of the head, neck and breast of G. talaudensis is almost the

same as the colour of the upperparts of G. rosenbergii (the

colour being between Maroon 31 and Chestnut 32).

Ornithological exploration of the Talaud

Archipelago

The Talaud Islands are a remote archipelago, and it is not

surprising that previous ornithologists who have made

observations or collected specimens on the island have

failed to find G. talaudensis. Although a number of

naturalists and ornithologists visited the Talaud

Archipelago last century, including S. J. Hickson (1885-

1886), W. Doherty (1887), C. W. Cursham (c. 1892), and

J. Waterstradt (1896-1897) (Meyer and Wiglesworth

1898), there then seems to have been very little

ornithological interest in the islands until M. D. Bruce

visited them in 1978 (White and Bruce 1986). More

recently, F. Rozendaal (in prep.) collected birds on

Karakelong in 1985 and the University of York mounted

an ornithological expedition there in 1995 and conducted

follow-up work during 1996-1997 (Riley 1995, 1997,

University of York 1996).

Affinities of the Talaud avifauna

Talaud is of great biogeographic interest. Presumably

because of its rather isolated position, lying between

Sulawesi, Mindanao and the north Moluccas, it has an

unusual assemblage of birds. The known global

distributions of various birds on Talaud strongly suggest

that representatives of the distinctive avifaunas of these

three quite different areas have reached Talaud. Breeding

birds that have probably colonized from the Philippines,

to the north, include Philippine Scrubfowl Megapodius

cumingii sanghirensis, Blue-naped Parrot Tanygnathus

lucionensis talautensis, Rufous Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone cinnamomea talautensis, Everett’s White-eye

Zosterops everetti babelo and perhaps also Malay Night Heron

Gorsachius melanolophus, which is apparently breeding on

Karakelong Island (F. Lambert, pers. obs.). Species of

probable Sulawesi origin include Sulawesi Cicadabird

Coracina morio talautensis, Grey-sided Flowerpecker

Dicaeum celebicum talautensis and probably Golden-mantled

Racquet-tail Prioniturus platurus talautensis. Until now, the

only species with clear Moluccan affinities were the Red-

and-blue Lory Eos histrio talautensis and probably Plain

Bush Hen Amauromis olivaceus moluccanus (I observed birds

of this subspecies on the island in 1997). It is therefore of

great interest to have found another species, Gymnocrex

talaudensis that has clear affinities with G. plumbeiventris

and has therefore presumably colonized from the Moluccas.

Although the Talaud Islands lie within the Sangihe-Talaud

Endemic Bird Area (ICBP 1992, Sujatnika et al. 1995), no

6

F. R. LAMBERT

Forktail, 1 3 (1998)

undisputed endemic species were known to be confined

to Talaud, although one taxon, Obscure Kingfisher, has

been variously treated as a full species Todiramphus

{Halcyon) enigma (e.g. White and Bruce 1986) or as a

distinct subspecies of T. chloris (e.g. Fry et al. 1 992, Inskipp

et al. 1996). The discovery of a rallid that is in all likelihood

endemic to Talaud is, therefore, of great importance,

elevating the conservation value of the islands. Whilst the

Talaud Rail is presently known only from Karakelong

Island, there is a possibility that it might also be found on

the other larger islands in the archipelago. Although these

islands, namely Salebabu and Kabaruang, have little natural

forest, this does not necessarily preclude the presence of

Talaud Rail, since its known habitat requirements indicate

that it survives in rank vegetation and it may not be

dependent on forest.

Conservation status of Talaud Rail

At present, G. talaudensis is probably not a threatened

species, since the island of Karakelong still has a diversity

and abundance of wetland habitats, in particular rank

grasslands bordering forest. Nevertheless, present

knowledge of the species would suggest that it should be

classified as Data Deficient using the criteria developed for

the IUCN Red List Categories (SSC 1994). While trapping

for food occurs, locals noted that this is a difficult species

to catch, and the pressure from trapping must be very low.

Nonetheless, since its full ecological requirements are

unknown, future changes in land use could conceivably

alter habitats to the extent that it becomes threatened - the

island is small, covering only c. 600 km2. The forests of

Karakelong are still relatively intact and include two

protected areas totalling c. 2 1 ,800 ha that were established

in 1979 (Sujatnika et al. 1995, Sujatnika inlitt. 1997). Both

areas are, however, under pressure from smallholder

encroachment (Whitten et al. 1 987), and evidence collected

in 1996 suggests that forest clearance for transmigration

may also pose a threat in the long term (Lambert 1997)

The potential threat on the island from introduced rats

needs to be investigated.

This paper was peer reviewed for Forktail by Pamela Rasmussen and

Nigel Collar.

I express my gratitude to my companions in the field in Talaud, in

particular Christian Mamengko, M. B. Hutajulu (“Cobar”) and

Spener of PHPA who assisted in searching for the bird after it was first

observed, and who alerted me to the rails on sale in Beo market,

including the specimen that was eventually collected. I am also greatly

indebted to Dr Soetikno Wirjoatmodjo and Dr Dewi Prawiradilaga of

the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) for providing me with

assistance in borrowing the specimen from the Bogor Museum, and

I am grateful to Drs M. Amir for facilitating this. I must also thank Mr

Nivesh N adee of the Thailand Institute of Scientific and T echnological

Research for his skill in saving the specimen from certain decomposition.

Thanks are also due to Tim Inskipp, Nigel Redman, Adrian Long and

Nigel Collar, who provided me with various literature and information,

and to Barry Taylor, who provided me with draft accounts for his

forthcoming book on rails as well as other useful information. Pamela

Rasmussen made measurements of the specimen of G. rosenbergii in

the USNM (Smithsonian) collection; she also kindly provided me

with information on the specimen of G. plumbeiventris in the collection

and discussed this specimen with Paul Taylor, who had collected it in

Halmahera. Rene Dekker provided measurements and specimen

label data from skins of G. plumbeiventris held in the National Museum

of Natural History in Leiden, while Paul Sweet provided biometric

data for specimens held in the American Museum of Natural History,

New Y ork. Robert Prys-Jones and Michael W alters gave me permission

to examine skins, including the type specimens of G. plumbeiventris , at

the Natural History Museum (Tring) and provided data on catalogue

numbers. Craig Robson, Pamela Rasmussen, Jonathan Eames, James

Lowen and Mark Pearman all examined the type specimen, when I

visited Tring, and provided corroboration of my opinion as to its

taxonomic status. Richard Grimmett kindly compared the plumage of

the specimen of G. talaudensis with the swatches in Smithe (1975).

Finally, I am very grateful to Phil Gregory for the loan of photographs

depicting three G. plumbeiventris trapped in Papua New Guinea, and

to Martin Woodcock for his excellent painting of G. talaudensis.

REFERENCES

Coomans de Ruiter, L. (1947) Over de wederontdekking van

Aramidopsis plateni (W. Blasius) in de Minahasa (Noord-Celebes)

en het voorkomen von Gymnocrex rosenbergii (Schlegel) aldaar.

Limosa 19: 65-75.

Fry, C. H., Fry, K. and Harris, A. (1992) Kingfishers, bee-eaters and

rollers. London: Christopher Helm.

Gregory, P. (1995) The birds of the Ok Tedi area. Tabubil, Papua New

Guinea: National Library of Papua New Guinea.

del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (eds) (1996) Handbook of the

birds of the world, 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.

ICBP (1992) Putting biodiversity on the map: priority areas for global

conservation. Cambridge: International Council for Bird

Preservation.

Inskipp, T., Lindsey, N. and Duckworth, W. (1996) An annotated

checklist of the birds of the Oriental region. Sandy, U.K: Oriental

Bird Club.

Knox, A. G. and Walters, M. P. ( 1 994) Extinct and endangered birds in

the collections of The Natural History Museum. London: British

Ornithologists’ Club (Occasional Publication No. 1).

Lambert, F. R. (1989) Some field observations of the endemic

Sulawesi rails. Kukila 4: 34-36.

Lambert, F. R. (1997) Field assessment of the conservation status ofRed-

and-blue Lory Eoshistrio in Indonesia. Bangkok, Thailand: IUCN

Species Survival Commission.

Lambert, F. R. and Woodcock, M. (1996). Pittas, broadbills and

asides. Mountfield, U.K.: Pica Press.

Olson, S. L. (1973) A classification of the Rallidae. Wilson Bull. 85:

381-416.

Meyer, A. B. and Wiglesworth, L. W. (1898) The birds of Celebes and

the neighbouring islands. Berlin: Friedlander.

Riley, J. (1995) Preliminary assessment of the status and utilization of

the Red and Blue Lory Eos histrio on Talaud and Sangihe.

BirdLife, Bogor: PHPA/BirdLife International-Indonesia

Programme, Technical Report No. 10.

Riley, J. (1997). Biological surveys and conservation priorities on the

Sangihe and Talaud Islands, north Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Cambridge: CSB Publications.

Ripley, S. D. (1977) Rails of the world. Toronto: M. F. Feheley.

Smithe, F. B. (1975) Naturalist’s color guide. New York: American

Museum of Natural History.

SSC (1994) IUCN Red List categories. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.

Sujatnika, Jepson, P., Soehartono, T., Crosby, M. and Mardiastuti,

A. (1995) Conserving Indonesian biodiversity: the Endemic Bird

Area approach. Bogor, Indonesia: BirdLife International.

Taylor, B and van Perlo, B. (in press) Rails: a guide to the rails, crakes,

gallinules and coots of the world. Mountfield: Pica Press.

University of York (1996) The status and conservation of birds on the

Sangihe and Talaud islands, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Summary

report. University of York, UK.

Warren, R. L. M. ( 1966) Type specimens of birds in the British Museum

(Natural History). Volume 1: Non-Passerines. London: Trustees

of the British Museum (Natural History).

White, C. M. N. and Bruce, M. D. (1986) The birds of Wallacea.

London: British Ornithologists’ Union (Checklist No. 7).

Whitten, A. J., Bishop, K. D., Nash, S. V. and Clayton, L. (1987) One

or more extinctions from Sulawesi, Indonesia? Conservation Biol.

1(1): 42-48.

Frank R. Lambert, c/o 15 Bramble Rise, Brighton BN1 5GE, U.K.

Present address: BirdLife International, Indonesia Programme, P.O. Box 310/Boo, Bogor 16003, Indonesia

FORKTAIL 13 (1998): 7-12

Birds in Vietnam in December 1993

and December 1994

J. N. DYMOND

Noteworthy records of birds observed during visits to Vietnam in December 1993 and December 1994 are

detailed. A full account is given of the discovery of Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis at Ho Tuyen Lam,

near Da Lat, Lam Dong Province.

During December 1993 and December 1994 various

forest sites in Vietnam were visited. Each of the sites had

previously been surveyed at least once by the BirdLife

International/Forest Birds Working Group expeditions of

1988, 1989/1990 and 1991, though only the 1989/1990

surveys were carried out during winter months (Robson

et al. 1989, 1993a and b). Most of the observations made

reflect the findings of these earlier surveys or other recent

observations by J. C. Eames, C. R. Robson, Nguyen Cu,

Uthai Treesucon and several tour groups.

Thirteen species listed as globally threatened by Collar

et al. (1994) were recorded. Of these 11 are treated as

Vulnerable, though significant observations were made for

just two, Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca and Short-tailed

Parrotbill Paradoxomis davidianus. The other Vulnerable

species recorded were Germain’s Peacock Pheasant

Polyplectron germaini, Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata,

Green Peafowl Pavo cristatus, Red-collared Woodpecker

Picus rabieri, Blyth’s Kingfisher Alcedo Hercules , Lesser

Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus, Yellow-billed Nuthatch

Sitta solangiae , Black-hooded Laughingthrush Garmlax

milieu and Collared Laughingthrush G. yersini.

More important was the observation at Nam Bai Cat

Tien National Park of a pair of White-shouldered Ibises

Pseudibis papillosa davisoni, a taxon that is treated as

Endangered. There have been a number of sightings in

the park since July 1991 and its continued survival there

is noteworthy.

By far the most exciting and significant observation was

the discovery of Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis

at Ho Tuyen Lam, near Da Lat, Lam Dong Province; the

species is treated as Critically Endangered by Collar et

al. (1994).

RECORDS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST

Great Barbet Megalaima virens One was heard calling

on a ridge above Bong substation, Cue Phuong N.P. (c.

600 m) on 13 December 1993. According to King et al.

(1975) this species is resident above 900 m in South-East

Asia, but seasonal altitudinal movements occur in Nepal

(Inskipp and Inskipp 1991). Not previously recorded at

this site, though already noted for North Annam and

Tonkin by King et al. (1975).

Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni A pair was seen (one of

which was tape-recorded) near Tu Phuc on 23 December

1993. Though recently recorded from sites in East Tonkin

(Ratajszczak 1987), northern Vietnam (Stepanyan 1987),

Cochinchina (Morris 1986) and South Annam (Robson

et al. 1993), this is the first record for North Annam.

Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca A juvenile was seen at

Tam Dao N.P. on 6 December 1993. The first recent

record for Vietnam, although noted in Tonkin in the past

(King et al. 1975), and ther have been three subsequent

sightings, all in East Tonkin (J. Christensen pers. comm.

1995, C. R. Robson in litt. 1995).

Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis An adult was

seen perched and, briefly, in flight at Cue Phuong N.P.

on 12 December 1993. There has been a number of

records in recent years in Cochinchina (pers. obs., Akira

Hibi pers. comm. 1994, J. C. Eames in litt. 1995, C. R.

Robson in litt. 1995), and in Central and South Annam

(Morris 1995), but the only previous record in East

Tonkin was at Tam Dao N.P. in October 1962 (Fischer

1974).

White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis papillosa davisoni One

pair was seen display-calling at Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P.

on 29 December 1994.

Grey-backed Thrush Turdus hortulorum An adult male

was seen at Ho Ke Go on 27-29 December 1993.

Although previously noted as a migrant at low elevations

in Tonkin and North Annam (King et al. 1975), this

record is well south of the previously documented range

(C. R. Robson in litt. 1995).

Lesser Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophrys Two singles

were seen near Cue Phuong N.P. headquarters, one on 8

December and a different bird on 9 December 1993; both

sightings, in well-separated locations, were at very close

range in areas of very dense understorey in secondary

forest, at c. 200 m altitude. According to King et al.

(1975), the species is resident between 900 m and 2,500

m in South-East Asia. The first records for this locality

and at this altitude.

Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra A male

was seen at close range in understorey near Cue Phuong

N.P. headquarters on 9 December 1993 (c. 200 m), and

another male was watched bathing in a stream in primary

forest near Bong substation, Cue Phuong N.P., on 1 1

December 1993 (c. 450 m). According to King et al.

(1975), this species is resident above 900 m in South-East

Asia, but in Nepal it has been recorded as low as 275 m

in winter (Inskipp and Inskipp 1991). The first records

for this locality and altitude, although it was subsequently

seen there in December 1994 by J. Christensen (pers.

comm. 1995).

8

J. N. DYMOND

Forktail 13 (1998)

Pl trple Cochoa Cochoa purpurea Two were seen at Tam

Dao N.P. on 6 December 1993. The first recent record

for this locality, although collected there previously

(Delacour and Jabouille 1931). The species is treated as

Near-threatened by Collar et al. (1994).

Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii Two were seen

at Ho Tuyen Lam on 22 December 1994. Though noted

for South Annam by King et al. (1975), this is thought to

be the only record in recent years, and the species may

be seriously threatened in Vietnam (C. R. Robson in litt.

1995).

Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis Of a total of

over 30 birds in scrub at Ho Ke Go on 27-29 December

1993, about 25 were nominate sinensis and at least 5 were

hainanus. In Vietnam, King et al. (1975) and Vo Quy

(1983) list P. s. sinensis only from East Tonkin, but

Robson et al. (1993a) recorded it in Central Annam, so

its occurrence at Ho Ke Go, in North Annam, is not

surprising. King et al. (197 5) record hainanus as a common

resident in Tonkin, North and Central Annam.

Chestnut-flanked White-eye Zosterops erythropleurus

One was seen at Tam Dao N.P. on 4 December 1993. In

Vietnam only previously recorded from north-west Tonkin

(King et al. 1975).

Asian Stubtail Urosphena squameiceps Small numbers

were seen at Tam Dao N.P. and Cue Phuong N.P. during

December 1993, and one was seen at Ho Tuyen Lam on

18 December 1994. King et al. (1975) record this species

from north-west Tonkin, but these constitute the first

records for East Tonkin and only the second for South

Annam, preceded by a record from Hill 1978 (12°02’N

108°42’E), Lam Dong Province on 16 November 1993 (J.

C. Eames pers. comm. 1995).

Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti Singles

were seen at Cue Phuong N.P. on 10 and 15 December

1993. Previously noted for North and Central Annam

(King et al. 1975), but these are the first records for East

Tonkin.

Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis Two were seen

at Ho Tuyen Lam on 22 December 1994. Full details of

this observation are given below.

Short-tailed Parrotbill Paradoxomis davidianus One

was seen at Tam Dao N.P. on 6 December 1993.

Previously only recorded from north-east Tonkin (King et

al. 1975), this is the first record for this locality, though

others have been seen there subsequently by many

observers.

Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Two were seen

at Cue Phuong N.P. on 10 December 1993. Listed for

north-west Tonkin by King et al. (1975), but this is the

first record for East Tonkin and apparently the only record

for the country in recent years.

Observation of Grey-crowned Crocias at Ho

Tuyen Lam, near Da Lat

Ho Tuyen Lam is a reservoir 4 km south-south west of Da

Lat, Lam Dong Province (South Annam); it is a further 5

km to the distant end of the reservoir. The reservoir is

surrounded by pine forest Pinus kesiya, interspersed with

extensive cleared areas supporting agricultural plots. At the

southern end of the reservoir the pine forest is backed by

Tropical Montane Evergreen Forest, rising from 1,400 m

to 1,700 m, although only the lower zone from 1,400-1,500

m has been explored by ornithologists in recent years. Small

scale logging was taking place in the broadleaved forest

adjacent to the end of the reservoir, and local people were

seen carrying out sacks of charcoal, probably produced on

the higher slopes further from the reservoir.

At 12h00 on 22 December 1994, while birding in the

evergreen forest about 1 km south of the south-western tip

of the reservoir, at an elevation of 1,450 m, I came in

contact with a mixed species feeding flock. The understorey

was alive with numerous Mountain Fulvettas Alcippe

peracensis and a few Rufous-capped Babblers Stachyris

ruficeps and White-spectacled Warblers Seicercus ajfinis ,

while several White-tailed Leaf Warblers Phylloscopus

davisoni and Chestnut-crowned Warblers Seicercus

castaniceps and a pair each of Chestnut-fronted Shrike

Babblers Pteruthius aenobarbus and Brown-throated

Treecreepers Certhia discolor were feeding in the more open

areas of the middle storey. I then turned my attention to a

noisy party of Blue-winged Minlas Minla cyanouroptera in

the canopy, some 1 5-20 m above me. I soon located a single

Rufous-backed Sibia Heterophasia annectans among the 10-

12 minlas, and then I glimpsed among some dense foliage

a rather longer, narrow, graduated tail showing white tips

to the underside of each feather. Vague thoughts of a small

cuckoo or cuckoo-shrike were soon replaced by palpitations

of incredulity when the head and body came into view. It

had a fairly short thickish, dark bill, a narrow black mask

extending from the bill through the eye to the rear of the

ear-coverts, and sparkling white underparts with bold black

streaks at the sides of the breast and extending all along

the flanks towards the tail - I realised then that I was

watching a Grey-crowned Crocias. In fact there were two

of them and very soon the one I was concentrating on

showed its upperparts: grey crown and nape, warm rufous

mantle and rump with blackish feather centres showing as

spots on the mantle, and dark grey wings and tail. The

Crocias were markedly larger than the Rufous-backed

Sibia.

After two to three minutes the flock moved away, but I

had further contacts with it and the two Crocias at around

1 2h 1 5 and 12h40, after which the flock moved across a

densely vegetated gully and I was unable to follow.

Throughout the total of about six minutes observation time

the Grey-crowned Crocias were in close association with

the Blue-winged Minlas and the Rufous-backed Sibia. They

kept strictly to the canopy, foraging along and around the

thicker limbs and among the sprays of leafy twigs, moving

slowly much in the mode of the sibia, but at no time

venturing on to the main trunks in the manner of a sibia.

At no time were any vocalizations heard.

The sole previous field observation of Grey-crowned

Crocias was of two birds seen by J. C. Eames and Nguyen

Cu on 29 January 1994 at 1,010 m on Chu Yang Sin,

some 55 km north of Da Lat (Eames 1994). Eames relates

what is known of the circumstances of the original

collection of three specimens in April 1938, for which

details are somewhat vague and the locality is unclear.

However, as Chu Yang Sin is remote and very difficult of

access, the discovery of Grey-crowned Crocias at Ho

Tuyen Lam, so close to the provincial centre of Da Lat,

strongly suggests that the type locality might also be dose

to Da Lat.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Birds in Vietnam in December 1993 and December 1994

9

ITINERARIES

MAIN LOCALITIES VISITED

1 Tam Dao National Park (21°27’N 105°35’E), East

Tonkin

2 Hanoi and en route in East Tonkin

3 Cue Phuong National Park (20°1 5’N 105°35’E), East

Tonkin

4 Tu Phuc - Cat Bin (18"05’N 106°02’E) - Ho Ke Go,

North Annam

5 En route in North Annam

6 Mount Lang Bian (1 2°02’N 1 08°26’E), South Annam

7 Ho Tuyen Lam (1 1°52’N 108°25’E), South Annam

8 Da Lat area (11°57’N 108°27’E)) and Datanla

waterfall, South Annam

9 Nam Bai Cat Tien National Park (11°27’N

107'T8’E), Cochinchina

I would like to thank Doug Judell for his companionship throughout

my travels in northern Vietnam in December 1993. Both Doug and

I are greatly indebted to Professor Dr Vo Quy for arranging our visit

to Tu Phuc and Ho Ke Go in the company of three botanists from

Hanoi and Duong Nguyen Thuy from Ha Tinh. Le Van Chiem

(director), Nguyen Duy Khang and other staff at Nam Bai Cat Tien

N. P. greatly facilitated my stay there. I am most grateful to Jonathan

Eames and Craig Robson for their helpful comments on a draft of this

paper and to Tim Inskipp for his advice and assistance with references.

REFERENCES

Collar, N. J., Crosby, M. J. and Stattersfield, A. J. (1994) Birds to

watch 2: the world list of threatened birds. Cambridge, U.K.:

BirdLife International.

Delacour, J. and Jabouille, P. (1931) Les oiseaux de I’Indochine

francaise. Four volumes. Paris: Exposition Coloniale

Internationale.

Eames, J. C. (1994) Little-known Oriental bird: Grey-crowned

Crocias. Bull. Oriental Bird Club 19: 20-23.

Fischer, W. (1974) Vorlaufiger Abschlussbericht liber

Vogelbeobachtungen in Vietnam. Beitr. Vogelk. 20: 249-300.

Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. (1991) A guide to the birds of Nepal.

Second edition. London: Christopher Helm.

King, B. F., Dickinson, E. C. and Woodcock, M. W. (1975) Afield

guide to the birds of South-East Asia. London: Collins.

Morris, G. E. (1995) Mountain Hawk-Eagles Spizaetus nipalensis in

Vietnam. Forktail 10: 184-185.

Ratajszczak, R. (1987) Mammal and bird species seen in the Cue

Phuong N. P., November 1987. Unpublished.

Robson, C. R., Eames, J. C., Wolstencroft, J. A., Nguyen Cu and

Truong Van La (1989) Recent records of birds from Vietnam.

Forktail 5: 71-97.

Robson, C. R., Eames, J. C., Nguyen Cu and Truong Van La

(1993a) Further recent records of birds from Vietnam. Forktail

8: 25-52.

Robson, C. R., Eames, J. C., Nguyen Cu and Truong Van La

(1993b) Birds recorded during the third BirdLife/Forest Birds

Working Group expedition in Vietnam. Forktail 9: 89-1 19.

Stepanyan, L. S. (1987) [First record of Aviceda jerdoni (Blyth ,

1842) (Accipitridae, Aves) in northern Vietnam.] Nauch. Dokl.

Vyssh. Shkoly (Biol. Nauki) 1987(1): 42-45. (In Russian.)

Vo Quy (1983) [A catalogue of the birds of Vietnam]. Pp. 12-43 in

L. N. Medvedev, ed. [Fauna and ecology of the animals of

Vietnam.] Moskva: Nauka. (In Russian.)

J. N. Dymond, Burgadies, South Punds, Levenwick, Shetland, ZE2 9HX, U.K.

10

J. N. DYMOND

Forktail' 13 (1998)

APPENDIX

BIRD SPECIES RECORDED IN VIETNAM IN 1993-1995 BY LOCALITY

Species Localities

Chinese Francolin Francolinus pintadeanus 3

Rufous-throated Partridge Arborophila rufogularis 6

Bar-backed Partridge A. brunneopectus 4

SCAUY-BREASTED PARTRIDGE A. chlorOpUS 9

Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus 3,4,9

Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera 1,3,7

Germain’s Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron germaini 9

Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata 4

Green Peafowl Pavo muticus 9

Greylag Goose Anser anser 5

Eurasian 'Wigeon Anas penelope 4

Common Teal A. crecca 5

Barred Buttonquail Tumix suscitator 3,9

White-browed Piculet Sasia ochracea 4

Grey-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus 3,4, 6, 9

Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus 3,9

W hite-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis 3,9

Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus 3,9

Greater Yellownape P. flavinucha 3,7,9

Laced Woodpecker P. vittatus 9

Red-collared Woodpecker P. rabieri 4

Grey-faced Woodpecker P. canus 6

Common Flameback Dinopium javanense 3,9

Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucid us 3,9

Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus grantia 9

Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis 1,3, 4, 6, 7, 9

Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente 9

Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus 9

Great Barbet Megalaima virens 3

Red-vented Barbet M. lagrandieri 7,8,9

Lineated Barbet M. lineata 9

Green-eared Barbet M. faiostricta 1,3, 4, 9

Golden-throated Barbet M. franklinii 1

Black-browed Barbet M. oorti 6

Moustached Barbet M. incognita 7,8

Blue-eared Barbet M. australis 9

Coppersmith Barbet M. haemacephala 9

Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris 9

Great Hornbill Buceros bicomis 9

Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli 3

Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus 9

Common Hoopoe Upupa epops 3

Orange-breasted Trogon Harpactes oreskios 9

Red-headed Trogon H. erythrocephalus 1,3, 4, 7, 9

Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis 9

Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 9

Blyth’s Kingfisher Alcedo Hercules 4

Common Kingfisher A. atthis 2, 5, 7, 9

Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis 9

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 2, 4, 5, 9

Black-capped Kingfisher H. pileata 5,9

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 2,4

Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyomis athertoni 7,9

Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 9

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater M. leschenaulti 9

Large Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides 9

Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii 8,9

Plaintive Cuckoo C. merulinus 9

Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus 9

Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis 3, 4, 5, 7, 9

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 3,4,9

Lesser Coucal C. bengalensis 1,3,9

Species Localities

Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vemalis 9

Red-breasted Parakeet P. alexandri 4,9

Germain’s Swiftlet Collocalia germani 9

Swiftlet Collocalia sp. 7

Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus 9

Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 9

Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus 4

House Swift A. affinis 7,8

Oriental Bay Owl Phodilus badius 9

Mountain Scops Owl Otus spilocephalus 9

Collared Scops Owl O. bakkamoena 9

Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides 9

Great Eared Nightjar Eurostopodus macrotis 9

Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus 9

Rock Pigeon Columba livia 9

Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9

Red Collared Dove S’, tranquebarica 9

Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica 6,7,9

Pompadour Green Pigeon Treron pompadora 9

Thick-billed Green Pigeon T. curvirostra 9

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon T. sphenura 6

Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea 4,9

Mountain Imperial Pigeon D. badia 4

White-breasted Waterhen Amauromis phoenicurus 2, 4,5, 9

Watercock Gallicrex cinerea 9

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 3,5

Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola 1,3

Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura 4,5,9

Common Snipe G. gallinago 4,5,9

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus 5

Common Redshank T. totanus 5

Common Greenshank T. nebularia 4,5

Green Sandpiper T. ochropus 4,5,9

Wood Sandpiper T. glareola 5,9

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 2,4,5

Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis 2

Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus 9

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius 9

Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 5

Grey-headed Lapwing V. cinereus 5

Red-wattled Lapwing V. indicus

Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2,7,

Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni

Black Baza A. leuphotes 9

Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pemis ptilorhyncus 9

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus 4,6,7

Black Kite Milvus migrans 5

Brahminy Kite Haliastur Indus 9

Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus 9

Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela 1,3, 4,9

Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosas spilonotus 2,5,9

Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus 4,9

ShikraA badius 7,9

Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis 4

Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca 1

Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraeetus kienerii 9

Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis 3,9

Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens 9

Pied Falconet M. melanoleucos 1,4

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 5

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 2,7,9

Darter Anhinga melanogaster v 9

4^ SO SO

Forktail 13 (1998)

Birds in Vietnam in December 1993 and December 1994

11

Species Localities

Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger 9

Little Egret Egretta garzetta 2, 4, 5, 9

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 2, 4, 5, 9

Purple Heron A. purpurea 9

Great Egret Casmerodius albus 2,5,9

Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia 5,9

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 4,9

Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus 2, 5, 7, 8,9

Little Heron Butorides striatus 4

Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus 4,9

Black Bittern D-upetor flavicollis 9

White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis papillosa davisoni 9

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala 9

Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 9

Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 9

Blue-rumped Pitta Pina soror 3,4

Bar-bellied Pitta P. elliotii 3,9

Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos 9

Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus 9

Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus 3

Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae 3,7

Asian Fairy bluebird Irena puella 3,9

Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis 3,4,9

Golden-fronted Leafbird C. aurifrons 9

Orange-bellied Leafbird C. hardwickii 1,3

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus 2, 3, 5, 9

Burmese Shrike L. collurioides 7

Grey-backed Shrike L. tephronotus 2,3

Long-tailed Shrike L. schach 2, 3, 4, 5, 8

White-winged Magpie Urocissa whiteheadi 3,4

Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis 1,3

Indochinese Green Magpie C. hypoleuca 9

Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia 3,4,9

Ratchet-tailed Treepie Temnurus temnurus 1,3,4

Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos 4

Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus 7,9

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis 9

Black-hooded Oriole O. xanthomus 9

Maroon Oriole O. traillii 3, 4, 6, 7

Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei 3,4,7

Indochinese Cuckooshrike C. polioptera 9

Black-winged Cuckooshrike C. melaschistos 3,4,9

Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus Solaris 4,6,7

Long-tailed Minivet P. ethologus 6,7

Scarlet Minivet P. flammeus 3,4

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus 7,9

White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis 3,6,7

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 2,5,9

Ashy Drongo D. leucophaeus 3,4, 6, 7, 9

Crow-billed Drongo D. annectans 3

Bronzed Drongo D. aeneus 4,9

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo D. remifer 7,9

Spangled Drongo D. hottentottus 3,9

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo D. paradiseus 3,4,9

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea 4,9

Asian Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi 9

Common Iora Aegithina tiphia 3,9

Great Iora A. lafresnayei 3,4,9

Large Woodshrike Tephrodomis gularis 3,9

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius 4,5,6

Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus 1,4,8

Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina 1,4,7

Siberian Thrush Z. sibirica 1,6

Scaly Thrush Z. dauma 1

Japanese Thrush Turdus cardis 3,4

Eurasian Blackbird T. merula 3,4

Grey-backed Thrush T. hortulorum 4

Eyebrowed Thrush T. obscurus 6,9

Lesser Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophrys 3,6,7

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica 9

Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki 6

Species Localities

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher E. strophiata 1,6

Red-throated Flycatcher F. parva 1,4, 7, 8, 9

Snowy-browed Flycatcher F. hyperythra 3

Little Pied Flycatcher F. westermanni 6

Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina 6, 7, 8, 9

Large Niltava Niltava grandis 6

Fujian Niltava N. davidi . 1,3

White-tailed Blue Flycatcher Cyomis concretus 3

Hainan Blue Flycatcher C. hainanus 3,9

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher C. tickelliae 9

Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis 3 , 4 , 6 , 7

Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope

Rufous-tailed Robin L. sibilans

Bluethroat L. svecica

Siberian Blue Robin L. cyane 4,

Orange-flanked Bush Robin Tarsiger cyanurus

Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis 2, 3, 4, 5,

White-rumped Shama C. malabaricus 3,4,7,

Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus

White-tailed Robin Myiomela leucura 1,3,

Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus

Spotted Forktail E. maculatus

White-crowned Forktail E. leschenaulti 3,

Purple Cochoa Cochoa purpurea

Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata 2, 3,4, 5, 7,

Grey Bushchat S', ferrea 3,6,7,

White-shouldered Starling Stumus sinensis

Black-collared Starling S. nigricollis 4,7,

Vinous-breasted Starling S. burmannicus

Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus 2,4,

Golden-crested Myna Ampeliceps coronatus 3,

Hill Myna Gracula religiosa 3,

Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis 6,

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch S. frontalis

Yellow-billed Nuthatch S. solangiae

Brown-throated Treecreeper Certhia discolor

Great Tit Parus major

Green-backed Tit P. monticolus 6,7,

Yellow-cheeked Tit P. spilonotus 6,

Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus

Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea 1,

Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus 6,7,

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 2,7,8,

Striated Swallow H. striolata 4,

Wire-tailed Swallow H. smithii

Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps

Blacic-crested Bulbul P. melanicterus 3,6,8,

Red-whiskered Bulbul P. jocosus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

Light-vented Bulbul P. sinensis

Sooty-headed Bulbul P. aurigaster 3, 4, 5, 6,

Stripe-throated Bulbul P. finlaysoni 3,4,

Flavescent Bulbul P. flavescens 6,

Streaic-eared Bulbul P. blanfordi

Puff-throated Bulbul Alophoixus pallidus 1,3,

Ochraceous Bulbul A. ochraceus

Grey-eyed Bulbul Iole propinqua 3,4,

Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala 6,7,

Chestnut Bulbul H. castanonotus

Mountain Bulbul Hypsipetes mcclellandii 1,6,7,

Black Bulbul H. leucocephalus L3,6,

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis

Bright-headed Cisticola C. exilis

Hill Prinia Prinia atrogularis 7,

Rufescent Prinia P. rufescens 1 ,3,4,9

Yellow-bellied Prinia P. flaviventris 2

Plain Prinia P. inomata 1,2, 3, 9

Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus 1,2, 3, 4, 5

Chestnut-flanked White-eye Z. erythropleurus 1

Slaty-bellied Tesia Tesia olivea 1

Grey-bellied Tesia T. cyaniventer 6

Asian Stubtail Urosphena squameiceps 1,3, 4, 7

ooejjiOoooMaiiovo^'O'UOviiti^oei'viei'OQowaiviooui'O^novnoiOLn'O'oeioo'OMjivj.iivjuenOH'Oto^^

12

J. N. DYMOND

Forktail' 1 3 (1998)

Species Localities

Aberrant Bush Warbler Cettia flavolivacea 1,3

Japanese Bush Warbler C. diphone 4

Russet Bush Warbler Bradypterus seebohrni 1

Brown Bush Warbler B. luteoventris 3

Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata 3,9

Rusty-rumped Warbler L. certhiola 3

Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps 9

Oriental Reed Warbler A. orientalis 9

Thick-billed Warbler A. aedon 1,3,9

Mountain Tailorbird Orthotomus cuculatus 6

Common Tailorbird O. sutorius 1,2, 3, 4, 5

Dark-necked Tailorbird O. atrogularis 3,4,9

Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus 2, 3, 4, 5, 9

Radde’s Warbler P. schwarzi 5,9

Ashy-throated Warbler P. maculipennis 6

Pallas’s Leaf Warbler P. proregulus 1

Yellow-browed Warbler P. inomatus 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9

Eastern Crowned Warbler P. coronatus 1,3,4

Two-barred Warbler P. trochiloides plumbeitarsus 9

Pale-legged Leaf Warbler P. tenellipes 9

Blyth’s Leaf Warbler P. reguloides 6,7

White-tailed Leaf Warbler P. davisoni 4,6,7

Sulphur-breasted Warbler P. ricketti 3

Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii 1,3

White-spectacled Warbler S', affinis 6,7

Chestnut-crowned Warbler S. castaniceps 1 ,7

Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris 3,9

Striated Grassbird Megalurus palusiris 4

Masked Laughingthrush Gamilax perspicillatus 4

White-crested Laughingthrush G. leucolophus 3,4,9

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush G. monileger 3,4

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush G. pectoralis 4

Grey Laughingthrush G. maesi 1

Black-hooded Laughingthrush G. milled 7

Black-throated Laughingthrush G. chinensis 1,3,4

White-cheeked Laughingthrush G. vassali 7

Spot-breasted Laughingthrush G. merulinus 7

Hwamei G. canorus 4

Collared Laughingthrush G. yersini 6

Abbott’s Babbler Malacocincla abbotri 9

Buff-breasted Babbler Pellomeum tickelli 3,4,9

Puff-throated Babbler P. ruficeps 3,4,9

Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum 3,4,9

Large Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus hypoleucos 1,4

White-browed Scimitar Babbler P. schisticeps 7,8,9

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler P. ruficollis 1,4

Limestone Wren Babbler Napothera crispifrons 3

Streaked Wren Babbler N. brevicaudata 1,3

Eyebrowed Wren Babbler N. epilepidota 3

Pygmy Wren Babbler Pnoepyga pusilla 6

Species Localities

Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps 6,7

Golden Babbler S', chrysea 1

Grey-throated Babbler S', nigriceps 1,3, 4,7

Spot-necked Babbler S. striolata 1

Striped Tit Babbler Macronous gularis 3,4,9

Grey-faced Tit Babbler M. kelleyi 9

Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia pileata 1,3

Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris 6,7

Cutia Cutia nipalensis 6

White-browed Shrike Babbler Pteruthius flaviscapis 6,7

Chestnut-fronted Shrike Babbler P. aenobarbus 6,7

Blue-winged Minla Minla cyanouroptera 6,7

Rufous-winged Fulvetta Alcippe castaneceps 6

Rufous-throated Fulvetta Alcippe rufogularis 3,4

Mountain Fulvetta A. peracensis 6,7,8

Grey-cheeked Fulvetta A. morrisonia 1

Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis 1

Rufous-backed Sibia Heterophasia annectans 7

Black-headed Sibia H. melanoleuca 6,7

Striated Yuhina Yuhina castaniceps 1

Black-chinned Yuhina Y. nigrimenta 1

White-bellied Yuhina Y. zantholeuca 1,3, 4, 6, 7, 9

Short-tailed Parrotbill Paradoxomis davidianus 1

Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor 3

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker D. ignipectus 1,6

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker D. cruentatum 9

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Anthreptes singalensis

Purple-naped Sunbird Hypogramma hypogrammicum

Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis 3,

Mrs Gould’s Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae 6,7,

Fork-tailed Sunbird A. christinae

Black-throated Sunbird A. saturata 1

Crimson Sunbird A. siparaja 3,9

Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra 9

Streaked Spiderhunter A. magna 1,3, 4, 7

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus 2,5,8

Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus 9

White Wagtail Motacilla alba 2,4,5

Yellow Wagtail M. flava 5,9

Grey Wagtail M. cinerea 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi 4,5

Paddyfield Pipit A. rufulus 4,5,9

Olive-backed Pipit A. hodgsoni 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8

Red-throated Pipit A. cervinus 2,4,5

White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata 3, 4, 7, 9

Scaly-breasted Munia L. punctulata 4,9

Vietnamese Greenfinch Carduelis monguilloti 6,7

Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus 3

Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila 3

Black-faced Bunting E. spodocephala 2,4

Os Os Os 00 c<")

FORKTAIL 13 (1998): 13-16

Observations on the breeding behaviour of

Sula Scrubfowl Megapodius bernsteinii in the

Banggai Islands, Sulawesi, Indonesia

M. INDRAWAN, Y. MASALA and L. PESIK

Field notes relating to Sula Scrubfowl are presented from a survey of the Banggai Islands in 1991. Nesting

behaviour and social organization of this species are described for the first time. The present study underscores

the need to conduct a systematic study of this bird’s ability to tolerate secondary forest habitat.

INTRODUCTION

The Sula Scrubfowl Megapodius bernsteinii Schlegel 1866,

is found only in the Banggai and Sula Island-groups (White

and Bruce 1986), between Sulawesi and the main islands of

Maluku, in eastern Indonesia (Fig. 1). This is the only

species of scrubfowl in the Banggai islands; its congener,

the widely distributed Philippine Scrubfowl Megapodius

cumingii is apparently absent from the island group (White

and Bruce 1986; this study).

The Sula Scrubfowl has been virtually unknown in the

wild and was believed to be vulnerable to extinction, due to

commercial logging of the forest habitat (Collar and Andrew

1988). However, more recent surveys indicated that the

bird is still widespread within its restricted range, although

local declines due to trapping and hunting were apparent

b

t

0 N 60 kms

©

a

o

o

t

O

0

«

<1)

120°E

o

Timpaus Island

Figure 1 . Location of Sula scrubfowl observation site. • denotes where the scrubfowl was found; where it was rare or absent.

14

M. INDRAWAN et al.

Forktail 13 (1998)

(Davidson et al. 1991, Lucking et al. 1 992, Indrawan et al.

1993); and the species has now been categorized as near-

threatened (Collar et al. 1994).

The Sula Scrubfowl is a medium-sized ground-living

megapode with a rufous colour, a slight crest, and red (or

orange-red), disproportionately large legs and feet. The

claws and toes of captive birds were relatively long: Peleng

Island, claw: 1 9.4 mm, toe: 40.5 mm; Labobo Island, claw:

20.8 mm, toe: 37.8 mm; Kongkudang Island, claw: 19.4

mm, toe: 41.1 mm. Wing lengths were 193 mm, 193 mm

and 209 mm (Peleng) and 205 mm (Labobo). The sexes

were indistinguishable in the field (this study).

Here, the authors collate field notes on the biology of this

little-known bird, based on work in the Banggai Islands

(Indrawan et al. 1993). The breeding behaviour of this bird

is given an emphasis as - although interesting - it has never

been documented previously.

METHODS

A broad survey in the Banggai Islands (1°08' to 2°15’S and

1 22"44' to 1 24°08’E) was carried out, including observations

from a blind (hide), from 9 October to 9 December 1991.

The observations from the blind covered a total period of 24

days, between 8 November and 9 December 1991, and

comprised 18 mornings (from ca 05h30, the local sunrise, to

09h30) and 12 afternoons (from 15h00 to 17h30). On 1 1

November 1991 observations were made throughout the day.

The blind was constructed on the ground using Nypa

palm fronds, in a ‘fallow’ area of yam cultivation. The

fallow area was bordered by a small patch of degraded

jungle and was about 1 km from ‘Lalong’ village, Labobo

Island. The blind was built only 2-3 m from an active

mound, which became our focal subject.

The active mound was in the centre of a row of three

mounds arranged in a line (Fig. 2). In the vicinity, a total of

nine birds, including one unpaired bird, were detected as

they frequently vocalized together.

RESULTS

General ecology and behaviour

The species was found in a broad range of habitats, from dry

coastal scrub to intact forests, mostly in the lowlands,

although once recorded at 450 m. Twenty-three nests

(including seven which were active) were found in these

habitats, and on the small Bangkalan Pauno Island, only 20

m from the highest tide line.

Birds were usually seen in pairs, while foraging close (3-

4 m) to each other. On only one occasion, at Bangkalan

Pauno Island, a party of about five birds was seen together,

possibly a feeding group of adults and young birds.

The birds fed on young roots and invertebrates, including

worms. Fresh droppings from a flushed bird also contained

sand grains.

The species was heard calling during the course of this

study, mostly in duets. The sequence usually started with

a long drawn double-note KLEEAA-KLEEOOby one bird,

followed by COOR KOKOKOKOKO, the cooing and

clucking by a nearby bird . The duet appeared to be infectious;

in a hill-valley terrain as many as 1 8 birds were heard to call

in almost perfect sequence at about 02h0Q. The sequence

I I Cultivation 53 Mound ff Man-made path

Figure 2. Sula Scrubfowl mound

of the duet was maybe reversed later during the breeding

season; noted on three occasions in early December 1991

(near the end of our study) . A loud honking WAAH WAAH

cry was emitted when the scrubfowl was exposed to stressful

situations, such as being handled by humans, or hunted by

humans with dogs.

The complete breeding cycle of the bird was unknown,

although the authors procured two eggs in December, and

encountered a Sula Scrubfowl chick, estimated to be less

than two weeks old, in December. It is unknown whether

breeding seasonality varies in different islands.

Description of the nests

The Sula Scrubfowl buries eggs within nest-mounds of sand,

occasionally adding organic matter. Two types of mounds

(after Dekker 1992) were recognized during our survey.

1 true mounds (type A), built in an open spot, with the

main heat coming from sun-heated sands. Mounds like

these were seen in cultivated areas on Labobo Island,

including the focal mound and its two neighbours.

2 burrow-mounds (type C), built against buttresses or

stems of dead (rotting) trees, either standing or fallen.

These are typically found in more wooded areas,

especially on Peleng Island.

Another type of mound, in which mounds were built against

the buttresses or stems of a large living (instead of dead) tree

(type B, Dekker 1992) was not seen during this survey.

The mounds are located on both slopes and flattened

tops, especially in the hilly terrain on Peleng Island. On

sandy beaches, the sands may constitute as much as 90% of

the mound-composition, but inland there is a higher

proportion of clay. The focal mound had'1 75% clay (a

sample was analysed by the Center for Soil and Agroclimate

Research, Bogor) and encompassed two rotting trunks of

about 10-20 cm in diameter.

The mounds have variable shapes, i.e., conical, half-

conical, and at times an elongated, narrow ridge. The focal

Forktail 13 (1998)

Breeding behaviour of Sula Scrubfowl Megapodius bemsteinii

15

mound, a half-cone, was approximately 2 m in diameter

and 0.60 m high. The second mound, 4 m away, was

inactive and had an irregular half-cone shape. The third

mound, 1 -2 m on the other side of the active mound had the

shape of an elongated ridge, and had evidently been worked

only on the last day of our observations.

Activity at the mound

The birds near the focal mound were mostly active in the

morning and to a lesser degree in the afternoon. Prior to

approaching the nest-mound birds called frequently, while

feeding and walking in denser undergrowth.

' Every morning the four pairs and the solitary bird in the

vicinity of the focal mound seemed to call regularly, from

localized directions. There were both duets and apparent

choruses (i.e. pairs responding to each other), with the

single bird joining in only occasionally. The morning chorus

lasted between 13 and 123 minutes (x = 45.6, SD = 29.6;

n = 1 8 days) . Apparently, the birds called less frequently in

the afternoon. The bird near the mound also called

irregularly at other times of day, and at night.

The focal mounds were visited by the scrubfowl as

frequently as 16 out of the 24 days of observations. These

visits were in the morning (12 days), afternoon (7 days)

and, occasionally, both periods (3 days). Seemingly the

birds rested during the hottest part of the day, especially

since the area has scarce, if non-existent, running water.

At least one bird, but more frequently a pair, carries out

actual work at the focal mound (respectively 7 and 12

observations). However, no more than one pair was seen

working together. When a bird worked singly, sometimes

another (Pits mate) was heard calling nearby, though the

latter was rarely seen due to the undergrowth.

The bird started raking at the mound upon arrival.

Occasionally the unsexed bird emitted a soft repeated

whine CU-UH CU-UH CU-UH as it approached and began

to work the mound. Sand was scraped backward as the bird

raked from top to bottom, head first. When raking, the feet

were used alternately, 4-20 strokes each turn, with an

average of 2 (backward) strokes per second. If undisturbed

by other vertebrates, the scrubfowl(s) at the mound were

recorded working continuously for as long as 1 16 minutes

in a single period.

The raking may be combined with feeding and sometimes

walks around the mound, probably to check the

surroundings. The birds also returned to the mound as

early as 1 0 minutes after being flushed by passing humans.

Reaction to disturbances

On four occasions at the focal mound, and twice at a nearby

mound, raids by monitor lizards Varanus were observed. On

at least two occasions, the monitors seemed to have watched

the mound from nearby, rather than raiding the mound on

arrival and did so when the birds had been working extensively

at the mound, usually around mid-morning. On one occasion,

a pair at the mound were able to fly quickly out of range,

before the lizard covered the final 4 m separating them.

The lizard used its front feet to scrape off sand from the

mound. It was noted that a monitor may have to rake 7-8

times to remove the same amount of sand as that removed

by a single stroke of a scrubfowl. The duration of raking was

6 minutes for the monitor compared with 60 minutes for

the scrubfowl. None of the raids observed was successful.

Plate 1. Sula Scrubfowl

The scrubfowl kept a constant watch on its surroundings,

even when working at the mound. They only looked at the

ground infrequently, for instance when catching insects.

The scrubfowl obviously has keen hearing; they stopped

digging and froze at the slightest irregular sound, but then

resumed digging when the source of disturbance had passed.

Birds flushed by humans frequently fly off silently.

Screeching of other birds, e.g. Blue-backed Parrot

Tanygnathus sumatranus and Spangled Drongo Dicmrus

hottentottus in two separate instances, also alerted the

scrubfowl. Suspicion was shown by the adoption of a

sweeping motion, with extended neck and a peering motion,

supplemented with head-bobbing (Y. Masala pers. obs.).

Y. M. spent about five days in a area known to be frequented

by scrubfowl, sitting quietly on the ground, until an

individual bird had become habituated, and fed

intermittently as close to him as 3 m.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

The effect of the blind’s proximity to the focal mound was

unknown, but since the materials used to make the blind

seemed to blend well with the surroundings we did not

anticipate a strong bias. Furthermore, the large number of

scrubfowl observations at the mound, despite the bird’s

sensitivity to disturbance, suggested that this bias is minimal,

or that the birds can habituate to human activity.

The present study found that the Sula Scrubfowl is

primarily a mound nester. The bird shares a number of

traits of breeding behaviour with some other mound¬

building megapodes. For example, the shapes of the mound,

the method and the vigour of working the mound were

similar to those described for other megapode species (e.g.

Frith 1956, Lincoln 1974, Crome and Brown 1979, Coates

1985).

It was not established if more than one pair were using a

mound in turn, as is known in some other scrubfowls (e.g.

Crome and Brown 1979: 1 13). However, a farmer on Peleng

Island (Latewe pers. comm.) reported that as many as 2-5

pairs were seen to work on a relatively large mound (3 m

across, 0.75 m high), on a dead tree stump in a degraded

lowland forest.

The following observations suggested that the birds

might indeed maintain a pair bond. The birds kept to pairs

and called mostly in duets. On one occasion, a pair perched

on thick bushes, after apparently having regrouped by

16

M. INDRAW AN et al.

Forktail 13 (1998)

calling, soon after being flushed by the sudden appearance

of the observer. On two occasions, two birds were seen

together on ‘feeding holes’ near the focal mound, with one

pointing its bill to an invertebrate prey item and allowing

the second bird to pick it up; apparently a food offering.

That pairs constituted the basic unit of social organization

has also been indicated for other scrubfowl species, whether

nesting in mounds (e.g. Coates 1995) or burrows (e.g.

Todd 1983, Coates 1985). Without the benefits of

identification of individual birds, however, the possibility

of extra pair interaction could not be ruled out.

As with some of its congeners, e.g. the Orange-footed

Scrubfowl Ah reinwardt (Holmes 1989, Lincoln 1974), the

Sula Scrubfowl demonstrated a considerable adaptation to

degraded woodland scrub. However, even though the Sula

Scrubfowl and its nest are frequently found in secondary

forests, this does not mean that secondary forests are not

marginal habitats. The microhabitat requirement of this

species, in terms of food and microclimate, needs to be

further investigated.

This study was funded by the book project The ecology of Maluku arid

the Lesser Sunda Islands, part of EMDI (Environmental Management

in Indonesia) project, The Oriental Bird Club and The Zoological

Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations. Endorsement

was given by PHPA (Indonesian Directorate General for Forest

Protection and Nature Conservation), LIPI (Indonesian Institute of

Sciences) and World Pheasant Association International. We are

grateful for assistance by Dr Kathryn Monk, Bapak Romon Palete and

Dr Marty S. Fujita, enabling us to embark to the survey. The

manuscript was improved by comments from Dr Joe Benshemesh, Mr

Derek Holmes, Dr Darryl Jones, Dr Margaret Kinnaird, Dr Kate

Monk, and Mr Suer Suryadi. The figures were drawn by Bung

Hidayat Sunarsyah.

REFERENCES

Coates, B. J. (1985) The birds of Papua New Guinea, including the

Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville , 1. Non Passerines.

Australia: Dove Publications .

Collar, N. J. and Andrew, P. (1988) Birds to watch. The ICBP world

checklist of threatened species. Cambridge, U.K.: International

Council for Bird Preservation (Techn. Publ. 8).

Collar, N. J., Crosby, M. J. and Stattersfield, A. J. (1994) Birds to

watch 2. The world list of threatened birds. Cambridge, U.K.:

BirdLife International (Conservation Series No. 4).

Crome, F. H. J. and Brown, H. E. (1979) Notes on the social

organisation and breeding of the Orange-footed Scrubfowl

Megapodius reinwardt. Emu 79: 111-119.

Davidson, P., Stones, A., Lucking, R., Bean, N., van Balen, B.,

Raharjaningtrah, W. and Banjaransari, H. (1991) University of

East Anglia Expedition to T aliabu. Preliminary report. University

of East Anglia, Norwich. Unpublished.

Dekker, R. W. R. J. (1992) Status and breeding biology of the Nicobar

Megapode Megapodius nicobariensis abbotti on Great Nicobar,

India. Leiden: National Museum of Natural History.

Frith, H. J. (1956) Breeding habits in the family Megapodidae. Ibis

98: 620-640.

Holmes, D. A. (1989) Status report on Indonesian Galliformes.

Kukila 4: 133-144.

Indrawan, M., Fujita, M. S., Masala, Y. and Pesik, L. (1993) Status

and conservation of Sula Scrubfowl {Megapodius bemsteinii

Schlegel 1866) in Banggai Islands, Sulawesi. Tropical Biodiversity

1(2): 1 13-130.

Lincoln, G. A. (1974) Predation of incubator birds Megapodius

freycinet by Komodo dragons Varanus komodoensis.J. Zool. Lond.

174: 419-428.

Lucking, R. S., Davidson, P. J. A. and Stones, A. J. (1992) The status

and ecology of the Sula Scrubfowl Megapodius bemsteinii on

Taliabu, Maluku, Indonesia. Megapode News! 6(2): 15-22.

T odd, D . ( 1 983) Pritchard’s Megapode on Niuafo’u Island, Kingdom

of Tonga. T World Pheasant Assoc. 8: 69-88.

White, C. M. N. and Bruce, M. D. (1986) The birds of Wallacea

(Sulawesi, the Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia) .

London: British Ornithologists’ Union (Checklist No 7).

Mochamad Indrawan, Yabshi- Indonesian Foundation for the Advancement of Biological Sciences, Jalan Nusantara Raya

174, Depok 16421, Indonesia;

Yunus Masala, Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam VI, Sub - B.K.S.D.A Sulawesi Utara, Jalan W. R. Supratman 68

Rike, Manado, Indonesia;

Leffrendy Pesik, Perhimpunan Pencinta Alam Tangkoko, Kotak Pos 14, Bitung 95501, Indonesia.

FORKTAIL 13 (1998): 17-22

An annotated list of the endemic avifauna of the

Nicobar islands

R. SANKARAN

All species and subspecies of birds endemic to the Nicobar Islands (or the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) are

listed, with information on taxonomy, historical status, a summary of sight records based on recent field surveys

by the author, and threat categories (based on new IUCN criteria).

INTRODUCTION

Geographically isolated island groups are of particular

importance in the conservation of avifauna, because the

substantial numbers of endemic species present make a

significant contribution to the nation’s avian diversity. The

Andaman and Nicobar group of islands is no exception.

Of the 142 species that are endemic to the zoogeographic

subregion of the Indian peninsula and its environs (Ali and

Ripley 1983), 17 are endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar

Islands. Thus, while the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

account for only 0.2% of the landmass of South Asia, they

have 12% of the endemic avifauna of the region, thus

making the islands a high priority area in the conservation

of India’s avifauna. This paper lists the endemic avifauna

of the Nicobar Islands (and also includes taxa that are

endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands),

documenting their status and highlighting the specific

threats that are affecting individual species and subspecies.

THE NICOBAR ISLANDS

The Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal are

peaks of a submerged mountain range, arching from

Myanmar to Sumatra, between latitudes 6°45' and 13°41'N

and longitudes 92°12' and 93°57'E. The group comprises

over 560 islands and rocks, with a total coastline of about

1,962 km. The entire island group covers 8,249 km2: the

Andaman group with over 300 islands (21 inhabited)

covering 6,408 km2, and the Nicobar group with 23 islands

(12 inhabited) with an area of 1,841 km2.

The Nicobar group of islands can be divided into three

distinct subgroups (Fig. 1). The southernmost is the Great

Nicobar subgroup consisting of 1 1 islands and islets, four

of which are inhabited. About 58 km north, is the Nancowry

subgroup, which consists of 1 0 islands and islets, of which

one island and two islets are uninhabited. The northernmost

subgroup comprised of Car Nicobar and Batti Malv, is 88

km north of the Nancowry subgroup. Batti Malv is

uninhabited (Fig. 1).

The forest type of the Nicobar Islands can be broadly

classified as tropical evergreen, with inland areas being

either forest or grasslands and a significant proportion of

the coast being mangroves (Balakrishnan 1989). The habitat

characteristics of the islands vary. In the Great Nicobar

subgroup, all islands are densely forested. In the Nancowry

subgroup, the central portion of all islands, excepting

Katchall and Tillanchong, are grasslands? In the Car Nicobar

subgroup, Batti Malv is forested, while most of Car Nicobar

is either coconut plantation or forest, with a small area

under grasslands.

METHODS

Data: The checklist of the avifauna of the Nicobar islands is

based on all confirmed sightings in the field and from a

literature review that incorporated information in Abdulali

(1964, 1965, 1967a, 1967b, 1971, 1976, 1979);Das (1971),

Dasgupta (1976), Ripley (1982), and Ah and Ripley (1983).

18

R. SANKARAN

Forkt’ail 13 (1998)

Taxonomy: The recognition of species or subspecies as

endemic is based mainly on Abdulali (op. cit.), despite the

fact that many of the subspecies are not confirmed or

accepted as valid. Disputes about the taxonomy of the

avifauna in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can be

attributed to the paucity of adequate collections of skins in

museums. Until this is accomplished it is necessary to list

all species/subspecies that have been identified as endemic.

Subspecies, which were not accepted by Ripley (1982), are

noted.

The historical status of each species has been taken from

Hume (1873, 1874), Butler (1899-1900), Richmond

(1903), and Abdulali (1967b, 1979).

Sight records of each species, divided according to island

groups, are based on the number of times a species was

sighted or heard during these surveys. Field data were

collected over 274 days between 1992 and 1995 in three

field surveys (Sankaran 1995a, 1995b, 1995c). A flock was

considered as a single sighting. Details of the sightings on

individual islands are given in Sankaran (1997), which

discusses development of a protected area network.

Status: The new IUCN criteria for assigning threat status,

as outlined in Collar et al. ( 1 994), have been applied to each

species and subspecies endemic to the Nicobar Islands.

ANNOTATED LIST OF THE ENDEMIC

AVIFAUNA OF THE NICOBAR ISLANDS

North Nicobar Scrubfowl Megapodius nicobariensis

nicobariensis Blyth 1846, and South Nicobar Scrubfowl

AL n. abbotri Oberholser 1919

Taxonomy: Ripley (1982) considered these two forms as

subspecies of Megapodius freycinet, but it is now considered

to be an endemic full species. Distribution: M. n.

nicobariensis is endemic to the Nancowry subgroup

(Bompoka, Camorta, Katchall, Nancowry, Teressa,

Tillanchong, and Trinkat) and M. n. abbotri is endemic to

the Great Nicobar subgroup (Great Nicobar, Kondul,

Little Nicobar, Megapod, Menchal, Meroe, Trax, and

Treis). Historical status: Common (Hume 1874,

Richmond (1903). Sight records: AL n. nicobariensis

>150;AL n. abbotri 45-50. Population: M. n. nicobariensis

at 600-2, 1 00 breeding birds and M. n. abbotri 3,400 - 6,000

breeding birds. Threats: AL n. nicobariensis is threatened

by habitat loss, particularly of coastal forests. Both subspecies

are hunted by airguns and snares, but egg collection is

apparently not a problem (Sankaran 1995a, 1995b). Status:

AL. n. nicobariensis Vulnerable/Endangered [B2c, Cl]. AL.

n. abbotri Near-threatened.

Nicobar Blue-breasted Quail Coturnix chinensis

trinkutensis (Richmond 1903)

Distribution: Endemic to the Nancowry and Car Nicobar

subgroups. Historical status: Fairly common on one or

two small grassy plains on Car Nicobar (Butler 1899-

1900). Found on Trinkat by Abdulali (1979), but not on

Camorta or Car Nicobar. Sight records: 12-15. Not

sighted on Teressa and Bompoka, but is said to be present

there. The grassland habitat was not visited on Car Nicobar.

Status: Of less concern.

Nicobar Yellow-legged Buttonquail Tumix tanki

albiventris Hume 1873

Taxonomy: Ripley (1982) treated it as synonymous with

T. t. tanki. Distribution: Endemic to the Nancowry and

Car Nicobar groups. Historical status: Common on

islands with grasslands (Butler 1899-1900). Sight records:

Not specifically identified but quail were flushed several

times. Status: Of less concern.

Nicobar Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithacus niacrocarus

Oberholser 1917

Distribution: Recorded from the Great Nicobar subgroup.

Historical status: Not recorded by Hume (1874) or

Butler (1899-1900). Richmond (1903) recorded it as

common on Great and Little Nicobar. Sight records: 1.

Status: Data deficient.

Nicobar Stork-billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis

intermedia (Hume 1874)

Distribution: Restricted to the Great Nicobar subgroup.

Historical status: Not recorded by Butler (1899-1900)

but Richmond ( 1903) found it to be common on Great and

Little Nicobar. The distribution of this species is curious as

another subspecies is present in the Andaman group. Sight

records: >75 Status: Of less concern.

Nicobar Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

occipitalis Blyth 1 846

Taxonomy: Ripley (1982) called it Halcyon chloris occipitalis.

Distribution: Present on all three subgroups. Historical

status: Hume (1874) found it to be rare, but Butler (1899-

1900) stated that it was ‘Extremely common throughout

the Nicobars’. Richmond (1903) noted it as commonest in

the northern and central groups, less plentiful in Great and

Little Nicobar. Abdulali (1967b) found it to be one of the

commonest birds on Car and Central Nicobars. Sight

records: >100. More common in the Nancowry and Car

Nicobar group than in the Great Nicobar group. Status: Of

less concern. Additional notes: Seen nesting in termite

(ant?) nests on trees.

Andaman Koel Eudynamys scolopacea dolosa Ripley 1946

Distribution: Present on virtually all Nicobar Islands; also

in the Andaman Islands. Historical status: Common

(Butler 1899-1900). Sight records: 300-350. Status: Of

less concern.

Nicobar Parakeet Psittacula caniceps (Blyth 1846)

Distribution: Present on Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar,

Kondul, and Menchal. Historical status: Hume (1874)

‘saw numbers, but mostly only for a moment as they dashed

past through the trees.’ Richmond (1903) noted it as

common on Great and Little Nicobar. Sight records:

150-200. Status: Of less concern. Threats: There are

reports of this species occasionally appearing in the pet bird

trade. I, however, have not come across trapping or trade of

the species in the Nicobar Islands.

Nicobar Long-tailed Parakeet Psittacula longicauda

nicobarica (Gould 1857)

Distribution: Present on virtually all Nicobar Islands.

Historical status: Extremely common (Butler 1899- 1 900) .

Sight records: >500. Status: Of less concern.

Andaman Edible-nest Swiftlet Collocalia fuciphaga

inexpectata Hume 1873

Distribution: Present on all three subgroups and in the

Andaman Islands. Historical status: Hume (1874) did

not find it in the Nicobars. Butler (1899-1900) noted that

‘it also occurs more rarely in the Nicobars’. Richmond

(1903) noted that it was ‘shot at Kamorta, seen occasionally

on the other islands. Sight records: The population is

Forktail 13 (1998)

An annotated list of the endemic avifauna of the Nicobar islands

19

estimated to be between 2,500 - 3,600 breeding pairs

(Sankaran, 1995). Threats: Excessive nest collection.

Status: Endangered [Ale]. Additional notes: This species,

belongs to the ‘white nest swiftlet’ group, whose nests are

made entirely of agglutinated saliva, and are of a very high

commercial value in the international market. At Port Blair

a kg of nests (one kg normally consists of between 70- 125

nests) fetches between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 or more.

Virtually all colonies are exploited, and nests are collected

irrespective of whether there are eggs or chicks in them,

with serious effects on the species. Declines in population

as evidenced from diminishing nest yields can be as high as

80% in the last 10-15 years (Sankaran, 1995c).

Andaman Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta affinis

Beavan 1867

Distribution: Present on all three subgroups and in the

Andaman Islands. Historical status: Far more common

in the Andamans than in the Nicobars (Richmond 1903).

Butler (1899-1900) noted that it was ‘extremely abundant

in both groups’. Sight records: >100. A common species

in most islands-, far more numerous than the Edible-nest

Swiftlet. Status: Of less concern. Sight records: 300-

350. Status: Of less concern.

Nicobar Scops Owl Otus sunia nicobaricus (Hume 1876)

Distribution: Recorded only on Camorta. Historical

status: One specimen was collected by Hume (1876) but

there have been no further records. Status: Data deficient.

?Moluccan Scops Owl Otus magicus subspecies

Abdulali (1967b, 1979) collected two long-winged

specimens of Otus on Great Nicobar which Dr J. Marshall

was ‘sure that it is an undescribed form but cannot decide

of what species’. Abdulali (1979) listed the specimens

under this species.

Hume’s Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata obscura Hume

1873

Distribution: Recorded from the Nancowry and Car

Nicobar subgroups and the Andaman Islands. Historical

status: Davison, in Hume (1874), was sure it was common,

based on calls that he heard. Richmond (1903) referred to

two specimens - one from Car Nicobar, the other from

Katchall. Abdulali (1967b) did not meet with ii in the

Nicobars. Status: Data deficient.

Nicobar Hawk Owl Ninox affinis isolata Baker 1926, and

Great Nicobar Hawk Owl N. a. rexpimenta Abdulali

1979

Taxonomy: Ripley (1982) omitted N. a. rexpimenta.

Distribution: N. affinis is endemic to the Andaman and

Nicobar Islands. N. a. isolata is present in the Nicobar

Islands, excepting Great Nicobar, where N. a. rexpimenta is

present. Historical status: Hume (1874) referred to one

specimen only from the Nicobars. Butler (1899-1900) did

not hear isolata during a short visit to Car Nicobar and

thought that the species was less common than it was in the

Andamans. Status: Data deficient/of less concern.

Additional Notes: This species (?) was frequently sighted

between January and March 1996 at the southern tip of

Great Nicobar. It appears to be very parochial, and a pair

(?) regularly occupied a particular perch at dusk.

Nicobar Wood Pigeon Columba palumboides nicobarica

(Walden 1874)

Taxonomy: Ripley (1982) treated this as a monotypic

species C. palumboides in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,

despite Abdulali’s (1967b) arguments for the resuscitation

of nicobarica. Distribution: Present in all three subgroups.

Historical status: Hume (1874) referred to only one

specimen that was collected. Butler (1899-1903) noted

that it was ‘comparatively scarce’ . Richmond (1903) noted

that no specimens were obtained, ‘but Mr. Kloss had a shot

at one in the Nicobars.’ Abdulali (1967b) noted that it ‘was

found in forest along with Ducula aenea, though much

rarer. Sight records: I found this species almost impossible

to differentiate in the field from the Green Imperial Pigeon.

Threats: Hunting with airguns. Status: Near-threatened.

North Nicobar Cuckoo Dove Macropygia rufipennis

rufipennis Blyth 1 846, and Great Nicobar Cuckoo Dove

M. r. tiwarii Abdulali 1967

Taxonomy: Ripley (1982) treated Macropygia rufipennis as

M. r. rufipennis endemic to the Nicobar islands and M. r.

andamanica as endemic to the Andaman islands.

Distribution: M. r. rufipennis is endemic to the Nancowry

subgroup, and M. r. tiwarii is endemic to Great Nicobar.

Historical status: Common (Butler 1899-1900). ‘Less

abundant than in the Andamans’ (Hume 1874). Sight

records: Great Nicobar group 10-15, Nancowry group

20-25. Mostly seen in pairs and apparently a naturally

scarce species. Status: M. r. rufipennis Vulnerable [B2c].

M. r. tiwarii Of less concern.

Nicobar Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica augusta

Bonaparte 1855

Taxonomy: Abdulali (1979) treated this as a synonym of

C. i. maxima from the Andamans, pointing out that the

revival of this race by Mukherjee andDasgupta (1978) had

ignored variation in the species due to sex and age.

Distribution: Present on all three subgroups. Historical

status: Common (Butler 1899-1900). Sight records: 70-

75. Status: Of less concern/Near-threatened.

Andaman Pompadour Green Pigeon Treron pompadora

chloroptera Blyth 1845

Distribution: Present on all three subgroups and in the

Andaman Islands. Historical status: Abundant (Butler

1899-1900). Sight records: Great Nicobar group 35-40.

Nancowry group 30-35. Car Nicobar 10-12. A common

species on many of the Nicobar Islands. Threats:

Extensively hunted by airguns. Status: Near-threatened.

Nicobar Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea nicobarica

(Pelzeln 1865)

Historical status: Very common. On some islands ‘simply

swarming’ (Butler 1899-1900). Sight records: Great

Nicobar group >250, Nancowry group 150-200. Car

Nicobar 10-15. An exceedingly common pigeon in the

Nicobar islands, with islands like Tillanchong simply

teeming with them. Threats: Extensively hunted with

airguns. On some islands (e.g. Car Nicobar) there has

apparently been a severe decline in numbers due to hunting

pressures. Status: Near-threatened. Additional notes:

The Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor nests in large

numbers on Meroe, T reis and T rax, moving to neighbouring

islands to feed. On islands where it nests, it is hunted in very

large numbers by the Nicobaris who also collect the squabs,

which are raised and eaten at a later date. The Nicobar

Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica nests in very large numbers on

Batti Malv.

Nicobar Slaty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus

nicobarensis (Abdulali 1967)

T axonomy: Ripley (1982) tteated the Andaman and Nicobar

races as Rallus striatus obscurior. Distribution: Endemic to

20

R. SANKARAN

Forktail 13 (1998)

the Nancowry and Car Nicobar subgroups. Historical

status: Common (Butler 1899-1900). Sight records: An

unidentified rail, perhaps this species, was seen once on

Camorta and once on Tillanchong. The marshland habitat

was not surveyed by me. Status: Data deficient.

Car Nicobar White-breasted Waterhen Amauromis

phoenicurus leucocephalus Abdulali 1964, and Great

Nicobar White-breasted Waterhen A. p. midnicobaricus

Abdulali 1979

Taxonomy: Ripley (1982) treated these subspecies as

synonyms of A. p. insularis. However, there is merit in

Abdulali’s segregation of birds from Car Nicobar as A. p.

leucocephalus , as the birds there have the head down to the

nape entirely white, though a few individuals have some

dark blotches on the hind neck. Distribution: A. p.

leucocephalus is endemic to Car Nicobar and A. p.

midnicobaricus is endemic to the Nancowry and Great

Nicobar subgroups. Historical status: Extremely common

(Butler 1899-1900). Sight records: Great Nicobar >50,

Nancowry group 30-35, Car Nicobar 40-50. Status: Of

less concern.

Nicobar Serpent Eagle Spilomis minimus minimus Hume

1873, and Great Nicobar Serpent Eagle 5. m. klossi

Richmond 1903

Taxonomy: S. m. minimus was treated by Ripley (1982) as

a subspecies of Spilomis cheela , while 5. m. klossi was

considered to be a monotypic species, 5. klossi endemic to

Great Nicobar. Distribution: Both are now considered to

be subspecies of the endemic 5. minimus, S. m. minimus

from the Nancowry subgroup (Camorta, Katchall,

Nancowry, Teressa and Trinkat), and 5. m. klossi from the

Great Nicobar subgroup (Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar,

Menchal). There is one record of the Andaman Serpent

Eagle S. elgini from the Nicobars, but this may be a case of

mislabelling (Abdulali 1967b). Historical status: Not

numerous (Butler 1899-1900). Richmond (1903) noted

that klossi was common on Great Nicobar, and that minimus

was common on Katchall. Sight records: S', m. klossi 30-

35 times, S. m. minimus no sightings. Status: S. m. klossi

Near-threatened. S .m. minimus Vulnerable [B2c].

In addition, Abdulali (1979) referred to specimens of

Spilomis from Great Nicobar, Kondul and Menchal, which

were too large for S. minimus but too small and pale for S.

cheela davisoni', in addition, they had finely barred rather

than spotted thigh coverts. Saha and Dasgupta (1980)

described one of the same specimens as S. cheela malayensis

but this is a dark race with spotted thigh coverts. These

birds represent either an undescribed subspecies of S’.

cheela, or possibly an undescribed endemic species.

Car Nicobar SparrowhawkH cczpher butleri butleri (Gurney

1898) and Katchall Sparrowhawk A. b. obsoletus

(Richmond 1903)

Taxonomy: Considered by Ripley (1982) to be subspecies

of Shikra Accipiter badius. Distribution: A. butleri butleri is

endemic to Car Nicobar, and A. b. obsoletus is endemic to

the Nancowry subgroup (Camorta and Katchall) and PGreat

Nicobar. Historical status: Butler found A. b. butleri to be

not ‘uncommon’ on Car Nicobar and Richmond (1903)

noted it as common there. Richmond (1903) also stated

that Abbott obtained one specimen of A. b. obsoletus and

saw five or six others. Abdulali (1967b) collected one on

Camorta but failed to find it on Car Nicobar. Abdulali

(1979) noted that a specimen had been collected on Great

Nicobar by Osmaston and that the subspecies involved

required confirmation. The immature specimen referred to

(in the collection of the Natural History Museum, Tring,

U.K.) is much darker than immature A. b. butleri and may

relate to an undescribed subspecies. Sight records: 20-25

of obsoletus. Not sighted on Car Nicobar. Threats: A. b.

butleri is threatened due to habitat loss on Car Nicobar.

Status:/!, b. butleri Endangered [B2c]. A b. obsoletus Near-

threatened.

Andaman Little Heron Butorides striatus spodiogaster

Sharpe 1894

Distribution: Present on all Nicobar Islands and occurs in

the Andaman Islands. Historical status: Very common

(Hume 1874), and extremely common (Butler 1899-1900).

Sight records: 40-50. Status: Of less concern.

Nicobar Night Heron Gorsachius melanolophus minor

Hachisuka 1926

Taxonomy: The subspecies is separated because of its

smaller size compared with G. m. melanolophus.

Distribution: Present in the Nancowry and Great Nicobar

subgroups. Historical status: Apparently rare (Hume

1874), with only three specimens procured. Not reported

by Butler (1899-1900), Richmond (1903) or Abdulali

(1967b). Sight records: No confirmed sighting, but

possibly seen on Tillanchong. Status: Data deficient.

Nicobar Hooded Pitta Pitta sordida abbotti Richmond

1903

Distribution: Endemic to the Great Nicobar subgroup.

Historical status: Common on Great and Little Nicobar

(Richmond 1903). Sight records: 25-30. Not common,

more often heard than seen. Apparently naturally scarce.

Status: Of less concern.

Nicobar Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis macrourus

Blyth 1 846

Distribution: Present on virtually all Nicobar Islands.

Historical status: Very common (Butler 1899-1900).

Sight records: >125. Common in the Nicobars,

exceedingly so on Car Nicobar. Status: Of less concern.

Nicobar Pied Triller Lalage nigra davisoni Kloss 1926

Taxonomy: Ripley (1 982) called it Coracina nigra davisoni.

Distribution: Endemic to the Nancowry group of islands.

Historical status: Not uncommon (Hume, 1874). Sight

records: <10. Sighted only on Camorta and Katchall. An

uncommon or rare species. Status: Vulnerable [B2c],

Nicobar Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus

paradiseus nicobariensis (Baker 1918)

Distribution: Curiously distributed in the Nicobar group.

Common on Great and Little Nicobar, Megapod, Kondul,

Pilo Milo and Menchal; it is present on Katchall, but on no

other island of the Nancowry group, and on Car Nicobar.

Uncommon in the last two. Historical status: Fairly

common (Butler 1899-1900). Sight records: Great

Nicobar group 125-150. Katchall 4-5. Car Nicobar 1.

Status: Of less concern.

Nicobar Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi

nicobarica Oates 1890

Distribution: Present in the Great Nicobar and Nancowry

subgroups; also in the Andaman Islands. Historical status:

Davison, in Hume (1874), found this species rare in both

the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but Butler (1 899-1 900)

found it to be numerous in the Nicobars. Abdulali did not

Forktail 13 (1998)

An annotated list of the endemic avifauna of the Nicobar islands

21

record it. Sight records: 5. Status: Near-threatened.

Additional notes: A ‘white’ male was incubating on a nest

in Camorta in the first week of March.

Car Nicobar Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea

idiochroa Oberholser 1911, and Nicobar Black-naped

Monarch H. a. nicobarica Bianchi 1907

Taxonomy: Ripley (1982) treated this species in the genus

Monarcha. Distribution: H. a. idiochroa is present on Car

Nicobar and H. a. nicobarica in the Nancowry and Great

Nicobar subgroups. Historical status: Exceedingly

common (Butler 1899-1900). Sight records: 90-100.

Status: Of less concern.

Nicobar Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina

albogularis (Blyth 1847)

Distribution: Has been recorded from Great Nicobar,

Camorta, Nancowry, Trinkat, Katchall, Bompoka and Car

Nicobar. Historical status: Butler (1899-1900) said they

were fairly common throughout the Nicobars, but shy and

difficult to procure. Sight records: one on Katchall and

one on Bompoka. Status: Near-threatened.

Nicobar Brown- chested Jungle FuYCATCUBRRhinomyias

brunneata nicobarica Richmond 1903

Distribution: This subspecies has been recorded nowhere

else except Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar, but it is

thought to be a winter visitor from the north. Historical

status: Abbott and Kloss found it to be common (Richmond

1903). Abdulali (1967b) saw several on Great Nicobar.

Andaman Glossy StarlingH^/cvEs panayensis tytleri (Hume

1873) and Great Nicobar Glossy Starling A. p. albiris

Abdulali 1967

Distribution: A. p. tytleri is present on Car Nicobar and

the Andaman islands andH. p. albiris is present on the Great

Nicobar and Nancowry subgroups. Historical status:

Abundant (Butler 1899-1900). Sight records: >500.

Status: Abundant.

Nicobar White-headed Starling Stumus erythropygius

erythropygius (Blyth 1846) and Katchall White-headed

Starling A. e. katchalensis (Richmond 1903)

Distribution: A. e. erythropygius is endemic to Car Nicobar

and 5. e. katchalensis is endemic to Katchall. Historical

status: The species was considered to be rare by Hume

(1874) on Car Nicobar, but Butler (1899-1900) and

Richmond ( 1903) found it to be common on that island, as

I did. It is less common on Katchall. It was introduced onto

Camorta in the late 1800s (Ripley 1982), but it has

apparently died out now as I did not see any. Sight

records: Katchall 10-12, Car Nicobar 20-25. Common on

Car Nicobar but less so on Katchall. Status: Near-

threatened.

Andaman Hill Myna Gracula religiosa andamanensis Beavan

1867 and Great Nicobar Hill Myna G. r. halibrecta

Oberholser 1926

Taxonomy: Ripley (1982) treated the Andaman and

Nicobar birds as a single race G. r. andamanensis.

Distribution: G. r. andamanensis is present on the

Nancowry group and in the Andaman Islands and G. r.

halibrecta is endemic to the Great Nicobar subgroup.

Historical status: Davison, in Hume (1874) found it to be

‘exceedingly common’. Common on Great and Little

Nicobar (Richmond 1903). Sight records: Great Nicobar

group 250-300, Nancowry group 12-15. Status: Near-

threatened.

Nicobar Bulbul Hypsipetes nicobariensis Moore 1854

Distribution: Endemic to the Nancowry subgroup

(Bompoka, Camorta, Katchall, Nancowry, Teressa,

Tillanchong, and Trinkat). Historical status: Said to be

common in the past (Hume 1874, Richmond 1903, Abdulali

1967b). I believe the sight record from Pilo Milo (Hume

1874) to be erroneous as this species -has never been

recorded from either of the nearby large islands: Great

Nicobar and Little Nicobar. Sight records: Camorta 4-5,

Nancowry 1, Katchall 15-20 (1 flock > 100 birds)

Tillanchong 1, Teressa 15-20. Threats: The introduced

Andaman Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus whistleri,

which is endemic to the Andaman islands, has spread

throughout the Nancowry group; it is very common and has

probably resulted in the rarity of the Nicobar Bulbul

because of competition for the same ecological niche.

Status: Vulnerable [Aid, B2c]. Additional notes: the

British introduced the Andaman Red-whiskered Bulbul to

Camorta in the late 1800s. It is now also present on

Nancowry, Trinkat, Katchall, Teressa and Car Nicobar

where it is common. Its introduction to these islands has

been by the Nicobaris who call it Pencil Alok. In Katchall it

was introduced about 80 years ago.

Nicobar White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus nicobaricus Blyth

1845

Distribution: Present in the Car Nicobar and Nancowry

subgroups and on the Andamans. Historical status:

Common (Hume, 1874). Sight records: >10. Status: Of

less concern.

In addition, Abdulali (1979) collected two specimens of

Zosterops from Great Nicobar which were quite distinct

from Z. p. nicobaricus. However, he was unable to make a

decision as to their subspecific identity, in the absence of

sufficient specimens from the other islands in the Nicobars.

Nicobar Olive-backed Sunbird Nectariniajugularis klossi

(Richmond 1903) and Car Nicobar Olive-backed

Sunbird N. j. proselia (Oberholser 1923)

Distribution: N. j. klossi occurs on virtually all islands of

the Nancowry and Great Nicobar subgroups and N. j.

proselia is restricted to Car Nicobar. Historical status:

Very plentiful (Butler 1899-1900). Sight records: >500.

Status: Of less concern.

Nicobar Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja nicobarica

Hume 1873

Distribution: Endemic to the Great Nicobar subgroup.

Historical status: Hume (1873) found it to be very

numerous on Kondul. Richmond (1903) noted it to be

commonest at Pulo Kunyi and other places on the west

coast of Great Nicobar. Sight records: 70-75. Status: Of

less concern.

Nicobar White-rumped Munla Lonchura striata semistriata

(Hume 1874)

Distribution: Present in the Nancowry subgroup and

on Car Nicobar. Historical status: Common (Butler

1899-1900). Sight records: <10. Status: Of less concern.

The data presented here were collected during two surveys for the

Nicobar Megapode, funded by the Ministry of Environment and

Forests, Government of India, and one survey for the Edible-nest

Swiftlet, funded by TRAFFIC-India/AVWF-India. I wish to thank the

Andaman and Nicobar Forest Department, particularly Mr A. K.

Wahal, Mr R. D’Souza, Mr T. Nautiyal and Mr D. P. Yadav for their

support. I wish to thank Dr L. Vijayan, Dr Ajith Kumar and Dr H. S.

Das for their comments.

R. SANKARAN

Forktail 13 (1998)

22

REFERENCES

Abdulali, H. (1964) Four new races of birds from the Andaman and

Nicobar Islands. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 61: 410-417.

Abdulali, H. (1965) The birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 61: 483-571.

Abdulali, H. (1967a) More new races of birds from the Andaman and

Nicobar Islands. J. Bombay Nat. Hist Soc. 63: 420-422.

Abdulali, H. (1967b) The birds of the Nicobar islands with notes on

some Andaman birds. J. Bombay Nat. Hist Soc. 64: 140-190.

Abdulali, H. (1971) Narcondam island and notes on some birds from

the Andaman islands. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 68: 385-41 1.

Abdulali, H. (1976) The fauna ofNarcondam Island. Part 1 Birds. J.

Bombay Nat. Hist Soc. 71: 496-505.

Abdulali, H. (1979) The birds of Great and Car Nicobar with some

notes on wildlife conservation in the islands. J. Bombay Nat. Hist

Soc. 75: 744-772.

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1983) Handbook of the birds of India and

Pakistan. Compact edition. New Delhi: Oxford Univ. Press.

Balakrishnan, N. P. (1 989) Andaman Islands - vegetation and floristics.

Pp. 55-61 in C. J. Saldanha ed. Andaman, Nicobar and

Lakshadiueep An environmental impact assessment. New Delhi:

Oxford and IBH Publ. Co.

Butler, A. L. (1899-1900) The birds of the Andaman and Nicobar

Islands. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 386-403, 555-571, 684-696;

13: 144-154.

Collar, N. J., Crosby, M. J. and Stattersfield, A. J. (1994) Birds to

watch 2. The world list of threatened birds. Cambridge: BirdLife

International.

Das, P. K. (1971) New records of birds from the Andaman and

Nicobar Islands. J. Bombay Nat. Hist Soc. 68: 459-461.

Dasgupta, J. M. (1976) Records of birds from the Andaman and

Nicobar Islands. J. Bombay Nat. Hist Soc. 73: 222-223.

Hume, A. O. (1873) Novelties. Stray Feathers 1: 404-416.

Hume, A. O. (1874) Contributions to the ornithology of India: the

islands of the Bay of Bengal. Stray Feathers 2: 29-324.

Hume, A. O . ( 1 876) Additional notes on the avi-fauna of the Andaman

Islands. Stray Feathers 4: 279-294.

Mukherjee, A. K. and Dasgupta, J. M. (1978) Taxonomic status of

the Nicobar Emerald Dove, Chalcophaps augusta Bonaparte

1850 (Aves: Columbidae). Proc. Zool. Soc. Calcutta 28: 133-135.

Richmond, C. W. (1903) Birds collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott andMr.

C. B. Kloss in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Proc. U. S. Nat.

Mits. 25: 287-314.

Ripley, S. D. (1982) A synopsis of the birds of India and Pakistan.

Second edition. Bombay: Bombay Natural History Society.

Saha, S. S. and Dasgupta, J. M. (1980) The Malayan Serpent Eagle,

Spilomis cheela malayensis (Swann), in the Great Nicobar Island,

an addition to the Indian avifauna. Rec. Zool. Survey Indiall: 89-

91.

Sankaran, R. (1995a) The Nicobar Megapode and other endemic avifauna

of the Nicobar Islands. Coimbatore: Salim Ali Centre for

Ornithology and Natural History.

Sankaran, R. (1995b) The distribution, status and conservation of the

Nicobar Megapode Megapodius nicobariensis. Biol. Cons. 72:

17-26.

Sankaran, R. (1995c) Impact assessment of nest collection on the Edible-

nest Swiftlet in the Nicobar Islands. SACON Occasional Report 1.

Coimbatore: Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History.

Sankaran, R. (1997) Developing a protected area network in the

Nicobar Islands: the perspective of the endemic avifauna.

Biodiversity and Conservation 6: 797-815.

R. Sankaran, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Kalampalayam P. O., Coimbatore 641 010, India

FORKTAIL 13 (1998): 23-27

Frugivory and seed dispersal by birds in

Hong Kong shrubland

RICHARD T. CORLETT

Faecal samples were collected from birds caught in mist-nets in secondary shrubland during the winter fruiting

peak. Additional records of frugivory came from visual observations of feeding birds. Forty-two shrubland bird

species (22 residents, 20 migrants) ate some fruit and at least 92 fruit taxa were eaten by birds. The most important

seed-dispersal agents were the Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosns, the Light-vented Bulbul P. sinensis and

the Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus. These were the commonest species and were all highly frugivorous

during the winter. All three species are resident but populations of P. sinensis and Z. japonicus may be boosted

by migrant birds in winter. The other major frugivores were resident species of laughingthrush Garrulax and

Leiothrix , and migrant robins ( Luscinia , Tarsiger ) and thrushes Turdus.

INTRODUCTION

Hong Kong (22°17’N 114°09’E) consists of part of

mainland South China and several adjacent islands. The

climate is exceptionally seasonal for the tropics, with cool,

dry winters and hot wet summers (Fig. 1). The mean

annual rainfall is approximately 2,500 mm at the study site

(R. D. Hill pers. comm.). The flora has some subtropical

characteristics but the resident fauna is almost entirely

tropical (Dudgeon and Corlett 1994). Hong Kong’s six

million human population is concentrated on the limited

natural flat land, extended by coastal reclamation. Most

of the rest of the territory consists of steep and rugged hills.

Several millennia of human impact, intensified over the last

few hundred years, has reduced the original forest cover

of Hong Kong to a few, isolated remnants in ravines and

other protected places. The rest of the vegetation is

secondary: mostly grassland and shrubland which, with

Figure 1. Seasonality of mean monthly temperature (dots)

and rainfall (bars) in Hong Kong.

protection from fire, has developed locally into secondary

forest.

The majority of woody plant species in Hong Kong are

dispersed by birds (Corlett 1996). There are approximately

490 species with fleshy fruits in the Hong Kong flora

(which totals about 1,850 angiosperm species), although

most of these are rare and a few species are dispersed by

mammals. The woody component of the shrubland and

secondary forest consists of approximately 200 widespread

species, of which 86% have fleshy fruits and at least 85%

of these are known or inferred to be bird-dispersed. The

fruit preferences of frugivorous birds may therefore have

exerted a strong influence on the species composition of

these communities.

The phenology of fruit production by these plant

communities may also have exerted a strong influence on

the composition of the bird fauna in Hong Kong.

Community patterns of fruiting in secondary shrubland

and woodland are highly seasonal, with a maximum in

December and a minimum in April (Corlett 1993).

Patterns of insect availability have not been studied but

are probably the approximate reverse of fruit availability,

with a winter minimum and an early summer maximum.

Resident fruit-eating birds apparently switch from a

relatively high fruit diet in winter to a relatively high insect

diet in early summer. Migrant insectivore-frugivores are

at peak density between November and March and the

winter fruiting maximum in South China may have been

a major influence on the evolution of migration patterns

in these species.

The principal aim of this study was to identify the bird

species responsible for seed dispersal in Hong Kong

shrublands. This forms part of a long-term study of the

role of seed dispersal in vegetation recovery in the highly

degraded landscape of Hong Kong (Corlett 1995, 1996,

Corlett and Turner 1997).

METHODS

Bird names follow Inskipp ex al. (1996) and plant names

follow Corlett (1993). Evidence for frugivory by shrubland

birds was obtained in two ways. Faecal samples were

collected from birds caught with mist nets at the Kadoorie

Agricultural Research Centre (KARC) in the central New

24

R. CORLETT

Forktail 13 (1998)

Table 1. Frugivorous birds in Hong Kong shrubland.

Territories, on a northwest-facing slope at 220-260 m a.s.l.

The vegetation of the netting site is more or less closed

secondary shrubland, 1-3 m in height, with scattered trees.

The dominant shrubs, in order of abundance, are

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa , Litsea rotundifolia, Eurya chinensis.

Ilex asprella, Melastoma sanguineum and Aporusa dioica. The

commonest trees are: Cratoxylum cochinchinense, Sapium

discolor, Rhus hypoleuca, Schefflera octophylla, Ilex rotunda,

Evodia lepta, and Bridelia tomentosa. The mist netting was

done between late August and May, 1989-1995, by other

people (listed in the Acknowledgements) with the aim of

ringing as many birds of as many species as possible.

Netting* effort, in terms of days and numbers of nets used,

was concentrated in the peak period for migrant birds (late

October to mid December) which overlapped substantially

with the main fruiting period at the site (Corlett 1993).

This sampling pattern is likely to maximize the number of

bird species found eating fruit but it exaggerates the

importance of fruit in their annual diets and the widely

varying sample sizes make comparisons between months

Forktail 13 (1998)

Frugivory and seed dispersal by birds in Hong Kong shrubland

25

difficult. Faecal samples were collected and examined

systematically only for bird species thought likely to

consume fruit. However, many samples from a wide range

of other species were also examined superficially in the field

to check for evidence of frugivory. Several species (all

flycatchers and Cettia warblers) were added to the

systematic list after superficial examination had revealed

frugivory.

Each bird, after removal from the net, was placed in a

separate cloth bag for 15-60 minutes, during which time

most individuals of most species defecated. The birds were

then identified, described, weighed, ringed and released.

Any faeces left in the bag were scraped into separate,

labelled tubes for examination in the laboratory. When I

was not present myself, faecal samples were more likely to

be collected if they were large, which would be expected

to favour evidence of frugivory. However, there was no

evidence of such a bias when these samples were compared

with those I collected myself. Seeds were identified and

counted under a dissecting microscope, with the help of a

large reference collection (deposited in the University of

Hong Kong Herbarium, HKU). An attempt was also made

to identify fruit skins and other remains but this was

possible only in a minority of cases. Finally, a visual

estimate was made of the percentage, by volume, of plant

remains (largely fruit) and animal remains (largely insects)

in the sample. This procedure may underestimate the

importance of animal foods in the diet because soft-bodied

invertebrates and the soft parts of insects may be completely

digested or unrecognisable. These data are only used

qualitatively here.

The number of faecal samples collected for each

frugivorous species is an approximate reflection of the relative

abundance of the species in the total catch. The three

commonest bird species are under-represented, however,

because, on some days when only a single ringer was present,

faecal samples were collected only from the rarer species,

omitting either the white-eye or it and the two common

bulbuls. Species also differed considerably in the proportion

of individuals from which faecal samples were obtained. No

records were kept of this but, of the more abundant species,

the two Leiothrix species were the most reliable producers

of faecal samples and the Grey-backed Thrush the least.

Additional records of frugivory came from direct visual

observations of birds consuming fruit._Most of these were

made during other fieldwork in various parts of Hong

Kong, either by chance, or by watching fruiting plants for

periods of 5-30 minutes. These data are used only

qualitatively here and observations of birds and plant

species which do not occur in shrubland are excluded.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine bird species captured at KARC (12 residents,

17 winter visitors or passage migrants) produced at least

one faecal sample containing intact seeds (Table 1). An

additional 13 species found in shrubland (10 residents, 3

winter visitors) were observed eating fruit at least once.

Sixty fruit taxa (probably representing at least 65 species)

were identified from the 2,088 faecal samples examined

from these birds and an additional 32 shrubland fruit

species were seen to be eaten by shrubland birds.

The most important shrubland frugivores were the

Japanese White-eye and the Light-vented and Red-

Table 2. The number of bird species recorded consuming the

major bird-fruits in the shrubland at KARC, based on faecal

analysis and direct observations.

* exotic

whiskered Bulbuls (Table 1). These were the commonest

birds at KARC and the most frequently observed frugivores

in shrubland elsewhere in Hong Kong (Corlett

unpublished). All three were highly frugivorous over the

period of study (>92% of samples of each species contained

fruit remains and <22% contained insects) and were almost

entirely frugivorous during the November-January fruiting

peak (>97% contained fruit, <10% insects). The diet of

the Japanese White-eye was less diverse than the two bulbul

species, presumably because a number of common fruits

are larger than the maximum gape of these small birds. All

three species are residents but the populations of the

Japanese White-eye and Light-vented Bulbul may be

boosted by migrant birds in winter. A more detailed

comparison of the monthly diets of these three species will

be made in a subsequent paper.

Most of the other important shrubland frugivores belong

to one of two groups of related species, the resident

Garrulax and Leiothrix or the migrant Luscinia, Tarsiger and

Turdus. Among the first group, the commonest species is

the Hwamei, for which most faecal samples contained both

fruit and insects. The limited observations of other

laughingthrush species in Hong Kong suggest that they may

have similar diets. The two Leiothrix species, the Silver¬

eared Mesia and Red-billed Leiothrix, were highly

frugivorous over the study period. The three common

robins: Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope, Rufous-tailed

Robin L. sibilans and Orange-flanked Bush Robin Tarsiger

cyanurus consumed insects more often than fruit during

the study period, but the larger Grey-backed Thrush was

largely frugivorous, as were, probably, the other, less

common thrush species, although the sample sizes were

small. Among the minor species, the most interesting

records of frugivory are those for the Blue-and-white

Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana, Mugimaki Flycatcher

Ficedula mugimaki, and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher F.

zanthopygia. In contrast, superficial examination of many

faecal samples from several species of Phylloscopus warblers

showed no evidence of frugivory, although related species

consume some fruit elsewhere (e.g. Jordano 1987).

Fourteen fruit taxa were consumed by eight or more bird

species (Table 2). The number of bird species recorded as

26

R. CORLETT

Forktail 13 (1998)

consuming a particular fruit species depends not only on

the characteristics of the fruit itself but also on its fruiting

period in relation to bird migration and the fruiting

phenology of other plant species. The plant species

consumed by most bird species included the shrubland

dominants at KARC, Eurya chinensis, Litsea rotundifolia,

Melastoma sanguineum and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa , and the

most common winter-fruiting trees in the vicinity, Bridelia

tomentosa, Evodia lepta, Microcos paniculata, Rhus spp.,

Schefflera octophylla and Sapium discolor. Of the other

common woody species at the site, Cratoxylum is wind-

dispersed while Ilex asprella and Aporusa dioica fruit in

summer, when fewer species of frugivores are present and

no birds were captured. Fruits of both species are

consumed by bulbuls and probably other birds. All but five

of the 60 fruit taxa identified from faecal samples were

consumed by more than one bird species.

Individual faecal samples contained seeds of 1-5 plant

species. The proportion of multispecies samples (as a

percentage of all samples containing more than one seed)

ranged from 20.0% in the largely insectivorous Orange-

flanked Bush Robin to 84.0% in the highly frugivorous Red¬

billed Leiothrix. However, these samples were collected from

bags in which a bird had been held for up to one hour and

some may represent more than one defecation.

The two common bulbuls were observed to sometimes

regurgitate large seeds (larger than 9-10 mm diameter) in

the field. Other bird species may also regurgitate seeds, or

drop them during fruit processing in the beak, but this was

never observed in the field. Regurgitated seeds could not

be distinguished consistently from defecated ones in the

samples collected from the bird bags. Since regurgitated

seeds spend less time inside the bird, the sampling method

may have underestimated the importance of large-seeded

plant species in the diet.

Seed recovered from faecal samples of birds in Table 1 were

almost all undamaged. It was not possible to test the viability

of most seeds because the samples were stored frozen but small

samples of seeds from fresh faecal samples showed no loss of

viability in comparison with seeds extracted directly from

fruits. Faecal samples of most known seed predators (species

of Lonchura, Emberiza, and Streptopelia) , in contrast, never

contained intact seeds. Two samples from the Emerald Dove

Chalcophaps indica, did, however, contain some undamaged

seeds, although this bird usually destroys most seeds in its

muscular gizzard (Lambert 1989).

DISCUSSION

The bird-fruit interactions in Hong Kong shrubland invite

comparison with studies in the Mediterranean shrublands

of southern Spain (Herrera 1984) and the mixed hardwood

forest of northern Florida (Skeate 1987). Although these

sites are at higher latitudes than Hong Kong (38°N and

30°N, respectively), and have different rainfall seasonality,

they both have mild winters, an autumn-winter fruiting

peak and large populations of over-wintering frugivores.

However, at both sites, resident frugivores are relatively

unimportant, in contrast to Hong Kong.

In modem Hong Kong, the rich winter-fruiting shrub

flora and the rich fauna of winter-resident frugivorous birds

are interdependent but there is no evidence for tight co¬

evolution. The common frugivores consume a very wide

range of fruits and the common fmiting plants have a wide

range of potential dispersal agents. The lack of

specialization is not surprising because the present

vegetation is a result of human impact over the last few

centuries and, before then, bird-fruit relationships must

have been very different. The dominant plants of the

shrubland and secondary forest would have been rare or

absent in the primeval forested landscape and the resident

bird fauna must also have been very different. However,

the primeval forest would also have had a winter fruit

maximum, judging by the phenology of the surviving tree

flora, so patterns of winter migration by fruit-eating birds

may have been similar in the past, even if the species

involved may have changed.

The apparent matching of bird and fruit characteristics

in the Hong Kong shrubland community is probably a result

of “selection” by the bird fauna from the regional species

pool, i.e. only species which can be dispersed by the surviving

avifauna (or by wind or, in a few cases, civets) have been

able to participate in secondary succession. This hypothesis

is supported by the presence of a much wider range of fruit

sizes and types in the flora as a whole than in the secondary

shrubland and forest (Corlett unpublished data). Much of

the tree flora may no longer be effectively dispersed.

All the seeds recovered from bird droppings at KARC

came from plant species which are found commonly in

shrubland, although some were trees which are also

important in the later stages of forest succession. All the

plant species recorded are found within 150 m of the

netting site. The presence of intact seeds in faecal samples

is evidence for seed dispersal but the relative effectiveness

of different bird species as dispersal agents will also depend,

in a complex way, on the number of seeds per defecation,

patterns of movement within and between habitats,

preferred defecation positions and other factors. The high

proportion of faecal samples which contain more than one

species of fruit can be interpreted in at least two,

contradictory, ways. It can be seen as evidence of lack of

discrimination between fruit species, with the birds simply

consuming the nearest available fruit after movements

triggered by fear of predators (Howe 1979). Alternatively,

it can be interpreted as evidence that the birds are

attempting to balance their nutrient intake or limit ingestion

of fruit-specific toxins (White and Stiles 1990). In

secondary vegetation, where the composition of the plant

community is itself, to a large extent, a consequence of the

fruit choices of past bird communities, observation alone

cannot hope to distinguish between these two explanations.

Bulbuls of various species are dominant or important

frugivores and seed dispersers of open, secondary

vegetation throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, as well

as much of Africa, and the Middle East, and have been

widely introduced in similar environments outside their

natural range (Lever 1987). Their relatively large maximum

gape widths for their size (12-13 mm in birds 190 mm long

for the Hong Kong species) permit them to consume a wide

range of fruits and the extremely flexible diets of many

species (including nectarivory and flycatching in Hong

Kong) enables them to survive in areas where fruit

abundance varies seasonally.

Species of Zosterops are also important insectivore-

frugivores throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa

and Australasia, and the Japanese White-eye has been

introduced in the Hawaiian islands, where it is now the

most abundant land bird (Lever 1987). Limited maximum

gape-size (c. 8 mm in Japanese White-eye) must reduce

Forktail 13 (1998)

Frugivory and seed dispersal by birds in Flong Kong shrubland

27

their significance as seed dispersal agents, but the small

size of individual defecations may be of benefit to small-

seeded species.

The obvious importance of the three commonest

shrubland bird species does not mean that less common

species are of no significance in seed dispersal. Less

common species may be the major dispersal agents for fruits

too large for the bulbuls and for plants confined to the

shaded understorey, which none of the three most

abundant bird species normally enter. This is difficult to

assess from the results of this study as almost all fruits in

the main study area were within the gape limit of all species

except the Japanese White-eye and there is no well-

developed understorey. Interactions between rare birds and

rare plants may be of crucial importance for conservation

but are inherently difficult to study.

This study would have been impossible without the help of David

Carthy, David Melville, Tony Gallsworthy, and Paul Leader, who

caught all the birds, collected many of the faecal samples, and

provided much information on the natural history of Hong Kong bird

species. Mike Leven made useful comments on the manuscript. I am

grateful to Prof. D. K. O. Chan for permission to use the facilities at

KARC. This study was supported, in part, by a Research Grants

Council (Hong Kong) award, HKU 14/91.

REFERENCES

Corlett, R. T. (1993) Reproductive phenology of Hong Kong shrubland.

J. Trop. Ecol. 9: 501-510.

Corlett, R. T. (1995) Tropical secondary forests. Progr. Phys. Geogr.

19: 159-172.

Corlett, R. T. (1996) Characteristics of vertebrate-dispersed fruits in

Hong Kong. J. Trop. Ecol. 12: 819-833.

Corlett, R. T. and Turner, I. M. (1997) Long-term survival in tropical

forest remnants in Singapore and Hong Kong. In: Tropical forest

remnants: ecology, management and conservation in fragmented

communities (eds. W. F. LauranceandR. O. Bierregaard). Chicago

University Press.

Dudgeon, D. and Corlett, R. T. (1994) Hills and streams: an ecology of

Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Herrera, C. M. (1984) A study of avian frugivores, bird-dispersed

plants and their interactions in Mediterranean scrubland. Ecol.

Monogr. 54: 1-23.

Howe, H. F. (1979) Fear and frugivory. Amer. Natur. 1 14: 925-931.

Inskipp, T., Lindsey. N. and Duckworth, W. (1996) An annotated

checklist of the birds of the Oriental Region. Sandy: Oriental Bird

Club.

Jordano, P. (1987) Notas sobre la dieta no-insectivora de algunos

Muscicapidae. Ardeola 34: 89-98.

Lambert, F. R. (1989) Pigeons as seed predators and dispersers of figs

in a Malaysian lowland forest. Ibis 131: 521-527.

Lever, C. (1987) Naturalized birds of the world. England: Longman.

Skeate, S. T. (1987) Interactions between birds and fruit in a northern

Florida hammock community. Ecology 68: 297-309.

White, D. W. and Stiles, E. W. (1990) Co-occurrence of foods in

stomachs and feces of fruit-eating birds. Condor 92: 291-303.

Richard T. Corlett, Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.

FORKTAIL 13 (1998): 29-32

Birds of Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana, India

R. S. KALSI

Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary (30°24'N 77° 32'E) lies in the northern Shivalik tract, to the west of Yamuna River

(Fig. 1). A birdlist of 1 6 1 species, compiled from records gathered from 1993 to 1993 is presented along with

information on status, season and habitat.

STUDY AREA

Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary is 133 km2 in area and the

terrain varies from plains to hills up to 700 m. There are

narrow valleys locally called ‘khols’ between the hills. These

valleys house seasonal rivulets locally called ‘soats’ which

remain dry for most of the year. The sanctuary has a

number of water bodies, both natural and man-made which

provide wetland habitat.

There is mixed to dry deciduous forest cover with central

tracts of Sal Shorea robusta. Small villages are located along

the south-western edge of the sanctuary. The primary

sources of livelihood of the people in these villages are

animal husbandry and agriculture.

The sanctuary experiences all the four seasons; summer

(April-June), rainfall (July-September), winter (October-

January) and spring (February-March). The temperature

varies from 5°C in winter to 45°C in summer.

METHODS

This bird list spans a period of three years (1993-1995)

during which the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary was visited

regularly and all habitats and all seasons were covered.

Birds seen were identified and recorded along with habitat

type, season and status (resident/migrant, breeding/non¬

breeding, and frequency of occurrence). Birds were

recorded whilst the observer was either walking slowly or

sitting concealed at a vantage point. A species was recorded

as breeding only after observing at least one of the following

signs - nest, eggs or young ones.

Ali and Ripley (1987) and King et al. (1975) were used

to confirm the identification of different species.

RESULTS

A total of 161 species was observed, of which 112 were

resident and 49 were migrant species. Most of the migratory

species were winter migrants and non-breeding except Pied

Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus and Asian Paradise-flycatcher

Terpsiphone paradisi, which are summer migrants, the latter

breeding in the sanctuary. Out of 1 12 resident species, 52

species were proved to breed in the sanctuary, while the

breeding status of 59 species could not be determined.

I am grateful to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Haryana for giving

permission to work in the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary.

REFERENCES

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1987) Handbook of the birds of India and

Pakistan. Compact Edition. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

King, B., Dickinson, E. C. and Woodcock, M. W. (1975) A field guide

to the birds of South-East Asia. London: Collins.

Rajiv S. Kalsi, Department of Zoology, M.L.N. College, Yamuna Nagar 135 001, Haryana, India.

30

R. S. KALSI

Forktail 13 (1998)

APPENDIX

Forktail 13 (1998)

Birds of Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana, India

31

32

R. S. KALSI

Forktail 13 (1998)

FORKTAIL 13 (1998): 33-68

Bird records from Laos, October 1994-August 1995

J. W. DUCKWORTH, R. J. TIZARD, R. J. TIMMINS, R. M. THEWLIS,

W. G. ROBICHAUD and T. D. EVANS

Between October 1994 and June 1995 birds were surveyed at six main areas in Laos, with incidental observations

at many other sites extending until August 1995. Most effort was at four sites between 17°26' N and 18°40' N

(the Nakay Plateau, Phou Khaokhoay National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA), Nam Lading NBCA

and three nearby limestone outcrops), but there was extensive work on the Bolaven Plateau to the south and a

brief visit to Phou Dendin NBCA in the extreme north. The latter is the first bird survey of a site much north of

Vientiane since 1950. Information was collected for 15 Globally Threatened species and 28 Globally Near-

Threatened species ( sensu Collar et al. 1994), nine species At Risk in Laos, seven potentially so and one where

threats in Laos are little known {sensu Thewlis et al. in prep.). A further Globally Near-Threatened species was

recorded provisionally. Records of Grey-sided Thrush Turdus feae and Black-headed Bunting Emberiza

melanocephala were the first for Indochina. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus

poliocephalus, Pallas’s Gull Larus ichthyaetus (from December 1995), Dunlin Calidris alpina , Long-toed Stint C.

subminuta and Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis were new to Laos and Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula

to Cambodia. A total of 12 (plus one provisionally identified), nine and five (plus one provisionally identified)

species were found new for North, Central and South Laos respectively. Most discussion concerns geographical

distribution, but seasonality of occurrence and altitudinal ranges are also covered.

This is the third paper (following Thewlis et al. 1 996, Evans

and Timmins 1 997) documenting recent bird records from

Laos, after an absence of new information between 1950

and 1990.

Fieldwork in 1994-1995 was conducted in conjunction

with the Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed

Management of the Department of Forestry of the Ministry

of Agriculture and Forestry of the Government of Laos.

Several surveys investigated the possible effects of

hydropower projects (planned or under construction) on

wildlife. As in the previous 24 months, the country north

of 18°40' N was underworked compared with the south,

although one site almost at the northern tip of Laos was

visited briefly.

This paper provides baseline status information for all

bird species observed with fuller information for records

of particular interest. All species of elevated global or

regional conservation concern are detailed fully in Thewlis

et al. (in prep.). When birds were unidentified in the field

using standard literature, but later identified by reference

to museum skins, brief details are given concerning how

the identification was clarified. Mammal records from these

surveys are presented in Duckworth (1997) and Evans et

al. (in prep.).

ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS

BM(NH), The Natural History Museum, Tring, U.K.;

NBCA, National Biodiversity Conservation Area; PPA,

Proposed Protected Area.

Taxonomy and nomenclature follow Inskipp et al. (1996).

Other conventions follow Thewlis et al. (1996). Briefly:

- Indochina comprises Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia;

- The divisions of North, Central and South Laos follow

King et al. (1975);

- Habitat classification is based on Round (1988) as

expanded by Thewlis et al. (in prep.);

- Site names follow the Service Geographique d’Etat 1:

100,000 series of maps, except those modified by Thewlis et

al. (in prep.); this source gives co-ordinates and altitudes for

most sites and relates map names to locally used names or

those in past references. Sites not in Thewlis et al. (in prep.)

are presented in a supplementary gazetteer in Appendix 2;

Species of global and national conservation concern

(together referred to as Key Species) are taken from

Thewlis et al. (in prep.) which incorporates the assessments

of Collar et al. (1994);

- Scientific names are given in the text only for species not

in Appendix 1.

STUDY SITES

All sites visited and referred to in the text are portrayed in

Fig. 1.

Main study sites

Nam Kading NBCA (18°1 F-39'N 103°54'-104°34'E) and

surroundings; North Laos with marginal overlap to Central

Laos: 24 December 1994 - 31 January 1995; 18 March -

29 April 1995. Fig. 2. See WCS (1995c, d).

Three main areas of the NBCA, all under 600 m, were

surveyed. Surveys outside NBCA boundaries were to

investigate the effects of two dams on the Nam Kading,

the Theun-Hinboun dam (abutting the upstream end of

the NBCA) and proposed Nam Theun 1 dam (at the

downstream extremity of the NBCA). This resulted in a

complicated recording area (Fig. 2), broken down as

follows (the designation of letters and numbers refers to

Appendix 1).

34

J. W. DUCKWORTH et al.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Ban Phonsavan

Ban

Thathom

Pakxan

Ban

Nakav

oBan Xeno

Muang Phin

MuangTaoy

Salavan

BanThateng

BOLOVEN

PLATEAU

p/ Attapu

100,;E

A 22°N

102:E

''l04E

106°E

CHINA

22°N

MYANMAR

(BURMA) v-'

Ban

Muangyo i

" tt>

o Ban

j Phongsali Laopouchai

i

\ Ban Boun-Tai

VIETNAM

/Ban Namkeung-Kao

l,'\ °Lo-Tiao

\o Ban Houayxai

Chiang Saen *

- 20°N

o Taloun

o Ban Souy

PLAIN !OF JARS

W-

Vangviang

/ Ban

f Muangliap °

- 18°N

KEY

National Biodiversity Conservation Areas

1 . Phou Khaokhoay

2. Nam Kading

3. Khammouan Limestone

4. Nakai-NamTheun

5. Hin Namnu

6. Phou Kang He

7. Xe Bang-Nouan

8. Dong Hua Sao

9. Xe Pian

° Sites with pre- 19 50 records

• Sites with post- 1950 records

A Mountains

Scale: km

— I - 1

100 200

18VN -

BanThangon^

Houay Nhang#

-a.— -Nature Reserve

/ Ban Thadua:/

• ♦ •>'

Vientiane I °Nong Khai

102°E

— 16°N

Ban-Pak-Hinbouii' 3 !

/ Thakhek

SavannakhetR

THAILAND

— 14°N

CAMBODIA

I04°E

= • Q

w

Figure 1. Laos, showing localities mentioned in the text and Provinces

A. The Nam Kading NBCA includes 1,570 km: of

evergreen forest on steep terrain at 160-1,600 m. The

reserve is bisected for 59 km by the Nam Kading (known

as the Nam Theun in its upper reaches), whose altitude

drops from 380 to 160 m. A major tributary, the Nam

Mouan, also crosses the NBCA. Rapids render the Nam

Kading within much of the NBCA non-navigable. People

visit these areas only infrequently, usually for specific

purposes: e.g. to search for ‘mai dam’, an extremely

valuable and easily portable resinous wood product from

Aquilaria sp. A party of over 70 people on 28 January

boated from downstream of the NBCA up to the first

uncrossable rapids, to walk through the forest to Ban

Donme, a former village within the NBCA, and then hunt

for several days. Except around Ban Donme, and at the

upstream and downstream extremities of the NBCA, little

Forktail 13 (1998)

Bird records from Laos, October 1994 - August 1995

35

habitat destruction has occurred and the Nam Kading is

probably the least disturbed large river in Laos. Much of

the area is surrounded by cultivation, but largely natural

habitat links Nam Kading NBCA with Khammouan

Limestone and Nakay-Nam Theun NBCAs.

Sites surveyed within the NBCA and contiguous forests

comprised the Nam Theun 1 dam site, the Ban Donme

area, the Nam An valley, the Houay Basong valley, the Nam

Kading valley, Sayphou Ao, forest north of the Nam

Xouang, forest along the access road to the Theun-

Hinboun dam site, forest north and south of Ban Kengbit

and from there to Keng Maiha. Although a wide altitude

was covered, these areas shared similar vegetation and

terrain. Boat-based survey was minimal.

B. The Nam Ao forest north-east of the NBCA (18°16'-

19'N 104°32'-36'E; 380-420 m) differed in vegetation from

the NBCA, and had flatter terrain. Ban Kengbit lies at its

southern end and it is bounded to the west by the slopes

of the Nam Kading NBCA and to the north by the Nadi

Limestone; to the east it grades into extensive secondary

habitats.

C. Degraded habitat north-east of the Nam Kading

NBCA, including the area around Keng Maiha at 380-420

m. The Nam Theun was ascended to 28 km, and the Nam

Gnouang to 42 km, upstream of Ban Kengbit. Records also

came from scrub along the access road to the Theun-

Hinboun dam site.

D. The Nam Mouan valley and other areas of extensive

non-forest secondary habitats north of the NBCA, at 220-

400 m. This includes the Nam Mouan valley from the

convergence of the Nam Sang and Nam Chouan

downstream to the inflow of the Nam Ngom, the Nam

Ngom valley upstream to Ban Viengthong, and extensive

scrub around Ban Hinngon. Observations were made on

19-24 March and 26 April - 4 May 1995, but totalled only

six person-days.

E. Forest in the Nam Mouan valley at 500-750 m around

the limestone of Pha Khok west of the Nam Mouan and

other karst east of the Nam Mouan and Ban Pakngeun.

Observations were made on 20-21 March 1995.

F. Degraded habitats along the Nam Kading between the

Nam Theun 1 dam site and the Mekong. Observations,

mostly from boats, were made on 28-29 January, 1 and 12

April 1995.

G. Forest at the northern edge of the Nam Hai - Nam

Hinboun plain at 180-300 m (including the base of Phou

Hai) on 14-15 May. These differed in terrain from forest

in the Nam Kading NBCA and were at lower altitude.

36

J. W. DUCKWORTH et al.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Forktail 13 (1998)

Bird records from Laos, October 1994 - August 1995

37

4. Ban Lak (28) at 180-400 m, where the mid-Laos

limestones meet the non-calcareous Nam Kading NBCA.

Sporadic roadside observations during December 1994 -

March 1995 were made along the road, which runs beside

a stream through little degraded forest on steep limestone

slopes. The valley area around the village of Ban Lak (28)

has been degraded.

8. Degraded habitats in the Nam Hai - Nam Hinboun

plain (Central Laos). Observations totalling two person

days, on 10 December 1994 and 13-21 May 1995, came

mainly from the Nam Hai from Ban Namsanam

downstream to the Nam Hinboun and the Nam Hinboun

river from Tam Hinboun downstream to Ban Songhong.

14. Degraded forest around the Nam Theun upstream of

Ban Katok to upstream of Keng Luang, and along the

lowest 2 km of the Nam Ngoy (400-450 m) visited on 12

and 25-26 January 1995. These forests are separated from

those lower down the Nam Theun by extensive scrub. The

surveys were partly from boats. This area is on the border

of North and Central Laos, with most observations coming

from Central Laos.

There was no previous ornithological work in the Nam

Kading area.

Limestone areas of mid-Laos. Fig. 2. See WCS

(1995d).

Two main areas were visited (Fig. 1).

1 . Khammouan Limestone NBCA, Central Laos (17°26'-

18°05'N 104°25'-105°10'E): 13-21 May 1995.

The Khammouan Limestone NBCA covers 1,620 km2,

mostly of sparsely-vegetated karst at 180-850 m, with

pockets of tall forest in depressions in the rock. It is part of

an extensive belt of limestone outcrops stretching from

Central Annam (Vietnam) to north of the Nam Hinboun.

Tall lowland forest in the east-centre of the NBCA is

contiguous with the Nakay Plateau. Parts of the area up to

600 m were visited from three points along its north-west

edge.

This area was visited early this century and the several

important ornithological findings included the discovery

of Sooty Babbler (Baker 1920, 1921, Robinson and Kloss

1931, Williamson 1945).

2. Nadi Limestone, North Laos, and Sayphou Loyang

Limestone, Central Laos: 4-9 May and 12-13 May

respectively.

These two areas, similar in habitat and altitude (mainly above

600 m, exceeding 1,600 m in places and thus rather higher

than the Khammouan Limestone NBCA), are part of over

1,500 km2 of karst and other limestone hills. Dry valleys and

small stream valleys stretch from north-west of the Nam

Mouan to a little east of Ban Lak (20). This limestone area

is separated from the main mass in Central Laos by the Nam

Theun drainage and extensive non-calcareous ridges. The

valleys within it are largely degraded. The karst supports

irregular patches of forest and of natural and human-induced

scrub, with tall forest in depressions. Sayphou Loyang

consists of a long karst outcrop running NW-SE from Ban

Lak (20). This block is separated from other limestone of

similar origin to the north by the Nam Gnouang. The Nadi

outcrop, one of the largest, retains some of the best forest

and is contiguous with the Nam Ao forest.

The Nadi limestone was entered from Ban Nadi and six

days were spent traversing it. Sayphou Loyang was visited

from Ban Phoung (along Route 8) for part of two days.

The Nakay Plateau, Central Laos (17°37'-59'N 104c57'-

105°35'E): 30 January- 17 March 1995. SeeTimmins and

Evans (1996), WCS (1995a).

The 1,250 km2 Nakay Plateau (see figure in Evans and

Timmins 1997) supports a mosaic of pine and broadleaf

evergreen forest at 500-600 m. The area is mainly flat with

hillocks (dominated by broadleaf forest) occurring

particularly in the east. The Nam Theun and its many

tributaries have extensive riverine evergreen forest (e.g.

along the Nam Mon, a tributary of the Nam Xot). Pools

and marshes are numerous only in the central Plateau, most

of which is heavily settled and degraded.

Human pressure is increasing rapidly in intensity and area

of influence, in association with extensive logging

operations. About a third of the Plateau is within the

Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA; much of the remainder was

until recently of equal biological value. The Nam Theun 2

hydropower project is scheduled to inundate much of the

Plateau. To the south, the Plateau drops away sharply to

the heavily settled Ban Gnommalat lowlands; elsewhere it

meets little-degraded hill forest of the NBCA. The 1995

survey investigated the possible impacts of the Nam Theun

2 dam, and most observations were made along rivers by

boat or on foot. Thus, many forest-interior species found

on the Nakay Plateau in 1994 were not observed in 1995.

Parts of the Plateau were surveyed in greater depth in

1994 along with other areas of the Nakay-Nam Theun

NBCA; the Plateau was found to support important wildlife

communities different from the rest of the NBCA

(Timmins and Evans 1996). Previous work was reported

from the region by Delacour (1929a) and Dickinson

(1970a).

Phou Khaokhoay NBCA, North Laos (18°14'-34'N

102°44'-103°29'E): 26 October - 12 November

1994; 30 April - 1 May 1995. Fig. 3. See WCS

(1995e).

Phou Khaokhoay NBCA (Fig. 3) covers 1,390 km2 at 200-

1,700 m (mostly 200-1,000 m). Originally most of the

NBCA supported broad-leaved evergreen forest mixed with

large stands of pine. Many areas of several hundred metres

across, where the underlying rock is covered by only 2.5-5

cm of soil, support vegetation akin to dry dipterocarp forest.

Extensive logging by State Forest Enterprise 3 during the

1980s means that secondary forest and bamboo are

extensive; primary forest survives mostly on steep slopes.

The NBCA is within two hours’ drive of Vientiane; hunting

is heavy and even remote parts show evidence of frequent

incursion.

Two main areas were visited in autumn: the Muang Horn

road around the turn to the Nam Leuk dam and the dam

site itself (where logging had been heavy); and the central

Nam Mang, where habitat was little degraded. Brief

observations in a variety of degraded areas included the

headquarters complex and the lower Nam Mang. All

observations were below 650 m. A brief spring visit was

made to Ban Nakhay, an area at 400-500 m of dry

dipterocarp forest on sandstone adjacent to cultivation with

pools at 200 m.

The survey was a brief reconnaissance with most time

devoted to activities other than bird surveying. The site was

also visited briefly in 1993 (Thewlis et al. 1996) and early

1994 (Evans and Timmins 1997).

38

J. W. DUCKWORTH et al.

Forkt'ail 13 (1998)

Xe Namnoy hydropower scheme, area of effect,

South Laos (14°55'-15°15'N 106°32'-50'E): 25

March - 23 April 1995; 5-12 May 1995. Fig. 4. See

WCS (1995b).

The proposed Xe Namnoy dam, on the south-east of the

Bolaven Plateau, is 4 km upstream of Ban Latsasin at 770

m altitude. A secondary dam across the Xe Pian, diverting

flow to the Xe Namnoy, is likely. Investigations into the

area of this project (Fig. 4) involved:

1. the inundation zones on the Plateau, which are

relatively small;

2. extensive further areas on the Plateau to be affected

by infrastructural development and changed human use

and settlement;

3. the two rivers downstream of the dams, where flow

patterns will change.

The Bolaven Plateau provides submontane and montane

conditions but is surrounded by lowlands. Most of the

Plateau surveyed west of the Xe Namnoy is deforested and

under a mosaic of cultivation, scrub and relict forest patches.

Dry coarse grassland covers much of the south-east of the

Plateau, with forest patches remaining especially in valleys.

Forest in the area is tall and luxuriant and its boundaries do

not always correlate with obvious natural features. This

suggests that the grassland, which resembles David-

Beaulieu’s (1944: 7, 28, 32-33) description of the Tranninh

plateau (North Laos) is of artificial origin (as believed by

David-Beaulieu). It is not a result of defoliation during the

Indochinese wars; Engelbach (1932) referred to the ‘grandes

plaines herbeuses a l’est de Paksong’. The Nam Hiang area

supports a complex of streams and marshes surrounded by

relict forest patches and extensive scrub. Pine forests are best

developed in the study area towards the edge of the

escarpment at 950-1,050 m, and seem not to have been

logged, although this is apparently likely in the future.

The escarpment and the middle reaches, of the Xe

Namnoy support semi-evergreen forest with extensive

mixed deciduous forest. The middle Xe Pian flows through

extensive lowland semi-evergreen forest. The escarpment

forests appear to be nearly contiguous and, although only

2-5 km wide, may be an important wildlife corridor

between the Xe Pian and the upper Xe Kong basins.

A substantial distance down the Xe Pian river and onto

the adjacent Xe Kong were surveyed. This area supports

an exceptional number of large Key Species (Thewlis et

al. 1996). The lower Xe Pian and the Xe Kong are lowland

rivers with sandbanks, flowing across plains of dry

dipterocarp forest (which were little visited) with a riverine

forest association of mixed deciduous forest in some

stretches and semi-evergreen forest in others.

There are some non-flowing wetlands, some permanent,

on the plateau, and a high density around the middle and

lower Xe Pian. Most are heavily used by people and are

therefore, although significant, probably of reduced

importance to birds. The most important concentration is

between the Xe Pian and the Xe Khampho.

The upper and middle Xe Pian lie in the Bolaven

Southwest Proposed Protected Area. The lower Xe Pian

and the adjacent Xe Kong fall inside the Xe Pian NBCA.

The Xe Namnoy catchment and escarpment are not

proposed for national-level protection.

Extensive previous work on the Bolaven Plateau

(Engelbach 1927, 1929, 1932, Delacour 1932, Thewlis et

al. 1996), seems not to have included this area. Other than

Xe Pian NBCA, which was surveyed in 1992-1993

(Thewlis et al. 1996), the lowlands surveyed in 1995 appear

not to have been visited before.

Phou Dendin NBCA, North Laos (21°40'-22°18'N

102°00'-40'E): 23 May - 3 June 1995. See Robichaud and

Boonhom (1995).

This NBCA of 1 ,3 1 0 km2, near the northern tip of Laos,

is mountainous (60% of the area is above 1,000 m and all

exceeds 500 m) and lacks roads or large human settlements.

Small villages are scattered within the NBCA, the

inhabitants of which practice hillside slash-and-burn

cultivation. Large portions of the reserve, particularly along

the Nam Ou above the inflow of the Nam Khang, are

uninhabited and covered in slopes of unbroken evergreen

or semi-evergreen forest.

This reconnaissance survey involved insufficient field

effort to characterize the area’s bird communities, but the

information is of high importance as this is the first recent

survey of an area much north of the Nam Kading.

Significant records were also made adjacent to the NBCA

along the lower Nam Ou and on Phou Fa mountain above

the town of Phongsali.

Birds were collected widely in North Laos including at

Phongsali and an area known as ‘Pou Den Dinh’ in April -

June 1929 (Bangs and Van Tyne 1931). The latter was

described as in Tonkin (Vietnam), ‘close to the border of

Laos ... on the divide between the valley of the Mekong and

the Riviere Noire’. Phou Dendin (which means ‘border area

mountain’; Venevongphet verbally 1995) today refers to the

mountain range fonning the watershed between the Mekong

and Red River catchments; much of the region is thus in

Vietnam, although the NBCA is entirely within Laos. Even

in the 1920s, the area was extensively deforested, and

specimen collection appears to have been mainly in such

habitat. The area may also have been covered, albeit briefly,

by F. R. Wulsin in 1924, although, at least by 1931, his

collection had not been written up (Bangs and Van Tyne

1931). Other important works from this region, although

not dealing with the NBCA, are Robinson and Kloss (1931),

Delacour and Greenway (1940a) and Dickinson (1970a).

Other sites visited

Sites 1, 3, 5 and 7 are degraded areas with no natural

habitat nearby.

1: Vientiane (North), sporadic dates during October 1994

- August 1995. Most observations came from the Mekong,

especially around Don Chuan sandbank, and the residential

part of the town around Wat Nak. Although Vientiane is

the capital of Laos, it seems never to have hosted a resident

ornithologist in the way that some provincial towns did

(Engelbach 1932, David-Beaulieu 1944, 1949-1950). An

important collection by Bangs and Van Tyne (1931)

reported as ‘Vientiane’ came from Ban Thangon, some 20

km to the north. Thus, the discovery in Vientiane in 1992-

1993 of two species new to Laos (Bright-headed Cisticola

and Citrine Wagtail; Thewlis et al. 1996), with a third

(Ruddy Shelduck) reported below, is less surprising than

it at first seems. Robinson and Kloss (1931) reported some

collection from this stretch of river.

2: Vangviang (North), 26 - 27 November 1994. Records

come mainly from agricultural land, scrub and the base of

the limestone cliffs; neither the cliffs nor any forest were

penetrated. Thewlis et al. (1996) gave some records from

Vangviang.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Bird records from Laos, October 1994 - August 1995

39

3: Pakxan wetlands (North), 20 December 1994. Records

come from the surroundings of the old airport, at the fringe

of the Pakxan wetlands, for which some records are given

by Salter (1993).

4: Ban Lak (28): see site account for Nam Kading NBCA

and surroundings.

5: Ban Thadua (North), sporadic dates between October

1994 and August 1995. Birds collected from this stretch

of river (mostly labelled ‘Nong Kai’, which is taken to be

the town of Nong Khai on the south (Thai) bank of the

Mekong) were reported by Robinson and Kloss (1931).

6: Houay Nhang (North), 1-4 February 1995. Thewlis et

al. (1996) described this site and reported on a one-month

bird survey.

7: Thakhek town (Centre), 21 December 1994 and 24

April 1995.

8: Nam Hai - Nam Hinboun plain: see site account for

Nam Kading NBCA and surroundings.

9: about 40 km south of Ban Xeno (Centre), 4 May 1995.

10: Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA (Centre), 16-17 March

1995. All records came from 1,000-1,100 m in evergreen

forest along a the Ban Navang logging road in the Central

Mountains.

1 1 : forest and areas of scrub between the Xe Kong and Xe

Kaman, north-east of the town of Attapu (South), from

Ban Paam (27 km NE of Attapu) to Muang Sansai at 1 1 5-

920 m, and including a stretch of lightly wooded plain

between Ban Paam and Ban Touay (14 1cm NE of Attapu),

5-10 December 1994.

12: Nam Souang Reservoir, 6 April 1995. The reservoir

had very little emergent vegetation or marshy margin.

13: the Mekong at Chiang Saen, Thailand, 11-12

December 1995. Only species on the Lao side of the

international border are listed.

14: degraded forest along the Nam Theun around Keng

Luang and the Nam Ngoy: see site account for Nam

Kading NBCA and surroundings.

15: the Nam Theun and Nam Noy rivers in the Dividing

Hills and Interior Tasaengs of Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA

(see Timmins and Evans 1996), 22 February - 1 March

1995.

METHODS

Most fieldwork was opportunistic to allow as many species

as possible to be found. Observers, often in the field from

dawn until dusk, generally worked singly. Sites

concentrating bird activity, particularly pools and fruiting

trees, were watched for prolonged periods. Birds flying

above the canopy were surveyed from river banks, glades

or clearings. Observation by night was more restricted than

by day; some such work was performed at all main sites

except at Phou Dendin. Unknown calls by day or night

were sometimes tape-recorded for later identification.

Boat-based surveys were undertaken, particularly on the

Nakay Plateau, but also around Nam Kading NBCA, on

the Nam Ou near Phou Dendin NBCA and on the Xe Pian

and Xe Kong. Boats were usually paddled as engine noise

made observation of shy species difficult. On a typical day

10 km of river were explored.

Information concerning certain large and distinctive

quarry species (e.g. pheasants, vultures) was sought during

ad hoc interviews with hunters and other villagers.

The differing balances of techniques and observers (of

varying levels of local experience) between sites makes

comparison of results in terms of effort, particularly with

surveys of previous years, difficult.

An abundance was assigned for each species at each site.

Common species were found daily; Frequent species were

found on more days than not; Occasional species were

found on fewer than half of days, and some were unlikely

to have been regular members of the community. At well-

studied sites Abundant is used to indicate that the species

was particularly common. Many species were known to be

Present but abundance was not assessed, due to a variety

of reasons. Categorization was determined by the number

of records being viewed in the subjective light of the ease

of detection and identification of the bird, and the natural

density range of the species.

RESULTS

In total over 460 species were found (Appendix 1). This

high total reflects both the wide geographical spread of

surveys and the importance of several areas covered. Grey¬

sided Thrush and Black-headed Bunting were new to

Indochina, and Ruddy Shelduck, Dunlin, Long-toed Stint,

Pallas’s Gull, Lesser Cuckoo and Chestnut-vented

Nuthatch were new to Laos. In addition 12 species

previously known from Laos were recorded for the first time

from the North of the country, nine from the Centre, and

five from the South. There were provisional records of one

species new to each of the North and the South. Many Key

Species were found (Appendix 1), including 15 Globally

Threatened, 28 (plus one provisionally identified) Globally

Near-Threatened, nine At Risk in Laos, two potentially so

and one little known in Laos. Records of Key Species are

detailed in Thewlis et al. (in prep.). Among 28 species

recorded for the first time in Laos (including provisional

records) in recent years, eight were from Phou Dendin.

This was to be expected as it is about 380 km further north

than any other recently surveyed site.

Nam Kading NBCA

The Nam Kading NBCA supported a fine complement of

evergreen forest species, reflecting its size and habitat

condition. Some species typical of higher altitudes were

recorded, particularly in the eastern NBCA at 360-800 m

(Maroon Oriole, Orange-bellied Leafbird, White-throated

Fantail, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Small Niltava, Black-

throated Sunbird), probably as a result of the steep terrain

and proximity to the Annamites, which resulted in cold

winter weather for the altitude. The high southern

escarpment, at 900-1,050 m, supported further high-

altitude species: Blue-naped Pitta, Rufous-faced Warbler,

Grey Laughingthrush and Golden Babbler.

Along the access road to the Theun-Hinboun dam, forest

bird communities seemed similar to those in the NBCA,

reflecting the similarities in vegetation, and records from

these areas are presented together in Appendix 1 . Pha Khok

also appeared similar to the NBCA. The Nam Ao forest

supported a different mix of species, being important locally

for Red-collared Woodpecker, Rufous-throated Fulvetta

and Pin-tailed Parrotfmch (all Key Species) and others

typical of lowlands (including Banded Kingfisher, Oriental

Bay Owl, Banded Broadbill, Rufous-tailed Robin, Dark¬

necked Tailorbird and Scaly-crowned Babbler). The lower

40

J. W. DUCKWORTH et al.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Nam An valley (at 250 m) seemed to lack many mid¬

altitude species (e.g. Maroon Oriole) found elsewhere, but

some lowland species (e.g. Scaly-crowned and Puff-

throated Babblers and Ruby-cheeked Sunbird) which were

scarce or absent elsewhere in the NBCA were common

there. Overall altitudinal variation in bird communities was

less than in other recently surveyed areas of Laos.

The edge of the Nam Hai - Nam Hinboun plain supports,

at 180-300 m, the lowest altitude forest surveyed in the

region and was the only place where Siamese Fireback was

confirmed. Upstream and downstream of the NBCA, the

Nam Kading, Nam Theun and major tributaries were heavily

used by people and the adjoining habitat was degraded.

Some species’s abundances (e.g. fulvettas Alcippe and

Fork-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga christinae ; also Tamiops

squirrels) changed sharply between the Nakay-Nam Theun

NBCA and Nam Kading NBCA. The disjunction was not

caused by the river; it formed a north-south front

perpendicular to the river between Ban Kengbit and the

Nam Ngom and was unrelated to obvious changes in

habitat and altitude.

Nam Kading NBCA is important for many Key Species.

The largest numbers of Wreathed Hornbills recently seen

in Laos were in the central part of the NBCA. Rocky

stretches of river supported breeding-season Wire-tailed

Swallow numbers equalled in recent surveys only in the

Xe Kong catchment and Phou Xiang Thong NBCA. The

population of Rufous-throated Fulvettas in the Nam Ao

forest was among the densest recently found in Laos, with

up to 20 groups found per day by each observer. Hundreds

of Pin-tailed Parrotfinches were present in the same area;

large numbers have been found recently at only one other

site (Duckworth 1996). The NBCA provided the first

recent Lao records of Long-billed Plover, Blue-naped Pitta

and Pale-capped Pigeon and the first recent sighting outside

Champasak and Attapu provinces of Darter. The lack of

other large waterbirds in the NBCA, including fish eagles,

may reflect a combination of hunting outside the NBCA

and the fast flowing, rocky nature of the river. The Lesser

Fish Eagles on the Nam Theun well upstream of the

NBCA, around Keng Luang, are best regarded as outliers

of the Nakay Plateau population. Nam Kading NBCA and

surroundings are also nationally important for Blyth’s

Kingfisher, Yellow-vented Green Pigeon, River Lapwing,

Small Pratincole, Fujian Niltava and Grey Laughingthrush.

Of the two hydropower projects proposed for the NBCA,

the Theun-Hinboun project will affect the area mainly

through decreased flow in the Nam Kading through the

NBCA, while the Nam Theun 1 will flood large areas of

the NBCA. Thus, the latter could not proceed without

major detriment to the birdlife of the NBCA, while the

effects of the former could be minimized by ensuring an

adequate flow downstream into the Nam Kading during

the dry season. The joint effects of the two projects, if both

are built as planned, in combination with others proposed

for the catchment, is uncertain.

Limestone areas of mid-Laos

Two bird species in Laos seem restricted to limestone areas:

Sooty Babbler and Limestone Wren Babbler. Dusky Crag

Martin shows a weaker association. The wren babbler was

not found in the limestones of mid-Laos (although it was

found at Vangviang), while Sooty Babbler was found in

Khammouan Limestone NBCA. The martin was found

widely.

The limestones of Khammouan Limestone NBCA and

of Nadi - Sayphou Loyang probably supported different

bird communities, perhaps due to differences in altitude,

and for a few species, their geographical separation. Bird

species richness was higher in the pockets of tall forest in

depressions in the rock, than in open rock or scrub areas.

Several other bird populations of national importance (from

totals of one and four Key Species in the two areas

respectively) were found. Green Cochoa, only otherwise

found commonly in Laos on the Bolaven Plateau, was

locally common. A form of leaf warbler Phylloscopus in the

Nadi limestone has not yet been identified.

The Nakay Plateau

The Nakay Plateau supported a wide range of birds

including many Key Species. There are several reasons for

this: until recently the Plateau supported a diverse mosaic

of structurally well-developed forest which was sparsely

populated by people; it is a flat area intermediate between

lowland and montane habitats; and the riverine habitat is

of lowland character with wide, sluggish rivers flowing

through a sedimentary basin with numerous slow

backwaters. The broad-leaved forests were moderately

species rich and contained a mix of predominantly lowland

species and hill birds, but the area is high enough to be of

only marginal importance for strict lowland birds such as

Red-collared Woodpecker, Banded Kingfisher and Banded

Broadbill. None of the few pine specialists of South-East

Asia was found. There was a rich community of riverine

birds, but other wetlands were heavily used by people and

no scarce waterbirds were seen. Good numbers of common

migrant ducks and waders used the larger complexes,

notably Nong Boua (north-west of Nikhom N3), where a

few hundred each of ducks and waders were observed. The

Plateau seems to have higher numbers of passage raptors

than other sites so far surveyed in Laos.

In total, 26 Key Species are known from the Nakay

Plateau, with provisional records of a further five: five of

these 31 species (Siamese Fireback, Tawny Fish Owl, Black

Kite, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga and Yellow-

vented Warbler were found or suspected to be present in

1994 but were not recorded in 1995, and one, Green

Peafowl, has probably become extinct in the last five years.

The small numbers of White-winged Ducks on the Nakay

Plateau form one of only two populations known in Laos

(Evans et al. 1997). The Nakay Plateau is the only Lao

site with recent records of Wood Snipe, Grey-sided Thrush

and, provisionally, Greater Spotted Eagle. The only other

Yellow-vented and White-bellied Green Pigeons, Pied

Falconets, White-winged Magpies and Fujian Niltavas

found recently in Laos were elsewhere in the Nam Theun

catchment. Plateau populations of Brown Hornbill, Blyth’s

Kingfisher, Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo, River and Grey¬

headed Lapwings are the healthiest known in Laos.

Populations of Green Imperial Pigeon, Lesser Fish Eagle

and Rufous-throated Fulvetta are also of high national

importance. Mountain Hawk Eagle and Grey Treepie, both

common on the Plateau and its surroundings, have not

been found elsewhere in Laos recently in significant

numbers. Black-breasted Thrush has been recorded

recently at only one other site (Dymond in Robson 1996).

The Nam Theun 2 dam proposes to flood a large area of

Plateau forest, particularly riverine habitat. If the project

proceeds, severe detrimental impacts on the birdlife are

unavoidable.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Bird records from Laos, October 1994 - August 1995

41

Phou Khaokhoay NBCA

Phou Khaokhoay NBCA has a high proportion of degraded

forest, is close to Vientiane and supports high levels of

hunting; these factors seem to have impoverished the bird

community. Almost all observation was below 550 m and

the only species seen not typical of lowlands were Striated

Yuhina and Black-throated Sunbird; others doubtless occur.

Secretive yet vocal species (such as Grey Peacock Pheasant,

barbets, cuckoos, nightjars and broadbills) were difficult to

survey because they call much less frequently at the time of

this survey, the early dry season, than in the later in the dry

season when the other areas discussed here were surveyed.

Nine Key Species were found (with provisional records

of a further two). Green Peafowl is exceptionally threatened

in Laos (Evans and Timmins 1996) and its persistence is

surprising considering the absence of other large birds

susceptible to hunting. The two sightings of fish eagles also

seem anomalous; these birds, recorded in November, were

perhaps dispersing individuals. The frequency of sightings

of Malayan Night Heron in the Nam Leuk area (three in

four days) is noteworthy and Phou Khaokhoay NBCA is

one of few sites outside the Xe Kong basin with recent Lao

records. Some birds, which were expected on grounds of

habitat, were recorded infrequently or not at all, including

pheasants, many woodpecker species, Brown, Wreathed

and Great Hornbills, many pigeons, large raptors, large

waterbirds and pittas. Although six species of large raptor

were seen, most were migratory species. Crested Serpent

Eagles are likely to be resident in the area, although they

too have migratory populations.

Xe Namnoy hydropower scheme area of influence

(a) Areas not designated for protection

The surveyed area of the Bolaven Plateau, although largely

degraded, supported isolates of natural forest and some

important birds. It is lower than some surveyed parts of

the nearby Dong Hua Sao NBCA (750-950 m compared

with 1,000-1,200 m) and many montane birds were seen

only sporadically or much less frequently than at Dong Hua

Sao (Grey-chinned Minivet, Green Cochoa, Yellow¬

cheeked Tit, Mountain Bulbul, Chestnut-crowned

Warbler, Golden Babbler, Silver-eared Mesia, White-

browed and Black-eared Shrike Babblers and Blue-winged

Minla; see Thewlis et al. 1996), suggesting that they were

close to their lower altitudinal limit. For some, the lack of

extensive forest may also have been important. Other

montane species common in similar habitat in Dong Hua

Sao NBCA went unrecorded (Stripe-breasted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos atratus, Large Niltava Niltava grandis , Small

Niltava, Flavescent Bulbul Pycnonotus flavescens, White-tailed

Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus davisoni, Red-tailed

Laughingthrush Garrulax milnei , Red-billed Scimitar Babbler

Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps and Rufous-winged Fulvetta

Alcippe castaneceps) . Conversely, some predominantly

lowland species occurred, most notably good populations

of Grey-faced Tit Babbler and the highest recorded

Siamese Firebacks in Laos.

The open grassy areas of the Plateau supported few

species that were mostly common, widespread birds. An

unidentified shrub in heavy fruit during April grew

extensively in and around Nam Hiang and supported many

frugivorous birds, particularly passage flycatchers (Asian

Brown, Mugimaki, Red-throated and Blue-and-white being

the most numerous). The pine forests Were probably the

richest surveyed recently in Laos, with the only records of

Slender-billed Oriole and Chestnut-vented Nuthatch. The

scarp, surveyed in only a few places, supported a mix of

lowland and Plateau birds.

Blue-throated Flycatcher of the race C. r. klossi (known

only from parts of Annam and Laos; Delacour and Jabouille

1940) has been found recently in Laos only on the Bolaven

Plateau and its slopes; one of a migrant race was seen in

Phou Xang He NBCA in 1 993 (Thewlis et al. 1996). Most

or all recent Lao records of Black-browed Barbet, White¬

cheeked Laughingthrush and Spot-throated Babbler come

from the Bolaven. Nepal House Martin has been found

only in two other areas.

Wire-tailed Swallow was found in good numbers on the

Plateau. Black-throated Tit was common, even in the

extensive cultivation and successional habitat around Ban

Nam Tang. It has been found recently at only two sites

away from the Bolaven. Pale-capped Pigeon is known from

only one other site (Nam Kading NBCA). Small but

significant populations of Siamese Fireback and Blyth’s

Kingfisher were confirmed. The Xe Namnoy lowlands held

a moderately important assemblage including Siamese

Fireback, White-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-footed Green

Pigeon, Lesser Fish Eagle, Rufous-winged Buzzard, Wire¬

tailed Swallow and Golden-crested Myna. However, the

area is quite small and its lower reaches are heavily

disturbed. River Lapwing and Small Pratincole were found

on the adjacent stretch of the Xe Kong.

(b) Bolaven Southwest PPA and Xe Pian NBCA

The larger and more varied lowlands of Bolaven Southwest

PPA and Xe Pian NBCA supported more Key Species and

in larger populations than did the Xe Namnoy lowlands.

All those in the lower Xe Namnoy were confirmed with,

in addition, Alexandrine Parakeet, White-rumped Vulture,

Red-headed Vulture and (in 1993, Long-billed Vulture

Gyps indicus ), Malayan Night Heron, Bar-bellied Pitta and

Indochinese Green Magpie, with Pied Kingfisher and River

Tern on the Xe Kong within Xe Pian NBCA. The density

of Green Imperial Pigeons on the lower Xe Pian was the

highest recently found in Laos. Most importantly, further

information was gathered on the richest assemblage of large

waterbirds known in Laos. Masked Finfoot, Grey-headed

Fish Eagle, Black and Giant Ibises, Woolly-necked Stork,

Lesser Adjutant and, in 1 993, Saras Cranes have only been

recorded recently in Laos with certainty from Xe Pian

NBCA, adjacent parts of the same catchment and the Dong

Kanthung PPA; Darter is known from only one site outside

this area. Only one other population of White-winged Duck

is currently known in Laos (on the Nakay Plateau). The

presence of Giant Ibis is particularly notable (Thewlis and

Timmins 1996).

The most important deleterious effect on birds of the Xe

Namnoy hydropower scheme is the flow reduction in the

Xe Pian. This could be countered by a deliberate release

of water from the dam.

Phou Dendin NBCA

A good selection of Key Species was found in the forests

of Phou Dendin NBCA considering the brevity of the visit

(under two weeks, much of which was not spent in the field)

and rainy weather. Populations of Crested Kingfishers and

Lesser Fish Eagles on the Nam Ou and tributaries were

the densest recently found in Laos and Brown Dippers were

also in good numbers. Sandbars and associated birds (e.g.

River Lapwing) were poorly represented.

42

J. W. DUCKWORTH et al.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Lesser Cuckoo was recorded for the first time in Laos

and White Wagtails were found breeding for the first time.

SELECTED SPECIES ACCOUNTS

The status of all species is recorded in Appendix 1 . Details

are given below for species new to Laos or where the 1994-

1995 records represent a range extension (into North,

Central or Southern Laos), a clarification of altitudinal or

seasonal status, or the first record(s) since 1950. All

apparent range extensions when compared with records in

King et al. (1975), Thewlis et al. (1996) and Evans and

Timmins (1997) are discussed, even if earlier records had

been overlooked. Although other bird observations have

been made in Laos during 1992-1995, we have not seen

any published results other than Salter (1993 and

unpublished trip reports referenced therein), Asian

Wetland Bureau mid-winter waterfowl count results and

the two citations above, and the significance of records is

assessed in this light. Details are also presented for some

species which would be predicted from their status in

Thailand (see Boonsong and Round 1991) to be common

and widespread in Laos, but which recent surveys have

revealed are local, scarce, or even unrecorded.

For many species, records from only some of the sites

where it was found are of special interest; thus, the absence

of a site from the species account does not imply that the

species was not recorded there. Species where all records

are discussed are asterisked (*).

*Blue-breasted Quail Cotumix chinensis A female in a

marshy open area at Phou Khaokhoay NBCA on 29

October is the first recent record from Laos, although

unidentified quails were seen at Xe Pian NBCA in 1993

(Thewlis et al. 1996). Historically the species occurred

throughout Laos (Delacour and Jabouille 1940) and was

common in Tranninh and perhaps Savannakhet (David-

Beaulieu 1944, 1949-1950).

* Ruddy Shelduck Tadoma femiginea One in moult on a

Mekong sandbar in Vientiane on 1 1 February and three

on the Mekong opposite Chiang Saen on 11-12 December

1995. Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) traced no records

from Laos and it is rare in Thailand (Boonsong and Round

1991); Delacour (1929b) categorized it as a rare winter

migrant to northern Indochina.

*Barred Buttonquail Tumix suscitator Two singles (and

many buttonquails probably of this species) at Nam Hiang

(Bolaven Plateau) in April. This is the first recent field

observation in Laos (one was seen in a market in 1994;

Evans and Timmins 1997), but unidentified buttonquails

were seen at most sites surveyed recently (Thewlis et al.

1996, Evans and Timmins 1997). The species occurred

throughout Laos (Delacour and Jabouille 1940) and was

common in Tranninh and Savannakhet (David-Beaulieu

1944, 1949-1950). It was recorded from Phongsali (Bangs

and Van Tyne 1931) and Salavan (Delacour and Jabouille

1931). Engelbach (1932) suspected that this species was

common on grassy plains on the Bolaven Plateau, but could

not confirm this.

*Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica Barbets

whose call matched this species in Thailand (P. D. Round

verbally 1995) were heard widely in and around Phou

Dendin NBCA. These are the first recent records from

Laos. Historically, it was recorded from various sites in

North Laos (Oustalet 1899-1903, Delacour and Jabouille

1927, Delacour and Greenway 1940a), where it was

considered to be the commonest barbet by Bangs and Van

Tyne (1931). David-Beaulieu (1944) found that although

it was abundant in Tranninh around 1,100 m, it was never

found in lower areas and was rare in the mountains.

Bi.yth’s Kingfisher Alcedo Hercules A single along a small

forested stream near Ban Nam Tang (Bolaven Plateau) on

20 April and two unconfirmed sightings elsewhere on the

Plateau. Historically the species was only recorded in Laos

from the North (King et al. 1975), but in 1994 the species

was found in Central Laos (Evans and Timmins 1997),

as it was in 1995. The known distribution in Vietnam has

also been greatly extended (Robson et al. 1993b).

Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo rneninting One on several

days on the Nam La (Phou Dendin NBCA) at 630 m. The

species was recorded historically in Laos only from the

north-west (King et al. 1975), but Thewlis et al. (1996)

found the bird commonly in South and Central Laos. It

also appears to be commoner in Vietnam than would be

expected from historical records (Robson et al. 1989).

*Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithacus Singles in

the Nam Ao forest (Nam Kading NBCA) on 28 April, in

the Nadi Limestone on 5 May and near Ban Nongset

(Bolaven Southwest PPA) on 17 April. Other recent

records are of singles at Houay Nhang on 12 November

1992 and in Xe Pian NBCA on 9 December 1992 and on

8 May 1993, while birds were locally common in Phou

Xang He NBCA in April 1 993 and Dong Hua Sao NBCA

in May-July 1993 (Thewlis et al. 1996). Historical Lao

records all came from north-east Laos. David-Beaulieu

(1944) recorded a single in April, a pair in May and three

undated singles in Tranninh; he categorized it as resident

in the province. Elsewhere, singles were recorded at Ban

Muangyo in May and near Ban Boun-Tai in June (Bangs

and Van Tyne 1931).

Considering all past and present records, birds are clearly

scarce in winter (November - March), with a marked

increase in records in April. The species’s status during

the rains (June - October) is as yet unclear. In Thailand it

is a resident and winter visitor (Boonsong and Round

1991).

*Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx fugax A single

adult H. f. nisicolor in evergreen forest near Keng Maiha

in early January and an immature in the Nam Ao forest

(both Nam Kading NBCA) on 28 April. The only previous

record for Laos is from the Xe Pian NBCA (South Laos)

in March 1993 (Thewlis et al. 1996).

Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus Calls were heard on

21 April at Nam Kading NBCA and, provisionally, on 8

May at the Nadi Limestone (both about 800 m). King et

al. (1975) were unsure of the species’s status in Indochina

and the only previous records from Laos are from the

Central region in 1994 (Evans and Timmins 1997).

*Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus One was tape-

recorded on 3 June in secondary forest at 1,635 m on Phou

Fa mountain (Phou Dendin NBCA). Mlikovsky and

Inskipp (in prep.) traced no previous records from Laos.

Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo Carpococcyx renauldi

Heard along the Nam Mang on 7 November (Phou

Khaokhoay NBCA) and 1-3 recorded (mostly heard) in

scattered localities throughout Nam Kading NBCA,

Forktail 13 (1998)

Bird records from Laos, October 1994 - August 1995

43

including the Nam Ao forest. These are not the first records

from North Laos, as, although King etal. (1975) excluded

this area from the species’s range, it was found in Tranninh

by Delacour and Jabouille (1927).

Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus Common in the

surveyed parts of North and Central Laos between

February and May, but birds were not seen along the Nam

Kading in December and the irregular records in January

involved only small numbers. Flowever, at Ban Kengbit

(Nam Kading NBCA) in March and April these swifts were

common and many pairs were chasing and displaying.

Small groups circled and visited ledges in the ceiling of a

cave in Khammouan Limestone NBCA and beneath a large

limestone overhang along the Nam Hinboun in April -

May. Movements of many hundred birds on the Nalcay

Plateau in late February and early March were not in a

consistent direction. In the South, parties of five and 30

respectively were observed on 13 April and 10 May along

the Xe Pian; none was recorded in this region during

November 1992 to March 1993 (Thewlis et al. 1996).

In North Laos A. p. cooki is resident, although subject to

irregular movements (David-Beaulieu 1944). Its white

rump patch is strongly streaked black (Robinson and Kloss

1931) and narrower than on other races (Boonsong and

Round 1991); it can be surprisingly inconspicuous in the

field. Care is needed when searching for Dark-rumped

Swift A. acuticauda, a possible vagrant to Laos. David-

Beaulieu (1949-1950) did not determine the subspecies of

birds from Central Laos. Delacour (1929b) considered that

all the swifts made erratic movements rather than being

true migrants.

■^Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea Two together in

evergreen forest in eastern Nam Kading NBCA on 7

January and a group of 4-5 at Nam Hiang (Bolaven

Plateau) on 13-17 April are the first recent Lao records.

Those in Nam Kading NBCA are the first from the North;

previous records came only from the South (see Thewlis

et al. in prep.).

Yellow- vented Green Pigeon Treron seimundi Seven in

a fruiting fig near Keng Maiha on 28 December. One shot

on 4 January at a fruiting tree 3 km south of Ban Kengbit

(Nam Kading NBCA). These are the first records from

North Laos. The only previous Lao records are also from

the Nam Theun catchment in 1994 (Evans and Timmins

1997) and 1995.

*Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon Treron sphenura Two at

the Ban Navang logging road (Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA)

on 17 March. There appear to be only two historical

records from Laos: a male on the Bolaven (Engelbach

1932) and at Taloun (North Laos) where the species was

considered frequent (Delacour and Greenway 1940a). The

1995 record is thus the first for Central Laos. Although

Delacour and Jabouille (1931) predicted that the species

would be found to occur widely in Laos, there is as yet no

evidence for this.

*Tawny Fish Owl Ketupa flavipes Feathers found at Keng

Luang (upstream of Nam Kading NBCA) in January were

compared with specimens at BM(NH). This site is on the

border of Central and North Laos; previous confirmed Lao

records come only from the North, with provisional records

from the South (Appendix 1; see Thewlis et al. in prep.)

and Centre (Evans and Timmins 1997). This is the only

confirmed recent record of the species from Laos; field

sightings have not been identified to species.

[*Spot-bellied Eagle Owl Bubo nipalensis Calls heard

beside the Nam Mang (Phou Khaokhoay NBCA) in early

November and at Ban Nam Tang (Bolaven Plateau) on 9

April fitted this species’s call in Boonsong and Round

(1991), but neither observer had heard the species

previously. The only confirmed records in Laos come from

the North (see Thewlis et al. in prep.).]

*Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola Singles beside main

rivers of the Nakay Plateau on 8 (three) and 23 February

are the only recent records from Laos and the first from

Central Laos. Previous Lao records come only from the

North: in Tranninh it was a scarce migrant between

October and April (David-Beaulieu 1944).

♦Common Redshank Tringa totanus Two in a flock of 450

waders near Ban Don (Nakay Plateau) on 26 February were

the first recorded from Central Laos. King et al. (1975)

recorded this species in Laos from the North and South,

but we have traced a historical reference only for the South,

with no further details (Delacour and Jabouille 1940); the

records in Perennou and Mundkur (1991) do, however,

come from around Vientiane. The species is much scarcer

in South and Central Laos than are Spotted Redshank,

Common Greenshank and Wood, Green and Common

Sandpipers (see Thewlis et al. 1996, Evans and Timmins

1997); Delacour (1929b) also considered it to be much

rarer than these species in Indochina.

Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus At least five on

30 April - 1 May at Ban Nakhay (Phou Khaokhoay NBCA)

are the first published details from North Laos, the species

being known previously from the South and Centre (King

et al. 1975, Thewlis et al. 1996), although some or all

records of the species in Perennou and Mundkur (1991,

1992) and Perennou et al. (1990) come from the North.

*Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta One on a Mekong

sandbank opposite ChiangSaen on 1 1-12 December 1995.

Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) traced no previous records

from Laos.

*Dunlin Calidris alpina One on a Mekong sandbank

opposite Chiang Saen on 1 1-12 December 1995. Mlikovsky

and Inskipp (in prep.) traced no previous records from Laos.

*Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus Two birds on

25 December - 3 January on a large island of coarse sand

and gravel 2.5 km downstream of Ban Kengbit are the first

recently recorded in Laos; past records are discussed in

Thewlis et al. (in prep.).

^Oriental Pratincole Gl areola maldivarum One on a rock

in the middle Xe Namnoy on 12 April is the first record

from the South and only the second recent record for Laos.

Previous records came from the North: three were seen 5

km north of Houay Nhang on 13 April 1993 (Thewlis et

al. 1996) and it was common on passage through Tranninh

(especially the Plain of Jars and Ban Lat-sen in April and

May, the flocks (of up to 40) staying for a day or two

(David-Beaulieu 1944).

The lack of records from Laos compared with Thailand,

where the bird is very common in open country between

February and October almost throughout (Boonsong and

Round 1991) surely reflects a real difference in status.

Oriental Pratincole seems to be a migrant to or through

Laos, although it was considered resident, at least in the

North, by King et al. (1975). Delacour (1929b) was unsure

of the seasonal movements, but thought that it was

probably a summer breeding visitor to Indochina.

44

J. W. DUCKWORTH et al.

Forktail 13 (1998)

*Pallas’s Gull Larus ichthyaetus An immature at Chiang

Saen, Thailand on 11-12 December 1994 flew regularly

over to the Lao side of the Mekong on both dates.

Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) traced only one previous

record from Indochina (Vietnam; Eames 1997) and it is a

very rare visitor to Thailand (Boonsong and Round 1991).

Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes On the Nakay Plateau

sightings were much more frequent in March (one or more

small flocks daily) than in early February (a single in eight

days). The seasonality of this species in Laos is not clear

(it is complex in Thailand; Boonsong and Round 1991),

but this rise in numbers probably indicates a spring passage.

Delacour (1951) recorded two races for Indochina, A. 1.

leuphotes, which breeds in the north, and A. 1. syama, which

is a winter visitor by implication to the entire area (although

Laos is not specifically listed). The March peak presumably

involved the latter and migration was directly observed

nearby in the previous year: on 15 April 1994, a flock of

40 flew north over the Ban Navang logging road (Nakay-

Nam Theun NBCA, 1,000 m; TDE own obs.).

Birds probably breed in Laos: on 7 March one of a flock

of six over the Nakay Plateau engaged in a ‘switchback’

display similar to that of Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

(see Cramp and Simmons 1979). In June - July, birds were

common in the lowlands of Dong Hua Sao NBCA in 1993

and Xe Bang-Nouan NBCA in 1994 respectively (Thewlis

et al. 1996, Evans and Timmins 1997) and are presumably

resident. A. 1. syama may thus live in South and Central

Laos as well as the North. The species occurred throughput

the year in Tranninh (David-Beaulieu 1 944), but other past

observers in Laos did not comment on seasonality.

Stepanjan (1990) observed a food-carrying, and thus

presumably nesting, pair in southern Central Annam in

April - May 1986; he collected a female in reproductive

condition in the same area in January 1984 after observing

two birds that appeared to be paired. Stepanjan (1990) also

considered that some former Indochinese records (in

Robinson and Kloss 1919 and Bangs and Van Tyne 1931)

in March - April were referable to breeding birds on the

grounds of date alone, but our observations indicate that

passage occurs in these months, and several flocks believed

to be migrants were noted in Tonkin in April 1 988 (Robson

etal. 1989).

*Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus One flew

south-east over Nam Mang (Phou Khaokhoay NBCA) on

1 1 November at lOhOO. The only previous Lao record is

from the South (Thewlis et al. 1996). The bird in 1994

had a strikingly pale underside including its head and neck.

Birds are usually depicted with dark in this region

(including in Boonsong and Round 1991), but skins at

BM(NH) include many from Asia with uniformly pale

underparts including only sparse, small, pale fulvous

streaks.

*Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus A second-winter male near

Ban Bo-Tai (Nakay Plateau) on 1 1 February, with several

Eurasian Marsh Harriers, is the first record from Central

Laos. The only previous Lao records are from the North:

one at Lat Houang, Tranninh, in December 1937 (David-

Beaulieu 1944) and a male at Pakxan wetlands on 23

February 1989 (Salter 1993).

*Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis Singles near

Ban Kengbit (Nam Kading NBCA, 1 January), Nong

Paapak (2 km east of Ban Khonken, Nakay Plateau, 10

and 28 February), by the Xe Kong (Xe Pian NBCA, 6

May) and along Route 13 south of Xeno (4 May) are the

first recent field observations in Laos and include the first

from the South and the first confirmed from the Centre.

Previous records came only from the North (singles at

Xiangquang in April and September 1941; David-Beaulieu

1 944) and perhaps the Centre (one in Ban Lak (20) market;

Evans and Timmins 1997). The recent records suggest

that, as believed by David-Beaulieu (1944), the species has

been overlooked because of identification difficulties.

[*Euraslan Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Singles near Ban

Kengbit (Nam Kading NBCA) on 30 December and beside

the Nam Xot 1 km downstream of Ban Namxot (Nakay

Plateau) on 2 and 4 February are the first recent Lao

records, albeit provisionally identified. Historical records

came from scattered localities throughout the country in

winter (Delacour and Jabouille 1927, Delacour and

Greenway 1940a, David-Beaulieu 1944, 1949-1950). The

lack of other recent records is surprising, although many

accipiters have remained unidentified at most sites]

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus A female on limestone

cliffs at Vangviang on 27 November called repeatedly and

flew with winnowing wings. A calling male was seen in

similar habitat 4 km downstream on 26 November. These

observations raise the possibility that the species breeds at

Vangviang since, in Europe, such behaviour occurs mainly

on the breeding territory and in the breeding season (Village

1990). Late in the year, resident raptors in Laos display

frequently, e.g. accipiters were in aerial display at

Vangviang (26 November), Phou Khaokhoay NBCA (11

November) and Nam Kading NBCA (26 December).

Common Kestrel was believed by King et al. (1975) to be

a migrant to South-East Asia. It is a migrant to Thailand

(Boonsong and Round 1991) and historical sources

(summarized in Thewlis et al. 1996) never documented

breeding in Laos; however, Delacour and Jabouille (1931)

categorized F. t. saturatus (which they recorded from

Xiangquang) as a resident moving to lower altitudes in

winter.

Oriental Hobby Falco sevems One on 9 February over

the Nam Xot (Nakay Plateau) is the first from Central

Laos; other records, all of occasional small numbers, come

from Tranninh (David-Beaulieu 1944), Xe Pian NBCA

and Dong Hua Sao NBCA (Thewlis et al. 1 996) and several

sites in the Nam Theun catchment (Appendix 1).

Egrets Ardeidae Several mixed flocks (many dozens

strong) in March and April along the Nam Kading, Xe Pian

and Xe Kong included mainly Cattle and Little Egrets and,

particularly, Chinese Pond Herons, with occasional Great

and Intermediate Egrets admixed. Many were in full

breeding plumage. In such habitats, including at Nam

Kading, only occasional pond herons had been seen during

the winter.

Past resident observers made some comments on the

seasonality of these species: in the South, Cattle Egrets

made local movements at the end of the wet season and

there was an important passage of pond herons in April

and May (Engelbach 1932); large flocks of Little Egrets

disappeared from the Savannakhet region during May

(David-Beaulieu 1949-1950); egrets occurred most often

in Tranninh during August - October, with Littles to the

end of December, and flocks of Cattle occurring also in

spring (but less commonly than in autumn), while pond

herons were common on both passages and a few were

found in the rest of the year (David-Beaulieu 1944).

Forktail 13 (1998)

Bird records from Laos, October 1994 - August 1995

45

*Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis Several singles along the

Xe Pian (Bolaven Southwest PPA) during 11-21 April. The

only other recent records are of three singles in May 1993

in the Xe Pian NBCA and Dong Hua Sao NBCA lowlands

(Thewlis et al. 1996). The only past records with detail from

Laos are of two each in September and October in

Tranninh (David-Beaulieu 1944), although Delacour and

Jabouille (1940) recorded the species throughout Laos. The

lack of recent records in other months, despite heavy field

effort during October to March suggests that, as believed

by David-Beaulieu (1944), the species is mainly a migrant

in Laos.

*Black Stork Ciconia nigra Seven soaring over the

confluence of the Nam Mon with the Nam Xot (Nakay

Plateau) on 10 February. The eastern population of Black

Stork numbers only 2,000 and is declining (Perennou et

al. 1994). Previous records from Laos are of infrequent

birds (once a flock of about 10) on and around the Plain

of Jars and near Xiangquang (Delacour and Jabouille 1 940,

David-Beaulieu 1944), three records (one of 17 together)

around Ban Flouayxai in December 1938 - January 1939

(Delacour and Greenway 1940a) and one immature over

the Nakay Plateau on 28 February 1994 (Evans and

Timmins 1997).

*Bi .ue-naped Pitta Pitta nipalensis Three groups of 1-2

on the southern escarpment and upper Nam An valley

(both Nam Kading NBCA) at 850 m are the first recent

field observations in Laos, although market specimens were

found in Ban Lak (20) in 1994 (Evans and Timmins 1997)

and on 16 March 1995. Historical Lao records are

discussed in Thewlis et al. (in prep.).

*Hooded Pitta Pitta sordida Common at several sites in

Phou Dendin NBCA, including close to villages. These are

the first recent records from Laos; the species was previously

known in Laos only by two taken at Ban Boun-Tai (North

Laos) in May 1929 (Bangs and Van Tyne 1931).

Dusky Broadbill Corydon sumatranus Three groups were

heard along the Nam An (250 m) during 16-20 April and

birds were found in forest near Ban Kengbit south of the

Nam Kading on 18 January and on the south slope of

Sayphou Ao (below 500 m) on 30 April (all Nam Kading

NBCA). Although listed for Laos only from the South by

King et al. (1975), these are not the first records for North

Laos as a single was recorded from Ban Thangon by Bangs

and Van Tyne (1931). Thewlis et al. (1996) extended the

known range to include Central Laos.

Ratchet-tailed Treepie Temnurus temnurus Locally

common (found daily when searched for) in Nam Kading

NBCA, primarily in little-degraded evergreen forest in the

eastern part of the reserve. Records also came from the

Nam Ao forest, where small flocks were seen on several

occasions, and the Nadi Limestone (once only, at 450 m).

These are the first records from North Laos, previous

records (reviewed in Thewlis et al. in prep.) coming only

from the Centre, including higher up in the Nam Theun

drainage.

*Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus Up to five daily

around cleared and secondary areas of the Bolaven Plateau,

with up to nine at Nam Hiang (Bolaven Plateau). Two over

a narrow valley overgrown with coarse grass near the Nam

La on 29 May at 700 m (Phou Dendin NBCA). The only

other recent Lao records were of occasional birds in similar

habitat on the Bolaven in 1993 (Thewlis et al. 1996) and

the Nakay Plateau in 1994 (Evans and Timmins 1997).

Historical records come from Ban Nape (Delacour 1929a),

Ban Laophouchai and Phongsali, which were both open

mountainous areas (Bangs and Van Tyne 1931),

Savannakhet province, where rare (David-Beaulieu 1949-

1950) and Tranninh, where merely an erratic visitor

(David-Beaulieu 1944). Engelbach (1927, 1932) found the

species in the South only in hills around Muang Taoy and,

commonly, on the Bolaven. Thus, historical and recent

records come overwhelmingly from deforested mid-altitude

slopes and plateaux. The lack of other records is surprising

as the species is a common resident, chiefly in the lowlands,

throughout non-peninsular Thailand (Boonsong and

Round 1991).

*Slender-billed Oriole Oriolus tenuirostris A pair at a

part-built nest in pine forest on the Bolaven Plateau on 21

and 23 April. The birds were distinguished from Black-

naped Orioles O. chinensis by their thinner stripe on the

nape, thinner and pinker bills, the absence of any birds with

a golden mantle, and different vocalizations. The observer

saw Slender-billed Orioles at Doi Inthanon (Thailand)

shortly afterwards. This is the first recent Lao record, but

others may have been overlooked among Black-naped

Orioles, which were common at several sites surveyed

recently. King et al. (1975) stated that previous records in

Laos come only from the North, but one was found on the

Bolaven Plateau (at Ban Thateng; South Laos) late one

November (Engelbach 1932). In Tranninh it was much

commoner than Black-naped and both species occurred

during April - October; some birds reportedly showed

features of both species (David-Beaulieu 1944), but from

the characters given it is not clear why such birds were not

immature male Black-naped Orioles. Delacour and

Jabouille (1927) recorded two from Xiangquang in

December 1925 (outside David-Beaulieu’s period). Birds

were common at Taloun (Delacour and Greenway 1940a).

Delacour and Greenway (1941) suspected that the species

lived on all massifs in Indochina.

The habitat occupied by these birds, open pine forest, is

similar to that used in Vietnam (M. R. Leven verbally

1995).

*Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica This species was

observed frequently on the Thai bank of the Mekong at

Nong Khai, as mapped by Boonsong and Round (1991),

but has never been recorded in Laos (Mlikovsky and

Inskipp in prep.). It seems extraordinary that the Mekong

can act as an effective dispersion barrier to the species, but

this is presumably so.

Crow-billed Drongo Dicrurus annectans Singles on 26

March in evergreen forest near Ban Kengbit and on the

north slope of Sayphou Ao on 2 May (both Nam Kading

NBCA) are the first from North Laos; previous Lao

records, all in March - May, come from scattered localities

in the South and Centre (Thewlis et al. 1996.), where the

species was also recorded in 1994-1995.

*Black-breasted Thrush Tardus dissimilis A female on

23 and 28 February along the Nam On (Nakay Plateau) is

the first recent record for Laos and the first from the

Centre. Although not listed for Laos by King et al. (1975),

three were recorded from Ban Namkeung-Kao (North

Laos) by Delacour and Greenway (1940a). A specimen

reported from Xiangquang (David-Beaulieu 1944) was

reidentified as a Japanese Thrush by Dickinson (1970b).

Examination of skins at BM(NH) showed that female

46

J. W. DUCKWORTH et al.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Japanese Thrushes are indeed variable, although none has

as extensive orange on the flanks or on the breast as does

typical Black-breasted.

*Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula Blackbirds were

common in the Nam Theun catchment (including Nam

Kading NBCA and the Nakay Plateau). A male beside the

Xe Kong just outside Xe Pian NBCA on 12 May was the

latest spring record. When on the south bank of the Xe

Kong river the bird was in Cambodia, from where

Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) traced no records.

Nearly all birds were beside large streams and rivers,

singly or in small loose flocks (as found by David-Beaulieu

1949-1950). Others were seen by a pool in agricultural land

on the Nakay Plateau and (about 20) in fruiting trees in

evergreen forest (Nam Kading NBCA). In 1994, over 40

were seen on several days feeding at the margins of a large

grazed grassy area on the Nakay Plateau. Along the Nam

Kading (December), birds bathed communally (in groups

of up to 20) before going to roost in dense riverside

bamboo. Birds at this time frequently gave a soft “p’soook”;

the pre-roosting call usual in U.K. was not heard. Other

frequent calls, a “whiiiik” resembling a call of Fieldfare T.

pilaris , and an explosive ringing “ch(ea) chup chup”, also

differed from those given in U.K. Delacour and Jabouille

(1931) and David-Beaulieu (1949-1950) also noted that

calls differed between this population and those in Europe

and P. Alstrom (in Inskipp et al. 1996) suggested, on the

basis particularly of vocal differences, that this population,

T. m. mandarinus, is not a subspecies of T. merula.

The abundance of birds (up to 80 were seen daily on

the Nakay Plateau) even on the Nam Kading only 65 km

(in a direct line) from the Mekong contrasts with the

species’s status in Thailand, from where Boonsong and

Round (1991) report only one record.

*Grey-sided Thrush Turdus feae Singles beside the Nam

Mon (Nakay Plateau) on 3 (first winter plumage) and 6

February (adult). No previous records were listed for

Indochina by Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.). Both birds

were located by call, which was slightly but distinctly

thinner than that of Eyebrowed Thrush T. obscurus. Some

non-orange Eyebrowed Thrushes resemble poorly-marked

first-winter Grey-sided Thrushes (M. R. Leven verbally

1995). Skins at BM(NH) showed that such Eyebrowed

Thrushes lack clear grey on the underparts whereas the first

winter Grey-sided on the Nakay Plateau and the two at

Tring all showed this. Furthermore, although difficult to

judge on skins, most if not all Eyebrowed Thrushes show

a white submoustachial stripe as well as the supercilium

and lower eye-crescent of Grey-sided Thrush. The

upperparts on all eight Grey-sided Thrush specimens at

BM(NH) and on the two in the field was a rusty-olive tone

resembling that of many Eyebrowed Thrushes, rather than

the straw-olive depicted in Boonsong and Round (1991).

All three first-winter Grey-sided Thrushes showed

noticeable olive pectoral-patch extensions of the upperpart

colour; a similar pattern is shown by dull Eyebrowed

Thrushes.

*D ark-sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica Small

numbers daily on the Bolaven Plateau and middle Xe Pian

during 16-23 April in all habitats visited including centres

of villages. Five singles and a group of two were seen in

the Nam Ao forest (Nam Kading NBCA) during 27 April

- 2 May. Other recent Lao records were of one at Phou

Xang He NBCA on 21 April 1993 (Thewlis et al. 1996)

and fourteen birds during 23 April - 1 May 1994 in and

around the Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA, mainly on the

Nakay Plateau (Evans and Timmins 1997). Historically,

it was recorded as follows: a scarce September visitor in

Savannakhet (David-Beaulieu 1949-1950); a scarce winter

visitor in South Laos to Muang Taoy and around Salavan

(Engelbach 1932); one, Phongsali on 4 May (Bangs and

Van Tyne 1931); an abundant double passage migrant in

Tranninh, especially in mountains (David-Beaulieu 1944).

Thus the species occurs in Laos mainly on passage, with

records clustered in late April and early May (observation

in autumn has been much less intensive, however). By

contrast in Thailand it is common in winter (Boonsong and

Round 1991). As with Forest Wagtail, birds in Laos in

winter were recorded only from the South.

^Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea One near

the Nam Leuk dam site (Phou Khaokhoay NBCA) in a

tree-fall site in logged evergreen forest on 2 November. The

only previous Lao record is of one at low altitude at Ban

Thathom, North Laos, on 1 October 1946 (David-Beaulieu

1948).

*Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki Distinctive

flycatchers in Nam Kading NBCA in January, on the Nakay

Plateau in February and on the Bolaven Plateau in April

differed from the female Mugimaki Flycatcher depicted in

Boonsong and Round (1991) in several ways: the pale mark

on the side of the head resembled in shape and position

that of the male, although it was sometimes barely distinct;

the rich orange of the breast extended up the throat to the

bill-base; the mantle was slightly browner than the head in

January and by mid April birds had a noticeably greyish

head. Otherwise birds were as expected for Mugimaki in

plumage, size and structure. The call was a rapid “tk-tk-

tk”. Birds sallied from open pine canopy, an understorey

tree-fall site, remnant tall trees in cultivation, the

understorey beside a forest road and also ate berries in open

bushland.

Many skins at BM(NH) revealed that the orange

underparts of female-type birds often extend right to the

bill base. There was great variation in the precise shape,

size and position of the pale mark on the head, but usually

it reflected that of the male.

White-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula monileger One near

Ban Xenam-Noy (Bolaven Plateau) on 18 April showed

some characters associated with Rufous-browed Flycatcher

F. solitaris: although it had a full black surround to the white

throat, the crown had a strong russet tone and the bird

lacked a white supercilium but, instead, had a small, weakly

contrasting, pale supraloral spot. The many other birds in

the area appeared as typical White-gorgeted Flycatchers,

contrasting with those observed on the Bolaven Plateau in

1993 (35 km to the west in Dong Hua Sao NBCA), many

of which showed a wide and inconsistent mix of characters

of the two species (Thewlis et al. 1996).

Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra A female

on 3 January in undergrowth beside a small stream at 400

m in the eastern part of Nam Kading NBCA was

considerably below the lower altitudinal limits given by

King et al. (1975; 900 m) and Boonsong and Round (1991;

800 m). The lowest recent Lao record otherwise is at 1,100

m, at which altitude birds were common in Dong Hua Sao

NBCA in breeding season 1993 (Thewlis et al. 1996).

Forktail 13 (1998)

Bird records from Laos, October 1994 - August 1995

47

Blue-and-white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana

Many of both sexes were seen at Nam Hiang (Bolaven

Plateau) during 13-17 April, with up to six per day. Females

showed surprising variation in throat pattern, including

birds with: a mottled brownish throat with an ill-defined

creamy vertical centre; a dull greyish throat, with a white

ellipse across the lower throat, as shown by some female

niltavas; a uniformly pale brown throat and breast. These

throat patterns are all shown by female skins in the

BM(NH), and Delacour and Jabouille (1931) mention

some variation in the amount of white on the throat.

Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae A male on 3 and 9

January in undergrowth beside a small stream at 400 m in

the eastern part of Nam Kading NBCA. The lower

altitudinal limits given by King et al. (1975) and Boonsong

and Round (1991) are 900 m (but sometimes lower in

winter) and 900 m respectively. The lowest recent Lao

record otherwise is at 600 m in the Nakay-Nam Theun

NBCA, where the species was common above 1,000 m

(Evans and Timmins 1997).

*YVhite-tailed Flycatcher Cyomis concretus Birds were

locally common in several areas in and around Nam Kading

NBCA down to 250 m (although commoner above 600

m) and one was seen in Phou Khaokhoay NBCA at 300

m. Recently birds were also recorded at Phou Xang He

NBCA (350 m) and Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA at 600-

1,300 m (Thewlis et al. 1996, Evans and Timmins 1997).

Historical records come from the Nam Theun area

(Delacour 1929a), Lo-Tiao (Delacour and Greenway

1940a) and several sites in Tranninh (David-Beaulieu

1944). The species is thus much more widespread in Laos

than in Thailand, where Boonsong and Round (1991)

mapped it for only three small areas. It has recently also

been found more widely in Annam (Robson et al. 1993a).

Many recent Lao records came from below 900 m, often

substantially so, which is the lower altitudinal limit given

for continental South-East Asia by King et al. (1975);

David-Beaulieu (1944) lists two singles from about 300 m

in Tranninh and birds in North Annam were recorded as

low as 100 m (Robson et al. 1 993a).

*Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus A male in

extensive scrub near Ban Namkong (Bolaven Plateau, 760

m) on 1 1 April is the first recent Lao record and the first

from the South. The species was regular, although not

common, in Tranninh (North Laos) between November

and March, being most frequent at mid-altitude sites

(David-Beaulieu 1944) and one was taken at Ban Nape

(Central Laos) (Delacour 1929a).

Plumbeous Water Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosus A

male and a pair on a steep part of the Xe Namnoy 5 km

north of Ban Latsasin on 6 April (700 m). Previous Lao

records come only from the North and Centre (King et al.

1975). In Tranninh, it was a common resident, breeding

at mid altitudes and wintering in lower areas (David-

Beaulieu 1944). In the Centre only ‘a few’ were found near

Ban Nape and it was fairly rare in Savannakhet (David-

Beaulieu 1949-1950); it was recently recorded widely in'

Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA (Evans and Timmins 1997).

*Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis A pair and

1-2 singles on the Bolaven Plateau on 21 April, in the same

area of open pine forest at 1,000 m as were Chestnut-bellied

Nuthatches. The observer saw numerous Chestnut-vented

Nuthatches shortly afterwards in northern Thailand and

the birds in Laos showed no obvious differences. No

previous Lao records were traced by Mlikovsky and Inskipp

(in prep.) and the nearest known populations are in north¬

west Thailand and South Annam (King et al. 1975).

Previous records in South-East Asia come from above

1,080 m (Robson et al. 1993b).

*Dusky Crag Martin Hirundo concolor Up to 30 at

Vangviang on 26-27 November; one near Ban Lak (28),

30 January; about 40 along the southern escarpment (Nam

Kading NBCA), breeding in May; provisional records over

the Nadi Limestone and over karst near Ban Pakngeun

(east of Nam Mouan). These are the first recent records

of a species hitherto considered scarce and local in Laos.

Previous records were also from the North: a small group

along the middle Nam Xan in December (David-Beaulieu

1944) and at the mouth of the Nam Ou in June, where

common (Bangs and Van Tyne 1931). Most records in

1994-1995 were around limestone, with which it is usually

associated (Boonsong and Round 1991), although those

on the southern escarpment were many kilometres from

limestone.

♦Northern House Martin Delichon urbica Two forms of

house martins were seen, which differed in plumage and

call. Birds identified as Northern House Martin on the

Nakay Plateau (three, Nong Boua, 26 February; two, Ban

Don, 5 March) called (repeatedly) with a sharp “d-gitt”,

closely resembling Northern House Martin in the U.K.,

and very different from the call of Asian House Martins.

The clearest visual difference from Asian House Martin

was the lack of dark undertail coverts: the pale vent

stretched almost to the tail tip. The perceived contrast

between the underwing-coverts and the underwing varied

with light and angle. No consistent differences from Asian

were apparent in the tail fork depth or the white rump size.

Northern House Martin was recorded from Laos in winter

as follows: a single at Pakxe, a flock at Muang Taoy

(Engelbach 1932) and regularly in Tranninh (David-

Beaulieu 1944). These are thus the first records from

Central Laos. All historical records were referred to D. u.

whiteleyi, now known as D. u. lagopoda, which has a tail

fork intermediate between Asian and European populations

of Northern House Martin (Turner and Rose 1989); this

may be why no difference was noted in the field and

indicates that the feature is best used cautiously for

separating the species.

♦Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus Birds identified

as Asian House Martin occurred in large flocks at Phou

Khaokhoay NBCA (November) and Nam Kading NBCA

(December and January). The call, a reedy “screeeel”,

combined some of the metallic quality of Northern House

Martin in the U.K. with the throatiness of Sand Martin

Riparia riparia. The tail fork was shallower than on

Northern House Martin in the U.K.; on some birds at Nam

Kading NBCA the tails looked square-ended. The white

rump did not look noticeably narrow or dirty in colour.

Both throat and undertail coverts were darkish (much less

clearly so than on Nepal House Martin) but away from

the undertail coverts the underparts appeared no dirtier

than on Northern House Martins drinking from flood

water. The dark patch on the undertail coverts was smaller

than on Nepal House Martin. Black underwing-coverts

were intermittently visible on birds in Nam Kading NBCA,

but careful previous checking of underwing contrast in Java

(where only Asian House Martin occurs) and U.K. (where

48

J. W. DUCKWORTH et al.

Forktail 13 (1998)

only Northern House Martin occurs) indicated that the

feature has to be used very cautiously, except in the softest

lights.

Characters were checked against skins at BM(NH). Of

23 D. it . lagopoda, none has dark under-tail coverts: some

have dark shaft streaks, but dark did not extend to the webs.

All subspecies of Asian House Martin have dark shaft

streaks and almost always some dark sullying on the webs.

This sullying varies in extent and, although usually mid¬

brown, is sometimes almost black (but not glossy as on

Nepal House Martin). The white rump band of D. u.

lagopoda is approximately 150% as long as that of Asian

House Martin and it seems surprising that this difference

was less obvious in the field than that in vent colour.

House martins, either Northern or Asian, were recorded

over the Bolaven Plateau in April and at Vangviang in

November. Recent records, all of under 1 0 individuals, also

come from Houay Nhang (October and November 1 992),

Xe Pian NBCA (31 December 1992, 1 January and 11

March 1993) and the Nakay Plateau in 1994 (Thewlis et

al. 1996, Evans and Timmins 1997). Asian House Martins

were identified on the Nakay Plateau on 28 February 1 994

on the basis of plumage, including a narrow white rump

band and dark underwing coverts (light conditions were

excellent). There are no certain historical records of Asian

House Martin in Laos (Mlikovsky and Inskipp in prep.).

Recently, the species was recorded for the first time in

Indochina in Vietnam (Robson et al. 1993a).

*Nepal House Martin Delichou nipalensis Flocks of 20-

40 by the southern escarpment (Nam Kading NBCA, 13-

23 April) and about 20 where the escarpment abuts the

karst, near Ban Lak (28) (29 January and 22 March) are

the first records from North Laos. The only previous Lao

records are from the Bolaven Plateau and adjacent lowlands

in 1993 (Thewlis et al. 1996); the species was again found

there in March - April 1995, some 35 km from the 1993

records. The largest flock was of 600 over Nam Hiang

(Bolaven Plateau). Such numbers in two years and their

wide spread indicates that the population is healthy.

[*Brown-breasted Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthorrhous One

believed to be this species on 29 May in scrub at 1,020 m

near Ban Than (Phou Dendin NBCA) is the first, albeit

provisional, recent record for Laos. In Indochina it seems

restricted to the far northern highlands (Bangs and Van

Tyne 1931), as in Thailand (Boonsong and Round 1991)

and previous Lao records come only from the North:

several were recorded previously close to Phou Dendin

NBCA, near Phongsali (Bangs and Van Tyne 1931), and

it was locally common in Tranninh above 1,100 m

(Delacour and Jabouille 1927, David-Beaulieu 1944).]

Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala A party of three about 3 km

west of Ban Nongset (Bolaven Southwest PPA) at 350 m

is the lowest altitude recent record in Laos. King et al.

(1975) gave a usual lower limit of about 600 m for South-

East Asia, while Boonsong and Round (1991) noted birds

as low as 200 m in peninsular Thailand, but gave no lower

limit for continental Thailand. There are many previous

records from Laos; David-Beaulieu (1944) recorded the

species over 1,000 m, but other authors did not note

altitudes.

*Pale-footed Bush Warbler Cettia pallidipes Two,

probably a pair, scolding the observer in hillside tall grass

and scrub at 700 m along the Nam La (Phou Dendin

NBCA) on 29 May. The tape-recording was confirmed by

P. D. Round (in litt. 1995) as this species. This is the first

recent Lao record, although Cettia warblers perhaps of this

species were seen in Nam Kading NBCA. Previous records

come from Nape (a small flock in January or February;

Delacour 1929a), Lo-Tiao (three, probably in late

December; Delacour and Greenway 1940a) and Phongsali

(a breeding female on 29 April; Bangs and Van Tyne 1931).

[*Blunt-winged Warbler Acrocephalus concinens One in

rank herbage on Garden Island, Vientiane on 29 November

was identified provisionally as this species by the absence

of dark above the supercilium (which was specifically

searched for at very close range), the greater prominence

of the supercilium before than after the eye, the extensive

buff wash on the flanks, the quite long, predominantly pink

bill and the short wings (relative to Eurasian Reed Warbler

A. scirpaceus ). The call was a soft “tschak”, markedly more

fluid in the introduction than is the analogous note of

Eurasian Reed.

Single small plain Acrocephalus warblers on 13 and 17

April in the marshy parts of Nam Hiang (Bolaven Plateau),

among dozens of Black-browed Reed Warblers, had cold

greyish upperparts, presumably a consequence of wear. It

was not possible to decide whether the supercilium (which

was strong fore and aft) had a dark upper margin. The

breast-sides showed a slight clouding, but the underparts

were cleaner and whiter than the bird in November (also

likely to be because of wear). The short wings were again

noticeable and the call was transcribed as “szchip”, lacking

the incisive start of the similar call of Eurasian Reed.

The supercilium of Blunt-winged Warbler is usually weak

behind the eye (Kennerley and Leader 1992), but is

probably most conspicuous on grey-plumaged (thus, worn)

birds such as those on the Bolaven Plateau. These records

are provisional because even the absence of dark above the

supercilium is not conclusive, as a brow is not always visible

on some Paddyfield Warblers A. agricola (Alstrom et al.

1991). Robson etal. (1993a) likewise retained their records

from Vietnam as unconfirmed.

The only previous Blunt-winged Warbler recorded from

Laos was collected at Savannakhet (Central Laos) on 13

November 1944 (Dickinson 1970b). However, it may

prove to be a regular migrant, as it appears to be in Vietnam

(Mey 1997). Other than Blunt-winged, Paddyfield Warbler

(which has been reported only once from Indochina; N.

Dymond in Robson 1996) and Black-browed Reed

Warbler, the only small Acrocephalus recorded for South-

East Asia by King et al. (1975) is Blyth’s Reed Warbler A.

dumetorum and this is listed only for Burma.]

*Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus One

in low scrub on the Nakay Plateau on 26 February and

singles in evergreen forest near Ban Khawhiang (Nakay

Plateau, 550 m) on 3 March and in Nam Kading NBCA

on 3 April. Those from the Nakay Plateau are the first from

Central Laos; historical Lao records come only from the

North and South (King et al. 1975). The only other recent

records from Laos are from Houay Nhang in autumn 1992

(Thewlis et al. 1996): during the survey period of mid

October to mid November, the species declined in

abundance. David-Beaulieu (1944) found that it was a

double passage migrant in Tranninh, but past records from

the Bolaven were in December and January (Engelbach

1932). It probably occurs in Laos outside the South mainly

on passage. The abundance of Arctic Warbler, which also

Forktail 13 (1998)

Bird records from Laos, October 1994 - August 1995

49

occurs in Laos primarily on passage, also declined during

the autumn 1992 survey period at Houay Nhang, whereas

three common wintering congeners (Blyth’s, Yellow-

browed and Greenish) increased during this period.

♦Leaf warbler Phylloscopus sp. An unidentified warbler

was common in the Nadi and Sayphou Loyang Limestone

areas. Among Phylloscopus species known from Laos, it

seemed closest to White-tailed Leaf Warbler P. davisoni,

but differed from those seen in Nam Theun NBCA and

on the Bolaven Plateau in having the breast and belly bright

yellow and in the intense yellow central crown stripe,

supercilium and wingbars. The yellow underparts were not

as strongly coloured as on Sulphur-breasted Warbler. Skins

at BM(NH) confirmed the differences from White-tailed

(and also Blyth’s) and that, while the head pattern and

colour resembled Sulphur-breasted, the underparts were

much less bright. The birds were probably holding breeding

territories: they were seen in successive days in the same

patches of forest and were calling and singing frequently.

On the basis of the tape-recorded vocalizations, the birds

may belong to an unnamed taxon (P. Alstrom in litt. 1995).

Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum Locally

frequent in the evergreen forest of Nam Kading NBCA,

particularly in the Nam Ao forest. These are the first

records from North Laos, previous records (reviewed in

Thewlis et al. 1996) coming from the South and Centre.

The species was recently recorded north to 20°N in

Vietnam (Robson et al. 1989). Most records in Laos come

from lowland or flat mid-altitude sites retaining good forest;

it occurs up to 700 m in North Annam (Robson et al. 1 993a).

♦Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus

ruficollis At least one was seen in tall scrub at 1,010 m on

27 May near Ban Than (Phou Dendin NBCA). Birds

showing a range of characters between Streak-breasted and

White-browed P. schisticeps were found in the Nam Kading

NBCA and Nam Ao forest, and in 1994 in the Nakay-Nam

Theun NBCA (Evans and Timmins 1997). Most birds

showed rather little streaking on the flanks and side of the

breast; relatively few were streaked across the breast. A

party in the Nam Ao forest (Nam Kading NBCA, 22

January) contained two unstreaked adults, one moderately

streaked adult and two fledged young.

There are several previous records of Streak-breasted

Scimitar Babbler from Laos. Two were collected at Phongsali

(close to Phou Dendin NBCA) and one at Ban Muangyo (all

of P. r. albipectus ; Bangs and Van Tyne 1931). Birds from

Ban Nonghet resembled P. r. reconditus but were rather pale

(Delacour and Greenway 1 940b) . P. r. beaulieui was described

from Tranninh (David-Beaulieu 1 944) and further birds were

collected at Taloun, Lo-Tiao and Ban Namkeung-Kao

(Delacour and Greenway 1940a). Birds from the last two sites

were intermediate between P. r. beaulieui and P. s. ripponv,

these two forms differ only in that the former has a streaked

breast (Delacour and Greenway 1940b). Birds from Nam

Theun and the Bolaven Plateau appeared to be intermediates

between P. r. reconditus and P. r. beaulieui (Delacour and

Greenway 1940b). Our observations of birds on the Bolaven

were all of entirely unstreaked birds and therefore identified

as P. schisticeps (Appendix 1; Thewlis et al. 1996).

P. r. beaulieui shows weaker and sparser streaks than do

some other subspecies of P. ruficollis (which show bold

streaks down the underparts from the lower margin of the

throat); indeed P. r. beaulieui was described as having only

a more or less streaked breast (Delacour and Greenway

1940b). The streaked birds we observed in Central Laos

appear closer to P. r. beaulieui than to P. schisticeps, with

dull and pallid streaking, which was usually fairly limited

but very variable in extent; some individuals were not

clearly separable from P. schisticeps. A specimen at

BM(NH), from Central Laos (Ban Hoi Mak camp 39, 8

km north-east of Ban Pak-Hinboun, collected on 28

February 1920) has been labelled variously as P. r. beaulieui

and P. s. humilis. Because of the intergradation they found

in parts of Laos, Delacour and Greenway (1940b)

considered that all forms of P. ruficollis and P. schisticeps

were conspecific, whether the underparts were streaked or

not and whether the upperparts were rusty or olive. They

were aware that elsewhere (the Himalayas and upper

Burma) well differentiated forms with streaked and plain

underparts occurred together, contrasting with the situation

in Laos where adjacent forms merged into each other.

Deignan (1964), however, accorded P. ruficollis and P.

schisticeps specific rank, without explaining why.

♦Limestone Wren Babbler Napothera crispifrons A flock

of about six at Vangviang on 26 November is the first recent

record from Laos, previous records coming only from the

north-east (Delacour and Jabouille 1940, Kingcru/. 1975):

small numbers were found at Ban Souy and the Nam Mo,

and birds seemed much rarer than their habitat (David-

Beaulieu 1 944) . In the late afternoon the birds at Vangviang

foraged around a small temple at the foot of a limestone

cliff, entering occasionally the porches of buildings, and

seemed indifferent to the passage of numerous monks

within a few feet. David-Beaulieu (1944) however,

considered it was a very wild bird which was difficult to

see and capture.

♦Sooty Babbler Stachyris herberti Three groups in the

Khammouan Limestone NBCA on fairly open vegetated

karst at 280-480 m altitude. These are the first records for

Laos since the species was described from specimens taken

in this same limestone complex 21 km from the 1995

sightings (Baker 1920, 1921, Williamson 1945). The only

record in the interim was from Vietnam (Eames et al. 1 995),

on another part of the same limestone belt.

♦Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense One in hillside

tall grass and scrub at 700 m along the Nam La (Phou

Dendin NBCA) is the first recent Lao record. Such scarcity

is unexpected as in neighbouring Thailand it is ‘very

common’, occurring over a wide altitudinal and habitat

range, especially in degraded areas (Boonsong and Round

1991). Previous Lao records comprise: one at Phongsali

(Bangs and Van Tyne 1931); infrequent in Tranninh

(Delacour and Jabouille 1927, David-Beaulieu 1944); rare

in Savannakhet, less so around Xe Pon (David-Beaulieu

1949-1950); found at Ban Nape (Delacour 1929a) and

Taloun (Delacour and Greenway 1940a); and found in the

South only at Ban Thateng, at 900 m (Engelbach 1932).

Thus, although it was collected widely, no authors

considered the species common. The past records come

mainly from mid altitude hills and authors often mentioned

that the bird was found in grassy or bushy areas, away from

forest. It is likely that the paucity of recent records reflects

partly the bird’s occurrence at low density, and partly a

concentration of effort in forest areas.

♦Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala Fulvettas

identified as this species were recorded in the Nam Ao

forest (Nam Kading NBCA, one), in scrub along the access

road 2 km from the Theun-Hinboun dam site (Nam

50

J. W. DUCKWORTH et al.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Kading NBCA, one small flock), in tall secondary growth

in the Nam Mouan valley (Nam Kading NBCA), and in

degraded forest and tall secondary growth around Ban

Hinngon, where it was common. In Phou Dendin NBCA

it was provisionally identified twice.

It was distinguished from A. morrisonia and A. peracensis

by the lack of an obvious eyering, having a face browner

than grey, and darker-washed underparts with a markedly

yellow tone. Grey was restricted to the cap; the cheeks were

concolorous with (although slightly darker than, and

sometimes tinged grey-brown) the throat and breast. The

folded remiges were noticeably rusty against the rest of the

upperparts.

These birds fit A. poioicephala alearis , which has not

otherwise been recorded recently from Laos. Historical

records come from hilly areas in the North and Annamites:

Ban Muangyo and Ban Boun-Tai (Bangs and Van Tyne

1931), Ban Houayxai, Ban Namkeung-Kao, Lo-Tiao and

Taloun (common at all; Delacour and Greenway 1940a),

Tranninh (less common; Delacour and Greenway 1940a,

David-Beaulieu 1944) and Xe Pon (common; David-

Beaulieu 1949-1950). It occurred in the same localities as

A. m. fraterculus around Tranninh, even mixing in small

numbers in flocks in which the latter was common (David-

Beaulieu 1944), while in eastern Savannakhet large flocks

of A. p. alearis sometimes contained unidentified fulvettas

which were either/!, peracensis annamensis or A. peracensis

grotei (David-Beaulieu 1949-1950). The most similar

specimens at BM(NH) to the birds we observed are two

which were collected at Ban Muangliap (camp 15) by

Herbert in 1920.

Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia This species

was recorded on the Nakay Plateau and was common in

secondary forest along the Nam Ngoy 16 km upstream of

Ban Thabak. The single record west of this was on Sayphou

Ao, west of the Nam Kading, at 750 m. Small numbers

were identified provisionally in and around Phou Dendin

NBCA at 900 - 1,700 m. It was previously found widely

in and around Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA in 1994 (Evans

and Timmins 1997). In the field it showed a mix of

characters of A. peracensis annamensis and A. p. grotei (see

Thewlis et al. 1996). It was collected (as A. nepalensis

laotianus ) in the Ban Nape and Nam Theun area (Delacour

1929a). It is now called/!, morrisonia fraterculus (Mlikovsky

and Inskipp in prep.). Birds referred to A. m. fraterculus

were common in Tranninh (David-Beaulieu 1944);

specimens from this region at BM(NH) have darker and

more uniform brown upperparts than the birds recorded

in the Nam Theun catchment.

* Australasian Bushlark Mirafrajavanica One on 1 May

at the edge of a dry pool at Ban Nakhay (Phou Khaokhoay

NBCA) is the first recent Lao record. It was frequent on

passage through Tranninh in November and sometimes

April and a few were found one autumn in Savannakhet

(David-Beaulieu 1944, 1949-1950). The timing of the

Phou Khaokhoay NBCA record accords with a migrant.

*Streaked S piderhunter A rachnothera magna Recorded,

often commonly, on the Nakay Plateau (500-600 m), in

the Nam Kading NBCA (250-850 m), around the Nadi

Limestone (500 m), on the Bolaven Plateau (750-1,000

m), at Vangviang (200 m) and at Phou Dendin NBCA (600

m). The species was also common in Phou Xang He NBCA

down to 300 m (Thewlis et al. 1996). King et al. (1975)

gave a lower altitudinal limit of 900 m, which is clearly

inappropriate for Laos; Boonsong and Round (1991) stated

that the species occurred down to the foothills in Thailand

and Robson et al. (1993b) recorded birds down to 140 m

in Vietnam. The lack of records from south of the Bolaven

Plateau contrasts with its abundance on the Plateau and

in areas to the north.

*Plain-backed Sparrow Passer flaveolus A male on

Garden Island, Vientiane (3 December) and four at Pakxan

(20 December) in waterside scrub or cultivation. Previous

Lao records come only from the South and Centre (King

et al. 1975). In Savannakhet, it was scarce, lived away from

habitations, and occurred in pairs rather than the big flocks

of Cochinchina (David-Beaulieu 1949-1950); it was a

resident around Pakxe and in one year nested in the hospital

buildings (Engelbach 1932). Other recent records are of:

11 on 29 January 1993 at Dong Kalo, Xe Pian NBCA

(Thewlis et al. 1996) and occasional birds in 1994 in

degraded areas of the Nakay Plateau and the outskirts of

Xe Bang-Nouan NBCA (Evans and Timmins 1997). The

species appears to be localized in small numbers in Laos;

contrastingly in Thailand it is a very common resident and

occurs in a variety of habitats throughout the country

(Boonsong and Round 1991).

*Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus Birds (usually

singly) were recorded in Nam Kading NBCA (mainly in

degraded areas) on seven dates in April, from Ban Houayko

(Bolaven Southwest PPA) on 12 and 13 April, and near

Ban Nam Tang (Bolaven Plateau) on 10 April. Other

recent records are of small numbers at Phou Xang He

NBCA in April 1 993, at Lao Pako in April 1 993 and at Xe

Pian NBCA in early January and early March 1993

(Thewlis et al. 1996). The concentration in April indicates

that the bird occurs primarily on passage in Laos, with

relatively small numbers in winter in the South; by contrast

it is common in winter in most of Thailand (Boonsong and

Round 1991). Historical records are: a regular double

passage migrant in Tranninh, commoner in August -

October than in April (David-Beaulieu 1944); a scarce bird

in Savannakhet (no dates given; David-Beaulieu 1949-

1950); recorded from dense forest around Pakxe in October

- January (Engelbach 1932) and a single from Ban

Muangyo on 15 May (Bangs and Van Tyne 1931).

Delacour ( 1 929b) considered that it was a common winter

visitor to the south of Indochina, but rare in the centre.

White Wagtail Motacilla alba Birds were common along

the Nam Ou (Phou Dendin NBCA) in May - June, and

many fresh juveniles, some begging from adults, were

observed. This is the first breeding record for Laos of a

common migrant throughout the country (King et al. 1975,

Thewlis et al. 1996, Evans and Timmins 1997). Elsewhere

in Indochina, King et al. (1975) recorded breeding only

for Tonkin, which adjoins North Laos. Breeding is probably

not widespread in North Laos as David-Beaulieu (1944)

never recorded it during five years’ residence in Tranninh.

*Pin -tailed Parrotfinch Erythrura prasina Singles at Nam

Mang (Phou Khaokhoay NBCA) on 9 and 1 1 November

and widespread records of flocks (some of hundreds) in Nam

Kading NBCA, especially the Nam Ao forest in January.

These are the first recent records from Laos. Previous Lao

records are discussed in Thewlis et al. (in prep.).

Forktail 13 (1998)

Bird records from Laos, October 1994 - August 1995

51

*Spot- winged Grosbeak Mycerobas melanozanthos A flock

of about seven along the Nam Ou at 570 m on 26 May

(Phou Dendin NBCA) fed on small fruits in an area of

secondary growth. This is the first recent record for Laos,

although this pattern is not unexpected as previous records

come only from the North (King et al. 1975). Past records

comprise: Ban Muangyo (Bangs and Van Tyne 1931); Lo-

Tiao and Taloun (Delacour and Greenway 1940a); and a

regular summer visitor, erratic in numbers, to Xiangquang

(David-Beaulieu 1944).

*Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala A male

at Vangviang on 27 November is the first record for

Indochina (Mlikovsky and Inskipp in prep.) and probably

the first field observation of the species in mainland South-

East Asia (Thewlis 1995).

Survey permission was granted by the Department of Forestry of the

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (especially Mr Khampheune

Kingsada, Mr. Chanthaviphone Inthavong, Mr. Saleumsy

Phithayaphone and Mr. Venevongphet) with assistance from the

Hydropower Office of the Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts

(especially M. Michel Miron and Mr Bounlat Vilaysouk) and the

Committee for Cooperation and Planning (especially Mr. Bounmy

Thepsimuong). We are most grateful to these bodies and individuals

for their time and support during the year.

Many people gave advice and assistance, including Per Alstrom; Ian

Baird; Klaus and Unchai Berkmuller; Bill Bleisch, Mike Meredith and

Alan Rabinowitz (WCS); Stuart Chape (IUCN); Peter Colston and

Robert PryAs-Jones (BM(NH)); Thomas Jonnsen (Lao-Swedish

Forestry Cooperation Programme); Anders Korvald (Norplan); Jack

Prosser (Nam Theun 2 Project Development Group); Philip Round;

CraigRobson; Gian Pietro Simeoni (Electrowatt) andUthaiTreesucon.

Tim Inskipp provided an invaluable draft of the Annotated checklist

and bibliography of the birds of Indochina, access to the more elusive

references and frequent advice. Dan Duff translated text from Russian.

The enthusiastic participation of our counterparts Chainoi

Sisomphone, Boonhom Sounthala, Bounsou Souan and Khamkhoun

Khounboline (all of the Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed

Management) and Bounlom and Phouvang (Phou Khaokhoay NBCA

headquarters) was greatly appreciated and instrumental to the operation

of the surveys . Other useful observations were contributed by Matthew

Etter and Michael Leven.

Most fieldwork was conducted through the Wildlife Conservation

Society. The Nakay Plateau was surveyed under contract ref. HGF-

B524 to the Nam Theun 2 Project Development Group, Nam Kading

NBCA and surroundings under contract to Electrowatt Engineering

Services and to Norplan and the Xe Namnoy area under contract to

Electrowatt Engineering Services. The Cedar Grove Ornithological

Research Station, Inc. (USA) provided partial financial support for

W. G. Robichaud.

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69.

J. W. Duckworth, East Redham Farm, Pilning, Bristol BS12 3JG, U.K.

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R. J. Timmins, 25 Cradley Road, Cradley Heath, Warley, West Midlands B64 6AG, U.K.

R. M. Thewlis, 52 Long Reach Road, Cambridge CB4 1UJ, U.K.

W. G. Robichaud, Cedar Grove Ornithological Research Station, Marine Drive, Route 1, Cedar Grove, Wisconsin 53705, U.S.A.

T. D. Evans, 11a Yeoman Lane, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent MEM 4BX, U.K.

(1998) FORKTAIL 13: 33-68.

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Forktail 13 (1998)

Bird records from Laos, October 1994 - August 1995

53

APPENDIX 1

Threat codes:

GT, Globally Threatened; GNT, Globally Near-Threatened; ARL, At Risk in Laos; PARL, Potentially At Risk in Laos; LK,

threat level Little Known in Laos.

Abundance codes:

A, Abundant; C, Common; F, Frequent; O, Occasional; P, Present but abundance not assessed; L (prefix), Local; k (suffix for

lower Xe Namnoy), recorded only on the Xe Kong adjacent to the lower Xe Namnoy. Codes in parentheses indicate that the

bird was not recorded directly but was reported by villagers. Codes in square brackets indicate a provisional record. Dual codes

(e.g. P [C]) indicate that the first assessment was confirmed but the second is believed to be correct. Codes in parentheses

indicate that the species was reported by villagers, but not confirmed to occur. Abundances for birds not identified to species

(e.g. yellownape sp.) do not include individuals identified to species.

Sites: see text.

Species notes:

1 : possibly Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis.

2: all birds identified to race were C. a. spilonotus.

3: may include some Slender-billed Orioles.

4: white-headed forms.

5: black-headed forms.

6: all birds identified were of the Two-barred form P. (t.)

plumb eitarsus.

7: on Bolaven Plateau, may include some White-tailed Leaf

Warblers.

8: a distinct form as described in the text.

54

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Forktail 13 (1998)

APPENDIX 2

GAZETTEER

Thewlis et al. (in prep.) give co-ordinates and altitudes for most sites and relate map names to locally used names or those in

past references. Sites which are cited in this paper, but not in Thewlis et al. (in prep.) are presented in this supplementary

gazetteer. Besides geographical co-ordinates, localities are listed according to two biogeographical region classifications; firstly

the division of Laos into North (N), Central (C) and South (S) proposed by Delacour and Jabouille (1931) and employed by

King etal. (1975); secondly, the classification of MacKinnon and MacKinnon (1986) who divided Laos into the three sub-units

of Central Indochina (10a), North Indochina (10b) and Annam (5b).

Co-ordinates, altitudes, and place name spellings have been standardized to follow the Republique Democratique Populaire Lao

Service Geographique D’Etat 1 : 100,000 map series, except for the Bolaven Plateau, the Mekong and Annamitic chain (which

are called Phouphiang Bolaven, Nam Khong and Sayphou Louang, respectively, on the Lao Service Geographique D’Etat

FORKTAIL 13 (1998): 69-96

Records of birds from Laos during January-July 1994

T. D. EVANS and R. J. TIMMINS

During January-July 1994, ornithological surveys were conducted in Nakay-Nam Theun National Biodiversity

Conservation Area (NBCA), the Nakay Plateau, Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA and Xe Bang Nouan

NBCA and briefer visits were made to several other sites, covering parts of North, Central and South Laos ( sensu

King et al. 1975). Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA, Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA and the Nakay Plateau

were found to have the richest community of globally and regionally threatened birds so far known in the Lao

protected area system. In comparison, Xe Bang Nouan NBCA was found to have a threatened bird community

of only moderate importance. Spotted Wren Babbler Spelaeornis formosus was recorded for the first time in

Indochina. Eight other species new to Laos were recorded, namely Greylag Goose Anser anser, Oriental Cuckoo

Cuculns saturatus, Yellow-vented Green Pigeon Treron seimundi , White-bellied Green Pigeon T. sieboldii, Asian

House Martin Delichon dasypus. Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler Jabouilleia danjoui , Red-tailed Minla Minla

ignotincta and Fork-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga christinae. A further 55 species new for Central Laos were confirmed,

and two others provisionally identified.

INTRODUCTION

This is one of a series of papers (Thewlis et al. 1996,

Duckworth 1996, Duckworth et al. 1998, Evans et al. in

prep.,Tizard etal. in prep.) documenting recent observations

of birds in Laos.

Faunal surveys were conducted in Nakay-Nam Theun

National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA), Nam

Theun Extension Proposed NBCA, the Nakay Plateau, Xe

Bang Nouan NBCA and several minor sites during January-

July 1994, as part of a programme conducted by the

Wildlife Conservation Society in conjunction with the

Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management of

the Department of Forestry of the Ministry of Agriculture

and Forestry of the Government of Laos . Rapid assessments

of populations of birds and large mammals were the main

objectives, concentrating on species of elevated conservation

concern (termed ‘Key species’). This paper discusses bird

communities and new distributional data: detailed accounts

of individual Key bird species are presented by Thewlis et

al. (in prep.) and records of mammals in a number of

papers, principally Evans et al. (in prep.).

ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS

BM(NH) The Natural History Museum, Tring, U.K.

NBCA National Biodiversity Conservation Area

Conventions follow Thewlis etal. (1996). The terms North,

Central and South Laos refer to the regions described by

King etal. (1975). Central Laos is bounded in the south by

the course of the Xe Banghiang and in the north by a line

running East-North-East to a point a little north of Ban

Nape (Figure 1). Habitat classification follows Thewlis et

al. (in prep.), based on Round (1988). Species order and

taxonomy follow Inskipp et al. (1996).

Place names are based on the 1:100,000 maps of the

most recent series of the Lao Service Geographique d’Etat,

which use French transliterations of the original Lao

pronunciations. For sites not mapped the authors have

transliterated the locally used name as best they can. Common

elements of place names include Ban (village), Phou

(mountain), Nong (pool or lake) Nam (river or large stream),

Xe (river or large stream) and Houay (stream) . Sites are shown

on Figures 1-3 and their co-ordinates listed in Appendix 3.

All dates refer to 1 994 unless otherwise stated. There was

a long period, from 1950-1990, when no ornithological

surveys were conducted in Laos. Records from after this

period are referred to in the text as ‘recent records’. The

only recent records which the authors are aware of up to the

end of the period covered by this paper are those

incorporated in the following sources: Robichaud (1992),

Thewlis et al. ( 1 996), Salter ( 1 993) and the records of the

Asian Waterfowl Census. Subsequent records were available

for comparison from Duckworth (1996), Duckworth et al.

(1998), Evans et al. (in prep.) and Tizard et al. (in prep.).

Reviews of historical records are based heavily on the

checklist and bibliography of Indochinese ornithology

(Mlikovsky and Inskipp in prep.) which lists most or all

published and unpublished references for each species.

Key species are defined as birds of recognized conservation

concern in the following categories: Globally Threatened

and Globally Near- threatened (following Collar etal. 1994),

At Risk in Laos, Potentially At Risk in Laos and Little

Known in Laos (Thewlis et al. in prep.).

STUDY SITES AND COVERAGE

Figure 1 shows the locations of all major and minor study

sites.

Main study sites and survey dates

Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA, Central Laos.

8 person-weeks during 7 January - 30 April.

See Timmins and Evans (1994) and WCS (1996b). Figure

2.

The reserve covers about 3,445 km2 of the Annamite

Mountains and adjacentNakay Plateau (treated as a separate

study site, below) in the provinces of Khammouane and

Bolikhamsai. The reserve is dominated by dry broadleaved

70

T. D. EVANS and R. J. TIMMINS

Forktail 13 (1998)

evergreen forest from 500-1,800 m, much of it in excellent

condition. This is probably one of the largest and most

pristine areas of this habitat in the Annamites. Other

habitat types surveyed included forest in the east of the

reserve at 1,400-1,800 m which is dominated on ridge-tops

and valley-sides by a cypress-like conifer Fokienia hodginsii

(surveyed during 7-18 April), stunted mossy upper montane

forest at 1,800-2,284 m (14-15 April) and semi-evergreen

forest at 200-500 m along the southern border of the reserve

(10-11 March).

Some parts of the reserve received additional coverage in

1995 (Duckworth etal. 1998) and 1996 (Tizard etal. in prep.).

Forktail 13 (1998)

Records of birds from Laos during January-July 1994

71

The reserve is linked by an unprotected corridor of

habitat to the karst habitats of Hin Namno NBCA to the

south. This corridor has been recommended for improved

protection (Berkmtiller et al. 1995).

During the survey, logging of Fokienia hodginsii was

taking place in the mountainous heart of the reserve. The

target area was at around 1 ,500 m in the headwaters of Nam

Xot and the logs were being removed by helicopter. A road

had been built to allow access from outside the reserve to the

lowland enclave of Ban Navang and from there construction

was underway to extend the road right across the remotest

parts of the reserve to reach the logging area and allow timber

to be removed by truck. By April 1994 this high-altitude

logging road already allowed easy access to formerly remote

forest up to 1 , 1 00 m. Road construction and Fokienia logging

had apparently ceased by early 1995 but this maybe temporary.

Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA, North Laos.

3 person-weeks during 24 January-2 February; and several

visits in April.

SeeTimmins and Evans (1994) andWCS (1996b). Figure2.

The extension was proposed by Berkmtiller et al. (1995).

It covers about 550 1cm2, stretching north from Nam Phao

along the Lao-Vietnamese border. In 1994 the southern

extremity of this area was surveyed, around Nam Kwai east

of Ban Nape. The Nam Kwai area was dominated by wet

72

T. D. EVANS and R. J. TIMMINS

Forktail 13 (1998)

evergreen forest. This appears to occur in the area because

the summit ridges of the Annamites are relatively low

(below 1,000 m) and do not bar the passage of rain-clouds

carried by the south-easterly winter monsoons. Since the

site also experiences the south-westerly summer monsoons

which bring rain to the rest of Laos it has a much less

pronounced dry season than the rest of the country. This

forest type may be similar to the ‘everwet’ forest occurring

in neighbouring Vu Quang Nature Reserve in Vietnam

(MacKinnon and Dung 1992). On the basis of topography

it is also predicted to occur extensively further north in the

proposed reserve.

Two scientific collecting expeditions have visited the

Nam Theun Extension and the Nakay Plateau. The Fourth

Expedition to French Indochina, led by Jean Delacour,

visited for less than four weeks during January-February

1928 (Delacour 1929). The Legendre Indochina Expedition

visited for ten days in January 1932 (Dickinson 1970).

They both visited the wet forests east of Ban Nape, degraded

areas around Ban Nape and the Nakay Plateau (referred to

as either ‘Nam Theun’ or ‘Nakay’), the only parts of the area

then accessible by car. Parts of the Nam Theun Extension

received further coverage in 1996 (Tizard et al. in prep.).

Nakay Plateau, Central Laos.

10 person-weeks during 5 February- 1 May.

See Timmins and Evans (1994), WCS (1995) and WCS

(1996b). Figure 2.

The Nakay Plateau covers about 1,250 km2 of which

about 350 km2 lies within Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA. A

large area also lies in the Nam Theun Corridor Proposed

NBCA, which would link Nakay Nam Theun NBCA with

Khammouane Limestone NBCA. The Plateau is at 500-

600 m and at the time of the survey supported an old growth

pine/semi-evergreen forest mosaic, the broad-leaved trees

predominating along major rivers, streams and other

depressions, the frequently burnt pines occupying drier,

slightly raised areas. There were also large areas of scrub

and cultivation on the Plateau, around the margins of the

reserve and in three large enclaves in the major river valleys

amongst the mountains. Many static wetlands occurred in

occupied areas of the Plateau. Although most covered only

a few hectares during the survey, in the wet season they may

be much more extensive. The largest visited was Nong

Boua, which during the February visit was a shallow pool

less than 100 m in diameter with some short emergent

vegetation and an extensive bare, heavily grazed margin.

Previous coverage of the Nakay Plateau is mentioned

under the Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA, above.

The Nakay Plateau received additional coverage in 1995

(Duckworth et al. 1998) and 1996 (Tizard et al. in prep.).

A large reservoir is planned for the Nakay Plateau as part of

the Nam Theun II Hydroelectric Project. Salvage logging and

road construction had begun at the time of the 1994 surveys

and 1996 had destroyed very extensive areas offorest. However,

at the time of writing there was some doubt as to whether the

project would go ahead, due to controversy about the

involvement of the World Bank (Anon. 1995, 1996). A large

proportion of the Nakay Plateau, including the vast majority

of the rivers and streams, would be inundated by the project.

Furthermore, a stretch of the Nam Theun for 40 km downstream

of the plateau may cease to flow for much of the year.

Xe Bang Nouan NBCA, South Laos.

Six person-weeks, 27 May - 8 July.

See WCS (1996a). Figure 3.

The reserve covers 1,300 km2 in the provinces of

Savannakhet and Salavan, comprising two flat lowland

portions (280-350 m in the east, 130-240 m in the west)

divided by a central range of hills that exceed 1 ,200 m, with

other high hills along the north-eastern margin. Surveys

were mainly below 800 m. The reserve includes nearly the

entire watershed of the Xe Bang-Nouan River and is wholly

surrounded by villages and cultivated land.

Both the Eastern and Western lowland areas are a mosaic

of dry dipterocarp forest, other open habitat and denser

mixed deciduous/ semi-evergreen forest. The denser forests

have been heavily degraded by past commercial logging and

include numerous abandoned villages. The lowlands are

heavily used by local people, with the Xe Bang-Nouan river

the focus of activity. The Central Hills are a mosaic of

mixed deciduous, semi-evergreen and evergreen forest.

This area is less disturbed than the lowlands and seems

degraded only at its periphery.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Records of birds from Laos during January-July 1994

73

Other sites visited

The following sites were visited more briefly.

1 . Phou Khao Khouay NBCA (North Laos). The southern

fringe of this large, mountainous reserve was visited

during 21-22 March. The site, near Ban Nakhay, was a

gently sloping outcrop of rock several kilometres square

at 250-550 m altitude with patches of thin sandy soil

supporting stunted dry dipterocarp forest. Ban Nakhay

was revisited in 1 995 and other areas of the reserve were

also surveyed (Duckworth et al. 1998).

2. The Mekong River in Vientiane (North Laos) on 19

February.

3. Ban Pakthoay (North Laos) on 21 May.

4. Pha Hua (Central Laos) This is part of a spectacular

karst outcrop close to Ban Lak (20) . Forest and fields on

a small saddle along the east facing flank of this outcrop

were visited on 3 February (4a) and 30 April (4b) . Forest

remained only in areas too steep or rocky to cultivate.

5. A ridge flanking the Nam Theun to the south of Ban Lak

(20) (Central Laos). The north facing slope is a mixture

of scrub and cultivation, but degraded dry evergreen

forest remains on the south-facing slopes. Visited on 26

April.

6. The town of Thakhek, Khammouan Province (Central

Laos). Bird records come from 7-8 January.

7. Ban Lak Khao (Central Laos). Broad-leaved forest,

probably semi-evergreen, on a low ridge and around the

feet of karst limestone outcrops amongst farmland.

Visited on 22-23 May. Two villages nearby, Ban Nakayak

and BanNampik, were visited briefly since Green Peafowl

Pavo muticus had once been reported there.

A number of birds were also observed for sale, dead, in

the market at Ban Lak (20), Central Laos. The exact

provenance of these birds could not be established, but

probably included parts of both North and Central Laos

from which vendors could easily reach Ban Lak (20) by bus.

METHODS

The same field methods were used as in other recent

surveys of birds in Laos (Thewlis et al. 1996, Duckworth

1996, Duckworth et al. 1998, Evans et al. in prep., Tizard

et al. in prep.), namely:

1 ) Opportunistic diurnal observation, attempting to cover

the full range of habitats but with an emphasis on those

where Key species were most likely to occur, especially

semi-evergreen forest and wetlands. Observation by

night was more restricted than by day, but occurred at

many sites in the four main study areas. Unknown calls

by day or night were often taped for later identification.

2) Boat-based surveys were undertaken on the Nakay

Plateau and in Nakay-Nam Theun and Xe Bang-

Nouan NBCAs. Boats were usually paddled, and

typically 10 km of river were explored in a day.

3) Discussions with local people. These provide valuable

indications of the presence of some large or distinctive

species/species groups (for example Green Peafowl or

storks). In many cases the reported localities were

investigated by subsequent field visits.

An abundance was assigned for each species at each site

(Appendix 2) . Common species were typically found daily;

Frequent species were found on more days than not;

Occasional species were found infrequently and some were

unlikely to have been regular members of the community.

Many species were known to be present but abundance was

not assessed, due to a variety of reasons. Categorization was

determined by the number of records, viewed subjectively

in the light of the ease of detection and identification of the

bird and the natural density range of the species.

RESULTS

Bird communities at the study sites

The accounts concentrate on Key species communities at

the main study sites, but non-Key species are also mentioned.

Since Key species records are discussed in detail in Thewlis

et al. (in prep.) it was not felt appropriate to reiterate all the

information here under separate species accounts. Key

species are highlighted in Appendix 2.

Phou Khao Khouay NBCA

The brief visit confirmed the continuing presence of Green

Peafowl at this site, first reported to protected area staff by

local people earlier in 1994. At least six calling males were

detected in the communal roosting site visited, and local

reports suggested birds also roosted elsewhere in the vicinity.

There are very few sites where Green Peafowl have been

confirmed to survive in Laos (Evans and Timmins 1995).

Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA, Nam Theun Extension Proposed

NBCA and the Nakay Plateau

This group of sites proved to be exceptionally rich in

birds. Nearly 400 species were recorded in 1 994, and more

were added in 1995 (Duckworth et al. 1998) and 1996.

This is due in part to the great range of altitude and forest

types. Many species, particularly those of higher altitudes,

were found for the first time in Central Laos, since there

had been almost no previous fieldwork above about 1 ,000 m.

Despite the great size of the area, hunting has had an

impact on the avifauna in the lowlands, and it appears that

Green Peafowl, vultures and breeding storks no longer

occur in the area, although the habitat is still suitable.

Nonetheless, ten Globally Threatened species and

21 Globally Near-threatened species have been confirmed

to occur during 1994-1995 (there were no additions in

1996) This assemblage rivals that of the outstanding Xe

Pian NBCA in southern Laos (Thewlis et al. in prep.).

The Southern Escarpment is the lowest part of the area

and supported a few species (including Blue-eared Barbet

Megalaima australis, Orange-breasted Trogon Harpactes

oreskios and Golden-crested Myna Ampeliceps coronatus ) at

higher densities than elsewhere in this group of sites. The

Nakay Plateau supported both submontane and lowland

species, but the avifauna was primarily submontane in

character; lowland species such as Siamese Fireback Lophura

diardi, Banded Kingfisher Lacedo pulchella, Banded Broadbill

Eurylaimus javanicus, Dusky Broadbill Corydon sumatranus ,

Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente, Black-and-

buff Woodpecker Meiglyptes jugularis and Scaly-crowned

Babbler Malacopteron cinereum occurred at low densities.

The lower-altitude rivers, in particular those on the

Nakay Plateau, were most notable for their populations of

White-winged Ducks Cairina scutulata (6-12 occupied

home-ranges are estimated, Evans et al. 1997), Blyth’s

Alcedo Hercules and Crested Kingfishers Megaceryle lugubris,

Lesser Fish Eagles Ichthyophaga humilis, River Lapwings

74

T. D. EVANS and R. J. TIMMINS

Forktail 13 (1998)

Vanellus duvaucelii (see Duckworth et al. in prep, for more

details) and Green Imperial Pigeons Ducula aenea. Tawny

Fish Owl Ketupa flavipes and Grey-headed Fish Eagle

Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus were also provisionally identified.

Important non-riverine species on the Plateau included Jerdon’s

Baza Aviceda jerdoni, Pied Falconet Microhierax melanoleucos ,

Siamese Fireback, Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus ,

Yellow- vented Treron seimundi and White-bellied Green

Pigeons T. sieboldii, Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo Carpococcyx

renauldi and White-winged Magpie Urocissa whiteheadi. The

Plateau and adjoining lower mountain slopes between them

supported important populations of Brown WombiWAnorrhinus

tickelli, Rufous-throated FulvettaH/appe rufogularis and Y ellow-

vented Warbler Phylloscopus cantator. Great Buceros bicomis

and Wreathed Hombills Aceros undulatus were found on the

lower mountain slopes in small numbers.

At higher altitudes the rich small bird fauna included

several of regional or even global conservation concern,

such as Spectacled Fulvetta Alcippe rufieapilla , Red-tailed

Laughingthrush Garrulax milnei and Green Cochoa Cochoa

viridis. Regular records of Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros

nipalensis and Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa represented

significant range extensions and suggested that Nakay-Nam

Theun may be of special importance for these two species.

The wet evergreen forests in the Nam Theun Extension

Proposed NBCA supported many bird species found mainly

at higher altitudes in Nakay-N am Theun NBCA, for example

Golden-throated Barbet Megalaimafranklinii, White-tailed

Robin Myiomela leucura, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler

Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps, Blue-winged Minla Minla

cyanouroptera , Chestnut-fronted Shrike Babbler Pteruthius

aenobarbus, Eyebrowed Wren Babbler Napothera epilepidota,

Golden Babbler Stachyris chrysaea, Silver-eared Mesia

Leiothrix argentauris and White-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula

monileger. Species found in the Nam Theun Extension but

not Nakay-Nam Theun included Striated Yuhina Yuhina

castaniceps and Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta.

The wet evergreen forests also held some very important bird

populations, in particular high densities of Crested Argus

Rheinardia ocellata and Grey Laughingthrush Garrulax maesi

(both of which occurred at lower densities in Nakay-Nam

Theun). Spotted Wren Babbler Spelaeomis formosus was

found, the first record for Indochina. A pair of Short-billed

Scimitar Babblers Jabouilleia danjoui was the first record

outside (albeit only marginally outside) Vietnam and raises

the possibility that some other Vietnamese endemics may

occur in Laos.

The number and diversity of raptors seemed high in

comparison with other sites in Laos surveyed before and

since. Migrant raptors were seen passing through, including

a total of 20 Crested Serpent Eagles Spilomis cheela north¬

west over the Nakay Plateau on 5 March; 35 Grey-faced

Buzzards Butastur indicus north-west over Ban Lak (20) on

18 March and five on 25 March; and 40 or more Black

Bazas Aviceda leuphotes north over the mountainous centre

of Nakay-Nam Theun on 15 April.

The likely impacts of the Nam Theun II project on the

avifauna of the Nakay Plateau have been investigated in

some depth by WCS (1995) but a great deal of additional

work will be required to assess the full impact. Amongst

birds, particularly significant effects are likely to be

experienced by White-winged Duck, Blyth’s Kingfisher,

Tawny Fish Owl, Lesser and Grey-headed Fish Eagles,

Pied Falconet, River Lapwing, Green Imperial Pigeon,

Rufous-throated Fulvetta and White-winged Magpie.

Xe Bang Nouan NBCA and surroundings

Bird communities were apparently quite depauperate. The

survey took place at the beginning of the rainy season, so

calling rates for some elusive species (e.g. Grey Peacock

Pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum) may have differed from

those at other Lao sites surveyed recently during the dry

season. Nonetheless, it was believed that the paucity of

records of Key Species represented genuinely low densities,

probably due to a combination of heavy human pressure,

relative dryness of the denser forest types and lack of

undisturbed wetlands.

Of greatest significance were two Globally Threatened

species, Siamese Fireback and Red-collared Woodpecker

Picus rabieri, the latter occurring quite commonly in logged

forests, the first time this has been noted in Laos. Near-

threatened species included Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo.

Many of the larger bird species expected to occur were not

recorded and are believed to be extinct (e.g. Green Peafowl,

vultures and storks). This was mirrored in the low levels of

many large mammal populations (WCS 1996a).

Nonetheless, some hunting-sensitive species were recorded,

such as Wreathed, Great and Brown Hornbills, mainly in

the Central Hills sector.

Selected species accounts

A full list with status assessments for each site and sector is

given in Appendix 2. The following accounts give further

details for records which are of interest mainly because they

are either: new for Laos (not listed by Mlikovsky and

Inskipp in prep.), new to Central Laos (not listed for

Central Laos by King etal. 1975, Delacour 1929 orThewlis

et al. 1996) or seldom recorded in Laos. A few species are

discussed because they exhibited plumage features not

described in the literature or their identification is in doubt.

Only records which qualify under these criteria are detailed;

if records of a species from certain sites do not qualify, they

are not listed in the text, only in Appendix 2. Accounts of

provisionally identified species are placed in square brackets.

No records from Xe Bang-Nouan NBCA merited discussion

in this section.

Spotted Wren Babbler was recorded for the first time in

Indochina. Eight other species new to Laos were recorded:

Greylag Goose Anser anser, Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus

saturatus , Yellow-vented Green Pigeon, White-bellied

Green Pigeon, Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus,

Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler, Red-tailed Minla Minla

ignotincta and Fork-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga christinae.

No new species for South or North Laos were recorded in

1994, but 55 species wholly new for Central Laos were

recorded, as well as two other species provisionally

identified. All of these species are highlighted in the

‘Historical’ column of Appendix 2. Two species recorded

only from Ban Lak(20) market might also be new for

Central Laos but their provenance was not confirmed.

Both were found elsewhere in Central Laos during 1995

(Duckworth et al. 1998).

In addition to those records which are certainly new to

Central Laos and which are given accounts in the main text,

Appendix 1 lists other species for which previous records

from the region are uncertain. Appendix la lists the many

species, which King et al. (1975) omitted to list for Central

Laos despite being recorded there by Delacour (1929).

Some of Delacour’s records may have been reassessed by

King et al. and found unacceptable, (in which case records

Forktail 13 (1998)

Records of birds from Laos during January-July 1994

75

from 1994 would be new) but others seem likely to have

been overlooked. Appendix lb lists species which were

recorded by King et al. (1975) for Central Laos but for

which no published references can be found other than

Delacour and Jabouille ( 1 940), which is mainly a secondary

source; records from 1994 for these species also represent

the first explicit reports from Central Laos.

Greylag Goose Anser anser

On the Nakay Plateau one was seen at Nong Boua on 6

February. It was associating with about 200 wild ducks

(mainly Common Teal Anas crecca and Garganey Anas

querquedula ) . Local people assured us that it was a wild bird.

In support of this, the authors have yet to see a single wild-

type domestic individual of any Anser species in Laos.

Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) traced no records for

Laos.

Great Barbet Megalaima virens

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common at 1 ,000- 1 ,200 m

in dry evergreen forest and present, abundance uncertain,

at 1,200-1,800 m in dry evergreen and Fb&zem’a-dominated

forest.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common at 1 ,000- 1 ,800 m

in dry evergreen forest and Fokienia- dominated forest.

They were mostly in groups of up to five in fruiting trees.

Several groups could easily be seen or heard in one day, the

males at least calling often. They were easily approachable,

and seemed to be a prime target for hunters judging by the

numerous remains along paths and in campsites in area

where they were present. One was seen flying across the

Nam Pheo valley, probably coming from dry or wet evergreen

forest at around 700 m.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Blyth’s Kingfisher Alcedo Hercules

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA two singles and a pair along

10 km of the Nam Pheo (28 April) and a pair seen

repeatedly on another stretch of the Nam Pheo and a

smaller tributary stream (26-28 April). On the Nakay

Plateau one on the Nam Mon, tributary of the Nam Xot (15

March).

These are the first records for Central Laos. Also present

on the Nam Kwai in the Nam Theun Proposed Extension

NBCA.

Nam Kwai, Nam Mon and Nam Pheo are all large

permanent streams (up to 10 m across) flowing gently over

sluggish or stony courses through forest (including quite

degraded forest) at 550-650 m. No Blyth’s Kingfishers

were seen on larger, slow-flowing forested rivers at similar

altitudes, despite a great deal of survey effort.

The calls of the birds on the Nam Pheo were noted

consistently as ‘sit’ or ‘ship’, markedly less shrill than River

Kingfisher and similar to the soft (rather than the harsh)

flight calls of Slaty-backed Forktails Enicurus schistaceus

found on the same stretches of river. This accords with the

description in Fry and Fry (1992) but contrasts with the

relatively harsh call mentioned by Long et al. (1992).

Blue-throated Bee-Eater Merops viridis

On the Nakay Plateau a party of about ten was seen along

the Nam On on 30 April.

This is apparently a very scarce passage migrant in Laos

(David-Beaulieu 1 949) and there are few records. The only

other recent records in Laos are of several parties flying over

Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA in 1 996 (R. J. Tizard and J. W.

Duckworth per R. J. Tizard, verbally 1996).

Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA recorded 7-23 April.

Commonly heard in Fokienia- dominated forest at 1,400 -

1,800 m and in dry evergreen forest in the Houay Morrow

valley down to 1,000 m. A few were heard elsewhere in the

reserve in dry evergreen forest above 1,000 m. One was

heard in forest on karst limestone at Pha Hua on 30 April

at 800 m.

Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) traced no previous

records for Laos.

Swiftlets Collocalia sp.

Flocks of unidentified swiftlets were seen throughout the

survey period at Nakay Nam Theun NBCA, the Nakay

Plateau and Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA and on

road journeys through Khammouane province (essentially,

the northern half of Central Laos) over the same period.

Concentrations of several thousand were seen when weather

conditions were still and overcast, particularly over deforested

lowland valleys (although large flocks over forest might have

been overlooked). The region includes extensive karst

limestone mountains where the swiftlets may breed. We can

trace no previous records of swiftlets from Central Laos

other than a few in 1993 (Thewlis et al. 1996).

House Swift Apus affinis

A few were seen amongst flocks of other swifts and swiftlets

over the town of Thakhek on 7 and 8 January.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Fish Owls Ketupa sp.

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA there was a day-time sighting

of Buffy Ketupa ketupu or Tawny Fish Owl K. flavipes in

forest along Nam Xot, at 650 m on 18 January. On the

Nakay Plateau there was a day-time sighting of Buffy or

Tawny Fish Owl in forest along Nam Xot at 520 m on 3

March.

The river was 20-30 m wide at the locations of both

sightings. The observers wish to avoid identifying these

species using size alone as a criterion until they are familiar

with both species, but the March bird was strongly suspected

to be Tawny, since it was markedly larger than Brown

Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica , which is itself larger than

Buffy Fish Owl according to King etal. (1975) andBoonsong

and Round (1991). Neither Buffy nor Tawny Fish Owl was

then known from Central Laos. Duckworth et al. (1998)

report feathers of Tawny Fish Owl from the Nam Theun 40

km downstream of the Nakay Plateau, on the border of

North and Central Laos.

Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA calls of this species were

heard on 1 1 April in Fo&zbra'u-dominated forest at 1,600 m

(identified from tapes by P. Round, in litt. 1996). Elsewhere,

an unfledged captive bird was seen in Ban Nampik on 22

May and was said to have been caught nearby.

There are no previous records for Central Laos.

[Hodgson’s Frogmouth Batrachostomus hodgsoni

In Nakay Nam Theun NBCA calls provisionally attributed

to Hodgson’s Frogmouth were heard several times during

April in dry evergreen forest at 1,000 - 1,050 m.

These resembled calls heard in South Laos in 1993 and

also attributed to this species (Thewlis et al. 1996). There

76

T. D. EVANS and R. J. TIMMINS

Forktail 13 (1998)

remain only two confirmed records of Hodgson’s Frogmouths

in Laos, of singles in the North (Delacour and Greenway

1940) and South (Dickinson 1970) so if confirmed these

would be the first records for Central Laos.]

[Javan Frogmouth Batrachostomus javensis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA calls provisionally attributed

to Javan Frogmouth were heard on 19 January in dry

evergreen forest at 650 m near the middle reaches of the

Nam Xot (one giving the ‘gwiir hirr hirr’ call, around

09h00) . On the Nakay Plateau calls provisionally attributed

to Javan Frogmouth were heard on 6 February in semi¬

evergreen forest at 550 m north of Ban Sop-On (three

together giving the ‘gwirr hirr hirr’ call at around 12h00);

1 March in semi-evergreen forest at 550 m near Ban

Namxot (one giving a loud, slightly descending whistle and

later another uttering loud, quavering laughs, both by

night) and 10 March in another area of semi-evergreen

forest at 5 5 0 m near Ban Namxot (one giving the ‘gwirr hirr

hirr’ calls by day).

These calls were indistinguishable from calls heard by the

authors in several areas of Laos in 1992-1993 and attributed

to this species (Thewlis etal. 1996) but their identity has yet

to be confirmed. There remain no confirmed records from

Indochina (Mlikovsky and Inskipp in prep.) .]

Yellow-vented Green Pigeon Treron seimundi

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA seven or more were seen

with at least three Thick-billed Green Pigeons Treron

curvirostra and one White-bellied Green Pigeon T. sieboldii

on 10-11 March on the Southern Escarpment and another

1 km or so away on the same day.

Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) traced no previous

records for Laos.

White-bellied Green Pigeon Treron sieboldii

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA two singles were seen on 10

March in heavily degraded semi-evergreen forest at 400 m

on the Southern Escarpment. A Yellow-vented Green

Pigeon briefly joined one and the other was with seven

Yellow-vented and three Thick-billed Green Pigeons in a

fruiting tree. [On the Nakay Plateau there was a provisional

record of 1-3 at 520 m near the lower Nam Xot on 13

March.]

Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) traced no previous

records for Laos.

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

On the Nakay Plateau a party of about 50 at Nong Boua on

9 February and 30 flying over fields a few kilometres to the

south-east next day, possibly involving the same individuals.

These are the first records for Central Laos. There have

been records of single individuals from North Laos (David-

Beaulieu 1944) and South Laos (Thewlis et al. 1996)

Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni

On the Nakay Plateau one was seen flying over newly

cleared fields along the Nam On on 5 February.

This is the first record for Central Laos.

Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis

One was seen for sale in Ban Lak (20) market on 20 April.

If the bird was caught locally, this would be the first

record for Central Laos, but see comments under ‘Study

Sites’ above. There are only two previous records from

Laos, both from the North (David-Beaulieu 1 944), although

there were several more in 1995 (Duckworth et al. 1998).

Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii

On the Nakay Plateau three singles were seen: an adult on

5 February and immatures on 15 March and 1 April.

These are the first records for Central Laos. The species

was first recorded in Laos in the South in 1993 (Thewlis et

al. 1996).

Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis

[In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA provisionally identified

birds were seen on 20 January at 600 m in dry evergreen

forest along the middle Nam Xot and on 1 1 April at 1 ,400 m

in Fokienia- dominated forest.] On the Nakay Plateau one

was seen in riverine forest beside the lower Nam Noy at 550

m on 2 April. Two were offered for sale in Ban Lak (20)

market on 1 5 January (but did not necessarily come from

Central Laos, see ‘Study Sites and Coverage’ above). [One

was provisionally identified on 26 April at 750 m in dry

evergreen forest on the ridge just south of Ban Lak (20).]

There appears to be only one previous record for Laos, a

specimen collected at Nan Neune by A. David-Beaulieu on

3 March 1940, and originally identified as a Changeable

Hawk Eagle S’. cirrhatus (Ripley 1953). King et al. (1975)

list the species from North Laos and this presumably refers

to the Ripley record. The Nakay Plateau bird is thus

probably the first record for Central Laos.

[Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga

On the Nakay Plateau one (provisionally identified) was

seen before dusk on 4 April near Ban Sop-On flying over an

extensive area of paddies, apparently in search of a roost

site.

This is only the second record for Laos. The first was an

undated specimen taken beside the Xe Banghiang (the

border between Central and South Laos) by David-Beaulieu

(1949-1950).]

Black Stork Ciconia nigra

On the Nakay Plateau an immature was seen soaring above

the Nam Theun downstream of Ban Nam Theun on 29

February.

This is the first record for Central Laos. The species was also

recorded on the Nakay Plateau in 1995 (Duckworth et al.

1998).

Bi.ue-napeo Pr rTA Pitta nipalensis

One was seen dead in Ban Lak (20) market on 7 March 1994.

If caught locally this would be the first record for Central

Laos, but see comments under ‘Study Sites’, above.

Long-tailed Shrike Lanins schach

On the Nakay Plateau one was seen on 6 February at 550

m in scrub near Ban Sop-On.

This is the first record for Central Laos.

Short-billed Minivet Pericrocotus brevirostris

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA the species was common in

small groups, as part of mixed species flocks, in Fokienia-

dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m. One pair was watched

feeding young in the nest on 9 April.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone atrocaudata

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA one was seen on 1 3 April in

Fokienia- dominated forest at 1,600 m.

This is the first record for Central Laos and only the

second for Laos, the first being on the Bolaven Plateau in

April 1930 (Engelbach 1932).

Forktail 13 (1998)

Records of birds from Laos during January-July 1994

77

Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBC A common above 1,400 m in

Fokienia- dominated forest and upper montane forest.

Commonest in the understory of areas of broad-leaved

forest in valley bottoms.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common at 1,400-1,800 m

in Fokienia- dominated forest and present, abundance

uncertain, above 1,000 m in dry evergreen forest and above

1,800 m in upper montane forest.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Large Niltava Niltava grandis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common above 1,000 m in

dry evergreen forest and at 1,400-1,800 m in Fokienia-

dominated forest and present, abundance uncertain, above

1,800 m in upper montane forest. Areas of open, ridge-top

forest were preferred.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common above 1,000 m in

dry evergreen forest and at 1,400-1,800 m in Fokienia-

dominated forest. Areas of broad-leaved, valley bottom

forest were preferred. One was recorded on 15 January at

600 m in dry evergreen forest near Ban Nakadok.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Fujlan/Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava davidi! sundara

InNakay-Nam Theun NBCA present, abundance uncertain,

in dry evergreen forest at 600-900 m around Ban Nakadok.

In Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA common at

600-900 m in wet evergreen forest near Nam Kwai. On the

Nakay Plateau occasional in semi-evergreen forest at 500-

550 m.

Six males (five during 25-29 January near Nam Kwai and

one on 9 March on the Nakay Plateau) showed clearly the

shining blue forecrown and darker hindcrown which

distinguish Fujian Niltava according to Dickinson (1973)

and Boonsong and Round (1991). Several also had the flanks

and belly paler than the breast. Most other males seen

moderately well were also suspected to be Fujian by these

criteria. The females are not thought to be identifiable in the

field

The identification and taxonomy of this closely related and

possibly conspecific pair are not fully understood (Inskipp et

al. 1996) and in view of this we prefer to treat these records

as provisional. The only record of either form from Central

Laos appears to be the report that an unspecified number

were found in January-February at Nam Theun (and the

nearby Ban Nape, in North Laos) by Delacour (1929). This

record appears to be treated as davidi by Delacour and

Jabouille (1940), but Dickinson (1973) reassigned it to N.

sundara. Thus our records from Nakadok and the Nakay

Plateau may prove to be the first records of davidi for Central

Laos.

Pygmy Blue flycatcher Muscicapella hodgsoni

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA there were records of singles

or groups of two on 8, 13 and 1 4 April at 1 ,400- 1 ,800 m in

.Fo&z'ema-dominated forest. All were in broad-leaved valley-

bottom forest. A pair was watched nest-building on 8 April.

These are the first records for Central Laos. The only

other records for Laos are from the Bolaven Plateau in 1 993

(Thewlis et al. 1996)

White-capped Water Redstart

Chaimarrornis leucocephalus

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA two were seen repeatedly

during 17-20 January on the Nam Xot at 600 m.

These are the first records for Central Laos. One was also

seen on the Nam Phao (Nam Theun Extension Proposed

NBCA, marginally in North Laos) at 600 m on 3 1 January.

None was seen along the upper reaches of the Nam Xot at

1,500 m in April. David-Beaulieu (1944) suggested that

the species was an altitudinal migrant in the province of

Tranninh (roughly equivalent to the modern province of

Xieng Khouang, North Laos). He thought that the species

bred at high altitudes and descended to the lowlands at

300-500 m from November to March.

[Purple Cochoa Cochoa purpurea

In Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA a putative

record made on 29 January was mentioned by Timmins

and Evans ( 1994) and quoted in several secondary sources.

The observer has now withdrawn this since the birds could

not be distinguished from the unusually dark-plumaged

Green Cochoas Cochoa viridis recently recorded elsewhere

in Central Laos. There are no historical or recent records

from Laos.]

Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA one was seen alone in dry

evergreen forest at about 950 m. A group of three and two

singles were seen in mixed flocks at 1,500-1,700 m in

Fo&zemfr-dominated forest.

Elsewhere it is known from 1,300-2,000 m in Bhutan,

India, North Burma, north Laos, north Vietnam, small

parts of Yunnan and one site in Thailand (Collar et al.

1994) so these records represent the most south-easterly

population known, the first records for Central Laos and

the lowest published altitudinal record.

Yellow-cheeked Tit Parus spilonotus

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA present in dry evergreen

forest, Fokienia- dominated forest and upper montane forest

from 1,200-2,100 m and common at least from 1,400-

1,800 m.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA seen four times at 1,000-

1,400 m in dry evergreen forest and twice in Fokienia-

dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus

On the Nakay Plateau a group of two was watched in

excellent viewing conditions for 15 minutes on 28 February

along the course of the Nam Theun below Ban Nam

Theun. They were accompanied by 30 or more unidentified

Asian/Northern House Martins Delichon dasypus! urbica.

Another party of five Asian/Northern House Martins was

seen on 30 April near Ban Don.

Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) tracedno confirmed records

of Asian House Martin for Laos, and the first record for Vietnam

was reported as recently as 1989 (Laurie et al. 1989).

Identification was based chiefly on the black underwing

coverts, markedly darker than the greyish flight feathers. This

feature was clearly visible due to the elevated viewpoint, so the

birds were seen against a dark neutral background . Supporting

features were the shallow tail fork and sullied chest, but see

Duckworth et al. (1998) for a discussion of these features.

78

T. D. EVANS and R. J. TIMMINS

Forktail 13 (1998)

Mountain Bulbul Hypsipetes mcclellandii

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common above 1,000 m in

dry evergreen and Fokienia- dominated forest and present,

abundance uncertain, in mossy upper montane forest above

1,800 m.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Slaty-bellied Tesia Tesia olivea

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common in dry evergreen

forest above 1,000 m and in Fokienia-dominated forest at

1,400-1,800 m and present, abundance uncertain, in upper

montane forest above 1,800 m.

There are no known records from Central Laos. Delacour

(1929) reported the similar Grey-bellied Tesia T. cyaniventer

from east of Ban Nape, on the border of North and Central

Laos, but only Slaty-bellied was recorded there in 1994. At

the time of Delacour’s record the taxonomy of these two

tesias was uncertain. It is therefore possible that some

confusion surrounds the naming of these tesias in historical

accounts and a careful review of all existing specimens is

needed.

Japanese Bush Warbler Cetria diphone

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA one was seen on 4 March

in a large bamboo thicket amongst scrub and farmland at

520 m near Ban Soupen.

This is the first record for Central Laos.

[Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti

On the Nakay Plateau one was seen in semi-evergreen

forest at 520 m on 27 February.

This is the first record for Central Laos, but remains

provisional in view of the presence of a similar, apparently

undescribed form of Phylloscopus warbler in a nearby part of

Central Laos (Duckworth et al. 1998).].

White-tailed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus davisoni

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common above 1,000 m in

dry evergreen forest, Fokienia-domimted forest and upper

montane forest.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Yellow-vented Warbler Phylloscopus cantator

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common in dry evergreen

forest at 600-750 m around Ban Nakadok and the middle

Nam Xot. On the Nakay Plateau frequent in semi¬

evergreen forest at 520-550 m around Ban Namxot.

These are the first records for Central Laos. Individuals

often joined mixed flocks and called frequently. The latest

record was of four separate individuals near Ban Namxot

on 8 March.

Lemon- rumped Warbler Phylloscopus chloronotus

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA frequent in Fokienia-

dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Grey-cheeked Warbler Seicercus poliogenys

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common at 1,400-1,800 m

in Fokiettia-dominated forest (preferring the lusher, broad¬

leaved forest of the valley floors) and present, abundance

uncertain, above 1,800 m in upper montane forest.

These are the first records for Central Laos. They showed

yellow throats, creamy chins and all grey lores.

Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA one on 12 April at about

1,100 m in dry evergreen forest, locally common in valley-

bottom broad-leaved forests in the area of Fokienia-

dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m and present in upper

montane forest above 1,800 m.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Rufous-faced Warbler A broscopus albogularis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA found from 600-1,800 m in

dry evergreen forest and Fokienia-dominated forest. It was

commonest above 1,000 m.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Greater necklaced Laughingthrush Gamdax pectoralis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA parties on 8 and 9 April in

Fokienia- dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m. On the Nakay

Plateau parties on 28 February and 2 March in semi¬

evergreen forest at 520 m.

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes Gamdax monileger were

also present in these areas, sometimes in the same mixed-species

flocks, and there were several records which could not be

assigned to species. These are the first records from Central

Laos.

Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush

Gamdax erythrocephalus

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common above 1,800 m in

upper montane forest on Phou Laoko, with one record from

an isolated summit away from this area at 1,750 m.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Red-tailed Laughingthrush Gamdax milnei

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA five records in dry evergreen

forest at 1,000-1,200 m and two records in Fokienia-

dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler Jabouilleia danjoui

In Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA a party of two

was seen at 750 m on 28 January in wet evergreen forest

near Nam Kwai

Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) traced no previous

records for Laos. The species was previously thought

endemic to Vietnam (Collar et al. 1994).

Streak-breasted/White-browed Scimitar Babbler

Pomatorhinus ruficollisl schisticeps

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA four records, as follows:

1 1 January, 650 m, above Ban Nakadok. One seen with

streaks on the sides of the breast meeting across the middle,

a pale area below that and streaks across the belly.

1 3 April, 1 , 1 00 m, dry evergreen forest above Ban Navang.

One seen with slight brown streaking on the sides of the breast.

1 6 April, 1 ,000 m, dry evergreen forest above BanNavang.

One seen with streaks on breast sides, which met across the

top of the breast.

17 April, 1,600 m Fokienia- dominated forest. Two seen

with heavy streaking along flanks and sides of breast.

On the Nakay Plateau two records as follows:

6 February, 520 m, Nakay Plateau. Two seen with faint

streaking on the sides of breast almost meeting across the

centre. Lower flanks and lower belly brownish.

4 March, 520 m, Nakay Plateau. One seen with the sides

of the breast strongly washed brown and streaked white.

Centre of the breast flecked brown, flanks with scattered

brown streaks.

All eight of these birds were less well-streaked than any

ruficollis in the collection of the BM(NH). However, seven

of them were markedly more heavily streaked than normal

schisticeps. A few specimens from Laos, labelled P. r. beaulieui,

Forktail 13 (1998)

Records of birds from Laos during January-July 1994

79

have less extensive and more variable streaking than most

ruficollis and so come closest to the well-streaked birds

seen in 1 994, but even beaulieui tends to show a completely

streaked breast and only one, a specimen from Tengyueh

in west-central Yunnan, has a pale, unmarked breast

patch below a streaked breast band, a feature shown by

several of the 1994 birds. The bird of 13 April was

indistinguishable from White-browed Scimitar Babbler,

but the identity of the others remains uncertain. The Nam

Theun headwaters may well represent a zone of

hybridization between these two forms, which elsewhere

in their range act as distinct species (see Duckworth et al.

1998 for further discussion).

Red-billed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA frequent or occasional to

common from 600-1,800 m in dry evergreen forest and

Fokienia- dominated forest.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Coral-billed ScimitarRabbler Pomatorhinus ferruginosus

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common at 1,000-1,400 m

in dry evergreen forest and noticeably commoner in

Fokienia-dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

The birds were very markedly paler below than those

pictured in Boonsong and Round (1991). There are only

two skins of the Indochinese race orientalis in the BM

(NH) but comparison of these with our field notes and

photographs of an individual netted in Nakay-Nam Theun

NBCA suggests that birds there are paler below than

orientalis and might represent a new race. They were

whitish below, washed light brown, with a wholly white

chin and throat standing in slight contrast. They were not

wholly white below, unlike the birds seen on the Bolaven

Plateau in 1993 (Thewlis et al. 1996) which may thus

represent another new form, or the extreme of a cline (C.

Robson, in litt. 1995).

An occupied nest with three eggs was found on 1 3 April

at 1,200 m. It was about 50 cm above ground on the side

of a low mound amongst a pile of leaves and twigs. The nest

cavity was conical, about 1 5 cm deep and 1 0 cm wide at the

mouth, and sloped gently upwards. The nest was constructed

of twigs, leaves and fronds from rattans and ferns. The eggs

were pure white. When one of the adults was mist-netted,

two other individuals circled the observers repeatedly making

scolding calls and feigning injury to distract them.

Pygmy Wren Babbler Pnoepyga pusilla

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA one was seen on 13 April in

thick vegetation along the banks of Nam Xot at 1,500 m.

Calls taped in the same area on 1 0 April were subsequently

identified as this species (C. Robson and P. Round, in

litt. 1994).

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Spotted Wren Babbler Spelaeomis formosus

In Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA calls recorded

from wet evergreen forest at 600-900 m near Nam Kwai

on several dates during 24 January - 2 February were

identified as this species by C. Robson ( in litt. 1994). There

was also a sighting on 30 January in the same area, but

this remains provisional. It was clearly a Spelaeomis and

resembled formosus closely in body size, tail shape and size,

bill structure, the large pale feet, the warm brown remiges,

rectrices and rump all finely barred with black, the dark

brown upperparts and head with fine white speckles and

the dull brown underparts. However, all the skins examined

in the BM(NH) showed white spotting on the breast and

particularly the throat (though this was rather

inconspicuous on some), whereas the 1994 bird apparently

had none.

The species was known from Mount Victoria (Burma)

and nowhere else in South-East Asia (King etal. [1975]; see

also the lack of records in Mlikovsky and Inskipp [in prep.])

so this constitutes the first record for Indochina. There is a

subsequent record from northern Vietnam (Robson 1995).

The nearest known population is in Yunnan (King et al.

1975).

The numbers of the illustrations of Y. formosus and Y.

troglodytoides in Etchecopar and Hue (1983) are apparently

transposed, which can cause confusion.

Babbler Stachyris sp.

On the Nakay Plateau a babbler, closely resembling ‘Buff¬

chested Babbler Stachyris ambigua’ as described by King

et al. (1975), was seen in a large thicket of tall bamboos at

500 m near Ban Soupen on 4 March 1994. Its call was an

often-repeated, mellow ‘hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo’

without an introductory first note. The call was also heard

in degraded habitats near Ban Namxot and Ban Sop-On.

There are considerable differences of opinion over the

taxonomy of this group, which King et al. (1975) placed in

four species - Y. ambigua, S. mficeps, S. rufifrons and Y.

rodolphei (the last of which is not reported from Indochina) .

The subtle plumage colours in this group change significantly

after death, making the use of skins rather difficult.

Examination of skins at the BM(NH) suggests the Nakay

bird was closest to Stachyris rufifrons insuspecta (which is

known from southern Laos) or Stachyris mficeps mficeps

(from Burma). Deignan (1939) suggested these two forms

may be conspecific. Inskipp et al. (1996) lump Y. mfifrons

and Y. ambigua in Y. mfifrons and retain Y. mficeps as a full

species. No member of this species group is currently

known from Central Laos.

Cutia Curia nipalensis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA two on 14 April in Fokienia-

dominated forest at 1,750 m.

This is the first record from Central Laos.

White-browed Shrike Babbler Pteruthius flaviscapis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common above 1,000 m in

dry evergreen forest, Fokienia- dominated forest and upper

montane forest. Many appeared to be holding territory, and

a nest was found on 22 April.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Black-eared Shrike Babbler Pteruthius melanotis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA there were four records in

dry evergreen forest above 1,000 m and three in Fokienia-

dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Chestnut-eared Shrike Babbler Ptemthius aenobarbus

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA singles on 13 and 14 April

in Fokienia- dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Spectacled Barwing Actinodura ramsayi

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA frequent in Fokienia-

dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m and present down to

1,000 m in dry evergreen forest.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

80

T. D. EVANS and R. J. TIMMINS

Forktail 13 (1998)

Blue-winged Minla Minla cyanouroptera

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common above 1,400 m in

Fokienia- dominated forest and upper montane forest, and

present, abundance uncertain, in dry evergreen forest down

to 1,000 m.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Chestnut-tailed Minla Minla strigula

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA very common in upper

montane forest above 1,800 m on Phou Laoko and seen

on an isolated summit away from this area at 1,750 m.

There are no previous records for Central Laos.

Red-tailed Minla Minla ignotincta

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common in mixed-species

flocks above 1,400 m in both Fo&zema-dominated forest

and upper montane forest.

Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.) traced no previous

records for Laos

Rufous-winged Fulvetta Alcippe castaneceps

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common above 1,000 m in

dry evergreen forest, Fokienia- dominated forest and upper

montane forest.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Spectacled Fulvetta Alcippe ruficapilla

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA two were seen on 15 April

at 2,100 m in upper montane forest on the main ridge of

Phou Laoko.

This is the first record for Central Laos. The race of these

birds is not clear but in comparison with known races they

were notable for their thin eyerings (which were pale but

not white), their lack of a distinct wing pattern and the

indistinctly marked throat, with whitish streaking. Eames et

al. (1994) treated the record as A. r. danisi , based on field

notes from RJT.

Rusty-capped Fulvetta Alcippe dubia

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common in Fokienia-

dominated forest at 1,400-1,800 m.

These are the first records for Central Laos. Birds were

usually seen moving through the understory in twos as part

of mixed-species flocks. They invariably showed quite

heavy brown-washed underparts, leaving only the centre of

the upper breast whitish. This wash on the underparts

seemed more extensive than on any specimens examined in

the BM(NH).

Long-tailed Sibia Heterophasia picaoides

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common at 1,000-1,800 m

in dry evergreen forest and Fokienia- dominated forest, and

present, abundance uncertain, above 1,800 m in upper

montane forest.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common above 1,800 m in

upper montane forest, occasionally recorded at 1,400-

1,800 m in Fokienia- dominated forest and present on an

isolated summit away from this area at 1,750 m.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Grey-headed Parrotbill Paradoxomis gularis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA there were sightings of

singles on 13 and 17 April at 1,000 m and a party of ten

on 18 April at 1,300 m, all in dry evergreen forest, and a

single on 13 April in Fokienia-dominated forest at 1,600 m.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Golden Parrotbill Paradoxomis verreauxi

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA two groups of two were seen

on 8 April in Fokienia- dominated forest at about 1,500 m.

They were in tall herbage and bamboo in dense broad¬

leaved valley-bottom forest.

These are the first records from Central Laos.

Mrs Gould’s Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA frequent at 1,000-1,400 m

in dry evergreen forest and common at 1,400-1,800 m in

Fokienia- dominated forest.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Green- tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common above 1,800 m in

upper montane forest, where it apparently replaced Mrs

Gould’s Sunbird.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Fork-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga christinae

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA common in both wet and

dry evergreen forests at 600-1,000 m. It co-existed at these

altitudes with smaller numbers of Black-throated Sunbirds

Aethopyga saturata. Present, but scarcer, in dry evergreen

forest up to 1,400 m. On the Nakay Plateau present, though

not common, in broad-leaved evergreen forest strips

amongst pines at 500-600 m.

Remarkably, previous collectors who visited some of

these sites overlooked it. Mlikovsky and Inskipp (in prep.)

traced no records from Laos.

Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata

On the Nakay Plateau , one on 7 February in scrub at 550

m near Ban Sop-On. Elsewhere, one in fields 3 km north

of Ban Lak (20) on 3 February.

These are the first records for Central Laos.

Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila

In Nakay-Nam Theun NBCA one on 14 April at 1,500 m

near Nam Xot in grass clumps beside a helicopter landing

pad in Fokienia- dominated forest.

This is the first record for Central Laos.

Without the cooperation, advice and permission of the National

Office for Nature Conservation and Watershed Management,

Protected Areas and Wildlife Division, in Vientiane and the district

and provincial offices responsible for the NBCAs the work would not

have been possible. We were accompanied in the field by Bill Bleisch,

Alan Rabinowitz, George Schaller, Somphong Souliyavong, Boonhom

Sounthala, Sukotha Vannalat, Pheng Phaengstintham and Sisomphane

Chai Noi. We are particularly indebted to Vene Vongphet, Sivanavong

Siwathvong , Bouaphanh Phanthavong, Klaus and Unchae Berkmuller,

Bob Dobias, Stuart Chape, Veesai, Tomas Jonsson, Gill Timmins,

John and Angela Evans, Roger Safford, R. Vickery, Mike Bruford, the

staff of the Thakhek Forestry Office, Richard Ranft at the British

National Sound Archive (Wildlife Section), Guy Dutson, Craig

Robson, Phil Round, Martha Schwarz, Will Duckworth, Richard

Thewlis, the manager of the PhouDoi II Hotel, Ban Lak (20) and the

residents of the study areas. The help of the curators of the bird

collection and herbarium of the BM(NH) are also gratefully

acknowledged. The survey was entirely funded by The Wildlife

Conservation Society, through a grant from The MacArthur

Foundation. Will Duckworth commented on a draft of this paper.

Forktail 13 (1998)

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81

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20:9-50.

Deignan, H. G. (1939) Three new birds of the genus Stachyris. Pitbl.

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Delacour J. (1929) On the birds collected by the fourth expedition to

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Delacour, J. and Jabouille, P. (1940) Liste des oiseaux de l’lndochine

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and Evans, T. D. (1998) Ornithological records from Laos,

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status of the River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii in Laos, with

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Evans, T. D., Robichaud, W. G. and Tizard, R. J. (1997) The White¬

winged Duck Cairina scutulata in Laos. Wildfowl 47: 81-96.

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Peafowl Pavo muticus in Lao PDR. Forktail 11:1 1-33.

Evans, T. D., Duckworth, J. W. and Timmins, R. J. (in prep.) Field

records of mammals from Laos during 1994-1995.

Evans, T. D., Thewlis, R. M., Towll, H. C., Timmins, R. J., Stones,

A. J. and Dymond, N. (in prep.) Ornithological records from the

lowlands of southern Laos during December 1995-May 1996,

including areas on the Thai and Cambodian borders.

Fry, C. H. and Fry, C. (1992) Kingfishers, bee-eaters and rollers: a

handbook. London: Christopher Helm.

King, B, Woodcock, M. and Dickinson, E. C. (1975) A field guide to

the birds of South-East Asia. London: Collins.

Inskipp, T., Lindsey, N. and Duckworth, W. (1996) An annotated

checklist of the birds of the Oriental Region. Sandy, Bedfordshire,

U.K.: Oriental Bird Club.

Laurie, A., Ha Dinh Due and Pham Trung Anh (1989) Survey for

Kouprey Bos sauveli in western Daklak Province, Vietnam.

Unpublished: The Kouprey Conservation Trust.

Long, A., Eames, J. and Robson, C. (1992) Hints on the identification

of five Alcedo kingfishers in the Orient. Bull. Oriental Bird Club 15:

18-23.

MacKinnon, J. and Dung, V. V. (1992) Draft management plan for

Vu Quang forest Reserve, Huong Khe District, Ha Tinh Province,

Vietnam. Hanoi, Vietnam. Unpublished report to Ministry of

Forestry.

MacKinnon, J. and MacKinnon, K. (1986) Review of the protected

areas system in the Indo-Malayan realm. Gland, Switzerland and

Cambridge, U.K.: Oxford University Press.

Mlikovsky, J. and Inskipp, T. P. (in prep.) Annotated checklist and

bibliography of the birds of Indochina.

Ripley, S. D. (1953) Notes sur les oiseaux de Laos. L’Oiseau R.f.O.

23: 89-92.

Robichaud, W. G. (1992) Report on bird surveys, HoueiNhang forest

reserve. Unpublished report to Lao-Swedish Forest Resources

Conservation Programme, Vientiane.

Robson, C. (compiler) (1995) From the field. Bull. Oriental Bird Club

22: 57-62.

Round, P. D. (1988) Resident forest birds in Thailand, their status and

distribution. Monograph No 2. Cambridge, U. K.: ICBP.

Salter, R. E. (1993) Wildlife in Lao PDR. A status report. Vientiane: IUCN.

Sibley, C. G. and Monroe, B. L. (1990) Distribution and taxonomy of

birds of the world. NewHaven: Yale University Press.

Sibley, C. G. and Monroe, B. L. (19934 Supplement to distribution and

taxonomy of birds of the world. NewHaven: Yale University Press.

Thewlis, R. C. M., Duckworth, J. W., Anderson, G. Q. A., Dvorak,

M., Evans, T. D., Nemeth, E., Timmins, R. J. and Wilkinson, R.

J. (1996) Ornithological records from Laos during October 1992

- August 1993. Forktail 1 1: 47-100.

Thewlis, R. M., Timmins, R. J., Evans, T. D. and Duckworth, J. W.

(in prep.) A preliminary assessment of the status and conservation

of threatened birds in Laos.

Timmins, R. J. and Evans, T. D. (1994) A wildlife and habitat survey

of Nam Theun National Biodiversity Conservation Area,

Khammouane and Bolikhamsai Provinces, Lao PDR. Draft.

Vientiane: The Wildlife Conservation Society.

Tizard, R. M., Timmins, R. M., Robichaud, W. G. and Duckworth,

J. W. (in prep.) Recent ornithological records from North Laos

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in Thailand. Tigerpaper 17 : 1-9.

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T. D. EVANS and R. J. TIMMINS

Forktail 13 (1998)

APPENDIX 1

NOTES ON SPECIES LISTED FOR CENTRAL LAOS BY KING et al. (1975)

a) The following species were reported in Central Laos by

Delacour (1929) but not listed by King et al. (1975). Those

marked NNT/NP were found in 1994 in Nakay-Nam Theun

NBCA and/or the Nakay Plateau, those marked PXH were

found in Phou Xang He NBCA in 1 993 (Thewlis et al. 1 996)

and those marked DJ were listed for Central Laos by Delacour

and Jabouille ( 1 940) . We have examined most other historical

sources for Central Laos and King et al. apparently included

all the records they list.

Blue-rumped Pitta Pitta soror PXH, NNT/NP, DJ

Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae NNT/NP

White-tailed Flycatcher Cyomis concretus PXH, NNT/NP

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyomis tickelli [PXH], [NNT/

NP]

Orange-flanked Bush Robin Tarsiger cyanurus NNT/NP

White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti PXH, NNT/

NP

Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala NNT/NP

Pale-footed Bush Warbler Cettia pallidipes

Hill Prinia Prinia atrogularis

Spot-necked Babbler Stachyris striolata NNT/NP, listed as

Tringhorhina guttata by Delacour (1929)

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis

[NNT/NP]

Streaked Wren Babbler Napothera brevicaudata NNT/NP, DJ

Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps PXH NNT/NP, DJ

Silver-eared Mesla Leiothrix argentauris NNT/NP

Striated Yuhina Yuhina castaniceps NNT/NP, DJ

Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta NNT/NP

Little Spiderhunter Hrac/mor/zera longirostra PXH, NNT/NP

Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla NNT/NP

b) The following species are listed for Central Laos by King et

al. (1975). The sole authority for this seems to be not primary

published records but the review of distribution by Delacour

and Jabouille (1940), who perhaps made use of unpublished

sight records, or even inference based on distribution in

surrounding areas. Alternatively, the comment ‘toute

l’lndochine’ by Delacour and Jabouille may merely imply

‘present in Laos’ or ‘present in Haut and Bas-Laos’ and thus

perhaps known from South but not Central Laos, rather than

‘present in all three parts of Laos’. Codes are the same as for

list ‘a’, above.

Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus grantia, PXH, NNT/NP

Stripe-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos atratus , NNT/NP

Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis, PXH,

NNT/NP

Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus , [NNT/

NP]

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo, NNT/NP

Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina, NNT/NP

Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki, NNT/NP

White-tailed Robin Myiomela leucura, NNT/NP

Green Cochoa Cochoa viridis , NNT/NP

Mountain Tailorbird Orthotomus cuculatus, NNT/NP

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus, NNT/NP

Delacour and Jabouille (1940) specifically mention Rusty-

naped Pitta Pitta oatesi [NNT/NP] and Blvth’s Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus reguloides PXH, NNT/NP for ‘Laos central’ but

do not indicate where they were found, and no primary records

can be found.

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APPENDIX 2

LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING 1994

Key species status is indicated in descending order of concern

by the codes GT (Globally Threatened), GNT (Globally Near-

threatened), ARL (At Risk in Laos), PARL (Potentially at Risk

in Laos) and LK (Little Known in Laos). Only the highest code

is given for each species.

Minor sites are: 1 . Phou Khao Khouay NBCA (North Laos) 21-

22 March; 2 . Mekong River, Vientiane (North Laos) 1 9 February;

3. Ban Pakthoay (North Laos) 21 May; 4. Pha Hua (Central

Laos) 3 February (4a) and 30 April (4b); 5. A ridge south of Ban

Lak (20) (Central Laos) 26 April; 6. Thakhek, Khammouane

Province (Central Laos) 7-8 January; 7. Ban Lak Khao (Central

Laos) 22-23 May.

Provisional identifications are in square brackets. If all records

are provisional, the species name is also in square brackets.

Subjective assessment of abundance is denoted by C (Common),

F (Frequent) or O (Occasional), as described in the text. Many

species were known to be present (P) but abundance was not

assessed, due to a variety of reasons. Where a species occurrence

was particularly patchy, the code is prefixed with L (Local). [R]

indicates that apparently reliable local reports were received.

The ‘Historical’ column summarizes historical records from the

Nakay Plateau and Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA,

and indicates the significance of the 1 9 94 records . D = recorded

by Delacour (1929), D1 = Ban Nape, D2 = ‘Nam Theun’, D3

= ‘Nakay’ . L = recorded by the Legendre expedition (Dickinson

1970), LI = Ban Nape, L3 = ‘Nakay’. NL indicates a species

new for Laos, NCL a species new for central Laos.

The following additional species were recorded only as dead

birds for sale in Ban Lak (20) market: Barred Buttonquail

Tumixsuscitator, Oriental Scops Owl Otussunia, Ruddy-breasted

Crak e Porzana fusca, Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis,

Eared Pitta Pitta phayrei and Blue-naped Pitta Pitta nipalensis

GNT. Eared Pitta was also recorded at Ban Nape by Delacour

(1929).

Legend for column headings

ddf = dry dipterocarp forest

def = dry evergreen forest

deg. = degraded habitats

Fdf = Fokienia- dominated forest

mdf = mixed deciduous forest

sef = semi-evergreen forest

umf = upper montane forest

wef = wet evergreen forest

Footnotes to Appendix 2

1 . Laced Woodpecker. Showed a strong preference for second

growth rather than tall forest.

2. Wreathed Hombill. Recorded once at 700 m in logged dry

evergreen forest above Ban Navang.

3. Dollarbirds. Recorded commonly March onwards. They

may be seasonal visitors.

4 . Indian Cuckoo . Heard commonly only after the first week of

March.

5 . Plaintive Cuckoo . Present m second growth near Ban Navang.

6. Drongo Cuckoo. Apparently seasonal callers - no calls

before late February; heard daily thereafter.

7. Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo. Apparendy seasonal callers.

Only heard March onwards.

8. Green pigeon. Type B covers calls indistinguishable from T.

curvirostra.

9. Green pigeon. Type A covers calls unlike T. curvirostra and

sightings of larger, wedge-tailed birds.

10. Snipe sp. Includes some Swinhoe’s/Pintail Snipe G. megalat

stenura.

1 1. Common Snipe. Identified from congeners by distinct call

and presence of extensive white trailing edge ofwing, following

Boonsong and Round (1991).

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APPENDIX 3

GAZETTEER

The gazetteer follows the same format as that in Thewlis etal. (1996). All localities are placed in two biogeographical classifications:

the ‘North’ (N), ‘Central’ (C) and ‘South ‘ (S) Laos of King et al. (1975) and the Central Indochina (10a) or Annam Trung-Song

Mountains ( 1 Ob) subunits of MacKinnon and MacKinnon (1986). Co-ordinates, altitude and place-names have been standardized

to follow the Republique Democratique Populaire Lao Service Geographique d’Etat 1 : 1 00,000 map series, except for the Bolaven Plateau

and Mekong (which are mapped as, respectively, Phoupiang Bolaven and Nam Khong). Local names are used for sites not named

on these maps, and are labelled ‘not marked’ in the first column, below. Co-ordinates are given as points for small sites and ranges

for large areas or rivers.

Alternative spellings relate to the following texts indicated by superscript numbers: 1: The Times atlas of the world (1985) 7th edition;

2: Nelles 1:1,500,000 map of Vietnam, Laos and Kampuchea; 3: Delacour (1929); 4: Dickinson (1970). Sites within protected

areas are not detailed, since they lie within the co-ordinates given for that site. Co-ordinates are rounded to the nearest minute.

FORKTAIL 13 (1998): 97-107

Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex

PER ALSTROM

Four taxa are recognised in the Mirafra assamica complex: assamica Horsfield, affinis Blyth, microptera Hume,

and marionae Baker; subsessor Deignan is considered to be a junior synonym of marionae. These four taxa differ

in morphology and especially in vocalizations. Both assamica and microptera have diagnostic song-flights, while

affinis marionae have similar song-flights. There are also differences in other behavioural aspects and habitat

between assamica and the others. On account of this, it is suggested that Mirafra assamica sensu lato be split into

four species: M. assamica , M. affinis , M. microptera and M. marionae. English names proposed are: Bengal Bushlark,

Jerdon’s Bushlark, Burmese Bushlark and Indochinese Bushlark, respectively.

The Rufous-winged Bushlark Mirafra assamica Horsfield

is usually divided into five subspecies: assamica Horsfield

(1840), affinis Blyth (1845), microptera Hume (1873),

subsessor Deignan (1941), and marionae Baker (1915)

(Peters 1960, Howard and Moore 1991). One further

taxon, ceylonensis Whistler (1936), is sometimes recognized,

but following Ripley (1946) and Vaurie (1951) most recent

authors treat it as a junior synonym of affinis. The name

marionae is actually predated by erythrocephala Salvadori

and Giglioli (1885), but this does not appear to have been

used since it was introduced, and I therefore propose that

the name marionae be conserved. No morphological study

of all taxa has been published, but Ali and Ripley (1973)

and Vaurie (1951) have made comparisons between

assamica and affinis. The vocalizations, as well as song-

flights and other behavioural aspects, are superficially,

sometimes even incorrectly, described in the literature

(. assamica and affinis, Ali and Ripley 1973; microptera,

Smythies 1986 [incorrectly referred to therein as assamica ];

and marionae, Boonsong and Round 1991). This study

compares all five taxa with respect to morphology, and the

ones which I consider valid are thereafter compared with

respect to vocalizations, behaviour and habitat choice, on

which bases I propose that they are better treated as four

separate species.

Mirafra assamica sensu lato breeds from the Indian

subcontinent to Vietnam (Fig. 1). M. a. assamica occurs

in northern India south to northern Madhya Pradesh and

northernmost Orissa, east through Nepal, Bangladesh, and

westernmost Myanmar (Burma). M. a. affinis occurs in

southern India north to southeasternmost Bihar and

southernmost West Bengal (Ball 1874, 1878), and in Sri

Lanka. M. a. microptera is endemic to central Myanmar.

M. a. subsessor is found in northern Thailand, and marionae

in southern Burma (Tenasserim), Thailand except north

and peninsula, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam. (Peters

1960, Howard and Moore 1991).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

I studied each of these taxa in the American Museum of

Natural History, New York, USA and the Natural History

Museum, Tring, U.K. (100+ assamica, c. 90 affinis, c. 45

microptera, 30+ marionae, and 2 subsessor ). Pamela C.

Rasmussen examined 6 further specimens of subsessor

(including the holotype) on my behalf in the Smithsonian

Institution, Washington, D.C., USA. I have examined c.

20 specimens of ceylonensis, though I have not compared it

in detail with affinis, and I have only measured four

specimens (of which two were unsexed). For all taxa,

measurements of wing length (with the wing flattened and

stretched; method 3, Svensson 1992), tail length, bill length

(to skull), bill depth (at distal end of nostrils), tarsus length

and hind-claw length were taken of specimens whose labels

indicated their sex.

I studied assamica in the field in northern India

(Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam) and

Nepal during several visits in the period 1983-1997; affinis

in central and southern India (Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and

Tamil Nadu) in February 1993; microptera in Myanmar in

late March/early April 1996; and marionae in Thailand in

April 1991, March 1992 and April 1996. At least 50-100

individuals of each taxon were observed, and a large

proportion of these were heard singing/calling and seen in

song-flight. I have not observed subsessor in the field.

I tape-recorded songs and calls of assamica, affinis,

microptera and marionae (c. 10 individuals of each taxon),

using a Sony WM-D6 cassette recorder, a Sony TCD-D3

DAT recorder or a Sony TCD-D7 DAT recorder and a

Telinga Pro parabolic reflector/microphone (mono). I also

obtained tape-recordings made by others: three individuals

of affinis from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (Claude

Chappuis), three affinis from Tamil Nadu (Paul Holt), two

affinis from Tamil Nadu (Sivaprasad 1994; wherein

scientific name is wrongly given as Mirafra erythroptera,

Indian Bushlark), and one microptera from central

Myanmar (Craig Robson).

I produced sonagrams of most of the individuals I tape-

recorded, using the computer software SoundEdit Pro/

SoundEdit 16 (version 2) from Macromedia and the

software Canary 1.2 (Mitchell et al. 1995). The sound

analysis terminology used in this paper is explained in Fig.

2. The term ‘note’ refers to any discrete sound unit.

In Myanmar, I searched for sympatry between microptera

and assamica and microptera and marionae. I made many

stops in different habitats along the road between Prome

(Pye)-Taungdwingyi-Magwe-Pagan (Bagan)-Myingyan-

Mandalay-Meiktila-Pyinmana and from Pegu-Yangon

(names from The Times Atlas of the World, comprehensive

edition, 1993; route shown in more detail in Nelles Maps,

Burma [no year given]). In the Myingyan district in central

98

P. ALSTROM

Forktail 13 (1998)

Figure 1. Map showing distributions of the four taxa in the Mirafra assamica complex. Drawing: Per Alstrom

Myanmar, where both assamica and microptera have been

said to occur (Macdonald 1906), I checked most places

with habitats which appeared to be suitable for assamica.

RESULTS

Morphology

According to Deignan (1941) subsessor differs from marionae

in having ‘the prevailing tone of the upperparts gray, as in

assamica , not rufescent, as in marionae' . I was, however,

unable to find any differences between subsessor and

marionae , and Pamela C. Rasmussen (in litt.) comments that

it is just barely perceptible that marionae is a bit more

rufescent above than subsessor, and that ‘whether subspecific

denomination is merited is arguable’. The measurements

do not support that subsessor be upheld as a separate taxon

(Table 2). Accordingly, subsessor is here treated as a junior

synonym of marionae. The taxon ceylonensis was originally

described on the basis of being slightly longer-billed and

slightly darker (Whistler 1936; see also Whistler 1944). I

have not compared ceylonensis and affinis in detail, but Vaurie

(1951) concluded that ceylonensis ought to be treated as a

junior synonym of affinis. However, Abdulali (1976) stated

‘I have already referred (in press) to the validity of this large¬

billed race, with and without rufous underparts, occurring

in Ceylon and in a very restricted area in southernmost

India.’ No relevant publication has been traced and

ceylonensis is regarded as invalid pending further information.

The plumage differences between assamica, affinis,

microptera and marionae are slight and overlap to a great

degree, and I cannot find any single character to be

diagnostic. However, by using a combination of characters

(Table 1), each taxon can be identified by plumage alone.

M. a. assamica stands out from the others, in particular

because of its less contrasting head pattern and darker

underparts. Most of the measurements overlap extensively

between the taxa (cf. Table 2). However, the bill is

consistently deeper in both sexes of assamica than in any

other taxon (no overlap in bill depth and bill depth/bill

length ratio), and the tail is proportionately longer in males

of microptera than in the others (little or no overlap in tail/

wing ratio) (cf. Table 2). Note that because of sexual

dimorphism, the sexes should be compared separately.

Vocalizations

Songs

The song of assamica consists of a thin, high-pitched,

slightly hoarse, squeaky, usually disyllabic note, which is

repeated monotonously at short (c. 0.35-0.60 s, sometimes

longer) intervals for periods up to a few minutes. It can be

transcribed as e.g. il(-)eez, with equal stress on both

syllables (Fig. 3a); ii(-)eez_, with the stress on the second

syllable (Fig. 3b); iiuf-)eez , with the stress on the first

syllable; or with an additional note, uuf-)eez dzreee. Short

spells of what appears to be mimicry of the song of

Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus are sometimes included,

especially during the descent. This song is usually delivered

in a song-flight (see Behaviour, below), and only rarely from

the ground. It also has a different type of song, which is a

slow paced jingle of thin, high-pitched notes and mimicry

(Fig. 4). This second type of song is mainly given from the

Forktail 13 (1998) Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex 99

shows narrow huffish

tip to inner web.

100

P. ALSTROM

Forktail 13 (1998)

Table 2. Measurements of assamica, affinis , microptera and marionae with mean, standard deviation and number.

Measurements by the author in the American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA and the Natural History

Museum, Tring, U.K, and by Pamela C. Rasmussen of 6 subsessor in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.,

USA. Includes 3 live males each of microptera and. marionae. All measurements in mm.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex

101

kHz

8-

2-

0.0

— i - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 —

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0

6.0

S

Figure 2. Sonagram terminology used in this paper. This figure

shows one complete strophe consisting of 22 elements (separated

from other strophes by a pause). Ten of the elements are

arranged in phrases. One of these (a) consists of two different-

looking elements, and this phrase is given three times, while

another phrase (b) consists of four identical elements.

b)

kHz

8-

2-

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

3.0

3.5

4.0 S

- 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 -

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 S

Figure 3. Part of common type of song of assamica, Chitwan, Figure 4. Part of less common type of song of assamica ,

Nepal, March 1994. All tape recordings by Per Alstrom. Kaziranga, Assam, India, February 1994.

kHz

- 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 -

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 S

Figure 5. A complete song strophe of affinis, Hyderabad, Figure 6. Part of type 1 song (4 strophes) of microptera, Bagan,

Andhra Pradesh, India, February 1993. Myanmar, March 1996.

kHz

8-

6-

4-

kHz

8-

- 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - - 1 - 1 - 1 - i - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 -

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 S 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 S

Figure 7. A complete strophe of type 2 song of microptera. Figure 8. Part of type 3 song of microptera, Bagan, Myanmar,

Bagan, Myanmar, March 1996. March 1996.

ground or a low perch, but occasionally also in flight. Ali

and Ripley (1973) incorrectly state that the vocalizations

of assamica are the same as those of affinis.

The song of affinis is a drawn-out (generally c. 3.5 s, up

to c. 4.5 s) dry, metallic, rather high-pitched, ‘straight’

rattle, which could be transcribed as zizizizezeze

zezezezezezezezezezezezezezezezeze (Fig. 5). Sometimes a

rapidly ‘pumping’ variant, which could be transcribed as

zerrr-zerrr-zerrr-zerrr-zerrr-zerrr-zerrr-zerrr-zerrr-zerrr, is

given. The song is delivered from a perch, often rather high

(e.g. a tree, telephone wire etc.) and in a short song-flight

(see Behaviour, below). The description of the song of

affinis in Ali and Ripley (1973) appears to be a combination

of the songs of affinis and M. erythroptera (these two are

said to be ‘almost identical’, but this is not the case

according to Alstrom et al. in prep.).

M. a. microptera has three different types of song:

Type 1: The commonest type consists of 3-10 short,

high-pitched, squeaky, jingling, varied notes, delivered at

a quick, almost explosive, pace (entire strophe on average

slightly less than 1 s). Each strophe is generally given 2-4

times in succession, and the strophes are interspersed b}^

rather long (usually a few seconds) pauses. In a 259 s long

recording of one male 17 out of 62 strophes and 108 out

102

P. ALSTROM

Forktail 13 (1998)

kHz

8-

4-

kHz

6-

4-

i i i i i i i i

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 S

Figure 9. A complete song strophe of marionae , near Khao

Yai, Thailand, April 1991.

- 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 -

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 S

Figure 10. A complete song strophe of marionae , near Kaeng

Krachan, Thailand, April 1996 (same individual as in Figs. 12

and 13).

Figure 11. A complete song strophe of marionae ,

near Khao Yai, Thailand, March 1992.

4-

9-

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

Figure 12. A complete song strophe

of marionae, near Kaeng Krachan,

Thailand, April 1996 (same

individual as in Figs. 10 and 13).

o.o

0.5

1.0

1.5

3.0

— i - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 -

3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 S

4.0 S

Figure 13. Part of atypical song of marionae, delivered in flight,

near Kaeng Krachan, Thailand, April 1996 (same individual as

in Figs. 1 1 and 12).

Figure 14. Calls of assamica, Chitwan, Nepal, March 1994.

Forktail 13 (1998)

Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex

103

- - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 —

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

d)

Figure 15. Calls of affinis, near

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India,

_i _ | _ | _ | February 1993.

4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 S

- 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 -

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 S

kHz

8-

6_ ififmifiiiiHifiHMMimiiiiiMiiintf

4-

0.0

0.5

— i - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 —

1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

— i - 1 -

3.5 4.0 S

Figure 16. Calls of microptera , Bagan, Myanmar, March

1996.

Figure 17. Call of marionae, near Ivhao Yai, Thailand, April

1991.

kHz

8-

2-

- 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 -

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 S

Figure 18. Call of marionae, near Khao Yai, Thailand, April

1991.

of 400 elements are unique. See Fig. 6 and Table 3. This

song type is given from a perch, generally rather high up

(e.g. a tree, a telephone wire or a building).

Type 2: This is markedly different from the first. Each

strophe consists of 8-20 rather high-pitched notes, of which

most (at least half) are markedly drawn-out (up to 0.37 s).

The strophes average nearly 5 times as long as in the first

type, and phrases occur in approximately 2/3 of the strophes

(only rarely in the first song type). One example of a strophe

could be transcribed as: tsi(-) tsi(-)tsiii (-) tsiii(-) tsuii(-) tsi

(-)ee(-)tsuu(-)tsi(-)eee(-)tsuu(-)tsi(-)eee(-)tsi(-)tsuu(-)tsiii

(Fig. 7). This song type is less common than the first. It is

chiefly sung in a short, low song-flight (see Behaviour,

below), apparently mainly when another male is suspected

of intruding into the territory. It is also given from the

ground or a low perch (e.g. a small rock, a mound of earth

or a small bush). See Fig. 7 and Table 3.

Type 3: This has exclusively been noted in the high,

prolonged song- flight (see Behaviour, below). It is basically

similar to the first, although the strophes are on average

more than twice as long (due to on average twice as many

elements per strophe); the strophes are less often repeated;

phrases are more common; and the pauses are on average

distinctly shorter. Frequently, the song ends (during the

descent) with the second song type. See Fig. 8 and Table 3.

All three types are different from the song of affinis and

from the typical song of assamica. Flowever, elements in

the first and third types of song resemble some elements

in both the ‘jingling type’ of song and in the calls of assamica

(cf. Figs. 4, 14), and elements in all three types are

reminiscent of elements in some of the ‘calls’ of affinis (cf.

Fig. 15). For a comparison with marionae , see below.

The song of marionae is different from the songs of assamica

and affinis (though more similar to ‘calls’ of the latter, see

below). It is also different from microptera ’s first and third

types of song. It resembles microptera1 s second type in several

respects, although a careful comparison reveals differences

(cf. Table 3). The song consists of high-pitched, thin, mosdy

drawn-out notes, which appear in phrases of 1-3 elements

(Fig. 9-12); when the strophe is built up of only one repeated

element, this element often gradually changes appearance

(Fig. 12). The strophes are relatively long (c. 2-8 s, on

average c. 4.5 s) and consist of up to c. 50 elements (on

average c. 20). The strophes are interspersed by pauses of a

104

P. ALSTROM

Forktail 13 (1998)

few seconds. Each strophe is often given 2-3 times in

succession. A few examples of song-strophes could be

transcribed as tzi-tzeeep (-) tzeeep (-) tzeeep (-) tzeeep ( -)tzeeep

(-) tzeeep (-) tzeeep (-) tzeeep (-) tzeeep (-) tzeeep (-) tzeeep (Fig. 9) ;

tzi( -) tzeee (-) tzeeut(-) tzeee(-) tzeeut(-) tzeee (-) tzeeut(-) tzeee

( -)tzeeut( -)tzeee( -)tzeeut( -) tzeee(-)tzeeut (Fig. 10); and

peeez(-) piz( -)piz-peeez( -) piz (- )piz-peeez (■ -) piz( -)piz-peeez( -) piz

(-) piz-tzuueez (-) piz (-) piz-tzuueez (-)piz(-) piz-tzuueez

(-)piz(-)piz-tzuueez. (Fig. 11). The song is delivered from

the ground or from a perch such as a fence post, telephone

wire, small tree etc. The song is also now and then given

in a short, low song-flight (see Behaviour, below).

On one occasion (in 1996), after a male marionae had

been exposed to playback for considerable time, an extreme

type of song was heard (Fig. 13). This was a continuous,

drawn-out (16.9 s) ramble of various thin whistles (‘cuts’

from various strophes of the same individual’s typical song,

as well as other elements which may well have come from

typical song, although I did not record these) and rattling

calls (see below). Compared to typical song, there was a

significantly higher proportion of different elements, as well

as other differences (cf. Table 3). This song could be

considered to consist of only one strophe, or of 5 strophes

separated by calls (though there were no pauses). In several

respects this song is actually more similar to the flight-song

(type 3) of microptera than to typical song of marionae (cf.

Table 3). The main differences from type 3 song of

microptera are in the proportion of unique elements, the

presence of phrases, and the presence of the diagnostic

rattling calls (though note that one song of microptera which

included an extremely high number of phrases had only a

mean of 74.4% unique elements per strophe [n=13 unique

strophes], and in the microptera song with the highest

number of phrases 53.8% of 13 unique strophes had

phrases). This song was delivered in a song-flight which

was unusually long in duration, and during which the bird

drifted sideways a longer distance than is usual in this taxon.

Calls

The calls of assamica are variable, thin, high-pitched, short

notes, which are generally given in short, almost explosive

series e.g. tzrep-tzit( -) tzee (-) tzee (-) tzuil (Fig. 14a), or tzrep-

tzit(-) tzee (-) tzuii (-) tzee ( -)tzee (-) tziiii (Fig. 14b). The calls

of assamica are not closely similar to the calls of any other

taxon (though somewhat reminiscent of the first and third

types of song of microptera ; see above).

M. a. affinis calls with a short (c. 0.25-0.3 s), high-

pitched, thin, weak trill, zir(-)ri(-)ri(-)ri(-)rit (Fig. 15a).

It also has various high-pitched, thin, generally drawn-out

whistles and short, explosive, high-pitched notes. These

are generally combined into short series, e.g. drreeet eeet

(Fig. 15b); ueeet-ueeet-dzip-dzup (Fig. 15c); or dzeep-dziip,

dzeep-dziip-tzi-tzi-eee (Fig. 1 5d). Both of these types of calls

have equivalents in microptera and especially marionae (see

below). It should be noted that the second type has been

considered to be song (Sivaprasad 1994). I cannot say for

sure that these sounds do not have that function, although

because they are uttered relatively infrequently, and

because I have never heard them being given during the

song-flight, I believe they are more likely to be calls.

M. a. microptera has three different types of calls: (1)

short, high-pitched whistles, keep (Fig. 1 6c); (2) quick series

of high-pitched whistles, tsi-tsi-tsi-tsi-tsi-tsi-tsi-tsi-tsi (Fig.

16a-b); and (3) very faint, soft tsiipp-tsupp-tsupp, somewhat

reminiscent of faint Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis calls.

The third call has only been heard a few times by me, and

only in flight. All of these calls are distinctive, although

there are similarities between the first two and some of the

calls of affinis and marionae (cf. Fig. 15 and 17, respectively).

M. a. marionae calls with a high-pitched, thin, metallic,

drawn-out (c. 1.3-1. 6 s), fast rattling trill,

tirrrirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (Fig. 17), and, less commonly, with

a hard, hammering series which could be transcribed as

tzet-tzet-tzet-tzet-tzet-tzet-tzet-tzet-tzet. The first type is

reminiscent of the trill given by affinis, but is significantly

more drawn-out, faster and ‘fuller’ (cf. Fig. 15a). I have

not heard affinis give an equivalent of the second type. It

also has short series of thin, high-pitched, highly variable

whistles which are reminiscent of, or identical to, song

elements (Fig. 18), and which are often combined with the

rattling trill. It is possible that these whistles are more

appropriately classified as a variant type of song rather than

as calls (cf. affinis, above), since at least some (all?) of the

notes are identical to notes given in the typical song by the

same individual. Moreover, the extreme type of song which

was heard once (see above) was built up of a series of these

whistling ‘calls’ (interspersed with trilling calls). However,

the classification of these whistles as calls is suggested by

the fact that they are given rather sporadically, and

frequently in combination with trilling calls. These whistles

are reminiscent of the equivalent whistles of affinis', all of

the ones which have been analyzed differ between marionae

and affinis (cf. Fig. 15b-d), but more research is needed

on the individual variation in both taxa.

Behaviour

Song-flights

During the usual song-flight assamica rises to considerable

height, where it flies about in random ‘circles’, alternating

between a few quick wing-beats and short or slightly longer

glides on spread and slightly raised wings and spread tail.

This may go on for a few minutes before the bird drops to

the ground. I have not noted any significant variation (out

of at least 50-100 observed song-flights from the

westernmost to the easternmost part of this taxon’s range).

When the variant type of song (see above) is given in flight,

the wings are beaten continuously. The description of the

song-flight given in Ali and Ripley (1973) (based on ‘Baker’)

and in Sharma (1994) (presumably based on Ali and Ripley

op. cit .), is confusingly different from my experience.

The song-flights of affinis and marionae are identical, while

they are different from the song-flight of assamica. From the

ground or, more commonly, from a perch on a mound of

earth, a bush, fence post, small tree or telephone wire the

bird ascends some metres and then parachutes down with

its wings spread, slightly pushed forward and lifted in a

shallow V, its tail spread, and its legs dangling (in agreement

with Ali and Ripley 1973 [affinis] and Boonsong and Round

1991 [marionae]) . The song-flight is generally performed

rather infrequently, with long intervening periods during

which the bird is singing while perched.

M. a. microptera has two different types of song-flight:

(1) One is performed in connection with the second type

of song (see Vocalizations, above) and is almost identical

to the song-flight of affinis and marionae. However, the bird

usually takes off from the ground, and the song-flight is

often repeated many times in succession, and each time

the bird lands in a different spot (seemingly to scan the

territory for an intruding male).

Forktail 13 (1998)

Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex

105

106

P. ALSTROM

Forktail 13 (1998)

(2) The other is performed in connection with the third

type of song (see Vocalizations, above). From a perch, often

rather high, the bird ascends quickly (while singing) to

considerable height, where it circles erratically for up to

more than a minute. During the circling phase, the bird

flies with quick, slightly jerky wing-beats and spread tail;

rarely the wings are momentarily held out stiffly. The

descent is a silent plunge. Alternatively, the bird parachutes

down just like in the first type of song-flight (while singing

the second type of song [see Vocalizations, above]; the last

part of the descent is a silent plunge, though). This song-

flight is most similar to the song-flight of assamica, but it

lacks this taxon’s regular glides on spread wings during the

circling phase (which is the case also in assamica when its

variant type of song is delivered). Moreover, microptera’ s

parachuting descent has not been seen in assamica , and

microptera’ s song-flight is of shorter duration on average.

Smythies (1986) describes the first of microptera ’s two

types of song-flights, while the second is only mentioned

in passing (‘though it occasionally soars quite high’). In

my experience of at least 50-100 song-flights, both types

are roughly equally common.

I have occasionally heard microptera clap its wings while

ascending, a behaviour known in some African Mirafra

larks, e.g. Clapper Lark M. apiata (Keith et al. 1992,

Sinclair et al. 1993), and which has also been observed in

Mirafra erythroptera (Alstrom et al. in prep.).

Other

The taxon assamica is almost entirely terrestrial, rarely

perching above the ground. In contrast, affinis, microptera

and marionae frequently perch in bushes, trees, on telegraph

wires etc. Especially affinis and microptera frequently land

in trees when flushed off the ground, and I have seen both

sitting in trees at least 10 m above the ground.

M. a. microptera frequently raises its crown feathers. I

have not noted this behaviour in the other taxa.

Habitat

The taxa affinis, microptera and marionae inhabit dry, open

areas with bushes and trees, and even occur in scrubby

glades in well-wooded areas. M. a. assamica , on the other

hand, favours less shrubby and less wooded, more grassy,

and often slightly wet habitats.

Distributions

All of the taxa are largely allopatric, but there are some

suggestions that two forms overlap in some areas.

Macdonald (1906) stated that assamica occurred in

sympatry with microptera in the Myingyan district of

Myanmar. This could not be confirmed because I did not

find assamica or marionae anywhere in Myanmar, despite

visiting several localities with suitable habitat.

Ball (1874, 1878) reported that the ranges of assamica

and affinis overlap locally in southeast Bihar, India. In

addition, Abdulali (1976) mentioned specimens of affinis

from south of this area in northern Orissa. These were

darker and greyer above than typical affinis, though ‘quite

different from the dark grey of nominate assamica, but

resemble them in their noticeably heavy bills, and represent

an intermediate population between affinis and assamica,

closer to the former’. Unfortunately I have not examined

any specimens from that area.

DISCUSSION

The morphological differences between assamica, affinis,

microptera and marionae are slight, yet they are so

pronounced that I have not seen any specimens (neither

in the field nor in museum collections) which have been

unidentifiable. In some respects marionae and especially

affinis and microptera are more similar to Mirafra erythroptera

than either is to assamica (Alstrom et al. in prep.). M.

erythroptera is sympatric with assamica (Vaurie 1951, Ali

and Ripley 1973; pers. obs.) and affinis (Whistler 1935,

Whistler 1949, Vaurie 1951, Ali and Ripley 1973, pers.

obs.). The differences in vocalizations between assamica,

affinis, microptera and marionae are pronounced and

consistent. The differences are at least as well marked as

the differences between any of them and Mirafra

erythroptera (Alstrdm et al. in prep.), and especially the

songs actually differ more between assamica, affinis,

microptera and marionae than between congeneric species

of other Eurasian larks (cf. Cramp 1988, Alstrom et al. in

prep.). The differences in song-flight between assamica,

microptera and affinis /marionae are distinct. In contrast, the

song-flights of congeneric species of other Eurasian larks

differ little or not at all (cf. Cramp 1988, Alstrom et al. in

prep.). The differences in other behavioural aspects between

assamica and the others are also remarkable in comparison

with other closely related Eurasian larks, while the differences

in habitat choice are on a par with those of congeneric species

of larks (cf. Cramp 1988, Alstrom et al. in prep.).

If the phylogenetic species concept sensu Cracraft

(1983, 1989) is applied, all four taxa are separate species,

since they are all diagnosably different and represent

separate lineages. The biological species concept ( sensu

Mayr 1942, 1986) is problematical to apply, since all of

the taxa may be allopatric. The songs of male passerines

are generally considered to be important in female

attraction (review in Catchpole and Slater 1995). It seems

reasonable to assume that in sexually monomorphic,

cryptically coloured species such as larks, songs and

distinctive sexual displays (such as song-flights) are

particularly important in female attraction. Because in most

cases it would be selectively disadvantageous for a female

to mate with a male of a different species (though see Grant

and Grant 1992, who reported higher fitness in hybrids

between two species of GeospzLu-finches than in their

respective parental species), selection can be assumed to

favour discrimination between their own species’s song and

song of different species. Accordingly, at least in species

lacking prominent visual signals, song presumably acts as

a prezygotic reproductive isolating mechanism between

different sympatric species (though Baptista and Trail 1992

remarked that evidence for this hypothesis is lacking). It

seems likely that the highly distinctive songs of assamica,

microptera, affinis and marionae and different song-flights of

assamica, microptera and affinis /marionae would prevent

interbreeding if their ranges would meet. The different

habitat choice of assamica compared to the others would

further minimize the chances of interbreeding between

assamica and the others.

To conclude, irrespective of which species concept is

applied, I consider assamica, affinis, microptera and marionae

to be best considered separate species. Several English

names have been used in the past. I suggest the following

names be used: Bengal Bushlark for M. assamica ( sensu

stricto ), Jerdon’s Bushlark for M. affinis (after the person

Forktail 13 (1998)

Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex

107

who first described it), Burmese Bushlark for AL microptera

and Indochinese Bushlark for AT marionae.

A molecular study is being undertaken, so it is hoped that

a phylogenetic hypothesis will be formulated in the future.

I am most grateful to Pamela Rasmussen for checking and measuring

a series of subsessor in the Smithsonian Institution, to Field Director

Mohammad Abdul Waheed for invaluable assistance during a visit to

Andhra Pradesh, to P. S. Sivaprasad for much help during a visit to

Kerala and Tamil Nadu, to Phil Round for information on bushlarks

in Thailand, to Hem Sagar Baral for discussions about the song of

assamica , and to Claude Chappuis, Paul Holt and, Craig Robson for

lending me tape-recordings. I am also most grateful to Elis Wide’s

Foundation (Swedish Ornithological Society), Kungliga and

Hvitfeldtska Stipendieinrattningen and the British Ornithologists’

Union for contributions towards the costs of one of my research trips,

and to the American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA

and the Natural History Museum, Tring, U.K. for granting me access

to their collections, to the latter also for sending me specimens on

loan. Tim Inskipp, Urban Olsson, Pamela Rasmussen and Per

Sundberg made many useful comments on the manuscript, and Tim

Inskipp provided several useful references, for which I am most

grateful.

REFERENCES

Abdulali, H. (1976) A catalogue of the birds in the collection of

Bombay Natural History Society (Eurylaimidae, Pittidae,

Alaudidae). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc 72: 477-505.

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1973) Handbook of the birds of India and

Pakistan , 9. Bombay: Oxford University Press.

Alstrom, P., Mild, K. and Zetterstrom, B. (in prep.) Identification

handbook ofHolarctic larks , pipits and wagtails. London: Christopher

Helm/A. and C. Black.

Baker, E. C. S. (1915) (Exhibition of two specimens of a new

subspecies of Mirafra.) Bull. Brit. Om. Club 36: 34.

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FORKTAIL 13 (1998): 109-120

A birdwatching visit to the Chin Hills, West Burma

(Myanmar) , with notes from nearby areas

C. R. ROBSON, H. BUCK, D. S. FARROW, T. FISHER and B. F. KING

From 30 March to 10 April 1995, we visited the Chin Hills and some nearby areas in West and Central Burma

(Myanmar). Nearly 400 species were recorded, including two new records for Burma, 20 new for West Burma

and three new for Central Burma. Observations were also made of seven vulnerable species, 1 1 near-threatened

and one data-deficient species.

The Chin Hills form a southward extension of the Himalayas

into South-East Asia from neighbouring Manipur in India.

The history of ornithology in these remote mountains is all

too brief and the last comprehensive field-work in the area

was carried out on Mount Victoria in the summer of 1937

(Stresemann and Heinrich 1940). The Chin Hills were first

explored ornithologically by Lieutenant H. Wood, who

visited Mount Victoria and nearby areas during the winter

of 1901-02 (Wood and Finn 1902). Following Wood’s initial

findings, Colonel G. Rippon spent several months on Mount

Victoria in 1904, collecting a large number of specimens,

many of which are to be found in the Museum of Natural

History, Tring, U.K. The north Chin Hills, were worked

first by Captain F. E. W. Venning, who collected a few

specimens and many nests and eggs in the vicinity of Haka,

during 1909-1910 (Venning 1912). Further field-work, also

concentrating on breeding biology, was carried out in the

northernmost Chin Hills by J. C. Hopwood in May 1913,

by Hopwood and J. M. D. Mackenzie during April and May

1914, and by Mackenzie in April and May 1915 (Hopwood

and Mackenzie 1917). Finally, P. F. Wickham toured the

Hills during April and May 1916 (Wickham 1918, 1929).

Our own expedition was carefully designed and planned

for some time in advance by Dr Hugh Buck and operated

by Dr Htin Hla of Yangon. Although our visit was short,

we were able to make observations in a good cross-section

of habitats and found almost 400 species. Two species,

White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus and Russet

Bush Warbler Bradypterus seebohmi were recorded for the

first time in Burma, and we identified 20 new species for