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No. 17 August 2001

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Journal of the Oriental Bird Club

1 7 SEP 2501

pUr-.CHAb^J^

S3 LiBBARY I

Forktail 17

2001

OBC Council

n Allwood (Bulletin Editor, co-opted)

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Cover picture: Adult Bukidnon Woodcock Scolopax bukidnonensis with two young,

at the type locality on Mt. Kitanglad, Mindanao, Philippines.

From a mixed media painting by Allen P. Sutherland.

ISSN 0950-1746

© Oriental Bird Club 2001

Forktail 17

2001

FORKTAIL

Number 17, 2001

CONTENTS

R. S. KENNEDY, T. H. FISHER, S. C. B. HARRAP, A. C. DIESMOS and A. S. MANAMTAM

A new species of woodcock (Aves: Scolopacidae) from the Philippines and a re-evaluation of other

Asian/Papuasian woodcock . 1

E. CURIO

Taxonomic status of the Negros Bleeding-heart Gallicolumba keayi from Panay, Philippines, with

notes on its behaviour . 13

T. D. EVANS

Ornithological records from Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR, January-July 1997 . 21

B. KING, H. BUCK, R. FERGUSON, T. FISHER, C. GOBLET, H. NICKEL andW. SUTER

Birds recorded during two expeditions to north Myanmar (Burma) . 29

P ROUND and C. ROBSON

Provenance and affinities of the Cambodian Laughingthrush Garrulax ferrarius . 41

J. RILEY and J. C. WARDILL

The rediscovery of Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher Eutrichomyias rowleyi on Sangihe, Indonesia . 45

J. RILEY and J. MOLE

The birds of Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi, Indonesia . 57

R. C. ANDERSON and M. BAT DOCK

New records of birds from the Maldives, with notes on other species . 67

R. KAUL and S. SHAKYA

Spring call counts of some Galliformes in the Pipar Reserve, Nepal . 75

O. PFISTER

Birds recorded during visits to Ladakh, India, from 1994 to 1997 . 81

A. CHOUDHURY

Some bird records from Nagaland, north-east India . 91

R. NAOROJI and D. FORSMAN

First breeding record of Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius for the Indian subcontinent in Changthang,

Ladakh, and identification characters of Upland Buzzard and Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus

. 105

Short Notes

D. BHATT and A. KUMAR

Foraging ecology of Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer in Haridwar, India . 109

T. R. SHANKAR RAMAN

Observations on the Oriental Bay Owl Phodilus badius and range extension in the Western Ghats, India ..110

J. MLIKOVSKY

Birds of Phu Lon Le Island, Thailand . 112

A. ROADHOUSE

Merlin Falco columbarius, the first record for Thailand . 114

Y. PERLMAN

Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii: a new species for Thailand . 115

J. C. WARDILL

Notes on theTalaud Rail Gymnocrex talaudensis from Karakelang island, North Sulawesi, Indonesia . 116

I. MAURO

Cinnabar Hawk Owl Ninox ios at Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, in

December 1998 . 118

A. R. STYRING and K. ICKES

Interactions between the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus and woodpeckers in a

lowland Malaysian rainforest . 119

D. I. KING and J. H. RAPPOLE

Kleptoparasitism of laughingthrushes Garrulax by Greater Racket-tailed Drongos Dicrurus paradiseus

in Myanmar . 121

FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 1-12

17 SEP 2001

i PURCHASED

| TR iG LIBRARY

' - - ' - ■ ■v

.rawsaaorc*:.

A new species of woodcock (Aves: Scolopacidae)

from the Philippines and a re-evaluation of

other Asian/Papuasian woodcock

ROBERT S. KENNEDY, TIMOTHY H. FISHER, SIMON C. B. HARRAP,

ARVIN C. DIESMOS and ARTURO S. MANAMTAM

A new species of woodcock, Scolopax bukidnonensis Bukidnon Woodcock, known from central and

northern Luzon and from four mountains on Mindanao, is described. Specimens of this new

taxon obtained in the 1960s from Dalton Pass, Nueva Vizcaya Province, Luzon, were incorrectly

identified as the Eurasian Woodcock A. rusticola and it was not until it was sighted and heard on

Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, in February 1993, and a specimen obtained from

Mt. Kitanglad in January 1995, that the species involved was recognized as distinct. Bukidnon

Woodcock occurs in montane and montane mossy forests and in adjacent clearings, usually above

1,000 m, and appears to be locally common. Its display, vocalizations, habits and breeding

behaviour are summarized. Since earlier records (specimens were destroyed during World War II)

of the Eurasian Woodcock were of birds collected in the lowlands of Luzon, this migratory species

is retained on the list of Philippine birds. However, there are no recent records of the Eurasian

Woodcock in the Philippines. Other Asian/Papuasian woodcock are also reviewed, leading to

confirmation of the validity of the two recognized subspecies of the Sulawesi Woodcock, S’, c.

celebensis and S’, c. heinrichi , and to the conclusion that the two formerly recognized subspecies of

S. saturata should be considered full species, S. saturata Javan Woodcock and S. rosenbergii New

Guinea Woodcock.

INTRODUCTION

Summary of the genus Scolopax

Currently there are six recognized species of woodcock

in the world (Hayman et al. 1 986, van Gils and Wiersma

1996). Two of these are well known migratory species

with broad ranges. The first of these, the American

Woodcock Scolopax minor , breeds from south-eastern

Canada to central and south-eastern United States and

migrates to the south-eastern United States, with a few

reaching north-eastern Mexico (American

Ornithologists’ Union 1998). The other is the Eurasian

Woodcock 5. rusticola , which breeds from the Azores in

the Atlantic Ocean across Eurasia to Japan and migrates

to southern Europe, north Africa to South-East Asia

and southern China (Sibley and Monroe 1990). The

remaining four are poorly known non-migratory species

with restricted ranges. One, the Amami Woodcock S’.

mira, is found in lowland subtropical evergreen broadleaf

forest only on four islands in the central Ryukyu or

Nansei Shoto Islands, Japan (Brazil and Ikenaga 1987,

BirdLife International 2001). The other three occupy

montane moist or mossy forest usually above 1,000 m.

The Sulawesi Woodcock S. celebensis is restricted to the

mountains of north, north-central and central Sulawesi

(White and Bruce 1986, Coates and Bishop 1997). The

Rufous Woodcock S. saturata has two highly disjunct

races, S. 5. saturata recorded from two mountains in

Sumatra and three mountains in Java (MacKinnon and

Phillipps 1993), and S’, s. rosenbergii confined to the

highlands of New Guinea (Beehler et al. 1986). Finally,

the Moluccan Woodcock S. rochussenii is known only

from eight specimens from two relatively small islands

in the Moluccas, seven from Obi and one from Bacan

(Coates and Bishop 1997, BirdLife International 2001).

Woodcock in the Philippines

Dickinson et al. (1991) summarized the published

Philippine records of the Eurasian Woodcock, which at

the time they believed was the only woodcock known

from the Philippines. McGregor and Manuel (1936)

reported two specimens, both obtained in the lowlands

of Luzon, the first on 4 December 1929 from Santo

Tomas, Pampanga Province, and the other on 18

September 1931 from Fort William McKinley [now Ft

Bonifacio, Makati (Kennedy et al. 2000)], Rizal Province.

These presumed Eurasian Woodcock specimens were

deposited in the Bureau of Science collections [later to

become the National Museum of the Philippines

(NMP)], but were destroyed when the National

Museum was bombed during World War II. McClure

and Leelavit (1972) provided banding records from

Dalton Pass, Nueva Vizcaya Province, Luzon (Figure

1), of four other woodcock captured and released, two

in 1966, one in 1967, and one in 1969. DuPont (1971)

simply noted that the Eurasian Woodcock ‘winters on

Luzon from Asia’ yet the illustration of the species in

Plate 23 of his book was based on a specimen (DMNH

3453) from Dalton Pass obtained in August 1969; this

specimen was not a Eurasian Woodcock. Since the

previous specimens of “Eurasian Woodcock” have been

destroyed, no confirmatory evidence exists regarding

which species the earlier woodcock records represent.

On 1 8 February 1 993, Harrap and Fisher, along with

other members of a Birdquest tour, flushed a woodcock

from a trail in a relict patch of forest at c. 1,600 m on

Mt. Kitanglad (Figure 1) in Sitio Kinubalan, Barangay

Dalwangan, Municipality of Malaybalay, Bukidnon

2

R. S. KENNEDY et al.

Forktail 17 (2001)

116°

20°

120°

■J

124°

128°

20°

_ meters

_J Oto 1000

1000 to 2000

| 2000 and above

▲ Mountain Peaks

• Cities or Municipalities

■ Woodcock Records

Philippine Si

16°

12°

PACIFIC

OCEAN

"fat, Kitangladm • Malaybalay BisligJ

! M INDANAO

i /r‘ ' ( ' V IkMt Puting Bato

-1 l i r i A Mt. Kampalili

A Mt. Mayo

Figure 1. Map of the Philippines showing the distribution of localities mentioned in the text, and the distribution of land

above 1,000 m (shaded grey) and above 2,000 m (shaded dark grey).

iult Bukidnon Woodcock Scolopax bukidnonensis sp. nov. with two young, and adult roding in flight, at the type locality on

t. Kitanglad, Mindanao, Philippines. From a mixed media painting by Allen P. Sutherland.

Forktail 17 (2001)

A new species of woodcock from the Philippines

3

Province in north-central Mindanao (Harrap and Fisher

1994). On 19 and 20 February 1993, the party both

sighted and heard the woodcock during the dawn

twilight hours performing roding (courtship) behaviour

and concluded that it must be a resident population

but was not the Eurasian Woodcock. During subsequent

trips to the area in 1993 and 1994, Fisher, Harrap, Ben

King, Peter Morris and others made additional sightings

and recorded the unique calls of the birds.

As part of the National Museum of the Philippines/

Cincinnati Museum of Natural History (NMP/CMNH)

Philippine Biodiversity Inventory, Fisher and Kennedy

returned to Kinubalan and observed the woodcocks at

dawn and dusk during the period 18 to 22 January 1995.

On the morning of 22 January at 05h30, shortly before

the birds normally stop roding and calling, they captured

an individual in a mist-net set over a ploughed field

between patches of forest. The "bird was darker and

more richly coloured than the Eurasian Woodcock and

very similar to the Delaware Museum specimen from

Dalton Pass that they had examined prior to visiting

the site.

Since the capture of the 1995 specimen, three more

specimens have been obtained from Mt. Kitanglad, one

in 1996 by researchers from the Nordic Agency for

Development and Ecology (NORE)ECO)/Department

of Environment and Natural Resources field team (but

not yet housed in a museum), and two in 1999 by Dale

H. Clayton and Sarah Al-Tamimi (specimens in Field

Museum of Natural History). In addition, one specimen

was obtained on Mt. Kimangkil, north-east of Mt.

Kitanglad on Mindanao, in 2000 by Franelyn J.

Saguindang (specimen in Natural Science Museum,

Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of

Technology), one on Mt. Malindang, Mindanao in 2000

by the CARE (Cooperative for American Relief

Everywhere) Philippine-AWESOME (AgenciesWorking

for Ecological Sustainability of Mt. Malindang’s

Environs) Project biodiversity survey team, and we

located one older specimen of this woodcock (NMP

8175 identified on the label as Scolopax rusticola )

collected on 3 June 1985, from Dalton Pass, Luzon.

Comparison of the two specimens from Luzon and six

from Mindanao with specimens of all other woodcocks

confirms that the resident populations of woodcock in

the Philippines represent a new species, which we name

Scolopax bukidnonensis, sp. nov.

Bukidnon Woodcock

Holotype

Skin with detached spread right wing (NMP 019561,

formerly CMNH 37639; Figure 2), adult male with left

testis measuring 19x12 mm. It was mist-netted in a

cleared field adjacent to montane forest (Figure 3) on

22 January 1995, at an elevation of 1,530 m, c.

8° 08.58'N 124°58.88'E, 6.5 km east, 2.9 km north of

the peak (2,938 m) of Mt. Kitanglad in the Sawaga

(alternate name Lalawan) River drainage, Sitio

Kinubalan, Barangay Dalwangan, Municipality of

Malaybalay, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, Philippines.

It was collected by the NMP/CMNH Philippine

Biodiversity Inventory Team, prepared by Renato E.

Fernandez and Jeffery C. Brown and given the field

number Robert S. Kennedy 3532. The fluid-preserved

body and alcohol-preserved tissue remain CMNH

37639.

DESCRIPTION OF HOLOTYPE

Supraloral, malar and chin Pale Pinkish Buff 121D

(colour names in capitals and numbers from Smithe

1975, 1981), all but chin feathers closest to base of bill

with Dusky Brown 19 centres or shafts. Lores and stripe

below eye on cheek Dusky Brown. Forehead, forecrown

and stripe on nape light Olive-Brown 28 with feather

tips Dusky Brown. Beginning on crown and extending

down hindneck, four broad Dusky Brown bars,

delineated by narrow Cinnamon-Rufous 40 bars.

Mantle, scapulars and lesser coverts Dusky Brown,

mottled with dark Pale Pinkish Buff on mantle and dark

Cinnamon-Rufous on scapulars and lesser coverts;

scapulars further marked by Pale Pinkish Buff shafts,

outer webs light Olive-Brown edged with an inner line

of Dusky Brown and outer line of Pale Pinkish Buff, the

combined effect of the shafts and outer webs forming

two light-coloured parallel lines down back. Lower back

and rump Olive-Brown, feathers tipped or edged with

Pale Pinkish Buff. Uppertail-coverts mottled or diffusely

barred with Dusky Brown, Pale Pinkish Buff and light

and dark Cinnamon-Rufous. Tail Dusky Brown; above

notched with Cinnamon-Rufous on webs, mottled with

Brownish Olive 29 that forms two or three broad bars

at end of tail; below, notches are Pale Pinkish Buff, some

subterminal barring, and tipped (about last 8 to 10 mm

of tail) with silvery-grey. Upperwing-coverts and flight

feathers pale Dusky Brown with dark Cinnamon-Rufous

notches on outer webs, paler notches on inner webs;

median coverts variably barred with Pale Pinkish Buff

and Olive-Brown. Underwing-coverts and flight feathers

Olive-Brown, lesser wing-coverts barred Cinnamon

123A, median coverts barred with Cinnamon and Drab-

Gray 1 19D, greater coverts barred with Drab-Gray, flight

feathers notched with Cinnamon; notches are darker

on outer webs. Throat and breast Cinnamon finely

barred with Dusky Brown. Broad vertical Dusky Brown

bar extends from side of neck midway across breast,

bar bordered by Cinnamon-Rufous. Belly and undertail-

coverts dark Pale Pinkish Buff barred with Dusky Brown,

barring fainter and more diffuse in centre of belly.

Kennedy described the soft-part colours of the living

holotype as ‘Bill pearly grayish horn flesh with light tan

tip; eye dark brown; skin of eye-ring and patch behind

eye blackish/grayish brown; legs, feet and nails pearly

gray; gape and tongue pink.’ Wing-point formula: 9 > 8

>10 > 7. See Plate 1 and Figure 2.

Measurements of the holotype

Measurements (in mm) taken from dried skin: Wing

chord 170, tail 65.6, tarsus length 40.3, culmen length

from base of skull 81.0, width of upper mandible at

widest part of tip 3.8, bill width at base at feather line

9.0, height of upper mandible at feather line 8.9, length

of longest toe including nail 41.7, total length (from

fresh specimen) 310, weight 216 g.

4

R. S. KENNEDY et al

Forktail 17 (2001)

Figure 2. The holotype of Scolopax bukidnonensis shortly after it was captured on Mt. Kitanglad. Photo by R. S. Kennedy.

Figure 3. The type locality of Scolopax bukidnonensis on Mt. Kitanglad on 22 January 1995, the day the holotype was

captured. Photo by R. S. Kennedy.

Forktail 17 (2001)

A new species of woodcock from the Philippines

5

Paratypes

FMNH 392226 male, FMNH 392227 female, collected

by Dale H. Clayton and Sarah Al-Tamimi on 27 April

1 999 at elevations of 1 ,457 m and 1 ,463 m respectively,

on Mt. Kitanglad, 8°11'20"N 124°55'20"E, 10.7 km

south, 2.9 km west of Sumilao Municipality center,

Barangay Lupiagan, Municipality of Sumilao, Bukidnon

Province, Mindanao.

Paratypic variation

The other adult male specimen is virtually identical to

the holotype in all plumage characteristics and in wing

formula. The female specimen varies in plumage from

the holotype by having less contrasting and duller

Cinnamon-Rufous edges and/or notches in the feathers,

by the bands on the hind-crown and nape, and in the

feathers of the mantle, wing-coverts and flight feathers,

giving the upperparts an overall duller appearance. The

underparts of this specimen are likewise duller, with

slightly narrower and duller Dusky Brown barring from

throat to undertail-coverts, and generally paler

Cinnamon throughout the underparts. In addition, the

Dusky Brown loral stripes are narrower. Wing formula

equals that of the holotype.

Other specimens

DMNH 3453 female, collected by Nicandro Icarangal,

Sr in August 1969, elevation 1,070 m, at Dalton Pass,

Nueva Vizcaya Province, Luzon. The Luzon female

differs from the holotype by having darker supralorals

and forehead and lighter forecrown showing less

distinction between the two. Cinnamon-Rufous areas

on the upperparts are generally brighter. Secondaries

are paler Dusky Brown with less contrast and with

Cinnamon-Rufous notches. Uppertail-coverts are

brighter, tail is more distinctly barred and tipped with

more reddish Brownish Olive. Lower throat and breast

brighter Cinnamon. Belly is lighter Pale Pinkish Buff.

Barring on underparts from lower throat to undertail-

coverts paler, with bars from throat to belly narrower,

both similar to the Mindanao female. Undertail-coverts

are richer reddish Pale Pinkish Buff. Wing-point formula

differs from the holotype as follows: 9 = 8>7>10.

Combining measurement data of the Luzon specimen

to that of the Mindanao female and comparing males

to females, we found that differences between sexes were

not significant in any measurement taken (z-test, Wilcox

test, P< 0.05). A second Luzon specimen (NMP 8175,

sex unknown), collected by Manuel Celestino on 3 June

1965, elevation 1,070 m, at Dalton Pass, Nueva Vizcaya

Province, was in a foxed, mouldy and damaged

condition. Other specimens examined by one of us, but

not available during the description of this species

include: one female collected by the Nordic Agency for

Development and Ecology/Department of Environment

and Natural Resources field team on 4 September 1 996,

elevation 2,750 m, on Mt. Dulang-dulang in the Mt.

Kitanglad Range, Sitio Bulogan, Barangay Sungko,

Municipality of Lantapan, Bukidnon Province,

Mindanao; one male collected by Bias R. Tabaranza, Jr

and Renato E. Fernandez of the CARE Philippines-

AWESOME biodiversity team on 2 May 2000, elevation

between 1,750 and 1,850 m, 8°14'23"N 123°37'18"E,

1 .8 km west, 2.8 km north of the peak of Mt. Malindang,

Sitio Patagan, Barangay Lalud, Municipality of Don

Victoriano, Misamis Occidental Province, Mindanao;

and one male (Natural Science Museum, Mindanao

State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, field

number 0026) collected by Franelyn J. Saguindang on

23 May 2000, elevation 1,200 m, on Mt. Kimangkil,

Sitio Nasandigan, Barangay Hagpa, Municipality of

Impasug-ong, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao. (Notes:

the Mt. Dulang-dulang and Mt. Malindang specimens

will eventually be deposited in the NMP; the location

of Mt. Kimangkil is not marked in Fig. 1)

Diagnosis

Plumage — Scolopax bukidnonensis differs from the most

similar species, 5. celebensis , in having the notches in the

flight feathers darker Cinnamon-Rufous (almost Pale

Pinkish Buff in S’, celebensis ); by the less extensive Pale

Pinkish Buff mottling on the wing-coverts; by the throat

and breast Cinnamon and belly dark Pale Pinkish Buff

(throat, breast and belly are bright cinnamon Clay Color

123B in S’, celebensis ), with broader barring on the lower

throat, breast and flanks, and having barring on the

centre of belly and undertail-coverts.

From both taxa of the next most similar species, S.

saturata, S. bukidnonensis differs in having the two Pale

Pinkish Buff parallel lines down the back better defined,

and in having prominent Cinnamon-Rufous notches in

the primaries. The Dusky Brown lores, stripe below the

eye and vertical bar on the side of the breast are strongly

defined in S’, bukidnonensis and, although present in both

populations of S. saturata , are usually narrower and less

defined. S. bukidnonensis lacks the white malar spots and

supraloral spots that are well developed and conspicuous

in S. 5. rosenbergii, but less so in S. 5. saturata. The

underparts of S. bukidnonensis are much lighter, more

uniformly coloured, and barred with Dusky Brown,

while S. s. rosenbergii has a white chin, Dusky Brown

throat, breast and belly with narrow Cinnamon bars on

throat and breast, white barring and feathers tipped

white on lower breast and belly, and some narrow Drab

27 bars on the flanks and mixed in with the white on

the belly; A. 5. saturata has a Pale Horn Color 92 chin,

throat, breast and belly finely barred and/or mottled with

Dusky Brown and Drab, and a white band between the

breast and belly. The under tail-coverts of A. bukidnonensis

are paler Cinnamon and more heavily barred than in

both populations of S. saturata.

Scolopax bukidnonensis differs from the wide-ranging

and variable A. rusticola and the restricted S’, mira in

having darker and narrowly patterned upperparts (S.

rusticola and 5. mira have Dusky Brown confined to the

lores, stripe below eye, bars on crown and hindneck,

and to the centres of a few feathers on the mantle and

scapulars). The Pale Pinkish Buff spots associated with

the Dusky Brown centres that form two parallel lines

running down the scapulars in 5. bukidnonensis contrast

strongly with the rest of the upperparts, less so in 5.

rusticola and 5. mira. The rest of the upperparts in 5.

rusticola and S’. mira range more or less from pale

Cinnamon-Rufous to Drab and are finely barred with

Dusky Brown to Olive-Brown. The underparts of 5.

bukidnonensis are generally more uniform, and darker

and more heavily barred than in 5. rusticola and S. mira.

Both the latter have a Pale Horn Color chin and upper

throat and pale Buff 124 breast and belly finely barred

with pale Dusky Brown to Olive-Brown, and both have

6

R. S. KENNEDY et a!.

Forktail 17 (2001)

Table 1. Measurements (x ± SD, with [n, range] in parentheses) of Scolopax bukidnonensis and other woodcock species

* Differs significantly from Scolopax bukidnonensis (pairwise differences between species at 95% simultaneous confidence intervals for specified linear combinations, by

the Tukey method).

** Pairwise differences between 5. (s.) saturata and 5. (s.) rosenbergu at 95% simultaneous confidence intervals.

darker throats and upper breasts, which may form a

band; in 5. rusticola, the band is variable, ranging from

Cinnamon to pale Dusky Brown, while in 5. mira, it is

typically Dusky Brown and very broad.

Wing-point formula — The wing-point formulae of

woodcock fall into two general categories (Table 1):

those with pointed wings (S. rusticola and 5. mira) having

wing-point formula P10>P9>P8>P7; and those with

rounded wings (the remaining species) having P8 or P9

the longest. The wing-point formula for 5. bukidnonensis

is most similar to that of 5. celebensis in that P9 is the

longest, yet the formula for 5. celebensis was distinct in

three of the four specimens for which it was determined.

Although 5. bukidnonensis shares rounded wings with

both populations of 5. saturata , the latter is highly

variable with P9 the most frequent longest feather

followed by P8. Wing-point formula for 5. rochussenii

P9>P8>P10>P7 follows the general pattern for the

majority of 5. bukidnonensis.

Mensural differences — Scolopax bukidnonensis differs

significantly (pairwise differences between species and

subspecies at 95% simultaneous confidence intervals

for specified linear combinations, by theTukey method)

in wing chord and tarsus length from all species and

subspecies (Table 1), in tail length from 5. 5. saturata

and S', rusticola , in culmen chord from S. rochussenii , in

length of longest toe from S. mira and S. rochussenii , and

in wing-point difference (distance between longest and

shortest of primaries 7 to 10) from S. mira and S.

rusticola. For each variable measured, the mean of at

least one species/subspecies differs significantly

(ANOVA, P< 0.01) from the mean of at least one other

species or subspecies (Table 1), whether or not the sexes

are pooled or compared separately.

Etymology

We are pleased to name this remarkable new species

after the collective name for all of the local tribes of

people inhabiting the Mt. Kitanglad Range, and for

whom the Province of Bukidnon, Mindanao is named.

Forktail 17 (2001)

A new species of woodcock from the Philippines

7

The Visayan word bukid means ‘mountain’ and the word

bukidnon means ‘of the mountain.’ The English name

Bukidnon Woodcock thus means ‘woodcock of the

mountains’ and in the broad sense is an accurate

description of the habitat of this species, i.e. montane

forests and clearings usually above 1,000 m, throughout

its known range on the Philippine islands of Luzon and

Mindanao.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

In addition to the specimen records of the Bukidnon

Woodcock from Mt. Ivitanglad, Mt. Malindang and Mt.

Kimangkil on Mindanao and Dalton Pass in Nueva

Vizcaya Province, Luzon, there are tape recordings, and

sight and auditory records from these and other localities

on these islands (Figure 1).

Mindanao — On Mt. Apo, Kennedy obtained tape

recordings of the call of the Bukidnon Woodcock at

05hl2 on 25 January 1995 and again at 18h02 and

18h09 on 26 January 1995 at the Mt. Apo Geothermal

Site, in Barangay Ilomavis, Municipality of Kidapawan,

North Cotabato Province, Mindanao, at 2,200 m in

montane mossy forest. The original tape-recordings are

deposited in the Cornell Library of Natural Sounds.

Luzon — On Luzon there have been several sightings of

what was probably this species. On Mt. Cetaceo in

Cagayan Province, at about 17°42'N 122°02'E,

Danielsen et al. (1994) reported sighting a woodcock

on three occasions in montane mossy forest between

1,400 and 1,650 m in May 1992.

On Mt. Banahao, Barangay Lalo, Municipality of

Tayabas, Quezon Province, Diesmos sighted or heard

the woodcock on two separate occasions. One bird was

flushed from a row of dense undergrowth surrounding

a natural clearing (landslide) in upper montane forest

at 1,700 m near the summit in June 1996 at about lOhOO.

In addition, Diesmos heard one or more birds call in

flight five times between 05h00 and 06h00 at

Pmagheneralan, Mt. Banahao, from 30 April to 5 May

2000 at 1,400 m in upper montane forest. He described

the call as follows: “The call was in two parts: the first

part sounded like a high-pitched trill pr at at at at at...,

which is similar to the call of the Colasisi Loriculus

philippensis or Guaiabero Bolbopsittacus lunulatus; this was

followed immediately by a snort-like ngork-ngork-ngork.

On Mt. Natib, Sitio Banati, Municipality of Orani in

Subic-Bataan Natural Park, 15.5 km west of

Municipality of Balanga, Bataan Province, 14°43. 12'N

1 20°23.8'E, Diesmos, as part of the NORDECO-DENR

field team, sighted woodcocks three times, twice in the

morning and once in the afternoon, in May 1996 at

about 1,000 m in a 2 ha clearing in lower montane forest.

In April 2001 in the Cordillera Mountains in

Barangay Balbalasang, Municipality of Balbalan,

Kalinga Province, in an area locally called Am-licao,

17°26'30"N 121°04'15"E, Dan Davison, BlasTabaranza,

Renato Fernandez and Diesmos heard woodcock on

several occasions at dusk (17h30 to 18h00) and pre¬

dawn (04h00 to 05h00) at 1,900 m. Davison and

Fernandez also flushed what they believed was a

woodcock from a small clearing on a ridge at about 1,900

m at 22h00.

Despite these Luzon records, Fisher, Harrap,

Kennedy, Ben King and many others have birded

montane mossy forests along and off the road on Mt.

Polis above Banaue, Mountain Province, Luzon, from

pre-dawn through dark on numerous occasions from

January to April over the past 20 years without seeing

or hearing the Bukidnon Woodcock.

Other islands : — Although the possibility exists that the

Bukidnon Woodcock occurs on other Philippine

mountainous islands with montane mossy forest above

1,000 m, none has been encountered thus far. During a

biodiversity survey of Mt. Kanla-on (Canlaon) on

Negros in 1998, Kennedy spent dusk to dark on 23 and

24 February and pre-dawn to dawn on 25 February at

1,900 m in montane mossy forest at an old volcanic

crater, Harding sang Balo, listening for the woodcock

without success.

In summary, the Bukidnon Woodcock appears to be

widespread in central and northern Luzon and on

Mindanao in montane and montane mossy forest, with

or without clearings, from as low as 900 m (Fisher

sighting, 24 June 2000 on Mt. Kitanglad at Kalenganan,

San Vicente, Baungon) to near mountain summits at

2,750 m.

HABITS

Daily rhythm and roding behaviour

The Bukidnon Woodcock has occasionally been flushed

in or near forest patches during the day; indeed, the

first sighting on Mt. Kitanglad was of a bird flushed

(Harrap and Fisher 1994). Most observations are of

birds in aerial display or roding flights similar to those

performed by Eurasian Woodcock. At dusk, woodcock

have been seen emerging from small relict forest patches,

flying rapidly and giving a ‘rattle’ call (see below), but

they have also been flushed at dusk from cleared areas

overgrown with a dense cover of bracken Pteridium.

The Bukidnon Woodcock undertakes roding flights

both at dawn and at dusk. It is remarkably regular in

the time of its appearance, particularly at dusk, when it

starts its roding flights and begins calling when the light

is such that humans can see objects, but can barely

discern colours. The authors have, between them, seen

or heard the woodcock more than 100 times, Fisher

alone having seen or heard them on 70 occasions from

1 993 to 200 1 , mostly at the Philippine Eagle Eco-lodge

at Dalwangan on Mt. Kitanglad between 1,400 and

1,650 m. In general, roding lasts about 30 minutes in

the morning but may last up to 1.5 hours, particularly

on clear bright nights. In the evening roding is generally

shorter, usually about 10 to 20 minutes, but has lasted

as long as 30 minutes. The Bukidnon Woodcock appears

less active during rainy conditions. The following are a

few examples of roding times. From 19 to 22 January

1995 on Mt. Kitanglad, Fisher and Kennedy noted the

woodcock starting dawn calling and roding as early as

04h48 and ending by 05h46.The holotype was captured

on 22 January at 05h30 as it was calling and roding. At

dusk on 1 9, 20 and 2 1 January, woodcock started calling

8

R. S. KENNEDY et al.

Forktail 17 (2001)

4a.

4d.

4e.

kHz

10-

8-

4g.

Figure 4.

4a. Sonagram 1 - Scolopax bukidnonensis: Roding over forest, Mt. Kitanglad, Mindanao, c. 1250 m, February 2000.

Detail of rattle phrase. Recorded by S. Flarrap.

4b. Sonagram 2 - Scolopax bukidnonensis'. Roding over forest, Mt. Kitanglad, Mindanao, c. 1250 m, February 2001.

Grunt and rattle phrases. Recorded by S. Harrap.

4c. Sonagram 3 - Scolopax bukidnonensis'. Roding over forest, Mt. Kitanglad, Mindanao, c. 1250 m, February 2001.

Extended sequence of grunt and rattle phrases. Recorded by S. Harrap.

4d. Sonagram 4 - Scolopax rusticola: The snore phrase showing the banded structure. From Roche (1990).

4e. Sonagram 5 - Scolopax rusticola: Snore and sneeze phrases together. From Kettle and Ranft (1992).

4f. Sonagram 6 - Scolopax saturata rosenbergii: 21 or 22 September 1974,Wau, Morobe District, Papua New Guinea. The

nasal whooshing chuuwi phrase showing the structure as in an inverted comma. Recorded byT. Pratt (Cornell Fibrary

of Natural Sounds).

4g. Sonagram 7 - Scolopax saturata rosenbergii: Roding over forest, Gunung Idong, 2,100 m, Mokwam, Irian Jaya, 8

October 1995). Whooshing and grunt phrases combined: chuuwi. . . quorr-quorr-quorr-quorr-quorr. . . . Recorded by D.

Gibbs (British Library, National Sound Archive).

Forktail 17 (2001)

A new species of woodcock from the Philippines

9

at 18h00, 18h01 and 18h01 respectively, with calling

ending on the 19th at 1 8h 1 5 . Harrap on Mt. Kitanglad

on 1 8 February 200 1 noted roding at 05h25 and 05h36

and then at 18hl0, 18hl5 and 18h25. In relation to

other crepuscular species, at dusk the woodcocks

typically do not start roding until after Great Eared

Nightjars Eurostopodus macrotis and Philippine Nightjars

Caprimulgus manillensis have begun to call, but a little

before Philippine Frogmouths Batrachostomus septimus

give their dusk calls.

It may be assumed that there are seasonal variations

in the intensity of the roding displays, and there certainly

seem to be variations from year to year. Fisher has

observed roding at the Eagle Camp on Mt. Kitanglad

from 15 December to 24 June during his visits there.

Diesmos and Manamtam sighted or heard them roding

from 2 to 8 September 1996 at elevations from 2,000 to

2,760 m on Mt. Dulang-dulang in the Mt. Kitanglad

Range. Generally the intensity of roding has been about

the same during the periods observed, yet there have

been times, particularly in February 1994 (Fisher and

Harrap), February 1998 (P. Morris, Fisher and

Kennedy) and February 1999 (Fisher and Harrap) when

the activity was reduced or almost lacking.

Roding flight generally takes place at about 10 to 20

m above ground level, and the birds take a roughly oval

or circular route (hence passing a stationary observer

every 3-5 minutes) over both relict forest patches and

open areas with cultivation or bracken Pteridium. This

route probably encompasses an individual’s range, which

may be 400 to 600 m in diameter or the length of the

oval. On one occasion, Fisher placed himself between

two roding circuits and, although the birds never met,

their boundaries touched but did not overlap.

Typically roding birds use distinctive fluttery wing-

beats, and may dangle their legs below the body. Fisher

and P. Morris have seen two individuals following each

other closely in roding flight, with one or both birds

noted as calling. Birds are easily tracked in flight due to

their loud and distinctive vocalizations.

Other breeding information

While working for NORDECO, R. Fernandez located a

presumed nest of the Bukidnon Woodcock, containing

two nestlings (see cover), on about 5 September 1996

on the Anlagan Plaza, a plateau at 2,600 m near the

summit of Mt. Dulang-dulang in the Mt. Kitanglad

Range on Mindanao. The plateau is generally open with

a few scattered montane trees and many standing pools

of water. The ground is carpeted with thick layers of

moss, interspersed with ferns and soft low grasses. The

putative nest, where Fernandez caught an adult and

nestlings (which were photographed and then released),

was a slight depression in the moss with a layer of dead

and live grasses and ferns, not unlike the nest of S.

saturata (van Gils andWiersma 1996).

Gonad data were taken from four specimens,

including the holotype. The males collected on 22

January and 27 April had enlarged gonads measuring

19 x 12 mm and 20 x 5 mm respectively. The females

obtained on 27 April and 4 September also had enlarged

ovaries, measuring 18x8 mm (with the largest ovum

measuring 5x5 mm) and 17x9 mm respectively.

VOCALIZATIONS

Bukidnon Woodcock S’, bukidnonensis gives a loud and

distinctive vocalization during roding display (Harrap

and Fisher 1994, Kennedy et al. 2000). Other

vocalizations may be given, but none has been recorded.

The roding call of the Bukidnon Woodcock consists of

a hard, metallic, rattled or staccato phrase, comprising

4-6 motifs, each motif given at intervals of 0.05 sec

(Figure 4a, also figure in Harrap and Fisher 1994). This

rattle phrase may be written as ti’ti’ti’ti’ti or as Kennedy

et al. (2000) described it pip’pip’pip’pip’pip. Each motif

(Figure 4a) has a distinctive structure, being comprised

of a distinct pulse (c. 3 kHz rising to c. 5 kHz) connecting

with a concurrent higher-pitched curled syllable (c. 6

kHz rising to c. 7.2 kHz and falling to 5.7 kHz). On the

sonagram these combine to form a trace (like a walking

stick). The rattle phrase is given at intervals of 2. 4-3.0

sec, sometimes up to 5.5 sec, and is interspersed by

much lower-pitched growling or grunting phrases, which

are generally given in groups of 2-3 and sometimes up

to 6 phrases, with another rather shortened phrase

immediately preceding the next rattle. These grunts

comprise a series of simple units, c. 0.75-1.25 kHz,

repeated every c. 0.01-0. 13 sec in a phrase that last 0.25-

0.30 sec (the shortened phrase preceding the rattle lasts

c. 0.1 sec). On the sonagram the grunts appear as a

distinctive series of short, closely spaced vertical bars or

bands (Figure 4b). These grunts may be represented in

words as burp burp burp or gro-a gro-a gro-a, and thus

the roding song as TETETETETI. . burp burp burp....

TPTrTPTrTI. . burp burp burp....TrTPTrTPTI...

or another interpretation PIP’PIP’PIP’PIP’PIP . gro-

a gro-a gro-a.... PIP’PIP’PIP’PIP’PIP. . gro-a gro-a

gro-a... "PIP’PIP’PIP’PIP’PIP (Figure 4c). Notably, the

rattle is much louder than the grunt phrase and may be

heard at a greater distance.

The known vocalizations of other OldWorld woodcock

species compare as follows to those of the Bukidnon

Woodcock.

Scolopax rusticola — The roding song of the male is made

up of 2-5 slow but accelerating deep croaking phrases

(the ‘snore’ notes, main energy c. 1 kHz, but showing

harmonics at c. 3 kHz and 5 kHz), comprised of simple

units repeated at c. 0.02 sec intervals showing again as

closely spaced bands (Figure 4d), uttered with the bill

shut and air sacs inflated. The snore notes are closely

followed by a sudden loud shrill sneeze motif (‘sneeze’

note, main energy c. 4-12 kHz, duration c. 0. 1 sec and

showing as an inverted ‘V’ on the sonagram), given with

the bill open. Each complete sequence is mechanically

repeated after intervals of 2-2.5 sec, e.g. quorr quorr-

quoroPIETZ. . .quorr quorr-quoro-PIETZ. . . (Figure 4e).

The snore notes are only audible at close range, and the

sneeze notes often sound disyllabic at longer ranges

(‘chissick’).The song may be individually recognizable,

and although usually of a constant composition, birds

may add or subtract snore notes. Imperfect songs may

be given at the beginning and end of the breeding season

(Cramp and Simmons 1983).

10

R. S. KENNEDY et al.

Forktail 17 (2001)

Scolopax saturata — We have been unable to locate

recordings of the vocalizations of nominate saturata from

Sumatra and Java. In the taxon rosenbergii, from New

Guinea, the roding song consists of a single motif with

a distinctive nasal ‘whooshing’ quality, showing as an

inverted comma on the sonagram, starting at c. 3 kHz,

dropping to c. 1.5 kHz and dten rising to c. 7 kHz (Figure

4f).The motif lasts c. 0.8 sec and can be written chuuwi.

These chuuwi motifs are repeated every c. 2-2.5 sec and

are interspersed with a series of lower-pitched grunting

phrases, given in a series of 3-8 motifs, each phrase c.

0.3 sec long and comprising simple units, main energy

c. 1 kHz, given every c. 0.01 sec). On the sonagram they

display a banded pattern (Figure 4g).Thus the phrase

may be written chuuwi. . .quorr-quorr-quorr-quorr-

quorr. . . chuuwi. . . quorr-quorr-quorr-quorr-quorr. . . .

Scolopax mira — This species evidently does not perform

a roding flight or give a roding call (Brazil and Ikenaga

1987, M. A. Brazil in Iitt. 2000). A call of this species

has very recently been published (Kabaya and Matsuda

2001) but, in our view, is not a roding call and it is,

therefore, not discussed further here.

Scolopax celebensis — This species makes short flights

over the treetops at dusk, but its vocalizations are

unknown (Coates and Bishop 1997, K. D. Bishop in

litt. 2000).

Scolopax rochussenii — Vocalizations unknown. This

species is known from just eight specimens.

The three species of Old World Scolopax known to give

vocalizations in roding flight and for which data are

available clearly show close similarities. Scolopax

bukidnonensis, S. rusticola and A. saturata rosenbergii all

have a low-pitched (main energy c. 1 kHz) grunt phrase

of remarkably similar structure (simple, rapidly repeated

elements showing as a banded pattern on a sonagram)

interspersed with a higher-frequency, louder and more

complex rattling, sneezing or whooshing motifs. The

grunt vocalizations thus appear to be more primitive

for woodcock, whilst the higher-pitched calls are

probably of more recent origin. Despite the similarity

of the grunt call, all three species are nevertheless clearly

distinct vocally. However, recordings of the roding calls,

if these exist, are still needed for celebensis , rochussenii

and nominate saturata.

CONSERVATION STATUS

The Bukidnon Woodcock appears to be locally common

above 900 m on the mountains on which it has been

recorded. Apparently it had been overlooked because

of its crepuscular roding behaviour and nocturnal

feeding habits or because it was assumed to be the

Eurasian Woodcock and, if seen when flushed, it had

simply not been identified. For example, this clearly

seems to be the case on Mt. Kitanglad where relatively

recent expeditions (Salomonsen 1953, Ripley and Rabor

1961) did not collect or observe the birds. In addition,

earlier collectors, mainly using guns to obtain specimens,

would have had a difficult time shooting the birds when

they burst from the forest floor and flew off out of range

in the dense montane forest. The earlier specimens, all

from Dalton Pass, Luzon, were caught at night with large

dip nets, as the birds were attracted to and dazzled by

bright lights. All other specimens, except those caught

by the skilled hand of R. Fernandez, were mist-netted.

Now that the call, roding habits, and habitat of the

species are known, we expect that the species will be

found on other mountains on Luzon and Mindanao,

and perhaps on other islands.

Forests throughout the Philippines have for the most

part been cleared or disturbed below 1,000 m. Above

1,000 m, except in parts of the Cordillera Mountains of

Luzon and selected flatter slopes or plateaus elsewhere,

the montane and montane mossy forests are in

reasonably good condition. For the most part these

forests are in extremely rugged terrain that is not

conducive to farming, and they have few commercial

trees for logging. Although the Bukidnon Woodcock has

a restricted range (in terms of area of occupancy), we

do not therefore believe that it is immediately threatened

or of conservation concern in the foreseeable future.

REMARKS

Combining plumage, mensural, vocalization and

behavioural differences with its isolation in the

Philippines from other species, also with very restricted

ranges, we conclude that the Bukidnon Woodcock has a

unique evolutionary history and should be recognized

as a distinct species. We are well aware of the recent

debates over the ‘species concept’ (Zink 1996, Snow

1997, among others) and regardless of which concept

one follows, i.e. biological or phylogenetic, we believe

that this species would be recognized. Frozen tissues of

the Bukidnon Woodcock are available at the Cincinnati

Museum of Natural History for those who wish to

pursue phylogenetic studies of this species.

EURASIAN WOODCOCK IN THE

PHILIPPINES

As noted earlier the two previous records of the Eurasian

Woodcock were of specimens obtained in 1929 and 1931

and lost when the National Museum of the Philippines

was destroyed during World War II. There are no recent

records of this species from Philippines. The fact that

the Bukidnon Woodcock is now known to be widespread

on Luzon and Mindanao casts doubt on the identity of

the two earlier records. However, the earlier specimens

were obtained in the lowlands of Luzon and there is no

evidence that Bukidnon Woodcock frequent the

lowlands. In addition, the measurements of the 1929

specimen, taken from McGregor and Manuel (1936),

were as follows: wing 195 mm, tail 83 mm, tarsus 35

mm and culmen length 75 mm; these accord much

better with 5. rusticola than with S. bukidnonensis . We

therefore recommend that the lowland-dwelling

Eurasian Woodcock remain on the list of Philippine birds

as a rare migrant.

Forktail 17 (2001)

A new species of woodcock from the Philippines

1 1

SYSTEMATIC NOTES ON OTHER

WOODCOCK

As we compared all the other species and subspecies of

woodcock to the Bukidnon Woodcock, we began to see

unique or similar characters in each species or

subspecies. In fact, in our analysis of the mensural data

for each species/subspecies, we found that we could

match each specimen to its correct taxonomic unit based

on measurements alone.

We agree with the widely accepted recognition of 5.

rusticola, S. mira (Brazil and Ikenaga 1987) and 5.

rochussenii as full species. Also, we agree with Stresemann

(1932, 1941) and Greenway (1978), contra White and

Bruce (1986), that the two populations of 5. celebensis

be recognized subspecifically based largely on differences

between them in culmen chord (S. c. celebensis culmen

chord in mm — mean 92.7, SD ± 0.3, n = 3, range 92.4-

93. 1; S', c. heinrichi — mean 8 1 .7, ±0.4, n = 2, range 8 1 .3-

82.2).

However, we do not agree with the treatment of 5.

saturata as one species with two subspecies. Rather we

believe that each subspecies should be recognized as

monotypic species 5. saturata and 5. rosenbergii and base

our conclusions on the following differences:

Mensural differences — (see Table 1) A. saturata is similar

to S', rosenbergii in bill height and bill width at feather

line, width of bill at tip, length of longest toe, and

wing-point difference; but 5. rosenbergii is significantly

(P < 0.05) larger than S', saturata in wing chord, tail

length, tarsus length and culmen chord.

Plumage differences — S’, rosenbergii differs from S', saturata

by having the Dusky Brown upperparts mottled with

Cinnamon Rufous much darker and loosely barred;

by having the white malar spots and supraloral spots

well developed and conspicuous; by having a white

chin, darker Dusky Brown throat, breast and belly

with narrow Cinnamon bars on throat and breast,

white barring and feathers tipped white on lower

breast and belly, and some narrow Drab bars on

flanks and mixed in with the white in the belly. S’.

saturata has the chin Pale Horn Color, and the throat,

breast and belly finely barred and/or mottled with

Dusky Brown and Drab, and a white band between

breast and belly.

Distribution and habitat — All five of the Asian/Papuasian

woodcock share similar habitats and altitudinal

ranges. They all appear to be sedentary, with little

movement outside of their habitat and altitudinal

range. The unique plumage, size and highly restricted

range of S’, rochussenii clearly demonstrate this. The

fact that two subspecies of S. celebensis occupy

different mountain areas but on the same island also

demonstrates this. The distance between suitable

habitat of S', rosenbergii on New Guinea and S. saturata

on Java is no less than 2,500 km. Clearly the amount

of gene flow between these sedentary populations is

likely to be nil or so close to nil that it would not

matter. For all intents and purposes they are isolated

populations of woodcock

Combining the differences in plumage and

measurements, and taking into account the distance

between the populations, we consider them unique

evolutionary units. We suggest that S. saturata be called

the Javan Woodcock, and that S’, rosenbergii be known as

the New Guinea Woodcock in keeping with the

geographical names of all the other known species of

woodcock.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED

Scolopax bukidnonensis (Luzon and Mindanao) — 1 male

(CMNH); 1 female (DMNH); 1 male, 1 female

(FMNH); 1 male (MSU-IIT); 1 unknown (NMP);

1 male, 1 female (to be deposited in NMP).

S’, c. celebensis — 1 male, 1 unknown (AMNH); 1

unknown (USNM); 1 male (UBMN).

S. c. heinrichi — 1 male (AMNH); 1 male (UBMN).

S. mira — 4 males, 3 females, 1 unknown (AMNH); 1

male (MCZ); 1 unknown (USNM).

S’, rochussenii — 1 female, 1 unknown (AMNH); 2

females (USNM).

S’, rosenbergii — 18 males, 5 females, 5 unknown

(AMNH); 1 male (BM).

S’, rusticola Qapan and China) — 6 males, 6 females, 2

unknown (AMNH); 2 males, 2 unknown (MCZ); 4

males, 4 females, 5 unknown (USNM).

S’, saturata (Java and Sumatra) — 1 male (AMNH); 1

male (MCZ); 5 males, 5 females (NNM); 1 male, 1

female (USNM).

We are pleased to dedicate this paper to our friend and field col¬

league, Renato E. ‘Boying’ Fernandez, who has seen, heard and iden¬

tified the Bukidnon Woodcock on Mt. Kitanglad and Mt. Malindang

on Mindanao, and at Balbalasang and almost certainly Dalton Pass

on Luzon; and to the late Mrs Eugene Farny, a silent friend to Phil¬

ippine conservation through her support of Kennedy’s efforts in the

Philippines for more than two decades. Both of these extraordinary

people have helped Philippine conservation in two dramatically dif¬

ferent ways.

We are grateful for the help and cooperation of the staff of the De¬

partment of Environment and Natural Resources, particularly the

Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. In Mindanao, we received

support from F. Mirasol (Park Superintendent for Mt. Kitanglad)

and C. Marban, C. Vertudas, and R. Geollegue (DENR) for coop¬

eration in our 1995 biodiversity survey of Mt. Kitanglad. The untir¬

ing efforts of our field colleagues J. Brown, R. Fernandez, C. Gamara,

C. and A. Maghanoy, P. Magsalay, and R. Agustin, G. Balaquit and

D. Cedeno (Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc.) are greatly appreci¬

ated. The Mt. Malindang biodiversity inventory undertaken by CARE

Philippines in cooperation with the Haribon Foundation thanks B.

Tabaranza, A. Tabaranza, A. Bagaloyos, A. Dimapilis, R. Fernandez

and N. Antoque of Haribon; R. Baylomo, A. Rubio, M. Merza, A.

Pestano, I. Pestano, G. Bais, D.Talpis and E. Macabodbod of CARE

Philippines; R. Dingal (Park Superintendent for Mt. Malindang), R.

Garana and D. Ramirez (DENR-PAO); Mayor R. Luna and N. Cajeta

of Don Victoriano; and field assistants A. Gumilid, L. Valdez, D.

Mundo, R. Emia, J. Jalalon, P. Sol, D. Arcilla, M. Cabatuan, L.

Bulaybulay, R. Emia and D. Valdez. In the Balbalasang-Balbalan

National Park biodiversity project, we acknowledge N. A. Mallari, B.

Tabaranza, G. Gee, M. Babao, R. Fernandez, N. Antoque (all from

the Haribon Foundation), and L. Heaney , D. Davison , C. Aquino

(DENR), and the people of Balbalasang including Barangay Cap¬

tain B. Banganan, Mayor R. Dakiwag , B. Malaga and B. Dalunag.

We thank the curators and staff of American Museum of Natural

History (AMNH), Universitat zu Berlin Museum fur Naturkunde

(UBMN), British Museum — The Natural History Museum (BM),

Museum of Natural History — Cincinnati Museum Center (CMNH),

Delaware Museum of Natural History (DMNH), Field Museum of

Natural History (FMNH), Harvard Museum of Comparative Zool-

12

R. S. KENNEDY et al.

Forktail 17 (2001)

ogy (MCZ), Natural History Museum, Mindanao State University —

Iligan Institute ofTechnology (MSU-IIT), National Museum of the

Philippines (NMP), Netherlands Naturalis — Leiden (NNM), and

United States National Museum — Smithsonian Institution (USNM)

for the loan of specimens or access to specimens in their care. We

express our appreciation to S. Pelikan for help with statistical analy¬

sis; D. Quilligan for clerical assistance; P. Longford and Oxford

University Press for providing the map; R. Ranft (National Sound

Archive [NSA], British Library), and G. Budney and A. Priori (Li¬

brary of Natural Sounds, Cornell) for help with recordings and

sonagrams; D. Clayton and S. Al-Tamimi for allowing us to use the

Mt. Kitanglad specimens they collected; F. J. Saguindang for allow¬

ing us to examine the specimen she collected; M. Brazil, K. Bishop,

D. Allen, K. Ishida, B. King and F. Verbelen for information and

assistance; D. Davison for information on the Balbalasang records;

and A. Jensen and C. Nozawa of NORDECO for allowing us to

examine the Mt. Dulang-dulang specimen. Allan P. Sutherland gra¬

ciously provided the cover and frontispiece. Kennedy is particularly

grateful to L. A. Butler for her generous hospitality in Manila; Out¬

door Adventures for their unfailing assistance with field equipment;

P. J. Diehl and Oxbow Power Company for funding the 1995 survey

of Mt. Kitanglad; G. Perbix for his encouragement; and Jan and Joe

Herron for their generous support of Kennedy’s Philippine studies.

N. J. Collar and P. C. Rasmussen kindly reviewed the manuscript

and offered helpful suggestions. This is contribution No. 28 of the

NMP/CMNH Philippine Biodiversity Inventory.

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mira: its identity and identification. Forktail 3: 3-16.

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of the Philippines. Tring: British Ornithologists’ Union (Check¬

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Jr. and Fisher, T. H. (2000) A guide to the birds of the Philippines.

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FE-315-7.

McGregor, R. C. and Manuel, C. G. (1936) Birds new and rare in

the Philippines. Phil. J. Sci. 59: 317-326.

MacKinnon, J. and Phillipps, K. (1993) A field guide to the birds of

Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and Bali. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Ripley, S. D. and Rabor, D. S. (1961) The avifauna of Mount

Katanglad. Postil/a 50 1-20.

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La Mure, France: Sittelle.

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Vidensk. Medd. Dansk Naturhist. Foren. 115: 272-281.

Sibley, C. G. and Monroe, B. L., Jr (1990) Distribution and taxonomy

of birds of the world. New Haven: Yale University Press.

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

Museum of Natural History.

Smithe, F. B. (1981) Naturalist’s color guide, part III. New York: Ameri¬

can Museum of Natural History.

Snow, D. W. (1997) Should the biological be superseded by the phy¬

logenetic species concept? Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 117: 110-121.

Stresemann, E. (1932) Vorlaufiges iiber die ornithologischen Ergebnisse

der Expedition Heinrich 1930-1932: VII. Zur Ornithologie von

Siidost-Celebes. Orn. Monatsber. 40: 104-115.

Stresemann, E. (1941) Die Vogel von Celebes. J. Orn. 89: 1-102.

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tion. J Avian Biology 27: 1-6.

Robert S. Kennedy, Frederick and Amey Geier Collections and Research Center, Museum of Natural History & Science,

Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45203 USA; and Maria Mitchell Association, 4 Vestal

Street, Nantucket, MA 02554 U.S.A.

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Simon C. B. Harrap, 1 Norzvich Road, Edgefield, Melton Constable, Norfolk, NR24 2RP, UK.

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FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 13-19

Taxonomic status of the Negros Bleeding-heart

Gallicolumba keayi from Panay, Philippines,

with notes on its behaviour*

E. CURIO

Following the discovery of a new population of the Negros Bleeding-heart on Panay, a first, yet

very incomplete, account of the species’s behaviour is given and illustrated by photographs of a

live male. A clutch in March contained two eggs. Neither the morphometries nor the coloration of

three adult birds, this male included, from the north-west Panay peninsula indicate that the Panay

birds are any different from the earlier described Negros form. Errors in the earlier descriptions,

based entirely on museum skins, are corrected. One female showed an anomalous central tail

feather. Currently, data on body mass and behaviour are known only for individuals from Panay.

A new way of protectively closing the eyes, not noticed in birds before, is described; it is employed

whilst picking up bulky insect prey and also when the head is tucked into the plumage while

preening. The similarity of the two island forms of the species reflects the close faunal resemblance

of the two Visayan islands that is further underscored by the recent publication of more than 60

new distributional records of birds from Panay previously known from Negros only.

Clarke (1900) described a new bleeding-heart

Gallicolumba keayi , based on three specimens from

Negros island, Philippines, obtained from MrW. A. Keay,

the owner of a sugar plantation. Clarke’s description

was enlivened by a colour plate prepared by J. G.

Keulemans that got most details correct (see below).

The Negros species was the last of the five Philippine

endemic bleeding-hearts to be discovered (Dickinson

et al. 1991). Unlike G. luzonica and G. criniger from the

Luzon and the Mindanao regions, respectively, that have

often been kept in bird collections, the Negros form

had not been recorded in captivity, so that its appearance

and behaviour remained virtually unknown. The same

holds true for both the Sulu Bleeding-heart G. menagei

(D. Allen, pers. comm. 1999) and the Mindoro Bleeding-

heart G. platenae , though pictures of a captive platenae

have been published recently (Brooks et al. 1995).

Attention to the plight of all three critically endangered

forms (BirdLife International 2001) has been drawn by

a full-colour poster painted by W. L. R. Oliver. Extensive

deforestation taking place throughout the country

(DENR 1997) is threatening all forest birds, and the

risk of extinction is exacerbated for single-island

endemics such as the three bleeding-hearts mentioned.

Following up hints received from both

conservationists (Diesmos and Pedregosa 1995) and

hunters in the Valderama (near Mt. Baloy) and

Malumpati areas (north-west Panay), the Philippine

Endemic Species Conservation Project (PESCP)

diligently searched for signs of the Negros Bleeding-

heart on Panay from 1995 when its explorations started.

As a result, project members discovered the bird in

Lahang forest (Municipality of Libertad, Antique) in

1996 and, later the same year, also in nearby Sibaliw

(Municipality of Buruanga, Aklan) (Klop et al. 1998),

in both primary and secondary-growth forest at 450 m.

Our search in good forest at 950 m near Mt Baloy

(Hamtang above Nawili) did not meet with success. On

Negros, the pigeon occurs at ‘higher elevations’, i.e.

around 1,000 m. But this may not reflect a true

preference as all forest below 800 m has been cleared.

In the course of our banding operations, three bleeding-

hearts were captured near the Research Station Sibaliw,

thanks to the skills of our field assistant ‘June’ Benjamin

Tacud. One of them was put into a well-planted

rehabilitation cage (5 x 3 x 2.5 m) as per a Memorandum

of Agreement with the Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (DENR). The cage was lined with

very soft fishing net, thus forestalling injury. The

behavioural observations and photography were carried

out on this bird, while an account of the external

appearance is based on all three birds.

There is great interest in establishing the taxonomic

status of the Panay bleeding-heart. If it proves not to

differ from the Negros form, the risk of extinction of

the species would be split. Behavioural data presented

here, as well as blood samples, are available only from

the Panay form, so comparison of the two populations

has to rest entirely on morphological features.

APPEARANCE AND MORPHOMETRICS

Coloration

The external appearance of all three birds matches the

illustration by Keulemans (Clarke 1 900), apart from the

following important points (Plates I and II). The upper

white breast is virtually embraced by a wide band of

metallic-green feathers that taper off towards the

midline. This shiny green band, together with the shiny

bluish-green upper mantle merging into the lesser wing-

coverts, encloses a band of white feathers that merges

This paper is publication No. 24 of the Philippine Endemic Species Conservation Project (PESCP) of the Frankfurt Zoological

Society.

14

E. CURIO

Forktail 17 (2001)

ventrally with the white of the breast. This white band

extends towards the upper back and gives the impression

of a second white wing-bar. Three study skins (Nos. 4

to 6 in Table 1) that I inspected (only photos of Nos. 4

& 5) revealed no indication of this conspicuous white

band, obviously due to feather disarrangement during

skin preparation. While such disarrangement of the

lateral breast feathers made both the broad green lateral

band and the white bar bordering it disappear on

Keulemans’ plate, the colour illustration of G. keayi in

Hachisuka (1931-1932) captures almost correctly the

position and size of the former band. Whether the

vestigial length of the white bar in the latter illustration

is genuine and, hence a potentially discriminating

character, needs to be determined by study of live birds

from Negros.

The blood red breast patch is narrow, usually no

wider than 5 mm, and c. 26 mm long, but its shape may

change due to the activities of the bird (Plates I and II).

This name-giving trait has been seen correctly

(Hachisuka 1931-1932), or has been painted far too

wide (Clarke 1900). The narrow shape of this patch

renders G. keayi distinct from all other bleeding-hearts.

The white wing-bar is formed by the two to three

most distal rows of lesser wing-coverts, the grey base of

which, however, cannot be seen in life ( contra Clarke

1900). The latest descriptions (Hachisuka 1931-1932,

Delacour and Mayr 1946, duPont 1971) ascribe this

wing-bar only to G. keayi ; yet a close inspection of a

skin of G. platenae (Museum fur Naturkunde, Berlin)

and of photos of one live bird (Brooks et al. 1995) reveal

one upper prominent, or even a smaller second, white

wing-bar in this species, too (colour poster of G. keayi ,

G. platenae by PESCP, 1997).

Clarke (1900) described the greater and median

upper wing-coverts to be ‘purplish chestnut’ throughout,

while other authors do not mention them (Delacour and

Mayr 1946, duPont 1971), or reiterate his account

verbatim (Hachisuka 1931-1932). Our first bird (No. 1,

Table 2) shows only the greater and median coverts of

the secondaries to be thus coloured, whereas the primary

coverts are blackish (photos of spread wing). A close

inspection of colour photos of both the holotype and

co-type (courtesy of R. McGowan, Edinburgh) revealed

no obvious difference from this pattern in the Panay

bird. Hence, the original description needs an

amendment in this regard as well.

The colour of the soft parts was assessed both

verbally and with the use of colour charts (Kiippers

1991) (Table 1). While we agree with the then verbal

accounts of earlier authors (Clarke 1900, Hachisuka

1931-1932, Delacour and Mayr 1946, duPont 1971),

all of them failed to notice the violet tinge of the red iris

that we found in (at least) two of the three birds. Oliver’s

poster has the iris yellowish.

Morphometries

Table 2 gives the measurements of our three Panay

bleeding-hearts (I) and 10+ study skins from various

collections, the holotype and one co-type (Nos. 4 & 5)

included (II). In one case (Hachisuka 1931-1932), the

number of skins examined is not given. Measurements

were taken by the curators of the collections approached

to forestall the loss of the material. One exception from

this was No. 6. There is wide overlap of measurements

between the two samples, and the overall values of the

Negros birds (II) fall squarely in the range of the limited

sample of Panay birds. There is one exception (No. 6)

where two bill measurements exceed those for Panay.

The tail length is problematic. Whereas one source

(Hachisuka 1931-1932) gives 1 00 mm as the lower end

of the range for Negros, this is not reached by any other

measurement (an anomaly [Table 2, footnote 2]

excluded) . Even allowing for shrinkage of tissue in skins

(Svensson 1975, Jenni and Winkler 1989), this would

not account for the difference between the longest

individual tails in Table 2 and the range mentioned by

Hachisuka (1931-1932). Strangely, another discrepancy

between data on specimen labels (Nos. 4 and 5), i.e.

when collected in the fresh state and those from the

skins now, runs counter to the expectation based on

shrinkage and, thus, remains unexplained. In conclusion,

the scanty data at hand give no hint as to a size difference

between Negros and Panay bleeding-hearts.

One individual from Panay had an anomalous tail

feather tip (No. 2, Table 2).

The total length and the body mass of the three Panay

birds (Nos. 1 to 3) amounted to 243, 250 and 259 mm

and to 175, 176 and 206 g, respectively. No comparison

with the Negros birds is possible.

BEHAVIOUR

One adult male (No. 1, Table 2) was observed in the

spacious rehabilitation cage. In view of the possible

importance for future conservation breeding of this rare

species and, as it was the first account of its kind for any

bleeding-heart form (D. Goodwin in litt. 2000, A.

Anzenberger in litt. 2000, A. Miinst in litt. 2000), notes

on its behaviour are reported below.

Table 1. Colour of soft parts and breast patch in three Negros Bleeding-hearts (Nos. 1 to 3) of Table 2 from Panay as

assessed with the aid of Kiippers’ colour atlas (1991) and as judged by three observers qualitatively throughout.

Forktail 17 (2001)

Taxonomic status of the Negros Bleeding-heart from Panay, Philippines

15

Table 2. Measurements (in mm, accuracy 0. 1 mm, where possible) of three live individuals of G. keayi from Sibaliw,

Municipality of Buruanga, Antique Province, Panay (I); of museum skins from Negros (II).

1 Svensson’sl 1 ‘flattened wing’ method where feathers are not straightened on ruler. Two entries denote right and left wing.

2 Vane of one of the two central rectrices ends in torsion of a 15 mm long tip (not contained in tail length above) of 2 mm width. The

other centra! rectrix ends normally.

3 Given on labels as 101 and 96 mm, respectively, while all other measurements are ‘within 1 mm or so of those written on the specimen

labels’ (R. McGowan in litt. 1999)

4 Colour prints, courtesy of Mr R. McGowan, NMS, with author.

5 From Hachisuka; bill to feathers ‘culmen from base’ (p. 221).

6 Where both wings were measured, average taken.

Feeding

Already on its second day in an acclimatization cage

(60 x 50 x 40 cm), shielded off with white cloth that

covered the only look-through wall, the bird took seeds

from the ground. A bit later it took them from the filled

bowl, on top of which freshly killed insects were placed.

Insects were also placed on the ground. The seed mixture

consisted of 40% oily seeds (sunflower seeds, dehusked

cardy Cynara cardunculus ) and 60% mealy seeds (silver

millet, durrha, wheat; no rye) (J. Nicolai pers. comm.

1998). Corvimin, a top-quality multi-vitamin and

mineral powder, was added to the diet twice a week. A

weight control in October 1999, i.e. after eight months,

revealed no weight loss. The food in the aviary, which

became the bird’s standard home after five days, was

enriched with both more and larger insects and berries.

Small berries of Durum-on and Magdong-od (2.5-3 mm

and 3-4 mm in diameter, respectively) were taken (Plate

1, 4), while slightly larger ones (Lawi-LawiTabaw) were

rejected. The bird ate unripe berries (yellowish, orange

or red) only after having eaten all the ripe ones, which it

selected by sight alone. However, rejection was partly

based on picking up the individual berries. The berries

of Magdong-od were recognised as being ripe visually,

even though these were purplish-red. Captive Luzon

Bleeding-hearts are not keen on fruits of any kind (J.

Nicolai, pers. comm.). Given this rather strict preference

for tiny fruits, it came as a surprise when we found a

relatively large seed without any traces of pulp (Plate I,

6) in the gizzard of a female that had accidentally died

(Table 2, No. 2; skin in station Sibaliw). The seed was

many times the size of the smallest rejected berries. It

belonged to a palm ( Borassus or Borassodendron ) that

has not yet been recorded from the Philippines, with

representatives occurring on Borneo as the nearest place

(H.-J. Tillich in litt.) Furthermore, mastication in the

gizzard opened up the nutritious contents without the

help of grit that is commonly taken up by ground doves.

The captive male took up small pieces of grit, though.

The appetite for insects in the aviary was so great

that up to eight dead dragonflies Odonata (Plate I, 5

and 7) were eaten less than 20 min after they were

thrown on the ground of the cage. Similar-sized

grasshoppers were taken as well. The bird seized the

insect with (both?) eyes closed at the moment of impact

(Plate I, 5), which never happened with berries, then

threw the prey on the ground, without mandibulating

it. After picking it up thus several times, it swallowed it.

Dismembered wings and heads were eaten after the rest.

Insects were clearly preferred over the seeds available

all the time. Searching for food was facilitated by tossing

leaves aside with the bill.

16

E. CURIO

Forktail 17 (2001)

The protective eye closure when picking up an insect

is remarkable. Not only did it occur when there was no

prey movement but the motor pattern and context of

eye closure is apparently undescribed for birds. When

sleeping, a bird typically closes its eyes by raising the

lower lid. The foraging bird under scrutiny half-closed

its eyes by lowering the upper lid (Plate I, 5) or

completely closed them by partly raising the lower lid

simultaneously (photo). At the moment of impact the

eyes were thus protected. While holding the insect

securely, the eyes were kept wide open.

The bird drank water by sucking as is typical for

doves. Once it drank from a water-filled dry leaf in

preference to the full bowl a few steps away.

Preening

The movements used in preening were the same as

employed by many birds. Surprisingly, again the eyes

were closed by lowering the upper lid before the bill

was tucked into the ruffled feathers (Plate II, 8), i.e. in

the same way as when picking up a larger insect (see

above). But, in contrast, to the latter protective

mannerism, the eye was reopened, while the head was

raised, by pulling down the lower lid. (The movement of

the upper lid could not be perceived.) The only

interpretation possible is that, after the upper lid had

closed the eye as documented, it gave way to the lower

lid, which then reopened the eye during the raising of

the head.

Sun-bathing

Like many other pigeon species, the bird walked into a

sun spot on the floor, squatted down and tilted over the

completely unfolded wing while rolling the body over

the opposite side so that the wing’s outer surface touched

the ground. Thereby the inner surface and the flanks

became exposed to the sun. Seconds later, the wing was

partly folded and returned to the basking position, or

the bird stood up and walked back into the shade.

Roosting

In the forest, three birds were found sleeping on a young

tree in the late evening of 24 April 1998, two of which

sat side by side (Plate II, 9). The third one, higher up,

flew off when disturbed. Later on, two were seen roosting

together 3 m up in a young Palaquium luzoniense tree

(23 March 1998). Roosting in a group may have been

due to earlier breeding in March (see below), because

bleeding-hearts normally stay by themselves during the

day (c. 12 observations); only once were two birds seen

together (12 February). In the aviary, the lone bird

roosted both under the roof at one end and in the open.

It seemed to prefer rather thin twigs providing a stronger

and safer hold for the feet, even if there was no rain

shelter (see also Plate II, 9).

Vocalizations

These were recorded with a SonyTC-D5M recorder

and a dynamic microphone. The male sang most

commonly from September and October 1999 through

to March 2000, between near dawn (c. 05hl0) and near

dusk (17h00), usually from the top of the shelter (Plate

II, 10). In addition to the loud songs there were two

monosyllabic hu calls and one unrecorded bisyllabic

hulm call of a distinctly different sound quality but

) h t

!; 1 n J ( I W'

2 Time [s]

imiiHUKHHUimimn

1 2 Time [s]

mm* ••>»(«

•*• iitmti

o

Time [s]

Fig. 1. Sonagrams of vocalisations in October 99 of same

male as in Plate I & II. KAY DSP-Sonagraph, model 5500.

Background noise removed, a., b.Two different songs with

28 and 30 syllables, respectively, c. ‘Extended’ song with 78

syllables, following hu sound after ca. 1 s.

Fig. 2. Sonagram of monosyllabic ‘hu’ sound from the

same continuous recording as in Fig. 2, preceding a song by

1.3 s; analysed with AVISOFT-SASLAB-PRO software.

Note the difference from ‘ hu ’ in Fig. 2 c.

inserted into bouts of song. The songs consisted of trills

of rapidly repeated syllables with possibly up to three

harmonics, with their major energy at around 0.5 kHz

(Fig. 1 ) . In spite of varying from 28 to 78 syllables, these

trills always had a duration of about 2.4 s. Between trills

the bird remained still or walked back and forth,

sometimes flying down and up again. Trills were even

sung in the acclimatization cage when the bird was

suffering from a leg injury in October. On two occasions

trills were preceded by two very different soft hu calls

(Fig. 1 c., Fig. 2). All the hu and huhu call versions were

of low volume while the loud trills were long-distance

signals, easily audible in the field. The high repetition

rate of ca 3.5 trills per min, and the context, suggest

trills to be territorial advertisement. A wild male gave c.

1 1 songs/min, both before and after being flushed by

humans (17 March 01,1 lh25). According to hunters’

reports, the Negros Bleeding-heart utters a soft coo and

a high-pitched uu-oom. These calls allow them to

distinguish the species from other doves (Emerald Dove

Chalcophaps indica, White-eared Brown Dove Phapitreron

leucotis ) (Diesmos and Pedregosa 1995). Though these

calls might fit into the above account of the Panay bird,

I find it strange that the major diagnostic vocalization

Forktail 17 (2001)

Taxonomic status of the Negros Bleeding-heart from Panay, Philippines

17

should not be the much louder song trill (which has,

however, not been reported for the Negros population).

Visual displays

Typically the lifting-wings display (Plate II, 1 1 and 13,)

with maximally and rapidly raised wings is given at a

rate of about one third of the song rate 1 or 2 s after a

song. The body feathers are puffed out, giving the bird

a much-enlarged appearance. At the end, during the

slower down-stroke of the wings, portions of the wing-

coverts including the white bar are selectively raised

above the wing surface as to be visible from the front

(Plate II, 13). The display accompanied a song only once

and was given on the song post. An identical display is

used by the Luzon Bleeding-heart male when courting

the female, or when luring her to a place for nest-building

(Miinst and Wolters 1999). The lifting-wings display also

occurs during courtship in the New Guinean Golden-

heart Dove Gallicolumba rufigula( Coates 1985), though

with the wings raised merely halfway up (J. Nicolai, pers.

comm., photos), as is also typical of Marquesan Ground

Dove G. rubescens (Gifford 1925). The display apparently

arose before the Philippine radiation of the endemic

bleeding-hearts and is, hence, expected to be common

to all of them.

Second, there is an extremely rapid double wing-

beat, during which the wings are beaten twice at such a

high speed that the double stroke can be only heard but

not seen. The stroke does not lift the body at all. Like

the lifting-wings display, the double wing-beat occurs

also during song bouts but more rarely. Only once it

occurred in a bout of preening. Being close-range signals,

these displays surely have a different function than the

songs. Produced in the absence of a conspecific they

must be regarded as vacuum activities.

Tameness

During the day, flight distances of wild birds were noticed

at 3, 10, 13 m and 10-15 m when birds took wing and

settled again after a short flight. This level of tameness

may lead to the species being easily overlooked as

compared to all other pigeons of the area. The species’s

rarity may therefore be more apparent than real.

REPRODUCTION

On 8 March 1999 Henry Urbina of PESCP found the

only known nest of the species in primary forest near

the Bulanao trail (Plate II, 12). The two eggs fell victim

to a predator within a day of its discovery, thus

precluding further observation. The nest was placed

amidst the leaves of a birdnest fern Asplenium supported

by fallen logs, and was clearly visible from above. The

time of the year matches both joint roosting of groups

(see above) and previous records both for G. platenae

and G. luzonica, with nestlings found in May (Dickinson

etal. 1991).

The work of the PESCP is formalized under the aegis of a Memo¬

randum of Agreement with the Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (Quezon City, Philippines). The help of the Pro¬

tected Areas andWildlife Bureau (DirectorW. S. Pollisco, then R. C.

Bayabos), and RED J. Amador (DENR Region VI, Iloilo) is grate¬

fully acknowledged. The project is sponsored by the Frankfurt Zoo¬

logical Society. Further support came from the Andreas-Stihl-Foun-

dation, the ABC (Advocates of Bird Conservation), the AZ (Ger¬

man Aviculturists’ Association), the Daimler Benz AG, Deutsche

Lufthansa, German Ornithologists’ Society, Vitakraft-Werke and

generous donations of Prof. Dr Mult. h.c. Ernst Mayr, Cambridge,

Mass., USA, Mr B. Bacsal (Manila), and Mr H. Kessler von

Sprengeisen, Manila. Further assistance came from project staff at

Sibaliw, especially ‘June’ B. Tacud; S. Luft, J. Reiter (photography

and recordings, pigeon rehabilitation); and from A. Anzenberger, O.

Behlert (veterinary advice), S. Eck, D. Goodwin, C. Konig

(sonagraphy), A. Miinst, J. Nicolai,T. Pagel (donation of colour plates

by AZ), H. Schulze (illustrations, except Fig. 1), Prof. Dr H.-J.Tillich

(identification of seed). The curators of museum bird departments

supplied information on study skins in their custody: G. K. Hess

(Wilmington, Delaware), R. S. Kennedy (Cincinnati), P. Lowther

(Chicago), R. McGowan (Edinburgh), D. Willard (Chicago); R.

McGowan in addition provided informative colour photos. To all

these individuals and institutions I am immensely indebted.

REFERENCES

BirdLife International (2001) Threatened birds of Asia. Cambridge,

U.K.: BirdLife International.

Brooks, T., Dutson, G., Gabutero, L. andTimmins, R. (1995) Siburan

- key area for birds on Mindoro. Oriental Bird Club Bull. 2 1 : 28-33.

Clarke, W. E. (1900) XVIII. - On some birds from the island of

Negros, Philippines. Part IV. Ibis VI: 351-361.

Coates, B. J. (1985) The birds of Papua New Guinea.Vo\. I. Alderley:

Dove Publications.

Curio, E., Hornbuckle, J., de Soye,Y., Aston, P. and Lastimoza, L. L.

(in press) New bird species records for the island of Panay, Phil¬

ippines, including the first record of the Asian Stubtail Urosphena

squameiceps for the Philippines. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club

Delacour, J. and Mayr, E. (1946) Birds of the Philippines . New York:

MacMillan Company.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), United

Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Bookmark, Inc.

(1997) Philippine biodiversity. An assessment and action plan. Makati

City, Philippines: Bookmark, Inc.

Dickinson, E. C., Kennedy, R. S. and Parkes, K. C. (1991) The birds

of the Philippines. BOU, Tring: British Ornithologists’ Union

(Checklist No. 1 2).

Diesmos, A. C. and Pedregosa, M. D. (1995) The conservation sta¬

tus of threatened species of bleeding-hearts (Columbidae) and

hornbills (Bucerotidae) in the Philippines. Unpublished report.

Wildlife Biology Laboratory, University of the Philippines, Los

Banos, Laguna.

duPont, J. E. (1971) Philippine birds. Delaware Mus. Nat. History.

Gifford, E. W. (1925) The gray-hooded quail dove ( Gallicolumba

rubescens ) of the Marquesas Islands, in captivity. Auk 42: 388-396.

Hachisuka,M. (1931-1932) The birds of the Philippine Islands, I. Lon¬

don: Witherby.

Jenni, L. and Winkler, R. (1989) The feather-length of small passe¬

rines: a measurement for wing-length in live birds and museum

skins. Bird Study 36: 1-15.

Klop, E. Curio, E. and de Soye,Y. (1998) A new population of bleed¬

ing-heart pigeon ( Gallicolumba sp.) and its conservation relevance

on Panay, Philippines. J: Orn. 139: 76-77.

Kiippers, H. (1991) DuMont’s Farben-Atlas. Cologne: DuMont

Buchverlag.

Miranda, H. C., Kennedy, R. S., Sison, R. V., Gonzales, P. C. and

Ebreo, M. F. (2000) New records of birds from the island of

Panay, Philippines. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 120: 266-280.

Miinst, A., and Wolters, J. (1999) Die Arten derWildtauben. Bottrop:

K. Wolters, 2nd edn.

Svensson, L. (1975) Identification guide to European passerines.

Stockholm: Naturhistoriska Rijksmuseet, 2nd edn.

E. Curio, Conservation Biology Unit, Faculty of Biology, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany ;

email: eberhard. curio@ruhr-uni-bochum. de

18

Forktail 17 (2001)

Forktail 17 (2001)

19

Plate I & II The same Bleeding-heart male (see Table 2, No. 1) in rehabilitation cage in Sibaliw, except for picture 9.

1-3 At leisure

4 & 5 Feeding on berries of durum-on and on dragonfly

6 Large seed of unidentified tree; small fragments of the testa were chiselled off by the bird’s (No. 2, Table 1)

gizzard, larger ones with pliers; mm scale

Sizes of dragonflies eaten; scale = 20 mm

8 Preening

9 Two birds at roost, 2.5 m high

10 Singing (see Fig. 1, a to c)

11 & 13 Two phases of lifting-wings display

12 Nest with eggs, ca 0.8 m above ground

FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 21-28

Ornithological records from Savannakhet Province,

Lao PDR, January-July 1997

T. D. EVANS

Ornithological records are presented from several localities in Savannakhet Province, in particular

areas along the main stream of the Mekong and a forest fragment close to Savannakhet town. The

community of riverine birds was much poorer than had been found before 1 949; four species still

present are considered to be At Risk in Laos (Great Thick-knee Esacus recurvirostris, River Lapwing

Vanellus duvaucelii, River Tern Sterna aurantia , Grey Heron Ardea cinerea ) and three others

Potentially At Risk in Laos (Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus , Small Pratincole Glareola

lactea, Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii). Seven species were recorded for the first time in

Central Laos: Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis , Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum, White¬

winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus, Malayan Night Heron Gorsachius melanolophus , Bluethroat

Luscinia svecica, Chestnut-flanked White-eye Zosterops erythropleurus and Bright-headed Cisticola

Cisticola exilis. The last of these seems to have extended its range in the past 50 years, presumably

in response to extensive deforestation.

INTRODUCTION

The records in this paper provide new distributional or

status information for birds from Lao PDR (hereafter

‘Laos’). Most come from areas that have not been

covered by other recent surveys. Both Thewlis et al.

(1998) and Duckworth et al. (1999a) stress the value of

fieldworkers publishing results which contribute to the

knowledge of Lao birds’ status, especially for species of

conservation concern. This is because the avifauna of

Laos remains quite poorly known and, since much of

the available information was collected before 1949, the

present-day status of many species is even less well

known. The great majority of recent information was

gathered during extensive surveys during 1992 — 1998

which concentrated on the protected areas system and

resulted in a small number of papers (Duckworth 1 996,

Thewlis et al. 1996, Evans and Timmins 1998,

Duckworth et al. 1998b, Thewlis et al. 1998, Evans et al.

2000, Timmins and Tizard in prep.) and various

unpublished reports. Data from these surveys were

synthesized by Salter (1993) and this work was updated

by Duckworth et al. (1999a).

Order and taxonomy in this paper follow Inskipp et

al. (1996). Scientific names are given in the text for

species not listed in Appendix 2. Place names follow

the most recent 1:100 000 topographic maps of the Lao

PDR Service Geographique d'Etat. Locations of sites

105°E 106°E 107°E

Figure 1. Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR

09

T. D. EVANS

Forktail 17 (2001)

not listed in the gazetteer of Thewlis et al. (1998) are

given in Appendix 1 . All sites covered were in Central

Laos ( sensu both King et al. 1975 and Duckworth et al.

1 999b) with the exception of one part of the Mekong in

South Laos, noted in the text. For the purposes of this

paper ‘recent records’ are those from 1990 until July

1997.

METHODS, STUDY SITES AND

COVERAGE

The author made birdwatching trips during his spare

time whilst working in Laos during January — July 1 997.

Most records were collected opportunistically by day

and on foot. A few journeys were also made along the

Mekong in specially chartered motor-powered canoes.

Sites mentioned in the text are shown on Figure 1.

Mekong river

Along the Mekong river three areas were visited:

Savannakhet town and areas to the north and south.

Most visits were to a group of four sandbars next to

Savannakhet town. These are here numbered from 1-4

from north to south. Bars 1 and 4 were long, low

sandbars with gently shelving beaches around them.

They are mostly bare or sparsely vegetated, but there

was an area of tall dunes with cane grass on island 4.

Neither had habitations or cultivation. Bars 2 and 3 were

shorter and higher with steeper sides (sand cliffs in

places) and more vegetation, including a few trees. Both

were heavily cultivated and had huts built on them. The

Thai town of Mukdahan stands on the opposite bank

of the Mekong at this point.

North of Savannakhet town the Mekong was visited

from Ban Thahouaxang north to the mouth of Nam

Thahao. The islands in this stretch include two large

low sandbars and a variety of low rocky islets. On the

Thai bank the town ofThat Phanom lies a few kilometres

south of the Nam Thahao mouth.

South of Savannakhet town the rapids at Keng Khan-

Gneng near the mouth of the Xe Bang-Nouan were

visited. This site was in South Laos ( sensu King et al.

1975 and Duckworth et al. 1999b). The rapids are due

to the constriction caused by extensive level rocky

outcrops flanked by cliffs and topped with a confusion

of large boulders. The stretch upstream to the mouth of

Xe Banghiang was travelled by boat. The course was a

mixture of rocky constrictions, rapids, rocky and sandy

islets and wide open stretches lacking any such features.

This part of the Mekong was similar to that in Phou

Xiang Thong National Biodiversity Conservation Area

(Evans et al. 2000), and forms part of the same

geographical feature, the Khemmarat Rapids. Keng

Khan-Gneng is about 25 km east of the Thai town of

Khemmarat.

During the rainy season almost all of the islets and

outcrops along these three stretches are likely to be under

water.

Coverage is shown in Table 1 .

Phou Soun, Xepone District

Phou Soun is a ridge at 1 80-400 m close to the Southern

Forestry Extension Training Centre, Ban Dongsoun (2)

(also known as Xepone orTchepone). It has quite steep,

rocky flanks and supports degraded forest, much of it

dominated by bamboo and the tree Lagerstroemia (and

thus largely deciduous), but with patches of denser semi¬

evergreen forest. The surrounding lowlands are a mixture

of scrub and cultivation and a bend of the Xe Banghiang

river passes close by. Morning visits of 1-1.5 hours

duration were made on eight dates from 19 February -

1 8 March.

Dong Nathat Conservation Area, Khanthabuli

District

Dong Nathat Conservation Area lies on flat terrain at

140-170 m. Signs state that the reserve covers 83 km2

but the area of dense natural forest shown on 1987

1 : 100,000 topographic maps is about 16 km2 and since

extensive parts of that area were observed to be short

scrub in 1997 the true area of the surveyed block is

probably 12 km2 or less. A larger block of forest (32

km2) is shown on topographic maps about 4 km to the

east and may also be included in the reserve. It is not

known if this still exists.

Most of the vegetation is logged semi-evergreen forest

of varying quality — parts have been reduced to semi¬

evergreen scrub less than 5 nr tall, other areas still

support a fairly complete canopy at 15-20 m. There is

also a moderate number of mature Dipterocarpus alatus

trees (many of them over 35 m tall and with diameter at

breast height of 1-1.5 m). These were retained during

logging, presumably to allow the continued harvesting

of their resinous sap.

In the centre of the reserve is Nong Khen (locally

called Nong Lorn) which is a well vegetated, shallow,

permanent lake covering a few hectares.

The forest was visited for periods of 4-5 hours,

starting soon after dawn, on the following dates: 26

January, 9 and 16 February, 2 March, 4, 11, 18 and 25

May and 6 July. It was also visited briefly at dusk on 18

May.

Table 1 Ornithological coverage along the Mekong River during 1997.

Area

Dates

Savannakhet town Bar 1

Savannakhet town Bar 2

Savannakhet town Bar 4

North of Savannakhet town

South of Savannakhet town

- Keng Khan-Gneng

- boat trip to mouth of Xe Banghiang

8 and 14 February, 21 March, 3, 10, 13 and 24 May

1 1 February

25 January, 15 February, 1 1 March, 4 May

8 and 10 March

29 and 30 March, 30 April, 1, 20 and 21 May

30 March

Forktail 17 (2001)

Ornithological records from Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR

23

RECORDS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST

All bird species recorded at the sites visited are listed in

Appendix 2. Records are discussed in more detail below

if they provide new status information for species of

conservation concern (Key species) or new distributional

information (new records for Central Laos, clarifications

of status or records which otherwise greatly extend the

known Lao range of a species). Key species categories

are given after the species name. They are At Risk in

Laos, Potentially At Risk in Laos or Little Known in

Laos (following Duckworth et al. 1999b).

The community of birds associated with the Mekong

channel during the dry season was much poorer than

that recorded some 50 years earlier by David-Beaulieu

(1949- 1950). The two main additions are Bright-headed

Cisticola and Yellow-vented Bulbul. At least the first of

these has probably spread following deforestation, as

discussed below. Of the historically-recorded

community, Small Pratincoles, Little Ringed Plovers and

various passerine species remain numerous. It is not clear

that Blue-tailed Bee-eaters orWire-tailed Swallows were

ever commoner than they now are in the stretches of

river visited, but both have certainly declined elsewhere

in the Lao Mekong. Many other species clearly have

declined or disappeared. Great Thick-knees, River

Lapwings and River Terns, once common, have declined

greatly, as discussed in the species accounts. David-

Beaulieu (1949-1950) also recorded the following

conspicuous species (his assessment of abundance along

the Mekong in brackets): Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

(quite frequent, especially at Savannakhet town), Black-

bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda (extremely common),

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus (very common),

(Oriental) Darter Anhinga melanogaster (quite common),

White-shouldered Ibis Pseitdibis (papillosa ) davisoni (very

common along one Mekong tributary, by implication

also present elsewhere). Painted Stork Mycteria

leucocephala (present year round) and Black-necked

Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus (occasional). White-

rumped Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed G. ( indicus )

tenuirostris and Red-headed Vultures Sarcogvps calvus

were extremely common in the province, and would

often have been seen by observers in the Mekong

channel. Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis has not been

recorded from the Savannakhet area since the 1870s

(Harmand 1878-1879). Although small numbers of all

these species may yet remain undetected in the areas

visited, there have undoubtedly been severe declines of

most or all of them. Similar collapses have been found

in almost every part of Laos visited, making the large-

river bird community one of the most threatened parts

of the Lao avifauna, a fact attributed mainly to hunting

pressure (Thewlis et al. 1998, Duckworth et al. 1999b).

Many of these species are considered globally threatened

or Near Threatened by BirdLife International (2000).

It is interesting to note that the Keng Khan-Gneng

to Xe Banghiang stretch, home to the only Great Thick-

knees, River Terns and River Lapwings found, is

dominated by ‘channel mosaic’ habitat. This matches

the findings of Duckworth et al. (in press) who identified

this as being the habitat richest in populations of

declining riverine birds elsewhere in Laos.

Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis

Two flew south over Dong Nathat on the morning of 4

May and nine flew north-east over Savannakhet town

on the same evening. Historically David-Beaulieu ( 1 949-

1950) considered this species to be strictly a passage

migrant during about 1 5 days at the start of the rainy

season and he had only observed them around

Savannakhet town. Earlier (David-Beaulieu 1944) he

saw an isolated passage movement of an estimated

several hundred bee-eaters past Phou Kobo, North Laos,

at about 1,400 m on 26 April 1940; he identified them

as Chestnut-headed but they seem more likely to have

been Blue-throated. Recent records in Laos concern a

party of 10 on the Nakay Plateau on 10 April 1994

(Evans and Timmins 1998) and large numbers passing

over Nam Theun Extension Proposed NBCA in early

May 1996 (J.W. Duckworth in litt. 2000). Duckworth et

al. (1999a) concluded that the seasonal status remained

uncertain, but it may be only a passage migrant, and

the current records lend support to that conclusion. J.

W. Duckworth (in litt. 2000) points out that the species

breeds in Vietnam in North and Central Annam so it

may breed (or once have bred) in Laos too. Colonies in

sandy banks would be very vulnerable to nest-robbery

in Laos.

Blue- tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus

Potentially At Risk in Laos

One or two around Keng Khan-Gneng on all visits until

1 May, but none thereafter. The low numbers of recent

records of this species in Laos and the small flock sizes

observed have aroused some concern (Duckworth et al.

1999a, Evans et al. in press) so it was recently included

in the list of Key species. During his long residence in

Savannakhet Province, David-Beaulieu (1949-1950)

occasionally recorded small groups of this species in

unspecified habitats and considered it much less regular

than Blue-throated Bee-eater.

Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis

A party of three in breeding plumage on Bar 1,

Savannakhet town, on 10 May. This is the first record

for Central Laos. The only previous confirmed records

are on the Mekong in South Laos in May 1996 (Evans

et al. 2000), but there was a provisional record from

Vientiane on 21 November 1994 (Duckworth et al.

1999a).

Great Thick-knee Esacus recurvirostris

At Risk in Laos

Two at Keng Khan-Gneng on 29 March, at least two

on 30 April and three together on 1 May. The birds

were conspicuous, particularly because they called often,

especially in the evenings. None was recorded during

evening visits on 20-2 1 May, when soldiers at the border

post overlooking the rapids stated that the birds were

no longer present.

The species has been recorded in tiny numbers at a

handful of sites on the Mekong and Xe Kong rivers in

recent years but was formerly more common and

widespread (Thewlis et al. 1998, Duckworth et al.

1999a). Hunting, nest robbery and incidental

disturbance are suspected to have caused the decline

(Thewlis et al. 1998). It was formerly common along

the Mekong in Savannakhet Province and was easily

24

T. D. EVANS

Forktail 17(2001)

found even on the sandbars in Savannakhet town

(David-Beaulieu 1949-1950).

The Lao language name at Keng Khan-Gneng is

nok moowm (a different word from nok mourn used for

imperial pigeons Ducula) and this is also the name used

by people at another currently known Lao locality for

this species, Ban Hangkhone in Champassak Province

(pers. obs.).

River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii

At Risk in Laos

None in extensive suitable habitat from Savannakhet

town north to the mouth of Nam Thahao. At Keng

Khan-Gneng there were at least six on 29 March, ten

on 30 March, ten on 30 April and 16 on 20 May, all

widely dispersed over the rocky areas and actively

mobbing the observer. On 30 March upstream of Keng

Khan-Gneng to the mouth of Houay Xa there were

parties of eight and four, with no more from there to

the mouth of the Xe Banghiang. These data were

included in summary statistics used for a recent review

of the status of this species in southern Laos (Duckworth

ex al. 1998a). The occurrence in only one part of the

Mekong visited in 1997 contrasts with the observation

of David-Beaulieu (1949-1950) that they were very

common along the Mekong and the Xe Banghiang.

Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum

Two on the island by Ban Houayhouaxang, 10 March.

Three on Bar 1, Savannakhet town, on 13 May. These

are the first records for Central Laos. All recent Lao

records reviewed by Duckworth et al. (1998b) fell in

April or May, suggesting spring passage migrants, and

these records fit that pattern whilst extending the period

of passage to early March. There is also a subsequent

record from October, presumably of autumn passage

migrants (Duckworth ex al. 1999b).

Small Pratincole Glareola lacxea

Potentially At Risk in Laos

Commonly recorded on sandy and rocky islands along

the Mekong. On 8 March there were at least 75 on the

island by Ban Savang and three on the rapids at Keng

Kahouang. On 10 March there were at least 35 on the

island by Ban Thahouaxang. On 30 March parties of

one, two and 30 were seen during a boat trip from Keng

Khan-Gneng to the mouth of the Xe Banghiang and

back. Minimum counts from the sandbars by

Savannakhet town are given in Table 2. Note the increase

in numbers through the dry season on both bars. The

bars are less than 2 km apart and it seems likely that

some interchange occurred between the two between

visits; on no day were both bars visited.

Many gave broken-wing distraction displays when

Bar 4 was visited on 4 May and Bar 1 on 10 May,

suggesting breeding was in progress.

The large numbers present in the breeding colony

close to Savannakhet town and in similar proximity to

Vientiane town (Thewlis ex al. 1996) suggest that this

species tolerates the existing, quite high levels of human

disturbance. This contrasts with some other sandbar¬

nesting species, such as GreatThick-knee, River, Black-

bellied and Little Terns Sxerna albifrons and River

Lapwing, which have declined in Laos as a result of

human pressure (Thewlis ex al. 1998).

Table 2 Minimum counts of Small Pratincoles from two

sandbars by Savannakhet town.

River Tern Sxerna auranxia

At Risk in Laos

One about 3 km upstream of Keng Khan-Gneng on 30

March. There are few recent records of this species in

Laos, most of them from Champassak Province (Thewlis

ex al. 1 998) and it has clearly undergone a severe decline

since David-Beaulieu (1949-1950) found it ‘extremely

common; along the Mekong’.

White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopxerus

A party of 21 feeding near Bar 1, Savannakhet town on

10 May. This is the first record for Central Laos. The

only other published record for Laos was from the South

in 1996 (Evans ex al. 2000) but one was seen along the

Mekong channel separating Laos from Thailand at

Chiang Khong on 21 May 1966 (E. C. Dickinson in

Duckworth ex al. 1999a).

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

At Risk in Laos

In January — February there was a daytime roost on Bar

4 by Savannakhet town. The peak counts were 25 on 25

January and 13 on 15 February. Individuals were seen

on several occasions flying from there east over

Savannakhet town at dusk, and flying back to roost

between 06h00 and 08h00. One at Keng Kahouang on

8 March and one at the mouth of Houay Xa on 30

March. Records listed by Thewlis ex al. (1998) are of

small, scattered wintering groups and individuals: the

group of 25 noted above appears to be the largest

recently reported from Laos except for a party of 38

seen on the Mekong near Vientiane in early 1997 (T.

Hansel, verbally, 1997). The sizes of these flocks were

erroneously reversed by Duckworth ex al. (1999a) and

the Savannakhet record erroneously attributed to J. A.

Wolstencroft. The crepuscular or nocturnal behaviour

of the Savannakhet town birds can be compared with a

similar observation from the Pakxan wetlands (Thewlis

ex al. 1998).

Malayan Night Heron Gorsachius melanolophus

One seen feeding at the edge of Nong Khen, Dong

Nathat, at dusk on 18 May. In Laos calling begins in

May (Thewlis ex al. 1998) suggesting that this is the

start of the breeding season. This species was formerly

considered a Key species categorized as Little Known

in Laos (Thewlis ex al. 1998) but there have since been

many records in a range of habitats and it is not currently

thought to be at risk in Laos (Duckworth ex al. 1999a).

The record from Dong Nathat is further evidence of

occurrence in degraded and fragmented forest areas

during the breeding season and supports its downlisting.

Although King ex al. (1975) list it for all of Laos, this is

apparently the first documented primary record from

Central Laos.

Forktail 17 (2001)

Ornithological records from Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR

25

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica

By Savannakhet town, one on Bar 2 on 1 1 February

and two on Bar 4 on 4 May. These are the first records

for Central Laos.

Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii

Potentially At Risk in Laos

On 8 March, two at Keng Kabao and four at Keng

Kahouang. At Keng Khan-Gneng there were 20-30 on

all visits until 1 May but only one on 20 May and none

on 2 1 May. Two more parties of two were seen from

there upstream to the mouth of Houay Xa on 30 March

but none from there to the mouth of the Xe Banghiang.

Three flew north past Savannakhet town on 10 May.

These records accord with the pattern described by

Thewlis et al. (1998) of pairs or small groups scattered

along the Mekong wherever suitable rocky outcrops

occur. The Houay Xa to Keng Khan-Gneng stretch is

only a few kilometres from where David-Beaulieu (1949-

1950) once saw thousands together on an unknown date;

however, his records were associated with a particular

complex of islands along the lower Xe Banghiang which

was not reached on the current visit.

Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier

One at Keng Khan-Gneng on 30 March. This species

was first recorded in Laos in 1996 (Evans et al. 2000).

That record was a range extension north of some 450

km and the current record extends the range a further

100 km north.

Bright-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis

Common on the sandbars near Savannakhet town and

the island near Ban Savang. These are the first records

for Central Laos. It is remarkable that David-Beaulieu

(1949-1950) did not record the species during his years

resident in Savannakhet town, the more so since his

residence had a view of the sandbars and he was already

very familiar with the species, which has a distinctive

call, from southern Vietnam (David-Beaulieu 1939). It

is likely that the species has colonized the area since

that time. Although the habitat on the sandbars

themselves is unlikely to have changed much it is quite

possible that they were occupied by Bright-headed

Cisticolas only once more extensive habitats became

available following deforestation, first in north-east

Thailand and latterly in Laos. This species occurs

commonly in rough grass around rice paddies around

Vientiane town (pers. obs.) and presumably also

occupies this habitat around Savannakhet.

There is patchy evidence of this species extending

its range elsewhere in Asia. In Borneo it was first

recorded near Pontianak in 1976 (Harvey and Holmes

1 97 6) and was recorded again at Kendawangan in 1 994

(Rusila and Enis 1995), a record which G. Davison (in

litt. 2000) interprets as evidence that the species has

now colonized the wide area between these two points.

The first records from theTanimbar islands (Bishop and

Brickie 1998) are believed to represent recent

colonization following deforestation (David Bishop in

litt. 2000). Following the first record on Sumatra in 1976

(Harvey and Holmes 1976) there have been scattered

records elsewhere and Holmes (1996) considered it

likely that it was spreading northwards across the island.

In Hong Kong the species was first recorded in 1991

(Viney and Chalmers 1992) and is now considered to

be a regular winter visitor from November to March, in

small numbers (Leven et al. 1994). M. Turnbull (in litt.

2000) suggests that this indicates an expansion in range

or numbers in South China in recent years.

Chestnut-flankedWhite-eye Zosterops erythropleurus

At least one in a small party of white-eyes Zosterops in

Dong Nathat on 9 February. This is the first record for

Central Laos. The first record for Laos was in December

1995 in the far north (Duckworth et al. 1999a), and

this was followed by a wide scatter of records from the

north in the winter of 1996/1997 (J. W. Duckworth in

litt. 1999).

Vannalack Sengsavanh, the staff of Xe Bang-Nouan National

Biodiversity Conservation Area and the police and forestry officials

in Ban Paksong are thanked for their assistance. Will Duckworth

commented on a draft of this paper. The OrientalBirding email list

server was an invaluable means of requesting information on the

Bright-headed Cisticola; Geoffrey Davison, Michael Turnbull, Seb

Buckton and David Bishop provided helpful information on this

species.

REFERENCES

BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona

and Cambridge: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.

Bishop, D. and Brickie, N. W. (1998) An annotated checklist of the

birds of theTanimbar Islands. Kukila 10: 1 15-150.

David-Beaulieu, A. (1939) Les oiseaux de la region de Pleiku (Hauts

Plateaux de Sud-Annam). L’Oiseau R.f.O. 9: 13-32, 163-182.

David-Beaulieu, A. (1944) Les Oiseaux du Tranninh. Hanoi: Publica¬

tions de l’Ecole Superieure des Sciences, Universite Indochinoise.

David-Beaulieu, A. (1949-1950) Les oiseaux de la province de

Savannakhet (Bas-Laos ). L’Oiseau R.f.O. 19:41-84, 153-194 and

20: 9-50.

Duckworth, J. W. (1996) Bird and mammal records from the

Sangthong District, Vientiane Municipality, Laos in 1996. Nat.

Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 44: 217-242.

Duckworth, J. W., Davidson, P. and Timmins, R. J. (1999a) Birds.

Pp. 69-1 59 in J. W. Duckworth, R. E. Salter and K. Khounbolme

(compilers). Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report. Vientiane:

IUCN-The World Conservation Union / Wildlife Conservation

Society / Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Manage¬

ment.

Duckworth, J. W., Salter, R. E. and Khounbouline, K. (compilers)

(1999b) Wildlife in Lao PDR: the 1999 Status Report. Vientiane:

IUCN-The World Conservation Union / Wildlife Conservation

Society / Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Manage¬

ment.

Duckworth, J.W., Timmins, R. J. and Evans, T. D. (1998a) The con¬

servation status of the River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii in south¬

ern Laos. Biological Conservation 84: 215-222.

Duckworth, J.W., Timmins, R. J., Thewlis, R. M., Robichaud,W. G.

and Evans, T. D. (1998b) Ornithological records from Laos,

October 1994 - August 1995. Forktail 13: 33-68.

Evans, T. D. andTimmins, R. J. (1998) Ornithological records from

Laos, January-September 1994. Forktail 13: 69-96.

Evans, T. D.,Towll, H. C., Timmins, R. J., Thewlis, R. M., Stones,

A. J., Robichaud, W. G. and Barzen, J. (2000) Ornithological

records from the lowlands of southern Laos during December

1995-September 1996, including areas on theThai and Cambo¬

dian borders. Forktail 16: 29-52.

Harmand, F. J. (1878-1879) Les Laos et les populations sauvages de

l’lndochine. Tour de Monde 38(965-967): 1-48,39(1006-1010):

214-370 (1997 translation Laos and the hill tribes of Indochina.

Bangkok: White Lotus.)

26

T. D. EVANS

Forktail 17 (2001)

Harvey, W. G. and Holmes, D. A. (1976) Additions to the avifaunas

of Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 96:

90-92.

Holmes, D. A. (compiler) (1996) Sumatra Bird Report. Kukila 8: 9-

56.

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

checklist of the birds of the Oriental Region. Sandy, Bedfordshire,

U.K.: Oriental Bird Club.

Inskipp, T. P. and Mlikovsky, J. (in prep.) An annotated checklist and

bibliography of the birds of Indochina.

King, B. F., Woodcock, M. and Dickinson, E. C. (1975) A field guide

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

Leven, M. R., Carey, G. J. and Picken,V. (1994) Report on the birds

1993: systematic list. Hong Kong Bird Report 1993: 16-92.

Rusila, Y. Nor and Enis, W. H. (1995) A preliminary survey on the

ecological potential of the CagarAlam Muara Kendawangan. PHPA/

AWB-Indonesia Programme, Bogor.

Thewlis, R. 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 11: 47-100.

Thewlis, R. M., Timmins, R. J., Evans, T. D. and Duckworth, J. W.

(1998) The conservation status of birds in Laos: a review of key

species. Bird Conserv. Internat. 8 (Supplement): 1-159.

Timmins, R. J. and Tizard, R. J. .(in prep.) Ornithological records

from North Laos and the Annamite Mountains, October 1995-

August 1996.

Viney, C. A. and Chalmers, M. L. (1992) Bright-capped Cisticola.

The first records for Hong Kong. Hong Kong Bird Report 1991:

116-119.

T. D. Evans, 1 laYeoman Lane, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent, MEM 4BX, UK. email: tom.evans@plants.ox.ac.uk

APPENDIX 1

Gazetteer of sites not listed by Thewlis et al. (1998)

Nam Thahao (mouth), 16°59'N 104°46'E, Keng

Kahouang, 16°57'N 104°46'E, Keng Kabao,16°53'N

104°44'E, Ban Savang, 16°48'N 104°44'E, Ban

Thahouaxang, 16°44'N 104°45'E, Savannakhet town,

16°34'N 104°45'E, Xe Banghiang (mouth), 1 6°02'N

105°15'E, Houay Xa, 16°01'N 105°21'E, Keng Khan-

Gneng, 16°01'N 105°25'E, Phou Soun, 16°41’N

106°11'E, Dong Nathat Conservation Area (centre),

16°38'N 1 04°50'E

APPENDIX 2

Status assessments of birds recorded

Rows for unidentified members of a genus exclude records identified to species.

Threatened status: ARL = At Risk in Laos; PARL = Potentially At Risk in Laos

Column headings: Dong = Dong Nathat; Mek N/Sa/S = Mekong River North part/Savannakhet town/South part

Abundances C = Common (recorded daily, sometimes repeated records); P = Present (probably not common) or

abundance not assessed; Provisional records are marked [ ]

In Dong Nathat the number of days with records is given separately for the cold, dry season (26 January - 2

March, maximum four days) and the early wet season (4 May - 6 July, maximum five days).

Forktail 17 (2001)

Ornithological records from Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR

27

28

T. D. EVANS

Forktail 17 '(2001)

Pigeons were not known.

2 An unidentified blue flycatcher was also recorded on 4 May.

3 5. burku is now regarded as a species complex of five species (Alstrom and Olsson 1999) but the characters were not known at the

time of these records.

4 All laughingthrushes heard were suspected to be White-crested

FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 29-40

Birds recorded during two expeditions to

north Myanmar (Burma)

BEN KING, HUGH BUCK, ROBERT FERGUSON, TIMOTHY FISHER, CHRISTIAN GOBLET,

HERBERT NICKEL and WERNER SUTER

We participated in two birding expeditions to extreme northern Myanmar (Burma), north-west

of Putao, on 26 January — 13 February 1998 and 5 — 26 November 1999, the first ornithological

exploration of the area since before World War II. The following species were new for Myanmar

(and all except the first of these were also new for South-East Asia): Eurasian Blackbird Turdus

merula , Rufous-tailed Thrush Turdus naumanni naumanni, Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx

hyperythra , Goldcrest Regulus regulus, Snowy-throated Babbler Stachyris oglei and Brown-headed

Fulvetta Alcippe ludlowi. A host of new distributional data was derived. We found forest in pristine

condition and birds galore.

THE ROUTE

Two birding expeditions were made to northern

Myanmar, in 1998 and 1999. On the 1998 expedition,

we flew from Yangon (Rangoon) to Putao by regular

scheduled airline. After over-nighting in Putao, we

traveled about 1 6 km north-west by road to Sangaung

village where we embarked on our trek to the north¬

west. From Sangaung, we climbed up a low north/south

mountain ridge to Camp 1 (at 1,330 m just below the

west side of the pass), and then down toWasadum village

at about 800 m. FromWasadum, we crossed a river and

then a low ridge into the Nan Lam River valley. We

followed the right bank of the Nan Lam north-west and

then the right bank of the Zia River (before their merger,

the Nan Lam swings west and the Zia continues north¬

west) to Ziyardum village on the left (west) bank of the

Zia. From Ziyardum, we traveled south-west, crossing

two low ridges into the Nan Lam River valley, which we

followed to Camp 2. From Camp 2 we crossed to the

Nan Lam River’s south side, and then headed west up a

knife-edged ridge all the way to Camp 4, which was our

farthest point from Putao, about 52 km north-west

(actually 300°).

The 1999 expedition was identical up toWasadum.

FromWasadum, we crossed to the left bank of the Nan

Lam River and proceeded upriver to Kharlondum. From

Kharlondum, we proceeded upriver to Camp 2A. From

Camp 2A we proceeded farther up the river until

meeting the ridge we climbed the previous year and

proceeded to camps 3A, 4 and 5. Camp 5 was a day’s

walk beyond and above Camp 4. The knife-edged ridge

upon which Camp 5 was perched continues west until

it meets the north/south ridge that is the Indian border

(Arunachal Pradesh) about 3 km away.

THE ITINERARIES

30

B. KING et al.

Forktail 17 (2001)

GEOGRAPHICAL CO-ORDINATES AND ELEVATIONS

Putao: 27°19.588'N, 97°23.977'E, 440 m _ _ Camp 2A: 27°33.264N, 97°03'17.6'E, 1,075 m

Sangaung: 27°25.494’N, 97°17.765'E, 440 m _ Camp 2: 27°33.169N, 97°02.723'E, 1,115 m

Camp 1: 27°27.731'N, 97°13.460'E, 1,320 m _ Camp 3A: 27°32'34.8N, 97°00'08.6'E, 1,800 m

Camp 1A: (no coordinates), 1,270 m Camp 3: (no coordinates), 2,200 m

Wasadum: 27°29.390'N, 97°1 1.377'E, 800 m _ Camp 4: 27°31'16.6N, 96°57'52.0'E, 2,475 m

Kharlondum: 27°32'13.5N, 97°07’08.7'E, 980 m _ Camp 5: 27°30’54.8N, 96°56'36.7'E, 3,080 m

Ziyardum: 27°34.345N, 97°05.899'E, 1,010 m

THE HABITAT

Putao (formerly Fort Hertz) at 440 m, lies in the broad

level valley of the Mali Hka River, along a tributary

known as the Nant Hton River. The valley is heavily

cultivated with some heavy scrub on the bluffs of the

flood plain.

Sangaung village, at 440 m is north-west of Putao

along the Sangaung River, a small tributary (stream) of

the Nant Han Tein River valley where the valley meets

the foothills of the Himalayas. The area around the

village is mostly cultivated. Following this stream valley

to the north-west, the cultivation gradually gives way to

scrub, bamboo and some secondary forest. Once the

climb over the small range begins, at about 700 m, the

forest is primary broadleaf evergreen to and over the

pass at about 1 ,350 m. At some places along the stream

and in areas where the tree cover is not complete, the

undergrowth is a vast impenetrable tangle, providing

good cover for babblers. On the western slope of this

range near the trail, there is a fair bit of cultivation, along

with big trees, tangled undergrowth and great birding.

Camp 1 and Camp 1A were amidst some tangled

growth, resulting from clearing, on this western slope.

Wasadum village is situated at 800 m just above a

small river that joins the Nan Lam River a few hundred

metres to the south. The Nan Lam River (until it is joined

upriver by the Zia River) and the Zia River have broad

flat valleys that are cleared and heavily cultivated near

the villages. Away from the villages, much of the forest

has been cleared in the valleys. Where cultivation has

been abandoned or not attempted in cleared areas, rank

elephant grass and other grasses (including especially

bamboo) and secondary scrub and forest provide dense

tangles for many birds. Some areas of primary forest

remain in the valleys, and the forest in the hills above

the valleys is mostly primary. Once we turned west along

the Nam Lam River after it met the Zia River or we left

the vicinity of Ziyardum heading south-west the forest

was almost entirely primary, often with dense bamboo

and brushy undergrowth. The vegetation along the rivers

was often quite tangled. The river beds themselves were

entirely rocky shingle, extremely treacherous when wet.

Once we started climbing toward the south-west

from Camp 2, the track followed the top of a knife-

edged ridge right up to and beyond Camp 5 at 3,080 m

elevation. For perhaps 300 m at the lower end of this

ridge some of the forest had been cleared and there was

a dense understorey of bamboo and other growth. After

that the forest was entirely primary, with only a few small

sites cleared for temporary hunters’ camps. The slopes

below the ridge line were quite steep averaging perhaps

60°. It was mostly difficult and often impossible to leave

the trail. Water was always quite far from camp. Broadleaf

evergreen forest prevailed up to perhaps 2,900 m where

spruce/fir forest began. There were large tall broadleaf

trees right up, but after 2,400 m on some very steep

slopes, there was only scrub vegetation. While there were

occasional large and small flocks above 2,000 m,

generally birding was slow with low diversity.

THE WEATHER

The weather on the November trip was dominated by

nearly continuous high pressure over Tibet and it was

mostly fine with bright sunny days. This corresponds

with the normally fine conditions that prevail over the

central Himalayas from late October to mid-December,

making this season the prime one for Himalayan

trekking. In 1999 the rains lasted longer than usual and

ended only the day before our arrival on 5 November.

In the central Himalayas, the snows usually fall

between mid-December and the end of February and

this is what we saw on our January/February 1998

expedition. While we had some fine days, it was generally

wetter on this trip.

On the November trip the snow line was well above

our 3,080 m high camp. However, on the January/

February trip, the snow line was at about 2,400 m,

making it not feasible to get much higher. We had 10-

15 cm of snow one day at 2,400 m. It was also

considerably colder on the January/February trip.

PERSONNEL

1998 Expedition: This expedition was initially

conceived by Hugh Buck, who engaged Htin Hla to

operate it, and could not join it because of a broken

arm. The foreign contingent was Robert F. Ferguson,

Timothy Fisher, Herbert Nickel and Werner Suter, led

by Ben King. The expedition was superbly operated by

Wild-Bird Adventure Travels and Tours (W.A.T.T.),

whose president, Dr Htin Hla, accompanied us and

oversaw the entire operation. Other W.A.T.T. personnel

were General Manager U Aung Kyaw Zaw, Catering

Manager U Nyunt Khin, and U Fleming, U A Dee Rum,

U Zaw Hmaing, and U In Daung La. Two forestry

department officials accompanied us: Daw Khin Ma Ma

Thwin and U Zin Oo. Myanmar Travel and Tours was

represented by U Htay Aung. Security was provided by

UTin Moe and three other local policemen. Local guides

were La Won Sin from Putao and Pe Rum from

Forktail 17 (2001)

A birding visit to North Myanmar (Burma)

31

Ziyardum. Porter arrangements from Sangaung were

made by Sar Wan Yaw Shu. About 90 porters/helpers

accompanied us.

1999 Expedition: the foreign contingent was Melinda

Berger, Dr Hugh Buck, Ted Buhl and Christian Goblet,

led by Ben King. Again the expedition was operated by

W.A.T.T. with Dr Htin Hla in charge. W.A.T.T.

personnel were Nyunt Khin (Manager), Mg Mg Oo,

Htun Htun, Than Win, Hla Htun. The Ministry of

Travels and Tours was represented by Them Aung. La

Won Sin was our local guide.

RESULTS

We found five species and one subspecies new for

Burma, all but one of which ( Turdus merula ) were also

new for South-East Asia: Eurasian Blackbird Turdus

merula , Rufous-tailedThrush Turdus n. naumanni , Rusty-

bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra , Goldcrest

Regulus regulus , Snowy-throated Babbler Stachyris oglei

and Brown-headed (Brown-throated) Fulvetta Alcippe

ludlowi. All were expected, except the Snowy-throated

Babbler, which was astonishing, as it was previously

known below 1,800 m only from Arunachal Pradesh,

from which North Burma is cut off by a high ridge

(3,000+ m).We also found a number of other interesting

and little-known species, the records of which are

detailed below.

The Appendix is an annotated list of all the species

seen on the expedition. This list gives a status symbol

assigned by Smythies (1953), which forms the basis for

our assessment of our results.

A sombre note is that, in spite of the remoteness of

the area and the superb habitat, our guide told us that

Tigers Panthera tigris have been all but eliminated.

SEASONAL DIFFERENCES

The differences between the two expeditions, one in

November and the other in January/February, were

striking. In November, the rains had just ended and the

weather was still warm, with the snowline well above

3,100 m, and clear weather prevailed most of the time.

January/February was the height of winter, much colder

with the snow line at 2,400 m, and wetter, more cloudy

weather generally.

Thus in November, there was actually more

birdsong, e.g. Pygmy Wren Babblers Pnoepyga pusilla

were heard commonly (none in January/February). We

saw fewer of some species, e.g. tragopans, Rufous-necked

Hornbills, in November than January/February,

probably because they were more scattered at higher

elevations. In November, migration was in full swing,

with many more raptors, thrushes and other migratory

birds seen. In November, we saw some species that had

apparently completely left the area in January/February,

e.g. Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus. On the other

hand, in January/February we saw aggregations of

species that were more concentrated in larger flocks,

e.g. Rufous-necked Hornbill and yuhinas.

A large concentration of Turdus thrushes at Ziyardum

in November was due to a grove of unidentified

domesticated trees with abundant fruit. The fruit

attracted barbets Megalaima, bulbuls Pycnonotus , as well

as other species.

Other comparisons can be made by perusing the

Appendix.

THE SPECIAL SPECIES

White-cheeked Partridge Arborophila atrogularis

On 9 November 1999, Hugh Buck saw one along the

track about 1 km south-east of Kharlondum. This is a

little-known species with few recent observations.

Blyth’s Tragopan Tragopan blythii, and Temminck’s

Tragopan Tragopan temminckii

On 2 February 1 998 we found a large pile of male Blyth’s

Tragopan feathers at a snare trap at 2,480 m.Two males

and two females were seen on 3 February and one male

on 4 February at about 2,500 m.The diagnostic yellow

facial skin and the sharp cut-off between the red of the

hindneck and the brown back were noted on the males.

The females seen on 3 February were presumed to be

Blyth’s because they were with male Blyth’s, but this is

not necessarily correct. The female seen by Werner Suter

on 4 February was thought to be Blyth’s because of its

large size. Single maleTemminck’sTragopans were seen

in the same area on both days. Werner Suter witnessed

an extraordinary encounter between a male Blyth’s

Tragopan and a male Temminck’s Tragopan. After

watching a male Blyth’s Tragopan walk out of sight,

another bird appeared and he was surprised when he

noticed that it was dark red, including the head, and it

had much finer spots on the upperparts, and blue facial

skin. This male Temminck’s Tragopan, after a few

seconds of scratching around, disappeared in the same

direction as the Blyth’s had done a minute before. After

some waiting and hoping that they would reappear, W.S.

continued on the track for about 50 m where he saw

the birds again, now together, about 25 m below the

track. Suddenly there was some noise and an aggressive

encounter. The larger Blyth’s jumped at the smaller

Temminck’s, calling loudly kach-ach-ach-kach-ach. This

happened twice in a half minute. Because of the bamboo,

which partly concealed the Temminck’s, W.S. could not

see whether it also acted aggressively, although it seemed

rather defensive. Notwithstanding, after another half

minute, the birds moved on together and disappeared.

The Blyth’s Tragopan is well known to La Won Sin,

our local guide (a seasoned hunter/trapper), and appears

to be fairly numerous. Given the inaccessibility of much

of the area because of steep slopes, the excellent

condition of the forest and the paucity of people in this

area (which extends many miles), the Blyth’s Tragopan

is likely to be in healthy numbers and not threatened

here in the short term.

In November 1999, only one female tragopan was

seen, on 16 November at 2,700 m, and could not be

identified. On 14 November, a breast feather of a male

Temminck’s Tragopan was found at 2,800 m. There was

no response to tape playback (there had been in January

1 998) . In November 1999, the snowline was high above

our 3,080 m high camp, and thus the tragopans were

scattered. However, in January 1998, the snowline was

right at our high camp of 2,475 m. We got 10-15 cm of

32

B. KING et al.

Forktail 17 (2001)

snow on one of our days there. The snow tended to melt

rapidly and there were extensive bare ground patches.

Thus the tragopans were concentrated and rather easy

to find and see. Our guide pointed out that the tragopans

followed the snowline down in winter.

Sclater’s Monal Lophophorus sclateri

Two were heard at 2,900-3,000 m on 13 November

1999, four between 2,630-3,100 m on 14 November

and one at about 3,000 m on 1 5 November. However,

only one female was seen, at 2,630 m on 14 November

by Christian Goblet and La Won Sin. La Won Sin was

familiar with both Sclater’s and Himalayan Monals L.

impejanus and said that the Himalayan Monal is found

at higher elevations than Sclater’s in this area.

Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus grantia

In 1998, seen on four days: two on 28 January at 1,200

m; two on 9 February at 900 m; two on 10 February at

850 m; one on 12 February at 700 m. In 1999, we had

three sightings of single birds: 1,280 m on 7 November,

1,900 m on 17 November, and 1,050 m on 20

November. The record at 1,900 m is higher than

Smythies (1953) maximum of 1,200 m. These sightings

are probably on the low end as the species favoured

bamboo habitat is common, and it is a shy, fairly quiet

species. Further, its calls are similar to those of the

common Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis , which

could lead to it being overlooked.

Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis

In 1998, we observed 38 individuals of this species on

eight days with a maximum of 10 on 7 February near

Ziyardum between 1,010 and 1,080 m. There is

considerable overlap as most sightings (22) were on our

three days at Ziyardum 7-9 February. In 1999, we saw

fewer, 13, perhaps because they were more scattered at

higher elevations: six at 1,900 m on 12 November, two

at 2,900 m on 14 November, one at 1,600 m on 18

November, and singles at 1,000-1,200 m on 20, 21, 22,

and 24 November. The 2,900 m sighting is far higher

than the 900 m maximum listed by Smythies (1953).

While the locals at Ziyardum use hornbill feathers and

bills for decoration on their head-dresses, the hornbills

were not particularly shy around the village and appeared

not to be unduly persecuted. There does not seem to be

a short term threat here.

Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus

While we saw no Wreathed Hornbills in January/

February 1998, they were fairly common in November

1999 (a total of 62), suggesting that they move out of

the area when the weather gets colder. Most

extraordinary were three birds seen well flying at about

2,500 m, much higher than the 900 m Smythies (1953)

gave and far higher than any others we have seen. All

the other sightings were between 800 and 1,100 m.

Blyth’s Kingfisher Alcedo Hercules

In 1998, we had four sightings of single birds: 5 and 6

February at 1,105 m, 9 February at 900 m, and 12

February at 700 m. In 1999, we had four sightings of

five birds: 7 and 25 November, single birds at 480 m,

one bird at 1 , 1 00 m on 18 November, and two at 1 ,060

m on 19 November.

Mountain Scops-Owl Otus spilocephalus

A single bird was heard on the night of 1 1/12 February

1998 at 1,325 m. Singles were heard at 1,800 m on 1 1

November and at 1,050 m on 19 November 1999.

Smythies (1953) did not list this species for north-east

Burma, but it has been recorded in surrounding parts

of Burma and Arunachal Pradesh and was to be

expected.

Tawny Owl Strix aluco

Two were heard at 3,080 m on 14 November and one

each on 15 and 16 November 1999 at 3,080 m (the

owls were c. 3,000-3,010 m). Not previously found in

northern Burma, it has been found in nearby Arunachal

Pradesh and the Chin Hills, and was to be expected.

Black-tailed Crake Porzana bicolor

Two to five were heard each day in the early morning

and late afternoon near Kharlondum at 980 m on 9/10

and 22/23 November 1999. The crakes were in some

grassy patches with standing water. This is not a new

record for northern Burma, but it is a little known

species.

Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii

A flock of five was seen on 29 January, two on 3 1 January

and one on 4 February 1998 on shingle banks of rivers

between 800 and 1,135 m. A flock of three was seen on

a shingle bank (same site as 29 January sighting) on 23

November 1999.

[Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus

A single individual, probably this species, was seen at

Kharlondum on 10 November 1999, at perhaps 400 m

distance. It was too far away for definitive identification.

The usual dry deciduous forest habitat of the Rufous¬

winged Buzzard Butastur liventer , is completely lacking

in this area. There were a number of migrating raptors

in the area that day. Previously known only from

Tenasserim in Myanmar, B.K. and Mike Anderberg saw

one at close range on Mt Victoria in the southern Chin

State on 19 March 2000 at 1,900 m, suggesting it may

occur more widely.]

Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis

On 1 2 November 1 999, eight Aquila eagles flew over at

about 2,100 m heading south, apparently migrating.

Three could be identified as immature (1-3 years old)

Steppe Eagles by their shapes and broad buffy band at

the tips of the greater under wing-coverts, contrasting

with the dark underwing. The other five birds had similar

shapes and were probably the same species. There are

no previous records from northern Burma, but it was

to be expected as it winters to the south in the plains of

southern Burma.

Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii

One immature bird was seen at 1,060 m, about 1 km

north-west of Ziyardum on 20 November 1999. The

buteo-like shape, the white underparts of the body

sharply contrasting with the black on the side of the

head, and white wing lining and pale whitish underside

of the flight feathers were distinctive. While not

previously seen in northern Burma, it was to be

Forktail 17 (2001)

A binding visit to North Myanmar (Burma)

33

expected, having been recorded in nearby Arunachal

Pradesh.

Mountain Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis

Three single sightings 980-2,400 m on 2, 6, and 1 1

February 1998. Four single sightings in the same

altitudinal range in 1999, 10, 18, 19 and 23 November.

Smythies (1953) noted certain records only for the Chin

Hills in Burma. It was to be expected, as it occurs in

nearby Arunachal Pradesh and Yunnan, China (Cheng

1987).

White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis

The first sighting was of a breeding-plumaged individual

(long plumes from rear of crown and lower foreneck)

along a large river near the village of Ziyardum (1,000

m elevation) on the morning of 30 January 1998. We

watched the bird through a 20x scope at a long distance

for about 20 minutes. The bird was preening and we

got good views of its plain grey head and neck and white

belly. The riverbed was entirely large shingle stones. The

other three 1 998 sightings were along the Nan Lam River

with a large shingle stone bed at 1,135 m elevation at

Camp 2, and could all have involved a single individual.

Two of the sightings were about 30 minutes apart on

the afternoon of 30 January, and the third sighting was

in the late afternoon of 1 February. The 1999 sightings

were: a pair flying over camp 2A and Camp 2 on 18

November; a single flying over Camp 2A on 19

November; and a single flying over Ziyardum on 20

November. These are the first sightings of this species

in Burma for many years and add to the handful of recent

sightings in Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh.

[Blue-naped Pitta Pitta nipalensis

Two birds, believed to be this species, were heard on 1 1

February 1998 at about 900 m.The Rusty-naped Pitta

Pitta oatesi , cannot be excluded, even though its closest

known record is in the Myitkyina district.]

Collared Treepie Dendrocitta frontalis

In 1998, a total of 18 were seen on nine days between

460 and 1,200 m, indicating that it is uncommon but

widespread in the area. In 1999, 119 were seen on 12

days, making it fairly common then. This is a little known

and rarely observed species.

Black-breasted Thrush Turdns dissimilis

Two birds were seen feeding on fruit at 1,015 m in

Ziyardum on 19 and 21 November 1999. Another was

seen at 980 m near Kharlondum on 23 November.

Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula

Two females were seen at 1,015 m at Ziyardum on 20/

21 November 1999. The large size, mottled blackish

brown plumage with yellowish bill and feet were

distinctive. This is the first record of this species in

Burma, but it was to be expected as it occurs in nearby

Arunachal Pradesh and western Yunnan.

Rufous-tailed Thrush Turdus naumanni naumanni

One was seen at 2,900 m elevation on 15 November

1999, two at 1,015 m in Ziyardum on 21/22 November,

and two at 980 m near Kharlondum on 23 November.

Some 80 Dusky Thrushes T. naumanni eunomus were

seen during this period and direct comparison was

sometimes possible. The Rufous-tailedThrushes differed

conspicuously in having a largely rufous tail and rufous

spotting on the breast and flanks. These are the first

records for Burma and South-East Asia and were to be

expected as it occurs in adjacent Yunnan.

Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra

In 1999, two males and three females were seen (9, 21,

22, and 23 November), all singing, four of which were

responding to a tape supplied to Hugh Buck by Des

Allen. The males were a dark bluish above with a slight

white eyebrow and entirely bright rusty orange below.

The females were similar to the female of the Lesser

Shortwing, but the underparts were entirely rich fulvous

with a faint hint of scales on the breast. All the birds

seen were in dense elephant grass, mixed with brushy

vegetation and often small trees, from 980 to 1,050 m.

Another four or five birds were heard down to 800 m

which could have been this species. However, because

this species’s song is nearly identical to that of the Lesser

Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophrys, the identity of these

birds is uncertain. The Rusty-bellied Shortwing appears

to be fairly common in this area. These are the first

records for this species in Burma and South-East Asia.

However, it has been found in nearby Arunachal Pradesh

and north-western Yunnan.

White-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula monileger

One was seen at 1,300 m on 5 February 1998. In 1999,

a total of eight were seen on six days between 600 and

1,600 m, between 8 and 25 November. Apparently, these

are the first records for north-east Burma (Smythies

1953), although it was to be expected, as it occurs in

Upper Chindwin and Arunachal Pradesh.

Rufous-breasted Bush-Robin Tarsiger hyperythrus

One female was seen on a narrow shingle river at 1,105

m on 30 and 31 January and 5 February 1998.

Purple/Green Cochoa Cochoa purpurea/viridis

An unidentified cochoa was heard on 25 November

1999 at 900 m.

Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa

In 1998, a total of 20 were seen on five days between

700 and 1,500 m. In 1999, 31 were seen on five days.

They tend to move around in small flocks of two to six,

the largest flock seen was nine on 9 November 1999.

This adds north-east Burma to the handful of localities

in Bhutan, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Laos where

this rare and exquisite species can be found. The

numbers suggest that they are more common in north¬

east Burma than in any other known area.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus

In 1988 three were seen by Werner Suter on 1 February

at about 2,400 m, and two were seen by all on 5 February

at about 2,400 m. Not listed by Smythies (1953), but

Robson (2000) mentions it as ‘Recorded in winter

(status uncertain), N, E Myanmar.’The record for north

Myanmar refers to our sightings listed above. The E

Myanmar listing refers to Stuart Baker’s record from

the Northern Shan States (this record was dismissed by

Smythies 1 953) and to specimens in the British Museum

34

B. KING et al.

Forktail 17 (2001)

of Natural History (Tring) bearing R. Meinertzhagen’s

label (C. Robson in lirt.). These are two females and

one male, all from 22 February 1922, near Lashio,

Burma-Yunnan Border (F. Steinheimer and R. Prys-

Jones in litt.). However, in the light of Meinertzhagen’s

fraudulent acquisition and relabelling of many specimens

that is now slowly unfolding (Rasmussen and Collar

1999), Meinertzhagen’s records must be treated with

suspicion. It is at least doubtful whether Meinertzhagen

collected in Burma at this time (F. Steinheimer and R.

Prys-Jones in lit:.), and it seems prudent to dismiss ‘his’

specimens as invalid records. Thus our sightings appear

to be the first records for the Goldcrest in Myanmar.

However, as the species is present in Arunachal Pradesh,

south-east Tibet and north-west Yunnan, it was to be

expected in northern Myanmar.

Striated Bulbul Pycnonotus striatus

A sighting of two birds at 2,900 m on 14 November

and about 30 at 2,800 m on 16 November 1999 was

higher than Smvthies’s (1953) maximum of 2,400 m.

Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus

Ten birds at 3,000 m on 1 5 November and ten at 2,800

m on 16 November 1999 were higher than the 2,400 m

maximum of Smythies (1953).

Russet Bush-Warbler Bradypterus seebohmi (mandelli)

One was heard at Ivharlondun at 980 m on 9/10 and 22

November. Not listed in Smythies (1953) but has been

found in the Chin Hills (Robson et al. 1998).

Broad-billed Warbler Tickellia hodgsoni

One was seen at 1,800 m on 1 February 1998. In 1999,

one was seen at 1,050 m on 10 November and two on

24 November at 1,200 m by Christian Goblet. Hugh

Buck also saw two at about 1,200 m on 24 November

1999. These are apparently the first records for north¬

east Burma (Smythies 1953), but it was to be expected,

as it occurs in nearby Arunachal Pradesh. In Burma it

was thus far recorded only in the Chin State.

Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush Garrulax nuchalis

We saw three on 28 January 1998 at 460 m near

Sangaung and 12 nearby on 12 February. We saw and

heard two on 6 November and four on 7 November

1999 in the same area.

Rufous-vented Laughingthrush Garrulax gularis

A flock of about 12 was seen at 1,050 m on 20 November

and a flock of about 15 at 1,040 m on 21 November

1999.

Spot-breasted Laughingthrush Garrulax merulinus

In 1998, we found seven on 7 February, eight on 8

February and two on 9 February in the dense second

growth and forest undergrowth near Ziyardum at 1,01 0-

1,080 m, and two near Wasadum on 10 February at

800 m. In 1999, we found them in the same areas, but

they were less vocal so we found fewer.

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus

schisticeps

A total of 14 were seen in 1998 by Tim Fisher: five on

28 January at 900 m, two on 29 January at 900 m, and

six on 1 February 1998 at 1,200 m. Christian Goblet

saw five at 2,600 m on 7 November 1999, an

extraordinarily high record. While listed for surrounding

areas by Smythies (1953) and found in Arunachal

Pradesh, it has apparently not been found in north-east

Myanmar before.

Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler Xiphirhynchus

superciliaris

Two were seen at Kharlondum at 980 m on 10

November 1 999, one at 1 ,750 m on 1 1 November 1 999,

one at 1,800 m on 17 November 1999, one at 1,750 m

on 18 November 1999, and one at 1,050 m on 20

November 1999.

Spotted Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis formosus

One was seen by Tim Fisher at about 1,000 m on 12

February 1998. In 1999, one each was heard at 480 m

and 700 m on 7 November, one each at 800 m (heard)

and 950 m (seen/heard) on 9 November, and one heard

at 1,400 m on 1 1 November. The only previous records

for this species in Burma are from the Chin State

(Smythies 1953 and Robson et al. 1998). However, it

was to be expected as it is found in nearby Arunachal

Pradesh.

Wedge-billed Wren-Babbler Sphenocichla humei

One was seen by Christian Goblet on 9 November 1 999

at 980 m near Kharlondum.

Buff-chested Babbler Stachyris ( rufifrons ) ambigua

In 1998, one was seen at about 450 m near Sangaung

on 12 February and 5 nearby on 13 February. In 1999,

one was seen at 450 m near Sangaung on 6 November.

In north-east Burma, this species has been found

previously only near Myitkyina (Smythies 1953).

Snowy-throated Babbler Stachyris oglei

A flock of about eight were seen at 600 m on 28 January

1998. A flock of about seven were seen near the same

site on 25 November 1999. The habitat was old

secondary broadleaf evergreen forest with a heavy

bamboo undergrowth, and some large boulders

scattered about. Previously thought to be confined to

Arunachal Pradesh (Ripley 1982), this was the most

startling find of the expeditions, new for both Burma

and South-East Asia. The slaty grey breast contrasting

sharply with the white throat is diagnostic, and the large

round black spot on the ear-coverts and otherwise black

and white marked sides of the head with a white eyebrow

and a row of white spots on the upper neck are

distinctive. The similar Spot-necked Babbler Stachyris

striolata has a rusty breast.

Spot -necked Babbler Stachyris striolata

One was seen at 1,050 m on 20 November and one at

1,080 m on 20 November. Smythies (1953) recorded

this species only from the Bhamo area of north-eastern

Burma, so this is a small range extension.

Black-headed Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius rufiventer

In 1998, one was seen at 2,500 m on 3 February and 2

at 2,100 m on 5 February. In 1999, two were seen at

2,100 m on 12 November, and two at 1,800 m on 18

November.

Forktail 17 (2001)

A birding visit to North Myanmar (Burma)

35

Streak-throated Barwing Actinodura waldeni

In 1 998, we saw 1 2 on 3 February, three on 4 February,

and 25 on 5 February between 2,300 and 2,500 m. In

1999, we saw a total of 56 at 1,700-2,700 m.

Yellow -throated Fulvetta Alcippe cinerea

In 1998, a total of 190 were seen on five days between

900 and 2,200 m. In 1999, 156 were seen on five days

in the same altitudinal range. They travel in large flocks.

Streak-throated Fulvetta Alcippe cinereiceps

Two were seen at 2,600 m on 16 November and five at

2,600 m on 17 November by Christian Goblet.

Brown-headed (Brown-throated) Fulvetta Alcippe

ludlowi

In 1999, we saw two on 14 November at 2,900 m with

a flock of White-browed Fulvettas A. vinipectus , and a

flock of 12 on 16 November at 2,900 m, loosely

associated with a flock ofWhite-browed Fulvettas. They

were readily identified by their entirely chocolate-brown

head and neck, contrasting with their white throats, the

throats conspicuously streaked with dark brown. There

were several white streaks on the brown lower sides of

the neck adjacent to the throat, which had the effect of

making the white throat look like a triangular gorget.

While not previously recorded in Myanmar, it was to be

expected, having been found in nearby Arunachal

Pradesh.

Rufous-throated Fulvetta Alcippe rufogularis

In 1998, a total of 61 were seen on six days between

470 and 1,100 m. In 1999, 20 were seen on four days.

This species is rather shy and secretive, suggesting it is

far more common than our observations. While it has a

broad range there are few places it can be seen readily

(Vietnam and Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh are two

of the better sites).

Beautiful Sibia Heterophasia pulchella

In 1998, a total of 71 were seen on 10 days between

900 and 2,500 m. In 1999, 46 were seen on 8 days.

Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis

In 1 998, a total of 1 45 were seen on seven days between

760 and 1,400 m. In 1999, 52 were seen on seven days.

This species is apparently new for this part of north¬

east Burma, being found only in the Bhamo and

Myitkyina districts before (Smythies 1953).

Fire-tailed Myzornis Myzornis pyrrhoura

In 1 998, we saw a total of 1 3 on four days between 1 ,800

and 2,500 m, a nice number for this scarce species. In

1999, we saw five on two days.

Rufous-headed (Lesser Rufous-headed) Parrotbill

Paradoxornis atrosuperciliaris

In 1 998, a total of 1 0 1 were seen on seven days between

700 and 1,400 m, a striking total for this rarely observed

species, probably reflecting the excellent habitat with

abundant bamboo. In 1999, we saw 27 on three days.

Blue-spectacled (Greater Rufous-headed)

Parrotbill Paradoxornis ruficeps

In 1 998, we saw 44 on eight days between 500 and 1 ,400

m, indicating good numbers but fewer than the Rufous¬

headed Parrotbill. In 1999, we saw 38 on seven days.

Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila

A total of 18 were seen in the weedy second growth

around Ziyardum from 6-9 February 1998 at 1,010-

1,050 m. In 1999, about 100 were seen near

Kharlondum at 980 m on 23 November, as well as one

on 10 November and two on 22 November; in addition

one was seen near Ziyardum at 1,050 m on 21

November. These are apparently the first records for

north-east Burma (Smythies 1953), but it was to be

expected.

We owe our greatest debt of thanks to Dr Htm Hla ofYangon, who

organized and operated both expeditions. They were superb, first-

class operations from beginning to end. The other authors are also

highly grateful to Dr Hugh Buck who dreamed of the expedition and

pursued his vision by engaging Htin Hla to organize it, only to have

to drop out of the 1998 expedition because of a broken arm. La Won

Sin is a superb guide who shared his intimate knowledge of the wild¬

life of the area with us and assisted us in getting around. Craig Robson

gave us many useful comments on the manuscript. Lastly we wish to

thank all the wonderful people of Myanmar who cheerfully worked

hard to make the expedition a success.

REFERENCES

ChengTso-hsin (1987) A synopsis of the avifauna of China. Beijing:

Science Press.

King, B. F. (1997) Checklist of the birds of Eurasia. Vista, California:

Ibis.

Rasmussen, P. C. and Collar, N. J. (1999) Major specimen fraud in

the Forest Owlet Heteroglaux (Athene auct.) blewitti. Ibis 141:

11-21.

Ripley, S. D. (1982) A synopsis of the birds of India and Pakistan,

together with those of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Bombay: Bombay Natural History Society.

Robson, C. R., Buck, H., Farrow, D. S., Fisher, T. and King, B. F.

(1998) A birdwatching visit to the Chin Hills, West Burma

(Myanmar), with notes from nearby areas. Forktail 13: 109-120.

Robson, C. (2000) A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia. Lon¬

don: New Holland.

Smythies, B. E. (1953) The birds of Burma. Second edition. London:

Oliver & Boyd.

Ben King, Ornithology Dept. American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., NezuYork, NY 1 0024

U.S.A.

Hugh Buck, Ceva Animal Health (MOTI) Ltd., 1 Floor Alambra Tozuer, 50 Athalassa Avenue, 2024 Stovolos, Nicosia,

Cyprus

Robert Ferguson, Lot 19 & 21, Blk 6, Phase 3 A, Peach Drive Valley Viezu Exec. Subd., Cainta, Rizal, Philippines

Timothy Fisher, 129 CM Recto St., BF Homes, Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines

Christian Goblet, Rue Nation 21, 5000 Namur, Belgium

Herbert Nickel, Karl Marx Street 38, 3709 Gottingen, Germany

Werner Suter, Federal Institute of Forest, Snozv and Landscape Research, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Szvitzerland

36

B. KING et al.

Forktail 17 (2001)

APPENDIX

This appendix contains the entire list of species observed on both expeditions. The English and scientific names follow

King (1997) and the sequence of species and synonyms are from Inskipp et al. (1996).

The column titled ‘Smythies’ gives the status listed for north-east Burma in the appendix to Smythies (1953): R =

resident, M = migrant, U = uncertain whether resident or migrant. The column titled ‘Observed status’ is the abundance

as found by our expeditions, with separate notations for 1998 and 1999 if necessary. We used rare, uncommon, common,

and abundant. These are arbitrary and actual abundance could be greater than observed.

The column titled ‘Per Day Average’ gives the actual number of sightings or a per day average. The parenthetical

numbers are the total individuals seen (i.e., a sighting may consist of more than one individual). Per day averages are

calculated by dividing the total observed individuals of a species by the number of days in the birds’ habitat and expected

altitudinal range. 1998 and 1999 are listed separately if they differed.

The column titled ‘Observed altitudinal range’ is the range of altitudes in which we observed the species. These ranges

could easily be greater.

* higher than the altitudinal range heretofore known for South-East Asia

# lower than the altitudinal range heretofore known for South-East Asia

Parenthetical English and scientific names are editorial insertions

Forktail 17 (2001)

A binding visit to North Myanmar (Burma)

37

38

B. KING et al.

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40

B. KING et al.

Forktail 17 (2001)

FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 41-44

Provenance and affinities of the Cambodian

Laughingthrush Garrulax ferrarius

PHILIP ROUND and CRAIG ROBSON

This paper justifies the recent exclusion of Cambodian Laughingthrush Garrulax ferrarius from

the Thai bird faunal list. It also presents taxonomic information which supports the treatment of

G. ferrarius as a full species and examines its likely distribution limits. A few G. ferrarius may

occur, or may formerly have occurred, in SEThailand, close to the Cambodian border. However,

due to the very small area of suitable montane and submontane habitat, if present the population

of G. ferrarius will be extremely small.

INTRODUCTION

The taxon Garrulax ferrarius was described by Riley from

two male specimens, collected by Hugh M. Smith at

Kao Kuap, said to be near Krat, in south-east Siam on

27 December 1929 (Riley 1930). On the strength of

this record, Garrulax [ strepitans ] ferrarius was listed for

Thailand by Deignan (1963). However, the coordinates

for the type locality given by Deignan ( op . cit.) place it

as being firmly in Cambodia. Because most of the high

elevation terrain within a 1 0 km radius of the type locality

lies on the Cambodian side of the border, Garrulax

ferrarius was therefore not shown as occurring in

Thailand in Boonsong Lekagul and Round (1991), nor

was it listed forThailand by Robson (2000), on the same

basis. This paper seeks to justify that decision, provide

the taxonomic notes supporting the treatment of G.

ferrarius as a full species, and examine in more detail its

Fig. 1 The Thai-Cambodia border at the type-locality of Garrulax ferrarius

42

P. ROUND & C. ROBSON

Forktail 17 (2001)

likely distributional limits. The Thai-Cambodian border

has been more or less off limits to biological exploration

for the past three decades due to armed conflict. Even

though the conflict has now ceased, most areas still

remain unsafe to enter because of the continued

presence of land-mines.

Following its discovery, G. ferrarius was treated as

conspecific with White-necked Laughingthrush G.

strepitans by Deignan (1963, 1964) until Robson (2000)

re-elevated it to species status, along with other members

of the Garrulax strepitans superspecies (Grey

Laughingthrush Garrulax maesi from S and SW China

and Tonkin; Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush Garrulax

castanotis from the northern and central Annamite

mountains, and Hainan; Black-hooded Laughingthrush

Garrulax milleti from the southern Annamites, and

White-necked Laughingthrush G. strepitans from SW

China, E Myanmar, N and W Thailand, and extreme

NW Laos).

PROVENANCE:

THE GEOGRAPHICAL FINDINGS

Riley (1938) stated that Kao Kuap belonged to ‘a group

of mountains the main chain of which extends eastward

into Cambodia’. Under locality listings, Riley says ‘Kao

Kuap is a mountain near Cambodia, east of Rrat’. For

Krat he says ‘Town on the Krat River’. He also gives an

alternative spelling (Trad). The latter is well known as

the town of Trat, from which the south-easternmost

province ofThailand takes its name. Using conventional

spelling for Thai names, Kao Kuap would now be spelt

Khao (to signify the aspirated soft English k), meaning

mountain; and Kuap, beginning with a hard unaspirated

sound, rendered as g in English, which is a word not

listed in Haas (1964) and for which the meaning is

therefore obscure.

There has hitherto been some uncertainty over the

precise location of Khao Kuap. The latitude and

longitude given for Khao Kuap by Deignan (1963) was

12°25'N 102°50'E. Modern maps (RTSD 1971) place

these coordinates about 4.5 km inside Cambodia. The

name Khao Kuap cannot be found on modern maps,

but a hill marked with the Cambodian name Phnum

Spong (580 m elevation) lies at 12°24.5'N 102°50'E,

about 0.5 km south of the latitude and longitude given,

and might have seemed to be the closest match. Phnum

is more conventionally spelt Phnom in transcriptions of

the Khmer and we have used the latter spelling

henceforth. Phnom Spong lies about 5 km ENE of the

highest mountain in the immediate region (1,271 m),

and is partly divided from it by the valley of the Stoeng

Krankung. According to the itinerary given in Riley

(1938), Smith also collected at both Khao Banthat (Kao

Bantad) and Khao Saming (Kao Seming) on the same

expedition, during 20 December 1929 to 1 January

1930. This makes it clear, therefore, that Khao Banthat

was not an alternative name for Khao Kuap, though

since the name Khao Banthat is often applied to the

entire scarp where it delineates the Thai-Cambodian

border, it is possible that Khao Kuap could be one of

the subsidiary peaks of the Banthat range.

Khao Banthat was described as for Khao Kuap,

‘mountain near Cambodia; east of Krat’, and Khao

Saming as ‘low mountain in coastal plain near Krat’

(Riley 1938). Khao Saming is easily located, since

present day Khao Saming District borders the edge of a

large mangrove inlet about 17 km NW of Trat town.

Smith evidently passed Khao Banthat in order to

reach Khao Kuap, since he collected specimens of Blue

Pitta Pitta cyanea on Khao Banthat on two dates, 20

December and 29 December, straddling the 27

December collection date for the Garrulax ferrarius

specimens (Riley 1938).

Consultation of an older map (RTSD, 1 934) wherein

Khao Kuap is clearly labelled (in Thai script), at

12°23.5'N 102°48.0'E, has now resolved the uncertainty

(Fig. 1). These coordinates tally almost exactly with

those on RTSD (1971), wherein the mountain is labelled

by the elevation 1,271 m (RTSD 1934 gives 1,263 m

for the same peak) and the coordinates may be read as

12°23.5'N 102°47.5'E.

The summit of Khao Kuap lies inside Cambodia,

the actual border being indicated ca. 1 km to the

northwest, at the extreme NW edge of the summit ridge

of Khao Kuap, at roughly 1,100 m. This, the highest

point on theThai-Cambodian border, which runs north¬

east to south-west at this point, bears the Khmer name

Phnom Thom (Phnum Thom) on RTSD (1971). The

summit ridge of Khao Kuap thus angles south-east, away

from the border, past the summit itself, before bending

to the south, and is contiguous with an extensive area

(>100 km2) of plateau country in Cambodia at 400-

800 m elevation, and which rises to a maximum elevation

of 1,167 m.

On the same (1934) map there are also two peaks,

roughly 6 km apart, labelled Khao Banthat: at 12°19.5'N

102°44'E; and at 12°16'N 102°44'E. These lie to the

south of Khao Kuap, on that section of the border which

runs north-south, and are 656 m and 568 m respectively,

according to RTSD (1934); or roughly 600 m (precise

elevation not marked) and 611 m in RTSD (1971). The

name Khao Banthat is applied less precisely to the whole

length of scarp on the more recent map.

Although, at the time Smith collected, the Thai-

Cambodian border was more or less in the same place

as shown by present maps, having apparently been

settled by treaty with the French in 1907 (Winichakul

1994) it is likely, indeed probable, that seventy years

ago villagers on both sides of the border paid scant

attention to its precise position. In addition, Thai claims

over the extreme western Cambodian provinces have

never been entirely relinquished (Thailand again

annexed parts of western Cambodia with the tacit

approval of the Japanese during WW2). Such uncertainty

could account for Khao Kuap and Khao Banthat being

said to be in Siam, rather than identified as lying on the

actual border, or a little inside Cambodia.

LIKELY RANGE AND HABITAT

Smith apparently left no clue as to the elevation at which

he collected in the Trat/Cambodian border area. All

other members of the Garrulax strepitans superspecies

essentially inhabit moist montane, and upper sub¬

montane, forest, and it is reasonable to assume that G.

ferrarius has similar ecological needs. While none of these

species, so far as is known, occurs any significant distance

Forktail 17 (2001)

Provenance and affinities of the Cambodian Laughingthrush

43

away from major mountain ranges, it is likely that, along

with other montane species, their precise lower

distributional limits vary locally, depending on

topography and vegetation cover, perhaps being

constrained only by the lower limit to which more or

less unbroken moist evergreen forest extends. Even in

highly seasonal N and W Thailand, where most plains

and foothills forest was formerly deciduous or, at most,

semi-evergreen, G. strepitans occurs down to only 500

m or so (Boonsong Lekagul and Round 1991). G.

castanotis occurs down to 600 m in Laos (Duckworth et

al. 1 999) and even lower, to 400 m, on the more humid,

and much less seasonal Vietnamese flank of the

Annamites (Kalyakin and Korzun 1998).

Trat Province is one of the wettest and least seasonal

parts of Thailand. The average annual rainfall for the

period 1956-1985, measured at the Khlong Yai

Meteorological Station, Trat, was 4,671 mm, with an

average of 192.1 rainy days per year (Meteorological

Department 1987). Due to this, the original vegetation

over most of the area would once have been evergreen

rainforest, so it is even conceivable that G.ferrarius may

have occurred down to the level of the foothills, at c.

200 m (most of the coastal plain would already have

been converted to scrub and agricultural land, even

during Smith’s time). However, further evidence for a

probably montane origin for Smith’s G. ferrarius

specimens comes from observations in the western

Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia during spring

2000, where G.ferrarius was only found at elevations of

above 800 m (F. Steinheimer in litt.).

To summarize: the steep land along the western

boundary of Khao Banthat ( sensu lato) more or less

delineates the present national boundary. The border is

placed at c. 448-61 1 m elevation where it goes roughly

north-south, closest to Trat town, and slightly higher,

around 720 m, a few km further north. From here on,

the border swings slightly eastward to intersect with the

PhnomThom — Khao Kuap ridge, where it is positioned

significantly higher, at roughly 1,100 m elevation.

Thereafter the border continues north, rapidly losing

elevation. Since the mountain slopes precipitously down

to the plains on the entire Thai side of the border, from

PhnomThom southwards, there is only a tiny amount

of montane (>1,000 m elevation) habitat (ca. 0.26 km2),

and only, at most, about 10 km2 of habitat at >400 m

elevation along the whole ca. 22 km length of the border

east ofTrat town northwards to PhnomThom. Such a

small area of submontane and montane habitat on the

Thai side would be unlikely to support a significant

population of G.ferrarius. .

The highest mountain in SE Thailand is Khao Soi

Dao, the southern and northern peaks of which, Khao

Soi DaoTai (1,670 m) and Khao Soi Dao Nua (1,556

m), are at 12°56'N 102°12'E and 13°02’N 102°10'E,

respectively. Khao Sabap (924 m) lies further south at

12°33'N 102°12'E. Although both Khao Soi Dao and

Khao Sabap are isolated from the mountains further

east, they both support a few south Indochinese

endemics, including populations of Arborophila

[cambodiana] diversa and Lophura nycthemera lewisi. In

particular, Khao Soi Dao, which encompasses ca. 40

km2 of land above the 1,000 m contour, and a further

144 km2 of land between 600 m and 1,000 m (data

held on file at Center for Conservation Biology, Mahidol

University), supports a relatively diverse montane bird

fauna, containing populations of Rhipidura albicollis,

Brachypteryx leucophrys, Cochoa viridis, Myiomela leucura

and Niltava grandis among other species. Yet both Khao

Sabap and Khao Soi Dao have been explored

ornithologically without yielding any specimens of

Garrulax ferrarius. In particular, 391 specimens of birds

were collected on Khao Soi DaoTai at elevations of 1,464

m down to 229 m during 25 February to 1 4 April 1966

(King 1966), and 1,328 others banded and released

during the same period (McClure and Leelavit 1972),

without detecting Garrulax ferrarius. In addition, PDR

did not find G. ferrarius during a visit to the summit of

Khao Soi DaoTai during 6-9 December 2000. Smith

and, later, Ben King, also collected on Khao Sapab,

which is the type locality for Arborophila [ cambodiana ]

diversa, without obtaining Garrulax ferrarius (Riley 1938,

King 1966). This strongly indicates that G. ferrarius is

absent from both Khao Soi Dao and Khao Sapab.

Other taxa described from Khao Kuap but which,

like G. ferrarius, are apparently absent from Khao Soi

Dao and Khao Sabap are Mountain Bulbul Hypsipetes

mcclellandii canescens (listed in error for SE Thailand by

Robson 2000), for which Smith obtained two specimens,

on 24 and 26 December 1929 (Riley 1933), and Grey-

chinned Minivet Pericrocotus Solaris nassovicus Deignan

(one male and one female collected on 24 December

1929: Riley 1938). While some bulbuls are dispersive,

following fruiting or flowering trees, Mountain Bulbul

does not appear to have been found anywhere below

800 m throughout its South-East Asian range, while P.

Solaris is also mainly montane. Although relatively little

is directly known concerning the habitat and elevation

range of H. m. canescens , the coincidence of these species

being collected along with G. ferrarius suggests a

montane or upper submontane origin for the latter, too.

Khao Banthat is the north-western outlier of the

Cardamom Mountains, an area of over 4,000 km2 of

steep, moist forested upland, to which it is connected

by a neck of submontane terrain, so it is not surprising

that it may support a few species which are not found

in smaller and more isolated mountains a short distance

to the west.

The bird fauna of the Cardamom Mountains is

currently the subject of renewed study following a field

expedition conducted by Fauna and Flora International

in early 2000 (Steinheimer et al. 2000).

TAXONOMIC AFFINITIES

Morphologically, ferrarius is like Garrulax milleti in

overall plumage pattern, but has a browner hood

(particularly throat and upper breast) and a darker and

slatier-grey upper mantle and lower breast, with white

on the sides of the neck being restricted to a large isolated

spot (the white neck patch extends in a whitish band

from the upper mantle to the lower breast in milleti).

Both species share an expansion of the orbital skin

behind the eye-(a feature which, contra the illustrations

in Boonsong Lekagul and Round (1991) and Robson

(2000) is also shared with G. strepitans.) However, the

orbital skin is coloured bluish-white in ferrarius and

milleti, and darker, bluish-slate in strepitans. Vocalizations

are unlikely to shed any light on taxonomy in this case.

44

P. ROUND & C. ROBSON

Forktail 17 (2001)

While it is possible that detailed analysis may detect

some consistent minor differences among taxa, to the

human ear the group calls appear to be indistinguishable

among all members of the G. strepitans superspecies,

consisting of a rapid maniacal laughter, introduced by a

few dry chuck notes.

Although Delacour (1946) united all three forms,

Deignan (1963, 1964) treated milleti , the form which

more closely resembles ferrarius, as a full species, while

placing ferrarius as a subspecies of the somewhat

dissimilar strepitans. Neither author provided reasons for

their respective treatments (Inskipp etal. 1996). In fact,

the morphological differences between both ferrarius and

milleti on the one hand, and ferrarius and strepitans on

the other, should be sufficient for ferrarius to be separable

from both in the field. Deignan’s placing of ferrarius with

strepitans , the less similar of the two, while treating the

rather more similar milleti as a full species, in particular

seems untenable. Since ferrarius is isolated from both

milleti and strepitans by roughly 400 km of drier, lowland

terrain, it would be more appropriate to treat these as

three of five allospecies within a G. strepitans

superspecies.

CONCLUSIONS

On the evidence previously available, and in any case

since almost the entire summit ridge of Khao Kuap lies

in Cambodia, the decision to omit Garrulax ferrarius

from the Thai bird faunal listing in Boonsong Lekagul

and Round (1991) was justified. However, given the

proximity of the summit of Khao Kuap to the Thai

border, Smith might easily have collected G. ferrarius

on the Thai side. Whether the precise type locality is in

Thailand or Cambodia seems irrelevant since the habitat

was continuous on both sides of the border, and it is

certainly plausible that a few G. ferrarius occur, or

formerly occurred, on the Thai side. Yet, owing to the

extremely small amount of montane and submontane

habitat, and the precipitous topography on the Thai side,

which may perhaps make the habitat less suitable, the

population, if any, in SEThailand will be extremely small.

The Thai-Cambodian border area in Chanthaburi and

Trat provinces certainly deserves further investigation

as soon as it becomes safe to enter it.

Since G. ferrarius is diagnosable on plumage from

both G. strepitans and G. milleti and was originally

described as a full species, in the absence of any new

compelling evidence to the contrary, it seems preferable

to continue to treat it as such.

The authors are grateful to Mr. Sompon Tanhan, Forest Engineer¬

ing Division, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, for facilitating

access to 1:50,000 maps of the Cambodian border areas. The Na¬

tional Archives, Bangkok, provided access to old maps ofTrat and

Chanthaburi Provinces. E. C. Dickinson and Frank Steinheimer

commented on drafts of this manuscript.

REFERENCES

Boonsong Lekagul and Round, P. D. (1991) A guide to the birds of

Thailand. Bangkok: Saha Karn Bhaet.

Deignan, H. G. (1963) Checklist of the birds of Thailand. Bulletin

226. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.

Deignan, H. G. (1964) Subfamily Timaliinae. Pp. 240-427 in E.

Mayr and R. A. Paynter, eds. Check-list of birds of the world , 10.

Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Delacour, J. (1946) Les timaliines. L’Oiseau 17: 7-36.

Duckworth, J. W., Salter, R. E. and Khounboline, K. (eds.) (1999)

Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 status report. Vientiane: IUCN-The

World Conservation Union, Wildlife Conervation Society and

Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management.

Haas, M. R. (1964) Thai-English Student’s Dictionary. California:

Stanford University Press.

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

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

Bird Club.

Kalyakin, M. V. and Korzun, L. P. (1998) Ornithological studies in

Vu Quang Nature Reserve, July-September 1997. Final Report.

King, B. (1966) List of bird skins and specimens collected in Thai¬

land from 1 March 1964 to 30 June 1966 under MAPS

Programme. Report No. 1, Research Project no. 24/ 1. Migration

Studies of Birds in Thailand. Bangkok: ASRCT.

McClure, H. E. and Leelavit, P. (1972) Birds banded in Asia during

the MAPS Program , by locality, from 1963 through 1971. San Fran¬

cisco: U.S. Army Research and Development Group.

Meteorological Department (1987) Climatological data of Thailand:

30-year period ( 1956-1985 ). Bangkok: Ministry of Communica¬

tions.

Riley, J. W. (1930) Descriptions of three new birds from Siam. Proc.

Biol. Soc. Washington 43: 189-192.

Riley, J. W. (1933) Descriptions of two new birds from Southeastern

Siam. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 46: 155-156.

Riley, J. W. (1938) Birds from Siam and the Malay Peninsula in the

United States National Museum collected by Drs. Hugh M. Smith

and William L. Abbott. Bulletin 1 72. Washington, D.C:

Smithsonian Institution.

Robson, C. (2000) A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia. Lon¬

don: New Holland.

Royal Thai Survey Department (1934) Aviation Map of Chanthaburi.

1:200,000. Corrected 1953; reprinted 1954. Bangkok. (InThai.)

Royal Thai Survey Department (1969) Ban Khlong Kut. 1:50,000

Map Sheet Number 5533 IV. Series L7017. Edition 1-RTSD.

Royal Thai Survey Department (1971) Khao Banthat. 1:50,000 Map

Sheet Number 5533 I. Series L7017. Edition 1-RTSD.

Royal Thai Survey Department (1986) Changwat Chanthaburi :

1:250,000 Map Sheet No. ND 48-13. Series 1501 S; Edition 2-

RTSD, Bangkok.

Steinheimer, F. D., Eames, J. C., Meas, C. and Ros, B. (2000) Birds.

Pp. 87-98 in J. C. Daltry and F. Momberg, eds. Cardamom

Mountains Biodiversity Survey 2000. Cambridge, U.K.: Fauna

& Flora International, Cambridge.

WinchakufThongchai (1994) Siam mapped: a history of the geo-body

of a nation. Hawaii: University of Hawaii.

Philip Round, Center for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6

Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Craig Robson, 63 Stafford Street, Norwich, NR2 3BD, U.K.

FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 45-55

The rediscovery of Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher

Eutrichomyias rowleyi on Sangihe, Indonesia

JON RILEY and JAMES C. WARDILL

Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher Eutrichomyias rowleyi , endemic to the island of Sangihe, Indonesia,

was previously known with certainty from a single specimen collected in 1873. Two inconclusive

field sightings of the species were made before the species was rediscovered in October 1998, in

primary forest on the Mt Sahendaruman caldera in southern Sangihe. Our work suggests that the

paradise-flycatcher is restricted to forested valleys between 475 m and 650 m on Mt

Sahendaruman, and that its population numbers at least 1 9 birds and probably no more than 135

birds. This paper provides details of its distribution and habitat, breeding biology, behaviour and

vocalizations, plumage, taxonomic relationships, and conservation status. Eutrichomyias rozvleyi is

classified as Critically Endangered by BirdLife International. The bird’s extremely restricted range,

its small population size and the continued loss of its forest habitat are considered to be the main

threats to its survival.

INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY

In 1873, a native hunter working for the German

naturalist A. B. Meyer collected the type, which still

remains the only specimen, of Cerulean Paradise-

flycatcher Eutrichomyias rowleyi from Tabukan on the

island of Great Sangi [Sangihe], Indonesia. The bird

had bluish upperparts, light pale blue underparts, a

i - - 1 25°30' _ _ 401

Map 1. Location of Sangihe island and place names

mentioned in the text.

somewhat whitish belly, and bore distinctive, long

bristles around the bill (Meyer 1878). Twenty years later,

Meyer published a more complete description of the

bird and a brief discussion of its taxonomic relationships

(Meyer and Wiglesworth 1898). Later, a review of the

specimen’s morphological peculiarities led to the

establishment of the monotypic genus Eutrichomyias

(Meise 1939).

A number of other naturalists made collections on

Sangihe during the late nineteenth century (details in

Blasius 1888, Meyer and Wiglesworth 1898), yet no

further specimens of the paradise-flycatcher were

obtained. Indeed, it was not until 105 years after the

type specimen was collected that any field sightings of

E. rozvleyi were claimed.

In December 1978, M. D. Bruce observed a single

bird on the upper forested slopes of Mt Awu

(03°41.40'N 125°26.75'E) in northern Sangihe; the

sighting was only first published in 1986 (White and

Bruce 1986). Meanwhile, searches by F. G. Rozendaal

on Mt Sahendaruman (03°29.90'N 125°30.80'E) in

southern Sangihe in May and June 1985 (Rozendaal

and Lambert 1999), and K. D. Bishop, who visited the

same secondary forest patch on Mt Awu as Bruce in

1986 (Whitten et al. 1987), failed to find the paradise-

flycatcher.

This led to the presumption of the species’s probable

extinction (Whitten et al. 1987). Other authorities had

taken a more optimistic view, stating E. rowleyi to be

one of the rarest birds in the world (Eck 1980), and it

was classified as a Critically Endangered species (Collar

etal. 1994).

The first author first visited Sangihe in August 1 995

as leader of an ornithological expedition from the

University of York, England, and on 1 1 September 1995

a colleague, J. O. H. Small, claimed to have observed a

single E. rozvleyi at Talawid Atas (03°42.66'N

125°24.55'E) on the lower slopes of Mt Awu (Riley

1997a). No further sightings were made at this site, or

elsewhere on the island. A survey in August 1996 also

failed to find the paradise-flycatcher (F. R. Lambert in

litt. September 1996), as did our second survey in

46

J. RILEY & J. C. WARDILL

Forktail 17 (2001)

Mt.SAHENGDARUMAN PROTECTED AREA

VEGETATION MAP

E US-31 £125 3? £125^3' El»‘34'

y Low Montane Forest (> 800 m)

[ j Hill Forest with Palms (< 800 m)

| j Secondary Scrub and Forest with relict primary trees

Map 2. Structural vegetation classification of forest habitat

on the Mt. Sahendaruman caldera: based on fieldwork

between August — December 1998.

Key:

Vegetation class A: Low montane forest (> 800 m)

Vegetation class B: Hill forest with palms (< 800 m)

Vegetation class C: Secondary scrub and forest with relict

forest trees

All boundaries are approximate with a resolution of +/- 200

m.

October-December of the same year (Riley 1997b). We

returned to Sangihe in August 1998 and on 2 October

1998 one of our local assistants reported having seen

two small, all blue, long-tailed birds. They had been seen

feeding in tall trees in a small gully close to the edge of

primary forest on Mt Sahendaruman (throughout this

paper we use this name to refer to the entire caldera

ridge) in southern Sangihe. The following morning, JR

descended into the gully and at c. 09h00 saw two birds

sallying for insects in the crowns of tall canopy trees

(photograph 5) and was able to confirm that they were

E. rowleyi. Further surveys on the lower forested slopes

of Mt Sahendaruman, until late February 1 999, revealed

the presence of a small, critically endangered population

of paradise-flycatchers restricted to five steep forested

valleys.

This paper is based on the results of ornithological

surveys conducted between 24 August-12 September

and 12-25 October 1995, 19 October-18 December

1996, 19 August-20 December 1998, 28 January-1

March 1999, and 7-1 1 December 1999.

SANGIHE

Sangihe island is part of the northern volcanic range of

North Sulawesi, an area dominated by young and active

volcanoes, and lies on a narrow submarine ridge

extending from Sulawesi, through Sangihe and the

Talaud islands, to the Philippine island of Mindanao.

The topography is steep; the north of the island is

dominated by Mt Awu (1j340 m), an active volcano,

and in the south the extinct volcanic caldera of Mt

Sahendaruman rises to a peak of 1,031 m on Mt

Sahengbalira (Map 1).

Sangihe had largely been deforested by 1920

(Heringa 1921, Whitten et al. 1987) and the only

extensive area of forest remaining on the island is found

at higher altitudes on the steep slopes of Mt

Sahendaruman. Between August and December 1998

habitat boundaries were mapped, suggesting that

approximately 800 ha of closed canopy forest remain

(Hicks and Riley in prep.). The forest in this area extends

along the ridge-tops from Mt Bongkongsio (818 m) to

Mt Palenti (827 m) with some small outlying patches,

for example on the peak of Mt Sahendaruman (806 m).

On the steeper south-facing slopes, the forest extends

down in places to altitudes of c. 450 m. On the gentler

north and eastern-facing slopes forest loss has been far

greater, with agricultural land reaching the ridge-top in

many places. Only in a few isolated valleys, notably below

Mt Batukakiraeng (980 m), does forest extend far from

the ridge, down to altitudes of c. 650 m (Map 2).

The forest vegetation on Mt Sahendaruman was

classified into two structural vegetation classes (Map 2).

At lower altitudes - to c. 800 m - forest is made up of

broadleaf semi-trophophyllous trees, 10-20 m tall, with

emergent trees to 35 m. There are abundant lianas and

other climbers, and an understorey characterized by

many palms Areca spp., with occasional tree ferns

Cyatheaceae and screw palms Pandanaceae. At higher

altitudes, above c. 850 m, habitat is dominated by shorter

broadleaf semi-trophophyllous trees, 5-10 m tall, with

emergent trees to 20 m. There are many climbers and

epiphytes, with some dense stands of gingers

Zingiberaceae, whilst in some areas, particularly on the

ridge-top, screw palms form extensive, single-species

canopies.

Most of the island has been converted to a mosaic of

plantations, shifting gardens and other agricultural land.

Principal tree crops include coconut, clove, nutmeg,

breadfruit, durian, and other fruit trees. Within this

mosaic, small areas of land are cleared to plant root

crops, banana, papaya and chilli. The flatter areas and

gentler slopes are already planted with tree crops, leaving

only the steeper slopes for such cultivation. Patches of

secondary forest and scrub also occur on Mt Awu,

around the Mt Sahendaruman forest, and in the centre

of the island above Tahuna, and are characterized by

Piper aduncum, Trema orientalise Albizia falcataria,

Homalanthus sp. and Ficus cf. minahassae. The middle

slopes of Mt Awu support dense secondary scrub

dominated by tree ferns, screw palms, and gingers, whilst

above c. 800 m this is replaced by grasses and ferns.

There are currently no strictly protected areas (nature

reserve, wildlife reserve, national park) on the island,

although there have been several proposals for a c. 5,000

ha conservation area in the vicinity of Mt Sahendaruman

Forktail 17 (2001)

The rediscovery of Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher on Sangihe, Indonesia

47

(FAO 1982, Sujatnika and Jepson 1995). A 4,268 ha

area centred on Mt Sahendaruman is currently

designated Protection Forest Hutan Lindung on account

of its watershed value and is under the jurisdiction of

the Department of Forestry. There are two other areas

of Protection Forest on the island: one of 4,884 ha

covering the slopes of Mt Awu, and a 1,105 ha area

named Mt Otomata in the centre of Sangihe ( Dinas

Kehutanan Manado, unpublished 1998). Of the three

areas, only Mt Sahendaruman Protection Forest has any

primary forest remaining.

DISTRIBUTION

Following their rediscovery on 3 October 1998, paradise-

flycatchers were observed on 33 occasions over 31 days

until the last sighting on 10 December 1999. All but

one of the observations were made in five steep forested

valleys on the lower slopes of the Sahendaruman caldera

(Table 1). Descriptions of the five valleys follow:

Valley 1 - Forested down to an altitude of c. 510 m

where forest was bordered by coconut plantations and

vegetable gardens. Above, the forest rises unbroken to

the ridge-top at 850 m.

Valley 2 - Forested from the summit of Mt Sahengbalira

down to c. 400 m where forest was replaced by clove

plantations, secondary scrub and abandoned gardens.

Below c. 500 m there are some signs of disturbance e.g.

tree cutting, and the forest was dominated by trees

locally called Subulre, with some sago palms and trees

locally called Sahayi; trees were c. 15 m tall and narrow

girthed, and undergrowth was sparse. A large stream

runs along the valley bottom. This valley is separated

from Valley 1 by a steep ridge rising 250 m between the

two.

Valley 3 - A narrow, very steep gully, sparsely forested.

The ridge-tops and valley sides were dominated by

secondary scrub. We made one observation of a single

paradise-flycatcher in this scrub.

Valley 4 - A steep river valley surrounded on all sides by

extremely steep slopes. The forest was largely

undisturbed and extended from the summit of Mt

Sahengbalira down to at least 600 m.The lower extent

of forest was not ascertained as access to the lower

reaches was prevented by a 30 m high waterfall at c. 600

m.The valley was bordered on some ridge-tops by well-

established secondary forest.

Valley 5 - A narrow gully at the foot of a 10 m high

waterfall that was bordered below and on both sides by

clove, nutmeg and coconut plantations. The gully was

dominated by secondary forest and scrub. Forest

appeared to extend upwards from the waterfall to the

ridge-top but this could not be confirmed.

Forest in these valleys was noticeably different in

character to that on ridge-tops at the same altitude. Trees

were larger and taller, with the forest canopy at c. 17-

25 m, and there were many emergent trees. Common

plant species in the mid-storey of the forest - to c. 15m

- included the trees Myristica cf. fatua. Ficus cf.

minahassae , Saurauia sp., Gironniera sp. and Syzygium

sp., and the palm Arenga cf. pinnata. More striking was

the lack of vegetation between heights of c. 2-5 m; for

example the gingers, palms and climbers which

characterized the forest elsewhere were largely absent,

although Areca palms remained frequent. One common

plant of the mid-storey, particularly close to streams,

was a species of Urticaceae, and a Leea sp. shrub was

also present. This thin mid-storey encouraged a dense

herb layer, with many ferns, lilies (possibly Dianella sp.)

and succulent perennials e.g. Pentaphragma sp.

A further eight valleys were surveyed for paradise-

flycatchers but no sightings were made. Two of these

sites were at higher altitudes - between 7 1 0 m to 850 m

- although the forest habitat was judged similar to that

in valleys where paradise-flycatchers were observed. The

precise upper altitudinal limit of the species’s distribution

has not yet been ascertained owing to the difficulty of

surveying these areas.

Three of the eight valleys were within the paradise-

flycatcher’s known altitudinal range and represented

suitable habitat; however, surveys were hampered by

torrential rain and birds may have been overlooked. The

remaining valleys were dominated by secondary scrub

and thought unlikely to support paradise-flycatchers.

The only sighting of E. rowleyi away from these

forested valleys was of a single bird seen in secondary

scrub on the steep slopes above valley 3. Since over 100

days of fieldwork by the authors between 1995 and 1999

produced no other records away from valleys, we suggest

that paradise-flycatchers favour the sheltered habitat in

these valleys and forage only occasionally in forest on

ridge-tops.

Within the valleys, birds were encountered in both

primary (85% of observations) and secondary habitat

(15% of observations). There were no records of birds

in secondary forest remote from primary habitat. This

suggests that E. rowleyi favours primary forest in valleys,

can forage in secondary habitat that is bordered by

Table 1. Summary of observations of Eutrichomyias rowleyi in five valleys on Mount Sahendaruman, October

1998 — December 1999.

Valley

Altitudinal range Number of Maximum number of

sightings paradise-flycatchers

Date maximum

recorded

1

2

3

4

5

525-625m

475-625m

575-625m

600-650m

550-600m

18

9

2

1

3

5-4 adults, 1 young

4 adults

5 adults

3 adults

2 adults

3/4 October 1998

7 December 1998

23 November 1998

24 November 1998

12 December 1998

48

J. RILEY & J. C. WARDILL

Forktail 17 (2001)

primary forest, but is absent from disturbed habitat away

from primary forest.

PREVIOUS RECORDS

Prior to these observations, E. rozuleyi had been recorded

from three separate localities. The first record is that of

the type specimen, collected by Meyer’s hunters at

“Tabukan”. No other details about the type locality have

been published (Meyer 1878, Meyer and Wiglesworth

1898).

Tabukan is the name of one of the historical

kingdoms of Sangihe and the town of Tabukan was the

seat of the King until Indonesian independence from

the Dutch. After Indonesian independence the kingdom

of Tabukan was split into three administrative sub¬

districts: Tabukan Utara, Tabukan Selatan andTabukan

Tengah. Subsequently, the town of Tabukan became

known as Tabukan Lama (literally “Old Tabukan”). JR

visited Tabukan Lama (03°40.27'N 1 25°32.45'E),

situated on the east coast of Sangihe, in 1 995 and 1 996.

There is no forest in the vicinity of the town and,

according to villagers, land has been dominated by

coconut plantations for at least 80 years. It seems

unlikely, even if the type specimen originated there, that

paradise-flycatchers could survive in such habitat. The

three Tabukan districts run along almost the entire east

coast of Sangihe and it is impossible, given the lack of

information as to the type’s provenance, to narrow the

collecting locality beyond this. However, a number of

bird species from Sangihe also previously known only

by one or two specimens are now considered to be

restricted to the Mt Sahendaruman forest: Sangihe

Shrike-thrush Colluricincla sanghirensis (Rozendaal and

Lambert 1999), Sangihe White-eye Zosterops nehrkorni

(Rasmussen et al. 2000) and Golden Bulbul Alophoixus

affinis platenae (Riley 1997b). Such circumstantial

evidence might suggest that the type of E. rowleyi was

also obtained from these forests.

The second record of the paradise-flycatcher was

made by M. D. Bruce in December 1978 ‘in the forested

upper slopes of G. [Mt.] Awu, northern end of Sangihe’

but was not published until eight years later (White and

Bruce 1986). The bird was observed in ‘areas above

human habitation where apparently suitable habitat was

more extensive’ but no other details were noted because

the significance of the observation was not fully

appreciated (M. D. Bruce in litt. to J. Riley, May/June

2000). Whilst the observer is confident about the

sighting, we feel that the lack of information

accompanying this important record makes it impossible

to review critically, and prefer to treat the sighting as

unproven.

In 1986, K. D. Bishop visited the site of Bruce’s

observation but saw no paradise-flycatchers over a three-

day period (Whitten et al. 1987). In 1995 and 1996, JR

spent a total of 1 5 days on the slopes of Mt Awu around

the villages of Kedang (03°40.11'N 1 25°28.23'E),

Talawid Atas and Kendahe (03°41'N 125°22'E)

searching for the paradise-flycatcher. Whilst these

surveys led to the observation of a possible paradise-

flycatcher at Talawid Atas in 1995, no confirmed

sightings were made.

The 1995 sighting was made by J. O. H. Small who

claimed to have observed a single E. rowleyi in secondary

scrub at c. 250 m above the village ofTalawid Atas (Riley

1 997a). Whilst published as inconclusive, this record

should be withdrawn, as a number of features in the

description do not agree with our knowledge of E. rowleyi

(J. O. H. Small in litt. to J. Riley, March 2000), and Small

has withdrawn other observations made during the same

period (Rasmussen et al. 2000).

The 1978 and 1995 records were made on the slopes

of Mt Awu, and the continued survival of a second

population of paradise-flycatchers in northern Sangihe

would be of great importance. However, three factors

lead us to conclude that, in all probability, Mt Awu does

not support such a population. First, there is no forest

above c. 800 m and the few small patches of secondary

forest are confined to steep valleys on the mountain’s

lower slopes; in three field trips to Sangihe totalling 12

months, we have yet to locate habitat with the

characteristics of that inhabited by paradise-flycatchers

Table 2. Summary of valleys potentially occupied by E. rowleyi on the Mt Sahendaruman caldera.

1 = peak on caldera ridge from which valleys run off.

2 = number of valleys with watercourse separated by c. 250 m.

3 = number of valleys where E. rowleyi were observed.

4 = number of valleys with closed-canopy forest judged suitable for E. rowleyi.

5 = direct observation made in valley.

6 = observation made from ridges near valley.

7 = number of valleys with no habitat judged suitable for E. rowleyi.

8 = total number of valleys with closed-canopy forest potentially occupied by E. rowleyi.

9 - total number of valleys where E. rowleyi was observed.

Forktail 17 (2001)

The rediscovery of Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher on Sangihe, Indonesia

49

on Mt Sahendaruman. However, until fieldwork is

conducted in the secondary scrub and forest at lower

altitudes, there remains a remote possibility that

paradise-flycatcher habitat will be found. Second, Mt

Awu is an active volcano and this may help explain the

lack of forest; for example, local people state that a

violent eruption in 1966 caused serious damage to

houses and vegetation around the mountain. Third, there

are no conclusive sightings from northern Sangihe: the

two published records have been either inadequately

documented or withdrawn altogether. Therefore, whilst

the steep, inaccessible terrain on Mt Awu may still hide

a population of paradise-flycatchers, the lack of suitable

forest, the inadequacy of the published records, and the

lack of confirmatory sightings suggest that E. rowleyi is

now restricted to hill forest in steep valleys between c.

475 m and at least 650 m on Mt Sahendaruman.

POPULATION

Quantitative surveys using a point count technique

produced only two records of E. rowleyi from 1 50-point

counts. These data are insufficient to yield a reliable

estimate of population density for E. rowleyi. Therefore,

in this paper, we produce a qualitative assessment of

the paradise-flycatcher’s population.

In general, we assumed that E. rowleyi is restricted to

valleys with closed-canopy forest around the Mt.

Sahendaruman caldera. An initial analysis aimed to

identify the total number of valleys around the caldera

ridge. Individual valleys were specified as those with

watercourses separated by more than c. 250 m from the

watercourse in the adjacent valley. Initial identification

of valleys was made using a 1:50,000 base map (Peta

Rupabumi Indonesia series 1991). This yielded a total

of 44 valleys on the caldera’s slopes.

Based on direct field surveys or observations from

adjacent ridges and the mountain’s lower slopes, we

assessed whether closed-canopy forest was present or

absent in each valley. A total of 27 valleys were found to

support some closed-canopy forest.

No account was taken of E. rowleyi’s altitudinal range

when assessing habitat availability. Hence, it is possible

that valleys thought to contain suitable habitat may lie

above the species’s upper altitudinal limit. There are,

therefore, 27 valleys which could support populations

of E. rowleyi , the majority located on the slopes below

the peaks of Mt. Batukakiraeng, Mt. Kalumelahana and

Mt. Sahengbalira (Table 2).

The largest flock size recorded in any valley was five

birds. To produce a total population estimate we assume

each of these 27 valleys supports five birds. This leads

us to conclude that the maximum population estimate

is 135 birds. This is clearly an arbitrary figure and until

more is known about the species’s ecology and

distribution, it is used with caution.

The minimum population is assumed to be the sum

of the total number of birds seen in each individual valley

(Table l).This is based on the assumption that birds do

not move between valleys, a statement evidently

supported by concurrent observations of paradise-

flycatchers in adjacent valleys (Valleys 1 and 2) on three

occasions. Using this method the population of E. rowleyi

on the Mt. Sahendaruman caldera is estimated to be

between 19 and 135 birds.

BREEDING BIOLOGY

A number of observations of breeding activity were made

and these are summarized below.

Nests

Two disused nests were found that we strongly suspect

to be those of E. rowleyi. The first was found on 1 1

October 1998 in Valley 1 at 625 m. It was located in a 5

m tall understorey tree Syzygium sp. and built between

the terminal fork of the lowest branch, 2 m off the

ground. The second nest was found on 24 November

1998 in Valley 3 at 610 m.The nest was located 2.5 m

off the ground in a fork in the outer branch of an

unidentified understorey tree. Both nests were cup¬

shaped and woven around the fork of the branch. Both

were constructed from dried palm leaf fibres (possibly

Arenga sp.) mixed with dried grass fibres and fixed to

the tree branch by tougher vine fibres.

The first nest was in a good state of preservation

and will be deposited in the Museum Zoologicum

Bogoriense, Cibinong, Indonesia. The nest pocket was

slightly oval and of the following dimensions: widest

diameter 47 mm; narrowest 39 mm, depth to top 40

mm. The second nest was partially disintegrated and

was not preserved.

Whilst it is not possible to prove conclusively that

these are nests of E. rowleyi - no nest construction or

attendance was observed - there are a number of factors

that support this assumption. Primarily, the size and

form of the nests agree closely with those of other

members of the Monarchini, being very similar to the

nests of the Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea

in North Sulawesi; both nests are slightly oval in shape,

of similar size, woven from dried grass and leaf fibres,

and constructed in a suitable fork in an understorey

tree (JCW pers. obs., see photograph p. 40 in Kinnaird

1 995). Meyer andWiglesworth (1898: 377) provide the

following description of an H. azurea nest from Sulawesi:

‘Cup-shaped, the size of a Chaffinch’s [Fringilla coelebs ],

rather loosely built of moss and coarse straw-like strips

of dead grasses or wood, ornamented externally with a

few large seeds, lined with fine root-fibres. Placed on

the twigs of a tree. Height 50 mm, breadth 65 mm,

breadth of pocket 52 mm, depth of pocket 38 mm.’ Since

E. rowleyi is the sole representative of the Monarchini

on Sangihe (Riley and Wardill in prep.) this suggests

that these are nests of the paradise-flycatcher.

Additionally, the nest discovered on 1 1 October 1998

was situated within 50 m of trees frequented over the

ensuing months by a pair of E. rowleyi with young (see

below). Finally, a knowledgeable local hunter (who was

able to take fieldworkers to see paradise-flycatchers at a

new locality in November 1998) claimed that the nest

found in Valley 3 was that of E. rozuleyi.

Eggs

A small fragment of eggshell discovered directly below

the nest in Valley 1 on 1 1 October 1998 had a white

ground colour with fine brick-red flecks. In general,

50

J. RILEY & J. C. WARDILL

Forktail 17 (2001)

Monarchini eggs are whitish or huffish marked with

brown (Coates and Bishop 1997). Assuming the eggshell

came from the nest, its appearance supports the

identification of the nest as that of the paradise-

flycatcher. The eggshell fragment will be deposited in

the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Cibinong,

Indonesia.

Young birds

Three observations were made of family groups of E.

rowleyi. The first, on 3 October 1998, involved two adult

birds and a single juvenile in Valley 1 at 625 m. The

juvenile bird was noted to be smaller, with a short tail

and grey, fluffy underparts. One adult was observed

feeding a small invertebrate to the young bird. The

second observation was at the same location on 9

December 1 998; between 1 1 hOO and 1 2h30 three birds

were seen together - two adults feeding a single

immature. The young bird perched, well hidden, in a

tree fern in secondary forest immediately adjacent to

primary forest. The adults searched for food for c. 45

seconds and on their return the immature responded

by opening its gape and flicking its wings; no food items

could be identified. Finally, on 6 February 1999 three

birds - possibly the same family party - were observed

briefly at the same location.

BEHAVIOUR

The majority of observations of E. rozvleyi were of birds

feeding in small single-species groups of 2-5 birds. On

two occasions birds were seen in mixed feeding flocks.

On 23 November 1998, a single paradise-flycatcher was

feeding in close association with a single Sangihe Shrike-

thrush and three Sulawesi Cicadabirds Coracina morio

in secondary scrub dominated by Piper aduncum and a

Sterculiaceae shrub locally named Kupamanuk. Later

the same day, five birds were observed feeding in a loose

flock with three Sangihe Shrike-thrushes in Valley 4.

Cerulean Paradise-flycatchers generally feed in the

canopy and subcanopy of c. 15 m tall trees but also

descend to low understorey vegetation such as ferns and

rattans. Birds feed in an active manner, often hovering,

making looping sallies, and even descending to the

ground to recover invertebrates. Flycatching is common

but most time is spent snatching and gleaning

invertebrates from vegetation. Whilst feeding, they often

raise their tails above the horizontal and sometimes

spread their tail feathers in the fashion of Rhipidura

fantails, but less dramatically. The paradise-flycatchers

appear to feed mostly on small invertebrates; but the

only identified food item was a large c. 7 cm long

Orthopteran.

Cerulean Paradise-flycatchers often interact with a

small squirrel Prosciurillus cf. murinus present in the Mt

Sahendaruman forest. Of our 33 observations, nine

involved birds following or feeding close to squirrels,

apparently attracted to insects disturbed by them. The

squirrels (usually alone but occasionally in groups of 2-

4 animals) move quickly along canopy branches and

vines, pausing to chew at bark or dead wood, presumably

to extract invertebrate food. Paradise-flycatchers often

approached to within a metre of the squirrel and gleaned

for insects from the surrounding foliage. On a number

of occasions a paradise-flycatcher was seen to scold or

threaten the squirrel if it came too close. E. rowleyi was

never seen to follow the larger, less active Rosenberg’s

Squirrel Prosciurillus rosenbergii, which is the commonest

squirrel species in the forest.

Generally, paradise-flycatchers remained feeding in

small areas for considerable periods of time. For

example, on 10 December 1999, a pair of paradise-

flycatchers was observed flycatching and leaf-gleaning

for over two hours in small trees along a 30 m stretch of

Valley 2.

VOCALIZATIONS

A number of calls were recorded - copies have been

deposited in BLOWS, National Sound Archive, UK -

and three call types were apparent. The most commonly

heard vocalizations are the birds’ loud contact calls.

These are varied and range from a single tuk note,

uttered irregularly by feeding birds, to a very loud

Table 3. Measurements (in mm) of adult Eutrichomyias rozvleyi mist-netted on 7 December 1998 compared to

those of the type specimen (after Meyer 1898 and Meise 1939).

Forktail 17 (2001)

The rediscovery of Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher on Sangihe, Indonesia

51

step... step with the emphasis on the first syllable. The

‘typical’ call, most often heard within feeding groups, is

a loud chew ...chew chew chew chew or

chrew....chrew....chrew chrew chrew, which possesses a

rasping and grating quality, and with stress on the last

three notes. Adults seen feeding young gave this call

repeatedly.

A second type of contact call is a loud, descending

trill chreechreechreechree some five seconds in duration

with a rolled rrr sound; the trill has a slurred quality.

This call was heard once, given by a single bird in a

loose feeding flock with two other birds. A third variant

is a high, scratchy, fizzing streeeeeeee given by feeding

birds.

Alarm calls are stridently uttered, sharp notes. One

bird, on being flushed by the observer from a distance

of two metres, gave a sharp schweek . . .schweek . Two birds

coming together whilst chasing the same food item both

uttered a sharp, clipped schwak. ...schwak, exposed their

gapes and fanned their wings at each other before both

resumed feeding. Finally, a series of rapid staccato notes

was given by a bird in response to a squirrel.

A wispy whistle consisting of a mixture of thin notes

lasting five seconds was given by a single bird on one

occasion in October 1998. This may be the birds’ song,

but confirmation is required from more detailed

observations and recordings.

DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENTS

On 7 December 1 998 at 1 2h00, a single adult E. rowleyi

was caught in a mist-net set c. 5 m from the ground on

the sides of a steep forested gully at 625 m in Valley 1.

Morphometric data, photographs (Photographs 1 and

2, see photograph in Wardill and Riley 1 999) and blood

samples were taken, and a full description of the bird’s

plumage made in bright sunlight (see below), before

the bird was released, unharmed, approximately three

hours later. Owing to the extreme rarity of the species it

was decided not to collect a voucher specimen, despite

previous calls for such material (White and Bruce 1986).

The capture of this individual allows indirect

comparison of measurements and plumage to the type

specimen (Table 3, photograph 3 and 4). Measurements

and descriptions of the type have been published by

Meyer (1878) and Meyer and Wiglesworth (1898),

whilst Meise (1939) provides other measurements and

a discussion of some key features.

Whilst the wing length:tail length ratio are similar in

the two birds (type specimen 0.894, 1998 bird 0.886),

the wing and tail measurements of the 1998 bird are

8% smaller than those of the type (Meise’s

measurements). In general, male monarchs

(Monarchini) are larger than females (Oberholser 1911)

and these measurements may suggest that the type

specimen is, as was suggested in the type description, a

male, and that the 1998 bird was an adult female. In

addition, the type is a dull greyish blue, which might

suggest an immature specimen (R C. Rasmussen in litt.

April 2000; see below).

Recent published descriptions and drawings of the

paradise-flycatcher have been inaccurate (e.g. plate 4 in

Whitten et al. 1987, plate 54 in Coates and Bishop 1997).

For this reason a detailed plumage description of the

mist-netted bird is given with notes where there are

significant differences from published descriptions.

Soft parts

The iris is dark brown; the eye is relatively large, with

an incomplete fleshy white eyering, broken above and

bulging in front of and behind the eye; the broad-based

bill is black; the gape is yellow; many long rictal bristles

issue from the bill base; these rictal bristles are black,

except for two either side of the bill which are white

and may be freshly grown. The legs are blue-grey, the

soles of the feet are grey, and the claws are grey.

The eyering was surprisingly not noted by Meyer

(1878) or Meyer and Wiglesworth (1898). However,

Meise (1939) noted that this feature was figured by

Gould ( Birds of New Guinea 2 Plate 20, 1882) and, as a

footnote to Meise’s paper, Stresemann noted that the

eyering is poorly preserved on the specimen, perhaps

explaining why it was not mentioned by Meyer.

Underparts

The chin and throat are light grey, paler in the centre of

the throat; the upper flanks and breast are grey with a

slight blue tinge. The lower flanks and vent are lighter

grey. The undertail-coverts are very light grey-white.The

centre of the belly is white, whilst the upper belly and

lower chest are mottled grey-white with a definite blue

tint, forming the suggestion of a breast-band. The thighs

are grey, again showing a blue tint.

There was no suggestion of buff around the cloacal

region in contrast to that noted by Meyer and

Wiglesworth (1898). It is possible that this feature is a

result of staining during the collection and preparation

of the specimen. The underparts lack the strong blue

tones depicted by Nash (in Whitten et al. 1987) and

Gardner (in Coates and Bishop 1997).

Upperparts

The back, mantle, rump and uppertail-coverts are

cerulean blue. The central tail feathers are almost entirely

blue, with the shafts and centres black; the outer tail

feathers are black with the distal half of the outer web

blue; the undersides of all tail feathers are grey.

Head

The crown, nape and cheeks are dark cerulean blue,

slightly darker than the upperparts. The forehead is a

lighter blue, with a slight darkening around the bill.

There is a grey wash around the sides of the neck,

running up from the sides of the breast.

Wing

The underwing-coverts are light grey. The greater

upperwing-coverts have broad cerulean blue fringes and

very dark grey centres; the median and lesser wing-

coverts are bright blue, being the brightest part of the

wing; the scapulars are blue. The alula is black with a

narrow blue fringe. The flight feathers are blackish-grey

with the outer webs broadly fringed blue, and the inner

webs with narrow white fringes; the blue feather fringes

on the outer webs are slightly wider on the secondaries;

the tertials are mainly blue with black feather centres.

The under surface of all flight feathers are grey, with

white inner webs.

52

J. RILEY & J. C. WARDILL

Forktail 17 (2001)

Moult

Primaries 1-4 (counted ascendantly from the outer edge

of the wing) were worn and old, primary five was in pin,

primary six was half-grown, and the third secondary

was still growing but almost complete. All tail feathers

were worn; on the right side, the third rectrix from the

centre was half-grown.

The immature bird observed on 9 December 1998

had uniform smoky-grey underparts, which were much

darker than those of the adult birds and lacked any hint

of a blue hue on the breast. Its upperparts and head

were dark blue with a strong grey-brown wash. The

immature’s partial white eyering was thinner and less

striking than on adult birds. The gape appeared orange-

yellow, with bare parts otherwise resembling those of

the adults. In size, the young bird appeared slightly

smaller than the adults.

TAXONOMIC STATUS

Meyer initially placed the paradise-flycatcher in the

genus Zeocephus (Meyer 1878) but later altered his

opinion and included rozuleyi in Hypothymis, noting its

similarity to H. puella [=H. azurea puella ] of Sulawesi

and postulating that rozuleyi represented that species on

Sangihe (Meyer and Wiglesworth 1898). Oberholser

(1911) was unconvinced that rozuleyi belonged with

Hypothymis but had not examined the specimen and

left the situation unresolved.

Meise (1939) erected the monotypic genus

Eutrichomyias for the species characterized by a shorter,

heavier bill with more steeply arched culmen in

comparison to Hypothymis monarchs, whilst the nostrils

are positioned more to the side of the bill and closer to

its base. In addition, the tarsus is more robust and longer

than in both Hypothymis and Terpsiphone (longer than

the exposed culmen), and there are differences in the

wing formula. The abundant nasal bristles are distinctive

(Meise 1939, White and Bruce 1986) and visible in the

field.

Meise commented that the closest relative was

probably Hypothymis (1939 p. 135), but also noted the

similarities to Terpsiphone. In a footnote to the same paper

Stresemann (p. 136) suggested the nearest relative was

Terpsiphone. White (in White and Bruce 1986) noted

‘although usually associated with Hypothymis in the past,

this opinion was evidently based on its blue colour and

not on critical examination.’ and that the species

affinities needed further study. Supporting these

statements, Watson et al. ( 1 986) concluded that E. rozuleyi

is a well differentiated geographical representative of

Terpsiphone.

Our recent observations complicate the argument.

Links to Terpsiphone paradise-flycatchers are suggested

by the white, fleshy partial eyering of E. rozuleyi. However,

we were immediately struck by their resemblance to H.

azurea of Sulawesi. Apart from the two species’ similar

coloration, parallel behavioural traits were noted: both

are active species that feed by gleaning and snatching

for prey and regularly associate in pairs. Vocalizations of

E. rozuleyi are also most similar to H. azurea , both having

harsh, strident contact calls. By contrast, Rufous

Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone cinnamomea talautensis

observed on Talaud was usually seen singly, was less

active whilst feeding, and is judged to have more

melodious vocalizations.

These observations do not conclusively demonstrate

the species’s affinities, but do suggest that Eutrichomyias

shows characters of both Hypothymis and Terpsiphone ,

although it is perhaps more closely allied to the former.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Eutrichomyias rozuleyi was classified as Critically

Endangered with extinction owing to a combination of

its small, severely fragmented distribution with a decline

in the area, extent and quality of habitat (code Bl+2ce);

small population size with all individuals in a single

subpopulation (code C2b) and a small number of

mature individuals (code Dl) (Collar et al. 1994).

The rediscovery of E. rozuleyi in the Mt

Sahendaruman forest and the review of previous records

detailed above suggests the species should still be

accorded the highest category of threat.

E. rozuleyi is restricted to c. 800 ha (or 8 km2) of forest

in southern Sangihe and is only known from small areas

— steep valleys - in this forest. The paradise-flycatcher’s

population is believed to be very small and, whilst the

figures should be used with caution, possibly does not

exceed 19 birds, with the breeding population smaller,

as inferred by observations of immature birds.

At the present time, habitat loss is the main pressure

on the species. Clearance of forest and adjacent

secondary growth by local farmers is usually small-scale,

plots are between 0.5 and 1.5 ha in size, but is

concentrated on the forest edge and, of most concern,

in valley bottoms. Certain crops are planted

preferentially in the damp, sheltered valleys and these

areas are sometimes the first to be cleared.

Habitat disturbance brought about by natural

resource extraction (Wardill and Riley in prep., Wardill

et al. 1997) constitutes another threat. Forest products

such as rattans, timber, firewood and food plants are

collected by local people. The disturbance is generally

small-scale but its effects on the forest ecosystem have

not been quantified. The disturbance due to forest

product extraction may also be exacerbated by the

presence of humans within the paradise-flycatchers’

habitat.

Of immediate concern is the widespread use of air

rifles to hunt birds and small mammals for both food

and sport. This hunting appears to be indiscriminate

with birds of all sizes shot by hunters; a group of three

hunters was observed carrying 20-30 birds after a day’s

shooting in the Mt Sahendaruman forest in November

1998.

A considerable constraint on future conservation

efforts is the lack of basic ecological and behavioural

data about E. rozuleyi. Detailed work to determine

accurately the species’s range, habitat requirements and

population size is crucial. Similarly, the threats to the

species have not been adequately quantified and such

work should be a high priority. This could be combined

with related studies of the threatened Zosterops nehrkomi

which is also little known and mysteriously rare

(Rasmussen et al. 2000).

Previous conservation activities on the island has

focused on increasing local peoples’ awareness of the

Forktail 17 (2001)

The rediscovery of Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher on Sangihe, Indonesia

53

forest and its value (Riley 1997b, J. C.Wardill pp. 50-

53 in Hurst 1998). Encouragingly, a long-term

conservation project building on the work undertaken

between 1995 and 1999 is being prepared by BirdLife

International Indonesia Programme.

DISCUSSION

The rediscovery of E. rozvleyi is of great significance. Four

research projects had visited the Sangihe islands after

Whitten et al. (1987) concluded that E. rowleyi was

probably extinct, before a combination of perseverance

and luck led to the rediscovery of this enigmatic species.

This highlights again what Collar (1998) - referring

to the history of ornithology on Cebu in the Philippines

- called the ‘Romeo Error’: the problem of whether rare

species should be treated as extant unless proven extinct

or extinct unless proven extant (Diamond 1987). Could

the presumed extinction of E. rowleyi in 1987 have

contributed to the relative neglect of Sangihe by

researchers and conservationists alike?

There are similarities between the case of the Cebu

Flowerpecker Dicaeum quadricolor (Dutson et al. 1993,

Collar 1998) and Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher. Both

species were believed to be extinct, whilst in reality they

lingered on in small fragments of primary habitat. We

hope that the rediscovery outlined in this paper

reinforces the point that serious efforts should be made

to find such ‘lost’ species.

Increased awareness of Sangihe’s importance for

global biodiversity, and the plight of its endemic birds,

was brought about as the result of an investigation into

restricted-range bird species by BirdLife International

(formerly International Council for Bird Preservation).

The distributions of restricted-range species, defined as

those with world ranges of less than 50,000 km2, were

analysed using a Geographical Information System

(GIS) and concentrations of two or more species

classified as Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) . Twenty-four

EBAs were identified in Indonesia, one of them centred

on the Sangihe and Talaud archipelagos (ICBP 1992,

Sujatnika et al. 1995, Stattersfield et al. 1998).

The Sangihe-Talaud EBA was thought to support

ten restricted-range species, of which five were endemic

(Sujatnika et al. 1995, Stattersfield et al. 1998). Recent

research has led to the recognition of five additional

endemic species - Sangihe Scops Owl Otas collari

(Lambert and Rasmussen 1998), Colluricincla

sanghirensis (Rozendaal and Lambert 1 999) and Zosterops

nehrkorni (Rasmussen et al. 2000) on Sangihe, and

Talaud Bush-hen Amaurdrnis magnirostris (Lambert

1998b) andTalaud Rail Gymnocrex talaudensis (Lambert

1998a) on Talaud - reinforcing the islands’ importance

to conservation. Of particular significance is the fact

that five of the six bird species endemic to Sangihe are

threatened with extinction - C. sanghirensis , Z. nehrkorni,

E. rozvleyi. Elegant Sunbird Aethopyga duyvenbodei and

Sangihe Hanging Parrot Loriculus catamene - whilst

another species endemic to the Sangihe-Talaud islands,

Red-and-blue Lory Eos histrio, is probably extinct on

Sangihe (Collar etal. 1994, Riley 1997b). The first three

species in this list are treated as Critically Endangered

in Threatened birds of Asia (BirdLife International 2001)

and all appear to survive only in small populations

restricted to the Mt. Sahendaruman forest.

Now that the biological significance of Sangihe’s Mt

Sahendaruman forest is more fully appreciated, it is

essential that serious efforts are made to understand

the conservation requirements of the birds and other

endemic wildlife found there. Further research and

conservation activities are urgently needed, especially

in the case of the Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher, in order

to safeguard the species’s remaining habitat and to

increase its chances of long-term survival.

Fieldwork would not have been possible without the support and

enthusiasm of Iwan Hunowu,Yusman Hunowu and Jorys Mole, whilst

Bu’ Niu first drew our attention to the small, blue birds. The surveys

were conducted under the auspices of Action Sampiri - Sangihe and

Talaud Conservation Project, and we are indebted to our colleague

Damien Hicks. Other team members - Michael and Meike Wangko,

Tisna Nando, Cobar M. Hutajulu, and Fahrul P. Amama — contrib¬

uted field notes on Eutrichomyias rowleyi, as did Iwein Mauro. The

1998-1999 Action Sampiri project was sponsored by BP Conserva¬

tion Programme, Zoologische Gesellschaft fur Arten- und

Populationsschutz (Germany), Vereinigung fur Artenschutz und

Zucht (Germany), Stiftung Avifauna Protecta (Germany), Papageien

(Germany), British Ornithologists’ Union, Royal Geographical So¬

ciety and June Chamberlain Charity. Fieldwork was undertaken with

permission from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and

sponsored by the Research and Development Centre for Biology

(PPPB). Staff of BirdLife International provided much logistical

support, in particular Ria Saryanthi, Katharine Gotto, Adrian Long,

Nigel Collar, Frank Lambert, and Rudyanto. Dr Siegfried Eck

(Staatliches Museum fiirTierkunde, Dresden) kindly provided pho¬

tographs of the holotype. Rob Lee, Nigel Collar, Pamela Rasmussen

and Damien Hicks all commented on a draft of this manuscript.

REFERENCES

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national.

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Coates, B. J. and Bishop, K. D. (1997) A guide to the birds ofWallacea:

Sulaivesi, the Moluccas and Lesser Sunda islands, Indonesia. Alderley,:

Dove Publications.

Collar, N. J. (1998) Extinction by assumption; or the Romeo Error

on Cebu. Oryx 32: 239-244.

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.

Diamond, J. M. (1987) Extant unless proven extinct? Or, extinct

unless proven extant? Conservation Biol. 1: 77-79.

Dutson, G. C. L., Magsalay, P. M. and Timmins, R. J. (1993) The

rediscovery of the Cebu Flowerpecker Dicaeum quadricolor, with

notes on other forest birds on Cebu, Philippines. Bird Conserva¬

tion International 3: 235-243.

Eck, S. (1980) Der Sangir-Monarch - einer der rarsten Vogel der

Welt. Mitt. Staatl.Wiss. Mus. Dresden 22/23 [1979]: 70-71.

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Heringa, P. (1921) Rapport over de begroeiing van de Sangi- en

Talaud-eilanden. Tectona 14: 733-746.

Hurst, J. ed. (1998) Expedition field techniques: education projects. Lon¬

don: Expedition Advisory Centre, Royal Geographical Society.

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

conservation. Cambridge: International Council for Bird Preser¬

vation.

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Wallacea Development Institute.

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

Red-and-blue Lory Eos histrio in Indonesia. Bangkok, Thailand:

IUCN Species Survival Commission.

Lambert, F. R. (1998a) A new species of Gymnocrex from theTalaud

Islands, Indonesia. Forktail 13: 1-6.

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Islands, Indonesia, and a review of taxonomy of bush hens oc¬

curring from the Philippines to Australasia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club

1 18: 67-82.

Lambert, F. R. and Rasmussen, P. C. (1998) A new scops owl from

Sangihe Island, Indonesia. Bull Brit. Orn. Club 118: 204-217.

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Orn. Monats. 47: 134-136.

Meyer, A. B. (1878) Description of two species of birds from the

Malay Archipelago. Roicley’s Orn. Misc. 3: 163-165.

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neighbouring islands. Berlin: Friedlander.

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613.

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On the specific status of the Sangihe White-eye Zosterops nehrkorni

with a taxonomic review of the Black-fronted White-eye Z.

atrifrons. Forktail 16: 69-81.

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Kukila 9: 3-36.

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

Sangihe and Talaud islands, Indonesia. Cambridge, U.K. : CSB

Conservation Publications.

Rozendaal, F. G. and Lambert, F. R. (1999) The taxonomic and

conservation status of Pinarolestes sanghirensis Oustalet 1881.

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Endemic Bird Areas of the world: priorities for biodiversity conserva¬

tion. Cambridge: BirdLife International.

Sujatnika and Jepson, P. (1995) Priority proposed protected areas for

the conservation of global biodiversity in Indonesia. Bogor: PF1PA/

BirdLife International Indonesia Programme (Technical Memo¬

randum 3).

Sujatnika, Jepson, P., Soehartono, T. R., Crosby, M. J. and

Mardiastuti, A. (1995) Conserving Indonesian biodiversity: the en¬

demic bird area approach. Jakarta: PHPA/BirdLife International-

Indonesia Programme.

Wardill, J. C. and Riley, J. (1999) Birdwatching areas: Sangihe and

Talaud islands, Indonesia. Oriental Bird Club Bull. 29: 30-35.

Wardill, J. C., Riley, J., Hunowu, I. and Wangko, M. F. (1997) A

status assessment of the Gunung Sahengbalira Protection Forest,

Sangihe, North Sulawesi. Bogor: PHPA/BirdLife International

Indonesia Programme (Technical Memorandum 19).

Watson, G. E., Traylor, M. A. Jr and Mayr, E. (1986) Family

Muscicapidae. Pp. 295-375 in E. Mayr and G. W. Cottrell, eds.

Checklist of birds of the world, 11. Cambridge, Massachusetts:

Museum of Comparative Zoology.

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

(Sulawesi, The Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Islands) . London: Brit¬

ish Ornithologists’ Union (Checklist No. 7).

Whitten, A. J., Mustafa, M. and Henderson, G. (1987) The ecology of

Sulawesi. Yogyakarta: University Gaja Madah Press.

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

One or more extinctions from Sulawesi, Indonesia? Conservation

Biol. 1:42-47.

Jon Riley, Wildlife Conservation Society - Indonesia Program, PO Box 1131, Manado 95000, Sulawesi, Indonesia;

email: wcsstajf@manado. wasantara. net. id

Jim Wardill, PO Box 163, Tahuna 95800, Sangihe-Talaud, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia; email:

wardill@manado. wasantara. net. id

Photograph 1: Adult Eutrichomyias rowleyi mist-netted on 7 December 1998, Mt. Sahengbalira, Sangihe (photo J. Riley).

Photograph 2: Hill forest habitat in Valley 1 on the Mt. Sahendaruman caldera, Sangihe. These trees are where the

paradise-flycatchers were rediscovered on 3 October 1998 (photo J. C. Wardill).

Photographs 3-5: The unique type specimen of Eutrichomyias rowleyi collected by A. B. Meyer atTabukan, Sangihe, in 1 873

(photo J. C. Wardill).

Forktail 17 (2001)

The rediscovery of Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher on Sangihe, Indonesia

55

FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 57-66

The birds of Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve,

North Sulawesi, Indonesia

JON RILEY and JORYS MOLE

Between 9 and 19 November 1999 we conducted ornithological surveys at Gunung [= Mount]

Ambang, an 8,638 hectare nature reserve located on the northern peninsula of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The reserve supports a number of primary forest types between 700 m and 1,760 m. Surveys

were also made in a 25,000 hectare area of primary lowland and hill forest, of uncertain official

status, to the north of Ambang. We noted 108 species in these two areas, including the globally

threatened Matinan Flycatcher Cyornis sanfordi , which is restricted to montane forests on the

north peninsula of Sulawesi, and Cinnabar Hawk Owl Ninox ios, a recently described species

previously known only from a single specimen collected from Bogani Nani Wartabone National

Park, c. 30 km to the west. A total of 113 species has now been recorded in the reserve. Bird

populations at Mt. Ambang are threatened primarily by loss of habitat caused by agricultural

encroachment into the reserve and habitat degradation resulting from timber extraction. Hunting

is a major threat to mammal species in the reserve and some birds are also affected. Clarification

of the current status of the extension area, ideally followed by its designation as a reserve, would

add an important site to the island’s protected area network. This move, coupled with an increase

in patrolling and monitoring by park authorities, and publicizing the reserve amongst local

communities, would be important first steps towards ensuring the future of Mt. Ambang’s forests

and wildlife populations.

INTRODUCTION

The 1 59,000 km2 island of Sulawesi is the largest island

in the biogeographical subregion ofWallacea, the

transition zone between Asian and Australian plants and

animals. In part due to its size and geographic isolation,

Sulawesi is characterized by high levels of species

endemism and supports at least 88 species of endemic

birds (White and Bruce 1 986, Whitten et al. 1987). The

island has been designated an Endemic Bird Area by

BirdLife International, supporting c. 350 bird species,

of which 54 are restricted to a particular range (Andrew

1992, Sujatnika et al. 1995, Coates and Bishop 1997,

Stattersfield et al. 1998).

North Sulawesi lies just above the equator, and

extends 50-100 km in width and approximately 450 km

in length. The topography is characterized by steep

mountains that were formed by recent volcanic events,

with elevations reaching over 2,200 m. Whilst most

remaining lowland forest areas in North Sulawesi are

small, there are still large forest tracts in montane regions

>1,000 m. These are important refuges for many

Figure 1. Map of North Sulawesi showing the location of

Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve.

threatened bird species, including Minahassa Masked

Owl Tyto inexspectata , Snoring Rail Aramidopsis plateni,

and Maleo Macrocephalon maleo. In addition, two

threatened species are currently known only from

montane forests in the north peninsula: Matinan

Flycatcher Cyornis sanfordi and the recently described

Cinnabar Hawk Owl Ninox ios (White and Bruce 1986,

Coates and Bishop 1997, Stattersfield et al. 1998,

Rasmussen 1999 BirdLife International 2000).

In recent years, faunal populations in North Sulawesi

have dramatically declined (O’Brien & Kinnaird 1996,

Lee 1999, Lee etal. 1999). Wildlife is intensively hunted,

and farming practices continue to raze and compromise

the integrity of natural landscapes. Furthermore, trade

in birds is common (F. R. Lambert verbally December

1999). Due to these increasing pressures on wildlife,

protected areas have become even more critical than

before to the conservation of Sulawesi’s fauna.

We document the first systematic survey of bird

populations at Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve

between 9 and 19 November 1999, and discuss

conservation implications.

STUDY AREA

The 8,638 hectare Gunung Ambang Strict Nature

Reserve Cagar Alam was designated by the Indonesian

government in 1978 and straddles two North Sulawesi

districts, Minahasa and Bolaang Mongondow (Fig 1).

The reserve is centred on the Ambang mountain ridge,

including the peaks of Mt. Tudutalong (1,680 m), Mt.

Moyayat (1,706 m), Mt. Molibut (1,565 m), and Mt.

Ilantat (1,552 m) (KSDA 1998, Peta Rupabumi Indonesia

series 1991) (Fig 2).

At present, there is conflicting information from

different government agencies concerning the status of

58

J. RILEY & J. MOLE

Forktail 17 (2001)

an area of forest, c. 25,000 ha in size, north of the nature

reserve. In 1983, this forest was proposed as a production

forest by the Nature Conservation and Forest Protection

Office (KSDA), but the proposal was never formally

accepted by the Forestry Department (PF1PA). In 1994,

a new proposal was submitted to PHPA to change the

status of the expansion area to a Protection Forest Hutan

Suaka Alain; the result of this proposal is unknown.

The Ambang forests are important for the protection

of watersheds for surrounding areas in North Sulawesi,

in addition to supporting a number of threatened

endemic species. To date, however, very little research

has been conducted at Ambang. In the late 1970s, J.

and K. MacKinnon carried out a short survey on crested

black macaque Macaca nigra and other mammal and

bird species (brief details in Rodenberg and Palete 1981,

FAO 1982), followed by another survey of macaques in

1986 (Sugardjito et al. 1989). More detailed studies of

mammals and vegetation were conducted by Robert Lee

and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in 1998

but, unfortunately, no comprehensive ornithological

notes were made (Lee 1998). To our knowledge few

ornithologists have visited the reserve since MacKinnon;

Frank Rozendaal and Rene Dekker provided some

important records from the summit of Mt. Muajat (our

Mt. Moyayat, following Peta Rupabumi Indonesia series

1991) (Rozendaal and Dekker 1989), whilst other

records were noted in a Sulawesi Bird Report (Kukila

1990).

WCS-Indonesia Programme worked at Gunung

Ambang for 1 2 days in November 1 999; we were based

at two sites (Fig. 2). At Singsingon we surveyed three

transects, each of 4.5 km, located in secondary,

selectively logged, and primary forest between 1,250 m

and 1,575 m; all transects were within the boundaries

of the nature reserve. Surveys were also made in

1 24*20’ E 2V 27 S3’ 24 23 20

Figure 2. Map of Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve and

extension area.

agricultural areas en route to the reserve and around the

village of Singsingon, down to altitudes of c. 1,000 m.

At Lake Iloloi we surveyed a single transect of 4.5 km

located in the proposed extension area. Habitat was a

patchwork of secondary, selectively logged, and primary

forest between 925 m and 1,250 m. Observations were

also made around the marshy fringes of Lake Iloloi and

surrounding agricultural land, down to an altitude of c.

800 m.

HABITATS

The reserve covers a wide altitude range from 700 m to

1,760 m at the summit of Mt. Moyayat (FAO 1982,

KSDA 1998) and is composed of a number of habitat

types. The vegetation below c. 1,000 m consists of

lowland evergreen rain forest with the canopy at c. 17-

25 m, and some emergent trees. Characteristic medium

to large (20-45 cm diameter at breast height) tree species

recorded in 45 1 0 m x 50 m vegetation plots made along

the Lake Iloloi transect included: Calophyllum spp.,

Eugenia sp., Knema sp., Litsea sp., Sterculia insularis ,

Acalypha caturus, and Cryptocarya celebicum. The most

regularly recorded very large girth (generally >50 cm

DBH) species were Pometia pinnata, Endospermum

peltatum and Canarium asperum. Palms were generally

uncommon; species recorded included Areca vestiaria,

Arenga pinnata , Pinanga celebica, and Caryota mitis;

Livistona rotundiflora, a very common palm to the east

(for example atTangkoko-Duasudara Nature Reserve)

and west (for example at Bogani Nani-Wartabone), is

notably rare at Ambang. A total of 105 tree species with

DBH >10 cm was recorded in these 45 plots.

Above c. 1 ,000 m trees are not as tall, there are fewer

emergent trees, and there is a dense understorey with

many palms. No vegetation plots were surveyed in 1999,

but research conducted in 1998 recorded a number of

species characteristic of higher altitude forests on

Sulawesi, for example Eugenia sp., Lithocarpus celebicus ,

L. bancanus, Calophyllum treubii, C. soulattri, Derris

dalbergoides and Vaccinium sp. (Whitten et al. 1987, Lee

1998).

A characteristic feature of the landscape is the

number of small lakes and marshes, including Lake Iloloi

and Paya Swamp (00°46’295 N 124°23'442 E ). Marshes

and lake fringes are dominated by sedges and grasses,

whilst shrubs and stunted trees grow on drier ground,

forming a very dense understorey.

Habitat disturbance caused by human activities,

primarily selective logging, has created a patchwork of

recently cleared open areas, secondary growth, and

regenerating forest surrounded by primary forest. Such

disturbed areas are characterized by pioneer species

including Trema orientalis, Macaranga hispida, Piper

aduncum and Dendrocnide microstigma. Towards the

reserve’s boundaries this secondary growth becomes

more extensive and is eventually replaced by plantations

and other agricultural land.

NOTES ON SELECTED SPECIES

Maleo Macrocephalon maleo (VU). A single record on

13 November, of a lone bird calling in primary forest at

Forktail 17 (2001)

Birds of Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve, Indonesia

59

1,375 m.This is above the species’s reported altitudinal

limit of 1,200 m (White and Bruce 1986, Coates and

Bishop 1997).

Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos temminckii.

Common, with four birds seen together at Lake Iloloi

on 17 November.

Ashy Woodpecker Muller ipicusfulvus. Common at Lake

Iloloi.

Sulawesi Hornbill Penelopides exarhatus. Common at

Lake Iloloi up to an altitude of 1,000 m, but absent

from forest at Singsingon. Sulawesi Hornbill is only

occasionally recorded above c. 700 m (Coates and

Bishop 1997).

Knobbed Hornbii ,i .Aceros cassidix. At Singsingon a single

record of a female in primary forest at 1,325 m.

Common in forested habitats at Lake Iloloi, with a

maximum of eight birds - five males and three females

- seen on 17 November in selectively logged forest.

Purple-winged Roller Coracias temminckii. A single

sighting on 17 November of a single bird in secondary

forest at 1,000 m at Lake Iloloi.

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis. A single bird recorded

at 800 m at Lake Iloloi on 13 November. This is well

above the 225 m altitudinal limit for the species on

Sulawesi (Coates and Bishop 1997).

Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx fallax. A single bird

seen in secondary forest at Lake Iloloi on 1 3 November.

Scaly Kingfisher Actenoides princeps. Birds of the

nominate subspecies endemic to NE Sulawesi (White

and Bruce 1986) were recorded in primary forest

between 1,050 m and 1,550 m at Singsingon. A female

was observed eating a small lizard on 18 November. A

female bird was mist-netted at 1,400 m on 17 November

(weight 105 g, wing 117 mm, tail 91 mm).

Purple-bearded Bee-eater Meropogon forsteni.

Uncommon at Singsingon in more open areas of the

forest - tree falls, open areas created by logging, and at

the forest edge. On 1 1 November a nest hole was

discovered which was attended by a single adult bee-

eater. The burrow was located c. 30 cm from the ground

in a low earth bank at the side of a footpath in primary

forest at 1,475 m.The burrow ran horizontally c. 50 cm

into the bank before opening out into the nest chamber

that contained two young, estimated to be 10-15 days

old. Invertebrate remains outside the nest hole include

moths, butterflies, bees and - predominantly - beetles.

Black-billed Koel Eudynamys melanorhyncha. Very

common in all habitats up to 1,250 m.

Yellow-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus.

Common at both sites.

Bay Coucal Centropus celebensis. Only recorded at Lake

Iloloi, up to 1,100 m, in groups of up to five birds.

Ornate Lorikeet Trichoglossus ornatus.'Very common at

Singsingon in flocks of up to 15 birds in forest edge and

agricultural habitats. Less common at Lake Iloloi.

Yellow-and-green Lorikeet Trichoglossus flavoviridis.

Extremely common at Singsingon in flocks of up to 25

birds, often together with the previous species. On 25

November a group of 25 was feeding in a Trema orientalis

tree in secondary forest. Also recorded from the foot of

Mt. Moyayat (Rozendaal and Dekker 1989).

Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail Prioniturus flavicans

(NT). Common at Lake Iloloi, but only recorded once

at Singsingon - a single bird seen and heard in primary

forest at 1,350 m on 16 November. This is a notable

altitudinal range extension for the species, which is

usually recorded to c. 1,000 m (White and Bruce 1986,

Coates and Bishop 1997). Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail

is endemic to the north peninsula of Sulawesi (White

and Bruce 1986, Coates and Bishop 1997), although

treated by Inskipp et al. (1996) as conspecific with Blue-

crowned Racquet-tail P. discurus of the Philippines.

Golden-mantled Racquet-tail Prioniturus platurus.

Common at both sites to altitudes of 1,550 m.

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot Loriculus stigmatus.

Uncommon. A single in a clove plantation on 10

November, two records - both of two birds - at the forest

edge at Singsingon on 1 1 and 1 6 November, and a single

in selectively logged forest at Lake Iloloi on 19

November.

Pygmy Hanging Parrot Loriculus exilis. A single bird in

selectively logged forest at 1,000 m at Lake Iloloi on 17

November. Pygmy Hanging Parrot has not been

recorded above this altitude (Coates and Bishop 1997).

Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus. One record of a flock

of six birds at Singsingon on 13 November 1999. This

species is either a scarce winter visitor or transient

migrant inWallacea (Coates and Bishop 1997).

Sulawesi Owl Tyto rosenbergii. Calls heard most nights

at Lake Iloloi and Singsingon, but particularly common

at the latter site. Owls were seen twice at Singsingon: a

single in flight over potato fields, at 04h50 on 12

November, and a single in secondary forest on 15

November at 05hl5.

Sulawesi Scops Owl Otus manadensis. Common, with

birds heard calling every night in secondary habitat at

both sites.

Speckled Hawk Owl Ninox punctulata. A sighting at

08h30 on 1 6 November in primary forest at 1 ,450 m. A

single bird was flushed from the foot of a hollow tree

trunk, flew a short distance and then perched, in full

view, for 4-5 minutes. Also heard calling on the 10

November and 15-16 November from selectively logged

forest between 1,100 m and 1,300 m at Singsingon. The

call was noted to be a series of soft whistles repeated

approximately once every second.

Cinnabar Hawk Owl Ninox ios (DD). A single bird was

mist-netted at 19h00 on 14 November 1999 in primary

forest at 1,420 m (Lee and Riley 2001.). The owl was

caught in the lowest shelf of a mist-net set 1 m from the

ground.

Description: The iris was yellow, the orbital skin of

the eye was pink. The bill was pale horn. The tarsi were

pink with light feathering on both surfaces, although on

the extreme lower tarsi and toes this was replaced by

fine rufous brown bristles; the claws were dark grey with

lighter grey bases. The crown to the mantle was uniform

chestnut brown with the supercilium and centre of the

forecrown, down to the bill, a slightly paler chestnut

60

J. RILEY & J. MOLE

Forktail 17 (2001)

brown. The underparts were chestnut brown with the

feathers showing light brown and buff barring. The vent

and belly were paler rufous brown. The upper tail surface

was finely barred with alternating bands of dark brown

and pale cinnamon brown. The undertail-coverts were

pale rufous with white spots. The upperparts were

uniform dark chestnut brown and appeared slightly

darker than the underparts. The scapulars were rufous

with large whitish spots with broad dark tips. On the

upperwing, the median coverts were pale rufous brown,

the secondary median coverts with two narrow white

bars on the outer web, whilst the primary coverts were

darker. The lesser upperwing-coverts were pale ochre

brown. The remiges had the inner webs dark brown,

becoming barred on the secondaries and, in particular,

on the tertials with pale rufous ochre; the outer webs

were lighter chestnut brown. Measurements: Wing +/-

184 mm; tail 1 12 mm; weight 94 g.

This recently described species (Rasmussen 1999)

was previously only known from a single specimen

collected in 1985 from a forested valley at 1,120 m at

Clark’s Camp in the eastern section of Bogani Nani

Wartabone National Park. The measurements and

plumage of the Ambang specimen agree with those of

the type (P. C. Rasmussen in litt. December 1999).

Cinnabar Hawk Owl remains a very little known

species. The two known localities are only c. 60 km apart

and, to date, the species is not recorded from outside

this extremely restricted range (but see Mauro, this

issue). Clearly, further surveys are required to determine

fully the species’s status, but such efforts are currently

hampered by the lack of information about the species’s

voice. We did not hear any calls at Ambang that could

have been attributed to Cinnabar Hawk Owl.

Stephan’s dove Chalcophaps stephani. A single bird seen

feeding on the forest floor at 1,375 m at Singsingon on

17 November, and a single bird flushed in secondary

forest at 925 m at Lake Iloloi were the only records.

Both sightings were made well above the known

altitudinal limit of the species in Sulawesi, given as 500

m by Coates and Bishop (1997).

Sulawesi Ground Dove Gallicolumba tristigmata. Found

in primary forest at both sites between 925 m and 1,525

m, but notably common at Singsingon.

Red-eared Fruit Dove Ptilinopus fischeri. Common in

primary and secondary forest above 1,000 m. On 17

November, a pair was observed constructing a nest in

the canopy of a 10 m tall tree at 1,500 m in primary

forest. The nest, a platform of dried twigs situated on

an outer branch, was constructed by both birds; one

bird collected nesting material from a nearby Trema

orientalis tree whilst the second bird built the nest.

Recorded at the summit of Mt. Moyayat in 1985

(Rozendaal and Dekker 1989).

Maroon-chinned Fruit Dove Ptilinopus subgularis. A

single record of two birds on 1 0 November in selectively

logged forest at 1,150 m above Singsingon. Recorded

to c. 800 m on Mt. Moyayat by Rozendaal and Dekker

(1989). Coates and Bishop (1997) give an upper

altitudinal limit of 800 m for this species on Sulawesi.

White-bellied Imperial Pigeon Ducula forsteni.

Common in forested habitat at both sites. A group of

1 0 birds was seen feeding on fruits of Ficus altissima on

13 November 1999, together with Grey-headed Imperial

Pigeon.

Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon Ducula radiata. Recorded

singly or in pairs in forested habitats at both sites. A

flock of three was seen on 13 November 1999 (see

above).

Barred Honey-buzzard Pernis celebensis. Three records

at Singsingon; on 13 November a single bird soaring

over primary forest, followed by singles seen on 16 and

17 November flying over agricultural land close to the

forest edge.

White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster. A single

record of an adult flying over Lake Iloloi on 13

November. The species is occasionally recorded well

inland on Sulawesi (Coates and Bishop 1997).

Sulawesi Goshawk Accipiter griseiceps. A single record

on 1 4 November of an adult perched in secondary forest

at Lake Iloloi.

Spot-tailed Sparrowhawk Accipiter trinotatus.

Uncommon in all forest habitats. A male seen in primary

forest on 16 November was hunting for insects from a

perch in a 4 m tall understorey tree.

Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus. A single in

agricultural land at Singsingon on 14 November. This

species is a common winter migrant to Sulawesi from

the east Palearctic (White and Bruce 1986).

Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis. The most commonly

encountered raptor at Ambang, and recorded almost

daily at Singsingon. A group of three birds seen at

Singsingon on 1 1 November included a single immature.

Scarlet Myzomela Myzomela dibapha. Uncommon

with just three records. A single male in primary forest

at 1,150 m at Lake Iloloi on 13 November; a single

female in selectively logged forest at 1,000 m at Lake

Iloloi on 18 November; and a single male in a mixed

species flock in primary forest at 1,475 m at Singsingon

on 1 7 November. This species is treated by most authors

as M. sanguinolenta (White and Bruce 1986, Coates and

Bishop 1997).

Dark-eared Myza Myza celebensis. Common at

Singsingon in primary forest between 1,275 m and 1,575

m. Two male birds were mist-netted on 17 November

followed by a single on 19 November (weight 19.5-22.5

g, wing 82-85 mm, tail 68-81 mm).

Olive-flanked Whistler Hylocitrea bonensis. Noted

twice in primary forest at Singsingon. A single female

was noted at 1,400 m on 16 November, followed by a

single male on the edge of a large mixed species flock at

1,500 m on 17 November.

Sulphur-bellied Whistler Pachycephala sulfuriventer.

One of the commonest species at both sites. A single

adult was mist-netted in primary forest at 1,475 m on

19 November (weight 22 g, wing 85 mm, tail 69 mm).

Cerulean Cuckooshrike Coracina temrninckii. Common

at both sites.

Sulawesi Cicadabird Coracina morio. Common at both

sites; also observed on Mt. Moyayat in 1985 (Rozendaal

and Dekker 1989).

Forktail 17 (2001)

Birds of Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve, Indonesia

61

Rusty-bellied Fantail Rhipidura teysmanni. Common

at Singsingon in primary and selectively logged forest

above 1 ,27 5 m. An adult bird was mist-netted in primary

forest at 1,400 m on 17 November (weight 10 g, wing

69 mm, tail 80 mm).

Sulawesi Drongo Dicrurus montanus. Common but

recorded only at Singsingon between 1,150m and 1 ,525

m. Observed at the summit of Mt. Moyayat in 1985

(Rozendaal and Dekker 1989).

Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta. Two

records, a single in forest edge scrub at Singsingon on

1 1 November, and a single at Mokobang village on 19

November.

Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra. The

subspecies annalisa , endemic to north Sulawesi (White

and Bruce 1986), was common in primary forest above

1,175 m at Singsingon. A male and female were mist-

netted in primary forest at 1,400 m on 17 November

(male: weight 9 g, wing 60 mm, tail 31 mm; female:

weight 9.5 g, wing 58 mm, tail 40 mm).

Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni. Common

at Singsingon. A pair was seen feeding young on 1 1

November. An immature male seen on the same date

had broad brown fringes to the feathers of the back,

mantle and nape.

Matinan Flycatcher Cyornis sanfordi (VU). The

previous record from the reserve was made by Rozendaal

and Dekker (1989), who mist-netted a single bird on

Mt. Moyayat in 1985. We recorded Matinan Flycatcher

in primary hill forest between 1,450 m and 1,500 m on

three occasions between 17 and 19 November 1999.

The first observation, on 1 7 November, was of two birds

on the edge of a large mixed flock with ten other species

including Sulphur-belliedWhistler, Malia, Sulawesi Leaf

Warbler and Sulawesi Drongo. There were two

observations on 19 November: the first of a single bird,

followed by a loose group of three birds seen c. 400 m

away.

A nest site was located at 1,300 m in selectively

logged hill forest with dense undergrowth, within 400

m of agricultural land. Over a period of four days

between 15 and 19 November, a single bird was

observed repeatedly entering a cavity in the trunk of a

dead tree. It was not possible to examine the nest cavity

which was some 3 m from the ground.

Matinan Flycatchers are robust birds with generally

ponderous movements. Flycatchers will sit motionless

for long periods, surveying the foliage with careful,

deliberate twists of the head, before dashing after prey.

This is a nondescript species with brown upperparts,

slightly darker on the wings, and uniform ash-grey

underparts. The only striking feature is the buff-ochre

vent. The eye is large and appears black in the field,

whilst the bill is pink-horn with a fine tip, very broad

base, and is surrounded by rictal bristles.

These are the first published observations of Matinan

Flycatcher for 1 5 years, and it remains a little known

species. For example, the calls of the flycatcher remain

undescribed (Coates and Bishop 1 997), and recent field

guides have produced inaccurate paintings. Whilst

Matinan Flycatcher is currently regarded as a threatened

species (BirdLife International 2000) the observation

of a bird at a presumed nest site in disturbed habitat

suggest that it is able to tolerate some habitat alteration.

Sulawesi Myna Basilornis celebensis. Common at Lake

Iloloi up to 1,1 50 m.

White-necked Myna Streprocitta albicollis. Common at

Lake Iloloi.

Fiery-browed Myna Enodes erythrophris. Common at

both sites, in large flocks of up to 60 birds. At Singsingon,

birds were seen feeding in a fruiting fig in selectively

logged forest on four consecutive days from 14

November; up to 55 birds were present in the tree at a

single time. Fiery-browed Myna was less frequent at

Lake Iloloi, with most records of small flocks of 2-3 birds.

Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica. A pair feeding two

young at Singsingon on 10 November 1999.

Malia Malia grata. At Singsingon the distinctive

subspecies recondita - olive-green wings, tail olive-green

or reddish-brown (birds at Ambang the latter) - endemic

to north Sulawesi (White and Bruce 1986), was noted

only in primary forest above 1,350 m. Usually

encountered in small, noisy parties of 2-4 birds

accompanied by Sulawesi Drongo, Rusty-bellied Fantail,

Yellow-billed Malkoha, and Sulawesi Leaf Warbler.

Malia were occasionally observed feeding close to

Sulawesi Dwarf Squirrels Prosciurillus murinus and P.

leucomus , possibly on invertebrates disturbed by them.

Black-crowned White-eye Zosterops atrifrons. Very

common at both sites in secondary and selectively logged

forest. At Singsingon, three birds of the nominate

subspecies endemic to north Sulawesi (Rasmussen et

al. 2000) were mist-netted in secondary scrub in

November (weight 9.5-10.5 g, wing 54.5-56 mm, tail

42.5-44.5 mm).

Streak-headed Darkeye Lophozosterops squamiceps. The

subspecies L. s. stresemanni, endemic to north-east

Sulawesi (White and Bruce 1986), was very common

in all habitats at Singsingon. Commonly observed in

single species flocks of 2-10 birds, but often formed

mixed species flocks with Black-crowned White-eye,

Grey-sided Flowerpecker, and Yellow-sided

Flowerpecker. Three birds were mist-netted: two birds

in primary forest at 1,425 m on 14 November and a

single bird in secondary scrub at 1,250 m on 16

November (weight 14-15 g, wing 60 mm, tail 43-46

mm).

Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler Bradypterus castaneus.

Very common at Singsingon; also common below the

summit ofMt. Moyayat in 1985 (Rozendaal and Dekker

1989).

Mountain Tailorbird Orthotomus cuculatus. Common

in all habitats and also recorded by Rozendaal and

Dekker (1989) on Mt. Moyayat. A single bird was mist-

netted in secondary scrub at Singsingon on 16

November (weight 7.5 g, wing 45 mm, tail 46 mm).

Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis. Two records from

Lake Iloloi: two birds on 15 November in selectively

logged forest at 1,050 m, and a single in primary forest

at 1,250 m on 16 November.

62

J. RILEY & J. MOLE

Forktail 17 (2001)

Sulawesi Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus sarasinorum.

Extremely common at Singsingon in all forested habitats.

A single bird was mist-netted in primary forest at 1 ,400

m on 17 November (weight 10 g, wing 59 mm, tail 36

mm).

Sulawesi Babbler Trichastoma celebense. Very common

in all habitats.

Yellow-sided Flowerpecker Dicaeum aureolimbatum.

Common at both sites and recorded up to 1,375 m at

Singsingon. The upper altitudinal limit on Sulawesi is

given as 1,140 m (Coates and Bishop 1997).

Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker Dicaeum nehrkorni.

Uncommon at both survey sites.

Grey-sided Flowerpecker Dicaeum celebicum. Common

up to 1,250 m at both sites. Coates and Bishop (1997)

stated that Grey-sided Flowerpecker is recorded up to

1,000 m on Sulawesi.

Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis.

Uncommon in secondary habitats above Singsingon to

1,100 m, a slight altitudinal range extension above the

c. 1,000 m given by Coates and Bishop (1997).

Black Sunbird Nectarinia aspasia. Uncommon in

secondary habitats above Singsingon to 1,150 m, a

significant altitudinal range extension above the 800 m

given by Coates and Bishop (1997).

Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis. Common in

secondary habitats above Singsingon to 1,200 m, a

significant altitudinal range extension above the 800 m

given by Coates and Bishop (1997).

Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi. Seen twice on 1 1

November at Singsingon; a single in ploughed fields and

a single in secondary scrub at the forest edge. An under¬

recorded species in Sulawesi (Coates and Bishop 1 997).

Black-faced Munia Lonchura molucca. Uncommon in

agricultural land around Singsingon village to 1,150m,

a slight altitudinal range extension above the c. 1,000

m limit given by Coates and Bishop (1997).

Black-headed munia Lonchura malacca. Uncommon in

agricultural land around Singsingon village to 1,150m.

This is a significant altitudinal range extension above

the 800 m limit given by Coates and Bishop (1997).

DISCUSSION

The results of our survey show that Gunung Ambang is

a small but extremely important reserve. Whilst the total

number of species recorded (113) is lower than at the

adjacent Bogani-Nam Wartabone National Park (195)

(Rozendaal and Dekker 1989, Lee et al. in prep), this

difference can in part be attributed to the number (23)

of waterbirds (herons, waders and ducks) recorded from

the national park. A further contributing factor is the

paucity of ornithological research at Ambang.

Of particular significance is the presence of two

threatened species currently only known from the north

peninsula of Sulawesi - Matinan Flycatcher and

Cinnabar Hawk Owl (but, again, see Mauro, this issue),

and a third threatened species endemic to Sulawesi -

Maleo.The first two species remain little known across

their restricted ranges, whilst Maleo is increasingly

threatened throughout Sulawesi (BirdLife International

2000).

The small size of the Gunung Ambang reserve

accentuates land-use pressures also felt in the much

larger national park. The most immediate threat to the

reserve’s integrity is habitat loss and forest degradation.

Ambang is fringed by a large human population and

access to the reserve and its hinterlands is made easy by

a good road system, one road cutting through the centre

of the park. This has led to much of the land abutting

the reserve being converted to agricultural production.

However, the reserve’s boundaries are largely

acknowledged by local people (despite it being

unmarked) and farmers around Singsingon have cleared

land to the boundary but not, at present, beyond. This

results in the flatter terrain around the village being used

for agriculture whilst the steep slopes within the reserve

still retain some forest cover. It seems unlikely that this

status quo will persist for much longer and in recent years

protected forest along the Kotamobagu-Singsingon road

has been cleared for farming (KSDA verbally November

1999).

Large areas within the reserve have already been

affected by non-commercial selective logging. Currently

these activities are restricted largely to the flatter, more

accessible areas of the reserve, but some logging was

noted in the remote central forests and on steep slopes.

Undoubtedly much timber is used locally, demand

encouraged by the presence of a large number of

‘traditional’ workshops making wooden houses in

Mokobang village.

Whilst such degraded habitat can still support many

bird species, for example Matinan Flycatcher, the

removal of large trees encourages farmers to clear the

remaining vegetation and plant crops, a process already

taking place outside the reserve at Singsingon. Once

forest cover is lost, forest specialists can no longer persist

and are replaced by ecological generalists such as

flowerpeckers, white-eyes and sunbirds.

Hunting is a third major pressure at Gunung

Ambang. The larger mammal species are favoured prey

of local hunters - for example Sulawesi pig Sus celebensis,

anoa Bubalus sp., Sulawesi dwarf cuscus Stigocuscus

celebensis and crested black macaque - but as these

populations dwindle small mammals are increasingly

trapped using trip-wire snares. Whilst they are set

primarily to catch forest rats and squirrels, the traps

also kill birds and we noted the remains of Malia and

Sulawesi Ground Dove. Given the intensity of trapping

- snares set every 10 m for 200 m in some locations -

the overall pressure on animal populations must be great.

A contributory factor to all these pressures is the

weak management of the reserve. Whilst nominally

under the control of the National Park office in

Kotamobagu, there is little evidence of field activities

by reserve guards, who are poorly equipped,

unsupervised, and largely untrained and unmotivated.

With the huge Bogani-Nani Wartabone National Park

to supervise it is perhaps not surprising that Ambang is,

to some extent, ignored; reserve guards in Singsingon

noted it was over two years since any patrols or

monitoring were conducted inside the reserve.

Institutional weaknesses are also highlighted by the

Forktail 17 (2001)

Birds of Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve, Indonesia

63

confusion over the status of the 25,000 ha extension

area north of the nature reserve. This land is variously

described as a potential protected area or as production

forest (i.e. ear-marked for timber extraction). Weaknesses

in the management of protected areas have been

identified as major problems facing conservation efforts

throughout Indonesia (Wells et al. 1999).

In conclusion, the Gunung Ambang reserve protects

an important watershed and supports a high diversity

of bird species, including a number of threatened

endemics. The reserve is small and faces a number of

pressures, above all habitat alteration, which threaten

both the reserve’s future and those of its animal

populations. To ensure the integrity of the reserve these

problems must be addressed. Clarification of the current

status of the extension area to the north, ideally followed

by its designation as a protected area, would make a

valuable addition to the protected area network in the

province. Whether or not this status change is carried

out, there is a clear need for an increase in patrolling

and monitoring of the existing reserve by park

authorities, intensive training of park guards, and an

extensive community awareness and education

programme to familiarize local people with the function

of the reserve and its boundaries.

We wish to thank the Sub-Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam

(KSDA) for granting permission to work in Gunung Ambang Na¬

ture Reserve, andYulius Domingus (KSDA Singsingon) for his great

kindness and help. Many thanks to Yusman Hunowu, Michael

Wangko, Meyner Nusalawo, Feliks Tanglamm, Iwan Hunowu, Edies

Maneasa, Raymond Bororing, Yoppy Manderos and Rob Lee for

assisting with data collection. Renee Manoppo helped to prepare

the maps. Jim Wardill and Rob Lee commented on an earlier version

of this manuscript. This work was supported by the Natural Re¬

sources Management Program (NRM/EPIQ), a program supported

by USAID, Margot Marsh Biodiversity Conservation Fund, and the

Wildlife Conservation Society.

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Jakarta: Indonesian Ornithological Society (Checklist No. 1).

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and Cambridge, U.K.: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.

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Sulawesi, the Moluccas and Lesser Sunda islands, Indonesia. Alderley,:

Dove Publications.

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Club.

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Manado: Unpublished Report.

Lee, R. J. (1998) A report on biological surveys at Gunung Ambang

Nature Reserve. Wildlife Conservation Society: Unpublished

Report to Department of Forest Protection and Nature Conser¬

vation.

Lee, R. J. (1999) Impact of subsistence hunting in North Sulawesi,

Indonesia and conservation options in J. G. Robinson and E. L.

Bennett, eds. Hunting for sustainability in tropical forests. New York:

Columbia University Press.

Lee, R. J., O’Brien, T. G., Kinnaird, M. F. and Dwiyahreni, A. (1999)

The impact of hunting in Sulawesi with conservation recommenda¬

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Lee, R. J. and Riley, J. (2001) Morphology, plumage, and habitat of

the newly described Cinnabar Hawk-owl from North Sulawesi,

Indonesia. Wilson Bull. 113: 17-22.

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birds and mammals in North Sulawesi. Oryx 30: 50-156.

Rasmussen, P. C. (1999) A new species ofhawk-owl Ninox from North

Sulawesi, Indonesia. Wilson Bull. Ill (4): 457-464.

Rasmussen, P. C., Wardill, J. C., Lambert, F. R. and Riley, J. (2000)

On the specific status of the Sangihe White-eye Zosterops nehrkorni

and a taxonomic review of the Black-fronted White-eye Zosterops

atrifrons. Forktail 16: 69-81.

Rodenberg, W. F. and Palete R. (1981) Proposed Dumoga-Bone

National Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia: Management Plan

1982-1983. Unpublished WWF Report for the Directorate of

Nature Conservation, Republic of Indonesia.

Rozendaal, F. G. and Dekker, R. W. R. J. (1989) Annotated checklist

of the birds of the Dumoga-Bone National Park, North Sulawesi.

Kukila 4 (2): 85-109.

Stattersfield, A.J., Crosby, M. J., Long, A. J. and Wege, D. C. (1998)

Endemic Bird Areas of the world: priorities for biodiversity conserva¬

tion. Cambridge: BirdLife International.

Sugardjito, J., Southwick, C. H., Supriatna, J., Kohlhaas, A., Baker,

S., Erwin, J., Froelich, J. and Lerche, N. (1989) Population sur¬

vey of macaques in northern Sulawesi. American Journal of Pri-

matology 18: 285-301.

Sujatnika, Jepson, P., Soehartono, T. R., Crosby, M. J. and

Mardiastuti, A. (1995) Conserving Indonesia biodiversity: The En¬

demic Bird Area approach. Jakarta: PHPA/BirdLife International-

Indonesia Programme.

Wells, M., Guggenheim, S., Khan, A., Wardojo, W. and Jepson, P.

(1999) Investing in Biodiversity: A Review of Indonesia’s integrated

conservation and development projects. Washington D. C.:The World

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

(Sulawesi, The Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Islands) . London: Brit¬

ish Ornithologists’ Union (Checklist No. 7).

Whitten, A. J., Mustafa, M. and Henderson, G. (1987) The ecology of

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64

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Forktail 17 (2001)

Forktail 17 (2001)

Birds of Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve, Indonesia

65

66

J. RILEY & J. MOLE

Forktail 17 (2001)

KEY

FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 67-73

New records of birds from the Maldives,

with notes on other species

R. CHARLES ANDERSON and MICHAEL BALDOCK

Twelve species of bird were recorded from the Maldives for the first time: Lesser Whistling-duck

Dendrocygna javanica, Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus , Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus,

Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus, Brahminy Kite Haliastur Indus , Jouanin’s Petrel Bulweria

fallax, Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas , Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monorhis,

Leach’s Storm-petrel O. leucorhoa, Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach , Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo

daurica and Streak-throated Swallow H. fluvicola. In addition, published records of Common

Kingfisher A/cedo atthis , Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri, Whiskered Tern Chlidonias

hybridus, Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus and Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus were

not included in the 1994 checklist of birds (J. S. Ash and A. Shafeeg, The birds of the Maldives.

Forktail 10: 1-31). This raises the total number of bird species recorded from the islands to 167.

Unusual records of other species, and recent bird conservation measures in the Maldives, are

noted.

INTRODUCTION

The birds of the Maldives were recently reviewed by

Ash and Shafeeg (1994). They listed 150 species, with a

further ten species listed as unconfirmed. Five other

species have been recorded from the Maldives, but were

not included in the review of Ash and Shafeeg (1994).

The background to Maldivian ornithology is described

by Phillips and Sims (1958), Phillips (1963), Strickland

and Jenner (1978) and Ash and Shafeeg (1994). There

is therefore no need to repeat it here, beyond mentioning

two minor reports of birds (by non-specialists)

overlooked by previous reviewers.

Fosberg (1957) spent three days in the Maldives in

April 1956, when he visited Male and two nearby

uninhabited islands, Kuda Bandos and Furana. His

interest was mainly botanical, and the only birds he

noted were crows and ‘two individuals of a kind of large

heron’ on Male, a small sandpiper on Kuda Bandos,

and crows and a flock of unidentified ‘white terns’ on

Furana. The species he saw were probably the House

Crow Corvus splendens maledivicus , Grey Heron Ardea

cinerea , Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos and Black-

napedTern Sterna sumatrana.

Webb (1988) provided a wide-ranging general

account of the Maldives. He listed 18 species of bird by

name, including what appears to be the first record of

the Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri. In addition,

he provided photos of eight common species. These

included the Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii in the

background of his photo of flying herons (Webb 1988:

71); the bird labelled a ‘Maldivian Pond Heron’ in his

photo on page 72 is actually a Little Heron Butorides

striatus.

Since the publication of Ash and Shafeeg’s (1994)

review, relatively little has been published on Maldivian

birds. There have been some local reports on seabirds,

emphasizing their importance to the local tuna fishery

and the need for their conservation (Adam 1994,

Anderson 1996, Bluepeace 1996, Rasheed 1999). The

presence of seabirds enables local fishermen to locate

tuna schools, and is essential for the successful operation

of the fishery. In addition, a book on Maldivian seabirds

by Ahmed Shafeeg (1993), which was available to Ash

and Ali Shafeeg (1994) only in manuscript form, has

been published. (Ali Shafeeg is the son of Ahmed

Shafeeg.)

Finally, a summary checklist of the birds of the

Maidive Islands was privately printed by Lamsfuss

(1998). It included two first records: Common

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis and Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus

indicus. It also included two other species (Red-tailed

Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda and Western Reef Egret

Egretta gularis ) previously unrecorded from the Maldives.

These records were based on sightings at sea, but the

sightings were outside the current Maldivian Exclusive

Economic Zone, and so these species will be listed as

‘potential visitors’ in future printings of the checklist

(G. Lamsfuss in litt. May 2001).

The aims of this report are to document several first

records of birds from the Maldives; to present new

information on other species already known from the

Maldives; and to note recent conservation developments.

RCA has been resident in Maldives since 1983. MB

has visited the Maldives three times, travelling to the

northern atolls in February 1999 and April 2001, and

to the southern atolls in March 2000. Species marked

with a single asterisk (*) are first records for the Maldives;

those marked with a double asterisk (**) have been

previously reported but were not recorded by Ash and

Shafeeg (1994). For details of atoll abbreviations used

here, and a map, see Ash and Shafeeg (1994).

RESULTS

* Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica

One captive individual was photographed on V. Felidhoo

in June 2000 by RCA and Samee Mohamed Rasheed.

It was reported to have been caught on the island’s

lagoon in April 2000. It is presumed to have been a

vagrant.

68

R. C. ANDERSON & M. BALDOCK

Forktail 17 (2001)

Garganey Anas querquedula

Flocks of about 1 2 birds were recorded on 4 April 1999

(by RCA) and on 1 1 March 2000 (by RCA and MB)

on the saltwater lake at the north end of S. Hithadhoo.

A winter visitor not previously recorded later than

January (Ash and Shafeeg 1994).

**Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Lamsfuss (1998) recorded this species from the

Maldives, but without giving details. His record was

based on a definite sighting from K. Meerufenfushi in

November 1996 by M. J. and J. R Pointon (G. Lamsfuss

in lirt. April 2001). Prior to this, Moutou (1985; Ash

and Shafeeg 1994) noted a kingfisher at K. Lhosfushi

in January 1 984, which he regarded as being possibly of

this species. Another Common Kingfisher was seen and

video-taped at the brackish water lagoon of Sh.

Medukumburudhoo on 7 and 8 January 1 999, by RCA,

Hussein Zahir and Ibrahim Naeem. Its ear-coverts were

orange, and the crown and upper wings were more blue

than greenish-blue, suggesting that this individual was

of the subspecies A. a. taprobana from southern India

and Sri Lanka (Ali and Ripley 1987). A further

individual, reported to be of this species, but not seen

by the authors, was captured at K. Hulhule in January

1998 (Hussein Zahir, Marine Research Centre, verbally,

January 1999). With all sightings to date being in

November or January, it seems likely that this species is

an uncommon northern winter visitor.

**Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

Ash and Shafeeg (1994) noted that many reports from

over the years of unidentified parakeets suggested that

either there was a small resident population in the

Maldives or that immigrants were occurring. They were

unable to confirm the species involved beyond noting

that one escaped Rose-ringed Parakeet had been

captured and photographed in Male Atoll in 1981.

However, the presence of the Rose-ringed Parakeet on

Male had been noted by Webb (1988). Grimmett et al.

(1998) recorded Rose-ringed Parakeet as introduced to

the Maldives. A small population of Rose-ringed

Parakeets has indeed been resident on Male since at

least 1984 (RCA pers. obs.), and probably for several

years before that (Ahmed Hafiz, Marine Research

Centre, verbally December 1999). This population was

almost certainly not established as far back as 1956-

1957. It was not noted by Fosberg (1957), and, more

convincingly, it would have been most unlikely to have

escaped the notice of W. W. A. Phillips during his stay in

Male. Indeed, Phillips mentioned that ‘parakeets are

unknown to the islanders’ (Phillips and Sims 1958: 213).

Several other species of parrots have been observed in

the Maldives in recent years (mostly near Male and the

tourist resorts); they are believed to be escapees and are

not thought to have established viable populations (see

Discussion).

*Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus

One individual was seen flying low over Male, on 25

November 1995, by RCA. It was dark brown with a

white rump, and appeared as large or larger than a

Common Swift Apus apus.

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

A minimum of two and a maximum of four individuals

were seen at the saltwater lake at the north end of S.

Hithadhoo by both authors on 1 1 March 2000. Single

individuals were seen by RCA at the same site on both

25 and 30 May 2000. It was previously known in the

Maldives only from Fuvah Mulaku Atoll (Ash and

Shafeeg 1994, Rasheed 1999).

*Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

One individual in non-breeding plumage was seen on

the beach of Lh.Veyvah on 17 February 1999 by RCA,

MB and Ian Rowlands. Its legs were bright orange-red,

the bill was straight, and it had no white wing patches;

it gave a characteristic chew-it call.

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis

A flock of 10-12 birds was seen at the saltwater lake at

the north end of S. Hithadhoo by both authors on 1 1

March 2000. A single individual was seen by RCA at

the same site on 22 May 2000. It had previously been

recorded in the Maldives only in September and October

(Strickland and Jenner 1978, Ash and Shafeeg 1994).

Sanderling Calidris alba

We have records from G. A. Hithaadhoo (one individual,

15 March 2000, by RCA and MB), Lh.Veyvah (three

individuals, 1 7 and 1 8 February 1 999, by RCA and MB)

and Lh. Veligandu, a sandbank south-west of Lh.

Kuredhoo (one, 30 March 2000, by RCA). It had

previously been recorded only from S. Gan (Ash and

Shafeeg 1994).

Little Stint Calidris minuta

A flock of 1 0- 1 2 birds was seen by RCA and MB at the

lake at the north end of S. Hithadhoo on 1 1 March

2000. It had previously been recorded only from

November to January (Ash and Shafeeg 1994).

Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii

One individual was seen on 30 May 2000 by RCA at

the lake at the north end of S. Hithadhoo. Phillips (1963)

noted a single Temminck’s Stint on Addu Atoll on 26

May 1958, which he considered to be a possible non¬

breeding loiterer. However, these late birds may well

have been passage migrants (Ash and Shafeeg 1994).

* Red-necked/Red Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus/fulicaria

One individual was seen by RCA, MB and Ian Rowlands

on 2 1 February 1 999, to the north of Haa Alifu Atoll at

07°21'N 72°49'E. It was a pale grey phalarope (appearing

white from a distance), in non-breeding plumage with

distinct white wing-bars and a shortish bill. It was

probably a Red-necked Phalarope but specific

identification was not confirmed, so it is possible that it

was a Red Phalarope. The latter is a vagrant to the Indian

region, while the Red-necked Phalarope is a regular

winter visitor in large numbers to the northern Arabian

Sea (Ali and Ripley 1987, Grimmett et al. 1998). Two

Red-necked Phalaropes were reported to the Royal

Naval Bird Watching Society bv D.M. Neale (who had

seen thousands off Arabia) from 09°40’N 76°03'E (i.e

off Lakshadweep, some 270 nautical miles NE of our

Maldivian sighting) on 12 May 1958 (W. R. P. Bourne,

in litt. July 2000).

Forktail 17 (2001)

New records of birds from the Maldives, with notes on other species

69

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

A single individual was seen on 1 1 March 2000 by RCA

and MB at the lake at the north end of S. Hithadhoo.

There have been only five previous records from the

Maldives (Ash and Shafeeg 1994).

Crab-plover Dromas ardeola

A single individual was seen on 22 February 1999 by

RCA, MB and Ian Rowlands on H. A. Medhafushi. It

had not previously been recorded in February (Ash and

Shafeeg 1994).

Brown Skua Catharacta antarctica

Ash and Shafeeg (1994) lumped all records of Catharacta

skuas under one heading. Following Olsen and Larsson

(1997) and Grimmett etal. (1998) we split the Maldivian

records between this and the following species. We also

note one additional record of the Brown Skua: a captive

bird seen by both RCA and MB on Lh. Naifaru in

February 1999.

South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki

See note for Brown Skua, above.

*Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus

Olsen and Larsson (1997: map on p. 125) include the

far north of the Maldives within the winter range of this

species, although this does not appear to be based on

actual records. However, we do have several records of

the Pomarine Jaeger from the Maldives:

1) One was seen on 21 February 1999 by RCA and Ian

Rowlands, just north of H. A. Kelaa at 07°00'N

73°10'E. It was a large, stocky jaeger; brown above

with dark underwings, pale undersides and a dark

chest-bar. It was in the presence of a large flock of

Lesser Noddies Anous tenuirostris, which were feeding

over a tuna school.

2) One was seen on 14 March 1999 by RCA, to the

east of H. Dh. Kumundhoo at about 06°34'N

73°04'E. It was a heavy-set jaeger, mostly dark brown

with a pale upper breast.

3) Two were seen on 8 March 2000 by RCA and MB

in the One-and-a-half Degree Channel, at 01°19'N

73°19'E. They were harrying Sooty Terns Sterna

fuscata, which were feeding over a tuna school.

4) Three were seen on 31 March 2000 seen by RCA

near K. Kaashidhoo, at 05°03'N 73°34'E, in the

vicinity of Brown Noddies.

It is not clear if these records (all in February-March),

are of birds wintering in the Arabian Sea or of birds on

northward passage through the western Indian Ocean

(Olsen and Larsson 1997: map on p. 125). Most of our

at-sea sightings effort in recent years has been in

February-April.

Heuglin’s Gull Larus heuglini

Ash and Shafeeg (1994) noted one record of a Lesser

Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus and one of an adult gull

that was either Larus fuscus fuscus or Larus argentatus

heuglini. However, Inskipp et al. (1996: 214) noted that

a photo of the gull recorded by Ash and Shafeeg (1994)

as a Lesser Black-backed Gull probably referred to L. h.

heuglini. Furthermore, Grimmett et al. (1998) noted that

all records of Lesser Black-backed Gulls from the Indian

region were unacceptable, and that confusion with

Heuglin’s Gull was the most likely explanation for

reports of the former species. The two separate records

of Ash and Shafeeg (1994) are therefore combined under

this single heading here. Bourne (1996) noted that

among the gulls of this type wintering in south Asia,

Heuglin’s Gull is commoner in the south of the region

and out at sea. It may thus be the one most likely to

occur in the Maldives.

Gull- billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica

Single birds in breeding plumage were recorded by RCA

from the saltwater lake at the north end of S. Hithadhoo

on 4 April 1999 and on 25 and 30 May 2000. It had not

previously been recorded in May (Ash and Shafeeg

1994).

** Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus

This species was recorded by Ahmed Shafeeg (1993),

but overlooked by Ash and Shafeeg (1994). Ahmed

Shafeeg (1993; verbally, July 2000) noted that the

Whiskered Tern is an uncommon but regular winter

(north-east monsoon season) visitor to the Maldives. It

is normally seen singly. In Dhivehi it is known as

valoadhoni (meaning soft or flaccid bird, in reference to

its slow flight) and kagi dhooni (origins obscure). We

recorded what appears to have been the same individual

on every one of six separate visits to the saltwater lake

at the north end of S. Hithadhoo, between 1 1 March

and 6 June 2000. It was a marsh tern in non-breeding

plumage; bill black, relatively short and deep; black on

crown/nape extending to eye but not below it; pale grey

back, rump and tail. This individual regularly perched

on the same dead mangrove bush in the centre of the

lake, and hunted widely over the entire lake surface.

Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris

Very large numbers (thousands) of this species were seen

off Haa Alifu Atoll in April 1998, February 1999 and

March 2000. Said by local residents to roost in large

numbers on the island of Gallandhoo, and also on

Medhafushi and Gowafushi, all in Ihavandhippolhu

Atoll (part of Haa Alifu Atoll). This is the first report of

what appears to be a major feeding ground for this

species. While these birds were all assumed to have been

A. tenuirostris , it is possible that Black Noddies Anous

minutus were present (Bourne 1997).

*Brahminy Kite Haliastur Indus

One individual was caught in Male during the north¬

east monsoon season in early 1994 (Ahmed Shafeeg

verbally, July 2000). A second captured individual was

photographed in Male on 13 May 1995 by RCA; it was

reliably reported to have been caught in Male during

the preceding north-east monsoon season (probably

during the period December 1994 to February 1995).

Three further captive individuals were seen in June 2000:

one in Male was known to have been imported from

India; the origins of the second, also on Male, could not

be confirmed; the third was on V. Felidhoo, and was

reported to have been imported from India.

**Red-billedTropicbird Phaethon aethereus

Two individuals were seen at 07°33'N 75°32'E (i.e. in

the Eight Degree Channel north-east of Haa Alifu Atoll)

70

R. C. ANDERSON & M. BALDOCK

Forktail 17 (2001)

on 27 July 1973 by Captain P. W. G. Chilman (Bourne

1985). Although neither seen by us nor noted by Ash

and Shafeeg (1994), this species may be not be especially

rare at sea in the Maldives area. DrW. R. P. Bourne {in

litr. July 2000) has kindly provided us with information

on six other sightings and possible sightings of Red¬

billed Tropicbirds in waters adjacent to the Maldives

from the records of the Royal Naval Bird Watching

Society:

1) W.W. A. Phillips, 18 January 1950. Possible bird 12

hrs west of Minicoy.

2) C. E. Norris, 7 August 1951. One 07°56'N 74°13’E

(Norris 1952).

3) G. S. Willis, 5 August 1956. Two possibles 04°27'N

75°46'E.

4) F. W. Greaves, 27 May 1958. One 07°28'N 78°00'E.

5) D. M. Neale, 7 July 1958. One 0°, 78°E (red bill

mentioned).

6) J. S. Landers, 18 August 1958. One on board 9°N

73°E.

Five of these seven sightings were made in July and

August. This species may therefore occur regularly in

Maldivian waters during the northern summer, as it does

off the west coast of Sri Lanka (Grimmett et al. 1998).

Little Egret Egrnta garzexta

One individual in non-breeding plumage was seen at

the lake at the north end of S. Hithadhoo by RCA and

MB on 1 1 March 2000. There have been only eight

previous records from the Maldives (Ash and Shafeeg

1994).

Great Egret Casmerodius albus

One individual in non-breeding plumage was seen at

the lake at the north end of S. Hithadhoo by RCA and

MB on 1 1 March 2000. There have been only three

previous records from the Maldives (Ash and Shafeeg

1994).

Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia

One individual in breeding plumage was seen at the lake

at the north end of S. Hithadhoo by RCA on three

separate occasions between 22 May and 4 June 2000.

Two other large egrets in non-breeding plumage were

present at the same site on four separate occasions

between 22 May and 6 June 2000. These were probably

Intermediate Egrets, but the possibility that they were

Great Egrets cannot be ruled out. There have been only

two previous records from the Maldives (Ash and

Shafeeg 1994).

Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis

We have two records, both from Hithadhoo in Addu

Atoll. One individual was seen in flight near the lake at

the north end of the island on 5 April 1999 by Mike

Harris. Another individual was seen in flight near the

freshwater lake in the centre of the island on 24 May

2000 by RCA. With only three previous records from

the Maldives, this species was regarded by Ash and

Shafeeg (1994) as a rare visitor. However, all five records

are from Addu Atoll, raising the alternative possibility

that there is a small resident population there.

[Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis

We have photos of a captive individual, taken in Male

by RCA in 1995. This bird was said to have been caught

in the Maldives, but details could not be confirmed.

This record is therefore not accepted. Previous

unconfirmed records of this species were noted by Ash

and Shafeeg (1994).]

*Jouanin’s Petrel Bulweria fallax

Two were seen by RCA in the One-and-a-half Degree

Channel heading east in a westerly wind on 2 April 1999.

They were distinguished from Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria

bulwerii and Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus

by size: the wingspan was slightly greater than nearby

Audubon’s Shearwaters Puffinus Iherminieri. Another

individual was seen by RCA, MB and JohnYoung in the

Kaashidhoo Channel just south of Lhaviyani Atoll at

5°1 l'N 73°30'E on 1 1 April 2001 . It was seen at relatively

close range as it sat on the water, before flying off to the

Se. It was slightly larger than an Audubon’s Shearwater

seen soon afterwards, had a substantial very dark grey

bill, and flew with fast beats in high arcs. Two more

birds, which were probably Jouanin’s Petrels, were seen

by RCA in the Equatorial Channel on 3 April 1 999, but

identification was not certain. Although not previously

recorded from the Maldives, there are several records

from adjacent waters (Harrison 1985, van den Berg et

al. 1991, Robertson 1994, Grimmett et al. 1998).

^Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas

One individual was seen by RCA, MB and Ian

Rowlands, heading north-east off the north-east side of

Raa Atoll, at about 05°54'N 72°59'E, on 24 February

1 999. It was a very large, long-winged shearwater; dark

brown above, with an inconspicuous pale W across the

upper wings; white below, with dark tips and trailing

edges to the underwings; head pale with untidy dark

collar. The widely repeated statement that this species

occurs ‘as far west as the Maldives’ (Harrison 1985, van

den Berg et al. 1991, Enticott andTipling 1 997) appears

to have originated with Bourne (1960), not Phillips and

Sims (1958) as stated by van den Berg et al. (1991).

However, Bourne (1960) did not report the evidence

for this statement.

*Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monorhis

Two individuals were seen on 20 February 1999, by

MB and Ian Rowlands, north-west of H. A.Thurakunu,

at about 07°07'N 72°44'E. They were small, all dark

brown storm-petrels; very faint pale wing-bar, but

without white forewing patch; tail forked. Four

individuals were seen on 15 April 2001, by RCA, MB

and JohnYoung, west of Haa Alifu Atoll at about 06°53'N

72°48'E. They were small, all brown storm-petrels,

without any obvious pale wing markings. These four

birds appeared to be scavenging in the company of a

feeding pod of false killer whales Pseudorca crassidens.

Prior to these sightings, three individuals tentatively

identified as this species were seen on 8 April 1965 at

06°52'N 7 5°30'E, i.e. east of Haa Alifu Atoll by Bailey et

al. (1968). Although not positively recorded from the

Maldives before, there are several records from adjacent

waters (Bourne 1960, Bailey et al. 1 968, van den Berg et

al. 1 991, Grimmett et al. 1998). It is perhaps appropriate

Forktail 17 (2001)

New records of birds from the Maldives, with notes on other species

71

to mention here that the identification of Swinhoe’s

Storm-petrels at sea in Maldivian waters is not

straightforward since there are at least three possible

confusion species: Bulwer’s Petrel, which has been

recorded from the Maldives (Phillips 1959, Ash and

Shafeeg 1994); Matsudaira’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma

matsudairae, which has been recorded from adjacent

waters (Bailey et al. 1968, Harrison 1985), and

tentatively from the Maldives (one seen off H. A. Kelaa

by RCA and Robert L. Pitman on 10 April 1998); and

dark-rumped Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma

leucorhoa (Harrison 1985, Bourne and Simmons 1997).

*Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa

One was seen off H. A. Kelaa by RCA and Robert L.

Pitman on 11 April 1998. It had a forked tail and a

white rump with a central dark line. It was positively

identified by Robert Pitman, who had seen thousands

and ringed hundreds of this species in the eastern Pacific.

Leach’s Storm-petrel has been previously recorded from

the western Indian Ocean (Lapthorn et al. 1970,

Harrison 1985), but this appears to be the first record

for the Indian region.

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus

One individual was observed at close range, singing in

open grassy scrub on S. Gan, by both RCA and MB, on

12 and 13 March 2000. It had a grey crown and the

nape was tinged with brown; a fine white supercilium

was not sharply demarcated from the crown; a black

eye-stripe, extended thinly over the bill, and curved

slightly downwards posteriorly; the throat was white,

sharply demarcated from the orange-buff of the breast

and flanks; the vent was white; the mantle was deep

brown (not rufous), appearing maroon-tinged in certain

lighting; the rump was pale buff-grey; the tail and upper

wings were dark; the legs were dark grey or black. This

individual appeared to be a male of the eastern race, L.

c. lucionensis , not the nominate, L. c. cristatus, which is

the most widespread race in the Indian subcontinent.

L. c. lucionensis winters mainly in eastern and south¬

eastern Asia, but it does occur regularly in the Andaman

and Nicobar Islands, and as far west as Sri Lanka (Ali

and Ripley 1987, Lefranc andWorfolk 1997).

* Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach

A large, and conspicuously long-tailed, shrike was seen

in a large mango tree on Male, on 17 April 1999, by

RCA. It had russet flanks and rump, a conspicuous black

eye-band extended round the forehead and the back

was grey. Rufous scapulars were not noted, so this

individual was perhaps of the race L. s. caniceps ,

apparently resident in peninsular India and Sri Lanka,

rather than L. s. erythronotus, the partly migratory race

further north in the subcontinent (Ali and Ripley 1987,

Grimmett et al. 1998).

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis

A feral population on Male, established prior to 1939,

died out during World War II (Ash and Shafeeg 1994).

In late 1998 or early 1999 about a dozen Common

Mynas were released in Male; this small population

appeared to be thriving in May 2001 . In addition, there

are small feral populations on Bandos resort island

(North Male Atoll) and on V. Felidhoo. We also have

sightings of a single bird on Lh. Naifaru in February

1999, and two birds on S. Hithadhoo in May 2000.

*Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica

At least two individuals were seen hawking for insects

over the brackish water lagoon of Sh.

Medukumburudhoo on 8 January 1999, by RCA,

Hussein Zahir and Ibrahim Naeem. These swallows had

pale faintly streaked, rather than chestnut, underparts.

They were therefore not of the race H. d. hyperythra

from Sri Lanka, but presumably winter migrants from

further north.

* Streak-throated Swallow Hirundo fluvicola

One individual was seen on Lh. Naifaru by MB and Ian

Rowlands on 18 February 1999. It had a dark back,

dark brown head, and thin black streaks on the upper

breast and throat; it was smaller and shorter-tailed than

nearby Barn Swallows H. rustica.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

A small feral population has been present on the north¬

east corner of Male since at least December 1998. Ash

and Shafeeg (1994) stated that a small population was

building up in the port area of Male in the early 1990s.

However, it had disappeared by the mid-1990s (RCA,

pers. obs.).

**Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus

Lamsfuss (1998) recorded this species from the Maldives

without giving details. His record was based on a definite

sighting from K. Meerufenfushi in November 1996 by

M. J. and J. R Pointon (G. Lamsfuss in litt. April 2001).

Since the Forest Wagtail is a winter visitor to SW India

and Sri Lanka, its occurrence in the Maldives is not

entirely unexpected.

DISCUSSION

Ash and Shafeeg (1994) recorded 150 species from the

Maldives, although this was reported as 147 species as

a result of miscounting. In addition, Ash and Shafeeg

( 1 994) noted ten species for which specific identification

was not definite, including Common Kingfisher, which

has now been confirmed.

Seventeen additional species of birds in the Maldives

are reported here, 12 for the first time, plus an

unidentified phalarope. This raises the total number of

bird species positively known from the islands to 167. It

seems likely that very many more species are still to be

recorded. In particular, it is likely that northern winter

migrants are grossly under-represented in the current

list. This situation is in large part due to the dearth of

observing effort, as has been noted before by Phillips

(1963) and Ash and Shafeeg (1994).

There is also a lack of knowledge about the local

ecology of even the commonest species occurring in the

Maldives. As just one example, it is remarkable that the

regular occurrence of thousands of Lesser Noddies in

the far north of the Maldives, on what is probably a

feeding ground of major international importance for

this species, has been unreported until now.

A particular problem for ornithologists in the

Maldives is some Maldivians’ habit of importing and

72

R. C. ANDERSON & M. BALDOCK

Forktail 17 (2001)

keeping exotic birds as pets. Ash and Shafeeg (1994)

rightly cautioned that ‘the significance of this custom

may not be appreciated in the assessment of records of

unusual vagrants’ (see account for Brahminy Kite,

above). Many imported birds subsequently escape.

Presumed escapees observed by the senior author since

1994 include the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua

galerita, Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus , Bank Myna

Acridotheres ginginianus, Red-whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus, Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura

punctulata and Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora. The

importing of birds is not a new practice. The parakeets

seen by Stanley Gardiner on Hulhule in January 1900

(Gadow and Gardiner 1903) seem as likely to have been

escapees from nearby Male as vagrants from Sri Lanka

as he suggested.

The habit of catching birds is also widespread in the

Maldives, and has been for generations. This has

undoubtedly contributed to the decline in numbers of

many species in the Maldives, which is widely reported

by fishermen, birdcatchers and others. However, other

factors must also play a role, including increasing

disturbance of roosting and nesting islands, and

degradation or destruction of terrestrial habitats (Ash

and Shafeeg 1994, Anderson 1996). In addition,

decreases in bird populations within the Maldives are

likely to be a reflection of more general declines in global

populations as a result of similar problems further afield.

In recognition of the vulnerability of bird populations

and the importance of seabirds to the valuable tuna

fishery, a number of conservation measures have been

enacted in recent years. The White Tern Gygis alba, was

protected by Public Notice 1-/96/34 of 5 June 1996,

under the Environment Protection and Preservation Act

(4/93). Twenty-two other bird species were protected

by Public Notice 10C/00/24 of 1 1 July 1999, also under

the Environment Protection and Preservation Act. Of

these 22 species, 17 were seabirds:

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica

Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis

Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii

Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii

Black-napedTern Sterna sumatrana

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Saunders’s Tern Sterna saundersi

Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus

Sooty T ern Sterna fuscata

Brown Noddy Anous stolidus

Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris

White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus

Great Frigatebird Fregata minor

Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel

Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus

Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes

Audubon’s Shearwater Puffinus Iherminieri

The other five species protected in July 1999 were

‘endemic varieties’:

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus

maldivus

Southern Maldivian Little Heron Butorides striatus

albidulus

Central Maldivian Little Heron Butorides striatus didii

Maldivian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii phillipsi

Finally, the island of G. A. Hithaadhoo, which is of

national significance as a roosting site for frigatebirds,

and a nesting site of other species, was also protected

under the Environment Protection and Preservation Act.

For assistance in the field and other courtesies, sincere thanks to

Susan Anderson, Lisa Ballance, Mike Harris, Ibrahim Naeem, Bob

Pitman, Samee Mohamed Rasheed, Ian Rowlands, Abdulla Shaan,

John Young and Hussein Zahir. RCA is particularly grateful to Mr

Ahmed Shafeeg, the foremost Maldivian authority on birds, for fruit¬

ful discussions and his generous sharing of information. Especial

thanks to Dr Bill Bourne for his critical comments, assistance with

references and unstinting encouragement during the preparation of

this paper. Thanks also to Dr John Ash who has been most helpful

with many queries over many years, and to Guenter Lamsfuss for

graciously providing unpublished data relating to records in his check¬

list.

REFERENCES

Adam, M. S. (1994) Kandumathi dhooniai masverikan [Seabirds and

the tuna fishery], Rasain (Annual Fisheries Journal of the

Maldivian Ministry of Fisheries Agriculture and Marine Re¬

sources) 14: 64-69. (In Dhivehi).

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1987) Compact handbook of the birds of

India and Pakistan. Second Edition. New Delhi: Oxford Univer¬

sity Press.

Anderson, R. C. (1996) Seabirds and the Maldivian tuna fishery.

Rasain 16: 134-147.

Ash, J. S. and Shafeeg, Ali (1994) Birds of the Maidive Islands, In¬

dian Ocean. Forktail 10: 3-34.

Bailey, R. S., Pocklington, R. and Willis, P. R. (1968) Storm-petrels

Oceanodroma spp. in the Indian Ocean. Ibis 1 10: 27-34.

van den Berg, A. B., Smeenk, C., Bosman, C. A. W., Haase, B. J. M.,

van der Niet, A. M., and Cadee, G. C. (1991) Barau’s Petrel

Pterodrorna baraui, Jouanin’s Petrel Bulweria fallax and other sea¬

birds in the northern Indian Ocean in June-July 1984 and 1985.

Ardea 79: 1-13.

Bluepeace (1996) Ainumathi dhooni biruveri kamuge thereegai [Sea¬

birds in danger] . Dhanfulhi (Male) Sept. 1996: 4-5. (In Dhivehi).

Bourne, W. R. P. (1960) The petrels of the Indian Ocean. Sea Swal¬

low 13: 26-39.

Bourne, W. R. P. (1985) Reports of seabirds received in 1973-77.

Part II. Sea Swallow 34: 37-46.

Bourne, W. R. P. (1996) The larger white-headed gulls wintering

around the southern coasts of Asia. Sea Swallow 45: 86-91.

Bourne, W. R. P. (1997) The smaller noddies of the Indian Ocean.

Sea Swallow 46: 79-80.

Bourne, W. R. P and Simmons, K. E. L. (1997) A dark-rumped

Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa in the South At¬

lantic. Sula 1 1 (4): 209-216.

Enticott, J. andTipling, D. (1997) Photographic handbook to the sea¬

birds of the world. London and Cape Town: New Holland.

Fosberg, F. R. (1957) The Maidive Islands, Indian Ocean. Atoll Re¬

search Bulletin 58: 1-37.

Gadow, H. and Gardiner, J. S. (1903) Aves. Pp. 368-373 in J. S.

Gardiner, ed. The fauna and geography of the Maidive and Laccadive

Archipelagoes. Vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp,T. (1998) Birds of the Indian

subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm.

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New records of birds from the Maldives, with notes on other species

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Harrison, P. (1985) Seabirds: an identification guide . Revised Second

Edition. London: Christopher Helm.

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

checklist of the birds of the Oriental Region. Sandy: Oriental Bird

Club.

Lamsfuss, G. (1998) The birds of the Maidive Islands: a systematic

checklist. Provisional edition, privately printed by the author.

Lapthorn, J., Griffiths, R. G. and Bourne, W. R. P. (1970) Leach’s

Storm-petrel Oceanodroma I. leucorhoa from the Indian Ocean

and Sharjah, Persian Gulf. Ibis 1 12: 260-261.

Lefranc, N. and Worfolk,T. ( 1 997) Shrikes: a guide to the shrikes of the

world. Sussex: Pica Press.

Moutou, F. (1985) Briefly: the Maidive Islands. Oryx 19: 232-233.

Norris, C. E. (1952) Oceanic and other birds seen on two trips be¬

tween Colombo and Aden in 1951. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 50:

671-674.

Olsen, K. M. and Larsson, H. (1997) Skuas and jaegers: a guide to the

skuas and jaegers of the world. Sussex: Pica Press.

Phillips, W. W. A. (1959) Note on the occurrence of Bulwer’s Petrel

Bulweria bulwerii in the Indian Ocean. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 79:

100-101.

Phillips, W. W. A. (1963) The birds of the Maidive Islands, Indian

Ocean. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 60: 546-584.

Phillips, W. W. A. and Sims, R.W. (1958) Some observations on the

fauna of the Maidive Islands, 3. Birds. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.

55: 195-217.

Rasheed, K. (1999) Maldives protects 22 species of birds. Haveeru

(Male daily newspaper) 13 July 1999.

Robertson, A. L. H. (1994) Occurrence of some pelagic seabirds

(Procellariiformes) in waters off the Indian subcontinent. Forktail

10: 129-140.

Shafeeg, Ahmed (1993) Dhivehi raajegai...kandumati dhooni

[Maldivian Seabirds] . Male: Association ofWriters for the Envi¬

ronment. (In Dhivehi).

Strickland, M. J. and Jenner, J. C. (1978) A report on the birds of

Seenu Atoll (Maidive Islands). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 74: 487-

500.

Webb, P. A. (1988) Maldives: people and environment. Bangkok: Me¬

dia Transasia.

R. Charles Anderson, Marine Research Centre, H. Whitewaves, Male, Republic of Maldives

Michael Baldock, Flat 1, 22 Brandon Way, Birchington, Kent, U.K.

FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 75-80

Spring call counts of some Galliformes in the

Pipar Reserve, Nepal

RAHUL KAUL and SURESH SHAKYA

In continuance of a long-term population monitoring project, we conducted dawn call counts in

the Pipar Pheasant Reserve in Annapurna Conservation Area in Nepal between 28 April and 5

May 1998. The aim of these counts is to obtain abundance indices for three Galliformes species

in the area, for comparison with the results obtained periodically since 1979. We registered less

calling in 1998 than in 1991 for both Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra and Koklass Pheasant

Pucrasia macrolopha , but across all years these differences are not statistically significant. Thus it

appears that these populations are stable, but additional call count points are needed to provide

a more reliable picture of the state of Galliformes in the reserve. Opening of the reserve for the

purposes of wildlife tourism may be beneficial for the area, providing tangible returns to local

people, but such schemes need to be designed carefully so that irreversible damage is not done to

the area. This can be achieved by either limiting the number of tourists allowed inside the area,

increasing the size of the reserve to include adjoining forests of similar character, or both.

INTRODUCTION

Pipar Pheasant Reserve in west-central Nepal holds five

of the eight pheasant species of Nepal (Lelliott and

Yonzon 1980, Fleming et al. 1979). It lies in the

Annapurna Himalaya, one of the most intensively

trekked regions of the country.

Pipar was ‘discovered’ in 1976 as a potential pheasant

conservation area, and ecological studies on pheasants

were conducted there in the late 1970s and early 1980s

(Lelliott and Yonzon 1980, Lelliott 1981). The area was

declared a reserve with endorsement from the World

Pheasant Association, which then supported this pledge

through the provision of wildlife guards, resources for

76

R. KAUL & S. SHAKYA

Forktail 17 (2001)

Figure 2: Location of call count points in the study area.

local schools, and periodic monitoring of pheasant

populations (Kaul 1995, Kaul and Shakya 1998). A

management plan was formulated for the sanctuary by

Forester and Lelliott (1982) and a base-line habitat

survey was conducted by Picozzi (1984).

Since the late 1970s seven surveys have been

conducted in Pipar by various teams (see Lelliott and

Yonzon 1980,Tamarkar and Lelliott 1981,Yonzon 1982,

Picozzi 1987, Howman and Garson 1993, Kaul and

Shakya 1998). The main objective of these was to

monitor pheasant populations in a standard fashion,

using counting point locations originally specified by

Lelliott (1981). The principal species of pheasants found

there are Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra , Himalayan

Monal Lophophorus impejanus, Koklass Pheasant

Pucrasia macrolopha and Blood Pheasant Ithaginis

cruentus. The Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii does not

occur within the reserve but is present close by, west of

the Kali Gandaki river. Picozzi (1987) also recorded

the occurrence of Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola,

Snow Partridge Lerwa lerwa, and the Himalayan

Snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis in Pipar.

As part of this ongoing monitoring programme, we

visited Pipar in spring 1998 to survey pheasants using

call counts and by walking trails. We also sought to collect

data on other Galliformes species known to occur in

the area. Here we report on this work, compare our data

with those collected during previous surveys and discuss

the possible introduction of limited tourist trekking in

the area.

STUDY AREA AND METHODS

The Pipar Reserve (28°25'N 83°57'E) encompasses an

area of approximately 46 km2 and is located on the west

bank of the river Seti in the Annapurna Himalaya, Nepal

(Forester and Lelliott 1982). Our study area lies in a

depression known as the ‘Pipar bowl’ (Fig. 1) at 3,300

m on a spur running southwards from the

Machapuchare peak (6,990 m).

The vegetation of the area ranges from subtropical

near the River Seti through temperate to alpine

grasslands (Dobremez and Jest 1971, Stainton 1972).

Dominant trees in the canopy are Quercus lamellosa,

Sorbus sp., Rhododendron arboreum, O. semecarpifolia, R.

barbatum, R. campanulatum and Betula utilis. The main

species in the undergrowth are Viburnum grandiflorum,

Berber is asiatica and Arundinaria spp.

There are no habitations inside the reserve, but there

are a few small villages (principally those of Karua and

Mirsa) located just beyond its south-eastern boundary

near the Seti river. Signs of human impacts within the

reserve were largely confined to the area below Siano

Khobang, a small pastureland at about 1,500 m. Above

(/)

CD

03

c

03

O

0

-Q

E

D

C

C

03

0

1979 1985 1987 1991 1998

N = 7 12 15 10 9

1979 1985 1987 1991 1998

Surveys

Figure 3: Mean number of calling sites of Satyr Tragopans

heard at Pipar during different surveys from points (1-4). N

= total number of points from where calling was heard over

various days of a survey.

Survey

Figure 4: Mean number of calling sites of Koklass heard at

Pipar during different surveys from points (1-4). N = total

number of points from where calling was heard over various

days of a survey.

Forktail 17 (2001)

Spring call counts of some Galliformes in the Pipar Reserve, Nepal

77

here, the area seemed relatively undisturbed but for some

shelters (goth) used by migratory graziers who move

up with their flocks for the summer months (May -

September).

We conducted call counts for four mornings in the

Pipar bowl (30 April - 3 May 1998) and a further two

mornings lower down. Two methods were employed to

obtain abundance data on Galliformes.

a) Gaston’s (1980) call count technique involved

positioning observers at pre-determined points across

the Pipar bowl before dawn. These observers plotted

the apparent position of all calling individuals by species

on a data-recording sheet. This protocol has been used

in many studies on Himalayan pheasants (e.g. Gaston

and Singh 1980, Garson 1983, Duke 1990, Khaling et

al. 1998). We took care to eliminate any double counts

between adjacent observation points by not recording

birds 15 minutes after the first call from a species was

heard. This was done because individual birds appear

to move after being stationary or confined to a small

area for the first 15-20 minutes after waking at their

roosts.

We used the same observation points that were used

in the earlier surveys in order to make our data

comparable (Fig. 2). In the previous counts at Pipar,

observers always used Points 1-4, with Points 5 and 6

being added during the 1985 survey. In spring 1998,

we did not conduct any call counts at Point 3 as it was

difficult to reach in the darkness before dawn, especially

with an obliterated track. We also considered that it was

within the hearing range of points 2 and 4.

As calls of most galliform species are distinct and

individually recognizable, observers could plot the

location of each calling bird. Distant birds (faint calls),

where direction and approximate location of the bird

could not be ascertained, were not counted. Call counts

were conducted regularly over 4 mornings in the Pipar

Bowl and a further 2 mornings atThullo-Khobang at a

lower altitude (2,200 m). Observers reached their

monitoring stations at 04hl5, approximately 20-30

minutes before the time of the first call. Dusk call counts

were also attempted, but birds did not call consistently

and the counts were abandoned.

b) We also conducted systematic walks along the existing

trails within the study area, in order to record sightings

of galliform species. Observers walked pre-set trails

through different habitat types. Walks were generally

conducted after call counts between lOhOO and 13h00,

and were timed so that rates of encounter could be

generated for each species seen.

We used different routes for different species, i.e.

wooded forests for Satyr Tragopan and alpine grasslands

for Himalayan Monal and thus spent different times in

different habitats.

Data analysis

We included all counts of calling birds from points 1-4

in the Pipar bowl for all mornings for each survey. Thus

we obtained a mean value ± S.E. representing the

number of callers heard from one call point across one

survey. Such data were available for five surveys for Satyr

Tragopan and Koklass. These data were subjected to

one way ANOVA to test for differences in the number

of birds of either species heard during different surveys.

We have taken into analysis the actual number of birds

heard from each call count point and not the corrected

numbers (for duplications). We also conducted non-

parametric tests (Kruskal- Wallis) to check for differences

in calls heard from various call count points over

successive surveys.

We also ran a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) with

surveys as factors and dates of survey as co-variates.

This was done to see if the timing of the survey had any

effect on the calling of birds since the five surveys were

conducted on varying dates (between 19 April - 23

May). All the statistical tests were conducted using SPSS

7.5.'

RESULTS

Call counts

Koklass Pheasant, Satyr Tragopans and Hill Partridge

were heard calling regularly each morning in 1998.

Himalayan Monal was also heard but its calling is

sporadic and not amenable to counts. No Blood

Pheasants were heard.

A GLM conducted on calls of the two species of

pheasants by year with dates as co-variates showed no

significant variation in Satyr Tragopans (F= 1 . 1 03, NS),

and Koklass Pheasants (F=0.32, NS).

Satyr Tragopan

The mean number of Satyr Tragopan heard calling per

survey did not vary significantly across different surveys

(F = 0.903, df = 4, one-way ANOVA). These means

were associated with large standard errors (Fig. 3). When

counts from individual points were compared with

themselves over all five surveys, only point 3 showed

variation across years (H = 8.89, df = 3, P < 0.05;

Kruskal- Wallis test).

We also conducted call counts for two mornings at a

site lower than Pipar calledThullo Ivhobang (2,200m).

From the two call count stations, two Satyr Tragopans

were heard. Both calls came from above the call count

positions, indicating that probably there were no Satyr

Tragopans below the altitude at which the call counts

were conducted.

Table 1. Encounter rates of some species of Galliformes sighted in Pipar during 1998.

78

R. KAUL & S. SHAKYA

Forktail 17 (2001)

Koklass Pheasant

The mean number of Koklass heard from points 1-4

across different surveys did not vary significantly (F =

0.706, df = 4, one-way AN OVA) (Fig. 4). However,

Koklass calling varied significantly (H = 24.87, df = 3,

P <0.001) between points 1-4 when data were

considered for all surveys. From the three call count

positions inThullo-Khobang, we heard only one Koklass

from above.

In Pipar, we also heard some calls of Himalayan

Monal but the calling was brief and too irregular to allow

any computation of their abundance.

Trail monitoring

Results from trail walks are presented inTable 1 . A brief

account of Galliformes seen in Pipar is presented below.

Himalayan Monal: This pheasant was encountered 10

times during the survey. In all, 15 birds were sighted (8

males and 7 females), all at 3,300 — 4,100 m. Most

sightings (8) occurred in grassy areas, although two

sightings took place in rhododendron forests adjoining

the grasslands. This pheasant registered the highest

direct encounter rate, probably by virtue of its high

visibility and flushing behaviour.

Satyr Tragopan: This species was seen on three

occasions, always solitary males within or close to

rhododendron forests at around 3,300 m.This species

is known to be shy and is not easily seen in its forested

habitat.

Hill Partridge: Ten individuals of this species were

seen at altitudes of 2,200 — 3,600 m. Four of the five

observations occurred in forested areas.

Koklass Pheasant: One Koklass was seen on the first

day at Pipar at 3,340 m. Although heard throughout

the survey, this species was never subsequently sighted.

Chukar Alectoris chukar. This species was heard and

sighted twice in Pipar, on both occasions above 3,400

m. There is no mention of this species from Pipar in

earlier reports.

Rufous -throated Partridge Arborophila rufogularis:

Calls thought to be those of the Rufous-throated

Partridge were heard from Diprang area (1,500 m).

However, a visual confirmation of these birds is required

to confirm its presence in this area.

Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus: Calls of this

species were heard near Gachok at approximately 1,200

m.

Heavy fog for the duration of the survey made it difficult

to locate higher-altitude Galliformes (snowcocks and

Snow Partridge). We found no evidence of Kalij Pheasant

Lophura leucomelanos, which is known to occur at lower

altitudes, close to the villages (Picozzi 1987).

DISCUSSION

Call counts

Minor variations in call counts between different surveys

are expected, either due to real variations in numbers

or inconsistency in calling of birds (Young et al. 1987).

However, the 60% increase documented by Howman

and Garson (1993) (see Appendix 1) seems to be due

to double counting of individual birds, especially when

a single caller calls from two or more calling sites. Such

inaccuracies may occur when the time spent on call

counts is more than 15-20 minutes (Gaston 1980). Very

often birds will move towards the direction of other

callers after this time thereby giving the impression that

more birds are present.

Limitations of the call count technique have been

discussed before (Duke 1990, Khaling et al. 1998). One

of the main sources of error arises from individual

observers hearing calls differently. Although this can be

controlled to some extent by rotating one observer

between points on different mornings, such practices

may not eliminate the errors altogether, especially in

the case of faintly heard birds. The inconsistency of bird

calling is another source of error, which may affect results

in short surveys (Young et al. 1987). Some birds may

not call each morning and thus data generated from

short surveys may be prone to a high level of error. A

third problem is judging the distance from the listener

to the bird, especially in the case of faintly heard birds.

This becomes important when an observer has to decide

whether to count or ignore a bird he/she can only just

hear. It is, therefore, desirable to conduct the counts for

4-5 successive mornings to provide an opportunity for

observers to hear a representative sample of birds in the

area and also to compensate for effects of varying

weather conditions. Density indices based on call counts

may provide erroneous results, especially if counts are

done by inexperienced observers and if the duration of

survey is short.

In the past survey reports of call counts at Pipar, the

highest number of calls heard on one particular morning

during the survey has been considered a representative

count of the area for that survey (Picozzi 1987, Howman

and Garson 1993). However, the calling of birds may

be affected by several factors, including weather and

time of the day and year. Therefore, using the largest

number of birds heard during a survey as an index of

abundance to make comparisons between various

surveys may be prone to error. The most reliable

population index that can be derived from counts of

the type we carried out appears to be the mean number

of callers heard across all points and all mornings for a

survey. Such an estimate will take into account the daily

variations associated with calling and allows

computation of an error on the mean. For example,

during the 1991 survey, Howman and Garson (1993)

reported 30 SatyrTragopans as the highest count heard

from four call count points on one particular morning,

an apparent increase of 60% from the preceding survey

in 1987 (Picozzi 1987). Kaul and Shakya (1998)

reported that the number of Satyr Tragopan callers had

declined to a maximum of 12 callers on a morning.

However, the mean number of calls heard per site was

higher in 1998 (6 ± 0.4) than in 1991 (5.3 ± 0.8).

Forktail 17 (2001)

Spring call counts of some Galliformes in the Pipar Reserve, Nepal

79

There is apparently no damage to habitat and, from

the accounts of the wildlife guard, negligible hunting of

Galliformes occurs here. The figures obtained for Satyr

Tragopan from call counts in 1998, despite being the

lowest recorded in this project, are still healthy when

compared with some other areas supporting Satyr

Tragopan, e.g. Darjeeling (Khaling et al. 1998). The

same may not be said about Koklass, which has been

recorded in much higher abundance in certain areas of

Himachal Pradesh, India (Gaston et al. 1981), and

Pakistan (Severinghaus 1979). However, data indicate

that there have been no significant changes in the

population of Satyr Tragopan and Koklass in the Pipar

Bowl and that they are stable.

The present area of call counts is close to the upper

altitudinal limit for Satyr Tragopan and Koklass and it

would be revealing to see how they are distributed lower

down. Our counts around Thullo-Khobang suggest that

they are not found lower than Thullo-Khobang at this

time of the year and, therefore, the most promising

altitude at which to conduct the counts would be

somewhere higher. A trail/transect might be marked out

at 2,600-2,700 m and call counts conducted for Satyr

Tragopan and Koklass in the temperate forests just

below the Pipar Bowl.

CONSERVATION

Pipar Reserve forms a part of the larger Annapurna

Conservation Area, which is one of the most popular

trekking localities in Nepal. The damaging impact of

large scale and unplanned tourism became apparent in

the late 1970s.

The Pipar Reserve appears to be relatively safe as

the locals have taken a decision to conserve this area,

which in any case is not on any authorized trekking route.

It is also relatively free from poaching, although on

occasions some hunting groups have been known to

operate here. Such incidents are not very common and

probably do not cause much harm to the animal

populations.

Looking at the galliform figures for the last two

decades, it appears that their populations are healthy.

With species like the Himalayan Tahr Hemitragus

jemlahicus, mainland Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis,

Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus and over 225 species

of birds (Forester and Lelliott 1992, Kaul and Shakya

1998) being present here, it may be only a matter of

time before special interest tourists become attracted

to this area.

Pipar is a small reserve of only 46 krrr, and is

therefore susceptible to ecological damage under tourist

pressure. Efforts should, therefore, be directed towards

reducing the impacts on wildlife that may arise from

the plan to open this area as a tourist destination. This

can primarily be achieved through regulated tourist

volumes via entry fees, and by increasing the size of Pipar

so that impacts may be either rotated amongst several

routes, or else distributed evenly across larger areas,

including the Pipar bowl.

The area above the village of Santal, adjacent to the

east bank of the River Seti, is uninhabited and could

provide a contiguous extension of the Pipar sanctuary.

This area lacks a biological inventory and therefore

cannot at present be compared with Pipar Reserve. It

is, therefore, important to survey that area before

considering it as an extension of Pipar.

Pheasant abundance, through both call counts and

trail walks could be useful tools to use as biological

indicators of tourism related impacts in Pipar. Thus, data

on the pheasant populations at Pipar in the past and at

the present time assume considerable significance. Such

biological monitoring should be extended to the Santal

area, and perhaps other areas in the upper Seti

watershed. If possible, counts should be conducted at

regular intervals. These surveys should also include a

proper training element directed at the local people, in

order to build their capacity to conserve an area that

may be of crucial importance to their future livelihood.

We wish to thank the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conserva¬

tion and Annapurna Conservation Area Project for the necessary

permissions, Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) for providing local

support, and the World Pheasant Association and James Goodhart

for financial support. Many people contributed by volunteering to

do the call counts in the field. They are: Mr Anil Shestra, Amrit

Babu Karki, Mahesh Khadka, Manoj Shah, (BCN and Forestry

College Pokhara) Bidur Bikram Kuinkel (ACAP), Bhuwan Thapa,

Ravi Pradhan (BCN) and the then WPA Guard, the late Man

Bahadur. We also wish to thank Phillip McGowan who made useful

comments on an earlier draft.

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populations in Pakistan’s Himalaya. Pp. 193-199 in D. A. Hill,

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tuary, Central Nepal, 28 April - 5 May, 1998. Unpublished re¬

port: 19 pp.

Khaling, S., Kaul, R. and Saha G. K. (1998) Survey of the Satyr

Tragopan Tragopan satyra in the Singhalila National Park,

Darjeeling, India using spring call counts. Bird Conservation In¬

ternational 9:361 -37 1 .

Lelliott, A. D. (1981) Studies of Himalayan pheasants in Nepal with

reference to their conservation. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis,

Durham University.

80

R. KAUL & S. SHAKYA

Forktail 17 (2001)

Lelliott, A. D. and Yonzon, P. B. (1980) Studies of Himalayan Pheas¬

ants in Nepal. Journal of World Pheasant Association 5: 1 1-30.

Picozzi, N. (1984) An ecological survey of a proposed reserve for

Himalayan pheasants at Pipar, Nepal in November 1983. I.T.E.

Scotland. Unpublished.

Picozzi, N. (1987) Pipar pheasant trek, April 1987. Unpublished

report to World Pheasant Association.

Severinghaus. S. R. (1979) Observations on the ecology and

behaviour of the Koklass Pheasant in Pakistan. Journal of World

Pheasant Association 4: 52-71.

Stainton, J. D. A. (1972) Forests of Nepal. London: John Murray.

Tamarkar, J. K. and Lelliott, A. D. (1981) Report to the National

Parks andWildlife Conservation Department, HMG, on the Pipar

area, Kaski District. Manuscript report.

Yonzon, P. B. (1982) Nepal-Himalaya Pheasant Surveys in 1982. A

report submitted to World Pheasant Association. Unpublished.

Young, L., Garson, P. J. and Kaul, R. (1987) Calling behaviour and

social organisation in the Cheer Pheasant: implications for sur¬

vey technique. Journal of World Pheasant Association 12: 30-43.

Rahul Kaul, World Pheasant Association - South Asia Regional Office, do WWF-India, 1 72-B Lodhi Estate, New Delhi

- 110 003, India

Suresh Shaky a, P.O. Box 7503, 636 Ombahal, Kathmandu - 5, Nepal

APPENDIX 1

Call count data available for pheasant surveys in Pipar bowl 1979-1998

FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 81-90

Birds recorded during visits to Ladakh, India,

from 1994 to 1997

OTTO PFISTER

Four ornithological visits were made to Ladakh, India from 1994 to 1997, with the principal aim

of studying the small breeding population of Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis. A total of 168

species was recorded, including eight new for Ladakh: Pallid Scops Owl Otus brucei, Dunlin

Calidris alpina. Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga. Cattle

Egret Bubulcus ibis. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus , Rusty-tailed Flycatcher Muscicapa ruficauda

and Dark-sided Flycatcher M. sibirica. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis. Laughing Dove Streptopelia

senegalensis and Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus were recorded at considerably higher

elevations than previously reported in the Indian subcontinent. The breeding of Hume’s

Groundpecker Pseudopodoces humilis was confirmed for Ladakh. Observations of 42 other species

of interest are detailed and a complete list of species recorded, including information on abundance,

status, location and period is appended.

INTRODUCTION

Ladakh, in India, at an average altitude of over 4,000 m

above sea level, is located between two major mountain

ranges, the Himalayas to the south and the Karakoram

to the north. Kargil, located at 2,700 m in the extreme

west, is the lowest area in Ladakh, whereas the highest

peaks rise to over 7,000 m.

The great Himalayan massif dominates the south¬

western/western topography of Ladakh with its mostly

rugged, deep and steep terrain. The eastern and north¬

eastern territories of the region, which form the most

western extension of the Tibetan Plateau, are dominated

by dry, desert-like, high-altitude plains, soft rolling hills

and wider valleys. In the characteristically high-altitude

environment atmospheric conditions can change rapidly.

In midsummer temperatures may easily drop from

+30°C to -20°C on the upper plateaus as strong winds

make their sudden appearance, whereas winter

temperatures can reach as low as -45°C. Therefore,

Ladakh provides difficult environmental and climatic

conditions to its inhabitants. Once covered with an

extensive lake system, the region today shows only some

vestiges of wetlands, primarily located in the Rupchu

and Changtang regions of eastern Ladakh, including

Pagong-Tso, Tsomorari, Tso-Kar, Yoye-Tso and the

marshes of Hanle, Chumur and Chushul. Ladakh’s

sparse human population is, predominantly concentrated

along the Indus.

The results of four ornithological journeys,

conducted between 1994 and 1997 in Ladakh, and

covering predominantly its central and eastern

territories, are provided. The 1995 and 1996, but

especially the 1997 visits, concentrated principally on

the study of the status and threats to the vulnerable

Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis, for which Ladakh

represents the only known breeding ground within

Indian territories. During these investigations, a total of

168 different bird species was recorded, of which eight

had not been reported earlier for the Ladakh region

(Pfister 1997a). The more interesting observations are

described in detail, followed by a comprehensive.

annotated checklist that provides an overview of all the

species encountered during the four surveys.

LADAKH’S AVIFAUNA

Ladakh is located on the border between the Palearctic

and the Indo-Malayan zoogeographic zones, and is

strongly influenced by typical species from both areas

(Fig. 1). Further, characteristic Tibetan birds extend

their ranges well into eastern Ladakh; and being the

last or first accessible place during spring and autumn

migration, it is staged by important aggregations of birds

while crossing the lofty Himalayan range. In addition,

its dry sunny summer months attract many summer

visitors and breeders. These diverse ornithological

Figure 1 . Map of Ladakh

82

OTTO PFISTER

Forktail 17 (2001)

influences make Ladakh a melting pot of bird

movements, resulting in more than 300 species recorded

in the region so far (Pfister 1997a).

Due to its strategic geographical location, four groups

of birds can be identified, depending upon their time of

occurrence within Ladakh limits:

• The resident birds, well adapted to the harsh climate,

spending the hostile winter months in lower valleys

and mostly moving in summer to high elevations for

breeding.

• Birds on migration , comprising the biggest and most

diverse group, transit Ladakh during early spring (late

March and April) and autumn (September to

November). They halt for brief periods of time,

feeding and resting mainly along the Indus, in and

around the high altitude wetlands and their adjoining

prairies.

• The summer visitors reach Ladakh during April/May,

mostly for breeding, and they migrate from the Indian

plains or the Tibetan plateau. Their main return

migration in September and October extends into

the onset of the cold season.

• The wintering birds, represent the smallest group of

visitors. They reach Ladakh during October or

November, flying in from their northern Palearctic

breeding grounds, and remaining near villages and

rivers in the lower valleys before returning in April

or May.

METHODS

Accessible territories, such as the areas of Kargil, Rizong

and Phyong along the Indus, but mainly from Leh

eastwards toTikse and Chumatang to Loma; the valley

to Rumbak and Ganda-La; the Nubra and Tangtse

valley; and the Rupchu and Changtang territories in

the east, were visited during the regular surveys from

1994 to 1997. The four trips were organized during the

summer months between May and October. The average

stay in Ladakh was four weeks, except for summer 1 997,

when a study for an uninterrupted period of five months

from May until October was conducted.

Birds were primarily recorded by employing the ‘line

transect’ method, either from the vehicle or while hiking,

apart from the occasions when intensive research was

conducted while camping at the respective sites.

RESULTS

During the four surveys, a total of 168 species was

encountered, accounting for over 50% of species known

from the region. Eight new species for Ladakh were

recorded: Pallid Scops Owl O tns brucei. Dunlin Calidris

alpina, Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus, Greater

Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis,

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus, Rusty-tailed

Flycatcher Muscicapa ruficauda and Dark-sided

Flycatcher M. sibirica.

The observations of Black Drongo, Rusty-tailed

Flycatcher, Dark-sided Flycatcher and Pallid Scops Owl

signify an extension of those species’ known ranges,

whereas sightings of Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

at 4,340 m, Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis at

4,350 m and Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus at

4,450 m, increased those species’ altitudinal ranges to

considerably higher elevations than previously reported.

In addition, documentation of breeding Hume’s

Groundpecker Pseudopodoces humilis extended the

species’s known breeding range.

SIGNIFICANT RECORDS

The more significant and interesting notes on birds are

listed below. The complete list of species recorded within

Ladakh, including information on abundance, status,

location and period is presented in the Appendix. The

English and scientific bird names follow Inskipp et al.

(1996).

Himalayan Snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis

While camping above Jurutse in the Rumbak valley

(4,400 m) at the end of May 1996, the territorial calls

of the Himalayan Snowcock dominated the early

morning scene. Scattered presence was noted

throughout the upper part of the valley towards Ganda-

La. About four territories were defined. A party of four

birds was observed on the south side of the Ladakh

range, below Chang-La at 5,000 m on a rocky slope on

7 June 1996.

Tibetan Snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus

One was seen at the northern sparsely vegetated slope

just belowTaglang-La at 5,500 m on 1 3 June 1 997. Later

that year, on 1 0 October, a group of 1 2 was seen, feeding

on grass seeds in a ravine high above the Hanle plains

at 4,900 m. Based on available information, it is

suggested that the distribution of the Tibetan Snowcock

in Ladakh extends westwards to the area ofTaglang-La

and Chang-La, whereas further west is occupied by the

Himalayan Snowcock.

T ibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae

This uncommon resident species was found in the far

eastern semi-dry, Caragana dotted valley bottoms. On

6 June 1997 a pair was watched in their territory

established near Sumdo (4,420 m) within a Caragana

covered gully. This location represented a western

extension of its range in Ladakh. On 15 July 1997 the

breeding territory of another pair in a small valley south

of Hanle (4,430 m) was detected. A cock, positioned

on an elevated rock, was watched vigourously defending

its territory. Further up the same valley another four

birds were counted. On returning to the initial location,

the original male appeared again, ‘guiding’ me away from

a Caragana clump. When the location was inspected

later, some pure white eggshells were found, but the

chicks had already left.

The birds were also noted in the lower side-valley

running from the western Hanle plains towards Chumur.

Here, in early August 1997, the partridge was

surprisingly common, and various pairs were watched

with four to six chicks trailing behind. Once, a whole

clan of six adults and 1 5 chicks was counted moving

uphill and disappearing amongst boulders at 4,650 m.

Common Quail Coturnix coturnix

A very brief view of one bird on 26 May 1996, amongst

the buckthorn Hippophae covered Indus riverbanks near

Shey (3,600 m), represented the only sighting.

Forktail 17 (2001)

Birds recorded during visits to Ladakh, India, from 1994 to 1997

83

Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus

This near-threatened species is a common summer

visitor to the eastern high altitude fresh and brackish

water lakes and the upper part of the Indus river as far

west as Leh. Colonies, containing fewer than 50 breeding

pairs each, were observed in the smaller lakes in the

Rupchu and Changtang areas, including Tso-Kar,

Startsapuk-Tso, Lam-Tso, Tsigul-Tso etc., located

between 4,000 and 4,500 m. However, the most

important breeding area of this attractive goose is located

in theTsomoriri, where literally hundreds of pairs rear

their chicks on a large island in the northern part, as

well as on various small islands near the southern edge

of the lake. After fledging, many young birds with their

parents were observed along the upper Indus from Mahe

eastwards, mainly from the end of August until the first

half of October, when they started to migrate south.

G Aim mjl Anas strepera

This species is not commonly seen in Ladakh. The two

records relate to birds on their southerly migration from

25 September 1997 when five individuals were watched

inYoye-Tso (4,700 m) and another three in the Indus

near Nyoma (4, 1 1 0 m) by 1 2 October of the same year.

Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina

Sightings of this species were not frequent. However,

three birds (one duck and two drakes) were observed

throughout summer 1997 in a pond west of Leh airport

along the Srinagar road (3,450 m). Earlier, on 1 2 June

1996, one drake in eclipse was recorded in the lower

part of the Hanle valley (4, 1 80 m) in a pond formed by

the Hanle river.

Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla

One was watched on 21 September 1997 near the

southern edge of the Tso-Kar plains at 4,610 m, when

it was feeding around rocks at the edge of the grassland.

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Apart from regular sightings of single birds in the Nubra

valley (3,200 m) in early September 1997 and near the

Indus in the Shey area (3,550 m) in mid-September

1997, one was observed in mid-June 1997 below the

Hanle monastery (4,340 m). In July it moved about 600

m to the west and was joined by a second bird in August)

both were still around in mid-October when the last

survey of the season was conducted. This observation

considerably exceeds the highest altitude of 3,100 m

previously recorded for this species in the Indian

subcontinent (Grimmett et al. 1998).

Eurasian Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

On 27 June 1997 a male was observed hunting insects

in the grassy area of the eastern Hanle plains (4,340

m), and on 3 August 1997 a female was seen further

towards the west in Raar (4,370 m). On 6 September

1 997 another female was recorded in an orchard outside

Hundar in the Nubra valley (3,100 m).

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea

A single male was watched on 26 June 1997 in the dry

sandy slopes below the Hanle monastery (4,350 m).The

exhausted bird did not fly off when approached but

scrambled away to seek cover amongst the rocks.

Pallid Scops Owl Otus brucei

After an overnight snow shower on 8 October 1997, a

pair was observed roosting in the branches of the (only)

willow Salix tree below Hanle monastery, at 4,340 m.

One bird huddled close to the main trunk whilst the

second bird, half covered by the tree’s yellowing snow¬

laden leaves, enjoyed the early morning sun. A new

sighting for Ladakh, extending the species’s known

distribution range further towards the north-east and

considerably increasing its known altitudinal range

(Pfister 1999a).

Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo

Three were recorded amongst the steep rocks near

Sumdo (4,420 m) between June and September 1997,

of which one pair inhabited a very old nesting-cum-

roosting place, as examination of the dropping covered

rocks and widespread pellets revealed. A second location

near Lalpari (4,280 m), visited from June to August

1997, produced a breeding pair raising two chicks.

Further, an old roost was investigated behind the Hanle

monastery (4,360 m) in June 1 997 - it remained empty

until September, when a single bird reoccupied the

locality.

Little Owl Athene noctua

Two subspecies, Hutton’s Owlet A. n. bactriana and

Tibetan Owlet A. n. ludlowi, were observed. Hutton’s

Owlet was first found in September 1994, when one

was observed at the southern end of the Tso-Kar plains

(4,610 m). In July 1996 and in summer 1997 what was

probably the same bird was found in the same area.

Others were sighted in June 1995, July 1996 and summer

1997, along the northern and eastern rocky slopes of

the Tso-Kar plains, in the upper Indus Valley (4,000

m), and on 7 June 1 996 near the Chang-La pass at 5, 1 00

m. In June 1995, the Tibetan Owlet was noted at Tso-

Kar. About the same size as bactriana, but appearing

bulkier, with a darker chocolate-brown back,

conspicuously spotted with white. The underparts were

dirtier white, less heavily streaked with brown, with a

broad dark grey-brown wash across the upper-breast.

In 1996 and 1997, ludlowi was observed interbreeding

with bactriana in the southern part of Tso-Kar; in the

latter year three chicks were raised by the mixed pair

(Pfister 1999a).

Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota

This resident species was most commonly observed in

the upper hills of central and western Ladakh, but was

less common further east. On 23 and 24 September

1997 a strange pigeon was noted near Sumdo (4,420

m), which looked intermediate between Hill Pigeon

Columba rupestris and Snow Pigeon. It did not consort

with Hill Pigeons, which were found in considerable

flocks throughout the area, but stayed on its own. The

eyes and legs were red, the head to upper-neck was

uniform dark grey, and the lower neck and underparts

were dirty white (darker beige, creamy), whereas the

mantle, scapulars and rump appeared grey. The grey

secondaries showed three white-fringed dark wing-bars,

the primaries were dark grey and the tail was white with

the broad black terminal bar, typical for both species. It

was presumed to be a hybrid.

84

OTTO PFISTER

Forktail 17 (2001)

European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

A single bird was found roosting in a poplar grove in

Hundar/Nubra valley (3,100 m) on 9 September 1997.

Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis

A single bird was recorded on 3 October 1997 in the

small hamlet below the Hanle monastery (4,350 m),

feeding amongst Hill Pigeons. It remained in the vicinity

for five more days. This may represent one of the highest

altitudinal records of this lowland bird.

Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis

Faithful to their traditional nesting places in the eastern

wetlands of Changtang, this summer visitor was

observed in mid-June 1995 in Lalpari (4,280 m) (one

breeding pair) and in the Hanle plains (4,350 m) (two

pairs fighting for territories, plus a loner). In June 1996

the area of Chushul (4,450 m) produced eight cranes

(including one breeding pair),Tangtse valley (Harong,

4,420 m) one breeding pair, Lalpari one breeding pair,

the Hanle plains six birds (three breeding pairs) and

Tso-Kar (4,610 m) three birds (including one breeding

pair). During the period from June to October 1997,

while conducting primarily field research to study the

breeding ecology and conservation status of Grus

nigricollis, 38 birds were recorded in the eastern region

of Changtang, of which 24 were breeding (12 nests, 24

eggs incubated, 13 eggs hatched, and nine chicks

fledged, Pfister 1995, 1997b, 1998).

Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla

The first autumn migrants were recorded on 22 August

1997, when two juveniles were watched in the swampy

area of the Tso-Kar plains (4,610 m). Two adults

appeared during the second half of September 1997 in

Tso-Kar, another two were observed on 27-28

September 1997 in Lalpari (4,280 m), and a dead

juvenile was recovered from the same location.

Tibetan Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes tibetanus

Flocks of 6 to 15 birds were frequently observed in the

northern part of the Tso-Kar plains (4,620 m) during

every visit (September 1994, June 1995, June 1996 and

June to September 1997). Singles periodically flew over

the camp in the south of the area. On the Hanle plain

(4,350 m) it was recorded occasionally, mainly from July

to October 1997, when birds came into roost. Every

day 11-13 birds flew north-east into the Hanle valley,

between 17h00 and 17hl0. On 30 July 1997, in the

western Hanle area a flock of over 40 was noted feeding

at midday but they flew off west after being chased by a

dog. The species was also seen at Chusul (4,250 m) in

June 1996 and in mid-August 1997 in Lam-Tso/

Chumur (4,370 m), with a peak of 18 feeding on 17

August.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

This uncommon migrant was first recorded in Tso-Kar

(4,610 m) on 21 August 1997, when one was noted

feeding on the shore of Startsapuk-Tso.Two more were

observed in the same area from 19-22 September.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

A single juvenile fed from 26-28 September 1997 along

the marshy side-arm of Hanle river in Lalpari (4,280

m), frequently associating with Common Redshanks

Tringa totanus. This represents the first record of the

species for Ladakh.

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris f err uginea

A single, shy and wary individual was watched on 19-

20 August 1997 at Lalpari (4,280 m).

Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii

At the end of June 1995, a pair was found breeding on

a gravel bank in the Indus, below the iron bridge at Shey

(3,550 m), and they raised two chicks. In June/July 1 996,

a pair was recorded in the same area, but no offspring

were seen. In addition, an extra bird (last year’s young?)

was recorded in their territory. From June to October

1997 a pair was recorded breeding in the same location.

In September one fledged juvenile was observed roosting

on the bank with the adults. The status of the species in

Ladakh still needs confirmation, some sources claim that

it has been observed in winter along the Indus.

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola

Two birds were sighted roosting on a gravel-bank in the

Indus below the Shey iron bridge (3,550 m) on 25

August 1997. An uncommon autumn migrant.

Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus

On 28 June 1995, at the north-west corner ofTsomoriri

(4,550 m), one was observed chasing a Brown-headed

Gull Larus brunnicephalus. It was a pale morph

individual; the pointed wings, dark chest-band on the

pale underparts, and the elongated, pointed central tail-

feathers were conspicuous. It called a loud crae-crae-

crae while following the slightly smaller gull. An

unexpected addition to the Ladakh list.

White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus

One was seen on 23 June 1995, an overcast, rainy day,

while scanning the shores of Startsapuk-Tso/Tso-Kar

(4,610 m).

Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

Though mainly considered an autumn passage migrant,

one was observed hunting along the marshes of

Lhungparma in the Tangtse Valley (4,630 m) on 7 June

1 996. Good numbers were present in theTso-Kar plains

in September 1994. In 1997, during August and

September this species was regularly seen in the Tso-

Kar plains, mainly around Startsapuk-Tso; in the early

morning of 22 August, 26 birds (mixed juveniles and

adults) were counted roosting or hunting along and over

Startsapuk-Tso. A survey in the Nubra valley during

the first two weeks of September 1 997 produced regular

sightings of mainly single birds.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

In the evening of 5 June 1996 a male flew into the willow-

grove below the Rizong monastery (3,320 m) to roost.

A juvenile was seen resting on a rock high above Hanle

(4,900 m) on 6 October 1997.

(Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius

A dark phase bird encountered on 10 June 1997 atTso-

Kar (4,610 m) was identified as this species (but see

Naoroji and Forsman, this issue). A further indication

of the presence of the species was found in a 1 3 cm long

pellet of a Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo that was

Forktail 1 7 (200 1 )

Birds recorded during visits to Ladakh, India, from 1994 to 1997

85

collected at the latter’s nest-site in Lalpari (4,280 m). It

contained (in addition to a large number of fish bones

and some 5-10 mm pieces of gravel) a full leg of a large

raptor! The tibia, tarsus and golden-yellow, finely scaled

foot, the sharp strong blackish claws bent inwards, were

fully preserved in one piece, although the leg was folded

at the ‘knee’. The front of the tarsus was dark brown

(with rufous fringes) and whitish feathered for its full

length, whereas the back showed a wax-yellow to

whitish-yellow covering of scales. The same pellet also

contained a complete, 9.7 cm long, ulma, a vertebra

almost 4 cm long, and many dark brown and pale body

feathers. After analysing these remains it was concluded

that the prey item had been a buzzard, most likely, given

the leg colour, an Upland Buzzard.]

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus

While camping in Lalpari (4,280 m) in mid-June and

July 1997, one adult was regularly seen in the area. On

2 August another bird was encountered 20 km south of

Lalpari, at the eastern edge of the Hanle plains, and it

was still there a few days later.

Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga

While surveying the western area of the Hanle plains

on 30 September 1997, a very dark, mid-sized eagle was

observed roosting on a rock at Raar (4,370 m).

Subsequent examination of photographs established that

it was a Greater Spotted Eagle. This represents a first

sighting of this passage migrant for Ladakh.

Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo

The yearly surveys of the Shey marshland (3,600 m)

from 1994 to 1997 produced regular sightings of this

summer visitor. The birds were watched mainly hunting

dragonflies over the marsh and devouring them in flight.

Additionally, it was recorded on 5 June 1996 below

Rizong monastery (3,200 m).

Laggar Falcon Falco jugger/ Barbary Falcon F.

peregrinus babylonicus

One was noted in the early morning of 29 July 1997,

roosting on a rock-top near the Hanle monastery (4,360

m).

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

On 28 September 1997, a single, apparently of the

subspecies F. p. calidus, was watched at Lalpari (4,280

m), cruising over the marshes and hunting Garganey

Anas querquedula. There have been only a few previous

records of this migrant for Ladakh.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Startsapuk-Tso (4,610 m) is probably the highest

nesting site of this rather uncommon summer visitor.

Breeding pairs were observed annually from 1994 to

1997 on the lake, and a survey in the last year produced

26 nests. Further locations with regular nesting records

were Tsomoriri (4,550 m) covered in summer 1994-

1996, and Yoye-Tso (4,700 m) surveyed in June 1995

and September 1997.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

A single bird in breeding plumage was seen atTsomoriri,

below Korzak village (4,550 m) on 27 June 1995 in the

small river delta. The obviously tired egret was mobbed

by Brown-headed Gulls Larus brunnicephalus for about

two hours until it took off in a northerly direction,

following the lake edge. This observation represents a

first sighting of the species in Ladakh.

Black Stork Ciconia nigra

A subadult remained from 21 to 25 June 1996 in the

grassy southern part of theTso-Kar plains (4,610 m).

Hume’s Groundpecker Pseudopodoces humilis

The species was first recorded on 17 June 96 above

Hanle, in the area called KalakTurtar (4,950 m), when

a pair was recorded feeding along a sandy slope. Later

in the day, one was found digging out larvae from Kiang

Equus kiang droppings. The bird did not swallow them

but carried them down a slope, presumably to a hidden

nest. On 25 June 1996, a pair was watched defending

territory against an intruder, some hours’ walk south

above theTso-Kar basin (5,470 m). At Chumur (4,450

m) a family with five fledged young was watched on 14

and 1 5 August 1 997 and, three days later, another adult

was seen feeding three fledged young, about one hour’s

walk from the first location.These records confirm that

the species breeds in Ladakh.

Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus

This summer visitor is quite commonly encountered in

the lower tree-covered valley bottoms of Ladakh, along

the Indus and its tributaries up to Chumatang (4,000

m), as well as within the accessible locations in the Nubra

valley from Hundar up to Panamik (3,100-3,350 m).

The most surprising observation, however, was of a

female, in Caragana bushes in the valley between

Tsomoriri south/Nurbo Sumdo and Chumur at 4,450

m. This just exceeds the highest altitude previously

recorded in the Indian subcontinent (Grimmett et al.

1998).

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus

One was seen at Mahe bridge (checkpost, 4,080 m) on

18 July 1997, and an exhausted individual was watched

on the 4 October 1997 in the western part of the Hanle

plains (4,370 m).

White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus

This local migrant species was seen quite commonly in

fast-flowing mountain streams, mainly above 4,000 m,

for instance at Rumbak/Ganad-La, Tsomoriri, the upper

Indus valley and near Sumdo. An individual of the

sordidus morph was seen in a side-valley on the west

side of Tsomoriri (4,550 m) at the end of June 1995,

where it was breeding with a normally coloured dipper

in a water-mill. A second sordidus individual was recorded

at Sumdo (4,420 m) from June to September 1997

(Pfister 1999b).

Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula

One female was seen on 1 and 2 October 1997 below

Hanle monastery (4,350 m).

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

This uncommon summer migrant was noticed twice in

the Nubra valley: in a willow/poplar plantation near

Hundar (3,100 m), and in a garden in Panamik (3,300

m).

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Forktail 17 (2001)

Dark-sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica

One was found hunting insects over the tributary river

to the Indus at Mahe bridge (4,080 m).The first record

of the species for Ladakh.

Rusty-tailed Flycatcher Muscicapa ruficauda

One was observed on 3 June 1996 in an open forested

patch below Zinchan (3,450 m) near the trail descending

from Rumbak.The first sighting for Ladakh.

Grandala Grandala coelicolor

A male was noted on 28 May 1 996 in the narrow humid

valley leading from Zinchan to Rumbak at 3,700 m. It

was extremely shy and vanished without allowing a close

approach. Probably a first sighting, yet much still needs

to be discovered about the status of the species in

Ladakh.

Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria

This species was recorded on 29 May 1996 below

Rumbak (4,050 m) and again a few days later (5 June)

while surveying the valley from Rizong to Ulle at 3,980

m. During 1997, birds were noticed in the Nubra valley,

above Hundar (3,400 m) on 5 September, and above

Panamik (3,450 m) on 11 September. A week later a

female was watched above Sumdo (4,450 m).

Tibetan Lark Melanocorypha maxima

This species was found breeding in the bogs of the Hanle

plains (4,360 m) during summer 1997. Active nests were

observed in late June; incubation was mainly attended

to by the female. By mid-August 1997, flocks of up to

30 were observed in the plains near Chumur (4,450

m) . By the end of September 1997 none was to be found.

This suggests that the species is a summer visitor,

especially as none was encountered further in the lower

valleys further north and west.

Plain-backed Snowfinch Pyrgilauda blanfordi

These birds were not uncommonly seen in the sandy

southern slopes in theTso-Kar plains (4,610 m) in early

September 1994. At the end of June 1995 and in June

1996 the species was found in the same area; in the

latter year it was twice found breeding in pika Ochotona

burrows, and three young were fledged in early July. The

resident status of this species still needs to be confirmed.

Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus

One was watched from 8-1 1 June 1997, feeding near

the spring on the southern edge of Startsapuk-Tso

(4,610 m). An unusual record, because this species

usually migrates through the eastern Himalaya to reach

its northern breeding grounds.

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta

One, in winter plumage, was observed in the marshy

spring at the north end ofTso-Kar (4,610 m) on 21

September 1994.

Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

This resident species of extreme altitude was found in

small groups (3 to 5 individuals) at the Kardung-La

(5,700 m) feeding amongst boulders durihg a snow

shower in early September 1997.

Mongolian Finch Rhodopechys mongolica

In late May 1 996 some were seen in the stony plains on

the Indus valley slopes west of Leh. In late June 1997

small flocks were noted on the sandy slopes west of Loma

(4,130 m) and, subsequently, individuals were seen

during July and August in Hanle (4,350 m) .The August

observations included sightings of fledged chicks still

being fed by the parents. This confirms the suggestion

that the species breeds in Ladakh (Harrop 1988).

Red-fronted Rosefinch Carpodacus puniceus

Chushul (4,450 m) produced sightings of the species

on 11 June 1996 near Tsigul-Tso in open Caragana

interspersed pasture land next to sandy dry slopes. The

following day more birds were watched amongst

Caragana thickets in the dry valley leading south from

Chushul towards the Indus valley. On the 19 June 1996

the species was again found in the northern, Caragana

covered, dry valley part of the Tsomoriri area (4,580

m) feeding on Caragana flowers. In June 1997 a pair

was studied while breeding in a Caragana thicket in

Lalpari (4,280 m) raising four chicks.

Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla

On 27 and 28 June 1 997, one was watched amongst the

bogs in southern Hanle/Shado Bug (4,340 m). An

unusual record because this species usually migrates

through the central and eastern Himalayas.

Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps

This uncommon passage migrant was added to the list,

when one subadult was observed from 4 to 6 October

1997 near the hamlet below the Hanle monastery (4,350

m).

REFERENCES

Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp,T. (1998) Birds of the Indian

subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm.

Harrop, A. (1988) Seasonal status of Mongolian Finch in Ladakh.

Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 8: 31.

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

checklist of the birds of the Oriental Region. Sandy, Oriental Bird

Club.

Ludlow, F. (1920) Notes on the nidification of certain birds in Ladak.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 27: 141-146.

Osmaston, B. B. (1925) The birds of Ladakh. Ibis (12)1: 663-719.

Pfister, O. (1995)The cranes of Hanley. Sanctuary ( Asia ) 15(6): 28-

32.

Pfister, O. (1997a) An introduction to birds of Ladakh. University

of Hull. Unpublished.

Pfister, O. (1997b) Black-necked Cranes acting as foster parents.

Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 25: 58, 60.

Pfister, 0.(1998) The breeding ecology and conservation of the Black¬

necked Crane ( Grus nigricollis) in Ladakh/India. University of

Hull. Thesis, unpublished.

Pfister, O. (1999a) Owls in Ladakh. Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 29:

22-28.

Pfister, O. (1999b) Observations on dippers, including the sordidus

morph ofWhite-throated Dipper in Ladakh, India. Oriental Bird

Club Bulletin 30: 26-30.

Transversal 1 Este # 57-42, Bogota D.C., Colombia; email: opfister@andinet.com

Forktail 17 (2001)

Birds recorded during visits to Ladakh, India, from 1994 to 1997

87

Appendix. Bird sightings in Ladakh 1994-1997

GRUIFORMES

Gruidae

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Birds recorded during visits to Ladakh, India, from 1994 to 1997

89

90

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Keys to Check-list

FORKTAIL 17 (2001): 91-103

Some bird records from Nagaland, north-east India

ANWARUDDIN CHOUDHURY

The state of Nagaland in India, a part of the Eastern Himalaya Endemic Bird Area, is a poorly

known bird area. Findings of a recent study have been documented here. Noteworthy records

include some globally threatened and near-threatened species such as Blyth’sTragopan Tragopan

blythii, Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli and Wedge-billed Wren Babbler Sphenocichla humei. A

large number of birds are sold at local markets for food. An annotated checklist of all the birds

(487 species) recorded so far is also presented. Some important observations are presented in

greater detail. Conservation problems are discussed briefly and recommendations made for

protection of habitat and birds.

INTRODUCTION

The state of Nagaland is located in the north-eastern

part of India (25°10'-27°01'N, 93°17'-95°15'E). It

covers an area of 16,600 km2 and is divided into seven

districts: Kohima, Mokokchung, Mon, Phek,Tuensang,

Wokha and Zunheboto. Physiographically, almost all of

Nagaland is hilly and mountainous.The main hill ranges

are the Barail in the south and south-west and Patkai in

the north. A high range exists along the border with

Myanmar and Mt Saramati (3,842 m) is the highest

point in the range and in Nagaland. The hills in the

central areas are commonly referred to as the ‘Naga

Hills’. The highest peak of the Barail Range is Mt Japfu

(Japvo) which stands at 3,043 m. Small plains occur

along the Dhansiri River, especially near Dimapur, and

to some extent near other rivers where they enter Assam.

There are smaller montane valleys in different areas.

The climate of Nagaland is tropical ‘monsoon’ type

with a hot wet summer and a cool dry winter. Winter

rains are also not uncommon. Annual rainfall for the

Fig 1. Map of Nagaland showing the places mentioned in

the text (shaded areas = land above 1800 m)

state varies from about 1,000 mm in the south-west to

more than 6,000 mm in the north. The temperature

generally ranges from less than 0°C in winter (minimum,

especially on Mt Saramati) to 35°C in summer

(maximum).

Tropical wet evergreen forest occurs in patches in

the lower and middle elevations all over, except in the

south-west where tropical moist deciduous and semi¬

evergreens dominate. Many of the river valleys and

gorges are covered with evergreen forest. The tropical

semi-evergreen forest also occurs in many of the once

evergreen pockets. The hollong Dipterocarpus

macrocarpus, mekai Shorea assamica and nahor Mesua

ferrea are some of the notable tree species of the tropical

evergreen forest. In the deciduous forest of the south¬

west, bhelu Tetrameles nudiflora, gamari Gmelina arborea

and banji-ou Dillenia scabrela are some of the noteworthy

species.

In the higher hills, especially on the Barails, in Satoi,

Mt Japfu and on the slopes of Mt Saramati, subtropical

broadleaf (evergreen) forest occurs with small areas of

conifers in the eastern parts. Higher up on Saramati,

temperate broadleaf forest is found, while atop (Mt

Saramati) the vegetation type is subalpine. During

winter, the peak remains under snow. There is no large

grassland in Nagaland; however, small patches occur in

sheltered valleys and along the rivers with Phragmites

spp., Arundo donax, Neyraudia reynaudiana, Themeda

villosa and Saccharum spp. In the abandoned jhum (slash-

and-burn shifting cultivation of the hill tribes) also

various grasses occur till these are colonized by scrubs

and then shrubs. It may be mentioned here that the

jhum has greatly altered the original vegetation types all

over Nagaland.

Nagaland has been poorly covered by ornithological

surveys. Publications on the area include Alexander

(1974), Coltart (1902), Godwin-Austen (1872-1878),

Hutchinson (1946), Koelz (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954),

McCann (1931, 1933), Ripley (1951, 1952, 1953), and

Stonor (1947). Recent publications are also few

(Choudhury 1996, 1997a, b). General information on

birds occurring in Nagaland is also found in synoptic

works such as Ripley (1982),Ali and Ripley (1987) and

Grimmett et al. (1998).

Nagaland forms part of the Oriental Zoogeographic

Region (now often called the Indomalayan Region). It

is in the transitional zone of the Indian and Indochinese

(zoogeographic) subregions, as a result of which a rich

92

A. CHOUDHURY

Forktail 17 (2001)

bird life exists in this relatively small area. Nagaland is

also part of a global biodiversity ‘hotspot’ (Myers 1988,

1991) as well as an Endemic Bird Area, i.e. Eastern

Himalaya (Stattersfield et al. 1998). In all, more than

500 species are likely to occur in Nagaland (487are listed

in the Appendix).

METHODS

Fieldwork was carried out in Nagaland in 1991, 1992,

1996 and 2001 (January-Februaty) with brief visits to

the fringe areas in 1987 and 1988. During the course of

these visits, I covered Kohima (including Dimapur),

Phek and Zunheboto districts, and the fringe areas of

Mon and Mokokchung districts.

During the study, the presence of different species

of birds was ascertained by direct sighting, their calls

(in some species only), and by interviewing local forest

staff, villagers and hunters (for some conspicuous species

only). For direct observation, foot transects along

existing and newly cut paths, and trails, and vehicle

transects along roads and motorable tracks were made.

Preserved specimens in different villages and pet birds

were also examined. There was regular sale of wild birds

at Kohima market. Besides visiting the market in June

1996 and January-February 2001, 1 engaged members

of a local non-governmental organization to photograph

interesting or unusual species for records and future

identification. All photos of birds referred to in the text

were taken in 1997 and 1998 (except where mentioned

otherwise). Observations were made with binoculars and

a 10x46 telescope. Photographs were taken with a Canon

T50 camera with a 200 mm lens and a Nikon FM2.

RESULTS

Selected species notes

The following list incorporates the more interesting and

significant records. An annotated checklist of all birds

recorded so far in Nagaland is presented in the

Appendix. The list includes 9 threatened, 5 Near

Threatened and 8 restricted-range species. Of the total

of 487 species recorded in the state 133 are reported

here for the first time. Taxonomy and nomenclature

follow Inskipp et al. (1996).

Manipur Bush Quail Perdicula manipurensis Listed as

Vulnerable (BirdLife 2000). Baker (1922-1930) and

Ripley (1982) included Nagaland within its distribution,

but without details. No recent records.

Blyth’sTragopan Tragopan blythii Listed as Vulnerable

(BirdLife 2000). Although rare in most of its range, it is

still not uncommon in some pockets such as Satoi of

Zunheboto district, Mt Japfu and Dzukou Valley of

Kohima district, Fakim Sanctuary, Noklak and Saramati

areas ofTuensang district. It is also found in Pulie-Badge

Sanctuary, Mt Paona and almost the entire range of the

Barails in Kohima district, Pfutsero area of Phek district

and in the hilltop areas near the villages of Kilomi,

Dzulhami, and Vishepu (spread over Zunheboto and

Phek districts) (Choudhury 1997b). Although Ripley

(1952) claimed that it did not occur in the eastern hills.

it seems to be common in some places. A bird of higher

elevation, it usually occurs above 1,800 m. I observed a

female with 3-4 chicks at the exceptionally low altitude

of 1 ,400 m, at the border of Kohima and Phek districts,

on 30 June 1996. The exact location is 53 km from

Kohima town and 5 km from Chetheba (Choudhury

2000). Very rarely sold at the Kohima market. At least

two males were on sale in 2000 (K. Sohe, pers. comm.).

Locally, it is known as Ayigah (Serna Naga) and Mu

(Angami Naga). Its current distribution in Nagaland

has been mapped recently (Choudhury 1997b).

Red Junglefowl G alius gallus Common throughout the

state. Often killed by villagers for the pot. Frequently

sold in the Kohima market.

Mrs Hume’s Pheasant Syrmaticus humiae Listed as

Vulnerable (BirdLife 2000). Only reported by Baker

(1922-1930) but probably still occurs. During a recent

survey in the Barail Range, between Kohima and Peren,

no evidence of its occurrence was found and hunters

questioned were not familiar with it. The only potential

areas for the species are in the east, i.e. in Phek and

Tuensang districts.

Grey Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum Not

uncommon in the forest, especially in the lower hills

and adjacent plains. A freshly dead male on sale at Jalukie

weekly market on 2 February 200 1 was 70 cm in length,

considerably larger than the 64 cm given by Ali and

Ripley (1987) and Grimmett et al. (1998). It had

conspicuous red facial skin - a feature not seen in all

males.

Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica Once

common, now rare but widespread in small numbers.

Mainly affects small wetlands near Intanki Wildlife

Sanctuary, Jalukie-Samjuram areas and in the plains

between Intanki and Dimapur.

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea The only record

was of four flying high over Dhansiri RF, Assam and

into Intanki Sanctuary on 3 November 1 99 1 .They were

heading south/south-east indicating that Loktak lake,

Manipur was their destination.

White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata Listed as

Endangered (BirdLife 2000). Extremely rare. The only

recent report was from IntankiWildlife Sanctuary, where

local hunters saw it two or three times in jungle pools in

1990-1991 (Mr Ilo Disong, pers. comm). There were

past records from Rangapahar Reserved Forest (RF)

and adjacent lowland forests near Dimapur (Hume

1890, Hutchinson 1 946) . Other areas where it may still

survive are Singphan RF (Mon district) and in the forests

near the border with Myanmar (Tuensang and Phek

districts).

Yellow-rumped Honeyguide Indicator xanthonotus

Listed as NearThreatened (BirdLife 2000). A rare bird

of the higher elevations. Ripley (1952) collected one near

Pfutsero and it has been recently reported from Barail

Range in Kohima district.

Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis Once not uncommon,

now extremely rare mostly due to persecution for food

as well as feathers (primaries and tail), which are in great

demand for use in traditional headgear. Habitat loss,

especially the mature forest is also a major factor. These

Forktail 17 (2001)

Some bird records from Nagaland, north-east India

93

issues are common to all hornbills. Locally extinct at

most places. The only notable remaining population is

found in Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary.

Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli Listed as Near

threatened (BirdLife 2000) . An uncommon bird. A few

were observed in Khelma area near the Assam-Nagaland

(Dhansiri RF-Intanki Sanctuary) border in February

1992. Locally extinct in most areas.

Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis Listed as

Vulnerable (BirdLife 2000) . No recent records. Casques

from birds killed in the Barail Range were seen in the

North Cachar Hills district of Assam in 1989. The

location is close to the Assam-Nagaland border and the

habitat on the Barails is still contiguous. It was also

reported by local hunters from the southern parts of

Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary and from the Nagaland-

Manipur border near Tening (south-western part of

Kohima distict). Very rare.

Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus Like other

hornbills it was once not uncommon, but is now

extremely rare and locally extinct in most places. The

only notable remaining populations are found in Intanki

Wildlife Sanctuary and in the unclassed forests in the

Barail Range. I saw a casque at Samjuram village near

Jalukie in Dimapur district in February 2001. Ripley

(1952) obtained a specimen at Phek and observed it on

the slopes of Japfu (Japvo).

Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris Once

common, now very rare. A photo was taken of a live

captive bird. Most remaining birds are found in Intanki

Wildlife Sanctuary and the unclassed forests in the Barail

Range. A few are occasionally met with in Singphan RF

of Mon district and stragglers have been noted

elsewhere.

The hornbills in general are locally known as agacho

(Serna Naga) and terha (Angami Naga).

Large FIawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioid.es A dead

bird was on sale in Kohima market on 30 January 200 1 .

It was a large specimen, measuring 40 cm in length,

compared with 38 cm given by Grimmett et al. (1998).

Winter records of this species are unusual (Ali and Ripley

1987, Grimmett et al. 1998).

Grass Owl Tyto capensis Uncommon. Photographed in

Kohima market in 1997. There are very few recent

records of the species from north-eastern India.

Spot-bellied Eagle Owl Bubo nipalensis A bird from

the Jakhama area was observed in the Kohima Zoo in

June 1996 and it was still alive in January 2001.

According to Hume (1888), Godwin-Austen obtained

it in the Naga Hills, although the latter (1878) gave no

details.

Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica Uncommon.

Photographed in Kohima market in 1997. In 1950,

Alexander (1974) saw two birds, which he thought were

this species, between Meluri and Phek.

Pale-capped Pigeon Columba putiicea Listed as

Vulnerable (BirdLife 2000). No recent records and not

recorded during the sample surveys at Kohima market,

suggesting its relative scarcity. Ripley (1952) recorded

a flock near Phek.

Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes Sighted frequently in

Dhansiri-Intanki areas.

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus Rare. One was

sighted on the way to Satoi on 28 June 1996, near

Khesito village, at an elevation of c. 2,020 m (Choudhury

1996). The species was previously recorded only below

1,600 m in the Himalayas (Ali and Ripley 1987), apart

from one seen in Sikkim at a slightly higher elevation

(U. Ganguli-Lachhungpa, pers. comm.).

White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis Listed as

Critical (BirdLife 2000). In Nagaland they are very rare

and are persecuted for food (their sheer weight makes

them attractive, while their slow take-off makes killing

easy). Mostly seen in flight along the Assam-Nagaland

border.

Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus Listed as Critical

(BirdLife 2000). As in Gyps bengalensis.

Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus A bird was on

sale at Piphema roadside market on 1 February 2001.

Its total length was 47 cm and other measurements were:

wing 270 mm, tail 270 mm, bill 30 mm, and tarsus 75

mm. Grimmett et al. (1998) and Kazmierczak and Perlo

(2000) mapped it as absent from Nagaland.

Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis Generally rare but

reported to be common in the forested pockets. I

observed one in the Satoi area of Zunheboto district at

an elevation of 2,400 m, on 28 June 1996.

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Uncommon.

Photographed in Kohima market in 1997. One was seen

in Dzukou Valley on 29 January 2001. Ripley (1952)

collected a male of the race interstinctus at Kohima and

noted that it was very common everywhere.

White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis Listed as

Endangered (BirdLife 2000). There are no recent

records, but there is a specimen in the collection of the

Bombay Natural History Society, which was obtained

from Nagaland, perhaps from Dikhou River (Abdulali

1968).

Bi.ue-naped Pitta Pitta nipalensis Rare. Photographed

in Kohima market in 1997. In 2001, I examined two

birds, one each in Kohima market and Piphema roadside

market on 30 January and 1 February, respectively.

Hooded Pitta Pitta sordida I examined a photograph

(taken by Thomas Kent) of a live bird captured near

Kohima town at the end of 1 999. Its status in Nagaland

is unclear but in the adjacent North Cachar Hills district

of Assam, it is not uncommon and is regularly caught

during ‘bird killing’ nights at Jatinga (Choudhury 2000).

Burmese Shrike Lanins collurioides Its seasonal status is

not clear: it is a passage migrant but it could also be a

resident with local movements. One was seen on the

way to Satoi in Zunheboto district on 28 June 1996. It

was photographed in Kohima market in 1997.

Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Due to

regular persecution this species has almost vanished

from the vicinity of human habitations. One was

observed between Sukhai village and Tizu river in

Zunheboto district on 28 June 1996, above 1,000 m. A

few were seen in Jalukie area on 1 and 2 February 2001 .

94

A. CHOUDHURY

Forktail 17 (2001)

Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul It was

photographed in Kohima market in 1997.

Purple Cochoa Cochoa purpurea A male was

photographed in Kohima market in 1997.

Green Cochoa Cochoa viridis It was photographed in

Kohima market in 1997.

Spot-winged Starling Saroglossa spiloptera A common

winter visitor, especially abundant in some winters on

the fringe of Intanki Sanctuary and Dhansiri RF (Assam)

(Choudhury 1992c).

Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra A rare bird in

Nagaland, mostly seen along the Assam-Nagaland

border and in the Dimapur-Jalukie area.

Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus One was seen near

Dimapur on 27 May 1991.

Yellow-throated Laughingthrush Garrulax galbanus

Not uncommon. Many dead birds were seen at Kohima

market and it was recorded in Phek and Zunheboto

districts in June 1996.

Striped Laughingthrush Garrulax virgatus A common

resident. Some were seen at Kohima market in 1996 as

well as in 2001. It was previously recorded by Godwin-

Austen (1874a and b).

Brown-capped Laughingthrush Garrulax austeni Not

recorded during the sample surveys at Kohima market

suggesting its relative scarcity. Ripley (1952) recorded

the species only on Mt Japfu (Japvo) from 2,350-2,700

m.

Tawny-breasted Wren Babbler Spelaeornis longicaudatus

Not seen during the field survey. Previously recorded

from the state (Baker 1922-1930) and apparently very

rare.

Wedge-billed Wren Babbler Sphenocichla humei Listed

as Near Threatened (BirdLife 2000). A very rare bird

with only a handful of recent records from anywhere in

its range. Photographed in Kohima market in 1997.

Streak-throated Barwing Actinodura waldeni It was

seen at Kohima market in 1 996 and on 30 January 200 1 .

Mixed parties of waldeni and other babblers were seen

on the way to Satoi in Zunheboto district on 28 June

1996.

Yellow-throated Fulvetta Alcippe cinerea A rare

resident. It was seen on the way to Satoi, in Zunheboto

district, on 28 June 1996, when at least one was

confirmed in a mixed flock with other species. It was

also doubtfully seen between Zulhami and Satakha, in

Zunheboto district, on 27 June 1996.

Beautiful Sibia Heterophasia pulchella Described by

Godwin-Austen (1874) from specimens from Nagaland.

An uncommon species, not recorded during the sample

surveys at Kohima market, suggesting its relative scarcity.

White-napedYuhina Yuhina baker: Resident and locally

common. A few were seen between Kohima and

Khonoma on the slopes of Pulie-Badze on 30 January

2001. A photo was seen of a bird snared with glue in

1999-2000 at Dzulekie village, south west of Khonoma.

Dead birds were examined in Kohima market in 1996

and 2001 .

House Sparrow Passer domesticusWe ry rare in 'Nagaland;

seen only in and around Dimapur. In the rest of the

state, only the EurasianTree Sparrow P montanus occurs.

Both are, however, sympatric in Dimapur area.

Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus Generally rare but

sightings were frequent in the countryside around

Dimapur and on the north-eastern edge of Intanki

Wildlife Sanctuary. Birds using the latter area nest at

Monglumukh area of Dhansiri RF (Assam) in the safety

of a police camp.

Scarlet Finch Haematospiza sipahi Occurs in the higher

hills. It was photographed in Kohima market in 1997.

DISCUSSION

Many parts of Nagaland have still not been adequately