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MALIMBUS

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society

Societe d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain

VOLUME 8 1986

Number 1 May

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIETE D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN

Conseil 1982-1985

President Professeur Brian J. Harris

Vice-President Dr Gerard J. Morel

Secretaire Professeur John H. Elgood

Tresorier Mr Robert E. Sharland

Editeur, Malimbus Dr C. Hilary Fry

La correspondance doit etre adressee comme suit :

- les manuscrits et les demandes des numeros precedents a 1' editeur

(Aberdeen University Department of Zoology, Tillydrone Avenue,

Aberdeen AB9 2TN, Scotland, U.K.)

- les cotisations et toutes questions financieres au tresorier

(Flat 7, Elmsdown Court, Southampton Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 1 JE , UK'

- les questions d’interet general au President (Department of

Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria)

ou au Vice-President (Station d'Ornithologie, Richard-Toll,

B.P. 20, Senegal)

- les autres questions au Secretaire general (26 Walkford Way,

Highcliffe, Dorset BH23 5LR, U.K.)

La Societe tire son origine de la "Nigerian Ornithological Society"

fondee en 1964. Son but est de promouvoir l'interet scientifique

pour les oiseaux de 1' Ouest-africain et de faire avancer l'ornitho-

logie de ces regions principalement au moyen de son journal Malimbus

(anciennement the Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society) .

Les demandes d' adhesion seront les bienvenues. Les cotisations

annuelles * sont de 6fi pour les membres ordinaires, et de 15£ pour

les Societes. Les membres regoivent gratuitement Malimbus .

Anciens numeros : les volumes 11 (1975); 12 (1976); 13 (1977) et 14

(1978) du "Bulletin de la Nigerian Ornithological Society" (meme

format que Malimbus) sont disponibles a raison de 6 livres anglaises

par volume. La plupart des numeros plus anciens sont encore dis-

ponibles. Prix a la demande.

* les cotisations doivent etre payees en livres sterling ou en francs

frangais pour leur encaissement au Royaume-Uni ou en livres

nigerianes pour leur encaissement au Nigeria.

AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY PRESS : La Societe est tres reconnaissante de

la subvention d' Ahmadu Bello University Press, Nigeria a qui

appartient le copyright de Malimbus .

ISSN : 0331 - 3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

1986

1

MALIMBUS 8 (1) 1986

CHANGE IN MANAGING EDITORSHIP

Malimbus, and before its inception the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society

Bulletin, has been edited by Dr C.H. Fry continuously since 1975. Dr Fry

is now leaving Aberdeen University to take up an appointment in Oman, and

Council has regretfully accepted his resignation as Editor. We are, how-

ever, very pleased to announce that Dr H.Q.P. Crick has accepted the post,

and he will assume the Editorship with the autumn 1986 issue. With immed-

iate effect the new editorial address is:

Dr H.Q.P. Crick

Tropical Development Research Institute

College House

Wrights Lane

London W8 5SJ, UK.

The Society's connection with Aberdeen University will remain, however,

since Dr Crick retains a Research Fellowship at the Zoology Department

there and will be visiting Aberdeen at frequent intervals. He will be

assisted editorially by two other West African ornithologists, Dr R.A.

Cheke of TDR1 , London, and Dr R. Wilkinson of Chester Zoological Gardens,

UK.

Dr Fry has asked to use this column to give his new address. From 1st

August 1986 it will be:

Dr C.H. Fry, Associate Professor,

Department of Biology

Sultan Qaboos University

PO Box 6281, Ruwi,

Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

Bibliography of African Ornithology 1985

The 1985 bibliography, containing nearly 500 titles, can be had from

Dr Fry at his Oman address by sending Omani ryals 2.00 or sterling £3.00

(in notes; no cheques please) and a self-addressed envelope the size of

Malimbus mailing envelopes.

2

MALIMBUS 8

THE BIRDS OF NINDAM FOREST RESERVE, KAGORO , NIGERIA

by M. Dyer, M.E. Gartshore and R.E. Sharland

Received 16 January 1985

Revised 5 October 1985

In the following account we use the vegetation classification of White

(1983). In the Guinea-Congol ia/Sudania regional transition zone of

Nigeria lie several outliers of lowland rain forest adjacent to, and

south of Jos Plateau. It is not known if they are relict patches of

formerly more extensive forest, or have arisen purely from local geographi-

cal and climatological conditions (Jones 196 3) - Near Kagoro (09 32'N,

08 30 'E) in Kaduna state are several such outliers, many of which are

found in large forest reserves (Fig. 1). One of them, Nindam Forest

Reserve (approx. 3000 ha) is easily accessible, and on a brief visit

there in 1976 we encountered birds typical of the main forest block

over 100 km to the south, e.g. Blue Plantain-eater Corythaeola cristata,

Shrike Flycatcher Megabyas flammulata and Collared Sunbird Anthreptes

col laris . We sensed that the Kagoro area, particularly Nindam, would

be interesting to investigate ornithologically , and this paper reports

our findings.

STUDY AREA AND METHODS

Nindam Forest Reserve is characterized by a series of parallel , round-

topped ridges and deep, V-shaped, forest-filled valleys containing epheme-

ral streams. The vegetation changes from rain forest to transitional

forest and closing savanna on valley slopes , and then to savanna on

the ridge-tops. Shifting cultivation has altered some of the valley

bottoms, and cattle-grazing and burning have degraded the savanna along

the ridges to some extent. Numerous saw-pits in the forest are indicative

of past exploitation for timber. Presently, dead wood is removed for

fuel but no other cutting is legally permitted. Local villagers burn

the forest floor to kill fire-sensitive trees and then later remove

the dead wood. This has allowed the spread within the forest of adventi-

tious weeds and constitutes the major threat degrading Nindam Forest

Reserve .

The flora of Nindam is imperfectly 'known, but some features are striking

and worth mentioning here. Trees characteristic of lowland rain forest,

such as Parinari kerstingii, Aubrevillea kerstingii, Blighia unijugata,

Canarium schweinfurthii , Ficus varifolia, Napoleona imperialis and

Myrianthus arboreus have been identified. Unlike the grass dominated

savanna, the forest floor is covered with pter idophy tes (mainly Selaginella )

and members of the ginger family ( Zingiberaceae ) . in more humid patches

the trees and rocks are festooned with epiphytic orchids, mosses and

ferns .

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

3

In addition to a rich avifauna, Nindam supports species of forest-

inhabiting vertebrates which are north of their previously known geographi-

cal ranges in West Africa, e.g. the small gliding lizard Holaspis guentheri.

Forest mammals such as Two-spotted Palm-civet Nandinia binotata and

Mona Monkey Cercopithecus mona were occasionally observed or turned

up in hunters' bags. The mouse Praomys jacksoni is the expected species

in forest outliers but surprisingly at Nindam only the true high forest

species Praomys tullbergi has been found. Many cave-dwelling bats,

rare or previously unknown in Nigeria, have been found including Rhinolopus

aethiops , Rhinolophus darlingi and Hipposideros ionesi. The tiny forest

bat which inhabits weaver nests Kergulia smithii was also found.

The dominant geological feature of Kagoro is the Kagoro Hills, a

westward extension of the Jos Plateau. These rocky hills rise abruptly

to more than 1300 m, nearly 500 m above Kagoro town. Due to its proximity

to the Jos Plateau, the Kagoro area receives more rainfall than other

locations of similar latitude in Nigeria. Kafanchan (Fig. 1) has a

mean annual rainfall of 155^ mm, whereas Minna 180 km due west receives

Figure 1 Study area at Kagoro and environs, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

4

M. Dyer, M.E. Gartshore & R.E. Sharland

MALIMBUS 8

1400 ram (Jones 1963). The higher reading at

rainfall from southwesterly winds blowing up

the Plateau.

Kafanchan is due to orographic

the Niger Valley and meeting

Nindam was first visited on 19 Dec 1976. On a second visit in Feb 1977

MEG discovered Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike Carapephaga quiscalina there,

the first record for Nigeria. Between Mar 1977 and May 1979 RES visited

Nindam 12 times, covering all months except Jan, Oct and Dec. On 13

Sep 1977 he netted Red-capped Robin-chat Cossypha natalensis, another

new species for Nigeria. Starting in Jun 1979 a concerted effort was

made by all of us to make observations at Nindam at least once per month

for two days. We generally confined our observational studies to a

400 ha area of the reserve bisected by the main Kaduna-Jos road. (In

addition we made three visits to other reserve areas nearby, principally

the Sanga River and Gimi River Reserves; a list of species seen there,

additional to those recorded for Nindam and Kagoro given in Table 1,

appears in Appendix 2 ) .

When our study ended in Sep 1981 we had made a minimum of three visits

to Nindam for each month of the year. For most visits we based ourselves

at the National Boy Scout Training Camp near the foot of Kagoro Hills;

at other times we camped by the forest edge. Nets were erected at standard

locations in forest, and tended from dawn until 0930 h, and again from

1500 h until dusk. When not tending nets we hiked well-established

trails, recording by sight and sound all species encountered. Due to

the parallel orientation of valleys and ridges in the reserve, the trails

we followed passed alternately through patches of rain forest and strips

of savanna.

Netted birds were weighed, ringed

rings, and measured (wing chord). We

hours of work in the forest, and 10

day visit .

with numbered metal or plastic

attempted to accumulate 120 net-

h of trail-hiking for each two-

RESULTS

104 species were recorded in Nindam Forest Reserve, and an additional 83

species from the immediate vicinity of Kagoro (Appendix 1). We feel

this list is incomplete due to the bias given towards field-work in

Nindam. Our records of species outside the reserve were collected oppor-

tunistically and no systematic method was undertaken to quantify or

qualify the status and abundance of species outside Nindam. This point

is clearly illustrated by Appendix 1, where the occurrence of common

and widespread resident savanna species is spottily documented (e.g.

Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata, Yellow White-eye Zosterops Senegal ens is )

Other common species appear to have been overlooked completely, but

no doubt occur at Kagoro, for instance Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis

and Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus.

About 20 km south of Kagoro lie the Gimi River and Sanga River Forest

Reserves, larger in area than Nindam (Fig. 1). We visited these reserves

three times during the dry season (Dec and Jan), and recorded birds

not found at Nindam. Sanga and Gimi supported areas of mature savanna

woodland and forest of a type intermediate between gallery and lowland

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

5

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IX

forest. We saw many species recorded for Kagoro , but the presence ol

large, perennially-flowing rivers in the reserves contributed to a selec-

tion of aquatic and riparian species (Appendix 1). The most noteworthy

observation was a pair of Brown-chested Lapwings Vanellus superc i 1 iosus ,

an intra-African migrant known to breed in grassy savannas of Nigeria

( Elgood 1982).

6

M. Dyer, M.E. Gartshore & R.E. Sharland

MALIMBUS 8

Some birds seen at Nindam have wide ranges in Nigeria, such as Klaas

Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas and Kurrichane Thrush Turdus pelios , but others,

including four new species to Nigeria, have limited ranges. The four

new species are Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx f lav igular is , Bates'

Swift Apus batesij and the previously mentioned Purple-throated Cuckoo-

Shrike and Red-capped Robin-Chat. Examples of rare and little known

rain forest species of limited range in Nigeria and found at Nindam,

are Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus , Capuchin Babbler Phyllanthus

atripennis and Little Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa epulata. Many records

of forest birds at Nindam were obtained by mist-netting. Forest Robins

Stiphrornis ery throthorax and Little Greenbuls Andropadus virens were

observed in comparatively small numbers in the forest undergrowth, yet

they accounted for 31% of the total birds ringed (Appendix 3)- The

White-browed Forest -Fly catcher Fraseria ocreata, recorded only once,

was caught in a net.

The diversity of birds recorded at Nindam is due to the juxtaposition

of different habitats in a relatively small area. In a distance of

500 m it was possible to pass through mature savanna, undisturbed rain

forest, timber-cleared areas, regenerating and secondary forest. We

can illustrate this concept more clearly by considering a hypothetical

transect through a much larger area to include all habitats between

the Kagoro Hills and the larger rivers found in the Sanga and Gimi Reserves

(Fig. 2).

DISCUSSION

Our study revealed many surprises, not least of which was the diversity

of rain forest birds encountered at Nindam. About 40 species are regarded

as stenotropic in their choice of rain forest habitat elsewhere in Nigeria,

so the presence of species such as Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis ,

Capuchin Babbler and Honeyguide Bulbul Baeopogon indicator in a relatively

small and isolated area of forest in savanna is remarkable. Fifteen

species recorded at Nindam were 300 km or more north of their previously

known ranges in Nigeria. Adding to that the discovery of four new Nigerian

species, the importance of the Kagoro area in general, and Nindam in

particular, cannot be overstated.

Contained below is a list of essentially forest birds found at Kagoro

with comments on status and habits.

West African Goshawk Accipiter toussenelii A bird of forest growth;

sometimes netted as it attacked already netted birds.

Western Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus Recorded in March

1977, there is only one other record outside the derived savanna zone,

at Yankari Game Reserve in the dry season.

Cuckoo Falcon Aviceda cuculoides The occurrence of Cuckoo Falcons

at Kagoro during the dry season only is noteworthy since Elgood (1982)

regards this species as a wet season visitor to savanna zones of northern

Nigeria .

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

7

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus Several were recorded on passage

at Nindam in Mar /Apr , and a flock of 5,000+ birds was seen feeding on

swarming termites near Kafanchan on 19 Apr 1980.

Scaly Francolin Francolinus squamatus Restricted to disturbed forest

and clearings, especially near ridge-tops. Small flocks were often

heard but infrequently seen during the wet season. This species is

found further north at Anara Forest Reserve near Zaria (Gartshore 1982).

Pigmy Spotted Rail Sarothrura pulchra The piping call of the Pigmy

Spotted Rail was a characteristic sound of Af ramomum thickets in wet

valley bottoms of large forest tracts. The species was rarely seen.

Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistra Found along with T. abyssinica

in the forest (ground level to 10 ra). Of five doves caught, one was

a recently-fledged juvenile (26 Oct 1980).

Giant Plantain-eater Corythaeola cristata Common resident of high

forest canopy , occasionally extending into gallery forest around the

base of Kagoro Hills.

Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis Our observations

on this species represent the first records for Nigeria. The characteris-

tic song of this cuckoo was first heard on 8 Jul 1979, at the edge of

a forest clearing, but it was not positively identified until 11 Nov.

C. flavigularis generally occupied thick forest, but one was once seen

flying through savanna between two forest patches. It called at all

seasons and was probably resident.

Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus A typical forest cuckoo which

overshoots to as far north as Zaria on its northward migration at the

beginning of the rains j common at Kagoro during the rainy season.

Its status in the dry season at Kagoro is uncertain.

Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi Calls heard constantly

between Apr and Dec. Although neither heard nor seen in the intervening

months, their status as residents is in little doubt.

Thick-billed Cuckoo Pachycoccyx audeberti These cuckoos were seen

regularly at Nindam. Given the thinly scattered records from gallery

forest in other parts of Nigeria ( Elgood 1982) this is of interest.

A flock of five birds wheeled over the forest canopy on 17 Jun 1979.

African Wood-Owl Ciccaba woodfordii A ruf ous-phased adult was netted

on 16 Sep 1981. It is present the whole year as indicated by calls.

Bates' Swift Apus batesi Four individuals were observed 27 Sep 1979

following a rainstorm flying low over forest. They circled for a few

moments around the crown of a large forest tree before flying over the

forest and out of sight. Two more were seen in the Kagoro Hills on

17 Feb 1980. They were identified by their small size, all black coloura-

tion, forked tail and rapid fluttering, twisting flight. (A second

locality was obtained by MD and MEG at 1600 m on the Obudu Plateau in

Sep 1980). This species is common in the highlands of Cameroon and

is easily detected by its constant Swallow-like twittering. It is not

8

M. Dyer, M.E. Gartshore & R.E. Sharland

MALIMBUS 8

unexpected in Nigeria and may have been previously overlooked.

White-bellied Kingfisher Alcedo leucogaster Caught frequently during

the study, mostly in nets set across forest streams. A juvenile with

blackish bill was netted on A Nov 1980.

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster This nonforest bee-eater over-

winters at Kagoro in small numbers. Nindam may prove to be its most

northerly wintering location in Nigeria.

White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis Normally migrates from

the sub-Saharan region where it breeds to the forest zone where it spends

the dry season. The large numbers at Kagoro may represent the most

northern most nonbreeding locality in Nigeria.

Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis Regularly but rarely seen

feeding or displaying over forest, and were presumed to be resident.

Allied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus Often seen in the 'middle belt'

of Nigeria where forest outliers are common. It was common at Kagoro

over the forest.

Piping Hornbill Bycanistes fistulator Another forest hornbill seen

at Nindam as well as at the Boy Scout Camp.

Ceratogymna sp. Serle (1939) reported one of the Ceratogymna hornbills

from the Kafanchan area, but none were recorded during the present study.

Black-and-White-Casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcy 1 indricus This large

hornbill was rarely seen in the subcanopy of dense forest. A family

party was observed 27 Sep 1979.

Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus These were uncommon residents

of mid-level forest, and only one was netted.

Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus This honeyguide was rarely

observed although heard calling all year round, usually high in the

forest canopy. Five calling posts were identified in the study area

and one of these was used consistently through the five year period.

Our observations represent the fourth record for Nigeria. It was netted

in riverine woodland by Hall (1977) near Serti.

Willcocks ' Honey-guide Indicator willcocksi Although encountered

less frequently than I . maculatus , two were netted.

Prodotiscus sp. On 9 Sep 1979 a Protot iscus honeyguide was observed

flycatching at the edge of forest above a steep ravine, the only observa-

tion of this genus at Nindam.

Green-backed Woodpecker Campethera cailliautii A common species of

mid-strata forest more frequently detected by call than by sight.

Buff-spotted Woodpecker Campethera nivosa Seen at mid-canopy level ,

C. nivosa was netted once and seen during the wet season only ; it could

be a wet season immigrant to Nindam although it is not known to be migra-

tory in West Africa.

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

9

Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga quiscalina Our observations

of this species represent the first records for Nigeria but since it

occurs in forested areas both east and west of Nigeria its presence

in this country is not unexpected. This cuckoo-shrike occupies the

canopies of trees above about 30 m height. It is best identified by

the appearance of the female which is bright yellow beneath.

Slender-billed Greenbul Andropadus gracilirostris A canopy species

which is often very difficult to detect. It was observed on only a

few occasions. A bird of old-growth secondary forest^ it is not expected

at this northerly latitude.

Little Grey Greenbul Andropadus gracilis Found in the canopies of

small trees overgrown by lianes. It is confined to the mid-strata and

is apparently never netted near the ground.

Little Greenbul Andropadus virens A common species of forest and

gallery forest at Kagoro . It was frequently netted.

Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator A species of true forest,

uncommon at Kagoro.

Grey-headed Bristle-Bill Bleda canicapilla This bristle-bill was

frequently netted in the lower forest stratum in Nindam.

Nicator Nicator chloris Frequently heard among vines and tangles

at Kagoro but never netted.

White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis This bulbul might

be considered to behave as two "ecological species" in that males were

distinctly larger-bodied and longer-billed than females (Fig. 3).

E

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1

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85 <

80-

75-

70-

65-

95

n —

17.0

20.0

\

WEIGHT (g)

23.0

26.0

29.0

Figure 3 Body weight and wing length of male and female white-throated

Greenbul s netted at Nindam.

10

M. Dyer, M.E. Gartshore & R.E. Sharland

MALIMBUS 8

Leaf-Love Pyrrhurue scandens A common bird of forest undergrowth

at Kagoro ; family parties were frequently netted.

Malaconotus sp. A shrike was heard regularly but was never seen.

Once we had a brief view of a possible Sulfur-breasted Bushshrike

Malaconotus sulfureopectus but we still cannot rule out the possibility

of the presence at Nindam of such forest species as Many-coloured Bushshrike

M. multicolor.

Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis Previously unrecorded in

Nigeria; it proved to be a relatively common breeding resident of denser

patches of forest. 24 individuals were ringed in all, including several

birds in spotted juvenile plumage. On 15 June 1980 a nest containing

three glossy, chocolate brown eggs in a small tree hollow about 1.5

m above ground in dense lowland forest was photographed. This represents

the first recorded breeding of this bird north of the Congo. The single

Cameroon specimen from Yaounde is thought to be extral imital .

Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat Cossypha niveacapilla A regular dry-season

visitor, arriving from drier savanna habitats to the north.

Forest Robin Stiphrornis ery throthorax Our most commonly netted bird',

it is normally inconspicuous in the undergrowth.

Capuchin Babbler Phyllanthus atripennis The distribution of Capuchin

Babbler appears to be disjunct; the only other known location for this

species is within 80 km of Lagos (600 km southwest of Kagoro).

Puvel's Illadopsis Trichastoma puveli An uncommon resident of lowland

rain forest the Kagoro records represent a substantial range extension

to the north.

Brown Illadopsis Trichastoma fulvescens A bird of thickets in high

forest this species was infrequently netted. It is possibly disjunct

from populations occurring further to the south.

Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota This warbler was

common in the forest undergrowth, and frequently netted.

Buff -throated Apalis Apalis rufogularis A species of the forest canopy;

rarely caught (Appendix 2).

Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis Permanent residents of the

grassy /shrubby forest clearings,, this species was occasionally netted.

White-browed Forest Flycatcher Fraseria cinerascens This flycatcher

was recorded only once, a female witr oviducal egg netted on 17 Feb

1980. It is not known to be migratory.

Little Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa epulata A bird of tall trees and

dead limbs at the forest-savanna ecotone. Although not confirmed for

Nigeria a bird fitting the description of this species and not easily

assignable to any other Nigerian flycatcher was observed infrequently.

Also recorded at Ayangba (feeding on a small skink which it had plucked

from a tree trunk). Probably overlooked.

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

1 1

Shrike Flycatcher Megabyas flammulata These were uncommon inhabitants

of the forest mid-storey. No birds were netted.

Collared Sunbird Anthreptes collaris An abundant bird of forest clear-

ings^this is a species associated with derived savanna and high forest.

Olive Sunbird Nectarinia olivacea An abundant sunbird of the forest

undergrowth, this species was frequently netted. It is also known from

other outlier forests such as Kainji ( Elgood 1982).

Variable Sunbird Nectarinia venusta Considered to be a wet season

visitor to the savanna zone, this sunbird was a regular dry season visitor

to disturbed habitats at Kagoro.

Buf f-throated Sunbird Nectarinia adelberti This species was recorded

once in February 1980 at the peak of tree flowering. It was seen at

the same time as Superb Sunbird and both may be considered 'blossom

nomads' which occasionally frequent more northerly latitudes in pursuit

of nectar.

Superb Sunbird Nectarinia superba A pair seen February 1980 along

with the above species as a 'blossom nomad' appearing at Nindam when

forest trees are flowering.

Blue-bill Spermaphaga haematina This finch was found inside the forest

and was an uncommon resident of the undergrowth.

Splendid Glossy Starlings Lamprotornis splendidus These starlings

occurred in flocks at Nindam, but there was no evidence of breeding

in the area.

Sudanian Woodland corresponds to Northern Guinea Savanna of Keay

(1959) and Guinea-Congol ia/Sudania regional transition zone corresponds

to Southern Guinea Savanna and derived savanna. Mapping Unit 12 (Mosaic

of Guinea-Congol ian rain forest, Isoberlinia woodland and secondary

grassland) describes well the situation found in the vicinity of Kagoro.

Several forest birds extend into the Sudanian Woodland in gallery

or riverine forest. These include the Yellowbill, Guinea Touraco, Narina's

Trogon to name a few. Other species such as Green-headed Sunbird, Violet

Plantain-eater, Black-cap Babbler are confined to forest galleries in

Sudanian Woodland (see Fry 197*0 but probably occupy a more continuous

woodland area in the Guinea-Congol ia/Sudania regional transition zone

though information on their distribution here is lacking. Forest outliers

typical of the Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone are

not suitable habitats for these species and such outliers are therefore

occupied by birds of essentially forest distribution. At Kagoro at

least 52 forest birds are found with a nearly complete suite of forest

bulbuls (see Fig. 9 and accounts above).

Part of this forest element at Kagoro is made up of species which

are rare or previously unrecorded for Nigeria. These include Red-capped

Robin-Chat, Capuchin Babbler, Spotted Honeyguide , Yellow-throated Cuckoo,

Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike. These species are, for the most part,

12

M. Dyer, M.E. Gartshore & R.E. Sharland

MALIMBUS 8

E

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Andropadus gracilirostr

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l

Baeopoqon indicator

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i

Pvcnonotus barhatus

Andronadus nracilis

riicator chloris

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Pyrrhurus scanden.s

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©

Andronadus virens

Bleda canicapilla

Phyl last renhus albiqula

Figure A Vertical zonation of forest pycnonotids at Nindam.

sedentary and represent disjunct populations. Their presence may indicate

that Kagoro is a refugium.

Evidence for African refugia is scarce particularly in or adjacent

to the Congo Forest Block (Hamilton 1982). Hamilton (1982) concludes,

from the available information, that Africa experienced much greater

aridity between 21,000 and 12,000 B.P. Following the retreat of temperate

glaciers Africa experienced a warmer, wetter climate. Recent palynologi-

cal evidence suggests that forest cover in Africa began to increase

at about the close of the last glaciation 12,000 years ago. In order

to account for the present distribution of birds in West Africa, intact

patches of forest sufficient to support viable populations of birds

must have existed throughout the driest times. Some forest patches

must exist which are sufficiently isolated that the species they contained

found no opportunity to expand and occupy wider areas. Zones of species

richness today are those which receive greater than average rainfall

within the forested zone. These areas correspond to former refugia

during glacial periods (Hamilton 1982). Two conditions characteristic

of refugia are the presence of disjunct populations and a greater local

rainfai: (Hamilton 1982). The disjunct populations of birds are of

two typos at Kagoro: north-south and east-west. The east-west disjuncts

are more interesting because they do not indicate a northward adventive

re-population of forest patches on a seasonal basis. Purple-throated

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

13

Cuckoo-shrikes and Red-capped Robin-Chats are two such species. Although

less information is available this pattern of east-west disjuncts may

be similar for bats. The presence of migrants and nomads during the

dry season at Kagoro such as White-throated Bee-eater , European Bee-

eater , Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Cuckoo Falcon and Buf f -throated Sunbird

(birds which are normally found at this time much further south) may

not have historical significance but indicates to us that Kagoro still

possesses characteristics of true high forest.

CONSERVATION: A PLEA

Sadly, data are too few on 'middle belt' forest outliers to conclude

that our records of rare birds for Kagoro are indeed unique. Surveys

of many other forest outliers throughout the Guinea-Congolia/Sudania

regional transition zone would yield important information about how

species survive in and re-invade from isolated patches. Fortunately

much of the middle belt zone of Nigeria remains intact due to a de-

population of that area towards urbanized zones or more favourable tsetse-

free areas. Research in this area and protection of forest outliers

should be encouraged as we have much to gain from their study.

Clearly from a scientific standpoint Kagoro area may have great signifi-

cance as a possible refugium at the time of tropical aridity during

temperate glacial maxima. Our impression is that the avifauna at Kagoro/

Nindam may be unique in Nigeria, and we wish to plead a strong case for

conserving this richly diverse and scenically beautiful area.

SUMMARY

The birds and other organisms were studied at Kagoro from 1976 to 1 9 8 1 .

During this time about 90 species of stenotypic forest birds were documen-

ted including four species new to Nigeria. One species, the Red-capped

Rob in -Chat was discovered as a breeding bird at Kagoro but previously

was not known north of the Congo. Speculation is given as to whether

Kagoro represents a refugium.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We wish to express our thanks to all those who joined us on weekends

at Kagoro making our visits there both more productive and more enjoyable.

REFERENCES

ELG00D, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria, B.O.U. Check-list No. 9.

British Ornithologist's Union, 296 pp .

FRY, C.H. (1975) The northern limits of fringing forest birds in North

Central State, Nigeria. Bull. Nigerian Orn . Soc . 11: 56-69.

M. Dyer, M.E. Gartshore & R.E. Sharland

MALIMBUS 8

14

GARTSHORE, M.E. (1982) Additions to local avifaunas: Zaria. Mai imbus

4: 46-47 .

HALL, P. ( 1977 ) The birds of Serti. Bull. Nigerian Orn . Soc . 13: 66-

79.

HAMILTON, A.C. (1982) Environmental History of East Africa. Academic

Press, London, 328 pp .

JONES, E.W. (1963) The forest outliers in the Guinea zone of Northern

Nigeria. J. Ecol. 51: 415-434.

KEAY , R.W.J. ( ed . ) ( 1959) Vegetation Map of Africa. Oxford Univ. Press.

WHITE, F. (1983) The Vegetation of Africa. Natural Resources Research

XX, UNESCO, 356 pp.

M. Dyer, Chelinda, Nyika National Park, P.M.B. 6, Rumphi

P . 0 . , Malawi

M.E. Gartshore, RR 3, Dundas , Ontario, L9H 5E3 , Canada

R.E. Sharland, Flat 7 Elmsdown Court, Southampton Road,

Ringwood , Hants. U.K.

Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi , Nindam, Nigeria, 1981.

Photo: R.E. Sharland.

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

15

Appendix 1 Status , abundance and habitat of birds recorded at Kagoro

STATUS A = abundant, C = common, U = uncommon, R = rare, RE = permanent

resident, DV = dry season visitor (Oct-Apr), WV = wet season

visitor (May-Sept), VI ( ? ) = visitor of undetermined seasonal

status, PM = palaearctic migrant (either resident at Kagoro

during its stay or transient through the area), and I_M = intra-

african migrant.

ABUNDANCE An indication of the number of birds likely to be encountered

per two-day visit: 1 = 1 to 5 birds, 2 = 6 to 20 birds, 3.

= 21-50 birds, ± = 51 to 100 birds, 5 = 100 birds.

HABITAT (Main habitat in which each species recorded): F = forest,

S = savanna, DF = disturbed forest (includes timber clearings,

regrowth, cultivation and old village sites), DS = disturbed

savanna (includes cultivation, man-made fadamas, human habita-

tion), SCi = gallery forest along streams and around inselbergs

in savanna, KH = rocky habitats on Kagoro Hills.

w

0

2 Eh

CO < <

2 Q H

HZ n

<2 OQ

* Recorded in Nindam Forest Reserve.

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

17

w

o

2 E-

W < <

2 Q E-1

H 2 t-H

<2 CQ

18

M. Dyer, M.E. Gartshore & R.E. Sharland

MALIMBUS 8

SPECIES J F M

AMJJASOND

1986

Nindam Forest Birds

19

w

u

2 E->

W < <

2> Q E-i

H Z m

< z m

Appendix 2 Species recorded at Sanga River and Gimi River Forest Reserves

which were not recorded at Kagoro.

Butorides striatus Single bird fishing in Gimi River, 12 Jan 1980.

Egretta garzetta Single bird, Gimi River, 12 Jan 1980.

Scopus umbretta Pair roosting in tree, Gimi River, 12 Jan 1980.

Butastur rufipennis 6 attending bush fire, Sanga River, 3 Dec 1979.

Francolinus bicalcaratus 6, Gimi River, 12 Jan 1980.

Numida meleagris 50+ , Gimi River, 12 Jan 1980.

Podica senegalensis Single bird, Sanga River, 22 Dec 1979-

Pluvianus aegyptiacus 3 resting on sandbar, Gimi River, 12 Jan 1980.

Vanellus albiceps 1, Gimi River, 12 Jan 1980.

Vanellus senegallus 2, Gimi River, 12 Jan 1980.

Vanellus superc il iosus 3, Sanga River, 22 Dec 1979-

Tringa hypoleucos 1, Sanga River, 22 Dec 1979-

Tringa ochropus 3, Gimi River, 12 Jan 1980.

Macrodipteryx longipennis 2 males displaying, Gimi River, 12 Jan 1980.

Dicrurus adsimilis Single bird, Sanga River, 22 Dec 1979-

Appendix 3 Ringing totals, weights and wing lengths of species netted in

Nindam Forest Reserve.

20 M. Dyer, M.E. Gartshore & R.E. Sharland MALIMBUS 8

REVIEW

DER ZUG EUROPKlSCHER SINGVt)GEL. Vol. 4, by Gerhardt Zink, Universi t^ ts-

Druckerei Konstanz GmbH. Pp 146 (mainly maps). DM 76.00 . ISBN

3-9801167-3-5. 1985.

This volume deals with Ficudula hypoleuca, Motacilla alba, Bombycilla

garrulus, nine species of Emberiza, and P lec trophenax nivalis and Calcarius

lapponicus. As with the previous volumes, with which this one is uniform

in style and format, all Palaearctic and African recoveries of ringed

birds, in both directions, are mapped, with detailed commentaries in

the text (in German). The space devoted to a species is in proportion

with the amount of ringing activities concerned with it. Thus it takes

no less than 40 maps, full-page or inset, to detail the migrations,

as shown by straight lines between ringing and recovery stations, of

the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, distinguished according to age

class, season, and several other parameters. The maps are visually lucid

and easy to interpret; their scale varies with circumstance, and with

so few Saharan and subsaharan recoveries of Pied Flycatchers three small

partial maps of Africa suffice for it. The Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba

is dealt with in 15 pages; there are numerous recoveries in North Africa

(mapped with Europe) but few enough further south to require only four

small maps of Africa. Several of the species discussed in this volume

do not occur in Africa at all, of course.

Cont. on p 22

1986

21

LA STERNE CASPIENNE STERNA CASPIA PALLAS A L ' INTERI EUR

DU ZAIRE

par P. Herroelen

Received 10 April 1986

Pendant mon s6jour A Basankusu (19° 48'E, 01° 14'N) dans la province de

1'Equateur une Sterne 6puis6e fut ramass6e le 12 decembre 1954 par un

chauffeur zairois sur la route tout pr£s de Basankusu et apport^e ^

L. Peeters qui tenait un petit commerce d'animaux et d'oiseaux africains .

Le lendemain l'oiseau mourut et me fut pr^sent^ par L. Peeters;

k I'^poque j'avais determine ce specimen comme Sterna maxima (Schouteden

1961) en me basant uniquement sur l'aileron mesurd erron6ment comme

370 mm.

R^cemment k la lecture des r^sultats de baguage de la Sterne caspienne

en Afrique centrale (Glutz von Blotzheim et Bauer 1982) et des details

de la cl6 de determination chez Chapin (1939) j 'arrivals k la possibility

que la Sterne de 1954 devrait etre une Sterna caspia.

Cette supposition fut confirmee lars d'une verification de la peau

au MRAC k Tervuren (No. 81436). Ensemble avec M. Louette nous avons

reexamine l'oiseau en question et nous 1 'avons egalement compare avec

quelques Sterna maxima provenant de la c9te atlantique za'iroise.

Avant la mise en peau j'avais note les details suivants: poids 295

grammes (oiseau tr6s maigre ) ; estomac vide; iris brun fonqe; bee orange,

la pointe ieg6rement noire; tarse et doigts brun fon^e noiratre ; ongles

noirs . Male adulte, gonades en repos; voute cranienne munie de deux

petites "fenetres". Mensurations (en mm): aileron 389, queue, rectrices

m6dianes 100, rectrices externes 120, tarse 43-5, bee (mesur6 a partir

du crane) 76, largeur k la hauteur des narines 16 mm. Absence de mue

dans les ailes, la queue et les autre parties du corps.

Une deuxi6me preuve de la presence de la Sterne caspienne au Zaire

fut apport6e par la reprise d'un oiseau bagu6 en Suede. L'oiseau fut

tue au village Katampa Kapina, en region de Tshofa (05 15'S, 25 1 3 ' E ) ,

Kasai oriental le 11 d6cember 1961. II s'agit d'un oiseau de premiere

ann6e , bague au nid le 1 juillet 1961 dans le Uppland , Suede; distance

parcourue minimum 7,300 km S (Schouteden 1966; Glutz von Blotzheim

et Bauer 1982). La bague n'a pu etre recuper6e mais un des ailerons

est conserve au MRAC k Tervuren.

La concordance des deux dates (12 decembre, 11 decembre) est remarqu-

able. Plus d'une fois la Sterne caspienne a 6te trouv6e loin k 1 ' interieur

des terres (Mayaud 1956, 1958); sans doute traverse-t-elle le Sahara

d'un seul trait pour aller hiverner dans les lagunes ou estuaires des

grands fleuves africains (divers auteurs dans Glutz von Blotzheim et

Bauer 1982 ) .

22

P. Herroelen

MALIMBUS 8

La troisifeme preuve est la reprise d'un oiseau finlandais, cit^e

ici sans date et locality precises; cette trouvaille est mentionnde

par Nordstrom (1963) h la carte 21 A page 101 et dans un tableau & la

page 111 comme "Rep. Kongo, 1 in November". D'apres Glutz von Blotzheim

et Bauer (1982) cet oiseau a dtd trouv^ fin novembre "am Kongo/Zaire, 7000

km S".

SUMMARY

3 occurrences of Caspian Terns Sterna caspia in Zaire are authenticated:

in Dec 1959, Dec 1961, and a Finnish-ringed bird in Nov (year? - before

1963) •

REFERENCES

CHAPIN, J.P. (1939) The Birds of the Belgian Congo. Part 2. Bull. Am.

Mus . Nat. Hist. 75-

GLUTZ VON BLOTZHEIM, U.N. & BAUER, K.M. (1982) Handbuch der Vttgel Mittel-

europas. Band 8/11. Akad. Verlagsgesellschaf t Wiesbaden.

MAYAUD, N. (1956, 1958) Etude sur la migration et les zones d'hivernage

des Sternes caspiennes d'Eurasie. Alauda 29: 206-218, 26: 151.

NORDSTROM, G. (1963) Einige Ergebnisse der Vogelberingung in Finnland

in den Jahren 1913-1962. Orn . Fenn . 90: 81-129.

SCHOUTEDEN , H. ( 1 96 1 ) La Faune ornithologique des Districts de la Tshuapa

et de l'Equateur. Mus. Roy. Afr. centr. Doc. Zool . 1.

SCHOUTEDEN, H. (1966) Le Sterne caspien au Kasai (Congo). Rev . Zool .

Bot . Afr. , 73, 152-159.

P. Herroelen, Postbus 69, B-8900, Oostende, Belgium

REVIEW Cont. from p 20

Page size, 270 x 340 mm, is generous; maps, at 200 x 240 mm, include

often a mass of detail but are very well printed and exceptionally clear.

Most maps have no printing on the obverse side of the page. There are

five introductory pages, and a 4-page unbound enclosure giving an index

of the 100 songbird species covered in Vols. 1-4. The volume has a loose,

enclosing card cover.

The four volumes comprise a work of great scholarship, showing

at little more than a glance the totality of results of decades of bird

ringing, with tens of thousands of recoveries of tens of millions of

marked birds. Students of migration could now wish for two further magna

opera : an update of soecies in earlier volumes (Vol 1, 1973), and coverage

of non-passerine birds. _ ,,

C.H. Fry

1986

23

RECENT OBSERVATIONS OF BIRDS IN W NATIONAL PARK (NIGER)

by B. Shull, M. Grettenberger and J. Newby

Received 10 February 1986

#

Since the publication, in 1983, by Foster and Grettenberger of a survey of

the birds of Niger's sector of W National Park ( Mai imbus 5: 62-72), a con-

siderable amount of new data has come to light. The present authors have

identified a further 25 species (Appendix I), bringing the grand total for

the park to 308. Amongst the sightings, that of the Finfoot ( Podica

senegalensis : Heliorni th idae ) brings a new family to the park's avifauna.

We also include here additional month records for a further 101 species

( Appendix II).

We should like to take this opportunity of stressing our concern for

the future of W National Park, and in particular of its unique gallery

forest habitats, which are so important for many of the park's breeding

birds. W National Park encloses Niger's last remaining stands of forest of

any importance and they are today threatened by the construction of dams on

both the Niger and Mekrou rivers. The latter project, if implemented, would

guarantee the destruction of most of W's remaining gallery forest. Habitats

on the park's other main watercourse, the Tapoa river, are also threatened

by the exploitation of phosphates lying nearby. Both dam and phosphate

projects are progressing and unless pressure is brought to bear on the

government and the projects' financiers (World Bank, United States Agency

for International Development amongst others) the 'heart' of the park will

be irrevocably destroyed.

B. Shull, M. Grettenberger and J. Newby

WWF Representation to Niger, B.P. 10933, Niamey, Republic of Niger

APPENDIX I: NEW BIRD SPECIES FOR W NATIONAL PARK (NIGER)

( Tapoa R . ) .

Caprimulgus climacurus: replace July with June and Feb with Jan.

Plocepasser superc il iosus :

add Mekrou R. and Woodland.

24

B. Shull, M. Grettenburger & J. Newby

MALIMBUS 8

APPENDIX II :

Pelecanus rufescens

Phalacrocorax africanus

Ardea purpurea

Ardea melanocephala

Egretta intermedia

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Ciconia episcopus

Ciconia abdimii

Leptoptilos crumeniferus

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Plec tropterus gambensis

Neftapus auritus

Falco tinnunculus

Falco chiquera

Hieraaetus spilogaster

Aquila rapax

Aquila wahlbergi

Elanus riocourii

Elanus caeruleus

Polemaetus bellicosus

Butastur rufipennis

Circaetus gallicus

Circaetus cinereus

Melierax metabates

Terathopius ecaudatus

Polyboroides radiatus

Circus macrourus

Gallinula angulata

Balearica pavonica

Otis arabs

Eupodotis senegalensis

Burhinus senegalensis

Burhinus vermiculatus

Burhinus capensis

Vanellus spinosus

Vanellus tectus

Vanellus albiceps

Tringa ochropus

Tringa hypoleucos

Tringa glareola

Himantopus himantopus

Glareola cinerea

Larus cirrhocephalus

Sterna albifrons

Rhynchops flavirostris

Pterocles exustus

Streptopelia roseogrisea

Clamator levaillantii

Cuculus canorus

Centropus senegalensis

1986

25

REVISED LIST OF SOUND-RECORDED AFROTROPICAL BIRDS

by C. Chappuis

Received 10 January 1986

The first list of sound-recorded Ethiopian ( Af rotropical ) birds (Chappuis

1980) permits those interested in resident and visiting birds in Africa

easily to locate acoustic references for the large majority of species

(about 1900 species out of £. 1900). Since then much new information,

often concerning acoustically ill-known species, has appeared: 2191

new references embrace 1191 recordist-references and 1050 disc/cassette

references. These data are too numerous to cite in their entirety (par-

ticularly concerning common species already dealt with by Chappuis 1980).

I have therefore not made a complete revision of the previous list;

but give below a complementary list, drawn up according to the following

criteria :

Species not previously recorded: all references are cited.

Species with 5 disc/cassette references: no further citations given.

Species with <5 five disc/cassette references: only new recordings

(and holding institutions) are given.

Species with < 5 references in total: all new references are given

(publications, institutions, recordists).

As before, systematic sequence is that of Mackworth-Praed & Grant

(1970-1973), with the nomenclature of The Birds of Africa, where different,

in parenthesis. For each species the sequence of references is (i)

Institution (BBC, BLOWS, COR, FITZ), (ii) published discs or cassettes,

and (iii) Recordists, as follows:

(i) BBC: Natural History Unit, Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Road,

Bristol BS8 2LR , UK

BLOWS: British Library of Wildlife Sounds, The British Library,

National Sound Archive, 29 Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AS , UK

COR: Library of Natural Sounds, Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell

University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 19850, USA

FITZ: Fitzpatrick Bird Communications Library, Bird Department,

Transvaal Museum, PO Box 913, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

26

C. Chappuis

MALIMBUS 8

( ii ) List of discs/cassettes including Afrotropical species (continuation

of list in Chappuis 1980)

59 - NICOLAI, J. (1965) see no. 501 Malimbus 1980.

60 - ROCHE, J.C. (1968) Guide sonore des Oiseaux d'Europe, Tome

II: Maghreb. Five 17 cm 33 1/3 rpm mono discs. Distribution:

EDWARDS RECORDS, 58, rue du Docteur Calmette, 59320 SEQUEDIN.

France. Disc 1, one species.

61 - SLATER, A. and SLATER, D. (1970) Bird Chorus on the Limpopo.

One 30 cm 33 1/3 rpm disc. No. BS 001. Privately published by

A . V . SLATER 309th Street, PARKHURST 2193- JOHANNESBURG SA.

12 species.

62 - PALMER, S. and BOSWALL , J. (1969 - 1972) A Field Guide to the

Bird Songs of Britain and Europe. Twelve 12-inch 33 1/3 rpm discs.

RFLP 500 1-5012. SR Records. Swedish Broadcasting Corporation;

105 10 STOCKHOLM, Sweden

1/3 rpm disc. BBC OP 229. British Broadcasting Corporation,

35 Marylebore High Street, London W1M 9AA. 2 species.

66 - KABAYA , T. ( 1978) Birds of the World. I Africa. One 30 cm

33 1/3 rpm stereo disc. King Records SKS (H) 2007. King Records

Co, Japon. 20 birds.

67 - MARSHALL, J.T. (1978) See no. 505 Malimbus 1980.

68 - CHAPPUIS, C. (1979) See no. 509 Malimbus 198O.

69 - WALKER, A. (1980) Sounds of the Zimbabwe bush. One stereo cassette.

Queen Victoria Museum, Harare, ZIMBABWE, or A. WALKER, 1 Northmoor

Road, Oxford OXZ 6UW. 27 species.

70 - PALMER, S. and BOSWALL, J. (1980) A field guide to the bird

songs Britain and Europe. One 12-inch 33 1/3 rpm disc. RFLP

5015. SR Records. Swedish Broadcasting Corporation, 105 10 STOCKHOLM,

Sweden .

71 - CHAPPUIS, C. (1981) Les Oiseaux de l'Ouest Africain. disc 12,

Caprimulgidae , Trogonidae, Coliidae, Capitonidae , Indicatoridae .

One 30 cm 33 1/3 rpm mono disc. ALA 23 and 29 with Alauda V 99,

No. 1. Societe d'Etudes Ornithologiques , 96, rue d'Ulm, 75230

PARIS. 98 species.

72 - AUDIO THREE (198I) Bird calls. Three cassettes, Vol . I, II,

III. 6 Larch Road, DURBAN, R.S.A. 9001. 217 species.

1986

Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds

27

73 - PALMER, S. and BOSWALL , J. (1981) A field guide to the bird

songs Britain and Europe. Sixteen cassettes 5021 to 5036. SR

Records. Swedish Broadcasting Corporation, 105 10 ST0CKH0M, Sweden.

74 - GILLARD, L. and GIBBON, G. ( 1982) A field guide to the bird

calls of Southern Africa. Two cassettes (Tapes 1 and 2). Gillard

and Gibbon, P.0. Box 394. GREENSIDE 2034 JOHANNESBURG or P.0.

Box 10123, ASHW00D 3600 PINET0WN . About 920 species.

75 - AUDIO THREE. Bird calls: Bird families, Vol. IV. 2 cassettes.

6 Larch Road, DURBAN 4001 R S A.

76 - CHAPPUIS , C. (1984) Oiseaux migrateurs et gibier d'eau en

Hiver - Water fowl and Waders in Winter. One cassette. Obtain-

able from C. Chappuis, Lot. Fer a Cheval , LA B0UILLE, 76530

Grant Couronne , France.

77 - GILLARD, L. (1984) Southern african Bird Calls. Three cassettes

(Part 1, 2 and 3). Gillard Bird Cassettes, P.0. Box 72059 Parkview,

2122, JOHANNESBURG, S.A. 475 species.

78 - CHAPPUIS, C. ( 1985) Les Oiseaux de l’Ouest Africain , disc ALAUDA

13 Upupidae, Phoeniculidae , Apodidae , Picidae, Pittidae, Eurylaemidae ,

Alaudidae and Motacillidae . One 30 cm 33 1/3 rpm mono disc.

ALA 25 and 26 with Alauda V 53 No. 2. Societe d'Etudes Ornitholo-

giques 46, rue d'Ulm, 75230 PARIS. 65 species.

79 - GILLARD, L. - (1985) Southern African Bird Calls, revised and

enlarged Edition. Three cassettes (Part 1, 2 and 3)- Gillard

Bird cassettes, P.0. Box 72059 Parkview, 2122, JOHANNESBURG, S.A.

Plus de 500 especes. Par rapport au No. 77: 34 nouvelles esp£ces,

78 espfeces revues ou augment^es.

80 - REUCASSEL, D. (1984) Selected South African Bird Calls. One

cassette. P.0. Box 11327, JOHANNESBURG 2000, S.A. 141 species.

81 - GIBBON, G. (1984) Common Bird Calls of Southern Africa. One

cassette. P.0. Box 10123, ASHW00D 3605, S.A. 177 species.

82 - NORTH, M.E.W. and SIMMS, E. (1959) Witherby ' s Sound Guide to

British Birds. Thirteen 25 cm. 78 rpm mono HFG 1-13. H.F. &

G. Witherby, London. Note: re-issued in 1969 as two 30 cm 33

rpm EAS 001/2 and EAS 003/4. 4 species.

83 - MORRIS, J. (1969) Animal Magic. 30 cm 33 rpm mono BBC ROUNDABOUT

4 BBC Records, London. 3 species.

84 - ANON (1970) Animal Sounds - Birds. 17 cm 33 rpm mono PC 045/6.

Produced by Procaudio Ltd for BPC Publishing Ltd, London. 1

specie^ .

85 - RICCI, S. (1979) Bruits et ambiance d'Afrique. One 17 cm,

45 rpm mono, No. OCR 23- Office de cooperation radiophonique ,

PARIS. 3 species.

28

C. Chappuis

MALIMBUS 8

1986 Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds 29

DISCOGRAPHIES

The principal discographies of birds of the Afrotropical Region are:

Boswall , J. and Kettle, R. (1975)- A discography of bird sound from the

Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Recorded Sound 59, 460-463.

Boswall, J. and Kettle, R. (1979). Additions to a discography of bird

sound from the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Recorded Sound 74/75,

73.

Boswall, J. and North, M.E.W. (1967). A discography of bird sound from the

Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Ibis 109, 521-533-

Chappuis , C. (1980). List of sound recorded Ethiopian birds. Mai imbus 2,

1-15 and 81-98.

De Graaff, G. and Martin, R.B. (1972). A survey of existing sound recordings

of mammals and birds in Southern Africa. Koedoe 15, 107-125-

Parent, G.H. (1976). Discographie zoologique critique II. Aves 13, 1-228.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank all those sound-recordists who have collaborated in this enterprise,

and Directors of Sound Libraries: Tony Harris of FITZ, Jim Gulledge of COR,

and, particularly , Ron Kettle of BLOWS, who may not yet have recorded from

my numerous questions. I also thank Denise Claeys , who has patiently

updated my files and records.

30

C. Chappuis

MALIMBUS 8

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Michael Gore

40

MALIMBUS 8

THE 'HEAD-DIP AND FLUTTER' DISPLAY OF RED-THROATED BEE-EATERS

MEROPS BULLOCKI

by H.Q.P. Crick

Received 29 January 1986

INTRODUCTION

When a mated pair or a trio (mated pair plus helper) of Red-throated

Bee-eaters Merops bullocki alight at the entrance to their nest-tunnel,

they usually perform an excited trilling and greeting display (Fry 197 3 ) •

They also perform a 'head-dip and flutter' display which has been briefly

described by Fry (1984) after my own unpublished observations (Crick

1984). Here I give a more detailed description of the display and of

the circumstances in which it occurs.

METHODS

Observations of Red-throated Bee-eaters, were made during a three-year

study of their ecology and behaviour, from 1978 to 1981, in Yankari Game

Reserve, Bauchi State, Nigeria (10 30'E, 9 45'N). Colonies of nesting

bee-eaters were watched from hides placed 5-20 m distant. Many of the

bee-eaters at the colony sites were individually marked with brightly-

coloured plastic colours (Crick 1984).

THE DISPLAY

The 'head-dip and flutter display' was first noticed at an unusual flat

ground colony in Yankari (described by Crick & Fry 1980), and was subse-

quently observed at other colonies set in vertical cliffs. It may be

derived from the normal greeting display often given by bee-eaters when

perched in front of their nests; an example of greeting is described

in the following extract from my note-books:

"Two birds on the ground faced each other obliquely, tails

spread, heads raised at 45°, chin feathers puffed out, wings

slightly spread and vibrated, calling 'tew tew tewtewtewtewtew

time time time time' , rising in pitch after the first

few phonemes and falling slightly at the end."

The 'head-dip and flutter' display was often accompanied with a shortened

version of the greeting call:

"a bee-eater in front of its nest puts its head briefly

into the entrance and pulls it out again (the 'head-dip'),

then usually calls 'tirr tirr tirr time time time' while

vibrating its tail, and just before or just as the call

ends it makes a little fluttering flight up to 20 cm away

from its nest entrance, re-lands at the nest, spreading

and vibrating the tail, and head-dips again."

1986

Red-throated Bee-eater Display

41

The number of head-dips and the length of the call is variable within

the sequence.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DISPLAY

The 'head-dip and flutter' display was seen most often during nest excava-

tion and the period before egg-laying. Although enumeration of its

occurrences was not attempted, the display appeared to be given in three

different situations: (i) as a modified greeting ceremony when members

of a pair or trio were crowded at the entrance to their nest; ( i i )

as a stimulus to another bee-eater to enter the nest; (iii) as a stimulus

for the departure of a bee-eater from inside the nest. A further extract

from my notes illustrates such situations (in this extract, birds A

and B are the occupiers of nest N-l):

"08.14 hrs: A and B landed at N-l, they called trills

and A fluttered in the air a couple of times, then B entered

the hole. About 30 s later, B came out head first, A

and B trilled vociferously, A retreated and B re-entered

N-l. A then flew up ... above the holes. 08.16 hrs:

A jumped down to N-l and called. B reappeared out of

the hole ... A again fluttered a little and put its head

in the hole for 2-3 s. It retreated and B entered. A

then flew up above N-l again."

DISCUSSION

At vertical cliffs, where Red-throated Bee-eaters usually nest, a 'flutter'

away from a nest entrance appears to be the only way for a bird to make

space for its partner to head-dip or enter its nest. But on flat ground,

it would be easy just to take a couple of steps sideways and, in fact,

that is what happens later in the season when bee-eaters are feeding

nestlings. Since the flutter element of the display occurred at the

flat ground colony, it was inferred that it was part of a ritualised

display. The occurrence of a flat ground colony site allowed the seren-

dipitous discovery of this display.

It can be speculated that the 'head-dip and flutter' display evolved

from intention movements to enter the nest, combined with a flight away

from the nest entrance to allow another bee-eater access, and with the

incorporation of elements of the greeting display. Although elements

of the display can occur separately, 'head-dip and fluttering' combines

them in a partly ritualised manner and appears to occur in predictable

social situations.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was part of a Natural Environment Research Council studentship

supervised by C.H. Fry. Thanks are also due to P.J. Marshall, R.

Wilkinson and C.A. Galbraith.

H.Q.P. Crick

MALIMBUS 8

42

REFERENCES

CRICK, H.Q.P. (1984) Weight changes , foraging and the role of helpers

in red-throated bee-eaters. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University

of Aberdeen .

CRICK, H.Q.P. &. FRY, C.H. (1980) Level-ground nesting by Merops bullocki.

Malimbus 2: 73-74.

FRY, C.H. (1973) The biology of African bee-eaters. Living Bird 11:

75-112.

FRY, C.H. ( 1984 ) The Bee-eaters. T. & A.D. Poyser , Calton.

H.Q.P. Crick, Aberdeen University, Zoology Department, Culterty

Field Station, Newburgh, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB4 OAA , UK.

REVIEW

A DELIGHT OF OWLS: AFRICAN OWLS OBSERVED by Peter Steyn, 1984, David

Philip, Cape Town & Johannesburg and Tanager Books, Dover, New Hampshire.

Pp 159, 24 colour plates and numerous black-and-white photographs. £18.55p.

ISBN 0-88072-063-8 (Tanager Books).

If Peter Steyn is not Africa's foremost bird photographer he must be

a very strong contender for the title. That is particularly true for

owls, and diurnal birds of prey, with which he has cornered the market.

He is rightly well known for his photographic studies of numerous other

birds also; but his owls are peerless. In addition, what sets Steyn

apart from practically all top-flight nature photographers in Africa

is the consummate skill with which he complements the pictorial record

with other field observations. I dare say, in fact, that he would prefer

recognition as an ornithologist, naturalist and scientist, rather than

as a wildlife photographer.

The photographs are simply magnificent studies of a dozen species

of owls, and were made mostly in Zimbabwe. But the owls dealt with are

all widely distributed, so the book holds far more than just southern

African appeal. But widespread as they are, many of them will be barely

known to most bird-watchers, and both photos and text are packed with

information that readers will find excitingly new. The text is in the

form of narrative essays about the 12 species: Barn, Grass, Marsh, Wood,

White-faced, African Scops, Pearl-spotted, Barred, Spotted Eagle, Cape

Eagle, Giant Eagle, and Pel's Fishing Owls. Owls are delightful birds,

full of character and interest and biological curiosities; this is a

delightful book which does them every justice, and is thus most aptly

titled. It deals with little more than a third of the African owl species,

in little more than a third of the continent, yet the comprehensiveness

of the title is perfectly justified, for this is the first book devoted

Cont. on p 45

1986

NOTES

A3

FIRST YELLOW-BILLED DUCK RECORD FOR NIGERIA - This photograph of five Yellow-

billed Ducks Anas undulata was taken by Chris Pearson on Mambilla Plateau,

Nigeria, "about 1978", and was brought to my attention through the good

offices of R.E. Sharland. The original is a colour print and shows clearly

the bright yellow bills of all five birds, as well as other plumage features

which make the identification unquestionable. The only previous West

African record is of one specimen from Vina River, Cameroon (Monard, 1951,

cited by M. Louette , 1981, The Birds of Cameroon an Annotated Check-List ,

and mapped by Snow, 1978, An Atlas of Speciation in African Nonpasserine

birds ) . Otherwise the species is unknown west of a line between north

Ethiopia and west Angola. There are two 'good' races, differentiated on

bill colour and some plumage features; but the race of the Mambilla birds

cannot be safely determined from the photo. In southern Africa the species

is somewhat migratory, with the most distant recovery of 1100 km; but whether

the Mambilla (and Cameroon) birds are resident or migrants is open to

question .

C.H. Fry

LITTLE EGRETS AND REEF HERONS HOVERING —

On 19 May 1985 I was watching a group of herons feeding quietly on a tidal

mudflat in the lagoon of Abidjan. Species included Great White Egret

Egretta alba (1), Yellow-billed Egret E. intermedia (2), Little Egret

E, garzetta (11), Reef Heron E. gularis (13) and Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

(1 imm ) . Sudden ly a Little Egret started hovering over the shallow water

of the lagoon, stabbing at small fish below. Its example was immediately

followed by other Little Egrets as well as by Reef Herons. Sometimes while

hovering their feet were trailing in the water and one Reef Heron even

lowered itself slowly into the water, up to the belly, without touching

ground. After a while up to three E. garzetta and five E. gularis were

foraging this way. They were still doing so when I left half an hour later.

NOTES

MALIMBUS 8

44

I pass this mudflat twice a day on my way to work for several years now

and I regularly go counting and watching birds there, but it was the first

and only time I observed this behaviour, so I suppose it is not common.

Hancock and Kushlan (1984, The Herons Handbook^ state that the feeding tech-

niques used by the Little Egret are highly variable and they mention some

often used 'active' techniques, but no mention is made of hovering. Brown,

Urban and Newman (1982, The Birds of Africa, vol 1) do not mention

hovering behaviour either.

Ron Demey

PNUD , 01 BP 1747, Abidjan 01, Ivory Coast

TWO NEW SPECIES FOR IVORY COAST - Since publication of J.M. Thiollay's Birds

of Ivory Coast ( Mai imbus 1: 1-59) I have seen two new species, bringing to

685 the number of species of this country.

European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur

A party of about six seen in the South of Comoe National Park (near Ganse)

on 10 Feb 1985 (observation made with Jan Van de Voorde ) .

Reichenbach ' s Sunbird Nectarinia reichenbachii

One near Dabou (coast) on 23 June 1985 in shrubs bordering ricefields.

The bird was at exactly the same spot on three subsequent visits to the

area on 30 June, 3 August and 28 September. At each visit an excellent

view was obtained, the bird not being shy and sitting for long stretches

on end on the same twig and always returning to it after short flights.

The bright yellow of lower belly and undertail coverts was conspicuous.

A sighting on 13 July 1980 in Abidjan (in some palms on the golfcourse,

at that time still under construction) was almost certainly of the same

species .

Ron Demey

PNUD, 01 BP 1747, Abidjan 01, Ivory Coast

JOHANNA'S SUNBIRD IN NIGERIA - Sabon Gida Akwanwe village lies in southern

Gongola State, Nigeria, near the Mambilla Plateau, at 06°45'N, 11°00'E.

The area is hilly (elevation c. 500 m), with large patches of lowland rain-

forest interspersed with thick guinea savanna bush and plots of farmland.

The village is 15 km from the Cameroun border, which here follows the upper

Donga River. On 18 Sept 1985 I watched several species of forest birds

there, including a Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus eating cater-

pillars, and a male Johanna's Sunbird Nectarinia johannae. It had metallic

green head, throat and back, non-metallic dark red breast, and black wings

and tail. The only previous record in Nigeria was at Lagos in 1951-

H.H. Gray

PO Box 30, Wukari , Gongola, Nigeria

RINGING IN NIGERIA 1985 - No ringing was carried out in Nigeria in 1985, but

six foreign-ringed birds were reported. Full details of two of these have

been received (Schedule 1).

Of 38 White Storks Ciconia ciconia controlled in Nigeria since 1962 ,

all but four were caught by trappers near Nguru using live storks as

1986

NOTES

95

decoys. The decoy herd was kept in the village of Margadu , on the border

of Kano and Bornu States.

On 6 Nov 1985 J.S. Ash and I visited Kano State Wetland Reserve,

accompanied by P. Hall (Ecologist, Bornu State), game guards, and officials

from both States. We found 20 White Storks and Abdim's Storks C . abdimii ,

with one Cattle Egret, staked out with a large quantity of snares around

them. The snares were destroyed and the birds will be kept in Maiduguri

Zoo until their flight feathers have grown ,' when they will be released.

The International Council for Bird Preservation and the Nigerian Conservation

Foundation, who arranged our trip to Nigeria, were very pleased that

Conservation is now being given a high priority.

On the same trip we visited Kagoro and put up nets for one night. 11

birds were controlled; the longest recovery periods are shown in Schedule

2.

Schedule 1

Night Heron Nycticorax nyctycorax Ringed 3/6/89, Slavonski Brod (Hrvatska)

Jugoslavia, 45°08' N, 18°01' E.

Caught on fish hook, Nguru , -/2/85

White Stork Ciconia ciconia Ringed 28/5/81, Castelo Branco, Portugal,

39° 50 ’ N, 07° 1 1 ' E.

Schedule 2

Controls at Kagoro:

duration since ringed as adults*:

Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea

Bluebill Spermophaga haematina

White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha polioptera

White-bellied Kingfisher Corythornis leucogaster

Little Green Bulbul Andropadus virens

Grey-headed Bristle-Bill Bleda canicapilla

2

6

5

6

5

6

years

9 months

9 " 13 days

9 10 "

8 " 19 "

9 " 29 "

5 " 10 "

(*for some comparable data see D.B. Hanmer , 1985,

Safring News 1 9 :

51-60).

R.E. Sharland

REVIEW Cont. from p 42

to owls in Africa. In no way does it overlap or compete with any of

the several other owl books which have appeared recently in Europe and

the States; rather, it complements them. It does for owls what Steyn

has already done for southern African birds of prey and Rowan for doves,

parrots, louries and cuckoos, in putting them well and truly into the

monographic literature and making the better appreciation of them readily

available to all.

C.H. Fry

46

NOTICES

MALIMBUS 8

7TH PAN-AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS

The 7th Pan-African Ornithological Congress will be held in Nairobi,

Kenya from 28 August to 5 September 1988. There will be symposia, contri-

buted papers, poster sessions, workshops, and excursions including several

tied in with symposia on avifaunas of threatened forests of Kenya.

One theme will be threatened Afrotropical forest avifaunas. I.C.B.P.

will participate in a one full day's programme. Funding and suggestions

for funding travel to the meeting, and participation of indigenous African

ornithologists in it are solicited. For further information please

contact D.A. Turner, P.0. Box 48019, Nairobi, Kenya, or Dr. L. Short,

American Museum of Natural History, New York City, New York 10024-5192,

U.S.A.

Avian physiologist Prof. Geoffrey Maloiy of the University of Nairobi

is the Congress Chairman. For those wishing to contribute papers or

propose symposia, the Scientific Programme Chairman is Dr. David Pearson,

Dept, of Biochemistry, Univ. of Nairobi, P.0. Box 30197, Nairobi.

The weather should be ideal (cool nights in Nairobi, clear warm days).

Avian habitats are nowhere more threatened than in the Afrotropics.

East Africa still offers the best opportunity to view the last of the

great Pleistocene world faunas. Nairobi is an international city with

hotels in diverse price ranges. It is so favourably located for visiting

various birds habitats that two days in the middle of the Congress will

be devoted to overnight excursions. Mt . Kenya, Africa's second highest

mountain, snow covered, the flamingo-famous Rift Valley lakes, various

woodlands and the western forests are all but a few hours drive from

Nairobi. Take advantage of this unique opportunity.

RESEARCH PROJECT: THREATS TO THE WHITE STORK ON MIGRATION

The breeding populations of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia in Germany

and most other European countries have been declining heavily over the

past century (in Western Germany about 80-90% (!) between 1935 and 1984).

The trend is obviously towards the extinction of the populations. Habitat-

alterations in the breeding areas have proved to be the major reasons

for this decline, but it cannot be explained by this factor alone.

Carrying out very long seasonal migrations between Europe and West,

East and South Africa, the White Stork also faces various threats on

its migration routes in many other countries of Africa and in the Middle

East, e.g. shooting, trapping, shortage of food and habitat alterations

caused by desertification, overgrazing and human activities (agricultural

development, pest control, building activities, road construction).

To obtain more detailed ideas of the consequences which threats to

migration have for White Stork breeding populations , WWF-Germany and

ICBP jointly started a two-year research project "Threats to the White

Stork Ciconia ciconia on its migration routes and in its wintering areas".

Aims of the project, which is financed by the Government of Schelswig-

Hoistein/West Germany, will be:

to analyse factors threatening the White Stork directly and indirectly

in the different countries on its migration route.

1986

NOTICES

47

to analyse the extent of application of biocides and their direct

and indirect effects on migrating White Storks.

to draw together a list of areas which are of major importance for

migrating White Stork.

to produce comprehensive documentation, containing results of the

project and suggestions for an international conservation strategy

for the White Stork.

Because of the enormous range of the area which White Storks visit

on migration, it is impossible in this project to carry out field studies

and detailed investigations in all and migration and wintering countries.

A really comprehensive overview of the situation for the White Stork

can only be obtained if many collaborators submit information and observa-

tions on threats (birds found dead, pesticides, etc.) and on the occurrence

and distribution of the White Stork in Southern Europe, the Middle East

and Africa. People interested in collaborating are therefore asked to

contact the project leader as soon as possible for further details:

WWF-Germany/ICBP White Stork Project

Dr Holger Schulz

Am Lindenberg 1

D3331 LELM

Federal Republic of Germany.

RARE WADERS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

To obtain a better insight into the occurrence of rare waders of Nearctic

and/or eastern Palaearctic origin in sub-Saharan Africa (i.e. south of

20 N), it is proposed to publish a paper in Dutch Birding summarising

all records of these birds from this region up to and including 1985.

Observers are requested to send full details (including photographs where

possible) of all records, whether published or unpublished, to P.B. Taylor,

c/o The Computer Bureau, P.0. Box 42317, Nairobi, Kenya. In particular,

information on plumage and bare parts should be as detailed as possible.

Reprints or photocopies of papers and notes on already published records

are also welcome. All contributors will be acknowledged.

WORKING GROUP ON GRANIVOROUS BIRDS: INTECOL

Le Professeur J. Pinowski organise un Symposium sur "le r6le des oiseaux

granivores dans les ecosy stehnes " . II avait tout d'abord 6t6 pr6vu que

ce Symposium serait tenu lors du Congr^s International d'Ecologie (Syracuse

USA) le 13 aout 1986, mais h la demande de nombreux ornithologues une

session sera aussi organis6e lors du Congr&s international d ' Ornithologie ,

Ottawa, juin 1986. Les communications faites en ces 2 diff6rents Congress

seront r£unis en un seul volume. Le Professeur Pinowski m'a par ailleurs

demand^ de coordonner les travaux sur les oiseaux granivores en Afrique.

Si cette question vous int^resse , voulez-vous vous mettre en relation

avec moi pour voir ce que nous pouvons faire ensemble. Je vous remercie

d'avance de cette collaboration.

48

MALIMBUS 8

Professor J. Pinowski is organizing a symposium on the role of granivorous

birds in ecosystems, at the International Ecological Congress, Syracuse,

USA, on 13 August 1986. At the request of many ornithologists a similar

session will also be held during the International Ornithological Congress

in Ottawa in June. The proceedings of both symposia will be combined

into a single published volume. African contributions will be co-ordinated

by Dr M-Y . Morel (Station d ' Ornithologie , B.P. 20, Richard-Toll , Senegambia

to whom prospective participants should address their intentions and

any queries.

Marie-Yvonne MOREI

Steering Committee of Working Group on Granivorous Birds (Intecol)

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIETE D ' ORNITHOLOGI E DE L'OUEST AFRICAIN

REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 1985

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER 1985

ASSETS

Bank Balance

Deposit Account

Subscriptions in arrear

£ 69

900

189

£ 262

900

£1158 £1162

LIABILITIES

Subscriptions in advance

Accumulated Funds

Balance at 1st January 1985 £1096

Surplus for year 23

£89 £ 116

630

1069 916

1096

£1158

£1162

R E COMM ANDAT ION S AUX AUTEURS

Malimbus publie des articles, de courtes notes, des analyses et des lettres

a vec illustrations. Les manuscrits doivent etre dactylographies a double

interligne avec une large marge sur un seul cote de chaque page. Autant

que possible, les manuscrits auront ete auparavant soumis a un ornithologue

ou un biologiste.

Le texte sera de nouveau dactylographie pour sa reproduction en offset,

mais les figures doivent etre preparees pour une reproduction directe avec

possibility d'une reduction de 20%. On se servira d'encre de Chine et d'un

papier blanc de bonne qualite; on dessinera lettres et grises avec des

"Letraset" ou "Letratone" (ou equivalent) .

LES CONVENTIONS pour les tableaux, les dates, les nombres, les valeurs en

systeme metrique, les references devront etre soigneusement suivies et

pourront etre recherchees dans ce numero et dans les precedents. Les

articles contenant de longues listes d'especes devront etre du format d'un

tableau (e.g. Malimbus 1: 22 ou 1: 49) ou du format d'une page de textes du

1: 36 et 56 pour les textes avec de courtes observations par especes ou du

1: 90 pour les textes plus longs.

REFERENCES A OMETTRE DANS LA BIBLIOGRAPHIE

BANNERMAN 1930-51 or 1953 : Bannerman, D.A. (1930-51) The Birds of West

Tropical Africa. 8 vols. Crown Agents, London; (1953) The Birds

of West and Equatorial Africa. 2 vols. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh and

London

ELGOOD 1982 : Elgood, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. B.O.U., London

ELGOOD, SHARLAND & WARD 1966 : Elgood, J.H., Sharland, R.E. & Ward, P.

(1966) Palaearctic migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 108 : 84-116

ELGOOD, FRY & DOWSETT 1973 : Elgood, J.H., Fry, C.H. & Dowsett, R.J.

African migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 115 : 1-45 and 375-411

HALL & MOREAU 1970 : Hall, B.P. & Moreau, R.E. (1970) An Atlas of Speciation

in African Passerine Birds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.), London

MACKWORTH-PRAED & GRANT 1957-73 or 1970-73 : Mackworth-Praed, C.W. & Grant,

C.H.B. (1957-73) African Handbook of Birds. Series I, Birds of Eastern

and North Eastern Africa (2nd ed.). 2 vols. Series II, Birds of the

Southern Third Africa. 2 vols. Series III, Birds of West Central and

Western Africa. 2 vols. Longmans Green & Co., London; (1970-73)

African Handbook of Birds. Series III, Birds of West Central and

Western Africa. Vol. I, 1970, Non-passerines, Vol. 2, 1973, Passerines.

Longmans, London

SERLE & MOREL 1977 : Serle, W. & Morel, G.J. (1977) A Field Guide to the

Birds of West Africa. Collins, London

SNOW, D.W. (Ed.) 1978 : An Atlas of Speciation in African Non-Passerine

Birds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.), London

WHITE 1960-65 : White, C.M.N. (I960) A check list of the Ethiopian

Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers of the National

Museums of Southern Rhodesia 3 (24B) : 399-430; (1961) A revised check

list of African broadbills ... etc. Lusaka : Government Printer;

(1962a) A check list of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Parts II

and III. Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus . S. Rhod. 3 (26B) : 653-738; (1962b) A

revised check list of African shrikes ... etc. Lusaka : Gov. Printer;

(1963) A revised check list of African flycatchers ... etc. Lusaka :

Gov. Printer; and (1965) A revised check list of African Non-Passerine

birds. Lusaka : Gov. Printer.

MALIMBUS 8 (1) May 1986

CONTENTS

Change in Managing Editorship

The Birds of Nindam Forest Reserve, Kagoro, Nigeria.

M. Dyer, M.E. Gartshore and R.E. Sharland 2

La Sterne Caspienne Sterna caspia Pallas A l'lnterieur du Zaire.

P. Herroelen 21

Recent Observations of Birds in W National Park (Niger).

B. Shull, M. Grettenberger and J. Newby 23

Revised List of Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds. C. Chappuis 25

The 'Head-Dip and Flutter' Display of the Red-throated Bee-eater

Merops bullocki. H.Q.P. Crick 40

First Yellow-billed Duck Record for Nigeria. C.H. Fry

Little Egrets and Reef Herons Hovering. Ron Demey 43

Two New Species for Ivory Coast. Ron Demey

Johanna's Sunbird in Nigeria. H.H. Gray

Ringing in Nigeria 1985. R.E. Sharland 44

Reviews 20

Notices 46

Accounts

MALIMBUS

Journal of the West African Ornithological Society

Societc d’Ornithologic de l’Ouesf Africain

VOLUME 8 1986

Number 2 December

WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SOCIFTE DORNITHOLOGIE DE LOUEST AFRICAIN

Council 1982-1985

President Professor Brian J. Harris

Vice-President Dr Gerard J. Morel

Hon. Secretary Professor John H. Elgood

Hon. Treasurer & Membership Secretary Mr Robert E. Sharland

Managing Editor, Malimbus Dr Humphrey Q.P. Crick

Editorial Board Dr Robert A. Cheke, Dr Gerard J. Morel,

Dr Roger Wilkinson

Correspondecnce should be addressed as follows:

- to the Managing Editor (Tropical Development & Research

Institute, College House, Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ, U.K.)

regarding contributions to Malimbus and purchase of back

numbers

- to the Hon. Treasurer (1 Fishers Heron, East Mills,

Fordingbr idge , Hampshire FP6 2JR, U.K.) regarding

subscriptions and financial matters

- to the President (Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu

Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria) or Vice-President (Station

d ' Ornithologie, Richard-Toll , B.P. 20, Senegal) regarding

policy matters

- to the Hon. Secretary (26 Walkford Way, Highcliffe, Dorset BH23

5 LR, U.K.) regarding all other matters

The Society grew out of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society, which

was founded in 1964. Its object is to promote scientific interest

in the birds of West Africa and to further the region's ornithology

mainly by means of the publication of its journal Malimbus

(formerly the Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society).

Applications for membership are welcomed. Annual membership

subscription rates are #6.00 for Ordinary Members and #15.00 for

Corporate Members (payments may be made in # sterling or FFr for

encashment in U.K. or in Nigerian N for encashment in Nigeria).

Members receive Malimbus free of charge.

BACK NUMBERS : Vols. 11-14 (1975-1978) of the Bulletin of the

Nigerian Ornithologists' Society (the same format as Malimbus)

and of Malimbus Vol. 1 (1979) onward (except Vol. 4 Part 1) are

available at #6.00 per volume (payments as above).

AHMADU. BELLO UNIVERSITY PRESS : The Society acknowledges with

ngratitude subsidy by the Ahmadu Bello University Press, Nigeria, to

whom copyright of Malimbus belongs.

ISSN : 0331

3689

Emblem design by Philip Blasdale

1986

49

EDITORIAL

It is with some trepidation, mingled with excitement, that I

have taken over the editorship of Malimbus from Hilary Fry.

A tribute to Hilary's excellent and unstinting work as editor

follows and all I can say is that I hope I can fulfil the

expectations of the membership and build on the solid platform

laid by Hilary. In this task I shall be helped immensely by

the guidance of an editorial board consisting of Gerard Morel,

our vice-president, Roger Wilkinson and Bob Cheke, all of whom

will be familiar to you through their writings in Malimbus and

elsewhere. Each paper will be commented on by at least two of

us and may be sent to another referee when spcialist knowledge

is required.

This particular issue is the product of an editor learning the

ropes and finding new production facilities and as such, I

apologise for the lateness and relatively small size. However,

I have already enough papers in store to fuel further issues

including ones on such subjects as Hammerkops , Turtle Doves,

Acrocephalus warblers, the birds of Northern Air, reviews of

recent books, as well as nearly completed checklists of the

birds of Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso. Of course, as

Hilary Fry on occasion pointed out, the success of Malimbus

depends on a continuing flow of contributions from you, the

ornithologists of West Africa. So keep them coming.

With the Season's Greetings.

Humphrey Crick

HILARY FRY

Clearly history does sometimes repeat itself! Long standing

members of WAOS , whose membership goes back to the former

Nigerian Ornithological Society, will recall that one of us

paid tribute to Hilary Fry when he left Ahmadu Bello University,

Zaire to take up appointment at Aberdeen University in 1967.

'N.O.S.' and its Bulletin were then quite unestablished and it

was feared that the loss of 'Pooh-Bah' Hilary (as that earlier

tribute called him) might sound the death-knell of the Society.

However, thanks to the efforts of John Button and Roy Parker

as successive editors, the Bulletin survived and in 1974 Hilary,

now well established at Aberdeen, re-assumed editorship and

with the University facilities behind him, was able greatly to

improve the journal's format, and the standard of articles rose

correspondingly. Although the N.O.S. had acquired a set of

Officers it was Hilary's untiring energy that held the Society

together. With members never able to meet as a Society, the

Bulletin had to appear regularly for our survival.

Then in 1978, Hilary had the brilliant idea of convening an

'African Chat' at Liverpool. Over 20 members of N.O.S.

attended, and almost as many non-members interested in African

50

MALIMBUS 8

ornithology. The meeting was completely informal - no

advertised programme, no listed speakers. Was it inspired by

Hilary's Quaker upbringing? But this meeting led to the birth

of WAOS , with its new and now internationaly recognised

journal Malimbus . With this bilingual journal the work of

the Editor was greatly increased and it says much for Hilary's

drive and leadership that the journal has included so many

excellent articles from the francophone membership.

We feel that, on behalf of the Society we should congratulate

Hilary on the award of a DSC Degree by Aberdeen University,

for a thesis encompassing his life-time's work in African

Ornithology. In recent years he has furthered his great

contribution to African Ornithology with the assumption of

joint editorship of 'The Birds of Africa' following the sad

and sudden death of Leslie Brown. He has become the recognised

authority on Coraciiform birds on a world-wide basis,

culminating in his authoratitive monograph on The Bee-eaters

published by T. & A.D. Poyser. Furthermore, all African

Ornithologists are indebted to Hilary for his series of

Coded Bibliographies of African Ornithology.

Now, sadly, history has repeated itself with Hilary's moving

to pastures new with a Chair at Sultan Qaboos University,

Muscat. (We understand that 3 species of Bee-easter nest, if

not on the campus, at least very near to it!) On behalf of

all WAOS members we wish him every success in this new

venture and our good wishes are extended too to his wife

Kathie. We shall hope to learn how they are faring and to see

them when they come on leave.

Just as Hilary ensured that the N.O.S. Bulletin would contine

when he left Nigeria for Aberdeen, by talking to John Button

into becoming Editor, so now he has characteristically

arranged for the continuance of Malimbus . The new Editor,

Humphrey Crick, was a post-graduate student of Hilary's

(working on Bee-eaters!) at Aberdeen where he contines to hold

an appointment and will thus be able to continue to use the

same production facilities. Moreover he is currently also

working in London at The Tropical Development Research

Institute which will mean that the Secretary and the

Treasurer of the Society will be able to meet him relatively

easily. Hilary has also arranged for Gerard Morel our vice-

president, Roger Wilkinson of Chester Zoo and Bob Cheke also

at TDRI to form an editorial board to assist Humphrey Crick.

We wish the new Editorship well and thank them for undertaking

this arduous task, on which the future of WAOS depends.

J.H. Elgood, Secretary WAOS

R.E. Sharland, Treasurer WAOS

(Founders with Hilary Fry of NOS)

L 9 3 6

Birds of Togo

51

RECORDS OF BIRDS SEEN IN THE REBULIC OF TOGO DURING

1984-1986

by Robert A. Cheke, J. Frank Walsh and Samuel A. Sowah

Received 1 April 1986

Revised 30 August 1986

In previous articles the senior authors have summarised their

observations on birds seen in Togo between 1972 and 1983

(Cheke & Walsh 1980, 1984, Cheke 1982). Most of the records

referred to northern areas and thus complemented the coastal

data provided by Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980). These

recent papers have extended and amplified on the data in the

lists of Dekeyser (1951), De Roo et a_l. (1969 , 1970, 1971 ,

1972) and Louette (1975), the only authors to describe

substantial collections made in Togo this century. During

1984 J. F. W. (May-Aug) and R. A. C. (Aug-Oct) were again

living in Lama-Kara, in the north of Togo. In March and Sept-

Nov 1985 R. A. C. was based in Lome, on the coast, and also

worked in forested areas in S. W. Togo. In early 1986 J. F. W.

returned to Togo and added to the coastal data with

observations at Lome in Feb. These visits, together with

S. A. S.'s residence in Lama-Kara have provided opportunities

to improve our knowledge of the Togolese avifauna and, in

particular, to provide more information on forest birds and

dry season visitors. During 1985 (Mar and Sept-Nov) , R. A. C.

made a weekly census at Lome of a 2 km stretch of beach and

flooded wasteland between the Sara-Kawa Hotel and the harbour,

where J. F. W. also watched on 1 & 2 Feb 1986. The area is

visited by many waders and used as a roost by migrant terns.

Most of the forest birds were seen in the Badou area,

adjoining the Ghanaian border in S. W. Togo, but many were

also seen further north by J. F. W. and S. A. S. who

concentrated on the Aledjo forest.

Nomenclature and sequence for Afrotropical species in the list

below follow Hall & Moreau (1970) and Snow (1978). Species

additional to our previous lists are marked with asterisks and

for these birds references are given for other Togolese

records, if any are known. We have also included records of

interest such as observations on Palaearctic or intra-

African migrants, rare species, breeding, large flocks or

unusual behaviour. The coordinates of named localities are

provided as an Appendix.

AREIDAE

Eqretta garzetta Little Egret On 19 June 1984 10 in the Anie

area. 2 at Anecho on 8 Mar 1985 and one at Lome on 31 Mar

1985 and 1-2 Feb 1986.

5 2

R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

M ALIM BUS 8

*E. gularis Reef Heron One at Lome on 1 & 2 Feb 1986.

Recorded by Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

*E. intermedia Yellow-billed Egret One near Tsevie on 8 Mar

1985 and 2 at Lama-Kara on 17 Mar 1985.

*Ardea goliath Goliath Heron One at Anecho on 8 Mar 1985.

Recorded by Millet-Horsin (1923).

SCOPIDAE

Scopus umbretta Hammerkop An active nest at 08C25'N beside

the Anie river on 19 June 1984. Pairs seen copulating at

Naboulgou on 30 Aug 1984 and mobbing an Allied Hornbill

Tockus fasciatus at 09<r’09'N, 01°24'E on 13 Sept 1984 .

CICONI IDAE

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Saddlebill Stork One on the Oti

flood plains, south of Sansanne-Mango on 21 Aug 1984.

Anastomus lamelligerus Openbill One 47 km north of Naboulgou

on 13 May 1984.

ACCIPITRIDAE

*Circus aeruginosus Marsh Harrier Single males beside the

Oti river near Sansanne-Mango on 14 Oct 1984 and near Adeta on

14 Mar 1985. Recorded by Douaud (1957) and Browne (1980).

Circaetus cinereus Brown Snake Eagle One a few km south of

Dapaon on 27 Aug 1984.

C. cinerascens Smaller Banded Snake Eagle One at Mo on 27 &

28 June 1984.

*Accipiter ovampensis Ovampo Sparrowhawk one at Avetonou on

10 Oct 1985.

*A. tachiro macroselides African Goshawk One at Djodji on

26 Mar 1985. Recorded by De Roo et_ al . (1972 ).

*A. minullus erythrops Western Little Sparrohawk One seen in

forest beside the waterfall at Kpime-Tomegbe on 3 Oct 1985.

After taking off and flying, below canopy level, to another

perch the hawk attracted the attention of party of 8 Tockus

fasciatus which followed it, calling loudly. A single A .

minullus was also seen at Djodji on 16 & 23 Oct 1985.

Recorded by De Roo et_ a_l. ( 1969 , 1971) and Browne (1980).

*Urotr iorchis macrourus Long-tailed Hawk One at Djodji on

16 Oct 1985. The bird was first seen at mid-day when it

glided silently past at two-thirds the height of the forest

986

Birds of Togo

53

trees. At 1630 hrs . the bird returned, being mobbed by some

Pvcnonotus barbatus and glided for at least 50 m without

flapping its wings. The long tail may help the species to

fly in this manner in search of its main prey of squirrels

(Brown et_ e_l. 1982 ) which were abundant in the area.

Loohaetus occipitalis Long-crested Hawk Eagle One at

Naboulgou on 30 Aug 1984 and at Djodji on 21 & 26 Mar & 16

Oct 1985.

*Steohanoaetus coronatus Crowned Eagle A pair soaring over

the Mt Tamania area, west of Atakpame on 9 Oct 1985.

Recorded by Reichenhow (1897) and Millet-Horsin (1923).

*Hieratus pennatus Booted Eagle A pale phase bird in gallery

forest at 08C39'N, 00°42'E beside the Kpaza river, in the

Fazao mountains, on 13 Sept 1984.

FALCONIDAE

Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon One near Hiheatro on 30

Mar 1985 and one on the beach at Lome, trying to catch waders

and terns, on 27 Oct & 17 Nov 1985.

F. alooex Fox Kestrel One swooping down over the corpse of

its mate, killed on the road at the Faille d'Aledjo on 28 May

1984. One bird at the same place on 17 June 1984, but not

seen after this date.

*F. tinnunculus rufescens West African Kestrel A pair

observed at Badou from 22 to 29 Mar 1985. They rested next to

a large nest of sticks in a tall tree; but they were never

seen to enter the nest, the ownership of which remained

unknown. One seen catching a lizard. The birds were absent

from the site in Oct 1985.

GRUIDAE

Balearica pavonina Crowned Crane Two on flood plains beside

the Oti river near Sansanne-Mango on 14 Oct 1984.

HAEMATOPODIDAE

*Haematopus ostralequs Oystercatcher One on the beach at

Lome on 17 Nov 1985.

CHARADRI IDAE

Vanellus spinosus Spur-winged Plover A pair beside the Oti

river near Sansanne-Mango on 21 & 27 Aug 1984.

*Charadrius dubius Little Ringed Plover One at Lome on 11

54

R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

Mar 1985. Recorded by Browne (1980) and a bird ringed as a

pullus in Nottinghamshire was recovered near Lome on 28 Jan

1984 (Mean & Hudson 1985).

*C. hiaticula Ringed Plover Twenty or more present at Lome

in Mar and Sept to Nov 1985. Maxima 50 on 24 Mar and 56 on

17 Nov, but 200 on 2 Feb 1986 . Recorded by De Roo et_ al .

(1969, 1972), Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

*C. alexandrinus Kentish Plover Singletons at Lome on 11 &

31 Mar and 10 Nov 1985.

*C. marginatus White-fronted Sand Plover Present on the

beach at Lome in Mar and Sept-Nov 1985. Maxima 18 on 1 Nov

and 20 pairs on 2 Feb 1986. Probably a breeding resident as

most birds paired off and some behaved as if defending nesting

areas. Recorded by De Roo el: a_l. ( 1969) and Browne ( 1980).

*C. pecuarius Kittlitz's Sandplover One at Lome on 9 Mar

1985 .

*Pluvialis dominica Lesser Golden Plover One at Loma on 19

Oct 1985. See Elgood (1982) for comments on West African

records of this species.

*P. squatarola Grey Plover Present at Lome in Mar and Sept-

Nov 1985. Maxima 52 on 1 Nov when one bird was still in

summer plumage and 54 on 2 Feb 1986. Recorded by De Roo et_

al . (1972 ) and Browne (1980 ).

*Arenaria interpres Turnstone Present at Lome in Mar and

Sept-Nov 1985 and Feb 1986. Maximum count 30 on 29 Sept when

one still in summer plumage. On 13 Oct one was seen being

snared by local trappers. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*Phalaropus fulicarius Grey Phalarope On 9 Mar 1985 three

were observed at Lome swimming and feeding in the sea just

beyond where the waves began to break. One found dead on the

beach at Lome on 24 Mar 1985.

SCOLOPACIDAE

*Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit One at Lome on 29 Sept

1985.

*L. lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit A pair at Lome on 19 Oct, 1

& 10 Nov 1985. On 17 Nov 1985 8 were there, of which one was

found badly injured with a head wound, probably inflicted by

a catapult. The youth who made off with the bird said he was

going to eat it. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*Numenius arquata Curlew Two at Lome on 13 Oct and one on

19 Oct 1985 and 2 Feb 1986. Recorded by Millet-Horsin (1923)

and Browne (1980).

1986

Birds of Togo

5 5

*N. phaeoous Whimbrel Present at Lome in small numbers in

Mar and Sept-Nov 1985 and Feb 1986. Maximum 8 on 19 Oct

1985. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*Calidris alba Sanderling At least 100 present on the beach

at Lome in Mar and Sept-Nov 1985. The spring maximum in 1985

was 250 on 24 Mar and the autumn peak was 400 on 17 Nov.

Sixteen there in 1 Feb 1986 followed by an influx of 500 the

next day. Birds bearing rings which were longer than those

used by European ringing schemes, and possibly of South

African origin (C. J. Mead in litt.) were seen on 9 Mar, 29

Sept, 19 Oct (3 ringed birds) and 17 Nov (2 ringed birds).

The species is probably often snared by local trappers, as one

was seen with a foot-less broken leg, and so the origin of

the ringed birds may eventually be demonstrated. Sanderlings

were also recorded at Lome by De Roo et_ aJL. ( 1969 , 1972 ) and

by Browne (1980) but one, in full breeding plumage, at Lama-

Kara on 16 May 1984 is the first inland record for the country.

Inland records are also known from Ghana (Moorhouse 1968) and

Nigeria (Dowsett & Walsh 1968).

*C. alpina Dunlin One at Lome on 19 Oct 1985.

*C. canutus Knot One at Lome on 17 Nov 1985 and 16 there on

1 Feb 1986 . Recorded by De Roo et_ aJ. ( 1972 ).

*C. ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper One at Anecho on 8 Mar

1985. One at Lome on 19 Oct, 4 on 27 Oct and 19 on 17 Nov

1985.

*C. minuta Little Stint Three at Lome on 24 & 31 Mar 1985.

One there on 13 Oct, 7 from 19 Oct to 17 Nov 1985 and 100 on

2 Feb 1986. Recorded by Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper Seven at Lome on 1 Mar and

singles on 29 Sept and 13 Oct 1985.

T. glareola Wood Sandpiper Maximum count at Lome was 12 'on

13 Oct 1985.

*T . stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper One at Anecho on 8 Mar 1985

and another at Lome two days later. Recorded by Robinson

(1972 ) .

T. totanus Redshank One at Lome from 29 Sept to 17 Nov 1985

and on 1 Feb 1986.

*T. erythrops Spotted Redshank Four at Lama-Kara on 17 Mar

1985 .

T. nebularia Greenshank Maximum at Lome was 41 on 1 Feb

1986 .

*Philomachus pugnax Ruff One at Lome on 13 Oct, 2 there on

19 & 27 Oct and 1 on 10 Nov 1985. Recorded by Robinson (1972)

and Browne (1980).

56

R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

RECURVIROSTRIDAE

Himantopus himantoous Black-winged Stilt Six at Anecho on 8

Mar 1985.

*Recurvirostra avosetta Avocet At 1625 hrs on 27 Oct 1985 a

flock of 10 flew leisurely with occasional glides, in a V

formation over Lome beach and out to sea. When it was about

500 m out the flock veered west and disappeared over Ghanaian

waters. Five at Lome on 2 Feb 1986.

ROSTRATULIDAE

*Rostratula benghalensis Painted Snipe One at Lama-Kara on

17 Mar 1985. Recorded by Browne (1980).

GLAREOLIDAE

Pluvianus aegvptius Egyption Plover One at Lama-Kara on 16

May 1984.

G. nuchalis Rock Pratincole Two pairs at the colony near

Landa-Pozanda (Cheke 1980) between 14 May & 8 Sept 1984.

None there on 16 Sept.

STERCORARI IDAE

*Stercorarius pomarinus Pomarine Skua One flying west off

Lome on 11 Mar 1985

*S. parasiticus Arctic Skua Three off Lome, harassing terns,

on 17 Nov 1985. A bird ringed as a pullus in Shetland in

1979 was recovered at Lome the next year (Spencer & Hudson

1981 ) .

LARIDAE

*Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull An immature bird off

Lome on 29 Sept 1985, 6 adults there on 1 Nov and singles on

10 & 17 Nov 1985. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*L. sabini Sabine's Gull A first winter bird at Lome on 2

Feb 1986.

*Gelochelidon nilotica Gull-billed Tern Singles at Lome on

9 Mar, 1 & 10 Nov and 5 there on 27 Oct 1985.

*Hydroprogne tschegrava Caspian Tern Two at Anecho on 8 Mar

1985 .

Sterna maxima Royal Tern Up to 8 present at Lome in Mar

Sept-Nov 1985 and as many as 80 in Feb 1986.

and

1986

Birds of Togo

57

*S. sandvicensis Sandwich Tern Twelve at Anecho on 8 Mar

1985. Up to 7 at Lome in Mar 1985. Thirty there on 29 Sept

1985 but none in Oct, followed by a substantial influx in Nov.

Twenty noted on 8 Nov, preceding more than 750 on the 10th.

The latter included a raft of 150 resting in the sea and one

bird with a BTO-type ring. At least 8 British-ringed birds

have been recovered in Togo (Spencer & Hudson 1982). On 26

Nov only 26 were counted and a similar number were present on

2 Feb 1986. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*S. hirundo Common Tern Singles at Lome on 24 Mar and 27

Oct 1985. 100 there on 8 Nov and more than 500 in an influx

with S. sandvicensis on 10 Nov but these had vanished by 12

Nov with only 25 remaining on 17 Nov. One of the latter was

bearing a BTO-type ring. Robinson (1972) mentioned recoveries

in Togo of birds ringed in Finland and Northumberland.

Spencer & Hudson (1982) cite 4 British-ringed birds found in

Togo. Recorded by Browne (1980) and by De Roo et_ a_l. ( 1969).

*S. dougallii Roseate Tern Singles at Lome on 11 Mar and 29

Sept 1985 and 2 there on 17 Nov 1985. Twelve British-ringed

birds have been recovered in Togo (Spencer & Hudson 1982).

* S . albifrons Little Tern Three at Lome on 10 Nov and 7 on

17 Nov 1985. Recorded by Browne (1980).

*S. balaenarum Damara Tern Six at Lome on 29 Sept 1985, of

which three were in breeding plumage. One of the latter

present on 13 & 19 Oct 1985 and 2 on 27 Oct and 10 Nov 1985.

When approached the birds walked away while watching the

observer, seeming reluctant to fly. Recorded by Browne (1980)

whose birds were all in non-breeding plumage.

*Chilodonias niger Black Tern Fifty at Lome on 9 Mar 1985,

one of which was trailing a 2 m length of twine from a leg

and was presumably an escapee from a snare. About 40 still

present on the beach on 11 Mar, 10 on 20 Mar but none there on

24 Mar, although 4 were seen at a lagoon in Lome on 31 Mar

1985. Sixty at Lome on 29 Sept 1985, 80 feeding appeared on

27 Oct and 115 arrived with the influx of Sterna spp. on 10

Nov 1985. One C. nicer on the latter date was badly oiled.

Forty still present on 17 Nov 1985 and 2 Feb 1986. Recorded

by De Roo et_ al_. (1969) and Browne (1980).

*S. leucoptera White-winged Black Tern Singles at Lome on

29 Sept and 27 Oct 1985 and 2 there on 1 Nov 1985.

COLUMBIDAE

*Columba iriditoraues Bronze-naped Pigeon One in forest

beside the waterfall at Kpime-Tomegbe on 12 Mar 1985.

Recorded by De Roo e_t al . (1969 , 1970 ).

*Turtur tympanistria Tambourine Dove One at Djodji on 21

Mar 1985 . Recorded by De Roo et_ a_l. (1969 , 1970, 1971 , 1972).

58

R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

* T. brehmeri Blue-headed Dove Singles at Djodji on 29 Mar

and 25 Oct 1985.

Oena capensis Masked Dove One at Lama-Kara on 17 Mar 1985.

Regularly seen in this area in the dry season.

MUSOPHAGIDAE

Corythaeola cristata Great Blue Turaco A pair 10 km south

of Landa-Mono on 19 June 1984.

Tauraco persa Guinea Turaco A pair near Aledjo on 22 July

1984. Calls were heard in the Aledjo forest from May to

August. A pair in gallery forest at 08C39'N, 00°42'E, near

the source of the Kpaza river, in the Fazao mountains on

13 Sept 1984.

CUCULIDAE

Clamator levaillantii Striped Cuckoo Pairs seen 5 km east

of Bafilo on 27 May and at Sara-Kawa on 5 Aug 1984. One at

Atakpame on 21 Oct 1985.

Chrvsococcyx caprius Didric Cuckoo One calling near Mo on

16 June 1984, two near Landa-Pozanda the next day and one

calling at Lama-Kara on 30 Aug 1984 and at Badou in Mar &

Oct 1985.

*Centropus leucogaster Black-throated Coucal Singles at

Djodji on 26 Mar 1985 and at Badou and Kouniohou on 30 Mar

1985 .

*C. grillii Black Coucal Two widely separated birds were

seen in rank grass beside a dam at Lama-Kara on 24 July 1984.

None were seen at the same site on 28 July nor 26 Aug. One

near Tabligbo on 14 Nov 1985. Recorded by De Roo et_ al .

(1971) and Browne (1980).

Ceuchmochares aereus Yellowbill Singles near Mo on 15 June

and 3 July 1984 and Kouniohou on 30 Mar 1985.

OTIDAE

*Tyto alba Barn Owl One at Mo on 27 June 1984. Recorded

by De Roo et al . (1969, 1970).

Otus leucotis White-faced Scops Owl One seen taking a beetle

in Lama-Kara on 2 July 1984.

Bubo africanus

14 Oct 1985.

Spotted Eagle Owl One near Evou Apegame on

1986

Birds of Togo

59

CAPRIMULGIDAE

*Captimulqus climacutus Long-tailed Nighjar A male found

dead on the road 14 km north of Naboulgou on 13 May 1984 is

our only confirmed record. Additional sight records,

probably of this species, were from Landa-Pozanda in June &

July during both 1983 & 1984 and Badou on 21 Oct 1985. There

are many other records from Togo ( millet-Horsin 1923, De Roo

et al . 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, Browne 1980, Herremans &

Stevens 1983 ) .

APODIDAE

Telacanthura ussheri Mottled Spinetail A pair near Bafilo

on 27 May 1984.

Apus apus European Swift Two near Bafilo on 27 May and one

there on 26 Aug 1984. More than 100 in the port area of Lome

on 10 Mar 1985. Four near Dzobegan on 13 Mar 1985, 2 at

Lama-Kara on 17 Mar 1985. Twenty-five at Djodji on 21 Mar,

6 on 26 Mar and 2 on 29 Mar 1985.

A. caffer African White-rumped Swift Two pairs at Aledjo on

17 June 1984, one there on 28 July 1984, a single bird near

Mo on 29 June 1984 and 3 near Naboulgou on 27 Aug 1984.

A. melba Alpine Swift One near Dzobegan on 13 Mar 1985 in

the company of 4 A. apus and hundreds of H. rustica. Twenty-

six near Tchebebe on 18 Mar 1985 flying above a teak

plantation together with numberous D. urbica and A. affinis.

Fifteen feeding just above tree height over forest at Djodji

on 21 Mar 1985 and 4 there 5 days later. None seen during

Setp-Nov 1985.

ALCEDINIDAE

Cervle maxima Giant Kingfisher Several beside the Anie

Mo on 27 June 1984.

*Halcyon chelicuti Striped Kingfisher One near Mo on 29

June 1984. One 20 km north of Lome on 20 Mar 1985 and

another found dead on Lome beach on 10 Nov 1985. Recorded by

De Roo et al. (1969, 1970, 1971).

0

R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

H. leucoceDhala Grey-headed Kingfisher Two at Badou on 15

Mar 1985 and singles at Kouniohou and Atakpame on 23 Mar 1985.

H. senegalensis Woodland Kingfisher Singles at Sansanne-

Mango and Naboulgou on 21 Aug and at Tchamba on 13 Sept 1984.

Noted at Tsevie, Kpalime, Amlame and Djodji in Mar 1985, and

at the latter side in Oct 1985.

H. malimbica Blue-breasted Kingfisher Three near Mo on 29

June 1984, 1 at Atakpame on 3 & 4 July 1984 and 1 near

Aledjo on 25 Aug 1984. One at Djodji on 15 Oct 1985.

MEROPIDAE

Merops pusillus Little Bee-eater One chivvying an immature

Indicator indicator at Lama-Kara on 16 May 1984 and a pair

near Aledjo on 17 June 1984.

M. hirundineus Swallow— tailed Bee— eater One at Landa— Mono

on 4 July 1984.

M. albicollis White-throated Bee-eater Twenty near Mo on

25 May 1984, 12 at Landa-Mono on 28 May 1984 and a pair at

Aledjo on 17 June 1984. More than 30 near Evou Apegame on

15 Mar 1985, up to 5 at Djodji 21-29 Mar 1985 and 3 near

Avegode on 14 Nov 1985.

M. nubicus Carmine Bee-eater Two between Sansanne-Mango

and Naboulgou on 30 Aug 1984.

CORACI I DAE

Coracias abyssinica Abyssinian Roller One at Sansanne-

Mango on 21 & 30 Aug and 14 Oct 1984 . None present in the

Lama-Kara area from June to mid Oct 1984.

C. cyanoaaster Blue-bellied Roller Singles at Tigbada on

19 June and at Landa-Mono on 4 July and a pair at Landa-

Pozanda on 16 Sept 1984. In Mar 1985 seen 30 km north of

Lome, as Sassanou, Amou-Oblo, Amlame & Kpalime. One at

Amou-Oblo on 4 Oct 1985.

*Eurvstomus crularis Blue-throated Roller One near Dzobegan

on 13 Mar 1985, 2 near Badcu on 15 Mar and 1 at Idifiou on

24 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo et_ a_l. (1969 , 1970, 1972).

BUCEROTIDAE

Tropicranus albocristatus White-crested Hornbill One at the

waterfall at Kpime-Tomegbe on 3 Oct 1985.

T. ervthrorhynchus Red-billed Hornbill One 42 km norih of

Sansanne-Mango on 21 Aug 1984 and another 50 km further south

on 30 Aug 1984.

1986

Birds of Togo

61

CAPITONIDAE

Lybius vieilloti Vieillot's Barbet Singles near Landa-Mono

on 26 July 1984 and 5 km east of Bafilo on 26 Aug 1984.

*L. hirsutus Hairy-breasted Barbet One at Djodji on 21 Mar

1985. A pair excavating holes in dead branches there 16-25

Oct 1985 . Recorded by De Roo et_ a_l. ( 1969 , 1970 , 1971, 1972 ).

Gvmnobucco calvus Naked-faced Barbet Common in the Misahohe

forest in Mar 1985 and at Djodji in Mar & Oct 1985.

*Pogoniulus scolopaceus Speckled Tinker Bird One at Djodji

on 29 Mar 1985. Recorded by Dekeyser (1951), Douaud (1956)

and De Roo et al. (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972).

*P. leucolaima Lemon-rumped Tinker Bird Regular at Aledjo

between 17 June & 25 Aug 1984. Recorded by De Roo et al .

(1969, 1971, 1972).

*Trachyphonus purpuratus goffini Yellow-billed Barbet At

least three birds were seen entering, leaving and waiting at

the entrance of a nest hole 10 m up a dead tree at Djodji in

Mar 1985. They were also heard calling in the area at the

time but none were present in Oct 1985, perhaps because their

breeding tree had been felled. Recorded by De Roo et al .

(1970) .

INDICATOR I DAE

Indicator indicator Greater Honeyguide An immature at Lama-

Kara 16 May 1984.

* I . minor Lesser Honeyguide One 5 km east of Bafilo on 27

May 1984. Recorded by De Roo et_ a_l. (1969 , 1971, 1972).

PICIDAE

*Camoethera nivosa Buff-spotted Woodpecker A female at

Djodji on 29 Mar 1985. Recorded from Misahohe by Reichenhow

(1897 ) .

*Dendropicos gabonensis Gaboon Woodpecker A female at

Djodji, feeding alone high up a tree, on 22 Oct 1985.

*D. pvrrhogaster Fire-bellied Woodpecker A female in the

Misahohe forest on 13 Mar 1985 and a male there the next day.

Recorded from the same site by Reichenhow (1897).

ALAUDIDAE

Mirafra ruf ocinnamomea Flappet Lark Birds displaying at

62

R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

Lama-Kara and Mo on 2 June 1984 and another seen at Lama-Kara

on 17 Mar 1985.

HIRUNDINIDAE

*Riparia riparia European Sand Martin Fifteen, in company

with 100 Hirundo rustica, feeding low over the Gban-Houa

river at Djodji on 26 Mar 1985. Two with a party of 50 H .

rustica at the Lama-Kara dam on 6 Oct 1985 when all the birds

were seen splashing into the water. On 16 Oct 1985 5 seen at

Djodji together with 50 H. rustica and 2 Delichon urbica.

R. rioaria was recorded from Togo by Douaud (1957).

Hirundo rustica European Swallow A few in the Lome area 6-

8 Mar 1985. More than 1000 present on the Plateau de Danyi,

with a flock of 500 at Dzobegan on 13 Mar 1985. These were

presumably migrants. A hunderd at Djodji on 26 Mar 1985.

At 1715 hrs on 6 Oct 1985 a flock of 50 swallows and 2 R .

riparia suddenly appeared over the lake at the Lama-Kara

dam. The birds swooped down low over the water and struck its

surface with their chests, making substantial and audible

splashes. The flock made two such passes over the lake

during a two or three minute spell before flying off southward.

Oct 6 was the first day that the Harmattan wind had been felt

at Lama-Kara that season, an earlier date than is usual, and

this wind may well aid migratory movements but its associated

dryness and heat make for difficult conditions. Perhaps the

birds were dampening their chest and belly feathers to aid

cooling, as well as taking the opportunity for a drink.

*H. leucosoma Pied-winged Swallow On 26 Aug 1984 a pair

were seen 5 km east of Bafilo. The birds were hawking with a

rapid flight, flying low over well-wooded savanna interspersed

with cultivated ground and a few huts. The speed of their

flight made them difficult to observe but they repeatedly flew

over the same ground and darted with remarkable agility around

the trees and other obstacles. Recorded by De Roo et_ al .

(1969) .

H. abyssinica Lesser Striped Swallow Pairs seen at Atakpame

on 15 Mar 1985 and Badou on 2 Mar 1985. Many records from

May to July in the Lama-Kara area in 1984 and in previous

years when nesting noted (Cheke & Walsh 1980, 1984). Two

near Naboulgou on 21 Aug 1984 but none seen Sept-Nov 1985 nor

Sept-Dec 1981. The species is apparently a migrant, leaving

sooner than other wet season visitors, with a pattern

similar to that in Nigeria ( Elgood et_ a_]_. 1973).

H. fuligula Rock Martin A pair at the Faille d'Aledjo on

25 Aug were associated with one of two nests on a rock face.

The birds appeared to be building and on 9 Sept they were

still present at the nest, which had been enlarged.

H. preussi Preuss ' Cliff Swallow Many at Naboulgou and one

57 km further north on 13 May 1984. Numerous near Mo on 29

1986

Birds of Togo

63

June 1984 .

Delichon urbica House Martin On 18 Mar 1985 160 were cou...

near Tchebebe and five more flocks were seen between there

and Blitta. The birds were feeding, together with Apus affinis

and A. melba, above roadside teak plantations adjoining

southern Guinea savanna woodland. Six at Djodji on 29 Mar

1985 and 2 there on 16 Oct 1985. The species' occurrence in

Togo was discussed by Douaud (1956a).

MOTACILLIDAE

Anthus leucophrys Plain-Backed Pipit Two at Lome on 31 Mar

1985 .

Macronyx croceus Yellow-throated Longclaw Two near Landa-

Pozanda on 2 June 1984 and singles at Aledjo on 17 June 1984

and at Mo on 30 June 1984.

*Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail Up to 5 at Lome in Mar 1985.

One at Lama-Kara on 17 Mar 1985. Present at Lome Oct-Nov

1985, with a peak of 22 on 1 Nov. Recorded by Douaud (1957),

De Roo et al . (1972), Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

CAMPEPHAGIDAE

Campephaga phoenicea Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike A male at

Lana-Pozanda on 26 May 1984, two males 5 km east of Bafilo the

next day and another male at Aledjo on 28 May 1984. A pair

near Landa-Pozanda on 17 June and a male there on 8 Sept 1984.

PYCNONOTIDAE

*Andropadus virens Little Greenbul One in the Misahohe

forest on 2 Oct 1985 . Recorded by De Roo et: a_l. (1969, 1970,

1971, 1972), Douaud (1956b) and Mi llet-Horsin (1923).

*Thescelocichla leucopleura White-tailed Greenbul Up to 4

at Djodji in Mar & Oct 1985.

*Chlorocichla simplex Simple Leaflove One at Djodji on 23

Mar 1985. Recorded by Millet-Horsin (1923) and De Roo et a 1 .

(1969, 1970, 1971, 1972).

*Phy llastrepnus scandens Leaflove Common in the Aledjo forest

1 July-25 Aug 1984. Also seen near Mo and at Atakpame on 3

July 1984 and in the Misahohe forest on 14 Mar 1985. Recorded

by De Roo et a 1 . (1972).

*Nicator chloris Nicator One at Djodji on 26 Mar 1985.

Recorded by Douaud (1956b) and by De Roo et_ al_. (1969 , 1971,

1972 ) .

64

R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

*Baeopogon indicator togoensis Honeyguide Greenbul One in

the Misahohe forest on 2 Oct 1985. Recorded by Douaud (1956b)

and by De Roo et a_l. (1971 , 1972 ).

LANIIDAE

*Prionops caniceps Chestnut-bellied Helmet-shrike Six near

Sodo on 10 Oct 1985 and 2 at Djodji on 15 Oct 1985. Recorded

by De Roo et al. (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972).

Tchagra senegala Black-crowned Tchagra One was seen carrying

a full bill-load of food 5 km east of Bafilo on 27 May 1984.

Laniarius aethiopicus Tropical Boubou Common in the Mo

valley June-July 1984.

*Lanius collaris Fiscal Shrike Noted at Anfoin, Atakpame,

Badou, Lome and Sassanou in Mar 1985 and at Lome in Oct 1985.

Recorded by De Roo et_ a_l. (1969), Robinson ( 1972 ) and Browne

(1980) .

*L . senator Woodchat Shrike One at Tabligbo on 8 Mar 1985.

Recorded by Douaud (1957), Robinson (1972) and Browne (1980).

TURDIDAE

*Myrmecocichla albifrons White-fronted Black Chat One near

Mo on 27 June 1984 and another near Naboulgou on 27 Aug 1984.

Recorded by Douaud (1956b) and De Roo et al_. ( 1969).

SYLVII DAE

*Cisticola juncidis Fan-tailed Warbler A single bird in

degraded savanna and farmland near Aledjo on 29 July 1984.

Present at Lome in Mar and Sept-Nov 1985 and Feb 1986.

Recorded by Browne (1980).

*C . lateralis Whistling Cisticola In 1984 a pair was

established in abandoned farmland within the Aledjo forest.

The birds were seen between 8 July and 25 Aug. On 26 Aug 1984

2 were singing in reply to each other 5 km east of Bafilo.

Recorded by De Roo et al . (1969, 1970, 1971).

C. brachyptera Siffling Cisticola One was flushed,

presumably from near a nest, carrying a faecal pellet at

Kpayando on 5 Aug 1984.

*Apalis flavida Yellow-breasted Apalis One at the Faille

d'Aledjo on 17 June 1984 . Recorded by De Roo et_ a_l. (1969 ).

*Hypergerus atriceps Moho One in forest beside the Amoutchou

river, near Idifiou on 9 Oct 1985. Recorded by Millet-Horsin

(1923) and Browne 1980).

1986

Birds of Togo

65

*Eremomela badiceps Brown-crowned Eremomela One at Djodji

on 2 Oct 1985. An active bird, leaf -gleaning near the top

of a forest tree.

*Svlvietta virens Green Crombec One made repeated visits to

the same part of a creeper, suggesting possible nesting, at

Aledjo on 17 June 1984.. A pair were still present at the

same site on 7 July. Recorded by De Roo et_ a_l. (1970, 1972 ).

*Phy lloscopus trochilus Willow Warbler One in the Misahohe

forest on 13 Mar 1985. Recorded by Douaud (1957), De Roo

et at. (1970, 1972) and Louette (1975).

*P. sibilatrix Wood Warbler One in the Misahohe forest on

14 Mar 1985. Recorded by Douaud (1957) and De Roo et al .

(1972 ) .

MUSCICAPIDAE

*Ficedula hypoleuca Pied Flycatcher One hawking from a teak

plantation beside a road near Tchebebe on 18 Mar 1985.

Recorded by Douaud (1957) and De Roo et al . (1970, 1972).

«

Melaenornis edolioides Black Flycatcher A pair 5 km east of

Bafilo on 27 May 1984.

*Bradornis pallidus Pale Flycatcher Singles near Bafilo on

27 May & 26 Aug 1984, at 09C06'N, 01°01'E on 30 June 1984 and

at Tomegbe on 22 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo et al ♦ (1969,

1971, 1972).

*Megabyas flammulatus Shrike-flycatcher A female in the

Misahohe forest on 13 Mar 1985, perched upright occasionally

movings its tail from side to side. Recorded by De Roo et

al. (1972).

*Terpsiphone rufiventer Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher

Three at Djodji on 21 Mar 1985 and one at Badou two days

later. A female at Akloa on 17 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo

et a_l . (1971 , 1972 ) .

*Myioparus olumbeus Grey Tit-flycatcher Singles near Pewa

on 5 Aug 1984 and at Akloa on 17 Oct 1985. Recorded by De

Roo et al. ( 1969 ) .

PARIDAE

*Parus leucomelas White-shouldered Black Tit Four seen in

a fig tree near Aledjo on 17 June 1984 and noted near Mo on

26 & 27 June 1984 . Recorded by De Roo et_ a_l. ( 1972 ).

NECTARINI IDAE

66

R . A . Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowa h

MALIMBUS 8

Nectarinia coccinigaster Splendid Sunbird Many attracted to

flowers of Berlinia grandiflora at Mo May-June 1984.

N. cuprea Copper Sunbird Not seen at Lama-Kara in May 1984,

but two pairs were disputing there on 16 June. The species

was also feeding from B. grandiflora at Mo in May-June 1984.

*N. olivacea Olive Sunbird One at Tomegbe on 22 Oct 1985.

Recorded by Dekeyser (1951) and De Roo et a_l. (1969 , 1970,

1971, 1972).

*N . verticalis Green-headed Sunbird Regularly seen in the

Aledjo forest and Mo areas from 25 May to 26 Aug 1984, often

feeding at flowers of B. grandiflora. Also recorded from the

Bafilo area on 5 & 26 Aug 1984. Recorded by De Roo et al .

(1969, 1970, 1971) and Browne (1980).

*N. cvanolaema Blue-throated Brown Sunbird A pair at Djodji

on 16 Oct 1985 feeding on the flowers of an African Tulip

Tree ( Spathodea campanulata) .

N. adelberti Buf f-throated Sunbird A pair at Djodji on 15

Oct 1985, feeding on flowers of S. campanulata. Male seen

there again on 16 & 25 Oct 1985.

ZOSTEROPIDAE

*Zosterops senegalensis White-eye Singles near Mo on 26 &

29 June 1984. Recorded by De Roo et al . (1969, 1970, 1971,

1972) and Louette (1975).

EMBERIZIDAE

Emberiza tahapisi Cinnamon-breasted Rock-bunting One at

Defale on 14 Oct 1984.

E. cabanisi Cabani ' s Bunting A pair near Aledjo on 27 July

1984 .

FR INGILL I DAE

*Serinus gularis Streaky-headed Seed-eater At 0830 hrs on

28 June 1984 a flock of 30 were seen feeding on early millet

near Mo and at 0550 hrs on 30 June 1984 94 were counted in

the same field. One at Badou on 29 Mar 1985. Recorded by

De Roo et al. (1969, 1972) and Louette (1975).

PLOCEIDAE

*Ploceus nigerrimus castaneof uscus Chestnut and Black Weaver

A male near Tsevie on 8 Mar 1985 and at least 50 breeding in

a mixed colony with P. cucullatus 5 km south of Amoussokoko

1986

Birds of Togo

67

on 10 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo et al. (1969, 1970).

*P. tricolour Yellow-mantled Weaver Two pairs in the

Misahohe forest on 13 Mar 1985. A pair building in a colony

of 10 nests at Kouniohou on 23 Mar 1985 and other pairs near

Idifiou on 9 & 24 Oct 1985. Recorded by Dekeyser (1951) and

De Roo et al. (1969, 1971, 1972).

Malimbus rubricollis Red-headed Forest Weaver Seen at

Kpalime and Djodji in Mar 1985 and at Amoussokoko and Djodji

in Oct 1985.

M. rubriceps Red-headed Weaver A female at Aleheride on 25

May 1984.

Quelea erythrops Red-headed Dioch A. flock of up to 30 birds

near Landa-Pozanda on 17 June 1984.

*Niqrita canicapilla Grey-crowned Negro-Finch A pair at the

Faille d'Aledjo on 26 June 1984 and another in gallery forest

at 09C06'N, 01C01'E on 28 June 1984. A pair at Djodji in Mar

& Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo et_ al ■ (1969, 1970, 1971) and

Browne ( 1980 ) .

*Pvtilia phoenicoptera Red-winged Pytilia One at Ayagba on

23 Oct 1985 . Recorded by De Roo et_ a_l. (1969 , 1972 ).

ESTRILDIDAE

*Spermophaga haematina Blue-billed Weaver One at Djodji on

29 Mar 1985. Recorded by De Roo et al . (1971).

Lagonosticta rubricata Blue-billed Firefinch A pair at Mo

on 16 June and a male there on 26 June 1984. Two pairs near

Landa-Pozanda on 17 June 1984.

L. larvata Black-faced Firefinch A pair at Mo on 26 June

1984 and a male at 09°23'N, 01P10'E on 5 Aug 1984 .

Lonchura bicolor Blue-billed Mannikin A pair at Djodji on

16 Oct 1985.

*L. f ringilloides Magpie Mannikin A flock of 5 seen preening

in a dead tree at Djodji on 25 Oct 1985. Recorded by De Roo

et al. (1969, 1972) and Browne (1980).

STURNIDAE

*Lamprotornis splendidus Splendid Starling Four in the

Misahohe forest on 13 Mar 1985, 3 at Djodji two days later

and 1 at Kounichou on 23 Mar 1985. Up to 3 at Djodji on 15,

16 & 25 Oct 1985. These noisy and conspicuous birds were

identified by their loud calls (noted as variable but

including "squaark, squaark" and "eey-aw ei ei uh") often

68

R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

issued from near the top of trees, their slimmer and sleeker

shape that L. purpureus, their longish rounded tails with dark

subterminal bands, dark blue cheeks and bellies contrasting

with the remainder of their paler green-blue glossy plumage.

Eyes white. No previous published records between Sierra

Leone and Benin but L. splendidus has been seen independently

by both L. Grimes (pers. comm.) and J. F. W.

Cinnvricinclus leucogaster Amethyst Starling A male 5 km

east of Bafilo on 27 May 1984 and two pairs at both Aledjo

and Landa-Pozanda on 17 June 1984. Eleven at Mo on 26 June

1984 and a male near Tsevie on 8 Mar 1985.

DICURIDAE

*Dicrurus ludwigii Square-tailed Drongo A pair at the Faille

d' Aledjo on 8 July 1984 and several more nearby on the same

day. Recorded by De Roo e_t a_l. ( 1969 , 1972).

ORIOLIDAE

*Oriolus brachyrhynchus Black-headed Oriole One in gallery

forest near Tsevie on 8 Mar 1985. Recorded by De Roo et_ al .

(1969, 1972).

*0. nicripennis Black-winged Oriole One in the Misahohe

forest on 13 Mar 1985. Recorded from the same site by

Reichenhow (1897).

DISCUSSION

In this paper we have given details of 107 species which we

had not seen during previous vists to Togo between 1972 and

1983. This surprisingly high number of new species is a

consequence of a concentration of effort in forests and

along the coastline. Also, few of the earlier vists had been

made during the dry season when many Palaearctic migrants

were present. Eighty of the 107 species had been collected or

seen in Togo by previous authors and in some cases are

unremarkable records of common species. Nevertheless the

rapid degredation of African habitats makes up to date

information important for planning the ever more urgent

conservation measures needed, especially for forest birds and

shorebirds .

The Damara Tern S. balaenarum is a threatened species listed

as rare by Collar & Stuart (1985). These authors also

included Togo as part of the former range of the threatened

White-necked Picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus .

However, it is unlikely that this species has ever been

recorded in what is now the Republic of Togo (Cheke 1986):

many early records from 'Togo' refer to collections made in

1986

Birds of Togo

69

that part of 'Togoland' which is now part of Ghana. We have

found, however, four species within the Togolese borders which

Collar & Stuart list (in their Appendix G) as candidate species

for treatment as threatened in Africa. These four are:

Saddlebill Stork E. senegalensis , Long-tailed Hawk U. macrourus,

Crowned Crane B. pavonina and Bronze-naped Pigeon C .

iriditorgues . In addition Togo is a wintering area for the

Peregrine F. peregrinus and Roseate Tern S. dougallii which

are included in the list of threatened species in other Red

Data books.

Preservation of the beach-front at Lome and the enforced

banning of bird-snaring there and elsewhere would aid the

protection of the two rare terns, as well as many other

wintering shorebirds. The forested parts of the upland

Plateaux regions, near Kpalime (e.g. the Misahohe forest) and

Badou (e.g. the Asuakawkow valley), provide shelter for many

Afro-tropical species ( including Damara Tern and White-necked

Picathartes) and are also important for Palaearctic migrants

such as A. apus, A. melba, D. urbica and H. rustica.

SUMMARY

Records of birds of interest seen in Togo during 1984-early

1986 are given. By concentrating on coastal and forest

habitats in the dry season, 107 species additional to those

in the authors' previous published lists for the country were

observed. Twenty-seven of the species were new to Togo.

Attention is drawn to rare species and conservation needs

RESUME

Renseignements sont donnes sur des oiseaux interessants vus au

Togo entre 1984 et la debut de 1986. Cent-sept especes, dont

la plupart etaient des oiseaux de la cote ou du foret,

etaient observees, en plus de celles deja indiques par les

auteurs. Vingt-sept especes sont nouvelles pour le Togo. On

fait remarquer les especes rares et des mesures pour la

protection des oiseaux.

REFERENCES

BROWN, L.H., URBAN, E.K. & NEWMAN, K. (1982) The Birds of

Africa . Vol. 1. Academic Press, London & New York

BROWNE , P.W.P. (1980) Birds observed near Lome, Togo in 1976

and 1977 Malimbus 2: 51 - 55

CHEKE, R . A . (1980) A small breeding colony of the Rock

Pratincole Glareola nuchalis liberiae in Togo Bull. Brit.

Orn. Cl. 100: 175

178

70

R.A. Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

MALIMBUS 8

CHEKE, R.A. (1982) More bird records from the Republic of

Togo. Malimbus 4: 55 - 62

CHEKE, R.A. (1986) The supposed occurrence of the White-

necked Picathartes Picathartes qymnocephalus in Togo.

Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. (in press)

CHEKE, R.A. & WALSH, J.F. (1980) Records of birds from the

Republic of Togo. Malimbus 2: 112 - 120

CHEKE, R.A. & WALSH, J.F. (1984) Further bird records from

the Republic of Togo. Malimbus 6: 15-22

COLLAR, N.J. & STUART, S.N. (1985) Threatened birds of

Africa and related islands. The ICBP/IUSN Red Data book

Part 1. Third edition, Cambridge UK.

DEKEYSER, P.L. (1951) Mission A. Villiers au Togo et au

Dahomey (1950). 111. Oiseaux. Etudes Dahomeennes 5: 47 -

84

DE ROO, A.E.M. (1970) Contribution a 1 ' ornithologie de la

Republique du Togo 2. Oiseaux recoltes par M.C. Veronese.

Rev. Zool. Bot . Afr. 81: 163 - 172

DE ROO, A., DE VREE, F. & VAN DER STRAETEN , E. (1972)

Contribution a: 1 ' ornithologie de la Republique du Togo.

4. Oiseaux recoltes par la troisieme Mission zoologique

beige. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 86: 374 - 384

DE ROO A., DE VREE F. & VERHEYEN , W. (1969) Contribution a

1 ' ornithologie de la Republique du Togo. Rev. Zool. Bot.

Afr. 79: 309 - 322

DE ROO, A., HULSEMANS, J. & VERHEYEN, W. (1971) Contribution

eL 1 ' ornithologie de la Republique du Togo. 3. Oiseaux

recoltes par la deuxi^me Mission zoologique beige. Rev .

Zool. Bot. Afr. 83: 84 - 94

DOUAUD, J. (1956a) L'hirondelle de fenetre Delichon urbica

au Togo. Alauda 24: 146 - 147

DOUAUD, J. (1956b) Les oiseaux des Monts du Togo (Afrique

occidentale ) . Notes d ' un voyage dans l'Adele. Alauda

24:221-227

DOUAUD, J. (1957) Les migrations au Togo (Afrique

occidentale). Alauda 25: 241 - 266

DOWSETT, R.J. & WALSH, J.F. (1968) Sanderlings inland in

Nigeria. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 5: 63 - 64

HERREMANS, M. & STEVENS, J. (1983) Moult of the Long-tailed

Nightjar Caprimulqus climacurus Vieillot. Malimbus 5:

5-16

1986

Birds of Togo

71

LOUETTE, M. (1975) Contribution £ 1 ' ornithologie de la

Rdpublique du Togo. 5. Oiseaux recolt£s par la quatrieme

Mission zoologie beige. Rev. Zool. Afr. 89: 618 - 620

MEAD, C.J. & HUDSON, R. (1985) Report on bird-ringing for

1984. Ringing & Migration 6: 125 - 172

MILLET-HORSIN , (1923) Contribution a 1 ' 6tude de la Faune

ornithologique du Bas - Togo. Bull. Comit6 d'etudes

Hist, et Sci de l'Afr. occid. fr. Jan-Mar 1923: 1-27

MOORHOUSE, I.D. (1968) Notes on some Palaearctic migrants in

Ghana. Bull. Niger. Orn . Soc. 5: 13 - 15

REICHENHOW, A. (1897) Zur vogelfauna von Togo. J. Orinth.

45: 1-57

ROBINSON, N. (1972) Bird notes from R^publique du Togo.

Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 9: 85 - 89

SPENCER, R. & HUDSON, R. (1981) report on bird-ringing for

1980. Ringing & Migration 3: 213 - 256

SPENCER, R. & HUDSON, R. (1982) report on bird-ringing for

1981. Ringing & Migration 4: 65 - 128

Dr. R. A. Cheke,

c/o Tropical Development and Research Institute,

College House, Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ, UK

Dr. J. F. Walsh,

80 Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire FY8 1BN, UK

S. A. Sowah,

c/o WHO Onchocerciasis Control Programme, B.P. 549,

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

72

R . A . Cheke, J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

M ALIM BUS 8

1986

Red-capped Robin Chat

73

THE RED-CAPPED ROBIN-CHAT COSSYPHA NATALENSIS IN

WEST AFRICA

by S.N. Stuart and M.E. Gartshore

Received 28 April 1986

Revised 15 September 1986

INTRODUCTION

The Red-capped Robin-chat Cossypha natalensis is a common

bird in forest patches through much of eastern, central and

southern Africa. It avoids the main rainforest belt of west

and central Africa but occurs in forest patches to the south

of the belt, as far north as Gabon, Congo, northern Angola

and southern Zaire (Chapin 1953; Rand et al . 1959 ;

Schouteden 1962, 1964, 1965; Traylor 1963; Hall and Moreau

1970). However, to the north of the rainforest belt there

are only very few records, all along the northern edge of

rainforest in the forest-savanna mosaic. Four records shown

in Hall and Moreau (1970) to the south of Lake Chad are

errors (Snow 1978).

RECORDS FROM CAMEROON AND NIGERIA

There is only one record from Cameroon, of a bird collected

25 March 1944 to the north of Yaounde by A. I. Good (Chapin

1953; Good 1953; examination of specimen in Field Museum of

Natural History, Chicago (FMNH)). The species was first

recorded in Nigeria in 1977 when R.E. Sharland mist-netted a

bird in the Nindam Forest Reserve r 5 km south of Kagoro

(09Z 32'N, 08Z 30'E) in Kadune State (Elgood 1982). These

two localities are both in the forest-savanna mosaic zone and

appear to be highly isolated from all other populations of

the species. It has been suggested that records to the north

of the rainforest refer to small numbers of migrant birds

(Chapin 1953; Good 1953; Britton 1971; Traylor and Archer

1982). There is now evidence to suggest that this might be

at least partially so, and that the species is a migrant,

breeding visitor to a very narrow belt along the northern

boundary of the rainforest from Nigeria and Cameroon, eastwards

to Cenrral African Republic and southern Sudan (Traylor and

Archer 1982). All records from this belt, except some from

Nigeria, fall between March and August or September, with

evidence of breeding in June to August (Friedmann 1978;

Traylor and Archer 1982; Dyer et al . 1986). Migrant birds

would presumably spend the non-breeding season south of the

rainforest belt. The hypothesis that the species breeds

widely through this narrow vegetational belt north of the

rainforest rests on three pieces of evidence:

1. The occurrence of the species in southern Sudan. The

Red-capped Robin-chat is widely reported from southern

Sudan, occurring mainly in forests in mountainous and

hilly areas in the extreme south and south-east of the

S.N. Stuart & M.E. Gartshore

M ALIM BUS 8

7 4

country (Cave and MacDonald 1955). However, the species

has also been reported from Bangangai Game Reserve (or

Bengengai ) (04Z 51'N, 27Z 45'E) (Chapin 1953; Cave and

MacDonald 1955; Traylor and Archer 1982; Hillman 1983) and

from the Aza Forest (04Z 42'N, 29Z 50'E) (Traylor and

Archer 1982). The habitat at Banganai, which is adjacent

to the Zaire border and close to the northern boundary of

the rainforest is rainforest-savanna mosaic (Hillman 1983).

Birds from Aza Forest were in breeding condition between

late June and late August (Traylor and Archer 1982).

2. Records from the Central African Republic. Three specimens

were collected in June 1976 in mature riverine forest, 11

km west of Baroua (05Z 20'N, 24Z 20'E) in south-eastern

Central African Republic (Friedmann 1978). There is

evidence that the species breeds at this locality since

the three specimens (two males and one female) all had

much enlarged gonads. Traylor and Archer (1982) suggested

that these birds were breeding migrants from the south.

3. Observations from Nigeria. Observations of this species

in Nindam Forest Reserve between 1977 and 1981 have shown

that a breeding population exists at this locality (Dyer

et al . 1986). A total of 24 individuals was ringed during

that period including many spotted juveniles. On 15 June

1980 a nest containing 3 eggs was found in a hollow of a

small forest tree 1.5 m above the ground. It was

photographed (see Dyer et_ al_. 1986 ). In this locality,

however, it seems that the population is resident (Dyer

et al . 1986), being unrecorded only in January and August.

In the light of these few records, we suggest that breeding

populations either resident or migratory, occur elsewhere along

the northern boundary of the rainforest in southern Sudan,

Central African Republic, Cameroon and Nigeria. In general,

there has been very little ornithological exploration of this

area. It is likely, therefore, that the populations of th

Red-capped Robin-chat in West Africa (Nigeria and Cameroon)

are not disjunct from others of the species. It is of course

possible that populations such as that at Nindam are recently

isolated as a result of habitat clearance.

SUBSPECIFIC IDENTITY

No firm conclusions can be made concerning the subspecific

identity of the birds in Cameroon and Nigeria because of the

very small number of specimens involved. Comments made here

are very tentative in light of a more thorough study on

subspeciation in this species being carried out by A. Prigogine.

This comparison of specimens was made using the very brief

descriptions of the subspecies given in White (1962b) as a

guide. SNS has examined A. I. Good's specimen (a female)

from Yaounde, and one (unsexed) collected by MEG in Nindam

Foresr Reserve in 1980. These were compared with specimens

at the British Museum (Natural History) ( BMNH ) at Tring, UK.,

including the female collected by F.O. from Bangangai in

1986

Red-capped Robin Chat

75

south-western Sudan. Subspecific variation in this species

appears to be slight. Birds from Sudan are usually referred

to the race intensa . The specimen from Yaounde is unusually

dark on the breast, belly, cap, mantle, rump and upper tail-

coverts and in this respect it seems closest to larischi

which occurs in Gabon, Congo, southern Zaire and Angola

(White 1962b). It is also similar to larischi in its short

tail (65 mm) (see White 1962b). The specimens from Nindam

Forest Reserve and Bangangai Game Reserve are paler and

closest to intensa in colouration. The Nigerian bird is

intermediate between intensa and larischi in its tail length

(70 mm) but the Bangangai specimen is curiously closest to

larischi in this respect with a very short tail (63mm).

Clearly, these comparisons are of little relevance until more

specimens can be obtained, and the distribution of the species

north of the rainforest belt can be clarified.

CONCLUSION

We predict that future ornithological exploration will show

the Red-capped Robin-chat to be widely distributed north of

the rainforest belt in Africa in a narrow band in the forest-

savanna zone. We suspect that most of these populations are

composed of breeding migrants, but more research is needed

to confirm this.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank the curator- of ornithology at FMNH,

Chicago, for sending A. I. Good's specimen of Cossypha

natalensis to BMNH, Tring where SNS was able to examine it.

We would also like to thank P.R. Colston at BMNH for his

assistance, and Dr. P.A. Clancev and Dr. A. Prigogine for

their comments on an earlier draft of this paper. SNS is

grateful to J.A. McNeely and R.F. Scott for their permission

to use facilities at IUCN headquarters, Gland, during the

writing of this paper.

SUMMARY

The presence of the Red-capped Robin-chat north of the rain-

forest belt is discussed and it appears that populations in

Cameroon and Nigeria are probably not disjunct from others of

the species. It seems that populations to the north of the

rainforest are of breeding birds, but more work is needed to

show whether they are resident or migratory in origin.

RESUME

La presence nord du foret equatoriale du Cossypha natalensis

est discute. II parait que les populations aux Cameroun et

76

S.N. Stuart & M.E. Gartshore

MALIMBUS 8

Nigeria ne sont pas reparees d ' autres populations en Afrique

de L'ouest. C'est

REFERENCES

BRITTON, P.L. (1971) On the apparent movements of Cossypha

natalensis Bull. Brit. Orn . Club 91: 137 - 144

CAVE, F.O. and MACDONALD, J.D. (1985) The birds of Sudan,

their identification and distribution. London: Oliver

and Boyd.

CHAPIN, J.P. (1953) The birds of the Belgian Congo. Part 3.

Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. His, 75A

DYER, M., GARTSHORE, M.E. and SHARLAND, R.E. (1986) The

birds of Nindam Forest Reserve, Kagoro, Nigeria. Malimbus

8: 2 - 20

FRIEDMANN, H. (1978) Results of the Lathrop Central

African Republic Expedition 1976. Ornithology. Nat .

Hist. Mus. Los Angeles Country Contrib. Sci . 287: 1-22

GOOD, A. I. (1953) The birds of French Cameroon. Part 2.

Mem. Inst. Fr . Afr. Noire, Ser. Nat. Sci. 3:7- 269

HILLMAN, J.C. (1983) An ecological survey and management

recommendations for the Banaangai Game Reserve, south

west Sudan, with special reference to the Bongo Antelope

Unpublished report of the New York Zoological Society to

the Regional Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and

Tourism, South Sudan.

RAND, A.L., FRIEDMANN, H. and TRAYLOR, M . A . (1959) Birds of

Gabon and Moyen Congo. Fieldiana Zool. 41: 221 - 411

SCHOUTEDEN, H. (1962) La faune ornithologique du Mushie.

Doc. Zool. Mus. Rov. Afr. Centr. 2 .

SCHOUTEDEN, H. (1964) La faune ornithologique du Kasai.

Doc. Zool. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr. 4 .

SCHOUTEDEN, H. (1965) La faune ornithologique du Kwango.

Doc. Zool. Mus. Roy. Afr, Centr. 8 .

TRAYLOR, M . A . (1963) Checklist of the birds of Angola.

Publ. cult. Co. Diam. Angola, Lisboa no. 61

TRAYLOR, M.A. and ARCHER, A.L. (1982) Some results of the

Field Museum 1977 Exoedition of South Sudan. Scodus 6:

5-12

S.N. Stuart, Species Survival Commission, IUCN,

Avenue du Mont-Blanc, 1196, Gland, Switzerland

M.E. Gartshore, RR 3, Dundas, Ontario L9H 5E3, Canada

1986

Frugivores on Te trorch id i um

77

OBSERVATIONS OF BIRDS AND OTHER FRUGIVORES FEEDING AT

TETRORCHIDIUM DIDYMOSTEMON

By Ruth Happel

Received 12 May 1986

Revised 22 September 1986

Fruit represents an important resource for many birds, and

a recent review provided data on fruigivory by tropical birds

(Snow 1981). I report here observations on feeding competition

between avian and mammalian fruigivores at fruiting trees of

Tetrorchidium didymostemon , a previously unreported food

resource for birds. This study was undertaken in 1983 and

1984 at the Botanic Reserve of Fourah Bay College, Freetown,

Sierra Leone. The Reserve is adjacent to the campus of

Fourah Bay College on Mt Aureol (08 28'N, 13 14'W) and is a

type of regenerating secondary forest (Field 1974) in which

T. didymostemon is relatively common (Hutchinson and Dalziel

1958 ) .

T . ■ didymostemon produces a large number of fruits per tree,

and, being a common tree, produces a large number of fruits

in the Reserve as a whole, relative to other trees. I

established 65 phenology plots, each 10 by 50 metres, to

record plant phenology. I monitored these plots monthly,

recording fruit and flower development of all reproductively

active plants. A total of 23 individuals of T. didymostemon

were present in these plots, and most were reproductively

active during my study. On average, trees produced 6500

fruits per year, with a range of c. 700 to c. 40,000 fruits

for other trees.

I conducted observations on two adjacent trees c.. 3m apart

which were large individuals containing about 30,000 fruits

each, or 4 to 5 times the average for this species. These

observations permitted me to note how this resource was

depleted through

The trees were visited by a relatively large number of bird

species. A total of 18 bird species were observed feeding

on fruits from this tree, representing a wide taxonomic

array: Turtur afer, Tockus fasciatus, Pogoniulus bilineatus,

P. scolopaceus, P. subsulphureus , Oriolus brachyrhynchus ,

Corvus albus, Pvcnonotus barbatus, Andropadus gracilirostris ,

Baeopogon indicator, Chlorocichla simplex, Anthreptes collaris,

Nectarinia olivacea, Zosterops senegalensis , Ploceus nigerrimus,

P. nigricollis, Nigrita bicolor and N. canicapilla. The

fruits of these trees were also eaten by squirrels Heliosciurus

rugobrachium and monkeys Cercopithecurs campbelli.

When actively eating fruits from a productive branchlet,

squirrels and monkeys ate approximately 12 fruits/min (N=ll,

78

R. Happel

M ALIMBUS 8

s.d.=2.4) while birds of all sizes on average ate only 5

fruits/min (N=15, s.d.=2.1). That is because birds ate only

ripe, dehisced fruits, and thus had longer search times to

find acceptable fruits. However, because of their apparently

greater total biomass birds probably remove a larger total

number of fruits than either squirrels or monkeys.

It also appeared that birds were the only seed dispersers for

this plant. The fruits are dehiscent, but both squirrels and

monkeys ate the fruits before they dehisced, discarding the

skin and flesh, eating only the seeds. They acted as seed

predators, chewing and digesting the seeds, which did not

appear in the faeces of both either captive or free-ranging

animals. Birds ate only the dehisced fruits, and swallowed

the flesh and seeds whole, defaecating the seeds intact.

Therefore, birds, but not squirrels and monkeys, may be

important in ensuring the repreductive success of this plant.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank Dr C Fyle of the Institute of African Studies

at Fourah Bay College for allowing my to be affiliated with

Fourah Bay College during my studies in Sierra Leone.

Financial support was provided by the Fulbright Foundation,

the Explorers Club, and The Dept, of Anthropology, Harvard.

REFERENCES

FIELD, G.D. (1974) Birds of Freetown Peninsula. Fourah Bay

College, Mt Aureol.

HUTCHINSON, J. and DALZIEL, J.M. (1958) Flora of West

Tropical Africa Vol 1, Pt . 2. Crown Agents for Oversea

Governments and Administrations: London, 2nd ed .

SNOW, D.W. (1981) Tropical frugivorous birds and their food

plants: a world survey. Biotropica 13: 1-14

Ruth E. Happel

Dept, of Anthropology, Peabody Museum, Harvard University

Cambridge MA 02138, USA

1986

Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds

79

REVISED LIST OF SOUND RECORDED AFROTROPICAL BIRDS

by C. CHAP PU IS

(Continued from Malimbus 8(1): 25-39)

PITTIDAE

c i 1 1 a anqolensis 7 B .

" reichenowi 7B.

ALAUDIDAE

Mirafra cantillans 78. LEM, Me VIC.

Pinarocorys erythropyqia (Mirafra arythro-

pygia) 78.

H e teromiraf ra ruddi (Mirafra ruddi) FITZ. 79.

GIB.

Certhilauda somalica (Mirafra somalica) Me VIC.

” albescens (Mirafra albescens) FITZ.

74. GIB.

" curviros tris (Mirafra curviros tr is )

FITZ. 74. GIB.

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ciata) FITZ. 74. GIB. LUT.

Alaemon alaudipes 73. 78.

Ammomanes cinctura 73. 78.

" deserti 73. 78.

" dunni (Calandrella dunni) 78.

” ora yi FITZ. 79. GIB.

Galerida eristata 7 8 .

Hsliccorys modesta (Galerida modesta) 78.

Eramocterix leucotis 78. Me VIC.

" mqriceps 7 8 .

" siqnata Me VIC.

" 1 eucopareira Me VIC.

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" australis GIB.

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Birds of Ivory Coast

89

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF IVORY COAST

by J. Frank Walsh

Recently Thiollay (1985) has provided a fairly comprehensive

account of the birds of Ivory Coast. However, as he points

out in his introduction much remains to be learnt concerning

their detailed distribution, and the changes which are currently

taking place. In particular the northwest of the country has

been somewhat neglected by ornithologists.

Since 1973 I have made numerous short visits to the northern

half of the country, during which over 250 species of birds

have been recorded. Three visits yielded the bulk of the

useful observations. These were:

i. A short stay under canvas near Leraba Gare (1CT06'N, 05c

05 !W) , just south of the Burkina Faso border in the

Leraba valley, from 19 to 24 February 1977, which gave

an opportunity to observe the northernmost area of

Ivory Coast at the height of the dry season.

ii. Stays at the Gouesesso Hotel, near Biankouma (Q7t'52'N,

07°40'W) on 23/24 November 1984 and 9 to 11 March 1985;

this hotel, in a village setting; in a patch of relict

forest cum coffee plantation, must be one of the best

possible for the bird-watcher in West Africa.

iii. A stay in Odienne (09^36'N, 07°32'W) from 18 February to

24 March 1985 proved very interesting. To the west of

the town there is a small barrage, well vegetated and

not much disturbed, while within the town itself there

is a small valley with 4 or 5 hectares of paddy rice and

vegetable gardens, both sites were very productive.

Observations which add to the data given by Thiollay (1985),

or which concern species listed in Appendix G in Collar &

Sruart (1985) are given below. To reduce duplication; lists

are given for Leraba Gare, Gouesesso and Odienne rice paddy

without further details. Other observations are dealt w7ith in

a systematic list.

Among the birds seen in the vicinity of Leraba Gare the

following are perhaps worthy of note:

Neotis denhami, Merops hirundineus, Jynx torquilla,

Eremopterix leucotis, Hirundo smithii (pair occupying nest under

road bridge), H. griseopyga, Nilaus afer, Apalis flavida

( caniceps ) , Parisoma plumbeum, Anthreptes gabonica ( 3 birds

showing territorial behaviour), A. platura, Ploceus nigricollis,

Petronia dentata, Pytilia phoenicoptera , Estriida larvata,

Lagon.osticta rufopicta (the commonest of the fire finches) and

L. rara.

Among the more notable of the 73 species of birds seen at

Gouesesso were:

90

J.F. Walsh

MALIMBUS 8

Francolinus ahantensis (numerous and noisy in November but

not heard or seen in March), Psittacus erithacus, Corythaeola

cristata , Eurystomus qlaucurus and E. gularis (perched in

same dead tree in March), Phoeniculus aterrimus, Gymnobucco

calvus , Dendropicos qabonensis, Psalidoprocne obscura (March),

Lamprotornis iris (November), Hyliota violacea (November),

Nectarinia adelberti, N. venusta, N. superba, Ploceus

nigerrimus and Lonchura bicolor.

Between 19 February and 23 March visits were paid to the

Odienne rice paddy area on 13 mornings. The total bird/days

for each species of the Charadriif ormes is given below:

Actophilornis africana 5

Charadrius dubius 7

Trinqa nebularia 1

T. glareola 137

T. ochropus 5

T. erythropus 1 (14.3.85)

Gallinago media 9

G. qallinago 2

Calidris ferruginea 1 (19.3.85)

C. minuta 3

Philomachus puqnax 12 ( 1 to 4 birds present on 5 days).

Rostratula benghalensis 1

Glareola pratincola 5

Sterna leucoptera 12

SYSTEMATIC LIST

Egretta gularis Reef Heron See Walsh (in press) for inland

records

Egretta intermedia Yellow-billed Egret 1 Odienne lake

1.3.85

Ardea goliath Goliath Heron 2 Comoe Parc 16.7.75, 5 on

22.6.76

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Saddlebill Stork Seen in

Comoe Parc in March, May, July and December. Published

breeding records (Walsh J.F. 1977) overlooked by Thiollay.

Ibis ibis Yellow-billed Stork 1 with woolly-necked Storks

Ciconia episcopus in Comoe Valley 08r'30'N, on 4.12.75

Pteronetta hartlaubi Harlaub's Duck 1 pr on Comoe at 08 22 'N

on 22.6.76, 3 pr on Sassandra river between 07°50'N and 08°

2 6 ' N on 2.3.85.

1986

Birds of Ivory Coast

91

Anas puerquedula Garganey 4 pairs at Odienne dam 16.3.85

Falco cuvieri African Hobby Near Touba (08<:22'N, 07C42'W)

on 6.3.85

Falco subbuteo European Hobby 1 at Odienne 16 & 17.3.85

Falco alopex Fox Kestrel 1 near Odienne on 24.2.85

Glareola nuchalis Rock Pratincole Many on White Bandama

between 08' 00 'N and 08o14'N (none further north) on

22.7.75; several Comoe river at 08C22'N and 07C58'N on

16.7.75, also on Nzi river in June 1979 and on the Cavally

river at 06C03'N on 31.5.79

Sterna leucoptera White-winged Black Tern Several present

Odienne dam from 23 February to 17 March 1985, maximum 10

birds

Rynchops flavirostris African Skimmer 4 on Sanssandra river

between 07'50'N and 08^26'N on 2.3.85

Oena capensis Masked Dove 1 male seen near Odienne on

17.3.85

i

Poicephalus robustus Brown-necked Parrot Flock of 5 birds

seen at the Nzi river OS^ll'N on 20.10.74; 2 over the

Bondoukou-Bouna road at about OEt 30 "N on 31.12.74

Cuculus gularis Grey Cuckoo Regularly heard and seen at

Odienne lake from 23 February to 23 March, at least 3

individuals calling on latter date, suggests breeding

activity likely

Riparia riparia European Sand Martin 1 single bird in

Odienne town on 19.3.85, following a period of exceptional

harmattan dust

Luscinia suecica Bluethroat A male, subspecies not

determined, seen in vegetable gardens at Odienne on

26.2.85 constitutes the FIRST RECORD of this species in

Ivory Coast

Cercomela familiaris Familiar Chat A bird seen carrying

material in beak on four journeys at a small mselberg near

Odienne on 24.2.85 was presumably nesting

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Sedge Warbler This species was

seen on 12 of 13 visits to the Odienne rice paddy, between

19 February and 23 March 1985, the maximum number recorded

being 8 on 26 February, in all 54 bird days recorded. This

species, for which Thiollay (1985) could give only one

record, must occur at the many rice paddies scattered about

the savanna zone, and probably overwinters there in important

numbers as it does in Ghana (Walsh & Grimes 1981).

92

J . F . Walsh

M ALIM BUS 8

Muscicapa aauatica Swamp Flycatcher 1 on the Kolonkoko

tributary of the Comoe river at 09^12'N, 04C27'W on

23.1.75

Ploceus nigricollis Spectacled Weaver 1 female at 09C54'N,

05‘01'W on 24.1.75; several at Odienne dam 1.3.85

Malimbus rubriceps Red-headed Weaver 3 fresh nests with 1

male seen visiting at 09l'54,N, 05C01'W on 24.1.75 ; a pair

seen visiting a nest near Odienne on 24.2.85, with another

fresh nest seen the same day, about 5 km away

Petronia dentata Bush Sparrow A few in Odienne area in

February and March 1985; 1 single bird at Touba airfield on

13 March

Nesocharis capistrata White-cheeked Olive-weaver 1 at Odienne

dam on 3.3.85

Pytilia pheonicoptera Red-winged Pytilia 1 pair at Odienne

dam 16.3.85

Estrilda larvata Black-faced Firefinch 1 male near Odienne

17.3.85

Lagonosticta rufopicta Bar-breasted Firefinch Several at

Kafolo village (09C36'N, 04C19'W) on 24.7.75

Lagonosticta rara Black-bellied Firefinch Seen at Odienne

dam on 16.3.85 and 7 km west of Odienne on 17.3.85

SUMMARY

As a supplement to the check-list of Thiollay (1985) records

of 73 species seen in Ivory Coast, including one species, the

Bluethroat, new to the country and evidence of nesting

activity by 5 species for which Thiollay (op. cit.) questions

the status, are given.

RESUME

Comme supplement de la check-liste de Thiollay (1985)

renseignements sur 73 especes vus a la Cote d'Ivoire, y

compris une espece nouvelle au pays, la Gorgebleue, et

1 1 evidence de l'activite nicheuse de cinq especes pour qui

Thiollay (op. cit) mit en doute le status, sont donnes.

REFERENCES

COLLAR, N.J. & STUART, S.N. (1985) Threatened Birds of Africa

and Related Islands. I.C.B.P., Cambridge

1986

Birds of Ivory Coast

93

THIOLLAY, J.M. (1985) The birds of Ivory Coast Malimbus 7:

1-59

WALSH, J.F. (1977) Nesting of the Jabiru Stork Ephippiorhynchus

seneqalensis in West Africa. Bull. Brit. Orn . Cl. 97: 136

WALSH, J.F. (in press) Inland records of Western Reef Heron

Egretta cularis in West Africa. Malimbus

WALSH, J.F. & GRIMES, L.G. (1981) Observations on some

Palaearctic land birds in Ghana. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 101:

327-334

Dr. J. Frank Walsh

80 Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancs, FY8 1BN, UK.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE QUELEA :

ECOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, POLICY

Edited by C.C.H. ELLIOT and M.M. JAEGER,

FAO, Rome. Pp 132.

This book is a collection of abstracts of papers presented at

an International Conference on the Quelea in Nairobi, Kenya,

in January 1985. It also presents questions, answers and

comments which followed each presentation. Although brief,

the coverage of topics is diverse including historical back-

ground, progress and development in Quelea research and

control. The book looks at logistic problems of Quelea control

and the need for some form of regional cooperation to enhance

research and control. Subsequently, the book unifies these

topics by pointing out the need to look at future Quelea

research and control in the context of ecologically sound pest

management programmes.

The book is of interest to general ornithologists, but more

particularly to those with an interest in economic ornithology,

agriculturists, students and research biologists. It is

written in English and French.

David N. Manyanza

94

NOTICES

M ALIM BUS

THE ICBP CONSERVATION EXPEDITION COMPETITION

The International Council for Bird Preservation is an

organisation concerned about the conservation, management and

wise utilisation of wild birds and their habitats worlwide.

In 1986/1987, ICBP will again be running a Conservation

Expedition Competition to encourage more expeditions to

carry out conservation based ornithological research abroad

and to gain experience of international conservation issues

and cooperation.

The competition is open to university or other ornithological

teams and ICBP will contribute up to $1,000 to each of the

best two proposals and may provide letters of endorsement

and management support to the runners-up. Projects will be

judged on their conservation content, feasibility and likely

impact; they must involve a local counterpart and have

clearance from the host government and/or a local institute.

In 1986, awards went to teams planning ornithological surveys

of the Reserve Naturelle no. 12 Marojejy in Madagascar and

Rio Mazan in southern Ecuador. The two expeditions have

been incorporated into ICBP's Conservation Programme which

includes nearly 100 conservation projects all over the

world.

To enter the competition, a project proposal must be

submitted to the ICBP Secretariat not later than 31 January

and prizes will be announced at the end of March. Full

details and entry forms are provided in a guide to the

competition, which costs £3 and can be obtained from ICBP,

219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, England.

COMMUNIQUE

L'institut Francais de la Recherche Scientifique pour le

D^veloppement en Cooperation (ORSTOM) porte a la connaisance

de la communaute scientifique des orni thologues amateurs et

prof essionnels la creation de la station ornithologique de

Mbour , situee a 80 km au Sud de Dakar. Ce Centre de recherche

est specialise sur 1 'etude de l'ecologie des especes

paldarctiques et ethiopiennes ainsi que sur les divers aspects

lies a la conservation du patrimoine avif aunistique et a

1 ' integration de 1 ' homme dans les pro jets de protection des

ecosystemes naturels.

La station de Mbour constitue a cet effet une nouvelle

antenne sur la facade atlantique et reste a la disposition des

biologistes de tous horizons pour echanger des informations

de nature a accroitre nos connaissances sur l'avifaune

residente et migratrice de l'Ouest Africain.

1986

NOTICES

95

Mr Francoise BAILLON

Station d 1 Ornithologie

ORSTOM - Tel. 57.10.44

B.P. 50 - MBOUR

Republique du Senegal

Mr Charles ROUCHOUSE

Mas du Marquet

La Plaine Gras

07700 BOURG-St-ANDEOL

Tel. 75.04.25.07

FRANCE

SYMPOSIUM

Birds of Evergreen Forest 8-10 September 1987 at The

Wilderness, Cape Province, South Africa. Papers and posters

on the following topics: forest bird communities,

biogeography of forest birds, population biology of forest

birds, conservation of forest avifaunas. Prospective

participants should contact the Symposium Organising

Committee, E.C.W.3.S., P.O. Box 1305, Port Elizabeth, 6000,

South Africa.

GABAR - A NEW JOURNAL COVERING AFRICAN RAPTORS

GT^BAR (Growth and Biology of African Raptors) is a new journal

publishing material on African raptors, here defined as

eagles, hawks, harriers, buzzards, falcons and owls, i.e.

excluding vultures, seabirds and other predatory birds already

covered by specialist publications in the region. Contents

will include: short papers on completed studies, progress

reports on ongoing research, short notes, unusual sightings,

conservation problems and a Forum in which opinions,

continuing controversies, constructive criticisms and new

ideas are aired and challenged. The first edition has been

printed and copies can be obtained free of charge from the

address below. Subsequent editions will be distributed on

receipt of a subscription fee.

Robert Simmons

Editor - GABAR

Dept, of Zoology

University of the Witwatersrand

Johannesburg 2001

Republic of South Africa.

7TH PAN-AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS

Announcement - A wonderful opportunity to observe African

wildlife, and birds in particular, to see what research is

currently under way there, and to learn of conservation

problems in the Afrotropics is presented by the 7th Pan-

African Ornithological Congress, to be held in Nairobi ,

Kenya , 28 August to 5 September 1988. This will be the

first such Congress in the heartland of tropical Africa.

The International Council for Bird Preservation will have one

day on the programme. A theme will be problems of the

96

NOTICES

M ALIMBUS 8

Afrotropical forest avifaunas, with a coordinated excursion of

2 days in mid-Congress to selected, threatened Kenyan forests.

There will be symposia, contributed papers, poster sessions,

and, importantly, round-table and workshop sessions that

emphasize the significance of birds locally (birds problems

for man, such as crop destruction and aircraft collision with

birds, as well as man 1 s problems that affect birds).

Circular 1 has been prepared, and is available from Congress

Organizer Don A. Turner (P.0. Box 48019, Nairobi, Kenya), to

whom one should write concerning all details.

Nairobi is a modern, international city situated close to

major parks and game reserves. The Kenyan avian physiologist

Prof. Geoffrey Maloiy is Chairman of the Local Committee on

Arrangements. Prof. David Pearson (Dept, of Biochemistry,

University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya) is

Chairman of the Scientific Programme Committee. The Congress

Vice-Chairmen are Robert Dowsett, Gerard Morel, Lester L.

Short and Jean Pierre Vande Weghe.

East Africa represents the last bulwark of the earth's

Pleistocene faunas - come and see them under ideal conditions!

- Lester L. Short, American Museum of Natural History, New

York, N.Y. 10024-5192, U.S.A.

COLOUR RINGED LITTLE EGRETS

Since 1981 we have been colour-ringing Little Egret ( Egretta

gar zetta ) nestlings in the Camargue, Southern France, as

part of a long-term study of their population dynamics and

movement .

There is increasing evidence that the majority of this

population winters in Wet- 1 Africa and four of these birds have

already been observed in Senegal. In addition, Little Egrets

ringed with metal rings in the Camargue have been recovered in

the Gambia, Mali and Ghana. In order to better define the

areas used by these birds and the occurrence of any seasonal

movements, we would be grateful if ornithologists working in,

or visiting, any wetlands in West Africa could look out for

and report to us any observations of colour-ringed Egrets.

The colour rings are placed on the tibia. Up to three rings

per leg have been used in the following colours: red, blue,

green, white and orange. More recently we have used tall

(22 mm) rings which are engraved with up to 3 horizontal

stripes. The stripes may be 'thick' (4 mm) or 'thin' (1.5 mm).

Thus to correctly identify a colour ringed Egret it is

necessary to record, for both legs, the colour of the ring or

rings and in the case of striped rings the position (top,

middle or bottom of the ring) and thickness of the stripes.

Observations should be sent to Dr. H. HAFNER, Station

Biologique de la Tour du Valet, le Sambuc 13200 ARLES (France).

1986

NOTICES

9 7

We will be happy to send details of when and where birds

were ringed and what is known of there subseugent life history.

MARQUAGE D ' AIGRETTES GARZETTES AVEC DES BAGUES COLOREES

Dans le cadre d 1 une etude sur la dynamique de population de

1' aigrette garzette, (Egretta garzetta) nous avons bague

chaque annee et cela depuis 1981 des poussins d' Aigrettes en

Camargue, midi de la France. Pour cela, ont ete utilisees

des combinaisons de bagues de couleur permettant une

reconnaissance individuelle . De part ce baguage on sait deja

qu 1 une partie de cette population hiverne en Afrique de

l'Ouest. Quatre de ces oiseaux bagues anterieurement avec des

bagues en metal ont ete reperes en Gambie, au Mali ainsi

qu'au Ghana.

Afin de mieux connaitre les sites importants pour ces oiseaux

ainsi que leurs deplacements, nous souhaiterions que nous

soient communiquees toutes observations d‘ Aigrettes baguees.

Les bagues sont placees sur le tibia. Le nombre de bagues

par tibia peut varier de 1 a 3 . Les couleurs utilisees sont:

blanc, vert, bleu, rouge, orange. Plus recemment, nous avons

utilise egalement de grandes bagues (22 mm de haut ) comportant

des traits noirs horizontaux. Ces traits sont soit epais

(4 mm) soit minces (1.5 mm). Une bague peut comporter jusqu'a

trois traits: haut, milieu, bas.

*• -

Pour identifier de maniere correcte une Aigrette baguee , il

est necessaire de transcrire pour les deux pattes la ou les

couleurs des bagues, et dans le cas des bagues comportant

des traits, leur epaisseur ainsi que leur disposition (haut,

milieu , bas ) .

Tout observations devrait etre envoyee a M.H. HAFNER, Station

Biologique de la Tour du Valat, le Sambuc 13200 ARLES (France).

Bien entendu nous communiquerons aux observateurs toutes

les donnees dont nous disposons (age, date et lieu de

baguage) sur les oiseaux reperes.

BIRDS OF LIBERIA

Wulf Gatter is writing an annotated checklist about birds of

Liberia/West Africa. He is interested to collect birds

notices of this occidental African country as well as offshore

records .

Names of correspondents will be notified in the published text.

Contact Wulf Gatter, Buchsstrasse 20, D 7318 Lenningen,

Federal Republic of Germany.

98

NOTICES

MALIMBUS 8

THIRD WORLD CONFERENCE OF BIRDS OF PREY, ISRAEL, 1987

This International Conference will be held from 22 to 27

March 1987 at Eilat, in Israel. It will be organised by the

World Working Group on Birds of Prey in conjunction with the

Israel Raptor Information Center and the U.S. Hawk Mountain

Sanctuary Association.

It will consist of 7 paper sessions, each of which may occupy

up to one whole day. The themes and their organisers will be:

1. Conservation and biology of rare raptors-B.U. Meyburg &

N. Collar.

2. Conservation and biology of rare owls-R.J. Clark &

H. Mikkola.

3. Raptors on migration and wintering grounds-M. Fuller &

J.M. Thiollay.

4. Population biology and breeding-I. Newton.

5. Raptors in polluted environments-R . Risebrough & J. Ledger.

6. Education-Y. Leshem & J. Brett.

7. Legislation-P . Robinson.

Contributions to these different themes can also take the

form of poster papers.

This conference will take place within the framework of an

international festival which will include a raptor photography

competition (under the patronage of Eric Hosking), a painting

and drawing competition (patron, Roger Tory Peterson), a film

festival and competition, and ornithological and cultural

excursions and tours.

At this season the famous and massive migration movement of

raptors over Eilat is in full swing. This, in 1985, included

1.1 million raptors of 30 species.

For further information, write to the Hon. Secretary of the

World Working Group: Mr R.D. Chancellor, 15 Bolton Gardens,

London SW5 OAL, U.K.

I

r

RECOMMANDATIONS AUX AUTEURS

Halirabus publishes papers, short notes, reviews, letters and

illustrative material. Contributions should be typed on one side of

the paper with double spacing and wide margins. Wherever possible

papers first should have been submitted to at least one

ornithologist or biologist for critical scrutiny.

Textual matter will be retyped for offset printing, but FIGURES

should be prepared as for final reproduction, allowing for 20%

reduction, using Indian ink on good quality white paper, and

Letraset and Letratone lettering and shading (or equivalent) as

appropr iate .

CONVENTIONS regarding tabular material, numbers, metric values

references etc. should be carefully adhered to and can be sought in

this and other issues. Articles containing lengthy SPECIES-LISTS

should be tabular format (eg Malitnbus 1:22-28 or 1 : 49-54) or of

the textual format of Malimbus 1: 36-42 for short texts per species

or Malinbus 1:90-109 for longer texts.

From Vol. 9 (1987) onwards all references must be entered into the

bibliography of each Paper or Short Note.

OFFPRINTS 20 offprints of Papers (but not of Notes) will be sent to

a single author, gra tis , upon request. 10 additional offprints will

be issued in respect of a second and a third author of a paper, but

they will be photocopies. Offprints will not be stapled, bound or

covered; they are merely cut from copies of the journal.

REFERENCES OMITTED FROM BIBLIOGRAPHIES

BANNERMAN 1930-51 or 1953 ; Bannerman, D. A. (1930-51) The Birds

of West Tropical Africa. 8 vols. Crown Agents, London;

(1953) The Birds of West and Equatorial Africa. 2 vols.

Oliver & Boyd^ Edinburgh and London

ELGOOD 1982 : Elgood, J.H. (1982) The birds of Nigeria. B.O.U.,

London.

ELGOOD, SHARLAND & WARD 1966 : Elgood, J.H., Sharland, R.E. &

Ward, P. (1966) Palaearctic migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 108:

84-116

ELGOOD, FRY 6 DOWSETT 1973 : Elgood, J.H., Fry, C.H. & Dowsett.

R.J. (1973) African migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 115: 1-45 and

375-411

HALL & MOREAU 1970 ; Hall, B.P. S Moreau, R.E. (1970) An Atlas of

Speciation in African Passerine Birds. British Museum (Nat.

Hist. ) , London

MACKWORTH-PRAED & GRANT 1957-73 or 1970-73 : Mackworth-Praed ,

C.W. & Grant, C.H.B. (1957-73) African Handbook of Birds .

Series I, Birds of Eastern and North Eastern Africa (2nd

ed.). 2 vols. Series II, Birds of the Southern Third Africa.

2 vols. Series III, Birds of West Central and Western

Africa. 2 vols. Longmans Green & Co., London; (1970-73)

African Handbook of Birds. Series III, Birds of West Central

and Western Africa. Vol. 1, 1970, Non-passerines, Vol. 2,

1973, Passerines. Longmans, London.

SERLE & MOREL 1977 : Serle, W. & Morel, G.J. (1977) A Field Guide

to the Birds of West Africa. Collins, London.

SNOW, D.W. (Ed.) 1978 : An Atlas of Speciation in African

--._~.Passerine Birds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.), London

WHITE 1960-65 : White, C.M.N. (1960) A check list of the

Ethiopian Muse icapidae (Sylviinae) Part I Occasional papers

of the National Museums of Southern Rhodesia 3 (24B) :

399-430; (1961) A revised check list of African broadbills

... etc. Lusaka : Government Printer; (1962a) A check list

of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) Parts II and III.

Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. S. Rhod . 3 (26B) : 653-738; (1962b) A

revised check list of African shrikes ... etc. Lusaka :

Gov. Printer; a revised check list of African flycatchers

MALIMBUS 8(2) December 1986

CONTENTS

Edi tor ial

Hilary Fry: A Tribute by John Elgood & Bob Sharland

Records of Birds Seen in the Republic of Togo During

1984-1986. R. A. Cheke , J.F. Walsh & S.A. Sowah

The Red-capped Robin-chat Cossypha natalens_is

in West Africa. S.N. Stuart & M.E. Gartshore

Observations of Birds and Other Frugivores Feeding at

Te tr orch id i urn didymos temon . R.E. Happe

Revised List of Sound-Recorded Afrotropical Birds.

C. Chappuis (Continued from Malimbus 8(1). 25 39)

Notes on the Birds of Ivory Coast.

J.F. Walsh

Review

Notices

49

49-5 C

51-72

73-7(

7 7—7 F

7 9-8 j

■ n

89-9:

9

94-9

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