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MAUMBUS
Journal of the West African Ornithological Society
Revue de la Société d’Ornithologie de l'Ouest Africain
F-
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V ** n « m
'"'iL%4RIES
VOLUME 12 Number 1
ISSN 0331-3689
August 1990
WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
SOCIÉTÉ D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN
Conaeil 1990s
Présidents Dr Gérard J. Morel
Vice-Président; John H. Elgood
Trésorier et chargé des abonnements: Robert E. Sharland
Secrétaire Générale: Mme Amber ley Moore
Rédacteur en Chef : Dr Alan Tye
Comité de Rédaction; Dr R. A. Cheke, Dr L.D.C. Fishpool, Dr G. J. Morel,
Dr R. Wilkinson
La correspondance doit être adressée comme suit:
- au Rédacteur en Chef (2 School Lane, King's Ripton, Huntingdon,
Cambridgeshire, PE17 2NL, U.K.) pour les publications dans Mal imbus , y
compris éventuellement des photos en noir et blanc ou des dessins au
trait.
- au Trésorier (1 Fishers Heron, East Mills, Fordingbridge, Hampshire,
SP6 2 JR, U. K.) pour les abonnements, les questions financières et les
numéros anciens .
- au Président (route de Sallenelles, Bréville-les-Monts , 14860 Ranville,
France) pour les questions d'intérêt général.
La Société tire son origine de la 'Nigerian Ornithologists' Society',
fondée en 1964. Son but est de promouvoir l'intérêt scientifique pour
les oiseaux de l'Ouest africain et de faire avancer l'ornithologie de ces
régions principalement au moyen de sa revue Malimbus ( anciennement
Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society) .
Les demandes d'adhésion sont les bienvenues. Les cotisations annuelles
sont de £10.00 pour les membres ordinaires et de £25.00 pour les sociétés
(les cotisations peuvent être payées en £ sterling au Trésorier ou en
francs français au Président) . Les membres reçoivent Malirabus
gratuitement par courrier ordinaire. Un supplément est exigé pour le
courrier aérien (demander au Trésorier le tarif) .
ANCIENS NUMÉROS ; les vols 11-14 (1975-78) du Bulletin of the Nigerian
Ornithologists' Society (du même format que Malimbus) sont disponibles à
£10 l'ensemble, les vols 1-8 de Malimbus â £25 l'ensemble et à partir du
vol 9 à £10 par volume. Port et emballage en sus.
Conception de l'emblème: Philip Blasdale
In the recent past, the Editorial Board of Ma limbus has been responsible
for refereeing manuscripts, and for other tasks such as translating
Summaries (especially Gerard Morel). One unfortunate consequence of the
fixed nature of the Editorial Board has been that other referees have
received no acknowledgment for their services. For this reason, from the
present issue onward, the names listed as the Editorial Board for a
particular issue will simply be those who have rendered assistance by
refereeing papers or in other substantial ways for that issue . The
composition of the Board will thus be fluid but I am sure that the names
of the previous Board members will continue to appear regularly,
reflecting their valued services. My thanks go to all our referees, who
give so generously of their time and expertise.
EDITORIAL
Ces dernières années le Comité de Rédaction de Malimbus a été chargé de
la lecture des manuscrits ainsi que d' autres tâches telles que traduction
de Résumés (surtout Gérard Morel). Mais la fixité même du Comité de
Rédaction eut hélas pour effet de passer sous silence les services rendus
par d'autres lecteurs. Pour cette raison, dès ce numéro, seuls
figureront au Comité de Rédaction ceux qui auront prêté leur concours
audit numéro, soit en relisant des articles soit d'une autre façon
appréciable. Ainsi, la composition du Comité sera variable mais je suis
sûr que les noms des membres du Comité précédent continueront d'y
paraître régulièrement, comme preuve de leurs bons offices. Mes
remerciements s'adressent à tous les spécialistes qui donnent si
généreusement temps et compétence.
Great White Egret - Grande Aigrette - Egret ta alba
(Photo: H 0 P Crick)
MALIMBUS 12
ADDITIONAL SPECIES AND BREEDING RECORDS OF BIRDS IN THE REPUBLIC OF TOGO
by J. Frank Walsh, Robert A. Cheke, and Samuel A. Sowah
Received 7 March 1989
Revised 12 March 1990
In previous articles the authors have summarized their observations on
birds seen in Togo between 1972 and 1986 (Cheke & Walsh 1980, 1984, Cheke
1982, Cheke et al . 1986). This article continues the series with details
of further observations by J.F.W. and S.A.8. who were in Togo for most of
1986, 1987 and 1988 and by R. A.C. who was in the country during Jan-Mar
1987 and Jan- Apr 1988.
Nomenclature and sequence for Afrotropical species in the lists below
follow Hall & Moreau (1970) and Snow (1978). Details are given for all
species for which there are no Togo records during the last 50 years.
These accounts are marked with asterisks and references to earlier
Togolese records are given, if any are known. For a few species which
have appeared in the recent literature observations are given where these
appear to be of particular interest. Where there is evidence of breeding
this is given, if it has not previously been recorded in Togo. In
addition, we have recently recorded 52 further species which were not
included in our previous lists, but which have been reported in the
recent literature. These are listed in Appendix A. The coordinates of
names localities are provided in Appendix B.
PHALACROCORACIDAE
Long- tailed Shag Phalacrocorax africanus. A nest with a nestling amongst
a colony of Ardea melanocephala, at Sansanne- Mango, 8 Oct 1986 and a
recently-fledged bird there 20 Sep 1987.
ARDEIDAE
* African Tiger-Heron Tigriornis leucocephalus . In Feb 1988 one flushed
from gallery forest beside the Koue River at 8°18N, 0°44E and another
further north, upstream, at 8°20N. Recorded by Reichenow (1897, 1902).
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala. On 8 Oct 1986 27 nests, some
containing young almost ready to fly, were counted in three trees at
Sansanne-Mango. Bred there again in 1987? sitting birds and building
activity in July and fledglings in September.
C ICON I I DAE
♦Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus . One beside the Oti River at
10°35N, Feb 1987 when several dead buffalo (Syncerus caffer) were in the
vicinity. A ^air near Sansanne-Mango , Feb 1933. Recorded by Reichenow
( 1891 ) .
1990
Bird records from Togo
♦Yellow- billed Stork Mycterla ibis . Breeds at Sansanne-Mango . Four
fully-feathered young there in nests in a baobab ( Adansonia sp.) on
24 Jan 1987. Regular in the Oti valley, Oct- Apr; maximum 65 at 10°35N on
16 Apr 1987. Recorded by Reichenow (1897).
THRESKIORNITHIDAE
♦Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus . Singles at Tantigou and Ayengre ,
Apr 1988.
ANATIDAE
♦Pintail Anas acuta . Fourteen at Domaine Gravillon, 25 Nov 1987. Fifty,
of approximately equal numbers of each sex, 10 km SE of Koumongou Dec 1987
and ten pairs there Feb 1988. Fifty- three, including 20 drakes, at
Tantigou Jan 1988, nine there on 28 Feb 1988 and three on 8 Mar 1988.
ACCIPITRIDAE
♦Rlippell' s Griffon Vulture Gyps rueppellil. Two at a dead buffalo near
Sansanne-Mango, Mar- Apr 1987. One at Round jouare, Apr 1988.
Shikra Acciplter badlus . Birds carrying nesting material at Kara on
8 Feb 1986 and at Pewa on 16 Mar 1986. Copulation observed 1 Nov 1986 at
Fosse aux Lions. A pair which was prospecting a locust-bean tree (Parkia
biglobosa) at Kara on 15 Jan 1987 , was building in it on 30 Jan and
copulating at the nest, which was still flimsy, the next day. The birds
were at the nest on 9 and 1 2 Feb and the female was sitting on 1 3 and
16 Feb but on 24 Feb the nest was deserted. On 8 and 1 0 Apr 1 988 a male
was on a nest in a leafless teak (Tectonia grandis) 4 km S of Barkoissi
and on 9 Apr 1 988 an unsexed bird was on a nest, 1 2 m up a Mitragyna
inermis tree, at Mandouri.
♦Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates . Singles near Naboulgou Oct 1986 ,
Jan 1987 and 1988 and Mar 1988 . Also at Domaine Gravillou (Feb 1988),
Defale (Apr 1988) and Sansanne-Mango (Apr 1988) . Recorded by Reichenow
( 1902) .
Red- tailed Buzzard Buteo augural is . A pair tending a nest at Misahohe on
30 Jan 1988.
♦Cassin's Hawk Eagle Spizaetus africanus . One at Idif iou, Feb 1 988 ;
three at 8°19N, 0°44E , Mar 1 988 ; one at Tasso, May 1988 . Two skins
collected Togo ( Stresemann 1924 ) .
♦Ayres' Hawk Eagle Hieraeetus dubius . One over the Koue River at 8°21N,
0°43E , Mar 1988 . Collected at Misahohe, Apr 1895 ( Stresemann 1924 ) .
Black Kite Milvus mi grans. An adult sheltering two chicks in a nest in
an Acacia sp. tree 10 km W of Koumongou on 18 Mar 1987. At Kpalime, on
30 Jan 1988 , two nests with sitting birds were noted in kapok trees
(Ceiba pentandra ) and in the evening 91 birds roosted in a tree of the
J. F. Walsh et al.
MALIMBUS 12
same species. Sitting birds were also seen on nests at Atakpame (31 Jan
1988), Okpahoue (6 Feb 1988), Agadji (6 and 7 Feb 1988) and well-grown
young were being fed in a nest near Kara on 4 May 1988.
*Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus. A pair at Domaine Gravillou on 13 Sep
1987 and singles at 10°46N, 0°18E (Sep 1987), at 8°42N, 0°41E (Mar 1988)
and at Landa-Pozanda (5 Apr 1988).
FALCON I DAE
European Hobby Falco subbuteo. One at Badou, amongst Riparia rlparia and
Hirundo lucida, Jan 1987 and a female at Kante, Apr 1988.
*Red-footed Falcon F. vespertinus. Four at Landa-Pozanda on 5 Apr 1988.
SAGITTARIIDAE
♦Secretary Bird Sagittarius serpentarius . Not seen by us but the Rangers
of the Keran Park reported that one or two birds often occurred in the
Park during dry seasons.
PHASIANIDAE
Ahanta Francolin Francolinus ahantensis. Calling at Misahohe in Apr 1987
and Jan-Feb 1988. Recorded by Reichenow (1897), Millet-Horsin ( 1923 ) ,
Douaud (1956) and De Roo et al. (1969).
Double- spurred Francolin F. bicalcaratus . Bred at Oulita in Feb 1987,
where a freshly killed chick was found on 28th.
Stone Partridge Ptilopachus petrosas. A half-grown chick amongst a party
of ten birds at Landa-Pozanda, 2 Apr 1988.
OTIDIDAE
♦Denham' s Bustard Neotis denhami . A pair in the north of Keran Park, Feb
1987, five near Sansanne-Mango and one near Naboulgou, Feb 1988.
BU RHIN I DAE
Senegal Thicknee Burhlnus senegalensls . A pair with two young, one-third
grown, at Naboulgou on 26 Apr 1987.
♦Spotted Thicknee B. capensis. A single bird seen near Landa-Pozanda on
five occasions between 30 Oct 1987 and 30 Apr 1988. On 2 May 1988 a pair
with two downy young, about two days old, were found in a Eucalyptus
plantation at Landa-Pozanda? two pairs were present on 15 May 1988.
1990
Bird records from Togo
CHARADRIIDAE
Black-shouldered Wattled Plover Vanellus alblceps. A pair behaving as if
defending a nest or young at Tetetou on 12 Mar 1987 and a pair with a
small downy chick at Naboulgou, 11 Apr 1987.
Spur-winged Plover V . spinosus . A pair at Panseni with a nest scrape in
shale chips, containing two eggs but no nest material, 10 Jan 1987.
♦Black-headed Plover V. tectus. Pairs in the north of Reran Park
Feb 1987, near Dapaon and at Tantigou, Apr 1987. Three near Sansanne-
Mango, Feb 1988 and 14 at Tantigou, May 1988.
SCOLOP AC I DAE
♦Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus. One at Domaine Gravillou, Nov 1987 and
two there Dec 1987.
♦Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckll. Singles at Domaine Gravillou,
Nov 1987 and Lome Apr 1988.
GL AREOL I DAE
Egyptian Plover Pluvianus aegyptlus. A nest of two eggs buried in sand,
being attended by a pair at Sika-Kondji, 25 Jan 1988.
LARI DAE
♦Grey-headed Gull Larus clrrhocephalus . One at Tantigou, Feb 1988.
Recorded by Millet-Horsin (1923) as a rare visitor to the coast and
lagoon. No inland records in Ghana (Grimes 1987).
Arctic Tern Sterna paradiaaea. Two at Lome, Aug 1987. Recorded at Lome
( Schloss 1968).
Darnara Tern S. balaenarum. Two adults in non-breeding plumage and a
juvenile at Lome, Jan 1987. They were feeding in a brackish pool by
hovering and plunge-diving from heights of 2-3 m. A metallic 1 weet’ call
was often uttered, usually singly but occasionally twice in quick
succession. On 21 Aug 1987, six were present, mostly in breeding
plumage. On 26 Aug 1987 at least 21 were present, all in breeding dress.
Two days later there were 39, of which five were in winter dress and six
moulting, and by 25 Sep the flock had increased to 5 1 of which ten were
in non- breeding plumage. On the ground the birds maintained a diffuse
flock, with each bird about 1 m from its nearest, neighbour.
RHYNCHOPIDAE
♦Skimmer Rhynchops f lavirostrls . One on the Oti River at 9 °27N, 0°14E,
Apr 1987, one in the same area, Feb 1988 and another with terns at Lome,
Aug 1 987 . Recorded by Reichenow ( 1902 ) .
J. F. Walsh et al.
MALIMBUS 12
TURNICIDAE
*Lark Quail Ortyxelos meif frenii. One at Landa-Pozanda, May 1988.
COLUMBIDAE
*Rock Pigeon Colomba livia. Seventy-five on a rocky escarpment near
Dapaon , Aug 1987. Three in similar habitat at Fosse aux Lions» Sep 1987
and four there, Apr 1988. Feral populations in many areas including
Atakpame, Blitta and Lome.
Bronze-naped Pigeon C. iriditorques . At Misahohe, a female on 3 Apr 1987
and on 18 Apr 1987 a pair building about 40 m up a forest tree. The next
day a bird was sitting on the flimsy nest. Recorded at the same place
Jan-Feb 1988. On 3 Feb a pair was displaying, jumping towards each other
on a branch, turning and walking away along the branch, while opening
their wings slightly, and turning around again to repeat the actions.
According to Urban et al. (1986) only one nest of the species has been
described and Goodwin (1967) stated that there was no information on
displays .
♦Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur. One at Kara, Feb 1986. Eight in Keran
Park, Feb 1987. Several records, Feb-Mar in the Oti Toutionga area and
Mar-Apr at Tantigou. Three at Fosse aux Lions, Apr 1988. Recorded by
Millet-Horsin (1923).
♦Adamawa Turtle Dove S . hypopyrrha . Recorded from Tasso, Mar and May
1988. Details in Cheke & Walsh (1989).
Red-eyed Dove S. semitorquate . A pair building in a tall bush at Fosse
aux Lions on 12 Aug 1986.
Laughing Dove S. senegalensis . A well-grown nestling at Dapaon on 28 Feb
1988 and a sitting bird there on 8 Apr 1988.
MUSOPHAGIDAE
Grey Turaco Crinlfer piscator. One incubating two eggs in a flimsy nest,
10 m up a tree at Kpayando, 22 Mar 1987. One flushed off a similar nest
(contents unknown), at Kara, 10 Apr 1987. On 17 Apr 1988 another nest at
Kpayando with an adult feeding very small young.
CUCULIDAE
Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus. A bird of the savanna race C.c. clamosus
at Tasso on 12 May 1988. Douaud (1956) recorded C.c. gabonensis and the
species was also noted by Relchenow (1897).
Grey Cuckoo C. gularis . A juvenile at Kara on 22 Jul 1986 was fed a
caterpillar by one of three attendant Long-tailed Shrikes Corvinella
corvina .
1990
Bird records from Togo
♦Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus o One calling at Badou, 5 Feb 1987.
One at Misahohe in Apr 1987, Jan-Feb 1988. Also heard at Idifiou, 6 Feb
1988. Recorded by Reichenow (1897) and Millet-Horsin (1923).
STRIGIDAE
* Milky Eagle Owl Bubo lacteus . One near Koviakope , Jan 1987. Recorded
by Reichenow (1902).
CAPRIMULGIDAE
Dusky Nightjar Caprimulgus (pectoralls) nigrlscapularls . A female (road
kill) in non- breeding condition was found at Klabe Azafie, AFr 1988.
Although recorded from Togo by De Roo (1970), the record was overlooked
by Snow (1978, 1979) and Snow & Louette (1981).
APODIDAE
♦Sabine's Spinetail Rhaphldura sablni. A pair at Djodji, May 1988.
Alpine Swift Apus melba. On 16 Mar 1986 about 2000 birds passed ENE over
Aledjo between 06.30 and 08.45. On 11 Mar 1987 200 flew N over Atakpame
at 07.15, followed by about 1000 between 09.30 and 09.45 and another 200
at 14.40. Smaller numbers were seen over Kara, Koumoniande and Aledjo in
late Mar - early Apr, and at Sokode in Apr with three A. pallidus and 100
A . apus . On 7 Mar 1988 more than 1000 were over Fazao flying at
altitudes from near ground level to great heights, north of a storm front
in the morning. Smaller numbers were seen at various sites during the
rest of Mar, with the last record one at Ounabe on 1 Apr. Other records,
presumably of wintering birds, were made in late Jan - early Mar at
Aledjo, Djodji, Kpalime, Koniouhou, Atakpame, Tinkiro, Ayengre and
Okpahoue with 260 at Nylve and 200 at Misahohe on 2 Feb 1988.
♦Mottled Swift A. aequatorlalis . All records were of birds in company
with A. melba: one at Aledjo, Mar 1986; 20 at Kpalime, Feb 1987; 50 at
Atakpame, Mar 1987. The extent of white on belly and throat suggested
A. a. lowel but A. a. furensls cannot be excluded.
♦Pallid Swift A. pallidus. Three at Aledjo, Mar 1986; 25 at Kpalime,
Feb 1987; 200 at Atakpame, Mar 1987; three near Tetetou, Mar 1987; three
near Sokode, Apr 1987; one at Oti Toutionga, Nov 1987; two at Pewa,
Mar 1988.
ALCEDINIDAE
Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta. A pair excavating a hole at Djamde,
26 Jul 1986.
Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala. A pair prospecting a hole
at Oti Toutionga, 3 Apr 1987. On 2 Apr 1988 a pair was behaving
agitatedly beside a nest-hole in a river bank near Landa-Pozanda, and on
16 Apr a bird entered the hole carrying food.
J. F. Walsh et al
MALIMBUS 12
MEROPIDAE
Red- throated Bee-eater Merops bullock! . Three active colonies in Keran
Park, 14 Feb 1987 and one near Sansanne- Mango , 16 Apr 1987.
* Black Bee-eater M. gularis. A pair at Idifiou, 6 Feb 1988 and one there
on 25 Feb? on 13 May at least four birds were present, two adults and two
juveniles. One juvenile had a red throat but was brownish black on head
and nape and the second lacked the red throat.
♦European Bee-eater M. apiaster. Five flying north over Pasa on 22 Mar
1987 and 70 moving north-west in the Kara area, 5 Apr 1987. Also
recorded, Sep-Oct in flocks of up to 109 birds at Bafilo, Bagan and
8°33N, 1°37E, and in groups up to ten, Mar-Apr at Pewa, Landa-Pozanda and
Kara. Recorded by Reichenow (1902).
Carmine Bee- eater H. nubicus . Six occupied colonies in the Oti and Kara
valleys in Apr 1987 (see Walsh et al . 1987).
Rosy Bee- eater M. malimbicus . Six near Pasa, Mar 1986? four over
Amoussokope, Jan 1988; 11 near Nyive, Feb 1988. Recorded by Millet-
Horsin (1923) and Browne (1980).
PHOENICULIDAE
Green Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus. A pair prospecting a tree-hole
at Naboulgou, 12 Apr 1987.
♦Black Wood- hoopoe P. cyanomelas. Singles or couples 13 km N of
Sansanne-Mango, Apr 1986; Binako, Sep 1986; Landa-Pozanda, Jan and
Jul 1987, Mar 1988; Naboulgou, Feb 1987; Sansanne-Mango, Feb 1988.
Recorded by Reichenow (1893, 1897).
UPUPIDAE
♦Hoopoe Upupa epops . One with characters of U.e. epops near Naboulgou,
Feb 1987. Singles near Sansanne-Mango and Cinkanse on 2 Mar 1987 and at
Landa-Pozanda, 5 Mar 1988. Two near Sansanne-Mango, Feb 1988. U.e.
senegalensis recorded by Reichenow (1893).
BUCEROTIDAE
♦Black- and- white- casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus . A pair in
gallery forest beside the Mono River at 8°25N, 1°14E, Oct 1987.
♦Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata. One beside the Mono River at
7° 18N, 1 °27E, Jan 1987. Recorded by Reichenow (1891).
Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus. Nested at Idifiou in Feb 1987 and
Misahohe in Feb 1988; carrying food at Badou on 3 1 Mar 1988.
1990
Bird records from Togo
Grey Hornbill T . nasutus . Carrying food in the Atakpame area and nesting
material at Kara in May 1987.
* Black Dwarf Hornbill T. hartlaubi. One at Misahohe, Jan 1988.
CAPITON I DAE
Naked- faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus . Adults seen visiting a tree-hole
at Misahohe on 18 Apr 1987 were greeted by excited calls from within. A
free-flying juvenile, still with gape flanges and a downy head, was also
present. One entered a nest hole at Badou on 30 Mar 1988.
Speckled Tinker Pogoniulus scolopaceus. One making short visits at three
or four minute intervals to a nest hole in the stump of a broken branch
at Ewa, 30 Mar 1988.
Yellow- fronted Tinker P. chrysoconus . A pair excavating a nest hole at
Kpayando, 22 Mar 1987.
INDICATORIDAE
♦Least Honeyguide Indicator exilis. Two copulating at Idifiou on 6 Feb
1988 and another, in an apparent display flight, calling ’pew pew’, at
Misahohe on 7 Feb 1988. Recorded by Reichenow (1897) but omitted by Snow
(1978).
♦Cassin* s Honeyguide Prodotiscus insignia. One at Misahohe, Jan- Feb
1988. Recorded from the same location by Reichenow (1897).
P ICI DAE
♦Wryneck Jynx torquilla. One at Pewa, Mar 1987. Recorded by Reichenow
(1891) .
Grey Woodpecker Dendroplcos goertae. A female in a hole in a tree at
Landa-Pozanda, 7 and 2 3 Jan 1988. On 4 Feb it carried a beakful of food
into the hole and departed with an empty bill.
ALAUDIDAE
♦Singing Bush Lark Mirafra cantillans. One at Tantigou, Feb- Mar and
another at Mandouri, Apr 1988.
♦Rusty Bush-Lark M. rufa. One at Tantigou, Apr 1988 (photographed) .
♦Dusky Lark M. (nigricans) erythropygia . Singles at Naboulgou, Feb and
Apr 1988; three at Pewa, Mar 1988. Recorded by Reichenow (1891, 1893,
1902).
♦Crested Lark Galerida cristata. Regular at Domaine Gravillou; records
in Nov, Dec, Feb, Apr and Jul , including a juvenile in Feb. Also a pair
at Fosse aux Lions, Feb 1986 and one near Sansanne- Mango, Feb 1988.
Recorded by Reichenow (1902).
10
J. F. Walsh et al.
MALIMBUS 12
♦Brown- backed Finch Lark Eremopterlx leueotis . Abundant In the
Naboulgou/ Sansanne-Mango area Jan-Mar in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and
Nov-Dec 1987. Latest recorâi a male at Kpani , 16 Apr 1987.
Southernmost records a female at Landa-Pozanda, Feb 1987, Recorded by
Reiehenow (1902)*
HIRUNDINIDAE
Red- chested Swallow Hirundo lucida. One flew off a nest, 7 m up on a
wooden beam inside a barn- like restaurant, at Blitta on 13 Mar 1987.
Subsequently at least three adults perched close to the nest. The
hotelier said that the birds regularly bred twice a year and had last
raised a brood in Dec 1986. Three there on 1 Apr 1988, visiting a nest.
Rufous-breasted Swallow H. semirufa. Singles or pairs at Kara (Jul),
Fosse aux Lions (Aug), Naboulgou (Feb), Tinkiro (Feb), Ayengre (Feb,
May). Two pairs nesting in culverts at Fosse aux Lions on 19 Sep 1987,
contents unknown. Recorded by Reiehenow (1897), Millet-Horsln (1923), De
Roo et al. (1969), De Roo (1970) and Browne (1980).
Lesser Striped Swallow H. abygainica. A few pairs nested at Tetetou in
Mar 1986 and Mar 1987 and at Landa-Pozanda and Notse in Apr 1987 earliest
record: ten at Ounabe, 6 Feb 1987. No records from Sep- Jan in any
year.
Rock Martin H. fuligula. Three fresh nests, one occupied, at Binako on
27 Jul 1986 and a pair feeding three small young in a nest at Pewa,
19 Oct 1986, One with a nest at Aledjo, 2 Oct 1987.
Preuss*s Cliff Swallow H. preussi. Sixty-two fresh nests, admixed with
others of H. abyssinica, under a new bridge at Tetetou on 12 Mar 1987.
Three nests had juveniles at their entrances and 20 neats were active on
1 Apr 1987. Also nested at Notse in Apr 1988.
MOTACILLIDAE
♦Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris. One near Sansanne-Mango, Feb 1986 and
two at Sara-Kawa, Feb 1988.
♦Red- throated Pipit A. cervinus . Regular at Domaine Graviilou (Nov 1987-
Jan 1988 and Mar 1988). Also singles near Kara, Feb 1988 and near
Naboulgou, Feb 1988.
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus. At Kara, one carrying nesting
material on 18 Jul 1986 and a pair in display flight, 5 Aug 1986. On
17 Aug 1986 a pair feeding nestlings near Landa-Pozanda.
♦Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba. One at Oti Toutionga, Jan 1987.
FYCNQNOTIDAE
Common Garden Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus. A pair displaying at Lome, 13
Jan 1987. Five records of nest-building in the Kara area Mar- Apr 1987,
1990
Bird records from Togo
11
one building 5 m up a forest tree at Misahohe on 19 Apr 1987 and another
building at Badou , 17 Feb 1988.
Leaf love Phyllastrephua scandens. One carrying nesting material at
Aledjo, 20 Mar 1988.
LAN I I DAE
Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala. One sang on a thrush- like nest
of grass stems 7 m up a tree in the middle of a Cassava plantation at
Tinkiro, 9 Feb 1988.
MUSCICAPIDAE
♦Rock Thrush I-ionticola saxatalis. A female at Pewa , i*ar 1987. Recorded
by Reichenow (1902).
♦Rufous Cane-warbler Acrocephalus rufescena. One to three at Lome, Aug
1987, Jan and Apr 1988.
♦Sedge Warbler A. schoenobaenus . Recorded in small numbers Jan-Apr at
many localities from Lome north to Tantigou.
♦Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida. Two at Domaine Gravillon,
Apr 1988 and one at Tantigou, Nov 1988.
Moustached Scrub Warbler Sphenoeacus mental is. One carrying thin rigid
stalks, 10-12 cm long, into a Raphia palm at Pewa on 10 Aug 1986.
♦Rufous Cisticola Clsticola rufa. One near Kara, Mar 1988. Recorded by
Reichenow (1897).
Singing Cisticola C. cantans . One nest- building at Kara on 9 Aug 1 987 .
Winding Cisticola C. galactotes. An adult with a dependent young, one or
two days out of the nest, at Lome on 15 Apr 1988.
♦Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli. Two in trees beside the Oti
River near Sansanne-Mango , 28 Feb 1 988 (photographed) .
♦Cassin's Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa cassinl . Two at Misahohe, Feb 1988;
one at Tasso, May 1988 .
♦Gambaga Flycatcher M. gambagae . Singles at Fosse aux Lions, Feb 1986
and Pewa, Jul 1986 .
♦Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Hyliota fiavigaster. A female at Tinkiro,
Feb 1988. Recorded by Reichenow (1897).
♦Violet- backed Flycatcher H. vlolacea nehrkorni . One at Misahohe , Apr
and Aug 1 987 .
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone ruf iventer . One at Misahohe
on 31 Jan 1988 carrying nesting material.
12
J. F. Walsh et al
MALIMBUS 12
NECTARINIIDAE
Pygmy Long- tailed Sunbird Anthreptes platura . A pair 45 km S of Dapaon ,
Feb 1986; a male at Landa-Pozanda, Mar 1986 and Apr 1988; a male at
Naboulgou, Feb- Mar 1988; another at Sara-Kawa , Feb 1988. A pair
attempted to breed near Kara in early 1987. They were building a nest in
an Acacia bush between 16 and 30 Jan and on 31 Jan the female was
sitting. On 9 Feb the male visited the nest, took out two faecal sacs
and swallowed them. The next day the female was feeding the young and on
12 Feb both parents fed the nestlings; but by the next morning the nest
had been robbed. Another male was repeatedly seen carrying food at
Landa-Pozanda on 1 Apr 1987. Recorded by De Roo et al . (1972).
*Violet- backed Sunbird A. longuemarei. Regular at Landa-Pozanda in Mar
and Aug 1986 and J an- Feb 1987. On 2 Mar 1986 a juvenile was there with
two adults. On 2 3 Mar 1986 a recent nest which was presumed to be of
this species was found at Landa-Pozanda. It was camouflaged with dead
reaves and similar to descriptions of A. longuemarei nests (Walsh 1966,
Wells 1966). It was found at Lan da- Pozanda. A pair there on 2 Apr
1988. Recorded by Reichenow (1892).
♦Scarlet- tufted Sunbird A fraseri. A female at Misahohe, Apr 1987.
Splendid Sunbird Nectarinia eoccinigaster . A male visiting a nest at
Aledjo in March.
EMBERIZIDAE
Cabanis' s Bunting Ember iza cabanlsi. One carrying food at Defale on
31 Aug 1986.
FRINGILLIDAE
♦White-rumped Seed- eater Serinus leucopygius . Three near Barkoissi ,
Apr 1988 .
PLOCEIDAE
♦Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus . Several in bushes beside
the Oti River near Sansanne- Mango , Aug 1986 and a male there Oct.
Heuglin's Masked Weaver P. heugllni. A common breeder during the rains
in the Kara area, usually associated with polistine wasp nests. A male
building in an Acacia gourmanensis at Panseni on 14 Jul 1987; Polistes
combs were already in the tree.
Spectacled Weaver P. ( nigricollis) brachypterus . A pair with nests in a
Raphia palm at Sara-Kawa on 3 1 Aug 1986.
Yellow-mantled Weaver P. tricolor. At least seven involved in nesting
activities at Misahohe on 19 Apr 1987 and one visiting a nest at Idif iou
on 6 Feb 1988.
1990
Bird records from Togo
13
Cuckoo Weaver Anomalospiza imberbis. A pair at Kara, Jul 1987 and at
Tetetou, Jan 1988. Recorded by De Roo et al. (1971).
Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus. Pairs carrying food to a nest in a
garage roof at Kara 24-29 Sep 1986 and 15-20 Oct 1987.
Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser superciliosua . Common in the Keran Park,
where one of ten birds there on 12 Apr 1987 was carrying straw.
ESTRILDIDAE
Grey-headed Olive-back Nesocharis capistrata. One carrying nesting
material at Landa-Pozanda on 11 Jul 1987.
♦Cnesnut- breasted Negro Finch Nigrlta bicolor. Two at Misahohe, Jan
1 988 .
Red-winged Pytilia Pytilla phoenicoptera . An adult with a dependent
juvenile, one or two days out of the nest, at Kpayando on 6 Mar 1988.
Bar-breasted Fireflnch Lagonosticta rufoplcta. One of nine at
Landa-Pozanda on 23 Aug 1986 had large white gape flanges.
Black-rumped Waxbill Estrilda troglodytes. Five juveniles with
noticeable gape flanges accompanied by two adults at Kara on 10 Oct
1987.
Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata. An active nest 3 m up in an Acacia
tree near Sara-Kawa on 10 Jun 1979. One building at Kara on 1 Jun 1980.
A nest 3 m up in a Gmelina tree, which was felled at Kara on 17 Oct 1986,
contained three eggs. Noisy young were in another nest at Kara, in a
Eucalyptus tree, only 40 cm from a large active Polistes wasp comb on
22 Oct 1986.
Magpie Mannikin L. frlngllloldes . A party of ten, of which six were
juveniles, at Badou on 30 Jan 1987. A male was displaying: the bird
held its tall at an angle of 35° with its wings partly opened and its
vent stretched, while simultaneously jerking the neck and body up as the
vent was pushed down. Also seen building at Badou on 17 Feb 1988.
♦Cut- throat Finch Amadina fasciata. A pair at Kpani, Feb 1988.
STURNIDAE
Splendid Glossy Starling Lamprotornia splendidus . A pair carrying sticks
into a nest hole in a tree at Ayome on 5 Feb 1 988 and another active nest
at Benali on 12 May 1988 .
♦Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus . Groups of two to five
at Misahohe, Jan-Feb 1988.
14
J. F. Walsh et al.
MALIMBUS 12
DICRURIDAE
Glossy-backed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis . One carrying nesting material
at Atakpame, Jan 1988. This aggressive bird attacked a male Scarlet-
chested Sunbird (Nectarinia senegalensls) and a Black Kite ( Mil vus
migrans). It clung with its bill to the Kite's back in mid-flight and
rode attached for two seconds.
♦Shining Drongo D. atripennis. One or two at Misahohe , Jan-Feb 1988.
Recorded by Reichenow (1891).
Square- tailed Drongo D. ludwigii. A pair with a nest and one dependent
fledgling at Misahohe on 31 Jan 1988. The fledgling was perched about
20 cm from the nest, which was a small white cup in a forked branch. On
2 Feb 1988 the fledgling was not seen but the adults were carrying food
in the vicinity of the nest.
ORIOLIDAE
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus. A male at Kpayando , Apr 1988. Recorded
by Douaud (1957).
CORVIDAE
Pied Crow Corvus albus. One sitting on a nest near Kara on 15 Apr 1988.
DISCUSSION
One hundred and twenty- five species recorded in this study are additional
to those in our previous lists of the birds of Togo (Cheke 6 Walsh 1980,
1984, Cheke 1982, Cheke et al. 1986). Of these, 38 are new to the
country. Nine are listed as 'candidate species* (for threatened status)
in Collar s Stuart (1985), viz. Tlgriornis leucocephalus , Splzaetus
africanus, Hieraaetus dublus , Francolinus ahantensis, Rhyne hops
f lavirostris , Streptopelia hypopyrrha, Merops malimbicus, Ceratogymna
elata and Hyliota violacea. All of these species, except R. flavirostris
and M. malimbicus, depend on the conservation of forest habitats for
their survival in Togo.
Three species (Mirafra cantlllans, M. rufa and Phylloscopus bonelll) ,
normally associated with the Sahel, were seen in the northern savanna of
Togo during the 1988 dry season. Although none of these species is known
from Ghana (Grimes 1987), both M. cantillans and p. bonelll. have been
recorded as far south as Zaria (11 °03N ) in Nigeria ( Elgood 1982).
The breeding records include data for ten species (Ptilopachus petrosus,
Burhinus capensis, B. senegalensis , Vanellus albiceps, V . spinosus ,
Pluvianus aegyptius , Columba ir iditorgues , Anthreptes platura, Pytilia
phoenicoptera~lind~NesQcharis capistrata) , for which there are no breeding
records in Ghana (Grimes 1987 ) .
1990
Bird records from Togo
15
SUMMARY
Records of birds seen in Togo during 1986-1988 are presented. One
hundred and twenty- five species, additional to those in the authors'
previous lists were recorded, 38 of which were new to Togo. Evidence of
breeding by 66 species is also described.
RÉSUMÉ
Nous présentons renseignements des oiseaux vus au Togo pendant 1986-1988.
Cent vingt- cinq de ces espèces ne furent pas inclues dans des listes déjà
publiées par les auteurs et 38 sont nouveaux pour le Togo. Pour
66 espèces observations de nidification sont décrits.
REFERENCES
BROWNE, P.W.P. ( 1980) Birds observed near Lome, Togo in 1976 and 1977 .
Ma limbus 2 : 51-55.
CHEKE, R.A. (1982) More bird records from the Republic of Togo.
Ma 11 mb u 3 4: 55-62.
CHEKE, R.A. & WALSH, J.F. ( 1980) Records of birds from the Republic of
Togo. Ma limbus 2: 112-120.
CHEKE, R.A. & WALSH, J.F. (1984) Further bird records from the Republic
of Togo. Ma limbus 6: 15-22.
CHEKE, R.A. fi WALSH, J.F. (1989) Westward range extension into Togo of
the Adamawa Turtle Dove Streptopelia hypopyrrha. Bull. Brit. Orn.
Club 109: 47-48.
CHEKE, R.A., WALSH, J.F. & SOWAH, S.A. (1986) Records of birds seen in
the Republic of Togo during 1984-1986. Ma limbus 8: 51-72.
COLLAR, N.J. & STUART, S.N. (1985) Threatened Birds of Africa and Related
Islands. ICBP, Cambridge.
DE ROO, A.E.M. (1970) Contribution à l'ornithologie de la République du
Togo 2. Oiseaux récoltés par M.C. Veronese. Rev. Zool. Bot. afr.
8 1 : 163-172.
DE ROO, A., DE VREE, F. S VAN DER STRAETEN, E. ( 1972) Contribution à
l'ornithologie de la République du Togo. 4. Oiseaux récoltés par la
troisième mission zoologique belge. Rev. Zool. Bot, afr. 86:
374-384.
DE ROO, A., DE VREE, F. 6 VERHEYEN, W. (1969) Contribution à
l'ornithologie de la République du Togo. Rev. Zool. Bot. afr. 79:
309-322.
DE ROO, A., HULSEMANS, J. & VERHEYEN, W. (1971) Contribution à
l'ornithologie de la République du Togo. 3. Oiseaux récoltés par la
deuxième mission zoologique belge. Rev. Zool. Bot, afr. 83:
84-94.
DOUAUD, J. (1956) Les oiseaux des Monts due Togo (Afrique occidentale).
Notes d'un voyage dans 1' Adèle. Alauda 24: 221-227.
DOUAUD, J. (1957) Les migrations au Togo (Afrique occidentale) Alauda 25:
241-266.
ELGOOD, J. H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. Checklist no. 4, British
Ornithologists' Union, London.
GOODWIN, D. (1967) Pigeons and Doves of the World. British Museum
(Natural History), London.
GRIMES, L.G . (1987) The Birds of Ghana. Checklist no. 9, British
Ornithologists' unT5TV,~ Lbh'dbTT.~ — -
16
J. F. Walsh et al
MALIMBUS 12
HALL, B. P. S MOREAU, R.E. ( 1970) An Atlas of Spéciation In African
Passerine Birds. British Museum (Natural History), London.
MILLET-HORSIN , (1923) Contribution à l'étude de la Faune ornithologique
du Bas-Togo. Bull. Comité Etudes Hist. Soi. Afr. occld. fr.
Jan-Mar 1923: 1-27.
REICHENOW, A. (1891) Uber eine Vogelsammlung aus Togoland. J. Orn. 39:
369-394.
REICHENOW, A. (1892) Zur Vogelfauna von Togoland. J. Orn. 40: 233-236.
REICHENOW, A. ( 1893) Die Vogelfauna der Umgegend von Bistnarckburg. Mltt .
Deutsch. Schutzgeb. 6: 181-206. "
REICHENOW, A. (1897) Zur Vogelfauna von Togo. J . Orn . 45: 1-57.
REICHENOW, A. (1902) Die Vogel des Deutschen Schutzgebeites Togo. J.
Orn. 50: 9-43.
SCHLOSS, W. (1968) Ringfunde der Kiistenseeschwalbe (Sterna macrura) .
Auspicium 2: 384-402.
SNOW, D.W. (1978) An Atlas of Spéciation in African Non- passerine Birds.
British Museum (Natural History), London.
SNOW, D.W. (1979) Atlas of spéciation in African non-passerine birds -
addenda and corrigenda. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 99: 66-68.
SNOW, D.W. R LOUETTE, M. (1981) Atlas of spéciation in African non-
passerine birds - addenda and corrigenda 2. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club
101: 336-339.
STRESEMANN, E. (1924) Uber Hleraaetus ayresll und Spizaëtus africanus.
Novlt. zool. 31: 214-216.
URBAN, E.K., FRY, C.H. R KEITH, S. (1986) The Birds of Africa, vol. 2.
Academic Press, London.
WALSH, J.F. (1966) A nest of the Violet-backed Sunbird. Bull. Niger.
Orn. Soc. 3: 70-71.
WALSH, J.F., SOWAH , S.A. R YAMAGATA, Y. (1987) Newly discovered colonies
of the northern Carmine Bee-eater in Ghana and Togo. Ma. limbus 9:
129-130.
WELLS, D.R. (1966) The Violet- backed Sunbird nesting in Nigeria. Bull.
Niger. Orn. Soc. 3: 72-74.
Dr J.F. Walsh
80 Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire, FY8 1BN, U.K.
Dr R. A. Cheke
c/o Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue
Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, U.K.
S.A. Sowah
c/o WHO Onchocerciasis Control Programme, B.P. 549, Ouagadougou
Burkina Faso.
1990
Bird records from Togo
17
APPENDIX A. Species recorded by us for the first time during 1986-1988
but recorded previously by others
Ixobrychus minutus
I . sturmii
Ciconia ciconia
Circus pygargus
C . macrourus
Circaetus gallicus
Falco biarmicus
F. cuvier ii
Porphyrio porphyrio
Gallinula angulata
G. chloropus
Eupodotis senegalensis
Gallinago gallinago
Glareola pratincola
Pterocles quadricinctus
Strix woodfordi
Caprimulgus inornatus
C. tristigma
Apaloderma narina
Lybius bidentatus
Gymnobucco peli
Picoides obsoletus
Galerida modesta
An thus trivial is
Andropadus gracilirostris
Criniger calurus
Tchagra australis
T. minuta
Malaconotus sulfureopectus
M. multicolor
M. cruentus
Oenanthe oenanthe
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Phyllanthus atripennis
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Hippolais polyglotta
H. icterina
Sylvia borin
S. communis
Camaroptera chloronota
Macrosphenus concolor
Muscicapa striata
Bias musicus
Platysteira castanea
Nectarinia superba
N. venusta
Hylia prasina
Emberiza forbesi
Pytilia hypogrammica
Pirenestes ostrinus
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
L. chloropterus
Egg of Rock Pratincole - Oeuf de Glaréole aureolêe -
Glareola nuchalis liberiae, Landa - Pozanda, Togo
(Photo R. A. Cheke)
18
J. F. Walsh et al
MALIMBUS 12
APPENDIX B. Coordinates of localities mentioned in the text
0°38E
0 °47E
0°48E
0 °37E
0 °22E
1 °09E
1 ° 17E
1 ®14E
0°49E
0 ®35E
0°48E
1 ® 1 0E
0°35E
Q ®34E
0 °55E
0 ®59E
0°46E
1 °22E
1 ° 14E
1 ®01 E
0 °28E
1 ®36E
1 °08E
0 ® 1QE
0°42E
1 °30E
0 °46E
1990
19
NOTABLE BIRD OBSERVATIONS FROM MAURITANIA
by Peter L. Meininger, Piet Duiven,
Eric C.L. Marteijn and Tom M. van Span je
Received 21 Nov 1989
Revised 1 Mar 1990
Between 1985 and 1988 various teams of Dutch ornithologists visited the
Banc d' Arguin, Mauritania ( e.g. Ens et al . 1989) and found several bird
species not previously or rarely recorded from the region. This paper
summarizes the most interesting records, a few of which have already
briefly been mentioned by Lamarche (1988) and by Smit & Van Span je
(1989).
Observers are referred to in the text by their initials, as follows:
AB Anne-Marie Chr. Blomert
AG Abou Gueye
Avd Arend J. van Dijk
BE Bruno Ens
CS Cor J. Smit
EM Eric C.L. Marteijn
FdR Frank E. de Roder
HB Henrich Bruggemann
HS Henk Spiekman
JvdK Jan van de Kam
ME Meinte Engelmoer
MK Marcel Kersten
PD Piet Duiven
PM Peter L. Meininger
RB Rob G. Bijlsma
EL Rob Lens ink
TP Theunis Piersma
TvS Tom M. van Span je
Coordinates of Mauritanian localities
mentioned:
Baie d'Aouatif 19°53N. 16°15W
Cap Tafarit
Cap Timiris
Ebelk Aiznay
lie d' Arguin
20° ION, 16° 1 4W
19 °23N, 16 °32W
19°54N , 16° 17W
20 °30N, 16 °22W
Iouik 19°53N,
Nouadhibou 20° 54N,
Nouakchott 18°09N,
Tidra (Ile de) 19°42N,
16 ° 1 7W
17 °0 1W
15 °58W
16 °20W
Eleonora* s Falcon Falco eleonorae
On 16 Jun 1988 a dark phase bird was seen flying north along the western
shore of Tidra (EM, HS). The only previously published record from
Mauritania was that of a single bird at He d* Arguin on 4 November (year
not stated) ( Mahé 1985 , cited in Lamarche 1 987 ) . The nearest known
breeding colonies are situated on Lanzarote ( Canary Islands) and on
islands off the Atlantic coast of Morocco (Walter 1979).
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio
The following records at the Banc d* Arguin of Purple Gallinules belonging
to the green- backed subspecies P. p. madagascariensis suggest occasional
northward movements of birds from subsaharan Africa: two females (one
adult, one juvenile ,* already dead for two to three months) were found on
Tidra in April 1986 (TvS). On 20 and 21 Apr 1988 an adult was observed
20
P.L. Meinlnger et al.
MALIMBUS 12
near Iouik (HB, PD), on 8 May 1988 an adult was seen at Ebelk Aiznay (PD)
and a bird (not freshly dead) was found there on 29 May 1988 (HS). All
1988 records probably concerned the same bird. This species was formerly
known from the southern part of the country, in highly variable numbers
(Lamarche 1987).
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
An adult in winter plumage was observed at Ebelk Aiznay on 5 Apr 1985
(PD). The bird was observed at close range, while feeding among
Turnstones Arenaria interpres on wrecked Zostera during high tide. This
is the first known record from Mauritania (Lamarche 1988). The normal
winter range of Purple Sandpipers extends south to the Atlantic coast of
the Iberian Peninsula (Cramp & Simmons 1983). It is considered a vagrant
in N Morocco (Heim de Balsac & Mayaud 1962, Urban et al. 1986), Madeira
and the Azores (Cramp 6 Simmons 1983).
Broad-billed Sandpiper Llmicola falclnellus
Single birds were observed at close range at the Baie d'Aouatif on 22 Mar
1985 (BE, MK) and on 25 and 26 Apr 1985 (CS, MK) . The first was in
winter plumage, just starting to moult to summer plumage. The other two
were in summer plumage. There were no previously published records from
Mauritania. Populations breeding in northern Europe generally migrate
south to south-east and the species is rare in western Europe (Cramp &
Simmons 1983). The only North African record west of Tunisia, where it
occurs regularly, is from Morocco (Cramp 6 Simmons 1983), although it has
been observed inland in Mali (Urban et al . 1986).
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
A single bird was observed and photographed just south of Nouadhibou on
11 May 1986 (TvS). The bird was apparently in good condition and feeding
on flies among other waders at a rubbish dump on the beach. This record
(already mentioned by Lamarche 1987) is the first for the African
continent (Urban et al . 1986). This North American species has been
observed as an autumn vagrant in several European countries and on the
Azores (Cramp S Simmons 1983).
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
A female in summer plumage was observed on 17 Jun 1988 on Tidra, feeding
in a shallow pool (EM, HS). Lamarche (1987) mentioned only two previous
records from the country. The European breeding populations are believed
to winter exclusively in the Arabian Sea; no regular wintering areas are
known in the Atlantic (Cramp & Simmons 1983).
1990
Bird observations in Mauritania
21
Plain Swift Apus unlcolor
In the Banc d'Arguin area the following observations were made?
On 25 Apr 1988, after a dust-storm from the north, at least four Plain
Swifts were identified in a mixed flock with Pallid Swifts A. pallidus
and Little Swifts A. af finis, flying over the sebkha near louik (AG, PD);
26 Jun 1988 about 50 flying over Tldra, in a mixed flock with House
Martins Detichon urbica (EM, FdR) ; 27 Jun 1988 20 flying north at louik
CAvD, EM); 28 Jun 1988 at least two over louik (EM); 1 Oct 1988 a single
bird flying south at Ebelk Alznay (PM, KB, P.1,) ; 21 Oct 1988 four birds
over Ebelk Aiznay, in a mixed flock with Pallid and Little Swifts (RB).
These observations were made by teams who had the opportunity to study
this species on Gran Canaria immediately before their arrival in
Mauritania* The species was identified by its relatively small size,
fast winy- beats and crown throat. Moreover, the semi- translucent flight
feathers (mentioned by Hoi loin et al » 1988) proved to be a useful field
character from below.
There were no previous records from Mauritania. The Plain Swift is a
common breeder in the Canary Islands and Madeira but it is largely
migratory and the winter quarters are unknown (Cramp 1985). The only
previous records on the African continent are from Morocco as follows.
Smith (1965) observed small numbers of dark Apus along the coast between
Casablanca and Oued Massa (late November- late January 1963/64). Records
of up to 60 Apus in the Agadir-Oued Massa area in December- January ( year
not stated) were attributed to A. unieolor (Thivenot et al . 1980, cited
in Cramp 1985). Between 26 Jan and 15 Feb 1986 up to 200-400 Plain
Swifts were regularly observed at Agadir (R. Vogel pers. comm.).
According to Thêvenot (in Van den Berg 1988) there are six records from
Morocco (perhaps including some of those cited above) .
White- rumped Swift Apus caffer
On 4 May 1988 three birds were seen at Cap Tafarit, flying around with
Little Swifts (PD). Compared to this species the A. caffer were slightly
larger, with a smaller white rump and a clearly forked tail. In the
afternoon of 11 May 1988, after a dust-storm in the morning, flocks of
seven and four White- rumped Swifts were seen passing at close range near
louik (PD). Five birds were seen at louik on 22 Jun 1988 in a mixed
flock with Pallid Swifts, Little Swifts and House Martins ( AvD, FdR).
There were no previously published records from the country. White-
ruraped Swifts are widely distributed in subsaharan Africa and the nearest
known breeding areas are in southern Senegal (Fry et al . 1988). Since
the mid-1960s the species has also been known as a very local breeder in
southern Spain and in the High Atlas of Morocco. It is perhaps a summer
visitor to Spain, although there are several winter records (Cramp 1985).
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
On 6 Oct 1988 a single bird was seen perched on a sailing boat at the
village of louik (PM, RB) . This species is considered a visitor to the
22
P.L. Meininger et al
MALIMBUS 12
Senegal River area of southern Mauritania in July-February (Gee 1984).
There are no published records from further north in NW Africa (Cramp
1985, Fry et al. 1988).
Richard's Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae
Between 30 Sep and 13 Oct 1988 there were several records of this
species, involving at least seven individuals: one seen and heard Iouik
(AB, RB ) ; one flying south over Ebelk Aiznay (seen and heard? PM, RL) ;
two single birds flying south at Ebelk Aiznay, one of which was seen for
five minutes on the ground (PM, RB, RL); one on the ground Baie d'Aouatif
(RB); two flying south at Cap Timiris (RL).
Richard* s Pipit is considered a regular autumn vagrant in western Europe
(Cramp 1988). There are a few observations from the Mauritanian coast,
with passage at Nouakchott occurring in October-November and March, and
winter records in the south of the country (Lamarche 1987).
Robin Erithacus rubecula
A single bird was observed on 10 Mar 1987 in Nouadhibou ( TvS ) . Four
previous records in the country were all dead birds found in autumn
(Lamarche 1987). The Robin is a winter visitor to N Africa, but scarce
south of the coastal strip (Cramp 1988).
Jackdaw Corvus monedula
At La Cherka, Nouadhibou, two birds were seen on 11 and 16 Mar 1985
(JvdK, PD) and 5 May 1985 (BE, CS, JvdK, TP, TvS); five birds on 3 Feb
1986 (JvdK) . The only previously published record from Mauritania was of
two birds at Nouadhibou in October 1985 (Lamarche 1987). The Jackdaw
breeds in Morocco and has occasionally been observed in the Canary
Islands (Etchécopar & Hiie 1964).
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
A single male was observed in Nouadhibou on 24 and 25 Oct 1988 (PM), the
first record of this species from Mauritania. It breeds in Morocco,
where it winters south to the edge of the Sahara (Etchécopar & Hlie 1964).
Br ambling Fringilla montif ringilla
The following records of adult males at Nouadhibou were the first for the
country: 9-15 Jan 1988 ( a singing bird) (TvS) and 5-18 Apr 1988 (HB, ME,
PD, TvS) . The locality of these records was incorrectly stated as
Nouakchott by Lamarche (1988). There are only a few records from Morocco
(Heim de Balsac 6 Mayaud 1962) .
1990
Bird observations in Mauritania
23
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
The following observations were from Nouadhibou: four 22-25 Jan 1986
( TvS ) , five on 2 Mar 1986 (TvS) , and a pair (including a singing male)
4-8 May 1988 (TvS). The only previously published records from the
country were from Nouakchott (one May-J une 1980: Browne 1981) and
Nouadhibou (three on 1 Oct, year not stated: Mahé 1985 cited in Lamarche
1987). The Greenfinch breeds in NW Africa from Morocco to Tunisia , where
it winters south to the edge of the Sahara. It is accidental on the
Canary Islands (Etchécopar & Hue 1964).
ACKNOWLEDGMENT S
We thank the Mauritanian authorities, in particular the director of the
Parc National du Banc d'Arguin, Mr. Hadya Amadou Kane, for their
permission to carry out our studies and for their support. We also thank
the collaborators of the Parc National du Banc d'Arguin and the other
participants in Banc d'Arguin projects, notably the observers mentioned
in the introduction. Financial support was given by: British
Ornithologists' Union, Commission of the European Communities, Fund for
Research for Nature Conservation, Netherlands* Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries, National Geographic Society, Natuurmonumenten , Prince
Bernhard Foundation, Shell Internationale Research Maatschappi j ,
Netherlands State Forestry Service, Netherlands Marine Science
Foundation, World Wide Fund for Nature (Netherlands) , and Bachiene
Stichting.
SUMMARY
This paper presents observations of bird species not previously or rarely
recorded from Mauritania. Species new to the country include Purple
Sandpiper Calidris maritima. Broad- billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus.
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia long! cauda , Plain Swift Apus unicolor , White-
rumped Swift A. caffer. Chaffinch Fringllla coelebs and Brambling
F. montif r ingilla .
RÉSUMÉ
Cet article relate l'observation d'espèces jusqu'ici jamais ou rarement
signalées en Mauritanie. Les espèces nouvelles pour le pays comprennent
le Bécasseau violet Calidris maritima, le Bécasseau falcinelle Limicola
falcinellus , la Maubèche des champs Bartramia longicauda, le Martinet
unicolore Apus uni color , le Martinet cafre Apus caffer, le Pinson des
arbres Fr ingilla coelebs et le Pinson du Nord F. montif ringilla .
REFERENCES
BROWNE, P.W.P. (1981) New bird species in Mauritania. Mal imbus 3: 63-72.
CRAMP, S. & SIMMONS, K.E.L. (eds) (1983) The Birds of the Western
Palearctic, Vol 3 . Oxford University Press, Oxford.
CRAMP, S. (ed.) (1985) The Birds of the Western Palearctic , Vol 4.
Oxford University Press, Oxford.
24
P.L. Meininger et al.
MALIMBUS 12
REFERENCES
CRAMP, S. (ed.) (1988) The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Vol 5.
Oxford University Press, Oxford.
ENS, B. J., PIERSMA, T., WOLFF, W.J. & ZWARTS L. (eds) (1989) Report of
the Dutch- Mauritanian Project Banc d'Arguin 1985-1986. WIWO report
25, Texel.
ETCHECOPAR, R.D. & HUE, F. (1964) Les Oiseaux du Nord de l’Afrique.
Boubée, Paris.
FRY, C.H., KEITH, S. & URBAN, E.K. (eds) (1988) The Birds of Africa,
Vol 3. Academie Press, London.
GEE, J. P. ( 1984) The birds of Mauritania. Mal imbus 6: 31-66.
HEIM DE BALSAC, H. & MAYAUD N. (1962) Les Oiseaux du Nord-ouest de
l1 Afrique. Lechevalier, Paris.
HOLLOM, P.A.D., PORTER, R.F., CHRISTENSEN, S. & WILLIS, I. (1988) Birds
of the Middle East and North Africa. Poyser, Cal ton.
LAMARCHE, B. (1987) Liste Commentée des Oiseaux de Mauritanie. Private
printing, Nouakchott.
LAMARCHE, B. (1988) Liste Commentée des Oiseaux de Mauritanie. Supplément
no. 1 . Private printing, Nouakchott.
MAHE, E. (1985) Contribution à l'Étude Scientifique de la Région du Banc
d'Arguin, 2~î~52ÔN/i 9 6 2 ON . Peuplements Àvif aunistiqües . Two vols .
Thèse, Acad. Montpellier, (not seen in original).
SMIT, C.J. & VAN SPANJE , T.M. (1989) Systematic list of birds and mammals
observed. In: ENS, B.J., PIERSMA, T. , WOLFF, W.J. & ZWARTS, L.
(eds) Report of the Dutch-Mauritanian Project Banc d'Arguin
1985-1986. WIWO report 25, Texel.
SMITH, K.D. (1965) On the birds of Morocco. Ibis 107: 493-526.
THEVENOT, M. , BERGIER, P. & BEAUBRUN, P. (1980) Compte- rendu
d'ornithologie marocaine, année 1979. Doc. Inst. Sci. Rabat 5:
1-72. (not seen in original).
URBAN, E.K. , FRY, C.H. & KEITH, S. (eds) 1986) The Birds of Africa,
Vol 2. Academic Press, London.
VAN DEN BERG, A. (1988) Bird records in Morocco in December 1987 and
January 1988. Dutch Birding 11: 31-34.
WALTER, H. (1979) Eleonora's Falcon. Adaptions to Prey and Habitat in a
Social Raptor. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Peter L. Meininger, Belfort 7, 4336 JK Middelburg, The Netherlands
Piet Duiven, De Dageraad 20, 1797 SL Den Hoorn, The Netherlands
Eric C.L. Marteijn, De Schans 15-35, 8231 KJ Lelystad, The Netherlands
Tom M. van Spanje, Kruisstraat 17 rood, 2011 PW Haarlem, The Netherlands
1990
25
NOTES SUR LES OISEAUX D’EAU DE LA RÉGION DE YAOUNDÉ
par Roger Corneille Fotso
Reçu 27 Octobre 1989
Revu 29 Avril 1990
Le statut de plusieurs espèces de l'avifaune du Cameroun reste à
préciser, que ce soit leur cycle de reproduction ou le détail de leur
distribution à travers le pays. J'ai à ce sujet effectué quelques
observations dans la région de Yaoundé en 1987 et 1988. Ces observations
concernent tout particulièrement les oiseaux qui vivent ou passent une
bonne partie de leur temps sur l'eau ou sur les terrains marécageux, d'où
ils tirent tout ou partie de leur nourriture.
ZONE D'ÉTUDE ET MÉTHODES
Située sur la bordure nord du bloc forestier, la région de Yaoundé est
caractérisée par un climat équatorial à quatre saisons (Fig. 1): 1 - la
grande saison sèche ( décembre- février ) , 2 - une petite saison des pluies
(mars- juin), 3 - une petite saison sèche généralement en juillet- août ,
4 - une grande saison des pluies de septembre à novembre avec maximum
pluviomêtrique en septembre- octobre.
La forêt et la savane constituent les deux entités phy togéographique s qui
couvrent la région. En effet, sous l'influence des défrichements
agricoles, établissements urbains et voies de communications, savane et
forêt sont imbriquées en mosaïque et l’on ne peut plus fixer de limites
entre les deux secteurs auquels elles correspondent.
Mes observations ont été faites sur les cinq étangs situés sur le campus
de l'Université de Yaoundé. Ces étangs, aménagés il y a un peu plus de
vingt ans pour des recherches aquacoles et par conséquent très
poissonneux, attirent de nombreux oiseaux ichthyophages (hérons, martins-
pêcheurs, et même le Balbuzard pêcheur Pandion haliaetus) . Tous ces
étangs réunis couvrent une superficie d'environ 6 ha et sont recouverts
par endroits par Pistla stratiotes et par Nymphaea alba puis Ipomoea
aquatica qui pénètre dans Cyperus papyrus . Panicum maximum et Polygonum
sp. forment une couronne autour de!T~é tang s et signalent ainsi le niveau
maximum des eaux (octobre, avril).
Trois fois par semaine, j'ai effectué des observations aux étangs, entre
06.30 et 09.30 le matin, et l'après-midi à partir de 17.00. A chaque
passage, je notais toutes les espèces observées, leur effectif, ainsi que
tout indice pouvant donner des informations sur la reproduction de
l’espèce (apparition des poussins sur l'étang). La recherche des nids
était presque impossible à cause des terrains marécageux qui bordent les
plans d'eau.
RÉSULTATS
D'après le Tableau 1, 29 espèces au total ont été identifiées sur les
cinq étangs au cours de la période d'étude. Parmi ces espèces figurent 11
26
R.C. Fotso
MALIMBUS 12
migrateurs palêarctiques et cinq migrateurs locaux. Les migrateurs
représentent ainsi plus de 50% des espèces identifiées dans la station.
Figure 1. Pluviosité 1 Yaoundé i moyennes mensuelles et extrêmes de
variation. L'amplitude de variation est représentée pour la
période de février 1962 à décembre 1987.
PLUVIOSITE ANNUELLE (mm)
Le nombre d'espèces relevées varie suivant le mois» avec un maximum en
janvier-février C 2 5 espèces). A cette période» qui correspond au maximum
de la saison sèche» tous les migrateurs palêarctiques et locaux sont
présents. Les premiers de ces visiteurs atteignent la région dans la
deuxieme moitié de septembre et repartiront dis le début du mois de mars.
Les retardataires auront quitté la région en juin. Cependant j'ai observé
jusqu'en fin juillet 1988 des jeunes de Héron pourpré Ardea purpurea et de
Héron crabier Ardeola ralloides.
Pour les résidents» bien que leur cycle de reproduction soit bien connu
dans plusieurs régions d'Afrique» aucune date jusqu'à présent n'était
indiquée pour le Cameroun. Les espèces pour lesquelles nous avons des
données {Grèbe cagtagneux Podlceps ruf lcollls , Raie noir Limnocorax
flavirostra» Poule d'eau Gall inula chloropus , Poule d* Allen Porphyrio
alien! et Jacana Actophilornis af ricanai Tableau 1)» semblent se
reproduire toute l'année sauf janvier- février » mois qui correspondent au
maximum de la saison sèche.
1990
Oiseaux d'eau de Yaoundé
27
Tableau 1. Statut des espèces.
+ mois où l'espèce est présente dans la station
j mois au cours duquel des poussins ont été observés
r date de reproduction indiquée par la bibliographie
E le nombre minimum et le nombre maximum d' individus observés en meme
temps
* migrateurs locaux
** migrateurs paléarctiques
28
R.C. Fotso
MALIMBUS 12
Espèces nouvelles dang la région de Yaoundé
Parmi les espèces migratrices relevées, cinq sont nouvelles ou n'ont que
récemment été signalées dans la région; elle comprennent des migrateurs
paléarctiques ou locaux qui, jusqu'à présent, étaient bien connus dans la
savane au nord du bloc forestier. Nous citerons notamment les suivants.
1 . La Mouette rieuse Larus ridibundus a été signalée pour la première
fois au Cameroun en janvier 1986 (Decoux et Fotso 1988). Cet oiseau, qui
est connu sur la côte au Nigéria et à l'intérieur au Tchad (Urban et al.
1986), a été revu dans la région de Yaoundé en janvier 1988. Ces passages
successifs dans la région nous font croire que l'espèce passe par Yaoundé
et pourrait bien hiverner sur la côte camerounaise, où elle n'avait pas
encore été signalée.
2 . Le Phalarope à bec large Phalaropus fullcarius est un oiseau
essentiellement océanique, abondant en Afrique de l'ouest au large des
côtes de la Guinée, des Canaries et de Namibie (Urban et al . 1986). Cet
oiseau passerait par Yaoundé comme tendent à le montrer les deux
observations, l’une en novembre 1987 et l'autre en mai 1988 au-dessus du
meme étang. Il avait été signalé au Cameroun pour la dernière fols à
Bityé par Bates ( in Bannermann 1930-1951). Il serait intéressant de mener
des études sur la côte camerounaise pour y vérifier la présence de cet
oiseau et de la Mouette rieuse.
3. Le Pilet Anas acuta et le Grand Gravelot CharadriuQ hiaticula. Le
séjour hivernal du Pilet à Yaoundé reste encore S démont rerT malgré la
presence répétée de sujets sur les étangs de la ville en octobre et
janvier. Le Grand Gravelot fut observé de décembre à mars sur le rivage
des étangs de la ville. Il pourrait s'agir pour ces deux espèces de
sujets de passage. Louette (1981) indique que le Pilet hiverne surtout
autour du lac Tchad, alors que le Grand Gravelot n'est présent que sur la
côte et dans les régions au nord de la foret. La présence de ces
individus 1 Yaoundé, meme s'ils ne séjournent pas longtemps, est l'indice
d'une extension de ces migrateurs vers le sud.
4. L'Ibis sacré Threskiornis aethiopica, commun et répandu en région de
savane dans le nord du pays , avait été signalé pour la première fois en
zone forestière par Serle (1965) dans 1' ex-Cameroun occidental. Depuis
lors, il n'avait plus été signalé dans le sud forestier. Or, un individu
isolé y a séjourné pendant quatre mois en 1988 autour des étangs contrôlés
et un autre a passé deux mois (février et mars 1989) au bord de l'étang de
Nkolbisson. Les mouvements migratoires de cet oiseau sont bien connus
dans plusieurs régions d’Afrique et tout particulièrement en Afrique
australe où des individus bagués en Afrique du Sud ont été retrouvés en
Zambie (White 1965), au Botswana et en Namibie (Dowsett 1969, Clark &
Clark 1979). Cela nous fait croire que les individus observés ici en zone
forestière sont des migrateurs réguliers, le manque d'informations étant
tout simplement dû à l'absence d'observateurs sur le terrain.
5. Le Dendrocygne veuf Dendrocygna viduata: quoique non signalé dans le
sud Cameroun par Germain et al . (1973), Louette (1981) indique cependant
que cet oiseau est présent sur la côte et en région de savane au nord de
la foret. On aurait pu croire que le groupe de 13 individus observé un
dimanche matin sur le campus était de passage, mais le couple qui a
1990
Oiseaux d' eau de Yaoundé
29
séjourné trois mois durant sur un étang nous fait croire que ces oiseaux
résideraient dans la région.
CONCLUSION
Lorsqu’ en 1986 Larus ridibundus, Anus acuta et Charadrius hiaticula,
étaient arrivés simultanément dans la station, nous avions d'abord pensé à
une dérive aérienne au cours de leur migration (Decoux & Fotso 1988).
Mais la présence répétée et meme régulière de ces oiseaux, en plus de
nouvelles espèces en provenance des memes régions occidentales et
septentrionales, tend plutôt à confirmer l'hypothèse d'une expansion vers
le sud pour ces espèces.
Les nouvelles espèces observées dans la région de Yaoundé,
caractéristiques de formations végétales ouvertes suivraient probablement
la transgression des formations herbeuses en zone forestière sous
l'influence anthropique. Cette interprétation est suggérée aussi par les
études systématiques des peuplements d* Anoures et de Lépidoptères
réalisées ces dix dernières années dans cette région (J.L. Amiet S
M. Libert comm, pers) . Sous l'effet de la pression démographique
croissante la foret semicaducifoliée originelle de la région de Yaoundé
est remplacée par la foret post- culturale . Ce phénomène est tout
particulièrement marqué dans la partie septentrionale de la région où il
n'existe pratiquement plus de barrière forestière entre la savane
guinio-congolaise qu'on rencontre à une quarantaine de kilomètres plus au
nord et la ville de Yaoundé.
REMERCIEMENTS
Je voudrais exprimer ici toute ma gratitude au professeur J.L. Amiet,
Chef du Laboratoire de Zoologie à la Faculté des Sciences de l'Université
de Yaoundé, au Dr. P.M. Yewah, Chargé de Cours, qui m'a encouragé à
entreprendre ce travail. Je remercie également Mlle Georgette Mingole
Kwedi et Mme Bidjick qui ont donné la forme finale à ce travail et
Mlle Sarah Nandjip pour les corrections.
RÉSUMÉ
L'étude d'une communauté d'oiseaux d'eau dans la région de Yaoundé
réalisée en 1987 et 1988, sur cinq étangs dont les surfaces réunies font
6 ha, nous a permis de constater les faits suivants: 29 espèces au total
ont été identifiées dans la station; 16 d'entre elles, soit plus de 50%
sont des migrateurs paléarctiques (11) ou locaux (5), quatre sont
nouvelles en zone forestière, et une n'avait plus été signalée dans le
pays depuis 1930. La présence régulière de ces oiseaux dans la région de
Yaoundé confirme l'hypothèse d'une expansion vers le sud de ces espèces
qui, jusqu'à présent, n'étaient connues que dans la savane au nord du
bloc forestier. La plupart des résidents se reproduisent toute l'année
sauf en janvier- février qui sont les mois les plus secs de l'année.
30
R.C. Fotso
MALÏMBUS 12
SUMMARY
A study of a community of water-birds in the Yaounde region in 1987-88,
on five ponds (total surface area 6 ha) revealed 29 bird species of which
16 (50%) were Palaearctic (11) or local (5) migrants, with four new to
the forest zone and one which had not been documented in Cameroon since
1930. The regular presence of these species, formerly known only in the
savanna north of the forest block, near Yaounde confirms a southerly
expansion of range. Most of the resident species bred all year except
January-February, the driest months of the year.
BIBLIOGRAPHIE
BANNERMAN, D.A. (1930-1951) The Birds of Tropical West Africa. 8 vols.
Crown Agents, London.
CLARK, R.A. & CLARK, A. (1979) Daily and seasonal movements of the Sacred
Ibis at Pretoria, Transvaal. Ostrich 50: 94-103.
DECOUX, J.P. & FOTSO, R.C. (1988) Composition et organisation spatiale
d'une communauté d'oiseaux dans la région de Yaoundé. Conséquences
biogéographiques de la dégradation forestière et de l'aridité
croissante. Alauda 56: 126-152.
DOW SETT , R. J. (1969) Ringed Sacred Ibis Threskiornls aethiopica recovered
in Zambia. Puku 5: 59-63.
GERMAIN, M. , DRAGESCO, J., ROUX, F. fi GARCIN, H. ( 1973) Contribution 1
l'ornithologie du Sud Cameroun. Oiseau Rev. Fr. Orn. 43: 119-182.
LOUETTE, M. (1981) The Birds of Cameroun. An annotated checklist.
Verhandelingen Wetenschappen, Jaargang 43,n°163, Brussel.
SERLE, W. (1965) A third contribution to the ornithology of the British
Cameroons. Ibis 107: 60-94, 230-246.
URBAN, E.K • , FRY, C.H. S KEITH, S. (1986) The Birds of Africa, vol . 2.
Academic Press, London.
WHITE, C.M.N. (1965) A revised checklist of African non- passerine birds.
Government Printer, Lusaka.
Roger Corneille Fotso
Laboratoire de Zoologie, Faculté des Sciences
B. P. 812 Yaoundé, Cameroun
1990
31
THE AVIFAUNA OF THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF THE GASHAKA-GUMTI
GAME RESERVE, NIGERIA
by Arthur A. Green
Received 18 Oct 1989
Revised 30 Jun 1990
INTRODUCTION
Gashaka-Gumti Game Reserve, covering nearly 7000 km’ , in southeastern
Gongola State# is Nigeria's largest wildlife reserve. With its
spectacular mountain scenery# abundant water# and varied savanna and
forest fauna# the reserve has great potential for tourism and has been
recommended for national park status »
Development of the reserve began in the early 1970's# but slackened after
1980» and the area was never officially gazetted. Recently the State
Government has taken a renewed interest in the reserve. While working
for the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) # I conducted
reconnaissance surveys of the reserve in March 1986 and during October
1987 to April 1988. I made observations on the avifauna while conducting
these surveys.
This paper concerns the birds of the southern portion of the reserve#
which lies in the Southern Guinea Savanna Zone. At high elevations there
are montane forests containing birds of restricted range in West Africa
(Stuart 1986).
STUDY AREA
The study area of about 4500 km’- (Fig. 1) covers the reserve southwest
of the Yim River. To the north the climate is drier# mountains and
forests diminish in size# and differences in the avifauna become
apparent# with the presence of several Sudan Savanna Zone species.
The Southwestern Plains (300-400 m elevation) are relatively flat. The
remainder of the study area is very mountainous. The Head a Highlands
(including Chappals Hendu# Shirgu# Tale and Yumti) in the centre of the
area reach 2020 m on Chappal Hendu. At 2419 m# Gangirwal is Nigeria's
highest mountain. It is located in the Gotel Mountains# which are strung
along the Cameroon border.
Climate varies considerably with altitude. Annual rainfall may exceed
2500 urn on the western escarpment of Gangirwal# owing to the high
altitude and exposure to prevailing wet season winds (Tuley & Jackson
1971). At 1500 m elevation on the Mambilla Plateau# annual rainfall is
about 2000 mm. Between 1966 and 1987 in the lowlands at Serti» rainfall
averaged 1653 mm per year (Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
records). The wet season is from mid -March to mid-November and the dry
season lasts four months# during which the Harmattan wind blows from the
northeast. Night-time temperatures may fall below 5®C in the highlands
in December. Day-time highs in the lowland areas reach 40°C in March.
32
A. A. Green
MALIMBUS 12
Figure 1. The southern sector of Gashaka-Gumti Game Reserve, Gongola
State, Nigeria.
1990
Birds of Gashaka-Gumti G.R.
33
Most of the study area is underlain by gneiss, migmatite and granite.
Basalt is found on the Filinga Plateau, and volcanic plugs occur near
Gangirwal and Chappal Waddi . Broad river valleys such as the Yim, Gamgam
and Kam are covered with alluvium. Ferruginous soils occur in the
lowlands; lithosols and humic ferrisols are found in the highlands.
Based on differences in vegetation and bird- life, the study area is
divided into two altitudinal regions. The lowland region encompasses the
area up to an elevation of 1350 m. The highlands above this elevation
include the Filinga Plateau ( 1350-1450 m) , the escarpment of the Mambilla
Plateau south of Mayo Sabere sub-plateau (generally up to 1500 m, but to
1700 m at Leinde Fadali) , Chappal Waddi and its flanks ( 1400-1800 m) ,
Gangirwal, and the Hendu Highlands (generally above 1500 m) as well as
many other mountains not visited during this study. In this highland
region occur montane grasslands and montane forests of considerable
ornithological Interest (Stuart 1986).
Characteristic savanna trees of lowland areas include Lophira lanceolata,
Uapaca togoensls, Hymenocardla acida and Crossopteryx febrifuge. Dense
gallery forests occur along the smaller streams. Common trees along the
larger rivers include Brachystegla eurycoma, Erythrophleum af rlcanum and
Syzyglum guineense. Montane forests occur on steep slopes of the Gotel
and Golurde mountains, the Hendu Highland block and the Mambilla
escarpment. Montane grasslands occur on level places at these high
elevations . The grasslands on the Filinga Plateau differ from those at
higher altitude in having a wide scattering of shrubs. Tuley S Jackson
(1971) and Dowsett-Lemaire ( 1989 ) have described the vegetation of
montane forests and grasslands of Gangirwal, Chappal Waddi and the
Mambilla escarpment at Leinde Fadali .
The mammalian fauna is typical of the Guinea Savanna Zone, except that
Giant Eland, Elephant and Black Rhinoceros are extinct in the region.
The Adamawa Mountain Reedbuck is found in highlands above 1350 m. Forest
mammals include Crested Mona, Chimpanzee, Yellow-backed Duiker and Giant
Forest Hog.
RESULTS
The Appendix contains an annotated list of the birds of Gashaka-Gumti
Game Reserve southwest of the Yim River. Rainy season observations are
lacking for May to August. Migratory status is indicated where known.
Thirty- four Palaearctic migrants are listed, and there are 63 species
exhibiting local movements or which are intra-African migrants.
Twenty-nine montane forest species from Stuart' s ( 1986 ) list of 53
montane forest bird species of the Cameroon Highlands occur in the
reserve ( indicated by an asterisk in the Appendix ) . Six species on the
list occur in Nigeria only on montane grasslands ( indicated by a double
asterisk in the Appendix) .
I recognize five bird habitats in the Appendix . Human habitation sites
(V) include villages, farmlands and cattle camps . Grasslands (G) include
floodplain prairies, upland grasslands with shrubs on the Filinga
Plateau, and montane grasslands without shrubs . Forests (F) include
forest-edge, gallery forest, escarpment forest and montane forest.
Wetlands (W) include rivers, ponds and marshes. Savanna Woodland (S)
comprises the rest of the study area.
34
A. A. Green
MA LI MB US 12
Hall (1977) listed 171 species of bird from lowland areas near Serti.
His observations were made September-December 1974, and he included a few
records made by Gray (1971) for April 1971. during a month-long
expedition to Gangirwal and Mambilla Plateau in March 1988, Ash et al.
(1989) listed 48 bird species from the highlands and two from the
lowlands of the study area. During my study, 256 species were recorded
in the reserve, 110 of them for the first time. The reserve list stands
at 331 species.
DISCUSSION
Chappal Waddi , Gangirwal and Chappal Delam stretch along the southeast
border of the reserve for over 20 km with unbroken elevation over 1600 m.
The Mambilla Plateau to the southwest seldom exceeds 1600 m in height.
Chappals Hendu and Shirgu in the centre of the reserve also cover a large
area above 1600 m. Gangirwal and Hendu are separated by 33 km and by the
basin of the Gamgam River. There is another high peak (2460 m) 60 km to
the northeast of Gangirwal in Cameroon, and Mt Oku (3011 m) is 165 km to
the southwest. These high peaks bear isolated montane forests where
several bird species of restricted range in West Africa are found.
Stuart (1986) listed 53 montane forest birds found in the Cameroon
Highlands. Only four of these were previously known from the Mambilla
Plateau and Chappal Waddi. In March 1986 I found four montane forest
birds on Chappal Hendu: Yellow-breasted Boubou Laniarlus atrof lavus ,
Cameroon Mountain Robin-chat Cossypha isabellae. Brown-backed Cisticola
Cisticola hunter! and Northern Double- collared S unbird Nectarinia
preussi. This last species occurs down to 1400 m on Filinga Plateau.
The Orange- tufted Sunbird Nectarinia bouvierl is another montane forest
species (not included by Stuart) which is widespread in the Hendu
Highlands. These and several other montane forest birds were found on
Gangirwal in December 1987. Following the expedition of Ash et al .
(1989) the list of montane forest birds from Gangirwal and Chappal Waddi
stands at 29 species (30 with Orange- tufted Sunbird).
Six species listed are montane grassland birds in Nigeria, although they
have races living at lower altitudes elsewhere in Africa. Stonechat
Saxicola torquata. Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis and Black-crowned
Waxbill Estrilda nonnula are widespread from Filinga Plateau and the
Hendu Highlands to Gangirwal and the Mambilla escarpment. Blue-breasted
Bee-eater Merops variegatus and Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht are
known from the Mambilla escarpment to Gangirwal. The Stout Cisticola
Cisticola robusta is presently known in the region only from Gangirwal
(Ash et al. 1989) .
Fox Kestrel Falco alopex. Freckled Nightjar Caprlmulgus tristigma. White-
crowned Cliff-chat Myrtnecocichla coronata and Red-winged Starling
Onychognathus morio are all frequently found in rocky areas of montane
grasslands. Elgood (1982) had not recorded the Red-winged Starling south
of the Benue River.
1990
Birds of Gashaka-Gumti G.R.
35
Seven Rlippell's Griffons Gyps rueppellil were at cliffs on the north. spur
of Gangirwal during Marsh 1989» A Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus was
seen over the Mambllla escarpment 17 Apr 1988. 1 saw a Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo soaring at 2000 m along Gangirwal' g north escarpment on
1 Dec 1987. Four Secretary birds Sagittarius serpentarius were seen on
Chappal Hendu 20 Feb 1973 (Menefy 1 S*7'jT~ * * "
There were over 200 Common Swifts Apus apus soaring over the western
cliffs of Gangirwal late November and early December 1987. A flock of
five European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster was recorded on Gangirwal in
mid-April 1975 (Barnwell 1975). I found four Verreaux’s Turacos Tauraco
macrorhynchus verreauxl at 1500 m elevation In gallery forest on Chappal
Tale (west of Shirgu) in March 1986. I found them at similar elevations
on Chappals Shirgu and Hendu in February 1987» They have not yet been
recorded from lowland areas in the reserve. X flushed a pair of White-
throated Franco! 1ns Francollnua albogularis from a grassy knoll on
Fillnga Plateau in mid-March 1986.
Flocks of Red-winged Grey Warblers Drymocichla incana in company with
other small birds were feeding in Brachystegia eurycoma trees along the
Yim River near Guratl village in February 1988. Not listed by El good
(1982K this appears to be a new record for Nigeria. A Brown-crowned
Tehagra Tchagra australis in tree savanna along the Upper Yim River in
mid- February 1988 appears to be a northward extension of range from the
Obudu area. Several sightings of Bearded Barbet Lyblus dublus in the
reserve show a southward extension of range from the Benue River (El good
1982). Many of the birds reported by Ash et al. (1989) were new records
for Nigeria» extensions of range westward from the Cameroon Highlands.
Perhaps owing to lack of sufficient suitable habitat» few bird species in
families Ardeidae, Ciconiidae# Anatidae, Rallidae and Charadriidae occur
within the study area. The African Black Duck Anus sparsa, previously
known in Nigeria only from the Marabilla Plateau (Hall 1976)» was seen
several times on the Kara» Gashaka and Yim rivers and on a small stream on
the flanks of Chappal Waddi at 1400 m.
Some raptors reported by Hall (1977) as being frequent or common, seemed
to be much less common in 1986-88. A case in point is the Bateleur
Terathoplus ecaudatus, reportedly seen regularly in 1974 , but distinctly
uncommon during my study.
Hail (1977) listed Swainson's Spectacled Weaver Ploceus nlgricollis
brachypterus as being uncommon in the Serti area, and X observed a pair
on the Yim River in February 1987. Ash et al . (1989) report the Uganda
Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis as being quite common in the Serti
area and on the flanks of Chappal Waddi. One wonders if both species
occur side by side, or if there has been a misidentif icatlon? .
CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS
The border survey of the reserve should be completed, and the area
gazetted initially as a State Game Reserve. Although it has been
proposed to create a National Park here, there are many problems related
to the village enclaves and livestock raising being carried out on the
36
A. A. Green
MALIMBUS 12
montane grasslands. Another alternative might be to create a Biosphere
Reserve in which the needs of the human population in the area could be
met at the same time that the flora, fauna, soils, etc were being
protected. It is essential that this reserve receive protection soon, to
ensure that the environment is not further degraded and that bird (and
other wildlife) habitats are conserved, I would also recommend that a
qualified ornithologist spend a rainy season in the reserve to develop a
more complete list of birds and a more comprehensive understanding of
local migrations.
SUMMARY
A list of 331 bird species has been compiled for the southern sector of
Gashaka-Gumti Game Reserve in eastern Nigeria. This includes a number of
species not previously recorded in Nigeria. Most of the observations
were made in the dry season. Bird habitats in the reserve include
lowland Guinea savanna and gallery forest, escarpment forest, montane
forest and grassland, and wetlands. Twenty-nine montane forest bird
species having limited distributions in West Africa are now known from
Gangirwal (2419 m) , Nigeria's highest mountain.
RÉSUMÉ
Une liste de 331 espèces d'oiseaux a été compilé pour le secteur sud de
la Réserve de Faune de Gashaka-Gumti au Nigeria oriental. La plupart des
observations a été fait en saison sèche. Les habitats de la réserve dont
disposent les oiseaux comprennent: savane guinéenne et galerie
forestière à basse altitude, escarpements boisés, forêt et prairies
de montagne, et zones humides. Vingt- neuf espèces d'oiseaux de forêt de
montagne (de distribution limitée en Afrique de l'Ouest) sont désormais
connues du Gangirwal (2419 m) , la montagne la plus haute du Nigeria.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My work in the Gashaka region was carried out while I was serving as
Research Officer for the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. I am also
indebted to the wildlife officers of Gongola State with whom I worked
during the Gashaka reconnaissance. For their criticisms, comments and
numerous suggestions for improvements of this paper, I would express my
appreciation to Drs John Ash and Frank Walsh.
REFERENCES
ASH, J.S., DOW SETT, R.J. & DOW SETT- LEMAIRE , F. (1989) New ornithological
distribution records from eastern Nigeria. In R.J. Dowsett (ed.), A
Preliminary Natural History Survey of Mambilla Plateau and Some
Lowlàndi Forests of Eastirn Nig er laT^ pp. LL 2T. Tauraco Press , ElyT”
BARNWELL, R. (1975) File No. FOR/WRES/4 Ministry of Agriculture & Natural
Resources, Yola, Gongola State, Nigeria (typescript).
DOWSETT-LEMAI RE , F. (1989) Physiography and vegetation of the highland
forests of eastern Nigeria. In R.J. Dowsett (ed.), A Preliminary
Natural History Survey of Mambilla Plateau and Some Lowland Forests
of Eastern Nigeria, pp. 6-12. Tauraco Press, Ely.
1990
Birds of Gashaka-Gumti G.R.
37
ELGOOD , J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. Checklist no. 4, British
Ornithologists' Union, London.
GRAY, H.H. (1971) Further notes on the birds of Mambilla Plateau. Bull .
Nigerian Orn. Soc. 8(31/32): 51-54.
HALL, P. (1976) The birds of Mambilla Plateau. Bull. Nigerian Orn. Soc.
12: 67-72. ~ — — —
HALL, P. (1977) The birds of Serti. Bull. Nigerian Orn. Soc. 13: 66-79.
MENEFY, R.J. (1973) File No. FOR/WRES/2 . Ministry of Agriculture &
Natural Resources, Yola, Gongola State, Nigeria (typescript).
STUART, S.N. ( ed. ) (1986) Conservation of Cameroon Montane Forests. ICBP,
Cambridge .
TULEY, P. & JACKSON, J.K. (1971) The vegetation of Chappal Waddi
(Gangirwal) of the Cameroon Republic/Nigeria border. Nigerian
Field. 36(1): 4-20.
A. A. Green
Route 4, Box 490, Hiawassee, Georgia 30546, U.S.A.
Palm- nut Vulture - Palmiste d'Angola - Gypohierax angolensis
(Photo D. Richards)
38
A. A. Green
MALIMBUS 12
APPENDIX. Annotated list of birds recorded in the Gashaka-Gumti Game
Reserve, Nigeria, south of the Yim River
Montane forest species as recognized by Stuart (1986) are indicated by an
asterisk (*) following the species name. Bird species inhabiting montane
grasslands in Nigeria, but having races living at lower elevations
elsewhere in Africa, are indicated by a double asterisk (**) .
1990
Birds of Gashaka-Gumti G.R.
39
40
A. A. Green
MALIMBUS 12
1990
Birds of Gashaka-Gumti G»R<
41
42
A. A» Green
MALIMBUS 12
1990
Birds of Gashaka-Gumti G® R«
43
44
A. A. Green
MALI MEUS 12
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1990
Birds of Gashaka-Gumti G.R.
45
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MALIMBUS 12
1990
Birds of Gashaka-Gumti G.R.
47
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A. A. Green
MALIMBUS 12
1990
Birds of Gashaka-Gumti G.R.
49
50
A. A. Green
MALIMBUS 12
1990
Birds of Gashaka-Gumti G.R.
51
52
SHORT NOTES
MALIMBUS 12
FURTHER OBSERVATIONS OF BIRDS FROM THE IVORY COAST
This paper reports observations of a second visit to the Ivory Coast from
17 Dec 1988 to 9 Jan 1989. The results of the first visit were reported
in Balchin (1988). Localities are identified in a gazetteer at the end
of this paper.
Yellow-billed Stork Ibis (Mycteria) ibis. One and two birds were seen
along the Comoe river in Coraoe National Park on successive days.
White-breasted Guineafowl Agelaates meleagrides. A total of three
separate flocks was located in Tai Forest, Gartshore's (1989)
observations suggest that this species is still in good numbers there.
African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus. Previously (Balchin 1988), I
reported a lack of red in the tail of this species, but further
observations have proved this to be incorrect. In flight the closed tail
appears dark but when fanned (e.g. when landing) the red tail was clearly
seen .
Emin' s Shrike Lanius gubernator . This species was noted at three
different sites in Comoe National Park, suggesting that it may be a
regular winter visitor or perhaps even a resident. The birds were always
seen in lightly wooded savanna which is the dominant habitat in the
park.
Yellow- headed Rockfowl Picathartes gymnocephalus . The lone bird
(Thiollay 1985, Balchin 1988), was still present at Lamto .
Western Wattled Cuckoo- shrike Campephaga lobata . A single male was seen
in a treetop feeding party at Tai. The status of this species is better
described as uncommon rather than rare in Tai. This species is easily
separated from 'black-headed' orioles Oriolus spp, by the facial wattles,
which are prominent even when the bird is directly above the observer.
Rock-thrush Monticola saxatilis. A single adult was seen close to the
Comoa River in Comoe National Park.
Nimba Flycatcher Melaenornis annamarulae. A party of up to three birds
was regularly seen around the weather station clearing at Tai. It is a
large, drab, dark flycatcher bearing bnly a passing resemblance to a
Drongo (Dicurus sp. ) , and should be easily identified. The birds tended
to favour high open perches (30-50 m) in tall dead emergent trees. They
sat upright, often motionless for long periods. The only time the birds
were noted feeding was after a short run along a branch? this odd
behaviour was seen on four different occasions. After two of these runs
the bird held something in its bill, presumed to be a food item picked up
during the run. Each run was over a distance of about 0.5 m, during
which the bird kept its head held close to the branch. Flight over any
distance was direct, with a slight undulation and with the tail held
tightly closed.
Wilson's Indigobird Vidua wllsoni . The indigobirds in Balchin (1988)
have been identified as this species by R.B. Payne ( in litt . ) .
1990
SHORT NOTES
53
Red-fronted Ant-pecker Parmoptlla rubrlfrons. A party of three males and
one female was seen working its way through the forest edge at Yapo. The
party kept low and in cover. A number of times a male was seen to give a
weak * pee- • you. * call, during which it opened its bill surprisingly wide.
Thiollay C1985) mentioned P. woodhousel Cjamesoni) as occurring, but the
birds which I saw resembled p. rubrlfrons as illustrated in Mackworth
Praed «Grant ( 1973) .
Red-winged Pytilia Pytilia phoenicoptera. A pair was seen well at the
edge of a small pool In Comoe National Park.
Black- faced Firefinch Lagonoatlcta larvata. Three birds of the dull West
African race togoensig were seen in Comoe National Park.
Gazetteer i
Abidjan 5®19N, 4®01W Tai fForest station) 5°50N, 7°25W
Comoe f National Park) 9®25N, 3®50W Yapo Forest 5°60N, 5°04W
Lam to 6®13N, 5°02W
The following people all contributed to the planning of my trip or the
writing of this paper. I am most grateful for their assistance: G. and
S. Alport* Dr H.Q.P. Crick* L.D.C. Fishpool, J.B. Payne, J.M. Thiollay
and R. Vuattoux.
References s
BALCHIN, C.S. Cl 988) Recent observations of birds from the Ivory Coast.
Ma limbus 10s 201-206.
GARTSHORE, M.E. C1989) An avifauna! survey of Tai National Park Ivory
Coast. ICBP Study Report 39. ICBP, Cambridge.
MACKWORTH-PRAED, C.W. & GRANT* C.H.B. C 1970, 1973) Birds of West Central
Africa and Western Africa. Longman, London,
THIOLLAY, J.M. ( 1985 ) The birds of the Ivory Coast? status and
distribution. Mai Irabu g 1% 1-58.
C.S. Balchin
19, Hampton Court Close, Towcester, Northants, NN12 7JJ , Ü.K.
CORRECTIONS TO THE LIST OF BIRDS OF BAMINGU I - BANCO RAN NATIONAL PARK,
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Two hundred and seventy eight bird species were identified in the Central
African Republic's Bamingui-Bangoran National Park (Green 1983, 1984). I
returned to work in western CAR during 1988-90 and began to suspect that
certain species might have been misidentif led. Bamingui lay outside
their known ranges, and I was seeing different, closely related species
in western CAR. During a visit to Bamingui in December 1988, I saw and
confirmed that three species should be changed,
Violet Turaco, Musophaga violacea. Eastern Grey Plantain-eater Crinifer
zonurus and Blue-naped Mousebird Collus raacrourus should be replaced by
Ross's Turaco M. rossae. Grey Plantain-eater C. piscator and Speckled
Mousebird C. striatus.
54
SHORT NOTES
MALIMBUS 12
In 1980 when I first listed M. violacea , I had just come to CAR from
eight years in Arli and Pendjari Parks (Burkina and Benin), where this
species is common. The violet- coloured turaco one finds at Bamingui is
uncommon, seldom seen well, and with my preconceived notions, was
misidentif ied. Although Fry et al . (1988) indicate that perhaps M.
violacea and M. rossae are sympatric in nearby Manovo-Gouda-Saint Floris
National Park, I would hesitate to make that claim for Bamingui-
Bangoran. The bird seen in December 1988 was M. rossae. Crlnifer
piscator and Colius striatus are found in western CAR, and I was not
surprised to find them at Bamingui.
References :
FRY, C.H., KEITH, S. & URBAN, E.K. (1988) The Birds of Africa, Vol . 3.
Academic Press, London.
GREEN, A. A. (1983) The birds of Bamingui- Bangor an National Park, Central
African Republic. Ma limbus 5: 17-30.
GREEN, A. A. (1984) Additional bird records from Bamingui-Bangoran
National Park, Central African Republic. Mallmbus 6: 70-72.
A. A. Green
Rt. 4, Box 490, Hiawassee, Georgia 30546, U.S.A.
WHITE-RUMPEP SWIFT (APUS GAFFER) - NEW TO MALI
On 11 November 1988 we observed a party of ten White- rumped Swifts Apus
caf fer near Sotuba, on the south bank of the Niger river opposite Bamako
(12°39N 8°00W) . The birds were flying amongst Little Swifts A. aff inis
and Palm Swifts Cypsiurus parvus . There is no record of this species
from Mali either in Lamarche ( 1 980 , Mallmbus 2 : 121-158) or Fry et al .
( 1988, The Birds of Africa , Vol . 3 . Academic Press , London) . However,
the species has been recorded from three countries bordering Mali:
Senegal (Fry et al . (1988), Burkina Faso (Holyoak & Seddon 1989, Bull .
Brit. Orn. Club 109 : 205-216) and Mauritania (Meininger et al. 1990,
Mal imbus 12:19-24).
R. A. Cheke * & M. A. Howe* 2
1 c/o Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue , Chatham
Maritime, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TB, U. K.
2,Tegfan“ , 3 New Terrace, Tregarth, LL 57 4PT, U. K.
1990
BOOK REVIEW
55
THE CONSERVATION OF THE BIRDS OF GOLA FOREST , SIERRA LEONE by G. Allport,
M. Ausden, P.V. Hayman, P. Robertson S P. Wood (1989), 104 pp. Study
Report 38. ICBP, Cambridge. £5 from ICBP, 32 Cambridge Road, Girton,
Cambridge, CB3 OPJ, Ü.K.
This report, the fruit of a five month (October 1988 - February 1989)
study by a team from the University of East Anglia, places Gola within
the context of the Upper Guinea forests, outlines the objectives, details
the methods used to identify and quantify bird species, tables the
results, including specific surveys of rare species, discusses habitat
requirements and makes recommendations for conservation. There are 17
Appendices, including an annotated checklist of all birds recorded in and
around Gola. It continues the high standard one expects from ICPB
publications and should command interest in all concerned with tropical
forest conservation.
Gola in southeast Sierra Leone, now split into two disjunct areas, is the
westernmost sizeable tract of lowland primary forest in Africa, and forms
with the nearby Liberian forest one of the two CORE areas (Centres of
Richness and Endemism) of the Upper Guinea forest. Some 25 forest-
dependent bird species reach their western limit here, including six Red
Data Book species. The forest is vulnerable to logging pressures (26%,
including the whole of Gola West, is already logged) with subsequent
liability to encroachment by local farmers. Urgent action is needed to
preserve what remains and so this report is timely.
The team's brief was to gather Information on the distribution,
population and ecology of the forest birds with particular emphasis on
the Red Data Book species. The most important is the White- breasted
Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides , whose total Gola population they
estimate could be as high as 8500 birds, surely an optimistic assessment
when they estimate the Gola population of the babbler Trichastoma
rufescens, relatively common in all Sierra Leone forests, as only 9500.
In the course of these investigations they have added 13 new species to
the Sierra Leone avifauna. Including the Nimba Flycatcher Melaenornis
annamarulae and the more widespread but rarely recorded honeyguide
Me 11 gnomon eisentrauti. Disappointingly, they failed to refind the Gola
Malimbe Mallmbus ballmanl, this failure vividly highlighting the
extremely localised occurrence of some forest species (my own sightings
were all along one half mile of logging track) and reinforcing my belief
that you cannot safely extrapolate from a few localities to the whole
forest.
One minor quibbles Appendix 6, comparing Tai National Park, Ivory Coast
with Gola, lists as not occurring anywhere in Sierra Leone 12 species
which in fact do occur, most well documented? several one would not
expect to find in a forest environment anyway.
This apart, the writing is lucid, the findings clearly presented and the
whole a valuable addition to reports on specific West African
localities .
G.D. Field
56
BOOK REVIEW
MALIMBUS 12
AN AVI FAUNAL SURVEY OF TAI NATIONAL PARK, IVORY COAST by M.E. Gartshore
(1989), 67 pp. Study Report 39. ICBP, Cambridge. £5 from ICBP, 32
Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 OPJ , U.K.
This report includes the results of the first phase of a survey of one of
the largest surviving blocks of primary forest in West Africa, and
reflects a renewed interest in the Upper Guinea avifauna. Tai has been
relatively poorly studied, previous data being summarised by Thiollay
(1985, Mal imbus 7: 1-59).
The report includes descriptions of 11 sites visited on the western side
of Tai, both in primary forest and in the buffer zone, where logging and
hunting occur. Besides noteworthy birds, mammals and other animals
present at each site are listed. A total of 207 species of birds was
recorded from good high forest. Four bird species were added to the Tai
list and there is a large section on the identification of difficult
species which may prove useful to those not fully familiar with this
avifauna. Special attention is given to the seven Red Data Book species,
including Plcathartes gymnocephalus which was recorded for the first time
in Tai. Appendices summarise results from timed counts, species found in
bird parties, netting data, breeding records, mammals and herpetofauna
encountered. This report follows the trend of recent ICBP study reports
in including reproductions of black and white photographs.
Phase two of the survey book place in spring 1990 and it is hoped that it
will have thrown some light on the as yet undescribed species of small
oxpecker associated with the African buffalo Syncerus caffer (Thiollay,
loc. cit.) . In general, a well-presented report, with many interesting
details, such as the detection of the elusive White- breasted Guineafowl
Agelastes meleagrides by moulted feathers ( later checked against museum
specimens) .
Hilary Tye
THE COASTAL WETLANDS OF LIBERIA: THEIR IMPORTANCE FOR WINTERING
WATERBIRDS. By W. Gatter, 1988. Study Report No. 26. 45 pp. ICBP,
Cambridge.
ETUDE ORNITHOLOGIQUE PRELIMINAIRE DE LA ZONE COTIERE DU NORD- QU EST DE LA
GUINEE. By W. Altenburg & J. Van der Kamp, 1989. Study Report No. 30.
65pp. ICBP , Cambridge.
£5 each from ICBP, 32 Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge, CB 3 OPT, U.K.
These two ICBP Study Reports cover the water-birds of coastal areas of
two W. African countries from which little information has been available
in recent years. Guinea's coast is highly indented, and includes
extensive mudflats, whereas Liberia's coastline is mainly sandy. Sierra
Leone, in between, contains the break in character of the coast, with its
northern half containing many large estuaries and its southern half being
one long sand beach .
1990
BOOK REVIEW
57
In a general survey of potential wader wintering sites on Africa's
Atlantic coast, I identified Guinea as one of the most promising
candidates, likely to harbour large populations of waders, and Liberia as
probably the worst (Tye, 1987, Wader Study Group Bull. 49: 20-27). It
is nice to see from Gatter's report, that Liberia harbours some 40000-
60000 Palaearctic waders in winter, along with substantial numbers of
Palaearctic terns and Palaearctic and Afrotropical herons. However,
despite the title, Gatter's counts include substantial freshwater areas,
which were not included in Tye (1987), and in fact Liberia does appear
poor in numbers of coastal waders, compared with the muddier countries
further north. When comparing Liberia with neighbouring countries, it
should be borne in mind that figures quoted by Tye 8 Tye ( 1987, Wader
Study Group Bull. 49 Suppl/IWRB Spec. Publ. 7: 71-75) refer only to the
coast of Sierra Leone, not to the whole country, as Gatter has assumed.
The bulk of Liberia's wintering waders belong to species which prefer
freshwater habitats (especially Snipe Gallinago galllnago c. 10000 birds,
and Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos c. 25000). Neighbouring countries
probably harbour at least as many freshwater waders, but Gatter's
valuable work represents the first attempt to produce an accurate
estimate of numbers wintering inland for any W. African country.
Altenburg 6 Van der Kamp concentrated their observations in two areas of
NW Guinea: Alcatraz Island and the lies Tristifo . They present data on a
little-known breeding colony of 3000 pairs of Brown Boobies Sula
leucogaster on Alcatraz, and found small breeding populations of
Spoonbill Platalea alba. Sacred Ibis Threskiornls aethiopicus and Caspian
Tern Sterna caspla at Tristao. Both of these areas are recommended for
reserve status. From brief surveys elsewhere in the country, they show
that Guinea's extensive mudflats in its multitude of smali estuaries
probably hold numbers of waders of international importance by Ramsar
criteria ( 20000 birds) on all the sites which I identified in 1987,
including at least 6000 Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta near Conakry.
Total numbers of Palaearctic waders wintering on Guinea's coast may be
c. 350000. Guinea would then rank third in importance for Palaearctic
waders in W. Africa after Mauritania (2.5 million birds) and Guinea-
Bissau (one million).
Alan Tye
58
ERRATA
MALIMBUS 12
ERRATA
Thonnerieux, Y., Walsh, J. F. & Bortoli, L. (1989) L'avifaune de la ville
de Ouagadougou et ses environs (Burkina Faso). Mal imbus 11 ( 1 ) : 7-40.
Errata signalés par Yves Thonnerieux concernant cet article. Nous
déplorons la présence de ces erreurs et présentons nos excuses à
l'auteur.
Page 11, liste des collaborateurs: La mention "chasseur (et non
chausseur!) ayant laissé... dans les années 70, etc..." se rapporte à M.
Chauvet (pas à R. Zaehringer comme le texte imprimé peut le laisser
croire) .
Page 15, Kaupifalco monogrammlcus : Les initiales des observateurs sont:
"(FW, MC, RC, YT) ".
Page 16, le statut de Falco chicquera est entièrement faux. Il faut
rectifier en ces termes: "Une observation à Gonsé le 4 mars 78 (FW)".
Page 17, Gallinula chloropus: Supprimer "probablement sédentaire et
nicheuse" (absence de preuves).
Page 18, Charadrius pecuarius: Le "1" de l'avant-dernière ligne est en
réalité un point-virgule.
Page 20, Larus rldibundus : Lire "sous forme de sujets isolés" à la
troisième ligne.
Page 22, Poicephalus senegalus: Lire "Pterocarpus erinaceus" (Ligne 3).
Page 22, dans la liste des Cuculidae lire "Cuculus clamosus".
Page 25, dans la liste des Coraciidae lire "Eurystomus glaucurus" .
Page 26, Indicator minor: Ligne absente . Rectifier comme suit: "...
capturé le 04.01.83 et en mars 86 dans le parc de la D.G.R.S.T. (LB, YT);
aussi à Pabré le 31.10.84 (MC); site d'observation le plus nordique pour
le pays . . . " . 7
Page 27, Eremopterix leucotis: Dernière date incorrecte; lire: "18.01.8
à Koubri".
Page 28, Mot ac il la flava: Ligne absente vers la fin de la notice.
Comprendre: "•••; la race feldegg n'a été notée qu'une fois (FW); un
oiseau (de la race nominale) trouvé à Ouagadougou le 18.08.78 avait été
bagué le 02.04.68 à Kano (Nigeria) (Thonnerieux 1987)".
Page 30, Corvus albus : Lire: "dans le Sahel...".
Page 31, Hippolais polyglotta : La première date citée doit être:
"30.03.83".
Page 32, Sylvia atricapilla; Lire: "sex- ratio équilibré".
1990
NOTICE
59
Page 32, Phylloscopus trochilus ; 4ème et Sème lignes, lire; "effectifs
en hausse en mars et début avril".
Page 33, Cisticola juncidis: Lire; "Cisticole des joncs".
Page 36, Passer griseus; Lire; "pas urbain".
Page 36, dans les Ploceidae; Lire; "Vidua chalybeata" .
Page 38, lignes 20-21, Lire, "...traditionnellement associé..."? ligne
36, lire; "...visibles en ce lieu...".
NOTICE
INTERNATIONAL WATERFOWL CENSUS
For more than 20 years, the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research
Bureau (IWRB) has coordinated throughout the Western Palaearctic and West
Africa the mid-winter International Waterfowl census (IWC) . In recent
years, this programme has been extended to Africa, Asia (in collaboration
with the Asian Wetland Bureau) and Latin America.
We are seeking the collaboration of ornithologists and birdwatchers who
plan to visit these continents (January for the northern hemisphere, July
for the southern hemisphere) and who are willing to contribute to
waterbird monitoring. All that is needed is to be ready to count (not
just record) waterbird species in at least one wetland during your visit
in the specified month.
IWRB has count forms for each of these regions, which are available on
request. Please contact the Waterfowl Division, IWRB, Slimbridge, Glos. ,
GL2 7BX, England.
DENOMBREMENT INTERNATIONAL MI-H I VERNAL DE SAUVAGINE
Pendant plus de 20 ans, le Bureau International des Recherches sur les
Oiseaux d’Eau et les Zones Humides (BIROE) a coordonné le Dénombrement
International Mi-hivernal de Sauvagine (IWC) sur le Paléarctique
occidental et l’Afrique de l'Ouest. Ces dernières années, le programme a
été étendu à l’Afrique, l'Asie (en collaboration avec le Bureau Asiatique
des Zones Humides) et à l’Amérique latine.
Nous recherchons la collaboration d’ornithologues et d'amateurs qui ont
l’intention de se rendre sur ces continents (janvier pour l'hémisphère
nord, juillet pour le sud) et qui acceptent de contribuer à la
surveillance de la sauvagine. Tour ce qui est exigé est d’etre disposé à
compter (et non pas seulement à noter) les espèces aquatiques sur au
moins une zone humide durant ce voyage le mois indiqué.
Pour chacune de ces régions le BIROE dispose d' imprimés qui sont
disponibles sur demande. Veuillez vous adresser à la Division Oiseaux
d'Eau, IWRB, Slimbridge, Glos., GL2 7BX, Angleterre.
60
ACCOUNTS
MALIMBUS 12
WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 1989
INCOME
Subscriptions and Sales of Back Numbers
Deposit Interest
Deficit for Year
£1788
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236
1988
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1143
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EXPENDITURE
Printing and Postage
Secretarial Expenses
£1877 £2303
222 390
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BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 1989
ASSETS
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£1270
1063
£2333
LIABILITIES
Creditors for Printing etc
£1985
ACCUMULATED FUNDS
Balance at 1 January 1990
Less Deficit for Year
£584
236 348
£2333
R. E. Sharland, Treasurer
RECOMMENDATIONS AUX AUTEURS
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l'article, et aucune autre, doit figurer dans la bibliographie.
Les Articles contenant de longues LISTES d' ESPECES seront sous forme de
tableaux (p. ex. Mal imbus 1: 22-28 ou 1î 49-54) ou sous forme de texte
comme dans Mal imbus I: 36-42 (pour les textes courts, espèce par espèce)
Iou Mal imbus 1: 90-109 (pour les textes plus longs). Les noms et la
séquence systématique des listes suivront Brown et al . (1982), Urban et
al. (1986) et Fry et al. (1988) The Birds of Africa, vols 1-3 (Academic
Press, London) pour les non-passereaux et White (1960-1963 Revised
Checklists of African Passerine Birds, Hall & Moreau (1970 An Atlas of
Spéciation in African Passerine Birds. British Museum (Natural History) ,
London) ou Serle 6 Morel (1975 A Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa.
Collins, London) pour les passereaux, à moins de donner dans le texte les
raisons pour s'écarter de ces auteurs.
Les FIGURES doivent être préparées pour une reproduction directe,
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Vingt TIRES-A-PART des Articles (mais non des Notes courtes) seront
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MALIMBUS 12(1) August 1990
CONTENTS
Editorial 1
Additional Species and Breeding Records of Birds in the
Republic of Togo.
J.F. Walsh, R.A. Cheke a S.A. Sowah 2-18
Notable Bird Observations from Mauritania.
P.L. Meininger, P. Duiven, E.C.L. Marteijn a
T.M. van Spanje 19-24
Notes sur les Oiseaux d'Eau de la Région de Yaoundé.
R.C . Fotso 25-30
The Avifauna of the Southern Sector of the Gashaka-Gumti
Game Reserve, Nigeria.
A. A. Green 31-51
SHORT NOTES:
Further Observations of Birds from the Ivory Coast.
C.S. Balchin
Corrections to the List of Birds of Bamingui- Bangor an
National Park, Central Arican Republic.
A. A. Green
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer - New to Mali.
R.A. Cheke a M. A. Howe
BOOK REVIEWS: The Conservation of the Birds of Gola
Forest, Sierra Leone (G. Allport et al.) / An Avifaunal
Survey of Tai National Park (M.E. Gartshore) / The
Coastal Wetlands of Liberia: their Importance for
Wintering Waterbirds (W. Gatter) / Etude Ornithologique
de la Zone Côtière du Nord-ouest de la Guinée
(W. Altenburg a J. Van der Kamp) . 55-57
ERRATA: Thonnerieux et al. Malimbus 11 (1): 7-40. 58-59
NOTICE: International Waterfowl Census. 59
ACCOUNTS for year ended 31 December 1989. 60
52- 53
53- 54
54
MALIMBUS
Journal of the West African Ornithological Society
Revue de la Société d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain
^VfHSON/^
# 0 4 1991
«1^-
VOLUME 12 Number 2
January 1991
WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
SOCIÉTÉ D’ORNITHOLOGIE DE L’OUEST AFRICAIN
Council 1991s
Presidents Dr Gérard J. Morel
Vice-presidents John H. El good
Treasurer and Membership Secretarys Robert E. Sharland
Secretary to Councils Mrs Amber ley Moore
Managing Editors Dr Alan Tye
Editorial Boards Dr R. A. Cheke, Dr G.J. Morel» Dr R. Wilkinson
Correspondence should be addressed as follows s
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■
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Emblem design by Philip filasdale
1991
61
ADDITIONS AND ANNOTATIONS TO THE AVIFAUNA OF CoTE D'IVOIRE
by R. Demey and L.D.C. Fishpool
Received 15 June 1989
Revised 31 December 1990
INTRODUCTION
Thiollay (1985) brought together what was then known of the composition
and distribution of the avifauna of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). He also
highlighted the gaps in our knowledge and provided a yardstick by which
others could assess the value of their observations. This has resulted
in a number of additions to, and commentaries upon, Thiollay' s list
(Eccles 1985a, b. Fry 1985, Demey 1986, Walsh 1986, Cheke 1987,
Thonnerieux 1987, Balchin 1988, 1990, Holyoak & Seddon 1990). The
present paper adds further observations made by the authors while
resident in the country, (RD 1980-1988, LDCF 1987-1990). Our personal
observationa are augmented by those of others, indicated by their
initials. We thank the following for generously supplying their data and
notes;
Philipe Bailleul (PB)
Thierry Bara (TB)
Jean-Michel Borie (J-MB)
Jane & Peter Chandley (J & PC)
René- Marie La Fontaine (R-MF)
Mary Gartshore (MG)
Alvero Jaramillo { AJ )
John Livingston (JL)
This paper is intended as a supplement to Thiollay (1985) and as such
reference should be made to the latter to interpret fully the
observations given here, although we give a brief summary of previously
known status at the end of each species' account. We follow the
nomenclature and sequence of families and species used by Brown et al .
(1982), Urban et al. (1986) and Fry et al. (1988) for non-passerines.
Where significantly different, the scientific names used by Thiollay are
given in brackets. For the passerines we follow Thiollay, except to
incorporate one recent change, resulting from the revision of the genus
Batis (Lawson 1984,1986). The French names are taken from Serle & Morel
(1977) or Dekeyser & Derivot (1966-1968).
The information given is of four main types;
1. Species recorded from Cote d'Ivoire for the first time - 15 species.
2. Additional data on species considered rare or vagrant, or for which
there are few records.
3. New localities or range extensions within Cote d'Ivoire and
additional dates for migratory species.
4. Species considered by Thiollay to be common and/or widespread, which
we found to be so no longer.
Burkhard Moehlinger (BM)
Margaret Murray-Lee (MM-L)
Michel Nicole (MN)
Pierre Poilecot (PP)
James Powell (JP)
Jan van de Voorde (JvdV)
David Wolf (DW)
62
R. Demey S L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
The majority of the observations come from a few well-watched sites:
Abidjan Golf Course - a typical golf course with some standard trees and
low bush and shrubbery interspersed amongst the greens. A small stream
flows across the course and there are a number of small artificial ponds.
Nearby was an area of scrub? a very heavily degraded forest remnant,
since cleared for building.
Adiopodoumê (ORSTOM) - a scientific research station bordering a coastal
lagoon with a 60 ha experimental farm (a changing mosaic of cassava, yam
and other crops, fallow grassland and bare soil), and a small forest
reserve.
Dabou ricefields and marsh - a 50 ha experimental rice farm with paddies
and irrigation canals adjoining degraded swamp forest, areas of
seasonally inundated grassland with varying amounts of open water
nearby.
Grand Bassara - a coastal lagoon with heavily degraded mangrove, at the
mouth of the Comoe river. The lagoon is weakly tidal, with a narrow
opening to the sea, and hence varying amounts of bare mud and sand banks.
Lamto - a 2700 ha reserve and scientific research station situated on the
forest-savanna boundary, comprising a mosaic of gallery and riverine
forest and Borassus palm-Guinea savanna grassland bordering the Bandama
river.
Yapo - 28000 ha of protected mature lowland secondary forest with some
plantations of exotic and indigenous species. Species observd at this
locality are simply listed without further comment in the text? they are
to be the subject of a separate paper (Demey & Fishpool in prep.).
Other, less regularly visited sites that are not mentioned by Thiollay
(1985), are listed in the Gazetteer (Table 1). The abbreviation N.P.
stands for National Park. All species added to the Ivorian avifauna
since the publication of Thiollay* s list are listed in the Appendix.
TABLE 1. Gazetteer: includes only those localities not given In
Thiollay (1985).
Gouessesso 07°47N, 07a36W
1991
Birds of Côte d' Ivoire
63
SYSTEMATIC LIST
Little Grebe,* Grèbe castagneux. Tachybaptus ruficollis (Podiceps
ruf icollis)
Abidjan, Cocody Lagoon, Feb 1984, one adult; Apr 1989, one adult. Azagny
N.P., 19 Oct 1985, one adult with one chick. Azaguié, small pond; semi-
regular visits from Nov 1984 to Jul 1986 produced records for every month
except Jul- Sep, (partial migrant, leaving during the height of the
rains?). Young chicks were seen in every month from Oct- Mar inclusive
suggesting an extended breeding season. On 13 Apr 1986 two nests were
seen. A maximum of eight adults was recorded, 12 Jan 1986. Dabbu marsh,
up to four birds, two adults in breeding dress and two immatures, Jan-Mar
1988, when marsh was drained. Grand Bassam, Mar- Apr 1989, two adults and
one immature; 17 Jan 1990, one adult. First records from the south.
White-breasted Cormorant; Grand Cormoran. Phalacrocorax carbo
Comoi N.P. , Apr 1983, one (MN) . Comoi river near Sérébou, Mar 1987, one
photographed (J & PC). Sassandra river between Daloa and Douikoui, Mar
1989, one (J & PC). Only one previous record.
African Dwarf Bittern; Blongios de Stiirm. Ixobrychus sturmii
Abidjan, Banco N.P., one adult seen regularly around fishpond 11 Jan -
30 May 1988. Abidjan golf course, single birds Jan, Mar and Aug 1987
(all J & PC). Abidjan lagoon. Mar 1988, two; Dec 1988, one (both
J & PC). Assinie, Jun 1987, one (J & PC). Dabou ricefields, single
adults Jul 1987, Jul and Sep 1988. Recorded from Yapo forest. Few
previous records .
Black-crowned Night Heron; Bihoreau gris. Nycticorax nycticorax
Abidjan, maximum of 11, observed year-round flying over the lagoon at
dusk; immatures seen. Dabou, Apr 1988, two; Aug 1988, 50 disturbed from
roost. Grand Bassam, many records of up to eight birds, Jul-Oct 1989.
Assinie, Oct 1989, one. Described by Thiollay as very local .
Intermediate Egret; Aigrette intermédiaire. Egretta intermedia
Abidjan lagoon , Jul 1985, one. Dabou ricefields, Aug 1988, one; Sep
1988, two (J & PC); Jul 1989, one (J & PC) . First wet season records .
Goliath Heron; Heron goliath. Ardea goliath
Comoé N.P. , a nest in a high tree on an island in the Comoi river
contained two chicks at the end of Dec 1 984 . On 10 Feb 1985 the young
were almost ready to leave the nest. Fresco, mangrove , May 1988,
two or three. Area visited regularly in Apr-May 1988 by JP; birds seen
most visits. Also regularly seen at this locality 1980-1986 (MN).
Lamto , Mar 1985, one immature on Bandama river. Rare in Cote d' Ivoire .
Yellow-billed Stork; Tantale ibis. Mycteria ibis
Comoé N.P. , a small breeding colony; 17 May 1986, three adults and nine
juveniles; 13 Feb 1988, 12 adults; 5 May 1989 , 13 adults and six
immatures (MN). Sassandra river between Daloa and Douékoué, Apr and May
1990, one immature (+PB) . First breeding records; not previously seen
outside Comoé.
64
R. Demey & L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
African Open-bill Stork; Bec-ouvert africain. Anastomus lamelligerus
Abidjan, Jun 1987, 14 flying west (J & PC). Dabou ricefields, many
records 1980-1990 (+MN) . Sometimes isolated birds, but usually flocks
regularly seen Feb-Sep, foraging or flying over. Biggest flocks Feb (up
to 65 birds) and May (up to 70). Grand Bassam, Sep 1988 two, (J & PC) ;
Apr 1989, 17; Jan 1990, 43. Considered by Thiollay to be merely
vagrant.
Abdim' s Stork; Cigogne d' Abdim. Ciconia abdimii
Comoé N.P. (south) Feb 1988, one; (north) May 1989, one. Dagbego, Apr
1981, one (MN). Grand Bassam, Feb 1989, one (BM) . Sérébou, May 1987,
one (J & PC). Rarely recorded in Cote d'Ivoire.
White Stork; Cigogne blanche. Ciconia ciconia
Lauto, Jan 1986, three attracted to bushf ire; Feb 1986, six. Rarely
recorded in Cote d'Ivoire.
Marabou Stork; Marabout d'Afrique. Leptoptilus crumeniferus
Comoé N.P. (north), Dec 1983, six. Uncommon; Thiollay recorded up to
three together.
Glossy Ibis; Ibis falcinelle. Plegadis falcinellus
Comoé N.P., several recorded in Mar, Apr and Jul 1980 (MN). Grand
Bassam, Nov 1988, two (J & PC); Feb 1989, five (BM); Mar 1989 two adults
and eight immatures; Jan 1990, three. Only one previous record.
Olive ibis; Ibis olive. Bostrychia olivacea
Recorded from Yapo forest. Fifth known locality.
Spot- breasted Ibis; Ibis vermiculé. Bostrychia rara
Lamto, 13 Aug 1988, one seen flying over the Bandama river at 18.55,
calling loudly (with the stress on the second syllable ' a- haa , a-haa' or
' k-hah , k-hah' ; a diagnostic character (Brosset & Erard 1986) for
separating this species from B. olivacea, whose disyllabic call stresses
the first syllable). Also heard the next day at the same hour. On
12 Apr 1990, one; 13 Apr 1990, two, again flying down river at dusk
calling. Formerly known only from Tai.
Sacred Ibis; Ibis sacré. Threskiornis aethiopica
Grand Bassam, 5 Mar 1989, one (BM); 19 Mar 1989, one. Previously
recorded only once, from the north of the country.
African Spoonbill; Spatule d'Afrique. Platalea alba
Dabou ricefields. Mar 1986, two. Abidjan, Port Bouet, Dec 1986, one seen
in flight; Dec 1989, another at the same locality (MN). Grand Bassam,
Mar 1989, one (BM) . Sassandra river between Daloa and Douékoué , Apr and
May 1990, one (+PB) . Only one previous record.
1991
Birds of Côte d'Ivoire
65
Fulvous Whistling-Duck? Dendroeygne fauve. Dendrocygna bipolar
Ouangolodougou# Jan 1990» seven C K-MF ) . Only one previous record.
White-faced Whistling-Duck; Dendroeygne veuf. Dendrocygna viduata
Dabou» marsh# 25 Jun, 1988 and 6 Aug 1988# two juveniles with six to eight
adults i Assinie# 15 Oct 1989# 10 adults# including one pair with 12
dependent juveniles. First evidence of breeding in the south.
Egyptian Goose? Oie d'Egypte. Aiopochen aegyptlacua
Comoê N.P., several# Jul 1980 (MN) • Two previous records.
Spur-winged Goosei Pleetroptere de Gambia. Plectropterus gambensis
Dabou# ricefields# Jun 1985# a pain Jan 1986# ©ne (TB)? numerous records
Feb-Jun 1987 and 1988# one to five birds? Mar 1989# one adult male# one
adult female and three immatures? Mar 1989# one male and two females (J &
PC). Sassandra river between Daloa and Douekouli# Mar 1989# one. Few
previous southern records.
Knob- billed Duck? Canard casque. Sarkidiornis melanotos
Assinie# 15 Oct 1989# one female? Dabou ricefields# 1 Nov 1989, one
female - same individual? First southern records.
Common Teal? Sarcelle d'hiver. Anas crecca
Dabou# marsh# 27 Dec 1987 and 9 Jan 1988# one male. First records for
Cote d'Ivoire. There are a few records from coastal Ghana (Grimes 1987)
and southern Nigeria (Elgood 1982).
Northern Pintail? Canard pilot. Anas acuta
Grand Bassam# Dee 1986, five (TB). Dabou# marsh# Dec 1986# three? Dec
1987# two? Jan 1988# four dates# up to seven individuals? Feb 1988# five.
First records for Cote d'Ivoire (see also Balchin 1988). Recorded from
coastal Ghana (Grimes 1987) and Liberia (Gattar 1988).
Garganey? Sarcelle d'été. Anaa querguedula
Dabou# marsh# Jan 1984# 12 (MN); Jan 1988# three dates# up to two? Feb
1988# five dates# up to nine# including three males in breeding plumage.
First confirmed occurrence in the south.
Northern Shoveler? Canard souche t. Anas clypeata
Dabou# marsh# 27 Dec 1987 - 9 Jan 1988# one male. Second record for Cote
d'Ivoire and the first in the south.
Tufted Duck? Fuliguie morillon. Aythya fuligula
Dabou# marsh# 23 Jan 1988 - 31 Jan 1988» one female. First record for
Cote d'Ivoire. Apart from one sighting in Sierra Leone (Bannerman
1930-51)# there appear to be no other records of this species from south
of the sahelian zone in West Africa - despite it being mapped as widely
distributed in this region by Brown et al. (1982).
66
R. Demey & L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
Hooded Vulture? Vautour charognard. Necrosyrtes monachus
Coastal records? Assinie, 6-27 Jan 1990 » one. Thiollay mentions a
general decline in numbers? it remains common in at least some of the
towns ( Agnibilikrou and Abengourou) in the east of the country, near the
border with Ghana.
Pallid Harrier? Busard pâle. Circus macrourus
Ferkessedougou, marsh 5 km west of town, Feb 1988, one female.
Goulssesso, Feb 1988, one female. Only some 20 previous records.
Shikra? Epervier shikra. Accipiter badius
Adiopodoumi, Nov 1989, one immature. Thiollay does not give any coastal
records.
Ovampo Sparrowhawk? Epervier de 1'Ovampo. Accipiter ovampensis
Lamto , one, Dec 1989 (MG). 25 km north of Katiola, Mar 1990, one
sub- adult. N'zi river between Katiola and Dabakala, Dec 1989, two (J &
PC). Only ten previous records and the first in the dry season.
Red- tailed Buzzard? Buse d'Afrique. Buteo auguralis
Abidjan, Jun 1989, one (J & PC). Abrlby, Jacquevilie, 3 and 10 Sep 1988,
one adult. Adiopodoumi Jul 1985, one adult and one immature? Aug 1986,
one immature? 6 Aug 1989, one (J & PC). Only one previous record between
May and Sep.
Wahlberg's Eagle? Aigle de Wahlberg. A qui la wahlbergl
Lamto, 13 and 15 Aug 1988, a pair. No previous records May-Sep.
Ayres' Hawk Eagle? Aigle d' Ayres. Hieraaetus dubius
Recorded from Yapo forest. Very local, especially in the evergreen
forest zone.
Fox Kestrel? Faucon renard. Falco alopex
Comol N. P. (south), Feb 1988, one. Korhogo, Jan 1990, one (R-MF). Some
20 previous records.
European Hobby? Faucon hobereau. Falco subbuteo
Comol N. P. (south), Apr 1988, one. Dabou, ricefields, Dec 1988, one.
Marahoul N.P., Dec 1987, one. Twenty kilometres east of Odiennl,
Feb 1988, one. Some 20 previous records.
Harlequin Quail? Caille arlequine. Coturnlx delegorguel
Adiopodoumi, ORSTOM, Feb 1986, one male (DW) ? Apr 1986, one female? Apr
1989, one male, Dec 1989, one male. Tal N.P., Feb 1986, two birds
foraging in dry leaves near a forest track. Southernmost records.
1991
Birds of Côte d'Ivoire
67
Grey-throated Rail; Râle à gorge grise. Canirallus oculeus
Recorded from Yapo forest. New locality for this rarely observed
species.
White-spotted Flufftail; Rale perlé. Sarothrura pulchra
Many records of this species, not only from forest but also from almost
completely cleared, formerly forested areas, in dense shrubbery and
cassava plantation, far from water, for example near Abidjan Golf
Course.
African Crake; Râle des prés. Crex egregla
Adiopodoumé , records for all months except July and September, with
chicks seen in April, May and October. Rarely recorded in the south
during the rains.
Allen's Gallinule; Tallve d' Allen. Porphyrlo alleni
Resident at Dabou, with juveniles and immatures seen Nov-Apr. The status
of this species in the south is not made clear by Thiollay.
Lesser Jacana; Jacana nain. Mlcroparra capensis
Odienne, one, Jul 1990 (AJ); Ouangolodougou, Jan 1990, three (R-MF); Mar
1990, five. Only northern records apart from that of Kuhn and Spath
(1991).
Greater Painted-Snipe; Rhynchée peinte. Rostratula benghalensls
Seen regularly in Abidjan (small stream through Golf Course, 1-3 birds
1984-1987; a pair with a young bird Feb-Mar) and Dabou ricefields
(1985-1990, maximum nine: four pairs and a single male, 30 May 1987, a
pair with two very small chicks 4 Jul 1987; 2-3 juveniles with adults
seen March, August and October). Azaguié, Feb 1985, one male.
Yamoussoukro, Dec 1989, one juvenile (MG).
Eurasian Oystercatcher; Huîtrier pie. Haematopus ostralegus
Grand Bassani, Nov 1988, two together. San Pedro, Dec 1988, two together.
Sa s sandra, Dec 1988, one. Four previous records.
Eurasian Avocet; Avocette élégante. Recurvirostra avosetta
Assinie, 6 Jan 1990, one. First record for Cote d'Ivoire. Recorded from
coastal Ghana (Grimes 1987 ) and from Liberia (Gatter 1988 ) .
Egyptian Plover; Pluvian d'Egypte. Pluvianus aegyptius
Grand Bassam, Aug 1987, one. Sassandra, Dec 1988, one. Only recent
records from the coast.
Collared Pratincole; Glaréole a collier. Glareola pratincola
Adiopodoumé, birds in breeding plumage seen regularly 1986-1990 from end
Nov-May, up to a maximum of 53 (9 Mar 1988). Definately bred 1986 (one
68
R. Demey & L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
juvenile 12 Apr# seven 10 May), and in 1989 (one chick 3 Mar and ten
nests with eggs and chicks 2 Apr). No birds seen Jun-Oct. Dabou
ricefields, 1986-1989, a number of records between Oct-Feb, most
involving birds in non- breeding plumage. Grand Bassam, Jan 1990, one.
Lokpoho river, 5 km W of Ferkessldougou, Feb 1988, 35 ; Mar 1990, ten. It
is possible that birds in non-breeding plumage are of Palaearctic origin®
First records of breeding.
Black-winged Pratincole; Glaréole à ailes noires. Glareola nordmanni
Adiopodoumé, 21-22 Nov 1988, one. First record from Cote d’Ivoire .
There are two records for Ghana (Grimes 1987).
Kentish Plover; Gravelot à collier interrompu. Charadrius alexandrinus
Grand Bassam, Nov 1988, one; Oct 1989, one, Assinie, Nov 1989, three;
Jan 1990, two dates, eight. Five previous records.
Greater Sand Plover; Pluvier de Leschenault. Charadrius leschenaultli
Abidjan, Cocody Lagoon, 16 Feb 1990, one (TB and others). First record
for Cote d’Ivoire. There are records from Nigeria (Elgood 1982), Liberia
(Gatter 1988), Senegal (Condamin 1987) and Gabon (Christy 1990).
American Golden Plover; Pluvier fauve. Pluvialls (dominlca? domlnica
Dabou ricefields, one, 17 Dec 1988 - 15 Jan 1989. Adiopodoumé, one
22 Feb 1989 - 2 Mar 1989. Probably the same individual at both
localities. Dabou ricefields, one adult, 14-15 Oct 1989. First records
for Cote d’Ivoire. Full details to be published separately.
Pacific Golden Plover; Pluvier fauve. Pluvialis (domlnica) fulva
Dabou ricefields, 5 Dec 1987, one. Adiopodoumé, one adult, 22 Oct 1989 -
8 Nov 1989. First records for Cote d'Ivoire. Full details to be
published separately.
Grey Plover; Pluvier argenté. Pluvialis squatarola
Thiollay states this species to be regular along the coast from November
to June. We also have records of it in small numbers in every month
between July and October.
Red Knot; Bécasseau maubeche. Calidris canutus
Dabou ricefields. Sept 1988, three immatures. Grand Bassam, at least 20,
Nov 1988 (MM-L); Sep 1989, one; Nov 1989, two. Jacqueville, Oct 1988,
one. Five previous records.
Temminck’s Stint; Bécasseau de Temminck. Calidris temminckii
Abidjan, lagoon. Mar 1988, one (J & PC). Dabou ricefields, Dec 1987,
one; Mar 1988, two dates, one. Five previous records.
1991
Birds of Cote d'Ivoire
69
White- rumped Sandpiper; Bécasseau de Bonaparte. Calidris fuscicollis
Dabou ricefields, 29 Oct 1988 - 5 Nov 1988, one. First record for Cote
d'Ivoire and the second for West Africa. Full details to be published
separately.
Pectoral Sandpiper; Bécasseau tacheté. Calidris melanotos
Dabou marsh, 13 Feb 1988, one. Dabou ricefields, 21-28 Oct 1989, one.
First records for Cote d'Ivoire and the third and fourth for West Africa.
Full details to be published separately.
Dunlin; Bécasseau variable. Calidris alpina
Dabou ricefields, 10 Sep 1988, two immatures; 24 Sep 1988, one adult.
Grand Bassam, 26 and 30 Aug 1989, two; 1 Oct 1989, three immatures;
28 Oct 1989, one adult. Assinie, 1 Oct 1989, one immature. Three
previous records.
Ruff; Chevalier combattant. Philomachus pugnax
More than 30 records from Dabou and Grand Bassam between September and
March. Four previous records.
Black-tailed Godwit; Barge à queue noire. Limosa limosa
Azangny N.P. , Feb 1986, one. Dabou ricefields, Sep 1980, one ( MN ) ;
Dec 1984, eight; Sep 1985, one; Aug 1987, one; Sep 1989, one immature.
Dagbego, Apr 1981, one (MN). Fresco, Nov 1982, three (MN) . Two previous
records, both inland.
Bar-tailed Godwit; Barge rousse. Limosa lapponica
Numerous records along the coast from Sassandra to Assinie in all months;
maximum number recorded together was a flock of 20+ at Grand Bassam,
12 Nov 1988. Inland record: Comoé river near Sérébou, 10 Mar 1987, one
(J & PC). Four previous records.
Curlew; Courlis cendré. Numenius arquata
Abidjan lagoon, Feb 1984, two; Mar 1985, one; Mar 1988, one (J & PC).
Abidjan Golf Course, Feb 1984, four. Assinie, Jan 1990, one. Coast at
Abréby, 10 Sep 1988, four. Grand Bassam, eight records of one to three
birds, November, January and March (+ J & PC). Three previous records.
Spotted Redshank; Chevalier arlequin. Tringa erythropus
Azagny, Feb 1990, ten. Dabou ricefields, Dec 1986, one; Nov 1988, one;
Dec 1988, one. Grand Bassam, Jan, Feb 1990, one. Seven previous
records, mainly inland.
Ruddy Turnstone, Tournepierre à collier. Arenaria interpres
Numerous coastal records, mainly from Grand Bassam, Aug- May, with largest
numbers Sep-Nov, in flocks of up to 20. Some 20 previous records.
70
R. Demey & L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
Wilson's Phalarope; Phalarope de Wilson. Phalaropus tricolor
Grand Bassam, 11 Mar and 8 Apr 1989, one. First record for Cote d'ivoire
and West Africa. Full details to be published separately.
Grey Phalarope; Phalarope à bec large. Phalaropus fulicarius
Danou ricef ields , Mar 1986, one. Three previous inland records.
Sabine's Gull; Mouette de Sabine. Larus sabini
7 km offshore from Jacqueville, 15 Sep 1988, one adult. Thiollay states
abundant offshore Feb-Mar.
Grey-headed Gull; Mouette à tête grise. Larus cirrhocephalus
Azagny, 4 Feb 1990, one immature. Third record for Cote d'ivoire.
Slender-billed Gull; Goéland railleur. Larus genei
Grand Bassam, 6-27 Jan 1990, one adult (+PB, MG). First record for Cote
d'Ivoire and the second for West Africa south of Senegal, the other being
from Lagos, Nigeria (Elgood 1982).
Lesser Black-backed Gull; Goéland brun. Larus fuscus
7 km offshore from Jacqueville, Sep 1988, one immature and one adult.
Grand Bassam, Nov 1988, one immature (J & PC). Abidjan port Nov 1989,
one immature (+ PB). Four previous coastal records.
Gull- billed Tern; Sterne hansel. Gelochelidon nilotica
Grand Bassam, Oct 1989, one (+ PB). Two previous records.
Damara Tern; Sterne des baleiniers. Sterna balaenarum
Grand Bassam, 6 May 1989, one, non- breeding adult; 25 May 1989, three;
26 May 1989, four (J & PC); 18 Jun 1989, two (J 6 PC). First records
for Cote d'Ivoire. Recorded from Nigeria (Elgood 1982), Togo (Cheke,
et al. 1986), Ghana (Grimes 1987) and Liberia (Gatter 1988).
Whiskered Tern; Guifette moustac. Chlidonias hybridus
Azagny, Oct 1985, three; Feb 1986, at least 25. Dabou ricef ields and
marsh, 5 Dec 1987 - 28 May 1988, 12 dates, up to 11 individuals;
Oct 1988, one. Odienne, Savane dam, Feb 1988, one. Six previous
records .
African Skimmer; Bec-en- ciseaux d'Afrique. Rhynchops flavirostris
Grand Lahou, Jan 1988, one (J & PC). Assinie, Oct 1989, one. Taï,
Cavally river, 31 Dec 1989, two (+ MG); 4 Feb 1990, two adults with a
downy chick, perched on a sandbank; the chick was observed to approach
one of the adults and be admitted for brooding under a wing (MG, JL).
This observation is unusual since the African Skimmer is normally a
colonial nester, and breeding at the nearest known colonies in the
floodplain of the Niger river in central Mali takes place in May-June
1991
Birds of Côte d'Ivoire
71
(Urban et al. 1986). Four previous records# ali from coastal waters?
first breeding record.
Grey Parrot? Perroquet gris. Psittacus erithacus
Thiollay 'states that ‘there is no gap between the two subspecies
erithacus and timneh supposed to come in contact along the Bandauta river*
(sic)* In Fry et al* (1988)# the range of timneh is stated without
qualification to be from 'Guinea Bissau# Sierra Leone and S Mali to Ivory
Coast west of Bandama R. (Thiollay 1985)'. Our data# admittedly sparse#
indicate that timneh ranges further east than this? the birds of Yapo
forest are timneh (70 km 1 of the Bandana) , while the only reliable field
observation of erithacus we have is from Settle on the ComoS river.
Observations of free- flying birds from the Abidjan area# where both sub-
species can be seen ©n sale# were discounted as they may have been
escaped captives.
Red- fronted Parrot i Perroquet I front rouge. Poicephalus gulielmi
Settle# probable sighting of a pair in May 1988. Lara to , 19 Mar# 1 and
16 Apr# 15 Jul 1988 a pair# in and around a hole in a dead tree# were
possibly breeding? 18 Mar 1990# same tree# one. Yapo# probable sighting.
Previously recorded from only three localities.
Black-collared Lovebird? Inseparable â collier noire. Agapornis
swindernlana
Azagny N.P., Jan 1986# three. Taï N.P. # Sep 1988# seven? Mar 1990# four
(TB and others) . Recorded regularly in Yapo forest. Thiollay records
two observations only# from Taï.
Jacobin Cuckoo? Coucou jacobin® Oxylophus jacobinus (Clamator
jacobinus)
Comoi N.P. (south)# Apr 1987# two (MN & PP). Adiopodoume # 22 and
31 Jan 1990# one immature. Three previous records# all from the north
(Cornoe) .
Dusky Long- tailed Cuckoo i Coucou de Mechow. Cercococcyx meehowl
Recorded from Yapo forest. New locality.
Olive Long'- tailed Cuckoo? Coucou olivâtre. Cercococcyx olivinus
Marahoué N.P., Nov 1985# one. Recorded from Yapo forest. Previously
known only from Taï and Nimba.
Klaas's Cuckoo? Coucou de Klaaa. Chrysococcyx klaas
Abidjan Golf Course# Aug and Sep 1987# one (J & PC). Lamto# Jun 1987#
one. Dabou# Sep 1987 and Jul 1989# one (J & PC). Yapo forest# numerous
records of sightings and of calling birds Jul-Sep. Few previous southern
records in the wet season.
72
R. De me y & L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
Didric Cuckoo? Coucou didric. Chrysococcyx cap ri us
Numerous southern records in wet season , from Abidjan, Adiopodoumë and
Dabou? these include calling birds and a fledgling being fed by a Village
Weaver Ploceus cucullatus, 22 Jun 1987 (J & PC). Thiollay gives only two
records from the forest zone Jun-Sep.
White- faced Scops Owl? Petit-duc à face blanche. Otus leucotis
Lamto, Mar and Aug 1988, one. Southernmost record apart from one
sighting from the coast at Azagny.
Rufous Fishing-Owl? Chouette-pêcheuse I dos roux. Scotopelia ussheri
Lamto, 25 Dec 1988, one immature. In view of the little that is known
about this bird, listed as Rare in the Red Data Book (Collar & Stuart
1985), full details are given.
At 06.00, just before dawn on 25 Dec 1988, on the forested banks of a
backwater of the Bandama river the bird landed in a bare tree. Using a
spotlight it was seen by LDCF to be a medium- large pale-coloured owl,
with darker breast streaking. After some 10 s it flew off into riverine
forest. At 08.10, in full daylight, the bird was re-located, thanks to
the mobbing activities of a number of Great Blue Turacos (Corythaeola
cristata) and a Pied Crow, ( Corvus albus ) . It was sitting about 15 m
high in a tree, where it remained for half an hour. What was presumed to
be the same bird was seen briefly the following morning at the same spot,
at 06.30.
The following notes were taken? A medium-large owl, broadly comparable
in size to the Pied Crow mobbing it. Head round but somewhat flattened
at sides of crown. Head seemed small relative to body, an effect
heightened by very large eyes. Feathers of crown fluffed up to produce
cowl effect. No ear tufts? facial disc not apparent. Entire head very
pale buff or pale honey brown. Underparts , wing coverts and what could
be seen of scapulars and mantle palest buff, some feathers with central
rufous streaking? no vermiculations. Flight feathers and tail much
darker rufous brown, with a few conspicuous and relatively wide, very
dark brown chevron- shaped markings. Four such markings were visible on
each of the flight feathers, three on the retrices. Bare parts: eyes
dark brown with dark rims - very striking against pale head. Bill
yellow-grey, darker at tip, cere dirty yellow-green. Legs and feet
yellow, claws darker.
The fluffy appearance of the head and mantle feathers, from which some
filoplumes could be seen projecting, and the very pale overall colour,
indicated an immature bird.
The eye colour of the Rufous Fishing-Owl is stated by Kemp in Fry et al .
(1988) to be yellow and is given as a field character, although it is not
shown thus in the accompanying plate. Both this specimen, and another
darker, apparently adult individual in Abidjan zoo, (of unknown
provenance), had dark brown eyes , as did the immature male cited in
Colston & Curry-Lindahl (1986 ) . Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1970 ) state
that the eye colour of S. ussheri is believed to be dark brown in
immatures and adult females, yellow in adult males.
1991
Birds of Cote d' Ivoire
73
Thiollay' s statement that, in Cote d'Ivoire, this species has 'so far
been identified from Tax, Azagny, Lamto and Nimba' needs to be treated
with caution. It is not clear whether these records are based upon
sightings or calls; if the latter then they are not correct since the
only recording purporting to be of this species, made by Chappuis (1978),
(coincidentally at Lamto), is now known to be of the White-crested Tiger
Heron (Tigriornis leucolophus) (Fishpool et al. 1989).
Red-chested Owlet; Chevêche tte à pieds jaunes. Glaucidium tephronotum
Tape recorded in Yap© forest; previously known only from Taï.
Long- tailed Nightjar; Engoulevant a longue queue. Caprimulgus
climacurus
Fresco, Dec 1979, one (MN). Grand Bassam, Nov 1989, one (+ PB). First
coastal records.
Black-shouldered Nightjar; Engoulevant à epaulettes noires. Caprimulgus
nigriscapularis (C. pectoralis)
Tape recorded in Marahoue N.P. in 1986 (J-MB) . Earliest definite
identification in Cote d'Ivoire (see Balchin 1988). Tape recorded in
Comoê N.P., 21 Apr 1990 (MG).
Black Spinetail; Martinet de Chapin. Telacanthura melanopygia
Recorded from Yapo forest. Sixth known locality.
Cassin's Spinetail; Martinet de Cas sin. Neafrapus cassini
Recorded from Fresco and Yapo forest. New locality.
Pallid Swift; Martinet pale. Apus pal Ildus
Comoê N.P. (south), 16 Apr 1990, at least six, probably many more, in
company with huge flocks of (mainly) Apus apus on passage. Feeding down
to just above tree- top height (5-6 m) over Guinea savanna woodland on
termites, which were emerging in response to first rains of the season.
Only one previous record for Cote d'Ivoire, from Mt Nimba (Thonnerieux
1987).
White- rumped Swift; Martinet eafre. Apus cafffer
Ayamé Dam, Mar 1988, two. Comoê N.P. (south), Apr 1990, 6-8. 23 km S of
Ferkessêdougou, Apr 1989, five; Aug 1989, 6-8. 10 km N of
Ferkessêdougou, Aug 1989, four. Taabo Dam, May 1989, two. Recorded from
Yapo forest. Previously known only from Bouakê and Korhogo.
Mottled Swift; Martinet marbré. Tachymarptis aequatorialis (Apus
aeguatoralis) ~ ~ ~~ ~ "
Comoê N.P. (south), 16 Apr 1990, at least 20, identifiable as ssp. lowei ,
in company with large flocks of migrant A. apus and A. pallidus (see
above). Recorded from Yapo forest. Only two previous confirmed
sightings.
74
R» Demey & L.D.C. Fishpool
MAL IMBU S 12
Grey-headed Kingfisher? Martin-chasseur â te te grise» Halcyon
leucocephala
Many records along the coast in the dry season, from Sassandra to
Assinie, Nov-Apr. In addition, several sightings of birds during the
rains in May and June at Grand Bassara included on 6 May 1989, two pairs
attending holes in sandbanks, with one bird seen making several trips
carrying food, and suggests a coastal breeding populations» First
southern records.
African Red-headed Dwarf Kingfisher? Martin-pêcheur a tête rousse. Ceyx
lecontei “ ”
Recorded from Yapo forest. Fifth known locality.
White-bellied Kingfisher? Martin-pêcheur à ventre blanc. Corythornis
leucogaster (Alcedo leucogaster)
Recorded from Yapo forest. New locality.
Blue- headed Bee-eater? Guêpier à tête bleue. Mer ops mue 1 1er 1
Recorded from Yapo forest. Fourth known locality.
Abyssinian Roller? Rollier d' Abyssinie. Coracias abysslnica
Adiopodoumé, Dec 1988, Jan and Mar 1989, one. First coastal records.
European Roller? Rollier d'Europe. Coracias garrulus
Comoê N.P. (south), 4 Apr 1988, six together. Infrequently recorded.
Black Wood-Hoopoe? Irrisor noir. Phoeniculus aterrimus
Larato, Feb 1988, two. Southernmost record.
Red-billed Hornbili? Petit calao 1 bec rouge. Tockus erythrorhynchus
Near Ferkessedougou, Mar 1988, one (PP) . Only two previous records.
Wahlberg's Honeybird? Indicateur de Wahlberg. Prodotiscus regulus
23 km S of Ferkessidougou, 1 May 1989, one. In northern guinea savanna
woodland beside gallery forest. First record for Cote d'Ivoire? its
occurrence was anticipated by Thiollay, on the basis of the Liberian
record from Mt Nimba (Colston & Curry-Lindahl 1986). Rarely recorded in
West Africa: four observations from Nigeria, all from the same locality
( Elgood 1982) and one from Togo (De Roo et al. 1971).
Lyre-tailed Hone y gui de; Indicateur I queue- en- lyre . Melichneutes
r obus tus
Marahoue N.P., Dec 1986, one heard displaying. Previously known only
from Tai and Mt Nimba.
Spotted Honeyguide? Indicateur tacheté. Indicator macula tus
Recorded from Yapo forest. New locality.
1991
Birds of Cote d'Ivoire
75
Willcocks's Honeyguide; Indicateur de Willcocks. Indicator willcocksi
Recorded from Yapo forest. New locality.
African Piculetj Picule. Sasia africana
A pair seen well in Yapo forest, 6 Nov 1988. First record for Cote
d'Ivoire. Very few records from Upper Guinea: two from Ghana (Macdonald
& Taylor 1977, Dutson & Branscombe 1990) and two from Liberia (Gatter
1988, Fjeldsa & Jensen 1990). ' Full details will be given elsewhere.
African Broadbill; Burylaime du cap. Smithornis capensls
Comoé N.P . (south), Apr 1990, one male displaying. The locality at
08 °49N, is well to the north of the range given in Thiollay.
Rufous- sided Broadbill; Eurylaime à flancs roux. Smithornis
rufolateralis
Lamto, Feb 1984, one (DW) . Recorded from Yapo forest. Previously known
from only three localities.
Blue-winged Pitta; Breve à poitrine fauve. Pitta angolensis
Banco N.P., Jan 1979, one (MN). Fifth known locality.
Dusky Lark; Alouette a queue rousse. Mirafra nigricans
Marahouê N.P., 10-11 Feb 1990, one displaying. Southernmost record.
Chestnut- backed Finch-Lark; Alouette- moineau à oreillons blancs.
Bremopterix leucotis
Korhogo, Jan 1990, three (R-MF) . Only one previous record.
Banded Sand-Martin; Hirondelle de rivage à front blanc. Riparia cincta
Adiopodoume, Nov 1988, three with a flock of about 100 H. semirufa and H.
rustlca; Nov 1989, one also with mixed hirundine flock. Comoê N.P., Jan
1990, five (R-MF). Three previous records, none from the south.
European Sand-Martin; Hirondelle de rivage. Riparia riparia
Adiopodoume, Oct 1989, two. Coraoe N.P., Feb 1988, one. Dabou, Jan 1989,
two. Marahouê N.P., Feb 1990, about 20. Eight previous records.
Ethiopian Swallow; Hirondelle i gorge blanche. Hi r undo aethiopica
Numerous records from the east of the country (Adiopodoume, Assinie,
Ayaraé dam, Comoê N.P. (south). Grand Bassam, Sikensi and Yamoussoukro),
Jan-May, Jul, Sep-Oct, of up to ten birds together (+ MG, DW) . Described
by Thiollay as very local but possibly overlooked; these records may
represent part of the continuing recent westward range expansion
occurring in Ghana (Grimes 1987).
76
R» De me y S L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
Red-chested Swallow; Hirondelle â gorge rousse® Hirundo lucida
Sikensi/ small lake, Dec 1987, 25; Feb 1988, 4-6. Southernmost record.
European Swallow; Hirondelle de cheminée. Hirundo rustica
A bird ringed 3 Aug 1985 in Belgium, killed at Meadji, Soubrê, 2 Apr
1987.
African Rock Martin? Hirondelle de rochers â gorge rousse® Hirundo
fuligula
12 km W of Boundiali, 15 Feb 1988, nesting colony of some 50 birds under
bridge over Bagoui river. Mt Niangbo, Nov 1989, two. New localities.
Preuss's Cliff Swallow; Hirondelle de rochers a dos noir. Hirundo
spilodera
Comoe N. P. (south), Dec 1984, several. Guinguereni, Feb 1988, two.
10 km S of Niakaramandougou, 29 Apr 1989, 15-20. 23 km S and 10 km N of
Ferkessidougou, Aug 1989, four at each site? Mar 1990, at least 100 at
latter locality. 25 km N of Katiola, Mar 1990, at least 50. At last
four localities, all sightings associated with culverts under roads. New
localities? Thiollay gives only two.
European House Martin? Hirondelle de fenêtre. Dellchon urbica
Comoé N.P. (south), 3 Apr 1988, a total of £. 200 birds at several
places? 16 Apr 1990, at least 20. Ferkessidougou, three localities.
Mar 1990, at least 100. Guinguereni, Feb 1988. Marahoul N.P., Mar 1985,
two? 2 Nov 1985, one? Mar 1989, four. Man, Mar 1989, at least 100 (J &
PC). Twelve previous records.
Red- throated Pipit? Pipit I gorge rousse. An thus cervinus
Abidjan, Feb 1984, one? Feb 1985, one (JvdV ) . Adiopodoume, Feb 1990,
one. Southernmost records.
Mountain Wagtail? Bergeronnette à longue queue. Motacilla clara
Meno river, Taï N.P., Mar 1989, pair (+ MG). Fourth record.
Blackcap Tchagra? Petit telephone. Tchagra minuta
Bondoukou, Sep 1989, one male. Fourth locality.
Many-coloured Bush-Shrike; Pie-griiche variable. Malaconotus multicolor
Recorded from Yapo forest. New locality.
Fiery-breasted Bush-Shrike? Pie-grilche verte ensanglantée. Malaconotus
cruentus
Seems to be now much rarer than Thiollay found it? we have no records.
Lagden's Bush-Shrike; Pie-grilche verte de Lagden. Maloconotus lagdeni
Recorded from Yapo forest. Previously known only from Taï.
1991
Birds of Côte d'Ivoire
77
Red- backed Shrike? Pie-grièche écorcheur. Lanius collurio
Adiopodoumé, 26 Nov 1988 - 4 Mar 1989, one immature male seen on six
dates. First records for Cote d'Ivoire. There are few records west of
Nigeria.
Emin's Shrike? Petite Pie-grièche 1 dos roux. Lanius gubernator
Comoé N. P. (south) Apr 1988, a pair and a single bird? May 1988, one
male? Dec 1989, one male (J & PC)? Apr 1990, three males and a pair at
four localities (+ MG & JL). One previous record, also from Comoé N.P.
(Balchin 1988).
Woodchat Shrike, Pie-grièche â tête rousse. Lanius senator
Abidjan, a few sightings in cassava plantations of singles from late Dec-
Mar 1981-1985. Adiopodoumé, Mar 1987 and Jan 1989, one; Jan 1989, one (J
& PC)? Feb 1989, one? 14 Jan - 26 Feb 1990, one. Rare in the forest
zone.
European Golden Oriole? Loriot d'Europe. Qriolus oriolus
Comoé N.P. (south), Apr 1987, one adult male and one sub-adult male
together. Road between Korhogo and Boundiali, Feb 1988, one. 20 km
south of Bouake, Apr 1988, a male aid female. Road between Dabakala and
Gansé, Apr 1988, three. Thiollay gives only one record? Lamto, October.
Splendid Glossy Starling; Merle métallique â oeil blanc. Lamprotornis
splendidus
Omitted from Thiollay (1985) by error but included in an earlier
preliminary list of the birds of Cote d'Ivoire, (Brunei & Thiollay 1969-
1970), where it was described as numerous along the coast; it remains
so.
Emerald Starling; Merle métallique du Fouta. Lamprotornis iris
Marahoué N.P. , Feb 1986, ten? Dec 1986, ten? Feb 1987, six? Feb 1990,
one. New locality.
Guinea Bare-headed Rockfowl? Picatharte chauve de Guinée. Picathartes
gymnocephalus
This species, listed as Vulnerable by Collar & Stuart (1985), was first
recorded at Lamto in 1981 by Prendergast (1983); as neither he nor
Thiollay knew of suitable nesting sites in the area, both authors
considered the sightings to have been of vagrants. The fact that both
the original and a number of subsequent observations all involved single
individuals seemed to lend credence to this. On 21 Jan 1990, however,
two birds were seen together attending an ant swarm and a group of four
was observed on 24 Feb 1990 (TB et al . ) . On 13 May 1990, some distance
from all previous sightings, a breeding colony was found. It comprised
at least 15 nests, of which six were under active ( re) construction, and
at least 20 birds were seen. The only other known breeding sites of this
species in Cote d'Ivoire are Mt Nimba and Mt Nienokoué (Gartshore 1989).
78
R» Demey S L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
White- breasted Cuckoo-Shrike; Echenilleur â ventre blanc. Coraclna
pectoralis
N'zi river between Katiola and Dabakala» Nov 1989» two; Dec 1989» two
(J & PC). Well to the south of the recent southern limit given by
Thiollay .
Blue Cuckoo-Shrike; Echenilleur bleu. Coracina azurea
Recorded from Azagny N.P. and Yapo forest. New localities.
Western Wattled Cuckoo-Shrike; Echenilleur caroncule. Campephaga lobata
Marahoué N.P.» Nov 1985» one; Feb 1988» a pair (J-MB) . Ta'I N.P. near
boundary» Sep 1988» one male in a mixed flock in large trees above a
cocoa plantation. Other records of this species» listed as Vulnerable by
Collar & Stuart (1985)» were obtained in Taï N.P. (Gartshore 1989 and in
prep.). Two earlier records» also from Taï»
Ansorge’s Greenbul; Bulbul d' Ansorge. Andropadus ansorgei
Birds fitting the description of this species and producing calls
identical to those ascribed to it by Chappuis (1975) are common in Yapo
forest where A. gracilis is also common. Thiollay definitely recorded
only gracilis and considered the occurrence of ansorgei unproven.
Yellow-throated Olive Greenbul; Petit bulbul huppe. Criniger olivaeeus
This species» listed as Vulnerable by Collar & Stuart (1985)» is quite
common in Yapo forest. Previously known only from Taï.
Forest Scrub- Robin; Rouge-queue du Ghana. Cercotrlchas leucosticta
Two records of this forest species in heavily degraded scrub behind
Abidjan Golf Course; May and Dec 1987» singing singles. Comoe N.P.»
Apr 1990» at least four heard singing in gallery forest (+ MG & JL). The
latter is well to the north of the range given by Thiollay but Muhlenberg
et al. (1990) also record it from Comoe.
Brown Akalat; Grive aka la t brune. Trlchastoma fulvescens
Recorded from Abidjan (Banco N.P. and scrub near golf course) and Yapo
forest. Previously known from only three localities.
Pale- breasted Akalat; Grive akalat à poitrine blanche. Trichastoma
ruf ipennis
Recorded from Yapo forest. Previously known from only two localities.
Blackcap Akalat; Grive akalat 1 tite noire. Trichastoma cleaverl
Recorded from Yapo forest. Previously known from only two localities.
Rufous-winged Akalat; Grive akalat du Liberia. Trichastoma rufescens
Recorded from AsSagny N.P.» Marahoué N.P» and Yapo forest* Previously
known from only three localities.
1991
Birds of Côte d'Ivoire
79
Blackcap Babbler; Cratérope à tête noire. Turdoides reinwardii
Recorded from several sites between Katiola and Ouangolodougou, and from
the north of Comoe N.P., all well north of the range given by Thiollay.
Sedge Warbler; Phragraite des joncs. Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Regular sightings in suitable habitat Nov-Apr, in Abidjan (up to four),
Assinie, Dabou (up to ten). Grand Bassarn, and Taabo Dam. Also Gansé,
April. Probably not uncommon, but local, winter visitor in the south.
Walsh (1986) found it common in suitable habitat in the savanna zone .
Thiollay gives only one record.
Olivaceous Warbler; Hypolaïs pâle. Hippolals pallida
Abidjan, Adiopodoumé and Dabou, several single birds Nov-Dec, Feb ( + J,
PC and JvdV) . Comoé N.P. (south), Apr 1988, two. Marahoué N.P., 10 Feb
1990, one. Probably a regular, if infrequent, winter visitor. Thiollay
records one positive and several possible sightings.
Grey-capped Apalis; Fauvette des buissons â tête noire. Apalls flavida
(caniceps)
23 km south of Ferkessédougou, Aug 1989, one. Two previous records.
Black-capped Apalis; Fauvette forestière à tête noire. Apalis nigrlceps
Recorded from Yapo forest. New locality.
Brown-crowned Eremoraela; Erémomèle 1 tête noire. Eremomela badiceps
Recorded from Bettié, Fresco and Yapoi widely distributed throughout the
forest zone, both in the west as Thiollay indicates, and the east.
Lemon- bellied Crombec; Fauvette crombec a gorge tachetée. Sylvietta
denti
Kakpin, Comoé N.P., Sep 1988, one. Most northerly record.
Kemp's Longbill; Fauvette nasique de Kemp. Macrosphenus kempi
Recorded from Abidjan, Lamto, Sassandra and Yapo. New localities. We
follow Bannerman (1930-51) and Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1973) in treating
this bird as a full species rather than a subspecies of flavicans. Its
distinctive song, which may be rendered 'tee tuwe tuwe tuwe tuwe tee' or
'pewy pewy pewy pewy eek' (Field 1974), is very different from Chappuis'
(1978) recording of nominate flavicans.
Tiny Tit-Weaver; Astrild-mésange. Pholidornis rushiae
Recorded from Abidjan (in very degraded scrub and even cassava
plantation) , Adiopodoumé, Bingerville (TB) and Yapo forest. Thiollay
records it from only four localities; it is easily overlooked but
probably not uncommon throughout the forest zone.
80
R. Demey & L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
Gambaga Dusky Flycatcher; Gobe-mouches de Gambaga. Muscicapa gambagae
Single birds fitting the description of this species were seen at the
same site in Comoé N.P. ( south) , Apr and May 1988; Apr 1990, two pairs
and a singleton, at three sites» Thiollay points out that this species
has never been collected in Cote d'Ivoire; while confident of the
identity of these birds, we agree with him that a confirmatory specimen
is desirable.
Little Blue Flycatcher; Petit gobe- mouches cendré. Muscicapa epulata
Recorded from Yapo forest. Previously known from only two localities.
Olivaceous Flycatcher; Gobe-mouches olivâtre. Muscicapa olivascens
Recorded from Yapo forest. Previously known from only four localities.
Dusky Blue Flycatcher; Gobe-mouches ardoisé. Muscicapa comitata
Recorded from Yapo forest. New locality.
Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher; Gobe-mouches â gorge grise. Myioparus
griseigularis
Recorded from Abidjan, (Banco N.P® (DW)), Lamto and Yapo forest.
Previously known from only three localities.
Grey Tit-Flycatcher; Gobe- mouche s mésange. Myioparus plumbeus
Recorded from Taï N.P. and Yapo forest. These observations are from much
heavier forest than the habitat of this species given by Thiollay.
Nimba Flycatcher; Gobe-mouches de Nimba. Melaenornls annamarulae
A single bird seen at the edge of Taï N.P., Sep 1988 perched in a dead
tree c. 15 m high in the middle of a clearing planted with maize. It
uttered a thin, soft 'wheep-wheep' a few times. It sat upright in
typical flycatcher pose, but also hopped or ran along big branches of the
tree in ma limbe or cuckoo-shrike fashion, a3 described by Balchin (1990).
Other records of this species which is listed as Vulnerable by Collar &
Stuart (1985), were obtained in Taï N.P. (Gartshore 1989 and in prep.).
Violet-backed Flycatcher; Gobe-mouches à dos bleu-violet. Hyllota
vlolacea
Recorded from Yapo forest. Previously known from four localities.
Shrike Flycatcher; Gobe-mouches à gros bec. Me gaby a s flammulata
Recorded from Adiopodoumi, Azagny N.P., Fresco, Lamto, Marahoué N.P. and
Yapo forest. More widely distributed throughout the forest zone than
Thiollay suggests.
Black and White Flycatcher; Gobe- mouches chanteur. Bias muslcus
Seems to be now much rarer than Thiollay found. We have only a few
recent records; one female at Abidjan Golf Course (J & PC), one male and
two females near Bingerville (TB et al.) and a pair at Gouéssesso.
1991
Birds of Côte d'Ivoire
81
White- browed Puff-back Flycatcher; Gobe- mouche strie de Fernando Poo.
Bâtis occulta (Bâtis minima (poensis) )
Recorded from Taï and Yapo forest. Previously known from only three
localities.
White- spotted Wattle- eye; Gobe- mouches caroncule à taches blanches.
Platysteira tonsa
Lamto , Feb 1985, one male (RD and JvdV) . Previously known from only two
localities.
Blue- headed Crested Flycatcher; Gobe- mouches noir huppe. Trochocercus
nitens
Recorded from Fresco and Yapo forest. Previously known from only four
localities.
Dusky Crested Flycatcher; Gobe- mouches huppé à tête noire. Trochocercus
nlgromitratus
Recorded from Yapo forest. Thiollay gives its status as suspected only,
from Taï.
Forest Penduline Tit; Riraiz à front jaune. Anthoscopus flavifrons
Recorded from Yapo forest. Previously known from only two localities.
Bates' Sunbird; Soui-manga de Bates. Nectarlnia batesi
Recorded from Yapo forest. Previously known from only three localities.
Reichenbach' s Sunbird; Soui-manga de Reichenbach. Nectarinia
relchenbachii
Widespread along the coast, at least in the east, with records from
Asslnie, Eloka, Grand Bassam, Abidjan, Dabou and Azagny N.P. It is
particularly common in swamp bush at the latter locality where two pairs
with one young each were seen on 3 Feb 1986. It is also likely to occur
west of Azagny, in view of its recent discovery in Liberia (Cane & Carter
1988) • First recorded in Cote d'Ivoire by Eccles (1985a) and Demey
(1986).
Yellow White-eye; Oiseau- lunettes jaune. Zosterops senegalensls
Recorded from Abidjan, in gardens and even in trees lining streets in the
city centre. New locality.
Brown- rumped Bunting; Bruant â ventre jaune. Ember iza forbesi
25 km north of Korhogo, Apr 1989, one . Only five previous records.
Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting; Bruant cannelle. Ember iza tahapisi
Recorded from Comoé N.P. New locality.
82
R. Demey & L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
Streaky- headed Seed-eater; Serin gris 1 tête blanche. Serinus gularis
Comoe N. P., Jan 1990, four (R-MF) ; Apr 1990, three; Apr 1990, several (MG
& JL). Only four previous records.
Slender-billed Weaver; Tisserin minulle. Ploceus luteolus
12 km north of Korhogo, Apr 1989, two males. 23 km south of
Ferkessêdougou, Aug 1989, one pair. 15 km north of Ferkessidougou,
Aug 1989, a pair; Mar 1990, one male. A male closely matching the
description of this species was also seen in Marahouê N.P., Oct 1988, (J
& PC). First recorded in Cote d'Ivoire by Holyoak & Seddon (1990).
Spectacled Weaver; Tisserin à lunettes. Ploceus nigrlcollis
This species seems to be widely distributed north of 8°N, contra
Thiollay. Walsh (1986) cites several records from the north of the
country and we have records from Kakpin, Comoe N.P., 30 km north of
Katiola and 23 km south of Ferkessidougou.
Golden- backed Weaver; Tisserin de Preuss. Ploceus preussi
Taï N.P., Sep 1988, a pair; Mar 1990, two (TB and others). Also recorded
in Yapo forest. Only two previous records.
Red-headed Malimbe; Anaplecte à ailes rouges. Ma limbus rubriceps
( Anaplectes melanotis)
Comae N.P. (south), Feb 1988, one male; May 1988, a pair; Sep 1988, a
pair - all sightings from the same locality; Apr 1990, several (+ MG &
JL) . 25 km south of Ferkessidougou, Aug 1989, one female. Only two
previous records.
Long- tailed Black Whydah; Veuve noire. Euplectes ardens
Gouissesso, Nov 1980, one male in breeding plumage. Marahoui N.P., date
unknown (J-MB). New localities.
Golden Bishop; Vorabi. Euplectes afer
Abidjan Golf Course 2 May 1981, a flock of 30-40 with four males in full
breeding dress and others in moult; 8-12 May 1983, a few males in
breeding plumage. Dabou ricefields, males in breeding plumage from late
May until at least mid August, common. First records from the south.
Red Bishop; Ignicolore. Euplectes orix
Abidjan Golf Course, males in breeding plumage seen frequently May-Oct
1982-1984. Due to changes in habitat (building development), no
subsequent sightings in the area. No previous southern records.
Cuckoo weaver; Tisserin-coucou. Anomalospiza imberbis
Between Satama-Sokoro and Dabakala, 18 Apr 1990, small flocks (MG & JL).
Only two previous records.
1991
Birds of Côte d'Ivoire
83
Bush Sparrow? Petit moineau sourcié. Petronia dentata
N'zi river between Katiola and Dabakala, Nov 1939, at least eight.
Ouangolodougou, Mar 1990, at least 20. Several sightings in Comoi N.P.
Only eight previous records.
White- breasted Negro-finch? Senegal! brun à ventre blanc. Nlgrita
fusconota
Adiopodoume , Oct 1986, one or two. Taï N.P., Feb and Sep 1988, one.
Regularly recorded in Yapo forest. Only one previous record.
Red- fronted Ant-pecker? Astrild fourmilier 1 front rouge. Parmoptila
woodhousei ( j amesoni )
Recorded from Yapo forest. Formerly known only from Taï N.P.
White-cheeked Olive Weaver? Senegal! vert à joues blanches. Nesocharis
caplstrata
8 km south of Fekessêdougou, Mar 1990, two. 25 km north of Katiola, Aug
1989, two? Nov 1989, one? Jan 1990, two ( R-MF ) ? Mar 1990, two. On the
first occasion the birds were seen nest- building in a bush (Mimosaceae) ,
about three metres above a stream, in gallery forest. In the same bush
close by was a wasps® nest. Eleven previous records.
Blaek-rumped Waxbill; Bec de corail cendre. Estrilda troglodytes
Adidjan Golf Course, regularly seen 1981-1984, up to 15 birds together.
Only one previous record from the south.
Lavender Firefinch? Queue de vinaigre. Estrilda caerulescens
Unexpected sightings of this northern species in cassava plantations near
Abidjan Golf Course in Feb, Oct and Dec 1987, 1-2 individuals. Escapes
from captivity?
Black-faced Firefinch? Amarante masque. Estrilda larvata
Recorded south of 9°N in Comoe N.P. near Kakpin in Feb, May and Sep 1988.
Southernmost record.
Quail-Finch? Astrild- caille. Ortygosplza atrlcollis
This species seems to be common in the coastal savanna at Asslnie, where
it probably breeds. We also have records from Adiopodoume (December),
Dabou ricefields (November) and Lac Ladle (January), where it is almost
certainly only a vagrant, at least to the former two, well-watched sites.
Thiollay does not mention this coastal population, although Mackworth-
Praed & Grant (1973) do (ssp. ansorgei) .
Magpie Mannikin? Sperraète pie. Lonchura f rlngilloldes
Dabou ricefields, resident? in March- Apr il up to several hundred.
Recorded in Yapo forest in a clearing. First records from the south.
84
R. Demey & L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
SUMMARY
Recent observations of the birds of Côte d’Ivoire are presented and
interpreted in light of Thiollay's (1985) annotated checklist. Fifteen
species new to the country are recorded and information on five Red Data
Book species is given, including the finding of a new breeding site of
Picathartes gymnocephalus and field observations of Scotopelia ussheri.
RESUME
Observations récentes sur les oiseaux de Côte d'ivoire sont commentées à
la lumière de la liste annotée de Thiollay (1985). L'avifaune ivoirienne
s'enrichit de 15 nouvelles espèces; données complémentaires sur cinq
espèces du Red Data Book, notamment la découverte d'un nouveau site de
reproduction de Picathartes gymnocephalus et des notes de terrain sur
Scotopelia ussheri.
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1991
Birds of Cote d'Ivoire
85
DE P.00, A., HUSELMANS, J. & VERHEYEN, W. (1971) Contribution I
l'ornithologie de la République du Togo. Rev. Zool. Bot. afr.
83s 84-94.
DUTSON, G. & BRANSCQMBE, J. (In prep.) Rainforest birds in southwest
Ghana.
ECCLES, S.D. (1985a) Nectarinia reichenbachi new to Ivory Coast.
Ma limbus 7s 140.
ECCLES, S.D. (1985b) Oriole Babbler Hypergerus atriceps near coast of
Ivory Coast. Ma limbus 7s 140.
BLQOOD, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. Checklist No. 4. British
Ornithologists' Union, London.
FIELD, G.D. (1974) Birds of Freetown Peninsula. Fourah Bay College
Bookshop Ltd., Freetown.
FI8HPOOL, L.D.C., DEMEY, R. & VAN ROMPAEY , R. (1989) Call of White-
crested Tiger Heron (Tigriornis leucolophus) attributed to Rufous
Fishing Owl (Scotopelia ussheri). Ma limbus 11: 96-97.
F J ELDS A, J. & JANSEN, H. (1990) A record of the African Piculet (Sasia
af ricana) from Liberia. Bull. Brit. Qrn. Club 110: 62-64.
FRY, C.H. (1985) Plain Nightjar at sea off Ivory Coast. Malimbus 7:
128.
FRY, C.H., KEITH, S. & URBAN, E.K. (1988) The Birds of Africa, Vol. 3.
Academic Press, London.
GARTSHORE, M.E. (1989) An Avi faunal Survey of TaX National Park, Ivory
Coast. Study Report No. 39. ICBP, Cambridge.
GATTER, We (1988) The birds of Liberia (West Africa). A preliminary
list with status and open questions. Verb. orn. Ges. Bayern 24:
689-723.
GRIMES, L.G. (1987) The Birds of Ghana. Checklist No. 9. British
Ornithologists' Union, London.
HOLYOAK, D.T. 6 SEDDON, M.B. (1990) Notes on some birds of Ivory Coast.
Malimbus 111 146-148.
KUHN, I. & SPATH, J. (1991) A new record of the Lesser Jacana Microparra
capensis in northern Cote d'Ivoire, with notes on habitat.
Malimbus 12s 91-93.
LAWSON, W.J. (1984) The West African mainland forest-dwelling population
of Batls: a new species. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 104: 144-146.
LAWSON, W.J. (1986) Spéciation in the forest-dwelling populations of the
avian genus Batls. Durban Mus. Novit. 13: 285-304.
MACDONALD, M. A. & TAYLOR, l.R. (1977) Notes on some uncommon forest
birds in Ghana. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 97: 116-120.
MACKWORTH-PRAED, C.W. & GRANT, C.H.B. (1970, 1973) Birds of West Central
and Western Africa. 2 Vols. Longmans, London.
MADGE, S. & BURN, H. (1988) Wildfowl. An Identification Guide to Ducks,
Geese and Swans of the World. Christopher Helm, London.
MUHLENBERG, M. , GALAT-LUONG, A., POILECOT, P., STEINHAUER-BURKART , B. &
KUHN, I. (1990) L'importance des ilôts forestiers de savane humide
pour la conservation de la faune de foret dense en Cote d'ivoire.
Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 45: 197-214.
PRENDERGAST, H.D.V. (1983) New records for the Lamto region. Ivory
Coast. Malimbus 5: 56.
SE RLE, W. & MOREL, G. J. (1977) A Field Guide to the Birds of West
Africa. Collins, London.
THIOLLAY, J «M. (1985) The birds of Ivory Coast: status and
distribution. Malimbus 7: 1-59.
86
R. Demey & L.D.C. Fishpool
MALIMBUS 12
THONNERIEUX, Y. (1987) Présence du Martinet pale (Apus pallidus) entre
autre migrateurs paléarctiques sur le versant ivorien du Mont
Nimba. Mal imbus 9: 56-57.
URBAN , E.K. / FRY , C.H. & KEITH, S. (1986) The Birds of Africa. Vol. 2.
Academie Press, London.
WALSH, J. F. (1986) Notes on the birds of Ivory Coast. Mal imbus 8s 89-
93.
Ron Demey, PNUD, BP 7248, Kinshasa, Zaire
Dr L.D.C. Fishpool, NRI, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent
ME4 4TB U.K. (To whom correspondence should be addressed)
APPENDIX
Species added to the avifauna of Cote d'Ivoire
since the publication of Thiollay (1985)
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus grlseus
Teal Anus crecca
Pintail Anas acuta
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Crested Bustard Eupodotis ruficrlsta
Eurasian Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni
Grey Pratincole Glareola clnerea
American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
White- ruraped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollls
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei
Damara Tern Sterna balaenarum
European Turtle Dove Streptopella turtur
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
Wahlberg's Honeybird Prodotiscus regulus
African Piculet Sasia africana
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
Emin's Shrike Lanius gubernator
Bluethroat Luscinia suecica
Reichenbach' s Sunbird Nectarlnia reichenbachii
Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus
Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba
Cheke (1987)
This paper
Balchin (1988), this paper
This paper
Holyoak & Seddon (1990)
This paper
This paper
Balchin (1988)
This paper
This paper
This paper
This paper
This paper
This paper
This paper
Demey (1986)
Thonnerieux (1987)
This paper
This paper
This paper
Balchin (1988)
Walsh (1986)
Eccles (1985a), Demey 1986
Holyoak & Seddon (1990)
Holyoak & Seddon (1990)
1991
87
ESPECES OUEST AFRICAINES DONT LE REPERTOIRE RESTE A PRECISER
(WEST AFRICAN SPECIES FOR WHICH SOUND RECORDINGS ARE NEEDED)
par Claude Chappuis
Reçu 5 octobre 1990
A l'occasion de la collecte des données concernant les enregistrements
des oiseaux africains# en vue de l’établissement de listes de références
acoustiques (Chappuis 1980# 1986a# 1986b# 1988)# il a semblé intéressant
parallèlement de faire ressortir les especes non encore enregistrées à ce
jour# ou pour lesquelles les documents acoustiques sont nettement
insuffisants# ceci afin d’inciter â la collecte de nouveaux documents.
Mais cette liste (Appendice) comporte aussi# a fortiori# beaucoup des
especes en régression dans l’Ouest africain# et présente donc à ce titre
un autre interet# en vue de la surveillance et de la protection
éventuelle des especes menacées.
Dans cette liste# certaines sous- especes sont citées dans la mesure où il
semble que l’acoustique permette d’apporter des précisions sur leur
statut systématique. La mention NR (not recorded) concerne les espèces
non encore enregistrées! pour les autres especes citées les documents
disponibles sont encore insuffisants. Les especes endémiques insulaires
n'ont pas été prises en compte, seuls les endémiques continentaux sont
cités, indiqués par un astérisque. Dans cet esprit l'endemisme concerne
une région très limitée, par exemple un massif montagneux. La limite
d'une telle région est assez arbitraire quand elle ne correspond pas â
une entité géographique.
Les lecteurs ayant connaissance d'enregistrements concernant cette liste
(et aussi les espèces endémiques des îles) seraient bien aimables de
transmettre ces données 1 l'auteur.
In the course of collating data concerning sound recordings of African
birds for lists of acoustic references (Chappuis 1980# 1986a# 1986b,
1988)# it seemed interesting to assemble in parallel a list of species
not yet recorded or for which the extant recordings are clearly
incomplete# with the aim of stimulating the collection of new material.
However# this list (Appendix) also includes many species currently in
decline in West Africa# which thus gives it added importance with a view
to the monitoring and possible protection of threatened species.
Certain subspecies are included in the list where it seems that voice
might reveal useful pointers to their systematic status. The note NR
(not recorded) indicates species not yet sound- recorded? for the
remaining species the available recordings are as yet inadequate.
Insular endemics are not included, but mainland endemics are indicated by
an asterisk. In this context endemism refers to a small area# e.g. a
mountain range. The limits of such a region are rather arbitrary where
it does not correspond to a geographical feature.
Readers knowing of recordings of species on this list (and of island
endemics) are kindly requested to send details to the author.
88
C. Chappuis
MALIMBUS 12
BIBLIOGRAPHIE
CHAPPUIS, C. (1980) List of sound- recorded Ethiopian birds. Mal imbus 2:
1-15, 82-98.
CHAPPUIS, C. (1986) Revised list of sound- recorded Afrotropical birds
Malimbus 8: 25-39, 79-88.
CHAPPUIS, C. (1986b) Acoustic references. Pp. 534-537 in E.K. Urban,
C.H. Fry & S. Keith (eds). The Birds of Africa, vol. 2. Academic
Press, London.
CHAPPUIS, C. (1988) Acoustic references. Pp. 587-590 in C.H. Fry, S.
Keith & E.K. Urban (eds). The Birds of Africa, vol. 3. Academic
Press, London.
Claude Chappuis
Le Fer à Cheval, 76530 La Bouille, France
APPENDICE
P H AL AC ROCQ RAC I D AE
Phalacrocorax africanus
PELECANIDAE
Pelecanus rufescens
ARDEIDAE
Gorsachius leuconotus NR
Tigriornis leucolopha NR
CICONIIDAE
Anastoraus lamelligerus
THRESKIORNITHIDAE
Bostrychia olivacea
AN AT ID AE
Netta erythrophthalma
Marmaronetta angustirostris
Anas hottentota
ACCIPIT RIDAE
Aegypius tracheliotus
occipitalis NR
Neophron percnopterus
Chelictinia riocourii
Macheirhamphus alcinus NR
Spizaetus africanus
Circaetus gallicus pectoralis NR
beaudouini
cinereus
Accipiter ruf iventer
(tachiro) toussenelii NR
castanilius NR
FALCONIDAE
Falco chicquera
alopex
ardosiaceus
PHASIANIDAE
Francolinus albogularis
finschii NR
camerunensis
Coturnix chinensis adansoni NR
Agelastes meleagrides
Afropavo congensis NR
TURNICIDAE
Turnix nana NR
RALLIDAE
Canirallus oculeus NR
Porzana marginalia NR
OTIDIDAE
Ardeotis arabs NR
Neotis denhami
nuba NR
GLAREOLIDAE
Glareola nuchalis
STERNIDAE
Sterna maxima
Sterna anaethetus NR
1991
Espèces â rechercher le repertoire
89
COLOMB ID AE
Streptopelia hypopyrrha
PSITTACIDAE
Poicephalus crassus
MUSOPHAGIDAE
Tauraco erythrolophus* NR
bannermani NR
STRIGIDAE
Otus icterorhynchus
Jubula letti
Phodilus prigoginei* NR
Glaucidiura castaneum* NR
Scotopelia ussheri
CAPRIMULGIDAE
Caprimulgus inornatus
eximius
batesi NR
binotatus NR
COLIIDAE
Colius castanotus NR
APODIDAE
Apus batesi NR
S choutedenapus schoutedeni* NR
Neafrapus boehmi
ALCEDINIDAE
Alcedo leucogaster NR
MEROPIDAE
Merops malimbicus NR
gularis NR
breweri NR
CAPITON ID AE
Lybius minor
rolleti NR
INDICATORIDAE
Prodotiscus insignis NR
zarabesiae NR
Me li gnomon zenkeri NR
PICIDAE
Campe the r a tullbergi
maculosa
Dendropicos poecilolaemus
elliottii NR
EURYLAIMIDAE
Pseudocalyptomena graueri* NR
P ITT ID AE
Pitta reichenowi
ALAND ID AE
Miraf ra cordofanica NR
ruf a NR
Calandrella dunni
HIRUNDINIDAE
Hirundo dimidiata* NR
Petrochelidon fuliginosa
Phedina brazzae NR
Riparia congica NR
MOTACILLIDAE
An thus pallidiventris
PRIONOPIDAE
Prionops cristata
alberfci* NR
LANIIDAE
Lanius excubitor NR
gubernator NR
Laniarius turatii NR
Malaconotus kupeensis* NR
Telophorus lagdeni NR
STURNIDAE
Grafisia torquata NR
CAMPEPHAGIDAE
Campephaga petiti
lobata NR
oriolina NR
Coracina graueri* NR
P Y CNONOT I D AE
Phyllastrephus fulviventris*
xavieri
pol iocephalus
poensis
lorenzi* NR
baumanni NR
leucolepsis NR
Pycnonotus montana
Chlorocichla prigoginei* NR
Neolestes torquatus
TURDIDAE
Zoo the ra crossleyi NR
Myrmecocichla tholloni NR
Sheppardia cyornithopsis
Cossypha roberti NR
Alethe poliophrys* NR
Cichladusa ruf icauda* NR
90
C. Chappuis
MALIMBUS 12
TIMALIIDAE
Turdoides tenebrosa* NR
Lioptilus chapini* NR
rufocinctus* NR
gilberti*
Phyllanthus atripennis
PXCATHARTIDAE
Picathartes gymnocephalus
oreas
SYLVIIDAE
Bradypterus alfredi*
graueri* NR
grandis NR
Chloropeta gracilirostris* NR
Apalis melanura NR
eidos* NR
kaboboensis* NR
schoutedeni* NR
Eremomela salvadorii NR
Macrosphenus kerapi NR
Graueria vittata* NR
Cisticola bulliens NR
troglodytes NR
MUSCICAPIDAE
Muscicapa gambagae NR
lendu* NR
ussheri
Melaenornis ardesiaca* NR
Myopornis boehmi* NR
Pedilorhyncus tessmanni NR
Hyliota violacea NR
Batis rainulla NR
orientalis NR
Platysteira bedfordi* NR
Ploceus castanops* NR
taeniopterus* NR
alienus* NR
pelzelni
subpersonatus NR
nigrimentum NR
batesi NR
dorsomaculatus NR
weynsi NR
albinucha NR
aureonucha* NR
flavipes* NR
Malimbus racheliae NR
erythrogaster NR
ibadanensis NR
Quelea anoraala NR
Euplectes aurea NR
ESTRILDIDAE
Parrnoptila (rubrifrons) j aines oni NR
Euschistospiza cinereovinacea NR
Spermophaga poliogenys* NR
Pirenestes sanguineus
(ostrinus) frommi NR
Cryptospiza shellei* NR
Ortygospiza gabonensis
Lagonosticta landanae NR
rara NR
Estrilda poliopareia NR
nigriloris* NR
Nesocharis ansorgei* NR
NECTARINIIDAE
Nectarinia bocagei* NR
congensis NR
bouvieri
oseus NR
rockefeller!* NR
regius* NR
alinae* NR
aurantium NR
FRINGILLIDAE
Serinus koliensis*
1991
SHORT NOTES
91
A NEW RECORD OF THE LESSER JACANA (MICROPARRA CAPENSIS) IN NORTHERN CÔTE
D'IVOIRE, WITH NOTES ON HABITAT
The African endemic Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis occurs
sympatrically with the African Jacana Actophilornis af ricana, but has a
much smaller range (Urban et al « 1986) . The paucity of observations of
M. capensis might be explained by rarity, shyness, and by mistaking it
for juveniles of A. africana (see Fry 1983).
M. capensis is continuously distributed in south-east Africa whereas in
west and central Africa it is known only from restricted areas (Urban
et al. 1986). It is recorded in Nigeria (Sharland & Wilkinson 1981),
Burkina Faso, Chad & Cameroon (Urban et al . 1986) and is quite common,
but very local, in Mali (Lamarche 1980) and in the Parc W in Niger
(Koster & Grettenberger 1983) - both being areas of more concentrated
ornithological activity. Recent records are from Central African
Republic (Carroll 1988), Nigeria (Giraudoux et al. 1988) and Côte
d'Ivoire (Thiollay 1985). Most of these records are of observations of
single birds.
Until now the Lesser Jacana has been recorded in Cote d'Ivoire only by
Champroux & Ledant (cited in Thiollay 1985) near Abidjan (March- July) and
Bouaki. Thiollay (1985) conjectures that it breeds in Cote d'Ivoire.
The first evidence of the Lesser Jacana in northern Cote d'Ivoire was a
single bird observed and photographed (Plate 1) by us on 24 Apr 1987 on
Comae river , 4 km upstream of Kafolo (9°38N, 4°20W). This is only 4 km
(Photo:' J. Spath)
92
SHORT NOTES
MAL IMBUS 12
from the northern boundary of the Comoé National Park, the avifauna of
which is very well documented (FGU Kronberg 1980) and excludes the Lesser
Jacana. In this area the African Jacana is common, frequenting rivers
and ponds. According to Lamarche (1980) those habitats inhabited by this
species should also be adequate for the Lesser Jacana. In southern
Africa Tarboton & Fry (1986) found both species coexisting in the same
habitat types and often in close proximity, but preferring different
degrees of vegetation cover for nesting.
The observation date was at the end of the dry season when the Comoé had
reached its lowest level, with all waterbound organisms concentrated in
large stagnant pools, several hundred metres long. In no season is this
section of the Comoé covered with the floating vegetation preferred by
jacanids (cf. Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1970, Tarboton & Fry 1986),
although this kind of vegetation is very frequent in temporary ponds
which form during the rainy season in the savanna. Nearly all of these
pools dry up during the dry season.
The Lesser Jacana was observed for more than one hour in the early
afternoon, strolling and searching for food along the sandy shoreline but
also on clay, on driftwood, and in shallow water. This is contrary to
the descriptions of Urban et al . (1986), according to which the species
generally avoids shorelines with hard substrates, but this may only apply
for the breeding season. M. capensis evidently shows a certain
plasticity, changing to vagrant behaviour and leaving its usual habitat
temporarily, when the water recedes (Urban et al . 1986). This behaviour
could represent an adaptation and survival strategy of populations living
in the northern parts of the species' distribution. Our observations of
African Jacana in the dry season on the river Comoé show that this
species is also capable of temporarily changing its habitat.
After feeding, the Lesser Jacana basked in the sun and preened. Feeding
(Plate 1) and preening behaviour was in correspondence with the
observations of Tarboton & Fry (1986). M. capensis is said to be very
shy, allowing the observer to approach only up to 100 m (Urban et al .
1986). In our case, however, the bird allowed a careful approach up to
4 m.
References :
CARROLL, R.W. (1988) Birds of the Central African Republic. Mal imbus 10:
177-200.
F.G.U. KRONBERG (Ed.) (1980) Liste des Oiseaux du Parc National de la
Comoé, Cote d'ivoire. Kronberg & Abidjan.
FRY, C.H. (1983) The jacanid radius and Microparra, a neotenic genus.
Gerfaut 73: 173-184.
GIRAUDOUX, P., DEGAUQUIER, R., JONES, P. J., WEIGEL, J. & ISENMANN, P.
(1988) Avifaune du Niger: état des connaissances en 1986. Ma limbus
10: 1-140.
KOSTER, S. H. & GRETTENBERGER, J. F. (1983) A preliminary survey of birds
in W Park, Niger. Ma limbus 5s 62-72.
LAMARCHE, B. (1980) Liste commentée des oiseaux du Mali (Part I).
Ma limbus 2: 121-158.
MACKWORTH-PRAED, C.W. & GRANT, C.H. (1970) Birds of West Central and
Western Africa, Vol. I. Longman, London.
1991
SHORT NOTES
93
SHARLAND, R.E. & WILKINSON , R. (1981) The birds of Kano State, Nigeria.
Malimbus 3s 7-30.
TARBOTON , W.R. & FRY, C.H. (1986) Breeding and other behaviour of the
Lesser Jacana. Ostrich 57: 233-243.
THIOLLAY, J.M. (1985) The birds of Ivory Coast: status and distribution.
Ma limbus 7: 1-59.
URBAN, E.K., FRY, C.H. & KEITH, S. (Eds) (1986) The Birds of Africa, Vol.
2. Academic Press, London.
Received 29 Mar 1990 Ingetraut Kühn 6 Jochen Spath
Revised 18 Sep 1990 University of Würzburg, Okologische Station
Fabrikschleichach D-8602 Rauhenebrach, Germany
UNE OBSERVATION D'AVRIL DU TOURNEPIERRE A COLLIER ( AREN ARIA INTERPRES)
A L'INTERIEUR DU ZAIRE
Lors d' une verification des observations du Tournepierre à collier
Arenaria interpres au Zaire je suis tombe sur une observation par Hostie
(1955) le 6 avril 1950 au bord de la Sankuru pris de Lusambo (4°58S,
23®25E), province du Kasai. Jusqu* I prisent c'est la seule mention
d'avril pour l'intérieur du Zaïre et elle n'a pas été citée par Lippens &
Wille (1976) ni par Dowsett (1980). Les observations de printemps à
l'intérieur de l'Afrique sont tris rares: je connais une seule: 1 mai
1965 â Malamfatori, lac Tchad (A. J. Hopson _in Elgood 1982).
Les autres cas au Zaïre ont été notés entre septembre et févriers 6 nov
1937 Zobia, territoire Bambesa, 1 spécimen (Schouteden 1949); 16 nov 1945
île Bula-Bemba pris de Banana, 1 spécimen (Schouteden 1949); 14 oct 1959
embouchure de la Rwindi, Parc National Albert, 1 ex. (Verschuren 1966);
27 sep 1960 plusieurs individus à l'embouchure de 1* Ishasha, Parc
National Albert (Verschuren 1966); 10 et 15 février au lac Edward un
groupe de 6 ex. (Lippens s Wille 1976); entre septembre 1981 et février
1982 une vingtaine d'individus à Katanda, posés sur le dos des
hippopotames (Mertens 1986 ) .
Bibliographie:
DOWSETT, R. J. ( 1980 ) The migration of coastal waders from the Palaearctic
across Africa. Gerfaut 70: 3-35.
ELGOOD, J.H. (1982) Birds of Nigeria. British Ornithologists' Union,
London .
HOSTIE, P. (1955 ) Trekvogels aan de Sankuru. Wielewaal 21 : 98-101 .
LIPPENS, L. & WILLE, H. (1976) Les oiseaux du Zaire. Tielt, Lannoo.
MERTENS, H. ( 1986) Contribution à 1' ornithologie du Parc national des
Virungas. Gerfaut 76: 213-219.
SCHOUTEDEN, H. ( 1949) De Vogels van Belgisch Congo en van Ruanda-Urundi .
Ann. Mus. Congo Belge. Sér. 4, 2(2).
VERSCHUREN, J. ( 1966 ) Exploration du Parc National Albert . Contribution
à l'ornithologie. Fasc. 2 . Institut des Parcs nationaux du Congo ,
Bruxelles.
Reçu 1 8 septembre 1990 Paul Herroelen
Leuvensesteenweg 347, B- 3 370 Boutersem, Belgique
94
BOOK REVIEWS
MAEIMBUS 12
KAGORO FOREST CONSERVATION STUDY by R. Wilkinson and R. Beecroft (1988),
81 pp. Study Report 28, ICBP, Cambridge. £5 from ICBP, 32 Cambridge
Road, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 OPJ, U.K.
'Kagoro with its hills and forests is am area of outstanding importance
with regard to its scenic beauty and wealth of habitats, plants and
animals. The whole area deserves protection so that it may be enjoyed by
future generations' . The authors of this report have made a good case to
support these conclusions.
The Kagoro area lies on the south-west edge of the Jos plateau and is
subject to heavy rainfall from the moisture- laden winds that rise up
rapidly upon hitting the plateau's escarpment. In some of the valleys
are small patches of moist forests that are relics of more extensive
forests that apparently covered the region 8,000 years ago. An
expedition to the area in 1987, endorsed by ICBP and the Nigerian
conservation Foundation, undertook aerial and ground surveys for birds
and other fauna and flora, undertook mist-netting and attempted to
document the types of disturbance that occur in the forest.
The moist forests of this area are unique in Nigeria because of their
position so far north in the savannah zone. They contain two species of
bird found nowhere else in the country; the Red- capped Robin Chat
Cossypha natalensis and the Purple- throated Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga
guiscalina, and one species only recently found also in south-west
Nigeria: the Yellow- throated Green Cuckoo Chrysococcyx f lavigularis .
There are populations of a whole suite of interesting forest birds, from
Giant Plantain-eater Corytheola cristata to Bluebill Spermophaga
haematina . In addition to collating all available information on birds,
the expedition documented large troops of Mona Monkeys Cercopithecus
mona, produced an inventory of the flora and collated unpublished
observations on the unique Charaxid butterfly fauna. Details are
included in the 16 Appendices, including one on a visit to the White
Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus colony at Wase Rock.
The forests are being whittled away at an alarming rate by forestry,
wood-cutting, cultivation, hunting, livestock grazing, fire and palm-wine
tapping. There is sufficient legislation to control these activities
but, as so often, there are insufficient funds to enforce them. Some of
the forest reserves (none of this area is a wildlife reserve) in Kagoro
are not properly demarcated and a major moist forest lies unprotected
between two of the reserves. The authors call for immediate steps to
remedy the situation and propose that a buffer zone of savannah be placed
around the forests and the riverine corridors that connect them. There
would then be considerable scope for allowing the sustainable use of the
forests as reservoirs of the edible and medicinal plants that are so
interestingly documented by H.D. Onyeachusin in Appendix 5 of the
report.
I sincerely hope that rapid action will be taken by Nigeria in response
to this excellent report before the forests disappear.
Humphrey Q.P . Crick
1991
BOOK REVIEWS
95
THE IMPACT OF PESTICIDES ON PALEARCTIC MIGRATORY BIRDS IN THE WESTERN
SAHEL by W.c. Mullié, P.J. Verwey, A.G. Berends, J.W. Ewerts , F. Sène and
J.H. Koeman (1989), 78 pp. Study Report 36» IGBP, Cambridge. £5 de 1'
ICBP, 32 Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 OPJ, Angleterre.
Si la degradation (par aménagements agricoles et pesticides) des
quartiers d'hivernage des migrateurs paléarctiques est souvent invoquée
pour expliquer le déclin de certaines especes, on dispose encore de tris
peu de données précises sur l'emploi des pesticides et leurs effets sur
l'environnement sahélien. Cette étude est une contribution importante
dans le domaine du développement agricole et de ses répercussions sur
l'avifaune au Sahel occidental. Elle comporte les chapitres suivants, et
une bibliographie assez pauvre.
1. Utilisation (en 1985) des pesticides par l'agriculture au Sénégal,
en Mauritanie, en Gambie, en Guinée-Bissau, au Mali et au Burkina Faso.
Les auteurs citent le tonnage utilisé pour chaque pesticide et par
culture (insecticides, fongicides, herbicides, avicides et raticides).
Ils notent que l'usage de ces produits est en augmentation rapide depuis
ces vingt dernières années. Peu utilisés encore par les paysans
eux-memes, les produits sont distribués par des organismes d'encadrement.
A titre d'indication, la Compagnie sucrière sénégalaise emploie quelque
11 herbicides différents!
2» Le Sahel occidental comme habitat pour les migrateurs paléarctiques.
Sont très importants, particulièrement pour la sauvagine, le delta du
fleuve Sénégal, le delta central du Niger, les rizières et les vasières
intertidales de Guinée Bissau. On sait que les rizières, en général,
sont un site d'hivernage très recherché, que le delta du Sénégal a déjà,
du fait d'amenagements, beaucoup perdu de sa capacité d'accueil, en
particulier pour Llmosa limosa, Philomachus pugnax et Tringa glareola,
que les rizières de ce delta sont toutes désormais traitées.
Contrairement a l'énoncé des auteurs, le lac de Guier n'est plus intact
mais a été amputé de toutes ses vasières annexes par endiguement.
3. Les oiseaux des rizières du delta sénégalais et l'influence des
pratiques culturales. Les auteurs ont dénombré les oiseaux sur des
rizières traitées et sur des rizières- témoins y ils ont également effectué
des prélèvements pour mesurer la densité des invertébrés aquatiques sur
champs traités et non traités. Les champs traités attirent moins
d'oiseaux.
4. L'impact du Carbofuran sur les invertébrés aquatique. Du fait de sa
toxicité élévée, ce produit employé contre les 'borers' du riz, fut
l'objet par les auteurs d'essais sur plusieurs familles d' insectes î les
larves d'Ephemeroptera se révélèrent les plus sensibles; poissons et
batraciens sont aussi très sensibles et des Plocêidés et Motacilla qui
avaient ingéré des granulés moururent.
5. Conséquences écologiques éventuelles de l'aménagement du bassin du
Sénégal. Afin d'augmenter la production alimentaire, le Sénégal (bientôt
sans doute aussi le Mali) devront utiliser davantage de pesticides dont
l'usage sera souvent laissé à la discrétion des cultivateurs. Les
rizières deviendront peu à peu impropres à accueillir les limicoles -
96
BOOK REVIEWS
MALIMBUS 12
sans parler du danger direct de certains produits. Les auteurs
recommandent d'accroître la surface des réserves, puisque les limicoles
n'y trouvent pas toute la nourriture necessaire et de surveiller l'usage
des pesticides.
Nous recommandons vivement cette publication.
G. J. Morel
ISLAND AFRICA by Jonathan Kingdon, 1990. 287 pp. Collins, London. £25,
ISBN 0-00-219443-0.
I could recommend this book for the colour plates alone; the 30 or so
intricate paintings illustrate a variety of biological points in Jonathan
Kingdon' s typically colourful, if somewhat stylised way. Many of his
sketches, as well as numerous maps and diagrams also accompany the text.
The book is subtitled 'The evolution of Africa's rare plants and animals'
and it begins with a chapter on endemism; centres of endemism are the
'islands' of the title whose rare flora and fauna concern most of the
book, which deals with sub- saharan Africa. For West Africa, there are
chapters on Upper Guinea and the Bight of Biafra; the Gulf of Guinea
Islands, montane Camerqon and some rivers and lakes are also described in
detail. Examples from a wide range of flora and fauna are included and
there are therefore many fascinating accounts outside the ornithologist's
immediate sphere of interest. Gaining more than a tantalising
introduction is, however, difficult; there is no bibliography and the few
brief references in the text are so short as to be untraceable. Another
major criticism is that none of the plates or text diagrams is numbered
and they are rarely directly referred to in the text; the colour plates,
in particular, lose much of their point unless one does as I did, and
looked through them several times in advance.
There are a number of small errors, particularly in nomenclature, and I
doubt the value of Appendix 1, of 'Typical endemic species...' for
various regions, as the lists are so incomplete. However, the overall
wealth of fascinating detail which Kingdon has assembled makes up for
this. His concluding chapters describe man-made islands - reserves and
national parks - and develop the theme of conservation. It is hoped that
this book will bring home to a wide audience the importance of ensuring
the preservation of Africa's rarer and lesser- known wildlife and plants.
Hilary Tye
1991
NOTICES
97
THE WAOS MEETING IN NORMANDY 19-20 MAY 1990
Twenty members and their guests began the meeting with breakfast in the
Hôtel de la Gare, La Haye- du-Puits in the Département de la Manche,
Normandy on Saturday 19 May 1990. Old friendships were renewed and the
common experience of West Africa ensured an immediate rapport .
Following breakfast there was a meeting of the Council, whilst the rest
of the party made a field visit to the Marais de la Sensuriire, a valley
bog north of the town. After lunch the General Meeting was held in the
Mairie, in a room kindly put at the disposal of the Society by the Mayor
of La Haye- du-Puits . Proceedings of the meeting are published below.
Later in the afternoon there was time to visit a variety of habitats,
including a salt marsh and the coast. The long walk across the sands
stimulated appetites for the excellent 'small chop' and dinner on the
return to the hotel. For the final session of the day members of the
Groupe Ornithologique Normand gave an illustrated talk on the Corncrake
(Crex crex) and Gary Allport described a recent expedition ’ to Sierra
Leone. Despite the rain on Sunday morning members made another field
visit to the Marais de la Madeleine and other marshlands but the four
members who mislaid the main party were consoled by a sighting of two
White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) in a hayfield beside the road. The
meeting closed after lunch with the departure of members and guests.
Our thanks are due to members of the G.O.N who kindly led the field
visits and we are particularly grateful to their President, M. Gerard
Debout, who had suggested the place for the meeting and who had helped to
make many of the arrangements for it.
WAOS members at the Normandy meeting
(Photo: M. Germain)
98
NOTICES
MALIMBUS 12
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE WEST AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
HELD ON SATURDAY 19 MAY 1990 in the Mairie, La Haye-du-Puits , Departement
de la Manche at 2 pm.
Present: G.J. Morel President
J.H. Elgood Vice President
A. Tye Editor
A. Moore Secretary to the Council
Sixteen members and guests
Apologies: R. Sharland and P. Jones.
The President opened the meeting by expressing the Society's thanks to
the Maire and Council of La Haye-du-Puits for the use of the room for
meetings to be held over the weekend. He introduced M. Debout, President
of Groupe Ornithologique Normand who had been so helpful in making the
arrangements for the meeting. M. Debout told the meeting a little about
the GON and the ornithology of Normandy, and the local places of interest
to visit. The President welcomed particularly the U.K. members who had
travelled to Normandy and gave an outline of the programme for the
two-day visit.
The Vice-president gave a history of the Society beginning with the
formation of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society in 1964 leading to the
expansion of 1979 with the formation of WAOS and the publication of
Malimbus , an almost unique bi-lingual publication. He welcomed the new
editor. Dr A. Tye.
The Editor said that the new issue of Malimbus , Vol. 11 (2) had been
distributed. The six month delay in publication was expected to be
reduced by the production of two further issues this year. The cost of
production is about £1,000 each issue. Members whose subscriptions are
not paid up have been deleted from the membership list. The Council had
agreed to supply Malimbus , free of charge, to one Corporate Member in
each West African country, where necessary. The Editor asked for
critiques and suggestions for future issues of the journal. The
President said he hoped that the problems of translation had been solved.
I. Collins offered help with faxing material between U.K. and France,
free of charge, in order to facilitate translations. The Editor said he
would consider the possibility of accepting contributions for Malimbus on
IBM compatible disc.
In the absence of the Treasurer the Secretary presented the accounts.
Most members had accepted the increased rate of subscription, and the
Treasurer is contacting those have not paid the increase or had not
renewed their subscription. The Society has £3,190 in Deposit and
Current Accounts, and there is an additional sum which the President has
collected in France. The total will cover the cost of producing Volume 11
(2) and Volume 12 (1 and 2), probably about £3,000 including postage.
The Treasurer is hoping to recruit people who are working in West Africa
on ICBP and RSPB projects. There has been some success in selling
back-numbers. Three back- numbers were out of print, and the last eight
numbers of the NOS Bulletin are also offered for sale. The 1989 accounts
would be published in the journal
1991
NOTICES
99
The President asked for comments and suggestions on what the Society
could do to further the interests of ornithology in West Africa. The
Editor hoped he would receive more analytical papers in addition to
checklist style material for Ma limbus. Mr Allport said that the IWRB was
undertaking an annual waterfowl census in West Africa and asked if a
notice calling for volunteers could be printed in the journal. He had
brought papers with him on methods of survey. It was suggested that a
Bird Atlas might be prepared by people working in West Africa, but it was
felt that the records would not reflect the true bird population. It was
felt that the Society could not undertake any long term major projects as
there were no expatriate ornithologists living in West Africa over a long
enough time, very few indigenous ornithologists and no funds available.
Suggestions for low cost projects were; preparation of a list of birds
needing special attention (noting particularly call, distribution,
species and subspecies) (see Chappuis, this issue. Ed. ), publication of an
endangered species list. Further suggestions were the encouragement of
short term casual visitors to contribute their bird observations by
advertising in publications such as 8 British Birds” and 'Birdwatching'
and offering to advise such travellers.
Because of shortage of time it was proposed to defer questions until
after dinner at the hotel. The meeting closed at 3.55 pm.
A.M. Moore
BRITISH BIRDWATCHING FAIR 1990
This event took place at Rutland Water, U.K. at the beginning of
September 1990. It had the general aim of raising money for the Goto
Doffana National Park in Spain, and was an opportunity for ornithological
and conservation societies, booksellers, equipment manufacturers and
artists to display their wares. About 9000 people visited the three-day
fair. WAOS ran a stall which attracted a surprising and gratifying
degree of interest. Ten new members were enrolled, and a raffle for a
volume of The Birds of Africa was won by Mr M.H. Rogers of Wantage. The
organisers intend the Fair to become an annual event and Council hopes to
run a WAOS stall at the next one, which should be held in September 1991.
Alan Tye
BACK NUMBERS OF MALIMBUS/NUMEROS ANCIENS DE MALIMBUS
New members of W.A.O.S have been offered sets of Back Numbers at a
special price. Some of these were out of print so we have been supplying
back numbers of the Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists’ Society
instead. We have now had the missing numbers reprinted and can supply
all back numbers at the rates given on the inside front cover.
Des series de Numéros anciens ont lté proposés aux nouveaux membres de la
SOOA pour un prix spécial. Certains de ces numéros étant épuises nous
avons fourni à la place d'anciens numéros du Bulletin of the Nigerian
Ornithologists' Society. Ces numéros manquants ont été réimprimés et
nous pouvons désormais livrer tous les numéros anciens au tarif indiqué
au verso de la page de couverture.
R.E. Sharland
100
NOTICES
MALIMBUS 12
THE ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF PALAE ARCTIC- AFRICAN MIGRANTS
A major international conference organised by the British Ornithologists'
Union with the British Trust for Ornithology and International Council
for Bird Preservation. Structured around the annual cycle of passerine
and near-passerine migrant birds, there are still some spaces for
contributed papers or posters. The meeting will be held at the
University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K. from 4-7 April 1991. For
details contact the Administrative Secretary, BOU, c/o British Museum
(Natural History), Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 6AP, England.
Important colloque international organise par The British Ornithologists*
Union avec The British Trust for Ornithology et l'International Council
for Bird Preservation (CIPO) . Ce colloque est centre sur le cycle annuel
des migrateurs passereaux et assimilés et il reste de la place pour
quelques communications publiables ou 'posters'. La réunion se tiendra à
l'université d'East Anglia, Norwich, R. U. du 4 au 7 Avril 1991. Se
renseigner auprès de 1* Administrative Secretary, BOU, c/o British Museum
(Natural History), Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 6AP, Angleterre.
PROPOSED MEETING OF W.A.O.S., SPRING 1992
Following the successful meeting held in Normandy, in spring 1990
(described in this issue), it is hoped to hold such meetings biennially.
Given the current distribution of the membership and the difficulty of
arranging a meeting within West Africa, it is proposed to hold the next
one in the south of England in the spring of 1992. A 2-3 day meeting is
envisaged, with field trips and a programme of illustrated talks but
allowing plenty of time for informal discussion. Poster contributions
will also be accepted. It would greatly help the organisation of the
meeting, if members who might attend would make their interest known to a
member of Council. Offers of contributions to the programme should be
discussed with a member of Council in the first instance.
ASSEMBLEE DE LA S. O. O. A. PROPOSEE POUR LE PRINTEMPS DE 1992
Vu le succès de la réunion qui eut lieu en Normandie au printemps de 1990
(relatée dans ce numéro) nous espérons en faire une tous les deux ans.
Etant donné la répartition actuelle des membres et la difficulté
d'organiser une réunion dans l'Ouest africain, nous proposons que la
prochaine assemblée ait lieu dans le sud de l'Angleterre au printemps de
1992. Nous pensons à une réunion de 2 à 3 jours avec sorties sur le
terrain et un programme de causeries illustrées, tout en gardant assez de
temps pour de libres discussions. Les 'posters' seront aussi acceptés.
Cela aiderait beaucoup l'organisation de la réunion si les personnes
susceptibles d'y assister voulaient bien en faire part à un membre du
Conseil. Les causeries ou autres documents sont à soumettre en premier
lieu à un membre du Conseil.
Alan Tye
MEETING OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' CLUB, 9 APRIL 1991
A meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club will be held at Imperial
College, London on Tuesday, 9 April 1991 at 1815 for 1900 hours. After
dinner. Dr C.H. Fry will speak on ' Alcedinidae* . All WAOS members are
very welcome to attend, with their guests. Members who are not also
members of the BOC should contact the Secretary, Mrs A.M. Moore (address
inside front cover), for further details, as early as possible.
Alan Tye
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
MALIMBUS publishes Papers, Short Notes, Reviews, Letters and illustrative
material covering the field of West African ornithology. Short Notes are
articles not exceeding 1000 words (including references) or two printed
pages in length* Written contributions are accepted in English or
French. Material published elsewhere, in whole or in part, will not
normally be accepted.
Contributions, of which two copies are required, should be typed on one
side of the paper with double spacing and wide margins. Dot-matrix
printouts will only be accepted if they are of * near- letter’ quality.
Wherever possible, manuscripts should first have been submitted to at
least one ornithologist or biologist for critical scrutiny. Manuscripts
of Papers will be sent for critical review to at least one relevant
authority.
CONVENTIONS regarding tabular material, numbers, metric units, references
etc. may be found in this issue and should be carefully adhered to. Note
particularly the following: dates should be in the form 2 Feb 1990 but
months standing alone in text may be written in full; times of day are
written 06.45, 17.32; coordinates are written in the form 7°46N, 16°04E;
numbers up to ten are written in full, except when followed by
abbreviated units (eg 6m), numbers from 11 upwards are written in figures
except at the beginning of a sentence. All REFERENCES mentioned in the
article, and only such, must be entered into the bibliography.
Articles containing lengthy SPECIES-LISTS should be in tabular format (eg
Malimbus 1: 22-28 or 1: 49-54) or of the textual format of Ma limbus 1:
36-42 (for short texts per species) or Ma limbus 1: 90-109 (for longer
texts). The sequence in species lists should follow Brown et al. (1982),
Urban et al. (1986) and Fry et al. (1988) The Birds of Africa, vols 1-3
(Academic Press, London) for non-passerines and White (1960-1963 Revised
Checklists of African Passerine Birds), Hall & Moreau (1970 An Atlas of
Spéciation in African Passerine Birds. British Museum (Natural History) ,
London) or Serle & Morel (1975 A Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa.
Collins, London) for passerines, unless reasons for departure from these
authorities are stated in the article. SCIENTIFIC NAMES must (and
vernacular names should preferably) follow these authorities unless good
reasons for using alternative names are stated.
FIGURES should be prepared as for final reproduction, allowing for 20-50%
reduction, using Indian ink on good quality white paper or heavy tracing,
and adhesive transfer lettering as appropriate. When designing Figures,
pay attention to the page-shape of Malimbus .
All Papers (but not Short Notes) should include a SUMMARY, not exceeding
5% of the total length. The Summary should include brief reference to
the major findings of the Paper and not simply review what was done.
Summaries will be published in both English and French and will be
translated as appropriate by the Editorial Board.
Twenty OFFPRINTS of Papers (but not of Short Notes) will be sent to
single or senior authors, gratis. Offprints will not be stapled, bound
or covered; they are merely cut irom copies of the journal.
MALIMBUS 12(2) January 1991
CONTENTS
Additions and annotations to the avifauna of Côte d'Ivoire
R. Demey & L.D.C. Fishpool
Espèces ouest-africaines dont le repertoire reste à préciser
C. Chappuis
SHORT NOTES: :;
A new record of the Lesser Jacana Microparra capensls
in northern Côte d'Ivoire, with notes on habitat.
I. Kühn & J. Spath
Une observation d'avril du Tournepierre à collier
Arenaria interpres à 1' intérieure du Zaïre
P. Herroelen
BOOK REVIEWS:
Wilkinson 6 Beecroft: Kagoro Forest Conservation Study. /
Mullié et al. : The Impact of Pesticides on Palaearctic
Migratory Birds in the Western Sahel. / Kingdon: Island
Africa.
NOTICES:
WAOS meeting, Normandy, May 1990. / Birdwatching Fair
1990. / Back numbers of Malimbus. / Conference: Ecology
and Conservation of Palaearctic-African Migrants. /
Proposed WAOS meeting. Spring 1992. / British
Ornithologists' Club meeting, 9 April 1991.
61-86
87-90
91-93
93
94-96
97-100
S.L
ÿltri
$ ï/tds
MALIMBUS
Journal of the West African Ornithological Society
Revue de la Société d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain
VOLUME 13 Number 1 August 1991
ISSN 0331-3689
West African Ornithological Society
Société d’ Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain
Council 1991:
President: Dr Gérard J. Morel
Vice-president: John H. Elgood
Treasurer and Membership Secretary: Robert E. Sharland
Secretary to Council: Mrs Amberley Moore
Managing Editor: Dr Alan Tye
Editorial Board: Dr R. Armstrong, Dr P.G. Connors, G.D. Field, Prof. C.H. Fry, Dr
P J. Jones, Dr G J. Morel, H. Tye, Dr R. Wilkinson
Correspondence should be addressed as follows:
- to the Managing Editor (IUCN, P.O. Box 1, Amani, via Muheza, Tanga,
Tanzania) regarding contributions to Malimbus , including incidental black-and
white photographs or line drawings.
- to the Treasurer (1 Fisher’s Heron, East Mills, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6
2JR, U.K.) regarding subscriptions, financial matters and back numbers.
- to the President (1 Route de Sallenelles, Bréville-les-Monts, 14860 Ranville,
France) regarding policy 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 its journal Malimbus (formerly the
Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists’ Society).
Applications for membership are welcomed. Annual membership subscription rates
are £10.00 for Ordinary Members and £25.00 for Corporate Members. Payments may
be made in £ Sterling to the Treasurer, or in French Francs to the President. Members
receive Malimbus by surface mail free of charge. Extra charges are required for air
mail (enquire of the Treasurer for rates).
Back Numbers: Vols 11-14 (1975-78) of the Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists’
Society (the same format as Malimbus) are available at £2 per issue or £15 a set.
Malimbus Vols 1-9 are available at £3 per issue (£6 per volume) and Vol. 10 onwards
at £5 per issue (£10 per volume). A full set of Vols 1-12 may be purchased at the
special price of £75. Postage and packing is £1 per volume, but on orders of five or
more volumes is only £5. Please enclose payment with your order, which should be
addressed to the Treasurer.
Distribution: G.D. Field
Emblem design: Philip Blasdale
1991
1
Editorial
Some members will already be aware of the change bf^editoriâi, wjpeh took
place in May. However, I should like to draw the attentiolî^oCaü-.poieï^Tauthors to
the new address. As from now, all correspondence regarding contributions to
Malimbus should be sent to me at:
P.O. Box 1, Amani, via Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania.
The move to Tanzania is partly responsible for the delay in the production of this
issue, which I had hoped to have ready in June. However, a more serious reason for the
delay has been a shortage of submitted manuscripts. Readers will have noticed that the
last issue (Vol. 12 Part 2) was rather thinner than has been usual in recent years, as is
the current issue. A shortage of material was partly caused by the rapid production of
three issues, in order to remove the production delays, which had grown to about a
year. This issue is almost on schedule but there is very little material in the pipeline for
the next one. I have noted recently a worrying trend for authors of papers on West
African ornithology to send their work to other journals. One can appreciate a desire of
authors to have their work distributed among several different journals but I would
suggest that the proper place for most such papers is the journal of the West African
Ornithological Society. It is encouraging to see some analytical papers appearing
recently in Malimbus but, if the journal is to maintain or (preferably) improve its
standards and reputation, then authors should not shy from submitting their better
work. Malimbus has become an internationally-recognised publication, abstracted by
services in Europe and North America. We are currently in the process of expanding
our coverage by abstracting journals, including the possibility of listings in the Science
Citation Index. We hope that this may encourage professional ornithologists to
consider Malimbus more favourably as an outlet for their research.
Finally, with my move back to Africa, I have had to shed some of the duties of
Malimbus production. I should like to thank Geoffrey Field for taking on the
unrewarding tasks of distribution and overseeing the final printing of Malimbus. This
also seems an appropriate place to thank Ian Collins for his help with the production of
membership recruitment leaflets.
Editorial
Certains adheerents auront déjà appris le changement d’ address du rédacteur qui eut
lieu en mai. Je voudrais cependant attirer l’attention de tous les auteurs à venir sur cette
nouvelle adresse. Dès maintenant, toute correspondance concernant les publications
dans Malimbus devra m’être adressée à:
P.O. Box 1, Amani, via Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania.
Mon départ en Tanzanie est en partie responsable du retard de parution de ce
numéro que j’espérais achever pour juin. Cependant, la cause plus profonde de ce
2
Editorial
Malimbus 13
retard fut le manque d’articles. Les lecteurs auront remarqué que le dernier numéro
(Vol. 12, numeero 2) était plutôt moins épais que la moyenne de ces dernières années,
ainsi que cette livraison. Le manque d’articles était dû en partie à parution rapide de
trois numéros, destinée à réduire le retard de publication qui atteignait presque une
année. Ce numéro-ci sort presque à la date prévue mais nous avons très peu d’articles
pour le prochain. J’ai récemment remarqué une tendance inquiétante des auteurs
d’articles d’ornithologie ouest-africaine à confier leurs traveaus à d’autres revues. On
comprend que les auteurs désirent répartir leurs publications dans plusieurs revues
mais permettez-moi de suggérer que la meilleure place pour la plupart de ces articles
serait dans la revue de la Société d’Omithologie de l’Ouest Africain. Il est
encourageant que des articles de réflexion aient paru récemment dans Malimbus mais,
pour que la revue maintienne ou (mieux) élève son niveau et sa réputation, les auteurs
ne devraient pas répugner à lui confier leurs meilleurs travaux. La revue Malimbus est
reconnue internationalement et est analysée par les rédactions d’Europe et d’Amérique
du Nord. Nous nous proposons d’étendre notre compétence à l’analyse de revues, y
compris la possibilité de listages dans le Science Citation Index. Cela, espérons -le,
encouragera peut-être les ornithologistes professionels à regarder davantage Malimbus
comme moyen d’expression de leurs recherches.
Enfin, avec mon retour en Afrique, j’ai dû renoncer à certains aspects de l’édition
de Malimbus. Je voudrais remercier Geoffrey Field de se charger de la tâche ingrate
des expéditions et de la surveillance de l’impression de Malimbus. Ce me semble aussi
l’occasion de remercier Ian Collins pour son aide dans la réalisation des prospectus
pour le recrutement de nouveaux adhérents.
Alan Tye
1991
3
The occurrence of both species of ‘Lesser Golden Plover’
and of Nearctic scolopacids in Côte d’Ivoire
by L. D. C. Fishpool1 & Ron Demey2
!NRI, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, U.K.
2c/o Grote Peperstraat 3, B-9100, Sint Niklaas Belgium
Received 16 January 1991
Revised 12 April 1991
Summary
The West African records of the three species of golden plover are reviewed
and, while there are no satisfactory observations of the Greater Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricaria south of Senegambia, recent evidence from Côte d’Ivoire is
presented showing that both the American Golden Plover P. dominica and the
Pacific Golden Plover P. fulva occur in the region. Details of three other
Nearctic wader species seen in Côte d’Ivoire are given.
Résumé
Sont examinés les données sur les trois espèces de pluviers dorés dans l’Ouest
africain; alors qu’il n’y avait aucune observation satisfaisante du Pluvier doré
Pluvialis apricaria au sud de la Sénégambie, on a de Côte d’ivoire des preuves
récentes de la présence du Pluvier d’Amérique P. dominica ainsi que du
Pluvier fauve {P. fulva ) dans la région. Sont donnés aussi des détails sur trois
autres espèces de limicoles néarctiques vus en Côte d’ivoire.
Introduction
The status of the golden plovers in West Africa is confused. Up to three species may
occur; the Greater Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria and the dimorphic Lesser Golden
Plover Pluvialis dominica , which is increasingly treated as comprising two separate
species, with the largely Asiatic- Australasian Pluvialis fulva (Pacific Golden Plover)
split from the Nearctic-Neo tropical P. dominica ( sensu stricto ) or American Golden
Plover, (Connors 1983, BOURC 1986, Hay man et al. 1986, Knox 1987). The aim of
this paper is to review briefly the West African records of all three species and to
present new evidence, from Côte d’Ivoire, that both fulva and dominica occur in the
region. The occurrence of apricaria , south of Senegambia, remains however question-
able. The opportunity is also taken to give details of three other Nearctic wader species
seen in Côte d’Ivoire.
4
L. D. C. Fishpool & Ron Demey
Malimbus 13
Previous ‘Golden Plover’ Records in West Africa
Within Africa P. apricaria is considered to be a common Palaearctic visitor to the
coasts of North and Northwest Africa, where its distribution is centred on Morocco to
Libya, but it also occurs more rarely eastwards to Egypt and as far south as
Senegambia (Urban in Urban et al. 1986). The same author, who accords the two
forms of the Lesser Golden Plover subspecific rank only, treats P. fulva as a winter
visitor in small numbers to the littoral of the eastern half of Africa, locally common in
coastal Ethiopia and Somalia but with records from Sudan to the Cape, inland to
eastern Zaire and Burundi. Pluvialis dominica is considered a vagrant to the coasts of
W and NW Africa, with a scattering of records from Senegambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana
and Nigeria.
The West African literature suggests however that all three species can occur in the
region (although in all but the most recent papers fulva is treated as a subspecies of
dominica ), but the situation is confused because of the difficulties of identifying
golden plovers in the field. Thus Elgood (1982), Grimes (1987) and Gatter (1988),
treating records from Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia respectively, ‘lumped’ apricaria and
dominica ( sensu lato) together for this reason. Of the records for Nigeria, Elgood
(1982), states that they were thought to be of fulva, although it is not clear whether one
or more individuals were involved, whereas of the four sightings from Ghana, one was
considered by its discoverers to have been fulva , one a probable dominica , a third a
putative apricaria , while the fourth was not identified (Grimes 1987). Gatter (1988)
simply cites the record(s) from Liberia as ‘apricaria/ dominica without comment. The
single observation from Sierra Leone was thought to have been of dominica ( sensu
stricto) (Field 1974) and one from the Gambia has been accepted as such (Gore 1990).
There is also one record of a ‘Lesser Golden Plover’ ( dominica , sensu lato) from Togo,
given by Cheke et al. (1986). Two individuals were seen on Sâo Tomé in 1954, of
which one was collected and initially identified as apricaria (Frade 1958, 1959). This
record was subsequently transferred to ‘ dominica ' (Frade & Vieira dos Santos 1977).
Significantly, P. fulva has recently been found to winter regularly in small numbers
at a coastal locality in Gabon (Christy 1990). There is also one record of a probable
dominica from this site (Alexander-Marrack in prep.).
Browne (1982) considered apricaria to be a scarce winter visitor to northwest
Mauritania and north Senegal and a scarce passage migrant to southwest Mauritania
while Gore (1990) lists one definite and five probable records of it from The Gambia.
The occurrence of apricaria south of Senegambia remains however unproven. Urban
(in Urban et al. 1986) cites the (since rescinded) record from Sâo Tomé, which had
previously been accepted by Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1970) and Curry-Lindahl
(1981). Others have been more cautious — Moreau (1972) stated that apricaria was
“listed as having occurred on Sâo Tomé in 1954”; Hayman et al. (1986), evidently
unaware of Frade & Vieira dos Santos (1977), considered this sighting probably to
have been of either dominica or fulva. Curry-Lindahl 1981) also mentions, without
comment, another record of apricaria , from Gabon. This presumably refers to an old
1991
Lesser golden plovers in Côte d’Ivoire
5
record stemming from collections made by du Chaillu, which Bannerman (1931) and
Malbrant & Maclatchy (1949), amongst others, have treated as dubious.
New Records of ‘Golden Plovers’ from Côte d’Ivoire
While therefore, there do not seem to be any convincing records of apricaria south of
Senegambia, we have further evidence that both species of ‘Lesser Golden Plover’ do
occur in West Africa. We have four records from Côte d’Ivoire (Demey & Fishpool
1991), two of which showed, on the basis of recent refinements in field identification
criteria (Hay man et al. 1986, Dunn et al. 1987), characters typical of fulva, whilst the
others were identifiable as dominica. The details are given below.
Pluvialis dominica
The first individual was found at Dabou ricefields (05°20'N, 04°23W), in southern
Côte d’Ivoire, on 17 Dec 1988. It was watched for 75 minutes foraging on a bare rice
paddy. It was confiding, allowing approach to within 15 m, giving excellent views
through a telescope up to x40 magnification. The bird was seen on four more occasions
between 20 Dec 1988 and 15 Jan 1989 in the same locality; what was almost certainly
the same individual (on the strength of plumage details) was seen subsequently on six
dates between 22 Feb and 2 Mar 1989 at Adiopodoumé (OS^N, 04°13W), some 25
km to the east. Here it roosted in the company of Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula
and Common Pratincoles Glareola pratincola on a ploughed field.
On 14 Oct 1989 another dominica was seen at the same site at Dabou, where it was
watched for 30 minutes under excellent conditions, foraging with a number of Wood
Sandpipers Tringa glareola. The bird was not seen again. The identification of both
individuals was based upon the following salient characters.
First impressions were of birds of unrelieved cold grey tones. On each the crown
was very dark grey-brown with paler streaking and the supercilium was bright white
and conspicuous. The ear-coverts, throat and neck were a paler grey-brown. The
wings, scapulars and mantle were dark grey-brown with numerous pale off-white
spots; the hindneck and nape were paler than crown and mantle. On the first individual
the mantle was conspicuously darker than the scapulars and wings, forming an almost
black patch or saddle in the middle of the back. The underparts of the first bird were
grey-brown from chin to lower breast with some mottling, while the belly was paler
with fainter mottling, suggestive of a first-winter bird. On the second, the upper breast
was greyish and streaked while the lower breast and belly were mainly white with
irregular black spotting, from which the bird was inferred to be an adult. The wings
were long, projecting well beyond the tail tip when folded. The primary projection
beyond the folded tertials was also long and on the first individual four primaries could
clearly be seen surpassing the tertials. The underwing coverts and axillaries were grey-
buff.
6
L. D. C. Fishpool & Ron Demey
Malimbus 13
Pluvialis fulva
The first bird was seen on 5 Dec 1987, also at Dabou ricefields on a bare rice paddy. It
too accompanied a group of Wood Sandpipers and was watched for 40 minutes
through a x20 telescope at distances of 50-100 m. The bird was not seen subsequently
despite repeated visits. The second individual was found on 23 Oct 1989 at
Adiopodoumé, on the bare soil of a newly planted cassava field, where it had joined a
number of Ringed Plovers. It was seen there on a further six occasions, the last being
on 8 Nov 1989. Excellent telescope views were obtained, the bird being approached to
within 20 m in a car. The characters which led to these birds being identified as P. fulva
are as follows:
Both birds were striking in their warm buff-brown colouring about head, neck and
upperparts. Most of the ear-coverts, throat, foreneck and sides of neck were pale buff.
The crown was brighter buff streaked darker, capping a distinct buffy-white
supercilium. The upperparts were warm buff with brighter yellow spotting; on the
second individual the feathers of the wings and scapulars were seen to be dark-centred
with bright golden-buff fringes. On the first individual the breast and flanks were also
golden-buff with faint darkish mottling, suggesting the bird was possibly in its first
winter. The second showed a marked transition between the warm buff of the foreneck
and the colder brownish white tones of the upper breast, whilst the lower breast and
belly bore numerous heavy black spots, indicative of an adult.
On both birds the folded wings were only slightly longer than the tail. It proved
impossible, despite good views of the second individual, to determine the number of
primaries projecting beyond the tertials; however the tertials were long and the primary
projection distinctly short. In flight, both birds were seen to have buff or buff- grey
underwing coverts and axillaries.
Other Nearctic waders in Côte d’Ivoire
In addition to the American Golden Plovers, we recorded four other Nearctic waders in
Côte d’Ivoire (Demey & Fishpool 1991). These included one White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis , two observations of Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos and
one of a Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor. Brief details are given below but full
descriptions have been deposited with the Editor of Malimbus.
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
At Dabou ricefields on 29 Oct 1988 a calidrid was seen, intermediate in size between
adjacent Little Stint Calidris minuta and Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea.
Thereafter it was seen on three further dates, the last being 5 Nov 1988. It was
identified as a White-rumped Sandpiper on the basis of the following details: the
folded wings were long, clearly surpassing the tail tip; the upper tail and rump were
white like that of Curlew Sandpiper, and contrasted strongly with the dark tail tip; the
bill was shortish, slightly decurved, thicker at the base which was dirty orange-pink.
1991
Lesser golden plovers in Côte d’Ivoire
7
the distal portion dark. Warm brown colouring in feathers of crown and scapulars
suggested the bird was a juvenile.
This is the second record of White-rumped Sandpiper from West Africa; the first
being from Ghana (Grimes 1987). Urban et al. (1986) mention three records from
southern Africa during 1979-1983, since which time there have been two more
(Sinclair et al. 1986, Hockey et al 1988).
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
The first of two individuals was seen on 13 Feb 1988 at Dabou ricefields, on bare mud
bordering a drying pool, feeding in loose association with a number of Wood
Sandpiper and Ringed Plover. The second was also found at Dabou ricefields, on 21
Oct 1989; it was seen on two further dates, the last being 28 Oct 1989.
The identification of these birds are Pectoral Sandpipers was based upon the
following; the neck and upper breast were brown-buff streaked darker, abruptly
demarcated from the lower breast and belly, which were white; the bill was medium-
short and slightly decurved, orange-brown at the slightly thickened base, darker at the
tip; the legs were yellow-brown. In body size they approached the accompanying
Wood Sandpipers but were shorter legged. White and buffish fringes to the feathers of
the mantle and scapulars suggested both birds were in first-winter plumage.
There are apparently three other records of Pectoral Sandpiper from West Africa.
For one of these there is a specimen, collected by Frade (1958, 1959) on Principe; this
record is cited by Mack worth- Praed & Grant (1970), although it is not mentioned by
Urban et al. (1986). There are also records from Gabon (Alexander-M arrack in prep.)
and Ghana (Hedenstrôm et al. 1990). The latter record could conceivably refer to the
same individual as the first of ours. Their sighting, also of a juvenile bird, pre-dates
ours by just over a month and was made at a site c. 450 km to the east.
Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
On 8 Apr 1989 at Grand Bass am (05°14'N, 03°45W) by the mouth of the Comoé river
a medium-sized, active, small-headed, long-legged wader was seen. It was almost
entirely grey above except for a white rump and supercilium, and all white below;
there was a small grey smudge in front of the eye, which continued as a line behind the
eye and curved downwards onto the neck. The bill was long, dark and thin with a
downcurved tip. The legs were relatively long and conspicuous dirty yellow-orange.
The bird was seen on a sand bar where it was feeding in a characteristic manner with
its bill held horizontally, a few centimetres above the surface, actively catching
(presumably) arthropods close to ground level/
From the above the bird was identified as a Wilson’s Phalarope; what was almost
certainly this bird had previously been seen on 11 Mar 1989 at this locality, but at a
distance too great to permit identification.
This appears to be the first record of this species from West Africa. Urban et al.
(1986) cite three records from Morocco and five from southern Africa, where in recent
years it has been recorded annually (Sinclair et al. 1986, 1987, Hockey et al. 1988,
1990).
8
L. D. C. Fishpool & Ron Demey
Malimbus 13
Discussion
The presence of Ne arc tic charadriiforms on the seaboard of West Africa is not
unexpected given the frequency of vagrancy of a number of such species to western
Europe. Indeed it is likely that, as Field (1974) pointed out, and as the other examples
given above suggest, the relative paucity of records is indicative more of an absence of
observers than of birds. The occurrence of eastern Palaearctic migrant waders in West
Africa seems at first less plausible, which, coupled with the difficulties of field
separation of ‘Lesser Golden Plovers’, means that claims of sightings of fulva from the
region are likely to be treated with scepticism. The recent discovery of a small
wintering population of fulva in Gabon (Christy 1990) however, indicates the presence
of the species in western Africa on at least a semi-regular basis; vagrancy (and perhaps
regular overwintering) elsewhere in the region may hence be expected.
It may also be relevant that other waders with wintering distributions in Africa
similar, or at least broadly comparable, to that of P. fulva have been recorded from the
region. Thus, there are records of the Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii
from Nigeria (Elgood 1982), Senegal (Condamin 1987), Liberia (Gatter 1988), Gabon
(Christy 1990) and Côte d’Ivoire (Demey & Fishpool 1991); of Caspian Plover
Charadrius asiaticus from Nigeria, Cameroon and Mali (Urban et al. 1986) with a
record given as C. mongolus/ asiaticus from Liberia (Gatter 1988). There is also a
number of records of Terek Sandpiper Xenus cine re us from West Africa: Senegambia,
Mali, Togo, Nigeria and Chad (Urban et al. 1986), Ghana (Grimes 1087), and Côte
d’Ivoire (Thiollay 1985).
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to P. Alexander-M arrack, Dr P. G. Connors, Dr R. Armstrong and Dr
A. Tye for comments on an earlier version of this paper. Dr Tye is also to be thanked
for providing the reference to the Sao Tomé records.
References
Alexander-M arrack, P. (in prep.) Nearctic vagrants in the Cap Lopez area, Gabon.
Bannerman, D.A. (1931) The Birds of Tropical West Africa, Vol. 2. Crown Agents,
London.
British Ornithologists’ Union Record Committee (BOURC) (1986) Records Com-
mittee: twelfth report (April 1986). Ibis 128: 601-603.
Browne, P.W.P. (1982) Palaearctic birds wintering in southwest Mauritania: species,
distribution and population estimates. Malimbus 4: 69-92.
Cheke, R.A., Walsh, J.F. & Sow ah, S.A. (1986) Records of birds seen in the Republic
of Togo during 1984-1986. Malimbus 8: 51-71.
1991
Lesser golden plovers in Côte d’Ivoire
9
Christy, P. (1990) New records of Palaearctic migrants in Gabon. Malimbus 11: 117—
122.
Condamen, M. (1987) Le pluvier de Leschenault ( Charadrius leschenaultii), espèce
nouvelle pour le Sénégal. Malimbus 9: 131-132.
Connors, P.G. (1983) Taxonomy, distribution and evolution of Golden Plovers
( Pluvialis dominica and Pluvialis fulva). Auk 100: 607-620.
Curry -Lindahl, K. (1981) Bird Migration in Africa. Academie Press, London.
Demey, R. & Fishpool, L.D.C. (1991) Additions and annotations to the avifauna of
Côte d’Ivoire. Malimbus 12: 61-86.
Dunn, J.L., Morlan, J. & Wilds, C.P. (1987) Field identification of forms of the
Lesser Golden Plover. Pp 28-33 in P.J. Grant, J.T.R. Sharrock, S. Tagar & H.
Shirihai (eds), International Bird Identification. Proceedings of the 4th Interna-
tional Identification Meeting Eilat lst-8th November 1986. International
Bird watching Centre Eilat, Israel.
Elgood, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. Check-list No. 4. British Ornithologists’
Union, London.
Field, G.D. (1974) Nearctic waders in Sierra Leone — Lesser Golden Plover and Buff-
breasted Sandpiper. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 94: 76-78.
Frade, F. (1958) Aves e maimferos das Ilhas de Sâo Tomé e do Principe. Notas de
sistematica e de protecçâo à fauna. Conf. Intern. Africanist as Ocidentais 6 Sessâo,
Lisboa. Vol. 4: 137-149.
Frade, F. (1959) New records of non-resident birds and notes on some resident ones in
Sâo Tomé and Principe islands. Proc. I Pan-Afr. Orn. Congr. ( Ostrich Suppl. 3):
317-320.
Frade, F. & Vieira dos Santos, J. (1977) Aves de Sâo Tomé e Principe (colecçâo do
Centro de Zoologia). Garcia de Orta, sér. Zool. 6: 3-18.
Gatter, W. (1988) The birds of Liberia (West Africa). A preliminary list with status
and open questions. Verh. Orn. Ges. Bayern 24: 689-723.
Gore, M.E.J. (1990) Birds of The Gambia. Check-list No. 3, 2nd Ed. British Orni-
thologists’ Union, London.
Grimes, L.G. (1987) The Birds of Ghana. Check-list No. 9. British Ornithologists’
Union, London.
Hayman, P., Marchant, J. & Prater, T. (1986) Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to
the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London.
Hedenstrôm, A., Bensch, S., Hasselquist, D. & Ottoson, U. (1990) Observations of
Palaearctic migrants rare to Ghana. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 110: 194-197.
Hockey, P.A.R. & The Rarities Committee (1988) Rare birds in Southern Africa,
1986-87: fifth report of the SAOS Rarities Committee. Bokmakierie 40: 111-114.
10
L. D. C. Fishpool & Ron Demey
Malimbus 13
Hockey, P.A.R. & The Rarities Committee (1990) Rare birds in Southern Africa,
1988: sixth report of the S AOS Rarities Committee. Birding in South Africa 42: 34-
38.
Knox, A. (1987) Taxonomic status of ‘Lesser Golden Plovers’. Brit. Birds 80: 482-
487.
Mackworth-Praed, C.W. & Grant, C.H.B. (1970) Birds of West Central and Western
Africa , vol. 1, Non-Passerines. Longmans, London.
Malbrant & Maclatchy (1949) Faune de l’Equateur Africain Français , Tome 1.
Lechevalier, Paris.
Moreau, R. (1972) The P alaearctic-African Bird Migration Systems. Academie Press,
London.
Sinclair, J.C. & The Rarities Committee (1986) SAOS Rarities Committee’s Annual
Report. Bokmakierie 38: 20-25.
Sinclair, J.C. & The Rarities Committee (1987) SAOS Rarities Committee’s Annual
Report. Bokmakierie 39: 12-14.
Thiollay, J.M. (1985) The birds of Ivory Coast. Malimbus 7: 1-59.
Urban, E.K., Fry, C.H. & Keith, S. (1986) The Birds of Africa, vol. 2. Academic
Press, London.
il
Ipiliîlli
tiiiiii?
& * i m
:: : .§ f - ;■
- 'x"'
Sanderling — Bécasseau sanderling —Calidris alba
(Photo: Michael Gore)
1991
11
Birds of the Korup National Park, Cameroon
by Jane Thomas
Publications Department, College of Forestry
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA
Received 20 December 1990
Revised 29 April 1991
Summary
Birds were studied in Cameroon’s Korup National Park during 1978 to 1989.
A list of 128 bird species is given, most of which occur in lowland rain forest.
One “threatened” species, Picathartes oreas , occurs within the park, along
with eleven others listed in the Red Data Book as candidate threatened species.
Résumé
Les oiseaux ont été étudiés de 1978 à 1989 au Cameroun dans le Korup
National Park. La liste comporte 128 espèces aviennes dont la plupart se
rencontrent en forêt pluviale de plaine. Une espèce menacée, Picathartes
oreas , se trouve dans le parc ainsi que onze autres qui figurent au Livre Rouge
comme espèces potentiellement menacées.
Introduction
This paper provides an annotated list of the birds of the Korup National Park, in
Cameroon’s Southwest Province. Many of Korup ’s birds may also occur in neighbour-
ing southeast Nigeria, where the Oban rainforest park was recently created. Korup,
which contains the Red-headed Rockfowl Picathartes oreas and seven species of
threatened mammals, is listed as a key forest for threatened birds (Collar & Stuart
1988).
I carried out ornithological research in Korup between 1978 and 1989 (December to
July). I netted birds at eight sites within a 5 x 12 km area in the southern part of the
Korup National Park (Fig. 1), resulting in 1106 captures (51 species). These netting
records are briefly mentioned in the following list as an indication of abundance and
distribution. Bird frequencies within 51 mixed-species flocks are also included.
There is currently no complete list of Korup birds. In the 1980s a draft management
plan (Gartlan, undated) listed birds of the Korup area, but did not specify occurrence
within the park itself. Stuart (1986) lists birds seen in Korup during a short ICBP visit
to our camp in 1984. Serle (1950, 1954, 1965) gives occasional records for the Korup
area. The following list is made up of my own records, with reference to other
published accounts where applicable.
12
Jane Thomas
Malimbus 13
The Study Area
The Korup National Park (126,000 ha) and much of the surrounding area supports
species-rich moist evergreen forest (Thomas 1986). The climate is strongly two-
seasonal with up to 5000 mm of rain in a year. Rains begin in February and March,
with the wettest months being August and September. The rains end in October or
November; December and January are usually dry.
Within the park, there are several widespread habitat types. Flat, well-drained areas
predominate in the south and east, where the forest canopy is more or less continuous.
In the north and west there are many steep forested hillsides and ridges. At scattered
locations, gneiss boulders up to 10 m diameter provide caves and crevices for nesting
birds and rock-dwelling animals.
Small shaded streams occur throughout the forest, as well as larger unshaded rivers
with pools, rocky and stony areas, and rapids. The upper Ndian River forms the
southeast border of the park. Some low-lying parts of the forest are swampy for much
of the year and are characterised by climbing palms and big -leafed herbaceous plants.
1991
Birds of Korup N.P.
13
Openings in the canopy exist where large trees have fallen, but they seldom exceed
0.2 ha in area. Other open sites include inselbergs and bare rock faces, river banks with
scrub, and abandoned fields or village sites. These small openings add some diversity
to the forest avifauna, but the park lacks extensive areas of cultivation and second-
growth scrub. The tallest hill in Korup (1079 m) is not high enough to support montane
vegetation.
Results and Discussion
The list below includes 128 birds species from the Korup National Park. Because I did
not spend time in the canopy, many canopy species and birds flying above the forest
were undoubtedly missed. I also spent relatively little time along the Ndian River
bordering the park. Most species listed are therefore birds of the understorey.
The park is rich in lowland forest species. One species, Picathartes oreas , is listed
as “Rare” in the Red Data Book (Collar & Stuart 1985). Another eleven Korup species
were considered as candidates for threatened status (Appendix G, Collar & Stuart
1985) and are starred in the list below.
No montane birds were found in southern Korup, but it is possible that a few of the
montane species found in other parts of southwest Cameroon (Stuart 1986) may occur
elsewhere within the park.
Migrants are rarely found within the closed-canopy forest, although locally migrant
bee-eaters ( Merops muelleri and M. albicollis ) were seen along forest streams.
Palaearctic migrant Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos occur along the. Ndian
River.
Species list
Taxonomy for non-passerines is based on Birds of Africa (Brown et al. 1982; Urban et
al. 1986; Fry et al. 1988), and passerines follow Hall & Moreau (1970). All birds listed
occur within the park, but habitats outside the park are also mentioned. Status and
habitats are listed below:
** Threatened species (Collar & Stuart 1985)
* Candidate threatened species (Collar & Stuart 1985)
F Forest
FS Forest streams
FC Forest canopy
A Aerial/above forest
R River
E Edge, cultivation, open habitats
S (end of entry) — Species also recorded by ICBP expedition in February /March
1984 (Stuart 1986).
14
Jane Thomas
Malimbus 13
The number of birds captured per site is given as an indication of abundance; the
number indicates the total number of individuals captured at each site (eight sites, 3-21
days per netting session, 1-5 netting sessions per site).
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis FS. Seen occasionally in forest pools.
*White-crested Tiger Heron Tigriornis leucolophus FS. Occasionally seen above
small forest streams. S.
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta R. Along river bordering park.
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus R. Along river by park.
Hadada Bostrychia hagedash R, E. Along river.
Hartlaub’s Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii R, FS. Munaya River, April, and sometimes
along Ndian River.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus R. Seen on Ndian River by park, December to February.
Also recorded from the Korup/Ndian area by Serle (1965).
Black Kite Milvus migrans R, A, E. Common in secondary areas and over forest,
October to June.
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis R, E, A. Common in secondary areas and
along river; also seen over forest. S.
Harrier Hawk Polyboroides typus R, E, FC. Common in plantations and along river;
also over forest. S.
African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro F.
♦Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus F. Low in forest.
Crowned Hawk-Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus R, F. S.
♦Black Guineafowl Agelastes niger F. Groups are fairly common; for example, seen
three times during one week in April 1989. S
Nkulengu Rail Himantornis haematopus F. Frequently heard before dawn. S.
White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra F. Present in swampy areas, but usually
difficult to see; occasionally heard. S.
Finfoot Podica senegalensis R. In Ndian River and larger forest streams.
Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis R. By river bordering park.
White-collared Pratincole Glareola nuchalis R. On banks in river bordering park.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos R. River bordering park, common Decem-
ber-April.
Green Pigeon Treron calva R, FC, A. Forest canopy and over river. S.
Blue-headed Wood-Dove Turtur brehmeri F. Common, sometimes on the ground.
Often heard. Captured at 1 of 8 netting sites. S.
1991
Birds of Korup N.P.
15
African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus R, FC, A, E. Flocks of parrots flew over the
palm plantations each day, returning to forest at night. S.
Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata R, F, E. Frequently heard and sometimes
seen. S.
Verreaux’s Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus F. Frequently heard, sometimes seen. S.
Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius F, E.
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx olivinus F.
Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus FC, E. A canopy species, rarely seen, but
frequently heard both in the forest and in secondary areas. S.
Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas FC, E. S.
Yellowbill Ceuthmochares aereus F. A skulking bird, difficult to see in the foliage
under the upper canopy, but often revealed by its call. Present in at least 10% of mixed-
species flocks. S.
Black-throated Coucal Centropus leucogaster F. Seen in swampy part of the forest,
January 1979. S.
♦Sjostedt’s Barred Owlet Glaucidium sjoestedti F. Rarely seen; flies during day,
sometimes calls at night. One caught in June 1978, despite Louette’s (1981) comment
that this species is found only east of Mount Cameroon. S.
Sjostedt’s Barred Owlet Glaucidium sjoestedti
(Photo: Jane Thomas)
16
Jane Thomas
Malimbus 13
African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii F, E. Frequently heard at night. S.
Sabine’s Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini R, A. River by forest, January.
Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus R, A. River by forest, May.
*Bare-cheeked Trogon Apaloderma aequatoriale F. Uncommon. Seen twice at mid-
height.
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia F. Present as high as forest canopy,
where occasionally seen and more often heard. Caught twice. S.
Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica F. Difficult to see; caught once in
forest, probably fairly widespread. S.
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis R, E. Common in secondary areas and
along river bordering forest.
Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx lecontei F. Seldom seen, but locally common in the forest;
caught at three netting sites, 1-3 birds/site.
Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx picta R, E. Common.
White-bellied Kingfisher Corythornis leucogaster F. Very common, but not easily
seen; captured at all eight netting sites, 1-6 birds/site. Often captured away from water.
S.
Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristata R, E. Along Ndian River by park. Noted
by Serle (1950) in the Ndian/Korup area.
Shining-blue Kingfisher Alcedo quadribrachys FS, R. Regularly found along me-
dium-sized streams; captured at five netting sites, 1-2 birds/site. S.
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima R, FS. Along Ndian River, and sometimes
over larger forest rivers.
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis R. Along Ndian River, February-April.
Blue -headed Bee-eater Merops muelleri FS. Seen over a small stream, early January
1979. S.
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis F, FC. Seen once, captured once. S.
White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis FS, E. Seen over a forest stream, late
January 1979; according to Louette (1981), this species spends October-June in the
southern forested part of Cameroon and the wet season in the North.
White-crested Hornbill Tockus albocristatus F. Occasionally seen and more often
heard; often with monkey groups. S.
Black Dwarf Hornbill Tockus hartlaubi F, FC. Seen several times in the canopy. S.
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Tockus camurus F. Fairly common; usually in groups,
often detected by call. Present in about 10% of mixed-species flocks. S.
Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus R, F, FC, E. Particularly common in secondary areas;
also high in forest.
1991
Birds of Korup N.P.
17
Piping Hornbill Ceratogymna fistulator R, F, FC, E. Common and noisy, especially
in canopy; also secondary areas. S.
Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata R, F, FC. Common and noisy above
forest; less common on river than C. elata. S.
♦Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata R, F, FC, E. Common and noisy
above the forest and along rivers. S.
Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus F, E. Caught at two netting sites;
more often heard. Also seen in cultivated areas. S.
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus F, FC. Common. S
Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui F, FC. Difficult to see, but frequently
heard. S.
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta F. A flock seen once.
Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus F. Difficult to see; captured at two sites, 1-
2 birds/site.
Buff-spotted Woodpecker Campethera nivosa F. Caught at two sites (1-3 birds/site)
and seen with several flocks. S.
Yellow-crested Woodpecker Dendropicos xantholophus F.
Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis F. Not common, but easy to see
when it calls. Seen at least twice with mixed-species flocks.
White-throated Blue Swallow Hirundo nigrita R. Ndian River, January; found only
along rivers.
European Swallow Hirundo rustica R, A, E. Common near Mundemba; over river
near park December to April.
Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara FS. Near streams, especially in hilly areas. Caught
once. S.
Blue Cuckoo-shrike Coracina azurea F, FC. Secretive; hides in thick leaves in the
lower part of the canopy. Probably fairly common, but seldom seen. Noted in about
15% of mixed-species flocks. S.
Little Greenbul Andropadus virens R, F, E. A noisy bird found throughout the forest,
particularly in swampy areas; also in small patches of forest in secondary areas or
along rivers. Not seen in mixed-species flocks. Captured at four netting sites, 2-8
birds/site.
Cameroon Sombre Greenbul A ndropadus curvirostris F. Uncommon, although dif-
ficult to distinguish from A. virens in the field. Captured once.
Yellow-whiskered Greenbul Andropadus latirostris F. Very common; found from
low to mid-level. Captured at all eight netting locations, 2-8 birds/site. Not associated
with mixed-species flocks. S.
Bearded Greenbul Criniger barbatus F. Caught at five sites, 1-2 birds/site, but many
18
Jane Thomas
Malimbus 13
stay above net level. Found with about 13% of mixed-species flocks. Birds were the
white-throated race C. b. chloronatus found further east, not the Nigerian race
ansorgeanus that Louette (1981) suggested might occur in western Cameroon. S.
White-bearded Greenbul Criniger calurus F. Common and noisy, from ground to
lower canopy level; usually several together. Found with about 40% of mixed-species
flocks. Caught at five netting sites, 1-2 birds/site. S (C. calurus/ ndussimensis).
Bristlebill Bleda syndactyla F. A large and noisy greenbul of the lower forest, not
always easy to see. Found with about 10% of mixed-species flocks, and caught at
seven netting sites, usually 1-4 birds/site. One recaptured eight years after ringing.
Follows ant swarms. S.
Bristlebill Bleda syndactyla
(Photo: Jane Thomas)
Green-tailed Bristlebill Bleda eximia F. A common and noisy greenbul of the forest
floor and lower vegetation. Captured at seven netting sites (1-14 birds/site) and present
with more than 25% of mixed-species flocks. Follows ant swarms. S.
Sjostedt’s Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon clamans F. Seen in forest January 1979.
S.
Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus R, F, FC. Seen occasionally, always travelling in
fast-moving single-species flocks; it has the habit of repeatedly lifting one wing as it
sits high in a tree. S.
1991
Birds of Korup N.P.
19
Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinm F. Very common; recorded in more than
55% of mixed-species flocks, typically many individuals per flock. Usually flies above
the level of mist nets, but caught at all eight netting sites, 1-7 birds/site (numbers may
include some P xavieri females). S (P. icterinus/xavieri)
Xavier’s- Greenbul Phyllastrephus xavieri F. Difficult to distinguish from P. icterinus
in the field. The significantly larger P. xavieri males, however, were captured at four
netting sites (1-3 birds/site).
Nicator Nicator chloris F. A noisy bird of mid-forest to canopy; not especially
common. Noted in about 6% of mixed species flocks.
Sabine’s Puff-back Shrike Dryoscopus sabini F, FC.
Brown-chested Alethe Ale the poliocephala F. Common, though not as abundant as A.
diademata , and much quieter; usually in pairs. Found with about 8% of mixed-species
flocks, and captured at all netting sites, 2-5 birds/site. Follows ants. S.
Fire-crest Alethe Alethe diademata F. Abundant, captured at every netting site.
Thirty-seven individuals were caught at one site during March 1979 (elsewhere: 1-14
birds/site). Birds were recaptured as far as 750 m from their original capture point, and
up to eight years after ringing. Found with about 17% of mixed-species flocks. Follows
ants. S.
Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax F. Abundant, but often hard to see; stays near
the ground and can sometimes be detected by its call. Captured at all netting sites, 1-9
birds/site. Usually recaptured within 200 m of original capture site. S.
White-tailed Ant-thrush Neocossyphus poensis F. An ant-following species, caught
at seven netting sites (1-4 birds/site). Does not normally travel with mixed-species
flocks. 8.
Fraser’s Rusty Thrush Neocossyphus fraseri F. Seen once and captured once. S.
♦Grey Ground-Thrush Turdus princei F. Rare; caught once and never otherwise
seen. Louette (1981) lists specimens from only four locations in eastern Cameroon.
♦Black-eared Ground-Thrush Turdus cameronensis F. Rare; caught twice and
never otherwise seen; 2-3 birds/site. Louette (1981) lists five previous Cameroon
records, including Serle’s (1950) record for the Ndian/Korup area.
Pale-breasted Akalat Trichastoma rufipennis F. A very common bird of the forest
floor; stays hidden in the undergrowth, but very noisy. Always in groups of about 3-5
birds. Captured at all eight sites, 1-11 birds/site. The same individuals were often
recaptured together after a year or more, and always within the same small area.
Sometimes found with mixed-species flocks, but probably only while the flock passes
through its territory.
Blackcap Akalat Trichastoma c le aver i F. A forest-floor species, fairly common, but
difficult to see. Captured at all eight sites, 1-3 birds/site. Travels alone or in twos or
threes; sometimes found with mixed-species flocks. S.
20
Jane Thomas
Malimbus 13
Black-eared Ground-Thrush T urdus cameronensis
(Photo: Jane Thomas)
** Red-headed Rockfowl Picathartes oreas F. A rare bird of rocky areas within the
forest. Seen twice. In February 1979, seen hopping through trees with a mixed-species
flock, making a call like the sound of heavy furniture being pushed across a gritty
wooden floor. Other observers have also noted it occasionally (D. Thomas, F. Namata,
pers. comm.). Classified as “Rare” by Collar & Stuart (1985).
Black-capped Apalis Apalis nigriceps F. Seen with a flock in the northern part of the
study area, April 1979.
Yellow Longbill Macrosphenus flavicans F. Captured once.
Green Hylia Hylia prasina F. Common; seldom seen but easily detectable by its call.
Found in 31% of mixed-species flocks. Usually within thick vegetation of lower
canopy, but captured at five netting sites (1-5 birds/site). S.
♦Olivaceous Flycatcher Muscicapa olivascens F. Three birds captured at one site.
Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini FS, R. Along Ndian River and larger
forest streams. S.
Yellow-footed Flycatcher Muscicapa sethsmithi FS. Always on low-hanging lianes
over medium-small forest streams; fairly common. Captured once.
Dusky Blue Flycatcher Muscicapa comitata F. Captured once.
Forest Flycatcher Fraseria ocreata F. Seen with flocks in northern part of study area;
not common. S.
1991
Birds of Korup N.P.
21
White-browed Forest Flycatcher Fraseria cinerascens FS, R. Fairly uncommon in
Korup; always found low over streams. Captured at four netting sites, 1-2 birds/site. S.
Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye Platysteira concreta F. Stays below about 10 m; captured
at four netting sites, always 2-3 birds together.
Chestnut Wattle-eye Platysteira castanea F. Noisy; seen with about 25% of mixed-
species flocks. Usually above net level, but captured at three sites (2-4 birds/site). S.
♦White-spotted Wattle-eye Platysteira tonsa F, FC. Seen occasionally; probably
limited to canopy and lower canopy, as it is in the Douala-Edea forest (pers. obs.). S.
Dusky Crested Flycatcher Trochocercus nigromitratus F. Captured at three netting
sites (1-2 birds/site). S.
Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher Trochocercus nitens F. Captured once and seen
twice with mixed- species flocks. S.
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer F. Abundant; easy to see
and hear. Always perched at about 10-15 m, though sometimes captured when it
swooped lower; captured at five sites, usually 1 bird/site. Seen with more than 35% of
mixed-species flocks, although it may only have joined while the flock passed through
its territory. The southern Korup birds all seem to be the grey -backed type shown as T.
r. neumanni in Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1973). S.
Collared Sunbird Anthreptes collaris FC, E. Seen several times.
Brown Sunbird Anthreptes gabonicus R. Seen along the Ndian River, December and
January. Probably also in the canopy, as it is in the Douala-Edea Reserve (pers. obs.).
Fraser’s Scarlet-tufted Sunbird Anthreptes fraseri F, FC. Very common, found in
47% of mixed-species flocks, usually in large numbers in the lower part of the canopy.
Usually stays higher than nets, but caught at three netting sites (1-4 birds/site), usually
with other flock species. S.
Olive-bellied Sunbird Nectarinia chloropygia F, FC, E. Present in larger forest gaps
and in the canopy; common in open areas outside the park.
Bates’s Sunbird Nectarinia batesi F. Uncommon; difficult to see.
Olive Sunbird Nectarinia olivacea F. Very common, from low to mid-level. Found
with about 15% of flocks. Captured at all eight netting sites (1-20 birds/site). S.
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Nectarinia cyanolaema F, FC. Captured once in for-
est. S.
Vieillot’s Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus R, F, E. Found in single-species flocks
in the forest; also along river and in cultivated areas outside the park.
♦Rachel’s Malimbe Malimbus racheliae F. Middle to upper forest, usually in twos or
threes. Found with 43% of mixed-species flocks, and captured once. S.
Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis F. Seen above a clearing, northern part
of study area, April 1979.
22
Jane Thomas
Malimbus 13
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus F. With a mixed-species flock in northern
part of study area; in the Douala-Edea Reserve this species is more common than in
Korup, and tends to be in swampy areas (pers. obs.)- S.
Blue-billed Malimbe Malimbus nitens F. Mid-level forest, found with almost 20% of
flocks. Nests frequently seen hanging low over small forest streams. Captured at four
sites, 1 bird/site, but others visible nearby. S.
Flower-pecker Weaver-Finch Parmoptila woodhousei F. Present with about 8% of
flocks and captured at three sites (1-3 birds/site). S.
Grey-crowned Negro-Finch Nigrita canicapilla F, E. Mid-forest and lower canopy.
Chestnut-breasted Negro-Finch Nigrita bicolor F, E. Canopy or forest gaps; cap-
tured at three sites, 1-2 birds/site.
Bluebill Spermophaga haematina F. Captured once in a swampy area of the forest.
Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris FC. Several seen feeding high in a forest
Daniella tree, February 1979.
Velvet-mantled Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis F. Seen several times. S.
Shining Drongo Dicrurus atripennis F. The most common forest drongo; a noisy
flock member, present in more than a quarter of mixed-species flocks. Usually perched
on a liane about 10-20 m up. Captured once. S.
Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii F. Seen several times, but much less com-
mon than D. atripennis.
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrhynchus F. A very common bird of the lower
canopy, seldom seen. Heard with about 13% of mixed-species flocks, but heard just as
often alone. S.
Pied Crow Corvus albus R, E. Common in plantation and open areas; also over river
by park.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported in part by National Geographic Society grant 3567-87 to
Duncan Thomas. This is contribution 6 of the Missouri Botanical Garden/
M.E.S.R.E.S. biological inventory of Korup and Southwest Cameroon.
References
Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. & Newman, K. (1982) The Birds of Africa. Vol. 1. Aca-
demic Press, London.
Collar, NJ. & Stuart, S.N. (1985) Threatened Birds of Africa and Related Islands.
International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge.
1991
Birds of Korup N.P.
23
Collar, N.J. & Stuart, S.N. (1988) Key Forests for Threatened Birds in Africa.
Monograph 3, International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge.
Fry, C.H., Keith, S. & Urban, E.K. (1988) The Birds of Africa. Vol. 3. Academic
Press, London.
Gartlan, J.S. (Undated) The Korup Regional Management Plan (Draft). Publication
25-106 of the Wisconsin Regional Primate Center, Madison, Wisconsin.
Hall, B.P. & Moreau, R.E. (1970) An Atlas of Spéciation in African Passerine Birds.
British Museum (Nat. Hist.), London.
Louette, M. (1981). The birds of Cameroon. An annotated checklist. Verhandl. Kon.
Acad. We tens h. Lett. Sc hone Kunst. Belg. 43: 1-163.
Mackworth-Praed, C.W. & Grant, C.H.B. (1970-73) Birds of West Central and
Western Africa. Vols 1 & 2. Longmans, London.
Serle, W. (1950) A contribution to the ornithology of the British Cameroons. Ibis 92:
343-376,602-638.
Serle, W. (1954) A second contribution to the ornithology of the British Cameroons.
Ibis 96: 47-80.
Serle, W. (1965) A third contribution to the ornithology of the British Cameroons. Ibis
107: 60-94,230-246.
Stuart, S.N. (Ed.) (1986) Conservation of Cameroon Montane Forests. International
Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge.
Thomas, D.W. (1986) The botanical uniqueness of Korup and its implications for
ecological research. Pp. 36-40 in S. Gartlan & H. Macleod (eds). Proceedings of
the Workshop on Korup National Park. World Wildlife Fund and International Un-
ion for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, project 3206, Gland,
Switzerland.
Urban, E.K., Fry, C.H. & Keith, S. (1986) The Birds of Africa. Vol. 2. Academic
Press, London.
24
Malimbus 13
Notes on the Breeding Biology, Food and Weight of the
Singing Bush-Lark Mirafra javanica in Northern Senegal
by Wim C. Mullié1 and James O. Keith2
Emergency Centre for Locust Operations, Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy
(Present address: National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection,
RIVM-BFT, room A2005, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands)
2Intemational Programs Research Section, Denver Wildlife Research Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 25266, Denver, CO 80225-0266, U.S.A.
Received 12 January 1991
Revised 4 May 1991
Summary
Studies on the breeding and feeding biology of the Singing Bush-Lark Mirafra
javanica were conducted during 1989 in the savannah of the NW Ferlo,
northern Senegal. Average densities of singing males were 22-37 birds per 10
ha at the start of the rainy season. Singing activity decreased rapidly after the
rains stopped, and most birds had left the area when the study was terminated
at the beginning of October. The probability of a single egg laid producing a
fledgling was calculated to be 7-13% (max. 19%); most losses were caused by
predation during incubation. Grasshoppers, mainly early instars of the locally
abundant Oedaleus senegalensis, were the main prey item present in gizzards;
both in adults and in recently fledged birds they made up 87-88% of the food
items tallied. Weights of males and females were not significantly different.
Résumé
Des recherches sur l’écologie de l’Alouette chanteuse Mirafra javanica ont été
menées au cours de 1989 dans la savane au nord-ouest de Ferlo, dans le nord
du Sénégal. Au début de la saison des pluies, la densité moyenne des mâles
chanteurs était de 22-37 oiseaux par 10 ha. L’activité de chant décrût
rapidement après les pluies, et la plupart des oiseaux avaient quitté la zone
étudiée à la fin de notre séjour, début octobre. La probabilité qu’a un oeuf de
produire un poussin à l’envol a été calculée: elle est de 7-13% (maximum
19%). La plûpart des pertes étaient occasionées par des prédateurs au cours de
l’incubation. Les sauterelles, en grande partie les larves de Oedaleus
senegalensis , constituent l’essentiel des restes de proies fournis par les gésiers,
1991
Biology of Singing Bush-Larks
25
16.25N 15.28W
+
16.15N 15.28W
Figure 1, Layout of experimental plots for the study of environmental effects of
chemical locust and grasshopper control in the savanna of northern Senegal, 10-
30 km south of Richard-Toll and Dag ana.
26
Wim C. Mullié & James O. Keith
Malimbus 13
à raison de 87-88% des échantillons, tant chez les adultes que chez les jeunes
volants. Aucune différence significative n’a été trouvée entre les poids des
mâles et ceux des femelles.
Introduction
The Singing Bush-Lark Mirafra javanica is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa
(M ackworth- Praed & Grant 1970), parts of the Arabian peninsula, such as Oman
(Gallagher & Woodcock 1980), and the former North Yemen (Brooks et ai 1987). It
also occurs in large areas of S and SE Asia (Ali & Ripley 1987), and in Indonesia
(Mackinnon 1988) and Australia (Blakers et al. 1984).
In Africa, at least a part of the population is migratory, moving north with the Inter-
Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) to breed in the rains (Elgood 1981, Lamarche
1987, Lewis & Pomeroy 1989), but movements are not yet fully understood. The main
breeding grounds appear to be in die Sahel zone where average annual (summer)
rainfall is in the range of 200-400 mm. Resident populations may occur in parts of
Sudan (Nikolaus 1987) and Senegal (Morel 1968). However, in a later study. Morel &
Morel (1972) considered the status in Senegal to be uncertain. Despite its wide
distribution, little appears to have been published on this species’ biology.
The present study was part of investigations on the ecological impact of Desert
Locust Schistocerca gregaria control, under experimental conditions, in northern
Senegal (Everts 1990). The Singing Bush-Lark was selected as a potential indicator for
side-effects of pesticide use in savanna habitat: they were abundant, widely distributed,
breeding in the area, feeding on epigeal arthropods, and likely to be exposed to
pesticides used for locust control.
The impact of the insecticides tested (chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion) on the numbers
and food habits of birds was presented by Keith & Mullié (1990). In this paper we
report more fully on the breeding and feeding biology of Singing Bush-Lark under
natural conditions. Unless otherwise stated, all information is based on observations
made in areas either not treated, or before they were treated with pesticides, i.e. before
5 Sep 1989.
Study Area
Plots and treatments
A large area (400 km2), some 15 km south of the Senegal River near Richard-Toll and
Dagana, in the NW Ferlo, Senegal, was selected in late June 1989 for study of the
effects of locust insecticides on terrestrial organisms (Fig. 1). Five, 2x3 km study
plots, separated by at least 2 km from each other, were established within this study
area to evaluate effects of five individual treatments. These consisted of fenitrothion at
485 g/ha (Plot A; recommended rate for Desert Locust control is 500 g/ha).
1991
Biology of Singing Bush-Larks
27
fenitrothion at 825 g/ha (Plot B), an untreated control (Plot C), chlorpyrifos at 270 g/ha
(Plot D; recommended rate for Desert Locust control is 240 g/ha), and chlorpyrifos at
387 g/ha (Plot E) (Courshee 1990). Insecticides were aerially applied to plots in Ultra
Low Volume (ULV; less than 5 1/ha) formulations between 5 and 12 September
(Courshee 1990).
Vegetation
The semi-arid thombush savanna of the northern Sahel is characterised by short trees,
bushes, and annual grasses, such as Aristida spp., Cenchrus biflorus, and
Schoenefeldia gracilis and common dominant herbs such as Zornia glochidiata and
Cassia spp. In the northern Ferlo of Senegal, this vegetation has been termed
Mimosaceae thorn scrub (Le Houérou 1989).
Counts on 4-10 ha along a representative transect (see Methods) within each of our
five study plots indicated Boscia senegalensis. Balanites aegyptiaca, and Acacia spp.
(including A. Senegal , A. tortilis, and A. seyal) made up 97% of the trees present. Total
tree density ranged from 5 1 to 84 trees per ha; tree density and species richness was
highest in plot A. Of trees counted, 57% were shorter than 2.5 m in height. Baobabs
Adansonia digitata were widely but thinly distributed and occurred on all study plots
(estimated density, 5-10 trees per 1,000 ha).
Large herds of cattle, goats, and sheep grazed the study area. These animals
belonged to local villagers and to semi-nomadic Peulh herdsmen and nomadic
Mauritanians who use the area each year during the rainy season.
There were numerous shallow depressions scattered throughout the study area,
ranging from 0.25 to 1 ha or more in size. Water and sediments tended to drain into
depressions during the short, intense rain-storms that are typical for the area. The
higher soil moisture in depressions supported a greater diversity and biomass of
vegetation and usually twice the number of trees as in the surrounding savanna (Bille
& Poupon 1972). After rains began, annual and perennial herbs in depressions
responded immediately and grew tall and dense, in striking contrast to the shorter
grasses in the savanna.
Rainfall
Large local differences in rainfall were often observed, even over distances of only a
few km. This is illustrated by rainfall data from 16 stations in the sugarcane plantation
of the Compagnie Sucrière Sénégalaise, immediately north of our study area, where
total rainfall for the rainy season (June-October) ranged from 183.5 to 313.9 mm
(average 235.5 mm, N = 16).
Long-term rainfall in the region has averaged 319 ± 39 mm (Morel & Morel 1980).
Thus, 1989 had slightly less than average precipitation, but was the second year with
good rains, after drought from 1983 to 1987.
28
Wim C. Mullié & James O. Keith
Malimbus 13
Methods
Bird counts on transects
Six 1-km transects were established 250 m apart in each of the five study plots (Fig. 1).
Along each transect, a tree or shrub was marked with white paint every 100 m. Bird
counts were taken on most transects and plots each week between 24 July and 7
October (Table 1).
Plots were visited in about the same sequence each week. During counts on a plot,
each of two observers recorded birds on three transects; one observer visited transects
1-3, the other transects 4-6 (Fig. 1). counts were begun at 07.00 and completed at
about 10.00 each day. During 50 min. on each transect, all birds heard or seen within
50 m of the transect were tallied. A constant pace was maintained by covering each
100 m of the transect in 5 min. On the three transects counted by the first author, sing-
ing males of the Singing Bush-Lark were noted separately for each 100-m stretch;
calculations of densities presented in this paper are based on these counts only.
Densities calculated from bird counts can severely underestimate the number of
breeding pairs actually present because only a part of the breeding population is
detected at each visit (e.g. Ralph & Scott 1981, Hustings et al. 1985). Therefore, aver-
age maximum densities of breeding pairs on each of our plots, assuming that each
singing male represented a breeding pair, were calculated by using maximum numbers
of singing males recorded along each 100 m stretch prior to the start of spraying in
week 7, adding the ten maximum values per transect of 1 km (10 ha), and averaging
totals for the three transects per plot on which such data were obtained.
Evaluation of nesting performance
Singing Bush-Larks bred throughout the study area during the period of our investiga-
tions. Singing males were one of the most common birds seen on transects as they
hovered above breeding territories and nests located within grasslands. Nests were
found during counts on transects and during searches conducted to discover additional
nests. To reduce nest detection by predators, we did not approach closer than 1 m while
marking nests with stakes and checking them to determine the number of eggs, young,
and fledglings.
Additional information on the breeding cycle was gathered when possible. Com-
plete records on the whole breeding cycle could be gathered for only a few nests.
Therefore, the Mayfield method (Mayfield 1961) was employed to calculate the
success of nests recorded during only part of the breeding cycle.
Specimen handling
For ecotoxicological studies, some larks were trapped with mist nets or shot with a 4.5
mm airgun. Birds were collected in plots treated with insecticides and, for comparison,
in areas not treated (control areas). Weights of live or freshly dead specimens were
taken using spring scales with a precision of 0.3% and rounded to the nearest 0.5 g.
During dissection birds were sexed and aged. The size of gonads, and other
1991
Biology of Singing Bush-Larks
29
information on breeding condition, including presence of a brood patch, was noted.
The gizzard was removed, and the contents or the complete gizzard were stored in
ethanol (96%). Information on the amount of food was noted and gizzards that were
completely empty were discarded.
Voucher specimens were labelled and stored as flat skins or preserved in 96%
ethanol for deposition in the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, U.S.A. In the
museum, tentative identifications were verified, and juveniles were determined by the
presence of a bursa fabricii.
Gizzard contents analysis
Gizzard contents were identified to Order using a 7-40x binocular microscope; often
particular remains were used for identification and calculating the number of prey
items present (e.g. Orthoptera jaws and Coleoptera head-parts). Remains of some taxa,
such as Oedaleus senegalensis , could be identified to the species level. The presence of
grit was also noted.
Results
Breeding biology
Densities:— Average densities of singing males, which we assume to represent the
number of breeding pairs, were greatest in July and August, when they were in the
range of 22-37 singing males per 10 ha (Table 1).
In the second half of September singing activity decreased rapidly in all plots, either
treated or control, and in the first week of October only one un-paired male still sang.
The treatments, particularly by fenitrothion, significantly affected Bush-Lark numbers
on transects (Keith & Mullié 1990).
Nesting performance : — Twenty -eight lark nests were located during searches. All had
the entrance facing a northerly direction, between NW and NE, often under grasses
that were depressed by the wind in die same direction. Information on lark nests was
gathered in unsprayed areas or in plots to be treated, before the start of the actual
spraying programme. However, one nest containing 4 nestlings (nest 20 in Appendix
1) was found in Plot D during treatment with chlorpyrifos, just within the sprayed area.
The nestlings were still alive when the nest was checked again after five days, and the
information was used in the calculation of nestling survival.
The average size of complete clutches was 3.6 ( N = 10: Appendix 1). Records for
the complete nesting cycle were obtained for eight nests, designated with 2 in Appen-
dix 1. In these eight nests 26 eggs were laid of which 21 hatched and at least 11 young
fledged. This suggests a nesting success of 42%. However, many nests, on which only
information during a part of the breeding cycle was obtained, were less successful.
Using Mayfield’s (1961) method the probabilities for nest, egg, and nestling survival
were calculated based on the number of days each nest was under observation
30
Wim C. Mullié & James O. Keith
Malimbus 13
Table 1. Numbers of singing male Bush-Larks on transect counts. Maximum numbers
of singing birds counted per transect on a single day are in bold. Plots other than C
treated with insecticide in week 7 (A,D,E) and 8 (B) (see text for treatment details).
Max No.
of different
singing males2
Transect July August September Oct
!See Figure 1
2Based on birds counted separately per 100 m of transect; see text for explanation
3NC = No count due to spraying programme
(exposure), producing a probability of a single egg producing a fledgling of 7-13%
(Appendix 1). Even when the most optimistic figures are used, and it is assumed that
nests in which no eggs were detected were not used for laying, the probability of
1991
Biology of Singing Bush-Larks
31
fledging was only 19%. It is not known whether our activities, despite our precautions,
contributed to this low breeding success.
The overall figure for nesting success is broken down as follows (details in
Appendix 1). The probability of nest survival during the incubation period was 16-
24% (4 nests destroyed by predators; 2 nests deserted; in 5 new nests, no eggs detected
despite the observation of birds on the nests). The probability of nest survival during
the nestling period was calculated to be 53-59%, with 3-5 nests destroyed by
predators. Egg survival within a surviving nest was 94-100%, and nestling survival
appeared to be 92-93%.
Table 2. Gizzard contents of Singing Bush-Larks in areas not treated with insecti-
cides. Data are total number of items in all gizzards and (in brackets) percentage
occurrence of items in contents.
Gizzard contents
The analysis of Singing Bush-Lark gizzard contents, based on numbers of food items,
is shown in Table 2. It should be noted that using numbers of food items as a basis for
determining food habits tends to bias results in favour of the small, numerous items.
There were no great differences between adults and fledglings. Grasshoppers, pre-
dominantly early instars of Oedaleus senegalensis , were the main prey item present in
the gizzards. All fledglings but no adults had grit in their gizzard.
Body weights
There were no significant differences in weights of adult birds from each of the five
plots (4 treated, 1 control; single classification ANOVA). Therefore, all adult weights,
from both treated and control areas, but separated for sex, were combined to calculate
average adult weights. Weights of adult males (N = 24, x = 18.6 ± S.D. 1.5 g) and
females (N = 9, x = 18.8 ± 1.4 g), tested in a single classification ANOVA, were not
significantly different from one another. A similar test for fledglings, followed by a
Duncan multiple range test (SAS 1985) showed that fledgling larks from the untreated
control area (x = 17.2; N = 3) were significantly heavier than fledglings from each of
the treated areas, collected after treatment (x = 13.2; N - 28) (F = 3.45; P = 0.0217)
(Table 3). There were no indications that birds from the untreated control areas were
older than those from treated plots. However, there is evidence that weight differences
were caused by poisoning of fledging larks by the insecticides used (Keith & Mullié
1990).
32
Wim C. Mullié & James O. Keith
Malimbus 13
Table 3. Weights of juvenile Singing Bush-Larks.
Weights followed by the same letter did not show significant differences in a Duncan
multiple range test.
Discussion
Our figures show that displaying male Singing Bush-Larks occurred at high densities
when we commenced transect counts. Based on the assumptions given in Appendix 1,
it was calculated that building of the first nest that we found was started around 1 1
July. Several authors have noticed the Bush-Lark’s immediate response to the first
significant rains of the season by commencing display flights and nest-building
behaviour (Smith 1979, Morel 1981). The first significant rains of 1989, as measured
near Richard-Toll, were on 27 June (average 12.5 mm) and 1 1 July (average 39.9 mm).
However, local differences in rainfall were pronounced in the area and it is likely that
we missed that actual onset of the breeding season in the general area. Rain as the
principal Zeitgeber for breeding in Alaudidae has previously been shown for eight
species of lark in the Kalahari sand veld (MacLean 1970), and for five additional
species in the central Namib Desert (Willoughby 1971).
The decrease in bird numbers towards October, both in control and treated plots
(Table 1), indicates that many birds had left the area, although some redistribution
within the area may have been partially responsible for the decline in numbers. In one
of the study plots we noticed in early October a clustering of Bush-Larks into one of
the depressions where feeding conditions probably remained favourable for a longer
period than in the savanna.
The average densities which we estimated (22-37 singing males per 10 ha; Table 1)
are high for Alaudidae. Only Short-toed Larks Calandrella hrachydactyla, with 20-30
pairs per 10 ha (occasionally up to 40-50) in optimum habitats, have comparable
densities (Glutz von Blotzheim 1985, Cramp 1988).
The only other larks breeding in the study area were Chestnut-backed Finch-Larks
Eremopterix leucotis. White-fronted Finch-Larks E. nigriceps , and rarely Kordofan
Bush-Larks Mirafra cordofanica (Morel & Morel 1972, 1984). The finch-larks inhabit
eroded or bare areas or where bush fires have destroyed the grass cover, and they breed
1991
Biology of Singing Bush-Larks
33
predominantly in the dry season. The Singing Bush-Lark, a rainy season breeder,
prefers dense stands of grasses, not affected by fire (Morel & Morel 1984). We found
nests only in dry stands of grasses.
All nest entrances faced between north-west and north-east. The entrances of
Chestnut-backed Finch-Lark and White-fronted Finch-Lark nests in the same area
faced between east and north-east (Morel & Morel 1984). Nest entrances facing
predominantly between north-west and east were seen in two species of meadowlark
Sturnella magna and S. neglecta in Wisconsin ((Lanyon 1957), and in the Short- toed
Lark (TV) and Crested Lark Galerida cristata (TV-NE) in the Palaearctic (Glutz von
Blotzheim 1985). Protection from the heat is generally considered to be the main
reason.
A probability of 7-13% (or maximum 19%) for an egg to produce a fledgling is
low, but not exceptionally so compared to larks breeding under arid conditions
elsewhere in Africa. Eighty -two percent of all eggs laid failed to produce fledglings for
seven species of lark in the Kalahari (MacLean 1970). In temperate regions of Europe
the success to fledging of Skylarks Alauda arvensis in five different studies was 18-
46% (average 33%) (Schlâpfer 1988), but survival to independence in two of these
studies was only 8-10% (Delius 1965, Jenny 1984). Losses were mainly due to
predators. The percentage of eggs which hatched in the studies reviewed by Schlâpfer
(1988) was 38-71% and the survival of hatched nestlings to fledging 48-67%. In our
study the hatching success was 15-24% (BxC in Appendix 1), while survival to
fledging was 49-55% (DxE in Appendix 1). Appendix 1 reveals that nest survival
during incubation (16-24%) can be considered as the “critical phase”.
Most nests observed in our study area were in Plot C. Compared to the other plots
there was much human activity (herds of cattle, goats and sheep, and two villages) and
this activity probably attracted ground predators, such as Jackals Canis aureus , which
were observed occasionally. One dropping, possibly of Jackal, collected close to a
predated nest, contained the remains of a Black Bush-Robin Cercotrichas podobe
(S.M. Goodman, pers. comm.), which shows that these predators take terrestrial
foraging birds. Four large mammalian carnivores (C. aureus, Felis lybica, Genet ta
genetta and Vulpes pallidus) occur in the NW Ferlo in densities of 0.4-3. 1 individuals
per km2, whereas smaller carnivores such as Ichneumia albicauda, Mellivora capensis
and Zorilla striatus are relatively common in the region (Grenot & Le Houérou 1989).
Reptiles are likely to be another important group of predators. The egg-eating snake
Dasypeltis scabra and the monitor Varanus exant hematic us were both captured in the
study area.
Singing Bush-Lark gizzards contained predominantly invertebrate remains. Ap-
proximately 90% of the prey items identified in the gizzard contents consisted of
grasshoppers. Most were early instars of Oedaleus senegalensis. In the NW Ferlo this
species was believed to have reached the threshold for economic damage to agricul-
ture, and an aerial chemical treatment was performed in the areas immediately
bordering our study area (Müller, pers. comm.). Only two gizzards out of 17 (11%)
contained a few seeds. Gizzard contents of Bush-Larks taken in experimental plots
34
Wim C. Mullié & James O. Keith
Malimbus 13
after spraying with chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion contained seeds in 17 out of 38
gizzards (45%) Keith & Mullié 1990), suggesting that a lack of insect prey forced them
to feed on seeds.
There were no apparent differences in the selection of invertebrate prey between
adults and fledglings. There was, however, a marked difference in the presence of grit
in gizzards between adults and juveniles. Combining data presented here with those
from the pesticide treated plots (Keith & Mullié 1990), 16 of 25 gizzards (64%) from
juvenile birds contained 1-25 small stones (maximum weight 0.25 g per gizzard),
while in adult birds only four out of 33 birds contained grit in the gizzard.
Acknowledgments
We are greatly indebted to Souleymane Soumaré for his assistance in the field,
particularly with the operation of mist nets and with nest searches. Steven M.
Goodman, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, verified a number of identifica-
tions, provided additional information on voucher specimens and identified the
contents of a jackal dropping. Edward E. Khounganian, Los Angeles, kindly prepared
the map, and Thierry Gaultier, Institut National de Recherche Scientifique et Tech-
nique, Laboratoire d’ Ornithologie, Hamam-Lif, Tunisia, prepared the French sum-
mary. Valuable comments on an earlier draft of this paper were received from Harold
C.H.G. van der Valk, and R. Wilkinson. Funds to support this work were provided by
the U.S. Agency for International Development (AELGA, Africa Bureau), and by the
UJV. Food and Agriculture Organization (AGP/ECLO).
References
Au, S. & Ripley, S.D. (1987) Compact Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan.
Oxford University Press, Delhi.
Bille, J.C. & Poupon, H. (1972) Recherches écologiques sur une savane sahélienne du
Ferlo septentrional, Sénégal: description de la végétation. Terre Vie 26: 351-365.
Blakers, M., Davies, S.J.J.F. & Reilly, P.N. (1984) The Atlas of Australian Birds.
Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.
Brooks, D.J., Evans, M.I., Martins, R.P. & Porter, R .F. (1987) The status of birds in
North Yemen and the records of OSME expedition in autumn 1985. Sandgrouse 9:
4-66.
Courshee, R.J. (1990) Pesticide applications. Pp. 33-37 in J.W. Everts (ed.). Envi-
ronmental Effects of Chemical Locust and Grasshopper Control. A Pilot Study.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
Cramp, S. (ed.) (1988) The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol 5. Oxford University
Press, Oxford.
1991
Biology of Singing Bush-Larks
35
Delius, J.D, (1965) A population study of Skylarks Alauda arvensis. Ibis 107: 466-
492.
Elgood, J.H. (1981) The Birds of Nigeria. Checklist No. 4. British Ornithologists’
Union, London.
Everts, J.W. (ed.) (1990) Environmental Effects of Chemical Locust and Grasshopper
Control. A Pilot Study. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
Rome.
Gallagher, M. & Woodcock, M. (1980) The Birds of Oman. Quartet Books, London.
Glutz von Blotzheim, U. (ed.) (1985) Handbuch der Vogel Mitteleuropas. Band 10/1.
Aula Verlag, Wiesbaden.
Grenot, C.J. & Le Houérou, H.N. (1989) Wildlife. Pp. 113-123 in H.N. Le Houérou
(ed.), The Grazing Land Ecosystems of the African Sahel. Ecological Studies, Vol.
75. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Hustings, M.F.H., Kwak, R.G.M., Opdam, P.F.M. & Rednen, M J.S.M. (eds.) (1985)
Vogelinventarisatie. Achtergronden, Richtlijnen en Verslaglegging. Pudoc,
Wageningen.
Jenny, M. (1984) Untersuchungen an einem Feldlerchenbestand der intensiv genutzten
Agrarlandschaft. Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Zool. Mus. Univ. Zurich. [Quoted in
Schlàpfer, 1988].
Keith, J.O. & Mullié, W.C. (1990) Birds. Pp. 235-270 in J.W. Everts (ed.). Environ-
mental Effects of Chemical Locust and Grasshopper Control. A Pilot Study. Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
Lamarche, B. (1987) Liste Commentée des Oiseaux de Mauritanie. Private printing,
Nouakchott.
Lanyon, W.E. (1957) The comparative biology of the meadowlarks ( Sturnella ) in
Wisconsin. Publ. Nuttall Orn. Club 1: 1-47.
Le Houérou, H.N. (ed.) (1989) The Grazing Land Ecosystems of the African Sahel.
Ecological Studies, Vol. 75. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Lewis, A. & Pomeroy, D. (1989) A Bird Atlas of Kenya. Balkema, Rotterdam.
MacKinnon, J. (1988) Fieldguide to the Birds of Java and Bali. Gadjah University
Press, Yogyakarta.
Mackworth-Praed, C.W. & Grant, C.H.B. (1970) Birds of West Central and Western
Africa. Vol. 1. Longman, London.
MacLean, G.L. (1970) The biology of the larks of the Kalahari. Zool. Afric. 5: 7-39.
Mayfield, H. (1961) Nesting success calculated from exposure. Wilson Bull. 73: 255-
261.
Morel, G. (1968) Contribution à la synécologie des oiseaux du Sahel sénégalais. Mém.
ORSTOM , 29.
36
Wim C. Mullié & James O. Keith
Malimbus 13
Morel, G J. (1981) Réponse à la pluie de Mirafra javanica. Malimbus 3: 57-58.
Morel, G. & Morel, M.-Y. (1972) Recherches écologiques sur une savane sahélienne
du Ferlo septentrional, Sénégal. Étude d’une communauté avienne. Cah. ORSTOM,
sér . Biol. 13: 3-34.
Morel, G. J. & Morel, M.-Y. (1980) Structure of an arid tropical bird community.
Proc. 4 Pan-Afr. Orn. Congre. 125-133.
Morel, GJ. & Morel, M.-Y. (1984) Eremopterix nigriceps albifrons et Eremopterix
leucotis melanocephala (Alaudidés) cui [sic] Sénégal. Proc. 5 Pan-Afr. Orn.
Congre 309-322.
Nikolaus, G. (1987) Distribution atlas of Sudan’s birds with notes and habitat and
status. Bonn. zool. Monogr. 25.
Ralph, C.J. & Scott, J.M. (1981) Estimating numbers of terrestrial birds. Studies
Avian Biol. 6.
SAS Institute Inc. (1985) SAS/STAT™ Guide for Personal Computers. Version 6
Edition. SAS Institute Inc., Cary.
Schlapfer, A. (1988) Populationsôkologie der Feldlerche Alauda arvensis in der
intensiv genutzten Agrarlandschaft. Orn. Beob. 85: 309-371.
Smith, J.A. (1979) Observations on the nest of the Singing Bushlark. W. Austr. Nat. 14:
160.
Willoughby, E.J. (1971) Biology of larks (Aves: Alaudidae) in the central Namib
Desert. Zool. Afric. 6: 133-176.
1991
Biology of Singing Bush-Larks
37
Appendix 1.
Calculation of Singing Bush-Lark nesting success following Mayfield (1961).
A. Basic information on nests of Singing Bush-Lark
(59-77)
Complete clutch, used for calculation of clutch size
2Clutch used for calculation of nesting success (see text)
3Nest with 4 nestlings found just within sprayed area, after treatment with chlorpyrifos
(see text).
4Outside plot boundary, in unsprayed area
38
Wim C. Mullié & James O. Keith
Malimbus 13
B. Probability of nest survival during incubation
1. If nests in which no eggs were detected are omitted from calculations:
Mortality rate: 6 nests lost/54 nest days observation time = 0.1 1 1
1-0.111 = 0.88813 = 0.216 (if incubation time is 13 days as in Short-toed Lark).
1-0.111 = 0.88810 = 0308 (if incubation time is 10 days as calculated from data in
Morel (1981)).
2. If nests in which no eggs were detected existed only one day with eggs:
Mortality rate: 1 1 nests lost/59 nest days observation time = 0.186
1-0.186 = 0.81413 = 0.069
1-0.186 = 0.81410 = 0.128
3. If nests in which no eggs were detected existed the number of days between two
subsequent controls minus one:
Mortality rate: 1 1 nests lost/77 nest days observation time = 0.143
1-0.143 = 0.85713 = 0.135
1-0.143 = 0.85710 = 0.214
Based on the figures and assumptions presented under 1-3, the probability of nest
survival during the incubation period can be calculated to be between 0.16 (incubation
time of 10 days) and 0.24 (incubation time of 13 days).
C. Probability of egg survival during incubation
The egg survival is approximately equivalent to nest survival and ranges from 33/35 =
0.94 to 21/21 = 1.00.
D. Probability of nest survival during nestling period
4. 3 nests lost/69.5 nest days observation time = 0.043
1-0.043 = 0.95711 = 0.615 (if nestling time is 11 days)
1-0.043 = 0.9579 = 0.673 (if nestling time is 9 days)
5. 5 nests lost/69.5 nest days observation time = 0.072
1-0.072 = 0.928n = 0.439
1-0.072 = 0.9289 = 0.510
Based on the figures and assumptions presented under 4 and 5, the probability of nest
survival during the nestling period is between 0.53 (if nestling time is 11 days) and
0.59 (if nestling period is 9 days).
1991
Biology of Singing Bush-Larks
39
E. Probability of nestling survival
Nestling survival ranged from 1 1 fledged/12 hatched = 0.92 to 13 fledged/14 hatched =
0.93.
The nesting success can be calculated as follows:
minimum: 0.16 x 0.94 x 0.53 x 0.92 = 0.07
maximum: 0.24 x 1.00 x 0.59 x 0.93 = 0.13
(maximum reliable estimate (product of bold figures under B-E): 0.308 x 1.00 x 0.673
x 0.93 = 0.19)
This implies that the probability of a single egg laid producing a fledgling is only 7-
13%. In other words, of every 100 eggs laid only 7-13 fledglings are produced. Even if
the most optimistic figures are used, the probability is only 19%.
Spur-winged Plover— Vanneau éperonné- — Vanellus spinosus
(Photo: P. Blasdale)
40
Short Notes
Malimbus 13
Short Notes
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis , new to Cameroon
On 30 March 1991 I saw a Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis at Lake Barombi
Mbo, Cameroon. Lake Barombi Mbo is a crater lake surrounded by lowland rainforest
near Kumba, South West Province. I saw the bird at 07.00 hours on the Kumba side of
the lake. At its nearest it was about 40 m away and was under constant observation
between dives for about two minutes before moving out towards the centre of the lake.
It was alone but near to a party of six Little Grebes Tachybaptus ruficollis. The bird
was in predominantly winter plumage although the neck was almost completely black
indicating the start of summer plumage. The white breast could be seen underneath.
Other features, which set it apart from the Slavonian Grebe P. auritus, including the
peaked head, uptilted bill, and lobe of white extending from the cheeks almost to the
crown, could all clearly be seen. The flanks were dirty white with strong dark
streaking.
There is no reference to any previous sightings from Cameroon in Brown et al.
(19S2) or Louette (1981).
References
Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. & Newman, K. (1982) The Birds of Africa, Vol 1. Academic
Press, London.
Louette, M. (1981) The birds of Cameroon. An annotated checklist. Verhandl. Kon.
Acad. Wetensh . Lett. Schone Kunst. Belg. 43: 1-163.
Eddie Williams
17 Sycamore Close, Upton, Wirral, Merseyside L49 4QL, U.K.
Received 3 May 1991
Observation du Grèbe à cou noir au Sénégal
Le statut africain du Grèbe à cou noir Podiceps nigricollis , est en grande partie
inconnu (Brown et al, 1982). Les populations d’Afrique du nord ont décliné pour se
limiter aujourd’hui à des migrateurs paléarctiques, alors qu’une population résidente
existe en Afrique du sud avec des extensions dans la vallée du Rift. Entre ces deux
extrêmes, l’espèce peut se rencontrer avec une distribution discontinue. Au Sénégal
seule une observation a été faite jusqu’ici, le 23 déc 1980 par Poorter et al au Parc
National des Oiseaux du Djoudj (dans Morel & Morel, 1990). Il s’agissait de trois
sujets en plumage hivernal d’origine indéterminée.
1991
Short Notes
41
Nous avons observé d’octobre 1990 à mars 1991 un groupe comptant jusqu’à 34
individus sur une cuvette de lagunage recueillant les eaux usées de la ville de Saint-
Louis (15°57'N, 16°28'W). Les caractéristiques de ce site d’environ 3 ha correspondent
aux besoins de l’espèce: eaux riches en matière organique et vie aquatique (insectes,
mollusques), peu profondes, en grande partie libres de toute végétation (Cramp et al.,
1977). Malgré sa faible largeur (100 m), sa protection par un grillage périphérique était
un atout supplémentaire pour ces oiseaux relativement farouches.
Pendant la période considérée, ce site a également été occupé par une population
importante de Grèbes castagneux Podiceps ruficollis (100 à 150), de Canards souchet
Anas clypeata, Filets Anas acuta, et Sarcelles d’été Anas querquedula, et de Flamants
roses Phoenicopterus ruber, venant s’y nourrir principalement la nuit.
Le groupe de Grèbes à cou noir comportait des oiseaux adultes, certains présentant
encore un plumage nuptial à leur arrivée. Après l’avoir perdu pendant leur séjour,
l’ensemble des oiseaux l’avait retrouvé avant leur départ. Leur période de séjour et
cette évolution du plumage suggèrent un hivernage de sujets paléarctiques et donc une
extension de leur zone habituelle de migration à partir du Maghreb.
Les variations d’effectifs ont été parfois brutales (de neuf le 2 décembre à 25 le
lendemain) et relativement fréquentes pendant les mois de janvier et février (entre 24
et 34). Elles laissent supposer l’existence d’une autre zone d’hivernage dans la région,
qui reste à déterminer si ce phénomène migratoire se reproduit l’an prochain. L’effectif
a monté de deux le 13 octobre à 24 le 10 novembre (pas d’observations entre ces dates)
et a tombé de 26 le 16 février à trois le 16 mars (également, pas d’observations entre
ces dates). Il serait nécessaire de préciser la dynamique d’arrivé et de départ de ces
oiseaux, à partir d’observations plus régulières à ces périodes.
References
Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. & Newman, K. (1982) The Birds of Africa, Vol. 1. Aca-
demie Press, London.
Cramp, S. (éd.) (1977) Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North
Africa, Vol. 1. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Morel, G.J. & Morel, M.Y. (1990) Les Oiseaux de Sénégambie. ORSTOM, Paris.
Philippe Bailleul et Pierre-Yves Le Gai
BP 186, Saint-Louis, Sénégal
Reçu 4 juin 1991
42
Book Reviews
Malimbus 13
Book Reviews
World Checklist of Threatened Birds. Compiled by J. Norton, S. Stuart and T.
Johnson, 1990. 274 pp. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. ISBN 0-86139-
601-4. Paperback, no price given.
This is a technical publication, produced for the purposes of the CUES (Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations as they apply to the United
Kingdom. It provides a list of bird species appearing in Appendices 1-3 of CUES
(unfortunately, no explanation is given of what these appendices are) as well as
additional species included in ICBP’s Birds to Watch (Collar & Andrew 1988). Some
groups (e.g. all Falconiformes, Strigif ormes and Otididae and most Psittacif ormes) are
treated comprehensively, even non-threatened species, because of the possibility of
confusion with threatened species.
The bulk of the book is a systematic list. Each species’ entry includes its CUES
category, degree of threat, major kinds of exploitation, world breeding and non-
breeding ranges and references. Readers interested in West Africa will find the book a
useful, if brief, source of data on the status (legal and otherwise) of many birds of the
region, particularly because Ghana has chosen to include on Appendix 3 a huge
proportion of its common birds!
Alan Tye
The Zoological Exploration of Southern Africa 1650-1790, by L.C. Rookmaaker,
1989. 368 + XU pages, 16 colour plates, many monochrome illustrations. A.A.
Balkema, P.O. Box 1675, Rotterdam. Df 185 (£59.50), ISBN 90-6191-867-7
This book’s main focus lies outside our area of interest but it includes much of
relevance to West African ornithology. It covers a period from the first Dutch
settlement at the Cape (c. 1650) to the early period of serious zoology, which com-
menced in the second half of the 18th century. Most of the subject matter is birds and
mammals.
The book is organised into four parts. Part 1 reviews all known sources, commenc-
ing with Hondius (1652) while Part 2 deals in greater detail with seven of the most
important explorers. These sections include brief biographies which often throw new
light on the importance of some otherwise little-known naturalists (e.g. R.J. Gordon).
Throughout the book, animals are listed and cross-referenced by source works, locality
(identified with coordinates where possible) and species names. Species are identified
by their modem names, the names used in the explorers’ original works, page
references and often with brief notes clarifying identifications or other points. Extant
specimens collected or mentioned by the original authors are listed by collection and
1991
Book Reviews
43
cross-referenced in species and author accounts. Part 3 consists of a complete
systematic list of species, cross-referenced back to source works. The amount of cross-
referencing throughout the book is impressive, enabling one to trace references to an
animal from starting points based on any one of species name (modem, or name used
by explorer) author/explorer or locality. One quibble from an ornithologist’s point of
view is that some of the obvious vernacular bird names are not satisfactorily identified.
For example “Apodes” is unidentified, as is “more-hen”, while “ Grasmiicke ” is not
even referenced to the Sylviidae, some of the names applied to Coturnix probably refer
to Francolinus. This is perhaps explained by the author’s mammalogical background,
but is in any case true of only a tiny minority of names. The book is profusely illus-
trated with reproductions of early drawings and plates. Some of the early animal
paintings are surprisingly accurate (e.g. those of Georg Forster and the Gordon
“Atlas”).
Of the explorers who are dealt with in the book, only three have important West
African connections. Dapper, who compiled accounts of Africa while sitting at home
in Amsterdam, is briefly discussed in Part 2, while two of the major accounts in Part 3
concern Anders Sparrman, (who, after visiting South Africa, later accompanied
Arrhenius and Wadstrom to Senegal) and LeVaillant. These accounts include no
discussion of Sparrman’ s West African trip, but the section on LeVaillant is extremely
valuable for its detailed discussion of every bird in the latter’s Histoire Naturelle des
Oiseaux d’Afrique (1796-1812). Unfortunately Rookmaaker’s review of this consist-
ently includes current scientific names only for birds known to occur in southern
Africa, not for those from other parts of Africa. However, many named species are
widespread and occur in West Africa while most of the other West African species are
identifiable from the information presented. Rookmaaker presents a detailed analysis
of the much-criticised accuracy of Le V aillant’ s work, notably the dubiety of some
localities and descriptions. He also includes discussion of some hitherto unknown
publications by LeVaillant, and of six collections of watercolours connected with
LeVaillant’ s explorations, for five of which the present book is the only printed source
of information. Every bird on these watercolours is listed in the book and identified if
possible (including many West African species). With its exhaustive bibliography, the
book is an excellent starting point for researches on LeVaillant’ s birds (and for those of
the other explorers discussed). Rookmaaker has tracked down many original sources,
both manuscripts and published (but often little-known) material. Finally, the book
generates some intriguing (or irritating, depending on one’s point of view)
nomenclatorial consequences. Rookmaaker has discovered several valid scientific
names which pre-date those currently in accepted use. Such issues will no doubt
occupy the minds of the Editors of The Birds of Africa and others in the near future.
Alan Tye
44
Book Reviews
Malimbus 13
The Threatening Desert: Controlling Desertification, by Alan Grainger, 1990. Pp
369. ISBN 1-85383-041-0. Earthscan Publications Ltd, London. £9.95 softback.
Africa contains a greater area of dry lands than any other continent and it is in Africa
that the effect of droughts and subsequent famine is most pronounced. The Sahelian
drought of the 1970s prompted the United Nations Conference on Desertification in
1977 and the Sahel drought plays a central role in this book’s discussion of
desertification.
Long term climatic change is discussed with reference to global and local effects
but the main focus of this book is on more immediate local causes of desertification
and their control at national and local levels. Population growth and economic
development are considered to be major driving forces leading to changes of land use
in dryland areas; government policies on agriculture, trade and development bring this
about at a national level and rural policies to concentrate dispersed populations do so at
a local level. Desertification is then seen to follow as a consequence of poor land use — -
whether by overcultivation, overgrazing, deforestation or poor irrigation practices. All
these causes are interlinked; an expansion of cash crop cultivation displaces traditional
subsistence rain-fed cropping to less suitable and more arid areas. In turn that shifts
seasonal livestock grazing to even more marginal land resulting in overgrazing and
land degradation.
The second half of the book considers how desertification can be controlled by
improving crop production, livestock raising and planting trees, in addition to farm
forestry and natural woodland management. Finally soil conservation and land
reclamation projects, together with afforestation, are reviewed with an assessment of
their progress to date and their future prospects. The importance of involving local
people, identifying their needs, and decentralizing management which now seem so
evident were long overlooked in favour of large-scale prestige projects. There is
clearly much to learn with regard to man’s impact on arid land ecosystems and this
book is an excellent starting point.
Roger Wilkinson
Homeward Bound: Problems Waders Face when Migrating from the Banc
d’Arguin, Mauritania, to their Northern Breeding Grounds. Ed. by B.J. Ens, T.
Piersma, W.J. Wolff & L. Z warts, 1990. 364 pp. Ardea 78 (1/2), issue separately
published by WIWO/RIN, Texel. ISBN 90-70202-131 (ISSN 0373-2266). Available
from WIWO, Van Stuivenbergweg 4, 6644 AB Ewijk, Netherlands, for D/1 55 paid to
postgiro a/c 2666009, or by Eurocheque or postal money order (D/1 70 by any other
means).
This collection of refereed papers is based on Dutch work in Mauritania since 1980.
The articles are mainly by various combinations of a small group of authors and focus
1991
Book Reviews
45
on eco-physio logical aspects of migration, rather than orientational ones. They are
grouped around five questions:
Section 1 (six papers) asks why the Banc d’Arguin is so attractive for waders.
Benthic invertebrate density is very low compared with other estuaries but wader
densities are among the highest recorded anyw'here. Results prove inconclusive but
many species appear to feed on very small prey, whose productivity might be
unusually high. Section 2 (five papers) examines the migration patterns followed in
space and time, asking where do Banc d’Arguin waders go to breed; biometric studies
help with some species. Also explored is the question of when to time arrivals and
departures at different stages of the migration, including decisions on whether to
migrate further south in West Africa and whether to remain in Africa for the northern
summer. Section 3 (two papers) investigates special social behaviour associated with
migration: mainly pr emigratory gatherings. Section 4 (six papers) asks how the
requisite nutrient reserves are acquired. Constraints on premigratory weight gain are
examined, including physiological studies of assimilation efficiency and proportions of
fat and muscle protein laid down, and behavioural-ecological studies into how the
extra food is found. Section 5 (three papers) tries to determine the energy budget of a
migrant wader. Departure weights are calculated from population measurements and
constraints on flight range examined. One conclusion is that equations currently used
to estimate flight range must be consistently under-estimating the latter. The volume
contains several such new insights, and points out many unanswered questions. One
particularly fascinating puzzle is how Oystercatchers Haematopus os traie g us manage
to feed on Giant Bloody Cockles Anadara {Area) senilis weighing as much as them-
selves; how they open the shells without getting their beaks trapped remains a mystery.
One tends to find that such a collection of articles usually contains a few gems, or at
best that half of the papers are relevant to one’s interests. In this case, however, I found
16 of the 22 contributions of direct use to me. This is certainly a book which any wader
ecologist interested in Africa, or in migrations in general, will find an essential
reference.
Alan Tye
46
Notices
Malimbus 13
Notices
Atlas of breeding birds of Madagascar: Request for information
We are preparing an atlas of the breeding birds of Madagascar. It will be based on
surveys of museum collections, relevant literature, unpublished observations, and
investigations of poorly known areas. The end product will be a comprehensive
distribution atlas.
We are requesting information on holdings of Madagascar birds in small museums
and private collections. We should also appreciate receiving unpublished notes,
observations, or other suitable material on the birds of Madagascar. Contributions will
be fully acknowledged. Please address all communications to Steven M. Goodman and
Thomas S. Schulenberg, Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Road at Lake
Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605, U.S.A. (telephone (312) 922-9410).
Atlas des oiseaux nicheurs de Madagascar: demande des informations
Nous préparons un atlas des oiseaux nicheurs de Madagascar. Ce projet comprend
l’étude des collections muséologiques, la compilation de la bibliographie existante, la
collecte de données non encore publiées et des enquêtes de terrain de zones peu ou pas
connues. Le produit final constituera un atlas de la distribution précise des oiseaux
nicheurs.
Nous sollicitons l’envoi d’informations relatives à des collections conservées dans
les musées et détenues par des particuliers. Nous souhaiterions également recevoir des
données non publiées, des observations ou tout autre matériel relatif aux oiseaux de
Madagascar. Tout envoi de données fera l’objet d’un accusé de réception de la part des
destinataires, et le crédit des contributions sera mentionné dans le document final.
Prière d’adresser toute communication à Steven M. Goodman et Thomas S.
Schulenberg, Field Museum of Natural History, Department of Zoology, Roosevelt
Road at Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605, U.S.A. (Téléphone (312) 922-
9410).
S.M. Goodman, T.S Schulenberg, O. Langrand, L. Wilmé
1991
Notices
47
Request for information on the birds of Togo
We are writing a check-list of the birds of Togo to be published in the British
Ornithologists’ Union’s series and would be grateful for details of any unpublished
bird records from Togo from people who have ever travelled in the country and who
have not already contacted us. Please send any relevant information (however trivial it
may appear, as there are important gaps in distributional and seasonal data) to Dr R.A.
Cheke, c/o The Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime,
Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TB, U.K. Any data used will be fully acknowledged in the final
text.
Demande de renseignements sur les oiseaux du Togo
Nous rédigeons une liste des oiseaux du Togo qui sera publiée dans la série de la
British Ornithologists’ Union et serions reconnaissants, pour toutes observations
détaillées inédites sur les oiseaux du Togo, aux personnes qui ont parcouru le pays et
qui n’ont pas encore été en relations avec nous. Veuillez envoyer tous renseignements
(aussi banals qu’ils semblent, car il y a d’importantes lacunes dans les données
saisonnières et de distribution) à Dr R. A. Cheke, c/o The Natural Resources Institute,
Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TB, U.K. Les
correspondants seront dûment remerciés dans le texte définitif pour toute donnée
utilisée.
R.A. Cheke & J.F. Walsh
Dates de parution de Malimbus volumes 11 et 12
Le lecteur a dû s’apercevoir que les dates de parution des livraisons du Volume 11
chevauchent les années 1989 et 1990: le premier ayant effectivement paru en décembre
1989, mais le second en avril 1990. Il reste entendu que la cotisation 1989 à la Société
donne droit à la livraison des deux numéros du volume 1 1 . Il en sera de même pour le
Volume 12: cotisation pour l’année 1990, mais parution à cheval sur 1990 et 1991.
Avec le volume 13, nous espérons revenir au rythme normal de publication de deux
numéros par volume chaque année.
Dates of issue of Malimbus volumes 11 and 12
Readers will have noticed that the dates of issue of Volume 1 1 spanned the years 1989
and 1990, the first issue appearing in December 1989 and the second in April 1990.
Subscriptions to WAOS for 1989, of course, entitled members to both numbers of Vol.
11. Similarly, the two issues of volume 12 appeared in August 1990 and January 1991:
subscriptions for 1990 cover both issues. With Volume 13 we hope to return to our
normal schedule of publishing two issues of one volume within a year.
48
Accounts
Malimbus 13
West African Ornithological Society
Revenue Account for the Year Ended 31st December 1990
Assets
Balance Sheet as at 31st December 1990
Balance at Bank £1048
Balance on Deposit 1912
£2960
Liabilities
Creditors for Printing etc £1045
Subscriptions received in Advance 466
Accumulated Funds
Balance at 1st January 1990 £348
Surplus for Year 1101 1449
£2960
Notes
1. The Surplus for the Year £1 101 was primarily due to the increased rate of Subscription.
We have now recouped the greater part of the Deficits suffered in 1988 and 1989.
2. In order to save bank charges in future all funds will be transferred to a Treasurer’s
Account at a Building Society.
R.E. Sharland
Treasurer
Instructions to Authors
Malimbus publishes Papers, Short Notes, Reviews, Letters and illustrative material
covering the field of West African ornithology. Short Notes are articles not exceeding
1000 words (including references) or two printed pages in length. Written contribu-
tions are accepted in English or French. Material published elsewhere, in whole or in
part, will not normally be accepted.
Contributions, of which two copies are required, should be typed on one side of the
paper with double spacing and wide margins. Dot-matrix printouts will only be
accepted if they are of ‘near-letter’ quality. Authors are strongly encouraged to submit
a diskette copy of their contributions in addition to the two printed copies. 3.5"
diskettes are preferred, but 5.25" are also acceptable. Diskettes will be returned to
authors. Please include a copy of the document file in ASCII text format in addition to
to a copy in whatever word-processing format is used. Consult the Editor for further
details, e.g. for acceptable word-processing programs. Wherever possible, manuscripts
should first have been submitted to at least one ornithologist or biologist for critical
scrutiny. Manuscripts will be sent for critical review to at least one relevant authority.
Conventions regarding tabular material, numbers, metric units, references etc. may
be found in this issue and should be adhered to carefully. Note particularly the
following: dates should be in the form 2 Feb 1990 but months standing alone in text
may be written in full; times of day are written 06.45, 17.32; coordinates are written in
the form 7°46'N, 16°04'E; numbers up to ten are written in full, except when followed
by abbreviated units (e.g. 6 m), numbers from 1 1 upwards are written in figures except
at the beginning of a sentence. All References mentioned in the article, and only such,
must be entered into the bibliography.
Articles containing lengthy species-lists should be in tabular format (e.g. Malimbus
1 : 22-28 or 1 : 49-54) or of the textual format of Malimbus 1 : 90-109. The sequence in
species lists should follow Brown et al. (1982), Urban et al. (1986) and Fry et al.
(1988) The Birds of Africa, vols 1-3 (Academic Press, London) for non-passerines and
White (1960-1963 Revised Check-lists of African Passerine Birds), Hall & Moreau
(1970) An Atlas of Spéciation in African Passerine Birds , (British Museum (Natural
History), London) or Serle & Morel (1975) A Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa
(Collins, London) for passerines, unless reasons for departure from these authorities
are stated in the article. Scientific names must (and vernacular names should prefer-
ably) follow these authorities unless good reasons for using alternative names are
stated.
Figures should be prepared as for final reproduction, allowing for 20-50%
reduction, using Indian ink on good quality white paper or heavy tracing, and adhesive
transfer lettering as appropriate. When designing Figures, pay attention to the page-
shape of Malimbus.
All Papers (but not Short Notes) should include a Summary, not exceeding 5% of
the total length. The Summary should include brief reference to the major findings of
the paper and not simply review what was done. Summaries will be published in both
English and French and will be translated as appropriate by the Editorial Board.
Twenty Offprints of Papers (but not of Short Notes) will be sent to single or senior
authors, gratis. Offprints will not be stapled, bound or covered; they are merely cut
from copies of the journal.
Malimbus 13 (1) August 1991
Contents
Editorial 1-2
The Occurrence of Both Species of ‘Lesser Golden Plover’ and of Nearctic
Scolopacids in Côte d’Ivoire.
L.D.C. Fishpool & R. Demey 3-10
Birds of the Korup National Park, Cameroon.
Jane Thomas 11-23
Notes on the Breeding Biology, Food and Weight of the Singing Bush-Larks Mirafra
javanica in Northern Senegal.
W.C. Mullié & J.O. Keith 24-39
Short Notes
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis , new to Cameroon. E. Williams 40
Observation de Grèbe à cou noir au Sénégal. P. Bailleul & P. -Y. Le Gai 40-41
Book Reviews
World Checklist of Threatened Birds (Norton et al.). The Zoological Exploration of
Southern Africa 1650-1790 (Rookmaaker), The Threatening Desert: Control-
ling Desertification (Grainger), Homeward Bound: Problems Waders Face
when migrating from the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania, to their Northern
Breeding Grounds (Ens et al.) A2-A5
Notices
Atlas of breeding birds of Madagascar: Request for information, Request for
information on the birds of Togo, Dates de parution de Malimbus volumes 1 1
et 12 46-47
Accounts for year ended 31 Dec 1990
48
MALIMBUS
Journal of the West African Ornithological Society
Revue de la Société d’Ornithologie de TOuest Africain
VOLUME 13 Number 2
December 1991
ISSN 0331-3689
West African Ornithological Society
Société (T Ornithologie de TOuest Africain
Conseil 1991:
Président: Dr Gérard J. Morel
Vice-Président: John H. Elgood
Trésorier et chargé des abonnements: Robert E. Sharland
Secrétaire Générale: Mme Amberley Moore
Rédacteur en Chef: Dr Alan Tye
Comité de Rédaction: Dr R. A. Cheke, Dr H.Q.P. Crick, Dr G.J. Morel, Dr R.
Wilkinson
La correspondence doit être adressée comme suit:
- au Rédacteur en Chef (IUCN, PO Box 1, Amani, via Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania)
pour les publications dans Malimbus , y compris éventuellement des photos en noir
et blanc ou des dessins au trait.
- au Trésorier (1 Fisher’s Heron, East Mills, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 2JR,
U. K.) pour les abonnements, les questions financières et les numéros anciens.
- au Président (1 Route de Sallenelles, Bréville-les-Monts, 14860 Banville, France)
pour les questions d’intérêt général.
La Société tire son origine de la ‘Nigerian Ornithologists’ Society’, fondée en 1964.
Son but est de promouvoir l’intérêt scientifique pour les oiseaux de l’Ouest africain et
de faire avancer l’ornithologie de ces régions principalement au moyen de sa revue
Malimbus (anciennement Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists ' Society).
Les demandes d’adhésion sont les bienvenues. Les cotisations annuelles sont de £10.00
pour les membres ordinaires et de £25.00 pour les sociétés (les cotisations peuvent être
payées en £ sterling au Trésorier ou en francs français au Président). Les membres
reçoivent Malimbus gratuitement par courrier ordinaire. Un supplément est exigé pour
le courrier aérien (demander au Trésorier le tarif).
Anciens Numéros: Les Vols 11-14 (1975-78) du Bulletin of the Nigerian
Ornithologists ’ Society (du même format que Malimbus sont disponibles à £2 par
numéro ou £15 l’ensemble. Les Volumes 1 à 9 de Malimbus sont disponibles à £3 par
numéro (£6 par volume) et, à partir du Vol. 10, à £5 par numéro et £10 par volume. On
peut acheter la série complète des Vols 1 à 12 au prix spécial de £75. Frais de port et
emballage sont de £1 par volume mais, pour des commandes de 5 volumes ou plus,
seulement de £5. Veuillez joindre le paiement à votre commande et l’adresser au
Trésorier.
Distribution: G.D. Field
Conception de l'emblème: Philip Blasdale
1991
49
The avifauna of Dzanga-Ndoki National Park and Dzanga-
Sangha Rainforest Reserve, Central African Republic
by A.A.Green1 & R.W. Carroll2
1 WWF Ko nip Project, P.O. Box 303, Buea, S.W. Province, Cameroon.
2 WWF-US, 1250 24th St NW, Washington, DC 20037, U.S.A.
Received 26 April 1991
Revised 29 August 1991
Summary
We recorded 254 bird species in a new national park and a buffer zone reserve
in the rainforest of the Central African Republic. Thirty-one species are
Palaearctic migrants and 47 are intra-African or local migrants. Most passerines
are present all year.
Résumé
Nous avons enregistré le présence de 254 espèces d’oiseaux dans un nouveau
parc national et sa zone-tampon en forêt pluviale de la République
Centrafricaine. Parmi celles-ci 31 sont des migrateurs paléarctiques et 47 des
migrateurs locaux ou intra-africains. La plupart des passereaux sont des
résidents.
Introduction
Dzanga-Ndoki National Park (1220 km2) and Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest Reserve (3359
km2) are contiguous reserves in the Sangha-Mbaèré Prefecture of southwestern Central
African Republic. They were gazetted in December 1990. This study area lies between
2°13’26”N and 3°24’N and between 15°30’E and 16°35’E on the northern edge of the
Congo Basin rainforest block (Fig. 1). The Government of C.A.R. and WWF-US began
a project in January 1988 to establish these areas as a rainforest national park
surrounded by a buffer zone reserve, the latter to be managed for sustainable use of the
rainforest. To achieve this goal, the project is assisting the people of the buffer zone
reserve with programmes in rural development, agro-forestry, fisheries, health,
sanitation and conservation education. Tourism, sport hunting, traditional hunting and
commercial logging are regulated in the Dzanga-Sangha reserve. A special effort is
being made to help the Bai-aka Pygmies, who are taking up a more settled existence
along the road between Bayanga and Béya.
50
A. A. Green & R.W. Carroll
Mal imbus 13
Figure 1. Map of Dzanga-Ndoki National Park (1220 km2) and Dzanga-Sangha
Rainforest Reserve (3359 km2), Central African Republic.
Key: 1 = Bayanga; 2 = Mossapoula R.; 3 = Dzanga clearing; 4 = Mongambi R. and
clearings; 5 = Bai Hokou camp and clearing, Ngoubounga, Bai Mongoli, Bai Deboué,
Bai Bakalonga; 6 = Mambélé clearing; 7 = Ndakan camp; 8 = Njéké R.; 9 = Ndoki R
1991
Birds of Dzanga Reserves, C. A.R
51
Only recently has the flora and fauna of the study area come under scientific
scrutiny, with the initial emphasis on studies of Forest Elephant Loxodonta africana
cyclotis and Western Lowland Gorilla Gorillla g. gorilla « During reconnaissance
surveys leading up to the WWF project, bird observations were made by RWC in
October 1981 and during 1984-86 (Carroll 1988). Those records, along with his more
recent observations made while studying gorillas in 1987-89, are incorporated in this
report. Observations by AAG reported here were made during his tenure as WWF
project director during 1988-90.
Brosset & Erard (1986) give information on the avifauna in northeastern Gabon.
More pertinent are observations from Lobaye prefecture of C.A.R., just to the northeast
of our study area (Carroll 1988).
Study Area
Locations referred to here are found in Fig. 1. Following Boulvert (1986) the
Congolese Equatorial Climate of the Congo Basin gives way in the vicinity of Bayanga
(2°54’N) to the Subequatorial Climate found further north. The 1600 mm isohyet and
the 26°C isotherm pass through the study area (CTFT 1967). There is little rainfall
during the dry season of December to February. During the nine month rainy season
there is a slackening of rainfall during July and the heaviest rainfall occurs during
September and October. Considerable daily and seasonal variations in temperature
occur in the north of the study area at higher elevations. Extreme values of 13°C in
January and 40°C in March-April have been recorded at Bayanga (Slovenia Bois,
unpubl.).
The elevation rises from 340 m above sea level where the Sangha River leaves the
study area in the south, to over 600 m in the northwestern hills and on the northeastern
plateau. The Ndoki sector of the park (south) is very flat, the Dzanga sector of the park
(east-central) is rolling hills and there are very rugged hills with steep-sided valleys in
the northwest of the rainforest reserve.
The southward flowing Sangha River and its tributary streams drain most of the
study area. Much of the Ndoki sector is drained southeastward into the Congo Republic
by the Njéké and Ndoki rivers. The Sangha River is navigable as far upstream as Nola,
100 km north of Bayanga. The upper Sangha is narrow and rocky, but at Bayanga it
broadens to 500 m. South of Bayanga it is broad with many islands and shifting
sandbars. Principal tributaries mentioned in this report are the Yobé with its branch
Liboué, the Babongo, the Mossapoula with its branches Modobou/Mongambi and
Dzanga, and the Kénié.
Alluvial sand covers most of the study area south of the Babongo River, while clay
predominates to the north, except in the far northeast of the study area, where there is
sand lying over sandstone. In the northwest of the Dzanga-Sangha reserve, clay covers
a bedrock of schist.
52
A.A. Green & R.W. Carroll
Malimbus 13
In the vicinity of Bayanga the evergreen forest of the Congo Basin gives way to the
semi-deciduous forest found further north (Boulvert 1986). A mixed, dense, primary
forest covers most of the study area. Selective logging has left a depleted (secondary)
forest in the Dzanga sector of the park and around Bayanga. Nearly pure stands of
Gilbertiodendron dewevrei trees form extensive open forests on the slopes above
streams. Pure stands of Guibourtia demeusii trees are found in bands along the Sangha
River on low, flat land which is flooded during September-October. Raphia spp.
swamps occur in broad valleys east of the Sangha, and swamp forests occur in bands up
to 2 km wide along the Njéké and Ndoki rivers in the south. On the plateau in the
northeast of the study area, the rainforest is interrupted by patches of shrub savanna
covering several square kilometres.
In the Ndoki sector there are many forest clearings in shallow depressions in the flat
land, containing marshes which are wet throughout the year. In the Dzanga sector of
the park and in the Bayanga area of the reserve there are many forest clearings along
streams. Although some contain year-round marshes, many have prairies which are
reasonably dry in the dry season. There are several clearings on the upper Kénié river,
including Bai Hokou, Ngoubounga, Bai Bakalonga, Bai Mongoli and Bai Deboué.
There are two large clearings on the headwaters of the Modobou/Mongambi, another
further downstream, and Dzanga clearing. Dzanga is unique; measuring about 200 m
by 600 m, it is kept mostly clear of vegetation by the constant use as a mineral lick by
large herds of elephants and other large mammals.
The rich and abundant mammalian fauna includes Elephant, Gorilla, Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes , eight species of diurnal monkey, two pigs, nine antelopes, Forest
Buffalo Syncerus coffer nanus , Leopard Panthera pardus , Golden Cat Felis aurata , and
many smaller species. Restricted to the shrub savanna areas are Anubis Baboon Papio
anubis and Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus.
Bayanga is the largest village in the study area. Slovenia-Bois, a Yugoslavian
logging company, opened the road south from Béya to Bayanga and Lidjombo in the
early 1970s. Small villages occur at Mossapoula, Babongo, Yobé, and along the
Sangha River north of the reserve. Large coffee plantations and cultivation were
opened at Bayanga and Lidjombo in the past. New areas are being opened in a band
along the road between Bayanga and Yobé. These clearings are a different bird habitat
from the natural shrub savanna areas in the northeast of the reserve. Although the
human population is low in the study area, the Bai-aka use all of the region for their
traditional hunting and gathering activities. Since the road to Bayanga and Lidjombo
was opened in 1973, a considerable traffic in bush-meat and other animal products has
grown up there.
We recognise seven main bird habitats supporting distinctive bird communities:
- Forest: most of the study area is covered by dense forest of one type or another.
- Forest edge: at edges of clearings, savanna patches and cultivation.
- Forest stream: including forested streamside, Raphia spp. swamp, and swamp
forest.
1991
Birds of Dzanga Reserves, CA.R
53
- Sangha River: differs from other rivers in the study area by its great breadth and
its dry season sandbars.
- Forested clearings: vary in size from a few to several tens of hectares and are
usually covered in marsh or in marshy prairie with mineral licks on the higher borders.
- Man-made clearing/cultivation: including small villages, Slovenia Bois sawmill
and cultivation near villages.
- Shrub savanna: covers patches of a few square kilometres, surrounded by dense
forest, in the northeast of the study area.
Results
The Appendix contains an annotated list of 254 bird species recorded in the study area
(park, reserve, and a band along the Yobé-Béya road). Migratory status is indicated
where known. Some species comprise both residents and local migrants, with
differences in abundance noted at different seasons. Thirty-one Palaearctic migrants are
listed, only seven of which are passerines. Nine intra-African migrants and 38 local
migrant species are listed, but only six of them are passerines. At least 76 passerines
are present throughout the year. Sixteen savanna species were recorded only in the
shrub savanna patches of the northeast of the reserve.
Based on bird records from Lobaye Prefecture (Carroll 1988), another 90 bird
species are likely to occur in the forest area of this park and reserve.
Discussion
Duration and intensity of the dry season may affect movements of local migrant birds.
In 1988-89 the dry season was pronounced, starting earlier in November 1988 and
ending later in March 1989 than usual, with no rain falling at all during December-
February. The 1989-1990 dry season was wetter, with several rains in December and a
storm on 6 January; heavy fogs continued through January, and rains began again on 5
March 1990.
Abdim’s Stork Ciconia abdimii arrived earlier in the wet year (11 March 1990) than
in the dry year (1 April 1989). Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus were seen
at Bayanga from late January to early March 1989 (dry year), but were not noted at all
in the 1989-90 dry season (wet year). Plain Nightjar Caprimulgus inornatus arrived in
December 1988 (dry year), but not until late January 1990 (wet year). Black Kite
Milvus migrans arrived at Bayanga on 24 October 1988, but not until mid-December
1989. They departed from Bayanga in April 1989, but earlier in March 1990. In 1989
Red-necked Buzzard Buteo auguralis were seen at Mongambi, Dzanga and Bayanga
during January -March, but in 1990 they were not seen south of the shrub savanna areas
until March. Little Button-quail Tumi: c sylvatica were recorded at Bayanga in
54
A. A. Green & R.W. Carroll
Malimbus 13
December 1988, but not in December 1989. However, arrival and departure dates of
White- throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis were not affected.
Movements of several aquatic species are known to be related to rising and falling
river levels, but we spent little time on the Sangha and were unable to draw a clear
picture. Knob-billed Duck Sarkidornis melanotos were seen frequently in small
numbers during July- August. Although they were not noted in the 1988-89 dry season,
small flocks were seen frequently flying over the river at Bayanga during January-
February 1990. Grey Pratincole Glareola cinerea were abundant in flocks of 50-100 on
sandbars during December- January and were present until the sandbars were inundated
in April or May.
There were a number of unexpected bird records for the study area. Some birds
perhaps followed tributaries of the Sangha southward from the savannas into the
rainforest zone. These included: Black Stork Ciconia nigra at Béya during November-
December 1988 and once in the dry season at Bayanga; Northern Pintail Anas acuta
once in the dry season on the Sangha River; Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus at Béya
21-24 March 1989 and 7 April 1990 and once at Bayanga; Common Stilt Himantopus
himantopus on the Sangha River once in the dry season; Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
at Bayanga once in March; eight Egyptian Plovers Pluvianus aegyptius at Ndakan
Camp on the lower Sangha River during November-December 1989; and an African
Wattled Plover Vanellus senegallus on the Sangha River in the dry season. RWC
recorded a vagrant Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrhocephalus on the Sangha River in
October 1981 (caught by a fisherman for his dinner).
Acknowledgments
We express our appreciation to WWF-US, the Ministère des Eaux, Forêts, Chasses,
Pêches et du Tourism, and the Ministère de Recherche Scientifique et Téchnologique
for their support which made these observations possible. We are especially grateful to
Gustave Doungoubé, Director of Wildlife (former WWF project national director) for
his considerable assistance. Thanks are due to John Ash for his comments and
suggestions on this paper.
References
Boulvert, Y. (1986) Rép. Centrafricaine - Carte phyto géographique à 1:1,000,000:
Notice explicative N°. 104. ORSTOM, Paris.
Brosset, A. & Erard, C. (1986) Les oiseaux des régions forestières du Nord-Est du
Gabon, Tome I: Ecologie et comportement des espèces. Société National de
Protection de la Nature, Paris.
Carroll, R. W. (1988) Birds of the Central African Republic. Malimbus 10: 177-200.
1991
Birds of Dzanga Reserves, C. A.R
55
Carroll, R. W. & Fry, C. H. (1987) A range extension and probable breeding record
of the Brown Nightjar ( Caprimulgus hinotatus Bonaparte) in southwestern Central
African Republic. Malimbus 9: 125- 127.
CTFT (1967) Inventaire forestier dans le secteur de Nola. Centre Technique Forestier
Tropical, Nogent-sur-Maine.
Appendix
Annotated üst of birds of Dzanga-Ndoki National Park
and Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest Reserve, C.A.R.
Status: RS = resident
PM - Pal ae arc tic migrant
AM = intra-African migrant
LM = local migrant
? = status unknown or uncertain
Abundance: r = rare (1 or 2 records)
u = uncommon ( several records per year)
f = frequent (seen often, but not every day)
c = common (1-10 seen/heard daily)
a = abundant (10-100 seen/heard daily)
v = very abundant (>100 seen/heard daily)
Remarks: AAG = observation by A. A. GREEN
AWC = observation by R.W. CARROLL
(lack of initials indicates seen by both authors)
Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus : RS, u, Sangha.
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris : PM, r, Sangha, Oct 81 RWC.
Dwarf Bittern Ixobrychus sturmii : RS, r, Sangha, Oct 81 RWC & 18 Dec 89 AAG.
White-crested Tiger Heron Tigriomis leucolophus : RS, r, male in Mambélé marsh-
clearing (west of Njéké River), 19 Dec 89 AAG.
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax : PM, r, Sangha, Oct 81 RWC.
Squacco Heron Ardeola ratio ides : PM, f, Dec -Mar Sangha; one at Ngoubounga Jan
90; five at Dzanga during Mar 90.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis : AM, c, Oct-Jun in savannas and at Béya. Arrival at
Bayanga 6 Nov 88 and flocks of 20 and 30 in mid-Nov 89. Groups of 1-5 at Bayanga,
on the Sangha, and in forest clearings Nov-May, disappearing early Jun.
56
A.A. Green & R.W. Carroll
Malimbus 13
Green Heron Butorides striât us: ?, u, Nov- Apr at clearings and streams.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta : RS & PM, f, Dec-Jan on the Sangha; Jul-Jan at Bayanga
and in forest clearings, usually singly.
Yellow-billed Egret Egretta intermedia : LM, r, vagrant to the Sangha Oct 81 RWC.
Great Egret Egretta alba : RS & LM, u/f, frequent dry season and uncommon wet
season on the Sangha, singly or in small groups; two at Ngoubounga Jan 90.
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea: LM, f/c, common Dec-Jan and frequent Feb-Jul on the
Sangha and in clearings with large streams.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea : LM & PM, f/c, single birds frequent at Ngoubounga &
Mongambi Nov-Jan, Apr, Jul; common dry season on the Sangha; one at Béya 23 Jul
88.
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala : LM, f/u, single birds frequent at
Bayanga, Béya, on the Sangha, and in clearings Dec-Apr; then uncommon May-Aug.
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath : LM, r, Sangha, Oct 81 RWC
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta : RS, c, forest clearings and streams; old nests at Dzanga
and Ngoubounga.
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis : LM, r, flock on sandbar in the Sangha mid-80’s
RWC.
Black Stork Ciconia nigra : PM, r, dry season mid-80’s at Bayanga RWC; one near
Béya in savanna during 22 Nov-9 Dec 88 AAG.
Abdim’s Stork Ciconia abdimii : AM, c, southward passage at Béya and Bayanga 27-
28 Oct 88; flock of c. 150 flying down-river at Ndakan Camp on 28 Oct 88 (J.
Fangonda, pers. comm.); flock at Béya 29 Nov 89. Northward passage with 12 birds at
Bayanga 1-12 Apr 89; 22 at Bayanga 11-15 Mar 90.
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus : LM, f, forest clearings and Sangha Dec-Jan,
frequent; then uncommon Sangha Jul.
Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis : LM, r, pair on the Sangha Oct
81 RWC.
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus : LM, r, one flying over the Sangha Oct 81
RWC.
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia ha ge dash. RS, c, Sangha, clearings & streams.
Sacred Ibis Threskiomis aethiopica : LM, r, passage on Sangha Oct 81 RWC.
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus : LM, r, Sangha at Bayanga Oct 81 RWC.
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis : LM, r, Sangha at Bayanga Oct 81 RWC.
Hartlaub’s Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii : RS, c/a, two dozen at Dzanga; common at
Ngoubounga and on large forest streams; uncommon on the Sangha.
Knob-billed Duck Sarkidornis melanotos : LM, f, flocks of 2-6 on the Sangha Jul- Aug
and Jan -Feb.
Northern Pintail Anas acuta : PM, r, one on the Sangha Oct 81 RWC.
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus : in cultivation at Bayanga, dry season, mid-
80’ s RWC.
Black Kite Milvus migrons : AM, c/f, common in the savannas Oct-May. Arrival at
1991
Birds of Dzanga Reserves, C.A.R
57
Bayanga 24 Oct 88 and mid-Dec 89, with about three present during dry season, and
departing Apr 89 and Mar 90. One dry season record at Dzanga.
River Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer: RS, f, forest clearings, rivers, Sangha.
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolemis: RS, f, forest clearings, rivers; Bayanga and
other villages with oil palms.
Serpent-Eagle Dryotriorchis spectabilis: ?, r, one in forest near Yobé village 23 Mar
89 AAG.
Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus: RS, f/c, frequent along the Sangha; common at
villages. Nesting at Bayanga. Pair adults with two juvs Jan-May 89; pair adults with
one juv Nov 89 -Apr 90.
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosas: PM, u, passage Mar- Apr. One mid-80’s RWC;
male in savanna near Béya 21-24 Mar 89, and again 7 Apr 90 AAG.
Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk Accipiter castanilius: RS, u, dense forest.
Shikra Accipiter badius: LM, r, dry season in savanna in mid-80’s RWC.
Red-thighed Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus: RS, u, forest and once at Slovenia
Bois sawmill.
Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus: RS, u, forest, clearings, and flying over
Bayanga and Yobé.
Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus: RS, u, in forest Oct 81 RWC; 3 Jul 89 and
13 Jan 90 AAG.
Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus : RS, c, pairs at Dzanga and at Bayanga
and Mossapoula villages.
Red-necked Buzzard Buteo augur alis: AM, u/f, uncommon Jan-Mar 89 and Mar 90 at
Mongambi, Dzanga and Slovenia Bois sawmill; frequent in savanna patches Dec -Mar.
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax: LM, u, dry season at Bayanga and in shrub savanna
patches.
Long-crested Hawk-Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis: LM, r, once each at Bayanga and
Ngoubounga in dry season mid-80’s RWC.
Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus: RS, c, forest and flying over Bayanga.
Black Guineafowl Agelastes niger; RS, u, forest. Seen more often in the Ndoki sector
of the park than elsewhere.
Plumed Guinea-fowl Guttera phimifera: RS, f, forest. Flocks seen more frequently
along Bai Hokou track May-Aug than during the dry season.
Crested Guinea-fowl Guttera pucherani: RS, u, secondary forest and along roads.
Latham’s Forest Francolin Francolinus lathami: RS, f, forest. Nesting: adult with
downy chick on Mongambi footpath 23 Jan 90 AAG.
Scaly Francolin Francolinus squamatus: RS, c, cultivation at Bayanga and Lidjombo,
along the Bayanga-Béya road, and in shrub savanna patches.
Little Button-Quail Tumix sylvatica: AM, u, dry season visitor to savannas near Béya
and in cultivation at Bayanga Dec -Feb, usually seen in pairs AAG.
Nkulengu Rail Himantornis haematopus: RS, u, damp places in forest.
African Crake Crex egregia: LM, f, general passage late May-early Jun at Bayanga (in
58
A. A. Green & R.W. Carroll
Malimbus 13
tall grass), but also records Bai Bakalonga 31 Apr 89 RWC and Bayanga 14 Jul 89
AAG.
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris: RS, u, marshy streams in forest clearings.
Finfoot Podica senegalensis: RS, u, Sangha (one captured 19 Dec 89 AAG).
Black-bellied Bustard Eupodotis meianogaster: LM, u, only in savanna patches, Nov-
Apr (earliest record 29 Oct 88 AAG).
Lilytrotter Actophilomis af ricana: RS, f, Sangha and marshes in forest clearings.
Common Stilt Himantopus himantopus: ?, r, once in dry season in mid-80’s RWC.
Avocet Recurvirostra avocetta: PM, r, one bird in a puddle of water at Slovenia Bois
sawmill in Mar in mid-80’s RWC.
Egyptian Plover Pluvianus aegyptius: LM, u, eight at Ndakan Camp on the Sangha
mid-Nov 89 to Jan 90 (photographed) AAG.
Rock Pratincole Glareola nuchalis: LM, f, rocky areas on the upper Sangha RWC.
Grey Pratincole Glareola cinerea: LM, a, sandbars in the Sangha Dec-Apr. Flocks of
50- 100 seen mornings in Dec, but fewer seen in afternoons.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius: PM, a/c. Nov-Mar on the Sangha and in
clearings. Abundant (>100) at Dzanga late Nov-Jan, common Feb, and absent Mar 89
but abundant (>25) Mar 90.
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula : PM, u, dry season on the Sangha and at Dzanga.
Forbes’ Plover Charadrius forbesi: ?, f/c/a, frequent at Bayanga (bare ground at
airfield and in cultivation) Jan, Mar-Apr, Jul-Aug, Nov; abundant (20-30) at Dzanga
Nov-Jan; a few at Bai Hokou Mar 90.
White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus: LM, c/a, late Nov-Jan at Slovenia Bois
sawmill, Dzanga and on the Sangha. Abundant (several hundred) at Dzanga 22 Nov -
Dec 88, declining in Jan 89, and abundant again Dec 89. Common on sandbars in the
Sangha Dec- Jan.
African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus: LM, r, once in dry season mid-80’s
RWC at Bayanga.
White-headed Lapwing Vanellus albiceps: LM, c/a, groups of 1-6 on sandbars in the
Sangha Nov-Jun; most common Dec- Jan.
Sanderling Calidris alba: PM, r, on the Sangha Oct 81 RWC.
Little Stint Calidris minuta: PM, a, Nov-Mar on sandbars in the Sangha, at Bayanga
and in forest clearings. At Dzanga >100 late Nov-Jan then less common Feb; abundant
Dec-Jan on the Sangha.
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea: PM, r, record at Slovenia Bois sawmill 7 Nov
88 AAG.
Ruff Philomachus pugnax: PM, r, eight birds at Dzanga 9 Sep 88 AAG.
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago: PM, u, pair at Slovenia Bois sawmill 30 Oct - 7
Nov 88 and again 19 Nov 89; four at Dzanga 12-13 Mar 90 AAG.
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus: PM, r, dry season in the mid-80’s RWC.
Common Redshank Tringa totanus: PM, f, one bird at Slovenia Bois sawmill during
early Oct 88; frequent on sandbars in the Sangha Dec-Jan.
1991
Birds of Dzanga Reserves, C A.R
59
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis : PM, f/a, frequent at Slovenia Bois sawmill Nov
88; abundant (>150) at Dzanga mid-Mar 90.
Greenshank Tringa nebularis : PM, f, Nov-Apr visitor to Bayanga, Dzanga and
sandbars in the Sangha.
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus : PM, f, Nov-Jan (perhaps longer) visitor to
Bayanga, Dzanga and Ndakan Camp.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola : PM, a, visitor late Nov to late Mar to forest
clearings, Bayanga and the Sangha. Abundant (several hundred) at Dzanga late Nov-
Jan, common Feb, few Mar, pair 28 Apr 89; abundant 1 1 Mar 90 at Dzanga. Abundant
at Slovenia Bois sawmill mid-Nov to Jan; common on sandbars in the Sangha Dec;
common at Bai Hokou Jan -Mar 90. Much more common Nov-Dec 88 than the same
period 89; much more common Mar 90 than Apr 89.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos : PM, c/f, common on the Sangha and at
Bayanga; frequent in forest clearings. Arrival at Bayanga 28 Jul 88 and 27 Jul 89;
departure Apr 89 and 90. Frequent Jul-Sep, then common. (Abundant in ones or twos
during 90 km transit Bayanga to Ndakan Camp 18 Dec 89 AAG.)
Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrhocephalus : LM, r, one collected by a fisherman on the
Sangha Oct 81 RWC, vagrant.
African Green Pigeon Treron calva : RS, f, flocks of 6-15 in forest, clearings, and at
Bayanga.
Blue-headed Wood-dove Turtnr brehmeri: RS, a, singly in forest.
Red-billed Wood-dove Turtur afer: RS, a, shrub savanna patches, cultivation,
Bayanga-Béya road, and forest clearings; usually singly.
Grey Wood Pigeon Columba unicincta : RS, c, canopy of high forest and forest
clearings, usually in pairs, AAG. Occasionally in flocks on ground at Dzanga and in
savanna, RWC.
Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus : RS, a, forest, clearings, and at Bayanga. Up to 200 at
Dzanga; up to 40 flying over Bayanga mornings.
Red-fronted Parrot Poicephalus gulielmi : RS, u, primary forest. Large flocks near
Yobé village seen several times per year. Flocks also seen at Mongambi and on the
upper Kénié River.
Red-headed Lovebird Agapornis pullaria : ?, r, flock at forest edge at Ngoubounga
Mar 89 RWC.
Black-collared Lovebird Agapornis swinderniana : ?, r, flock on the upper Kénié
River Mar 89 RWC.
Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola crist at a : RS, c, in forest, in ones, twos or threes.
Green Turaco Tauraco persa : RS, u, secondary forest (often seen flying across forest
roads).
Levaillant’s Cuckoo Oxylophus levaillantii : AM, u, passage migrant J un-Aug. Two at
Slovenia Bois sawmill 29 Jul 88; one at Bayanga airfield 1 Aug 88; one at airfield 30
Jun 89.
Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius : RS, c, heard calling much of the year in
60
A.A. Green & R.W. Carroll
Malimbus 13
forest and at Bayanga.
Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus: ?, r, at two locations in the forest on 4 Jul 89 AAG.
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi : RS, r, Ngoubounga 23 Mar 89;
headwaters of Kénié River 10 Mar 90.
Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus: ?, r, along the Liboué Track in dense forst 24
May 89 AAG.
Didric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius : LM, u, passage migrant Nov and Mar. At
Slovenia Bois sawmill, one 4 Nov 88; one 27 Mar 89; three 29 Mar 89 AAG.
Yellow-bill Ceuthmochares aereus: RS, u, forest and clearings (Ngoubounga, Bai
Hokou, Dzanga).
Gabon Coucal Centropus anselli: RS, u, along the Bai Hokou track in secondary
(logged) forest.
Centropus sp. A large coucal seen several times in forest, matching description of
Centropus grillii (Black Coucal), but in unusual habitat for this species.
Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis : RS, c, savanna patches, cultivation, near
villages, and in large forest clearings.
Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus : RS, u, shrub savanna patches.
Fraser’s Eagle-Owl Bubo poensis : RS, r, one in a tree beside the Njéké River 19 Dec
89 AAG.
African Wood-Owl Strix woodfordii: RS, f, forest. Often seen while driving at night.
Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus : RS, r, primary forest. First reported for
C.A.R. in this area by Carroll & Fry (1987); seen again on the Dzanga track in Jul 88
AAG.
Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus : LM, u/f, dry season visitor to
savannas and in dry years to Bayanga (a few at Bayanga late Jan to early Mar 89, but
none there in 1990 AAG). Captured at Bayanga RWC.
Plain Nightjar Caprimulgus inomatus: LM, c, shrub savannas Dec-Mar; at Bayanga
airfield Dec 88 to Mar 89 and late Jan to mid-Mar 90 (also along roads and in
cultivation).
Standard-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx longipennis : AM, c, Dec-Mar at Bayanga
and in shrub savannas. Males in breeding plumage at Béya in Dec. Female roadkill at
Bayanga 1 1 Mar 90 AAG.
Pennant-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx vexillaria: AM, u, passage migrant in
savannas and in cultivation at Bayanga and Babongo villages in July.
Sabine’s Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini: RS, c, flocks of 4-10 over forest clearings &
streams and over the Sangha. The most common spinetail
Black Spinetail Telacanthura melanopygia : LM, r, once in forest Oct 81 RWC.
Mottled Spinetail Telecanthura ussheri: LM, r, vagrant near Bayanga Oct 81 RWC.
Cassin’s Spinetail Neafrapus cassini: RS, c, flocks of 2-8 over forest clearings and
over the Sangha.
Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus: RS, a, villages and clearings.
White-rumped Swift Apus coffer : LM, u, over forest clearings and the Sangha. Flock
1991
Birds of Dzanga Reserves, C A.R
61
of two dozen at Dzanga 14 Dec 88.
Little Swift Apus affirms: ?, r, flock over Sangha River mid-SO’s RWC.
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus: RS, u, only in shrub savannas near Béya.
Narina’s Trogon Apaloderma narina : RS, r, primary forest 27 Jan 89 RWC;
headwaters of Kénié River 10 Mar 90 AAG,
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia: RS, u, forest (more often heard than seen).
Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala: LM, r, Bayanga Oct 81 RWC.
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis: RS, c, Bayanga, villages, cultivation,
forest clearings and along the Sangha.
Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx lecontei: RS, r, near forest stream Oct 81 RWC; forest near
Yobé village 11 Nov 88 AAG.
Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx pictai RS, u, along the Sangha and at Bayanga.
White-bellied Kingfisher Corythomis leucogaster : RS, u, along forest streams.
Malachite Kingfisher Corythomis cristata: RS, f, along the Sangha and at Bayanga.
Shining-blue Kingfisher Alcedo quadribrachys: RS, c, along the Sangha; one record
at the bridge over the Yobé River.
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima : RS, u, Sangha River.
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis: RS, c/f, common on the Sangha; frequent on the Kénié
at Ngoubounga, singly or in pairs.
Black-headed Bee-eater Merops breweri: RS, u, forest (three in a tree at Dzanga 9 Sep
88, one at Ngoubounga 27 Jan 89, other records).
Blue-headed Bee-eater Merops muelleri : RS, r, forest, Oct 81 RWC.
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis : RS, u, forest, Oct 81, Nov 88, Jan 90, Mar 89.
Blue-breasted Bee -eater Merops variegatus: RS, u, only shrub savannas, small flocks
of 4-6 AAG.
White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis: AM, a, Nov-Apr visitor to Bayanga,
villages, clearings. Arrival at Bayanga 3 Nov 88 and flock of 80 on 8 Nov 88;
departure late Apr 89 and 90.
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis: RS, u, forest, groups of up to four.
White-headed Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus bollei: RS, u, forest.
Hoopoe Upupa epops: PM, r, savanna near Béya 20 Jan 90 AAG.
White-crested Hornbill Tockus albocristatus: RS, c, forest, usually singly, but also in
pairs or threes.
Black Dwarf Hornbill Tockus hartlaubi: RS, u, forest or forest edge in groups of 2-4.
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Tockus camurus: RS, u, swamp forest (photographed
RWC).
Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus: RS, c, forest and edge of cultivation (second most
common hornbill).
Piping Hornbill Ceratogymna fistulator: RS, u, forest edge and cultivation at Bayanga
and Yobé village.
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna subcylindricus: RS, f, secondary
forest and forest edge at Bayanga and other villages.
62
A. A. Green & R.W. Carroll
Malimbus 13
Brown-cheeked Hornbill Ceratogymna cylindricus: RS, a, forest, clearings and
cultivation in flocks of 5-8 (most abundant hornbill).
Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata: RS, f/c, forest in flocks of 4-6
(especially common along the lower Kénié River near Slovenia Bois sawmill).
Grey-throated Barbet Gymnobucco bonapartei: RS, u, forest and forest edge
(Ngoubounga).
Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus: RS, f, forest and edge of cultivation at
Bayanga.
Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus RS, c, forest, clearings (Bai Deboué)
and edge of cultivation at Bayanga.
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus: RS, c, forest clearings and
cultivation at Bayanga, where more common than P. atroflavus .
Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaiUui : RS, u, canopy of primary forest.
Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus : RS, r, forest Oct 81 RWC; forest 16
May 89 AAG.
Lyre-tailed Honey-guide Melichneutes robustus : RS, u, forest.
African Piculet Sasia af ricana: RS, u, secondary growth in forest.
Green-backed Woodpecker Campethera cailliautii : RS, u, forest and edge of
clearings (Bai Hokou, Bai Bakalonga).
Brown-eared Woodpecker Campethera caroli : RS, u, forest and clearings (Dzanga).
Speckle-breasted Woodpecker Dendropicos poecilolaemus : ?, r, forest edge at
Bayanga Jan 89 AAG.
Gabon Woodpecker Dendropicos gabonensis: ?, r, forest edge at Bai Mongoli 1 1 Mar
90 AAG.
Yellow-crested Woodpecker Dendropicos xantholophus : ?, r, female drumming near
the watch-tower at Dzanga 28 Apr 89 AAG.
Elliot’s Woodpecker Dendropicos ellioti: ?, r, forest in dry season in mid-80’s RWC.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica : PM, c/a, Oct-Apr at clearings, villages, cultivation,
and over the Sangha. Arrival Bayanga 30 Oct 88; departure early Apr 89 and 90.
Comon Nov, abundant Dec-Mar (large flocks of 60 or more forming late Mar).
White-throated Blue Swallow Hirundo nigrita : RS, c, groups of 1-6 (usually pairs)
along the Sangha: also uncommon on the Yobé River.
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii: LM, r, flock at Bayanga Oct 81 RWC.
Rufous-chested Swallow Hirundo semirufa: RS, f/c/a, uncommon in clearings
(except frequent at Dzanga); common in villages and cultivation; abundant (>15) at
Slovenia Bois sawmill.
Mosque Swallow Hirundo senegalensis: RS, c/f, uncommon in clearings (except
frequent at Dzanga); common at Bayanga (two pairs) and villages.
Western Rough-wing Swallow Psalidoprocne pristoptera: LM, r, flock at
Ngoubounga Nov 89 RWC.
Square- tailed Rough -wing Swallow Psalidoprocne nitens : RS, c, over forest streams
and clearings, villages, and over the Sangha in flocks of 4-8.
1991
Birds of Dzanga Reserves, C. A.R
63
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava : PM, a, Nov- Apr visitor to clearings, villages, and
sandbars on the Sangha. Arrival at Bayanga 7 Nov 88, change to breeding dress Mar,
and departure 15 Apr 89.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba : PM, r, dry season visitor to forest clearings RWC.
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp : LM, u, Jun-Aug visitor to villages.
Curly-crested Helmet-shrike Prionops plumata : ?, r, flock in shrub savanna Oct 81 RWC.
Red-billed Shrike Prionops caniceps : RS, u, flocks of 4-8 in forest; once six at
Bayanga.
Sabine’s Puff-back Shrike Dryoscopus sabini: RS, u, forest canopy; Slovenia Bois
sawmill 31 Oct 88.
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis : ?, r, shrub savanna Oct 81 RWC.
Bell Shrike Laniarius ferrugineus : RS, f/c, secondary forest, forest edge, and at
Bayanga (where heard calling daily). Also along the Bai Hokou track and at Bai
Mongambi May-Jul.
Sooty Boubou Laniarius leucorhynchus : RS, u, forest Oct 81 RWC; Bai Bakalonga
31 Mar 89; dense undergrowth along the Babongo River Jun 89 AAG.
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus : PM, r, dry season mid-80’s at Bayanga
RWC.
Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrhynchus : RS, u, primary forest.
Black-winged Oriole Oriolus nigripennis : RS, u, forest near Bai Hokou.
Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii ; RS, u, edge of clearings.
Shining Drongo Dicrurus atripennis: RS, u, primary forest.
Purple-headed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis purpureiceps : RS, f, small flocks in
forest, clearings (Bai Hokou, Ngoubounga), and in cultivation at Bayanga.
Splendid Glossy Starling Lamprotornis splendidus : RS, f, forest edge and at Bayanga
in groups of 2-5.
Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus : RS, u, on cattle in shrub savannas near
Béya RWC.
Piapiac Ptilostomus afer: RS, u, in shrub savannas RWC.
Blue Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina azurea : forest and forest edge (Ngoubounga).
Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga quiscalina : ?, r, one in a thicket at
stream si de at Bai Bakalonga 27 Jan 89 RWC.
Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus : RS, a, forest, clearings, streamside and village.
Vent colour varies from white to bright yellow.
Little Greenbul Andropadus virens : RS, u, near forest streams and swamp forest
(lower Kénié River).
Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus: RS, u, forest; also flock in fruiting fig at
Slovenia Bois sawmill 24 Jan 89.
Yellow-throated Leaflove Chlorocichla flavicollis : RS, r, one in a fruiting fig at
Slovenia Bois sawmill 24 Jan 89.
White-tailed Greenbul Thescelocichla leucopleura : RS, u, near forest streams
(Mongambi 1 Jul 89); also at fruiting fig at Slovenia Bois sawmill 24 Jan 89.
64
A.A. Green & R.W. Carroll
Malimbus 13
Leaflove Phyllastrephus scandens : RS, r, one in forest 27 Jan 89 RWC.
Xavier’s or Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus xavieri/icterinus : RS, u, several
sightings in forest near Kénié River (near Bayanga) Jul-Aug 88 AAG.
Bristlebill Bleda syndactyla : ?, u, forest near Bai Hokou and along the Bai Hokou
track.
White-bearded Bulbul Criniger calurus : RS, u, forest, often seen along the Bai
Hokou track.
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra: PM, c, passage migrant in cultivation at Bayanga 17-28
Mar 89 and 1 2-30 Mar 90 AAG.
Sooty Ant-Chat Myrmecocichla nigra : RS, a, only in shrub savannas.
West African Thrush Turdus pelios: RS, f, bamboo thickets at Bayanga, riverbank of
Sangha, forest clearings.
Black-cap Akalat Malacocincla cleaveri : RS, u, thick cover in forest.
Black-cap Babbler Turdoides reinwardii : ?, u, bamboo thickets and riverbank
vegetation at Slovenia Bois sawmill May-Sep.
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenohaenus : PM, u, dry season visitor to marshes
and swamps of forest clearings (Bai Bakalonga) RWC.
Chattering Cisticola Cisticola anon y ma : RS, a, cultivation and forest clearings having
tall grasses and sedges.
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava : RS, u, cultivation and forest edge near
Bayanga.
Banded Prinia Prinia bairdii : RS, u, abandoned cultivation and forest clearings.
Black-faced Warbler Bathmocercus cerviniventris: RS, u, undergrowth of swampy
forest (Ngoubounga 27 Jan 89); abandoned cultivation.
Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura : RS, r, a small flock in
cultivation at Bayanga 1 Aug 88 AAG.
Green Crombec Sylvietta virens: RS, u, dense undergrowth at forest edge; streamside
(Yobé River 12 Nov 88).
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata : PM, u, dry season visitor to forest edge at
Bayanga; once at Ngoubounga 27 Jan 89 RWC.
Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini : RS, c, along forest streams and the
Sangha, usually singly, on a branch out over water.
Yellow-footed Flycatcher Muscicapa sethsmithi : RS, u, primary forest near Bai
Hokou, several observations.
Olivaceous Flycatcher Muscicapa olivascens : RS, r, one in dense forest near
Ngoubounga 27 Jan 89 RWC.
Dusky Blue Flycatcher Muscicapa comitata: RS, u, secondary forest and edge of
forest clearings (Bai Bakalonga 21 Mar 89).
Sooty Flycatcher Artomyias fuliginosa: RS, r, one in cultivation near Kénié River at
Bayanga 1 Nov 88 AAG.
Grey Tit-Babbler Myioparus plumb eus: RS, r, open forest Oct 81 RWC; near edge of
Sangha River at Bayanga dry season 89.
1991
Birds of Dzanga Reserves, C.A.R
65
Fraser’s Forest Flycatcher Fraseria ocreata: RS, u, in tall trees at forest clearings and
in cultivation.
Black-and-white Flycatcher Bias musicus : RS, f, at Bayanga, Ndakan Camp,
clearings, and in forest. Pair singing and defending territory late Oct to mid- Jan each
year at Bayanga; nesting at Bai Hokou 21 Mar 89 RWC.
Scarlet-spectacled Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea : RS, c, at Bayanga and Slovenia
Bois sawmill.
Chestnut Wattle-eye Platysteira castanea : RS, u, forest near streams and near
Ngoubounga (Oct, Nov, Jan, Mar, Apr).
Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye Platysteira concreta: RS, r, one at Ngoubounga dry season
mid-80’s RWC.
Chestnut-cap Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii: RS, r, a flock at Bai Hokou in mid-
80’ s RWC.
Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher Trochocercus nitens: RS, u, forest undergrowth near
clearings (Ngoubounga, Bai Hokou).
Dusky Crested Flycatcher Trochocercus nigromitratus: RS, r, one netted at Bai
Hokou in primary forest 3 Jan 89 AAG.
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventeri RS, u, secondary forest,
along forest tracks, and in clearings.
Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis: ?, u, Bayanga and in clearings, generally
white-tailed specimens, but one blue phase at Ngoubounga 3 1 Mar 89.
Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone batesi: RS, u, forest (not seen in
clearings).
Dusky Tit Parus funereus: RS, u, forest; one in a fruiting fig at Slovenia Bois sawmill
24 Jan 89.
Collared S unbird Anthreptes collaris: RS, u, forest, clearings, and a pair at Slovenia
Bois sawmill 29 Jul 88.
Olive Sunbird Nectarinia olivaceai RS, u, forest clearings.
Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia vertkalis: RS, r, a pair at Ngoubounga 31 Mar 89
RWC.
Green-throated Sunbird Nectarinia rubescens : RS, f, at Bayanga and Slovenia Bois
sawmill.
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Nectarinia senegalensis: LM, r, bank of the Sangha at
Bayanga in mid-80’s, and at Bai Bakalonga 31 Mar 89 RWC.
Olive-bellied Sunbird Nectarinia chloropygiai RS, c, Bayanga and forest clearings.
Nesting at Bayanga (fledglings Oct-Nov 88, and covering eggs Nov 89).
Splendid Sunbird Nectarinia coccinigaster: ?, r, Ngoubounga 31 Mar 89 RWC.
Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons: RS, a, large flock nesting in sedge marsh at
Ngoubounga Jul-Oct each year.
Orange Weaver Ploceus aurantius: RS, u, pairs in riverside vegetation at Slovenia
Bois sawmill and at Bela sawmill (Cameroon) opposite Lidjombo, along the Sangha.
Village Weaver Ploceus cucuttatus: RS, a, villages and cultivation; nesting activity
66
A. A. Green & R.W. Carroll
Malimbus 13
noted throughout the year.
Vieillot’s Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus : RS, a, cultivation at Bayanga and
Lidjombo; nesting Jul-Aug, and perhaps throughout the rainy season.
Compact Weaver Ploceus superciliosus : RS, r, a pair in riverside vegetation
downstream of Slovenia Bois sawmill 29 Apr 89 AAG.
Uganda Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis : RS, u, forest clearings (Dzanga),
cultivation (Mossapoula), and riverbank at Bayanga and at Bela Sawmill (Cameroon),
across from Lidjombo (Jul 88 and Dec 89).
Gray’s Malimbe Malimbus nitens : RS, r, streamside in forest Oct 81 RWC.
Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis: RS, u, canopy of forest.
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus : RS, u, dense forest growth; nesting near Bai
Bakalonga 21 Mar 89 RWC.
Chestnut-crowned Sparrow- Weaver Plocepasser superciliosus : RS, u, a pair at
Slovenia Bois sawmill 1988-90.
Fire-crowned Bishop Euplectes hordeacus : RS, c, only in shrub savanna patches; in
breeding plumage Jun-Nov.
Yellow-mantled Whydah Euplectes macrourus : RS, c, only in shrub savanna patches;
in breeding plumage Jun-Nov.
Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus : RS, a, only at Béya and Monasaou villages in
shrub savanna patches.
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura : RS, c/u, common in shrub savannas (in breeding
plumage Jun-Oct); uncommon in cultivation at Bayanga Jul-Sep 89 (not noted in 1988).
Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah Vidua orientalis: ?, u/r, uncommon in shrub savannas
(in breeding plumage Sep-Feb); one record at Bayanga in dry season mid-80’s RWC.
Grey-headed Negro-Finch Nigrita canicapilla: RS, f, at Bayanga and Slovenia Bois
sawmill.
White-breasted Negro-Finch Nigrita fusconota : RS, u, Bayanga, Slovenia Bois
sawmill and Kénié River.
Black-headed Waxbill Estrilda atricapilla : RS, a, forest clearings with tall grasses and
sedges, cultivation, and Slovenia Bois sawmill.
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild : RS, a, forest clearings with tall grasses and sedges,
cultivation, Slovenia Bois sawmill, and shrub savannas.
Blue-billed Mannikin Lonchura bicolor : RS, a. forest clearings, cultivation, Slovenia
Bois sawmill.
Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata : RS, a, only in cultivation at Béya and
Monasaou villages in shrub savanna patches.
1991
67
The Status of Larks in The Gambia, including First Records
of Sun Lark Galerida modesta
by Rachel Mai Jones
Garden Flat, 29 Stonor Road, London W14 8RZ, UK
Received 26 September 1991
Revised 14 November 1991
Summary
The Sun Lark Galerida modesta is added to the Gambian list. Its eastern race,
G. m. giffardi , is a locally common breeder. The status of the Singing Bush-
Lark Mirafra cantillans is revised from vagrant to localised dry season visitor.
These changes suggest an extension of the range to the south and the west for
two dry savanna larks. The Chestnut-backed Finch-Lark Eremopterix leucotis is
a dry season visitor, not resident, as previously thought.
Resume
L’ Alouette modeste Galerida modesta s’ajoute à la liste de la Gambie. Sa race
orientale, G. m. giffardi , est commune localement, nicheuse. Le statut de
l’Alouette chanteuse Mirafra cantillans est modifié: il passe de celui d’espèce
occasionelle à celui de visiteur de saison sèche. Ces changements suggèrent
une extension d’habitat vers le sud et l’ouest de deux alouettes de savane sèche.
L’ Alouette-moineau à oreillons blancs Eremopterix leucotis est visiteur de
saison sèche, et non pas résident, comme on le croyait auparavant.
Introduction
Gore (1990) admits five species of lark to the Gambian list (Singing Bush-Lark Mirafra
cantillans » Flappet Lark M. rufocinnamomea , Rufous-rumped Bush-Lark M. nigricans ,
Chestnut-backed Finch-Lark Eremopterix leucotis , Crested Lark Galerida cristate) and
rejects records of two (Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla and White-fronted
Finch-Lark Eremopterix nigriceps). Of the five species accepted two are described as
vagrants, one as rare and the remaining two are residents. Their respective status, as
described by Gore, is as follows; Divisions of The Gambia are shown in Fig. 1. Singing
Bush-Lark, a single record, December 1986, Keneba, Lower River Division (LRD);
Flappet Lark rare but widely distributed and presumably resident (apparently only five
records); Rufous-rumped Bush-Lark, a single record near Banjul, Dec- Jan 1960-61;
Chestnut-backed Finch-Lark, locally resident and not uncommon in dry open country
68
R.M. Jones
Malimbus 13
and grassland on the north bank in Middle and Upper River, scarce on the south bank,
occasionally occurring near the coast, breeding suspected but not proven; Crested Lark,
resident breeder, confined to the littoral and locally common.
In this paper, I comment on the status of each species (except for the Rufous-rumped
Bush-Lark for which we have no further observations). Included are extensive field
notes for the Singing Bush-Lark and for the Sun Lark Galerida modesta, an addition to
the Gambian list. Quantitative data are drawn from a database of about 40,000 records
(at least one individual of a species recorded at a given location on any one day)
covering the period 1987-91, with most records for 1990. The database was established
by T.J. Wacher and, in addition to his and my data, includes extensive contributions by:
J.R. Alder, M. Chable, R. Webzell and D. Wheeler.
Singing Bush-Lark Mirafra cantillans
This species was recently discovered in Prufu Swamp in Upper River Division (URD).
Excellent views were obtained by a number of observers (including JRA, RMJ and
TJW) in the first quarter of 1991. A pair was watched by the author in the early evening
of 11 Mar 1991. They were flushed from dry, knee-high grass on the edge of Prufu
Swamp (which was almost dry by March) and were observed from close quarters
walking on dry soil with scattered clumps of grass. In the vicinity were flocks of
Chestnut-backed Finch-Lark and Quail-Finch Ortygospiza atricollis. The white outer
tail feathers were conspicuous in flight, the central tail feathers rufous edged, and there
was a bit of cinnamon on the flight feathers. The mantle was generally sandy coloured
with dark centres to the feathers, but showing less contrast than the Sun Lark. The
breast was faintly streaked, and slightly washed with brown.
1991
Larks in The Gambia
69
Apart from Prufu Swamp, this species has been observed in the North Bank Division
(NBD) east of Essau and on the north bank of URD east of Basse, so it occurs
throughout the length of the country. It seems that the status of this species should be
revised to localised, possibly common, certainly widespread in suitable habitat (short
grass in dry swamps). However, it has not been observed since the beginning
(May/June) of the 1991 rains (J.R. Alder pers. comm.), which suggests that it only
occurs in The Gambia as part of a post-breeding dispersal.
It breeds to the north in Senegal during the rains (Morel & Morel 1990), when it is
said to become more conspicuous as a result of its display flight (Serle & Morel 1977).
Recent evidence from Senegal suggests that at least part of the Senegalese population
may be migratory (Mullié & Keith 1991). It has also been noticed that the first
significant rains appear to trigger nuptial displays, nest building and egg laying in this
species; a clutch of three eggs was laid on 30 June in northern Senegal within six days
of the first significant rain (Morel 1981). The first nest-building noted by Mullié &
Keith (1991) was 11 July in 1989, while the first significant rains recorded in that year
at Richard-Toll were on 27 June and 11 July, although local variation was considerable
and the observers may have missed the onset of breeding in the study area. By October
the number of birds in their study area had declined considerably, the remaining
population having concentrated in the apparently most favourable habitat in the area.
Ringers operating in the Djoudj National Park in the 1990/91 dry season did not record
this species (G. Barnes pers. comm.). Unfortunately the arrival date of this species in
The Gambia is not yet known. However, a departure date from The Gambia at the
beginning of the rains would be consistent with the onset of breeding in northern
Senegal, as the onset of the rains is later further north.
Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea
Only three records, in addition to those cited in Gore (1990), are known. Ericsson
(1989) records flushing “about five several times on dry sandy ground in the NW part
of Prufu Swamp” on 22 Nov 1984. It is in this area and habitat that the Singing Bush-
Lark was recently recorded. The two species should be readily distinguishable by the
colour of the outer tail feathers. Flappet Lark has been recorded once displaying in
Kudang, MacCarthy Island Division (MID) by TJW, and more recently several were
displaying at Kaur (MID north bank), July 1991 (JRA and others, pers. comm.). Gore’s
statement that it is “rare” would appear to be correct as its display should make it one of
the most conspicuous species of lark.
Chestnut-backed Finch-Lark Eremopterix leucotis
The data presented in Tables 1 and 2 support Gore’s comment, except that this species
appears not to be resident. It is better described as a dry season visitor, when it is
extremely common in suitable habitat (short grass or bare soil often in desiccated
70
R.M. Jones
Malimbus 13
swamps) often inland and mainly on the north bank (Prufu Swamp on the south bank in
URD is an exception). The north bank of the river accounts for 28 of the 58
observations, although observations recorded in the database are heavily weighted in
favour of the south bank. It may be lack of suitable habitat which restricts this species
on the south bank. Two records in May and June are of single individuals (the number
involved in the third case is unknown to the author).
Table 1. Number of days on which at least one Chestnut-backed
Finch-Lark was recorded, for the years from 1987 - 1991 inclusive, by month.
Both Bannerman (1936) and Serle & Morel (1977) describe this species as shifting
north during the rains, which may explain its absence from The Gambia at that season.
The first record for the 1990/91 dry season in Prufu Swamp was 29 Oct (JR A).
Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Gore’s statement that this species is confined to the littoral is confirmed by the records
in Table 3, all of which, except for one in NBD, were in WD. The farthest inland it has
been recorded in The Gambia is only 30 km. This site, where the species is regularly
recorded, is on flats behind mangroves on the edge of the river. This association with
coast seems to be peculiar to The Gambia and Senegal, although it is also found in the
Senegal Valley (Morel & Morel 1990), as the species has a fairly continuous range
across West Africa at least to the Niger inundation zone (M ackworth-Praed & Grant
1970). Gore’s supposition that this species must also occur on the north bank littoral is
confirmed by one record from NBD. Surprisingly there are few records for May-Sept
inclusive. This would be expected if most of these birds are Palaearctic migrants,
however Gore records this species as breeding “Nov-May, most Dec-Feb”. The species
1991
Larks in The Gambia
71
is also recorded breeding further north (Morel & Morel 1990). Local movements may
be a possibile explanation, alternatively this apparent wet-season absence may be a
result of distortions in coverage, especially as coastal birdwatching tends to be less
popular during this period as a result of the absence of migrants.
Table 3. Number of days on which at least one Crested Lark was recorded, for the
years 1987 - 1991 inclusive, by month.
Sun Lark Galerida modesta
This species was first sighted on the north bank of URD on 3 Nov 1990. It was on an
open area of short grass dotted with widely scattered trees. The poor vegetation
appeared to be the consequence of extremely thin soil on latente, which accounted for
the land being uncultivated. Once the site was located the larks were very easy to find,
as there was a pair in the shade of almost every tree. Subsequently this lark has been
found in similar habitat elsewhere on the north bank in URD (JRA) and has continued
to be recorded at four separate locations into the rainy season of 1991 (TJW). The birds
I saw were identified by pale edges to the feathers of the upperparts; on the primaries
this had the effect of creating a paler patch on the closed wing. The birds were heavily
streaked dark brown (the wing coverts appearing almost spotted as a consequence), with
a strong pale supercilium, dark eye-stripe extending back to the ear coverts, buffy outer
edges to dark tail feathers, belly and undertail coverts white, throat but not breast
streaked, and a crest which could be raised and lowered. It made a small three note
rattling call from the ground. On 10 Dec 1990 a juvenile, only just fledged (it could fly
a few feet with difficulty), was also present.
As a result of comparison of photographs (taken by JRA) with skins at the British
Museum (Natural History) these birds were identified as Sun Larks, a new species for
The Gambia. This species has been previously recorded from Casamance in Senegal as
Galerida modesta nigrita , the same subspecies as occurs in Guinea (Walsh 1987).
However, this is not the subspecies occurring in The Gambia, which has very pale,
rather than brown, edgings to its feathers. The Gambian bird seems most likely to be G.
m. giffardi which Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1970) do not record west of Mali. Morel
& Morel (1990) record this species in Senegal both due east of the Gambian sightings
and also in the south-east close to the Guinea border. There is also an isolated record
east of Dakar. The subspecies of these Senegalese records is not stated.
72
R.M Jones
Malimbus 13
Discussion
The above records suggest that the regular range of one species and one subspecies of
lark, Mirafra cantillans and Galerida modesta giffardi , which inhabit the dry bush
south of the desert and north of the forest zones, should be extended to the south and
west. The Singing Bush-Lark has previously been recorded in southern Mauritania and
Senegal to the north and Mali and Senegal to the east. Serle & Morel (1977) also state
that this species occurs in Guinea, although the source for this statement is unclear since
it is not recorded there in M ack worth -Praed & Grant (1970), nor in Richards (1982),
Browne (1984), Walsh (1987) and Morel & Morel (1988). There is, however, one
record from south-east Senegal close to the borders of both Guinea and Mali (Morel &
Morel 1990).
G. m. giffardi has been recorded to the east in Mali, and this is possibly the
subspecies which occurs to the north and east in Senegal. A different subspecies, not so
far recorded in The Gambia, occurs in Guinea to the south. It is surprising that the
Rufous-rumped Bush-Lark, also an inhabitant of the dry bush, has not been sighted
since it was first recorded in 1960-61.
Acknowledgments
J.R. Alder as a companion and guide in URD, and for additional data and comments on
the second draft; Dr.R.A. Cheke for comments and assistance with the first draft of this
paper; P.R. Colston for assistance in locating skins at Tring; T.J. Wacher recorder of the
Gambian Ornithological Society, who also provided additional data after reading the
second draft; Dr G.J. Morel, who undertook a literature search for recent Guinea
records of Singing Bush-Lark.
References
Bannerman, D.A. (1936) Birds of Tropical West Africa, Vol. 4. Crown Agents,
London.
Browne, P.W.P. (1984) Seven new species for Conakry, Guinea. Malimbus 6: 74.
Gore, M.E.J. (1990) The Birds of The Gambia . British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring.
Mackworth -Praed, C.W. & Grant, C.H.B. (1970) African Handbook of Birds. Series
Three - West Central and Western Africa , Vol.l. Longman, London.
Morel, G.J. (1981) Réponse à la pluie de Mirafra javanica. Malimbus 3: 57-58.
Morel, G.J. & Morel, M.-Y. (1988) Liste des oiseaux de Guinée. Malimbus 10: 143-
176.
Morel, G.J. & Morel, M.-Y. (1990) Les Oiseaux de Sénégambie. ORSTOM, Paris.
Mullié, W.C. & Keith, J.O. (1991) Notes on the breeding biology, food and weight of
1991
Larks in The Gambia
73
the Singing Bush-Lark Mirafra javanica in northern Senegal. Malimbus 13: 24-39.
Richards, D.K. (1982) The birds of Conakry and Kakulima, Democratic Republic of
Guinea. Malimbus 4: 93-103.
Serle, W. & Morel, G.J. (1977) A Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa. Collins,
London.
Walsh, J.F. (1987) Records of birds seen in north-eastern Guinea in 1984-1985.
Malimbus 9: 105-122.
Pied Kingfisher - Martin-Pêcheur pie - Ceryle rudis
(Photo: Philip Blasdale)
74
Malimbus 13
A New Subspecies of Forest Scrub- Robin
Cercotrichas leucosticta from West Africa
by Alan Tye
P.O. Box 1, Amani, via Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania.
Received 12 May 1991
Revised 14 August 1991
Summary
Specimens of Cercotrichas leucosticta from Mt Nimba (Liberia) and Ivory
Coast differ from the Ghanaian Type of C. leucosticta and are described as a
new subspecies.
Résumé
Des spécimens de Cercotrichas leucosticta du Mt Nimba (Libéria) et de la Côte
d’ivoire se distinguent du Type (de Ghana) de C. leucosticta et sont décrits
comme nouvelle sous-espèce.
Introduction
The Forest Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas (Erythropygia) leucosticta was originally
described by Sharpe (1883, p. 44 and plate 1) from a single skin of an adult bird, whose
label bears the locality 'Accra’. The skin was presented to the British Museum (Natural
History) (BMNH) by Sharpe, but no other information regarding its provenance is
available. The species has rarely been collected since, probably on account of its forest
habitat and shyness, although it occurs widely but discontinuously in Africa, in Sierra
Leone/Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, NE Zaïre and Angola (see Hall & Moreau 1970).
Bannerman (1936) knew of the existence of only one specimen from West Africa,
other than the type, a juvenile collected in Liberia by Stampfli (Biittikofer 1888). More
recently, two males were collected in the Ivory Coast (now in the Field Museum of
Natural History, Chicago) and Forbes -Watson collected a series of ten males and eight
females (according to the BMNH accessions register, not 1 1 males and seven females
as stated by Colston & Curry-Lindahl 1986) on the Liberian side of Mt Nimba, of
which nine males and seven females are in the BMNH. These birds differ from the
Type of C. leucosticta in coloration and I propose to name them
1991
Cercotrichas leucosticta subsp. nov.
75
C. L colstoni subsp. nov.
Holotype
BMNH no. 1977.20.1361, adult male, collected at Grassfield, Mt Nimba, Liberia on 3
Aug 1967 by A.D. Forbes-Watson (collector’s no. FWNB 645).
Diagnosis
Males, including the Holotype, differ from the Type of C. leucosticta in the following
respects. The upperparts are darker, especially the rump and uppertail-co verts, which
are rufous brown rather than bright chestnut. Sharply defined from the white chin and
throat, there is a broad breast-band of brownish grey, with a mottled appearance caused
by pale shaft-streaks and dark feather-edgings; the Type of leucosticta has only a
poorly-defined narrow band of greyish buff on the upper breast. In colstoni, the lower
breast, belly and flanks are dirty white, washed with dull grey-brown, and tinged
rufous-buff only on the flanks; the underparts of the Type of C. leucosticta are whiter
and strongly washed with rufous-buff over much of the under-surface (see plate 14 in
Bannerman 1936). The overall appearance of Nimba birds is darker and duller, less
colourful, than the Type of leucosticta.
Females from Nimba differ from the males in being more rufous-tinged on the
upperparts (forehead to back) but not noticeably brighter on the rump. They are thus
more rufous on the upperparts than the Type of leucosticta but darker, less bright
chestnut on the rump. The underparts of Nimba females are darker, dirtier brown than
the males, but perhaps slightly more rufous on the flanks, still not, however,
approaching the Type of leucosticta in the extent of the rufous.
The Nimba birds also differ from the NE Zairean C. 1. collsi, which has the rump
and upper tail-coverts of a more olive tint (rufous-olive) and has the breast-band pure
grey (not mottled). This race also has the flanks olive-grey (not tinged rufous-buff) and
the rest of the underparts purer white. C. 1. reichenowi of NW Angola resembles collsi
but is rather paler.
Measurements of Holotype (mm): wing 77, tail 67, bill 18, tarsus 25; weight (as
recorded by collector) 27. 3g.
Measurements of all Nimba birds examined: males (n=9) wing 76-83 (mean 78.7),
tail 66-71 (68.0), bill 18-20 (18.6), tarsus 25-28 (26.4), weight (as recorded by
collector) 23.2-31.2g (26.6); females (n=7) wing 71-75 (72.9), tail 59-64 (61.6), bill 17-
19 (18.1), tarsus 24-27 (25.3), weight 21.5-28 (24.3).
Measurements (taken by M.A. Traylor) of two Ivory Coast males: wing 82, 82; tail
67, 72; bill 18, - ; tarsus 26, 27.5.
76
A. Tye
Malimbus 13
Paratypes
Paratypes of colstoni include all specimens examined at the BMNH, as follows: eight
males 1977.20.1362-1364, 1370-1372, 1374, 1376; seven females 1977.20.1365-1368,
1373, 1375, 1377.
Distribution
C. /. colstoni is presently known for certain only from Mt Nimba and Abidjan, although
it is likely that Sierra Leonean birds and those from elsewhere in Liberia and western
Ivory Coast form part of this subspecies. In this respect it is noteworthy that the colour
of the underparts of Sierra Leonean birds described by Field (1974) and the colour of
the underparts of the juvenile collected by Stampfli in Liberia (as described by
Bannerman 1936) match that of adult colstoni rather than that of the nominate. The
eastern limit of colstoni in relation to the nominate form is not known; birds from
eastern Ivory Coast may belong to one or other race, or there may be a break in
distribution within that country, or the two races may be linked by clinal change.
Etymology
I name this race in honour of Peter Colston, in recognition of his careful work on the
specimens collected by the Nimba expedition.
Remarks
The sex of the Type of C. leucosticta was not determined by its collector, but a
comparison of its measurements (wing 84, tail 70, bill 18, tarsus 26) with colstoni
suggests that it is probably a male. If so, the colour differences between the Ghana bird
and colstoni are striking. However, if the Ghana bird is a female, the Nimba females
approach it more closely in colour. However, in this case there would be a great
difference in size between the two populations. In either case the difference seems
sufficient to warrant naming the western population. The differences quoted above,
between colstoni and the Type of leucosticta , apply to the whole of the Nimba series,
with the Type of leucosticta lying outside the range of variation exhibited by the Nimba
birds in several characteristics. However, the Type of leucosticta was the only specimen
of this population available to me and there remains a possibility that it is an aberrant
individual, and that the Ghana population may overlap the western one in its range of
variation, in which case C. /. colstoni would become a synonym of C l. leucosticta.
1991
Cercotrichas leucosticta subsp. nov.
77
Acknowledgments
It is invidious for an editor of a journal to consider one of his own papers for
publication, so I am extremely grateful to Humphrey Crick for assuming his former
mantle, having this paper anonymously refereed and following up the referees’ useful
comments. I thank Peter Colston for careful consideration of the merits of the new
subspecies, and him and the other staff of the BMNH at Tring, for access to specimens.
M.A. Traylor kindly provided measurements of the specimens at the Field Museum of
Natural History and valuable notes comparing them with plates of the Type of
leucosticta and with my description of Nimba birds.
References
Bannerman, D.A. (1936) The Birds of Tropical West Africa, vol. 4. Crown Agents,
London.
Büttikofer, J. (1888) A list of birds collected by the author and Mr F.X. Stampfli
during their last sojourn in Liberia. Notes Leyden Mas. 10: 75.
Colston, P.R. & Curry-Lindahl, K. (1986) The Birds of Mount Nirnba, Liberia.
British Museum (Natural History), London.
Field, G.D. (1974) Birds of Freetown Peninsula , 2nd ed. Fourah Bay College
Bookshop Ltd., Freetown.
Hall, B.P. & Moreau, R.E. (1970) An Atlas of Spéciation in African Passerine Birds.
British Museum (Natural History), London.
Sharpe, R.B. (1883) Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum , vol. 7. British
Museum, London.
78
Malimbus 13
Short Notes
La Talève poule-sultane Porphyrio porphyrio madagascariensis à Yaoundé,
Cameroun
De février 1990 à juin 1991, j’ai visité une à deux fois par mois (sauf en août) un petit
étang de 2-3 ha, situé à Nsimeyong, quartier de Yaoundé à quelque 2 km au sud de
l’université. C’est à partir de juin 1990 que j’y ai observé régulièrement la Talève
poule-sultane Porphyrio porphyrio.
Jusqu’en novembre 1990, ne voyant chaque fois qu’un seul adulte, rien n’empêchait
de supposer qu’il pouvait s’agir d’un individu isolé et plus ou moins égaré. Mais, en
décembre 1990, il transportait des matériaux de nid. Le 10 février 1991, un poussin de
deux à trois semaines accompagnait un adulte qui le nourrissait abondamment. En mars
1991, je vis pour la première fois le couple, toujours suivi du jeune. Le 7 mai 1991,
j’assistai à un accouplement: la femelle se tenait debout, avec le mâle dur le dos qui la
“grattait” des deux pattes en poussant des cris. Le 3 juin 1991, le jeune avait presque
tout le plumage bleu, tandis que la plaque frontale et le bec étaient d’un rouge à peine
moins vif que celui de l’adulte qu’il accompagnait.
Cette espèce n’avait pas encore été signalée du Cameroun: ni par Louette (1981), ni
par Decoux & Fotso (1988) qui avaient prospecté cinq étangs près du campus
universitaire de Yaoundé en 1985-1986, ni par Fotso (1990) qui a poursuivi la
prospection en 1987-1988. Urban et al. (1986) donnent le nord du Nigéria et le lac
Tchad comme la partie de l’aire la plus proche de Yaoundé, soit cependant plus de 1400
km au nord.
Bibliographie
Louette, M. (1981) The Birds of Cameroon. An annotated checklist. Verhandel. Kon.
Acad. Wetensch. Lett. Schone Kunst. Belg. 43: 1-163.
Decoux, J.P. & Fotso, R.C. (1988) Composition et organisation spatiale d’une
communauté d’oiseaux dans la région de Yaoundé. Alauda 56: 126-152.
Fotso, R.C. (1990) Notes sur les oiseaux d’eau de la région de Yaoundé. Malimbus 12:
25-30.
Urban, E.K., Fry, C.H. & Keith, S. (Eds) (1986) The Birds of Africa. Vol. 2.
Academie Press, London.
Reçu 29 août 1991
Antoni Sala
H-10 Cité Verte, B. P. 185, Yaoundé, Cameroun
1991
79
Book Reviews
Biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and its Islands. By S.N. Stuart, R.J. Adams &
M.D. Jenkins, 1990. 242pp. IUCN, Gland. ISBN 2-8317-0021-3. £12.50 (plus 15% p.
& p.) from IUCN, 219c Huntingdon Rd, Cambridge, U.K.
As its opening sentence states, “The purpose of this document is to draw attention to the
serious consequences of the loss of biological diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, including
offshore islands”. Its “primary target audience is people responsible for the
management of wildlife and protected areas, and non-governmental organisations
operating in Africa”. It is primarily about conservation strategy and draws together
information from a scattered literature of publications and unpublished reports.
After short introductory chapters on the status of biological diversity in Africa,
threats to it, action required to preserve it and key areas (the four in West Africa being
the Upper and Lower Guinea forests, the Cameroon mountains and mountains in the
Sierra Leone-Guinea area) the bulk of the book consists of country profiles. These
outline the status of important areas and, perhaps most importantly for the target
audience, point out requirements for action, ranging from research to legislation.
Considering the treatment of countries which I know best, I was surprised not to see the
Gola forests of Sierra Leone identified in the chapter on key areas (although they are
mentioned as an important site in the Sierra Leone chapter). Mt Nimba is, yet again,
wrongly identified as the highest mountain in the Upper Guinea region (that honour
falls to Bintumani in Sierra Leone); an undue emphasis on Nimba is perhaps diverting
much-needed attention from the threats to forests on the other mountains in Guinea and
Sierra Leone. Country coverage is somewhat uneven. Most West African countries get
three pages in a range from 1.5 (Gambia and Cape Verde) to seven (Cameroon).
Elsewhere, Tanzania and South Africa (the latter over-treated) get 1 1 pages each. Some
of the country summaries, although intended to be brief, are rather too abbreviated, e.g.
one of the three “suggested conservation activities” for the Gambia is “protection of
habitats from modification for agriculture and settlements”, not a statement of great
utility. In contrast, the summary for Sao Tomé e Principe is good, with more useful
detail, without occupying any more pages.
In summary, this will be a useful document for its target audience and others
requiring a brief status summary, but more useful for some countries than others.
Alan Tye
80
Book Reviews
Malimbus 13
Quelea quelea : Africa’s Bird Pest. Ed. by R.L B niggers & C.C.H. Elliott, 1989. 402
pp. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 0-19-857607-2. £45.00.
Africa’s Feathered Locust. Ed. by P.J. Mundy & M.J.F. Jarvis, 1989. 166 pp. Baobab
Books, Harare, Zimbabwe. ISBN 0-908311-02-8. £7-65.
These two books on the most damaging of Africa’s bird pests appeared almost
simultaneously. Both are multi-authored texts. The first is a comprehensive, lavishly
illustrated volume dealing with many facets of Quelea quelea ; fittingly, it is dedicated
to the bird’s most influential student, the late Peter Ward. A by-product of his research
on Quelea in Nigeria was to advance our understanding of intra-African bird migration
in West Africa. Indeed ornithologists in Africa in general have learnt much about many
species of bird by analogy with Ward’s pioneering insights into Quelea migrations and
Jones’ and Ward’s studies of its physiological responses. Up-to-date summaries of
these aspects are presented in authoritative chapters by experts in the various ecological
subjects, but the 25 chapters also present accounts of the business of dealing with
Quelea in practice. Useful methodologies which are given ample treatment include
marking with fluorescent pigments, radio-telemetry, trace element analyses, traditional
African control practices, bird repellent chemicals, agronomic techniques to reduce
damage, sprays and explosions and even “Quelea as a resource”.
The Bruggers & Elliott book covers so much ground that ornithologists, Quelea-
killers, integrated pest controllers and planners alike will need the book and learn much
from it. The colour plates are an added bonus which will help to bring some of the less
exciting subjects to life (or death, of Queleal). Some criticisms and arguments could be
raised about details of the specialist chapters (most lack summaries or conclusions for
instance) but there is not space here to quibble with the minutiae of what is a long-
overdue summary of knowledge on the biology and control of the world’s most serious
and spectacular bird pest. As such it will remain the standard work for many years.
Despite its catchy title, “Africa’s Feathered Locust” is a paperback book about
Quelea quelea lathamii in Zimbabwe, with passing reference to Q. q. spoliator. The
title was obviously an afterthought as in the foreword we are told “ this book, The
Quelea Problem in Southern Africa , will become a valuable reference work in anyone’s
library”. False pretences apart, there is a ring of truth in this statement as some of the
chapters in this compendium have a Pan-African perspective. Nevertheless, as the
editors point out, the book is intended partly as a guide to the farmer who wishes to
minimise the queleas’ impact on his crops. The book’s genesis is attributed to Peter
Ward who wanted the wealth of unpublished data, hidden in obscure reports, to see the
light of day. This aim has been admirably achieved and the editors and authors deserve
congratulations for producing the first bird monograph to be published in Zimbabwe.
Chapters with relevance to West Africa include Irwin’s taxonomic essay, Craig’s
behaviour chapter, Jones on the breeding cycle, Elliott on pest status, Jarvis’s two
sections on control and La Grange’s appendix describing mistblowers. Most of the
1991
Book Reviews
81
references after each chapter are duplicated in a grand bibliography at the end. The
print is poor and some of the photographs are unclear; but the book includes a wealth of
information, discussion and recommendations which will be a boon to anyone studying
or trying to control any of Africa’s “feathered locusts”.
Serious Que lea workers, students and libraries will need both books. If money is
available but a choice must be made then plump for Bruggers & Elliott. If both shelf
space and money are limiting and your perspective is southern African then buy Mundy
& Jarvis.
R. A. Cheke
Les Oiseaux de Sénégambie. By G. J. Morel & M-Y. Morel, 1990. 177 pp.
ORSTOM, Paris. ISSN 1142-2580, ISBN 2-7099-1012-8. c. FFr 100 from ORSTOM,
or from Subbuteo Books, Treuddyn, CH7 4LN, U. K.
Birds of The Gambia, 2nd (Revised) Edition. By M.E.J. Gore, 1990. 148 pp. + colour
plates. British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring. ISBN 0-907446-02-7. £16 (UK), £18
(overseas).
For political and linguistic reasons Senegambia has seldom been considered in any
context as a single entity. Gérard Morel’s Liste Commentée des Oiseaux de Sénégal et
de la Gambie of July 1972 and the Supplément No. 1 of 1980 was thus a welcome and
valuable check-list of the avifauna of the whole region. The B.O.U. Checklist No. 3,
Birds of The Gambia , by M.E.J. Gore, published a year later in 1981, provided a
detailed check-list for The Gambia. Although the country only comprises 10,000 km"
of the 210,000 km" of Senegambia, over 80% of the species recorded over the whole of
the latter occur in The Gambia.
Like much of sub-Saharan West Africa, Senegal and The Gambia have undergone
great changes during the past 50 years. It is difficult today to realise that in 1946 the
road from Bathurst to Dakar ran almost entirely through forest, and Ostrich Struthio
camelus were widespread and common over the Ferlo (north-central Senegal). Changes
have been brought about by successive years of exceptionally low rainfall and the
advance of the southern limit of the desert, particularly up to 1983, and by major
hydrological and agricultural development projects and changes of land use in both
countries.
The speed and scope of these changes, particularly in recent years, are reflected in
the extensively revised new editions of both the check-lists. The years of drought and
man-made schemes have brought a loss of woodland of all types and other changes
such as the impoverishment of Lake Guier and the drying of Jakali Swamp. Birds more
usually associated with the desert, including the larks Eremopterix nigriceps and
Alaemon alaudipes , have been regularly reported in northern Senegal since the 1970’s.
82
Book Reviews
Malimbus 13
In The Gambia there have been records since 1980 of Golden Sparrow Passer lut eus,
considered an arid savanna species, and there has been evidence of breeding of
Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinica , which had previously been presumed to move
north in July to breed.
Les Oiseaux de Séné gamble, completed in 1986 but not published until 1990,
provides a profile of the entire Senegambian region. The introduction reviews the
literature of both countries. A very comprehensive physical description of the region is
given. The systematic list shows the geographical distribution and status of 623 species
(an increase of 86 since the first list was published), about half of the species recorded
for West Africa. English readers will find it helpful that the check-list includes the
English name with the scientific and French name for each species. The new edition
has the addition of a distributional map for each species, marked in 1° squares,
providing a valuable atlas of distribution for Senegambia. Because it had become
evident during the preparaton of the maps that some 1° squares were much better
censused than others, the authors carefully and systematically undertook an inventory of
those areas which were less well known, making visits during both the dry and wet
seasons, augmenting their data with sound records and observations of seasonal
plumages in some species to give uniform coverage to the whole Senegambian region.
The format of the book, which is not a field-guide, makes it easy to carry and it should
be included in the luggage of any ornithologist visiting the region. It is an important
addition to the literature of the Senegambia.
The second revised edition of Birds of The Gambia was necessitated when the first
edition became out of print. The Gambia is probably the best omithologically worked
territory in West Africa. Its small size, the excellent road along the south bank of the
river and, most importantly, the growth in the last 15 years of tourism, have brought
many professional and knowledgeable amateur ornithologists to the country. The
reserve of Abuko might well claim to be the best worked 72 hectares in the continent.
An astonishing 256 species have been recorded there, more than have been recorded at
Korup National Park in Cameroon. But the lowering of the water table of the area and
the increasing pressures of nearby urban development give cause for concern for
Abuko ’s continuing viability.
Since publication of the first edition further records have been collated. After
careful review, some records have been deleted from the earlier Check-list, but a further
18 species have been added to the Gambian list. The Introduction provides a useful
guide to The Gambia although champions of the River Niger might be surprised at the
claim that the Gambia is West Africa’s finest waterway. It is also perhaps difficult to
agree that, in the Middle and Upper Gambia, the river could form any sort of barrier.
Birds of all species cross the river quite freely, they often collect nesting material from
one bank and build on the other. Since the north bank is generally more wooded than
the south, one would expect that birds reaching a suitable habitat on the south bank
would not stop from crossing the river to similar habitat on the north bank. The north
bank is much less well known and it may therefore be observers, and not birds, which
1991
Book Reviews
83
are missing, It is interesting to see from the distributional maps in Morel & Morel how
the records from Senegal and the Gambia complement each other, despite the
discrepancy in the number of observers in the two territories. The distribution maps
allow pleasant speculation, the Wood Owl Ciccaba woodfordi not yet recorded in The
Gambia, may perhaps be found in the stretch of woodland on the north bank of the river
opposite Basse and Fatoto.
Both check-lists include general maps of the territories and The Birds of The
Gambia is enhanced by the author’s excellent photographs, some in colour. As in the
first editions, records of visitors and of The Gambia Ornithological Society and the
summarised data from papers, some not widely circulated, provide much data for both
check-lists. The authors give generous acknowledgment to this.
Dr Monk points out in the foreword to the first edition of Gore that zoo-
geographical and political boundaries do not as a rule coincide, and the Check-list of the
Birds of The Gambia should be considered in conjunction with Morel’s Liste
Commentée. This advice still applies and you are recommended to have both new
editions on your bookshelves for a more complete view of the avifauna of the region.
Amberley Moore
Ornithological Importance of Coastal Wetlands in Guinea, by W. Altenburg & J.
van der Kamp, 1991. 63pp. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge and
WIWO, Zeist. £5 from ICBP, 32 Cambridge Rd, Girton, Cambridge, U.K.
This is the latest in a series of ICBP Study Reports covering wetlands in West Africa.
The two authors have already reported a preliminary study in NW Guinea (reviewed in
Malimbus 12: 56-57) and have now proceeded to survey virtually all of the “coastal
wetlands” (Le. mangroves, mudflats, freshwater swamps and rice-fields) of the country
during a further visit in the northern winter and one in the northern summer.
The mud flat data are based on counts of c. 10% of the mudflat area in Guinea. As in
neighbouring Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone, Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea is
the commonest mudflat bird, but one peculiarity of Guinea is the great area of very soft
mud, which is rare in Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone. This probably accounts for the
low numbers of Knot C. canutus and Little Stint C. minutus but higher numbers of
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta. Data on the mangrove zone include estimates of total
creek length based on French IGN maps: probably fairly reliable for “wide” creeks but
surely impossible for “narrow” ones (how is a narrow creek defined?). As elsewhere in
West Africa, Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus and Common Sandpiper A ctitis hypoleucos
are the commonest mangrove waders. Guinean rice-fields and freshwater swamps
appear less important for waders than those of Guinea-Bissau, possibly because they
hold deeper water.
Over half a million waterbirds were estimated to be present in Guinea’s coastal
84
Book Reviews
Malimbus 13
zone during the northern winter, of which c. 430 000 were Palaearctic waders. In the
northern summer numbers fell by 80%, but half of those remaining were Palaearctic
species. Besides waders, data on other waterbirds are presented and in Appendix 1,
information on all bird species recorded during the surveys includes several species new
to Guinea. Despite the title, valuable information is given on the occurrence (or
absence) of large aquatic and semi-aquatic mammals and reptiles; interestingly,
Manatee Trichecus senegalensis might still be fairly common in Guinea.
As usual with ICBP Study Reports, the text appears to be unedited. This shows
most in Reports written by authors to whom English is not the mother tongue, like this
one. There are also occasional errors and misapprehensions, which editing should
eliminate, as in the confusion of Rio (which most Guinean rivers are called, having
been named by the Portuguese) with ria (an estuary in a drowned river-valley, which
most Guinean estuaries are). More seriously, this criticism also applies to the data
presentation; e.g. I could not understand Table 3 until I realised that parts of the column
headings had been transposed (I think!). There are many more minor errors. Perhaps
ICBP should edit its Study Reports and attempt to raise the standards of production and
English to match those of the data presented. To be fair to ICBP, the present report is a
joint production with the Dutch WIWO waterbird research group, and includes a
disclaimer that “large quality differences” between reports are accepted to ensure
“regular distribution and availability”. This policy surely detracts from the scientific
reputation of such reports.
Alan Tye
La Conservation des Ecosystèmes Forestiers du Gabon. Compiled by C. Wilkes,
1990. 215 pp. ISBN 2-88032-988-4.
La Conservation des Ecosystèmes Forestiers du Zaïre. Compiled by C. Doumenge,
1990. 242 pp. ISBN 2-88032-989-2.
La Conservation des Ecosystèmes Forestiers du Congo. Compiled by P.
Hecketsweiler, 1990. 187 pp. ISBN 2-88032-991-4.
All published by IUCN, Gland & Cambridge. £10 ($20) each from IUCN, 219c
Huntingdon Rd, Cambridge, U. K.
These reports, produced as part of IUCN’ s Tropical Forest Programme, cover the three
countries containing the largest remaining areas of the vast equatorial rainforest of the
Congo Basin, including over a million square kilometres in Zaire alone. Well over half
of each volume is devoted to descriptions of “critical sites” which include national
parks, reserves, areas proposed as reserves and other sites of natural value for their
forest resources. The location, area, boundaries etc. of each site are given together with
1991
Book Reviews
85
its main biological interest, principal flora and fauna and conservation priorities; there is
a map for many sites, particularly in Congo and Zaire. The rest of each book includes
chapters on a countrywide overview of forest resources, relevant legislation, economic
matters, biological diversity and existing conservation programmes. While the scope
of these books is much wider than purely avifaunal interest, listing only the most
notable or threatened species, they would be of interest to anyone requiring background
information on forest birds and their habitat, and make useful reading for anyone
intending to visit the forests of these countries. Similar books in this series covering
other West African countries (Cameroon and Central African Republic) were published
in 1989. All are entirely in French, but clearly set out, which will help those whose
French is not perfect.
Hilary Tye
La Conservation des Ecosystèmes Forestiers d’Afrique Centrale. Compiled by
IUCN, 1989. 124 pp. ISBN 2-88032-995-7. £10 from IUCN, 219c Huntingdon Rd,
Cambridge, U. K.
This earlier publication, in the same IUCN series as the above, summarises the state of
the lowland moist forests of Central Africa, and includes Cameroon, Central African
Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, SSo Tomé e Principe and Zaire. The first
three sections are a regional overview of forest resources, legislation and institutions,
and proposals for a regional conservation strategy. These sections include some
interesting comparisons and also reveal the lack of data available for some countries.
The fourth and longest section comprises recommendations for forest conservation in
each of the seven countries separately. It is a pity that very few references are cited
(and some cited but not in the bibliography) and the majority of reference material is
very general. An obvious example of lack of research is a table giving species numbers
for various taxa in a number of African countries; several, for which well-known lists
exist (including The Gambia) have no figure for their avifauna and Sierra Leone
apparently only has two non-primate mammal species! However, perhaps such
omissions are trivial compared with the seriousness of the situation in these forests
which this book reveals, and the gloomy prospect that an increase in forest exploitation
is planned in five of the seven countries by the year 2000, with reafforestation being
almost non-existent.
As would be expected in such an overview of seven countries’ forests, there is little
specifically about the avifauna but this book does raise a number of issues which ought
to be of concern to the ornithologist. Birds (unidentified) do, however, feature strongly
in the illustrations; C. Versel’s line drawings enliven the text with a number of
interesting animal sketches and forest scenes.
Hilary Tye
86
Book Reviews
Malimbus 13
Contribution à l’Etude Scientifique de la Région de Banc d’Arguin,
21°20N/19°20N. Peuplements Avifaunistiques. Par E. Mahé, 1985. 650 pp. +
bibliographie. Thèse de l’Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc.
Photocopie par INIST Diffusion Fourniture de Documents, 2 allée du Parc de Brabois,
54514 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy Cedex, France qui envoie sur demande un devis.
Cette volumineuse étude comprend le Parc National lui-même, célèbre pour sa
population de limicoles paléarctiques, qui couvre 12,000 km", à la fois maritimes et
cotiers, mais l’auteur étendit ses recherches jusqu’à la presqu’île du Cap Blanc.
Un historique d’une dizaine de pages cite toutes les recherches effectuées jusqu’aux
temps modernes sur cette côte inhospitalière. La première partie (155 pages) traite
d’abord de l’aspect physique: géographie, climat, océanographie; et 65 pages sont
consacrées à la géologie de chaque île et de la côte; un résumé botanique et une
classification des milieux en fonction de leur valeur pour la faune complètent cette
première partie. Ensuite 25 pages donnent un aperçu de la faune non avienne.
La deuxième partie (373 pages) est consacrée à l’avifaune d’abord nicheuse puis
non nicheuse (migratrice). Deux pages sont réservées à chaque espèce nicheuse:
effectifs, lieux de nidification, calendrier, biotopes utilisés, surtout en hivernage,
systématique; la zone d’étude compte 29 espèces nicheuses sûres et 8 espèces
douteuses. Les espèces non nicheuses, paléarctiques, sont divisées en hivernantes (38
espèces) et en non hivernantes ou en transit (147 espèces); de plus, 26 espèces sont des
migrateurs intertropicaux. Une page est consacrée à chaque espèce: effectifs,
répartition, biotopes utilisés, origine des oiseaux, estivage et statut dans les pays
voisins.
Enfin, quelques pages proposent une interprétation analytique des données
obtenues: essentiellement analyse et variations des effectifs, exigences vis-à-vis des
milieux, changement d’occupation des sites, adaptation aux conditions locales,
réflexion sur les affinités paléarctiques et tropicales et importance biogéographique de
la région.
On trouve encore 36 pages d’annexes (dont une partie sur le statut juridique du
parc) et une très importante bibliographie.
G.J. Morel
Also received:
Antelopes: Global Survey and Regional Action Plans, Part 3. West and Central
Africa. Compiled by R. East, 1991. 171 pp. IUCN, Gland. ISBN 2-8317-0016-7.
£7.50 plus postage & packing from IUCN, 219c Huntingdon Rd, Cambridge, U.K.
Based on published and unpublished data, this survey consists largely of country by
country reports, written by experts on the region, covering status, existing and proposed
1991
Notices
87
conservation measures, and species accounts. Summary chapters and appendices draw
together the information from the country reports to produce a regional perspective and
integrated conservation action plan. This is an authoritative document which will be an
essential reference for antelope biologists and land managers concerned with
conservation.
Alan Tye
Notices
Bird Fair at Rutland Water, U.K.
The Society mounted a display at the Bird Fair which was held at the end of August
1991 at Rutland Water in England. Over the three days the W.A.O.S. stall drew many
visitors, recruited some new members and prompted other enquiries.
One of the Society’s members, Bruce Pearson, very generously donated one of his
paintings, of water birds on the River Niger in Mali, as a raffle prize. The picture
attracted a great deal of attention and resulted in a welcome addition to the Society’s
funds. It was won by Mr J. Liggins of Nuneaton, Warks. We are very grateful to Mr
Pearson for his donation.
Amberley Moore
The African Waterfowl Census
In 1991, the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau (IWRB) undertook
to coordinate waterfowl censuses throughout tropical Africa, with the collaboration of
many dedicated National Coordinators. Nearly 200 persons took part in 16 countries,
representing birdwatching and natural history societies, national park departments,
research institutions, etc. 85 wetlands were counted, including some of the most
important ones in Africa. The results of the first mid- winter counts have just been
published by IWRB and are available at £6.00 including post & package. Each
participant receives it free.
The census needs to expand further. If you wish to participate in an international
birdwatching exercise which will yield extremely important results for waterbird and
wetland conservation in Africa, please contact C. Perennou at IWRB, Slimbridge, Glos.,
GL2 7BX, U.K. for further details.
88
Book Reviews
Malimbus 13
Les Dénombrements Internationaux d’Oiseaux d’Eau en Afrique
En 1991, le Bureau International de Recherches sur les Oiseaux d’Eau et les Zones
Humides (BIROE) a entrepris de coordonner des comptages d’oiseaux d’eau en Afrique
tropicale, grâce à la collaboration active de nombreux Coordinateurs Nationaux. Près
de 200 personnes ont pris part dans 16 pays, représentant des clubs ornithologiques ou
d’histoire naturelle, des services de parcs nationaux, des institutions de recherche etc.
85 zones humides ont été comptées, y compris certaines des plus importantes à l’échelle
africaine. Les résultats du premier hiver de comptages ont été récemment publiés par le
BIROE et sont disponibles au prix de £6.00, port compris. Tous les participants le
reçoivent gratuitement.
Ces comptages ont besoin d’être encore étendus. Si vous êtes intéressé(e) pour
participer à un exercise international d’ornithologie de terrain, dont les résultats seront
très utiles pour la conservation des oiseaux d’eau et des zones humides africaines,
contactez C. Perennou au BIROE (IWRB), Slimbridge, Glos., GL2 7BX, Grande-
Bretagne, pour de plus amples informations.
Saddlebill Stork - Jabiru du Sénégal - Ephippiorhynchus Senegaleusis
(Photo: Philip Blasdale)
Recommendations aux Auteurs
MALIMBUS publie des Articles, des Notes Courtes, des Analyses d’ouvrages, des
Lettres et des illustrations traitant de l’ornithologie ouest-africaine. Les Notes Courtes
sont des articles de moins de 1000 mots (références comprises) ou de 2 pages
imprimées. Les textes sont acceptés en anglais et en français. Ceux déjà publiés
ailleurs, en tout ou partie, seront normalement refusés.
Les textes soumis seront tapés en deux exemplaires, d’un seul côté de la page, double
interligne et avec larges marges. Les tirages sur imprimante matricielle ne seront
acceptés que s’ils ont la ‘qualité-courrier’. Autant que possible, les manuscrits auront
été auparavant soumis au moins à un ornithologue ou biologiste pour un examen
minutieux. Les manuscrits seront envoyés pour critique à au moins un lecteur
compétent.
Les Conventions concernant les tableaux, les chiffres, le système métrique, les
références, etc. peuvent être trouvées dans ce numéro et doivent être soigneusement
suivies. Notez en particulier que les dates s’abrégeront comme 2 fév 1990 mais dans un
texte pourront s’écrire en entier; que les heures s’écriront comme 06.45, 17.00; que les
coordonnées s’écriront comme 7°46’N, 16°04’W; que les nombres jusqu’à 10 s’écriront
en entier, excepté devant une unité de mesure (p. ex. 6 m), que les nombres à partir de
11 s’écriront en chiffres sauf au début d’une phrase. Toute Référence citée dans
l’article, et aucune autre, doit figurer dans la bibliographie.
Les Articles contenant de longues Listes d’Espèces seront sous forme de tableaux (p.
ex Malimbus 1: 49-54) ou sous forme de texte comme dans Malimbus 1: 90-109. Les
noms et la séquence systématique des listes suivront Brown et al. (1982), Urban et al.
(1986) et Fry et al. (1988) The Birds of Africa, vols 1-3 (Academie Press, London) pour
les non-passereaux et White (1960-1963) Revised Checklists of African Passerine Birds ,
Hall & Moreau (1970) An Atlas of Spéciation in African Passerine Birds (British
Museum (Natural History) London) ou Serle & Morel (1975) A Field Guide to the
Birds of West Africa (Collins, London) pour les passereaux, à moins de donner dans le
texte les raisons pour s’écarter de ces auteurs.
Les Figures doivent être préparées pour une reproduction directe, permettant une
réduction de 20 à 50%; on se servira d’encre de chine sur papier blanc de bonne qualité
ou calque épais et de caractères Letraset (ou équivalent) selon le cas. Pour le dessin des
Figures, tenir compte du format de Malimbus.
Tous les Articles (mais non les Notes Courtes) comporteront un Résumé, n’excédant
pas 5% de la longeur totale. Le Résumé mentionnera brièvement les principales
conclusions de l’Article et ne sera pas un simple compte rendu du travail. Les résumés
seront publiés à la fois en anglais et en français et seront traduits au mieux par le
Comité de Rédaction.
Vingt Tirés-à-part des Articles (mais non des Notes Courtes) seront envoyés gratis à
l’auteur ou à l’auteur principal. Les tirés-à-part ne seront ni agrafés, ni reliés ou
recouverts; ces sont de simples extraits de la revue.
Malimbus 13 (2) December 1991
Contents
The avifauna of Dzanga-Ndoki National Park and Dzanga-Sangha
Rainforest Reserve, Central African Republic.
A. A.Green & R.W. Carroll 49 - 66
The Status of Larks in The Gambia, including First Records of
Sun Lark Galerida modesta.
Rachel Mai Jones 67-73
A New Subspecies of Forest Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucosticta
from West Africa.
Alan Tye 74-77
Short Notes
La Talève poule-sultane Porphyrio porphyrio madagascariensis
à Yaoundé, Cameroun. Antoni Sala 78
Book Reviews
Biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and its Islands (S.N. Stuart, et al.);
Quelea quelea : Africa’s Bird Pest (R.L Bruggers & C.C.H. Elliott);
Africa’s Feathered Locus t (P.J. Mundy & M.J.F. Jarvis);
Les Oiseaux de Sénégambie (G.J. Morel & M-Y. Morel);
Birds of The Gambia (M.E.J. Gore); Ornithological Importance of
Coastal Wetlands in Guinea (W. Altenburg & J. van der Kamp);
La Conservation des Ecosystèmes Forestiers du Gabon (C. Wilkes);
La Conservation des Ecosystèmes Forestiers du Zaïre ( C. Doumenge);
La Conservation des Ecosystèmes Forestiers du Congo (P. Hecketsweiler);
La Conservation des Ecosystèmes Forestiers d’Afrique Centrale ( IUCN);
Contribution à l’Etude Scientifique de la Région de Banc d’ Arguin (E. Mahé);
Antelopes: Global Survey and Regional Action Plans, Part 3. West and
Central Africa (R. East). 79-87
Notices
Bird Fair at Rutland Water, U.K.
The African Waterfovd Census
87-88
Mas I MALIMBUS
BlRb
Journal of the West African Ornithological Society
Revue de la Société d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain
VOLUME 14 Number 1
August 1992
ISSN 0331-3689
West African Ornithological Society
Société d’ Ornithologie de l'Ouest Africain
Council 1992:
President: Dr Gérard J. Morel
Vice-president: John H. Elgood
Treasurer and Membership Secretary: Robert E. Sharland
Secretary to Council: Mrs Amberley Moore
Managing Editor: Dr Alan Tye
Editorial Board: G.D. Field, Dr L.D.C. Fishpool, Prof. C.H. Fry, Dr P. Giraudoux, Dr
P.J. Jones, Dr G.J. Morel, Dr J.-M. Thiollay, Hilary Tye, Dr R. Wilkinson
Correspondence should be addressed as follows:
- to the Managing Editor (IUCN, P.O. Box 1, Amani, Tanga, Tanzania) regarding
contributions to Malimbus, including incidental black and white photographs or
line drawings.
- to the Treasurer (1 Fisher's Heron, East Mills, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6
2JR, UK) regarding subscriptions, financial matters and back numbers.
- to the President (1 Route de Sallenelles, Bréville-les-Monts, 14860 Ran ville,
France) regarding policy 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 its journal Malimbus (formerly the
Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society).
Applications for membership are welcomed. Annual membership subscription rates are
£10.00 for Ordinary Members and £25.00 for Corporate Members. Payments may be
made in £ Sterling to the Treasurer, or in French Francs to the President. Members
receive Malimbus by surface mail free of charge. Extra charges are required for air mail
(enquire of the Treasurer for rates).
Back Numbers: Vols 11-14 (1975-78) of the Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists’
Society (the same format as Malimbus) are available at £2 per issue (£4 per volume) or
£15 a set. Malimbus Vols 1-9 are available at £3 per issue (£6 per volume) and Vol. 10
onwards at £5 per issue (£10 per volume). A full set of Malimbus Vols 1-13 may be
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payment with your order, which should be addressed to the Treasurer.
? Distribution: G.D. Field
Emblem Design: Philip Blasdale
1992
1
Sur quelques données erronées concernant Pavifaune de
la Lobaye, République Centrafricaine
par Max Germain
44 rue Cluseret, 92150 Suresnes, France
Reçu 14 novembre 1991
Revu 25 février 1992
Résumé
D’assez nombreuses espèces ont été signalées par erreur de la Préfecture de la
Lobaye, République Centrafricaine, par Carroll (1988). Certaines de ces espèces
demeurent à ce jour de présence non démontrée en RCA. L’origine de ces
erreurs est expliquée.
Summary
Carroll (1988) lists many bird species from the Lobaye Prefecture, Central
African Republic, which have not actually been observed there. Some of them
are still unknown from the CAR. The origin of these errors is explained.
Introduction
La Préfecture de la Lobaye (3°25’-5°N, chefs-lieux Mbaïki, Mongoumba, Boda) se
partage, avec celles de Haute-Sangha et de Sang h a- Economique, la quasi totalité de la
forêt dense occupant le sud-ouest de la République Centrafricaine (RCA); seule la
région de Boda relève en partie de savanes périforestières et subsoudaniennes.
Continuation orientale de la forêt sud-camerounaise, dont le recensement de l’avifaune
est très avancé (Louette 1981), cette forêt a été incomparablement moins prospectée.
Seuls, parmi les travaux récents, ceux de Carroll (1982, 1988) font état d’observations
nouvelles pour cette région. Celles ayant trait à la Haute-Sangha émanent toutes de
l’auteur et de ses collaborateurs sur le terrain. Certaines des données relatives à la
Lobaye, par contre, ne sont pas de première main et leur présentation s’entache
malheureusement d’inexactitudes. Elles renvoient souvent à une “Liste des oiseaux dont
la présence est certaine ou très probable dans la Préfecture de la Lobaye”, laquelle,
principalement fondée sur des observations personelles, avait été élaborée par mes soins
en 1977, à la demande de chercheurs qui envisageaient le lancement, dans cette région,
d’un programme d’ecologie forestière. Or, ce document de travail, ronéoté à très peu
2
M. Germain
Malimbus 14
d’exemplaires, portait à la page de titre une recommandation explicite: il était “à
diffusion restreinte, non destiné à la publication”. Il y eut donc quelque inadvertance à
lui donner rang de référence bibliographique. Des erreurs de lecture se sont en outre
produites, qui imposent la présente mise au point.
Correctif
Sur les 422 espèces signalées de la Lobaye par Carroll (1988), 128 de celles qui figuraient
également dans ma liste avaient, dans celle-ci, leur nom précédé d’un point d’interrogation.
Une convention préliminaire y spécifiait qu’il s’agissait d’espèces dont la présence en
Lobaye, bien que jugée probable, restait à démontrer (espèces à rechercher). Certaines de
ces dernières furent effectivement observées en Lobaye par Carroll, comme l’attestent les
précisions fournies dans le mémoire de 1982. Mais un assez grand nombre d’entre elles
(74) n’apparaissent qu’avec ma propre liste pour seule référence; il ne convient donc pas de
les considérer comme étant réellement connues de la Lobaye (voir Annexe 1).
Plusieurs de ces espèces n’ont, à ma connaissance, jamais été observées en d’autres
régions de la RCA (Hall & Moreau 1970, Jehl 1974, Friedmann 1978, Snow 1978, Carroll
1982, 1988, Green 1983, 1984, Green & Carroll 1991 et auteurs plus anciens, tels que
Blancou 1933, 1938-1939, 1948, 1958, 1960, Berlioz 1934, 1935, 1939, Bouet 1944,
Malbrant 1952). Elles se trouvent donc introduites à tort, ou à tout le moins prématurément,
au nombre des espèces constituant l’avifaune de ce pays.
Pour d’autres espèces qui figuraient avec un “?” dans ma liste et que Carroll signale
simultanément de la Lobaye et d’autres parties de la RCA, le mode de référence aux
observateurs (même dans le texte de 1982, plus précis à cet égard) ne permet pas de dire si
elles ont réellement été rencontrées en Lobaye, où leur présence, en toute rigueur, demeure
donc incertaine (Annexe 2).
Trois espèces d’affinité nord-soudanienne, signalées de la Lobaye par référence à ma
liste, n’y ont en fait jamais figuré: Balearica pavonina , Tockus erythrorhynchus et Lybius
rolleti (voir Annexes 1 et 2). D’autres erreurs procèdent de confusions taxonomiques:
Die ru rus adsimilis modes tus, endémique de Principe, est évidemment signalé à tort (ma
liste mentionnait D. modest us coracinus)\ la mention simultanée de Turdus olivaceus (en
Lobaye) et de T. libonyanus (en Haute-Sangha) fait apparaître une fausse disparité
spécifique entre les Grives kurrichanes de ces deux régions (Annexe 1).
Cercococcyx mechowi , Caprimulgus rufigena et C. natalensis, cités par erreur de la
Lobaye, en sont également signalés dans Fry et al. (1988), sans que puisse être exclue la
référence à Carroll, citée dans la bibliographie de cet ouvrage. Ces espèces figurent, avec
les réserves et les égards qui s’imposent, dans l’Annexe 2.
Pour six espèces, enfin, qui figuraient sans “?” dans le document semi-confidentiel de
1977, il m’apparaît aujourd’hui que mes propres observations comportent quelques
incertitudes; elles figurent dans les Annexes où les désigne un signe particulier (0). Il me
revient d’en présenter mes excuses aux lecteurs de Carroll (1988).
1992
Oiseaux de la Lobaye, R.C.A.
3
Bibliographie
Berlioz, J. (1934) Etude d’une collection d’oiseaux de l’Oubangui-Chari. Bul. Mus.
nat. Hist. nat. 6: 228-234.
Berlioz, J. (1935) Etude d’une collection d’oiseaux de l’Afrique Equatoriale Française.
Bul. Mus. nat. Hist. nat. 1: 349-353.
Berlioz, J. (1939) Etude d’une nouvelle collection d’oiseaux de l’Oubangui-Chari
(A.E.F.). Bul. Mus. nat. Hist. nat. 11: 526-530.
Blancou, L. (1933) Contribution à l’étude des oiseaux de l’Oubangui-Chari (bassins de
la Ouaka et de la Kandja). Oiseau Rev.fr. Orn. 3: 8-58, 299-336.
Blancou, L. (1938-1939) Contribution à l’étude des oiseaux de l’Oubangui-Chari
occidental (bassin supérieur de l’Ouham). Oiseau Rev. fr. Om. 8: 405-430, 642-
649; 9: 58-88, 255-277, 410-485.
Blancou, L. (1948) Contribution à l’étude des oiseaux de l’Oubangui-Chari oriental
(Haut Mbomou). Oiseau Rev. fr. Om. 18: 33-77.
Blancou, L. (1958) Contribution à l’étude des oiseaux de l’Oubangui-Chari
méridional. Bouar et Bangui (Bassin de la Lobaye). Oiseau Rev. fr. Orn. 28: 189-
212.
Blancou, L. (1960) Notes sur des oiseaux de l’Afrique Centrale. Oiseau Rev. fr. Orn.
30: 276-280.
Bouet, G. (1944) Révision des collections d’oiseaux recueillis au Congo et dans
l’Oubangui par la mission J. Dybowski (avril 1891-mai 1892) Oiseau Rev.fr. Om.
14: 44-88.
Carroll, R.W. (1982) An ornithological investigation of the Central African Republic.
Diss. MSc., Southern Connecticut State College, New Haven.
Carroll, R.W. (1988) Birds of the Central African Republic. Malimbus 10: 177-200.
Friedmann, H. (1978) Results of the Lathrop Central African Republic Expedition
1976, Ornithology. Los Angeles Co. Mus. Contrib. Sci. 287: 1-12.
Fry, C.H., Keith, S. & Urban, E.K. (1988) The Birds of Africa, Vol. 3. Academic
Press, London.
Green, A. A. (1983) The Birds of Bamingui-Bangoran National Park, Central African
Republic. Malimbus 5: 17-30.
Green, A. A. (1984) Additional bird records from Bamingui-Bangoran National Park,
Central African Republic. Malimbus 6: 70-72.
Green, A. A. & Carroll, R.W. (1991) The avifauna of Dzanga-Ndoki National Park
and Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest Reserve, Central African Republic. Malimbus 13:
49-66.
Hall, B.P. & Moreau, R.E. (1970) An Atlas of Spéciation in African Passerine Birds.
Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.), London.
Jehl, H. (1974) Quelques migrateurs paléarctiques en République Centrafricaine.
Alauda 42: 397 -406.
4
M. Germain
Malimbus 14
Louette, M. (1981) The Birds of Cameroon. An annotated checklist. Kon. Acad.
Wetensch. Lett. Schone Kunst. Belg., Brussels.
Malbrant, R. (1952) Faune du Centre Africain Français (Mammifères et Oiseaux).
Lechevalier, Paris.
Snow, D.W. (1978) An Atlas of Spéciation in African Non-passerine Birds. Brit. Mus.
(Nat. Hist.), Tring.
Annexe 1
Oiseaux signalés à tort de la Préfecture de la Lobaye par Carroll (1988)
Conventions
X: espèce non connue de la RCA ou de ces parages frontaliers immédiats.
O: espèce ayant à tort figuré sans “?” dans ma liste de 1977.
MG: collecte ou observation, ailleurs qu’en Lobaye, d’espèce non signalée jusqu’ici de
la RCA (M. Germain et J. P. Cornet, non publié).
MNHN: exemplaire déposé au Muséum National d’ Histoire Naturelle, Paris.
Numéros: voir notes à la fin de l’Annexe.
Gorsachius leuconotus (X)
Bostrychia rara
B. olivacea (X)
Dryotriorchis spectabilis (O)
Accipiter castanilius
Francolinus lathami
Himantornis haematopus
Balearica pavonina
Tringa totanns
Calidris minuta
Tumix hottentota ( 1 )
Columba unicincta
Bubo poensis
B. leucostictus (X)
Scot ope lia bouvieri
Caprimulgus inornatus
C. tristigma
C. batesi
Raphidura sabini (2)
Neafrapus cassini (O)
Apaloderma aequatoriale (X)
Merops malimbicus (X)
Phoeniculus castaneiceps (X)
Tockus hartlaubi
Lybius rolled (3)
Indicator maculatus
I. willcocksi
Melichneutes robustus
Jynx torquilla
Dendropicos gabonensis
Smithomis capensis
S. rufolateralis
Pitta angolensis
P. reichenowi (X)
Galerida modesta
Motacilla clara
Laniarius luehderi (X)
Malaconotus cruentus
1992
Oiseaux de la Lobaye, R.C.A.
5
Dicrurus (adsimilis) modestus
Onychognathus fulgidus
Campephaga lobaîa
Coracina azure a
Andropadus gracilirostris
Calyptocichla serina (X)
Ixonotus guttatus
Thescelocichla leucopleura
Phyllastrephus scandens
Criniger olivaceus (0,X)
Cercotrichas hartlaubi (X)
Cossypha heuglini
Neocossyphus rufus (X)
Turdus olivaceus (4)
T. princei (X)
Turdoides reinwardii
Hippolais pallida (0,X)
Apalis flavida
Hyper gerus atriceps
Bathmocercus cerviniventris
Sylvietta demi (X)
Macrosphenus concolor
Notes:
1. Mboko (4°22’N, 18°42’E, mosaïque périforestière): MG, 1 femelle 24 jan 75,
MNHN.
2. Landjia (4°22’N, 18°40’E, mosaïque périforestière): MG obs. 23 avr 72.
3. Région Birao (10°17’N, 22°50’E, zone soudano-sahélienne): 3 août 88, F.
Brétagnolle corn. pers.
4. La forme présente en RCA est T. pelios.
5. Botambi (4°12’N, 18°30’E, forêt semi-décidue): MG, 1 mâle capturé 20 oct 76;
probablement présent dans la Lobaye, très voisine.
6. Ngoundji (4°39’N, 18°42’E, mosaïque périforestière): MG, 1 mâle 27 mai 72,
MNHN. Marali (6°30’N, 18°30’E, savane subsoudanienne): MG, 1 mâle 13 juil 72,
MNHN.
Artomyias fuliginosa (O)
Muscicapa sethsmithi
M. epulata (X)
M. comitata
Bias musicus
Megabyas flammulata
Platysteira tonsa (X)
Erythrocercus mccalli
Terpsiphone bates i (5)
Trochocercus nigromitratus
Anthreptes rectirostris
A. aurantium
A. seimundi
Ploceus preussi (X)
P. baglafecht (6)
P. do rsomaculatus
P. insignis (X)
Malimbus coronatus (X)
M. erythrogaster
M. malimbicus
Ni grit a bi color
6
M. Germain
Malimbus 14
Annexe 2
Espèces signalées par Carroll (1988) dont la présence en Lobaye demeure incertaine
Note:
1. Forme à laquelle se rapporte vraisemblablement le P. plumata observé en Haute -
Sangha par Carroll.
1992
7
Nearctic vagrant waders in the Cap Lopez area, Gabon
by Peter Alexander-M arrack
van Alkemadelaan 350/401, 2597 AS Den Haag, The Netherlands
Received 29 November 1991
Revised 6 July 1992
Summary
Observations of three species of vagrant Nearctic wader are reported from the
Cap Lopez area, Gabon: Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda , Pectoral
Sandpiper Calidris melanotos and Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites
subruficollis . The possible sighting of a fourth Nearctic species, American
Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica, is recorded.
Résumé
Les observations de trois espèces errantes de limicoles néarctiques dans les
environs du Cap Lopez, Gabon, sont présentées: la Bartramie à longue queue
Bartramia longicauda , le Bécasseau tacheté Calidris melanotos et le Bécasseau
rousset Tryngites subruficollis. L’observation possible d’une quatrième espèce
néarctique, le Pluvier fauve d’Amérique Pluvialis dominica , est notée.
Introduction
Cap Lopez is the westernmost point of Gabon. This peninsula, jutting into the Atlantic
Ocean, has been found to attract many species of migrant birds. In particular, several
rare Palaearctic and intra- African migrants, as well as Nearctic vagrants, have been seen
in an area around a pig and sheep farm situated 12 km south of the cape (0°44’S,
8°44’E). This paper reports the sighting of four vagrant Nearctic wader species at this
locality, none of which has previously been reported from Gabon.
The terrain consists of old beach ridges which support a vegetation of
predominantly short grasses and herbs, scattered Phoenix reclinata palms and clumps of
Dalbergia , alternating with marshy depressions which are flooded during the rains
(October to May).
Other observers, Geneviève Chamagne, Patrice Christy and Dave Sargeant, are
identified by their initials.
8
P. D. Alex ander-M arrack
Malimbus 14
Observations
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
On the morning of 23 October 1988, GC and I flushed a bird from a log behind the
beach. It fed in dried-up vegetation (up to 30 cm high) in an active, restless manner;
often only the head was visible. It flew high and fast, several hundred metres each time,
often accompanying two Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus and a Grey Plover Pluvialis
squatarola. It was nervous, not permitting approach within 100 m. I relocated it in the
afternoon and obtained good views, and it was seen again briefly on 1 November. In
flight, the longer body, dark wedge on the upper surface of the primaries and the narrow
white sides of the tail distinguished it from Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva. On
the ground, the small buffy head with distinctly darker-streaked crown and the more
faintly streaked greyish brown breast distinguished it from Ruff Philomachus pugnax
while the larger size and longer legs and neck prevented confusion with Buff-breasted
Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis. These characteristics identify the bird as an Upland
Sandpiper (Peterson 1980, Hayman et al. 1986).
This species has been reported only once before from the African continent, in
Mauritania in 1986 (Meininger et al. 1990). It has been recorded as a vagrant on Tristan
da Cunha (Hayman et al. 1986).
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
On 12 November 1988, DS and I observed a small wader feeding on mud at the edge of
a marsh. Our first impression was of a small Ruff but the centre of the tail was blackish
(similar to Dunlin Calidris alpina) with pale areas on the basal parts of the outer tail-
feathers. There was no obvious wing-bar in flight; the flight call was a high-pitched
“prrif\ On the ground, good views were obtained of the finely streaked breast, sharply
demarcated from the off-white belly. From these characters the bird was identified as a
Pectoral Sandpiper.
There are several records of this species from North, East and southern Africa,
including Namibia (Urban et al. 1986). In West Africa, it has been recorded from
Principe (Frade 1958, 1959) and Ivory Coast (Fishpool & Demey 1991). Since the
species breeds in the easternmost part of the Palaearctic region as well as in the
Nearctic, Pectoral Sandpipers wintering in Africa are not necessarily of Nearctic origin
(Zonfrillo 1981), though this seems more probable for individuals seen in West Africa.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis
On 26 December 1987, 1 flushed a medium-small wader from a sand track in the grassy
area behind the beach. The bird was not shy and allowed approach to about 20 m by car,
from which good views were obtained. The nondescript flight pattern, with no white in
wings or tail, was reminiscent of a small Pacific Golden Plover. The “fat” head on a
thin neck, prominent dark eye and plain, warm buff face, neck and breast were the
diagnostic features identifying it as Buff-breasted Sandpiper. This individual stayed in
1992
Nearctic waders in Gabon
9
the same area until 26 March 1988 and was seen almost every week. It was
photographed in December 1987 and January 1988 and good views of it were obtained
by GC on 31 January and by PC on 13 February 1988. In February it was seen
associating with a group of four Ruff.
There are records of this species from Egypt, Tunisia, Kenya (Urban et al. 1986),
Senegal (Morel & Morel 1990), Sierra Leone (Field 1974), Ghana (Grimes 1987) and
South Africa (Hayman et al. 1986).
American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominie a
Christy (1990) and Fishpool & Demey (1991) have referred to my sightings of a
possible American Golden Plover in this area on 26 December 1987 and 3 January
1988. This bird was distinctly grey-brown all over, including the belly, and lacked the
golden feather-edgings of Pacific Golden Plovers observed nearby on the same day.
Although the general appearance matched the description in Hayman et al. (1986) of
American Golden Plover in winter plumage, the distance and brevity of the sightings
did not allow assessment of the projection of the primaries beyond the tertials, indicated
by Dunn et al. (1987) as a more reliable distinction between dominica and fulva. The
bird in question cannot therefore be identified with certainty as dominica.
Other records of American Golden Plover from West Africa have recently been
reviewed by Fishpool & Demey (1991). It has also been reported from southern Africa
(Newman 1989).
Acknowledgments
I thank L.D.C. Fishpool, Dave Sargeant, Patrice Christy and Geoffrey Field for their
comments on earlier versions of this paper.
References
Christy, P. (1990) New records of Palaearctic migrants in Gabon. Malimbus 11: 117-
122.
Dunn, J.L., Morlan, J. & Wilds, C.P. (1987) Field identification of forms of the
Lesser Golden Plover. Pp. 28-33 in P.J. Grant, J.T.R. Sharrock, S. Tagar & H.
Smrihai (eds), International Bird Identification. Proc. 4 Internat. Ident. Meet. Eilat
1-8 Nov 1986. International Birdwatching Centre, Eilat.
Field, G.D. (1974) Nearctic waders in Sierra Leone - Lesser Golden Plover and Buff-
breasted Sandpiper. Bull. Brit. Om. Club 94: 76-78.
Fishpool, L.D.C. & Demey, R. (1991) The occurrence of both species of "Lesser
Golden Plover’ and of Nearctic scolopacids in Cote d’Ivoire. Malimbus 13: 3-10.
Frade, F. (1958) Aves e mamiferos das Ilhas de Sâo Tomé e do Principe. Notas de
10
P. D. Alexander-Marrack
Malimbus 14
sistematica e de protecçâo à fauna. Conf Internat. Africanistas Ocidentais 6 Sessfto,
Lisboa. Vol. 4: 137-149.
Frade, F. (1959) New records of non-resident birds and notes on some resident ones in
SSo Tomé and Principe islands. Proc. 1 Pan-Afr. Orn. Congr. ( Ostrich suppl. 3):
317-320.
Grimes, L.G. (1987) The Birds of Ghana. Check-list 9, British Ornithologists’ Union,
London.
Hayman, P., Marchant, J. & Prater, T. (1986) Shorebirds. Croom Helm, London.
Meininger, P.L., Duiven, P., Marteun, E.C.L. & Spanje, T.M. (1990) Notable bird
observations from Mauritania. Malitnbus 12: 19-24.
Morel, G.J. & Morel, M.-Y. (1990) Les Oiseaux de Sénégambie. ORSTOM, Paris.
Newman, K. (1989) Newman's Birds of Southern Africa. Southern, Johannesburg.
Peterson, R.T. (1980) A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North
America. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.
Urban, E.K., Fry, C.H. & Keith, S. (1986) The Birds of Africa, vol. 2. Academic
Press, London.
Zonfrillo, B. (1981) Holarctic and Nearctic sandpipers. Bull. Brit. Om. Club 101: 311-
312.
1992
11
Range extensions of two nightjar species in Niger,
with a note on prey
by Joost Brouwer1 and Wim C. Mullié2
1 ICRISAT Centre Sahélien, BP 12404, Niamey, Niger
2 DFPV, Centre Agrhymet/CILSS, B.P. 12625, Niamey, Niger
Received 23 January 1992
Summary
We describe an extension of known range of the Golden Nightjar Caprimulgus
eximius and the first record of Freckled Nightjar C. tristigma in Niger. Gut
contents of two Golden Nightjars were predominantly grasshoppers.
Résumé
Nous décrivons une extension de la répartition de l’Engoulevent doré
Caprimulgus eximius et la première observation de l’Engoulevent pointillé C.
tristigma au Niger. Le gésier de deux Engoulevents dorés contenait surtout des
sauterelles.
Golden Nightjar Caprimulgus eximius
On the morning of 20 November 1991, we found a female Golden Nightjar roadkill 6
km south of Ouallam, 90 km north of Niamey, Niger. The specimen was heavily
damaged and the tail was missing. Approximately 6 km west of Ouallam, on the road to
Tillabéry, we found a dead male of the same species, in a much better state. The
absence of ant activity indicated that they had probably been killed early that same
morning. The male weighed 66.3 g and had a wing length of 180 mm. The female
weighed 42.1 g (tail missing), with a wing length of 163 mm.
The gizzard contents of the two birds were examined (Table 1). Remarkable are the
large number of prey species found and the large proportion of Orthoptera. The largest
intact grasshopper present, a Diabolocatantops axillaris , measured 50 mm. Remarkably
absent were remains of Omithacris cavroisi , a grasshopper of 6-7 cm in length and
abundant in the same general area. The latter species was the main prey of Swallow-
tailed Kites Chelictinia riocourii present near Ouallam between October and December
1991 (Mullié et al. in press). Either the size of Omithacris or its lack of nocturnal
12
J. Brouwer & W. C. Mullié
Malimbus 14
activity could be responsible for this discrepancy. A study by Moussa (1990) of
grasshopper populations around Ouallam, from June to October 1990, showed that 31
species were present, of which Oedaleus senegalensis , Acrotylus blondeli , A. patruelis ,
Pyrgomorpha cognata and Chrotogonus senegalensis were the most abundant. Three of
the four genera were represented in the nightjar gizzards, suggesting that the nightjars
were opportunistic in their prey choice. There was little overlap in prey species
between the male and female: this could be a chance effect (impossible to test
statistically owing to small sample size) or it might be related to the difference in size
between the two birds.
Table 1. Gizzard contents of two Golden Nightjars.
1992
Nightjars in Niger
13
In an earlier study in Senegal, Keith & Mullié (1990) found that gizzards of the
Longtailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus and the Plain Nightjar C. inomatus both
contained predominantly grasshopper prey, 87 and 62 per cent by numbers respectively.
Nightjars may apparently be important predators of grasshoppers.
Our finds fill a gap in the distribution of the Golden Nightjar, indicated by a
question mark in Fry et al (1988). These authors also state that the species may move
locally or be a short-distance migrant in Mali (cf. Lamarche 1980). Our finds tend to
confirm this for the Ouallam area: they were made during the dry season and JB has not
encountered the species there before on about six trips in October 1990, February,
August and September 1991, in spite of finding killed, or spotting at night, a large
number of Plain and Standard-wing Macrodipteryx longipennis Nightjars.
Freckled Nightjar Caprimulgus tristigma
In the early afternoon of 16 October 1991, JB and B. Murphy flushed a nightjar from a
roadside gully with some bushes at the edge of a laterite plateau, 15 km south of
Ouallam. The bird landed on a laterite boulder further up the gully, facing JB at about
45°, affording good views with 10 x 40 binoculars for about half a minute at a distance
of perhaps 30 m. When approached, it flew back down the gully. It was flushed twice
more, giving reasonable views in flight, but no further views while sitting. It was a
largish nightjar, all dark brownish grey with no white throat patch evident. The head
was particularly dark looking, with a slaty sheen. When flying, white patches showed in
the wings and comers of the longish tail (not noticeable when tail folded in flight).
According to Fry et al. (1988), the nightjar species with white wing and tail spots
which occur in the Sahel are the Red-necked C. ruficollis, Golden, Plain, European C.
europaeus and Freckled Nightjars, and possibly the Rufous-cheeked Nightjar C.
rufigena. Red-necked, Golden and Plain can be eliminated because they have a different
general coloration, Rufous-cheeked because it has spotted wing coverts (it would also
be out of range, in a 400 mm rainfall area during the dry season) and European because
it is moderately variegated and has a pale line across the fore wing. The bird in question
showed many characteristics (coloration, habitat, habit of perching on a rock) of the
Freckled Nightjar. The only argument against this identification is that it had no evident
“broad white patch across throat” (cf. Fry et al. 1988). On the other hand, the plate in
Fry et al. (1988) shows that the throat patch is not necessarily all that noticeable.
The conclusion is reached that the bird in question was indeed a male Freckled
Nightjar. According to Giraudoux et al. (1988) and J. Newby (unpublished checklist of
the birds of Niger), this is a new species for Niger. It has, however, been observed only
about 300 km westward in Mali, and also about 500 km south-eastward in Nigeria (Fry
et al. 1988): the species can reasonably be expected to occur in suitable habitat in
western Niger.
14
J. Brouwer & W. C. Mullié
Malimbus 14
Acknowledgments
We are indebted to Abdoulaye Tankoano and Sama Gagaré, DFPV, for their
identification of the gizzard contents of the Golden Nightjars.
References
Fry, C.H., Keith, S. & Urban, E.K. (Eds) (1988) The Birds of Africa, vol. 3. Academic
Press, London.
Giraudoux, P., Degauquier, R., Jones, P.J., Weigel, J. & Isenmann, P. (1988)
Avifaune du Niger: état des connaissances en 1986. Malimbus 10: 1-140.
Keith, J.O. & Mullié, W.C. (1990) Annex XII.5 to Chapter 12. Birds. In: Everts, J.W.
(Ed.) Environmental effects of chemical locust and grasshopper control. Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
Lamarche, B. (1980) Liste commentée des oiseaux du Mali. Malimbus 2: 121-158.
Moussa, B. K. (1990) Contribution à l’étude de la dynamique des populations
d 'Oedaleus senegalensis (Krauss, 1877) (Acrididae: Oedipodinae). Rapport de
stage. Département de Formation en Protection des Végétaux, Niamey, Niger.
Mullié, W.C., Brouwer, J. & Albert, C. (1992) Gregarious behaviour of African
Swallow-tailed Kite Chelictinia riocourii in response to high grasshopper densities
near Ouallam, western Niger. Malimbus 14: 19-21.
1992
15
Short Notes
Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga phoenicea on Mt Oku, Cameroon
On 25 March 1991 I saw a male Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga
phoenicea at 2,600 m on Mt Oku, north-west Cameroon. It was feeding alone in
creepers at lower levels within thick montane forest, and allowed close and detailed
observation. To my knowledge this species has not been recorded before on Mt Oku,
being a lowland species of forest edge and secondary growth.
The plumage of this individual was also unusual. The red “shoulders” appeared
particularly extensive, not merely being confined to the lesser and median coverts but
extending onto the scapulars and greater coverts. The red area was margined narrowly
with yellow. The extent of the red on phoenicea is known to be variable but is usually
less than on this bird. It is possible that the yellow border observed was the yellow inner
webs of the coverts showing through due to moult.
The occurrence of this species at high altitude and in such habitat is puzzling,
although the forest on Mt Oku is dry and badly degraded. The forest-dwelling Petit’s
Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga petiti has been recorded on Mt Oku (Stuart 1986). The
possible co-existence of these species here may provide an opportunity to see if they
interbreed, as some authorities consider them the same species.
The bird may represent an undescribed montane race of C. phoenicea. However I
feel that such a distinctive species would have been recorded before on Mt Oku had it
been resident there, as this is one of the few places in Cameroon relatively well covered
by ornithologists. The bird may rather have been a vagrant to this altitude and one
displaying possibly aberrant plumage. It may have been a migrant, as C. phoenicea is
known to migrate in Nigeria, appearing in the north between early May and early
November and moving south for November- April (Elgood 1982). The date of my
sighting would more or less tie in with this timetable.
References
Elgood, J.H. (1982) The birds of Nigeria. Checklist no 4. British Ornithologists’
Union, London.
Stuart, S.N. (1986) Conservation of Cameroon Montane Forests. International
Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge.
Received 1 July 1991
Revised 7 March 1992
Eddie Williams
17 Sycamore Close, Upton, Wirral, Merseyside, L49 4QL, U.K.
16
Short Notes
Malimbus 14
Première observation au Sénégal du Martinet marbré Tachymarptis aequatorialis
Au cours d’un séjour au Parc National du Niokolo Koba en février 1986, je me suis
rendu au Grand Mirador qui domine la fleuve Gambie entre Simentie et Wouring
(13°05’W, 13°25’N). Là, mon attention fut attirée par un martinet de grande taille
évoluant à hauteur du mirador d’un vol rapide. L’oiseau disparut puis, quelques instants
plus tard, ce fut un groupe de neuf individus qui revint. Ceux-là restèrent une dizaine de
minutes à voler dans les environs immédiats et la nature du site me permettait
d’observer les oiseaux tantôt par-dessus tantôt par-dessous et parfois de bien près. D’un
brun uniforme au-dessus, ces oiseaux avaient le ventre et la poitrine comme finement
barrés; de plus, la queue était légèrement fourchue. Ces éléments me permirent de
déterminer cette espèce comme le Martinet marbré Tachymarptis aequatorialis , espèce
qui fréquente habituellement les régions montagneuses et qui, jusqu’à présent, n’était
pas connue en Afrique de l’ouest, au nord de la Sierra Leone (Fry et al. 1988).
Toutefois, A. le Dru (corn, pers.) observa ce martinet à plusieurs reprises en Guinée
dans les arrondissements de Mamou, Kindia et Forécariah et jusqu’à 500 sujets en
migration le 10 janvier 1988 dans la région de Fria. Ces différents sites guinéens sont
séparés du nôtre par le massif du Fouta Djalon et distants d’environ 300 km.
Les jours suivants, et au cours des autres séjours effectués au Sénégal oriental, j’ai
recherché en vain cette espèce dans des sites comparables ou a priori favorables.
Je remercie A. Le Dru pour la permission de reproduire ici ses notes.
Bibliographie
Fry, C.H., Keith, S. & Urban, E.K. (1988) The Birds of Africa, vol. 3. Academie
Press, London.
Récu 23 janvier 1992 Richard Dévissé
34, rue Emile Debrie, 80450 Camon, France
Road-kills of three nightjar species near Niamey, Niger
Over a period of seven weeks in 1990, starting on 6 September, I found 63 vehicle-
killed nightjars on a 20 km stretch of laterite road, leading from the checkpoint near
Niamey south towards Say. The three species identified were Standard-wing Nightjar
Macrodipteryx longipennis , Plain Nightjar Caprittiulgus inornatus and Long-tailed
Nightjar C. climacurus. Between 22 October and 18 November I travelled somewhat
less frequently along this road and found no further dead nightjars. The road is more or
less parallel to the Niger river and quite close to it (100-400 m) for the first 7 km, after
which it veers away to a maximum distance of about 5 km. It mostly passes through
millet and fallow fields in broad sandy valleys, with areas of laterite plateau nearby.
1992
Short Notes
17
The plateaux are covered with degraded tiger-bush, a vegetation type with alternating
areas of bushes (3-6 m high) and bare soil, which form an irregular stripy pattern. I
found no dead nightjars on the next 10 km section of road to the south, which crosses
such a plateau with tiger-bush.
The Standard-wing Nightjar is common north of the forest in West Africa, perhaps
nesting as far north as 16°N in Mali (Lamarche 1980); in the northern, sahelian part of
its range, it occurs only as a non-breeding wet season visitor (Fry et al. 1988). It has
been considered the most common nightjar in Mali (Lamarche 1980), but appears to be
much less common than the Long-tailed Nightjar in central Chad (Newby 1980).
Records in the Niamey area are few (Giraudoux et al. 1988, S. Millington pers. comm.,
pers. obs.) and during 17 years at Makalondi (100 km SW of Niamey) P. Souvairan
(pers. comm.) recorded it only during April-June 1969 and 1980. Cheke et al. (1985)
mention a flock of 40 at Niamey airport in December 1969.
The Plain Nightjar is a locally common, wet-season breeding visitor to the Sahel,
wintering mainly in wooded savannas to the south (Fry et al. 1988, Serle et al. 1977,
Lamarche 1980). P. Souvairan (pers. comm.) found one live bird of this species and
four road-kills in 17 years at Makalondi, in July, September and October 1971 and
September and October 1980. During 1990, S. Millington (pers. comm.) saw several in
May, June and August. Giraudoux et al. (1985) mention one observation and a nest near
Tillabéry, both in November 1985.
The Long-tailed Nightjar breeds in the northern savanna part of its range, some
birds remaining there all year round (Serle et al. 1977, Lamarche 1980, Newby 1980).
Fry et al. (1988) mention it as a common breeding visitor to Niger. The fact that it is
considered common or abundant in many parts of its range may be related to the ease of
identification of the male. In the Makalondi region it may be the most common nightjar
(P. Souvairan pers. comm.), but recent observations around Niamey are few, and
certainly fewer than of the Standard-wing Nightjar (Giraudoux et al. 1985, S.
Millington pers. comm., pers. obs.).
Of the 57 nightjar road-kills identified, 45 were Standard-wing Nightjars, 9 Plain
Nightjars (red morph) and 3 Long-tailed Nightjars. Cheke et al. (1985) mention that
three of 20 road-killed nightjars examined near Gaya (300 km SSE of Niamey) in
August 1984 were Long-tailed, but give no details of the others. Whether road-kills
provide a true picture of live nightjar relative abundance is not certain; some species
may be more liable to become traffic victims than others. It would seem reasonable,
however, to conclude that during September-October 1990 Standard-wing Nightjars
were quite common near Niamey, probably more so than the other two species.
Almost two-thirds of the birds were killed on only three of the 25 observation days
between the first and last observed road-kills (i.e. on 6 and 9 September and 5 October).
That the nightjars may have been flying in flocks is supported by the fact that very often
there were two or three dead nightjars very close together, and up to five or six within
100-200 m of each other, sometimes involving two, once all three species (with
Standard-wing Nightjars always in the majority). The three days with high numbers of
18
Short Notes
Malimbus 14
road-killed nightjars were preceded by appreciable rainfall in the general area the week
before. This fits with what is known of migratory movements following the passage of
rain-fronts (A. Tye pers. comm.). The nightjars may also have been feeding on insect
swarms brought out by the preceding rainfall.
Primary moult was as follows for the Standard-wing Nightjars (first primary
innermost; primaries proximal to those mentioned were new, distal old): 13 Sept two
missing P7; 21 Sept one with P7 two-thirds grown; 28 Sept one with P8 two-thirds
grown, one with P8 two-thirds grown and P9 a pin, one with P9 a pin; 3 Oct three
missing P8 or P9; 5 Oct two moulting P7 and P8, three P9 and P10. Replacement of the
primaries from the inside out is as expected (cf. Stresemann & Stresemann 1966, as
quoted in Herremans & Stevens 1983). The one Plain Nightjar inspected for moult was
missing P8 on 3 October.
Thanks are due to P. Souvairan and S. Millington for making available their data, to my
fellow travellers, who patiently waited while I inspected dead birds and to my wife,
who let me store some of them (well wrapped) in the family freezer. Two anonymous
referees made much appreciated comments on an earlier version of this note.
References
Cheke, R.A., Walsh, J.F. & Fishpool, L.D.C. (1985) Bird records from the Republic
of Niger. Malimbus 7: 73-90.
Fry, C.H., Keith, S. & Urban, E.K. (eds) (1988) The Birds of Africa, vol. 3. Academic
Press, London.
Giraudoux, P., Degauquier, R., Jones, P.J., Weigel, J. & Isenmann, P. (1988)
Avifaune du Niger: état des connaissances en 1986. Malimbus 10: 1-140.
Herremans, M. & Stevens, J. (1983) Moult of the Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus
climacurus Vieillot. Malimbus 5: 5-16.
Lamarche, B. (1980) Liste commentée des oiseaux du Mali. Malimbus 2: 121-158.
Newby, J. (1980) The birds of the Ouadi Rimé - Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve. A
contribution to the study of the Chadian avifauna (part II). Malimbus 2: 29-50.
Serle, W„ Morel, G.J. & Hartwig, W. (1977) A Field Guide to the Birds of West
Africa. Collins, London.
Received 23 January 1992
Revised 9 July 1992
Joost Brouwer
ICRISAT Centre Sahélien, BP 12404, Niamey, Niger
1992
Short Notes
19
Gregarious behaviour of African Swallow-tailed Kite Chelictinia riocourii in
response to high grasshopper densities near Ouallam, western Niger
On 16 October 1991 JB observed a concentration of Swallow -tailed Kites Chelictinia
riocourii approximately 15 km west of Ouallam (14°19’ N, 2°5’ E), 100 km north of
Niamey, Niger. The birds first seen formed a loose flock of several dozen birds, with
sometimes 100 m or more between one bird and the next.
The kites were apparently hunting over grassland (mostly Aristida spp.) with
Guiera senegalensis shrubs, flying and hovering at about 10-15 m height, and
occasionally plunging to the ground. Several birds were seen nibbling in flight on what
seemed to be large grasshoppers or locusts. Scanning with binoculars revealed an
estimated 800 Swallow-tailed Kites over an area of several square kilometers, mostly
hunting, including a group of about 100 which flushed from a tree when a large bird of
prey passed by. Their general direction of movement was northward, albeit not
purposeful.
On 20 November JB and WCM visited the same area. There were at least several
dozen Swallow-tailed Kites present, catching large grasshoppers. No grasshoppers were
collected but, based on Mestre (1988) and the reference collection of the Département
de Formation en Protection des Végétaux (DFPV), they were tentatively identified as
Omithacris cavroisi , a large species of 6-7 cm length. This species was present in high
but not unusual numbers (C. Kooijman pers. comm.), locally up to 2 per m2.
On 8 December in the same general area, about 15 km west of Ouallam on the road
to Tillabéry, CA and A. Kounou observed 20-30 kites in twos or threes clearly moving
south-east. Later that same day south-easterly migrating kites crossed the Ouallam-
Niamey road, on the spot were they were expected based on the flight direction of the
above birds. The shortest distance between those two spots is approximately 30 km.
Along the Ouallam-Tillabéry road, about 25 km west of Ouallam, these observers
encountered another dense flock of approximately 150 Swallow-tailed Kites, also
catching grasshoppers. The grasshoppers were numerous on this spot, where thousands
of grasshopper droppings were found under low bushes.
A freshly dead male Swallow-tailed Kite was collected 25 km west of Ouallam. The
gonads were not enlarged, and the weight was 1 10 g, with substantial fat (subcutaneous
and around organs). The gizzard contained the remains of a single large Omithacris
cavroisi.
In early December 1991 O. cavroisi was widespread in SW Niger, where they were
commonly sold as tasty roasted snacks. Several vendors said that the grasshoppers had
been collected near Dogondoutchi, about 300 km east of Niamey, starting in October.
Mestre & Chiffaud (1991) found O. cavroisi to be abundant at three out of 23 localities
in SW Niger between September 1989 and June 1990. The time of year when
populations of this grasshopper peaked coincides with the time of year in which we
observed the Swallow- tailed Kites preying on them.
Swallow-tailed Kites in West Africa breed in the Sahel part of their range in the
20
Short Notes
Malimbus 14
rains and migrate south to moister parts in the dry season (Thiollay 1977, 1978, Brown
et al. 1982). The birds observed moving south-east at Ouallam in early December may
have originated from unrecorded breeding populations elsewhere in Niger, Mali, or
Mauritania, and were perhaps moving on to northern Nigeria (cf. Elgood et al. 1973).
Earlier visits to the area west of Ouallam by JB, in October 1990, February, August and
September 1991, had not revealed any kites.
The gregarious behaviour of Swallow-tailed Kites is a well-known phenomenon
(Bannerman 1953), e.g. as a response to grass fires (Brown et al. 1982), to swarming
termites and ants (Lamarche 1980, 1987), and especially to grasshoppers or locusts
(Bouet 1955, Meinertzhagen 1959, Thiollay 1977, 1978, Newby 1979). Following the
recent drought years in the Sahel (1981-1984) and the heavy grasshopper and locust
control operations between 1986 and 1989 (U.S. Congress 1990), little information has
been published on the Swallow-tailed Kite in the Sahel, which appears to have
drastically decreased in numbers during the last twenty years (J.-M. Thiollay pers.
comm.). The most recent observations of large flocks are those by Lamarche (1980,
1987) reporting on roosts of 150 and 800 Swallow-tailed Kites in January-February
near Simbi and Mopti, Mali, respectively and flocks of 50-150 individuals in southeast
Mauritania, as well as a night roost of 400 birds in November in the Senegal Delta in
Mauritania.
It may be rewarding to investigate further the timing of migration in the Swallow-
tailed Kite relative to locust and grasshopper upsurges, and whether the kites
significantly reduce the densities of their grasshopper prey (e.g. Elliott 1962, Greathead
1966). In a recent experimental field study it was confirmed that avian predation
reduces grasshopper populations at low and moderate densities (Fowler et al. 1991).
We are indebted to Baba Sidiki, DFPV, for his identification of the gizzard contents,
and to J.-M. Thiollay and R. Wilkinson for their comments on an earlier version of this
note.
References
Bannerman, D.A. (1953) The Birds of West and Equatorial Africa. Oliver and Boyd,
Edinburgh.
Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. & Newman, K. (1982) The Birds of Africa, vol. 1.
Academic Press, London.
Bouet, G. (1955) Faune de VUnion Française. 16. Oiseaux de V Afrique Tropicale.
ORSTOM, Paris.
Elgood, J.H., Fry, C.H. & Dowsett, R.J. (1973) African migrants in Nigeria. Ibis 115:
1-45,375-411.
Elliott, H.F.I. (1962) Birds as locust predators. Ibis 104: 444.
Fowler, A.C., Knight, R.L., George, T.L. & McEwen, L.C. (1991) Effects of avian
predation on grasshopper populations in North Dakota grasslands. Ecology 72:
1775-1781.
1992
Short Notes
21
Gr lathe AD, D.J. (1966) A brief survey of the effects of biotic factors on populations of
the Desert Locust. J. Appl. Ecol. 3: 239-250.
Lamarche, B. (1980) Liste commentée des oiseaux du Mali (1ère partie: Non-
passereaux). Malimbus 2: 121-158.
Lamarche, B. (1987) Liste commentée des oiseaux de Mauritanie. Etud. Sahariennes
Ouest- Afr. 1 (4 & spéc.).
Meinertzhagen, R. (1959) Pirates and Predators. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh.
Mestre, J. (1988) Les Acridiens des Formations Herbeuses d'Afrique de l'Ouest.
PRIFAS, Montpellier.
Mestre, J. & Chiffaud, J. (1991) Activités du Projet Acrido-météorologie
PRIFAS/FAC/AGRHYMET - Rapport de fin de Projet. Ministère de la Coopération,
Paris and CIRAD-PRIFAS, Montpellier.
Newby, J. (1979) The birds of the Ouadi Rimé - Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve, a
contribution to the study of the Chadian avifauna. Malimbus 1: 90-109.
Thiollay, J.-M. (1977) Distribution saisonnière des rapaces diurnes en Afrique
Occidentale. Oiseau Rev. fr. Orn. 47: 253-294.
Thiollay, J.-M. (1978) Les migrations de rapaces en Afrique Occidentale: adaptations
écologiques aux fluctuations saisonnières de production des écosystèmes. Terre Vie
32: 89-134.
U. S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (1990) A Plague of Locusts -
Special Report. OTA-F-450, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
Received 23 January 1992
Revised 6 July 1992
Wim C. Mullié1, Joost Brouwer2 & Christian Albert3
^FPV, Centre Agrhymet/CILSS, BP 12625, Niamey, Niger
2ICRISAT Centre Sahélien, BP 12404, Niamey, Niger
3BP 139, Niamey, Niger
European Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris in The Gambia
On 18 November 1990, a European Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris was observed
flying around the cliffs at Kahi Badi Forest Park (13°43’N, 15°03’W) east of Kaur, The
Gambia. The bird was not seen again on subsequent visits in December, nor in March
the following year, nor at any other known cliff site, despite careful observation. Gore
(1990) mentions an unconfirmed record of a bird identified as an African Rock Martin
Ptyonoprogne fuligula from “Kaur” January 1972, presumably the same location, as
there are no cliffs in Kaur itself and Kahi Badi is one of the few locations with cliffs in
The Gambia. Morel & Morel (1990) discuss the occurrence of the Crag Martin and of
the African Rock Martin in Senegambia. On the basis of distribution in Senegal, they
22
Short Notes
Malimbus 14
suggest that the 1972 Gambian record was actually of a Crag Martin.
Good views of the Kahi Badi bird were obtained. It was significantly larger than the
European Sand Martin Riparia riparia, which was common at the time. The white
windows in the tail were visible from above. Probably the most telling characteristics
were the pale underparts with clearly delineated dark underwing coverts; the undertail
coverts were dark and not clearly delineated.
The nearest known colonies of the African Rock Martin are, on the one hand, the
Mauritanian Adrar, a rocky massif some 800km north of the Senegal River, inhabited
by the pale desert race P. f. spatzi or buchanani. Heim de Balsac & Mayaud (1961) and
Cramp (1988) suggest that these martins perhaps migrate but neither the direction nor
the date and importance of such movements are known. On the other hand, the darker
race P.f bansoensis has been found along the rocky cliffs of the Senegal -Guinea border
(Morel & Morel 1990); whether they are sedentary remains to be discovered. Both races
might therefore occur in The Gambia.
Geographical variation of the African Rock Martin is “marked and complex”
according to Cramp (1988), who recommends that it is best seen as a single polytypic
species consisting of three distinct groups, two of which are relevant to this discussion.
On the basis of colour both P. f spatzi and P. f. buchanani belong to the obsoleta group
(N Africa and Asia, slightly paler and smaller than Crag Martin), though on size
buchanani would be assigned to the rufigula group (W, central and E Africa, distinctly
smaller than the obsoleta group and much darker). P. f buchanani would still be larger
than a Sand Martin. Cramp (1988) suggests that the extent of the dark on the underwing
coverts is a good field character for separating Crag Martin from the obsoleta colour
group of Rock Martin. This appeared to be confirmed by the author’s examination of
specimens at the British Museum (Natural History) in which virtually no dark
underwing coverts could be seen on the Rock Martin P. f spatzi in sharp contrast to the
Crag Martin.
We are left with possible confusion with P. f bansoensis , of the rufigula group of
Rock Martin. Three specimens of bansoensis collected by G.J. & M.-Y. Morel (pers.
comm.) on the Senegal-Guinea border are as small as Sand Martins and are very dark.
They would probably be easily separated in the field from Crag Martin. Although there
is no evidence that P. f bansoensis is sedentary, it is unlikely that it would move
northwards where there is very little suitable habitat.
G.J. Morel (pers. comm.) suggests that Crag Martins, since they do not overwinter
near Dakar, winter further south in the hills of the Senegalese border, or in Guinea,
within the range of P. f bansoensis. There is no adequate habitat in between. They
would be easily overlooked since they are not numerous; none could be found in the
rocky hills of northern Guinea in late January (G.J. Morel, pers. comm).
The assistance of Dr G.J. Morel in the preparation of this note is gratefully
acknowledged. G.D. Field helped clarify the final draft.
1992
Short Notes
23
References
Cramp, S. (ed.) (1988) Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North
Africa , Vol.5. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Gore, M.E.J. (1990) Birds of The Gambia. Check-list no. 3 (2nd ed.), British
Ornithologists’ Union, Tring.
Heim De Balsac, H. & Mayaud, N. (1962) Les Oiseaux du Nord-Ouest de l’Afrique.
P. Lechevalier, Paris.
Morel, G.J. & Morel, M.-Y. (1990) Les Oiseaux de Sénégambie. ORSTOM, Paris.
Received 23 January 1992
Rachel Mai Jones
51 Lee Terrace, Blackheath, London SE3 9TA, UK
An observation of copulation in the Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis albirostris
in Senegal
Breeding behaviour and nest-building of the polygamous Buffalo Weaver Bubalomis
albirostris have been studied in detail (Friedmann 1949, Crook 1958, Collias & Collias
1964), yet copulatory behaviour has only been noted once before. Crook (1958)
reported a single Buffalo Weaver copulation during a month long study in southern
Mauritania and in northern Senegal near Richard-Toll. He described the copulation as
starting with the female and male giving a bouncing display, in which both birds
assumed a horizontal position on a branch and moved the body up and down in a series
of bounces. Following this, the female assumed a head-low position on a branch below
the male, with the tail held to the side. The male then quickly mounted and gave
repeated blows to the head of the female with his bill while copulating. The female
immediately attacked the male when he completed copulation.
The copulation event I report here was observed while studying nest-building in
Buffalo Weavers in Kaolack, Senegal, (Beaver in prep.) for 6 days in November 1987.
The colony, consisting of six nests, was located in a small Acacia tree. The birds were
in the early stages of nesting probably prior to egg-laying, since males were intensely
building their nests, and females were bringing grasses and green leaves to the nesting
chambers (see Crook 1958).
At the start of copulation, the female was located on a branch below the male. The
male approached the female while holding a small stick in his bill. When he was about
15 cm above and behind her, she began a continuous, twittering call. The male
continued approaching until he reached the female. He passed the stick to her and as she
took the stick, he mounted and copulated with her. He then dismounted and perched
above her. She dropped the stick and flew to the top of the nest structure, with the male
following. The female then circled the nest and entered one of the chambers. The male
remained outside and rearranged sticks vigorously on the nest surface. No other
24
Short Notes
Malimbus 14
vocalizations were given. Thus, this copulatory event displayed none of the overt
aggression and violence witnessed by Crook. Certainly more observations are needed to
clarify copulatory behaviour in Buffalo Weavers; perhaps Crook’s observation was of
forced copulation whereas in the instance described here the female solicited the copulation.
Another interesting question raised by Crook (1958) concerns the low frequency of
observations of copulation in Buffalo Weavers. Perhaps a single copulation is all that is
necessary to fertilize a clutch, as in the Skylark Alauda arvensis (Birkhead et al. 1987).
Birkhead et al. (1987) suggest that very infrequent copulations occur in species where
paternity is assured, principally by mate guarding. Male Buffalo Weavers chase males
away from their nests and, perhaps more importantly, so do females (Crook 1958;
Beaver in prep.). Perhaps the low frequency of copulation is a result of this behaviour
which may assure paternity.
My thanks to the Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, for financial
support and the Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles for logistical support.
References
Birkhead, T. R., Atkin, L. & Mdller, A. (1987) Copulation behaviour in birds.
Behaviour 101: 101-133.
Collias, N.E. & Collias, E.C. (1964) Evolution of nest-building in the weaverbirds
(Ploceidae). Univ. Calif. Pubis. Zool. 73.
Crook, J. H. (1958). Etude sur le comportement social de Bubalornis a. albirostris
(Vieillot). Alauda 26: 161-195.
Friedmann, H. (1950). The breeding habits of weaverbirds. A study in the biology of
behavior patterns. Smithsonian Report , 1949, pp. 293-316. Smithsonian Institution,
Washington D.C.
Received 26 March 1992 Donald L. Beaver
Dept of Zoology and The Michigan State Univ. Museum,
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
British Storm-Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus off Cote d’Ivoire
Mead & Clark (1991) give details of a British Storm-Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
ringed in the Shetland Isles and recovered at Grand Bassam, Cote d’Ivoire on 16 Nov
1990. This appears to be the second record for Côte d’Ivoire; Sharland (1955) reported
one at Abidjan in October 1953 but this record was omitted by Thiollay (1985).
References
Mead, C.J. & Clark, J.A. (1991) Report on bird ringing for Britain and Ireland for
1990. Ring. Migr. 12: 139-175.
1992
Short Notes
25
Sharland, R.E. (1955) Birds seen at sea. Nigerian Field 69: 168-171.
TraoLLAY, J.M. (1985) The birds of the Ivory Coast. Malimbus 7: 1-59.
Received 13 April 1992
R.A. Cheke & L.D.C. Fishpool
c/o Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue,
Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, U.K.
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius in northern Cameroon
On 3 May 1991 I observed a Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius swimming in an
inundated rice field near Lagdo, south-east of Garoua, northern Cameroon (9°3’N,
13°44’E). Based on plumage characteristics mentioned by Hayman et al. (1986), the
bird was identified as a juvenile moulting into adult plumage.
This record, 750 km from the nearest sea, is the fourth for Cameroon. Previous
records were single birds seen at Bityé in March 1930 (Bates in Bannerman 1930-51)
and at Yaoundé in November 1987 and May 1988 (Fotso 1990). Inland records of Grey
Phalaropes in Africa are unusual (Urban et al. 1986).
I thank Peter L. Meininger for stimulating me to publish this record.
References
Bannerman, D.A. (1930-51) The Birds of Tropical West Africa. Crown Agents,
London.
Fotso, R.C. (1990) Notes sur les oiseaux d’eau de la région de Yaoundé. Malimbus 12:
25-30.
Hayman, P., Marchant, J. & Prater, T. (1986) Shore birds. Croom Helm, London.
Urban, E.K., Fry, C.H. & Keith, S. (1986) The Birds of Africa, vol. 2. Academie
Press, London.
Received 26 May 1992
Rutger van Ouwerkerk
Dorpsweg 27, 4389 TS Ritthem, The Netherlands
26
Malimbus 14
Erratum
Birds of the Korup National Park, Cameroon
In my paper with the above title (1991, Malimbus 13: 11-23) there was an error in the
identification of the Pale-breasted Akalat Trichasioma rufipennis. The species actually
observed and photographed was the Brown Akalat T. rufescens. An S should be added
at the end of this species account to indicate that it was also recorded by Stuart (ed.,
1986, Conservation of Cameroon Montane Forests , ICBP, Cambridge).
Jane Thomas
7310 NW Acorn Ridge Drive, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
Book Reviews
The Rainforests of West Africa. By Claude Martin, 1991. 235 pp. + numerous colour
plates. Birkhàuser, Basel. ISBN 3-7643-2380-9. SFr72/DM86 hardback.
This looks rather like a too-small coffee-table book. Its near-landscape format, glossy
paper, American spelling, odd punctuation, large print and a font style that makes full
stops almost disappear (especially when read by hurricane lamp in a rainforest) gave me
the feeling that I was about to be disappointed. First impressions have rarely been so
wrong. This is an excellent book which should be read by everyone with any interest in
or influence on West African forests. It is packed with evocative photographs that, for
those who know the rainforest, will recall images from their own slide collections. The
book is a celebration of rainforest biology and a plea for conservation, and admirably
succeeds in conveying the enormity of the destruction of West Africa’s forests.
A condemnatory preface and first chapter document the history of forest
exploitation in the region, especially destructive logging and failed attempts at
protection by Forest Reserves. The figures are unimaginable; even in the past decade
some 7200 km2 of primary forest have been lost per year. Nigeria’s forests were
classified into types in the 1970s based on information collected in the 1930s, because
there was simply not enough forest left to do it on contemporary data.
The author goes on to a wide-ranging discussion of rainforest biology, beginning
with present and Quaternary distribution of forests, through the influence of climate and
soils on the forest and vice versa , moving from rare animal distributions to competition
as illustrated by primates, from plant-animal coevolution to forest elephant biology. The
breadth of coverage is phenomenal. It is well-referenced to key works and gives a lead
into an enormous range of topics, without burdening the text with long lists of authors.
1992
Book Reviews
27
It is attractively written and makes an excellent introduction to the subject for a layman,
while every chapter will produce something new even for those with professional
experience in the field.
There are small errors, including one of my bugbears: Nimba is described as the
only mountain in the region (west of Cameroon) rising to 1700 m. Too many authors
remain ignorant of the higher mountains in Sierra Leone and more extensive ones in
Guinea, both of which carry important forests. As is inevitable in such a broad review,
the author makes some slips in areas which are not his speciality ( e.g . that all extant
scaly-tails can glide). However, one becomes willing to overlook such quibbles as one
realises what an achievement this book represents. The same applies to the occasionally
odd English; the book was written in German and, I guess, translated by a non-native
English-speaker.
The latter part of the book returns to conservation. Martin’s major theme is that
traditional forest cultures do (or rather did) little damage to their environment; problems
arose when selective logging allowed immigration along logging roads, by peoples who
did not possess the appropriate forest traditions. The last two chapters describe in
shocking detail the extent of the resultant loss. It is impossible to foresee the biological
consequences of removing what is now probably over 90% of West Africa’s primary
rainforests. It seems inevitable that large numbers of organisms will eventually become
extinct. Humanity will have lost more besides. The rainforest inspires wonder at its
complexity and awe at its grandeur. The same awe and wonder are not generated by a
small, sad patch of Forest Reserve in the midst of degraded farmbush. The aesthetic
argument is not all, however. Martin makes the important point that so-called “minor”
forest products (such as honey, fibre, medicines and meat) are often of greater economic
value than the “primary” timber products. This has universally been ignored. Despite
this and although their interest was timber alone, Forest Departments aimed to manage
the forests sustainably. But they could not fight the financial muscle of timber
companies, whose operations were followed almost everywhere by the immigrant
farmers who finished the job. Ironically, this does not produce farmland where once
was forest; rather the result after a few harvests is a mosaic of exhausted soil and poor
farm patches. Everyone loses: the timber companies lose their source and the farmers
gain nothing in the long term. “The costs to the national economy caused by forest loss
are well above the profits”: the words, quoted in the book, of an experienced forester,
not a dedicated conservationist.
Martin recommends some practical measures which, if taken immediately might
save the remnants of the primary forests while providing timber and sustainable
agriculture. However, it seems unlikely that such action will be taken. The book ends
with a grim recommendation to the countries of central Africa, to take a good look at
the mistakes made further west as their forests begin to disappear down the same road.
Alan Tye
28
Book Reviews
Malimbus 14
Liste Commentée des Oiseaux de Mauritanie. By B. Lamarche, 1988. 164 pp.
Etudes Sahariennes et Ouest- Africaine s 1: numéro 4 et Spécial. Nouakchott and Paris.
FFr 150 (EC countries) FFr 180 (elsewhere) from Mme Lamarche, 36 rue du Président
Wilson, 78230 Le Pecq, France.
This is by far the most complete picture to date of the avifauna of Mauritania. Each
species account includes the name in Latin, French and English and, for each subspecies
recognized, an indication of whether it has been examined in the hand, a succinct
summary of status including whether it is of palaearctic or afrotropical affinity, the
months of arrival and departure of migrants, locations and habitats where observed at
various seasons, and months and sites of breeding. The list is preceded by an
introduction to geophysical features and climate (six pages of maps), a section on
ornithological exploration of the country in which some 50 observers have taken part,
and survey sections on systematics, migration (including the effects of weather) and
breeding. Following the list is a discussion dealing with the influence of topography
and vegetation on the bird life and the meeting of palaearctic and afrotropical
populations. The exhaustive bibliography contains 179 references.
Lamarche shows that about 57% of half-degree squares of Mauritania have been
ornithologically visited and 9% somewhat adequately explored, compared with the 20%
and 4% respectively that I found in 1981 ( Malimbus 3: 62-72). The great increase in
number of species during his stay (from 405 in 1981 to 547 in 1988) is in large part due
to his intensive coverage of the southern extremes, which extend below 15°S into
Soudan savanna. One feels that further growth of the Mauritanian list will be slow!
However, this paper does not offer a balanced view of ornithological work done in
the country. In the annotated list, brief mention is made of selected findings of other
authors, but over two thirds of the text are devoted to information obtained by
Lamarche alone. Even then, generalizations are given without reference to detailed
evidence, and statistics presented without a description of the methodology used to
gather and analyse data. For instance, months of arrival and departure of migrants are
listed, but are these based on subjective impressions, counts of resting birds, or
movements seen? By which means did he estimate that 500,000 Swallows Hirundo
rustica passed in one day, and over what front? Does the statement that Sylvietta
brachyura breeds from June to December mean that nesting was actually observed in
each of these seven months? (Neither Gee, Malimbus 6: 31-66, nor myself, each of
whom spent some four years in Mauritania, discovered a nest of the species.) Without
access to a record of observations, it is unfortunately impossible to assess the
objectivity of the findings. I hope that the methodology will be published and the
detailed data made available publicly.
P.W.P. Browne
1992
Book Reviews
29
Rainforest Birds in South-west Ghana. By G. Dutson & J. Branscombe, 1990. 70pp.
Study Report 46, International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge. £5 from
ICBP, 32 Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 OPJ, U.K.
Little attention has been directed in recent years towards Ghana’s forest birds and
mammals except, as this report stresses, by local poachers and hunters! Following on
from other expeditions to West Africa’s rainforests, ICBP suggested the exploration of
the Nini-Suhien National Park, Ankasa Game Production Reserve and nearby forest
reserves; this report concentrates on bird and mammal surveys carried out by two
expeditions in 1988 and 1989.
One aim was to search for endangered Upper Guinea forest bird species, and White-
breasted Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides and Yellow-throated Olive Greenbul
Criniger olivaceus , both considered extremely rare in Ghana, were found. Species lists
are given with little comment (not even species totals) and may be incomplete, a total of
just over 70 days being spent at six different sites. In contrast, too much was made of
inadequate data from calling bird surveys (intended to assess the effects of logging on
the avifauna). In general, the report suffers from inappropriate analysis and
documentation of results. However, my impression is that the expedition members
themselves did their best to carry out fieldwork in difficult locations and to compile this
report and seem aware of many of the limitations of their information. I feel that
inexperienced expedition teams like this should be given more editorial and scientific
assistance with the analysis and presentation of results.
A valuable part of the report is the description of levels of logging and hunting at
various sites. The lack of investment by timber companies in forest management and
replanting and the level of hunting reported in this area of Ghana are alarming and I
hope that this report will draw attention to this situation and encourage further studies
of Ghana’s forests.
Hilary Tye
Bustards, Hemipodes and Sandgrouse, Birds of Dry Places. By P.A. Johnsgard,
1991. 276 pp. + colour plates. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 019-857698-6.
£60 hardback.
Why include three groups of birds, which are not closely-related, in a single
monograph? The historical, ecological and personal reasons are set out in an intriguing
preface to this book. The three groups are convergent in their ecological adaptations to
arid habitats yet show some interesting differences, for example in mating system, and
all but one (the Lark-Quail Ortyxelos meiffrenii) had been painted by Major Henry
Jones, whose beautiful and intricately precise watercolours adorn the book (and account
for its high price?). The text, in contrast to the plates, is somewhat dry, being written in
30
Book Reviews
Malimbus 14
unimaginative prose, and it is obvious that the author does not write from his personal
experience of the birds; the book is rather a detailed review of the published work of
others.
Sixty-one pages make up introductory chapters on systematics and evolution,
behaviour, breeding and conservation. Necessarily in three separate parts, the section on
systematics discusses comprehensively if briefly the history of classifications of the
groups. There is no new taxonomic treatment; recent reviews or Peters (1934, 1937
Checklist of Birds of the World ) have been followed and Johnsgard gives no strong
opinions where areas of controversy exist (such as what are the nearest relatives of
sandgrouse). Apart from the hemipodes, whose distribution (SE Asia, Australia, Africa)
appears to this reviewer to be perhaps relict, and which are not so closely tied to Africa
or to arid habitats, the distribution of the groups considered centres on Africa’s arid
lands. The West African Sahel is rich in species, with up to two hemipodes, five
bustards and three sandgrouse at a locality. The chapter on behaviour is ethological and
descriptive in style and is again mostly split into separate sections on the three families,
as is the chapter on breeding. The latter includes some analysis of the limited data
available on breeding success, but is again mostly descriptive. The chapter on
conservation concentrates on the recent declines, mainly due to hunting, of many
bustard species.
Some three-quarters of the book are devoted to detailed species-by-species accounts
of the three families. Each is begun by a key (for captured birds or skins). The account
for each species contains sections on vernacular names, distribution, biometrics,
description, identification, ecology, social behaviour, breeding, evolution and status.
The level of detail is comparable with that in Volume 2 of The Birds of Africa (Urban et
al. 1986). However, Johnsgard’s book is better referenced and has the advantage that it
considers all the species, African or not, and gives the global distribution of those that
do occur in Africa. In general, Johnsgard’s book gives less detail than Birds of Africa on
African range and status, plumage descriptions of subspecies, voice and breeding
season, but more on habitat, displays and food where recorded outside Africa.
Johnsgard also gives more detail of African observations of the better-known species of
bustard and some sandgrouse, which are relatively poorly-treated in Birds of Africa. But
for most species there are small titbits of information to be found in only one or other of
these books. Thus, those interested in one or more of the three families, or in Henry
Jones’s paintings, will want to buy Johnsgard’s book. Others, primarily interested in
Africa, will find Birds of Africa adequate.
Alan Tye
1992
Book Reviews
31
Conserving Migratory Birds. Ed. by T. Salathé, 1991. 393 + xii pp. Tech. Publ. 12,
International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge. ISBN 0-946888-20-5.
Paperback £19.50 from ICBP, 32 Cambridge Rd, Girton, Cambridge, UK.
In his preface to this book the Director of ICBP points out the need to address the
underlying causes of threats to the natural environment: unsustainable use of resources,
poverty, debt and population growth, also and of especial importance to the
conservation of migratory birds, the “North-South divide”. Solving such problems
requires international cooperation; establishing reserves is a mere stop-gap until these
big issues can be resolved. Commendably, this book considers both aspects of
conservation.
Why focus on migratory birds? Reasons given are mass appeal, promotion of
international cooperation, Northern finance for conservation in the South, and the fact
that migrant birds are sensitive environmental indicators. Few migrant species are
globally threatened but many (most?) are in decline; the most threatened are wetland
species. The major threat is habitat destruction, closely followed by hunting. Other
factors include reduction of food resources (pesticides kill insects), poisoning
(pesticides kill birds too), physical obstacles and human disturbance.
The book is mainly about north temperate to tropical migration systems; intra-
African migration is scarcely mentioned. The bulk of it consists of regional and case
studies, several of which are relevant to West Africa. One such discusses the impact of
pesticides on migrant birds in Senegal and elsewhere in the Sahel, particularly the
drastic effect of pesticide application to rice-fields and of avicides (for control of
Quelea quelea etc.) on non-target birds. Another examines the problems faced by White
Storks Ciconia ciconia , mainly habitat loss in Europe and West Africa, locust control,
hunting and, surprisingly, ringing. A paper on migrants in the Niger inundation zone
concentrates on efforts to educate the local population in environmental protection,
while another documents the successes of the programme to conserve Roseate Terns
Sterna dougallii in Ghana. An important review by Coulthard of the Hadejia-Nguru
wetlands project in northern Nigeria demonstrates in a single example the major themes
of the book as a whole - that sustainable, traditional uses (generally less damaging) and
the needs of local people should be preferred to expensive “development”, that
decision-makers need to be convinced of this and of the utility of integrating
development with environmental protection, that cooperation between states must be
carefully encouraged, that opportunities for conservation must be seized when available
and not set aside simply because they do not meet criteria for priority action and that
local communities must be properly informed of a project’s aims and be involved in the
conservation effort and in the integration of their development plans with it. Other
reports, not specifically dealing with West Africa, discuss its birds while they are
elsewhere, e.g. studies of hunting in the Mediterranean region.
The book is not an unbroken tale of woe; most discussions of the problems faced
also include recommendations for their solution. Two useful papers discuss the Bonn
32
Book Reviews
Malimbus 14
Convention in particular and list all the international conventions which should, if fully
implemented, provide most of the protection called for in the book. The problem lies
largely with this lack of implementation; those active in NGOs should take note that an
important role for them is to promote compliance by their governments. This book
presents an excellent summary of the major threats to migrant birds and the action
which is being and which should be taken to ameliorate them.
Alan Tye
Les Recensements Internationaux d’Oiseaux d’Eau en Afrique Tropicale, by C.
Perennou, 1991. 140 pp. Spec. Publ. 15, International Waterfowl and Wetlands
Research Bureau, Slimbridge. Paperback, no price given, obtainable from IWRB,
Slimbridge, Glos., U.K.
African Waterfowl Census 1991, by C. Perennou, 1991. 88 pp. IWRB, Slimbridge.
Paperback £6 from IWRB.
The first of these two publications (the “Review”) reviews in French the IWRB Africa
database of records from 1955-1990, while the second (the “Annual Report”) is a
completely bilingual (French, English) report of the censuses carried out in January and
July 1991. All waterbirds are included, though the data are most complete for Anatidae.
The emphasis in the Review is on West Africa, which has contributed most data,
expecially from the three major basins of Lake Chad and the rivers Senegal and Niger.
It seeks to determine the minimum sizes of certain populations of waterbirds in tropical
Africa and to identify species requiring attention in future counts because of their
vulnerability or lack of current information about them. It also provides a preliminary
list of wetlands of international importance by Ramsar criteria. The data are diverse,
having been collected over a long period, with no central coordination; coverage is
patchy in both space and time and different observers have concentrated on different
groups of species. This Review is therefore a valuable basis for future studies which
should, from 1991, be better coordinated through the IWRB. One of its main uses will
be in pointing out the big gaps, both geographical and taxonomic, in the data. Many
recommendations are made for improving the quality of the counts but all depends on
the availability of observers and the means to survey.
The Review includes a brief analysis of what limited data are available on the
hydrological state of the Senegal and Niger basins in different years. From this are
listed “wet” and “dry” years but the list does not appear to correspond with the graphs
from which it was made. This is a minor quibble because correlation analyses which
show that dry years probably limit population sizes do seem to use the data correctly.
Another minor criticism is that the shadings used on some Figures (e.g. Fig. 11) are not
readily distinguishable from one another. A more major one is that only data from
1992
Book Reviews
33
IWRB’s Africa database are used, thus excluding from consideration most of the careful
counts which have been carried out of waterbirds (especially waders) on Africa’s west
and south coasts, although the existence of such data for West Africa (but not southern
Africa) is acknowledged (with a dismissive and inaccurate statement that such studies
are only “estimations”). The exception is the Banc d’Arguin, which is included. With
this exception, the book deals thoroughly only with inland wetlands. The count analyses
are presented both by hydrological basin and by species; the latter make up most of the
book and give maximum numbers counted for major sites and for West Africa as a
whole, together with lists of the most important sites for each species, with maps where
appropriate. The Review will prove useful for conservationists and expedition planners;
anyone contemplating waterbird studies or who might contribute count data is
recommended to consult it.
The Annual Report deals with some of the recommendations made in the Review,
by presenting the first year’s data from continent-wide coordinated counts (January for
all of sub-Saharan Africa plus July for southern Africa). Although less West Africa
biased than the Review, West African areas which provided data include northern
Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali (Niger inundation zone), Nigeria (Hadejia-Nguru) and
NW Senegal (Djoudj, Ferlo Valley, lakes near Ross-Bethio). A useful section on “how
to count waterbirds” is included. Dedicated counters should obtain a copy and join in
for 1992-93.
Alan Tye
34
Malimbus 14
Notices
Malimbus Index
The production of the index to Malimbus is now complete up to Volume 13 and it is
intended to maintain regular annual production of an index to the previous year’s
Volume. If any member lacks an index to one or more Volumes, the Treasurer will
supply them free on request (address inside front cover).
Index de Malimbus
L’etablissement de l’index de Malimbus est désormais achevé jusqu’au volume 13; il
est prévu de maintenir une livraison annuelle régulière d’un index du volume de l’année
précédente. Si un abonné désire l’index d’un volume (ou plus), le Trésorier le fournira
gratuitement sur demande (voir adresse sur la couverture).
Request for reprints on owls
Authors of articles or publications dealing with owls and wishing them to be listed in
the second edition of a Working Bibliography of Owls of the World are asked to send
reprints to: Richard J. Clark, The Owl Bibliography, c/o Dept of Biology, York College
of Pennsylvania, York, PA 17405-7199, USA.
Bi-annual meeting of the West African Ornithological Society, Felixstowe,
England, 15-17 May 1992
The first General Meeting of the Society was held in Normandy, northern France, in
1990 ( Malimbus 12(2)). The success of this meeting encouraged Council to arrange a
meeting of the Society bi-annually, if feasible in the different countries which the
members represent. This year, on 15-17 May, the meeting was held at Felixstowe on the
east coast of England. Twenty-six members and guests from France, Belgium, the
Netherlands and Britain attended the weekend, based at the Marlborough Hotel.
The programme began with dinner on Friday, followed by an introduction, given by
Roger Beecroft, to the Felixstowe area, in particular to the reserves which would be
visited in the next two days.
On Saturday morning the party visited the Bird Observatory at Languard Point, a
shingle spit to the south of the town. The Ranger, Nigel Odin, showed some of the work
of the observatory and guided a walk round the reserve in which it stands. Of particular
interest was the sighting of Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros , which are known to
1992
Notices
35
breed in the industrial installations of the adjacent Felixstowe dock. Other points of
interest included an area of Stinking Goosefoot Chenop odium vulvaria , for which the
reserve is noted, and an impressive population of hairy caterpillars of the Brown-tail
Moth Euproctis chrysorrhea.
The afternoon programme, at which the attendance was 39, was at the hotel. The
General Meeting was opened by the President, in both English and French. The Minutes
will be published in a later issue of Malimbus.
A scientific programme followed the General Meeting. Dr David Aidley gave an
account of a study of Palaearctic warblers made over 12 months in 1981-82 in northern
Nigeria, Dr Christian Perennou spoke of the progress made with the International
Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau census in tropical Africa, and Jim Askins
described the Senegal 1991-92 Ringing Expedition. Summaries will be printed in a
future edition of Malimbus.
The afternoon concluded with a visit to a salt-marsh on the Deben estuary. It was an
enjoyable walk beside the river although a stiff breeze prevented prolonged use of
binoculars without tears.
The last day was spent at the newly opened 200-acre wetland reserve at Trimley on
the Orwell estuary, which will eventually be adjoined by the expanding Felixstowe
dock. Freshwater lagoons with shingle islands have been created and already provide
habitat for breeding Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta and Little Tern Sterna albifrons.
Members were able to practise their identification skills on more than 20 species seen.
The meeting ended with a cheese and wine picnic in the warm sunshine outside the
Visitors’ Centre.
Our thanks are due to Nigel Odin, Ranger of Languard Bird Observatory, who
kindly spent his Saturday morning showing us round and especially to Roger Beecroft,
who made most of the meeting arrangements (and did all the provisioning of the
Trimley picnic), for an interesting and enjoyable weekend.
Amberley Moore
36
Malimbus 14
West African Ornithological Society
Revenue Account for the Year Ended 31 December 1991
R.E. Sharland, F.C.A., Treasurer
Auditor’s Report
I report on the accounts set out above which have been prepared under the historical
cost convention.
The Society in common with many others of similar size and organisation derives a
substantial proportion of its income from subscriptions and the sale of publications
which, by their nature, cannot be fully controlled until they are entered in the accounting
records and are not, therefore susceptible to independent audit verification. Additionally,
certain expenses have not been verified by reference to independent invoices and claims.
Subject to this, in my opinion, the accounts give a true and fair view of the state of
affairs of the Society at 31 December 1991 and of its result for the year ended on that
date.
R. Allison, F.C.A., Hon. Auditor
Instructions to Authors
Malimbus publishes Papers, Short Notes, Reviews, Letters and illustrative material
covering the field of West African ornithology. Short Notes are articles not exceeding
1000 words (including references) or two printed pages in length. Written contributions
are accepted in English or French. Material published elsewhere, in whole or in part,
will not normally be accepted. Wherever possible, manuscripts should first have been
submitted to at least one ornithologist or biologist for critical scrutiny. Manuscripts will
be sent for critical review to at least one relevant authority.
Contributions, of which two copies are required, should be typed on one side of the
paper with double spacing and wide margins. Dot-matrix printouts will only be
accepted if they are of "near-letter" quality. Authors should not send a diskette copy
with their initial submission, but are requested to indicate whether they can do so if
their paper is accepted. Diskettes will be returned to authors. Consult the editor for
farther details, e.g. for acceptable word processing programs.
Conventions regarding tabular material, numbers, metric units, references, etc. may
be found in this issue and should be adhered to carefully. Note particularly the
following: dates should be in the form 2 Feb 1990 but months standing alone in text
may be written in full; times of day are written 6.45, 17.32; coordinates are written in
the form 7°46'N, 16°4'E; numbers up to ten are written in full, except when followed by
abbreviated units (e.g. 6 m), numbers from 11 upwards are written in figures except at
the beginning of a sentence. All References mentioned in the article, and only such,
must be entered in the bibliography.
Articles containing lengthy Species-lists should be in tabular form (e.g. Malimbus
1: 22-28 or 1: 49-54) or of the textual format of Malimbus 1: 90-109. The sequence in
species lists should follow Brown et al. (1982), Urban et al. (1986) and Fry et al. (1988)
The Birds of Africa, vols 1-3 (Academic Press, London) for non-passerines and White
(1960-63) Revised Check-lists of African Passerine Birds , Hall & Moreau (1970) An
Atlas of Spéciation in African Passerine Birds , (British Museum (Natural History),
London) or Serle & Morel (1975) A Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa (Collins,
London) for passerines, unless reasons for departure from these authorities are stated in
the article. Scientific names must (and vernacular names should preferably) follow
these authorities unless good reasons for using alternative names are stated.
Figures should be prepared as for final reproduction, allowing for 20-50%
reduction, using indian ink on good quality white paper or heavy tracing, and adhesive
transfer lettering as appropriate. When designing Figures, pay attention to the page-
shape of Malimbus.
All papers (but not short notes) should include a Summary, not exceeding 5% of
the total length. The Summary should include brief reference to major findings of the
paper and not simply review what was done. Summaries will be published in both
English and French and will be translated as appropriate by the Editorial Board.
Twenty Offprints of Papers (but not of Short Notes) will be sent to single or senior
authors, gratis. Offprints will not be stapled, bound, or covered; they are merely cut
from copies of the journal
Malimbus 14 (1) August 1992
Contents
Sur quelques données erronées concernant l’avifaune de la Lobaye,
République Centrafricaine.
Max Germain 1 - 6
Nearctic vagrant waders in the Cap Lopez area, Gabon.
Peter Alexander-Marrack 7-10
Range extensions of two nightjar species in Niger, with a note on prey.
Joost Brouwer & Wim C. Mullié 11-14
Short Notes
Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga phoenicea on Mt Oku,
Cameroon. EddieWilliams 15
Première observation au Sénégal du Martinet marbré
Tachymarptis aequatorialis. Richard Devisse 16
Road-kills of three nightjar species near Niamey, Niger.
Joost Brouwer 16-18
Gregarious behaviour of African Swallow-tailed Kit eChelictinia riocourii
in response to high grasshopper densities near Ouallam,
western Niger. Wim C. Mullié, Joost Brouwer & Christian Albert 19 - 21
European Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris in The Gambia.
Rachel Mai Jones 21-23
An observation of copulation in the Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis
albirostris in Senegal. Donald L. Beaver 23 - 24
British Storm-Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus off Cote d’Ivoire.
R.A. Cheke & L.D.C. Fishpool 24 - 25
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius in northern Cameroon.
Rutger van Ouwerkerk 25
Erratum
Birds of the Korup National Park, Cameroon. Jane Thomas 26
Book Reviews 26 - 33
Notices
34-36
MALIMBUS
,AT'
Journal of the West African Ornithological Society
Revue de la Société d'Ornithologie de TOuest Africain
VOLUME 14 Number 2
January 1993
ISSN 0331-3689
West African Ornithological Society
Société d’ Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain
Conseil 1992:
Président: Dr Gérard J. Morel
Vice- Président: John H. Elgood
Trésorier et chargé des abonnements: Robert E. Sharland
Secrétaire Générale: Mme Amberley M. Moore
Membre du Conseil: Dr Max Germain
Rédacteur en Chef: Dr Alan Tye
Comité de Rédaction: Dr R. A. Cheke, Dr H.Q.P. Crick, G.D. Field, Dr L.D.C.
Fishpool, Dr P. Giraudoux, Dr P. J. Jones, Dr G J. Morel, Dr R. Wilkinson
La correspondence doit être adressée comme suit:
- au Rédacteur en Chef (IUCN, PO Box 1, Amani, Tanga, Tanzania) pour les
publications dans Malimbus, y compris éventuellement des photos ou des dessins au
trait.
- au Trésorier (1 Fisher's Heron, East Mills, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 2JR,
U. K.) pour les abonnements, les questions financières et les numéros anciens.
- au Président (1 Route de Sallenelles, Bréville-les-Monts, 14860 Ranville, France)
pour les questions d'intérêt général.
La Société tire son origine de la "Nigerian Ornithologists' Society", fondée en 1964.
Son but est de promouvoir l'intérêt scientifique pour les oiseaux de l'Ouest africain et de
faire avancer l'ornithologie de ces régions principalement au moyen de sa revue
Malimbus (anciennement Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists' Society).
Les demandes d'adhésion sont les bienvenues. Les cotisations annuelles sont de £10
pour les Membres Ordinaires et de £25 pour les Sociétés (les cotisations peuvent être
payées en £ sterling au Trésorier ou en francs français au Président). Les membres
reçoivent Malimbus gratuitement par courrier ordinaire. Un supplément est exigé pour
le courrier aérien (demander au Trésorier le tarif).
Anciens Numéros: Les Vols 11-14 (1975-78) du Bulletin of the Nigerian
Ornithologists' Society (du même format que Malimbus sont disponibles à £2 par
numéro (£4 par volume) ou £15 l'ensemble. Les Volumes 1 à 9 de Malimbus sont
disponibles à £3 par numéro (£6 par volume) et, à partir du Vol. 10, à £5 par numéro
(£10 par volume). On peut acheter la série complète des Vols 1 à 14 au prix spécial de
£95. Frais de port et emballage sont gratuits. Veuillez joindre le paiement à votre
commande et l'adresser au Trésorier.
Distribution: G.D. Field
Conception de l'emblème: Philip Blasdale
Dessins en encre de chine: Hilary Tye
1993
Quelques données sur les reprises de bagues au Mali
par B. Tréca
ORSTOM, B .P. 1386, Dakar, Sénégal
37
Reçu 16 mai 1988
Revu 2 novembre 1992
Résumé
Une liste des bagues retrouvées au Mali par l’auteur est présentée avec les
conditions de capture et des renseignements sur les espèces.
Summary
A list of bird rings recovered in Mali by the author is presented, with recovery
and ringing details.
Introduction
Le delta central du Niger au Mali, vaste plan d’eau de 30,000 km2, situé en zone
sahélienne, est l’une des zones de regroupement pour les oiseaux migrateurs qui s’y
arrêtent après la traversée du Sahara. Certaines de ces espèces sont capturées assez
régulièrement par les pêcheurs bozos, et quelquefois par des chasseurs. La “pêche” aux
oiseaux d’eau peut prendre plusieurs formes: pose de filets à poissons au-dessus des
marais ou des rizières, en vue de capturer les canards (Fig. 1) ou les petits limicoles,
principalement par des pêcheurs spécialisés (Tréca 1989), pose d’hameçons appâtés
avec un poisson, sur un banc de sable, dans très peu d’eau, pour la capture des sternes,
ou lignes dormantes, non appâtées, posées sur les bords des bras des fleuves, dans un
peu d’eau, pour la capture des Ardéidés ou des cigognes. Parfois même (une
observation personnelle), pose de pièges à mâchoires, dans une flaque d’eau, pour la
capture des cigognes (Fig. 2) ou des hérons.
Résultats
Les bagues récupérées sur les oiseaux sont donc nombreuses au Mali, surtout dans le
delta central et, à l’occasion de visites dans les villages de pêcheurs, il est possible de
récupérer ces bagues si les enfants ne les ont pas perdues en jouant. Ainsi, en sept ans
de présence au Mali, j’ai pu personnellement récupérer ou tout au moins noter les
38
B. Tréca
Malimbus 14
Fig 2. Cigogne blanche Ciconia ciconia prise dans un piège au Nord de Tenenkou
1993
Reprises de bagues au Mali
39
numéros de près de soixante bagues dont la liste (Annexe) donne une idée des espèces
capturées et de la provenance des oiseaux. Les distances indiquées dans l’Annexe sont
celles notées sur les fiches de reprise ou celles calculées par B. Lamarche (comm.
pers.). Lorsque la date de reprise n’est pas connue avec exactitude, par exemple en mars
1985, on note 3/85.
Les Canards pilets Anas acuta et Sarcelles d’été A. querquedula ont souvent été
bagués au Mali même (par une équipe du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle de
Paris). Les reprises effectuées au Mali montrent la stabilité des quartiers d’hiver sur
plusieurs années. Il est assez courant, en décembre-janvier, de trouver ces canards
(surtout les Sarcelles d’été) en vente sur les marchés locaux ou de les découvrir sur la
carte des restaurants, à Mopti par exemple, sous leur nom local de dougou-dougou. La
bague Paris FT71316, posée sur une Sarcelle d’été, a été retrouvée montée en
décoration sur un chapelet de prière en 1984, mais elle y aurait été placée 5 à 6 ans
auparavant.
Les canards afro-tropicaux peuvent effectuer des déplacements d’envergure comme
le Dendrocygne veuf Dendrocygna viduata bagué au Sénégal et retrouvé au Mali.
Les Hérons cendrés Ardea cinerea et pourprés A. purpurea peuvent effectuer de
longues migrations. Deux individus bagués, trouvés au Mali, provenaient d’Ukraine et
de Lettonie.
Les Cigognes blanches Ciconia ciconia sont souvent chassées au fusil par les
chasseurs locaux pour leur propre consommation. Il est intéressant de noter que l’espèce
afro -tropicale voisine, la Cigogne d’Abdim C. abdimii n’est jamais tuée, peut-être parce
qu’elle niche dans les mosquées.
Les Chevaliers combattants Philotnachus pugnax , très abondants dans le delta
central, sont assez souvent capturés au filet, en même temps que les canards. Ils sont
également vendus sur les marchés locaux, sous le nom de kala-kala, mais sont moins
recherchés que les canards. L’un de ces chevaliers, retrouvé au Mali, avait été bagué
l’hiver précédent au Sénégal.
Les sternes, uniquement la Sterne Caspienne Sterna caspia , sont capturées à
l’hameçon et permettent aux pêcheurs de varier leur nourriture. Elles proviennent toutes
du Nord de l’Europe. La sterne portant la bague Helsinki HT005736 avait été baguée en
Finlande en 1970. Par la suite, elle fut contrôlée en Suède en 1979, et encore en Suède
en 1980, 1981 et 1982, avant de finir au Mali, capturée par un pêcheur en mars 1986. La
bague Helsinki HT32816 a été retrouvée 18 ans après avoir été posée sur une Sterne
Caspienne, mais l’oiseau pouvait avoir été capturé quelques années auparavant. On peut
noter également que sur 27 bagues trouvées dans le delta par Altenburg et al. (1986), 18
provenaient de Stema caspia.
Conclusion
Ainsi, le Delta Central du Niger, au Mali, est l’un des lieux privilégiés pour l’hivernage
des oiseaux migrateurs. Il serait dommage que les informations que l’on peut trouver
40
B. Tréca
Malimbus 14
sur les oiseaux bagués soient perdues, alors qu’il suffit souvent de demander aux
pêcheurs s’ils n’ont pas gardé de bagues. Souvent ils répondent qu’ils en avaient mais
que les enfants les ont perdues, mais parfois il est possible d’en récupérer.
Il faut aussi remarquer que les distances entre le lieu de baguage et le lieu de reprise
sont souvent assez grandes, car pour beaucoup d’oiseaux migrateurs, le Delta Central
représente la limite sud de leur migration et qu’ils proviennent souvent du Nord de
l’Europe, voire d’Asie.
Bibliographie
Altenburg W., Beintema, A. J. & Kamp, J. van der (1986) Observations
ornithologiques dans le delta intérieur du Niger au Mali pendant les mois de mars et
août 1985 et janvier 1986. R IN contributions to research on management of natural
resources 1986-2. Research Institute for Nature Management.
Tréca, B. (1988) Waterfowl catches by fishermen in Mali. Proc. 6 Pan-Afr. ont.
Congr. : 47-53.
Annexe
Reprises de bagues.
1993
Reprises de bagues au Mali
41
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Reprises de bagues au Mali
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Malimbus 14
Notes complémentaires sur Pavifaune du Niger
par Alain Sauvage
14 Porte de Bourgogne, 08000 Charleville-Mézières, France
Reçu 28 décembre 1991
Revu 29 octobre 1992
Résumé
Des données relatives à 51 espèces d’oiseaux observées ou baguées de 1971 à
1975 complètent notre connaissance de l’avifaune du Niger. Deux espèces
nouvelles au pays sont rapportées ( Porzana porzana et Crex crex ) tandis que le
baguage de poussins de Cigognes d’Abdim Ciconia abdimii avait permis le
contrôle de deux oiseaux en République Centrafricaine et au Congo.
Summary
Data concerning 51 bird species observed or ringed from 1971 to 1975 augment
our knowledge of the avifauna of Niger. Two new species are recorded for the
country (Porzana porzana and Crex crex) and two chicks of Abdim’s Stork
Ciconia abdimii , ringed in June 1975, were controlled in Central African
Republic and Congo.
Introduction
Ces observations ornithologiques ont été réalisées au Niger de septembre 1971 à juin
1975, avec interruption chaque année en juillet-août. Ne figurent dans ces notes
complémentaires de notre connaissance de l’avifaune du Niger (Newby et al. 1987,
Giraudoux et al. 1988, Sharland 1989, Holyoak & Seddon 1991a, 1991b) que les
données circonstanciées (date, lieu et nombre d’oiseaux, détails bien souvent obtenus
grâce au baguage) qui apportent une précision jugée intéressante quant au nombre
d’oiseaux et à la date ou zone d’observation. Les prospections n’ont été conduites que
dans l’extrême ouest du pays, dans la savane nord-soudanienne et la zone sud-
sahélienne des agriculteurs, telles que Giraudoux et al. (1988) les ont définies (zones 1,
2 et 3).
Liste commentée des espèces observées
Grèbe castagneux Tachybaptus ruficollis . Zone 1: 4 à Sabongari, 24 déc 72.
1993
Oiseaux du Niger
45
Pélican gris Pelecanus rufescens. Zone 3: 1 à Dosso, 9 jan 73.
Héron garde-boeufs Bubulcus ibis . Zone 3 : 4 oeufs et 4, 4 et 3 pulli reposaient dans
les 4 nids accessibles contrôlés à Dosso le 28 juin 75; dans les trois nids occupés par les
poussins se trouvaient des criquets en grande quantité, 3 caméléons, 1 mante religieuse,
1 crapaud, 1 lézard et 1 chenille.
Héron à dos vert B ni o ride s striatus. Zone 3: 1 bagué à Dosso, 14 oct 73.
Ombrette Scopus umbretta. Zone 3: 1 à Bimi N’gaouré, 28 sep 72.
Cigogne blanche Ciconia ciconia. Zone 3: 35 entre Dosso et Niamey, 20 déc 72.
Cigogne d’Abdim Ciconia abdimii. Zone 3: Retour de la première, 1 avr 73; en
nombre à partir du 15 avr 73 à Dosso. Zone 1: l’examen de 22 nids le 23 juin 72 à
Sabongari a permis le dénombrement de 59 pulli; nombre de poussins par nid: 1 (n=l),
2 (n=7), 3 (n=12), 4 (n=2); moyenne de 2.7 pulli/nid. Zone 3: le 27 juin 75 à Dosso, les
25 nids examinés regroupaient 80 pulli; nombre de poussins par nid : 2 (n=3), 3 (n=14),
4 (n=8); moyenne de 3.2 pulli/nid. Trois nids de 3 poussins et un nid de 2 poussins
comptaient chacun un oeuf clair; deux autres nids étaient occupés par 3 et 4 oeufs. La
nourriture trouvée dans les nids se composait surtout de crapauds puis de criquets. Le
baguage de 97 poussins (certains étaient trop petits pour être bagués) a donné lieu à
deux reprises d’oiseaux bagués à Dosso le 27 juin 75: le 22 mar 76 à Paoua (République
Centrafricaine) 7°09’N, 16°20’E; le 4 avr 76 à Koudou (Congo), c. 4°45’S, 1 1°70’E.
Tantale ibis Ibis ibis . Zone 3: 13 à Dosso, 25 et 26 déc 72.
Dendrocygne veuf Dendrocygna viduata. Zone 3: 9 à Birni N’gaouré, 8 sep 72.
Canard sifïleur Anas penelope. Zone 3: 2 mâles et 1 femelle à Bimi N’gaouré, 17 nov 72.
Oricou Aegypius tracheliotus . Zone 1: 1 en jan 1975 dans le parc du W.
Aigle botté Hieraaetus pennatus. Zone 1: 1 à Sabongari, 3, 22 et 24 déc 72. Zone 3: 1
à Birni N’gaouré, 1 déc 72.
Marouette ponctuée Porzana porzana. Zone 3: 1 à Dosso, 24 avr 73, trouvée
mourante. Espèce nouvelle au Niger.
Râle de genêts Crex crex. Zone 3: à Dosso, 1 bagué 25 avr 73, 1 le 15 avr 74 et 1
bagué 24 avr 74, les deux captures réalisées dans des habitations. Espèce nouvelle au
Niger.
Courvite de Temminck Cursorius temminckii. Zone 3: noté à Dosso sans autre
précision.
Vanneau caronculé Vanellus senegallus. Zone 3: 6 à Bimi N’gaouré, 28 sep 72.
Grand Gravelot Charadrius hiaticula. Zone 1: 1 à Sabongari, 3 déc 72.
Petit Gravelot Charadrius dubius. Zone 1: 5 à Sabongari, 3 déc 72 et au moins 7 le 22
déc 72.
Chevalier aboyeur Tringa nebularia. Zone 3: 1-3 régulièrement notés à Birni
N’gaouré entre 28 sep et 1 déc 72.
Chevalier stagnatile Tringa stagnatilis. Zone 1: 4 à Sabongari, 3 déc 72.
Chevalier cul-blanc Tringa ochropus. Zone 3: 1 bagué à Dosso, 7 oct 73.
Chevalier gambette Tringa totanus . Zone 1: à Sabongari, 12 le 3 déc 72, 24 le 22 déc 72.
Bécasseau minute Calidris minuta . Zone 1: 60 puis 80 à Sabongari, 3 et 22 déc 72.
Bécasseau de Temminck Calidris temminckii. Zone 1: 2 bagues à Sabongari, 22 et 24
déc 72. Zone 3: 1 bagué à Dosso, 4 oct 73, capturé en compagnie de 11 Bécasseaux
46
A. Sauvage
Malimbus 14
minutes; 1 bagué dix jours plus tard.
Bécasseau combattant Philomachus pugnax . Zone 1: c. 100 à Sabongari, 3 déc 72.
Zone 3 : plus de 200 à Birni N’gaouré, 27 oct 72.
Tourterelle des bois Streptopelia turtur. Zone 3: à Dosso, 1 baguée 14 nov 72, 5
notées 25 avr 73.
Tourterelle à masque de fer Oena capensis. Zone 3: parmi les 179 oiseaux bagués à
Dosso, une tourterelle de première année capturée le 27 mar 73 a été contrôlée le 20
mar 74 (mâle adulte) au même endroit.
Guêpier d’Europe Merops apiaster . Zone 3: 2 à Dosso, 22 avr 73.
Guêpier à gorge rouge Merops bullocki. Zone 1: parmi les 19 oiseaux bagués dans
une colonie à Gaya, 15 fév 75, 15 femelles présentaient une plaque incubatrice.
Bergeronnette printanière Motacilla fîava. Zone 1: plus de 300 à Sabongari, 22 déc 72.
Bergeronnette des ruisseaux Motacilla cinerea. Zone 1: 1 à Sabongari, 3 déc 72. Zone
3: 1 à Birni N’gaouré, 1 déc 72.
Pipit des arbres Anthus trivialis. Zone 3: à Dosso, 1 les 15 et 16 avr 74, 5 bagués du 3
au 6 avr 75, 1 bagué 16 avr 75.
Loriot d’Europe Oriolus oriolus . Zone 3: à Dosso, 1 mâle et 3 femelles 23 avr 73, 1
femelle 20 avr 74.
Merle améthyste Cinnyricinclus leucogaster. Zone 3: 1 mâle à Dosso, 4 mai 74.
Traquet motteux Oenanthe oenanthe. Zone 1: c. 20 à Sabongari, 3 déc 72.
Rouge-queue à front blanc Phoenicurus phoenicurus. Zone 3: le plus tardif noté à
Dosso, 2 mai 74.
Rossignol philomèle Luscinia megarhynchos. Zone 3: à Dosso, 1 les 6 et 22 avr 73, 1
le 20 avr 74, 41 bagués entre 30 mar et 11 avr 75 étaient très gras avec un poids
minimum de 26 g, moyen de 32.3 g et maximum de 37 g à deux reprises.
Phragmite des joncs Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. Zone 3: 1 à Dosso, 16 mar 73.
Rousserolle effarvatte Acrocephalus scirpaceus. Zone 3: 1 baguée à Dosso, 2 jan 74.
Hypolaïs pâle Hippolais pallida. Zone 3: 2 baguées à Dosso, 15 jan et 3 avr 75 (il
s’agit de la sous-espèce H.p.opaca avec des mesures d’ailes de 69 et 71mm).
Fauvette des jardins Sylvia borin. Zone 3: à Dosso, 1 baguée 9 avr 73, 1 autre 23 avr 73.
Fauvette à tête noire Sylvia atricapilla. Zone 3: 4 mâles bagués à Dosso 5-9 avr 75.
Fauvette grisette Sylvia communis. Zone 3: à Dosso, deux observations d’isolées, 24
avr 73 et 20 avr 74; 3 baguées 15 jan 75 et 3 avr 75.
Pouillot fitis Phylloscopus trochilus. Zone 3:10 bagués à Dosso, 1-6 avr 75.
Pouillot siffleur Phylloscopus sibilatrix. Zone 3: 1 à Dosso, 23 avr 73.
Cisticole à tête rousse Cisticola ruficeps. Zone 3: 2 baguées à Dosso, 8 et 1 1 fév 72.
Camaroptère à dos gris Camaroptera brachyura. Zone 3: 2 bagués à Dosso, 13 et 15
jan 75.
Gobe-mouches gris Muscicapa striata. Zone 3. 2 à Dosso, 23 et 24 avr 73.
Gobe-mouches noir Ficedula hypoleuca. Zone 3: 1 à Birni N’gaouré, 30 sep 72; 1 à
Dosso, 2 mai 74.
Oiseau-lunettes jaune Zosterops senegalensis. Zone 1: 1 bagué à Bengou, 27 fév 72.
Travailleur à tête rouge Quelea erythrops. Zone 2: 2 bagués à Tillabéry, 2 fév 75.
1993
Oiseaux du Niger
47
Bibliographie
Giraudoux, P., Degauquier, R., Jones, P.J., Weigel, J. & Isenmann, P. (1988)
Avifaune du Niger: état des connaissances en 1986. Malimbus 10: 1-140.
Holyoak, D.T. & Seddon, M.B. (1991a) Notes sur la répartition des oiseaux du Niger
(1ère partie). Alauda 59: 55-57.
Holyoak, D.T. & Seddon, M.B. (1991b) Notes sur la répartition des oiseaux du Niger
(2ème partie). Alauda 59: 116 -120.
Newby, J., Grettenberger, J. & Watkins, J. (1987) The birds of the northern Air,
Niger. Malimbus 9: 4-16.
Sharland, R.E. (1989) Birds of Niger. Malimbus 11: 99.
Standard-winged Nightjar - Engoulevent à balanciers - Macrodipteryx longipennis
Photo: R. A. Cheke
48
Malimbus 14
Notes on the nest-building behaviour of the Buffalo Weaver
Bubalornis albirostris in Senegal
by Donald L. Beaver
Dept of Zoology and the MSU Museum,
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Received 26 March 1992
Revised 6 August 1992
Summary
Nest-building of Buffalo Weavers Bubalornis albirostris was examined at a
colony of six nests in Senegal during the early nesting stage. The number of
sticks added by males with three females at their nest was significantly greater
than for males with two females. Males with three females stole significantly
more sticks from the nests of males with two females than the reverse. Females
appeared to attempt to drive off would-be robbers. The number gained by
stealing was about 4% of the sticks added to the nests with three females.
Résumé
La construction du nid chez l'Alecto à bec blanc Bubalornis albirostris a été
observée dans une colonie de six nids au Sénégal aux premiers stades de la
nidification. Le nombre de brindilles ajoutées au nid par les mâles avec trois
femelles était significativement plus élevé que celui des mâles avec deux
femelles. Les mâles avec trois femelles dérobaient significativement plus
brindilles aux nids des mâles avec deux femelles que l'inverse. Les femelles
paraissaient essayer de repousser les pilleurs potentiels. Le nombre de
brindilles obtenues par vol atteignait environ 4% du total apporté aux nids avec
trois femelles.
Introduction
The colonial and polygynous Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis albirostris builds bulky nests
in thorn trees, especially Acacia spp. Nesting sites are used year after year, possibly by
the same males (Moreau & Moreau 1939, Friedmann 1949, Crook 1958). Males
construct most of the nest using twigs from thorn trees. Nests may include up to six
individual nest chambers. Females provide the nest lining. Crook (1958) gives a
1993
Buffalo Weaver nest-building
49
detailed description of the nest structure. Males defend their nests and spend a large
amount of time adding nesting material, which is obtained in the immediate area of the
nest tree (Crook 1958) and by robbing from other nests (Colli as & Collias 1964). Larger
nests can presumably contain more nesting chambers and therefore females, justifying
the male’s expenditure. In this paper, I report observations on the rate of nest building
using new material and the stealing of nesting material from nearby nests by males. The
questions addressed were: 1) do males with larger nests build them at a faster rate; 2) do
males with larger nests have better success at stealing sticks from smaller nests?
Study Area and Methods
I studied a small colony of six Buffalo Weaver nests located in a small (c. 5 m) Acacia
in the grounds of the Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles at Kaolack, Senegal,
from 11 to 14 November 1987. Three larger nests had three females each and three
smaller nests had two. The colony was considered to be in the pre-laying stage of the
breeding season as females were bringing green leaves to the nests and males were very
active in nest-building. This determination of the nesting stage was based on Crook
(1958) for birds nesting in northern Senegal near Richard-Toll.
From a vantage point about 10 m from the nesting tree, I watched nest building
using 10x40 binoculars. Observations, which were tape-recorded, began at 9.00 and
ended by 13.00 on all but 12 November when observations began at 11.00. Detailed
notes were kept on nest materials brought to the colony by males and females and to
which nest they were added. The birds were not individually marked so I could not be
certain that males always brought sticks to the same nest. I assume that they did.
Results
Stick stealing occurred frequently and followed a standard pattern. A male would leave
its nest and hop or fly to another. Once there, if not driven off, it would take a stick (or
attempt to) from the nest. It would immediately return to its nest and insert the stolen
stick into its nest. Stealing attempts were met with loud and raucous calling by all birds
in the tree. Females were not observed to steal nesting material, but they did attempt to
drive off robbing males and other females (usually successfully). Females brought fine
grasses or green leaves to their nest (32 instances noted).
Three-female nests gained 199 new sticks, compared with 135 for two-female nests
(Table 1). Males from three- female nests stole more sticks (27 vs 22) and suffered fewer
losses (18 vs 31) than two-female nests (Table 1) but the difference was not significant
(XJ, P>0.05). The net gain for three-female nests was greater (208 sticks) than for two-
female nests (126 sticks) (XJ=20.13, P<0.001). Therefore, males with larger nests were
enlarging them about 1.7 times as fast as males with smaller nests. Males with three-
female nests also did a greater amount of rearranging of sticks already present on the
surface of the nest (Table 1, XJ =16.3, P<0.005).
50
D. L. Beaver
Malimbus 14
Table 1. Sticks added, stolen or moved on nests of Buffalo Weavers during nest building.
1 net = new + gain - loss
What role does stealing play in the difference in rates of construction of the two
nest types? Males from three-female nests stole only three sticks from other three-
female nests, but 24 from two-female nests whereas males from two-female nests stole
seven sticks from other two-female nests and 15 sticks from three-female nests. The
hypothesis that stealing was independent of nest type was rejected (X.\ =16.99,
PcO.OOl). Still, males with three-female nests gained only nine sticks from stealing,
after subtracting losses due to stealing, i.e. 4% of all sticks added to the nest (Table 1).
Table 2. Number of sticks stolen and the nest robbed by male Buffalo Weavers.
While categorizing nests as either two- or three-female nests is instructive in
examining rates of nest building, it is clear from Table 1 that other factors need to be
1993
Buffalo Weaver nest-building
51
considered. For example» the two-female nest 4 accumulated 49 new sticks, 12 through
stealing, with only three lost to thieves. This is a better performance than the three-
female nest 3. Stick stealing was frequently directed at the adjacent nest, but two nests
were robbed more often than any others. Males from all other nests were observed
stealing from nests 2 and 6» which were opposite each other in the tree (Table 2). Both
nests had two females. However, nest 4, which also had two females, had the fewest
sticks stolen of any nest. Female aggression may be a factor in reducing the levels of
robbing, but I do not have enough data to verify this.
Discussion
The above observations suggest that males might increase their reproductive output by
rapid nest building and robbing other nests, because larger nests can probably contain
more nesting chambers and therefore house more females. Stealing sticks from nests
could prevent other males from building their nests as fast, allowing robbing males to
build a larger nest and perhaps secure more of the available females. However, if
females also aid nest building by driving off would-be robbers, then nests with more
females would have an additional advantage. While male-male competition may be the
primary factor in determining nest size, female choice of nest site and perhaps size of
nest, and subsequent guarding of the nest may also enhance male reproductive success.
Acknowledgments
I thank the Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, for financial support
and Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles for logistical support. I also appreciate
the assistance of Dr R. Wilkinson for his helpful comments on the manuscript.
References
Colli as, N.E. & Colli as, E.C. (1964) Evolution of nest-building in the weaverbirds
(Ploceidae). Univ. Calif. Pubis. Zool. 73. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Crook, J.H. (1958) Etude sur le comportement social de Bubalornis a. albirostris
(Vieillot). Alauda 26: 161-195.
Friedmann, H. (1950) The breeding habits of the weaverbirds. A study in the biology
of behavior patterns. Smithsonian Report , 1949, pp. 293-316. Smithsonian
Institution, Washington D.C.
Moreau» R.E. & Moreau, W.M. (1939) Observations on some East African birds. Ibis
(14)3: 296-323.
52
Malimbus 14
Notes sur les oiseaux observés sur le Plateau Dogon au Mali
par Gilles Balança & Marie-Noël de Visscher
CIRAD/PRIFAS, BP 5035, 34032 Montpellier Cedex-1, France
Reçu 10 avril 1992
Revu 10 octobre 1992
Résumé
Lors d’une mission sur le Plateau Dogon, aux environs de Bandiagara (Mali),
du 20 sep au 10 oct 1990, une moyenne de 3 h par jour ont été consacrées à
l’observation des oiseaux. Ce plateau est constitué d’une mosaïque
d’affleurements rocheux, de secteurs sableux et steppiques, de bas-fonds
humides ou inondés. La végétation arborée y est bien développée. Un total de
127 espèces d’oiseaux y ont été recensées parmi lesquelles les migrateurs
paléarctiques, en cette période de passage postnuptial, ne représentaient qu’une
faible part. L’avifaune aquatique était peu importante compte tenu du nombre
de retenues d’eau. Une observation de deux Milans des chauve-souris
Machaeramphus alcinus paraît être la première du Mali.
Summary
During a visit to the Dogon Plateau, in the region of Bandiagara (Mali), from 20
Sep to 10 Oct 1990, an average of 3 h per day were devoted to bird
observations. The plateau consists of a mosaic of rock outcrops, sandy steppes
and damp or flooded depressions, with scattered trees. A total of 127 bird
species was recorded, with few Palaearctic migrants, although this was the
autumn passage period. The aquatic avifauna was poor, considering the number
of water-bodies present. A record of two Bat Hawks Machaeramphus alcinus
appears to be the first for Mali.
Introduction
Du 20 sep au 10 oct 1990, nous avons eu l’occasion de circuler sur le Plateau Dogon
autour de Bandiagara (14°25’N, 3°37’0). L’ensemble de nos observations
ornithologiques ont été réalisées à l’intérieur d’une zone s’étendant à environ 45 km au
nord, 4 km à l’est, 18 km au sud et 20 km à l’ouest de cette ville. Comme l’avifaune du
plateau semble peu connue, d’après les informations réunies par Lamarche (1980,
1981), il nous a semblé intéressant de faire une synthèse de nos observations. Notre
1993
Oiseaux du Plateau Dogon
53
séjour se situait en fin de saison des pluies, lorsque les migrateurs paléarctiques
rencontrent au niveau du Sahel les migrateurs afro-tropicaux venus du Sud.
Description de la région
Le plateau Dogon est situé à l’est du delta intérieur du Niger, entre les latitudes 14° et
15° nord et les longitudes 3° et 4° ouest. Ce plateau rocheux s’étend à une altitude qui
varie entre 400 et 500 m. Il est limité sur son flanc est par une falaise qui se dresse à la
verticale d’une vaste plaine au sol sableux située 100 m plus bas. Sa surface ondulée
généralement sèche présente de nombreux bas-fonds sableux peu profonds et de vastes
affleurements rocheux drainés par des cours d’eau temporaires.
Avec une pluviométrie annuelle moyenne de 529 mm (depuis 1920) la région
possède une végétation de type sahélo-soudanien fortement anthropisée par endroits.
Les secteurs les plus arides ont un tapis végétal de type pseudo-steppe sahélienne. La
strate arborée assez dispersée est constituée de Balanites aegyptiaca , <X Acacia spp. et
de buissons de Pterocapus lucens. Les palmiers rôniers Borassus flabellifer et les
grandes touffes d ' Andropogon gayanus sont abondants dans les bas-fonds humides. Les
baobabs Adansonia digitata et les karités Vittelaria paradoxa sont relativement
fréquents.
Plus de cent barrages ont été construits sur de nombreux cours d’eau temporaires.
Ces zones inondées plusieurs mois, sinon toute l’année, ont permis le développement
d’une végétation aquatique ou hygrophile.
Les champs de mil, production essentielle de saison des pluies (80% de la surface
cultivée), complétée par de l’arachide et du sorgho, sont semés sur la quasi-totalité des
bas-fonds non inondés. Malgré une forte emprise agricole, la végétation naturelle est
dans l’ensemble épargnée, même dans les vallées où les grands arbres ont été laissés au
milieu et autour des champs.
Les espèces d’oiseaux observées
Au total, 127 espèces, dont 24 d’origine paléarctique certaine, ont été observées sur le
plateau en 60 h d’observation sur 20 jours (voir Annexe pour une liste complète avec
noms scientifiques et indice d'abondance). Etant donné la vaste gamme de milieux que
nous avons visités avec une relative intensité, cette liste est vraisemblablement assez
représentative de l’avifaune présente dans la région en fin de saison des pluies.
D’une façon générale, nos observations sont cohérentes avec les données de
distribution de Lamarche (1980, 1981) pour le Mali. Seuls le Milan des chauve-souris
dont nous avons bien observé deux individus le 3 octobre dans une vallée humide et
boisée à 36 km au nord de Bandiagara, semble n’avoir jamais été cité parmi les espèces
de ce pays (Brown et al. 1982, De Bie & Morgan 1989). Notre unique observation du
Loriot d’Europe s’ajoute notamment aux deux observations citées pour le Mali par
54
G. Balança & MrN. de Visscher
Malimbus 14
Lamarche (1981) qui considère cette espèce comme très rare au passage.
L’avifaune aquatique observée a paru pauvre (17 espèces) et peu abondante: le delta
intérieur du Niger assez proche concentre très vraisemblablement les oiseaux d’eau qui
délaissent ainsi les plans d’eau des régions voisines. Cependant, aux environs de ces
zones humides, grâce à une végétation arborée bien développée, une avifaune assez riche
et abondante se maintient. La majorité des espèces abondantes s’y retrouvent tels que les
Tourterelles maillée et vineuse, la Perruche à collier, le Perroquet youyou, le Merle
métallique à longue queue et le Moineau gris. Ces deux dernières espèces sont également
nombreuses sur les champs de mil à maturité. Des comptages plus systématiques
(Balança & de Visscher 1990) ont mis en évidence l’importance du réseau de
dépressions humides, cultivées et bien arborées, pour la richesse de l’ avifaune de cette
région. On y compte trois fois plus d’espèces que dans les zones plus ouvertes et sèches
(cultivées ou non) pourtant bien plus largement représentées sur le Plateau Dogon.
Dans cette région assez habitée, les espèces-gibiers tels que l’Outarde arabe (quatre
observations de un ou deux individus dont trois fois lors de survols en hélicoptère), la
Pintade sauvage (deux observations de petites bandes), le Francolin commun ou la
Poule de rocher (une seule observation de cinq individus) semblent très peu abondantes,
par rapport au statut d’espèce commune ou répandue donné par Lamarche (1980).
D’une façon générale notre nombre d’observations de migrateurs paléarctiques (en
dehors de l’Hirondelle rustique) est faible en ce début d’automne, par rapport
notamment ce que nous avions observé en septembre 1989 au nord du Sénégal près de
Richard-Toll, à une latitude similaire. La proximité du grand axe de passage du bassin
du Niger est- il encore une fois en cause en y concentrant le flux des migrateurs? C’est
notamment le cas pour la Sterne Caspienne (une seule observation), plus facile à
observer sur le fleuve (deux bagues d’oiseaux finlandais nous ont été transmises en
1990). Le Bécasseau sanderling observé le 4 octobre est à souligner car ce migrateur
préfère généralement les zones côtières même s’il a déjà été observé au passage sur le
Delta du Niger (Urban et al. 1986).
Certains migrateurs afro-tropicaux, par contre, étaient communs tels que les Buses
des sauterelles et d’Afrique ou les Calaos à bec noir dont nous avons observé début
octobre plusieurs fois des groupes de migrateurs de 20, 60 et 95 individus.
Bibliographie
Balança, G. & de Visscher, M.N. (1990) Analyse acridologique et écologique des
opérations de traitements “Ecoforces” au Mali (Bandiagara, septembre-octobre
1990). D. 396: 44 pp. (doc. multigr.). Ministère de la Coopération et du
Développement, Paris/CIRAD-PRIFAS, Montpellier.
Brown, L.H., Urban, E.K. & Newman, K. (1982) The Birds of Africa , vol. 1.
Academie Press, London.
De Bie, S. & Morgan, N. (1989) Les oiseaux de la Réserve de la Biosphère “Boucle du
Baoulé”, Mali. Malimbus 11: 41-60.
1993
Oiseaux du Plateau Dogon
55
Lamarche, B. (1980, 1981) Liste commentée des oiseaux du Mali. Malimbus 2: 121-
158; 3: 73-102.
Urban, E.K., Fry, C.H. & Keith, S. (1986) The Birds of Africa, vol. 2. Academie
Press, London.
Annexe
Liste des espèces d’oiseaux observées
Les espèces ont été soit notées de façon ponctuelle (nombre précis d’observations), soit
classées suivant leur abondance et leur distribution durant notre période d’observation:
espèce abondante (Ab): au moins 10 par jour dans son habitat
espèce commune (C): 1-10 par jour dans son habitat
espèce peu abondante (pAb): présente en petit nombre
espèce rare (R): quelques observations d’isolés
espèce répandue: présente sur l’ensemble de la zone
espèce migratrice paléarctique certaine (MP).
Cormoran africain Phalacrocorax africanus 1
Blongios de Stürm Ixobrychus sturmii 1
Héron garde-boeufs Bubulcus ibis Ab, près de l’eau
Héron vert Butor ides striât us R
Aigrette garzette Egretta garzetta R
Héron cendré Ardea cinerea pAb
Héron mélanocéphale A. melanocephala 1
Cigogne d’Abdim Ciconia abdimii pAb, mares
Milan des chauve-souris Machaeramphus alcinus 1 obs., 2 ind.
Elanion blanc Elanus caeruleus 5
Milan noir Milvus migrons pAb
Vautour charognard Necrosyrtes monachus R
Serpentaire gymnogène Polyboroides typus 3
Busard de roseaux Circus aeruginosus 1, MP
Autour gabar Micronisus gabar C
Autour-chanteur sombre Melierax metabates R
Epervier shikra Accipiter badi us C
Buse des sauterelles Butastur rufipennis C
Buse d’Afrique Buteo augur alis C
Faucon crécerelle Falco tinnunculus R
56
G. Balança & M.-N. de Visscher
Malimbus 14
Faucon renard F. alopex
Faucon ardoisé F. ardosiaceus
Faucon à cou roux F. chicquera
Faucon lanier F. biartnicus
Faucon pèlerin F. peregrinus
Pintade sauvage Nurnida meleagris
Poule de rocher Ptilopachiis petrosus
Francolin à double éperon Francolinus bicalcaraîus
Tumix de Meiffren Ortyxelos meiffrenii
Outarde arabe Ardeotis arabs
Vanneau du Sénégal Vcmellus senegallus
Vanneau à tête blanche V. albiceps
Vanneau à tête noire V. tectus
Bécasseau sanderling Calidris alba
Chevalier aboyeur Tringa nebularia
Chevalier cul blanc T. ochropus
Chevalier Sylvain T. glareola
Chevalier guignette Actitis hypoleucos
Sterne Caspienne Sterna caspia
Ganga à ventre châtain Pterocles exustus
Pigeon vert waalia Treron waalia
Emérauldine à bec noir Turtur abyssiniens
Tourtelette à masque de fer Oena capensis
Pigeon de Guinée Columba guinea
Tourterelle vineuse Streptopelia vinacea
Tourterelle des bois S. turtur
Tourterelle maillée S. senegalensis
Perroquet youyou Poicephalus senegalus
Perruche à collier Psittacula krameri
Touraco gris Crinifer piscator
Coucou geai Clamator glandarius
Coucal du Sénégal Centropus senegalensis
Martinet des palmiers Cypsiurus parvus
Martinet des maisons Apus affinis
Martin-chasseur à tête grise Halcyon leucocephala
Martin-chasseur du Sénégal H. senegalensis
Martin-chasseur strié H. chelicuti
Martin-pêcheur pie Ceryle rudis
Petit guêpier vert Merops orientalis
Rollier d’Abyssinie Coracias abyssinica
Rolle violet Eurystomus glaucurus
Moqueur Phoeniculus purpureus
Huppe fasciée Upupa epops
2
3
2
R
1
2 bandes
1 obs., 5 ind.
pAb
4
4 obs., 1-2 ind.
1
1
3
1, 4 oct, MP
1, MP
1, MP
1, MP
1, MP
1, MP
2 bandes
1
1
pAb
p Ab, répandu
Ab
1, 2 oct, MP
Ab
Ab, vallées boisées
Ab, vallées boisées
pAB
2
R
Ab
Ab, Bandiagara
1
pAb, vallées boisées
1
2
pAb
C
1
pAb
R
1993
Oiseaux du Plateau Dogon
57
Petit calao à bec rouge Tockus erythrorhynchus
Petit calao à bec noir T. nasutus
Barbican de Vieillot Lybius vieilloti
Barbican à poitrine rouge L dubius
Torcol fourmilier Jynx torquilla
Pic gris Dendropicos goertae
Alouette à queue rousse Mirafra nigricans
Alouette -moineau à oreillons Eremopteryx leucotis
Alouette calandrelle Calandrella brachydactyla
Hirondelle rustique Hirundo rustica
Hirondelle de fenêtre Delichon urbica
Bergeronnette printanière Motacilla flava
Pipit des arbres Anthus trivialis
Gonolek de Barbarie Laniarius barbatus
Corvinelle Corvinella corvina
Pie grièche à tête rousse Lanins senator
Loriot d’Europe Oriolus oriolus
Drongo brillant Dicrurus adsimilis
Etourneau roupenne d’Alexander Onychognathus tnorio
Merle métallique pourpré Lamprotornis purpureus
Merle métallique à longue queue L caudatus
Etourneau à ventre roux Spreo pulcher
Pique-boeufs à bec jaune Buphagus africanus
Piac-piac Ptilostomus afer
Corbeau pie Corvus albus
Bulbul commun Pycnonotus barbatus
Traquet motteux Oenanthe oenanthe
Rouge-queue à front blanc Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Merle podobé Cercotrichas podobe
Rossignol philomèle Luscinia megarhynchos
Cratérope brun Turdoides plebejus
Fauvette passerinette Sylvia cantillans
Pouillot fitis Phylloscopus trochilus
Pouillot de bonelli P. bonelli
Cisticole des joncs Cisticola juncidis
Fauvette à front écailleux Prinia clamans
Fauvette -roitelet commune P. subflava
Camaroptère à dos gris Camaroptera brachyura
Erémomèle à dos vert Eremomela pus ilia
Fauvette crombec Sylvietta brachyura
Gobe-mouche gris Muscicapa striata
Gobe-mouche noir Ficedula hypoleuca
Rémiz à ventre jaune Remiz parvulus
pAb
inds. et bandes
1
3
1, 30 sep, MP
2
1
pAb
1 , 5 oct, MP
Ab
1, MP
1, 8 oct, MP
2, MP
2
R
R, MP
1 mâle, 6 oct, MP
1
1
C
Ab
pAb
1
C
pAb
R
R, MP
pAb, MP
2
1, MP
2
2, MP
pAb, MP
pAb, MP
R
R
2
3
1
2
pAb, répandu, MP
pAb, répandu, MP
2
58
G. Balança & M.-N. de Visscher
Malimbus 14
Petit souimanga à longue queue Anthreptes platura
Souimanga à poitrine rouge Nectarinia senegalensis
Souimanga à longue queue N. pulchella
Bruant à poitrine dorée Emberiza flaviventris
Bruant cannelle E. tahapasi
Tisserin minulle Ploceiis luteohis
Tisserin à tête rousse P. velatus
Tisserin gendarme P. cucullatus
Vorabé Euplectes afer
Ignicolore E. orix
Alecto à bec blanc Bubalomis cilbirostris
Moineau gris Passer griseus
Moineau doré P. luteus
Moineau quadrillé Sporopipes frontalis
Veuve dominicaine Vidua macroura
Combassou du Sénégal V. chalybeata
Cou-coupé Amadina fasciata
Bec-de-corail cendré Estrilda troglodytes
Cordon bleu E. bengala
Amarante commun Lagonosticta senegala
Bec d’argent Lonchura malabarica
pAB
1
pAB
1
C, zones rocheuses
pAb, nids
R
pAb
1 couple
C, ruisseaux
R
Ab
2
pAb
pAb
R
2
1
pAb
Ab, villages
pAb
1993
59
Short Notes
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio, further sightings in Cameroon
On the afternoon of 24 Feb 1991, GRM and PB saw a Purple Gallinule Porphyrio
porphyrio on a grassy bank of a lagoon behind six mile beach. Limbe, Cameroon. The
glossy colour and fully red bill and frontal shield showed this bird to be an adult.
Presumably it was the same bird that was seen again by GRM and PB the following
morning, and later at the same lagoon by CGRB and EMB (10 Mar 1991) and by EW
(28 Mar 1991).
Another Purple Gallinule was seen on a well-reeded lake at Nkolbisson, near
Yaoundé, Cameroon, by GRM on 8 Mar 1991, during a period when a number of other
local and Palaearctic migrants were seen. GRM saw two Purple Gallinules at the same
site on the evening of 20 Apr 1991 and on 17 July, and one on the morning of 23 July.
We are aware of one other site for this species in Cameroon: Nsimeyong, Yaoundé
(Sala 1991). There could be a link between the Nsimeyong birds and those at
Nkolbisson, as the two sites are only about 6.5 km apart.
This species is listed as occurring near Cameroon at Lake Chad in Nigeria by
Louette (1981). However, the nearest coastal occurrences of the species are Togo and
Angola (Keith 1986). The subspecific identity of the birds reported here was not
established.
References
Keith, S. (1986) Family Rallidae: rails, crakes, gallinules, moorhens and coots. Pp. 84-
131 in: E.K. Urban, C.H. Fry and S. Keith (Eds), The Birds of Africa, vol. 2.
Academic Press, London.
Louette, M. (1981) The birds of Cameroon. An annotated checklist. Verhandl. Kon.
Acad. Wetensch. Lett. Schone Kunst. Belg. 43: 1-163.
Sala, A. (1991) La Talève poule-sultane Porphyrio porphyrio madagascariensis à
Yaoundé, Cameroun. Malimbus 13: 78.
Received 7 March 1992
Revised 12 November 1992
Guy R. Manners1, Perry Burtch2, Christopher G.R. Bowden3, Elizabeth M. Bowden3 &
Eddie Williams4
■c/o FCO (Yaoundé), King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2 AH, UK.
2Clinique Dentaire Adventiste, BP 401 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
3Mount Kupe Forest Project, c/o International Council for Bird Preservation,
32 Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 OPJ, UK.
417 Sycamore Close, Upton, Wirral, Merseyside, L49 4QL, UK.
60
Short Notes
Malimbus 14
Breeding of the Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis in southwest Nigeria
The Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis is a common dove of sub-Saharan
villages, parks and gardens (Urban et al. 1986). Nigerian records of its breeding biology
(Smith 1962, 1966, Smith & Killick- Kendrick 1969, Elgood 1982) furnish information
on nest type, nest height, nesting duration, clutch size and number of broods. Reports of
Laughing Dove breeding in the southern rainforest zone are fewer than in the northern
savanna.
Observations on the nest and breeding activities of the Laughing Dove in Ijebu-Ode
(6°49’N, 3°56’E), southwest Nigeria, are reported from two clutches of eggs laid in
January and April 1991.
The nest-site was a window ledge in my apartment in Ijebu-Obe. Observations of
the pair of Laughing Doves at the nest consisted of scan samples (Altmann 1974),
which were taken at 24-hour intervals during the period preceding egg-laying, 8-hour
(January clutch) and 30-minute (April clutch) intervals whilst eggs were incubated and
30-minute intervals during incubation of the January nestling. The male was
distinguished from the female by its slightly bigger size and darker brown head and
throat (Urban et al 1986).
The first nest material was noted on 1 Dec 1990 and the nest had been completed
when checked on 15 Dec although it was not checked between these dates. No new
material was added after 15 Dec. The nest-site was 4.1 m above ground. The nest
measured 14 x 13 cm. It had at the base a criss-cross of stiff twigs of dicotyledonous
plants and stiff midribs of dry raffia palm leaflets which projected beyond the edge of
the ellipse. Dry, slender, rope-like stems of the climber Centrosema sp., which was
abundant on nearby fallows and weedy farms, were piled in several layers on top.
The female laid two cream-white oval eggs in each clutch, on 12 and 14 January
and 3 and 4 April. The April eggs measured 25 x 20 mm and 24 x 19 mm, and weighed
4.82 g and 3.92 g respectively. Incubation of the January clutch lasted 14 days (12-25
Jan) while incubation of the April clutch was discontinued after 12 days (3-14 April)
without the eggs hatching. The January clutch was being incubated during 20% of the
7.00, 80% of the 15.00 and 100% of the 23.00 scans. The female incubated the April
eggs from about 12.00-15.00 until between 6.00-9.00 the following morning. The male
switched position with the female at these times and incubated during the intervening
period.
Only one of the eggs in the first clutch hatched, on 25 Jan at 15.00. The mother
assisted the chick in breaking out of the egg-shell. The dimensions of the one day old
nestling were: bill length 10 mm, bill width at base 6 mm, head length (excluding bill)
13 mm, maximum head width 19 mm, total body length 78 mm. The chick had sparse,
light yellow down feathers on the flanks and nape, brown down, tinged with yellow at
the tip, on the mantle, back, crown and developing wings, and chocolate brown skin.
The bill was ivory-coloured and had a black ring about 1 mm from the tip.
The nestling was incubated for only three days after it hatched, and for the two days
on which records were taken, the female brooded it from 18.30 until 6.30 when she was
1993
Short Notes
61
relieved by the male. The day-shift was shared, with the female brooding for about 20
min to 2 h between 9.00 and 12.00 and the male between 12.00 and 15.00 for about the
same duration. The nestling was left unattended from about 15.00 to 18.30 and during
short intervals between the departure of an incumbent parent and arrival of the
replacement. The nestling was usually fed when the replacement parent arrived.
Development of the nestling was rapid after the three days of incubation. By Day 5
(Day 0 = hatch date) quills had begun to appear and the tail-coverts were visible. By
Day 7 the body was fully covered with grey, chocolate-tipped down feathers and the bill
had darkened chocolate brown to black along its entire length. Total body length had
increased from 78 mm (Day 2) to 150 mm and the tail constituted 25% of total length.
On the evening of 6 Feb, the male and female simultaneously visited the nestling and on
7 Feb (Day 13) the nestling fledged at 7.45. Its total body length was then 190 mm; the
dorsum had the chocolate brown colour of the adult female’s upper tail-coverts and tail,
while the under tail-coverts were white. The throat was a paler brown.
The nest was flimsy but not transparent as described by Smith (1966) and Urban et
al. (1986). However, neither the nest site nor nesting material used was novel (see
Bannerman 1931, Smith 1966, Urban et al. 1986). Breeding occurs in all months in
Nigeria and peaks in the dry season (Elgood 1982) and in Senegambia eggs are also laid
in every month (Urban et al. 1986). The records described here for southwest Nigeria
were from the dry season.
Total nesting period from laying the first egg to fledging was 26 days, within the
range reported by Urban et al 1986; Smith (1966) and Smith & Killick-Kendrick
(1969) observed 30 days in northern Nigeria. The chick was, however, brooded for only
three days compared with 6-9 days reported in Urban et al (1986) and it did not return
to the nest after it had fledged.
The male-female relief schedule during incubation of the January nestling was
different from that for April eggs whereas Urban et al. (1986) reported that the
schedules were essentially the same for eggs and nestlings.
I thank K.B. Olurin and the two referees, R. Wilkinson and G.D. Field, for constructive
comments on the manuscript.
References
Altmann, J. (1974) Observational study of behaviour: sampling methods. Behaviour
49: 227-265.
Bannerman, D.A. (1931) The Birds of West Tropical Africa, vol. 2. Crown Agents,
London.
Elgood, J.H. (1982) The Birds of Nigeria. British Ornithologists’ Union, London.
Smith, V.W. (1962) Some birds which breed near Vom, Northern Nigeria. Nigerian
Field 27:4-34.
Smith, V.W. (1966) Breeding records for the Plateau Province over 3000 feet, 1957-
1966. Bull Nigerian Orn. Soc. 3: 78-90.
62
Short Notes
Malimbus 14
Smith, V.W. & Killick-Kendrick, R. (1969) Further notes on birds breeding near
Vom. Paît 1. Nigerian Field 29: 100-117.
Urban, E.K, Fry, C.H. & Keith, S. (eds) (1986) The Birds of Africa, vol. 2. Academic
Press, London.
Received 20 March 1992
Revised 10 October 1992 Olufemi A. Sodeinde
Dept of Biological Sciences, Ogun State University, P.M.B.2002, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria
Unusual records from Cameroon
During February-March 1992 I observed in Cameroon the following species which have
rarely been recorded there.
Bittern Botaurus stellaris. One watched feeding at the edge of tall reeds at the Ranch
de Ngaoundaba (7°04’N, 14°00’E) on 25 Feb 1992, appears to be the second record for
Cameroon, the first being at Bamenda Lake in December 1975 (Louette 1981).
Curlew Numenius arquata. Six seen at Zigague, near Waza National Park (11°25’N,
13°34’E) on 20 Feb 1992. Louette (1981) states that although the species is regular on
the coast and has been recorded from Lake Chad there are no records from the
Cameroon side of the lake.
Dunlin Calidris alpina. Two seen at Zigague on 20 Feb 1992. Louette (1981)
considered the records of this species reported by Dragesco (1961) from Waza Park to
be in error, due to confusion with other Calidris species. I suspect that Dragesco was
correct in his identification (cf. Robertson 1992).
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus. Two seen at Zigague on 20 Feb 1992. Louette
(1981) states that although the species has been recorded from Lake Chad there are no
records from the Cameroon side. First observed in Cameroon by Swarth (1987) who
considered that the birds he saw at Akonolinga (3°40’N, 12°15’E) had flown upriver
from the coast. Elgood et al. (1966) suggested that a trans-Saharan crossing accounted
for the gulls that reach Lake Chad, a theory that I would support for this record
considering the improbability of Gulf of Guinea birds moving inland to tiny pools in
Waza.
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea. First recorded in Cameroon in 1990 at Ranch
de Ngaoundaba (Robertson 1992). In 1992 I found the species again, in greater
numbers. In Waza National Park on 19-21 Feb I saw it daily, including a flock of 60.
On 25-27 Feb I saw up to 25 birds at Ranch de Ngaoundaba. All birds were in non-
breeding plumage.
References
Dragesco, J. (1961) Oiseaux des savanes d’Afrique équatoriale. Oiseau Rev. fr. Om.
31:179-192,261-271.
1993
Short Notes
63
Elgood, J.H., Sharland, R.E & Ward, P. (1966) Palaearctic migrants in Nigeria. Ibis
108: 84-116.
Louette, M. (1981) The Birds of Cameroon. An annotated checklist. Verhandl. Kon.
acad. Wetensh. Lett . Schone Kunst. Belg. 43: 1-163.
Robertson, I.S. (1992) New information on birds in Cameroon. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club
112: 36-42.
Swarth, C.W. (1987) First sight record of the Black-headed Gull for Cameroon, West
Africa. Malimbus 9: 127-128.
Received 13 July 1992
Revised 26 August 1992 Iain Robertson
1 Central Avenue, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 2PZ, U.K
Horus Swift Apus horns , new to Cameroon
On 27 February 1992 in Cameroon, I stopped by a colony of Red-throated Bee -eaters
Merops bullocki which were breeding in a gully by the side of the road near the Ranch
de Ngaoundaba, approximately 20 km south-east of Ngaoundéré (7°19’N, 13°55’E) on
the Adamawa Plateau. One of my companions, C.-G. Cederlund, spotted some swifts
circling overhead which he thought were Horus Swift Apus horus. I confirmed the
identification and, realising that there were very few records of this species in West
Africa, I paid particular attention to the birds. There were at least ten Horus Swifts
flying above the bee-eater colony; they frequently flew low over the gully, affording
excellent views of both upper- and undersides. The birds had conspicuous white rumps
which wrapped around onto the flanks, much larger in extent than the rump-patch of
White -rumped Swift Apus caffer. The tail was conspicuously forked, but lacked
attenuated outer tail feathers, and there was a large white throat patch. I am familiar
with this species in East and southern Africa.
In eastern and southern Africa the Horus Swift utilises nesting burrows of bee-
eaters or sand-martins, particularly those of White-fronted Bee-eaters Merops
bullockoides, the eastern counterpart of Red-throated Bee-eater. The swifts were not
seen to enter any of the bee-eater burrows, which were occupied at the time, but the
association with the bee-eater colony strongly suggests that the birds might breed at this
site.
There are few documented records of this species in West Africa. Ash (1990)
obtained the first breeding record for Nigeria at a site between the Mambilla Plateau
and Serti, approximately 270 km west of the Adamawa Plateau. Fry et al. (1988)
suggest that the species almost certainly occurs and breeds in north Cameroon/west
Chad on the River Chari. Louette (1981) gives no records of the species for Cameroon.
This would appear to be the first documented occurrence of the species in Cameroon.
64
Short Notes
Malimbus 14
References
Ash, J. (1990) Additions to the avifauna of Nigeria, with notes on distributional
changes and breeding. Malimbus 11: 104-116.
Fry, C.H., Keith, S. & Urban, E.K. (1988) The Birds of Africa, vol. 3. Academic
Press, London.
Louette, M. (1981) The Birds of Cameroon. An annotated checklist. Verhandl. Kon.
Acad. Wetensh. Lett. Schone Kunst. Belg. 43: 1-163.
Received 13 July 1992
Revised 26 August 1992 Iain Robertson
1 Central Avenue, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 2PZ, U.K.
Horus Swift-Martinet horus -Apus horus.
Drawing: Hilary Tye
1993
Short Notes
65
The races of Olive Stmfoird Nectarinia olivacea on the Gulf of Guinea islands.
Olive Sunbirds Nectarinia olivacea are found on two of the Gulf of Guinea islands,
Bioko (formerly called Fernando Po) and Principe. Both populations have hitherto been
referred to the race N. o. obscur a (Jardine), regarded as endemic to the two islands, with
the type described from Bioko. The subspecies on the opposite mainland is N. o.
cephaelis , which occurs from Nigeria to Angola.
If this allocation to subspecies is correct, the Olive S unbird is the only bird species
to have a subspecies shared by and endemic to the two islands. However, examination
of specimens at the British Museum (Natural History) and American Museum of
Natural History suggests that Principe birds are more correctly assigned to the mainland
race.
Four plumage types occur in all three populations (Principe, Bioko, mainland)
which correspond with adult male, adult female, immature male and immature female,
although it seems probable that the youngest males would have plumage
indistinguishable from young females. Adult males have greyish-yellow underparts and
bright yellow pectoral tufts; adult females have greyish-yellow underparts without tufts;
immature males have brighter yellow underparts, with bright yellow pectoral tufts;
immature females also have brighter yellow underparts but without pectoral tufts.
Among the adult specimens (aged as above) at BM(NH), the underparts of
mainland cephaelis are tinged yellow-green. Bioko birds are noticeably greyer,
although not pure grey but still showing a yellowish tint. The small sample of Principe
birds appears closer to the mainland birds in underpart colour, all four having a stronger
yellow tint than Bioko birds. At AMNH, specimens from the mainland and Bioko
confirm the colour differences outlined above. Amadon (1953) placed the three Principe
specimens at AMNH in obscur a, but Macaulay, S. Keith, M. LeCroy and R. Sloss could
not detect colour differences between this small sample of Principe birds and the Bioko
and mainland populations.
Table 1. Wing measurements (mm) of populations of Nectarinia olivacea from coastal
W Africa, Principe and Bioko as represented by specimens in BM(NH) and AMNH.
Figures are: mean 1 SE (n) range. One Bioko “female” with wing 69 and bright pectoral
tufts and one Gabon “male” with wing 56 and no pectoral tufts were omitted from the
analysis as probably wrongly sexed.
66
Book Reviews
Malimbus 14
Size differences among adult birds from the three populations are shown in Table 1.
The wing lengths of Principe birds fall within the size range of mainland cephaelis and
the means are not significantly different (t-tests, P>0.05), while the Bioko population is
significantly larger than both mainland birds (males, t87=6.512, P<0.001; females,
1^=6.525, PcO.OOl) and Principe birds (males, t41=3.792, PcO.OOl; females, t13=2.654,
P<0.02).
These results indicate that Principe birds should be regarded as part of the mainland
subspecies N. o. cephaelis , while Bioko birds are recognizably larger and greyer and
form a subspecies N. o. ohscura , endemic to that island. It is more likely that
colonization of Principe took place directly from the mainland rather than from Bioko,
given the relative sizes of the two potential source areas and populations, so these
results are not unexpected.
We thank the staff of AMNH and BM(NH), Tring, for access to specimens in their care.
Dean Amadon, Humphrey Crick and Peter Jones provided useful comments on a draft
and Humph re-assumed his old Editor’s mantle to ensure impartiality in the referee
process.
References
Amadon, D. (1953) Avian systematics and evolution in the Gulf of Guinea. Bull. Am.
Mus. Nat. Hist. 100: 393-452.
Received 20 July 1992 Alan Tye1 & Linda R. Macaulay2
Revised 3 September 1992 ‘SLP 1, Amani, Tanga, Tanzania.
27 Hill Road, Greenwich, CT 06830, U.S.A.
Book Reviews
Conservacion de los Ecosistemas Forestales de Guinea Ecuatorial. By John E. Fa,
1991. 221 pp. IUCN, Gland. ISBN 2-88032-993-0. Paperback £10 from IUCN, 219c
Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, UK.
This is another in the IUCN Tropical Forest Programme series on West African
countries (see reviews of others in previous issues of Malimbus). Written entirely in
Spanish, it deals with one of the least-known and least-developed states in the region,
50% of whose export revenue comes from timber. The book reports strong pressure to
increase timber extraction, which is regarded by the authorities as the only way to
rehabilitate their country. This depressingly familiar attitude has led to enormous
1993
Book Reviews
67
habitat destruction in countries further west. The present situation is bleak; Equatorial
Guinea possesses no forest regulations, no trained personnel, no equipment for forest
conservation, no functioning legal system and timber concessions covering a large
proportion of the remaining forests. The consequent formidable problems for
conservation are clearly presented.
Introductory sections include a brief economic analysis and more detailed
descriptions of the geography, peoples and vegetation of the country, followed by a
history of forest exploitation. Also included are analyses of hunting and the value of
“minor” forest products.
The biology section is brief but fairly good on botany and most thorough on large
mammals, the author’s area of expertise. The section on birds is poorly researched,
particularly as regards Pagalü (Annobon). Although the bird sections on Bioko
(Fernando Po) and mainland Mbini (Rio Muni) are brief, they include most key
references, but the main works which deal with Pagalü are not mentioned, particularly
Bannerman (1915, Ibis (10)3: 227-234), Basilio (1957, Caza y pesca en Annobân. Aves
de la isla. Inst. Estud. Africanos, Madrid) and Fry (1961, Ibis 103a: 267-276). The
author mistakenly states that “no faunal inventory of the island is known” and does not
mention the endemic birds of Pagalü at all, neither in lists of endemics and threatened
species, nor in a section on the biological importance of the island.
The book proposes a conservation programme including the establishment of
specific protected areas (including one on Pagalü, which is omitted from the Summary)
and gives a detailed account of each of these (although the bird lists are virtually
useless). Lots of other recommendations are made, such as legal controls, a national
land-use plan etc. These are undoubtedly essential; let’s hope they can be implemented.
Alan Tye
Report of the Ornithological Expedition to Northern Cameroon,
January/February 1991. By OAG Munster, 1991. 41 pp. OAG Münster, Münster.
Paperback DM7.50 from Biol. Station Münster, Coermühle 181, 4400 Münster,
Germany.
This is a brief report on a three- week expedition to trap Ruff Philomachus pugnax in the
Chad basin of north Cameroon. The team also surveyed the birds of wetlands, mainly
rice irrigation schemes, in the Logone-Chari and Lake Maga area. Age, sex and size
data are presented on 105 trapped Ruff and counts given of other species at the study
sites, together with a complete bird list for the trip.
Alan Tye
68
Book Reviews
Malimbus 14
Discovering Birds. An Introduction to the Birds of Nigeria. By Anne Nason, 1992.
104pp. Pisces Publications, Newbury. ISBN 1- 874357-00-5. £8.95 + £1.00 p&p from
NCB, 36 Kingfisher Court, Hambridge Road, Newbury RG14 5SJ, U.K.
Published as part of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation’s Conservation Education
Programme, Discovering Birds gives an introduction to birds in general and to the birds
of Nigeria and is particularly intended for young people.
Written in a simple and straightforward way it describes briefly the evolution,
biology, behaviour and migration of birds, and the climate and vegetation zones of
Nigeria. There are short chapters on birdwatching as a hobby, on African birds in
folklore, on conservation and the work of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. The
five middle chapters describe some of the birds commonly found in five different types
of habitat and each species described is illustrated. The disadvantages of this format are
that allied species are not described together (the five species of kingfisher in the book,
for example, are divided between three chapters) and that it is difficult for the reader to
get an idea of the relative sizes of the birds. There is a useful glossary but, since
scientific names are given together with the English names in the index, a brief
introduction to scientific names might have been helpful.
The book is very well produced with excellent photographs, all in colour. Mrs
Nason had been able to select only a few of the common birds to describe in each
habitat and one can only wish there had been space for more. Such a book, that
encourages an interest in ornithology and an awareness of the need for conservation in
Nigeria’s rising generation, is greatly to be welcomed.
Amberley Moore
African Waterfowl Census 1992. Compiled by C. Perennou, 1992. 87 pp.
International Waterfowl Research Bureau, Slimbridge. Paperback £6 from IWRB,
Slimbridge, GL2 7BX, UK.
The previous (1991) census report was reviewed in Malimbus 14: 32-33. In the year
described in the present report, which is again completely bilingual (English/French),
coverage of the census was expanded in West and southern Africa. In West Africa,
counts were made in Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and
Sierra Leone. One new site, Corisco Bay in Gabon, meets Ramsar criteria, as has
previously been predicted. Ramsar criteria are presented, with a list of already-
designated sites. Population estimates are given for West Africa as a whole for certain
species. Notes are provided for potential counters for the 1993 census.
This is to become an annual publication, so future issues will not be reviewed here.
Alan Tye
1993
69
Notices
Minutes of the General Meeting of the West African Ornithological Society held at
14.00 on 16 May 1992 at the Marlborough Hotel, Felixstowe, England.
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary to Council
Council Member
G.J. Morel
J.H. Elgood
R.E. Sharland
A.M. Moore
M. Germain
Present:
and 20 members of the Society.
The President opened the meeting. Speaking first in English and then in French, he
reminded members that the first general meeting had been held in Normandy in 1990.
He was glad to welcome even more members to this meeting. He thanked Roger
Beecroft who had kindly made most of the arrangements for the weekend, not only for
the accommodation and business meeting, but also for visits to local places of interest.
He reminded members that W.A.O.S. has no constitution, no domicile, no library but
only its journal, Malimbus.
1. Minutes of the meeting held at La Haye-du-Puits, Normandy, on 19 May
1990. These had been published in Malimbus 12: 98-99 and were agreed as correct and
signed.
2. Financial report. The Treasurer presented his financial statement. He was
pleased to report that the membership has increased to 268 Ordinary Members and 59
Corporate Members. The increase in membership and the increase in the subscription in
1990, combined with lower production costs of Malimbus, had resulted in an increase in
assets of the Society. He estimated that the Society would be £4000 in credit at the close
of the year, after the costs of producing the journal in 1992 (about £1000) had been
paid.
3. Malimbus . The Secretary read a letter from the Editor in which he said that the
next issue of Malimbus was in preparation but unlikely to be ready for his May deadline
as contributions were coming in slowly. The President thanked the Treasurer and
Geoffrey Field for taking over arrangements for final printing and despatch of
Malimbus ; the new arrangements had worked well.
It was asked whether Council had considered giving Malimbus more appeal to a
wider readership, perhaps with the addition of colour photographs, and moving away
from scientific papers. In the discussion that followed, some members felt that the cost
of including coloured photographs might be disproportionately high and that, as
Malimbus is a scientific journal and the Society a scientific body, it should not concern
itself with trying to produce a glossy magazine, with less scientific content, for popular
appeal. Other suggestions for increasing the readership and contributions to Malimbus
were that it might be given a wider scope by including articles on identification of
70
Notices
Malimbus 14
“difficult” species and perhaps with the inclusion of a colour plate from time to time. It
was felt that the views of the meeting should be discussed with the Editor when he is
next in Britain.
4. Reprints and back-numbers. The Treasurer reported that sales of back-numbers
had been going well. He offered sets of back-numbers to new members and they had
also been offered for sale at the Birdwatching Fair (see below). Sales of these had
brought in £468 in 1991. Issues out of print had been reprinted.
5. British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water 1992. The Secretary reported that
the fees for a stall at the Fair had increased this year but the Society had obtained a
bursary for 60% of the costs from the Bird and Wildlife Bookshop.
6. Preparation of the second edition of The Birds of Nigeria. Mr Elgood read a
short paper he had prepared on the subject. He proposed that a small sub-committee be
appointed to consider it. He suggested that he and Anne Nason, Robert Sharland and Jo
Heigham should form this sub-committee. He suggested that a team of four might
undertake the textual revision, dividing the list between them. Updating should include
the 1 1 additional species, new breeding records, range extensions, major population
fluctuations and environmental changes. The team would be headed by himself. He felt
that the new edition would be enhanced by the addition of some high calibre
photographs which Ian Nason had offered. He also hoped it would include Martin
Woodcock’s painting of Malimbus ibadanensis as a frontispiece. He also said he had
just received an offer of help from Mr Tasso Leventis. The proposal was unanimously
agreed.
7. Future projects to be undertaken by the Society. The Treasurer said he felt
that Members might like to consider using some of the Society’s accumulated funds to
support other projects. He felt that £1000 could be considered over and above what was
needed in reserve and to produce two issues of the journal in 1992. He had looked into
what other societies were able to do, such as the Ornithological Society of the Middle
East. During the discussion that followed, members suggested the promotion of
additional publications, grants to students (particularly from African countries),
supporting students’ expeditions (with the proviso that they should contribute to
Malimbus) and using funds to improve Malimbus. Mr Elgood said that it was important
that any scheme to fund other projects should be organized correctly and the proper
machinery set up.
The President put to the meeting the proposal that funds might be used for other
purposes and that within the next year this should be considered by Council, setting a
financial limit and with careful screening of proposals. Eighteen members voted in
favour of the proposal and two against; the proposal was carried.
It was agreed that separate sheets could be inserted in the next issue of Malimbus
seeking the views of all Members about the use of the Society’s funds. The Council
would then meet and act according to Members’ wishes.
8. Next meeting. After some discussion, Peter Alexander-Marrack agreed to
enquire whether it would be possible to arrange the next bi-annual meeting of W.A.O.S.
in the Netherlands in May 1994. The Council would make the final decision.
1993
Notices
71
The Secretary reiterated that as the Society had no domicile, a widespread membership
and no constitution it was very important that Members made their views known to
Council. All suggestions would be welcomed, for without such contact it was difficult
to know whether the society was being run in the way the Members wished.
There was no further business and the meeting closed at 15.15. Below the French
version of these minutes is an abstract of one of the talks given in the scientific
programme.
A.M. Moore
Procès-verbal de l’Assemblée Générale de la Société d’Ornithologie de l’Ouest
Africain tenue à 14.00 le 16 mai 1992 à l’hôtel Marlborough, Felixstowe,
Angleterre.
Présents:
G J. Morel
J. H. Elgood
R.E. Sharland
A.M. Moore
M. Germain
Président
Vice-Président
Trésorier
Secrétaire du Conseil
Membre du Conseil
et 20 membres de la Société.
Le Président ouvre la séance et s’exprime d’abord en anglais, puis en français; il
rappelle aux participants que la première assemblée générale s’était tenue en Normandie
en 1990 et qu’il est heureux d’accueillir encore plus de participants à cette réunion. Il
remercie Roger Beecroft d’avoir bien voulu se charger de la plus grande partie de
l’organisation de ce week-end, non seulement pour l’hébergement et les séances de
travail mais aussi pour les sorties sur des sites intéressants de la région. Il rappelle aux
membres que la Société d’ Ornithologie de l’Ouest Africain n’a ni statuts, ni domicile
légal, ni bibliothèque mais seulement sa revue Malimbus.
1. Procès-verbal de la réunion tenue à la Haye-du-Puits, Normandie, le 19 mai
1990. Ils ont été publiés dans Malimbus 12: 98-99. Ils sont approuvés et signés.
2. Compte rendu financier. Le Trésorier présente son rapport financier. Il note
avec satisfaction que le nombre d’adhérents a augmenté: 268 Membres Ordinaires et 59
Institutions. Le plus grand nombre d’adhérents, le relèvement de la cotisation en 1990 et
le moindre coût de la production de Malimbus ont contribué à augmenter les fonds de la
Société. Il estime que l’actif de la Société serait de £4000 à la fin de l’année, après
déduction des frais de production de la revue en 1992, soit d’environ £1000.
3. Malimbus . La Secrétaire lit une lettre du Rédacteur qui annonce que le prochain
numéro de Malimbus est en préparation mais qu’il ne sera certainement pas prêt à la
date prévue de mai parce que les manuscrits arrivent trop lentement. Le Président
remercie le Trésorier et Geoffrey Field de s’être chargés de l’impression et de
l’expédition de Malimbus ; cette nouvelle organisation a bien fonctionné.
Quelqu’un demande si le Conseil avait envisagé d’attirer à Malimbus plus de
72
Notices
Mal imbu s 14
lecteurs, peut-être en publiant des photographies en couleurs et en abandonnant les
articles scientifiques. Dans la discussion qui s’ensuit, certains estiment que le coût de la
photo couleurs pourrait être exagérément élevé, que Malimbus est une revue
scientifique et que la Société, en tant qu’organisme scientifique, ne doit pas chercher à
éditer une revue illustrée, moins scientifique, afin de toucher un plus large public. Il est
aussi suggéré, pour accroître le nombre de lecteurs et de publications, d’élargir le
domaine de Malimbus en publiant des articles sur l’identification d’espèces difficiles et
peut-être en ajoutant de temps à autre une planche en couleurs. On estime que les vues
de l’assemblée devraient être discutées avec le Rédacteur lors de son prochain passage
en Grande-Bretagne.
4. Réimpressions et numéros anciens. Le Trésorier constate que la vente de
numéros anciens a été bonne. Il a proposé des séries de numéros anciens aux nouveaux
abonnés et en a aussi mis en vente au Birdwatching Fair (voir ci-dessous). Ces ventes
ont rapporté £468 en 1991. Les numéros épuisés ont été réimprimés.
5. British Birdwatching Fair à Rutland Water en 1992. La Secrétaire remarque
que les droits pour un emplacement à la foire avaient augmenté cette année mais que le
Société avaient obtenu de Bird and Wildlife Bookshop une subvention couvrant 60%
des frais.
6. Préparation de la deuxième édition de The Birds of Nigeria . M. Elgood lit la
note qu’il a préparée à ce sujet. Il propose que le projet soit appuyé par l’assemblée et
qu’un sous-comité réduit soit nommé pour examiner le projet. Il suggère que lui -même,
Anne Nason, Robert Sharland et Jo Heigham constituent ce sous-comité. Il suggère
qu’une équipe de quatre personnes entreprenne la révision du texte en se partageant la
tâche. La mise à jour comprendrait l’ajout de 11 espèces, de nouvelles dates de
reproduction, l’extension de la distribution, les fluctuations importantes du peuplement
et les modifications de l’habitat. Lui-même assurerait la direction. Selon M. Elgood, la
nouvelle édition gagnerait à présenter les quelques excellentes photos proposées par Ian
Nason. Il espère aussi pouvoir utiliser la peinture de Malimbus ibadanensis de Martin
Woodcock en frontispice. Il ajoute que M. Tasso Leventis venait de lui proposer son
aide. La proposition est acceptée à l’unanimité.
7. Futurs projets pour îa Société. Le Trésorier souhaite que l’assemblée veuille
bien examiner comment utiliser une partie de la réserve financière de la Société pour
aider d’autres projets. Selon lui, en mettant de côté une réserve suffisante et de quoi
produire les deux numéros de la revue en 1992, on disposerait encore de £1000. Il a
cherché ce que d’autres sociétés peuvent faire, par exemple T Ornithological Society of
the Middle East. Au cours de la discussion qui suit, certains suggèrent d’encourager
d’autres publications, d’accorder des bourses à des étudiants, surtout de pays africains,
d’aider des expéditions d’étudiants (sous réserve de publication dans Malimbus) et
d’utiliser ces fonds à améliorer Malimbus. M. Elgood dit qu’il est important que tout
plan de financement d’autres projets soit établi correctement et que le meilleur montage
soit mis en place.
Le Président fait à l’assemblée la proposition que les fonds puissent être utilisés à
d’autres fins et que, d’ici un an, la question soit examinée par le Conseil qui fixera un
1993
Notices
73
plafond et fera un tri sérieux. Dix-huit membres votent pour la proposition et deux
contre; elle est adoptée.
Il est convenu d’insérer dans la prochaine livraison de Malimbus des feuilles
volantes pour demander aux abonnés leur opinion sur l’usage des fonds de la Société.
Le Conseil se réunira ensuite et agira selon les voeux des membres.
8. Prochaine assemblée. Après quelque discussion, Peter Alexander-Marrack
accepte de voir s’il serait possible d’organiser la prochaine réunion bisannuelle de la
Société d’Omithologie de l’Ouest Africaine aux Pays-Bas en mai 1994. Le Conseil
prendra la décision définitive.
La Secrétaire rappelle que, comme la Société n’a ni siège ni constitution et que ses
membres sont dispersés, il est très important que ces derniers fassent connaître au
Conseil leurs sentiments. Ils seront bien accueillis car, faute de cela, il est difficile de
savoir si la Société est gérée comme ses membres le désirent.
L’ordre du jour étant épuisé, la séance est levée à 15.15. Une résumé suit ci-dessous
d’un des exposés qui étaient présentés au programme scientifique.
A.M. Moore
Biology of some Palaearctic migrant warblers in northern Nigeria. During 1981-82,
R. Wilkinson and I studied the seasonal occurrence, weight changes and moult of a
number of Palaearctic warblers, using mist-nets in the reedbeds of the Jekara dam near
Kano and in old farmland and gardens at or near Bayero Univeresity.
Six Acrocephalus species inhabited the reedbeds, three of them Palaearctic migrants
and the other three Afrotropical species. Individuals of the Palaearctic species
comprised about 85% of the total Acrocephalus captures in the period October to May.
Sedge Warblers A. schoenobaenus were the most abundant species throughout this time,
with increased numbers during the northern autumn and spring. Reed Warblers A.
scirpaceus occurred predominantly in the northern spring only. A few Great Reed
Warblers A. arundinaceus were caught in both passage seasons. The African Reed
Warbler A. baeticatus, Rufous Cane Warbler A. rufescens and Lesser Chad Cane
Warbler A. gracilirostris seemed to be resident throughout the year. All six species
probably have a common breeding period and moult mainly during the northern
autumn.
Both Sedge and Reed Warblers grew fat during March to May at rates of about 0.3
g per day, increasing from winter levels of around 10 g to a maximum of 18-20 g. Great
Reed Warbler weights were also considerably higher in spring than in autumn.
In the Sedge Warbler, the main period of active primary moult was from October to
December but some birds suspended primary moult in the cooler period between
December and February and resumed in March or April. A number of Subalpine
Warblers Sylvia cantillans were in primary moult in January and February; this seems
to be the first time that this species has been recorded moulting in Africa. Melodious
74
Notices
Malimbus 14
Warblers Hippolais polyglotta moulted in September and October, probably rather
rapidly and before moving to their winter quarters further south.
Further details are given in Bird Study 34: 219-225, 226-234.
David Aidley
School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K.
Red-billed Hornbill - Petit calao à bec rouge - Tockus erythrorhynchus
Drawing: Hilary Tye
Request for help with Red-billed Hornbills Tockus erythrorhynchus in Africa
The current wisdom about the common and widespread Red-billed Hornbill Tockus
erythrorhynchus is that there are three distinct populations or subspecies in Africa.
From Senegal to Tanzania is the nominate form T. e. erythrorhynchus, with brown eyes
and white facial plumage. From Zambia to South Africa and Namibia is the form T. e.
rufirostris with yellow eyes and grey facial plumage. In western Namibia is T. e.
damarensis with brown eyes and white facial plumage, very like the nominate. All
forms have bare pink skin around the eyes and as small patches on the throat, which
become brighter during the breeding season.
However, a pair of Red-billed Hornbills was recently seen at Jurong Bird Park,
Singapore, that had yellow eyes and black skin around the eyes. The origin of these
birds was unknown but subsequent searches at the British Museum (Natural History)
1993
Notices
75
t
and the Zoologische Museum, Berlin, revealed specimens with black facial skin from
two areas. One is in Senegal and The Gambia, at the extreme north-western limit of the
range of the species. The other is in western Tanzania, from about Lake Rukwa north to
Lake Victoria. Few specimens had the eye colour recorded but some had brown
(Senegambia) and others yellow (Tanzania). Such differences in eye and facial skin
colour are sufficient to separate species in some other Tockus species and Red-billed
Hornbills may consist of several species rather than only one.
Anyone with close-up colour photographs of Red-billed Hornbills is asked to
examine them. Details of date, locality and colour of the eyes, facial skin and plumage
would be most welcome, together with a copy of the photograph if possible. Records of
specimens with black facial skin, so far unreported in the literature, would be especially
welcome, together with any notes on behaviour, displays, calls and habitat. Your
support in this quest is much appreciated.
Dr Alan Kemp
Transvaal Museum, P.O. Box 413, Pretoria, South Africa.
British Birdwatching Fair 1992
Generous sponsorship by the Bird and Wildlife Bookshop, of Piccadilly, London,
enabled the Society to mount a display at the annual British Birdwatching Fair at
Rutland Water at the beginning of September 1992.
In recent years, because several international ornithological projects have been set
up in West Africa and because tourism has grown in Senegal and the Gambia, there has
been increasing interest in the birds of the region and the display mounted by W.A.O.S.
attracted many of the 9500 visitors who attended the Fair. A raffle and the sale of back
numbers of Malimhus added a little to the Society’s funds.
Thanks are due to the members of the Society who travelled to Rutland Water to
man the stall and to Roger Beecroft and Anne Nason who kindly donated photographs
for the display.
The 1992 Fair was held in support of the I.C.B.P. Spanish Steppes Appeal and
raised £40,000 for that cause.
Amberley Moore
Eighth Pan-African Ornithological Congress, Bujumbura, Burundi
Bujumbura, bordered by the “beaches” of Lake Tanganyika, provided an interesting
location for the latest highspot of the African ornithological calendar from 30
September to 5 October 1992. The wide range of topics included various aspects of
avian biology and ecology with special sessions on raptors, spéciation, censuses and
76
Notices
Malimbus 14
atlases, birds of Indian Ocean islands, Palaearctic migrants in Africa and stork
conservation. However, species and habitat conservation dominated the oral and poster
presentations, workshops and informal discussions, primarily due to the devotion of two
whole days to an ICBP/RSPB symposium on biodiversity and an IWRB/ICBP
symposium on waterfowl and wetland conservation.
A pleasantly pan-African coverage resulted from contributions from many countries
and lack of domination by any one region. About half the participants were resident in
sub-Saharan Africa (including South Africa). Of these, almost one quarter were from
West African countries, partly due to sponsorship by ICBP and RSPB and their
involvement in projects in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. The field
programme also had a West African flavour as a number of West African species reach
as far as Burundi and were spotted (along with the hippos and crocodiles) on field trips
to the Rusizi Delta and Kibira National Parks.
Recommendations were made that the 9th PAOC should be in a different region of
Africa from recent venues and, despite Burundi’s West African affinities, The Gambia
is the proposed venue for 1996. This augurs well for the 1996 W.A.O.S. bi-annual
meeting!
The long-awaited proceedings of the 7th PAOC are reportedly in press and, from
the editorial efficiency evident at the 1992 Congress, those of the 8th PAOC should not
be long in following.
Hilary Tye
White -cheeked Olive Weaver - Sénégali vert à joues blanches - Nesocharis capi strata
Photo: R. A. Cheke
Instructions aux Auteurs
Malimbus publie des Articles, des Notes courtes, des Analyses d'ouvrages, des Lettres
et des illustrations traitant de l'ornithologie ouest-africaine. Les Notes courtes sont des
articles de moins de 1000 mots (références comprises) ou de 2 pages imprimées. Les
textes sont acceptés en anglais et en français. Ceux déjà publiés ailleurs, en tout ou
partie, seront normalement refusés. Autant que possible, les manuscrits auront été
auparavant soumis au moins à un ornithologue ou biologiste pour un examen minutieux.
Les manuscrits seront envoyés pour critique à au moins un lecteur compétent.
Les textes soumis seront tapés en deux exemplaires, d'un seul côté de la page,
double interligne et avec larges marges. Les tirages sur imprimante matricielle ne
seront acceptés que s'ils ont la "qualité -courrier".
Les Conventions concernant les tableaux, les chiffres, le système métrique, les
références, etc. peuvent être trouvées dans ce numéro et doivent être soigneusement
suivies. Notez en particulier que les dates s'abrégeront comme 2 fév 1990 mais dans un
texte pourront s'écrire en entier; que les heures s'écriront comme 6.45, 17.00; que les
coordonnées s'écriront comme 7°46rN, 16°04'W; que les nombres jusqu'à 10 s'écriront
en entier, excepté devant une unité de mesure (p. ex. 6 m), que les nombres à partir de
11 s'écriront en chiffres sauf au début d'une phrase. Toute Référence citée dans
l'article, et aucune autre, doit figurer dans la bibliographie.
Les Articles contenant de longues Listes d’Espèces seront sous forme de tableaux
(p. ex Malimbus 1: 49-54) ou sous forme de texte comme dans Malimbus 1: 90-109.
Les noms et la séquence systématique des listes suivront Brown et al. (1982), Urban et
al. (1986) et Fry et al. (1988) The Birds of Africa, vols 1-3 (Academie Press, London)
pour les non-passereaux et White (1960-1963) Revised Checklists of African Passerine
Birds, Hall & Moreau (1970) An Atlas of Spéciation in African Passerine Birds (British
Museum (Natural History), London) ou Serle & Morel (1975) A Field Guide to the
Birds of West Africa (Collins, London) pour les passereaux, à moins de donner dans le
texte les raisons pour s'écarter de ces auteurs.
Les Figures doivent être préparées pour une reproduction directe, permettant une
réduction de 20 à 50%; on se servira d'encre de chine sur papier blanc de bonne qualité
ou calque épais et de caractères Letraset (ou équivalent) selon le cas. Pour le dessin des
Figures, tenir compte du format de Malimbus.
Tous les Articles (mais non les Notes courtes) comporteront un Résumé, n'excédant
pas 5% de la longeur totale. Le Résumé mentionnera brièvement les principales
résultats et conclusions de l'Article et ne sera pas un simple compte rendu du travail.
Les résumés seront publiés à la fois en anglais et en français et seront traduits au mieux
par le Rédaction.
Vingt Tirés-à-part des Articles (mais non des Notes courtes) seront envoyés gratis
à l'auteur ou à l'auteur principal. Les tirés-à-part ne seront ni agrafés, ni reliés ou
recouverts; ces sont de simples extraits de la revue.
Malimbus 14 (2) January 1993
Contents
Quelques données sur les reprises de bagues au Mali
B. Tréca 37 - 43
Notes complémentaires sur l’avifaune du Niger
Alain Sauvage 44-47
Notes on the nest-building behaviour of the Buffalo Weaver
Bubalornis albirosîris in Senegal
Donald L. Beaver 48-51
Notes sur les oiseaux observés sur le Plateau Dogon au Mali
Gilles Balança & Marie Noël de Visscher 52 - 58
Short Notes
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio, further sightings in Cameroon.
Guy R. Manners, Perry Burtch, Christopher G.R. Bowden,
Elizabeth M. Bowden & Eddie Williams 59
Breeding of the Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis in
southwest Nigeria. Olufemi A. Sodeinde 60 - 62
Unusual records from Cameroon. Iain Robertson 62 - 63
Horns Swift Apus horns, new to Cameroon. Iain Robertson 63 - 64
The races of Olive S unbird Nectarinia olivacea on the
Gulf of Guinea islands. Alan Tye & Linda R. Macaulay 65 - 66
Book Reviews 66 - 68
Notices 69-76
1 317 SI
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